Mixtures Nature Probably Never Intended…

One of my recent finds, that I have to share for those you of in Milan. Just in case you have some extra time at the train station near platform 21, you can stop in at the Milano Centrale Holy Chapel (listed under Public Utility) for some private time. We checked it out yesterday…it looked nice and simple, and very very warm, especially since I forgot my scarf and gloves last night.

Separation of church and state. Interesting. For those of you who don’t know, TrenItalia is technically a “private” company which in Italian this term means “not owned by the government.” In a strange twist of events, its single (100%) shareholder is actually, wait! The Italian Government. For more past rants about about Italieconomics, check out one of my posts from last year.

This weekend, there was a horrifying sight at the supermarket. One of those gyrating, singing Santa Claus that was about 4 feet high. It amused the children, whose parents held them close so they could grab his hands and dance along. Everyone was all giggles and happiness. I heard that the song was English, so I came closer. It didn’t sound familiar to me.

And closer. Still no Jingle Bells, Santa Claus is Coming, nothing.

And heard these words….

There’s a yellow rose of Texas
That I am going to see
No other soldier knows her
No soldier, only me.
She cried so when I left her
It like to broke my heart
And if I ever find her
We never more will part.

If you don’t know what this is, it’s the lyrics to “Yellow Rose of Texas” which is NOT in any way a Christmas song. I couldn’t believe it. I’m sure Walmart received that from maybe a Chinese supplier, who mixed up the audio files with the singing Flower Pot and the Singing Santa Claus, and thereafter they decided to offload them to Italy.

So, the little children are dancing, singing, holding Santa’s hands and gazing at him wondrously with bright shiny eyes as Santa celebrates the supposed importance of a mulatto prostitute in the defeat of Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto.

Doesn’t it just make you want to roast chestnuts and drink hot chocolate???

Last on our mixture list…

Back in the U.S., H&M finally appeared on the West Coast, and the San Fran opening caused a chaos not seen since IKEA opened in East Palo Alto.

But being in Milan this weekend, the stores were so packed, you might have thought they were giving away free condoms or better yet, metro tickets inside the store with so many people. I waited in line for about 15 minutes to buy some peacock feather earrings, and finally the wait and sympathy for the peacock got to me and I left empty-handed.

My mixture objection is the way they describe the methodology of the H&M strategy…providing “disposable fashion.” That translates to me: “This is defnitely an impulse buy….you’ll see it, think you’ll never find it again, and you’ll buy. The first time you wear it you’ll start to see that the bottom seam is unraveling. By the second wear, you’ll see that the fit isn’t exactly right, but you’ll realize: 1) you didn’t pay enough to justify the gas money needed to get to the store 2) you’ll waste a lot of time wading through the crowds and then trying to convince the minimum-wage clerk you deserve a refund or an exchange, and 3) if you’re going, you might as well get something new!

So, it’ll end up in the “needs repairing bag” that you leave for about 6 months in your closet corner, or in the “donations” bag for the Salvation army that you hope they’ll overlook the defects in the name of fashion!

Disposable. Fashion.