Aunt Lori Alexander 24: Wearing Shorts and Kicking Cats

[lawfulevil]

Is it terrible that I kind of want to go on a road trip and just... eat different food and visit thrift stores I'm not already sick of?

[Jellybean]

Come and visit me in London! We have great charity shops. Lots of good food too. 

[feministxtian]

head out to Vegas...we got food from 5 star restaurants to grubby taco trucks...and thrift stores galore! 

[WhatWouldJohnCrichtonDo?]

13 minutes ago, lawfulevil said:

Is it terrible that I kind of want to go on a road trip and just... eat different food and visit thrift stores I'm not already sick of?

My husband and I joked about writing a travel guide to used bookstores and yarn shops...

[feministxtian]

51 minutes ago, WhatWouldJohnCrichtonDo? said:

My husband and I joked about writing a travel guide to used bookstores and yarn shops...

I know where the used bookstores are too...I'm sorta "forbidden"* from going in them...well, not until I get more bookcases and "cull the herd". I gotta cull my shoes and books and clothes...this is gonna be painful...but the discounts and store credits will be awesome!

*"forbidden" is NOT the right term as in if I go in and buy stuff hubby will have a temper tantrum or something, it's more acknowledging that we're OUT of space and I need to cull the books first. It was amazing to see that everything we had in the "oversized closet" has spread out and taken over our 50% larger apartment (from 765 sqft to just over 1100 sqft)

[SuperNova]

1 hour ago, lawfulevil said:

Is it terrible that I kind of want to go on a road trip and just... eat different food and visit thrift stores I'm not already sick of?

I'm gonna go get my shoes on. You said Vacaville so I assume CA? I'm an hour and a half south of you. Junking and stuffing my face across the U.S. sounds magical.

Ive been going to the same thrift store down the street from my house for so long  that I know everyone that works there on a first name basis. They set aside things for me that they know I'll like and in return I bake yummy treats for them. It's a win win. 

[feministxtian]

@lawfulevil and @SuperNova neither one of you are terribly far from me...hmmm...a thrifting and eating tour? When y'all get to Vegas, come pick me up!!!

[lawfulevil]

16 minutes ago, SuperNova said:

I'm gonna go get my shoes on. You said Vacaville so I assume CA? I'm an hour and a half south of you. Junking and stuffing my face across the U.S. sounds magical.

Ive been going to the same thrift store down the street from my house for so long  that I know everyone that works there on a first name basis. They set aside things for me that they know I'll like and in return I bake yummy treats for them. It's a win win. 

Yeah, CA. Vacaville is a bit of a haul from my house (Fair Oaks), but I might check it out sometime since I already commute to Davis- I hate all the driving, but the real estate market in Davis is bonkers.

I haven't really been able to find a favorite here yet. I think thrift stores where I grew up spoiled me. Here they're either very small, kind of expensive, or there's a lot of sifting through junk. Sometimes that's fun anyway, and I've found some great stuff, but it's very hit-and-miss.

[EowynW]

5 hours ago, WhatWouldJohnCrichtonDo? said:

My husband and I joked about writing a travel guide to used bookstores and yarn shops...

I miss yarn shops. All of them closed here. 

[Koala]

Today's message is brought to you by the letter S.  

S is for Scold.

Lori Alexander:

Quote

 Women have scolded me for saying we can be good.

Quote

 I receive comments that scold and ridicule me about what I teach. 

Quote

I have been scolded by a few women who tell me that I must speak to them kindly and in love. 

Quote

These vain talkers will scold me 

 No one is to scold Lori!  She's godly!  Scolding others is her job!

[BlackSheep]

8 hours ago, lawfulevil said:

Is it terrible that I kind of want to go on a road trip and just... eat different food and visit thrift stores I'm not already sick of?

FJ road trip!!

3 hours ago, EowynW said:

I miss yarn shops. All of them closed here. 

I feel your pain.

[delphinium65]

10 hours ago, feministxtian said:

Hell, i oughta start a blog on how to go cheap w/o clipping coupons. 

I'd follow it!  I got in the habit of thrift store shopping during my fundy days when money was in very, very short supply, and I've kept doing it even though I don't really need to anymore. 

[Red Hair, Black Dress]

Quick someone catch them before they are gone.  There are 2 comments on the FB divorce doodle that support divorce in cases of abuse, porn, adultery, etc, etc.

You know  -- rational reasonable comments about why divorce might be better that marriage hell.

[AlwaysDiscerning]

@Red Hair, Black Dress

I got them,

[louisa05]

I'm finding the clothing discussion a bit off. What exactly is the point here? Are we all trying to out modest Lori? Because we don't have to do that. Everyone can wear whatever they want. 

I wear shorts that are shorts. I like a 5-7 inch inseam. Longer shorts tend to make me look too hippy as they tend to cling around the hips and upper thighs whereas a shorter inseam does not and thus moves the focus from my larger than average hips to my long legs. I do not currently own a skirt or dress that is longer than to the knee. I own several that are much shorter than that. I do not wear leggings or shorts under them. I have owned exactly one one piece swimsuit in my entire life and we had to buy that for church camp when I was about ten (then I didn't even go, so I never really wore it). 

