Confessions of a One-Track Mind

I just finished hanging up a bunch of clothes that actually fit me. I didn't stop because all my clothes were hung, I stopped because I ran out of hangers. Imagine a huge grin on my face, because the last couple of months have found me standing in front of my closet on Sunday mornings and swearing--everything I had was too goddamn big and looked like hell.

Having been unable to shop at all for the last year, and not even being able to get out and try stuff on, I didn't really have a grasp of where I was, sizewise.

The first hint came when I settled into my seat on the plane and discovered to my stunned delight that I no longer need a seatbelt extender. The last time that happened, Jimmy Carter was President.

GK had a large laundry basket FULL of goodies awaiting my try-on. Oh, the pretties! Most of them fit; there were more that were too large than too small. The cherry on it all was discovering GK and I are wearing approximately the same sizes--the first time in the more than 30 years of our friendship in which that's been true.

We went shopping--I picked up a pair of black Fashion Bug trousers, NWT, that fit divinely--SIZE 24! The pair I wore on the plane down are 26/28, which explains why I look like I've deflated. Of course, plus sizing is not an exact science--I'm wearing a simple black straight skirt that fits becomingly, and it's a 26--I also have several size 22 dresses and some 18/20 tops....

We want to a meeting the other evening, and I found out that I no longer have to fear being wedged into those stacking chairs--the kind with the chrome arms and legs. I've hated those chairs for decades, and now I'm safe from their torment.

Mind you, me attempting to get up from one of those collapseable folding chairs with the rods and the canvas could probably be sold to America's Funniest Home Videos. Managed it the other morning, though, watching the Balloon Festival. Magical! The balloons, although my eventual successful extrication from the wobbling canvas contraption was also quite satisfying.

This has definitely been the trip of a lifetime! Looks like I'll be staying a while longer, which I don't mind a bit. More as it happens!

.

I've been working on Unfucking my bedroom, specifically, getting at my closet. It's been on my to-do list for a while, and today I got up and at it.

As with any cleaning around here, there are things I'm keeping an eye out for, and so far, I've found several, yay! There are also things I've run across and been surprised: That? I'd forgotten about that....

So far, I've been happy to run across a full package of page protectors. I *thought* I'd had a pack, but I couldn't find them, concluded I hadn't bought them after all and gotten more. (This was nearly two years ago, so this really was a serendipitious find as I've been running low.) My basic brown skirt has turned up, hanging in the closet in between some other things, most of which will be Going Away. Yay, skirt! I've missed you! Discovered a plastic bag full of assorted handmade jewelery; after I've dealt with the closet, sorting my caches of jewelery is another to-do. And, oh happy day, my ruby slippers have turned up. They've been MIA for at least three years, and I was stunned when they emerged from under the wrought-iron stand in my bedroom. (I'd've sworn I'd cleaned under there more recently that THAT.)

Anyway, I'm still looking (in particular) for a tiered silver top, a new-with-tags pair of grey flats, the two middle books from the Melendy Quartet, and the mate of my black slipper-bootie.

On a parting note, BigRed and I were discussing the on-again-off-again series of phone interviews I've been having, and that hopefully where's going to be an actual face-to-face meeting soon (next week, I hope, but am not holding my breath as it's not good for my complexion). She said, You know I adore you, right? And I admire your personal style? That being said, in the event they do want a face to face meeting, you do have a professional business outfit to wear, don’t you?. To which I succinctly replied, Pin-striped. *eyeroll* Geez, give me a little credit!

Okay, back to the bedroom; if I don't get the mess resolved, I'm not going to be able to crawl into bed tonight what with all the boxes and flooredrobe....

0=0=0=0=0=0=0

Update, 4:30ish: Made several trips and got all the too-big stuff out of my closet. Alll that's left are a few things I can still wear, all "That's were that went!" Also dug into a box and found several folded pairs of socks and a half-dozen pairs of panties; I'm going to wash the latter, as they may have been clean when they went in, but they're musty from being packed away. (Never mind the sniff test, just wash 'em!) Found book two of the Quartet, still need three, which I know damn well is here somewhere. Have reached the inevitable point of, what the hell am I going to do with it all?!

