OOTD and a new bag!

Sporting my new do I went out and about nosing around in the charity shops.
An open mind and leisure time are all one needs
to get "into the zone"
it is a treasure hunt after all and you never know what you'll discover and it cannot be rushed

OOTD ~ Casual attire
I imagine that this or a variation of this will be my retirement uniform.

Gap 1969 skinny jeans

white tank "generic no name brand"

grey cashmere cardigan from Lands End

fave belt from Olsen

pearls from Rennaissance Studio, Pender Island BC

Mee Too flats 

with an equestrian nod ~ via the snaffles

There's nothing like a little potter about in vintage clothing and accessories.
Often you'll strike it rich and find a gem...
I'd been looking online on etsy and ebay for a smaller classic hand bag for the past few weeks and nothing struck my fancy until I spied this one today....

Chester likes it!

I love the details and the quality of craftsmanship.

It's large enough to hold my wallet, keys, glasses, a lipstick and IPhone.

It's not too heavy and the size would work for evening.

I know I know

I can hear you murmuring

it's ANOTHER BLACK BAG 

but it's seriously difficult for a leopard to change her spots.

I instantly recognized the logo inside the bag...

Banana Republic

after a quick tootle around google 

I discovered this bag is circa 2008 and is called The Robson,

sold for just under $200 when new.

Chester in the background

not a bad size for a bag for the Hostess

and the price was right!

I am getting used to the new cut...

it dries in a flash and just needs some mousse to help the curls stay in place.

What fun things have you been up to?

My daughter has been scoring some great mid century pieces in her travels.

I'm looking forward to spending some time with that darling of all grand daughters 

the lovely Miss Isla and her fabulous parents.

 Be Kind

and mind your manners

they speak volumes about the kind of person you are.

~ ~ ~

Reeling from rudeness and soaking up gratitude or post # 622

Do you ever say something without thinking?
I try very hard to filter my thoughts and not blurt out everything that comes to mind.

I had a rather awkward moment with a co-worker who blurted something very unkind and embarrassing to me.
It was said in front of 5 other colleagues and I was so embarrassed that I looked around the room from face to face to see if anyone would come to my aid.
No one did and a couple of people laughed....
perhaps nervously?

I wanted to bolt out the door and run.
My legs would not move,
I was gobsmacked,
and stuck at a loss for words...
Struck Dumb!

The event re-played in my mind throughout the day and into the evening.
Only silenced by watching TV,
The Batchelorette season opener with lovely daughter.

This morning a couple of my colleagues who had overheard the comment approached me and asked how I was feeling about it and apologized for not supporting me at the time.
They felt badly.
Now that I have thought things through and discussed the rude event with others I feel a better sense of clarity and have some time and much needed perspective.

The speaker of the unkind words has a checkered past history of doing this with almost everyone on staff.
I am relieved that I am not the only target of these nasty barbs.
(security in numbers!)

"Hootie" 

made by darling daughter

to add to the box of toys here for the lovely Miss Isla.

Who by the way brought sunshine and light with her on Mother's Day visit. 

Patterns are few and far between in my wardrobe.

I have several dresses in patterns which I wear to work, for errands, shopping and dining out.

this dress has a wrap feature built in

chris cross over the bust

I am knackered tonight

 my day has been fraught with autistic uncertainty

some days are like that.

I have been full on

so I am putting my feet up 

breathing deep Yogic breaths

making mental notes about all the things that I am grateful for...

Mr. HB drove up island today to see a lucrative client

he had the top down on his BMW 

and after clocking many kilometers is home safe.

Hi Honey!

Pepper was in a cuddly mood when I got home so I have had lots of kitty cat love

I have leftover roast beef and am making beef dip tonight with a salad

easy peasy...

The sun is still shining and it's light outside

I have a great book at my bedside

(The Post Mistress)

we have fresh running water

the house has a roof

it's warm

I am alive

and 

aware.

I work with some pretty amazing people 

we have fabulous kids at school

and

I love my job.

How was your day?

Excuse me!

