Shoe Dawg Shoe

2011-10-20T18:32:00.005-04:00

Counting down the days til Jacksonville with the little man! GO DAWGS!

SEC and...

2011-10-12T12:27:00.000-04:00

So the Gamecocks finally canned Garcia after 5 suspensions! SHOCKING! That's not the MO for the Spurrier I know - and abhor! Had an amazing time in Chi-town the first weekend of this month...BAHGENS galore! $4K worth of stuff for $300! YIPPEE!! Oh, and the wedding was fab too! And, what an an amazing weekend I had with LM this weekend! He had a superb time and so did I! I miss that kiddo!

I'm Back!!!

2011-09-30T01:34:00.001-04:00

Let the blogging begin!

I am glad I have my shoe quotes...

2009-07-20T15:32:00.002-04:00

They help me remember things! Like this one:

"There were times when I'd go, 'This outfit would look so badass with stilettos.' You wanted those four-inch, heels, those wrappy, strappy, show-off-your-pedicure shoes." Cameron Diaz

Thanks Cameron! Time to schedule a pedicure for the beach trip this Saturday! Where was this quote when I went to Charleston for my anniversary this weekend? Whoops! Badass is not a phrase I would use when describing myself...Saggy ass, no?

Shoes off to you Casey!

2009-06-24T17:10:00.003-04:00

CHARLOTTE: I have the most terrible fear of heights.

CARRIE: I do not. You've seen my shoes.

Therein lies the problem...I too have a HORRIBLE fear of heights (Went to the top of Notre Dame but couldn't look out too far because I was clinging to the building...the Eiffel Tower was AMAZING from below...Big Sur and US 1 were great if I opened my eyes (BUT have you SEEN those cliffs?)...you get the picture - very sad...) But yet I LOVE 2 1/2+ inch shoes...Do you think that from this profound quote, I might (or can) be cured from this overwhelming fear? I do elevate myself to unnatural heights...IN SHOES! Where did this overwhelming fear of heights stem from? (Possibly from my visit to Ghosttown in the Glen and was left dangling on a sky lift by an incompetent carnival worker at age 4...hmmmmm) Talk amongst yourselves...

P.S. Pop (or Super Pop as I prefer to refer to him regarding the incident) jumped up, off the ground, 10-feet to push me in the basket of the skylift with my sisters...You hear of people lifting cars off of their children? My dad did the equivalent of a Michael Jordan leap on steroids to save me from a fall...Thanks Pop - for all of the times you told me to "Go play in the traffic," you still chose to save me from the skylift!

Shoes off to you Casey!

Welcome Back...To Me!

2009-06-23T12:34:00.002-04:00

I'm baaaaack! Okay, that was WAY too cliche!

So, I may be only blogging to myself now since it has been literally 7 months and 2 days since I have last blogged...My droves of fans (all 3 of them) have moved on to bigger and better blogs...Much like at home when I discuss the world's issues and how I am appalled that a person could wear such horrible shoes with such a sassy outfit(NOTE: these are conversations with myself - and yes, I answer back), I am talking (okay typing) to myself...

Obviously, a lot has gone on since my last blog...Losing my sweet, precious ^Casey^ was and continues to be the hardest thing I have ever had to face...but in my mind, she is looking down upon me with flowing wings and the most fabulous pair of Christian Louboutins on...Or maybe she interchanges them with Jimmy Choo's or Manolos...My girl loved her some shoes! And, she loved laughing and my humor (occasionally) so I think she'd be happy I have gotten back to writing my blog again...Even if it is to myself!

So, since November, I have only acquired a pawltry three pair of shoes. Considering the state of the economy (make that my bank account), that is pretty darn good. Mark scored me some smokin' Donald J Pliner Couture (YES! Couture), point toe slingbacks for...hold your breath and bite your bottom lip like Clinton...$24.99! I have taught him well - He took a cell phone picture and sent it to me -- knows I LOVE this designer -- and told me to give the thumbs up...Thumbs, pinkies and toes up, I did! Apparently the $6 an hour salesclerk, chewing gum and with an attitude mismarked them. (Just like her "twin" at another store did with the Michael Kors high, mohair clogs...although twin clerk did better and marked them down to $10!) I LOVE a mismark...And he paid for those shoes along with another sassy pair of purple 9 West ankle boots he found too (they sound strange...I am usually NOT the 9 West type either but this was their "higher end" line and the shoes are purple suede with a touch of attitude, a folded open front and some flair.) Again, only paid $24.99 for those puppies too! I love a bargain! Love my husband for being in tune with my love of shoes!

Before I leave with a quote (about shoes of course), I must ask a rhetorical question...better yet, you can answer me. My inner-Bulldawg is rearing its ugly head today...Here goes...Should I be concerned that we are expending a lot of money for an Engineering degree from an ACC school (okay, Clemson) when said beneficiary buys his father a HUGE ASS (oops!) (WHOMPER) grill and thinks he can put it in the back of his 2003 Grand Am?...I'm just sayin'...Now me, the Journalism/Political Science/Literature major would've kinda thought that taking my Suburban to pick up the grill would make more sense (from a pure engineering perspective) but hey, that's just me...I digress...

I decided to pick a quote from one of my and Casey's favorites ("Fields of Gold")...the indelible, talented artist Sting...

"The qualities I find sexy in a person include intelligence, humor, and really good shoes." Sting

I have all of those qualities and then some (irreverance, sarcasm, inappropriate laughter, I could go on...) So in my mind, he thinks I am pretty darn sexy...I jest... REALLY, I jest!

So my new sign off for today is "Shoes off to Casey...Here's to you kiddo!"

Out of Practice...

2008-11-21T15:10:00.002-05:00

So I pledged to myself that I would attempt to blog every day...at a minimum, every other day...Well, like my pledge to diet and pledge to exercise and pledge to be kind to others and pledge to not judge others when they have SEVERE shoe and/or fashion emergencies, that pledge has gone by the wayside...

So I will blog when I can (and that is more not than often...)

Shoe quotes:

"Some of us are boot girls. Others - The Goody Two-shoes of this world - are not." Catherine Wilson, Harper's Bazaar

I am obviously not a Goody Two-shoes girl. Who'da thunk that, right? I LOVES me some boots!

"The best compliment anyone could pay me is that they wore my shoes to death." Patrick Cox

Most people aspire to be President...of a company, not THAT President. Who'd want to be that in these days and times, right? Or maybe they aspire to be an acclaimed writer...or the developer of a cure for a currently incurable disease. Me? Shoe designer or clothing designer TOPS my list...Shallow as it may sound, it is my desire to provide fabulous clothes and shoes for all to wear so they get TREMENDOUS compliments for their fashion acumen and thus, their self-esteem is raised and they will no longer need to visit their therapists and instead, use their money saved to invest in the US economy and help to conquer the country's deficit - thus stimulating growth world-wide. There you have it...I think I just solved the world's economic crisis. Would love for anyone to wear my clothes or shoes to death...Stabilizing the economy, world peace and a more fashionable planet, what more could you ask for?

Sporadic Blogging...A Good Thing or Not? Talk Amongst Yourselves...

2008-11-21T15:09:00.001-05:00

Gator Hide Makes Some GREAT SHOES!

2008-11-01T12:00:00.002-04:00

Well, my beloved Dawgs are down in J-ville playing the Rural Oscars (okay - Urban Meyers' team...get my joke? There is no opposite to Meyer or Mayer or Myer so I thought Oscar would get a good laugh)...Okay, I know - there are 100,000 comedians out of work and you get me, right?... Too bad....And, oh, GO DAWGS! We SO want to chew up some Gator tail this weekend! I want Tebow (he's gonna get the knee & 'bow today)to go down...Speaking of gator tails, have you ever had them? They are yummy by the way (or perhaps it is the sheer satisfaction of tearing into a gator makes it all that much better?) I digress...

I have two good shoe quotes for you today...again, all three of you. I am thinking this is becoming a personal journal for me and that no one really looks at this site...which is cool in a creepy kind of "I am talking to myself while a couple of other people observe" kind of way...OH WELL! Send me your diagnosis codes and the bill...I am trying to attain Jen Lancaster acclaim but have not had any success but am still trying anyway...Very sad...

Here goes with the quotes...

1972: The first woman falls off her cork sandals. Millions follow. Vogue

MY COMMENT: I have NEVER fallen down in cork sandals (the picture on the calendar is of a "healthy" wedge corked heel)...Okay, Ms. 1972, are you uncoordinated or what? Okay platform black sandals at a Motley Crue/Def Leopard concert in 2007 (or was it 2006)on a hill at Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre are another story...Thank GOD for my belt that Mark and Kelly (while Mark was in the bathroom) could hold onto so I didn't ski down the hill...What was I thinking? I wasn't and it was all about fashion by the way...cute shorts, an adorable pale pink Dave Matthews tank and the platform sandals...Okay now eeeeewwwwwwww! I shudder to think about the look (I had a great tan, I know, but that has a little bit of a redneck/hoochie vibe to it! It was tasteful/very appropriate at the time...I think?) I can only hope it was not too bad....

It's over for me. Here lies Carrie. She has two loves and lots 'o shoes.Carrie, Sex and the City

MY COMMENT: Here lies Mary (rhymes with Carrie - how weird is that?) She has ONE love (Mark - kiss, kiss hon!) and lots o' shoes (and purses and clothes and clutter and knick knacks and basic crap and oh, kids...um, I could go on with the list)...

Did I tell you I gave away MORE shoes...to a charity in Haiti...I am thrilled and feel so fulfilled getting rid of those shoes I don't wear (many of my shoes were unworn) AND I sent cleats, kids' tennis shoes, girls flip flops and all (Nolan, Casey and her buddy provided more shoes for those in need! They were ready and willing to contribute - makes me so proud!)...So now I am down to just 100 (or so) pair...I have not really replenished my shoe stash.(I did get a pair of tennis shoes since I was borrowing Casey's)..It feels pretty darn good...But I am itching for a navy blue pair o' shoes...Must....resist...urge!

Have a great weekend - Life is short, buy the shoes!

It Has Been Almost Two Months...

2008-10-18T09:22:00.003-04:00

Since I have blogged last! My apologies to my adoring fans...all 3 of them! Life has been crazy!I am still in mourning that one in our fold is now at Clemson (how did that happen? - I did everything a mother could but alas, he went to the dark side...I can so empathize with Darth Vader's mom.) But I still love shoes and the Dawgs (#10 and playing Vandy today - it's Homecoming). Will be going on an overnight camping trip with the Cub Scouts this evening and of course am trying to figure out how to wear stylish shoes and be comfortable too (TO HECK WITH COMFORT)...Although, I don't want a repeat of the "Great Soccer Debaucle of '08" in which my stylish spiked heels got caught in the grass with a bunch of crazed 10-year-old boys kicking at me while I hyperextended my knee and earned my way to the orthopedist office...But I did continue playing after said injury occurred. I like to think of myself as being tough as nails. You gotta have style on the field though.

So I have some shoe quotes that I know you all have been waiting for...so here goes..

"If a boot doesn't make you feel sexy, it's not working." Stella McCartney, designer

...(and Paul's daughter)...I don't know Stella...I was feeling pretty un-sexy hobbling around Gold Hill's soccer field in the injury-inducing boots...But one dad pointed out I was doing a service and aerating the school's lawn and volunteering is pretty sexy so, yes, maybe my boots did that for me...Not!

"What's the rule that says you can only buy one pair of shoes at a time? I mean, it's so arbitrary." Sophie Kinsella, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

...I never heard of that rule and you didn't either Mark.

"Wearing high heels to the ball made it fashionable to teeter and fall." French Poet

...Is is fashionable to teeter and fall say, in the grocery store? At a PTO meeting? On a Scout campout? Talk amongst yourselves...

"If the shoe doesn't fit, must we change the foot?" Gloria Steinem

...Okay, I am all for women's rights and all but hey, if the shoe doesn't fit, maybe your feet are too big? Maybe some foot taping is in order! HA!

AND FINALLY...

"Always wear expensive shoes. People notice." Brian Koslow

...I hate to admit it but I had to look up Mr. Koslow because I had not heard of him...He's an author and an entrpreneur and a pretty darn smart person in my opinion. I am with you Koslow! You can tell when someone is wearing Louboutin, Prada, Manolos...their feet look smoking!

Okay - I am getting the stink eye here because my wonderful husband is getting everything together for the campout and I am blogging...when I should be showering...have a soccer game to get to...what shoes should I wear?

So...

2008-08-28T22:23:00.002-04:00

So, college football has officially started (TONIGHT!) and we've got games ALL over the place....I am TOTALLY PSYCHED! I am attempting to begin to commence to pledge that I will partake in no actions that will get me banned to the patio outside my house...by Mark...stating my actions are unbecoming of a parent...and send the wrong message to the kids...I'll try my best (I think the Florida game is exempt from this stipulation...) AM CERTAIN I have a major blip (e.g., HUGE SPIKE!) in the blood pressure from late August until January 1st (or 2nd through 10th when they STREEEEEEEEEEETCH the championship out - was last season NOT insane???)

Well, would like to impart a WONDERFUL quote from my friend (okay, I know his name) Andre Leon Talley, editor at large for Vogue...Here goes...

"Manolo creates visual poems for women's feet. Some women desire fabulous jewels; others think of his shoes as jewels for the feet."

Are you kidding me? WHO DOES NOT THINK MANOLOS ARE JEWELS FOR THE FEET? Visual poems?...they are the virtual tapestry upon which creativity is woven...(Note to self: Copyright that phrase)...Art...TOTAL art...beautiful art...

I sooooo love shoes!

P.S. -- People Magazine and Lucky Magazine have their "SHOE" issue this month...Check them out! Life is short...buy MORE shoes!

Fifth Grader for Sale and...Work and Home and Kids - oh my!

2008-08-20T20:42:00.006-04:00

Okay, I am seriously thinking about hanging a "For Sale" sign on the fifth grader...you'd think he was an adolescent girl with all the whining that is going on with him....HELLO, 1998? I want my sweet, adorable, compliant, pleasant infant child back (who thinks I hung the moon, never complains and smiles at me incessantly)....

Work...and home...and kids, oh my! Work...and home...and kids, oh my! (Think: Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!...If you don't know what I am referencing, get those pull-ups on and go to bed right now Ms./Mr. Toddler...you are too young to get this and to be reading this...My life is a cycle of three things...Work, home (disrepair, cleaning, stench) and then the kids (disrepair, cleaning, stench)...no lie...I don't think I can remember when I actually have had a moment to myself lately...except for in the bathroom and ONLY when I have locked the door...it appears that a blinking "The Psychiatrist is In" sign is on my bathroom door...have finally learned that by turning that bronze doo-hicky on the door knob works wonders for my own sanity....

I am an exhausted mess right now as is my house...The hubby's birthday was one week ago today and I am still, up to this minute, scraping inches of fondant off of our stove that Jessa made to top his birthday cake...explains the teams of ants cheering at me when I edge my way to the stove (under the singed microwave) - somehow, they think it was a purposeful doing - like I wanted them to stay because fondant lasts...oh.... 1000 YEARS! HELLO????? ...the cheers quieted when they saw the industrial strength 409 I am wielding at my hip...I am convinced I need a jack hammer to get this crap off or perhaps a pressure washer...I will have this stuff off no later than Christmas - I am totally ambitious and optimistic...

So, today was the first day of school...no new shoes for the kids (they got them weeks ago so they could break them in and not appear to be totally uncool...)but I have some great shoe quotes from that AWESOME shoe calendar that I LOVE!

"Hi, I'm not here but my shoes are, so leave them a message." Carrie's answering machine, Sex and the City.Okay, enough said.

Perhaps I would add a "I'm not here and neither is my mind..." but other than that, this quote is perfection.

"High heels are pride and privilege, the passkey to decadence." -- Karen Heller

Karen, I agree with you...high heels are decadence (and probably wreck-a-dance too...have you ever been in gorgeous, but uncomfortable shoes dancing? That's sure to wreck that dance, right??? Instant cankles, blisters and piggy feet - ugly combination!)

"I much prefer being a man. Women have to spend so much time pulling themselves together, and their shoes kill your feet." --- Shirley Booth

Hmmmmm - love me some shoes regardless of the pain factor. Not sure about being the man thing - although would love more time to sleep in so maybe that wouldn't be so bad...But, there is something to be said about pain and having great shoes...who cares about the pain as long as your feet look good?

Am Waiting for the Next Shoe to Drop

2008-07-26T19:33:00.003-04:00

So I basically have had the last 10 days from you know where...First of all, I get a call at 8:01 a.m. last Friday - first to the cell and then to the office phone which is never a good sign...A frantic Casey greeted me and said, "Um mom....there's been an accident." Four letter words flew through my feeble mind..."Uh, see, we were trying to fry churros on the stove and well, uh, a fire broke out and we called the fire department and everything is okay, we just threw water on it (SIDE NOTE: EGADS - on the ELECTRIC STOVE)...and so it went out, but then restarted, but then we got it out again...And well, uh, we kinda melted the microwave..." The EXPENSIVE(AND we got 50-75% off) stainless steel almost BRAND NEW microwave (it was maybe 4 months old)...okay at least no one was hurt, we are not being sued (from the family of Casey's friends who were at our home that morning) and the house did not burn down...wait a minute, safety aside, I'd love for this house to go up in flames so that we can start over again - the floor plan is horrible....oh well...Again, no one was hurt!

Fast forward to Tuesday (uh, 4 days later)...I get a pleasant invitation after work from Mark to go out to dinner with him and Jessa and the Green Day guitar-playing boyfriend, would Mexican food be okay, blah, blah,blah...On my way home, little did I know ANOTHER disaster was about to strike...Apparently, Jess had picked up a rock and was tossing it in her hands while they were outside waiting for me to come home from work...are you seeing where this is going? Uh, well said rock was accidentally hurled into the window of Mark's car (uh not the windshield - that according to SC law would be replaced at no cost...!*@#()%(@&(WD*A)*F! - could she have not hit the windshield?) and the window shattered into about 14,000 miniature shards of glass...and the hubby was cleaning up upon my return...for probably 45 minutes in complete silence (which ensued the entire evening!)...when the torrential rain storm hit...and we only had Scotch (TM - TRADE MARK) tape to seal the trash bag-donned window...I became the brain trust (scary) and recommended that we back the car in to shield the "vulnerable" side from the rain and horrible winds...well, thank God it worked...The window was replaced the next day (and was almost $100 less than we were quoted by another company...BUT IT WAS STILL EXPENSIVE - yet, there was a light to this story!)

So, other things happened to create the triumverate of things that are supposed to happen when you have bad luck so I chalked them up to that...

On a brighter note, Casey and Nolan arrived home safely from Edisto Island! I haven't seen Nolan for more than 6 weeks and he is 4 inches taller and probably 15 pounds heavier...he actually looks like a 5th grader now! I am walking on air to be with him...and Casey informed me she has a boyfriend (what?) He lives in Greenville and they met at camp but have just become an item "recently." THANK GOD he lives a couple hundred miles away...I am not ready for this!

Well, before I go upstairs to join them in a PS2 karoake game (I will SOOOOO BEAT THEM - although I am not successful on our Wii Guitar Hero), I must leave you with some great quotes...

"I like to literally put women on a pedestal." Vivienne Westwood, shoe designer

And girl, you do that and clothe them FABULOUSLY! My girl Gwen (uh, Stefani for your newbees) LOVES her some Vivienne...She is fantastic!

"It's really hard to walk in a single woman's shoes - that's why you sometimes need really special shoes!" Carrie, Sex and the City

Okay Carrie, I sorta remember your angst at being single (short-lived)...but, you can't compare needing special shoes to us working moms who are on our feet all day and then run around all night getting kids ready for school the next day, doing laundry, doing dishes, etc...need I say more? I am hoping that Manolo or Jimmy C will come out with an affordable, comfortable everyday wear shoe for working moms...okay, I am hopping off of my pedestal now...

Life is short, buy the shoes...Cheer on my Dawgs!

IS THIS A CRUEL JOKE?

2008-07-15T10:25:00.002-04:00

WHAT???????????????????????? President Bush is pre-empting the Dr. Phil show TODAY OF ALL DAYS...on the one of two mornings I am off from work in the morning! And, it's a new episode too...

These things I know...

I know the economy STINKS.

I know gas prices SUCK.

I know the housing market is HORRIBLE.

I know that Mark and I don't make enough money to raise our ZOO.

I know we probably need to get second and third jobs to pay for their band activities, private lessons, COLLEGE, uh, can you say food and shelter?

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bail out...I know about it and I GET IT.

But what I don't know is what the result was of the smack down by the mom who wanted the registered sex offender out of her daughter's home...I AM ALL ABOUT THE DRAMA PEOPLE...Speak to me Phil...

Okay, I AM an admitted, capital "L" donning LOSER.

Does This Make Me A TOTAL LOSER?

2008-07-15T09:56:00.002-04:00

That I am excited it is 10 a.m. and I think there is a new episode of Dr. Phil on this morning? Tuesdays and Thursdays are my late work days so I get to indulge in "the Doc" and "The View." I curse the TV when it's a rerun...

Now that I have told you why I am asking the above said question, it's totally rhetorical - you don't have to comment please.

Must go turn on the TV!

AM I OUT OF MY MIND?

2008-07-15T08:50:00.008-04:00

Okay, don't answer that question.

We are adding to our "zoo." Upon Nolan's return from his whirlwind, travel-filled summer, he will be bringing home two...not one....TWO new pets. Sebastian and Herman will join our brood on the 26th of July. You guessed it - they are hermit crabs. The last one we had accidentally "baked" in our sun room after Jessa let him out to "exercise." Too bad he wasn't bigger or we'd have eaten him for dinner...Apparently the two have a "cat proof" cage...We'll see how that works for us.

Our cats have been known to knock over fish tanks..."Michael" and "Jordan" met their fate that way - I tried to resuscitate their dehydrated little bodies that were literally glued to Nolan's carpet. I thought that if I added a little water to them, they might spring back to life like one of those capsules that once you add water, they poof! become a sponge...okay, I had a MAJORLY blonde moment at that point but wanted Nolan to see his mom trying any measure to bring them back to life. After a brief tear (ha!) and flush of the toilet, he was all about getting a new fish...he'd moved on. It's pretty incredible that Swimmy is still alive after surviving in an inch of murky water when Nolan has forgotten to clean his tank...