Keep calm, and carry on cleaning....
.
0=0=0=0=0=0=0

Update, 7ish: My closet is being repopulated with garments that are in current rotation. The sad part is, I haven't even *started* bringing things in from the garage; so far, this is just stuff that's been hanging on over-the-door racks. Wow.

While I was shifting things around, I tried on a coat I got at the Melbourne Goodwill back when I first started working next door. Very nice. Italian. Olive, kind of tweedy. At the time, I could get it on, though buttoning it made me look like a stuffed sausage. And today, I buttoned it up, no problem. (Although I haven't tried to sit down in it---the acid test.) Too bad we're having such a warm winter....

.

Church today was fun---our aspiring minister (henceforth AM) presented music associated with winter festivals of different faiths. (Several of which I'd never heard of.) She was wearing a *very* familiair-looking top---apparently most of the stuff in last week's box worked, hurray!

I had on my faux-wrap leopard print dress with a wide black belt. It's one of those decorative belts that has a hole pattern all the way around, so in theory you can take it in indefinitely. You can tell I've had it for a while, because at this point, I have about ten inches coming out on the far side of the buckle. Thankfully, the dress has a ways to go before it can be considered "too big", which is good, because I really like it.

From there I went to Publix to check my e-mail and update my apps, which has become a Sunday ritual. Went to Aldi afterward and used a GC to stock up on a few things food stamps won't buy, plus some treats for New Years. The thing about their gift certs is, you have to spend them all at once, so I was judicious in balancing needs and wants with the eventual total. It came to $25.23, so once I got the deposit back on my cart, I about broke even. Now I have light bulbs and paper plates and frozen pizza and cheese and cashews and have some nommies to look forward to tomorrow. (Hell no, I'm not going anywhere. Even if I did voluntarily drive after dark, I sure as hell wouldn't do it when all the idjits are out and about.)

My paid LJ account and icons are fixing to expire next month. Le sigh! That's so far down the priority list---! Somewhere between my next tank of gas and getting the backyard mowed....

.

Got a modest loan from GK and got some generic Claratin (recommended by the pharmacist), a tube of hydrocortisone lotion, and a bottle of Listerine (recommended as an itch-fighter by AI), and AI was right, it smells a bit medicinal, but I'm definitely less itchy.

I ended up wearing the black pants GK sent me, with an orange top under the print jacket I posted a pic of last week. Ended up taking the jacket off---it's still a little too warm for that. I got told how terrific I'm looking by Ranger'sGrrl, to which I modestly said "Thank you". Really? Wasn't feeling it---that wasn't my definition of all dressed up---but it's still good to hear.

I'm gleed to see a couple new KIA Soul hamsta commercials are running. The "Night at the Opera" is...interesting, and the neon-light-space-hamstas really makes me grin like a fiend, since I proposed Soul-as-TARDIS ages ago. Although, there are definitely just three of them. so I think insteead of St. John, Orlando, Umberto and Leery, they're Kevin, Ivan and Arlo.... If I thought I'd be doing Yuletide, that's definitely something I'd be requesting.

.

Yesterday was a blast. The weather looked threatening, so I boogied over to the Island early, despite J's injunctions not to show up before 7PM.

Publix has wifi. I sat in the foyer and fiddle-futzed around on my phone for a while. Went in and snagged a few things while phone was loading My Horse updates. Have been craving Lebanon Bologna for weeks, and was finally able to indulge in that and a loaf on onion rye. (Which was what I had for breakfast, yum!)

Back out in the lobby, because it was still only 6:30, when I checked out, and who should stroll in but Mb. I told her I didn't recognize her without the Akita! And as she was going in, who should come through the out door but J! I was highly amused by the convergence.

Mb made her all-day spaghetti sauce, and J procured cake and ice cream. It was nommy.

Although it's early (cos technically, my b-day is tomorrow), I got pressies! Mb got me some lime-scented soap that smells good enough to eat, on a great little soapdish. J granted me a free month of phone service. And GK's box, which I'd had her send to J's for security reasons, had arrived and brought much squee.

Best ensemble: A black pencil skirt, size 26, that fits divinely, paired with a fantastic print jacket. Mb and J both gasped and said how professional the combo looked. Myself, I think the jacket is a trifle boxy, but I have scads of things I can wear under it; it has colors that my wardrobe already features. The skirt is a smidge long, but I'm still staggered that I can fit into ANY pencil skirt, much less one that's a size 26. It's not THAT long. I'd shorten it a couple inches, but *I* think it comes off as conservative rather than frumpy.