And I'm not going to apologize for that or come up with some piece of my wardrobe to tell you all about that out-modests Lori or any other fundie. BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. If we believe that women can wear what they want (aside from being gross hypocrites like Lori) then let's all wear what we want--long skirts, short skirts, long shorts, short shorts, jeans, yoga pants, v-necks, turtlenecks...IT DOESN'T MATTER. 

[PennySycamore]

9 hours ago, WhatWouldJohnCrichtonDo? said:

My husband and I joked about writing a travel guide to used bookstores and yarn shops...

If you do, I'll buy it!  I love used book stores and yarn shops.  They are my idea of heaven!

[delphinium65]

4 minutes ago, louisa05 said:

And I'm not going to apologize for that or come up with some piece of my wardrobe to tell you all about that out-modests Lori or any other fundie. BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. If we believe that women can wear what they want (aside from being gross hypocrites like Lori) then let's all wear what we want--long skirts, short skirts, long shorts, short shorts, jeans, yoga pants, v-necks, turtlenecks...IT DOESN'T MATTER. 

Exactly!  

But I still find it amusing that so many of us heathens cover up more than so-holy Aunt Lori does. 

[Imrlgoddess]

"Teaching Young Women to be Good".

Lori, young WOMEN don't need to be taught how to be good, they learn that as children.  You might need to teach a young woman how to cook by method vs recipe or how to repair a piece of furniture...ya know, useful things a young homemaker might need to know.  She and her husband will work out the details on how their personal relationship best fits them, it's not your place to dictate.  

Oddly enough, Lori and Ken have kind of proven the whole, "modesty is relative" point.   She wears what her husband likes her to wear, what HE has deemed "modest".  While none of it is exactly Maury-worthy, it's not prairie dress-worthy either.  It's...dare I say....normal.  She could just say..."I don't like to see younger women in tiny bathing suits because my husband is a pig who doesn't know how not to leer" or "I'm afraid of seeing too much flesh myself and inadvertently getting turned on and then questioning my own sexuality!"  (am I gay because I thought her boobs looked amazing?????)  Ken, the scapegoat.  "I wear my clothes like this because Ken wants me to."   I find her whole "I'm not ultra-conservative" bit to be her biggest fallacy right now.  If she's not, then why be so strict and legalistic about everything?  What's more important here, doing what you're told from your husband, even if it's not good?  Or doing what the bible says and looking after your own salvation?  If she was truly concerned with modesty and biblical standards, she'd wear the things most commonly associated with modesty, aka, cover the knees, shoulders, and collar bone-not too tight.  She'd then gently but firmly appeal to her husband using scripture that she is biblically correct in her choices.  And if that didn't work, she'd "win him without a word".  

Isn't that how you manipulate get your way, Lori?  Aren't we all to look to our own salvation?  The men aren't responsible for it?  Or are they this week...?  I forget.

[usmcmom]

28 minutes ago, louisa05 said:

Are we all trying to out modest Lori? 

 

 

Well, I can't speak for everyone but YES. Yes, I am trying to out modest Lori. 

I really don't care what others wear and I don't take offense at bikinis, thongs, short skirts, whatever. But I DO know that Ken reads here and I think it's fun to point out to him that his wife is not the most modest woman in the world in the history of forever.

Plus, I love my spanx-thingees from Walmart and I wanted to share that tip. Also, I like to out budget Lori and out healthy Lori and out Bible Lori. 

[sawasdee]

Oh, I miss thrift shops! Or charity shops, as they are usually called in Britain. Here in Thailand, you can get very cheap clothes everywhere - if you are no more than a size 6 - 8. I'm - rather larger. (Thai size - 4 or 5 XL! Size 14 UK, 10 US, is, in many brands, 3XL) I have to buy most of my clothes online, and have them sent to friends who are coming to visit, as the postage is usually at least 4 times the cost of the clothes. A friend on a visit to the UK at present is bringing me new bras I ordered from Amazon.

The only saving grace is that dressmakers are very cheap, and can copy any garment perfectly. Unfortunately, to buy any fabric other than polyester, I have to go to Bangkok - on my last visit, I brought back about 50 metres of yardage, and still haven't had it all made up. Underwear is the difficulty - that they can't make -  I have a friend who visits every year who keeps me in knickers!

If I win the lottery, I'm coming to visit all you thrift shop and used bookstore devotees - we'd have a ball!

Oh, and we don't have coupons here, but occasional specials - 2 for 1 etc - which I hit hard. Just bought 10 litres of apple juice at 2 for 1, with a September expiry date - yeah!

[EowynW]

She sounds like my mom. My brother was still in his twenties and we women still did his laundry, shopped for his food, often packed his lunch, picked up his room, etc etc etc because "the men worked hard and we have to take care of them." 

 

Bull. Shit. 

Brian responded to Rob and Lori got on his case. 

[louisa05]

@usmcmom When we try to out modest Lori, we are saying that her modesty rules are valid. They are not. 

