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Wednesday, October 29th, 2008 12:54 pm
So today, for the first time in a month or so, I went out beyond the area around my house all by myself. I'm currently too buggered to get up for a while from this chair (which is annoying, since I wouldn't mind getting a blanket to sit back in a comfy chair and watch some more Kyle XY(*). And my arms are a bit wobbly for typing, which is just surreal) but it was totally worth it.

On the train I was sitting opposite a grandma and two kids who were excitedly asking questions. I nodded off slightly and realised they were talking about me. Unselfconsciously staring, despite the fact that I was at this point looking at them quizzically and half awake from like a meter away, the 9ish girl pointed to me and the grandma said "Yes, she is sleeping, some people sleep on trains". Deciding that if they were going to talk about me they might as well talk to me I said "Yes, I'm a bit sleepy" and they both looked suprised and then explained they were from the country and had never seen a train before. I pegged them as nice enough but a bit tactless. And then as we reached Perth the grandma pointed out the window and said (semi whispering) "Tom, hey look over there, a black man! You know how you said you'd never seen a black man before?"
o.O
Some might make a disparaging comment about people from the country here but having met lots of you fine folk I'm going to put it down to just being that family...

Then I went to the library to drop off some books, and caught a cat up to the Shafto Lane area. I got various presents for people who shall remain nameless (and probably aren't reading this but you never know :)) I had a nice chat with [livejournal.com profile] stephen_dedman in Fantastic Planet and got to Murray St just in time to miss the cat going the other way.
"Oh well", I thought, "I'm not too tired and don't have much else to do, I'll walk at least to the stop and see when the next one comes".
I passed by a good Sammies, and pondered going in since I haven't been clothes shopping in ages and have some (cheap, to be cut-up) stuff I want for my Swancon costume. "Hmm", I thought, "but they have stairs (my nemesis), and are always overpriced". But I looked in the window, and there was...
THE DRESS

I first encountered The Dress back in the late 90s/early 2000s when I was younger, thinner, and poorer. I had at this point become increasingly frustrated at my inability to find formal wear which suited my figure and my (at this point very ren-faire-ish(**)) tastes, let alone my budget. And then, in a store in fremantle, I saw it, blue and pretty and slightly medieval and suiting my figure. And it was $230 and I despaired and let it go, though every now and then I would go in and try it on and sigh until it went out of stock.

And then a few years later I was in an op shop with friends and saw a very similar dress in burgundy (my other favourite colour at this point), in my size, for $20. I actually pondered not getting it until my friend(s) told me what an idiot I was being.

And I loved it and wore it every chance I got..and then I went up a size and a bit.

Since then I've sometimes stared at it in it's box with all the other clothes I can't bear to let go of, and wondered if I might ever find another. And today I found it! The original dress! The one I always wanted! And it was IN MY SIZE. I feel a bit ripped off paying $60 to an Op-shop, but on the other hand it still has it's original tags (with the $230 crossed out) So I am happy.

And then I had tasty korean bbq, and went home. The end.

(N.b: I may look up the actual name of the dress/take a photo later, when I have the energy to get off this chair. That may be a while, it's all the way over in the loungeroom. It's baby blue, empire line with a ruffled bust and underbust lacing)

EDIT: Thank heavens for webcams :) It looks much nicer on! Also, as you can see, I have my blanket ready now, huzzah.


(*)Big [livejournal.com profile] distantcam-sized high backed reclining sized office chair + my widescreen iMac makes for quite a nice watching set up
(**)No, I don't mean medieval, I mean ren-faire.
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Wednesday, October 29th, 2008 11:30 am (UTC)
i find it very hard to believe someone living in rural wa could have never seen a "black man". must live on a station with very racist parents. crazy.

yay for dress!! and for going out!
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008 01:28 pm (UTC)
I think it depends where in rural australia you are...
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008 09:46 pm (UTC)
unless they live in denmark. that's the only rural town I've been to where there haven't been black people
Thursday, October 30th, 2008 11:39 pm (UTC)
It's possible that I misheard them, though I don't think so.
Friday, October 31st, 2008 05:41 am (UTC)
oh, no, I'm not questioning you, I just can't think of anywhere where it would be possible to have not encountered a person of colour.
Sunday, November 2nd, 2008 11:33 am (UTC)
Yeah but you asking got me thinking about it and questioning myself :)