The Saga of the Blue Dress

So. I ordered a terrific wrap-style blue dress for my nephew's wedding from the Gap. I really don't need a new dress, but it's gorgeous, reasonably priced, and appropriate for conferences as well as weddings. And wrap-around dresses have been my favorite since the first one Diane von Furstenberg whipped up. When I ordered it, they said the free shipping would take 7-10 days. No problem - the wedding was then two weeks away. But guess what? they meant 7-10 days from the shipping date, not the ordering date. I got the email that said it had been shipped yesterday, October 11, and it said that it was guaranteed to arrive by October 23.

Well. The wedding is October 21. And how is that 10 days from anything? I suppose they mean 10 business days, but couldn't they have said so? I'm an avid Amazon shopper, so I'm used to free 2-day shipping on everything from books to televisions to pasta (yes, really, pasta). So it seems as if I actually might "fall into The Gap," for anyone old enough to remember that advertising campaign.

I took my car for service today, then went to a mall north of Clarksburg. It was such a thrill - shopping at Target, Marshall's, J.C. Penney . . .  I've been in the mountains two months now, so it doesn't take much to excite me.

Last night, the conversational Spanish class for faculty went to a fabulous Mexican restaurant in Weston. I can never imagine how people from just outside Mexico City land where they do - especially when it's Weston, West Virginia.

Wait, what's that? This is supposed to be a Steelers' blog you say? Ha!

I would never in a million years be grateful for the vice presidential debate, but this time, I am - because it tied up the networks so that the game was only on the NFL Network, which I don't get. So I didn't have to watch it. (Before the game, I said, I don't GET to watch it.) I see from various sources that there were records matched or broken, that players are outdoing the dynasty players of the 1970s.

But the difference is the teams of the 1970s WON. And usually with touchdowns, not field goals.

That is all.

Oh. And that darned dress better get here in time.

Pretty in Pink; Ugly on the Field

So let's work backwards. Yes, the Steelers won. But it was hardly pretty. The beginning was atrocious. The middle picked up a little. The end could have caused everyone in Steeler Nation to have a heart attack.

Here are my two main problems with the Steelers this year, and frankly, every year:

1. We're too willing to settle for field goals. Both of those 3-pointers should have been touchdowns. Even when Ben's having a good day, something goes wrong on third down far too often.
2. Penalties.
3. Penalties.
4. Did I mention Penalties?

Okay, that's still two. The Steelers were penalized nine times for 106 yards. 106 yards. That's a touchdown and better field position on the next kickoff. I love that we're rough and tough and play that way, but there were too many late hits that were obvious, and would have been even to the good old replacement reps. And penalties on four consecutive snaps? Ouch.

Come on, Coach Tomlin - let's get some discipline in the team. A 2-point win could easily have been a disaster.

And part two: Pink.

First, it's definitely not Dick LeBeau's color.

But more importantly: How much good are shoes, gloves, and hats on NFL players and staff actually doing in the fight against breast cancer? I know that those items are auctioned off and the funds go into awareness activities and screenings for uninsured and underinsured women. That's all fine.

But awareness? Anyone who isn't aware of breast cancer has been living in a cave. We don't need any more awareness - we don't need any more NFL gloves, yogurt labels, pink ribbons on our Facebook pages. What we need is more research - into both causes and cures. 

That said, if anyone wants to buy Max Starks' gloves for me, let me know!