Well, blow me down, I just checked and there IS a bubble thing only on the washer door!!!! Who knew?!!! (ok, so you did!!! :) I think I may be the only one in the world who doesn't use a basket to unload the dryer. I pile it up in my arms and then shot put it onto the counter (which is why I'm thinking having the counter closer works better than the sink, for me. Actually, if I can get around the open dryer door, it's closer to get to the counter from the dryer if it's on the right side too. If not, I'll use a nifty cart that I learned about on here. I don't use a basket because I have a bad back and don't want to bend down to pick it up.. the w/d will be as high as possible. Now I just need to make sure if the dryer is moved to the right that it isn't too far for venting. The vent is going to be coming out of the top left of the closet (it can get through the left side of the laundry room because there is a barn door covering that whole wall. So close but yet so far!!!

Annie, you are right... and that was my thinking in ordering it even after I discovered that the daisy dress now fits. However, where it is a little too big now is in the bodice.. for a surplice dress that means some gaping. At my current weight, i can tack it or pin it... but as I lose more weight (knock on wood), i imagine I will lose more through the bust and back which could make the gapping more than a pin can manage. IDK. I do have wide shoulders and a large rib cage -- meaning the bones, not the fat on top lol.. so it may not be too bad. I think the waist/hips etc will be fine and very adaptable-- though the waist and tie are sewn in vs an elastic band. This is part of what makes it attractive IMO.. it looks more presentable AND it cinches in more than an expandable elastic band. I tried it on yesterday "as I was".. hair in a ponytail, slippers and (ahem) no bra. I thought it looked flattering and nice even then. I will try it on this weekend with proper undergarments and shoes and see what I think. It isn't terribly expensive so if it looks great when done up, I will likely keep it. I think it could work for a lot of occasions ... and since my weight loss is slow/steady, I would imagine it would work for awhile without alterations-- but weight loss is a funny thing. You can't always predict what will change. (Also, I will continue to watch to see if the smaller size comes back in stock) Thanks all for your thoughts, encouragement and recommendations!

I have not seen a lot of dogs chewing on cords either, (and we have bought some nice chew toys for the puppy too), but I had a friend who had a cat that she could not break of the habit. It ended up electrocuting itself. It was very weird. I know that was an unusual situation but I can't help but think of it sometimes. I am not too concerned about it, but just trying to do an "ounce of prevention" for the simple, low lying fruit. The cord mess looks carpy anyway . . . We have a large walk in shower which we are turning into a puppy playpen for when we have to be gone. We don't plan on leaving the puppy alone for any length of time, (hubs is retired and I'm on sabbatical) but we have it set up just in case. We never use the shower, it's huge but in the back of the house so the water pressure is low and it take forever for the water to get hot. The previous owner of our house was wheelchair bound, so that's why it's there. We have another regular shower tub that we use in the other bathroom. In the winter we turn it into a mini greenhouse and start all our tomatoes in there. We don't have to worry about water spilling on the floor . . . .

Thank you @maddielee, @morz8 - Washington Coast, @Feathers11, and @Annie Deighnaugh for your condolences. It means so much to have a kind virtual group of friends to help me at this time. The last two dresses fit really well, better than the first I think. The middle dress is a bit more formal and the latter is a little more casual. I'm leaning towards wearing the last dress since it is a little more casual and as recommended, works a little better with the booties It's a Norma Kamali dress. I may end up keeping the middle dress too since it fits really well and seems like a good staple since I'm clearly lacking non-sleeveless dresses. The first and middle are both Calvin Klein. Thank you everyone for your help in this time. I think I need to build out my closet with a few more staples so that in the future I won't feel so panicked trying to find something appropriate to wear. My professional life has become so casual (first working for a very casual company and now working from home for that company) that my closet has really fallen into very casual territory. Combine that with weight changes and maturing in age and I think I need to do a little investment in my closet again.