That's pretty common, sarameg. The ties thing, actually. We had professional dress day on Wednesday's at the school I used to teach at, and male teachers would always bring in their old ties and belts, and give them out.

Whenever I found a nice one at a thrift store, I used to pick them up. I kept a loaner on hand, and quietly provided them to other boys. Still can't tie one.

It's worth it to ask men in your life if they have a tie or two to get rid of. Most guys do, especially if you know any men who dress more formally in their professional life.

Should I go back and get it and see if it fits her anyway?

Sure! Women's clothing sizes are notoriously unreliable. It might fit; it might need a couple small alterations. If it just doesn't fit, you still have a excellent item for cheap that someone else will surely want.

Sure! Women's clothing sizes are notoriously unreliable. It might fit; it might need a couple small alterations. If it just doesn't fit, you still have a excellent item for cheap that someone else will surely want.

Probably so. Anybody here a size 10? How about size 12 for the jacket?

I imagine it is common, just depressing.

It's dry enough outside, I've got the windows open and the fans drawing air inside. It's slightly cooler in than out right now, but I need to get fresh air into this place. It was feeling stuffy after over a week of it being shut up with the ac cranked and barely keeping it dry enough.

I was just camping for the weekend. (and I just skipped about 400 posts) I had a mini-migraine on Saturday, and it rained on Sunday, but I still had a good time. I manged to buy a new kilim rug at an antique store on Sunday during the rain, and it was really good to connect with friends, even if it was in the pauses between the wrangling of their two small children.

I don't know how parents do it. I would not have the patience. My friend was up all night in a tent trailer nursing a baby that would not settle, and the next day still managed to be a rational, patient parent to her almost three year-old that was not happy to be stuck in a trailer in the rain. I would have snapped for sure.

I am too tired to sit up, so I am going to bed.

I would not have the patience.

Nobody has the patience to be a parent before they're a parent. It's sort of like saying, "Well, I can't become a professional tennis player because my forearms aren't freakishly asymmetrical."

Nobody has the patience to be a parent before they're a parent. It's sort of like saying, "Well, I can't become a professional tennis player because my forearms aren't freakishly asymmetrical."

Thank you, Hec. I now have a mental image of Nadal and Federer signalling to each other across the net like fiddler crabs. (Rafa's still grunting.)

So of course when I go over in trashy clothes to deliver a package to my neighbor, get to meet his girlfriend for the first time. Covered in cathair. Yay first impressions?

I bet being a good enough neighbor to deliver the package when you were obviously busy beat the cat hairs.

Not only have I known consummately patient non-parents, I know excellent tennis players without noticeably asymmetric arms, Hec. I'm not sure your metaphor is sound.

And I also know parents who lack patience to do it well. But, by definition, I guess it's getting done.