Likewike the black skirt with a splashy dot print in red-pink-orange is versatile and fun---I have all of the above in tops. There's a pair of microfiber black pants of a style I've had before and worn to death. Can't go wrong with that. A cute little necklace made from buttons is a fun accessory that I'll probably layer with a similar necklace I have in black.

The less than amazing items are a sundress with an elasticized bodice---it's totally a mailbox dress, as in, good to schlep around the house in, but I wouldn't wear it past the mailbox. There's an awesome NWT croc belt, too tight, but in 15-20 pounds, it won't be. And finally, a khaki skirt, which I DO like, but Mb and J both gave it thumbs-down. It's pleated, you see, which might not be so bad, but it's slightly loose at the waist so it rides low, which does my hips no favors. (Still, it's khaki, which I've wanted for ages. I wound up wearing it for the rest of the evening with the top I started the evening in, and it's quite comfortable.)

Got skunked by J both games. Just wasn't quite getting the cards I needed, and she went out both times. *sigh* Still, it was fun. Those two always are.

Happy shout-out to pwcorgigirl and thru_the_blinds for their sweet birthday greetings, also kukkurkurat---great to hear from you, hon. Hope your job interview goes great! Early birthday kudos to birthday twin ruric---have a wonderful b-day and a terrific year. Best wishes on the new job, and let's hope it's contagious!

Have a lovely weekend, y'all!




.

I've got bedding going in the dryer, and I just finished putting away a drawerful of panties. System: The farther back in the drawer, the older/larger they are. I've still got a few pairs of JMS14s, although these days I can get comfortably into a 12 (or 13, I have them too, and they're newish compared to the 14s).

Yesterday, I was absolutely overjoyed to wear a certain blue-and-white cotton skirt to church. The skirt itself I got circa 1988, probably last worn 1990ish---but I love it and kept it, despite having gotten rid of a LOT of other things I despaired of ever wearing again. I'm glad I kept the faith, because it's back in my active wardrobe!

The print is two shades of blue on a white background, kind of palm-frondish. I wore it with a navy tank top. I accessorized it with an asymmetric necklace of mother-of-pearl and coral and red ballet flats. Add to this the fact that my hair has FINALLY grown out enough that I no longer snarl at my reflection in mirrors (It only took three months!).

I don't always feel good about myself. My weight has been see-sawing back and forth, up and down the same five pounds since April, or thereabouts. I'm fifty-something, my skin has lost its firmness, and when I take my clothes off, I look like a shar-pei. My teeth could land me a part in The Grapes of Wrath. I don't wear make-up because there's always something better to spend money on, and between thick glasses and minimal eyelashes, bone structure and thick hair are all I have going for me north or the neck. Well, that and brains, but I don't think anyone but zombies wants to look at THEM.

But one thing I *AM* happy about is the fact that this whole entire year so far, I've stayed under 300 pounds, which is the first time I've been able to say that since circa 1990. And, while the number on the scale hasn't made the downward progress I'd like to see, that five-pound range I've been hovering in is in the low 280s, which I regard as quite satisfactory.

Basically, I'm trying to relate the following philosophy to the status quo:




oxo

Today I did something I've never done before. I commented on a post at fatshionxchange solely to review a dress someone was selling. The community is for sales of plus size clothing. I've bought there a few times (although I know, I *ought* to be selling there instead).

Anyway, someone was selling a dress I got a couple of months ago from Fashion Bug. It's a basic, versatile dress, good to throw on and go, with easy-care fabric that never wrinkles. It drapes well, flatters the waistline, and I said that it was a very good value for the amount the seller is asking.

This is it:

What is irksome is, there have been no comments/sales for that or anything else the seller has listed, even though she's got some nice stuff at reasonable prices. I feel really bad for her; hopefully sales will pick up.

The community is on my friends page, and I check any post that looks like it might have something my size. However, I usually find that what's up isn't what I want/need. (There's no frackin way I'd pay $10 for someone's old tee shirt.) There arespecific things I prefer, certain skirts, shrugs, light jackets. I have to remind myself that my style now isn't everyone's, and for that matter, what I wear at 50+ isn't what I wore 10, 20 or 30 years ago.

