I'm very pleased to have my pink gingham shirt back. I'm not sure what I can wear it with, but I will figure something out.

Peter Murphy has played a far bigger role in my musical identity than Ms. Shocked, so this is a low blow.

The StuntHusband called me as soon as the news broke. I'm really upset about it.

Because it's really upsetting!

I'm not sure what I can wear it with, but I will figure something out.

Have you evaluated your favourite pair of jeans yet, or a casual black skirt? I'm very conventional when it comes to matching, but I buy few things that can't do either of those.

I'm sad my pink gingham dress doesn't fit anymore. I still hold pink gingham close to my heart (and nethers) since I have a couple panties (different styles entirely) and socks keeping the light alive for now (well, and the original shirt). But I should recommit as a size 8 instead of 4.

I do understand that I'm the most boring mixers of colours and patterns but I have wanted to rob a couple people in my office building just so they can't faux pas again, but dove grey and beige...if it can be done, they're not doing it. Just...no. Especially when everything goes with the grey, and then cafe au lait shoes. STOP GUYZ.

I don't think I have jeans that fit at the moment, but I might be able to manage a black skirt. Pink gingham shirt with black check skirt, too many little squares?

The camel-colored suede skirt would work if I had cowboy boots, I bet.

I don't do multiple patterns, but sounds like it could be the sort of pattern combo people keep telling me to relax about. Depends on the relative size of the squares, maybe.

I did my pink check, and...my money is not where my wardrobe is. Last week's pink plaid, erstwhile pink gingham dress, a fake pink blouse that's really teeny red and white stripes, but it looks pink from a couple feet away, and ties at the neck in floppy little blow, cap sleeved linen, two dresses, one loud and largely patterned, one the demure 50s dress with eyelet white panel down the front, a T-shirt that says "I like it rough" embroidered at the neck among flowers, two partying V-string tops and then a bunch of workout clothes and underwear.

Not as much as I was thinking, since I'm not counting the dusty rose fake trenchcoat and the huge pink plaid one (which I wear over my favourite jeans or a casual black skirt quite often--I could do that instead and wear it indoors all day--it is kinda cold there,

I realise I've been hating on my last two shots at jeans because they don't stay at my waist without a belt. It has come to my attention that I have been waist-to-hip privileged, and should just get a belt and get over it. Now that I've finally found an affordable example of my favourite--with grommets along much of the length, so it has a broader range of uses, from hip to waist. So this can hold up my stubborn jeans in the most bleak of times--but the Easy Rider cut from Lucky 7 that I have three of, in two sizes, and they do not show my panties or jam themselves into my crotch.

Isn't that my right? Isn't that why I moved here? To have a plan where I'm beltless, but still demure?

My sister is planning her sabbatical. She seems to have left off the step "conquer the world" but maybe it's such a natural extension of the other items, calling it out would be declassé and obvious. We can't be that.

To have a plan where I'm beltless, but still demure?

Realizing this plan is like catching a unicorn. It could happen but I would have a plan B.

But then I am not waist-to-hip privileged. Thankfully most of my skirts allow me to ignore this and still be beltless.

Man, belts aren't even enough, sometimes. Denim, doubled over at the waist line, it doesn't want to cinch.

Experiments in pattern combos will have to wait, today is pink gingham shirt and black pants, because I have to go directly from one job to the other and the other has a dark-pants-and-uniform shirt dress code.

And I am beltless. These pants don't have belt loops, but they do have elastic in the back which makes them, well, definitely not young, but they do fit me.

On our trip to PR, my mother came up with the bright idea to get my father some pants with an elastic waist for their trip to Italy, so he doesn't have to deal with a belt at the airport. But then she said, "Or maybe like sweatpants...?" I put the kibosh right on that one! There is a long way to go between nice khakis with a belt and sweatpants! We have a high family standard of dress, Alzheimer's or no.

We're back.