A Dedicated Follower of Fashion

So I've been off how many days in the past week or so, but I choose today to Christmas shop. The day it ends up snowing an inch so far. Hasn't stopped yet. Good planning, me. Could have been home having a cup of tea and toast, but no, you had to be out driving around in the 24-degree-weather, and realize it's snowing when you get out of your car at the far, far-away end of the mall parking lot.

Also, a memo to the various municipalities in South Jersey: If you hear snow in the forecast, and wake up in the morning to see a snow sky, it might be a good idea to SALT THE DAMN ROADS. Just a thought. An idea. A helpful hint.

I'd never driven in snow before...crash course in driving in the snow, much? (Not literally.) Fun and awesomeness!

Also, I had to be up in the morning today to watch another tour at the historical society (worst damn group of kids I've seen in a while; no one paid any attention and they kept wandering off and touching displays... "NO DON'T PLAY WITH THE CIVIL WAR SWORDS!!" From Vineland; the bunch from Camden High School were waaaay better behaved!), but I woke up an hour before my alarm. Because, I shit you not, I was dreaming something, don't remember what, and then Chuck Berry popped up out of nowhere and started yelling at me to wake up because I was missing his show. So...I woke up.

Thanks, Chuck Berry, you're an asshole even in my dreams.

I bought some crap at Wal-Mart to make Christmas cards with, for my family since they're all getting gift cards, and I picked up some ribbon while I was there. By "picked up some ribbon," I mean I spotted some ribbon I've got a little bit of left, and was thinking of trimming my 1840s nonexistent as of yet bonnet with, so I grabbed the whole spool off the rack (and a couple others of the same weave but different widths!) and marched up to the counter, demanding the whole thing. (The little Filipino lady working at the counter was the most adorable thing ever; she told me all about how she buys fabric and takes it to the Philippines to get clothes made cause it's cheaper there!) The older lady ahead of me noticed the miles and miles of ribbon I was buying, and asked if I was a teacher. Nope, this is just my hobby. She told me she was a seamstress herself, but she's giving it up, and has all this stuff she wants to give away. Not sell, give away. Craft supplies, a thread rack, fabric...was I interested?

O MY YES I WAS INTERESTED!

We exchanged contact information, and turns out she's just the next town over from me. I shall let you know how this works out!

Looking at all the days I've posted on the LJ calendar thingie...I need to shut up!

Like that's going to happen. LAWLZ.

I'm going to put together a post on What I Learned About 60s Fashion From My Thesis, since cutothechase encouraged me slightly, and I ran with it. Never encourage me to talk about the things I'm obsessed with; I won't shut up! Clearly. Meant to do that this weekend, but I actually had more to do than I thought I did, so it didn't get done. (Challenge: use the verb "to do" four times in one sentence.) Will sometime soon. Write the post, not use "do" four times in one sentence...cuz I clearly just did dat.

I went to the docent training today at Camden County Historical Society. The four of us hopefuls were given a tour of the mansion, basically to show us what we'd be doing, and make sure we still want to volunteer. I still do. :) Then we scheduled a one-on-one meeting with the museum director...I guess to see if we'll be a Proper Fit for a Not-Crazy Tour Guide or some such. (Also, I wrote on my application form that I like to play dress up. No, really.) I'd never been to Pomona Hall before, and I don't know that much about specifically local history. *shame* But it's a lovely mansion -- it was made into a mansion in 1788, but the smaller house was built in 1726 (SO A 1770 DRESS IS TOTALLY APPROPRIATE) -- and they do a good job keeping it up. So we'll see what happens with that. (Will absolutely need mitts to wear with my cranberry dress if I'm a tour guide, though -- that house is chilly!)

And after that I visited with my best friends from high school, and we carved jack-o-lanterns (mine's sitting in my window now), chatted, and ate vast amounts of food. It was delightful.