I've cut way back on online purchases. Part of it is surfeit of stuff, another part is cost, but mostly it's because I'm tired of hit-or-miss results. I'd rather try it on first; I can try it on and not buy it---it satisfies my desire to shop while still preserving my bank balance.

.

Another package from GK arrived today, this one a box of thrifted goodies. She knows what I like, has a good idea of my sizes, and keeps an eye out for things when she goes thrifting.

This haul yielded two bras, 44DD. Alas, they don't fit. When last measured (January), I was 46DD. Yes, it fits snugly, but surprisingly, the real problem is the cups. I can handle underwire, but the contoured, foam-lined cups are made of fail. The right side is vastly too big, while the left side runneth over. I'm afraid I've been spoiled by Cacique, which are infinitely more forgiving of my off-kilter clevage.

However, the dress more than makes up for the dispointment of the bras. The dress is 57 varieties of awesome. It's chiffon over microfiber, a tawny leopard print, faux-wrap waistline, 3/4 chiffon sleeves. I don't like the sleeves, but consider that to be a fixable detail.

Oh look---I found a picture:


I think I'm going to wear it with a wide black belt for more definition. Depending on where I'm going, I have black or brown flats to pair it with, OR leopard print heels.

Oh, and did I mention---it's a size 24?!

.

Haircut is NOT what I asked for and I'm extremely unhappy about that. IDC if AI says she thinks it's cute and that it shows how much weight I've lost. It reminds me of the style my mom wore for my entire memory of her, and it looked better on her than it does on me. Grrr.

Dark Shadows: Meh. It was over the top camp. It would take itself seriously for a couple minutes, then go veering off into la-la-land. I expected a little tongue-in-cheek, which I would've been fine with, and I'm sure the cast had a great time making it, but I was massively underwhelmed. Tim Burton can do creepy---what happened?!

Which was why, afterward, I wandered into "The Raven". That was moody and dark, more like what I would've wanted DS to be. It reminded me of the RDJ Sherlock Holmes movies, aided by John Cusack. He's all broody and angsty as Poe, searching for his lost love, who's been kidnapped by a maniacal fan. The fan is committing murders out of Poe's stories with little touches of his own, and demanding new stories from Poe in return for the next clue. Not scary-scary, but nicely suspenseful.

Discovered to my extreme joy that I can now wear size 26 pants. Wept for joy in the changing room at Fashion Bug! Tried some 28s, which looked like I was off to ride my little pony, there was so much fabric flapping at the thighs. Woohoo! I remember being highly upset when I was stretching out size 32s and couldn't find 34s anywhere. And these aren't stretch pants, either---they're woven and have a button-and-zip waistband. Go, me!

Very small crowd at church yesterday---seven people!---but we all knew each other, so it was cozy. PJ gave each of the ladies present a red rose---mine is residing in a glass in my bathroom where I'll see it every time I go in there.

Was up til OMG!AM reading Locked In, the new Tom Clancy. Thankfully, he's gotten away from quoting tech manuals on the hardware at length, as in earlier books. Alas, now he's introducing eight thousand characters to keep track of, complete with backstories and subplots and so on. Me complaining about backstories?! You know it must be serious. Still, I enjoy following his recurring charactrs, which was why I was up til OMG---there was a hostage/torture situation with one of the RC's, and I was freaking out. Arrgh! Vry intense! Now I'm on pins and needles for the next one.

Otherwise, same stuff, different week. TTFN.

.

Today's mail brought a manila envelope from GK. Got a sheaf of EW covers starring Johnny Depp, an article about Boston-based mystery writers, and a bunch of photos from 1986 through 1998. The photos were mind-bending. My reaction to most of them was OMG, WTF are you wearing?!

As much as I would like to chalk some of it up to bad camera angles, peach shorts ovr a black swimsuit is never going to be picturesque in a good way. (September 1st, 1986)

Another *major* WTF was of a dress that I got as a hand-me-down from a co-worker at the answring service. It's a white tee-shirt dress painted with abstract pink flowers and green stems and adorned with what looks like giant silver dragees. Dreadful---but what's worse, I still have it, albeit in a pile of stuff to Go Away. Circa 1990.

