Other Thoughts | BulgingButtons

August 24, 2013
by BulgingButtons 1 Comment

No Whales Allowed

My sweetheart is not a swimmer. He never learned how growing up, and he’s just not that comfortable in the water. I, on the other hand, am a fish. Or, according to a major swimsuit manufacturer, perhaps a whale.

Here’s what happened. My sweetie was perusing a website looking for a suit. He knows I love the water, and I spend a fair amount of time in our backyard pool. On hot summer days he’ll sit out with me and bake as I enjoy the lovely feeling of being surrounded by soothing cooling water. I urge him to come in, but his response has always been that he can’t because he doesn’t have a swim suit. Uh huh.

http://www.jacketflap.com/megablog/index.asp?tagid=1393&tag=editors

From There’s a Whale in my Swimming Pool

He has gone to this website before. He has chosen his swim suit. He has said he will order it. He has not. Anyway, he was there again today and saw that they advertised plus sized suits for women. Being the wonderful man he is, he thought there might be a nice one for me.

From the other room he asked what size I wore. I didn’t know what sizing system this manufacturer used so I couldn’t give him an answer. Some go by dress sizes, some follow the 2X, 3X, etc. model, and some go by bust size. I joined him at the computer and we clicked on their sizing chart.

Okay, here we go. According to them a 14 is XL, a 16 is 2XL and an 18 is 3XL. Only a very few styles were offered in the 3XL (which, in the normal world is usually a 22-24). Hmmmm. It seems to me that while they are offering a few extended sizes the promise of plus sizes is merely a tease.

There is a whole world of fat women out there longing for quality products that fit. I just can’t quite figure out why manufacturers don’t want our business. Guess I’ll keep getting my Catalina swimsuits. They always fit and they are inexpensive. And the best part about them? They never make me feel like a whale!

August 21, 2013
by BulgingButtons 8 Comments

Daily Prompt: Fifteen Credits

I guess today’s daily prompt is the nudge I need to come out about my professional life. I’m a teacher. There, I said it. So when asked if I’m looking forward to going back to school, I can honestly say I have mixed feelings.

On the one hand, I love my summer vacation. I use that time to read and study and reflect and plan new ideas for the upcoming year. I also use that time to play and visit my family and old friends, and sleep and swim and quilt and generally have a good time on my own schedule. I often stay up late, usually sleep past 5:25 (imagine that), and recharge my inner battery.

The summer of 2013 was particularly productive. I moved schools, switched grade levels, participated in a national project for teachers, and began this blog. I focused on my health and well being, got engaged, and took a few trips. I started to exercise, lost a few pounds, and created my 47 for 47 challenge. Wow. No wonder I love summer.

On the flip side, though, the new school year makes me giddy with anticipation each and every year. I itch to see my class list, when the students are still just names on a page. I chomp at the bit to get into my classroom and start moving around furniture and putting up bulletin boards. My heart starts to race at the sight of all the brand new school supplies lining the store shelves. All of those Pinterest ideas compete for space in my plans. I begin to fill in my spreadsheets with test scores and start thinking about my new schedule. I especially get excited to meet the students. I will spend a lot of time with them over the next several months, and I can’t wait to set the tone for that interaction.

Overall, I still find that I experience years primarily by the school calendar, rather than the traditional January to December plan. I’m still getting used to the idea of school starting before the blazing days of triple digit heat have subsided, but other than that, I’m ready for a happy new year.

August 20, 2013
by BulgingButtons 5 Comments

Thank You, Old Navy

I do appreciate the fact that you offer plus sized clothing on your website. I also appreciate that there are several cute styles to choose from, and many of them come in size 4X (which I am excited to say is too big for me). Would it be asking too much to actually give some space in the store to these fashions? I realize that maybe you don’t want plus sized people in your stores, but hello, we’re in there anyway buying for our skinny loved ones. It’s time that fat acceptance is a way of life since a huge number of Americans are overweight. I’m sure you could sell some of those cute clothes to people who would appreciate being able to try them on without having to first pay for them, then wait for them in the mail. Oh, and the return by mail only thing? Not so cool. So to recap: