Everyday Life

“Wow, you’re brave,” she said as she passed me on my long trudge onto campus.

She was undoubtedly referring to my knee-length skirt and tights–and to the temperature in the mid-teens.

But her admiration (or was it?) of my bravery was misplaced. I was far warmer in my closely-fitting tights coming on to campus than in my loose-fitting workout pants coming off of campus. I was a comfortable temperature as I walked to the Nutrition offices to meet the instructor I’ll be TA-ing for this semester. Only my finger tips and ears really felt the cold.

On the way back, I felt the cold air on my legs–the air that my pants could not keep out. The fabric chafed as I walked briskly back to my car. I was COLD and UNCOMFORTABLE.

What she should have been impressed with was that I made it safely on to campus in my loafers. My black slip-on loafers look nothing if not sensible–but they’re actually the worst thing imaginable on ice, or snow, or wet, or anything with the potential of slickness.

As I confidently returned to my car wearing the tennis shoes I’d worked out in, I noticed my tracks going the opposite direction. Nearly every track includes a skid mark, as the practically nonexistent tread of my loafers failed to do its job.

I’m a big fan of skirts–I wear them from 50-80% of the time. I tend to go for a business casual look, either with skirts or with slacks and dress shoes. I wear jeans approximately twice a year (and I’m not under-stating that at all), and I wear tennis shoes MAYBE once a week (unless I’m exercising).

The skirts tend to do just fine, regardless of the weather–I just choose shorter or longer and add or remove tights as appropriate. The shoes? Not so much. Dress shoes aren’t exactly known for being warm (in the winter), and they’re not necessarily breathable (in the summer–between food and medicine, my profession doesn’t really make sandals an option). What’s more, they’re slick-soled and generally not waterproof.

What I’ve learned from braving the elements in business casual? It can be done, but choose your shoes wisely. If I don’t have much walking to do, but it’s really slick outside, I’ll often choose something with a spike heel. The spike provides more grip than most “flat” soles–and still allows me to walk pretty quickly. If I have lots of walking, I consider flatter to be better, but I have to take it slowly so I don’t slip.

I’m thinking what I need is a pair of business casual cleats for winter. Does anybody know where I might find some of those?

I bite off more than I can chew on a daily basis.

What do you do to keep the to-do list from getting too long?

“From the way I’m acting, you’d think I was pulling out my hair by the roots,” I told my sister Tuesday evening.

She only laughed.

Because, actually, that’s exactly what I was doing.

After a month of not shaving my legs, my hair was the requisite 1/4″ to 1/2″ long–and I was ready to wax.

I’ve waxed before, using Nair’s roll-on wax. But at six dollars or so per bottle and needing at LEAST two bottles (I’ve got very long, very hairy legs), Nair can get expensive quickly.

So this time, I decided to sugar instead. I made my own sugaring mix using 2 cups of sugar to 1/8 cup of water and 1/8 cup of lemon juice. I heat it all up on the stove until everything was dissolved and then let it cool down so it wouldn’t burn my skin.

The waxing process is simple, but time consuming. Spread the wax evenly on your skin, in the direction of hair growth, with a wooden popsicle stick. Press a strip of fabric over top the wax (I used ripped strips from an old sheet I got through Freecycle.) Then, grab hold of the strip and rip it off–this time in the direction OPPOSITE hair growth.

And try not to scream.

That’s the hard part.

Why do I do it? Why does anyone do it?

The disadvantages are many, the advantages few. But somehow, I do it anyway. It takes forever, it’s painful, often it leaves little micro-bruises all over. But the lure of being hairless for weeks is enough to keep me trying. And now that I’m making my own sugaring solution, it’s cheap too.

Pain is a small price when beauty’s the gain.

What are some of the most ridiculous sacrifices YOU’VE made in the pursuit of beauty?

I don’t know how long the No Shave November thing has been going on. I first became aware of it five or so years ago when it seemed like all the guys at the University sprouted facial hair overnight.

According to the No Shave November site, there are several advantages of joining the phenomenon:

1. Be part of the “in” crowd by doing what all the cool kids are doing.
2. Real women like real men.
3. Save money on shaving cream, razors and other accoutrement.
4. Save time getting ready in the morning.

Nowhere in this site does it mention the advantages of no-shave November for WOMEN. The question is, can women still be a part of the “in” crowd if they fail to shave their legs? Do real men cringe at the thought of a “real woman” (legs au naturale)? Does not shaving save hassle or create it?

Naturally, I was curious to discover the answers to these questions. So I participated in my own form of No-Shave November by vowing off shaving my legs. I discovered that, as long as my legs are covered, no one knows whether I’ve shaved or not–and who bares their legs on a regular basis in November? Thanks to long skirts, slacks, and tights, I never experienced the ostracism that might otherwise have occurred due to my bristle. But trial runs of exposing part of my legs to friends and family revealed that few are fans of legs au naturale. My dad and brothers were most repulsed–although one brother chose to “play along” and compare leg hair with me.

As far as the hassle saved? Priceless. I saved at least ten minutes daily–leaving ten extra minutes available for reading. No Shave November was probably the one single factor most responsible for keeping me sane throughout the month of November.

Official decision? Not shaving (or shaving less often) is certainly a viable option for women during the winter months when they are unlikely to bare their legs. Doing so may save women time and money, without causing undue social ostracism. (Of course, I speak as an unmarried woman–married ladies might want to take their husband’s opinion into account ;-) ).

But, the best part of No Shave November is that I’ve grown my leg hair long enough that I can participate in that sadomasochistic act of female beautification: waxing. Tune in later for “No Shave November No Longer: on waxing.”

Do me a favor please?

Don’t let me EVER leave the house wearing fleece socks again.

I was feeling a bit better, was assured that I’m probably not contagious any longer, and wanted to see my little sister’s musical performance tonight.

I changed into a longer skirt, put on a decently nice sweater. Then I thought, “Why bother changing my socks? It’s just a high school music show. It’s not like anyone I know will be there.”

Famous last words.

“Not anyone I know” turned out to be the president-elect of the Nebraska Dietetic Association, the graduate chair of my department, and the director of the Union College PA Program (for which I act as a professional patient).

I’ve never been so mortified in my life.

Never again.

Friends don’t let friends leave the house wearing fleece socks to ANYTHING!

Please be a pal and remind me if I forget.