What really scares me?

The possibility of Iraq having weapons of mass destruction does not. A person getting on my flight with fingernail clippers does not. The possibility of the New Kids on the Block getting back together does not. Okay, maybe that last one does just a bit. What really scares me is the chance of the Senate having a Republican majority and allowing Bush to pack the federal courts with conservatives.

Torricelli pulling out of the New Jersey Senate election has strengthened  my fear. He waited until 36 days before the election, when state law requires any replacement to be named 48 days in advance. The Democratic Party will have to seek approval from the state general attorney, who happens to be a Democrat also. The Republicans will contest any substitution, which means a lawsuit. I have a feeling the political affiliation of the judge hearing the suit will impact his decision. If Torricelli had withdrawn from the election a few weeks ago, this situation would not exist.

No longer do elected officials care about their constituents, nor their party. They seem to care only about themselves, and basing their decisions on their wants and need is not good for our country. Torricelli did his state and country a disservice.

7:14:09 PM    comment []

Funny that this story should appear today.

Today ends the summer casual dress experiment in my office. We go from khakis to dress slacks, sports shirts to dress shirts, loafers to wing tips. Life as we have come to know it is altered forever.

I did not mind wearing suits prior to this summer. While back in college, I longed for a job where I did not have to wear a nametag or wash my hands before going to the restroom. I liked dressing sharp, and looking like I had a great job like I now did. After a summer of plain front khakis, v-neck shirts, and closed toed sandals I now dread returning to business dress.

My biggest complaint with business dress now is the "suit jacket dance." I carry my suit jacket out and hang it up in my car in the morning; if it is cold I wear it out, and then take it off to hang in the car. After driving to work, I put the jacket on and take the elevator up to my office and hang the jacket on a hanger behind my door. I do not touch or acknowledge the existence of said jacket until I leave in the afternoon, when I put the jacket on, walk to my car, and then hang the jacket up again on the little hook in my car. My jackets last forever, the pants do not.

My and my colleague's new plan of attack is to wear sport coats. Either wear or keep a blue sport coat at the office, and wear nice slacks. That way we do not have to buy a nice suit just so we can wear out the pants. It is not quite as dressy, and it would never do for an important meeting or job interview, but will put us in compliance with out dress code.

They never should have even had this little casual dress experiment. Once a person becomes a crack addict they always think of drugs; once an businessman starts up with casual wear he will always long for sport shirts.

9:57:51 AM    comment []