Does This Dress Make Me Look Fat

I have lost track of the times I have heard those words come out of my mouth.  Not really wanting to know the answer but asking it anyway. But, the other day my husband uttered those same words.  Let me explain.

I have grown accustomed to my husband saying, "Does this lipstick and eyeliner look good on me."  We are involved in our local theater group; he's an actor and I do costume design.  When performing on stage he has to wear makeup, if he doesn't the lights make him look dull.  So, over the last three years he has found his perfect shade, Frosted Raspberry.  So, for him going a little outside his comfort zone is fine.

Oh, I forgot to mention he is a high school teacher.  He tries to be involved with the various things going on at the school and believes sometimes it is necessary to act it up a bit for a good cause.  This year the students came up with a brilliant idea for raising money to support, The Terry Fox Run.

If the students could raise $200.00 then two of the male teachers would wear dresses to school.  Now, for some reason Peter and the other science teacher were asked to do it.  They both accepted and the fundraising began.  Thursday, he announced to me that the fundraising goal had been met and he would be wearing a dress to school on Friday.

At dinner Thursday night we told our daughters about the fundraising goal and the fact that their dad would need some help picking out a dress and some shoes for tomorrow.  They were excited about the idea, after supper they went upstairs and gathered Natalie's dresses for Dad to try on.  We have discovered that he is not a size 12.

He tried on a few dresses and some nice black heels. Yes he asked,"How do women walk in these all day?"  Yeah, wait till he has to struggle into the pantyhose.

In the middle of the fashion show he notices a visitor approaching the house.  It's Deb, our local librarian and another one of the thespians from our local theater company.  He decided to greet Deb in a lovely white and blue flowered number.  When Deb opened the door and saw him standing there in a dress, she burst out laughing.  We quickly explained the reason.

Well, in the end he settled on a lovely black halter dress, rhinestone necklace and some sensible black shoes.  He is happy to have done his part to raise money for such a worthwhile cause.

Oh, yeah.  No the dress did not make him look fat and our 14 year old said, "Dad you have great legs."

Peter and I do what we can to raise money for certain organizations.  In the past three years I have participated in the MS Walk in Sudbury, Race Run Walk for Diabetes, Run for the Cure and canvassed for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.  These are all great reasons for me to lace up the running shoes and hit the pavement.  Peter participates in raising money for Terry Fox.  Please support these organizations when you can.  Links will be posted on my blog

Things I Do at Camp, But Never in Manitowaning

We have a camp that has been in our family for over 80 years.  It is a wonderful that has changed very little in this time.  There is no hydro, running water or indoor facilities, but everyone young and old love to spend some time at camp each year.  A good year is described by how much time you did or did not spend at camp.  This year I am feeling pretty good, I was able to go to camp twice.  That brings me to this weeks post - Things I Do at Camp, But Never In Manitowaning.
Here is the list:

• SOCKS: Wear the same socks for several days.  Yes, my pink and green wool socks from Mark's Work Wearhouse have gone on many a canoe and camping trip.  The amazing things about wool is even when it is wet your feet stay warm, toasty and never smelly.  You don't get that kind of comfort from cotton socks. At home, fresh socks everyday.
• PIGTAILS:The kids know it's camp time whey they see me sporting my hair in two neat pigtails.  Although very cute on the below tenners, pigtails on a grown woman some how says "Spank Me, I've Been Bad."  Not exactly the type of picture I would want to portray of myself in my sleepy little town. But at camp it is all about what is easiest.  Recently, I cut my hair and there was some actual concern when only a week later we were heading to camp.  Could I, Would I, Can I get my shorter locks into pigtails.  Well, I could, would and did part my hair down the middle and braided it into two very cute piggies.
• SHAMPOOING, CONDITIONING, AND SPRAYING:  This is another thing that while at home I would scarcely pass a day without doing the DO.  Camp is so different, there is an odd sense of freedom that comes from not being tied to the hair routine.  At camp I swim; but rarely do I crack out the shampoo and conditioner and never, ever have I hairsprayed my locks into control while at camp.
• AN OPEN DOOR:  Yes, at camp I pee with the door open.  First some clarification; at camp the door belongs to an outhouse.  The outhouse is situated in a little hollow, several feet from the camp, a small rock outcrop in front and the most beautiful view of Shit House Bay and the Killarney Mountain Range.  I go there not only to do my business, but to enjoy the view.  At home it's get in complete the paper work and get out.  But, at camp doing your business takes on a slower more relaxed pace.  There is a process to using the outhouse - quick inventory of the location of others, announce loudly,"Going to the Outhouse," proceed done the path announcing or singing to warn those who may be in the outhouse and wait to see if someone shouts, "Using."

Camp is the place we go to relax and let it all hang out.  It is the place everyone in the family craves to get to each year.  A place were long standing family traditions must be adhered to.