Is there such a thing as too many shoes?

When I discovered the show "Sex and the City" I was instantly addicted.  Wow, that's a shocker isn't it?  If you haven't been living under a rock for the past ten years and happen to know even a little bit about the show, you probably know that the main character, Carrie Bradshaw, is obsessed with shoes.  And not just any shoes, but designer shoes that go for $300 and more a pair.  Not a cheap obsession. 

Of course, Carrie was also a newspaper columnist for most of her life which meant that having the liquid funds available to purchase outlandishly priced footwear was sometimes difficult, if not impossible.  But she always found a way.  Isn't fiction fun? 

When I started watching Sex and the City I wore sneakers just about every day of my life.  I can't even think of a pair of footwear I owned that didn't have shoelaces, aside from the proverbial black dress shoes that everyone's mother insisted they own until they were old enough to move out of the house.  But something happened to me once I discovered SATC.  Maybe it would have happened regardless, but this show awakened something in me that I never had thought about before. 

A love of shoes. 

A love of stilettos, and wedges, and pumps.  A love of darkly colored suede and bright, funky patterns.  Shoe shopping became a new favorite pasttime.  Zappos.com became my new favorite website.  I suddenly found myself transforming my style.  I was no longer content with my tomboy attire on a day-to-day basis, I was ready to create outfits and top those outfits off with my new favorite accessory:  fabulous shoes. 

Here's a newsflash for you.  Shoes take up a lot of room in one's closet.  Because you see, there are two of them.  So after awhile it takes a lot of creativity and superior organizational skills to make room for all those shoes.  Luckily for me, I now live in a house and have access to more than a couple closets in which to store my treasures.  

But no matter what I do, I can't get people to stop asking me the same question over and over again. 

"Don't you have enough shoes?"

Boy, that's a brain teaser.  I suppose to some people I probably do have enough shoes, more than enough, even.  But to me.....I just can't endorse the idea that the footwear I currently own is all I will ever need. 

What is it about shoes that is so wonderful?  I mean after all, these things go on your feet and inevitably get sweated in and eventually become rather smelly, dirty.....you know the deal.  Suddenly these brightly colored contraptions aren't as appealing as they once were. 

For me, certain pairs of shoes encompass different attitudes.  I have pairs that make me feel bold and in-charge, other pairs that are more subtle, others that are flashy and just scream "PARTY!"  Then I have my workout shoes, which I actually love just as much as any pair of heels I have ever owned.  With the right footwear, I can be exactly the person I want to be and convey exactly the type of persona I want to convey.  Pretty sweet, huh? 

New shoes are like new possibilities.  And, okay, they're just downright fun to buy.  And I will rationalize everything to death in order to convince myself that a new pair of shoes must be purchased.....today.....this very minute.  Closet space be damned.  

So to answer the question, no, I don't think there is such a thing as too many shoes.  I don't think it's silly to pack four pairs of shoes when I go home just for two nights, and I don't think that limited closet space will ever stand in my way of purchasing the most perfect pair of black stilettos (that I have seen this month). 

I have been told numerous times that life is all about choices.  Now wouldn't it be a shame to go through your life, making those choices, and wearing the absolutely wrong pair of shoes?

Think about it.       

Do I watch too much television?

I go home at lunch most every day to let my dogs out.  Every afternoon I walk through the front door, let the dogs out of their kennels, and then turn on the TV.  At night when I get home from work, if Dean hasn't already done so, I will turn on the TV.  When Dean and I crawl into bed at night the TV is always on until we fall asleep.  On the weekends I will usually dedicate at least a few hours to house cleaning, during which time I have the TV on.  Not necessarily being watched, but on nonetheless.

I have been watching TV since I was a little kid.  So have a lot of people in this country.  However, I feel like I watch more TV now than I ever did when I was growing up.  Does anyone else feel this way?  When I was a kid, I had so many other things to amuse me, so many other things that I spent my time doing, TV wasn't really one of my top priorities.  From a child development standpoint I guess this is a good thing, but I'm wondering why TV has become so much more a part of my life now.  Is it because I don't have as much outside stimulii?  Or am I becoming lazier?

