A fashionista gone awry

My favorite line from one of my favorite movies goes like this: "She appeared to be clinically insane and wearing some kind of Yeti costume." That's Will's (Hugh Grant) assessment of Marcus' mom Fiona, when Marcus tries to set Will up with Fiona in the movie About a Boy. You can somewhat see the hairy sweater in the picture to the left.

I had similar sentiments when Michelle Obama walked on stage last Tuesday night as her husband accepted his role as our future president. In my opinion, Michelle Obama is a knockout. She's gorgeous. However, I was sorely disappointed when she walked onto the stage wearing this:

Michelle with the lovely Malia, the older daughter

When the Obamas took the stage in Chicago, I was still at work reporting on various elections and watching the television, and I heard myself say aloud, "No, no, no, Michelle. Honey, nooooooo. WHAT are you wearing?"

I mean, what is that? Is that thing around her waist a cumberbund or a sash or two belts that are crisscrossed? Is the dress red, is it black? Meantime, those dots are making me dizzy. Also, Is that a cardigan? I just don't know.

I mean, look how gorgeous she is. And I have loved her choice of outfits during the election, but wearing that dress during such a highly historical moment was a bad choice. It is busy and detracts from her beauty. I just can't figure it out. I wonder if it is Stacy and Clinton approved. (And if you don't know what I mean by that, please reconsider what it means to be my friend.)


Here is another look at Michelle's frock on a model:

Gross!

Did anyone else find her dress unflattering?? I look forward to seeing her First Lady wardrobe and maybe getting a few fashion pointers...that is, if she redeems herself after this catastrophe.

Hitting the trail...

The campaign trail, that is.

Kurt and I usually keep our political opinions to ourselves. However, we recently helped out a friend of his whose father is running for the U.S. Senate. Margaret Wicker and Kurt graduated from high school together and have been buddies since at least junior high, maybe earlier.

Kurt, Margaret, and me

Kurt and I both really like Roger Wicker and believe he is a much better candidate than Ronny Musgrove for the Senate. Wicker voted against the bailout, which we were also against. We recently spent the day taking fliers to houses and putting them in/on doors, somehow.

Thumbs down = illegal

It is illegal to put them in mailboxes, so the following are examples of the correct ways to campaign:





Also, make no mistake -- campaigning can be dangerous. Kurt got chased by a dog. I was down the street, and I heard a ruckus behind me. I looked down the street (not within 'hollering' distance) and saw/heard Kurt scolding a dog. So I called him on his cell phone, and he told me that a dog chased him out of a driveway. I laughed and said, "Nuh uh." And he said, "Yes it did. I had to back swiftly out of the driveway." Thanks for the explanation.

Kurt risked his life for Roger Wicker. Now that's loyalty.

Not the dog that chased Kurt, but of similar build.

I also faced danger. You never know what is lurking around your front door.

scary spider

Also, this little fellow told me he was voting for Wicker. He staged a sit-in in someone's yard until the owner promised to vote for Wicker. Now that's dedication.


I even decorated my car and my shirt to show my support.

Car

Shirt

Don't forget to vote on Tuesday. In summary,

Lately we've been...

BUSY!

Two weekends ago we went to Oxford with a couple in our church to see a musical called Smokey Joe's Cafe in the Ford Center. Lyndon and Amelia Perkins took us to dinner in (on? at?) the Square at Downtown Grill. Oxford, I must admit, is a lovely town. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and are thankful for the hospitality and generosity that our church members show us.

Lyndon, Amelia, Marty & Kurt

Smokey Joe cast member and me

Also, the following picture sums up Ole Miss: even their dogs are spoiled! Find a toilet for goodness sake!

So I'm a little strange...

A couple of people tagged me to name six quirky/interesting things about myself. I told Emory I was too normal to participate in such an exercise, but we all know that's a lie...

1. When I'm home alone, I check inside the showers to make sure no one is hiding in there, planning to attack me.

2. I can't stand for rain to get on my glasses. If I know it is going to rain, I will wear my contacts that day.

3. When I get into my car to go somewhere, I buckle up immediately (usually before I even start the car) and lock the doors. Safety (or paranoia) first!

4. I carry my planner and a scratch pad with me everywhere I go so I can always know what is going on and also write stuff down so I won't forget.

5. I don't like to touch leftover food on plates when I am washing dishes. It grosses me out.

6. I hate this about myself, but it is true: I always go a penny over the dollar when I pump gas.

My new hairdo

When Kurt was out of town last weekend, I got crazy and colored my hair. What do you think?

Before

After

Who's that boy?

This is my husband Kurt. At least twice a week, a stranger approaches him and says, "You look familiar. Have we met before?" At first I thought they were pickup lines, but then I realized that just as many guys ask him as girls...and we won't go there. Kurt's usual response is, "No, I'm just a tall, skinny, blond guy. We all look alike."

We were shocked to discover that Kurt's sister and brother-in-law think Kurt looks like Ryan Howard from The Office, except with blond hair. Do you see it? We really don't. Well, maybe the nose...


Then, Kurt spoke at a youth conference in Hattiesburg, MS, this past weekend. One girl, a college student and chaperone, had the audacity to tell Kurt that he looks like...drum roll, please....

TOBY FLENDERSON from The Office.

Yes, I said Toby.

Toby??!!!

WHAT?

Now that, I do not see. Do you??

The Ross and Rachel Principle

I turned on NBC tonight to watch The Office at 8 o'clock, only to be bombarded with more madness from this upcoming presidential election. Since I am a news editor, I follow the election all day. I am ready to be done with it by the time I get home. (However, I watched the debate anyway...)

If you watched The Office last week, you saw Jim and Pam get engaged. (I would put a spoiler alert here, but you have had plenty of time to visit NBC.com and watch it.) Finally, right? When Jim popped the question in the rain in front of the gas station, I screamed and jumped up and down the couch in excitement. But, my heart immediately sank. Why, you ask? Because of what I have named "The Ross and Rachel Principle."

If you know me AT ALL, you know my obsession with the show FRIENDS. Similarly to The Office, all the characters of Friends are unique and enjoyable and bring a different flavor and talent to the show. However, Ross and Rachel were the glue, the romance that kept the show going.

Enter Jim and Pam. Their engagement is the moment we have been awaiting the last four seasons. Well, it came. And guess what? I'm going to assume NBC and the actors on The Office aren't planning to quit their jobs and end the show any time soon because it is a huge success. Where to go from here? Good question!

You see, Ross and Rachel didn't get together for good, for permanent, for FOREVER, until the last 10 minutes of the very last episode of Friends. They had to be off-and-on to keep us interested in the show.

Therefore, The Ross and Rachel Principle will soon become The Jim and Pam Principle. They won't last. They can't. If the show plans to continue, some obstacle will come up to separate Jim and Pam, at least for a little while. I predict they will break up soon. Something will interfere with their relationship or their wedding planning or their fill-in-the-blank. Because of the Ross and Rachel Principle, expect years (however many more this great show will give us) of ups and downs to come for Jim and Pam. However, I'll will follow every last minute of it. For now, let's celebrate PB&J!