Cleaning Out My Closet

I can no longer wear this sweatshirt I bought in London in '05 - it's too small - but I loved the print so much, I will post it here.

My friend was hanging out a few weeks ago, and she saw my giant bag full of clothes to donate and asked if she could look through it. Sure, I said.

But as she started digging through the bag, a thought formed in my mind, foggy at first but then startlingly clear. I realized - there was a dress that she had given me in that donation bag.

Oh no! Social faux pas. The white trash bag wasn't quite opaque, and I could see the dress lurking in the middle of the pile, my friend inching closer and closer as she pulled out each layer of clothing. But what could I say? There was no going back now.

Novelty Keychain

At work, we have to carry our keys around in order to get into the bathrooms in the hall and back into the office. Last Friday afternoon, I was sitting at my desk when I heard our secretary say over the loudspeaker:

"Attention, staff. Lost keys have been found in the kitchen."

I immediately realized that the keys were mine. But the loudspeaker announcement kept going.

"The keys have a keychain that reads - If you don't..."

Time stopped. "Oh, no," I thought. "She wouldn't."

But she did! The secretary proceeded to read the rest of my novelty keychain OVER THE LOUDSPEAKER TO THE ENTIRE OFFICE.

I ran to the front desk to try to make her stop, but it was too late. Why do I even keep that thing on there?

You Promised You Wouldn't Wear Your Cape Outside

I present: The Cape! In all its glory.

After the initial shock, I decided to keep my Asos cape. There was a moment of confusion with the placement of the armholes. I have little T-Rex arms when I wear it.

But you don't even have to use the armholes if it's really cold out. No arms here. Carrying a purse with a cape is difficult, I've found. Forget about a backpack completely!

It is also difficult to button. I told my boyfriend Joe that I always buttoned it wrong and then it made me look like a moron. "Yes," he said. "The buttons are what make you look like a moron."

It's just a lot for him to process, but he's been a good sport about walking around with someone wearing a cape.

I think it is a lot for anyone to process. I wore it over to my friend Christine's house. Ever the consummate hostess, she asked, "Can I take your... cape?"

Christine's friend took a look at the cape. "It's weird, but nice," she said.

Eds. note - this about sums up the reaction to the cape. Let's get more comments from the peanut gallery.

Amy: "I don't love it but I most definitely don't hate it."

Luther: "I don't hate it as much as I thought I would."

Coworker: "Are capes popular?"

Me: "It's the beginning of a trend."

Coworker: "Well, don't let the taunts discourage you. They're just not there yet."

My friend Jacalyn (via email from Hong Kong!): "I LIKE THE CAPE!!! wear it!! wear it walking down the streets of G-town!!"

So I did! I had to run to catch the D2 bus, sprinting as fast as I could down the sidewalk, cape billowing behind me. I looked straight-up crazy.

And of course, I have to wear the cape while riding my bike. Same effect!

I think this is going to be my signature look. In fact, blog reader Alix recognized me on the street because I was wearing this cape. So just look for me, dear readers, I'll be the one wearing a cape.