It's true that spending hours in front of the TV is often construed as being lazy.  But TV can also provide one with a sometimes much-needed escape.  From work, from a fight with your spouse, from just about anything that might be weighing on your mind.  And let's face it, sometimes we need an escape, or at least a couple hours of distraction before we let oursleves sink back into reality.

Also, as much as I am absolutely in love with Netflix and the fact that they have hundreds and hundreds of movies and TV shows available on instand download, I admit that it has definitely contributed to my inclination to flip on the tube rather than turn on the radio.  Come on now, how awesome is it that in a matter of minutes I can access the entire first season of "Friday Night Lights" and watch it as long and as many times as I want?  (On a side note, has anyone ever noticed how much beer Tim Riggins actually drinks on that show?  The boy NEVER has a glass of water!)  

I guess the one thing that confounds me more than anything is my habit of having the TV on even if I am not watching it.  For instance, during my weekend house cleaning I am upstairs, downstairs, running the vacuum, doing dishes, all sorts of activities that do not involve sitting on the couch and paying attention to a particular program.  And yet the TV is on, the volume is up, and I in turn am wasting electricity all for the sake of background noise.  

Even in the mornings when I sit on the couch and read.  I am engrossed in a book, paying attention only to the words on the page, and the TV is still on.  Some people might find this a distraction, but I'm very good at tuning things out.  That and multi-tasking....perhaps this is an example of both.

Here's my question.  Why are we (because I'm sure I'm not the only one) so inclined to watch TV even when we aren't watching TV?  What is it about that box with the startingly clear picture that keeps us coming back for more, even when we should be doing other things?  Is it more than wanting an escape.....are we all addicted to TV?

I will sometimes force myself to not watch TV.  To sit and read a book in total silence.  To turn on my iPod when I am cleaning.  I find it refreshing to take a break from TV, to force myself to become creative again in the ways of entertaining myself.  It's like I want to prove to myself that I still got it, that I don't need TV in order to be occupied.   

Of course, this can only last so long.  Because when I see those new episodes of "Glee" scheduled for Tuesday nights you will find me right back on the couch. 

Life is short....turn on some Christmas lights

Perhaps you have noticed the new look that "In My Words" is sporting.  Yes?  No?  First time visiting?  In any case, I was feeling restless with the old look and decided with the new year fast approaching an aesthetic layout change was in order.

Today Christmas is on my mind.....and all the things that go hand-in-hand with the holiday.  Not just the shopping and the giving of gifts, but more specifically the decorating.  Think of all the things we do for Christmas.  We run out and buy live trees to disply in our living rooms, we cover these trees with ornaments of every size, shape, and color, we hang up string of lights in our windows and outside our houses, then on top of everything else we buy all sorts of other decorations to display inside our homes.  Decorating for Christmas alone can sometimes last from the day after Thanksgiving right up until Christmas Eve.  And for some people that still isn't enough time.

Before I get too much further along let me say that I love decorating for all holidays.  I may not have the largest decoration collection, but I make do with what is available.  Of course I am also extremely cheap, which is probably a good thing in some respects, but it also means that it will take me awhile to grow my various decoration collections.

My husband doesn't quite get into the spirit of all-out decorating.  Especially when it comes to the Christmas lights.  He argues that it isn't worth a more expensive electricity bill just to have some colored lights on our house.  Okay, so in realist terms that is probably true.  But I can't buy into it.  For me, Christmas lights, tree, decorations, and everything else are essential. 

Decorating is an element that helps make any holiday more than average.  It sets the scene and amazingly enough can set your mood.  Once all my decorations for Christmas were appropriately displayed, the tree assembled (yes, it's fake) and decorated, the lights hung and plugged in, I felt darn good.  Every night when I come home at 5:00 and it's already pitch black outside, I see my Christmas lights shining bright and feel a little happier inside.  When I'm in my house with my candles burning and illuminating the nativity scene, I can't help but instantly relax.  Sure, part of it is probably the essence of the season, but there is something to be said for WSU Santas and fat snowmen smiling down from the TV stand. 

