"I read that on your blog"

Earlier tonight someone remarked to me in passing, "Oh right. I read that on your blog." My first thought was, My what? OH RIGHT I HAVE A BLOG. My second thought was, hot damm. I can't even remember the last time I posted to my blog. What oh what must they think of me? The word delinquent came to mind. So did overworked and stressed and busy and TiVo.  But this is no time for excuses.  It's time to get back on the horse. Jump on that bandwagon. Monday morning quarterback....hmmm that doesn't work so instead [insert cliche here] and let's move on.

In an attempt to kick start my blog habit, I started thinking about why I created this blog in the first place.

1) I don't think I am an excellent writer (nor is it an activity that I actually enjoy) and thought this would be a good way to force myself to practice/learn to love it.

2) I wanted to tell "tall" tales of my adventures in Boston - and how frequently my height comes into play in all sorts of situations.

3) Many of my friends and family live far away and perhaps this is a way for them to follow my stories. Ya know, bc I dont post them on Twitter or Facebook so CLEARLY the lack of LHV information in the world is a big problem.

4) Sarcasm is a tough tone to nail in writing. Something to work on.

I think far too often I try to come up with thematic posts - ones that really showcase the TALL issues - and I got bogged down in the details.  So while I am still going to focus on 1-4 above, there might be times when I go off the rails. If it gets me posting more often, I am ok with it. In the meantime, for those casual readers wondering what I have been up to since July, here is a quick recap so we're all on the same page:

• July - amazing 10-day family vacation to Fairmont Maui
• August - moved to the 2nd floor of my building, as per the "request" of my landlord's daughter. #fail
• September - lots and lots of long hours to prep for...
• October - my biggest event of the year (and the largest single event I've ever planned solo), Eloqua Experience, which goes off without a hitch. VICTORY!
• November - Green Beans w Bacon Vinaigrette, Buble at the Garden

So welcome back to me, LHV. Let's see where we go from here!

I Can't Miss You If You Won't Leave

OH HELLO THERE FRIENDS! Have you missed me? Probably not but only because I have been so busy mouthing off on Twitter or blogging on my new company's corporate blog, It's All About Revenue
(it's not all dorky marketing stuff, I promise! RSS feed it, throw a tomato at me later if you disagree).

So in an effort to end my not-so-strictly-imposed social silence, I'm declaring the three month new-job transition period (the time allotted to let your life just drift away from "normal" and into "holy crap, I need to work 43 hours per day to 1) impress my co-workers and 2) figure out how to use this freakin fax machine/phone/laptop/expense accounting system/payroll...oh how the list goes on") officially OVER (it's not you, it's me). Let's back up -- on March 1st, I started working for Eloqua, a software company that focuses on marketing automation. It's been an amazing three months, can't rave enough about my new boss or declare how lucky I feel to be at an organization that recognizes and appreciates talent. But with any new job, even one you love, the transition period is a tough one. Adjustments must be made, judgments will be given, clothing choices will be analyzed. So you put normal life on a shelf for a bit and that includes things like leaving work at a normal hour, hitting the gym, blogging. Ok, so blogging wasn't a totally normal thing for me but roll with it.

So the three month (+ a lil extra) period has just passed, as well as my vacation (more on that to come shortly) and I woke up this morning with a shot - it's time to get back to business. Focusing on fitness, preparing for a busy fall both professionally and personally and starting to plan for new living arrangements (more on that to come shortly too). First up? Putting it down on virtual paper. Making it real. Or as real as a blog can get that mostly only Katy, Nikki and my cat read on a regular basis.

What does any of this have to do with being tall? Nothing, except I'm doing it. And I'm tall. So that works.

Stay tuned.

If The Shoe Fits..

Dear Jimmy, Manolo, Cole, Tory, Jeffrey, Steve and others,

I write to you not out of obligation but of necessity. Labor Day is over, fall is officially approaching and, while I am not at all prepared to put away my SPF 4 or my tank tops, the crisp wind in the air does signify the start of something wonderful: boot season. Forget what the song says, boot season is by far the most wonderful time of the year. Tights, skirts, scarves, trench coats - they all serve to flatter the boot and that first time you get to strut down Newbury St wearing your slammin calfskin Tory Burch booties, you feel like a kid again. I mean, look at this gorgeous art that Cole Haan has presented us with - grey suede with a bold silver buckle. It's heaven...as long as you're 5'8" and under.

These grey boots have a 3 1/4" heel. Math isn't my strong suit but just humor me for a minute. As I stand at 6'1" (eh, 6'1" and 1/2" but who is counting?), if I were to don this pair of shoes, I would measure in/up at 6'4" and 3/4". Do you know how tall 6'4" is?? I love my height, always have (well except for those high school years but, come on, I had to stand at the back of every class photo and after a while the ego takes a brusin!), but I love shoes more. Exhibit A: my shoe wall. I'm fortunate enough to be the benefactor of a ridiculously large walk-in closet and I arranged it so that an entire wall is dedicated to shoes. Hey, if you can do it, you do it. Check it out. Pretty sweet huh?

