September 24, 2009

retro chic

Jean Seberg, circa 1961

I have a haircut scheduled sometime soon; this is the cut I’m hoping for. And yes, it’s very much like what I have now, but more texturized across the front, I think.

For someone with so little hair, I certainly manage to overthink it, you know?

I’m constantly pulling photos of great short haircuts, because it can be almost impossible to explain a cut to a stylist exactly, particularly if she speaks Stylist and you speak Girl Who Overthinks Her Short Hair. They’re not compatible languages, sadly.

Recently, I’ve noticed that the cuts I’m the most drawn to are all the hair styles of women in their 20s. I am not a woman in my 20s, unless you want to argue that I’m in my second round of 20s, which is a stretch. So then I start to think that maybe Jean Seberg’s 1961 hair (she was 23 in this photo) isn’t the best choice. Maybe I should look for older women with cool short hair.

But other than Jamie Lee Curtis, there aren’t any, and while I really like Jamie Lee’s hair, I like Jean’s hair better.

Last night I bought a pair of boyfriend jeans, which has nothing to do with hair but which also made me think about being 40 (ok, 41, be particular about it) and looking to The Kids for fashion inspiration. Is there an age limit on boyfriend jeans? I really hope not because my god are they ever comfortable.

But the bigger question, I think, is this: How do you know what it takes to look your age? Do you feel like you look your age? What should your age look like? I’m 40 (FINE, FORTY ONE, WHATEVER) but I don’t necessarily feel 40 (ONE). I feel like me. Then again, what’s forty (one) supposed to feel like? When I was 20 I thought it would feel like being dead; now that I’m forty (one) it feels like being busy and being satisfied and being successful. And then I find myself buying a pair of jeans that most likely were intended for someone half my age and I think, am I over reaching?  Will I look like one of those women who tries regain her lost youth by dressing like a girl?

Because really, what I love about the boyfriend jeans and the pixie cut is how easy they are. I’m a grown up, but I’m still lazy. Go me.

Maybe this is my midlife crisis. Because I can’t explain my obsession with low maintenance hair and pre-distressed jeans in any other way.

Weigh in on the boyfriend jean — yay or nay?

September 23, 2009

still not sure what Twitter is? I can help!

Alternate title: Come get your hands on small business!

When I was in Chicago this summer, I spent one lovely evening having dinner with the Kirtsy girls. At one point I may have pleaded with them to bring their Hands on Social Media classes to Oklahoma City, because I’m tired of having to explain Twitter to you people.

It’s microblogging, you all! See?!?

Anyway, the Kirtsy girls were listening …

Women across the country will be coming together this Fall for the October and November Hands On Small Business (#HOSB) series — all brought to you in by the Politics, World and Business section of Kirtsy and the very good people of Microsoft Office Live . All of the 100 gatherings will be held October 5 – November 20 in 20 areas across the country including:

(blah blah blah lots of cities that are not Oklahoma City, but then …)

Oklahoma City

Yee haw.

But wait! It gets BETTER! Not only is #HOSB coming to the OC, I’ll be teaching the workshops.

Do you know what that means? It means that I WILL EXPLAIN TWITTER TO YOU, and you will fall in love with it and make it work for your small business. You’re welcome.

Showing my love of Twitter. Also holding a pen, for no good reason.

I’m so excited about this. If you’re a small business owner in the OKC area and you want to know how to make social media work for you, please plan to join us. (Not a small business owner, but still curious about social media? Come on out! The more the merrier!)

#HOSB OKC (whew, say that ten times fast) will take place at The Full Circle Bookstore at 50 Penn Place on the following dates:

Wednesday, October 14, 10:00 am - noon

Monday, October 26, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Monday, November 2, 10:00 am - noon

Monday, November 9, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Saturday, November 14, 10:00 am - noon

Each workshop is entirely free, but I promise you, the take-away will be invaluable. I hope to see you all there.

Because seriously, I’m so tired of trying to explain Twitter …

September 22, 2009

serenity now!

Every so often, the lovely people at Oklahoma Magazine ask if I would like to write a wee column for them, for their Last Thing feature. I always say yes, because they’re so nice, and because what else do I have to do, right?

Uh, right.

I have a piece due tomorrow, for the November issue; it’s about how I manage the stress of the holidays — cooking and shopping and entertaining. So far, all I’ve come up with is buy more booze. Oh and possibly, run away to Tahiti.

I’m not sure that’s what they want.

I woke up this morning with a stress headache that started somewhere around the right side of my jaw and then settled behind my ear, precisely where my glasses sit, for the entire day. I’ve taken so much ibuprofen that I fully expect my liver to just give up and stop functioning at any moment, and also to possibly just fall on the floor waving a white flag. And yet! My head still hurts.

I have no idea what the strategy is for handling the stress of the holidays. Last year, I spent most of November and December getting up at four am to work, because I couldn’t jam my 10 hours of work into a seven hour school day, and of course waking up at four meant I was falling into bed at eight. Good times.

Also, not good stress management. Ouch, my head hurts.

Today I tried making a list (you know, like I used to tell my writing students to do) and I came up with useful things like eat healthy food and drink more water and get enough sleep.

Yeah, none of that is going to happen, unless coffee and Luna bars count as water and good food. Also, that would be the most boring column ever in the history of columns.

So then I came up with things like have regular manicures! and buy fresh flowers! and make coffee dates with friends! and I fell over laughing because when am I going to do all that? Four am?

Sheesh.

Tonight Charlie came downstairs, to ask someone, anyone, to snuggle with him; Wade was watching a documentary on PBS about stress. “Do you ever get stressed?” he asked me. Wade laughed. “Yes,” I said. “Does Daddy ever get stressed?”

“Yes.”

“What about Henry?”

“Charlie,” I said, “I think you’re the only person in this house who does not get stressed.”

“Is that good?” he asked.

“Yes,” I told him. “It is.”

“Will you come snuggle with me?” he said. And I did, because why not? My head already hurt, and it was just easier to lay down in a pile of stuffed puppies.

September 17, 2009

MOL

Her: So Dave is studying for his commercial real estate license. You should see his book. It’s huge. And full of random terms. Last night I said to him, Hey, I have a question for you.

Me: What’s MOL?

Her: YES!!!

Me: I have always wondered what that means.

Her: Do you really not know???

Me: No! What is it?

Her: More or less.

Me: Shut up.

Her: I will not.

Me: More or less? Seriously?

Her: Yes! You know, four acres … more or less.

Me: Huh. I would have assumed that those measurements were more accurate than just more or less.

Her: Apparently not. Did you really not know that?

Me: I really did not. And I have wondered about that for years.

Her: Well, I’m glad I’m not the only jackass who didn’t know that.

Me: Oh no. Totally did not know that.

Her: I asked Dave if he learned that from his fancy book, and he said, Nope, just common sense.

Me: Which we clearly lack.

Her: Clearly.

Me: I’m going to start working that into conversation. You know, I’m looking forward to your event! MOL. Or, Today was a good day. MOL. OR! I’m really enjoying spending time with these kids. MOL.

Her: Hahahaha …

We love these children. MOL.