What Rock Have I Been Living Under?

I hate it when I realize how far “behind the times” I am. Society has a way of moving on without me while I stay immersed in raising my family and focusing on the needs of my challenging little one.

We are shopping for a new kitchen table. The one we have used through the 13 years of our marriage was purchased used by Super Dad’s sister and brother-in-law probably 40+ years ago. It is wonderful solid wood with a now non-existent finish and chairs that are beautiful, but need a major regluing, refinishing overhaul. Super Dad suggested that it be the one piece of furniture we set about replacing this year prior to my extended family visiting at Christmas. And who am I to argue with that great idea!

So…let the shopping begin. We have gone to nearly a gazillion furniture stores and we can’t find “it”. Well, it didn’t take me long to realize that there is a lot of furniture out there that is not wood…it is laminate, painted MDF, veneer. And if it is wood, it is often painted (which would chip) vs. stained (which is more resistant).

And, oh the styles! Who buys those pub-height tables? Especially for their kitchens! Is no one worried about small children falling from that height or their feet going to sleep as they read the morning paper? And everything is either small(hard to squeeze 6 around the table) or too formal (with inlaid patterns and fabric chairs). The other thing that shocked us was how many furniture stores expect you to buy the furniture off the internet, sight unseen (and then pay the shipping, especially if it gets to your house and you don’t like it.) Well…excuse me…but I don’t want to order something that expensive without having sat in it first!

The dinette set that I think I may like is on this company’s website, but no longer on its showroom floor, because they’ve “had it for years and are probably getting ready to discontinue.” See, I’m behind the times!

Meanwhile, we strolled through Lowes the other night and stopped at the chandeliers. We do need a new one, as ours has some sockets that have shorted out. But, get this, they don’t have any brass chandeliers. Everything is iron, antiqued bronze or brushed nickel. All are beautiful…but none fit my dining room décor. Who’d have thought that a plain brass chandelier would be out of style???

Feeling a bit out of sync with the rest of the world, I’m happy to report that I’ve recently purchased some low-cut (actually I’m told they are mid-cut) flare-legged jeans, instead of more of those “mom pants” (high waisted, straight leg) as KayKay calls them. However, she quickly informed me that flares are on their way out and straight legs (very tapered) with boots are on the cutting-edge of fashion. Oh great, I missed a whole fashion change and should have kept my old blue jeans!

How does so much get past me? I’m still trying to figure out who Beyonce is and why people watch Lost or Dancing with the Stars. And just last week I figured out who Borat is. Now, if you want to know a thing about the neurobiology of trauma in the brain…I could clue you in on quite a bit. But as to who has songs on the pop charts, what movies are playing at the theatre or why pointed toe shoes came back into style…well, from here, under this rock…it all looks highly fashionable to me!

Photo credit

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.