When I read blogger mon avis mes amis post this morning I was quite disturbed. She had been enraged by a rude comment directed at her young children by a complete stranger!

Please take the time to read her post.

Some people display a distinct and obvious lack of decorum. Rudeness seems to be infiltrating our society at such a rapid pace I wonder where we as a society have gone awry.

Rudeness rears it's ugly head day to day, from the bull nose drivers who cannot yield or wait their turn to the pushy folks at the market. I for one do not feel that we as a society should stand by and be complacent or accepting of this and that we should show our displeasure and disapproval by politely reminding people that they in fact are out of line. If you have read the post of which I am speaking of you may get the gist of what is amiss. 

Manners, turn taking, sharing, polite conversation, was learned at my mother's knee. She directly supervised my interactions with friends from an early age. She reviewed and corrected my thank you notes and letters which were part of my training, and were required after a gift was received. 

(I also had a pen pal on which to practice my letter writing, we all did, that was grade 3)

 The telephone was not appropriate and stationary was as plentiful as soap was in our home. 

I also was sent to Charm School, not that I led a charmed life, (far from it!) but I did absorb the basics.

I am suggesting that quite possibly families are so busy working and parenting and tired/stressed as a result, that these lessons have been put on the back burner so to speak, and or completely tossed out with the garbage.

It might just be the ripe time for someone very savvy to pick up the pen, or laptop, and write a "How-To Book" on manners and their instruction with the goal of ridding our society of rudeness.

(and I am not suggesting milque toast)

Maybe Disney would consider an animated film on the subject? It might be a 2010 version of Animal Farm without the political metaphors.

May I suggest that the next time someone is rude that you gently remind them of this slight offence. I am not suggesting a full on assault, consider the situation and your risk first...maybe all that is required is a look...or an indignant pardon me did I hear you correctly? Or excuse me but I believe that I am next, or could you kindy wait for your turn? And please if you are in your car no "flipping of the bird" that is Rude!

In our school, we Expect and Encourage good manners and behaviour, we lead by Example and Instruct and Correct where necessary. It is constant and exhausting work however, we as a staff know it is in our best interests to persevere, after all we do not live in the Stone Age.

It has never been good form to throw stones...

Manners are not what they used to be...please, thank you, excuse me.....

A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.

Marcus Garvey 

I am appalled at the lack of manners these days. I don't know if I should let this go or if I should hang on tooth and nail and pontificate loudly.
My upbringing was such that there was an unwritten code of rules that one followed. I was born into a middle class family who had endured financial hardship, during that Great Depression. My parents taught me at an early age to say thank you, wait my turn, chew with my mouth closed, not to speak with my mouth full and men and boys were NEVER to come to the table with their hats on! It would appear to all intents and purposes that their financial state did not affect their ability to acknowledge what was considered proper and polite. Courtesy and comportment still mattered.
I see men dining in restaurants and cafes with ball caps on...why? Are they bald? Are they cold?  Did their mothers never tell them that the hat comes off at the table? There is a time and a place for everything...OK wear that cap at the game in the stands, eat your hotdog, burger and drink that beer.
And while I am on the subject, where are the thank you's for gifts and flowers? A telephone call will suffice, definitely not a text or an email.
Pushing ahead in line up at a movie or bakery, what is that all about? I offer the person behind me in line up to move ahead if I have a full cart of groceries and they have a few items, common (or so I would think) courtesy, is it not?
I recently went to the local museum and was standing in front of a display, not too closely mind, as there were others also reading the posted information and a man pushed in front and stood directly in front of me totally obscuring my view...did he not see me?
I am getting worked up over this and I need to find that zen Yoga breath and put things into perspective!
I am quite possibly an over-the-top manner snob!
I phone to thank my host and hostess after a dinner party, acknowledge gifts and flowers, write thank you notes, sympathy cards and letters and send them in the post.
I have heard this before, in the presence of my dear mother...I have become a parrot of sorts but share the same values.
I am now stepping down from the soapbox and slowly walking away....pontificating no more, at least for today!