Anyhoo, now our zoo will include two dogs, two cats, two hermit crabs, one fish and four (make that 5) kids...The 5th kid just happens to be almost 48...

Am I crazy or what? No wonder I find solace in shoes...mindlessly admiring them in my closet each day as I rock back and forth in the fetal position...

Oh, great quote..."Shoes are the foundation of all fashion." Anonymous

Are you kidding me? ANONYMOUS, SHNONYMOUS...I say that every day! I think I should get some residual money for them using my quote and publishing it on that fabulous shoe calendar of theirs, don't you think? It would help to pay for all of our pet food, pet toys and stuff...BTW, are there toys for hermit crabs?

I wrote a book and where is this blog going...discuss amongst yourself!

2008-07-06T11:04:00.004-04:00

This weekend, I wrote a "book." Actually a sequel...My niece Olivia wrote a book for me to illustrate entitled, "Pink Bunny Bakes a Cake." She had added artwork of her own and in order to maintain the integrity of her original masterpiece, I wrote a sequel for her to illustrate. (I didn't want to mess up her work...) Guess what I named the book? "Pink Bunny Goes Shopping!" It is so cute...Pink Bunny gets a new purse and shoes from her Mimi and Nonnie Bunnies - and CASH - and she goes shopping and buys cool things and then doesn't have enough money to buy what she really wants - a cake mix and icing so she can make another cake with her Mommy. Of course, her mom being brilliant and all, figures it out and stops by the Hare-is Totter (get it ladies?) and buys a cake and so now not only does Pink Bunny have fabulous shoes, a fabulous purse, new jewelry, a fancy new dress, she also gets a chance to bake another beautiful cake with her mom...It was fun to write but unfortunately I can't print it out because our printer is broken...heavy sigh...

And where is this blog going? I have no idea! I am seriously thinking about trying to lure advertisers to this blog...do you think that would work? Who would purchase ad space for a little known blog out of Fort Mill, SC, right? Well, I say it's worth a shot...

There are plenty of shoe sites - 6pm.com, zappos.com, shoes.com, bluefly.com...you name it, they are out there...It may be a pipe dream (what exactly does that mean? Enlighten me, someone - a hooka pipe? Party vile-o-crack pipe?) Pipe dream or not, I am determined to make this work...

Okay, this entry was totally random so I need to bring this back around with a great shoe quote from my wonderful shoe calendar (a shout out to Sharon again for the great gift!!!)

"Sometimes when Suze (I don't know who she is so don't ask) isn't at home, I open my wardrobe and just stare at all my pairs of shoes, like some mad collector." Sophie Kinsella, "Shopaholic Takes Manhattan" I suspect that Suze is in the book that I have yet to read but I have heard it's a great read...

I stare at my shoes a lot too...like a mad collector...I get it Sophie.

SHAMELESS PROMOTION OF MY BLOG...

2008-06-30T16:41:00.004-04:00

Okay loyal blog visitors...did you know you could "subscribe" to this blog's updates? Scroll down to the bottom of the page and sign up for the updates - actually, it is sort of at the bottom of the page! Just above the Shoe Trivia section....You won't have to wait for my emails updating you that I have updated the blog - you will already know that I have done so... Please...I am desperate...

Is this totally shameless or what? Don't answer that question - it was totally a rhetorical question...Of course it is shameless!

(I can't believe I am begging for visitors...okay, feed my ego peeps!)

FLAGS AT HALF STAFF - A GREAT ONE HAS PASSED

2008-06-29T18:11:00.005-04:00

From The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 06/28/08
ATHENS — The following is a statement issued by the University of Georgia on the death of its mascot, Uga VI:

The University of Georgia's beloved and Churchillian English bulldog mascot Uga VI died peacefully Friday night in Savannah of congestive heart failure after serving nine seasons on the sidelines as the Bulldogs' winningest mascot.night in Savannah of congestive heart failure after serving nine seasons on the sidelines as the Bulldogs' winningest mascot.

Uga VI, owned by Savannah attorney Frank W. "Sonny" Seiler, was the heaviest in the line of six solid-white English bulldogs to serve as UGA's mascot since Uga I became a Georgia football game fixture in 1956.

"He was a good one," Seiler said. "What can I say? He had a marvelous record. He was a very strong and healthy dog. He was the biggest of all the dogs, and he had the biggest heart. It just played out."

Seiler noticed Uga VI was breathing heavily shortly after arriving home from work on Friday evening. He was taken to Dr. Stanley Lester, the family's veterinarian, who consulted with Dr. Bruce Hollett at the University of Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine before Uga VI passed away.

"I noticed he had a little congestion in his throat, which usually is not cause for alarm," Seiler said. "I gave him a bath, which he always loved, to cool him off. After that, I called Dr. Lester, whose office is about a four-minute drive from our house. His heart just played out. He suffered no pain and died peacefully."

A successor to Uga VI will be announced by the Seilers and the Athletic Association at a later date; however, the Seilers stated that the lineage is secure.

Uga VI, who would have turned 10 on July 22, will be buried in a marble vault in the Southwest corner of Sanford Stadium with his predecessors. The private ceremonies are expected to be held early next week.

"This is a very sad day for the entire Bulldog Nation," Director of Athletics Damon Evans said. "Uga has always been such a strong figure associated the University of Georgia nationwide. Uga VI was a damn good mascot and a damn good dog. He was an outstanding representative of our fine institution. While this is a sad day for all Bulldog fans, our condolences especially go out to the Seiler family."

"UGA VI served with extraordinary courage and heart as a beloved University of Georgia mascot," University of Georgia President Dr. Michael F. Adams said. "He was a true symbol of the toughness and competitiveness of our athletic teams, and was a rallying figure for the entire Bulldog Nation. We extend sympathy to the Seilers for the loss of a dear family pet and a great campus mascot who will be missed and remembered by UGA alumni and friends everywhere."
The Georgia football teams compiled an 87-27 record during Uga VI's tenure, which officially began in 1999 with pre-game ceremonies prior to the South Carolina game in Athens. The Bulldogs captured both the 2002 and 2005 SEC Championships and won six of eight bowl games over that span. Uga VI's record surpassed the mark of 77-24-4 of Uga IV.

All of Georgia's athletic teams enjoyed remarkable success during Uga VI?s reign. All told, 19 of Georgia's 35 national championships have been secured under Uga VI. Bulldog athletic teams also have won 35 SEC Championships. In addition, Georgia has recorded six top-10 finishes in the Director?s Cup, the annual all-sports competition ranking the nation?s top athletic programs.
Uga VI also was featured in countless national publications and television shows. Most recently, a documentary on the Uga lineage was produced for CSS TV by Jeff Eldridge.

Uga VI, who was only one year old at the time of his coronation, was the biggest of all the mascots weighing in at 65 pounds – more than 20 pounds heavier than his father – and like his forefathers was a solid white English bulldog. His registered name was "Uga V's Whatchagot Loran?" – a reference to the famous question of Georgia radio play-by-play announcer Larry Munson when communicating with sideline reporter Loran Smith.

Yesterday I Had Cankles (GASP!)

2008-06-28T11:34:00.003-04:00

No lie...I had worn these sassy Ann Taylor mules to work yesterday...as the morning progressed, the pain increased but in the words of Fernando, "It doesn't matter HOW you feel, just as long as you look good." Well, I took that to a whole other level...Jessica Simpson, those shoes were not made for walking...they were made for people with feet the size and width of Barbie's not small watercraft like mine are.

So I got home from work and promptly took the hellish shoes off of my feet and proceeded to go about the business of blogging, checking email, etc....for several hours. Mark then called me and said that a couple of people were meeting after work and wanted us to come out with them and I gladly agreed...(People actually want to hang with us? WOW!) As he pulled into our driveway to pick me up for our night out, I started to put my shoes on and GASP! I looked at the devilish footwear along with my calves and ankles...cankles had appeared where they used to be and my feet had turned into big fleshy pillows the size of a professional football...I literally stuffed my feet into those pointy-toed nightmares and my feet were oozing out of the sides...

I opted to get the opinion of our usually gentler daughter and she looked at me feet thoughtfully and said, "Yeah, your feet are oozing out of the sides." NICE! I wore them any way...The other daughter would've said, "Uh, major oozing - DISGUSTING - and mom, you know you have cankles, right?" Double nice...

So I proceeded to go out with the co-workers with pillow feet, cankles and yes, my chipped front tooth...I swear I heard the soft sound of "Delieverance" playing in the background as we arrived...When my teeth turned purple it added that special little Southern touch...

UPDATE: Cankles have returned to ankles and calves this morning...The shoes (as sassy as they may be) will probably kicked to the curb.

65th and counting...

2008-06-27T13:57:00.007-04:00

So this is my 65th entry in my blog...and still no word from Jen...I've all but given up hope...(heavy sigh - literally and figuratively...haven't exercised in MONTHS!)...

So I sneaked a peek on my shoe calendar and my man MB has a wonderful quote that was posted on the calendar (for this weekend)...(we have nicknames for each other...okay, maybe I have a nickname for him but I am sure he'd make up a cute one for me like "McSweetie"or "Ms. Thang" - I think that one's taken)...back to the quote:

"My shoes are not fashion, they are gestures." Manolo Blahnik

Manolo, shut up (in the words of Stacy London) Your shoes are works of art! Flawless...Did you know that he works without assistants or apprentices to design each and every pair of his thousands of designs! If that's not the work of an artist, I don't know what is...

So I found out about this cool charity today...Socks for Souls! (see on the side bar Soles4Souls which is another great one) They take new or gently used shoes and give them to people of all ages in developing countries and impoverished areas! A patient of ours works closely with this charity in Haiti and Central America...So the umpteen pair of shoes that I want to give away (shhhhhhhhhh - to make more room for new shoes - perhaps some Manolos...SUHWEET!) are going to go to a great cause...

But somehow, I am trying to picture someone wearing the lizard skin, round toed low cut boots that I have rarely worn...hmmm - he said any kind of shoes could be donated so I am going to put them in the pile! I have a couple of pair I have NEVER worn too and likely won't but I will feel better knowing that someone will wear them and love them! If you have any shoes (or socks) that you would like to donate, email me and I will be sure to bring them in for this great cause! I feel better already...Jen Schmen...I don't need no stinkin' Jen...This lifts me up!

(Okay Jen, if you read this, I don't really mean Jen Schmen...or stinkin' either -- it's just meant to add a little humor to the blog...I still heart you and can't quit you!)

Ta ta for now! Casey is playing her French Horn and I think a team of caribbou have gathered in my yard thinking it is a mating call!

Still No Word...Am I Desperate?

2008-06-26T23:34:00.002-04:00

No call from Jen...I thought she'd call...no really, I thought she'd just email me by now...

Should I email her AGAIN? Does that make me appear desperate? I don't want to seem like I am too eager...like I don't have anything else on my calendar....

I should email her again and say, "Hey Jen...Wanted to just say, "Hello!" Well, if you email me back right away, I will have no time to respond because I am SWAMPED just like you so please let me know when you are going to subsequently email me AGAIN and I will check my busy calendar and make sure I can respond to you in a timely manner so as not to waste your time..." Sounds a little bit desperate, right?

....I am thinking, better yet, "JEN (stop) I AM DESPERATE (stop) WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO CHARLOTTE, NC (stop) MUST MEET YOU (stop) PARTY BUS WAITING (stop) WITH LOTS OF WHITE WINE (AND OF COURSE RED TOO) (stop) I HEART YOU AND CAN'T QUIT YOU -- MARY, YOUR ADORING FAN, & HER FRIENDS (stop)" Is this so Western Union? Morse code?

Bottom line is - Jen, get your ever-getting-slender, blog-savy ass to Charlotte so we can pay homage to you and celebrate your accomplishments...and oh, take you on the Party Bus - you will love it!....

Jen Hasn't Called or Emailed Me...and I am CRUSHED!

2008-06-26T10:56:00.002-04:00

And then the Dawgs lost the College World Series...crap.

I have the total Girl Crush...I TOTALLY LOVE Jen Lancaster - author extraordinaire - "Bitter is the New Black," "Bright Lights, Big Ass" and "Such a Pretty Fat" (you must read them!) I have sent her a couple of emails, even said I would charter the coveted "Party Bus" and take her out too if she would come to Charlotte to do a book signing (we still have my 40th birthday debaucle $200 deposit on the bus - still love ya Mark)...no response...I am completely devastated...am holding out a bit of hope that she will at least email me...even a "form/canned email" will do.

Jenny, I got your number...I want to make you mine...Jenny don't change your number...8675309... Okay that was very creepy - ahem, so I was a Tommy Tutone fan in the 80's ...I digress...

Jen, if you are out there, please call, email me, acknowledge my existence... to hell with that, just come to Charlotte! Please!

We will bring Reisling (I know it's your preferred drink - have you tried Liebfraumilch? It's very sweet and from Germany -- we can do Chardonnay too because I know you prefer white wines!) AND cupcakes...I am totally up on my Jen facts and will definitely hook a girl up!

Mea Culpa to the Better Half for MY DAWGS!

2008-06-24T23:26:00.004-04:00

Uh...Apparently AFTER my ranting and raving in the 8th inning last night......the Dawgs won! (My bulldawg tail is between my legs right now!) It was sweet victory but hello?...could they stack the runs before I go to bed (FUMING!) after my non-superstitous husband watched the game...BTW...I had watched the latter part of the game (Uh, gave up...maybe it's me?) ARGH!
I should've checked the score...

And latter part of the game tonight...ugh, chance are they won't win...double darn! But I will check the score later....

So meaculpa to Mark for yesterday - you might be our lucky charm now! Wear the shirt, those same grungy shorts and beers are in order too (they bring you luck according to our luck scale...) I am still not washing my "DAWG" shirts!

Lately Blogging is Like Jogging for Me

2008-06-24T10:07:00.002-04:00

Although I love to write, blogging has turned into the equivalent of exercing which equals work to me which is why I have done neither for so long...My dad used to say I was allergic to work which could explain the incessant itching I experience when I have to pick up a broom or dust pan (maybe it's the gynormous dust cloud that is my house?) but it doesn't explain my nervous tick or the talking to myself...must find out what that is all about. Both haven't seemed to get in the way on my real full time job...or so our patients haven't let on...

Some wonderful shoe quotes I will leave you with before I have to get back to laundry before heading off to work this afternoon...wait...oh...is that a hive I see? No, I think it's two...Enjoy!

"You cannot put the same shoe on every foot." --- Publius Syrus

Those darned ancient philosophers were so smart...not only can you not put a left shoe on a right foot and vice versa (DUH!) some of us look great in Manolos and some of us not...(Did I tell you that I just bought a pair of great gladiator style healed sandals by Carlos Santana? They are awesome...I digress.)

"I don't know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot." Marilyn Monroe

I agree with the blonde. I love me some high heels (as a matter of fact, I pretty much wear heels all of the time). We do owe him a lot from a style perspective (and probably owe him a doctor's bill for our back problems too, right?) ha!

Now this one is a classic...

"Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes." --- Frieda Norris

My girl Frieda is so clever...hot tail it a mile in someone else's shoes (preferably designer and expensive) and then tell her she is stuck in an '80s time warp and should really get some style, right? (Okay if anyone tells me that after walking a mile in my great shoes, expect to see the headlights of a speeding Suburban coming after you...)

In UGA news.... Georgia's baseball team is in the College World Series...we lost last night because Mark jinxed them...I told him to turn the game off because he was giving off bad kharma and he wouldn't...he bears the heavy burden of hexing them on their first game (and listening to me yell at him for making them lose the game by merely watching it in a Georgia t-shirt I bought for him when we lost horribly to Tennessee - HELLO? The unlucky shirt messed up their mojo)...I am going to have to pull out my lucky bulldawg shirt for the next few nights - I am not sure I will watch the game for fear of hexing it too but the lucky shirt will send off positive vibes to the team (and no, I am not going to wash it throughout the series, mustard stains or not)...

Trashy Stuff...and Shoes, of course

2008-05-25T15:35:00.004-04:00

It has been a busy month between kids' school activities, work, the NYC trip (FABULOUS! The $795 Prada shoes with the carved heels were TO DIE FOR! No, I didn't buy them...Was considering the purchase but thought they may be a bit much for the office...I digress...) and the constant stepping over, around and under crap that has been strewn on our floor, on our counter tops and basically everywhere in the house. Apparently I the mother of the spawn of Oscar (The Grouch that is...the green one...in the trashcan...which my kids can't seem to find or hit....and that explains the green fuzz that mysteriously appears out of Nolan's ears and armpits - he gets that from his furry father...) Uh, those of you too young to remember Oscar, you are WAY past naptime...grab your binkie. Night, night!

Back to trash-talking...I am seriously considering paying for the cast and crew of "Clean Sweep" to come out here from California. And, I plan on making good use of my 1-800-GOT-JUNK gift certificate that I won at the high school bands' oyster roast auction...I wonder if they have a plastic bag large enough to encase the entire house and they can just haul it away...blow it up and start over...When the CDC and DHEC are called in to our house, maybe someone will finally take my constant pleas for cleanliness seriously...They haven't gotten clued into the mask that I have been donning...perhaps it's because it muffles my blood curdling screams and my barking orders so they are pleased with that addition to my wardrobe...Again, I digress.

When I get that knock on the door, I will be wearing some great shoes and will have tidily boxed up my shoes for safekeeping before the state and federally-imposed implosion/explosion occurs...Or better yet, maybe I could leave some of the shoes in then soon-to-be-ashes house that are "on the fence" so to speak and replace them with bright, shiny and fabulous new ones...Like my friend Amy says, "The more shoes I get, the more I want." (Amy Fine Collins, contributing editor, Vanity Fair) Okay, we're not really friends but we share the same shoe philosophy and I am sooooo sure we'd be friends if say, I lived in NYC or LA and I was a fashion writer too and had gobs of Prada, Christian Lebouitton, Manolos and Jimmy Choos...(I actually held all of those said shoes while at Saks in NYC...it was a throat catching moment for me...proudly, I held it together though) So, I know Amy and I would be pals...

Well, my breath is getting labored from the mixture of smells of food sitting in the sink for a near record 3 days (notice that is not the record), smelly, wet socks that Nolan stepped out of in the middle of the floor and the piece-de-resistance...the pinacle of the "bouquet" if you will...a slight hint of the cat box that remains to be cleaned...and it's 2 rooms away...nice! Must.....go......get.....air.....

10022-SHOE

2008-05-02T15:35:00.002-04:00

So we're taking a trip to NYC next weekend...Just Mimi and us girls. We are compiling an agenda so that we (1) don't sleep all day because we will have no kids and (2) hit all of the FABULOUS spots that are New York...Which brings up 10022-SHOE.

It just dawned on me that the place upon which I want my ashes to be strewn is not on our list of things to see - of course we are doing the Wicked thing and we're going to do the Rockettes tour (did I tell you I have 2 cousins that were Rockette's? Obviously, those genes skipped me...) 10022-SHOE is the ZIP CODE of Saks Fifth Avenue's shoe store (the mere mention of Saks brings chills up my spine - Nirvana at its finest!) Mary Mc CANNOT (I repeat) CANNOT go to NYC without visiting this shoe lovers' mecca...I may even shed a tear...I am tearing up right now as I type...WHAT IF THEY HAVE A SALE RACK? (GASP!) My pocketbook is doomed...but hey, it's better to be penniless and have good shoes than penniless and be wearing Zips, right? (Thanks DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince)... NOTE TO SELF: Add SFASH to the list - that's short for Saks Fifth Avenue Shoe Heaven. My heart is pounding right now! I may even stake out the "section" that will be sprinkled with my presence upon my departing this world...I'll end up in a vaccuum in the janitor's closet but hey, for a mere moment, I will be one with the shoes...WOW, that is deeply profound...

I will leave you with this priceless quote...Actually, it is quite pricey..."With his world of fantasy rich detail, and extraordinary imagination, he destroyed the whole idea that diamonds are a girl's best friend. Manolo Blahnik's shoes are." Andre Leon Talley, editor at large, Vogue.
(TRUE THAT! You go Andre...Manolo's and Jimmy Choo's ROCK! And by the way, I still love me some diamonds)...

Remember: You can never have too many shoes or purses...

(Speaking of which, what shoes, purses and oh yeah, clothes am I going to pack for the trip to NYC? I have suddenly put myself into anxiety/panic mode...) Must...go...find...a...brown...paper...bag...

One month and twelve days...What's up with that?

2008-04-26T19:14:00.004-04:00

It's been way too long and unfortunately, I have little time right now to be as verbose as you know I am capable of being...Did you know that you can "Google" Shoedawgshoe and entries actually appear? I am in awe...my tiny blog is registering in the blogosphere - SUHWEET!

The Pope's shoes will appear soon...just no time at the moment...should've been getting ready for a party but here I am...Actually, "D" is going to prom (GASP!) and I am waiting for him to come down donning his tux (with a red vest) -- I told him that I am rubbing off my UGA influence on him yet (black tux, red vest...red & black...NUHICE!) and he dashed my confidence saying that they had run out of orange vests (he's going to Clemson - another COLLECTIVE GASP!)...Glad red was his second choice - am thinking of patting him on the back with a sticker that reads, "I'd rather be a Bulldawg..." but don't know how I can pull that one off...

Will be back in full swing soon but wanted to leave you with some POWERFUL shoe quotes (and by the way, I am wearing my 40th birthday present to a 40th birthday party tonight -SHOES! sassy green, open-toed, studded, SUEDE (but cool to wear in Spring) 3 1/2 inch heals...they are smokin'....Mark is going to have to touch up the home grown French pedicure...okay, TMI...BACK to the quotes....

"If they are stylish, we feel stylish and to hell with comfort." Colin McDowell, Shoes: Fashion and Fantasy (AMEN, COLIN! Comfort Shmumfort...)

"If the shoe fits, it's too expensive." Adrienne Gusof (IS THERE ANY SUCH THING AS A SHOE THAT IS TOO EXPENSIVE, HELLO? Style RULES and food and shelter are overated!)

"Keep tight inside of them (the ruby shoes) - their magic must be very powerful, or she wouldn't want them so badly!" Glenda, The Wizard of Oz ---there is incredible magic in a pair of SASSY red shoes, right? Am going to see "Wicked" in a couple of weeks - maybe I will get insight into their magic (heck, that red magic works for me every time!)

"I don't want to feel a shoe. I want the shoe to become part of me." Daniel S. and Stephanie R. Sorine (Okay? Enough said!....and if the shoe becomes a part of me, I am open to considering surgical procedures to remove the pair from my feet...or not...if they are awesome!)

"I've spent $40,000 on shoes and I have no place to live? I will literally be the old woman who lived in her shoes!" Carrie, Sex and the City (Uh, she must've been listening to me...I have always said I will be the best dressed (shoes and all) woman in the unemployment line...)

LIFE IS SUPERB...Buy the shoes!

Erin Go Bragh, Quote of the Week and the Wizard of Oz!

2008-03-15T20:08:00.003-04:00

An early Erin Go Bragh to you! My question is that if you were a boss, would you schedule a "team building" session on one of the most important holidays on the calendar - St. Patrick's Day? (Chicago and Savannah turn their rivers green for goodness sake!) Well, that's what happened -- St. Mark and I cannot go and see the U2 cover band at Amos'....darn!...because the boss is hosting go-cart races for the management team... And, so it means we have to celebrate St. Pat's a bit early (tomorrow!) Mark loves the corned beef and cabbage (the kids do too - go figure!) And, I make my famous Irish soda bread...an extra loaf is in order for Casey's World Geography class (they have had more cooking extra credits in this class than I EVER remembered in Home Ec!) Cead Mile Failte! Shlante!

Oh...AWESOME QUOTE OF THE WEEK by the DIVINE MISS M!

"Give a girl the correct footwear and she can conquer the world." --- Bette Midler

This is so true...shoes can empower you in the most unexpected set of circumstances...like today...

I wore my Timberland boots on the Cub Scout camp out today and literally conquered the torrential downpour and a tornado warning and a bunch of dads trying to live their "model" glory days...uh, by model, not GQ, I mean as in airplane, car or the like -- the dads built a rocket...err, I mean the kids built a rocket...AND, I packed, unpacked, packed and unpacked TOO MUCH camping gear today...(Okay weather turned to the very un-okay!) Which brings me to the question...Could I have faired better today with Dorothy's FABULOUS ruby red slippers than some clunky old skiing boots (even though in said boots, I was able to run through the woods, over roots, branches and slippery red clay?) I am thinking I could've done it in those fabulous sparkly specimens...Dorothy survived the twister and those creepy monkeys in those sassy, sequin-bedazzled heels...I survived massive pellets of rain, wind, overzealous dad/engineer wannabes and a bunch of Cub Scouts (a la creepy monkeys)...I'd so kick Dorothy's butt!

And now that I am thinking about it, mentioning the Emerald City, St. Pat's Day and the power of great shoes, I have a FABULOUS pair of green shoes that I got for my birthday that I will don on Monday...wishing I were at Amos' listening to the U2 cover band...So my plans on Monday? I will eat the left over soda bread and wail a mean "Sunday Bloody Sunday" as the kids watch and just shake their heads...(they will have green eggs and milk for breakfast by the way)...

Life is short, buy the shoes (in lots of different colors)...The luck of the Irish to you!

SHOE OF THE WEEK

2008-03-04T15:06:00.002-05:00

Okay, these are sweet little numbers I bought approximately 1 1/2 weeks before giving birth to Little Man. At the time, they were THE MOST EXPENSIVE SHOES I had ever bought in my life (and I bought them for half price!) I bought these in an Italian Boutique shoe store in Charlotte at Phillips Place (girls, you know what I am talking about)...and these are Claudia Ciutti's...I deserved them...I worked up to the day he was born and I have never regreted dropping the dough whatsoever (and did I mention, I worked until the day I had Casey too...had I been working on a farm, I probably would've gone back to work immediately...in fabulous shoes)

Flashback to January 1998...I go into the store, country come to town and caught the suspicious glares of the staff...I am sure I was dressed appropriately and all but perhaps my round belly and puffy feet were a little alarming to sales clerks used to amaciated blonde bombshells that are 5 foot 10 and husbands are NBA or NFL stars...I spotted the shoes and immediately was lured by the animal print and their classic style (WHAT? ME? CLASSIC AND NOT TRENDY? Okay, I was working in a "corporate environment" - or at least they thought they were - and I thought these would "work it"...

Back to the stares and guffaws at said shoe store...my "plastic" worked and I carried those shoes like they were a piece of DaVinci artwork...I almost couldn't bear wearing them but I got over that quickly...Had a wonderful black pants suit with silver zippers that was fierce that looked awesome with those masterpieces -- it had a matching collar and cuffs that were the same print as the shoes...I resisted the urge to wear them too...Coco Chanel says the rule of thumb is to accessorize and then take off one piece so as not to go overboard...Well, I took off the collar and the cuffs...(technially three pieces)...

So I wear this fabulous outfit and the awe-inspiring shoes my first day back to work....Uh, did I tell you I got laid off the day I went back to work from maternity leave?...NICE! "Mary, we only have a part-time job for you now...(WHAT? How can I afford day care and parking in downtown Charlotte and great outfits and shoes that are required) To make matters more infuriating, did I tell you I worked from home for her from the day I got home - Little Man was 3 days old...up until 6 weeks when I darkened the doorway of the highrise office and then I went in only to be told I didn't have my old job back?-- I always have the GLOWING "SUCKA" on my forehead...This was my first layoff experience and I took it hard...I would experience another, by the way...So, I was wearing this fabulous ensemble when I was sobbing in the elevator -- Nolan at his first day of daycare (a dagger in my heart), Casey at pre-school and my raging hormones and wondering how we'd fare financially - not a good combination. But I didn't let the boss see me so much as sweat - she had a hugely inflated level of self-importance so I was not about to let that happen! I took my sassy self out of that office and never looked back....

And, I filed for unemployment (after being mortified about doing so but then remembered she'd have to pay for it and gladly did it...) Although I didn't have the Prada bag (Jen Lancaster), I wore my sassy suit, sweet shoes and towed my children (YES BOTH OF THEM...Nolan in a stroller and dressed in a matching outfit with Casey from Kelly's Kids - I am sure she had the obnoxious, coordinated hair bow to go with the outfit too) to the unemployment office. Their dad didn't want me to pay for daycare ("You can handle them...we're saving money." Uh, what about the therapy sessions that they both will have to go through having experienced such a trauma at an early age?...I am sure we will pay thousands for that day!) So a I schlepped them around for about 5-6 hours (yes HOURS!)...So Jen Lancaster, you say don't bring a Prada bag to apply for unemployment...I am with you and let's add, "Don't bring your children to the unemployment line with you..." Apparently, unemployment offices around the country do not take kindly to well dressed, fashion-obsessed people...But, I was fortunate enough to find a man who felt sorry for me and whisked me through the process (after 4 1/2 hours or so....)

WOW! Who knew shoes could conjur up such memories? Did I tell you the kids probably had on great shoes?...I am sure they did!

It's gloomy outside - break out the galoshes!

Love This Quote and BITNB!

2008-03-03T14:58:00.002-05:00

Okay, my shoe calendar rocks! I so get this quote from this weekend:

"What is it about shoes? I mean, I like most kinds of clothes but a good pair of shoes can just reduce me to jelly." --- Sophia Kinsella, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

You know they are making "Confessions of a Shopaholic" by Kinsella into a movie! MUST SEE! Am surprised I didn't recieve a ring for the casting call! It has nothing to do with my age I am sure.

Just finished "Bitter is the New Black" (BITNB for short) by Jen Lancaster. The book was an absolute riot! You feel a little bad about chuckling at her layoff, her financial demise and bad luck in general, but she makes it so darn funny! And, come to think of it, I can relate...

And as I have said before, she reminds me a lot of me...okay, her love of shoes and clothes remind her of me...although,not the preppy part - I went through the totally, over-the-top preppy phase earlier in my fashion career (Had "The Preppy Handbook" and loved it), I soon moved to a more edgy vibe (or at least I'd like to think - okay, humor me people)...I think she still is and will remain in the classic dressing, Polo-esque phase (I always have to throw in the trendy)...

And we have so many other similarities - Governor of Jennsylvania/Pennsylvania, she references SCRANTON in BITNB (Okay, it is a derogatory comment but hey - it's my birthplace and well, it's the home of The Office and well, SHE mentions it - I think I've been to that Howard Johnson's by the way) - we were both Journalism and Poly Sci majors (I also had a minor in literature) - we both were laid off at the same time as our husbands (boy, that is always a barrel of laughs, ain't it Mark?)...And, let's mention our penchant for weaving tapestries with words a la "The Christmas Story" - not really, she's got me WAY beat on that one (am working on that skill one teenager at a time)...really wish I had worn animal print shoes for my wedding like she did...but then again, I didn't wear black either so scratch that...And pearls - the big chunky ones, I love them too...don't wear them every day but I have them (actually they are my mom's and were my Nanny's...I kind of pilfered them after college and well, never looked back)...Oops - Sorry mom!

But, she doesn't like the Dave Matthews Band...GASP!....or Brian Adams (okay, that I understand)...she likes The Cure (now we're talking)...And Vanilla Ice (I give her credit for admitting that little tidbit...pssst, me too!)...Wonder if she likes Pearl Jam or Snoop or the Ohio Players or the Chili Peppers...OR U2, The Police, Aerosmith...Nine Inch Nails? (Did you hear they are releasing their album for free?...okay, I digress!)

Wish I could do the footnote thing on this blog so I wouldn't have to put my "asides" in paranthesis but I am sure that would be a copyright infringement...
I love her footnotes! You MUST read BITNB...Can't wait to get her new book "Such a Pretty Fat." OMG (using "Texty" lingo)...JUST ANNOUNCED TODAY (I feel like Perez Hilton) She's coming out with her fourth book in 2009 called "Pretty in Plaid"! WOW! Another MUST READ!

Hey cool! - my evil postwoman (or is that postlady?...well, she's not a lady - I prefer to call her "IT") actually arrived before 5 p.m. today! Did I tell you she ran over my luminaries on Christmas Eve? Sorry you had to work on the 24th Grumplestiltskin - just think of the big fat pension you are going to get when you retire -- Oh, by the way, why don't you retire you personality-less thing?...

AND, GET THIS... I had to chase her down (seriously...in my car...Mark had the foresight to follow me in his car because he didn't want me to appear on CNN...I don't think I had make-up on or good shoes and he knew I'd be upset if those images hit the screen)...She had the audacity to leave a notice in the mailbox that we had to pick up a package at the post office (she didn't drag her lazy...to the door and ring the doorbell -- I WAS HOME - isn't that it your job description "IT"?)- AND, it happened to be a birthday gift for little man that my sisters had paid $20 to overnight to him just in time for his birthday (don't mess with my little man)...I literally did an NYPD move on her, cutting her off from the next mailbox - I screetched to a halt in front of her, diagnally...okay, so I wasn't in a Crown Vic but I felt like "the law"(I was in the Suburban)...I'm sure she shook in her shoes when Mark pulled up behind her (in the tan mini-van)...Well, she leapt out of that Jeep in a heart beat and handed me the package...witch.

Well, the reverberations from the thumping of our oldest's car stereo system has
me thinking that I better rock on upstairs and do some laundry. I don't know what he is listening to but I am so going to sneak into his car to see what he's "down with" (am trying to brush up on my up-to-date lingo)...Up until maybe Fall of 2007, he knew no artists (okay, I use that term loosely) -
Seriously, a senior in high school and knew N-O-N-E...Everything became Nirvana to him (the only "cool" band he knew the name of...) "Uh, is this Nirvana?" "No Devon....It's the Beatles." "Uh, is this Nirvana?" "Uh, no Devon. That would be Bonnie Rait." "Uh, is this Nirvana?" "Uh, no Devon. This is AC/DC." You get the picture. What do you want to bet that he is listening to...Vanilla Ice?

Well my cell phone is ringing so I must run (Did I tell you I have a "Glory, Glory to 'Ole Georgia" ringtone? ...Angelic music to my ears!)

It's almost Spring - go buy those shoes!

Do You Think Insurance Will Cover?....

2008-02-26T15:35:00.005-05:00

Insertion of a shoe into one posterior region of a 10-year-old? After 27 warnings (perhaps that is the problem), one particularly adorable decade old child was threatened within an inch of his life for singing/whistling annoyingly while doing his homework. Did I crush his creative spirit by doing so? Did I ruin his psyche? Is his self esteem shattered? Uh, how about his mother's sanity?...Now that's what we need to worry about...Actually, I am probably certifiable right now anyway but I was incredibly afraid that this may jolt me back to sanity again and frankly, insanity is much more fun!

Must remind myself to use a shoe that I am not particularly fond of...must be of a pointy-toed nature...darn...I love all my pointy-toed shoes...Maybe Mark has...uh, no. Hmmmm...Must peruse Off Broadway Shoes to see if they have any replacements for the pointy shoes selected for the crime...I mean, procedure...

He is currently acting like "Teller" of "Penn & Teller" fame...was banished to silence for an unlimited period of time (am thinking adulthood)...

FOOTNOTE: This entry is ShoeDawgShoe blog-worthy because it is shoe related by the way!

EDITORIAL NOTE...

2008-02-24T19:41:00.002-05:00

Do you love that I am now archiving entries by the week and not month? This change took place today and I am really excited about it (uh, do you really care?) It makes the whole "ShoeDawgShoe" experience so much more pleasant...you have less to scroll down through on the home page...although I am beginning to realize how verbose I am with every entry I write - but that's me, alright? Take a look to your right! ... You can click on a week and read the entries by week instead of scrolling through an entire month! Okay, maybe I really do need to get a life...who knew this would be so exciting to me?

....Is your popcorn popped? The Oscars (UH FASHION) will be "on" shortly!

NOTE: Uh, apparently the "Juno" screenplay writer that used to don 5 inch clear plexiglass heels, if you catch my drift, is going to wear the "slippers" -- It appears PR does a movie good...

THE BIG NIGHT...SHOES AND FASHION GALORE!

2008-02-24T13:41:00.005-05:00

The Oscars are this evening and if you are like me, you are trembling with anticipation to see who has won the Best Supporting Actress in a Foreign Subtitled Animated Feature...Huh? I am waiting for the fashion and the shoes! Did you know that the famed Cinderella Slippers have sparked controversy this year?...Apparently the writer of the screenplay, "Juno" was asked by Stewart Weitzman (love him!) to sport the new slippers (valued at $1M) at the ceremony this year...When she found out this was just a PR stunt (HELLO? HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING UNDER A ROCK FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS OR HAS YOUR INDIE "SPIRIT" (literally and figuratively) FOGGED - AHEM - YOUR MIND?) Okay, maybe I pay a little too much attention to all of the fashion hoopla...Am giddy with excitement anticipating Kojo's assessment of the winners and the losers...NOTE TO SELF: Must get a life.

I actually am in a bit of mourning ... missed the Fantasy Fashion League Live Oscar Strategy Session on Friday...I am sure I was busy eradicating world hunger, saving the Carolina Heelsplitter Mussel in Lancaster County (this is a serious issue here in the Lancaster/York County area - don't mess with our mussels) or ... doing laundry and cleaning up cat vomit on the rug in the office...they know how to pick the most difficult rug to puke on -- I think they observe me with warped amusement, scrubbing and gagging at the same time....

Happy watching tonight! What do you bet we will see some fabulous and hideous creations tonight? I cannot wait!

RANDOM FACT: Did you know that Bob Mackie (designer to the stars) actually designed all of the costumes on "The Carol Burnette Show?" Even the Scarlet O'Hara curtain-donning episode...You probably think I am so smart but Carol (we're on a first name basis) revealed that on Oprah last week...SECOND NOTE TO SELF: Get a life!

When Your 10-year-old Fouls Out of a Game...Dr. Phil Intervention Needed? It's the crappy shoes...

2008-02-23T20:58:00.003-05:00

Being the Mother of the Year that you know I am, I was noticeably (yeah, right) absent at LM's basketball game today - and it was a playoff game, mind you... Well, my sweet little Muffin Man (he'd die if I told people I called him that -- WHOOPS! I just did!)apparently got into his opponent's territory (personal space, face, etc.) a few too many times and fouled out of the game (which he has been wearing like a proud badge of courage). Mind you, I can say with absolute certainty that my shouts of, "Kill the man with the ball!" and "NOLAN...N-O-L-A-N! Get your head out of your...Errr...the clouds" had no impact on his behavior, whatsoever...

So, we're talking about the whole game and he commented on being aggressive and then said, "Well, I got just a little carried away today…” (with pride and chest puffed out)...Now HERE'S THE CLINCHER....He pauses and says, “Well, you know I am my mother’s child!” WHAT? OH NO HE DIDN'T! Mark almost drove off the road he was laughing so hard. I said, “What? Where’d you hear that phrase and you think I am aggressive?” And he said, “MOM! Hello?!!!(then he backed off...WISELY) Uh, well, uh, you’ve been known to be.” Hmmmm...Thought to ask him if he drew blood from any of his opponents but thought better of it...Maybe he employed an atomic knee drop or a full Nelson? Didn't ask that either...Silently I hoped that his little 4 foot nothing body struck fear into the eyes of...well, other 10 year olds...Dr. Phil, what does that mean?

So I am convinced it's his cheap shoes that drove him to the agression...the tongues of the shoes have been so oppressive to him this entire season that he had to make multiple adjustments to the shoes EVERY game (along with the mouth guard that I was within a hair of adding Poly-grip to because he would not keep the thing in his mouth...I am dreading the "retainer" years...)...Back to the shoes...Remember the Will Smith song, "Parents Just Don't Understand?" (If you don't, please crawl back into your big boy/girl bed with the binkie because you are too young to get this!) Well, young Will asks for Adidas and his mom gets "Zips!"...That would be poor Nolan...though he's clueless and would wear Trader Joe's wine paper bags on his feet if I set them out for him....So, I got the "Champion" brand when we should have gone for the Air Jordans (or Ground Nolans)...Next year, he's going to so have THE shoes -- that has a mesmerizing affect on an opponent -- good shoes = good player...Ladies, we know that when we are amongst a bunch of women...FIERCE Manolos, you win, hands down...Payless or Target shoes...uh, these days, you still win hands down if you "work them." Have you seen the Isaac Mizrahi shoes at Target? SUHWEET! Okay, that analogy didn't work for women's versus kid's shoes...but for the kiddos, athletic shoes put that "Voodoo" vibe on the other team...trust me...Leaves the other kids shaking in their mom-should've-bought-them-the-other-brand-shoes...I digress...

So now, I am listening to male friend of daughter (still trying to come up with a cute nickname for him...have run into a wall on that one -- help me people!)play guitar and attempt to sing (is repeatedly clearing his throat as if that will help)...Love the "Green Day" but if I hear "Time of My Life" (by him) again (I hear it at least, oh, 50 times a day!), I am going to show him green by face planting him in our front yard...which is actually red (clay) and NOT green at the moment but you get my point...Not so sure what shoes he is wearing but perhaps it is constricting the blood flow to his brain, causing him to play the same song incessantly...until now...he's experiencing intermittent spouts of other songs...will have to watch the shoe/song correlation...

As I close, "Smoke on the Water" is playing...may have to pull out the lighter or my old drill team routine to said song...EGADS..."Time of Your Life" is now playing...again and again and again....

Life is short, buy the shoes (the RIGHT SHOES...PLEASE -- NO ZIPS!)

Almost a Shoe Tragedy....

2008-02-22T16:28:00.002-05:00

There was almost a crisis in shoe paradise last evening...The Zebra Print, Pointy Toed Birthday Shoes (gorgeous) almost went to the big shoe store in the sky. Background: Thinking that I would look sassy at the baby shower last night, I decided to don said shoes to the party...Great idea...if it weren't raining. But have no fear, Mark held the umbrella and walked me to my neighbors car and (phew!) crisis averted...Until after the party. It was raining and I had no umbrella so I made a mad dash into our house with wild abandon across the front yard...Every leaf, speck of dirt, ounce of red clay in Fort Mill appeared to be lured to my shoes like moths to a flame. I figured I would let said clumps dry overnight and try to peel them off this morning...Bad idea...especially on the red clay part. But before you start mourning the death of one of the most beautiful uses of animal hair possible, I cleaned them...and cleaned them...and cleaned them. And I think those shoes have been ressurected from what would sure be the most tragic of shoe deaths. Just don't look too close when I wear those shoes...

Life is short, buy ten pair...enjoy the weekend and wear great shoes!

A GIRL NEEDS A GOOD PURSE AND SHOES, NO MATTER HER AGE, RIGHT?

2008-02-21T13:59:00.002-05:00

Just got back from Babys-R-Us…(whoops...the name slipped)...Resisted the urge to visit Target and/or DSW for me (I am learning restraint even though my car almost went into auto-pilot in the parking lot and headed due east to right outside DSW)…Okay, was supposed to just get a gift card for little miss princess, right? A substantial gift card none-the-less...

Well, I saw the most adorable size 2 tennis shoes - I know it, please take the time to say, "Awwwwww....how sweet!" They are precious...they have hip bright bow prints on them - the bows are lined with silver stitching...AND they have zippers and a heart on the zipper “tag”…had to get them….A girl, no matter what her age, needs at least one pair of fabulous shoes…got the gift card (did I mention SUBSTANTIAL) and the shoes...Really was looking for some animal print stilhettos in size 2 but apparently those aren't available at the moment...I digress...

