Skort Wars

Last week......


I was minding my own business working away at my desk, when I got up to put a file away. The big boss was some ways down the hall behind me when I did this. I went back to my desk to work.


All of a sudden the silence in my office is marred by the sound of...



It is my old boss.
"Are you wearing shorts today?" She had an odd tone of surprise and disbelief in her voice.
"No. I have on a skort."
" Well the big boss wants you to go home and change clothes."
"No, I am not. This skort is a skort that I have worn for the past 4 years with no problems. I wear it off and on in the summer. Why is that a problem now?"
"I do not know, but she wants you to change. Maybe you should go speak to her about it."
"I will."

Well. The skort wars began that day. I marched my one panel skort into the big bosses office and asked if there was a problem with what I have on today. The big boss looked at me. My skort is a one panel skort withthe panel being in the front. It looks like a skirt in the front but there is a split in the back.

"Is that a skirt?"
"No, it is a skort."
Speaking in perfect corporate-ese, she began to tell me how my skort was bending the dress code and how the bigwigs from corporate are trying to spiff up our dress code as they think some of the offices are too casual...and I must have only seen you from the front since you are saying you have worn this skort for the past four years...yada yada yada!

(Note, when I wear my skort is is with heels and a jacket so it looks like a suit and I am not the only one in the office wearing skorts either.)

I had to jump in.
"Why is it ok for the goth people to come in here everyday with neon pink hair or purple or blue or orange so orange that color does not exist in nature? Why are you not saying something to them about their attire. They wear very wierd, black, goth clothes and odd, disturbing piercings everyday? Why is my skort not okay for work..it looks like I have on a suit??!!"

"Well, the goth people are different." I just look at her.
"How? That look is not professional."
" Well, we have been up and down with the goth people about the hair and it has been decided that we cannot really do anything about the hair. What color hair is natural? What varied shade is not ok?"



(That sounded like an answer very corporate that said to me, leave the goths alone....they might file some sort of suit or grievence.) She went on.
" We really cannot do anything with those goths. It really is a life style with them and not so much wearing a different hair color."

I was beating a dead horse with that one. I could tell. She did say that the apprearance of the goths in the office had been discussed with them and that this was a professional office and that appearance did matter. They had been told that their appearance will prevent them from any sort of advancement regardless of how well they did and they were fine with that. They did not have any dealings with the public either.

She then said to me," you are more then welcome to come to work with bright neon blue hair just like the goths, but that will immediately result in a job change and career ceiling since you have a job that deals with the public."
"I do not want to come in here with blue or orange hair. I just seems ridiculous to jump all over me and suggest that I have to go home and change when it looks like I have on a suit with a bottom that is a skort, when we have the goth employees looking like freaks of nature everyday. How can you enforce a dress code with all the outlandish things they wear to work? I am well within the corporate guidelines. I am dressy, I have on a suit jacket. "

" Well, if your skort was a 2 panel skort and not a one panel skort there would be no problem. With a 2 panel skort, I could not see the rear split and it really would be more like a skirt."

" I will only wear my 2 panel skorts from now on when I do wear a skort. Can I work out the rest of the day in this and I will not wear this one again?"

"Yes, as long as you do not wear that one panel skort that is fine. You mentioned that others are wearing them as well. If you tell me who they are I will address them. Just send me an email when you notice that."

"No. I am not going to tell you when other employees are wearing skorts. I do not want to get into all of that."

I left the big bosses office backing up to leave so that she could not see the split in the back of my skort. I tried not to leave my office for the rest of the day for fear of some other person possible saying something about my skort. That was the end.

