Season Opener

Mark your calendars. Today is the first official day of the Lumay Summer Slump (aka the Birthday Blues), a month-long binge of pondering all aspects of life.

The season opened with a sudden onslaught of tears while driving to work today. The Proclaimers I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) was on the radio, which may or may not have been the trigger. I am a child of the 80s, and I can rarely turn away from a John Hughes movie. Pretty in Pink is not my favorite, but the zany and lovable Iona (Annie Potts) is one of my favorite film characters.

Even at 20, I felt a strange affinity for Iona, who could either be taken for a loser -- experimenting with various trends and hanging out with high school kids -- or the ultimate champion of individualism with a strong personal style.

As for my personal style, I have been on the hunt for lounge clothes. I want something to wear around the house that does not scream -- work! gym! or frump! -- and it is a bloody challenge. Most of what I see reminds me of Marge Simpson, but I want to deny my outter Marge and connect with my inner Maggie the Cat.

While they may be a bit impractical for scrubbing the bathtub, a Dottie Angel slip appeal to my notion of "lounging around" (with a cocktail, thank you). My first thought is that such clothing would invite the scorn of What Not to Wear hosts on both sides of the pond. My second thought is a rather unladylike and terse "Piss off".

I bet you one month's pay Joe would sooner pick up his socks for for Maggie than Marge.