"If at first you don't succeed..."

"...try, try again." Twenty-five times. Because that's how many pairs of pants it took me trying on today, in five different stores, before I found one--one--pair that would fit my short, increasingly round, middle-aged body. Value Village, Sears, The Bay, Northern Reflections...all wash-outs. Finally, in the Alia/TanJay/Nygard store in the mall I found a pair that fit me.

It was depressing and demoralizing.

And made me long to eat a piece of cake just for comfort.

Which I didn't do, but only because I wasn't near a supply of good cake.

I did, however, find a pretty blouse at Value Village, along with a tote bag and two pretty plates.

Nicki checks out the blouse...will he approve?

 It has a subtle shimmery look to it, because of the tiny silver dots.

One of the two plates. Nothing special, I just thought they were pretty, and they were 2 for $1.99, so not exactly a huge expenditure.

I'd been to Value Village last Sunday, for their half-price (members only) sale, and had come home with 7 tops (6 of which are fine, only 1 was a reject), as well as a lovely scarf and two totes, all 50% off.

I also bought a larger-print version of the story of Dewey, the Spencer Library cat. I might be the only cat-lover in the western hemisphere, or perhaps even planet, not to have read it.

I read the last couple of sad chapters first, just to get the bawling out of the way, then started at the beginning. (In case someone out there doesn't know, Dewey passed away in 2006, at about 18 or so years of age.) I won't reread the ending.

As for other things to catch up on: belated Happy Canada Day to those of you in this country. I'm not a "rah rah, Canada" person, but I can't think of another country I'd rather be living in right now. Well, maybe one of the Scandinavian countries, for their greater socially liberal stance and better vacation time. LOL. But we're very lucky to be here, and I'm well aware of it. 

A very happy (almost) Fourth of July to those of you in the U.S.! May your holiday be fun, and even more importantly, be safe.

So I am on holiday this week, finished up last Friday at 4 PM, got a lift home from one of my co-workers (lovely of her to offer). I've been in the same department (for all intents and purposes, not counting the merger 6 years ago) for 16.5 years, and the past two work weeks have been in the top 3 of my all-time worst in terms of stress and busyness. Another co-worker came to me Friday afternoon and whispered that it was like "The Gong Show" around the office that day. (I have vague memories of that show in the '70s.) I'm doing my best to put work matters aside this week, but my co-worker and I will have to hit the ground running when we're back on Tuesday the 11th, and it's a bit challenging to let it all go right now. I'll be visiting friends for a couple of days later this week, so no doubt that will help.

Anyway, I'll stop yammering on and leave you with several pics: recent skies (the weather continues to be "moody") and Nicki and Derry. 

Peace.

P.S. I used Lunapic for the photo frames, just for a change.