The one that stirred up the most agita, though, was of me in a certain turquoise shirtwaist dress. I got it, new with tagws, from Susie, who'd gotten it from Lane Bryant, tried it on, and it was absurdly too big for her. I said it looked like I could wear it; she took it off and told me if it fit, I could have it---and it did. I wore it when I interviewed and got the answering service job, February 1988.

It fit well at the time. I gained weight, the waist stretched out, I kept wearing it...I wore the hell out of that thing. And even when it was toward the end of its days, I got compliments on it. It was a good color for me.

In the photo, dated January 1993, I'm sitting in one of those white plastic stacking chairs. There's a Christmas tree with a mountain of still-wrapped gifts in the background. In the foreground, I've got my hands clasped across my sloping Buddha belly, like I'm trying to stop myself from melting.

Christmas 1997 and 1998. Several shots feature me posing in a long leopard-print chiffon scarf. GK gave it to me for Christmas 1997, and I loved it. Wore it to tatters, I did. It's probably still kicking around here, although I've gotten a similar one in better shape. Gal's gotta have her leopard-print!

One thing I will say: Having grown the color out of my hair, I really did look better blonde. I may have to go back to tinting it, because it looks very dull as it is.

.

One thing that can be said for last week's Ordeal By Cat, it sure helped reset my sleep cycle. I was so utterly worn-out after five days and nights of caterwaling that I conked out around 10PM Saturday night. Was up a wee bit later on Sunday, but I have subsequently managed to be in bed with lights out by midnite, and up early. (Before 7:30AM?! OMG!)

Mb came by yesterday and dropped off my walking shoes. I'd left them at her place, but what with the toe and her busy schedule, it doesn't look like we'll be walking together soon. I need to get my act together and Just Do It. (Seven weeks?! Yikes!)

I was going to give her one of my belts, because she has some jeans that are falling off her. Tried it on, and it works on me. How/when did that happen? Also, my brown belt with studded rings, last worn to the Depeche Mode concert on the next-to last hole, is a couple holes farther down. My only regret is that my Little Earth belt, gotten back when I was 340-ish, now falls off my hips completely, and there's no way to fix it.

I wonder if my "disco-ball" dress...no, too flashy for the reunion, I think. Besides, I last wore that around 30 pounds ago, it would *have* to be taken in. *smile*

Have a good day, y'all!

.

Why doesn't ASOS have this dress in something a little closer to my size?! *pout*

I'm lusting after it, all navy and white and summery-fresh looking. I'm tall enough to pull it off, and I have The Perfect Hat to wear with it. And some cute little shoes in red or yellow. I'd be even more awesome than usual!

However. The biggest size they have it in is the equivalent of a US 16, and I'm pretty damn far from a 16. Currently, more like size 26. If they had it in US 22, or even 20, I'd snag it for motivation---it's a sweet deal at that price!---but NOT 16. (ETA, The UK site has it in US20, but I hate to imagine what the shipping would be, even if I *could* finagle it.) I know my personal sizing; I'm at least 50 pounds away from that.

Damn and double damn.

.

For starters, I'm 284 as of this morning. My reunion is a scant seven weeks away, and I'm hoping I can drop another 10 pounds between now and then. Being laid up because of my foot didn't help my progress, now it's getting to the season where my pores are starting to leak. Summer, guh!

I'm trying to decide what I'm going to wear to the event...I don't want to buy anything; I have tons of clothes as it is. The fact that most of my pants are quite baggy doesn't help. It's a Good Thing in terms of visible progress, but not so good in terms of having to spend money to replace old reliables with new, smaller items. Which leaves skirts? A dress? OMG, shoes?! What shoes do I have that are drop-dead? *wibbles* Because I cherish the small, forlorn hope that the love of my life will appear and be smitten....

Got caught up on the last couple eps of "Missing", and so far, everything I surmised has either been correct, or will probably be proven so ere long. I still don't really care about Ashley Judd one way or another, but regular Sean Bean for the win! Ditto Cliff Curtis! (And that guy playing Giancarlo ain't exactly a troll, either.)