Until today. The office really is having a skort war. Finishing shoes called me to her cubical and told me that "busybee" was called into side room by her manager for wearing a 2 panel skort on tuesday. (Busybee is a relatively new employee who sees herself as "super employee." She does everything right. Or in her own mind thinks she does. Not!) Busybee was in the side room for some time and she was raked over the coals for her 2 panel skort. Now I was told that 2 panel was okay....so now what is the problem. Busybee tends to wear very short skirts and has been called into the office for her skirt length prior to this. She wears miniskirts. But very professional. She wears suits that have miniskirts. She looks good everyday. Her skirt is short but she looks good. Heels, scarfs, broaches...very professional.

I have seen her wear 2 panel skorts and they do look like skirts. Apparently she challenged her boss who was challenging her about her 2 panel skort. Her skort had 2 little vents on the side of the thigh. That was the only way you know it was a skort. I heard it was not a pretty scene with the manager running out of the sideroom saying she will have to check on whether a 2 panel skort is okay.

On yesterday the office got an email that we cannot wear carpri pants anymore. They were not acceptable. If the capri ended at the knee they deemed it shorts and not acceptable for work. The capri was acceptable if it came down over the knee. It could be worn.

I have a sneaky feeling that this reeks of the religious people in the office. We have quite a few bible toters in the office and they get offended from everything. (I tote a bible too , but not like some of the other people in the office--they are over the top!)

Me? I intend to wear a 2 panel skort next week. I am ready for battle. It 's gonna be Full Metal Skort up in there!









What I do is kick them in the pants with a diamond buckled shoe!
~~Aileen Mehle~~

My Christmas Wish List!

Christmas in August! That is what I am thinking about. I went to Walmart and was just window shopping, just wondering really and I ended up in eletronics.
I want a new tv. One of those new fangled ones....with those flat screens! I have a large tv down stairs(not a flat screen) and a small one upstairs in the bedroom. Now I want to replace the upstairs tv with a flat screen. I think that will be my christmas present to me this year. I really like the look of those flat screen tv's. I could even put it on the wall if I wanted to. That is way cool!



I might have to even break down and get cable again. I used to have cable for years and I got rid of it. It was a waste as I was never home and about the only shows I watch are some reality tv and PBS. I love PBS. I did watch the discovery channel and the history channel and sci-fi. I do miss those. Now in the past 2 years our regualr tv reception has gotten worse. I am not too sure why but normal tv now is really fuzzy. I rarely have a clear picture. If I get that flat screen I do want to have a non fuzzy picture. I really hate to get cable again. It really is a waste of money for me. With my schedule and things to do with dirty Fila, having cable is just throwing money away.

Walmart has some really good selections in the flat screen televisions. This first one is the one I want and you know walmart...they even have layaway! This is the Phillips 24 inch flat screen tv. Click it for more details. It is only $178.00. Not a bad price!

These others are not bad either! Bigger and more costs, but they would be a little too big for my space allowed. Click picture for more details.

What I do is kick them in the pants with a diamond buckled shoe!
~~Aileen Mehle~~

Shoe Tree



Every girl needs one!

What I do is kick them in the pants with a diamond buckled shoe!
~~Aileen Mehle~~

Alligator Shoes



I love alligator shoes but not this type!

What I do is kick them in the pants with a diamond buckled shoe!
~~Aileen Mehle~~

This Week's NATIONAL ETIQUETTE AWARD goes to... Azerbaijan!

Azerbaijan Page in Wikipedia

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Portal

Azerbaijan International

This week's National Etiquette Award goes to Azerbaijan, as it is cutomary there to remove shoes when entering homes.

Not all of these etiquette posts are easy to write like Sweden and Turkey. I must admit I do not actually know that much about Azerbaijan.

Let me go through what I know without consulting Wikipedia. It is a former Soviet republic. It is a Muslim country. It's people speak a Turkic language. It had a nasty war with Armenia some years ago. It has oil. Radio plays a vital role in spreading the Gospel in that country. And of course people there remove their shoes in homes.

I remember when I was 13 I used to read a magazine called 'Combat and Survival' (I had a fascination with military stuff back then). There was an article in one issue about the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The site meter indicates that we have been privileged to have been visited by at least on visitor from Azerbaijan. This blog welcomes this person if he or she is reading it now. Perhaps if this person is here, he or she might like to share something about their country. Such a comment would be very welcome.

