tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post1273832320791422335..comments2024-03-21T03:35:20.539-04:00Comments on writing as jo(e): Made for walkingjo(e)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01488562158252331555noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-2247522991088837232011-12-20T13:34:19.246-05:002011-12-20T13:34:19.246-05:00Wow! I thought I was the only one who breaks out i...Wow! I thought I was the only one who breaks out into a cold sweat at the thought of a department store! <br /><br />I'm so glad you had a compassionate guide for your boot shopping.<br /><br />Someone asked me last week: "How do always manage to look so put together?" I gave her a blank stare. She said: "Your clothes. They always look so nice." <br /><br />Ah. <br /><br />I think it was the "put together" part that confused me. Inside my head is nothing like that... just sayin'....<br /><br />My response: "My partner shops online and has good taste." <br /><br />Heaven knows what I would be wearing otherwise....Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03407981987874669303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-28799331064449347452011-12-13T19:43:11.586-05:002011-12-13T19:43:11.586-05:00Rana: Ha! We commented at exactly the same time. O...Rana: Ha! We commented at exactly the same time. Our grocery store is always changing its layout -- hoping to get us to buy new stuff, I suppose -- but I'm there often enough that I notice the changes right away. It also helps that I've shopped at the same grocery store for more than 30 years ....<br /><br />I buy clothes so seldom that there is no chance of me figuring out department stores or malls.jo(e)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01488562158252331555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-73814490587741067782011-12-13T19:37:04.579-05:002011-12-13T19:37:04.579-05:00Rana: That's why I always take a guide with me...Rana: That's why I always take a guide with me. It's like going into the jungle with the friend who knows where the venomous snakes are.jo(e)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01488562158252331555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-16725225891572600352011-12-13T19:37:02.788-05:002011-12-13T19:37:02.788-05:00(Now, if only I could figure out the layout of our...(Now, if only I could figure out the layout of our local <i>grocery</i> store. I'm still confused by how different kinds of flavored water are in five different aisles, none of which are labeled sufficiently to indicate why.)Ranahttp://palimpsest.typepad.com/frogsandravensnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-90844366974071648392011-12-13T19:33:45.393-05:002011-12-13T19:33:45.393-05:00Oh, and each section is usually aimed at a particu...Oh, and each section is usually aimed at a particular style or age group. So if you're a tall trendy young woman, you don't bother with the section meant for older petite women who wear pearls to breakfast, and vice versa.<br /><br />There <i>is</i> a logic to it, in other words, but it does take time (and desire!) to figure it out.Ranahttp://palimpsest.typepad.com/frogsandravensnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-73115600887062701292011-12-13T19:31:42.289-05:002011-12-13T19:31:42.289-05:00Department stores (and malls) make a lot more sens...Department stores (and malls) make a lot more sense when you realize that their layout is deliberately planned to increase the amount of time you spend wandering about in them. If you were able to just walk in, find a shirt within five minutes, buy it, and walk out a couple of minutes after that, they'd lose the opportunity for you to walk past a cute sweater you might buy, a sexy skirt you might buy, a warm soft scarf you might buy, a rakish hat you might buy... you get the idea.<br /><br />So the solution is to have a specific object in mind before you go into the store, and you ignore everything that isn't that, and you expect to spend time wandering about. <br /><br />Or you can do what I usually do, which is look at stuff online first, then go to one smaller store, try on whatever it is, and, if it fits and looks okay, buy it and leave. (That's how I got my suit, and it took maybe 5-10 minutes, tops, to see it, try it, and buy it.)<br /><br />It also gets easier with practice, because you learn that the stuff on the aisles and the displays is more expensive, while the staples and the sale stuff are tucked into the backs and middles of each section. So you just dart into the middle of each section, see if you like anything, and, if not, leave and go to the next. If you can manage a grocery store, you can manage a department store; it's the same principle, only the things for sale are as big as you are.<br /><br />That said, if it stresses you out, that's what things like Zappos are for. :)Ranahttp://palimpsest.typepad.com/frogsandravensnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-11990507535216679572011-12-13T16:03:42.842-05:002011-12-13T16:03:42.842-05:00Thrift store organization DOES make way more sense...Thrift store organization DOES make way more sense! It goes: shirts, organized by size and color; pants, organized by size, type and color; shoes, organized by size; belts all in one place, purses in another. Shazam! Department stores are all wonky. One department store by my house has a sign that says "dresses, third floor," except they keep dresses all over and the third floor seems to be a repository for certain types of dresses only fancy 80s ladies would wear. Confusing as heck, and also why I bought my new year's dress at the local thrift emporium (cheaper, too!).Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01735047213158372501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-25685227527959730842011-12-13T15:28:20.632-05:002011-12-13T15:28:20.632-05:00"I’d need to prepare for with food and drink,..."I’d need to prepare for with food and drink, perhaps some meditation."<br />Hilarious post.