Surgery Update

First and foremost, huge thank yous to everyone who sent comments and well wishes. I was able to read the first few to my sister before she went into surgery this morning. Late this afternoon my stepmother called and left the message that while the surgery was difficult and had taken longer than expected, my sister came through it and will be fine. She's in recovery and will be kept sedated overnight. So, I'll read her the rest of your well wishes tomorrow, when I expect I'll be able to talk to her.

Thank you!

Prayer Request

My sister has been in and out of the hospital over the last few weeks. She went back over the weekend, and is having surgery tomorrow morning. The surgery is considered "routine" but still, it's scary and the decision to actually have it was not an easy one for her to make.

So, please, think of her tomorrow morning at 9.30am EST, the surgery start time. BTW, she's in Atlanta, and has been known to identify herself on blogs as "Sheree's sister."

Send her good wishes via the comments section, and I'll read them to her tomorrow evening when I talk to her.

Thanks!

I is Educated

The other day, I bought a few things at the grocery store. My bill was $10.22. I gave the cute little cashier one ten dollar bill, one quarter and two pennies. When she tried to return the pennies to me, I replied: "I don't want the pennies. That's why I gave them to you."

She stood there for upwards of 15 seconds counting the money, then finally punched "$10.27" into the cash registered. For a moment, I thought I'd have to tell her how much it was.

She seemed surprised when "$0.05" came up as change.

Pitiful, I Know

Oh, I need new coats too. Notice the plural, as in more than one.

My coat inventory includes:
*a London Fog trench coat I bought at Good Will last year for $10
*an LL Bean field coat I bought when I moved to Boston in 1997
*an LL Bean parka I bought when I lived Western Mass and was playing in the snows of New Hampshire (circa 1995)
*a Peacoat I bought my first year of college. Yeah, in 1984.

I guess I've gotten my money's worth, but it's really time- ok past time- to buy a coat or 2.

Oh, I forgot about my current "dress coat:"
*a wool Herringbone coat that belonged to my paternal grandfather who passed away when I was in 6th grade (c.1978). And it had belonged to one of his sons before that.

And as sad as it is, that really is my coat inventory. I have 2 fleece cardigans and a fleece anorak (won at a raffle in my Western Mass days) as well as 2 or 3 cotton jackets for Spring and Summer. I know, pitiful.

But, I figured out that I can squeeze another year out of the field coat if I cut the cuffs off and reattach them because they are so frayed. And I've ordered a nice wool coat from LL Bean. It will serve as my new "dress coat" and since I'm trying to look like a grown-up these days, I'll probably wear it several times a week. I haven't had much luck looking in brick and mortar stores, so I'm doing the mail order thing.

Once I have the coat, I'll take a picture. I've ordered red!

A Sad Shoe Story

In the last few months, 3 pairs of my shoes have bitten the dust.

As in: the gf and I are walking on Bradford Street in Ptown when I feel a certain breeziness on my right foot. The sole was separating from the rest of the shoe! And by the time we walked to our friend's house, the left shoe had joined in. So, there went my brown Rockport Mary Jane's. Luckily, friend Rena had a pair of shoes to loan.

2 weeks before the Rockport separation, my beloved Dankso Professionals died. The soles split in half. In half! As for the first pair to die, they were the newest. My cute little brown Ecco mules simply gave up the ghost. The stitching became unstitched, and the leather frayed too much to have them re-sewn. And I bought those shoes in Richmond! They weren't that old.

History: I moved to Upstate NY in 2004 and lived in Richmond from 2001 until then. So the Eccos were only 5 or 6 years old- NOT LONG in Sheree's shoe life. Both the Rockports and Danskos were bought in Boston (1997-2001).

I don't get it- why don't shoes last longer?

And should I mention that the brown loafers I bought at Target my first year here are already starting to show signs of thisismylastseasonwithyou? The heel is starting to separate from the rest of the shoe. And no, I can't get them re-heeled because the sole and heel are all one single rubber piece. I know, what'd I want for $24.99?

So now I need shoes. And since I just love (can you hear the sarcasm?) to shop, Zappo's is my new favorite website. Free shipping!