Last night, I had an odd sort of dream, where SO came over to ask me about how to cook a big beef roast that he had. I told him he needed to start roasting at 500F for the first half-hour to sear it, then reduce the heat to 350F for the rest of the cooking time, total cook time 20 minutes per pound. (IDK where I came up with these numbers, but they sound about right.) He left, carrying his roast in a cardboard box, and I went back to what I was doing, setting up a rib roast that I was concocting.

Still in my dream, I tried to think of where I'd heard about the technique I was attempting, which consisted of carving the roast off the ribs, putting the ribs in the bottom of the roasting pan,arched side up with the roast atop the arch. Bobby Flay, I thought, on Worst Cooks in America.

I woke up and realized immediately that in fact it wasn't Bobby Flay, it was Roger Mooking from Everyday Exotic, it was supposed to be a caraway-crusted pork roast, and while I'd managed to separate the ribs from the roast, I'd left out the marinade/glaze stage. Ooops. My cookery show geek is showing.

Joyful Beltane to those who celebrate. Happy May Day to the rest of you.

Blessed be.

.

After church yesterday, I went to J's for more LOST (We've seen the first 12 eps) and side-tripped by way of Fashion Bug for some browsing.

I didn't got home to change first, so I had on what I wore to church: A brown tank top with brown bugle bead embellishment around the softly ruched neckline above a print shirt. This skirt---



From the pic, it looks pink flowers and a brown background, right? When I slid it out of its envelope (it's from eBay) I was nonplused to find that it has, in fact, coral flowers and the background is black. Nevertheless, there are shades of brown and tan in the leaves, so it worked nicely with the tank.

I had it accessorized with an Indian patchwork bag, courtesy of AI, a faux amber and ivory necklace, I forget where I got it, Goodwill, I think...and some basic black flats. no clue where the flats are from; I rediscovered them a few weeks ago while shifting things in the middle room.

When I entered the store, I was greeted warmly by the sales associate (No one I know---they have a lot of turnover), who said I was rocking the outfit, and she'd been watching me cross the parking lot because it looked so good.

I'm not vain, I don't think. The reason I post and tag compliments is for those occasions when I don't feel good about myself, when I feel old and fat and discouraged. And on days like those, when I go out, I am even more careful to dress well. It helps.

Last week, I also got a few compliments on my favorite spring-summer hat. ( (This one) ) I've had it for at least five years; it's a simple neutral and it suits me, so I'll keep it for as long as it lasts.

Anyway, browsing. I didn't try on a lot of stuff and didn't buy anything. One top, a bright geometric print that I thought was fun, had no shape. A tailored pair of herringbone print trousers with half a million (okay, four) buttons---no go. They were 28s and fit nicely, but the pattern was all over the place and made my ass look a mile wide. And finally, a pair of basic black stretch pants, size 26/28 on clearance. They were, however, MILES TOO BIG. The tailored 28s fit fine, but these were completely baggy. Pardon me while I do Snoopy dances at the thought of an alledged 28 being TOO BIG.

I have a basic white shrug coming soon...that's something I've wanted for quite a while, and finally found a gently used one in my price range ($11 including shipping). I'm a little trepidacious---is that really a word? It is now!---because it's labeled 22/24, but I'm smaller on top, so fingers crossed---!

.

Had a pleasant (albeit WET) weekend. Friday night, LOST with J, first three eps, Okay, I'm hooked. It's well written enough that I'm not sitting there yawning, wondering if it's almost over, it's more like, Huh? Over already?!

It rained fish Saturday noon. Mb and I were a little late getting going because we waiting for it to let up, then had a fine time. She wanted to visit Ruby Tuesday, which I was good with; I like RT. I tried their meatloaf for the first time. Verdict: The BBQ sauce they serve it with is strong and *much* too sweet. Next time, get it on the side. There *will* be a next time---the meatloaf itself was very tasty.

They comped us a piece of the Italian creme cake, which was absolutly divine. OMG, nomnomnom! Refrained from ordering a slice of my own, because I'm trying to rein in my intake, but oh, tempting! So was the waiter....

Made it to TJ Maxx to return things, including the hat...I've got lots of hats, I didn't NEED that one. Did get a pair of pillowcases for $7.99...two of the ones my new pillows were encased in have split. They're old, so I'm not surprised, but the new ones, 400-thread count, should be good for a long time to come.