May God bless Azerbaijan and save sinners there!

Shoes at the Door

My parents are on holiday in France. Hence, I am alone in the house for the next ten days.

I decided, that as it is my house while they are away, that I will leave my shoes by the door instead of putting them in the closet.

My parents hate the sight of shoes being left by the door. They think it is really messy. However I think the sight of shoes sitting by the door is beautiful. It is the sign of people who care about keeping their home clean. Of respectful guests. Of people who take care.

Thoughts of Fall

I was reading my emails tonight when I came across this very beautiful pair of shoes in one from Wayne! I am in love! I love these shoes. They made me think of fall which will soon be upon us. Aren't they beauties?!



After searching I found some more which are just a nice. They are all by Casadei. Check out their site.














What I do is kick them in the pants with a diamond buckled shoe!
~~Aileen Mehle~~

Otis Shoes

I ran into Otis shoes on yesterday. Man I thought he was only on Martin. Surely there could not be a "real" security guard like that anywhere on planet earth. I was at lunch on yesterday. I did not feel like going all the way home so I decided to go around the corner from the office complex to the closest place---Burger King. I got my food and drove back to the office complex but decided not to go into the breakroom to eat. I just wanted to get away from the office and people in the office so I went to one of the other parkinglots in the office complex.

The complex where I work has all sort of lagoons and small bodies of water with fountains all around. Just about every building has a lagoon or fountain.....except the one I work in. So many times in the summer I will park in the lot of another buidling just to see some different scenery... water, trees and an occasional duck...just for a little serenity in a crazy day. I will eat mu lunch and then go back to work.

Yesterday my serenity was interrupted by Otis! I was parked with a sparkling fountain directly in front of me, some trees and my mind was releasing some of the day's tension. Then I saw Otis. I swear it was him.


I saw a strange looking man approaching the rear of my car in the rear view mirror. OTIS was the first thing that leaped into my mind. Surely he did not work at the office building behind me. He approached the right rear of my car and looked in the passenger window. He had a large radio that looked like it was the 1970's in his hand. What was he going to do with the radio? Hit me with it. I thought he was a vagrant. I just looked at him and kept right on eating.

He then came around to the driver side of my car and stood. I cracked the window an inch and asked him if there was a problem. He had on coke bottle glasses so thick his eyes were magnified. He kind of stuttered and said this was private property. I said it was not...all the offices are leased from leasing companies. ( I was in the lot, not on the building landing. Where I was, there were no cars.. at the far, far end of the lot. He had to walk a long way to get to me. )

He showed me his security badge and said this was the lot for____. I showed him my security badge and told him I worked in the highrise directly across the street. I told him I was just eating lunch. He then said that this lot had nothing to do with my office building. I rolled my window up and continued to eat. he walked away from the car.

I only had a few bites left, but I started up the car and went back to my office lot. I know that interaction was the highlight of his week. I decided not to stress Otis, so I left. Who knew? Otis is alive and well and working at the building across the street!

What I do is kick them in the pants with a diamond buckled shoe!
~~Aileen Mehle~~

Airport Security: Wow!

My sister just phoned. Her boyfriend treeated her to a surprise holiday to Dublin, Ireland for her birthday.

I was surprised to hear that she and other passengers were required to remove their shoes when going through passport control. I thought this measure was only operative on flights to America. I would not have expected this for a flight to Dublin. But then I suppose they have all the passengers going throught the same passport control place.

Please Take Off Your Shoes

Beverly Feldman Shoes



Beverly Feldman is having a 75% off sale on her site! Check those sale shoes. Some are cute! You can also find her shoes on the Home Shopping Network!


Molokai: $229.99


Hoochie $225.00


Funtastic: $79.99


Diana: $165
These are regal! I love them!