So then, I go to the Hallmark Gold Crown store (not a Crown Royal store even though it is five o'clock somewhere, right?)…Looked for wrapping paper when there it was…(yes you do hearing angels singing in the background...it was a fuzzy purse/gift bag (pink) that says “Tickled Pink”…a girl no matter what her age needs a great purse, right? And it was a bargain - two in one – a gift bag that doubles as a purse, right? So I got that too…and a cute card that wasn’t part of the same “line” but said “Tickled Pink” too…to break up the pastel and add a little additional “zip” to the packaging, I bought fuchsia, pale pink, bright green and orange striped tissue paper to put in the purse (which by the way, has satin ribbon handles…so sweet!)…I am feeling like the super star of gift giving right at the moment if I do say so myself...

Okay, so I almost went into baby longing mode when I snapped myself out of it...Perhaps it was my looking due East at DSW when I realized how much money I just spent on a yet-to-make-her-debut-little-bundle-of-soon-to-be-designer-wearing fairy princess! REALITY CHECK: I have TWO 15 year old daughters so I know what little witches those cute, sweet, innocent baby girls can turn into…All of Mark's pain and suffering (BOTH TIMES...another story) seems all well worth it at the moment...

I HATE SHOPPING!!!!!!!!!

2008-02-21T12:11:00.003-05:00

Pick your jaw up from the floor...I hate shopping...for anyone BUT ME! Okay, and I only like to shoe shop for me (don't like to shop for clothes because of the girth at the moment...egads!) But still...how selfish I am, right? I am having to peel my rapidly expanding posterior region off of my office chair to go shop for (GASP!) someone else...like an unborn baby (she's going to be so sweet and she's registered at two stores)...I am going to a baby shower this evening and have lost track of time and realized this morning that I had gotten nothing for the party...and, GASP!, I have to go to a store that I have not been to in about 10 years or so...THANK GOD!

I think the trauma of receiving baby gifts for wedding gifts 15+ years ago marred me for life(okay, hold your horses there you all...Casey was born 10+ months after I was married)....Uh, my sister went into said Baby Store that I am visiting this afternoon (the "sister" store of the nightmare Toy Store that we parents have to brave every Christmas...I shudder to think of that)So, a few months after my wedding she goes into said baby shop and innocently said, "I am here to pick up some wedding gifts for my sister." Clerk's response? TOTAL SHOCK...in conservative Georgia mind you...Well, she was compelled to explain that I was married in early March and was delivering in late January...you do the math...And now I am wondering, why did both of my sisters not get my wedding gifts before my wedding???...hmmmm. I am thinking they inherited the procrastination gene like I did(hence my getting a gift the day of the baby shower)...

Back to MY story (It's all about me, right?)....Egads, all I remember is I got GREAT wedding gifts from the store (Pack-N-Play, etc.)....So now I have to go there again today and guess what? Thankfully I DON'T have anything to buy for myself....except if they have oversized clothes...which I can wear...for no reason except I just turned "middle-aged" (Nolan's terms) and the weight seems to be adhering itself around my mid-section like Velcro...

Off to shop (UGH!) ... There is a Target nearby though...hmmmm! Better yet...A HUGE OUTLET SHOE STORE...This shopping trip is taking a positive turn!!!

Forgot to tell you...

2008-02-20T22:42:00.004-05:00

Uh, the SHOE OF THE WEEK shoes were $19.99 (Dillards...marked down from a gajillion dollars...bought this with a cute, sassy pair of mules --- with zippers...I get teary-eyed -- both were HUGE bargains....) Almost passed them by but but the incredible SHOE MAGNET from the sky lured me in......You'll see the Zipper Mules soon...

Do you see the new picture below and my advice? I definitely "married up!"

My Kindred Spirit AND SHOE OF THE WEEK

2008-02-20T19:17:00.008-05:00

I have found someone who thinks like me, talks like me (in my brain...not out loud of course...I am a "lady" - okay friends, DO NOT LAUGH OUT LOUD) and is hilarious like me (well, I'd like to think that I am...my inner narcissist tells me I cause belly laughs with my quick wit...Okay, that's a bit over the top but I'd like to think it's true)...

Jen Lancaster (as in Amish Country or LANK-UH-STER as in just-down-the-road South Carolina...) - She is flippin' HILARIOUS...double over, fall off the chair, cough-inducing hysterical! I am reading (just started today) "Big Lights, Big Ass" (for all of you pull-up wearing "kids" go to bed...this is not G-rated!)...This is her follow up to "Bitter is the New Black" -- We have so many things in common...our love of Cabrini Green (the Chicago "hood" of "Good Times" fame...I got caught there one time...long story), great shoes, stores and clothes (Trader Joe's, Target, Prada...) AND making fun of ourselves...I seriously think that she is ME in Mid-western form....check out her website at www.jennsylvania.com. She calls herself "Governor of Jennsylvania" and my uncle was the Governor of Pennsylvania...coincidence? I THINK NOT! I so want to write a book like her...I've been laid off like her...Didn't make as much money as her but have had similar experiences, nonetheless...I can ramble aimlessly just like her...She's my age (ahem, in Nolan's words now "middle-aged"), she went to Purdue (I think the Boilermaker sweatshirt was the first college sweatshirt I had believe it or not - Pop got it on a business trip)...Her husband's nickname is "Fletch" -- I love that movie...memba it? Again, coincidence? I THINK NOT...Okay, I digress...

SHOE OF THE WEEK

So you're wondering about the Shoe of the Week (okay, humor me...pretend like you are wondering!) Well, it is SUPER relevant...Jen (we're on a first name basis.....in my mind) makes many references to the show "Sex and the City." (HELLO? I have SEC and the City on my blog - look right!) I have watched a few episodes before I had to have the premium cable package cancelled during my single mom days...the ex told me how hilarious the show was...hey, wait a minute! He had the premium package and I couldn't afford it? How did that happen??????...No comment...again, I digress! Well, Mark and I went to NYC on our First Anniversary...LOVED every minute of being in the city. I rejected his advice to wear the "sensible" (aka - ugly-ass MOM shoes)walking around the city - I was going to be Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and whatshername all in one....I wore these shoes instead and felt like the fierce diva...until we hit Central Park...and I had HUGE, BILLOWING, QUARTER-SIZED blisters on the back of my heels...had to stop in a drug store and perch my BIG ASS (reference to the book) inside a stoop to put band-aids on my heels...and proceeded to wobble around the City (in agony) until we reached Times Square and could stand it no longer...I bought (GASP)HOT PINK DR. SCHOLL'S SHOES...they weren't the epitome of fashion but my arches got their proper work-out...And, I ended up having to wear liquid band-aids and my strappy sandals to "The Lion King"....

What I remember the most from this experience is asking Mark why the ladies on Sex in the City could wear 4-inch heels and not experience the excruciating pain and blisters that I had...His response? "Mary....they take cabs!" Go figure!

If the shoe fits, wear it! Have a great week!

PS - Be sure to check out SEC and the City....(again, right side of the page)...Pop is a "ROCK STAR"!

Great Quote AND SHOE OF THE WEEK!

2008-02-16T17:15:00.010-05:00

I hope everyone had a great Valentines Day! Ours was busy getting the kiddos ready to travel to Iowa via St. Louis! Here's a great quote from my wonderful shoe calendar (love it!)

"Stilettos - not combat trousers and pierced tongues - are a real source of girl power." === Lesley Thomas, English essayist (Love you Lesley!)

Never understood the tongue piercing thing! Can't imagine that would feel good at all...I get nauseated when I burn my tongue...Or you know when you get one of those canker sores on your tongue? EW! I can only imagine that a tongue piercing would be much worse...Double EW!

I love the "Shoe of the Week!" Super sassy, metallic with houndstooth...Can't you see these paired with some adorable walking shorts, a cinched waist short trench jacket and fitted tank? Well, I can! Paid just $12.99 at T.J. Maxx for these adorable, chic, timeless shoes! I am telling you, bargains can be found if you just have the time to dig, I mean, look! To me, these say classy!

Life is short, buy the shoes! (Especially the ones on sale!)

SHOE OF THE WEEK!

2008-02-07T19:05:00.000-05:00

This pictures captures my two favorite things -- Shoes and my beloved Bulldawgs!I call this "Bulldawg and Red Boots..."quite creative, I think. These boots are Donald J. Pliner boots (love him!) Notice the heels...they are actually a wedge but give the illusion of actually being heels! Optical illusion - How clever, don't you think? Love these...Paid a bit more for them than usual but saved close to $100 when I spotted them in another online store...I love Bluefly.com (oh yeah, got a sassy orange sweater cape thing with it...BCBG and got it for a bargain too)...In the words of David Bowie, with these sassy little numbers, I can "Put on (my) red shoes and dance the blues..." (Remember "Let's Dance?" You don't?...uh, put well then pull on your pull-ups, grab your blankie and go to bed, you are up past your bedtime!).....

What about Romney's announcement today? Hmmmm....discuss amongst yourselves...I haven't decided who I am voting for...waiting to see their head to toe shots to look at their shoes - they are windows into their soul (and policies) I am sure...

You can't have too many shoes or purses or too much love for the Dawgs! Enjoy the weekend!

Counting Sheep...I mean Shoes....

2008-02-02T22:48:00.000-05:00

I'm back up to 119 pair of fabulous, irresistable shoes.... (I think!)....I am going to down-size soon...stay tuned!

Shoe-d for Thought

2008-02-02T19:01:00.001-05:00

Stumbled across some great shoe quotes last month (and this one too!) thanks to the fabulous calendar I got for CHRISTMAS! So here goes... (and be prepared to have many thought provoking, awe-inspiring words of wisdom grace this blog in the future!)...

"A woman's favorite pair of shoes is not merely an accessory but actually a window into her soul." --- Meghan Cleary, The Perfect Fit (love the book - got it for my birthday too...again, check out her website - http://www.missmeghan.com/!)
Hmmmm.....What do my shoes say about my soul?...okay, my soul is fierce, sassy and ready to take on the world! Snap, snap! (I am channeling the over-the-top fashion world right now!)

"I still have my feet on the ground. I just wear better shoes." --- Oprah Winfrey ("I've still got my feet headed for welfare but my feet will look smokin' standing in line." --- Mary McClane, February 2008)

"Oh both my shoes are shiny and new, and pristine is my hat, my dress is 1922...my life is all like that." --- Dorothy Parker (The girl must've been fierce...hat and all!)

"Nothing has been invented yet that will do a better job than high heels at making a good pair of legs look great, or great ones look fabulous." --- Stuart Weitzman (Uh, what about a bad pair of legs???...Let me answer that....if nothing else, they do wonders for my psyche!)

AND FINALLY......

"If shoes don't hurt, they don't have style." --- Erma Bombeck (MY HERO!) Is she not right? Remember what Billy Crystal of "You look MAH-velous fame" used to say, "It doesn't matter how you feel just as long as you look good...." Pain comes with the territory...Stuffing my swollen feet into a pair of abnormally narrow, pointy-toed shoes always brings a slew of compliments so it is well worth it! If I go to bed with throbbing feet, life is good!

Life is short, buy the shoes!

PS - I did buy the shoes today... I tried them on and then put them on another rack...I told Casey if they were there when we headed out of the mall after additional shopping, they were meant to be...Well, obviously they were! Asked for the mate to the shoe...waited, and waited, and waited...then, I told Casey if the clerk couldn't find the mate, they weren't meant to be....Well, the clerk found the mate and SOLD, they were mine....Get this -- Steve Madden shoes...$89.99 marked down to $25.97...When rung up at the register...$20! As I said, life is not only short but it is good right now!

Shoe of the Week

2008-01-24T14:52:00.000-05:00

Had to post this one as I felt with all of the inclement weather lately, these shoes are very appropriate...These are my Timberland boots (not Timbaland of "The Way I Are" fame...English teachers across the country shudder at the title!) Back to the shoes...Mark bought them for me while on a ski trip, Christmas of 2002. Love these boots (even though they don't have my usual heel on them...NOTE TO SELF: must develop a cute ski/snow boot with a heel)...Everytime I see them, I think of how much fun we had on the trip - including my taking off my skis and walking down a HUGE slope because I got freaked out by the height and the speed at which I was traveling downward (this was after I had brushed myself off from falling face first - massive face plant - off of the ski lift). After Mark stopped laughing, he eventually helped me....NICE!

P.S. Do you notice something in the background? Uh, that would be a Georgia flag! GO DAWGS

Just Ran Across this Shoe Stat! Can You Believe This?

2008-01-24T14:45:00.000-05:00

Just logged on to a FABULOUS website of another shoe loving gal Meghan Leary (host of HSN's "Shoe Therapy")...www.missmeghan.com. You MUST get her book "The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say About You" (Thanks to Terri for that wondeful gift!)

Okay, now I am flabbergasted!

A poll of 1,057 women by the Consumer Reports National Research Center for shopping magazine ShopSmart found U.S. women on average own 19 pairs of shoes although they only wear four pairs regularly while 15 percent have over 30 pairs.

Only 15% have over 30 pairs of shoes? What? I wonder how many have more than 50? 75? 100?

What is this world coming too?...Life is short, buy the shoes in every color!

I'm BACK...I think!

2008-01-22T19:39:00.000-05:00

It's been long enough...I have been out of blog commission since November 16th and since then, Blogger has added Arabic, Persian and Hebrew to its reportoire of languages! Hard to believe I didn't see that one coming...Just saw where I started an entry on Decemeber 16th but didn't finish it - why, I don't know...Perhaps it's because January 22, 2008, seemed like the best day for my return!

So, I hit a milestone birthday in December and perhaps that is what precipitated the abrupt halt to the blog...I felt a tinge of arthritis kicking in! Or it could be my ever-expanding girth making it difficult to get to the computer...I haven't exercised in almost three months! YIKES! But get this, the "BIG ONE" was a shoe filled fest! Friends and family came bearing gift certificates to Off Broadway Shoes (got the most fabulous JLo leopard print/hot pink boots - they are fierce) and Zappos gift certificates AND I received two pair of designer shoes from the hubby - Plus my friend also got me the most adorable book about shoes (and shoe "signs/moons," somewhat of a zapata Zodiac spin on things) AND hair...did I tell you about hair? I got a gift certificate to Carmen Carmen AND went to visit my man Max Varji at Varji Varji Salon...compliments of Mimi and Pop...got my hair cut, my color and highlights done and an eyebrow wax...The price was comparable to the GDP of a developing country...outrageous but fabulous! All of my cards had a shoe theme...And I have to tell you about one of them ...

The front of the card has two old ladies walking down the street with bags in their hands. The one lady says, "To stay young, the doctor said to exercise and eat the right foods." The other lady shouts, "What?!" Then you open the card and she follows with, "I though he said ACCESSORIZE and BUY NICE SHOES!" HA! Now that's my kind of card...

Well, Shoe of the Week will start up again, Georgia updates too -- uh, HOW BOUT THEM #2 DAWGS? Suhweeeeeeet! Nolan is still talking about the "Black Out" at the Auburn game this year -- we were there, just the two of us, and screamed so much we were hoarse! The Fall of 2008 football season is shaping up to be a really great one....And, we just celebrated Nolan's 10th birthday, complete with a cake with pictures of UGA, Hairy Dawg, Mark Richt holding the Sugar Bowl trophy AND Knowshon Moreno served on bulldawg plates, with bulldawg napkins and soda in bulldawg cups surrounded by red and black balloons AND a UGA Locker Room sign....Did you ever doubt we are rabid Dawg fans?

Well gotta go! Nolan is making his pinewood derby car - I'll bet you can't guess what two colors he chose for his car...OH YEAH...the bulldawg mobile is going to be racing this Saturday! GO DAWGS!

PS -- And my friend bought me a shoe calendar for Christmas! Every day I get to view gorgeous shoes and quotes, etc....Now that is my kind of calendar!

Flashback to High School...He Was Singing to ME!

2007-11-16T14:56:00.000-05:00

Last night, I was catapulted back into the 1980s and high school (and before) as I attended "The Police" concert...my absolute FAVORITE band in high school (along with U2). I was firmly convinced I would marry Sting (Uh, he wrote "Don't Stand So Close to Me" about me, right? I was in high school...). I just couldn't quite figure out how to get rid of the wife...

Fast forward to November 15, 2007, Charlotte, North Carolina, and even though he had the flu the night before in Philly and they had to cancel his, I mean their show, the show went on for me. I know he was singing to me (my friend Debbie told me so...She kept hearing him slip "Mary Mac" into the lyrics - I have a tendency to believe her). And wow! What a performance..."Wrapped Around Your Finger"... again, to me! The entire set -- sung to me, it was!

Then, with the encore (they had TWO - one with 4 songs and then a final song), I felt compelled to stand up as they belted out "Roxanne!" My Mark and Debbie stood up with me...I did become a little verklempt for a moment several times during the show but Roxanne was particularly moving...(okay, so it's theme is a bit shady but it is a CLASSIC -- remember Eddie Murphy? I rest my case)...They were incredible.

Sting looked absolutely amazing with a capital "Zing." Mark kept reminding me he was there (for moral support of course)...Wow, Sting was....well, WOW!...Did I tell you he sang to me?

Oh, I did wear some sassy low cut black boots with jewel embellishments on the side...Very fun shoes! And, look for Shoe of the Week (it's late but I had to emotionally prepare for my face to big screen meeting with Sting....) and my update on the FANTASTIC trip to Athens last week when my Dawgs kicked some Auburn Tiger tail!

Did I mention, he sang to me last night?

SHOE OF THE WEEK - Let's Get Sappy Y'all!

2007-11-07T22:47:00.000-05:00

This week has been a good one...relatively speaking...Despite prepping for a colonoscopy...Takes the saying "Smooth move exlax" to a whole other level...I digress! Fabulous results - I passed with flying colors without even studying...yeah! Still on the every three year plan but much better than last go round...=)!

And, Pop is doing GREAT...like he would do otherwise, right? Will be out of the hospital tomorrow likely kicking his heels up of his fancy schmancy SAS shoes...! Okay, he doesn't get Donald J. Pliner or Stuart Weitzman or Marc Jacobs....He does understand Florsheim and Bostonians and yes, SAS shoes now....I think he still has his "Ground Casey's" (his version of the Air Jordans)....Okay, in his grogginess after surgery yesterday, he insisted Mark and I take the tickets for UGA v. Auburn - he can't stand the thought of two great tickets going to waste...He reiterated that sentiment today when he was totally lucid...What is a Dawg fan to do? (besides convincing her husband that we are not taking advantage of the situation!)

So in celebration of our good fortune and great medical results this week, I have to get all sappy on you....Shoe of the Week...my wedding shoes (along with all of the beautiful hair do-dads...now that sounds classy!) And you can see our picture too - I am also very grateful for having such a wonderful husband...he could cut down on the snoring (and flatulence) at night but other than that, he's darn near perfect! (I am pretty sure he doesn't read the blog so no worries about him being mortified!)

I love these shoes, love the hair do-dads and loved the day! Okay, next week, no sappiness!

THE BULLDAWG NATION ROCKS! And "Hats Off!" to Other Teams!

2007-11-06T15:03:00.000-05:00

I got so verklempt last week after the UGA/Florida game -- I couldn't talk about it I was sooooo thrilled at the trouncing --- pummeling ---- and sheer dominance that was displayed -- the gridiron will never be the same....The Dawgs came, they saw and they cut off that Gator tail! Did you see the bench-clearing first touch down? NOW THAT is what I am talking about sistas (and brothas too)...FINALLY, we stood up proudly and laid claim on the field in front of Dawg fans, Gator fans and the city of Jacksonville...Urban ( I prefer to call him "RURAL" - at UF, they have a tendency to be a little backwards....) Meyer we had your number and guess what, if you think this is just a one time thing, uh, think again..

Troy gave us a challenge last weekend but you have to remember -- they have not lost a game in their division and had the same record as us as well...And, by the way, they played Arkansas, Florida and Oklahoma State and they BEAT Oklahoma State handily by a score of 41-23...

And hats off to the Tennessee Volunteers AND the Arkansas Razorbacks (don't gasp)....They showed those University of Sorry Chickens and the SS who was boss...Notice he no longer dons the sunvisor...I think it has FINALLY dawned on him that at night, the sun does not shine...hello?

AND the Crimson Tide lost a hard hitting game to those LSU Tigers...last weekend, the luckiest team in college football...they can breathe a sigh of relief but those Elephants shouldn't get their trunks out of joint...they were the better team on the field on Saturday!

And how bout them Noles? Great game -- loved to see them knock off Boston College from their overinflated rating of #2 in the country...Did you see the BC fans? They were stunned....Not me...I predicted it and salute Bobby Bowden and his team for showing up, playing hard and cleaning some BC clock....

I LOVE COLLEGE FOOTBALL! I LOVE SHOES!
Go Dawgs, Go Shoes, Peace out! (okay, now that I am rapidly approaching a milestone age, I feel compelled to get in touch with my "cool" side...somehow...I don't....think ....it's working....)

Let's try it again - Go Dawgs, Go Shoes, Ciao y'all! (that's more like it!)

Halloween Soiree and the Aftermath...

2007-11-01T16:38:00.000-04:00

Okay, first off...I wore GREAT boots last night...Donald J. Pliner boots...I think I told you about these -- outrageously expensive originally...$29.99 in Asheville...black with reflective silver stripes down the side, pointy toes...to die for! And, I wore my shirt that said "Witchy" on it...Casey's response, "Oh, how appropriate." Nice there missy, well, I oughta..... I did have a witches hat adorned with feathers and silver (to match my shoes, hello?) AND a broom stick with flowing silver "bristles"... LOVED IT....

And our cul-de-sac party/candy distribution soiree...MORE food than a whole army could eat...I alone brought 4 pounds of shrimp (with dip), a HUGE crock pot of Lil' Smokies, Egg Rolls (with dip), Vegetable Crudite and 5 dozen cookies...We had food galore! Don't get me started on the "tiff" about giving away food .... Let's just say, when I make lots of food, I want anyone and everyone to enjoy it...END OF STORY...

Pedro, I mean Nolan, was hysterical and so "on" last night...When asked where his Tater Tots were, he promptly corrected the person and said, "Uh, Napoleon carries Tater Tots. If I had anything, it would be a cake." Not seen the movie? You don't understand ... this is totally out in left field. For those Napoleon officianados...you so get this!

