WTF is she talking about?

I think that the burden of proof is on her for this one.

I thought maybe there was some new crazy muslim story, but I just looked all through Newsweek, and except for some blogs, they are pretty much debunking. She is terrified, though, and told me that the underlying premise in all wars is religion (I said it was power) and that Hitler and Mussolini started wars because of religion and wanting to get rid of the churches, and she thinks Obama is going to do the same.

The reason this bothers me is that she is a smart woman and a kind woman and a person with a strong sense of ethics, and a pretty much average lower middle class American, and if they are all being brainwashed, we are never going to get anywhere in this country, and that is scary to me.

For the gift, ask if they've got a registry.

Aha! Good plan. I'll ask my MIL next time G calls home.

Jars, pretty dress, but if you go for that you'd probably need a colorful scarf or shoes or both -- white is definitely frowned on at USian weddings, and the frowniness has slopped over to anything too close to white.

Hmm, thanks. Maybe I'll try and find something with a brighter colour or a floral print or something.

Sophia, do you have the kind of relationship with her where you can just bluntly say to her what you just said to us? "I think you're a smart, kind and ethical person, and it bothers me that I can show you the Newsweek website and you can still believe what you've been told and disbelieve your own eyes and ears and brain. How can I have more faith in your wisdom than you do?"

Poking my head for a quick sec between working-on-the-weekend and preparations for shabbat because, according to the Buffista Calendar, tomorrow, the 10th, will be Sox' birthday, and I won't be near any sort of computer to wish her all sorts of good things she deserves on time. So lots of early wishes, today already!

As, of course, are timely wishes for short pleasant Fridays and lovely weekends all around.

Also, I'd say heels are definitely not required for a beach wedding, black tie or not. Dressy flats should be just fine.

OMG Sophia. I just don't even know.

I don't particularly think of sleeveless as a work issue, but that might be Jamaica talking.

I think it's one of my weird old-lady opinions, so I would never try to impose it on anyone, which is why I'm secretly (not-so-secretly) glad when someone else does.

For the beach wedding, I'd say either flats or wedges. If you're just on the actual beach for the blessing, it should be brief. Or I bet women will have heels that they just take off for that part.

Don't they usually put down some kind of wooden floor over the sand for fancy beach weddings?

I have been to one beach wedding, but it was not fancy. We in the wedding party went barefoot for the ceremony.

OMG, I cannot get Rent out of my head. I don't understand. I can't remember the last time I heard it. I think it's the first act finale? In the Life Cafe.

Don't they usually put down some kind of wooden floor over the sand for fancy beach weddings?

Oooh this would be awesome.

Dressy flats should be just fine.

As would this.

I never feel like I can weigh in on work appropriate clothing discussions because I've never worked anywhere with a dress code. I'm currently wearing linen shorts and a really old green strappy top. I'm also barefoot. It's very warm.