While this picture proves that I certainly havent had any trouble finding shoes to purchase, I do so long for the day when kitten heels are just as popular as stilettos. Yes I will concede that the return of the ballet flat has done wonders for this section of my closet, but when it comes to boots - heel height still reigns surpeme. Last year, I spent about six months looking for a respectable pair of black work boots but the choices were always flat heeled riding boots (not a look I can pull off) or towering high heeled classic leather stylish boots. Why no middle ground? Do you think that there isnt a market for clean, classic boots with a small heel? Put down that market research report because I can tell you one thing for sure: the market is there. I'll sustain it myself if I have to! But it's there.

A quick search of Nordstrom.com's shoe section (which I will applaud as having a large range of size 11 shoes, a familiar stomping ground for us tall girls), with the request being for boots with a 1-2" heel results in shoes that can mostly be lumped into two groups: cowboy boots. and gollashes. You're better than that. I have faith that you will see the light and provide me with darling boots with respectable non-stileeto heels. I know you can do it. I believe in you. I have to. It's either that or I resort to wearing these floral-embossed cowboy boots and, with all due respect, that ain't gonna happen.

Sincerely yours,

Laura

Spin It To Win It

I recently started taking spinning classes at the Beacon Hill Athletic Club, mostly to avoid my other gym which can get a little hot in the summertime. That's primarily because my "other gym" is my living room. For nine months a year it is a great location to rock out to Wii Fit and Wii Fitness Coach but, while I enjoy picturing certain folks' faces on the boxing bag while I punch, jab and weave into thin air (use your imagination), come June-July-August its time for a change of scenery.

Fortunately, Groupon came into my life and, if you don't know Groupon, stop what you are doing (yes, I am aware that what you are doing is reading my blog) and go sign up now. I will wait. OK, welcome back. So Groupon had a summer deal (20 visits for $30! arent you glad you signed up?) to the gym and I figured it was worth it to try something new. A random Monday I decided to take a spinning class and, I have to say, I was hooked after the first go. Its dark, its loud, you can be competitive while biking and yet you control your pace and your resistance so a lot of times it is just about beating yourself. It is an intense, calorie-burning, quick, high energy 60 minutes and the time just flies by. Seven classes later, I consider myself a regular (not a novice but by no means a veteran) and I don't plan on stopping any time soon.

But here's the thing: I am 100% too tall for the spinning bikes. Either that or the spinning bikes are 100% too short for me. Regardless of how you spin it (I HAD TO DO IT), its lose-lose. The first class I just thought, ouch, this is kinda tough to lean over this far on the handlebars. The second class a different instructor was kind enough to increase the handlebar height for me and it was better but by the third class, a final instructor said, this really ought to be higher. So, all confident and brazen on my third day, I pulled the handlebars up to get it to the height she felt would be most fitting for me. Too bad I had already pulled the handlebars off the bike itself. Uhhh....ooops. A quick adjustment later I was back on my way but it was now with the realization that it *could* be a better experience if I just weren't so damm tall. If my legs didn't almost touch the ground when I sat on the bike. If my arms didn't dangle over the front of the handlebars. If I could somehow raise the seat even higher so that I would be practically flying. If only....

I have decided to see my bike's limitations as an additional workout challenge (as it does force me to utilize more back muscles and, lets face it, that's where the muffin top lurks) but I do wonder if my fellow spin masters look over at me during class and think "why are her handlebars 7 ft higher than her bike?" But then I lean over, cycle past them on our imaginary bike path and think, "ha! my love handles will be gone before yours!" Well, that and, "Suck it." At least they aren't makin me ride this:

(Gotta love Google image search - this is apparently what happens when you Google "tall person bike")

The (Tall) French Chef

I went to see Julie and Julia today, a new film about two women with a passion for cooking and I loved it. Not just pleasantly enjoyed it or chuckled through it but rather I want to write sonnets in its honor, bestow raves upon it, give it two thumps up, etc. But this should come as no big surprise to anyone who knows me...

Julie Powell, an office worker drowning in her cubicle, decides to embark on a tremendous task: in one year, she'll cook her way though Julia Child's epic 524-recipe magnum opus "How to Master the Art of French Cooking" and blog about the experience. I read the book when it was released and thought it was a great story of "average girl seeks life changing experience"...and actually gets it! The movie, though, goes a step further to include the bio of Julia Child herself. And since I've never read Julia's biography, it opened my eyes to someone I should've been admiring for a long time. Why? She's tall. And loves to eat. REMIND YOU OF ANYONE? (cough cough...me)

While Julie's story is heartwarming and reminds you that sometimes good things do happen to those who earn them (she wants to be a writer, she starts a blog, she gets published...you get the idea), it was really Julia's section of the movie that so moved me. For the unfamiliar, Julia Child stood 6'2" tall - and the director, Nora Ephron, goes to great heights (ha!) to showcase this in the film. She married a man considerably shorter than she was, she lived in France where she towered over every local she encountered, she wore heels (!). And yet, instead of people being overwhelmed by her, her height and her strident nature (which is how I often feel), they embraced her for it. It became her calling card - well that and her ridiculously enjoyable trill of a voice - and I'm completely enamored with how she was able to laugh at her height, use it, embrace it. Definitely a lesson I've tried to learn but one where I can always use a refresher course.