And, I discovered neighbors (okay they live around the corner in another cul-de-sac) who ALSO love "The Office" AND SEC Football...And, they are moving...Darn....Kindred spirits, we discover one another and then poof, they're gone...

Casey was a cat...an alley cat nonetheless but a cat...Jessa was what I would classify as a street walker...WAS supposed to be a witch and then decided to don a halter dress with 4 inch heels - before I could catch her going out the door...I probably could've gotten her but figured she'd break a leg before she got down the the bottom of the hill on our walking trail...NICE...But, before they left, her "friend" -- was fighting for the mirror as he had spiked his hair and wanted to catch a glimpse....can you say, prima donna (is there a word for a male prima donna?)... Priceless moment...male species fighting over the mirror with a female species...I probably should've contacted CNN....Devon went as Devon with his girlfriend attached at his hip...Was amusing as he took her home and came back -- the monsterous thump of bass and rock music was heard throughout the cul-de-sac, pulsing from the mini-van...the mini-van...Let me say it again...the mini-van...Does that constitute an oxymoron? Cool rock music and a mini-van? Talk amongst yourselves!

SHOE OF THE WEEK - Totally Random

2007-11-01T16:00:00.001-04:00

There is no reason that I selected these shoes for my blog...Just like them, LOVE the shot (thanks Karen) and hey, the are Harley Davidson boots (it's ridin' weather, y'all)...Why do I have these boots? Well, I have Lucky Magazine's book "The Lucky Shopping Manual." One of the editors, Andrea Linnett, had these cool beat up biker boots that she wears everywhere and she features in the book...Well, attempting to be fashion forward, I bought these boots...And, they are sweet....AND they were on sale on zappos.com. Wish I had these boots when I really rode a Harley....There's nothing like riding a Harley - I really do wish I had one...Sorry mom! Back to shoes...I wear these when I saddle up for a trail ride, hike cross country or lounge sleepily atop my Chevy truck...oh, sorry, that's a sappy commercial...I just really like these boots and must find opportunities to wear them more often...They could become one of my signature pieces, right?

HAD to share!

2007-10-31T12:26:00.001-04:00

Saw a great quote today and just had to share:

"All I want is peace on earth and really cute shoes."

Stop and ponder....Is that not profound?

Brought a huge lump to my throat...someone understands how I feel...It's quite overwhelming...We are kindred spirits...Unfortunately, the quote was unattributed...So I am calling out to you, you enlightened peace loving shoe maven! Please contact me, wherever you are....I think we were separated at birth...

This week...SUHWEET! But need more time to talk about my DAWGS - We took a big stilhetto...okay not really...we took a cleat - functionable yet fashionable - (how's that?) to some Gator hide this weekend...oh and, Nation Ford High School Band ROCKS (I have embraced my inner-band geek), SHOE OF THE WEEK and loads of other happenings around my somewhat mundane (HA!) life...

AND - Happy Halloween to everyone! Of course I will be wearing some sassy shoes tonight for our annual cul-de-sac candy distribution party...Lots of great food, laughs and of course, candy distribution going on! Nolan is going as "Pedro" from Napoleon Dynamite - moustache, bolo tie and all...Did a costume test run last night for an event at the high school and I almost collapsed from laughing so hard...The wig was itchy but the boy stuck it out! I am not seeing a moustache in his future - too much work, he said! HA! Jessa and Casey are going to a party as a witch and cat (screetching MEOW!)...So in character - not a stretch for them whatsoever...Devon, is uh....Well, it's his 18th birthday so I think he is being himself - a typical 18 year old boy, completely defiant, is ticked that he is driving his dad's van because his car is in the shop and thinks that french fries are a vegetable....Frosty's are made of milk so they are dairy, right? Should be very pleasant to be around tonight, I am sure...

More later...

"Life is short...Buy the shoes!"

THE OFFICE...."THE" Show...

2007-10-24T22:51:00.000-04:00

I may have mentioned before that I love this show but just in case I haven't -- I LOVE "THE OFFICE!" It's set in my birthplace, Scranton, PA...Coincidence? I think not...Everyone in and from Scranton is HILARIOUS...I may be the one exception....And, the show mirrors my entire corporate experience and is absolutely hysterical...I know people from Scranton who so fit the characters too...Check out the website AND, GET THIS...THIS Friday, they are having an Office Party in...you guessed it, Scranton! Al Roker will be there amongst other celebs...Am wondering if my cousins and Aunt will make an appearance...=)! I so wish I had a ticket to be there...Who could not laugh at Dwight Shrute and Michael Scott?...This show is truly is a sitcom masterpiece...okay, I am biting my lip and getting verklempt...I...truly....love....this...show...

http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/

PS - "My Name is Earl" is HYSTERICAL too... Watch it! The season is over but "Rock of Love" also rocked...well, not in the same space as "The Office" or "My Name is Earl" -- okay, it was entertaining in a "Can you believe these people exist?" sordid kind of way. I have started watching the "I Love New York II" sequel (and "The Hills")....Is there hope for me? I view it as a social experiment for me in the (again) "Can you believe these people exist?" kind of way. Okay...these shows are very entertaining too...Is there hope for me?

SHOE(S) OF THE WEEK....

2007-10-23T13:39:00.000-04:00

Enjoy the Parade of Shoes...113 pair in all (actually, I have misplaced a couple of pair so the number would be larger...I am thinking the extra shoes are in the attic, maybe?)

Uh, can you see why the neighbors think I am crazy? Although, the one redeeming thing for us? No crossbar hotel action here with our kids...although just give it time...Dear Lord, let's hope not!

Do People Normally Get Taken to the Pokey After a Tupperware Party?

2007-10-22T12:07:00.000-04:00

Apparently at my Tupperware Party's they do...I know what you are thinking...one of the rowdy attendees got mad because she was not allowed to "burp" the super-duper-ultra-super-duper mixing bowl with a lid and clocked the consultant...Sorry to disappoint...Let me clarify...

So, most of the guests had left and the consultant was packing up her things to leave after a successful party (YAY!) Well, during the party, I had heard chattering from several attendees about a strange person sitting in the middle of our cul-de-sac on Saturday afternoon (we were gone all day)...well, low and behold, said strange man - actually "boy" (covered in tattoos) was sitting smack dab in the middle of our cul-de-sac after the party, a few beer bottles at his side, whittling a piece of wood...NICE! I am sure that was well received by my attendees...do I live in a neighborhood or "THE" hood? You make the call...

Hmmmm...well, after several attempts to lure him from the street (whose idea was that ladies? Not mine but I tried...) Whitling knife in hand, probably not our greatest "Einstein" moment...But, I must say, I was very close to getting him to go home (which by the way is the home of his mother's boyfriend a few doors down from our house...) When I asked him his name, he told me, "Able." Hmmmm - reference to Cain and Able, maybe? Not his name by the way...He did tell me he was heading to California on December 22...the significance of the date...not quite sure.... Well, the cops were called while "Cul-de-sac Chair Boy" was in using the facilities...I spoke with Fort Mill's finest and told them where he went and long story short, the whitling fiend/tattoo officianado was (HANDCUFFED - I couldn't have staged this if I tried) placed in the back of the law's cruiser and headed for the cross-bar hotel... My guess is a certain variety of cannibas was found in his room (enough to harvest is my guess)...or the party vile...hmmm, hard to tell...both would not surprise me!

Did I tell you we were observing the whole human experiment on our soccer chairs, in the front yard sipping from the Waterford Crystal?...I always know how to throw a classy soiree. And, I was wearing some very sassy zebra print shoes...first time worn, but not the last...

Can't wait to find out what I qualified for after my party...Gotta love Tupperware...I wonder if they make burpable shoe boxes...Am curious to see if they have come out with a UGA-line too...
Go shoes! Go Dawgs! Go really fancy cake holder doo-dads!

PS - Before I forget - I must give a shout out to my hubby for making some great food too -- in addition to the Pineapple Upside-down cake that Victoria made in 12 minutes in the microwave (yes, bite your lip - brings a tear to your eye -- it was fantastic!), Mark made mini pitas filled with homemade chicken salad, homemade hummus with pita slices, vegetable crudite, shrimp, egg rolls and mini tacos...Muy bueno mi amor! And guess what the napkins had on them??? I'll keep you guessing...(hint: They were sassy!)

Is my life REALLY real? No one could make this up, do you think? Talk amongst yourselves...

CHECK IT OUT...SEC AND THE CITY

2007-10-21T01:51:00.001-04:00

Check out SEC and the City...On the right side of the blog! ENJOY and GO DAWGS!

NEWSFLASH: Astonishing News Just Revealed

2007-10-18T19:52:00.000-04:00

You are the first to hear it...I have found out I have a long lost son who is being raised just minutes from my house by two very loving parents (and he has a younger brother). "Nate" as he is called is a wonderfully talented child (what would you expect?) and excels at just about everything. He is a senior in high school (like Devon) and has just gotten his driver's license...and get this....He just got a job TODAY at....of all places....Off Broadway Shoes...It brings a tear to a mother's eyes...The family discount I will get makes a lump well in my throat...

Okay, so he's not my son...he could learn to be. Photographer extraordinaire and admitted-only-owns-five-pair-of-shoes-but-wants-to-be-a-shoe lover (ha!) Karen's son just got a job at the shoe mecca...I am torn between euphoria for her (FINALLY - HE GOT A JOB) and sheer agony (WHY, WENDY'S DEVON, WHY?) Think of the discounts just waiting to be taken but going by the wayside...This travesty mustn't happen...Karen, you MUST begin to love shoes or turn over custody of Nate to me for the brief moments my feet hit OBS (until I get the discount!) and then, he's your son again...okay, don't be looking for any child support now...

Does he realize what a sweet job he has? .... shoe discounts, shoes, purses (okay, that's a stretch) -- ah that is the life...At least he doesn't have to wear a uniform, smell like Bacon Cheeseburgers and Biggie fries and wear a visor like Steve Spurrier. We don't even get a free Frostie out of the deal. WHY DEVON WHY?

Good luck Nate! Your loving mom MARY (that's M-A-R-Y)

Shoe of the Week: Where Urban Meets the Jungle

2007-10-17T12:04:00.000-04:00

Photo by: Karen "She's gonna learn to love shoes" Paulson

Can you believe it? Shoe of the Week is finally here!

Get the title? - The urban (the manhole and the modern design of the shoes) and the jungle (the vines and the animal print ON the shoes)...okay, maybe it's a stretch but I like the sound of it. The story behind these shoes: They are the favorite in my collection! Number one out of 113 pair! (Okay, that is beween 947 and 2,587 pair less than Imelda Marcos, thank you very much) These Antonio Melani shoes are made of real animal hair (sorry PETA) and were originally $139.99. I picked them up for a sweet bargain of $29.99 at Dillards. Why the price reduction on these shoes? Who has the guts to wear them? UH, that would be ME! Everywhere I go, I get compliments on these shoes (perhaps people do that because they are scared what I might do to them - uh, only someone with outrageous taste would wear these glorious boots). These shoes are insane(ly wonderful!) The only thing that would make them even more glorious would be if they were RED and black...Are you listening Antonio Melani? Go Dawgs! Life's short - Enjoy the shoes!

My life - sitcom or tragedy (you decide) and other stuff (like shoes...I am getting verklempt)

2007-10-14T21:33:00.000-04:00

So I spend most of the morning yesterday dodging right and left verbal uppercuts from a triad of ungrateful ingrates (okay, can you tell I have not slept in a while?) But I like that phrase...triad of ungrateful ingrates...NOTE TO SELF: Copyright this phrase... Then, I spend 1 1/2 blistering hours gathering up Scout stuff and camping stuff and stuff stuff for an overnight Cub Scout campout that (darn ! It was supposed to be in the upper 30s last night) I can't attend because I have to be home with our teenagers (uh, this is a sincere DARN).

Luckily, (sincere DARN) I was able to go out and do some activities with the Cub Scouts, Mark and the other parents. Fishing, cooking and lots of laughs and learning with the boys. I got a chance to reminisce about actually catching a tree with my fishing line and literally reeling a boat...maybe not so much a boat, more of a canoe with a motor...into the shore...It really was nice...So, I got home with smoke filled, but nicely straightened hair if I do say so myself. SIDE BAR: Okay, I did it on my own without Mark's help...I mean without my hairdresser's help or was it my girlfriend's help or?...okay, most of you know it already...My husband USUALLY straightens my hair...I am weaning myself from that and branching out on my own and doing pretty darn good at it too - at least so I think, well maybe...I digress.

So then, I know I have a party to go to sans Mark in the neighborhood (Thank God it was in the neighborhood, because Devon's car is kaput, Mark had the Suburban, Devon had the van and I had two feet that were made for walking)...FORGOT, that I had no mode of transportation to get something to bring to the party...So while staring at mounds of Ramen noodle packages (that is SOOO college party hors d'oeuvres, but hey, we are all still young - why not channel our youth, right?)...I found a bag of tortilla chips, salsa in the fridge (I combined several jars in a tupperware container to make it appear to be homemade - sorry Kelly!) AND boiled a pound (just one pound - egads) of shrimp with Old Bay seasoning (I did have to call Mark at the camp site to get directions on how to make this) ... NOTE TO SELF: Mark is not allowed to attend any events when there is an important party going on...He's the chef de jour -- uh, that's every day by the way -- I would have had loads of stuff to bring had he been here to actually "cook and run" ...Although, perhaps that is okay. I would've literally needed a pack mule to haul our usual party foods....

Back to me...I proceeded to get ready and walk the oh 1/4 mile or so to the party donning my black leather biker jacket with zippers (Oh, it has such ZIP - I LOVE IT!) and Michael Kors (okay, I am welling up with tears) beautiful, animal hair clogs...2nd time they have been worn....okay, didn't actually wear the clogs while walking...in a true show of class and intelligence, I carried said clogs in my right hand, while donning a Harris Teeter bag filled with my contribution to the party AND...get this, a SUH-WHEAT turquoise suede and black leather, grommet studded kidney shaped/oblong purse...

When I arrived at the door...oh wait, I have to tell you about these clogs....$290 originally (as I recall)...HUGE sale at Belk in South Park and the shoes are marked down...WAY DOWN....so, again, these are Michael Kors shoes (I am hyperventilating a bit)....Got the register and the salesclerk charges me $10.90...you heard it...$10.90 for the MK shoes...OMG...well, I thought they were more but didn't say anything (but many Hail Marys to assuage the guilt knowing I should've been charged more)...well, we got the shoes home, they should have charged me $49.99 for the shoes...STILL, I would've paid that for the shoes...they are so sassy....I've overpaid for many items in that store so I have done my penence...right? Work with me...back to story....

Okay, with bare feet, I arrived at my destination and promptly dropped the shoes, slid my feet in and rang the doorbell...The crowd was so impressed that I walked all that way in my Michael Kors shoes, with food, my sassy purse and didn't break a sweat (RIGHT, CROWD?) Okay, I was sweaty, flustered and walked in and no one was there but heard the constant drone of Corn Hole going on so I knew that at least THIS time, I didn't get the party date wrong -- I was a bit confused by either the Memorial Day, Labor Day or Love Your Neighbor Day party that goes on each year...Planned to show up the following day (oops?) Well, everyone was out on the deck when I arrived (save the Cornhole junkies!)... It was awesome (of course, I showed everyone my shoes...)

Oh, rewind a bit to earlier in the evening....while I was deciding what shoes I would wear to the party (was actually looking for some FABULOUS animal print ankle boot numbers - I think they may be my favorite pair of shoes ever)...I get a call...I note the time, it is after 8 p.m. I am thinking Kelly, "Party Host Extraordinaire" is calling to see where the heck I am...No, it's Cynthia, Miss"Other Party Host Extraordinaire/Shoe Lover/TN VOLUNTEER - Bleeds Orange"....the first words out of her mouth...."Mary, just wanted to make sure you did not need to be on suicide watch." I am thinking, "She caught my vibe...I can't find my favorite, gasp, pair of shoes EVER..." I have loads of shoes under the bed and simply did not have enough time to go through them all...Thank GOD for Michael Kors...Then, I hung up, grabbed the stash and started trodding my way uphill (both ways) to the party....it suddenly dawned on me, "OOOOOOHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOO! Mr. Bill!" Okay, not really....any of you who do not "get" THIS reference need to grab those pull-ups, the blankie and GO TO BED...AGAIN, you are toooo young to get this whole shoedawgshoe thing! Back to reality -- I really said, "OOOOOOOHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! The Dawgs are losing...to Vandy....that would be Vanderbilt....that would be depressing...." The whole night, I thought the Dawgs had met their demise (along with LSU - versus Kentucky -- ...in 3 overtimes...) But I kept my red-and-black- bleeding, SUH-WHEAT- leather- biker- jacket-wearing, Michael Kors shoes donning-head held high...

Fast forward, so I trod home merrily (really!), supporting my Bulldawg Nation to the hilt and finally lay my head down and wake up to a phone call at 4:30 a.m.....Devon wanting to spend the night at a friend's house...after figuring out the ploy at that early a time in the morning - I called him back THREE times and he finally got his rear end home....

I head to the Cub Scout campsite this morning with the bad news....And, Nolan was sooooo down....couldn't understand HOW we could lose to Vandy...I was dragging my bulldawg tail too today...UNTIL....Mimi and Pop called and long story short, informed us that the DAWGS pulled it out...no time left....kicked a field goal....it was up.....it was GOOOOOOOOOOD! 20-17 win...It was "OUTSTANDING!" as Mark put it...well, the Bulldawg Nation is very happy tonight (especially the one that resides in Fort Mill, South Carolina)....and when I found out the news...was donning some sweet Indian beaded flip-flops - Does my ignorance make me a bad fan? .... Talk amongst yourselves!

Shoes, victory...both are a great thing!

Okay, so am I a Valley Girl or what? Boys fashion (or lack thereof) AND just a college football observation

2007-10-13T19:04:00.001-04:00

Okay, so I was just reading some of my blog entries and realize I say "okay" a lot...Does that make me a person aspiring to be a Valley Girl or what? Do you remember Valley Girls? If you don't, you are way too young to be reading this blog, so go put on your pullups, grab the blankie and go to bed - it's past your bedtime...OMG I think I am one. I did have the Valley Girl handbook and perhaps some of the sayings are indelibly etched in my mind...that's such a groddy thought though, totally...

Okay (see there I go again...) so it was Fall Festival today at Nolan's school ... AND, I did my civic duty -- Okay, (again, ugh!) Mark and I did beyond the civic duty -- got accosted by a lady (that's a stretch) whose kid lost his ride punch card -- uh, is it my fault your kid, oh, how should I put this delicately for those pull-up wearing people who don't remember Valley Girls? --okay, so lady (again, I use that term loosely) maybe he has his head up a certain posterior area? I knew the kid in preschool -- to say he was clueless is a complete compliment...Mark found the card though and not a thank you was given to him whatsoever...I am hoping she is at home now trying to pull her son's head and her own out of said posterior region...

Then, (I didn't say Okay! woo hoo!) a loving grandmother proceeded to put her 2 year old (or younger) child on the inflatable "ride..." okay, mind you, this had a probably 8 foot climbing wall with an equally long slide...she was by herself...I must get grandma with irate mom and perhaps they both can assist one another in getting their heads out of their tushies...Back to story...Well the child, DUH????, got scared halfway up the wall (heck, I'd be bugging out at 18-inches above the bounciness) and proceeded to climb down. I held her hand and brought her to the end of the "ride" to meet her grandmother and her mom...I told them what happened and they gasped, "She was scared?" Okay add this mom to the head extraction process...Uh, yes she was -- DUH?! Well, grandma turned to me and said, "Well, do I get my punch back since she didn't go through the ride?" Okay, look lady...the flippin' sign said 6 punches for the ride...I punched the card once saving your butt some money...Luckily, Mark (not in a stellar mood today by the way) turned around to her and said, "Okay (he gets that from me) uh, you want a punch back?...let me see if I can find one of the fraction of an inch pieces of paper and we will super glue it on for you." To which the mom promptly answered, "Don't worry about it..." I am with Nancy S. ...Miss Blue Hair was trying to work the Florida chard angle and we just weren't going for it...Did I tell you we worked the ride for more than 1 1/2 hours?...we were supposed to be there 45 minutes - our replacements never showed up...I am thinking they observed the ribbings we got from 2 moms and grandma and said, "No thanks!" NOTE TO SELF: DO NOT volunteer to "man" a booth at Fall Festival unless you are prepared to bring out the super, duper head vices to surgically remove craniums from gluteal regions...By the way, Nancy and Larry...LOVED prolonging your ticket agony by only charging your kids one punch per ride - I think I may have let them go through free too (evil laugh)...I went through ticket agony with my kids and loved sharing the joy with you!

So Nolan goes to the Fall Festival too...we come home and I realized the kid (who also wears two different socks to school) has his shirt on backwards (you can see the "tag" through his shirt)...I said, "NOLAN...HONEY...you have your shirt on backwards and everyone is able to tell that." To which he promptly replies to me, "Mom, only you, Stacy and Clinton ("What Not to Wear") would notice that."...I had no rebuttal. I think he might be right...Do you think he watches too much TV or observes fashion, shoes, etc., too much ? (wish he would pick up some clues)...SIDE BAR: He know how to polish shoes -- uh, what? Casey had to polish her ugh-lee band shoes today...oh y'all ugly can't even describe them -- they make orthopedic shoes look hot...Nolan knew what to do from observing the shoe shine shops at the airports...He has always said he wanted to be a pilot but do you think he likes airports because he likes to watch shoes being shined?...talk amongst yourselves...

I am happy to report that I do believe (thankfully) UGA has a seating arrangement for its players on the sidelines during football season...Unlike a certain team which will remain unnamed because they were the TOP party school (UGA was second) this year...I have got to look out for those upstanding schools espousing comeraderie amongst its students...Well, at unmentioned school, Mr. Dingle and Mr. Berry were photographed next to one another on the bench...hmmmm...But UGA does have a building that is called the "Butts-Meher (pronounced MEER)" building...say it fast. Not pretty...So I guess I can't rest on my seating laurels...am very glad for our seating chart on the sidelines though.

