Look, Ma, new pants!

This Wednesday evening, after months of wearing increasingly frayed and tired-looking pants to work, I finally bought a couple new pairs.  Actually, the situation was that I had some good fall/winter work pants, but when warmer weather arrived, I found my lighter-weight and lighter-colored pants were all showing their wear.  Recruiting my housemate (he volunteered), I went to a store likely to have cheap but durable khakis.  I was successful in my search, and am wearing one of the pairs of pants I bought as I type this very post.  They're quite comfy.  I'm not always a big fan of clothes shopping, but in the right mood, I do enjoy trying on different outfits, striking poses in the dressing room as I imagine myself strutting down the street in a jaunty pair of linen pants or slouching on the couch in a relaxed pair of jeans.  On Wednesday I think I fell into the pitfall of judging everything more positively because the shirt I wore to the store was a favorite of mine, and everything looked better in combination with it.  No matter.  Those mint-green cargo shorts will come in handy sometime, I'm sure!

Packing a Suitcase

Packing a suitcase can be very satisfying when you know just what you want to take and everything fits in neatly.  Unfortunately, that's almost never the case.  I tend to get myself all worked up when packing for a trip because I'm always starting later than I should have, usually when I've got three other things I'd rather be doing, or things that I need to get done ASAP.  Agitated as I am, I then grow even more indecisive than usual, agonizing over which shirts to bring or how many extra pairs of socks constitute reasonable backup, and how many are unnecessary weight.  I usually find that I've forgotten to wash a garment that would be the perfect thing to bring, or have forgotten to buy something I'll need, like dental floss.  Typically I'll try for a while to pack, lay out piles of stuff, then take a break to play guitar, eat ice cream, watch TV, or go bother my housemates.  Then it's back to packing.  Eventually it always gets done, but by that time I'm utterly exhausted and unable to properly get excited about the traveling I'm about to do.  It's really too bad, but all the frustration and anxiety goes away the next day as soon as I'm on the road, boarding the plane, or lifting anchor for new adventures!

Hoodies

As can be clearly discerned by studying the distinctions between figures one and two above, the hooded sweatshirt offers a range of stylistic and thermal options to suit varying conditions.  I am a big fan of hooded sweatshirts, especially the pullover kind with a kangaroo pocket.  True, the hood can sometimes be lumpy behind the neck while seated, driving, or wearing a backpack, but it also keeps the neck warm and provides a feeling of security, like a blanket that is socially accepted for everyday outdoor wear.  The hood can double as a makeshift pillow in a pinch, and is great for unexpected downpours or gusty weather.  I've got a few hoodies with logos on the front, but my favorites are still plain, solid colors like blue, green, or yellow.  Sometimes I wear a zippered hoodie to work over my dress shirt, which helps me feel relaxed and at ease while remaining (or so I imagine) more or less attired for business.  The hoodie may not be the perfect garment, but it comes darn close.