Is all-out decorating what Christmas is all about?  No.  Is it essential to having the perfect Christmas?  Probably not.  But for some, and for others who might not like to admit it, decorating in any way shape or form just has a way of elevating spirits. 

Would I trade these happy feelings for a lower electricity bill?  Nope.  Sometimes it's worth it to plug in some Christmas lights.    

Monday's OMG Moment.....

The OMG moment of Monday came when my sister and I were strolling through the WSU Bookie, searching the new release book tables for potential Christmas presents.  And that's when I saw it staring up at me.  The book that made me stop dead in my tracks and say, "Oh. My. God."

In case you haven't heard of this upstanding young man before, it is none other than Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino from Jersey Shore.  That's right kids, The Situation has infiltrated your local bookstore to regale you with advice on the following topics:

• How to creep on chicks
• How to avoid gernades (FYI: not the ones that explode when you pull the pin and throw them)
• How to get your GTL on in the Jersey Shore

I think I died a little inside seeing this book on the same table as a biography on George Washington.

Of course, as the saying goes, everyone and their dog has a book out these days.  Literally every reality TV star eventually makes their way into a Barnes and Noble store, and the majority of those "stars" probably had someone ghost write their book while all they had to do was pose for the cover photo.  Let's face it, if they let The Situation actually write his own book one would probably need a translator to decipher all the crude, obscure references.  

So as I sit here and ponder my own future in the land of writing, I can't decide if this book bodes well for my chances of one day being published, or if it represents the low I will have to sink to in order to see my words in print. 

Perhaps that is a question best pondered on another day.   

Family Values

Last week was Thanksgiving.  The holiday centered on a golden turkey with neverending side dishes, football, and eating until you're ready to pass out. 

And one other thing.

Family.

Thanksgiving is the kick-off to the holiday season.  A prelude to the magic that is Christmas and a step up in seriousness from Halloween.  Thanksgiving does not receive the same heavy commercialization as Christmas, in fact I believe advertising gurus nationwide have pretty much stricken Thanksgiving from their calendars altogether and just decided to move straight into Christmas promotions.  But Thanksgiving provides a day, a time, a moment, for us to come together with those we love and do what we should always do.

Give thanks.  Give love.  Feel blessed.  Make others feel blessed.

As I sat around the crowded dinner table passing dishes of mashed potatoes, cranberry salad, turkey, and asparagus salad, I took a moment to soak in the moment, the faces, the conversation, the smiles, the laughs.  I sat and said my own silent thanks.  

For family.  For tradition.  For being able to have such a special place to call home.  

While the holiday was not without the normal stresses, it was still a thing of imperfect perfection.  While we all were still mourning the loss of Grandpa, we found a kind of solace in sitting together, sharing stories and memories. 

There's something endearing about returning home to family.  To a home where members of the same family have gathered for generations.  

Family is one of those things that you come to appreciate more and more over time, for most of us a thing that grows better and better over time. 

Here's hoping you all found something wonderful to give thanks for on Thanksgiving.  

Home Improvement

I don’t think I am cut out for home improvement projects.


I have a tendency to get crabby when faced with set-backs, and more often than not I take out this crabbiness on my husband. Not because it’s his fault, but because he always seems to be in the immediate area. Trust me, it’s not the best strategy.


When we bought our house we did so with the knowledge that there would be many small and large projects to tackle. The house was built in 1971, something you could discern just by looking at the flooring, cabinetry, and wallpaper throughout the house. But we weren’t fazed. We were not intimidated by a little painting, a bit of tiling, and a whole mess of extremely unflattering light fixtures.


Over a year later and we have made significant strides. We have also spent a good chunk of change bringing our house into the present day, and no, we do not plan on figuring out exactly how much money has gone into the process….the total could very likely cause us heart failure.


