OMG, thank you so much. I hover in the 12-14 area and am tall, so I end up cruising every section of the store trying to find something I can bear to put on. I do OK in pants, but get toddler-cranky when sleeves are too short or a shirt exposes my doughy middle. I love long-sleeved 1x shirts.

I think that's why menopause is a barbed gift. I still have my "I hate you fuckers" days, but now instead of dismissing it as hoormoon troubles, I realize that they really ARE stupid fuckers and have to be dealt with accordingly. Sometimes I miss the warm oozy feelings I used to have all the time for the offspring…

You're looking for a change in patterns. Keep on doing it, as it is an important survival skill. I do it all the time, but I don't talk about it as it sounds nosy and weird. I wish I could give a dramatic example of how it saved me, but all I can say is that I've never regretted being more security conscious.

I love all of you in this thread. I have a freezer full of supermarket frozen meals, a monthly cleaning service and a weekly yard/weeding guy. I gave the offspring debit cards so they could drive down the street and get whatever the hell they wanted from the grocery store or Walgreens or whatever. Sometimes they bring…

The best resource for home canning is the USDA. I don't have the link at the moment, but you will want to read everything they have before you start. For example, they have a list of low-acid and high-acid foods and safe canning techniques. I stick to jam/jelly as it is 1. easy and 2. fun to eat.

I could go for this look. I'm tired of hoisting the boobage up with underwires and girders and all sorts of heavy duty engineering. I could let them slide down naturally to the bottom of the ribcage and rest there, happily covered by the gentle folds of these blouses.

Like a thumbprint cookie?

I'm guessing like a "quick bread" such as banana or lemon bread. You could make some interesting combos. Pistachio would be neato.

Ditto on Calvin Klein. Look for Jones of New York, too. I like simple unspangled separates for work and I learned to quit being my usual cheap self. Going a little upscale works.

I had purple pants and matching purple patterned tops in junior high and I LOVED THEM SO MUCH.

I love you so much. I started cooking for others when I was 12. Now at 54, with 3 older teenage boys and a husband at home, I am THRILLED they can get eats for themselves at Chipotle or Subway or whatever.

Dear god, does anyone remember tap pants and the wholly inadequate matching camisole thing? Tap pants were great for stuffing a whole wad of underwear up your crack. And the camisole did nothing for ample boobage, so I would wear a bra, camisole, pantyhose, heels, crack stuffer underwear, a floppy tie, and a goddamn…