Keeping Busy - and Some Goodbye Pictures

Hey! Emotionally, I'm all over the map this week (and I'm sure next week - my last week at work - will be the same. Mental note: waterproof mascara), so I'm trying to stay busy, make plans with friends and not wallow and/or dwell too much on my impending unemployment. Amazing how much our work ties into our feelings of confidence and self-worth.

Anyway, Fake It Till You Feel It, right? Wear yellow!
And a bright pattern! I treated myself to a little shop at Dots (a local chain that sells off samples from manufacturers - it's where I get my awesome Noa Noa items) and got this groovy top. I love the neckline (hard to see, but it has a flat wide collar) and the swirly pattern. It was $29.99 (note: shopping thrift so much makes new things seem so expensive!).

I'm enjoying breaking out my boots for the season too. I got these ones last year (last seen in the 2010 winter wardrobe challenge here):

They're cheap, but I love the styling: the wedge, the little bow on the back.

A close-up of the new jewelry I got:

This was my treat "from the company" - I spent my $35 Visa gift card from winning the Hallowe'en costume contest on these (and a necklace). They're by Lavishy (the Lava collection). Made in Canada - yay!

Top (Liz & Co.), skirt (Club Monaco, thrifted), belt (Aldo Accessories), boots (Outline), ring/earrings (Lavishy).

Last night I rushed home and changed to go to my friend Carollyne's art show opening. I promised her I would weaar something arty:

My favourite arty dress - doing my 60s mod pose. Worn this a few times (a selection here).

I walked down, so I wore my comfy boots, my leather coat (ironically, it's work swag), scarf and gloves.

I felt so colourful! I really wanted to buy a painting, but art purchases are just not in my budget right now - although I do feel strongly that when you can, you should buy art! Support artists!

Dress (Desigual), boots (Aldo, consignment), jacket (work online auction), scarf (St. Michael's, thrifted), bracelet (Fossil, gift from L), earrings/ring (Lavishy).

Inigo watched me pose from his view in the box:

This week's been all about wrapping things up and saying goodbye. I am going to miss my lunchtime walks, and doing my stairs, so I took some pictures of my walk to and from work, and of the views around my work location. I did something similar here in June 2010.

November here is lovely - sometimes it's rainy, sometimes it's foggy, sometimes it's lovely and sunny and crisp. Yesterday was a crisp autumn morning. I love all the colours in the trees. This red Japanese maple is one of my favourites:

It's just changing from dark to light when I leave the house in the morning. Check out the sky as the rising sun tinges the clouds pink:

Walking along with my mp3 player on, sipping my tea...this beauty greets me and reminds me how good it is to be alive.

Lovely yellows and oranges in the leaves overhead:

Puffy little cumulous clouds and streaky high stratus clouds:

The orangey-pink of the light hitting this steeple just blew me away:

My parents got married in that church.

A row of yellow-leaved beeches:

This mural's just recently been repainted to a circus theme:

Those roly-poly clowns creep me out. I do love when building owners let artists paint the sides of buildings rather than let them get covered in grafitti.

I had a very long shadow!

I look like I belong in a circus myself!

The view from my desk:

That's a scrap metal yard on the left, and a little bit of the ocean peeking through.

All the trees changing colour on the other side of the trestle:

Do you see what's on the dock?

A seagull having a sit in the sun!

Look at that glorious blue sky!

I had the sun on my face, the clean fall air...my stairs:

I have to find another set of stairs close to home that I can work out on - I'm going to miss these!

Looking down:

I always have visions of going ass over teakettle down these.

Coming back with the sun streaming through the bushes:

Back to the water:

See the mountains in the far background? Those are in Washington State.

For some reason, at this time of year, there are a lot of starfish close to shore. This one is not really deformed - the wind was coming up and the ripples of the water distorted him:

Hee!

There are two starfish in this picture;

The water is pretty clear - these are only about 2-3 feet below the surface (you can see some leaves floating on top).

This starfish is a lovely orange. There are dark purple ones too, but they're hard to see.

And I was so excited! Look what else I spotted:

It's a jellyfish! It's about the size of a fist, and he was gently bobbing along, not 10 feet away from me.

Edit: for other wildlife lovers - I also see otters swimming near here, and today there were 3 fat harbour seals swirling through schools of little fish.

This is my desk from the outside of the building:

I can just see my green file folders and my overhead bin.

Hope you enjoyed my autumn tour!