Unbelievable that it has been almost one whole year since I blogged. What a dolt. But, a lot has happened, so, over the next few days or weeks I will have to bring you up-to-date. The most significant happening was that in November, November 12, 2010, to be exact, my kookie crazy boss stopped by the house on a Sunday nite and fired me. WHAT???? So, now I am a solo-practitioner, operating an office out of my home (in the cute little front room where the Formica table used to be) and just absolutely lovin' it to death. Today, for example, I gardened, returned over $300 worth of stuff to Target, bought a wrought iron patio table on clearance at Target (had to re purpose some of those funds) and then, went to the pool. I swam 25 minutes, read my book (Undress Me in the Temple of Delight -about 2 women post-college traveling in China in the 1980's) even got a bit sun burnt. Then came home, had lunch, dealt with Comcast on a television related issue and now at 3:05 p.m. am reporting in for duty. Gosh, I love being my own boss!

Reusing and Repurposing, Recreating and Reinventing = S-A-T-I-S-F-A-C-T-I-O-N !

Last weekend a friend came over to the house and helped me move some furniture around. I am trying to clear out and get rid of things we don't any longer need or use or have space for. Right now, I have a need to have "clear space" in my mind and heart and surroundings. So, we moved a cabinet the television sat on to the garage to be sold. Then moved a small desk/table affectionately referred to here as the "turkey desk" to the basement to set the television on. And, then re purposed a Formica kitchen table, vintage 1950's by bringing that up to the "reading room" to replace the "turkey desk" as a computer table/desk/work space. The turkey desk while charming with its' 20 gauge shotgun shell casings for drawer handles and turkey feather draw pulls, was turning out to be too small as a table/desk in the reading room. There was simply no where to put your coffee, your pen, your pad of paper for note taking. The Formica table, layered with two vintage tablecloths and a turquoise piece of McCoy pottery, my vintage daffodil bookends holding up an assortment of new used books and a snazzy turquoise Schnauzer plant holder now turned pencil container is absolutely cute as can be. And, I did it all at no cost! Am pretty proud of myself, girly-girl!

Just the tip of the stilleto

While in D.C. visiting Daughter #1 along with my tag-a-long buddy, Daughter #2, Daughter #1 took us out to a play and speakeasy for elegant high end cocktails. A boyfriend/girlfriend couple, friends of Daughter #1's joined us. Boyfriend and girlfriend commenced living together a few months ago and now are making their first big joint move to a more spacious apartment. Boyfriend, lamenting about packing, etc. mentioned the girlfriend's "enormous shoe collection." Well, this piqued my interest, so I dove into the conversation and asked the big Q - the conversation went like this:

ME: "And, so just how many pair of shoes do you think girlfriend has?"

Boyfriend: (lame, lame, lame reply), "Oh, I think about ten pairs."

ME: (to girlfriend) "And how many pair of shoes do you think you have?"

Girlfriend: "About twenty-five"

ME: Oh, man oh man, are you way off base to think that ten pair of shoes are a lot. Even to think that twenty five pair of shoes are a lot. That's just the tip of the stiletto!

And Daughter #1 chimed in with the ultimate statement on shoes - "Yeah, my mom has over 90 pair of shoes alone in her closet. And, that doesn't include the whole tub of summer shoes that live in the basement because they are limited seasonally in their usefulness - or should we say wearabilty."

And girlfriends comment? "WOW! You must have a special closet just for your shoes."

To which I replied (with pride) "Well, yes I do!"

And that was the best nightcap of all!

My long absence.........

Well, it has been a long, long time since I have opted to add to my blog. But, least you think otherwise, that does not mean I have abandoned by no-shopping quest. Au contra ire, my commitment to not purchasing remains true and inspires me to really think through any possible potential deviation.

Case in Point - having come to Washington D.C. to be admitted to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court - a highlight of any attorney's legal career, I found I had a shoe crisis. Some might laugh at the use of the words "shoe" and "crisis" in the same sentence, but those among us who take our fashionista role seriously know a crisis when we see one. This was the situation. I had planned to wear a light blue Jones New York skirt suit that I especially like for the swearing in. But, the morning we left for D.C. in the throws of packing, I made a last minute strategic wardrobe call. Skirt suit + old while lady legs = must wear pantyhose which I determined I simply could not do. I knew it would be hot and humid and I just did not want to struggle with hose, plus make sure I had a decent back up pair when the first pair (inevitably) got runs in them. So I switched my outfit to a black crepe Talbots pantsuit. And, tossed into my bag a pair of strappy, dressy black sandals. All set. So I thought, anyway........

Once we arrived in D.C. and I did the two days prior run through on my outfit, walking around the apartment in my heels, i thought - are you outta your mind? These shoes were too strappy, too much skin was exposed and there was no way I could walk a block in them. And, one thing D.C. demands, actually just squeezes out of you like life blood - is that you walk. And walk. And walk some more. And, then, finally that you walk again. So I knew that no matter how carefully I crafted my day, insulating myself with cabs and short walking stints, I would still walk enough to cause the return of the giant gross blisters that usually plague Me while here. I did not want that to happen.

I carefully considered my options. Ruminated. Contemplated. Then, decided I would take a cab, wear my Birkenstocks,(ugly, but highly functional) and put on my dressy sandals upon arrival at the Supreme Court. Seemed like a solid, no cost plan to me. Under this plan, there would be absolutely no expenditure of money.

