Adult Clothes

I've gotten about 5 compliments on my outfit today. Not to toot my own horn, but it's worth noting, primarily because today I happen to be wearing a reasonably nice-looking dress, tights, heels, a big necklace and even attempted to partially blow dry my hair which is something normally reserved for Saturday nights and days Obama is elected president (maybe I'll sneak into the bathroom in a second and take a pic of the current outfit for ya), but anyway... In response to one of my guy friends who complimented me (shocker: guys like dresses too?) I declared, "Thanks I am wearing adult clothes today."

First of all, it's a little weird that I responded with that, but since I've written about 500 posts establishing my weirdness factor; no surprise there.

Secondly, it's a sad truth if you compare my outfit between today and yesterday. We all know that Mondays are tough, and usually my clothing choices reflect that. By Tuesday I have my shit together so I can actually clothe myself in something reasonable. Yesterday I looked like I child, today I look like an adult.

And my final point (who knew I'd be taking a three-point introspective into clothing choices today), I really am tired of having to figure out how to dress for a company where it's a total mix between casual and business formal. I could seriously wear jeans one day and a ball gown the next, and no one would bat an eye. Well maybe a few people would bat eyes, because who wears a ball gown to work, but you get what I mean, right? God I miss college.

Ironically, when making my formal Christmas list for my family yesterday (more on that later), the only actual clothing items were two different Patagonia jackets. I could probably even wear those to work, with my ball gown underneath.

Because Mondays Suck

I just had to watch this video three times before I figured out how to wrap up my headphones. And then I realized this is essentially the exact same thing as coiling a rope. And then I banged my head on the desk a few times.

Best Time-Wasting Device Ever

Sick of seeing the same people update their Facebook status?
Annoyed by the unexpected redundancy of your Pandora playlist?
No new emails?

Never fear. I have a new internet resource for procrastination or idle time-wasting:

StumbleUpon.

It brought me to this site, Photos that Changed the World.

Fascinating. And a completely ineffective use of my time. Excellent.

The Reason I Slept on the Sofa Last Night

Somehow I ended up with the bedroom in our apartment that is a solid 10-15 degrees hotter than the other rooms. So when it's already in the 90s outside, you can find me curled up on the couch. (Still sweating, obv).

Reminds me of that week junior year of college I slept on a yoga mat on my bedroom floor. But I think that was because I just couldn't fall asleep in my bed for a week or something. Much less logical. Clearly.

Dirty Pirate Hooker

This article from CNN gives a little insight into todays pirates. Because I am sure you were curious. I would imagine it's a more realistic version of that crappy Jessica Alba Paul Walker clunker Into the Blue, but I guess the people might be less attractive. Actually, these high tech pirates probably have to be in good shape for scuba diving for treasure. Hey maybe that's where all the hot guys are--thieving on the open seas. Oh wait a minute, apparently all a pirate today can rake in is around $40,000. Never mind.

Oh and as of 4:52 pm PST, this was the leading story on CNN.com, picture and everything. Yes, a story about high tech pirates. Bless you CNN, bless you.

How to Survive a 5 Hour Layover in Mexico City Airport

This post is in honor of my good friend and roommate (Roomie #1), who leaves tomorrow for a week-long adventure in Nicaragua (which she insists on calling Nicas Ricas because that is what the locals call it... or so she claims, personally I think it's annoying and I've started doing it too which really annoys me). She is about to embark upon an active vacation where she will kayak, mountain bike, sail, and hike a volcano. I can't wait to send her annoying emails about my trivial life in LA while she is giving out crayons to the children in Nicaraguan villages and dodging bullets at small bodegas, because isn't there like a civil war going on in Nicaragua or something?

Anyways, here is a little guide I've created to help her out during her five hour layover in Mexico City in the wee hours of the morning. Please note that she doesn't really need this guide and is perfectly capable of surviving this potentially dangerous but likely exciting visit to the airport en el capital. Also, she's really ethnic looking. Usually people assume she is Persian (she's Italian) and I think she'll easily pass for Mexican (please take that as a compliment).

1. Do not do anything that pegs you as American. This includes speaking loudly, carrying an iPod, or wearing anything that contains any of the following images: eagles, the American flag, George W. Bush, or the Canadian flag (because then you will instantly be tagged as American who is posing as a Canadian because no one cares about Canadians).
2. I can't really think of anything else right now.

Okay so that wasn't really very helpful to Ashleigh or to anyone, at all, but I guess if all else fails just say "Lo ciento" if someone threatening approaches. Oh and I recommend going to some sort of newsstand and buying lots of Mexican candy. I spent a summer in Mexico at a summer camp in a random village two hours north of Mexico City and every week we had "Tienda" which was some weird sort of candy store we got to get all sorts of goods from. The candy in Mexico is fantastic. I especially recommend these things called Kranky (if I remember correctly... maybe they were Krispy), which are like chocolate covered corn flakes and they are delicious.

Those are my wise words of the day. Adios.

Word of the Day

Luddite



According to Wikipedia, "The Luddites were a social movement of British textile artisans in the early nineteenth century who protested – often by destroying mechanized looms – against the changes produced by the Industrial Revolution, which they felt threatened their livelihood."

Or, in more colloquial usage, someone who fears technology. For example, my boss, my step-mom, one of my history teachers in high school, and Stephen King (hence the photo). I prescribe a pretty broad definition to the term and use it to describe people who not necessarily fear technology, but are just plan bad it at. For example, I have to give my boss regular cut-and-paste tutorials. Granted, he grew up a different generation and kids today come out of the womb with an iPod in one hand, knowing what ROTFLMAO means (and I had to say out the words to type the acronym, mind you), but still, he's what I would call a Luddite.

Luddites are great. I don't know about the early nineteenth century Luddites, but I love Luddites today--they are such a rarity and I find them so entertaining. Like, why fear technology? Or why is it so hard to understand? Just embrace the fact that in ten years half the population will be robots. Or not. Whatever. Learn how to cut and paste though, please.