I have Xanax. But I'm driving, so that's not so good.

Get a shopping buddy/designated driver. I feel your pain--shopping for clothes is an emotionally draining experience for me, too, and never good for my self esteem.

I hope you find something that makes you feel fabulous.

I don't know when the reading is, so I don't know how much time you have. Can you break the shopping up into small chunks? Spend only an hour a time at it? And then have some ice cream afterward?

I loved the Daleks - some of the costumes were really good. But this made me laugh out loud.

I think it's one of those things where I'll have to take a great big deep breath, run in, find the nearest thing in black that promises to make me invisible, hand over the macy's gift card, and run back out.

I suspect I may be a bit late getting home tonight: [link]

Note that the bridge that's suddenly going to be hit with double its usual traffic load (including all the 18 wheelers that use I-40 to cross the South) got a 44 on the condition test that the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis got a 50 on two years ago.

It's on Saturday, Dana. I've been shoppingfearprocrastinating for weeks.

paperdol, if you don't have a friend who can drive you and help you keep calm, can you find one to act as a personal shopper? or find a store that'll help you - I know some have personal shoppers who'll help at no additional charge. Failing that, maybe look online and see if you can get some ideas, pick up stuff, try it on at home, and return what doesn't work.

Paperdol-- You have NO sense of how you actually look, so you need to get someone to shop with you. I love shopping for people, so I could do that sometime this week--just not today or Tuesday. E me if you want me to go to Macy's (or wherever) with you.

paperdol, you've got a cute dress, right? (I seem to remember you talking about a cute polka-dot dress.) Go get some new fun flats and a new black cardigan to wear with the dress.

Or, if you want, you can call me while you're shopping and I'll be the disembodied voice trying to calm you down.

Okay, general shopping rules, a la Stacy and Clinton:

Try stuff on, even if you don't think it will look good on you. Sometimes things look completely different on the hanger.

Find something that emphasizes the narrowest part of you (and if you say you don't have one, I'll smack you).

If you're going to be in black, maybe have some fun with accessories, including your shoes.