My wife and I are both on "vacation" until the second of January, but up until now, it has been mostly about preparing for Christmas, cleaning up after Christmas, and keeping Smallsteps entertained throughout the days, as she is on vacation until the week after us. I have no idea how parents with jobs are meant to look after kids, considering how often they are home from school.
However, we have a night to ourselves tonight, and though we won't be going to a sex shop in Poland like the picture implies, we will be going out for dinner - which is the Christmas present I received from my wife. We haven't been out to dinner for a while, and I think the last time was somewhere in the spring, as that was the last time Smallsteps spent the night with her grandparents. They are past their mid 70s now, so it is getting harder for them to spend a lot of time with a kid.
Unfortunately, other than booking the table, almost zero planning went into the evening, which means that we have pretty much nothing else to do than the dinner itself. We looked for some kind of live music somewhere, but the only things that were around were already sold out, or not "for us" in genre. Not that there is much happening on a Friday night in this city, a few days before new years eve. I suspect there will be more going on Saturday and Sunday, as Monday is a day off also.
We will probably just end up sitting in a bar or something after dinner for a drink or two, since we are also taking the bus, so I don't have to drive. It might be nice just to spend some time not having to be anywhere and hopefully it will be somewhere quiet. I think most of my days of being in noisy bars are behind me.
I have nothing to wear.
Sounds like a very, very silly statement. And it is. But I haven't really bought any clothing for a long time that is suitable for going out to a nice dinner in and since the stroke, I am a bit heavier than I was, so the clothes I do have are not suitable. My wife on the other-hand always looks great, so now we are one of those couples that walks together and people say "they are a mismatched couple".
It isn't only the clothes, of course.
I am not hugely overweight, but I am short, so anything extra sideways, gets emphasized under a height multiplier. I have also been going to the gym quite regularly, but this has resulted in more muscle in my shoulders, even though I do zero arms, chest, or shoulder exercises. I barely even do back exercises, just some deadlifts, hip thrusts and raised split squats.
My work clothes also have a lot to be desired, as I work in a tech company, and there isn't much of a dress requirement. Again, since the stroke, I have chosen to wear very simple clothing that I don't have to think about at all. Essentially, I wear jeans and a t-shirt, with the color ranging from dark blue, to black. That's about it. The reason I do this is that it is "fine" in terms of what I wear and I don't have to spend any energy thinking about what I am going to wear in the morning. I have about 15 t-shirts, nearly identical.
Sad.
I used to care more about what I wore, though I don't care what people really think of me. However, I am a firm believer that what we wear affects the way we feel and also the way we carry ourselves. Even things like what underwear we are using matters, and if you don't believe me, the next wedding you go to, wear the crappiest pair of underwear you have, and see if it makes a difference.
I am sure for some it won't matter.
Or they say it won't.
There is more to "comfort" than trackpants, because comfort itself is a psychological condition, often triggered by physical circumstances. Wearing "comfortable clothes" like trackpants aren't likely to bring a feeling of comfort when they are worn in a situation like a wedding, where there are also social factors involved. Not many people can live comfortably completely outside of social convention, can they?
Maybe you say you can.
I don't believe you.
But it doesn't matter what I believe about you, you live your own life and face the circumstances you do, as well as the consequences of your actions. For me, I now have to go and find something to throw on so I don't look like a complete pleb next to my beautiful wife.
The chances I am successful, are slim to none.
Have a nice night!
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
I am glad that my mother is only 64. I hope that she will still be here for at least 15-20 years... She is the only close family I still have.
Have you ever thought about starting your own family?
In the past? sure. But each time I liked some girl they didn't like me. At this point I doubt I will ever meet the right person.
Are you in Poland? Enjoy your vacation. I wonder how beautiful Krakow and Warsaw are.
No, it is an old photo from a work trip.
Didn't go into the store then either! :D
I hope you have a nice time out to your dinner. The nice clothes I have are pretty much the same ones I wear for work. My wife and I don't usually go to fancy restaurants, so what we wear every day usually fits the bill. After work today I have to head to my nieces sweet 16 party, then I am off until the 3rd of January. It will be interesting to have that much time off with basically nothing going on (so far).
It seems I don't look much different from work either. Though tonight, I threw on a collared shirt - one of the few that still fit me :)
Have a great time at the part and enjoy a few days off.
Thanks, you too!
Enjoy your night out with your beautiful wife and don't give another thought to what you don't have. Come the new year, get yourself suited up for the next date night available and then you will be on top of your game. Main thing is to enjoy and connect with your love. Have fun!
We were early into the city and I had a look at a shirt or two I might get for the next night out :)
Right dress code when going out always makes one feel better, I must be honest in saying I have been embarrassed for people who tend to take a sloppy attitude toward what they wear.
Funeral wearing running shoes or sneakers as some call them, in jeans, sorry I find it difficult unless you arriving at a 'wake', to drink and party.
Hope the night out was eventful in finding something that suited your taste, nothing worse than feeling let down after not going out for awhile.
Me too. I have seen some shockers at weddings.
I might have looked awkward, but the food was good and we even went and danced for an hour afterward, which wasn't planned at all. It has been several years since we have danced out like that.
My husband has never planned any surprise outing for me in the 50 years I have known him, so what now, wait and see 2024 should be interesting in more ways than one.
Good to hear you got out to dance, I have forgotten the last time I had the pleasure when friends used to gather and have some fun over twenty-five years ago, things sure have changed!
