You know what helps with that? Cell phones. Which allows people to wander off in any number of configurations and then reconvene.

What, you mean I'm paranoid and I'm a luddite?

I was thinking about making everybody hold on to a knotted rope, like they have for preschoolers on walking trips around town. Of course cell phones are an option, but why let technology get in the way of the impulse to micromanage??

Saturday's good for me.

Cool! Are we still planning on brunch at 10:30, or do we want to go earlier to avoid softball conflicts?

JZ, I think we need to do a scouting trip this weekend, just to make sure all the thrifting places are still there.

So, do I need to remind you both of the style of dress I always look for and my measurements, or have they been permanently wedged in your brain now?

David, I'm going to casually get it started around eleven or half-past Sunday morning, and it's likely to go well into the evening. I even now have an outdoor fireplace, for after-dark warming on the deck.

Trudy, I don't think this one's really pre-planned, so much as it is pre-optioned. There seems to be a lot of stuff to do, and my feeling is that that gives a "scheduled" feel to things. But honestly, anything that doesn't involve an opening/closing time and prebought tickets is probably loose.

It may be due to the large attendance and large concetration of locals. Is this the largest crowd we've had?

So, do I need to remind you both of the style of dress I always look for and my measurements, or have they been permanently wedged in your brain now?

hahahaha. Jilli assumed I was actually capable of remembering things these days.

JZ, did you see my post that I got one of the ebay dresses you linked to the other day, for a whopping $20?

Oh! Perkins, a favour: when you hit TJ or Costco, can you grab a case of clear (not sparkling) spring water? Costco has the Crystal Geyser, a 24-pack of half-litre bottles, for, like five bucks.

Not their housebrand, though. It tastes like feet sauteed in ass (my daughter's immortal comment about cauliflower).

Off to clean BBQ grills. Can someone please order Lilibeth those two things? Do we need money? The tiara's taken care of.

I know exactly the style and the general neighborhood of the measurements, but pregnancy brain has eaten the exact numbers. I do also know that Plei is 1-2" larger than you in one measurement and Aimée the same in the other, and that all of you are looking for fairly similar styles and colors except that Aimee is willing to consider red as well as black.

But, yeah, the exact numbers are smudgy in my brain.

eta: Perkins, that rocks! Bring the dress on Saturday, and we can keep an eye out for trimmy stuff that would work.

One way to instantly tart up any black dress that you can fit a crinoline under is a contrasting crinoline -- black with red or black with pink works beautifully.

hahahaha. Jilli assumed I was actually capable of remembering things these days.

I'm an optimistic sort.

Oh! Perkins, a favour: when you hit TJ or Costco, can you grab a case of clear (not sparkling) spring water? Costco has the Crystal Geyser, a 24-pack of half-litre bottles, for, like five bucks.

Absolutely. It was on my list.

But, yeah, the exact numbers are smudgy in my brain.

39-33 (well, 32 if it's made from a stretchy fabric)-hips don't matter with the style of skirts on those dresses.

I'm so conflicted about the Dark Garden trip. Of course I want to go and look, because I love my DG corset. I just know I won't be able to afford to get another corset from them right now.