"If You Keep Something Long Enough..."

My mom use to tell me that if you kept something long enough it would be back in style.  I hoped she wasn't right, but like most things, she was.  But there are some things you hope you only have to live through once--like the 70s. Mom was right, though, and I had that proved to me again last weekend.

The Girl did some thrift store shopping with one of her roommates.  They were looking for "sister missionary" appropriate skirts.  The Girl came home over spring break with a black and cream rayon skirt with a small graphic design, and a pale purple pleated one that I swear might have been my grandmother's.

Both skirts needed new elastic.  She needed some guidance to get that replacement done.   And I did but only because she asked me to help her.

Purple polyester double-knit.  With an elastic waistband.  Could there be anything that screams "GRANDMA" louder or faster to the passer-by?!  I don't think so, unless that pleated purple polyester skirt also happens to come with a matching suit coat.  This one apparently did but The Girl didn't pick that up too. Lucky for me.

Can you see the texture of this fabric?!?  You can probably even imagine the feel of it.  Anyone who lived through the 70s can.  I told The Girl that if their dorm ever had a 70s Night party, this would be perfect to wear, as it is VINTAGE!

Maybe I should just be pleased that The Girl has so little concern for "fashion" as it were.  She is happy with something that fits and is modest--in design and cost.  Maybe with all the bargain shopping she has seen me do over her lifetime, I have created a monster!

An Honest Shelf Life

Two years ago this month, Genius Golfer got us cell phones.  Because two years ago this month, he quit his job to work for himself, from home.  All three of the others in our family have upgrades their phones one way or another, except me.  I have that two year old phone and it has been great.

Until this week, that is.

This week, my little phone cannot find a network to utilize.  I can get texts and calls, but can't access the web, apps, or other tools that I have slowly been getting used to there.  I've even tried to learn what to do to fix it myself, which all came up dry.

So when GG and The Boy (who has fall break this weekend, so no school today) get going for the day, they are on a quest to replace or upgrade my phone.  But for the record, I think 2 years is a pathetically short shelf life for a little piece of electronic equipment that makes my life easier.

Taking the Plunge

I am going to do it today.  Finally.  I've put up quite the fight, over the past couple of decades, but I've lost the will to fight anymore.

I'm buying a new coat.

I bought my favorite, unwilling-to-let-it-go parka when I came to BYU, as a freshman who had never had a high country winter before.  It served me well.  It has served me well, for about 25 years. 

But this morning when I zipped it on to go walking, the zipper broke.  And not in a way that I can repair (again).  I have made many repairs, fixes, mending over the years to this poor old coat.  But I haven't been able to find another I liked so much as I love this one.

I've said it before, and I'll surely say it again:  They just don't make things they way they used to.

I loved my old coat for the size, shape and placement of the pockets.  Yeah, sure, it has fuchsia/teal plaid lining that is seriously ugly.  Sure, the outer-skin of the coat is a cotton sheath with more repair stitches that fabric left.  And sure, the front button have been replaced and repaired over and over again.  You can't find its equal to replace it.

Until now.  Now I have to find something.  Without a functional zipper, this coat isn't really doing its job.  And consequently, I have to find another one.  And it still probably won't be as great as the only one, especially about hte pockets, but I have to face reality.

Plus, it is only 25 degrees, as I write this.  And that is too cold to pull on the white denim jacket that is only 10 years old. Dangit.