EXCITING NEWS -- Drum Roll Please - Shoe of the Week is Coming Soon! And Xylophone (sp?) injuries...

2007-10-11T22:30:00.000-04:00

I am so excited to announce that on Tuesday, October 16, 2007, Shoe of the Week WILL be launched (not lunch(ed) as was on the sign in "The Office" tonight - don't you love the show? Set in my birthplace, Scranton, PA...)...Back to shoes! I will be doing multiple photoshoots with my shoes this weekend so brace yourselves...we will be doing on location shoots all around the area (okay, Fort Mill...unless I get a wild hair and take some of my super shoes on the road-- okay, on location shoots out of Fort Mill are not beyond the realm of possibility!)...

Okay, you know what I realized today? My sandals need some work...Apparently I kick up a fair amount of dirt (that accumulates on the inside of my HOT sandals -EW!) Soap, water, toothbrush and a lot of elbow grease will hopefully do the trick to rectify the sandal scandal! AND, I am debating the "in season" versus "off season" premiers...What do you think? Your thoughts on this topic are appreciated...it will affect whether I pull out the Fall features OR I just keep the Spring/Summer shoes in the forefront...It's been so hot lately BUT today was so cool...I am leaning toward in-season features...Again, talk amongst yourselves and report back to me! This will require some activity...Fall shoes are under our (stilhetto lifted) bed...had to do that to accomodate my collection of feet apparel.

Okay, xylophone injuries...Apparently one of the instructors assisting with the Nation Ford High School Marching Band sustained a xylophone (YES - a xylophone) injury recently. And, while showing the students the injury, developed an infection from showing it....EW!!!! He's back to work this week much to Casey's chagrin...Am I the only one who is experiencing BELLY LAUGHS at this one...? I get amused at the slightest thing and this one takes the cake... I feel so bad for being so giddy with laughter at this one!...I have that same experience when other people fall...I am warped, I know it....I would expect the same reaction if I fell or again, hmmmmm, maybe sustained oh, maybe a XYLOPHONE INJURY! Okay, I think I sustained a Zither injury in my youth...do you remember the Zither...you could develop some wicked "rug burn" type injuries on your pick fingers/hand, admit it....

Can't wait for the Shoe of the Week!

WAY TO GO ST. THOMAS AQUINAS GIRLS' SCHOOL KNITTING TEAM - AND SOCKS!

2007-10-09T18:14:00.000-04:00

A big shout out goes out to the St. Thomas Aquinas Middle School Girls' Knitting Team who showed up to play the Tennessee Volunteers in place of the mightly Bulldawgs this Saturday night...They did great! Apparently, the entire Bulldawg team was on vacation...Uh, what? While ALL of our receivers, offensive and defensive lines were filing their nails and getting facials, the Vols showed up, kicked our butts and took names... To add insult to injury, Larry Munson was not calling the game either...EGADS! Way to go girls! Are there any scholarships that are in jeopardy as a result of the playing? (or lack thereof)...I was taking away scholarships left and right on Saturday afternoon -- Being fiscally responsible is a great thing, ya know? Well, unlike the Shamecocks, at least our players show up to class...it would really help if they showed up to the game as well!

On a positive note, we had a great time at a Tennessee/Georgia party (on neutral ground)....Our TN buds were so classy at not rubbing it in...okay, I am not sure I could show so much restraint although I think I could (but hey, we didn't win so who knows? Perhaps I would be the epitome of class too...talk amongst yourselves on this one - could I do it?)...Nolan reminded me that I was not yelling (or cursing) as much as I usually do during a game (lovely he has that impression of me)...okay, I had to show Southern/SEC manners, right? I think Cynthia and Hack (they bleed orange) were told the same thing by their boys as well (no curse bombs were flying - who knew that could happen)...Hostess Kelly remained neutral -- although, I did get the sympathetic glance on more than one occasion...

SIDE NOTE: Cynthia and I BOTH brought a cake to the party...basically the same cake too (unbeknownst to us) -- with the Georgia and Tennessee logos! I guess that's what you do at a "Cake Party" (okay - it was really more of a "KEG" party)....in Mimi's words...Cake and Keg are interchangable in Mimi's vocabulary...amongst other words...

Okay on a positive note...I DID learn how to play Cornhole...while Cynthia and I were cheering one another on (and high fiving each other too) we were informed we were actually playing against one another...WHAT? ....hmmmm....the high fiving stopped and we promptly got our game face on...And, MY virtuous husband (remember golf?) tried to cheat Kelly and I out of a point during a game - AFTER I figured out the scoring system...you have GOT to watch the quiet ones...they are not to be trusted...Who knows how many points that he credited to his team versus mine before I "got it?!" He could have thrown me a bone (a Dawg bone) because my Dawgs were getting beat....BUT NO! He had to win...the score was announced by him after every toss...He's an engineer but sometimes the math thing (ahem) doesn't come so easy...points are added at a whim...I still love Cornhole...Note to self: Play on Mark's team, especially when others are imbibing...I will always win!

Okay, I did get in the bounce house too...broke my elbow in 8th grade in one of those but decided to face my fear and bounce with a bunch of boys! Okay, long story short, I squealed like a girl (okay, I am one) but even their 50-70 pound bodies were a formidable force against my unmentionable girth! They were catapulting me to the ceiling...I went down to the mat a couple of times (peeled my face off of the heavy-duty plastic) but my feable heart couldn't take it....I have been experiencing latent elbow pain every since...who knows how much therapy the boys will need seeing my stomach meeting my chin ...not pretty at all...

Did I tell you Cynthia wore the sweetest shoes? Awesome animal print flats with a quilted patent leather toe...To die for...again, in an amazing show of class, I was given permission by her to purchase the same pair (if I can find them!) $22 bucks at Target...okay, don't rush the stores...let me get mine first please!

Okay, you are dying to hear about socks, right? This is the email I sent to my friends late last week:

"For those of you in the FMES carpool line today, yes Nolan was wearing two different socks. Yes, I realize it and am mortified. Yes, I need to go to the laundromat to clean his socks since our washing machine is kaput (although he has clean, matching ones up in his sock drawer that is labeled “Socks and Boxers” – duh!) and Yes, he doesn’t care…one sock has an emblem on it, the other doesn’t so you can’t miss it and he’s wearing a plaid shirt that is clashing with everything…I think I am getting hives."

Should I be happy the kid doesn't care or should I be VERY afraid that he is clueless on the fashion front?....Discuss amongst yourselves...

Will the Dawgs crumble as a result of the loss?...I just want to beat the Gators...that's it! GO DAWGS!

THE DAWGS WILL RISE AGAIN...and I am getting those sassy flats if it kills me!

Is it poor sportsmanship to rub it in? Who cares - GOOO DAWGS!

2007-09-22T23:59:00.000-04:00

Okay, I am euphoric! The Dawgs won in overtime in Alabama...Tuscaloosa will never be the same and I am glad for it! Tons of horrific officiating, but Georgia prevailed - Amen brother! Bama had a field goal in OT - we countered with the game winning TD and WON!!...AGAIN WOOHOO! I pledged to send fashionable eyewear to the referrees - they missed so many crucial calls and obviously need new glasses...OT might not have been necessary were it not for their calls...

Okay, what do you do to fight nervousness while watching a competitive sport on TV? -- if you don't watch sports, think about a majorly stressful event...what do you do to combat stress? Is it normal to read "InStyle" magazine during sporting events? It helped for me....great Fall shoes were a fantastic diversion from missed first downs...Great fall outfits -- a superb substitute for lack luster offensive series....special teams' play and debaucles has accessories pages all over them....InStyle Mag...instant sports therapy for me!

Okay, back to tonight's game - I was a bit inappropriate with my verb usage and volume level on the shouting (got many “hairy eyeballs” from Mark) but I am sooooo happy….Did I tell you my brother-in-law is a HUGE BAMA fan?…Nolan wanted to call him two minutes ago…I told him if he EVER wanted a birthday gift again, he would not do that at this point….the other brother-in-law of mine, is a GA TECH grad and a huge fan (sorry they lost to Virginia) – BAMA brother in law is also a Tech fan too (got his masters' degree from there)... What were my sisters thinking? Uh, they weren’t…. I have a double brother-in-law whammy and LOVE to quietly revel in the victories UGA has enjoyed…OH YEAH!….

I am so THRILLED right now (think Snoopy dance)…Nolan and I were ramming bellies – I pummeled him across the room with my wine/carb overload due to game watching nosh gut, I mean, Jazzercise firm abs – my hands are raw from the high fives and fist punches we shared…I am such a guy….Okay, Mimi and Pop? I called them screaming at the top of my lungs and they answered the phone screaming at the tops of their lungs too – so I get it honestly…it’s genetic and I am not responsible for any of this, right?

GO DAWGS – Okay we were cheering for LSU today (what?)----- That's how much we abhor SPURRIER! Mark especially…we cheer against anyone he is coaching (and Mark’s top two of worst bosses – one was an LSU grad – that says a lot for both of us today picking one side over the other!) – GO Tigers (until they play the Dawgs!) You’d think I’d cheer for the Shamecocks but no….can’t cheer for the sun visor-donning evil genius…Did you notice, the visor came off today?

Okay – LSU won, West Virginia won…Florida State had a by week and Tennessee won vs. Arkansas State! My college football loving friends are very happy! AND -- Did I mention, THE DAWGS WON! WOOO HOOO!

FL State bud – Be prepared for the Noles vs.the Crimson Tide next week – they are hurting tonight and will come out swinging – Bobby will have a plan though…! GO NOLES!

Gosh I love to win...

Be Careful What You Wish For....

2007-09-20T23:11:00.001-04:00

Okay, life has had its ups and downs lately...very typical of a household run by mostly teenagers, right? I have learned to take the old adage to heart - be careful what you wish for...

Well, let's take our oldest...We wished for a job and more social interaction. He is quiet, not overly-involved...okay, in politically correct terms I would say he's socially stifled to put it mildly (and he would agree to a certain extent)...Let's take it back a bit...So he gets a job this summer which you know about -- at Wendy's...We almost hosted a parade through downtown Fort Mill...it only took him two years to finally take that leap of faith and join the workforce (actually, daddy paying for everything gnawed the dangling carrot to a nub pretty readily - the threat of spending all summer, caring for siblings, doing loads of housework and not getting paid - I am thinking that put the fire under the bum to get a job if you know what I mean) Well, he meets another burger flipper of the female variety and they start being "friends" (which you know about) and then they "break up" for 33.938475 hours and then got back together (I don't think you know about that)...ah, I thought I would rejoice over him finally emerging from his PS2 and seeing sunlight but now I am not so sure...The kiddy (ages 14 - 35) monestary or convent is sounding VERY positive to me right now....

Okay, then take our oldest daughter -- not terribly involved in a lot - we want her to get out more and to get more involved... so, she has been requesting guitar lessons...Santa brought her a bunch of guitar paraphernalia for Christmas...we talked and talked and talked about lessons but it just never transpired...until, she met okay we'll call him "M" for Mike - oops, that's his name...Marching Band member and guitar player. He has agreed to give her guitar lessons...Okay, it's like Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham (Whatever the Fleetwood Mac couple's names are!) in their good years - the kids like each other...But it is HILARIOUS! He tells her to play a certain chord with a certain beat -- she does it...Then, he tells her to change it to a different key...she plays the same chord, same beat...He's about to pull his hair out but politely says, "Great beat but lets try to change the chords this time..." He did this no less than ten times when I was within earshot...Casey and I sat behind the pantry door and howled -- but then, she scolded me for chuckling as she burst into giggles - I think I was called a "Mean Mom" or "Stalker Mom" or something like that....It brings me back to the family story that has lived through the ages -- My sister Joleen took guitar lessons from Sister What's-Her-Name -- well regardless of the song they were supposed to be playing or the chords or the beat, "The House of the Rising Sun" always came through loud and clear...the question to this day, did Sister What's-Her-Name know what that song was about? (Psssstttt - a house of ill repute)....we are thinking not...So Joleen played the song to different beats and tempos throughout her fledgling guitar career.... That was the only song she learned...when I hear it on the radio, it brings a chuckle and a smile to my face! Did I tell you that said guitar instructor "M" drives? --- EGADS! I am starting the kiddy monestary/convent...applications are coming soon...

Okay, the younger daughter...we continue to wish for and encourage her individuality -- having said that, she now likes the "indie" kid with an earring or two...very nice in a geeky, intellectual kind of way...funny story -- he weighed 125 pounds three years ago when he was three inches shorter...now he is at 118 or 120 at three inches taller...okay, the kid's a twig - think Flat Stanley...he plays the mellophone like the girls and hangs out with the both of them when he comes over...Band geek...(phew!) Casey has attended church with him "alone" with his family -- both girls have gone to church with him with his family as well...I am not quite worried as of yet...He thinks the girl (Casey) is weird which may be a good sign (or not)...Who knows what weird means these days?? The kiddy monestary/convent concept gets more appealing every day...

Nolan - I have wished for the very thing that he is -- EXTREMELY laid back, goes with the flow BUT...Can he not learn to put his name on his papers? --- he is getting two points taken off per test for this! He's done it multiple times this school year already -- UGH! It is driving my inner Type A Personality crazy and the Controlling part of me is trying to take over...Be careful what you wish for right? As much as I would like anal retentiveness to force him to write his name every day amongst other things, it is much more pleasant to deal with a relaxed child IF you can peel them out of the car with a spatula before school....

So Wednesday, I stayed after my class and went back to visit another instructor friend who was helping out with Child Care for that day...She had an inconsolable child in the mix and I reached out to hold the child and she came to me...and became attached to me...I tried to make the major "run for it " move and she BUSTED me and start crying again...so I stayed the whole time, enjoyed my catching up with my friend and her daughter -- well, my "buddys" little arms clinged to me and she put her head on my shoulder as I rocked her back and forth....I started to long for the days when I had a little one who appreciated me, didn't talk back, e.g., didn't talk at all, etc....How I wanted a little one at that moment...a fleeting moment....

Well, tonight, we attended the little man's parent teacher conferences -- both went really well - we are so proud of him...well, he proceeded to tell us that our neighbor, a 4th grade teacher, was expecting a child -- I told him that clearly he was wrong -- well, his "main" teacher whipped out of the classroom and said, indeed it was true...After Mark and I literally picked our jaws up from the icky school-room floor, reality set in...Now, she will have a soon to be 18 year old, a soon to be 16 year old and a soon to be 14 year old and then a new little one...They are so thrilled - me? After dodging several shotgun bullets from my husband, I would be in a catatonic state rocking back and forth and drooling....

So at this moment, I am VERY glad my fleeting wishes did not come true - what was I thinking? I don't sleep anyway and changing the litter box makes me gag...what makes me think I would get ANY sleep and how could I possibly stomach poopy diapers again....ugh. So, I will live vicariously through the neighbors, provide babysitters for the little tot AND totally enjoy being with the little bundle of joy....And, like a grandparent, be very happy to send the baby/toddler/pre-schooler/school aged child home after much spoiling!

Okay shoes and Dawgs to come!

More to Come -- Have you seen the newest shoes this season and FOOTBALL!

2007-09-15T22:25:00.000-04:00

A quick note...

Have you seen the newest shoes this season? HOT, HOT, HOT! Shoe of the Week is going to be updated this week... We'll talk about the "new releases" soon as well as those old, tried and true standbys...

A GOOOOOO Dawgs is in order...the Dawgs took care of Western Carolina (where is that university located - do you know?)...They redeemed themselves from last weekend...

Lots of shockers this weekend - I am hoping for a Bama shocker (can you believe I am cheering for them?)...Notre Dame got pummelled by Michigan...South Bend is a very sad place to be right now - it has replaced Ann Arbor as the most horrendous place to wake up to tomorrow morning....(poor guys -- HA!!!) UCLA -- OBLITERATED by Utah - so sad....NOT! Love it - it helps the Dawgs - we will hopefully move up...Let's not discuss the Vols vs. Gators yet -- I am sooo upset about this.....Discussions will ensue at a later point....

And those Sorry Chickens - they played SC State....The score should have been 99 - 0....Spurrier is going to face a shocker, lose face loss this season guaranteed....

BAMA just defeated Arkansas...WOOHOO! The hogs were #16...I am hoping the dawgs will move up once again...

Okay, the good life has ceased to exist...the girls are home now after their band competition...cranky, ornery attitudes...I am sure I will have more to write about after we have more "conversations..."

THE DAWGS WILL RISE AGAIN, camping, the Dixie Stampede, "CHURCH" and neighbors...

2007-09-09T15:51:00.000-04:00

Okay, for me this week...life really stunk...

But, my Bulldawg head is hanging high because I am a gracious loser (and I KNOW when we play awful and give the game away and get outplayed...you learn to say "Uncle" and move one...) Imagine if you will, being on a campout with hundreds (yes hundreds) of cub scouts and boy scouts....and KNOWING that you can't watch the Dawgs play the University of Sorry Chickens this weekend... AND, you can only speculate what the score is, the plays, everything...(it was SUPPOSED to be a technology free weekend)....

Well, on the way home from the Dixie Stampede (we will get to that later) -- AM750, WSB, could be picked up on the radio...okay, we're in the car not violating Scout regulations, right??? With Kansas (and Carolina) fans in tow, we listened (CRRZZZEWERWSMAMJOAOWJEND) to the game - that is supposed to represent the static that was present on the AM station...the Dawgs were down 10 - 3....okay - besides enduring the Stampede (great for kids, not for vegetarians...I had a greasy potato and an ear of corn for $30+ --- Mark had two whole chickens, 2 pieces of pork tenderloin, two biscuits, 2 cups of creamy vegetable soup - ok - what happened to good old fashioned no cream added vegetable soup? -- and a flaky, apple turnover with coffee...okay, I had coffee...black) - okay, no wine and beer....ARGH!

Back to story: I had to come back to the campsite all greasy and gritty and sweaty and endure the adrenaline rush of knowing my Dawgs were in trouble....I had to find a TV somewhere...luckily the 12-year-old Kansas/University of Sorry Chicken fan and his dad spotted not one but two TVs in the campground with the game a-blarrin'...I didn't care - technology free or not, I was secretly sneaking into the Suburban to listen to the raspy voice of Larry Munson...Aluminum foil on the antenna to improve the reception was not an option (DARN!)...we were camping "green"...although aluminum foil is recyclable, no one brought it...NEXT TIME - it will be a staple in our "camping wardrobe" --- my antenna idea was "FOILED" - literally and figuratively...

And then (GASP!) I resorted to sneaking up to the canopy of 6 MALE Gamecock fans (ah, it's supposed to be a technology-free weekend....THEY WERE NEGLIGENT SCOUT FATHERS - REPORT THEM, REPORT THEM!) while Mark wrestled with marshmallow-laden snotty nosed, disrespectful youngen's (not ours) AND while other "Scout" parents went off to smoke their cigarettes, curse profusely and take showers...I said hi to said "non-compliant" Scout fathers and they proceeded to greet me with the courtesy shown to other Chicken fans...AFTER, I told them they didn't want to know who I was cheering for (GO DAWGS) ...they were obliging in true Southern fashion (hello? Only because they were winning, right?) It was too much for one to handle at one time....but I returned - after the crackly scores of 13-6...16-6...16-9...16 -12 were heard on AM750...With only 1 1/2 minutes to go, what could I lose? - I had to go back -- I told them, "WE (the Bulldawg Nation) were either losing or going to pull off the big one!"....one man, resorted into a pacing panic...my tactic had worked....Make the enemy afraid, very afraid, of the unknown...I was in pace back and forth mode as well...Darn, after the the inadvertent "kick" my plan was to walk away victorious was foiled, again...But, I am pretty sure I induced a severe case of diarhea and major heart palpitations to a Shamecock fan so all is not lost....I did end the meeting with, "Okay, it may be tough waking up in Athens tomorrow morning but imagine Ann Arbor tomorrow morning...." They all agreed and we collectively agreed (again for me) that "Mr. Michigan Coach" will be on Monster.com this a.m...But darn, I so want a "do-over" game!

I came home to camp after the crushing blow and Nolan, the diehard fan, proclaimed, "I can't believe they lost mom but I REALLY can't believe you broke Scout rules and used technology..." Is that five or ten Hail Marys for me today?....

Camping was great...Nolan was absolutely stoked about it – He got to sleep in a tent with his buddies and no adults….Mark and I got to share air mattresses that were deflated by the time we woke up – it’s always so nice to have to peel your cheek off of the mattress in the morning…Actually, it works much like an epilady or laser hair removal which is not bad considering my face is growing more hairy as I age…And, on the beach, I got to pick up 100s of cigarette butts too -- no doubt, left by our noisy, "Scout" neighbors next door...and guess what? Mark found out we had cable hook up for all of our sites this morning.....I could've brought our own TV, viewing the game alone and avoiding the misery mentioned previously....oh well...for a later blog - neighboring Scout families...NO, ABSOLUTELY NO, branch in the family tree...it was kinda fun listening to a soap opera going to sleep...Mark didn't find it quite as intriguing...

Dixie Stampede -- again, not my style of food...the boys loved it and we got to watch people ride horses (fast!) ostriches (a HOOT!), pig races and then, two of our scout leaders "gallop" to victory for the South (the Gray)--- (Talking about sides, my sides were so sore from laughing sooooo hard!) The victory lap after our leaders' won had me on the floor...the victorious galloper from Pack 108 was so proud with that wooden horse galloping around the barrels...Again, I almost fell off of my chair - I need to get out more....By the way, what did we have for dinner? --- Again as mentioned - CHICKEN! I am sure it was Shamecock! WOOO HOOOO! Go Dawgs!...Of course, I didn't eat it but heard it was really good! There was plenty of pomp and circumstance afterward, mom and apple pie - Dolly Parton singing - the works...and then the phrase, "Who's Proud to be American?" was met with a loud pop-pop-pop-pop -- I hit the deck....oops, it was indoor fireworks....well, noticing the "Heightened Alert" on the security screen at Ripley's Aquarium, I was taking no chances for my protection - I might've grabbed one of the biscuits to protect myself against shrapnel too...Let's just have it on record...Mary lived up to the Boy Scout Mantra - "Be Prepared." I think I started humming, "I Will Survive." That biscuit could've done the trick if the situation was for real.

