Bigass Weekend Wrap-Up: Summer Walk; Dishy for the Drive-In; ORANGE LEATHER SHORTS Flashback

Hello, my friends! Welcome back - I hope you've all had the most marvelous weekend! It's been both busy and quiet, with our adventures planned for early on (Fri/Sat), and then relaxing time for the end. I'm slowly building up my social muscle again, getting used to scheduling events with friends, and planning things. 

I started my weekend off with my Mental Health Walk on Friday morning. I checked out the semi-finished renovation at Clover Point, a popular drive-around loop and walking area. I used to go down here and drink cider with my girlfriend and check out guys when I was a teenager back in the 80s! 

Now I'm just in my walking gear, with my tunes and my big sunglasses, enjoying being beside the ocean. 

Before I left, I went looking for Vizzini (I need to make sure I haven't locked him in a closet). 

"As you can clearly see, I am not in a closet, Woman."

He was happy to see me. 

"You know you want to rub my warm fur."

A few minutes of lovin' and I was off for my usual 8km walk. 

"I'll miss y---- zzzzzzz..."

Not likely. 

I was cheered this week on how people make their mark on the world, or leave a bit of themselves for others to see. It's a vulnerable thing to do. I see different things each time I walk - sometimes I focus on trees or wildlife or flowers, depending on the season and my state of mind. 

My route goes past literally dozens of houses that are just as nice or fancier than this one, but I love the paint job here. 

What fantastic colours! That makes me feel so happy. 

I have never noticed this piece of scrap metal art before. 

It's vaguely birdlike. 

I spotted a Secret Cat. 

"I call this Yoda As Armour."

I bet more people notice the Yoda doll. 

This pole is in my old neighbourhood in Fairfield. It started with a couple of hearts at the start of the pandemic in spring 2020 and it's grown. 

It's covered in bits of poetry, inspiring quotes and tokens of love. 

It's the Linden Avenue Love & Gratitude Lamp Post. 

I'm a sucker for this stuff - it renews my faith in humanity. 

Little reminders. 

It makes me feel gratitude. 

This made me cry. 

My fellow cat-lovers will understand. 

Another amazing house that gets an A+ from me - boosted by the Pac-Man and Ghost on the driveway. 

I also really love the pop of blue chairs on the porch and bench in the garden. 

I've arrived at the waterfront, Dallas Road. I see water, a freighter, Washington State, USA, and its mountains. 

The white line is a chilly haze on the water. 

Looking west. Lots of folks out enjoying the cliff walk, and walking on the beach below. 

The 500m post means we're half a kilometer from Mile Zero of the Trans-Canada Highway. 

That's Clover Point ahead. 

There were tons of seagulls, swallows and crows around. 

Looking down to the beach at the bottom of the cliff (see the people on the right?). 

The tide was just starting to come back in. 

A piece of found art, on the side of the path. 

I wonder what significance the knot had? 

I also spotted a heron watching for fish. 

The seagulls are nesting right now, so s/he is looking for food to take back to the nest. 

I was happy to see they've installed public toilets here! 

This whole area is much easier to get around than the old worn dirt paths, and will be nicer for people who have access needs. This is a popular ocean-watching spot. 

Look at this amazing driftwood sculpture. To me, it looks like a mermaid reaching out to grab something.

What do you see? 

Another enclosure. 

There wasn't anyone inside. 

I saw a few sailboats skimming around the bay. 

I like that twisted piece of driftwood. 

While I was looking for deer in Ross Bay Cemetery, I noticed this in a tree. 

A peace sign. 

An unexpected heart. 

In the corner of the stairs. 

I took a shortcut up the alley beside the graveyard and spotted deer resting in the shade. 

I'm the deer paparazzi. *snap snap*

Peeking through a hole in the hedge. 

Two more! These were all young bucks, with velvet on their antlers. 

I encountered a doe on the sidewalk, raiding a garden. 

Many people have fencing and mesh covering their plants, because the deer eat them all. 

She crossed the street slowly.

There's always a new garden to munch on. 

I was greeted with great joy when I got home. 

"Hey, don't sneak up on me!"

I recoloured my hair in the afternoon and prepared for our evening outing: dinner out with Cat and Ross, followed by "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" at the drive-in! 

I decided to wear my new-to-me floral dress, to be dressy for dinner before the movie, and nice and loose and comfy for sitting in the car for 2+ hours. 

• Dress - Sundance, consignment; purchased here for $63.99
• Shoes - Big Presence Earhart, Fluevogs; last seen here in April with tiger, floral and leather
• Jacket (below) - Dolce & Gabbana, vintage, thrifted; last worn here in May (blue hair!)

I flat-ironed my hair just for fun. 

I really loved how pretty this outfit looked. I like a girly look, as long as it's not too cutesy. 

L agreed that I looked dishy in this. 

The dress is really sheer! 

I won't be wearing the under-slip on its own; someone suggested that in the comments when I bought it. 

I have nylons on, but I can see my underwear right through it. Zoiks!

In fact, this dress would not be work-appropriate without an opaque full slip. Cleavage-o-rama! 

I undid about four buttons at the bottom to give me more movement and swoosh-ability.

We had a couple of Christmas gift cards to Milestones restaurant (thanks, Mom!), so we had dinner there, then picked up snacks for the movie.

I swooshed about in my dress, looking way swankier than everyone else. That's what I do! I'm a swanky gal! 

• Mask - by Mom

I added my light blue denim jacket for extra warmth, but it ended up being a hot evening. 