Certainly it was not Julia's height that made her famous or brought her acclaim. But neither was it something she used as an impediment to those goals and for that I say bravo! Oh and of course...bon appetit!

Making Headlines

As I mentioned in my very first blog post, I wrote a letter to the editors of Boston Magazine regarding an article in their May issue. A quick refresher: they did a survey asking men in Boston what they were looking for in a date. Regarding height, the results were pretty much not in my favor:

Survey says: The ideal Boston woman is about average height (5'4"–5'8"). But fewer than one in six Bostonians found women of 5'8" to 6'—a.k.a. the supermodel median—compellingly attractive.

Not in my favor NOT because our Patriot-lovin, accent-toting male Boston residents aren't looking for a gal like me but rather not in my favor bc my height didn't even rank as part of the survey! So as a funny, hey-its-another-rainy-weekend-

day-in-Boston lark, I wrote a letter to the editors of Boston Magazine declaring their survey to be missing out on a key element of the Boston scene and admonishing the results. They called to confirm when they received it but said it was highly unlikely it would get published bc it would have to wait until the NEXT issue. Fortunately for me it must have been a slow news month because in the issue on stands now, on the bottom of page 12, is a response from the editors to my sweet little note.

Boston Magazine doesn't publish full LTE but rather snippets of them in commentary. For mine, they mentioned how I was appalled that my fellow tall females and I were left out of the survey entirely. Well....here's the kicker. The good folks at Boston Mag actually added an editorial note to the bottom of my paragraph stating:

The survey did include the option "Taller than 6'"; however it garnered far less than towering support with a mere 1 percent of the votes

Well done, Laura. You've forced the magazine to print that 99% of eligible Boston bachelors are not interested in dating someone of your height. Smooth move. A huge boost to the ego if there ever was one. They were trying to save you the pain that comes with knowledge, yet you called them out and forced their hand.

However, I know I speak for all my fellow long-legged friends when I say we take this in stride (a long stride, yes, but still in stride). We know that most guys are driven by ego and it takes a very special kind of gentleman to be with a woman who is taller than they are. And these special gentleman DO exist, I have faith. There may only be 1% of them in Boston (or at least those willing to admit it) and they may be in hiding 99% of the time, but occasionally they do stick their heads out of the ground long enough for us to snag them. And when we do, we won't be letting go any time soon. Hypothetically speaking...of course.

Die Hard With A (Furry) Vengeance

(Yes, yes, I have been a delinquent blogger. Lets just exchange a silent apology, an embarrassed smile and pretend it never happened. Catch up? June was a big event in NYC, a week at home in Jersey with the fam and lots....and lots...of rain. Feel better? Ok, good.)

Email has become a tedious fellow, trapping us for hours at work and bogging us down in our free time as we rummage through offers for free HDTVs from Bernie & Phyl's. However, I received a lovely surprise the other day from my friend E, a fellow tall lass, alerting me to an ongoing Boston Casting Call:

Boston Casting is Seeking tall women (6'1 and above) for extra work on the upcoming Brendan Fraser film "Furry Vengeance." They are looking specifically for tall women that could play construction workers.

A quick check of IMDB reveals the following about the project:

In the Oregon wilderness, a real estate developer's new housing subdivision faces a unique group of protesters, local woodland creatures who don't want their homes disturbed.

Uhhhhh, can we say AMAZING? This inspires so many questions: Would my tall construction worker be on the side of Brendan Fraser or standing up for the right of the woodland creatures? Would I get to fight said woodland creatures (who I can only imagine would be animated, voiced by - if I could only be so lucky - Ben Stein or perhaps John Goodman??)? What would my costumes entail? Why would they be shooting a movie set in the "Oregon wilderness" in Boston? Most importantly, why is it crucial that these construction workers be tall ladies? Are we scarier? Or is it the startling height difference between the tall ladies and the woodland creatures that would give this soon-to-be cinematic classic its core dramatic tension?

My curiosity peeked, I sent the casting agent an email with a few pics. She did respond - to ask for a full body shot, hmmmm ok? - so I still have faith that this could be my big break. I'm not really the "construction worker" type BUT if Brendan Fraser can pretend that this movie isnt the death of his career (well, after this monkey of course) then I am sure I can pull it off.

Stay tuned for news on my (eventual) big break - tall construction ladies of the world, rejoice!