Gosh, I ranted so harshly about cutesy clothing last night. It was my shopping frustration talking, I hope I didn't offend anybody with a closet full of novelty prints (but I probably did). I should soften my rant a bit - I do not loathe all "fun" fabric prints or hate frogs. But "novelty" stuff like that is not appropriate for the office IMHO, and I do not think these things are "feminine" in a grownup way. These cutesy things might be appropriate outfits for taking preschoolers on a picnic but not for a law office or a date. I don't take preschoolers on picnics these days, and I'm wondering why every major store seems to have forgotten women who need to look like grownups.

I'm very frustrated because I need/want to get out of the house more and cultivate a grownup social life again, but I have no appropriate clothes. If I were invited to a social event today I'd have to rush to the mall and desperately try to find something, anything that would work. That's how most of my wardrobe was acquired- desperation. I need to fix that. It's not the usual "woman complaining because she has nothing to wear" syndrome, I really don't have a damn thing. I haven't bought any nice social or professional clothing in over three years, and at this point the stuff in my closet is an oddball assortment of discount store stuff and out-of-style or worn out or doesn't fit since I lost some weight or doesn't quite fit because I still need to lose a few more pounds.... It's a mess. I have a closet full of nothing to wear. I need to ruthlessly cull it and dump it at SVdP and start over. I need to replenish my wardrobe from scratch, and I feel like I'm stuck shopping in Stepford and Toon Town. All I want is a basic wardrobe of simple, quality things and I can't find them. I can only hope the fall clothing is better.

End of whining.

Still plugging along on felting projects, they are good before bed knitting, requiring little thought and providing the simple pleasure of soft Cascade 220 between my fingers. It calms me down. Things are crazy at work and I'm still not sure what I'm doing next in that arena, but I feel like things are coming to a head suddenly. Summer is flying by.

Walking is helping me in so many ways, I'm glad I finally have a schedule I can stick to. It's amazing how simply walking every morning clears my head and improves my mood. Never underestimate endorphins, even in small doses. Murphy and I head out the door every morning shortly after six, down to the lake to walk around it as briskly as his little short legs will allow. He does get tired and has to be carried for stretches, but he's doing better every day.

Time for one more cup of coffee before we head out the door. Happy hump day.