The Ripley's Aquarium was cool too although I am very sure that the sharks were following me and taunting me just because...(they know how scared I am of them - I'd rather die than come face to face with one in the ocean...I can't even watch them on TV) -- those prehistoric nightmares looked at me with their beady little eyes and lingered FAR too long for it to be a coincidence...

Okay, "CHURCH" this morning....I am not one to question a church service...Getting Ready: I rolled onto the floor - no level change (from the deflated) mattress this morning, got up at 6:45 with the notion that "church" started at 8:30...well the flurry started at 7:30-ish (After we started a pot of water for coffee, the boys were getting cereal, we were loading up stuff and leisurely pulling down the tent) -- YIKES - CHURCH started at 8 - cereal, coffee - not happenin' ...oh by the way, we had to do the flag ceremony, boys in full gear and I was still donning my, "UGA -- 2005 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP SHIRT" with Devon or Nolan's old soccer shirts, turquoise flip flops, my Versace (STOP LADIES -- yes I OWN a Versace item....it's the only Versace thing I own) glasses with rhinestones and my hair pulled on top (YES on top) of my head...I raced into get ready mode and made sure I at least cleansed my face with Arbonne products (incredible by the way), pulled on a whole new outfit (that matched the turquoise flip flops) and quickly ran outside...to Mark racing into the bathroom with a panicked look on his face (he had to get ready too)....he had pulled Nolan together with his complete uniform(Thank you!)....Well, we raced over to the service and to begin, one of the Scouts had a fabulous, heart-felt prayer and we were good to go....UNTIL..."Join Pack Leader So-And-So with "AMAZING GRACE"....Short bit of panic for me (and Mark) but we know the first part...unfortunately, Mr. Pack Leader So-And-So did not...He had no inkling what the word are but "Amazing Grace"...the rest was gibberish....I had to draw blood in my cheeks to stop myself - I was laughing so hard...(I thought, I KNOW THIS SONG...WHO DOESN'T?...THE FIRST PART - at least sorta??) I kept thinking of all of the Boston songs that no one really knows the words to but we fumble through them, right? - think "More than a Feeling"....I wanted to cry "MORE COW BELL" a la Saturday Night Live...It was pitiful...But, I held back -- at first, I thought he had a speech or hearing impediment and then I felt REALLY bad (because I thought that attributed to the not understanding the words)....but then, he came on and spoke completely fine (NOT like when he was singing -- it was clear that he absolutely did not know the words!)...it was almost too much to bear...I was on the verge of excusing myself because my shoulders were shaking that badly...And then, the "sermon" -- a mixture of Lion King references and then Scouts (sort of) and okay, God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit....ah, no, they weren't even mentioned....Mufasa, Simba and ah, anyone else the kids come into contact with ruled.....And then, it was back to Lion King....and trusting others to help them with "tests"....the message was lost...Again, "MORE COWBELL" was on my mind....He told us to get ready for at least an hour of this...I almost lost it...I think we were in and out in 10 minutes (tops!)... (I did say "Thank God" so at least God was referenced once during "CHURCH."

Okay, so we drive home today (after all of Nolan's friends stayed at the beach to do other fun things) --- he got much needed rest, we stopped for a good lunch and then got home...well, courtesy of our well-known neighbors, of course, we had a "GO GAMECOCKS" poster on our van.... and, we were "T-P'd" in Mid-western terms...that means "Rolled" in Athens, GA terms...Okay -- Toilet Paper in our trees....Well, our other annoying, I mean, inquisitive, first grader neighbor came over and asked why the TP was in the trees and why we had a posted on the van....(it just so happens he is next door neigbors to the ones that TP'd us....the plot thickens!) I promptly told him that we had won a prize and that if he rang their (the TP-ers) doorbell more than 10 times a day for a week (15 or 20 is better) and TP'd their tree and left a poster on their door/car or better yet, both, -- within the next 3 or 4 weeks, he too would qualifty for a cool party at their NEW, AWESOME pool in their back yard....I think he has already started....Okay, Spurrier is not the only evil genious now!

Okay....next post - we will get back to UGA's passion about Integrity, Trust, Leadership and Wins...(And despite what the Gamecock fans I met this weekend said, why we wouldn't hire Mr. Redskin Reject!) And DEFINITELY shoes, shopping, etc.

THE DAWGS Laso the Cowboys and shocking upsets!

2007-09-02T10:34:00.000-04:00

Well the Dawgs were able to give the boot, the Cowboy boot that is, to Oklahoma State yesterday Between the Hedges...I can easily say that I was not 100% comfortable with this season opener...After all, the Cowboys beat the Crimson Tide last year in the Independence Bowl and they had an extremely impressive showing last year (except against Texas) - Their record doesn't look terribly impressive but some OSU facts...Did you know that they were ranked 7th in the nation in scoring last year and ranked 16th in total offense? They also were one of only two schools to average 200 yards in passing and rushing for the season...That's nothing to whiny at all...And, seven of their defensive starters returned and 10 of their 11 top tacklers...There are also Heisman rumblings going on about Adarius Bowman too (the kid had 300 receiving yards against Kansas last year)...Luckily the Dawgs took out the branding iron and stuck it to the Cowboys...Stafford looked really comfortable and was really impressive...He went 18-of-24 for 234 yards and two touchdowns, finding nine different receivers. He had some runs too...again, impressive! Thomas Brown was on fire! Sean Bailey was on fire! The debut of TB Knowshon (don't you love the name) Moreno was also impressive - 70 yards with 20 carries...Do you think when he was born, his mom asked his dad what to name him and he answered, "Who Knows Hon?" hence the name Knowshon? That's my story and I am sticking to it...

DON'T YOU LOVE COLLEGE FOOTBALL (and the great names)? Or is it just me? Okay, it helps when you win....

Speaking of which...would you just not hate waking up in Ann Arbor this morning?...Okay, for me personally, I would hate waking up there on ANY morning but ewwww...it has got to be a dismal day. To lose to Appalachian State (granted they won their division last year), man what a bummer (although I love it...one less opponent in the Top Ten)....and to think, I thought they only had a ski team there...who knew they played football too -- and they were WAY impressive...In the sea of over 100,000 fans booing you, those kids were graceful under pressure...they nailed that victory and it was sweet...How many other head coaches are sitting in the pews of their local churches this morning thanking God that they didn't schedule to play App State yesterday as an easy opener? -- Michigan thought it was a mulligan game but they were wrong...I am thinking on Monster.com we may see a resume for a "seasoned coach, willing to relocate to warmer weather" floating around...Time will tell.

Well the pesky insects to our South managed to use a massive fly swatter on the Not So Fightin' Irish yesterday...South Bend, another place I would not like wake up in this morning...They didn't even show up for the game, did they? I was a little concerned when the only points the buzzers were getting on the board were through the uprights but points are points...then, they just blew it wide open...Note to the Irish...Raid works wonders on those bees but better yet, bring a team when you play the North Avenue Trade School....Did you see Choice? Impressive...the Dawgs are surely going to take notice....This team has a buzz in its step and is going to be a big last game challenge for the Dawgs in Hotlanta.

Other games of note...Okay, I am very upset - the Vols got defeated by Cal...Darn! I hate that when the SEC loses to an arrogant school...AND WHAT? Okay, I love the Earth, Apple Pie and America just like the rest but hold up here.... A TREE SITTING PROTEST AT A COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME...COOKING ACORN FLOUR PANCAKES OVER A CAMPFIRE? Is that what you call tailgating, treehuggers? Well, let me invite you to the South and the SEC, Cal fans...why don't you try to come and play in Neyland Stadium or Sanford Stadium for that matter...We'll open up a can of Southern-style whoop you know what that will make your head spin...And, we'll teach you how to really tailgate...Okay, back to other scores -- Auburn squeaked by K State...Lucky they had a good 4th quarter or it would be rough to wake up there too...UCF beat NC State...poor State, they have really struggled...UCF usually pulls off a big one or two per season... BOWDEN BOWL kicks off tomorrow night....I have my tomahawk arm ready for the Seminoles' victory...Never have been a fan of those crazy Orange-clad kittens to our South...And Bobby Bowden always put the Sunvisor donning prima donna in his place (whether FSU won or not)...And the University of Sorry Chickens...they won yesterday against Louisiana Lafayette...they struggled...We're cleaning out the poultry fryer this week to get ready for a big chicken fry next weekend...

UGA is #1 (but #2) According to Fox Sports!

2007-08-29T15:48:00.000-04:00

NEWSFLASH....According to Fox Sports - UGA is #2 in the list of the Top 25 Mascots:

"Georgia fans will certainly dispute UGA's number two ranking to any mascot in any sport anywhere, but it gets beaten out here simply because of the presentation of Ralphie, the Colorado Buffalo. UGA is an English bulldog (although the first UGA was a goat) and is certainly the most beloved and well-known mascot in college football, past UGAs have flowers laid on their graves before every home game."

NOTE: Colorado's Buffalo won because...."Now up to Ralphie IV, the buffalo made its first-ever, regular-season road trip out of state since 1989 when it traveled down to Georgia this year."

UGA is and will always be #1 in my heart!! Our next dog, will be a bulldawg! Ironically, Mark grew up with English bulldogs...Little did he know that he'd marry one!

Okay my math skills are equivalent to Ms. Teen SC's Geography skills, numbchuck skills...

2007-08-27T20:06:00.001-04:00

THE WEEK IN SHOES: Okay, so I exempted calculus going into college but apparently I cannot add....I thought I only had ordered 3 pair of shoes this week...actually, I think it is in the neighborhood of six after I did the math (counting on my fingers)....Oops -- Hey Mark, they were almost free... I received 3 today (heavenly) and realized that 2 or 3 more are on the way and I bought a FABULOUS pair on Saturday (6 ordered, a 7th pair purchased)...They will all make the "Shoe of the Week" no doubt!

Okay, did you see the ditzy answer from South Carolina's Ms. Teen or Ms. South Carolina or?...who the heck knows what she is... one thing we know for sure, she is no Phi Beta Kappa let me tell you. HOW embarassing...What do you bet that she had "Party Like a Rock Star" and "Back in Black" at her pep rallies in high school?...I doubt she could find her way out of a paper bag let alone know any geographical facts whatsoever...Why, why, why did she have to be from South Carolina (or anywhere in the South as a matter of fact)? It is the equivalent to game day in Athens....ESPN or College Game Day captures the one "fan" with one tooth, an enormous beer belly and overalls on...CAN YOU SAY -- HE DID NOT ATTEND NOR WOULD EVER GET ADMITTED TO UGA? But yet, the impression is already made - a UGA fan with no branching in the family tree making an appearance on TV - he's a UGA graduate ...Obviously when this girl had her hair highlighted or liposuction or airbrushed tan affixed to her body, someone performed a labotomy while they were at it....EGADS, I am mortified to be a South Carolina resident at the moment....

Title reference...Did you see Napoleon Dynamite? Okay, perhaps I should not admit that I have seen it multiple times....Maybe I should be more embarrassed of that than my residence, eh?

Sticks and Little White Balls and A "Corny" Story

2007-08-24T15:59:00.000-04:00

Okay, it's been a long week and I have been a little under the weather hence the lag in my postings this week...But I did buy three pairs of shoes this week online from the comfort of my chair (All for less than $15...and they are fabulous!) I'm feeling better thinking about them...

This week in review:

Golf...in a word...I stink (ok - that's two words). But I loved it -- I amused myself by making Billy Murray sounds as I hit the ball...Doodoodoodoo Dadadada...But, unlike him, I did not steal a custom golf cart in Sweden at 3 a.m. in the morning and get arrested for ingesting too many cold ones. I digress...I steadily improved as the morning wore on and I can honestly say, I think I could get into the game -- the carts are really fun to drive and I think it is really neat that they have a cooler attached to them too. They have to work on the colors of the carts though -- A variety of colors would be neat -- Like the bumper cars at Carowinds, all of the golfers could race to their carts so they get the cool color of their choice...Maybe they could add numbers to the side like NASCAR...That'd be sweet. I call the pink #8 car (my tribute to "Little E" - Dale Earnhardt, Jr. for those who have no clue what I'm talking about - he doesn't drive a pink car but he drives the #8 Bud car which is cool). Actually, a bright yellow #99 car (in honor of "Awesome Bill from Dawsonville" - isn't he still #99?) would be sweet too. Oh - did I tell you I am a closet NASCAR fan? Passion for designer shoes and NASCAR...an oxymoron? Maybe there is a correlation between marching band and fashion, right?

Back to golf....I am happy to report that only one of my balls landed in the water - that was the only ball I lost! (Mark had two in the water)...It helped that we were the only ones on the course too -- I would feel "Masters" pressure if others were playing behind me...I'll have to try that some day. Maybe it won't be quite as fun...Funny thing though....my husband who is the poster child for honesty, integrity and trust is a flippin' cheater...I don't think he realizes it though - he forgets how many shots he has taken (could it be his age? - he just turned 47 this month - or a devious ploy? - your call). Okay, I would count the number of strokes he had taken and inevitably, he'd say, "Well, I shot a 7 on that one..." Uh, wha? That was a 9 mister. But I didn't let on...Twice or maybe three times he did a "do-over" teeing off and didn't count it...He let me do that ONCE! Okay, so we weren't playing competitively but...I am competitive. I didn't injure my arm playing laser ping pong with my 10-year-old nephew Collin because I am passive....(And I lost multiple times - I think it was the paddle). Note to self: When I play my husband in golf (seriously) keep a tally sheet for every stroke he takes.

Now to corn...I have told you about "LM" - aka "Little Man" or Nolan....His other nicknames include "Messy Marvin" and "The Absent Minded Professor...." This story explains those nicknames. I cleaned out his back pack from last year - um, the day before school started (that has Mother of the Year written all over it)...I found awards, information that I should have been following up on over the summer and..........TWO dented cans of corn (along with 2 encyclopedias)...He was supposed to turn in the corn for a Spring food drive at school...or maybe it was a project. WHO KNOWS!?! The kid was lugging about 10 extra pounds of weight on his back in addition to the umpteen books he had stuffed into it! Well, I asked him why in the heck he STILL had the cans of corn in his backpack....He said, "Oh, I forgot to turn them in." Mark was astounded -- He pulled me aside and said, "What the hell is he doing lugging two cans of beat up corn in his back pack? Even the Fort Mill Care Center would not accept these cans as a donation - look at 'em!" ---I had no logical explanation or response (except for screams of laughter). I am just hoping that he didn't club another kid with his back pack. Boys are known to do that... The dents have the suspicious markings of the side of a small head....Well, as I was tucking him in that night, I called him my "Corn Toting Boy." I asked him again why he carried around the cans of corn and left them there....He said, "Well, someone has to support Iowa mom." Corn...Iowa...His dad lives there...I was in stitches.

Nolan's take on Iowa and "living" there this summer...."Mom, there are only three things in Iowa. CORN, Long stretches of highways and itsy, bitsy small towns...." The boy has a point.

The kids have adjusted to school life this week -- the question is, have we? Football, Scouts, private French Horn lessons, band practice, Wendy's (STILL!) during the week...I am glad it's the weekend - I need a break from the hub-bub! Well, gotta check on Nolan and his buddy John - they are trying to fry Egg Beaters in the cul-de-sac (I will do anything to keep them amused!) The girls would "freak" if they knew that Egg Beaters were made from REAL eggs...I am thinking our dinner is already made for tonight (at least Nolan thinks so!)

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: You can never have too many shoes or purses!

Congrats WVU, is golf a 4 letter word?, elementary school sociopaths and shopping online

2007-08-20T19:42:00.000-04:00

Okay, Congrats go out to the Mountaineers of WVU...it appears that in the Princeton Review of the Top 366 colleges, the 'Eers got named the top party school of the year. The factors considered were consumption of beer, liquor and drugs and the huge influence of sororities and fraternities....Another factor included...studying time (or lack thereof). What do you bet that the students entering or currently in WVU had "Back in Black" and "Party Like a Rock Star" featured at their high school pep rallies? I am betting the probability is high....Georgia was high on the party list too I must say (that's a shocker)..... SHOUT OUT TO Jeff A. -- You are living up to your alma mater's call to fame! Okay, the University of Missouri Rolla (Mark's Alma Mater) also made the list...but not that one - it was characterized as "a school of nerds: run by the nerd and for the nerds." It ranked high on the "Best Career/Job Placement Services" and "Class Discussions Rare" list....70% graduate with an engineering degree....Hmmm - I am thinking maybe they would have chosen Chris DeBurgh over ACDC, ya think?

The question of the day...Is golf a 4 letter word? Well according to the madras plaid-clad Caddyshack wannabe next to us hitting on the driving range it is....Note to self Mr. Fancy pants...madras does not work for you - you are totally trying to have the Ivy-league, frat boy vibe going on but YOU ARE 40+ -- your golden years are gone - you are not in Kansas, I mean college anymore! LIVE WITH IT!....I will give him credit though...Like the dad in "The Christmas Story" he wove a tapestry of expletives that was pretty brilliant actually - he used illiteration (sp?) and word combinations like nobody's business...mind you, this was on the driving range...Mark was oblivious...he was busy concentrating on his swing and Rolla's superior Career Placement office....

Well, I am going to play my VERY first round of golf tomorrow - only 9 holes...I am going to try to make par (for the whole course on 9 holes - I always dream big) ....I play a mean game of miniature golf but seeing there will be no windmills to hit the ball through (and considering I can't hold the club and hit the ball through my legs) I am not sure I am going to be "game on." After missing the ball a few times today and creating "divets" the size of small rock quarries, I am a little concerned for those playing behind us. I am thinking there will be a lot of play throughs....I did crack a few good ones with my driver and the tee (although I was informed by Mark I can't use a tee off of the box - darn)...I am thinking that I will be the female "Boo Weekley" - have you heard him give interviews? PRICELESS and he's ranked 24th in the world....He didn't know what the Ryder cup was and hadn't really watched it...WOW! Okay, I'm him in female form and 24th in the world (that's 24 millionth), right? I have already begun practicing a gutural (sp?) "FORE!" just in case it will be needed tomorrow.

Okay, tonight was "Meet the Teacher" night at the elementary school So I have requested that the "Little Man" (LM) not be assigned to a classroom with a sociopath he has been in class with two out of the last three years.....Guess who's in his class AGAIN this year? You guessed it...The kid was expelled for five days in the 1st grade for bringing a knife to school (did I tell you he stole things out of the teacher's purse on two occassions as well?)...in FIRST GRADE!...Well, last year LM did not have him in class (Thank you Jesus!) He got expelled again - for what else but punching another kid in the face.....And, he is obsessed with my little guy....STALKER obsessed ...And, Nolan's desk where do you think it was?....you guessed it, right next to sociopath and another kid who has attempted to strangle one kid and beat up another....AND HE LOVES Nolan too...ARRRGH! Well, we are in a dilemma - like the teacher, love most of the other students but we have a disaster brewing, I can sense it...We are secretly plotting to pair the two misfits together or against one another to perhaps get them both expelled permanently....we are evil! Did I tell you that his teacher is adorable - great shoes, great clothes and seriously, she is a great teacher....She graduated from high school in 2001....ah, wha???? So she was born in .....1980 something?? Wow...Man, I would say that I had clothes as old as her but I had to stay on top of the trends ya know and got rid of the 80's things, and now the clothes I wore then are back "in"--- should've save them darnit!

OKAY -- NOTE TO SELF: Have Nolan watch Oprah's episode on "Toxic Relationships"....

Okay SHOPPING ONLINE - Usually, great but not a good experience today....We - actually Casey - loaded (literally) three shopping carts from Alloy, Delia and Target...Ummm, well, the carts were not saved or were dumped for some reason....When I went to place the order, NOTHING was there...this is a mother-of-a-strongwilled-anal retentive-self-structured/overly-planning-child's nightmare! She is going to have to reload the entire carts - EEE-GADS!.....World War III will ensue in about 30 minutes from now (after band camp). For someone who is a band "geek" (self proclaimed that is ) she is very into clothes....Do band geeks get into clothes? Please comment - Perhaps I am harboring an urban myth - band and high fashion don't mix. Did I tell you she wants to be a fashion designer and get a scholarship playing the French Horn? Okay, oxymorons of all oxymorons...But don't you just love shopping online?...I have weaned myself from Zappos.com (sort of) but there are so many other websites out there....okay, I must focus on my rebuttal for Casey when she returns home after almost 4 hot sweaty hours of band camp and her assumption that all is well in shopping paradise...We'll see...News at 11! Okay - I just got a hiss and a "HRRRRRRRRRRRRRR (like the gutural "Fore!" I need to shout tomorrow!)

Back to better news....Did I tell you about the Devon Car Debaucle of 2007? Well, it involves sheer brute strength - me and Mark pushing Devon's car down Dobys Bridge Road, on Tom Hall Street, etc...Major plumber action going on if you know what I am saying (I think I had a "Wife Beater" on and some torn Umbro shorts and Mark's flip flops...not my best look - At least I could have had some good shoes on, right?) Well, there was something majorly wrong with that picture besides the enormous fashion emergency that was displayed. Guess where Devon was? At Carowinds with the girlfriend...Ah, wha...Yes, you heard me. COMPLETELY bugged out on us....I was tempted to open a big can if you know what I am saying....

Well, prior to "The Great Push of Dobys Bridge Road" we got the brilliant idea of using the Suburban to push his car down the street - We heard a crunch and (GASP!) my UGA Alumni license plate cracked in half....Not a good idea we found. Long story short, no one in their Lexus (would that be "Lexi" for plural - multiple ones just swooshed on by), Escalade(s) or even Kia(s) stopped to help us out...Thank goodness a dilapidated van with two men with the same number of teeth (two) stopped to help us out. I got the sneaking suspicion that they had been in the same boat as us at some point in their lives. I didn't even have a cold beer in my purse to offer them...Darn, I meant to bring my insulated purse for the push too....I thought about offering them an Altoids but didn't want to offend them. Well today, I got a new license plate that is fantastic! -- Pewter, with a HUGE "G" in the middle, Georgia Bulldogs around the "G" and it has "The Arch" and "Sanford Stadium" on it! Bought it in the Hill, Rock Hill that is! GO FIGURE! At least the whole day was not a total loss!

IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL SALE TIME -- BUY THE SHOES!

BACK IN BLACK,Shop It To Me, HSM2,BB8 and Carowinds!

2007-08-17T16:39:00.000-04:00

Okay, you knew I went to the Open House last night. I was banned from the pep rally but all the other parents "rallied" around me and encouraged us to stay so Mark and I walked proudly into the gym. Nolan and "THE GIRLS" friend Ali's brother Daniel (the son of the chest letter "F" for the September 6th home opener) shouted the girls names feverishly from the bleachers. I just sat back and smiled. Mark was in between us and I couldn't possibly reach over to tell the boys to hush as they heckled their sisters. It was a pinnacle moment of parenthood - I realized when you can't do it, you just must allow your children to embarass the heck out of their siblings. It was a very proud "ah-ha" moment for me.

The marching band was awesome at the rally! I was very impressed with their performance as was everyone else in the audience. "THE GIRLS" and Ali got over their extreme embarassment and played their hearts out! It was really great. Besides their performance, the highlight of the night was when the student council performed and had the spectators in the stands imitate what they were doing....to of one of the best songs of all time --- ACDC's Back in Black (the Nation Ford High School's mascot is the Falcon and their colors are Red and Black, hence the song selection....I don't think Chris De Burgh's "Lady in Red" would have had the same pep rally vibe so they went with the natural choice....) I had to resist the urge to pull out my air guitar and jump a-top the bleachers...although that would have gone off the charts on the embarassment meter and would have been an incredible moment for me as well - I would have added in character building for them, but I resisted...The stands were definitely rocking. The student council also performed to the bleachers on the opposite side and selected another great song but I was still revelling in the ACDC experience....The cheerleaders and dance team performed to "Party Like a Rock Star" a fine song by The Shop Boyz who put the CR in crunk -- I tell you, between performing to "Back in Black" and "Party Like a Rock Star", I feel the virtues of America, Apple Pie and Mama were passed along to our kids last night. Again, a proud moment for us parents.

I have not told you about this yet and it is another late breaking development...It is called "Shop It To Me." It is an email service that sends you the latest sales for all of your favorite shoe, clothing, accessories, etc., designers in the business. You get to chose all of the designers you are interested in and they send you the sales from all of the websites, stores, etc., on a DAILY basis! It is pretty awesome....CHECK IT OUT -- www.shopittome.com. Okay, so I do this....I pretend I have money and put the $1,218.00 Missoni Full Length Jacket in my shopping cart (it was regularly $1,523.00 so it qualifies as a bahgan)...along with the $335.00 Celine pumps (regularly $598.95). Then, I pretend to really contemplate the purchases..."hmmmm, it would go perfectly with my jeans, my suit, etc., but you know, the color is just off somehow." Then, I remove them from my shopping cart and have a cathartic experience - I feel that somehow I have made a very sound financial decision to refuse the "retail call"...Okay, Shop It To Me also features the Gap, Liz Claiborne and more main stream lines as well...But what fun is that, right? They really do have some great bahgans too (and I am not exagerating either $19.99 and up...)

Okay, is anyone else watching "High School Musical 2?" this evening? It is going to be a HUGE hit....men from all over Charlotte are calling in to Talk Radio shows to complain - their Big Screen TVs are being taken over by groups of giggling pre-pre-teens, pre-teens and teenage girls while they have been banished to watch "the game" on the small set they have in the guest room. Casey (extreme vegan and "non-preppy person" in her own words is watching it....okay, does that not seem like a very "preppy" movie....maybe it's just me.)

Me - Tonight, I will be watching "What Not to Wear" and "Shut Up!" and I think Stacy London has another new show premiering soon....Has anyone watched "Hollywood Ink" yet? Love Kat Von D....I am an admitted reality TV show junkie....

Speaking of reality shows -- Big Brother 8....the shoe salesman Justin GOT the proverbial "boot" instead of Dick, the uber-tattooed father of Daniele...Loved having a shoe salesman in the house and you just kind of got the feeling he really loves shoes, fashion and again, shoes, really high end shoes....Well, I don't think he did shoe sales people justice...He was pretty much a pompous kind of guy. Now, Nigel Tuffnel would have been perfect -- He always wanted to be a shoe salesman...(only Spinal Tap fans can appreciate this comment!)

Headed to Carowinds tomorrow with Mark's work -- "The" company picnic. Besides the fact I don't like rollercoasters anymore or anything that elevates me off of the ground, oh say, 12 inches, I will be spending the day holding drinks, towels, backpacks, sweaty tube socks, etc....I am eagerly anticipating this experience as I did my colonscopy three years ago. Pray for us.

If the shoe fits, buy several pair!

EXTREME Vegans, SHOES (Breaking news!) and Pep Rallies!

2007-08-16T14:46:00.000-04:00

Okay, the key to blogging is to do it everyday, right? Well, I have not been so good doing so - my apologies to my fans...or is that fan? I will be diligently updating my blog on a regular basis from now on. Perez Hilton does it so why can't I, right?

Okay, "THE GIRLS" have decided to become extreme vegans...We are receiving information from PETA everyday. Okay, I am a vegetarian but I eat seafood and dairy now...and, it's for health reasons - I don't hug trees or handcuff myself to chickens' necks or cows' ankles or anything (uh, that sounds like cruelty to me...) I was recently chastised by "THE GIRLS" for purchasing a Lucky Jeans belt for $7.50 because it was made of animal hide (Can you believe I got a Lucky belt for $7.50? I almost fainted....I fretted over paying what I thought would be $15 but I was convinced by Mark to go ahead and bite the bullet --- what a bahgan! My heart is palpitating at the moment at the sheer excitement of scoring this deal! It's huge!) I digress...this vegan thing is EXTREMELY exhausting...and, they have modified their version of "Veganism" too -- They eat cake (uh, hello, there's milk in cake from a cow and how cruel is it to milk a cow, and eggs from chickens - egg delivery, very painful...okay, pardon my sarcasm)....It basically stinks to be the parent of teenage girls....Having vegan teenagers, the pain increases exponentially by the power of ten....

Case in point -- I was told the other day that I am basically half dead....I've reached the halfway point of my life. Nice -- I told them they both were going to promptly meet the end of their lives at age 14 if they didn't shut their mouths (Okay, in a weak moment I said "Shut up!" not "Shut your mouths.") Again, the Mother-of-the-Year award is probably in the back of a UPS or FedEx truck waiting to be delivered to me any day now....And, I actually threw out the, "Save the drama for your mama...." and then had to say, "Wait a minute. I am your mama....Alright, dish it out to someone else who cares." God bless my parents who raised THREE girls...(we weren't this difficult I am certain). When they appear on the Oprah, Mory Povitch or Jerry Springer shows, I am not responsible and have told them that repeatedly.....

Oh, and football -- the little man is playing again this year (on the Yellow Jackets --- WHERE ARE THE DAWGS?) I was let down a bit by his team assignment but at least he was not a Gator or a Gamecock....I still can't believe they don't have the Bulldawgs for a team....I am sure the name is way too intimidating for the rest of the teams in the league....And guess what footballs are made out of? Does the term "pigskin" conjure up a thought for you? Nolan needs a new football (I think this makes his oh...20th now)..."THE GIRLS" are wigging out with the fear of dead animal parts in our midst....

BREAKING NEWS! The new Saks shoe store is opening tomorrow in New York....more than 100,000 shoes on the floor (I am getting verklempt....I am planning for my ashes to be strewn across the merchandise floor....) They have their own flipping zip code - it's the size of a small town! HOW incredible is that? I am going to put that on my list of places to visit before I pass (considering I am half dead at the moment!) The shoes they featured on The Today Show today -- to die for, literally. Christian Lebouitton(sp? I just know the shoes!), Jimmy Choo, Chanel...My heart is racing now! I love shoes...Can you imagine 100,000 shoes in one place?...I will have to take smelling salts with me when I visit...Okay, that's completely "old school" -- Again, I am apparently aging rapidly...

Okay, "THE GIRLS" have an open house at their new high school late this afternoon....and then, a pep rally follows! Mark and I had an idea...He, along with Bill Thomas (the father of one of their friends), our daring neighbor Jay Wolf (father of John, Morgan and Tyler) and either our neighbor Jimmy or Mark will don the letters N-F-H-S on their chests for the pep rally (one letter on each chest of course). We definitely know that Mark, Bill and Jay are or would be totally in on the "gig." We have to ask the others....I am so into embarassing our children as much as possible (it builds character, right?) "THE GIRLS" are sweating bullets. Ali said her dad is "in." Probably can't pull it off tonight but definitely for the home opener on the 1st of September....Being a parent of two vigilant vegans also opens up many possibilities for parent paybacks....

I am thinking of starting a fund to reach my "Shoe Mecca" -- actually, I may qualify for a senior discount to visit there considering I am half dead now....

Life is short - buy the shoes!

Travel, Survival and what else?...Shoes, Dawgs and Craniums!

2007-08-05T18:52:00.000-04:00

First, I want to give a big "GET WELL SOON" shout out (do the proverbial "they" still say that?) to my 5-year-old neice Maggie...she has mono AND bronchitis...A little gift is on the way sweetie!

We survived the trip to Athens and back -- it was touch and go there for a minute. I thought I was going to have to get out the can opener if you know what I mean .... The mere sound of me reaching for it and perhaps the couple, "You wanna piece of me's?" hushed the arguing in the back for oh, say, one minute....but that one minute of peace was priceless. I am waiting for the parent of the year award to arrive in the mail any minute now.

Athens was great - Mimi and Pop are great too! Nephew Mick had already left when we arrived - Nolan and Collin were in a sugar/carb laden coma from all of the sweets, etc., that they injested during the week!

Of course, because it was a tax free weekend, we were compelled to shop (poor Mark got a chance to act as a chaffeur as usual to 4 shopping crazed females)....We pretty much hit pay dirt. I only bought 3 pair of shoes (and one of them were Jazzercise shoes - a business must have...) And, I did put one pair back thank you very much - it was only $4.99 and I resisted!! Can you believe it? They were cute too and yet, I slid that box into the rack in front of the cash register (with all of the chotchkes...sp?) Okay - I almost put them on the counter but I was overcome with the feeling that I was not going to succumb to the shopping bug... I was quite proud of myself. (And, the girls comments about how ugly the shoes were and the "hideous" square toes had NOTHING to do with my putting them back in the incorrect spot in the store...)

And, the shoes I did finally buy were bargains too so the adrenalin was really pumping! I actually put 3 shirts back on the rack too...I am learning shopping restraint. AND, the piece de la resistance (is that how you spell it) for my demonstration of shear will power was this....I did not (I repeat) I did not buy the Bulldawg high tops for myself....$19.99 and I didn't do it...I didn't even buy the Steve Madden sun glasses for $9.99. I think I have turned a shopping junkie corner.

Nolan has 3 official "G"s for his football helmet thanks to Pop! He is going to wear one of them (or probably all 3) proudly on his HUGE, adult-sized helmet even if he plays for the Gators, Yellow Jackets or Shame - I mean Gamecocks this year. He may even play for the Fightin' Irish but that "G" will be prominently displayed on his helmet - heck, we could probably run an entire advertising campaign for a major sponsor on the helmet AND include the "G" and other logo....Do you think Nolan will have a complex about his head size? He got it honestly - I have several planets orbitting mine so he was bound to be blessed with a head, in the classic words of Mike Myers, "like Sputnik."

How did I get from shoes, to Bulldawgs to head girth? Who knows...All I know is UGA is #13 in the AP pre-season poll (expect an update on SEC and the City by the way)....the Gators are #2....My friend Seminole-loving friend Kelly threw up in her mouth a bit about this one as did I. I don't consider #13 unlucky - it's just a starting point for the top!

Shoes, dawgs and a kid with a head like his mother's (and one only a mother and Mimi can love)....life doesn't get any better than this!

And, the votes are in!

2007-08-01T10:37:00.000-04:00

Well America has spoken (not really but I have always wanted to write that!) Fifty-eight percent of Shoe Dawg Shoe readers say the site is "fabulous," with 28% saying it is "great" and the other 14% saying "I don't get it" (that would be she doesn't get it - go figure.) I know who you are Miss Doesn't Get It and I will force you to go on an all day shopping expedition with me one of these days to add to your spartan shoe collection! I plan on doubling your purse collection as well. (Don't worry, it won't take us long...) Hmmmm...I am thinking of adding some of your favorite songs to my set.....=)!

Well, this week has been a bit hectic...I drove more than 400 miles in the past two days to take Nolan to Mimi and Pop's for "a boy's week" with cousins Collin and John Michael (Mick). Poor male cousins Matt and Devon are home (but I am sure they are loving it!) By the way, after a 2 day, life altering break up, Devon is back with "the girlfriend." She actually spoke to me last evening without my prompting and said "Hi" to me while on the phone with Devon (and he told me about it - time stopped for a moment) ... YAY! The planets have aligned and Karma is good at home.... UPDATE - 11:27 p.m. 8/1/07: Mark let me know "They are just friends." They went to a movie yesterday....there may still be hope for a reconciliation!!

I digress... I made it home in record time yesterday morning which made me reflect on the correlation between song selection and car speed (and of course, type of shoes you are wearing when driving - yesterday, I chose some bejeweled flip flops - love those shoes...)

I had tunes going the entire trip -- this is not all inclusive, believe it or not.....but...I listened to artists ranging from Aerosmith (Nolan's FAVORITE), Guns N Roses, Nine Inch Nails, Alice in Chains, Seether, Evanescence, Boston, Breaking Benjamin, Beyonce and Jay-Z, Blue Oyster Cult, Gordon Lightfoot (YES, Gordon Lightfoot...Edmund Fitzgerald, If You Could Read My Mind...my dad introduced me to him and I love him... along with Jim Croce and John Denver... we had the 8-tracks, okay? Gosh!.............Sorry, I reverted to my Napoleon Dynamite impression - Nolan and I recited most of the "classic" lines from the movie on the way down south by the way), Coldplay, The Cure (LOVE them), Snoop Dogg (what is a trip without him, right? Dee OH Double Gee You See...), Everclear, Foo Fighters (love them!), Extreme, Franz Ferdinand, EWF (Earth Wind & Fire for you newbies), Godsmack (hate to admit it), Linkin Park, Green Day, Indigo Girls, Kanye West, The Killers, J-Lo, Limp Bizkit (don't you love these names?), Mary J Blige (that's my girl - Listen to "Family Affair" - Mary's back!), Bloc Party (love them), Goo Goo Dolls, My Chemical Romance, The Offspring, Ohio Players (Love Rollercoaster), Red Hot Chili Peppers, Poison (been watching "Rock of Love" and had to channel my old high school days!), Puddle of Mudd, The Pussycat Dolls, Ratt (could've seen them and Poison on Father's Day but unselfishly decided that I would spend time with Mark...I've already tried to scam the bootleg tape!), Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Skid Row (hate to admit it), Sting, Switchfoot, Weezer, The Verve, The Weathergirls (of "It's Raining Men" fame), 311 (love them)...Okay, you get the point (you did after about the first 5 artists, right?)

So, I have come up with several mathematical theories and recommendations for music selection while on road trips based upon my trip home yesterday, my music selection and my car's velocity (and shoe selection).....

Theory #1: Heavy Rock/Alternative Rock/And Rock in general exponentially increases your car speed by between 15-20 mph -- when wearing heels - your speed increases by an additional 5 mph (except when you are in South Carolina around the state line and in Blacksburg - oh, in Georgia, around Commerce as well). Lightweight flip flops (with jewels) keep you in the 15-20 mph increase zone. By the way, don't math theories always have exceptions? (or is that spelling? I think it is spelling - I after E except after C...okay, yeah, it is spelling...)

Theory #2: Mellow tunes reduce your speed to that of the speed limit (or perhaps within a plus or minus 5 mph zone from the speed limit). Typically, this garners the "light horn" in the fast lane (light horn is the German phrase for someone flicking their brights at you to get the heck out of the way). Then, 98.5% of the time, you change the song and revert back to Theory #1 -- you'll show that you-know-what that he (it is typically a male) can't make it in NASCAR like you could. (The 1.5% of the time that you don't change the song typically means you have some latent anger issues and want to get back at the obnoxious driver behind you by driving particularly slllllllloooooowwww - just trap him between you and the person in the right lane - that'll get him...).....Okay, do you see a common lack of mellow artists in the mix above?...I didn't make it through most of the songs by the mellow artists...Michael Buble is not allowed when I am driving (when Mark is, that is fine).

Theory #3: Any song that references water, cold beverages or the beach exponentially increases the number of stops you have to take at rest areas or gas stations (by a power of five). Avoid water themes. Case in point: "It's Raining Men" set me back by at least an oh, 5 minute stop at Circle K.

Okay, parents, aunts, uncles and all adults concerned for the well-being of children, I need your opinion...Nolan and I were listening to GNR on the way down to Athens (okay, for you wet-behind-the-ears-rock fans -- that is Guns N Roses)...I looked back at him and he had his pinkie finger and his index finger raised (his thumb was crossed in front) and was doing a head banging move...I said to him, "Wow Nolan! That's pretty wild... What are you doing?" His answer: "I am doing the "Fist of Rock" mom!" He has taught this maneuver to his little (2 year old) sister Emma Claire as well...

Question of the day: Should I be concerned about this? - a 9 year old kid exhibiting blatent rock and "mosh pit" style behavior? (Okay, I won't go into it but big sister Jessa was recently caught in a mosh pit at a concert and passed overhead....Nuh-ice! ) Did the warning signs exist for him earlier and should I have done a rock intervention? Okay, the kid was in his car seat at age 2 and I asked him what he wanted to listen to on the radio (or tape player -- maybe Disney or Raffi?) as we were headed to preschool....without hesitation he said, "J-J-Jaded" (Aerosmith....) And, he has been playing the air guitar ever since....again, should I be concerned?

Post your comments on this.......And, your thoughts on the apparent abundance of time on my hands (Napoleon Dynamite? Listing a mantage of artists on my blog? ... The lengthy justifications for my optimal parenting skills.....Comment away!)

Shoes? Dawgs? No, Bacteria....

2007-07-27T11:57:00.000-04:00

Today, I don't think much will be happening on Shoe Dawg Shoe! Mark’s dad is flying in from St. Louis today and I am furiously swiffering (a new Webster’s dictionary word, right?) The kids were supposed to scour their bathroom since he will be using it and you guessed it – it has not been done – I think there is either a new phylum of plants or species of bacteria being grown in several spots there. The CDC or health department would have a hey day! I will be donning a mask and perhaps a protective suit when I get in there….If you don’t hear from me in the next day, I have been eaten.

We also have fur balls the size of Texas floating around and spotting the floor like tumble weeds in the desert. The cats are in prime shedding season. One of my Jazzercise students recommended that I throw them outside because birds use them to build their nests. I told her that I didn't want the large birds in my yard that would need to use all of the excess cat hair I have lying around (I am imagining a flock of buzzards or maybe emus...)

P.S. I think I hear the kids stirring upstairs (it's almost noon - gasp!)...oh wait....he's here (Mark's dad) and I am shower-less......I am currently donning Versace glasses (my one saving grace), Mark's "Proud to be American" t-shirt that was given to him as a sample to order shirts for his plant (I am very patriotic but can you say ABSOLUTELY CHEESY? The most loyal veteran would not wear this - EVER!) and Devon's hand-me-down soccer shorts from three seasons ago with a hole in the worst of all possible places.... NICE impression. My apologies to my fellow fashionistas! I will rectify this situation momentarily!

Happy 48th (Yes I said it) Birthday Stan!

2007-07-26T11:35:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday to my brother in law Stan Neel! Have a super day and no, I won't take you shopping when I see you next! (Although if you want to go you can twist my arm!)

There is a correlation between Dawgs and Shoes!

2007-07-26T11:23:00.000-04:00

Okay who said that there can be no connection between Dawgs and shoes? Check it out http://dawgclogs.com.

I will find many more connections with shoes and Dawgs, trust me...

HAPPY 48th ANNIVERSARY Mimi & Pop!

2007-07-25T12:37:00.000-04:00

Happy 48th Anniversary to Mimi and Pop (my mom and dad!) I hope you both have a super day and celebrate many, many more anniversaries!

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY OLIVIA!

2007-07-25T12:34:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday 5th Birthday to my neice Olivia Katherine Headley in Marlborough, MA. I understand your favorite color is blue now and not pink -- that's why I am writing in blue! When you visit next, we're going shoe shopping!

My First Attempt at Blogging...

2007-07-25T09:53:00.000-04:00

Okay, why "Shoe Dawg Shoe" you ask? Well, because I absolutely LOVE shoes (if the shoe fits, buy two pair or in my case, one in every possible color) and I LOVE the Georgia Bulldawgs. I bleed red and black. And oh, yeah, I love my husband, kids and my pets (some of which are dawgs) but couldn't really fit that into a cute blog title - Somehow, shoedawghubbyzoo didn't sound as good as Shoe Dawg Shoe (get the play on shoo fly shoo? - I amuse myself). So, I guess I just have to write about them (along with shoes and the Dawgs!) Believe me, I could write a book about them and will likely do so via this blog!

So, I am blogging in order to save money on which would obviously be massive therapy bills on my part - therapy is great but we just can't manage the $21,000 per week bill (yes, I calculated $125 an hour, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day)... Not to mention the expense of Rogaine from pulling my hair out.

A special thanks to my friend Karen for getting me started on this blog! Perhaps it is her attempt to have me quit sending her rambling emails about life's ills! Haha! Thanks Karen!

I hope you enjoy the entries and invite you to take the survey located on this page too! Don't know Manolo or Jimmy? I will learn you! And, if you happen to wonder what font I have used for this site....It's Georgia - Again, I amuse myself!

No shoes, you lose! GO DAWGS!