Balmy Bronze: $109.99

What I do is kick them in the pants with a diamond buckled shoe!
~~Aileen Mehle~~

Shoe Place Holders

These shoe placeholders are very cute! Just think of how they would look on the table for tea!



They can be found at ASOS.com. The shoe place holders are only £18.00. Not a bad price!
Thanks Wayne for the link!

What I do is kick them in the pants with a diamond buckled shoe!
~~Aileen Mehle~~

Back to School Shoes

Last weekend I took dirty Fila shopping for school shoes. We went to the mall and several shoe outlets. Now, on last wednesday evening there was school orieintation and one of the things that was stressed was proper adherence to the uniform. Small infractions will count against you this year. Shirts with a logo, like a polo shirt, sweatshirts with words on them, no belt, shoes with no back....no no. The killer for dirty Fila was shoes with no back. She is a earth shoe, birkenstock wearing child. Of course they have no back. She used to wear hers last year and wear her longest pair of pants to hide the fact they had no back.



The pair she had before just magically disappeared because they were do old. Remember that? The birkenstock drama was crazy! See: Birkenstock Wars! Now she wanted a new pair and I said she would have to wait. Just the standard required shoe for now. I thought that a pair of Sperry topsiders would be good. They come in a variety of colors and she could wear those to school. She tried on several pairs and then said they would be strickly weekend shoes only. She would NEVER wear them to school. Why?



Because the people at her school who wear Sperry Topsiders are not cool people. Plus there are just too many people who will never own a boat in their life, wearing them. I looked at her crazily! I bought the pair above for ME! It is now my third pair of Sperry topsiders! My heels! What was wrong with her. I even suggested other brown slip on, stringup, shoes and nothing worked. We got no shoes for her that are of the leather sort.

We then switched to athletic shoes. She did find a pair of New Balance that she really liked. I did get her those. At least we got something!



It was not a good shoe shopping day with her that day. Nothing I suggested worked. The other bad thing that happened that day happened when we were on teh way back home in the car. She pipes up from the back seat, " Mommy, you know how you have been walking into school with me on the first day, ever since kindergarden? " I replied, "Yes!" That has always been a special day for me, the first day of school and walking in with her to her homeroom. It is what a mother does.

I looked at her in the rearview mirror. (This is her last year of middle school.) " Well mommy, do not do that anymore ." I just looked. dirty Fila is crazy! Of course I will be walking her into school the first day of school. Now that she has reached the age of "teen", it is a mother's job to embarrass their teens in any way possible. Now, just how walking in on the first day is so terrible is beyond me! I have to meet that teacher! Show the "mommy presence." Find out any really important announcements.

Walk my baby in on the first day of school. I know those days are coming to an end. I figured they will end at high school. She is not there yet. That happens next year. Until then, this mommy plans to walk her baby girl into school on the first day of school. It most likely will be my last prominade, but I will take it!

What I do is kick them in the pants with a diamond buckled shoe!
~~Aileen Mehle~~

It has not yet gone away

We had a major flood here in June after a period of widespread heavy rain. The river system could not handle the rain. The building in which I work was flooded almost to the ceiling of the ground floor. The leaves on the trees outside still carry a layer of river mud on them, indicating just how high the water came. That river mud was deposited everywhere the river touched. The river is filthy and contaminated with any number of unhealthy elements. Even now, almost two months after the flood, the subsequent rainfall has not been enough to wash the mud deposits from many places along the riverbank. The parking lot at work still has river mud on it, which means that I get contaminated river particles on my shoes every day. The disaster may have passed, but the health hazard is still present on the ground. I do not want that in my home, so I remove my shoes at the door and ask my guests to do the same.

Shoes That Need to be Put to Rest



I have seen the news and I really hope that John Karr is the real killer of Jonbenet Ramsey. It seems he knows details that were never released to the world that only someone there would know. It is so creepy that he states he loved Jonbenet. Sick!