That's so very IT, bang on trend
Hope you have a very enjoyable night out, and don't worry too much about your outfit. You have an amazing person on your arm, that surely makes you one of the, if not the proudest guy in the restaurant
Now I just have to embrace not doing my hair in the morning and just going into the office with bed head. :D
It is my saving grace - no one looks at me :)
I went out for a time with a guy who was tall and very handsome, a kind of old-fashioned matinee-style handsome, like a mashup between Cary Grant and Pierce Brosnan. He caught people's eye all the time, and I developed a whole range of smirks for when their gaze finally turned to see the woman he was with 😁.
But you know the old saying: "handsome is as handsome does."
Hope you have a lovely evening and best wishes for 2024.
I wonder if people think the same that they think about men - "she must be rich"
Looks don't matter too much to me (within reason), but I like a person who carries themselves well - I guess a Grant/Brosnan would carry themselves well :)
I have only heard it as "stupid is" ;D
And for you!
It is funny sometimes when we say that we have nothing to wear when we have countless numbers of clothes in our wardrobe😅 but that’s because it’s been long we bought clothes
That’s why it happens
You might have a lot in your wardrobe - I have a lot of t-shirts! :D
This was quite deep and heartfelt. I totally agree on the fact that our underwears has a great psychological impact on us —or rather— on me.
I feel like we should use the little time we've got this year to enjoy a closer relationship with those dearest to us while getting/doing those things we've always missed out on due to time constraint or finances. For me, I guess that'd be some nice pair of clothes just as you said.
I visualized some aspects of my life as I read through this post. Greetings @tarazkp 🎉
Rather than what makes us feel good, we should likely do what makes us perform at our best. Working out what that is, is part of the problem :)
Hmmm... True words!
doing that which will make us stand out and remain relevant is absolutely apt in our everyday life.
I guess we keep making new discoveries relevant to our growth as each day goes by.
It's good for you and your spouse to have some time to yourselves. It really makes for good fun and great bonding or at least it will leave you both refreshed and prepared for when the holidays are over and worklife begins. Wish you both the best, and Smallsteps also.
I think what we wear, has some psychological impact on us, whether others notice or not. It can either improve or mar our self-esteem. Thanks for sharing.
Most men when wearing a suit, stand up straighter.
Entertaining a child is not difficult if you have the time, in your case, a nanny with experience in educational activities would be the solution. Here in Canada, there are young nannies who are university students or finishing high school, there are also older nannies with a lot of experience and with certification; there is a state institution that takes care of that.
A good evening with your partner can be anywhere, the important thing is the company. Take advantage of the time to do different things to break the routine.
!gifs Happy Holidays
Via Tenor
A nanny? They don't exist here.
There are some babysitters, however, I wouldn't trust one to have my daughter overnight. My mother in law was a teacher of kids with special needs for 50 years - she is good at it.
It was a nice night.
What have you planned for the weekend?
Good luck my friend. I just been to Czeck republic, and food is similar to Polish one, so you will enjoy it.
Well, I'd like some feedback, LOL. Did you look mismatched afterall?
About comfortable clothing, yeah, my thoughts are the same as yours. Most times I have heels on, I don't have any complaints because I feel great about the way I look. It's only when I take them off, I realise how uncomfortable they were. Yep, it's mostly psychological.
Having also worked in IT, where there is no uniform and we are also allowed to dress comfortably, I can relate. I do try to wear collared shirts just to make myself feel like I'm going to work. I also have at least 1 fitting long sleeve shirt for more formal settings. I hope you were able to find something to wear.
It's like you read my mind! I always have a hard time finding the perfect outfit for a night out. But in the end, it's all about the experience and the company. Have a wonderful evening!
"I am a firm believer that what we wear affects the way we feel and also the way we carry ourselves"
I couldn't agree more to those words of yours. There some clothes that I always feel uncomfortable in them when I put them on at certain occasions, not because they aren't nice.
I wish you and your wife a happy vacation.
I used to be pretty much like typical hoodie guy despite working in IT which worked against me. Britishy feeling in asia is so dominant that most of the aussie clients who used to come to office used to stare at us normal workers wearing hoodies and the comfort casual clothings. I never was a corporate guy and that kind of hurt the career though I saved it purely by being pillar and skills but clothing is very much still essential in corporate.
What's the point of a modern, fancy wardrobe, if you don't feel comfortable in it...
Choose a bar or restaurant that doesn't have a dress code and relax...
The only problem can be if your wife has different habits, if she likes to dress fancy and if she has such a wardrobe...
The fact that you are short and a bit wider (same as me) should not be considered a problem.
Well, your wife met you and chose you as her life partner, when you were short, you didn't shrink with age 🙂
But your days of being in noisy clubs are just getting started! Find some space to dance, any clothes are welcomed!
Always a challenge for me too. I am typically always around her crowd of 20-something club friends, so keeping fresh and looking the part with these Gen-Zers is wild! Thank goodness she has good taste and I can pick up cheap stuff from Forever 21, H&M + the local thrift shops. She has a great eye for that fashion stuff so I don't have to worry about it, but she helps me keep it looking fresh and sharp. Maybe your wife can help you with your outfits too! Then not to worry about "they are a mismatched couple"!
Such a struggle for me teaching. I'm consistent with the same style khakis in 6 different colors, and then just an assortment of different polo shirts in 8 colors. I could be wearing button-downs daily as they would have a stronger authoritative vibe with the students, but it just isn't my style. I wonder what the students would make of me wearing a tie every day. I ponder these things quite a bit if the changes would make a tangible difference in the learning outcomes of the children.