Mb dropped me off at J's for more LOST. We all shot the breeze for a while, then Mb took off and J's BFF came by with her kid and we watched Puss in Boots, which was cute. I can happily spend two hours listening to Antonio Banderas, cat or no.

We watched some more LOST, then as J was getting ready to run me home, it started pouring again. I ended up staying there til about 12:30, by which time the weather had calmed down somewhat. What the heck, we can use the rain, and I figure the capillary action will set the powdered concrete my mailbox is planted in.

Yesterday's speaker gave a fascinating talk about an archaeological dig she participated in. It was a local excavation---the Windover Archaeological Site---and I'm sorry I wasn't aware of the goings-on at the time.

Next week after service is the annual congregational meeting---electing people to do the heavy lifting---and the speaker's topic is "Fiction-based Reality", which sounds intriguing. (It was supposed to be "Pirates of the Atlantic", but apparently he changed his mind after signing up.)

I must be doing something right---two dresses that I've had for a while are looser. They still fit, they just fit better. One is the paisley that I got after Christmas a year ago. I actually had to pin the wrap neckline, because it was loose enough to droop down and show my bra. It's looser at the waist, too. The other dress is a rosy coral floral print that I got at the Melbourne Goodwill for Easter about five years ago. It was always tight through the bust on the few occasions I wore it, but now it's just right. I plan to wear it as often as appropriate this spring and summer to get some use out of it.

TTFN.

.

This is the size 24 dress from Fashion Bug. Twas on clearance on the website, from whence the picture came...for about half of what I paid for it, but then, I wouldn't have had it for today, so...whatever.



Mind you, I probably wouldn't have bought it from the website, regardless of the sale price, as the picture doesn't begin to do justice to how it looks ON. And I'd never have picked size 24 without trying it on, I'm still confounded. (In a good way.)

Okay, time for lights out....

Got a call from PJ literally two minutes after turning my alarm off. (8:02 AM) Alarming news: They were off the boat, on the road, and expected to be home by noon. Going by what I know of cruises, I hadn't even expected them to be off the frackin' boat before 11.

That blew my plan of going calmly to church and coming back to the house to pack right out of the water. And unfortunately, I *couldn't* skip church, because PJ had printed out the programs for this week and entrusted them to me to deliver.

Had a very Ogden Nash morning: "When in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout"... Add to that hospitality---I'd made a special trip to the price club on Saturday so I could do something nice: I planned tortellini salad with genoa salami, stuffed mushrooms, ruggala and grapes for dessert. Alas, packing took all my cooking time; I delivered the desserts---stressed spelled backward!---and dashed into WalMart on the way there.

Got to church and discovered that I was WRONG, that someone else was down for hospitality, although I think the fresh fried chicken was an improvement over cole slaw and cookies. (I have always thought cole slaw is a terrible thing to do to defenseless cabbage; if an atrocity is going to be committed on that veg, I much prefer sauerkraut.)

I went back afterward; the C's were back. I snagged my fridge stuff and departed. I'll have to got ahold of them, as I forgot my Tracfone charger and a loaf of bread, plus I need to let them know I have a package of fabric swatches coming. Honestly, when you place an order for something on Saturday, you except it to be shipped Monday, don't you? Certainly before Wednesday. Sheesh.

( In good news---yes, there is some! )

Supposedly my fence gets installed tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

.

Right now, I'm all fizzy with happiness. A couple hours ago, I discovered that today is the last day of Lane Bryant's "Buy 2, get 2 free" bra sale. Mind you, this is Lane Bryant we're talking about; their bras are not cheap. The kind I favor are $28 a pop, so I was looking at a minimum of $56.

But a good, well-fitting bra? Is like a hug. It lifts and separates and improves your posture and the fit of your tops and you can breathe better. (At least, I find that's so.)

So I went running down to The Avenue---I don't go there often, because my car is always the crappiest one in sight, and it makes me feel self-conscious. Nonetheless, the prospect of a supply of decent bras lured me in.

I got four: ivory, pink, heather blue and black. And thanks to the sale price, a discount for applying for a Lane Bryant card (which I know damn well they're not going to give me, but it was 25% off), some coupon the clerk rang up when I checked out, etc, my total for FOUR bras was $37 and change.

Damn, sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. I think this is one of those times!

.