Jilli, you forgot 4) a horror that should be run from.

Well, yes. But it was much more fun to hold her eye as she walked past me, because she was obviously just as baffled by my black skirt, petticoats, jacket, and stripy tights as I was of her outfit. However, I'm pretty sure I managed a more neutral facial expression as I walked past.

Seriously, "don't want to work anymore" was in my top five reasons why I went. Maybe top three.

There must be a way to avoid work, avoid papers and exams, and have a steady income comparable to what I have now.

No?

Why the hell not?

Pfft.

Hm. In LA, wearing shit that makes no sense is the fashion, always.

In fact, it's made me much more ridiculously dressed, I think. Last week I wore a pink halter with pink sequins on it and a big sparkly orange flower in my purple hair to work. No one cared. And I probably looked like a clown. Somewhere, I'm sure someone ran to a message board to describe my lack of fashion sense.

Well, yes. But it was much more fun to hold her eye as she walked past me, because she was obviously just as baffled by my black skirt, petticoats, jacket, and stripy tights as I was of her outfit. However, I'm pretty sure I managed a more neutral facial expression as I walked past.

This scene needed to be captured on film.

I just followed a prime example of the muffin top for several blocks as I walked to the post office. I think the cinched tight low rise makes skinny people look soft and makes everyone else look slovenly. But I am usually baffled by popular clothing trends.

. Last week I wore a pink halter with pink sequins on it and a big sparkly orange flower in my purple hair to work. No one cared. And I probably looked like a clown.

No, see, I can make that work in my head. It sounds fun. Not the colors I would probably wear, but fun. This woman's outfit did not look like she chose to wear it because she liked it, but because she thought she *should* wear it.

There must be an LA equivalent (or seven) to NY fashion blog linked to in the past thread so I could see how people are dressing without going outside.

Because I only see co-workers (of whom there are hundreds, but we also theoretically hew to the same dress code) and co-kravvers (and when we're not in workout clothes it's more "That's how she dresses and that's how he dresses" and it gives me no wider perspective). When I do get out, for some reason I don't let anything stick in my brain.

Not sure why. Maybe it's that bad.

Has almost nothing to do with anything, but one of my favorite Jilli moments was last Halloween. Her and Pete were at our house when I opened my latest eBay purchase. A celadon green Eddie Bauer cable knit fisherman's sweater.

Jilli looked at it and said, "It's green. And cable knit." Cracks me up to this day.

Go to grad school!

I already did that once! And, I'm in school now getting my teaching certificate (while working full time).

I'm just tired. I've worked for this company for 10 years. I just need some time off. And, last year, I used 15 of my 20 vacation days working in a school for my school program. So, I didn't get much vacation at all last year. And, this year has just been too busy to take time off.

Oof, that's a lot, ChiKat. Can you take a mental-health sick day? I know it's not much, but sometimes a random day off can really help. Also, do you take classes over the summer? Maybe just your job and not school on top will feel like a break...? Cold comfort.

ChiKat, if you're still around, do you have the names of any larger-sized consignment shops in the Chicago area? I just found out that I waited too long to return some stuff that I'm not going to wear, and I can sure use whatever cash I can get for them.