Work Party.

Guess where I was for lunch today?

Yah.

elm!

Dexter and I took the train. Don has recently put non-studded tires on the winter bike and attached a hitch so I can tow the trailer around. Though I prefer to ride my lady bikes, the Kona was just the most straightforward choice for this purpose. Whatever, it's like I say to people all the time. It's not the bike that needs to be pretty. YOU be pretty. Looks like I'll be rocking the mountain bike this summer (Dexter is too big for car seat and Madsen, but too squirmy to just sit on the seat with the waistband belt).

In any case, I wasn't riding today. But it was super hot out and the perfect opportunity to wear the ultimate summer dress I bought at Top Shop in NYC. I've been saving it for when I've had enough colour and it would be warm enough.

It's super super flowy and floral. The only problem is that in the sunlight it's sort of see through. No details, just silhouette. I figure if dudes can go around wearing no shirts at all (Edmonton is sort of savage this way) I can certainly wear a billowy summer dress that is a little non-opaque.

This makes me think a little about modesty and questions I get about dresses and bikes at times. People wonder if I wear little shorts under my dresses. The answer is no.

I'm not sure what it is... because I don't walk around with thinking I am a perfect 10 model or anything like that. I think most people are really concerned about their bodies and I dunno... past a certain point it's just skin and bones and muscles and fat. When I think about it in this scientific, biological way it just doesn't seem to be a big deal.

It's like when a whole bunch of people are going hot tubbing or swimming. One part of me thinks, "oh my gosh, I hope I don't look stupid in my bathing suit." But once everybody is out there and in their swim suits... I mean, it's really no big deal.

Big. Small. Short. Tall. Whatever. Your body is your body.

And my body is what it is. So I wore the bright-light see through dress.

Wow, that was a lot of rationalizing. Ha... ha?





My feet.





Elize and I had planned to have sandwiches for lunch and shortly before I left I was invited to a work party with Raffaella and Lisa. I told them of my elm plans and interest was expressed about said lunch plans. So I texted Raffaella while the train was going over the river (you get a brief moment of mobile reception) and she met me top side a few moments later.

A short walk after that we strolled up to elm only to see that Elize was waiting on the bench outside... with my two neighbours who were coincidentally also having lunch.

Anneliese and her husband, Grant, were enjoying the tuna (I think).

Oh, and Anneliese is also a wicked rad architect.






Grant's lunch.





Elize wore her new dress from ModCloth. She also brought Dexter this little zebra cutlery from her recent trip back home to South Africa. Thank you!







So we're outside talking sandwiches and stuff, and Cary comes out of the café. Hey, didn't I just see you on Saturday night?





I liked his suit.





Inside we were all ready to order and I noticed Claire had on a pretty special t-shirt under her apron. I asked her if it was a wolf and she revealed that indeed it was!

TWO wolves, to be exact.

And a moon. Don't forget the moon.





Muffins.





Tamper.





Fella ordering her BLT.





Order up!





Put my coffee on a tree stump outside.





Dexter had fallen asleep on our walk over. As lunch was winding down he woke up from his nap and had his whole surly eyebrow thing going on.

What a serious little dude.





Afterwards we retired to the apartment to do some work. Work parties are the best. Instead of sitting around your own place procrastinating and feeling totally unproductive and self-loathing (does anybody else feel this way?) you can enjoy the company of other people who have flexible schedules.

There's webbing, photo editing, online what-have-you, business talk... and in my case some brainstorming and thesis work. I didn't have enough lead time on today's work party to get my thesis stuff organized for the mobile office, but I did bring my notebook and iPhone. Enough to get a few key things done.





Lisa is intent.





Now that I'm with Dexter full time it's a little harder to just run away and concentrate fully for several hours. As seen here, he is now REALLY intent on climbing everything. It's distracting, but just a part of balancing being a mom and getting work done too.





I keep reminding him that mommy's fashions aren't for pulling, tugging, and climbing on.

But what can I do? The little dude has urges and developmental milestones to hit. Climb away!

And I'll keep working.