Doing my best to ensure the decline of important blogging

I was so pleased with my productivity today, that I went out shopping for a break. I wrote 1,264 words this morning, e-mailed my chair about some stuff I needed to do, emptied the trash, and graded 5 of the short papers awaiting my red pen. So I decided that I would head over to the local Macy's to get a new battery in my watch, and maybe treat myself by buying some Origins Body Souffle (the BEST lotion I've ever tried), or trying on some jeans.

I left with 6 t-shirts and 3 pairs of pants.

In my defense, they were all really cheap to start with, and 25% off on top of that. They're all really basic - plain old crewneck tees, but I liked the shape, and my policy is that when I find a t-shirt I like, I buy it in as many colors as I can. So now I have new ones in black, white, dark pink, chocolate brown, aqua, and teal. (You can never have too many t-shirts, especially living where it's so hot much of time.) The pants are mocha linen wide-legs, and then stone and olive cropped twills. The mocha ones are slightly dressy, the others very casual (though I could teach in them in hot weather with a more formal top).

Of course, as soon as I bought them, I walked throughout the rest of the store, saw other items, and instantly started thinking, Should I have bought these? They're cheap, but does that mean they're crappy and I'll regret it? Isn't it better to buy one or two really good things rather than a bunch of junk? They're basics, but are they so basic that they're boring? I like to think I look classic, but do I look like a suburban matron? Blah blah blah. Perfectionism - it's not just for academic work! Whenever I buy anything, I start agonizing over whether it's the "right" purchase or not - "right" being something that will go with everything I already own, be appropriate in every situation, make me look the perfect combination of sexy and professional (not to mention thin), and, of course, be comfortable and not require ironing or dry-cleaning. Yeah. Unrealistic much? Well, if I change my mind, I can always take them back.

PS - I forgot to add that I have been seized with the desire to dye my hair red. It's kind of streaky caramel/brown at the moment (the caramel parts are fake, in case you were wondering), and I'd been thinking about going back to my natural dark brown, maybe with an auburn tint. But suddenly I really want to go RED. Maybe not quite Carrot Top red, but I'm kind of inspired by Shaun White, Olympic snowboarder, AKA the Tomato.

Comments

[Jane Dark]

Your hair sounds like mine. And hurrah for productivity.

[terminaldegree]

I loooove Origins. My favorite is the Smoothing Souffle.

[Kicki]

Dear New Kid, I find it hilarious that I've been reading your blog for ages and never commented, even on topics that really interested me, but now, when you talk about dying your hair red, I feel compulsed to comment. Go red, I say, because it doesn't matter how gray the day is, or how bad your mood is, if you have red hair, there is always a part of you glowing. While I'm at it, I like the blue shoes, and the adjective I immediately thought about in connection with you is "kind".
Kicki

[Jessica]

People who have naturally dark brown hair usually look really nice with red. I dye my hair way too often - my students always look at me funny the next day.

Funny, the Souffle products (and some of the other ginger stuff) are the only things at Origins I can't get on board with - yet every beauty product I have (from makeup to soap to shampoo) is from them. I'm a Perfect World fan.

[Seeking Solace]

Re the hair color, I say go for it! It would be nice for spring.

I have never tried Origins. I'm a Body Shop girl, but maybe I will give it a try.

[sp]

New Kid,

I sympathize with your shopping perfectionism. When I am shopping, I am unable to buy anything the first time I am in the store. So...after I try on the clothes I always put them on hold and shop in ALL the other stores first, even if the first ones were PERFECT. I can't shake the feeling something better or cheaper or cooler is waiting for me at another store.

I also understand the red thing. I wanted to go red for years. Since my hair is pretty much my only feature I really love, I was always too scared to actually dye it. Instead, when I was in college, I would wash it with this shampoo that was colored red and was supposed to lightly color red hair thereby extending a dye job. Of course, it never worked...and being a scientist I'm really surprised I ever thought it would. But I wanted red hair so badly I tried it.

So I say: Just Do It. And tell me how it is becuase I'll be ultra jealous that someone else is brave enough to try it.

[New Kid on the Hallway]

Hmmm, the red hair thing is looking more and more like a go... I'm going to wait till spring break (so that if there's a disaster or I freak out, I don't have to turn around and head into the classroom the next day), but if I'm still psyched for the idea, I'll do it. (I think my stylist will be bemused, but that's okay!)

[cousineddie75]

I agree on the red hair! The worst thing that could happen would be that you have to dye it back.

[Celandine]

I think red hair is great. *g* But you knew that.

[Nomadic Postdoc]

Or you could maybe go with red streaks if you were nervous about the overall effect? I've had hot red streaks in my (dark brown) hair for a year now, & I love them.

Hmmmm, I only seem to comment on your shoe & hair posts. How academic of me.