Dresses

I'm going with the blue one. My co-worker Maura tried on the black one (in the handicapped bathroom) and may very likely borrow the black one. She's much taller and thinner than I (she's a marathon runner) and I'm guessing she's very Audrey Hepburn in it.

I do love the brown one, but the dinner will be really formal (its really black tie, but they don't want to scare some of the guys off who would be willing to show up in a nice suit versus a tux, so they are saying its 'black tie optional'). I think I'll wear the brown one with some kind of shawl to my holiday party *this* year; it will be classy but still comfy and easy to dance in. :)

Thanks for your input folks! I'm going to have a fun time buying the bling to go with the dress. :) And I'll be waiting for some swanky event to wear the black velvet dress too - there's just too much junk in my trunk for me to feel comfy wearing it to work (it fits and all, its just REALLY clingy).

Creepy

Waltham folks - Mr. Dacey is dead! He had a heart attack Globe Article .

In other townie news, there's been an increase in gang activity again http://www.dailynewstribune.com/homepage/x1344107633 . Granted its not South Central LA or anything, but I wonder what the newer residents may think of this. Its interesting that despite gentrification on the South Side we seem to be heading back to the way things were (at least for teens) in the late 80s/early 90s. Is everything cyclical? There were fighting gangs of kids around Charles and Felton streets when my Dad was a kid too, though the color lines were less blurry (you couldn't walk down those streets if you were white unless you were accompanied by someone of color that was cool enough to earn some respect - thankfully my Dad had some friends like this).

I guess because I've always thought of Waltham as a city and most cities have these kinds of issues I'm not surprised. With crowds and poverty and poor parenting come these sorts of things. To have the 'stuff' that a city has to offer you have to deal with the consequences. Some very poor people haven't been priced out yet as often happens, I think to a large degree because of the amount of services and programs in the area. What seems to be happening is a shift to where the middle class is moving out as they age and don't like the way things look (like my parents) or are priced out of purchasing or renting without subsidies while the upper and lower classes hang on. It makes for an interesting dynamic sociologically. The yuppies in the hives (ugly rows of new condos off Moody street) are starting to have children, so it will be interesting to see what happens as that generation ages.

All of this comes in the face of a new Mayoral election. One of the City Councilors (who was also incidentally the DJ at our wedding) is running against the current Mayor. It should be an interesting battle to watch!

Inara

There's a picture of the finished product in here. I'm not crazy about my expression, but I've never been a camera slut. I'm hoping we'll get some good ones Saturday night when I actually have makeup, and look more natural. Posed photos just don't work for me most times.

http://www.marmontianderson.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=10

My fabric is a bit stiffer than hers so the top of the wrap doesn't sit as it should, still I'm happy with it. The pant legs are wider than they appear in the photo too (kind of palazzo width), they are just kind of thin so they are falling back.

Not bad for kind of thrown together. I may make some minor improvements on it but for now I'm happy to move on to other things. :)