You crack me up, Ruth!-)
I do adore plaid, currently have 4 plaid shirts, and wouldn't mind a 5th one if I could find one in more feminine and/or brighter colours that look flattering on me.
As far as stripes are concerned, its no secret on YLF that I just cannot get enough of them. I get extremely greedy when I see a stripe, and want to own all the striped tops in the world... (striped scarves, socks, shirts, jackets etc. are not safe around me either).