I have done my fair share of work. Dean has done more, and my parents have probably done just as much as both of us. So we are all contributing. Making the house a home to reflect our style, our taste, and our personalities.


And I am ready for it to be done.


At first it was fun. It was exciting. It was breathing new life into a space in need of TLC. Now….it’s just work. And really, it has always been work. Not to mention a huge investment of our time, energy, and pocketbook. Now when setting out to tackle a new project I think to myself, Can’t we just hire someone?


Sometimes my husband will take this as a sign that I don’t think he can do certain elements of a project, which is absolutely not true. For me, it’s more about not having to be present when the work is taking place, and not having to witness any mistakes and deal with any problems. If someone else does the work, I just walk away for awhile, come back, and everything is exactly the way I wanted it.


It’s a very idealistic viewpoint and also a very lazy one. It’s also quite dangerous considering the fact that I should be concerned about keeping the costs of these projects down to a minimum.


I am well aware of the satisfaction that comes with doing a job yourself. I am also well aware of my own personality type and how not suited it is for home improvement jobs. I am a person who likes order, and neatness, and everything to be just-so. Home improvement does not fall into any of those categories. At least, not until the end of the project, and this sometimes does not happen for weeks or months. I am also the type who likes to get things done quickly. In my mind this is equivalent to being efficient. With home improvement it can mean skipped steps, messy work, and mistakes. Luckily, Dean is always there to make sure things are done right.


Do-it-yourself home projects are definitely character builders. They can test the fabric of your patience and your relationship. They can make you feel wonderful, and they can make you feel like crap. For us neat freaks out there, it’s a test of willpower to see how long we can go without running around the job site organizing tools, picking up clutter, and scrubbing down surfaces.


In conclusion, I am not against the do-it-yourself approach, simply anxious for the day when there won’t be so much to do.

Remembering

The art of remembrance is a sometimes fleeting endeavor. The human memory is not capable of keeping our entire lives on file, meaning that every encounter, feeling, and person we experience in our lives has the potential to be forgotten.



Forgotten.


It’s a frightening concept. To think the possibility exists that we might not remember something which at one time was important to us is enough to cause concern. Even more frightening is the notion that this same phenomenon applies to people.


I think we assume that if we care for someone a great deal it’s almost impossible that we would forget things about them. Maybe sometimes this is true, but it’s amazing how foggy one’s memory can become over the space of even a couple years. Certain things like the inflection of a voice, the way someone’s hands looked and felt, their favorite ice cream, all these things are ingredients, components of a real person. As we lose these recollections are we at the same time losing parts of the person? What enables us to remember certain elements over others?


Usually we are more inclined to remember things if they are tied to big moments in our lives. Big events such as graduations, weddings, anniversaries, these are things that might enable us to commit certain things to memory and keep them there. But once they are there, housed in our memories, we really don’t have any guarantee that they will always be there. My wedding was one of the biggest days of my life, and I couldn’t tell you half of the conversations I had that day, let alone who all I saw and hugged. However, I do remember the feelings I felt that day. I remember seeing Dean for the first time and my heart being so filled with happiness that I couldn’t even speak. I remember dancing with my grandfather to “Unforgettable,” laughing at his jokes and feeling so thankful that he was there to share the day with me. I remember driving away after the wedding, feeling the cool night breeze, and wondering if I would ever be able to stop smiling.


And maybe that’s the key. It’s not about details, or exact words, or even setting. It’s about feelings. Feelings can sometime paint a more vivid picture than words ever could. As people come and go in our lives, the extent of our memories will be based entirely upon the feelings we had while we were around them. Losing a loved one, whether it is a relative or a close friend, will more often than not bring us into a panic over our memories. How can we force ourselves to remember? How can we truly never forget someone? Whether or not there are answers to these questions, I think we should try and take the pressure off ourselves to have photographic memories. Certain things will stick and other won’t, that’s just a fact of life.


But the feelings will always linger. Of this we can take some comfort.