northern

I've gone on a bit of a shopping spree the last couple weeks.

Thank God for credit cards!

I have bought a whole lot of clothes.

Most of my existing wardrobe is clothing that was loose even before I lost over 100 pounds.

So between baggy sweatpants and baggy t-shirts, I looked pretty bad.

I've always dressed pretty casually, but even I realized I was looking bad.

It started with the fact that I needed a new spring jacket. My last one was getting pretty old and pretty ratty looking, and my mom offered to pay for it, so why not?

I was almost sure I would have to go to a 'big and tall' store for it, but thought it would cost less if I could find something at a regular store.

Sears had a huge selection, and I found a few that were X-Large, but they were kind of snug fitting.

But I was thrilled to learn that something with just one X was so close to actually fitting.

I've been wearing 4X shirts.

So I went to Mr. Big & Tall.

Was greeted by a salesman when I walked in.

Told him what I needed, and he asked if I was a 2X.

So he had me try on a 2X jacket and it fit perfectly.

It also looked pretty good, so I bought it.

I was so excited to be wearing a somewhat 'normal' size, I called my mom to tell her.

My mind was racing with the thrill of wearing something I might actually look good in.

So a couple hours later, I went back to the store looking for a suit.

Now, many years ago, (seems like a previous life), I worked in an office, and was also involved in politics. So I wore suits.

And I looked good in them too.

But when life fell apart, the suits no longer fit, and I ended up wearing whatever actually both fit and could afford.

Decent clothes are expensive when you're on disability, and larger size clothing for men only exists in specialty stores, making them both more expensive and less accessible (since they're so far from where I live).

I wanted a suit for the SG gala in Toronto in June.

Last year I wore a t-shirt and jeans.

This year I want to look good.

So, I got a suit, and a couple dress shirts.

Now knowing my waist size was actually at the upper end of 'normal' along with my short size, I went to Walmart.

Got a pair of jeans and a couple t-shirts.

When I went back to the big and tall store to pick up my suit after it had been altered, I also bought some more t-shirts.

I'm on a roll, so I may end up buying more clothes.





A few weeks ago I got a new cell phone. Had to. The ancient phone I had was about to become obsolete.

I never use my cell phone, so I just have one of those pay as you go plans, and add time if I'm going out-of-town and want the phone while I'm on the road.

My phone was the lind that simply made and received phone calls.

Remember those? This phone actually only worked as a phone, nothing else. No text messaging, no music, no camera, nothing.

Last time I went to add time to it, I got an automated message saying that service to analog phones would cut off soon and I had to get a new phone.

Compared rates and found something reasonable with Virgin Mobile.

Ordered an inexpensive phone online.

There were no phones for sale that just make calls.

So although I still don't have a phone that takes pictures, videos, or does my laundary, I have a phone that has text messaging.

And they have this web-like service too that includes chatrooms.

So, that's where I've been the last couple weeks.

My texting skills are awful. It takes me forever to type out messages. And I still hate using shortforms like 'u' for 'you', but I'm getting used 2 it.

And, here's the bonus for reading my post this far.

I met someone.

She lives in Sault Ste. Marie (2+ hours away), but after texting for a couple days for several hours, she wanted to meet.

So I drove out there and spent the night.

Talked, watched tv, had sex, slept.

Wait, what?

Yeah, me, had sex. First time in eons.

I felt so out-of-practice too.

Anyways, it's nothing serious. It was fun though.

It was nice to feel wanted.

It was nice to have some human contact, to touch and be touched.

It was no strings.

So, I'm still single.


But between that and the new clothes, I'm feeling pretty damn good.