The really good thing that the news did state is that her mother knew about him before she died. Thank God for that! At least she knew and went to her great beyond knowing that it would be soon that the mystery would be solved. Her family needs resolution and so does Jonbenet. May she finally rest in peace! May her family HAVE some peace!

Info: Murder of Jonbenet Ramsey

Man arrested in Jonbenet Murder

Patsy Ramsey Dies of Cancer

What I do is kick them in the pants with a diamond buckled shoe!
~~Aileen Mehle~~

Nicole Richie Needs to Eat!

Nicole Richie needs to eat a burger or something. She is looking BAD! Maybe a stick of butter would be better! The girl needs just a little body fat.













What I do is kick them in the pants with a diamond buckled shoe!
~~Aileen Mehle~~

A Very Wet Day

It was raining very heavily today. As a consequence of the heavy rain, there was a deposit of wet grit and soil outside our house. Not nice.

Removing shoes at the door is essential in wet weather. But don't forget; when it is dry the dirt is still there, just a bit drier.

Sergio Rossi Shoes: Fall 2006

Look at these beauties! I love them all! Now the last blue boot with the puff?! That is from an earlier collection, but I just love it! Sergio Rossi shoes!














What I do is kick them in the pants with a diamond buckled shoe!
~~Aileen Mehle~~

This Week's NATIONAL ETIQUETTE AWARD goes to... Singapore!

Singapore Page in Wikipedia

Uniquely Singapore- Tourist site

Singapore Infomap

Singapore Government Information

I hereby grant the National Etiquette Award to Singapore, as it is customary in that country to remove shoes when entering homes.

There are three main ethnic groups in Singapore, Chinese, Malays and Indians. In all three cultures it is generally the custom to remove shoes in homes.

If I go out as a missionary to Japan with the particular agency I am in discussions with, I will be required to spend a month in Singapore. All of their missionaries to East Asia are required to do this in order to give them an introduction to East Asia. A lady at work who had visited Singapore and Thailand helped me to see why this was necessary, pointing out that Singapore is far more westernized than other Asian countries, thus providing a gentle introduction to Asian life.

The particular mission agency apparently has few British workers in Japan, but a large number of Singaporeans. There are a large number of Singaporean missionaries out there; there are many Christians in Singapore. They are sadly predominantly of Chinese origin, Christians among the Malays are rare, being a Muslim people. There are restrictions on evangelism.

The Jehovah's Witnesses have experienced some persecution in Singapore; I understand this is mainly because of their resistance to military service.

I have recently had some lively discussions about Free Grace with a blogger called Jenson. He is a Singaporean living in London. You can visit his blog:

Jenson's Blog

His theology is firmly Reformed Baptist and he adheres to the Baptist Confession of Faith (1689).

Jump the Shark Shoes: Stacy Dash in Playboy!

Jump the shark! You know what that means. A tv show, a person, a thing is so over and they are clutching at straws to keep hope alive! There have been some classic moments of jumping the shark. When I was a child, I remember when Fonzy from Happy Days jumped over the shark on skis! It was over! I did not watch that show much more after that.



There is only one person who comes to mind right this very second who has jumped the shark in a big way. Can we say clutching at straws? Stacy Dash! Stacy Dash has jumped the shark. She is washed up and the last hoorah was posing in Playboy. I know she most likely got paid alot. Now I will give her respect that she has kept herself up, but she is 40. Where are the really big movie roles, long term sitcoms? So Playboy it was. Stacy Dash naked in Playboy was not what I expected of her. I am a little disappointed. She has come a long way from this....



to this :






The pictures are well done. I was just expecting a little more.

Jumping the Shark Shoes? There are some. Rugged Shark Shoes. These are nice nautical shoes. You can be sure I will be buying shoes before I pose with no clothes on.




What I do is kick them in the pants with a diamond buckled shoe!
~~Aileen Mehle~~