Note to self:

Remember how you thought that you could safely wear red clothing until Thanksgiving? You were wrong. Next year, stop wearing anything red and vaguely Victorian-looking immediately after Halloween.




(Why yes, someone asked me if I was caroling in the area today. For the record, I am wearing a black high-collared, ruffly blouse under a black princess-seamed, a jacket with a bat-wing hem, and an ankle-length full skirt that has alternating bands of black velvet and red satin. I'm not even wearing a top hat today. But no, apparently this outfit says "Christmas caroler!" to an average member of the public.)