In re Torture

The controversy remains over how far to go with release of classified material and impeachment, or prosecutions of those involved with torture in the previous administration. On the one hand, there is as much of a need to know from taxpayers and citizens in this country as there has ever been with any other issue, maybe even more so in this case than Watergate or Iran Contra. But on the other hand, the President has an ambitious agenda and how much of that could be derailed by hearings a la Clinton Lewinsky? When those were held Congress barely got anything else accomplished, the 103rd Congress aside from the hearings and investigation was basically a wash. In my opinion, the country is still weary of what happened that year, remembers it well and doesn't want it replayed.

But this is different. Why? It has to do with how Americans' tax dollars were spent, not private conduct of an elected official involving an unpaid intern. And it goes beyond how tax dollars are spent, it goes to the very heart of principles on which this country was founded, specifically those outlined in the US Constitution's Eighth Amendment on cruel and unusual punishments. Our founders, wanting to separate from England and be distinct from it in so many ways, didn't forget its history of torture and coercing admissions of guilt from people it wanted them from. OK, one could argue, the torture that took place in the Tudor era involved citizens of England primarily. True, but what is the US if it condones methods of torture for foreign born peoples it outlaws itself? And what if those methods violate international human rights agreements?

This isn't what our founders had in mind during the Continental Congress and in creating our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. But our tax dollars were spent on it. And that's why it does need to be investigated, as fully as necessary.

What I Want to Look Like When I Grow Up

For several reasons I've decided to let my hair go grey. First, though I have little grey at this point, I have enough to know "my" grey is a light, cool silver. This will work with the colors I live in anyway, jewel tones, light clear colors, black, various shades of denim - and my Mom's diamond wedding band. Second, nearly every time I've spent considerable time or money on my hair, I've been disappointed. Styling products from high end to low fry my hair or dull it. Ditto curling irons. Most perms I've had were history 3 days later, regardless of what I paid for them - and I did wait to wash my hair. Third, I know if the grey looks frumpy, my posse will tell me starting with my 5 year old who does not mince words. Ever. But fourth and maybe the most important of all - my Mom, who faithfully went to the salon each month for color and touched it up at home in between salon visits lost her life to lymphoma when she was 85. It's true the older you get the likelier you are to develop lymphoma and not survive. But I have great aunts who lived into their 90s and one who lived to 103. I will always wonder if toxins in hair color took her life. Especially when each time I was pregnant my doc told me not to color my hair. If I end up needing to color my grey it will be with henna or something safe.

I hope that won't be necessary. And more and more, there are great muses for those of us who don't want to cover our grey. Consider Kathleen Sebelius (I am since she's being picked on by Sarah Palin, and since she is having to wait and wait to be confirmed HHS Secretary).



The Obama handbag might look wrong on someone else but on her, it works. It picks up the colors in her hair and she keeps the rest of the outfit vibrant red. Of course wearing a big smile helps the overall look too.



Another red outfit - what I love here is no brass buttons, hers are black and shaped like flowers. I wanted a full head to toe shot of this outfit and alas, couldn't find one but this is another look that's just a bit different from the usual red jacketed female politico.



Here she is at the Governors' dinner in January. January. And looking great in a sleeveless and daringly low cut for DC, evening gown. Her hair is done without looking helmet-ish and the gold jewelry is just right for the forest green of the gown. Did I mention she's a grandmother?



Finally, we see Ms. Sebelius in a blue violet suit the day President Obama nominated her to be HHS Secretary. I think this is the perfect female equivalent of the men's power suit. It's blue, but a more vivid color. It stands out but looks strong too. Her jacket is fitted, a nice change from the overly boxy suits many women in DC have worn up until very recently and a nod to fashion. She keeps the jewelry understated - a wise move with a vivid color like cobalt, and at a press conference that's announcing her nomination for a cabinet level position.

No frumpy here, anywhere. I had a tough time limiting it to just four outfits of hers because when I looked around the internet, she is wearing clothes that are alive with color, and she isn't shy about accessorizing but doesn't overdo it either. I hope those Obama handbags don't go away anytime soon. I might want one of my own one day.

Preppycrat to a T, or a Polo

Over the years, I've wrestled with the question of just what style I prefer - how does one reconcile loafers and twinsets with vivid 80s colors, neon, and black, black black?

Finally I've stumbled upon it. I've been more or less looking for a good raincoat the past few months. My old Merona standby in cranberry red is giving up the ghost. A friend gave me her old Burberry and thrilled, I took it. Burberry for cryin' out loud! But not only did it not fit, it was too...beige. I do feel I'm as preppy as the next Muffy or Buffy but problem is alot of colors traditionally associated with prep totally wash me out - navy and beige in particular. Other 3/4 length raincoats weren't quite right either, black/white giraffe print is overwhelming on a woman of average height like yours truly, yellow, pink, orange might well look out of style next year or the year after and besides, I'll probably get sick of them.

Then this week's rains made the quest more urgent. Finally I found it yesterday, plainer than I was looking for initially but I feel right in it and it will last. A London Fog 3/4 length trench in black. Search over. What's telling is I didn't go for the beige, it was the shape of the preppy option but in black, not the first choice for preppy color but the choice I look alot better in. Then I saw the shirt above at one of my fave places to look for shirts American Apparel. Don't know if Muffy or Buffy ever even walk past AA but then again, this prep also has one foot in the 80s and never quite left. Though this shirt is neon purple, it's a polo shirt. I don't own it...yet.

Then there are the shoes - a pair of Sesto Meucci black loafer mules. Preppy shape yes. But in black patent leather with a graffiti print on them that's gotten alot of comments (and compliments) each time I've worn them. The pattern is in shades of green, turquoise, red, and white, and reminiscent of something Stephen Sprouse may have dreamed up and created. I can't for the life of me find them online but will take a pic asap and post it here.

And if any of y'all are curious, I will elaborate on my style journey and how prep wound up coexisting with 80s chick in a subsequent post. All I can say is it can work. Really.