<br />Thanks for sharing. Ha!WordsmithWorkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01749806790354420350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-35049960517324739212011-12-13T12:08:03.250-05:002011-12-13T12:08:03.250-05:00Uh oh! She's going to turn you into your daug...Uh oh! She's going to turn you into your daughter. Reverse evolution. <br /><br />;-)YourFireAnthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03428838843235292696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-464488290761539802011-12-13T00:50:47.191-05:002011-12-13T00:50:47.191-05:00The malll disorients me! Actually, it's tellin...The malll disorients me! Actually, it's telling that I can just say "the mall" and mean most of them in America. <br />What a wonderful piano teacher.Lomagirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09273397354830985024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-81490190456195701652011-12-12T22:07:22.270-05:002011-12-12T22:07:22.270-05:00Reading this was a revelation! As a woman who enj...Reading this was a revelation! As a woman who enjoys shopping as a social activity and as a means to new clothing from time to time, I've never quite fathomed people who don't like it. Your description of the physiological and psychological distress you experience while shopping awakened my empathy, and I'm so glad that you had a good experience with your teacher. Have you read Kathy Peiss's work on the beauty industry, or Elaine Abelson's classic, When Ladies Go A-Thieving? Gender and consumer culture are fascinating!Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-18991668782373975372011-12-12T15:15:06.211-05:002011-12-12T15:15:06.211-05:00the mall is evil; good you had an experienced guid...the mall is evil; good you had an experienced guide. <br /><br />i really need jeans that fit, and that's harder than shoes. well, i could use some styling overall, but i'm starting with needs. and trying to do it via online. but i swear that it will be less stessful to try and return, than to try at the mall and find nothing -- which is the reason i stopped going to the mall in the first place, aside from the brain rot.kathy a.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14479337952651746193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-30404719118810594822011-12-12T13:16:48.001-05:002011-12-12T13:16:48.001-05:00Songbird, the piano teacher seems to be a gentle, ...Songbird, the piano teacher seems to be a gentle, woman, nothing to do with Clinton and Stacy of What Not to Wear and she won't make Jo(e) go through all the stuff people go through in that show (like being order to go shopping alone) or Extreme Makeover (I haven't actually watched the latter).<br /><br />That's just what you need, Jo(e), someone not related to you ('cause I know your daughter has already tried to go shopping with you with not a lot of success) that will help you pick a few new pretty things here and there to add to your wardrobe & "shake it up" little bit! Well done, Stylish Piano Teacher, you're awesome! (if she knows about the blog, and I realize that maybe she doesn't, you could share our comments with her). ;)<br /><br />P.S. now you owe us a photo of the boots, they sound so comfy and nice!Lilianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03809018728037248794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-57378815883335010072011-12-12T10:34:46.868-05:002011-12-12T10:34:46.868-05:00I love this post. I wish I had your piano teacher ...I love this post. I wish I had your piano teacher to take me shopping. I hate shopping but I love clothes. (Weird, I know)Melissa Sarnohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11215683401795724259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-34392542422715387762011-12-12T10:13:32.744-05:002011-12-12T10:13:32.744-05:00YOU are the ONLY person I know of that dislikes sh...YOU are the ONLY person I know of that dislikes shopping more than I do.Krisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-38486699574287677282011-12-12T08:21:21.303-05:002011-12-12T08:21:21.303-05:00Yes, pictures!Yes, pictures!Silver Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03131032620978696727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-83508678281574853462011-12-12T06:50:23.720-05:002011-12-12T06:50:23.720-05:00This is such a happy story! I am like you and hate...This is such a happy story! I am like you and hate to shop. I agree, I'd love to see a picture of you in your boots!Andromeda Jazmonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12355192738014962965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-62168001039519017182011-12-11T22:32:05.740-05:002011-12-11T22:32:05.740-05:00What a kind lady and how thoughtful of her! These ...What a kind lady and how thoughtful of her! These boots do sound lovely.Antheahttp://www.senseworlds.com/bewildernessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-32314337976634716442011-12-11T22:21:28.060-05:002011-12-11T22:21:28.060-05:00Awesome. Can she take me shopping next? My slip-on...Awesome. Can she take me shopping next? My slip-on LLBean shoes just fell apart, and I'm already sick of lacing my hiking boots...lucyhttp://pigpuppet.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-39213049484955129552011-12-11T22:17:10.582-05:002011-12-11T22:17:10.582-05:00I love it. I share your fear of dept stores (and ...I love it. I share your fear of dept stores (and dislike shopping in general). I try to do most of mine online.Brigindohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05499279435958916161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-44414371013029556602011-12-11T21:49:09.055-05:002011-12-11T21:49:09.055-05:00We need pictures!We need pictures!Rev Dr Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14686528826414330355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-19843109102633527032011-12-11T21:42:34.543-05:002011-12-11T21:42:34.543-05:00I love this story. But no need for an Extreme jo(e...I love this story. But no need for an Extreme jo(e) Makeover.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08235049965406944684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9799907.post-39098747654445020962011-12-11T21:22:46.615-05:002011-12-11T21:22:46.615-05:00This is soooo funny. The mall is no evil! Enjoy th...This is soooo funny. The mall is no evil! Enjoy the boots.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com