I also took my silk-cashmere pashmina, in case it was chilly. 

Which allowed me to do my movie-star wrap while being driven in Vlad the Jaguar with the top down. 

So spiffy! 

• Pashmina - Portolano, thrifted

The stuff: 

I kicked my shoes off during the movie. Ah...

Excessive bling:

I really piled on the bracelets. I was jangling and clanking. 

• Snakeskin purse - Ingledew's, vintage, thrifted - purchased here for $24.99
• Cloisonné bangles - thrifted
• Acrylic bangles - vintage, Lazy Susan's
• Amber ring - c. 1996
• Wood ring - Dots
• Necklace/earrings - Plum 

I took a few pics during the evening. 

Cat and Ross at the restaurant. Thanks so much for the ticket, you two! 

Arriving at Western Speedway, which is mostly an industrial area as you might guess from the heavy machinery here. 

The sun was just starting to go down as we arrived at 9:45pm. 

L, what's that beside you? 

It's a giant pile of tires! 

We pulled into a giant lot where staff directed us up to the front (being a low car) so that we'd have a good view of the screen. They did an excellent job of staggering the cars so that everyone had a good view.

We tuned our radio to the appropriate station for sound. That's Cat and Ross' car in front of us. 

There were some sweet-looking vintage cars there too.

Look at the fins on that one! Swoon! 

It was fun to watch "Ferris Bueller" again - I originally saw it in the theatre when it was first released on a date with a high school friend. 

On Saturday, we met up with Nick for brunch at the Ruby. 

"You're going out again?" 

I like Vizzini's shadow there, revealing one of the book titles ("A Tale of Two Kitties") on the blanket's design. 

Check to make sure it's me, buddy. 

"Ah, yes, I do know you."

I wore a mix of old favourites with my new-to-me boots. 

In half of my pictures I'm missing my accessories (I was rushed), so just pretend I have them all on, okay?

• Sleeveless vest/dress - Only, thrifted; last seen here in July 2020 (Flashback there)
• Blouse - Tory Burch, consignment; last worn here in April 2020 with acid yellow leather
• ORANGE LEATHER SHORTS - Danier, vintage 80s, thrifted; last seen here (2nd outfit) in March 2020 
• Boots - 1883 Lucchese, thrifted; purchased here for $59.99

I had this outfit put together and set aside to wear, but when I got dressed, I felt like I needed another layer. 

Enter my denim vest/dress thing. It has two snaps and a belt if I feel like doing it up. 

I mostly wear it like this, tied in the back.

It gives me a bit more coverage when I'm feeling a bit exposed as I do when I wear my...

ORANGE LEATHER SHORTS. Sorry for yelling, but they insist on all-caps. 

That's an 8-inch zipper I'm sporting there.

Thighs ahoy! I'm glad I wore sheer tights. 

Okay, okay, I'm coming - let me finish my coffee! 

This is how most of the world saw me. 

• Purse - Danier Leather, thrifted

I had a navy blue sparkly mask on (by Mom) but didn't have time to take a picture of me in it. 

The stuff: 

First wearing of these amazing leather boots. I loved them - they have been perfectly broken in for my feet. The colour is a grey-ish blue. 

Orange bling: 

And one blue thing. 

• Bracelet/earrings - Italian, vintage 60s, vintage mall
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes
• Wooden clip-on earrings - vintage expo

Let's have a wee Flashback now...

Flashback: ORANGE LEATHER SHORTS

I bought these here in February 2017 at the Patch for $27.95 - I had tried them on during a previous visit and then put them back (!). 

That's a very high-waisted pair of shorts. They have massive pockets, and a nice cuff at the hem. 

They are by Danier Sport, which was an off-shoot line from Danier Leather. 

These are accurate modern sizing, so these are from the late-80s, after the Great Size Shift of the mid-80s. 

I wore them out for a weekend gathering with friends in February 2017, layered with grey tights. 

I still have that top (and tights!) but everything else is gone. 

I wore them again in March 2017 to Vancouver for our anniversary trip. 

This was quite a fun outfit to wear on the seaplane and for swanking around in downtown Van. 

We met up with Melanie of Bag and Beret. 

Can't wait to see her again - we've missed two anniversary trips to the mainland due to the pandemic. 

For a casual weekend chilling out with friends in August 2017.

This remains the only time I've worn them bare-legged. I still have that top and the neon green purse, but let go of those shoes and the jean jacket years ago. 

I wore them in this rock and roll look when we went to see The Pack AD at Upstairs Lounge in January 2018.

I'm wearing a Frank Turner tour shirt, over-the-knee boots, and my striped frock coat (I still have all of this). I felt very badass in this outfit. 

And this is the last time I wore them, for an at-home outfit at the start of lockdown in March 2020.

Note that those are the same grey tights in every picture (aside from the bare-legged one). My tights last forever! 

Mathy stuff: Saturday's outfit only marks the 6th time I've worn these shorts, but I'm okay with that. They aren't an everyday kind of thing by any means. I am amused that high-waisted shorts have come into fashion since I bought them, though! My cost-per-wear is at $4.66, which is solid. 

Vizzini has been alternately laying in the sun and then flopping on the carpet to cool off. He's figured out how to do both here, clever boy. 

"I'm the smartest cat in this house."

I guess you are, bud. And now, I'm off to enjoy my downtime, with a Saturday evening of board games, and a Sunday of lazing about, listening to music and reading. I hope you've all had a stellar weekend, my friends! I'm going to leave you with some wisdom from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off":

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

Fine words to live by. Take care!