I think it is vastly better to let them know that we can live life just fine and still wear what we want. I would rather that those two morons understand that I know how to dress appropriately for the situation while still wearing some things she disapproves of and still contributing to the world positively than I would want to have the badge of honor of being more modest than she is or requires. 

I do not wear skirts or dresses shorter than knee length to work because I do not think it is appropriate or professional. (I actually rarely wear skirts or dresses to work at all because as a sub I never know what I am going to be doing exactly). I do not wear low cut or v-neck tops to work without some sort of shirt or camisole under them to ensure everything is covered because that is not professional. I do not wear skirts shorter than knee length to church either.  I wear shorter skirts/dresses on date night or to go out otherwise. I only wear a bikini at the pool or on the beach. I only wear exercise clothing to exercise. 

I own and wear short skirts/dresses, short shorts, and bikinis. I also regularly attend church, teach children at church and volunteer for other work at church as needed. I pray. I give money to charity (and we have way less than the Alexanders). I understand the Bible. 

Because the first sentence of the above paragraph in no way makes the rest impossible. And that's the message I would rather Ken read. That clothing doesn't make a person good or evil. When we start trying to out modest Lori, we are basically agreeing with her that everyone can be judged by the length of their shorts or skirts or the depth of their neckline. 

[usmcmom]

4 minutes ago, louisa05 said:

@usmcmom When we try to out modest Lori, we are saying that her modesty rules are valid. They are not. 

I think it is vastly better to let them know that we can live life just fine and still wear what we want. I would rather that those two morons understand that I know how to dress appropriately for the situation while still wearing some things she disapproves of and still contributing to the world positively than I would want to have the badge of honor of being more modest than she is or requires. 

I do not wear skirts or dresses shorter than knee length to work because I do not think it is appropriate or professional. (I actually rarely wear skirts or dresses to work at all because as a sub I never know what I am going to be doing exactly). I do not wear low cut or v-neck tops to work without some sort of shirt or camisole under them to ensure everything is covered because that is not professional. I do not wear skirts shorter than knee length to church either.  I wear shorter skirts/dresses on date night or to go out otherwise. I only wear a bikini at the pool or on the beach. I only wear exercise clothing to exercise. 

I own and wear short skirts/dresses, short shorts, and bikinis. I also regularly attend church, teach children at church and volunteer for other work at church as needed. I pray. I give money to charity (and we have way less than the Alexanders). I understand the Bible. 

Because the first sentence of the above paragraph in no way makes the rest impossible. And that's the message I would rather Ken read. That clothing doesn't make a person good or evil. When we start trying to out modest Lori, we are basically agreeing with her that everyone can be judged by the length of their shorts or skirts or the depth of their neckline. 

You make good points and I agree with all of them. 

I was actually just leaving a tongue-in-cheek response and let my sarcasm get the better of me. 

[BlackSheep]

2 hours ago, louisa05 said:

I'm finding the clothing discussion a bit off. What exactly is the point here? Are we all trying to out modest Lori? Because we don't have to do that. Everyone can wear whatever they want.

I just like talking about maxi skirts.  I don't want to out-modest Lori or anyone. They're just fun to wear.

[polecat]

2 hours ago, louisa05 said:

And I'm not going to apologize for that or come up with some piece of my wardrobe to tell you all about that out-modests Lori or any other fundie. BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. If we believe that women can wear what they want (aside from being gross hypocrites like Lori) then let's all wear what we want--long skirts, short skirts, long shorts, short shorts, jeans, yoga pants, v-necks, turtlenecks...IT DOESN'T MATTER. 

Ha, I'm down with that. I cover my legs only because I have to wear medical compression leggings (and sleeves). I have worn dresses and blouses cut every bit as low as Lori's, but I look a lot different than her in them because I have H-cup breasts. She'd probably be so jaw-droppingly horrified by the sight of me that she'd post multiple dark-room videos AND blog entries just to get it out of her system (even though I'd be wearing the exact same damn get-up that she was!). I sometimes wear short-shorts, but again, I wear leggings under them, so ... covered. 

I really don't care what people wear -- but I do find her hypocrisy obnoxious. And I think it needs to be pointed out.

32 minutes ago, EowynW said:

She sounds like my mom. My brother was still in his twenties and we women still did his laundry, shopped for his food, often packed his lunch, picked up his room, etc etc etc because "the men worked hard and we have to take care of them." 

My sons start doing their own laundry once they're tall enough to reach the bottom of the washer (top loading) and old enough to safely do so. That is usually 11/12 or so. They wash dishes about the same age, sometimes closer to 13. I send my 13 and 14 yos to the grocery when I forget something and need something quickly and don't want to go out myself. There's literally no excuse for Lori babying her teen sons then and adult sons now. She should be ashamed of herself, and they should be ashamed of themselves now.

And furthermore, her "steadfast son" letter claimed that Steven waited on her hand and foot during all those sick years. Which is it, Lori? You took care of your son and he never had to do anything for himself, or he waited on you hand and foot? Pick one!