Feeling a certain amount of pride that I had arrived on this no-cost solution. I shared my plan with Daughter #1, via telephone. Her response? In a tone of derision, said, "WEEELLLLL, people do that." Emphasis on people. As in, I see people that do that, but I would never stoop that low myself. As in, I suppose if you want to look like a giant dork, you could do that and boy, will I be glad I am not around to see it. As in, there is absolutely no way I would ever be caught dead doing that, but you go for it, Mom.

And, then she said, how about you just go to Marshall's and buy a new pair of shoes for this occasion?

A surprising comment from the pipsqueak who started the whole no shopping idea, after that holiday closet organizing effort and her conclusion that I had "way,way, way" too many clothes -and in particular, way to many shoes.

With that kind of authorization, even shall we call it approval, I did in fact trundle myself the three blocks down to Marshalls and purchase a pair of black, low wedge heeled, sling-back, peep-toed Bandolinos for $31.82. Wore them for six hours, first day out, and ended up with no blisters. YEAH!!

Boot Mailing - Part 2

Update: To mail the boots cost $9.85. Possibly worth it, since I doubt Daughter #1 could purchase new, unworn boots for that price. Just got off the phone with her, though, and now we have a conundrum. This projected Atlantic Seaboard snowfall has already, at 6:30 p.m. CST on Thursday night resulted in the cancellation of five, yes, five social engagements for Daughter #1 in the next 36 hours. Tonight, as zero, nada, none, not one snowflakes fall from the sky, happy hour was rescheduled. Then, all employees of her company were encouraged to "work from home" on Friday (tomorrow). Next, the bi-monthly sorority alumna luncheon, scheduled for Saturday morning has been called off, on account of the pending snow. And, Daughter #1's boss, who was scheduled for vacation to Orlando tomorrow (Friday) has postponed her vaca one week. Out of fear of not being able to get to the airport. So, now that the boots are in the mail, en route? Daughter #1 fears the impending white stuff will totally incapacitate the Atlantic Seaboard, rendering it impossible for the mail carrier to deliver the anticipated boots! Stay tuned.

Next post....futher refining what no new clothes means.....Are there exceptions to the rule?

Why Not Just Buy New Boots?

Telephone call from Daughter #1 this afternoon, who has apparently gotten on the "no new clothes" bandwagon too:

Daughter #1: "Mom, I need you to do me a favor."
Mom: "O.K."
Daughter #1: "Well, you see, Mom, we're supposed to get lots and lots of snow on Friday, so if you could....mail me the tall, furry lined boots I wear when I am home [in the Midwest, where snow these days is our middle name] and do it so that I would have them by Friday, then I could wear them in the snow we are going to get. [Daughter #1 lives on the Atlantic Seaboard, an area of the country where snow does not generally fall and if it does, one inch of the powdery white stuff shuts down the city. Literally.]
Mom: "Well, I can do that by taking them to the mailing store tomorrow morning.... but wouldn't it make more sense to buy new boots where you are living?"
Daughter #1: "No, absolutely and positively not, no way - I AM NOT SPENDING ANY MONEY ON NEW CLOTHES" [!!!!!]

The exclamation points are mine. What's the logic in paying good money in postage to mail an old pair of winter boots when you can go, somewhere, anywhere in the metropolis where Daughter #1 lives and buy a brand, spanking new pair of winter boots - - - and since it's end of season, probably for less than it will cost to MAIL the old worn pair to her? The price of this mailing will be included in my next post.

One the one hand, I am happy to believe that my words and actions can still influence my adult child. On the other hand, there is something about this particular mailing which makes no sense at all. Doesn't logic demand that purchase of a new pair of boots makes more sense than mailing these old, used boots a thousand miles....to the Atlantic Seaboard? Maybe it's just that she wants the comfort of a known, friendly, worn-in boot to the rigidity of a new pair? Than must be it, because it sure isn't very practical. Even if you are trying to save money!

Time Flies When You're NOT SHOPPING

Gosh, I can't believe it has been twenty days since my last post. Part of the cause of my blogging absence is that my computer was infected with a virus. Last weekend I tried to call McAfee to have it remotely removed. Couldn't do it because I had to make a payment on my credit card to allow for the service to be charged. I believe it is next to impossible to live in this world without credit cards. And, a damn challenge to try not to charge. This service for example had to be paid via credit card. For $89.95, some computer geek in southern India remote accessed my computer, moved the cursor around on the screen and in 35 minutes or less - Voila! now my computer is virus free. And, thank God because we suffered not begin able to access the Internet, especially the news about Brad and Angelina and their reported split - for the 89th time, I imagine.

So we come to the end of the first month of the new year. And, I am proud to say that I have purchased no new clothes. A casual walk thru Carson's to make my payment resulted in a perusal of the 70% off-the-sale-price shoes. Like a girl in a candy store, I lovingly handled a pair of floral print with coral patent heels sling backs from Anne Klein. Adored the classic look of a pair of gray suede pumps that were kind of Mary Janish in style with a cool, soft, very wide elastic band which would hold the shoe on your foot. Was enchanted by the playful fun of a pair of yummy lipstick pink patent pumps. In the past, not having my credit card in my wallet would not have stopped me. Nor slowed me down in any way, shape or form. The kindly salesclerk, having been given my social security number and address would have looked up the card number and those shoes would have like magic!! made their way home. But not this time. In fact, I felt proud and virtuous, as I walked out of the store empty handed, having purchased nothing, but simply done the business I had come to do without any distractions, not wanting to break my winning streak. I am proud of me, yes I am!