Girl of 100 Lists ~ cities

While tripping through the NaBlahBlah Randomizer, I came across this great idea for a post ~ my year in cities! Instead of posting all that happened over the year, list the cities you were in. Brilliant!

For your viewing & reviewing pleasure, may I present to you My Year in Cities, 2007:

Riverside CA*
Huntington Beach CA
Temecula CA
Honolulu HI
Palm Springs CA
San Luis Obispo CA
Del Mar CA*
Philadelphia PA*
Las Vegas NV *
Malibu CA*

One or more nights spent in each city. The ones with * indicates multiple visits. Hmm...not much traveling this year. Boy, is *that* gonna change!

Where did you spend 2007?

Happy 2008 :)

hey jealousy...

Corporate gift arrived at the house yesterday.

iPod nano.

Hell yeah!

I *love* this Company :)

all seven and we'll watch them fall...

I got tagged by Shannon for this one.

Seven Things Most People Don't Know About Moi:

1 ~ When I was in elementary school, I wanted to change my name to 'Mary' or 'Susan' because you could always find those names on little license plates, mugs or pencils.

2 ~ I've kept a journal since I was 20.

3 ~ After my espadrille adventure, I wanted to find a doctor who would cut off my toes, file down my foot bone, then re-attach my toes so I could fit into a size 9 or 10 shoe - much easier to find than 12s.

4 ~ I was seriously depressed about turning 40 this year. So, I went to Hawaii, pampered myself at the hotel spa, went to a ridiculously fabulous restaurant and took a surf lesson for my birthday. Nothing like half a dozen hot hot hot firemen teaching me how to surf. In Hawaii. :)

5 ~ I have road rage. No gun. But I can spew some vile language at stupid people who drive.

6 ~ When I was 30, I won a pageant and traveled all over the U.S. It was the year I discovered me.

7 ~ I love love love the TV show "Gidget" with Sally Field and watch the DVDs over and over and over.

because your ideas are better than mine...

Thank you for saving me, Sarah!

Since no one else has an interesting blog topic, Sarah C posted what she was wearing. Sarah I-don't-know-her-last-initial snagged it, posted what she is wearing. And, in fine fashion, I snapped that sucker up and am posting my version. I love sharing.

Today is my group holiday extravaganza! We're off to Burke Williams Spa for four glorious hours of massages, facials, pampering and relaxation. Then off to The Ivy for dinner. Last year, Steve Perry sat next to us at the Ivy. I hummed "Don't Stop Believin'" all night. He kept saying "When I was with Journey..." or "Back in my Journey days..." or "...with my band Journey..." all night. So hard not to laugh.

Anywho...I'm wearing the frosted grey pleated top from Torrid, dark denim Right Fit jeans from Lane Bryant, black slingbacks with silver buckle from Nordstrom Rack, dangly silver & pearl earrings and a slim silver bracelet.

What are you wearing?

size matters - or, my day as a 6'2" geisha

By the time I turned 16, I was 6'2" tall. I told everyone I was 5'11" because a) it was tall, but not freakishly tall and b) I didn't know of any woman who was over 6' tall.

Along with being tall came the issue of shoes. *sigh* I'm a 12. Yeah, I know. My Mom & Grams used to tell me "If your feet were any smaller, you'd fall over." At the time, I'd have gladly fallen over. Over and over! All through junior high and 9th grade, I wore white Nike tennis shoes with a blue or red swoosh. That's all I could find! Payless Shoes was non-existent. So, I suffered in tennis shoes. At the end of 9th grade, I had discovered catalogs. Fairly decent shoes in my size. Through these catalogs, I discovered the espadrille. The gorgeous canvas shoe with the slight heel wrapped in rope. Oh, how I longed for a pair of espadrilles! Sadly, espadrilles were only offered up to a size 10.

The summer of 1982 found my family in Baltimore for vacation. We had decided to do our back-to-school shopping there - no doubt we'd find 'cool' stuff not available in RiverCity! While browsing the windows, I happened upon a shoe store with espadrilles. The very same espadrilles I'd been drooling over for months in catalogs were now right in front of my face, begging to be touched. I walked in.

"Taupe espadrilles in size 10 please."

The box suddenly appeared, containing my beloved espadrilles. "I'm sorry, we only have white in size 10." No matter! Canvas. Easily cleanable.

I carefully opened the box, peeling back the packing paper which covered my espadrilles. Sparkling white, perfectly wrapped rope around the heel, the smell of canvas. Ahhh! Afraid to touch them, but anxious to put them on, I pulled the shoes out of the box. I couldn't get the stockings on my feet fast enough.

Breathe.

Gulp.

I shoved...uh, I mean...gingerly slipped my foot into the espadrille. It fits! It fits! This must be how Cinderella felt. Filled with such elation, I put on the other shoe. It fits! It fits! I stood up. Ok...this is good. I walked a couple of steps. Ok...this is good too. I turned and walked back. I could not stop staring at the espadrilles. The shoes I wanted were actually on my feet!

Now, while this is going on, my Mom and sister are clucking: they don't fit, they're too small, your toes are scrunched at the top, etc. Uhh...hellooo! My feet. I'm fine. My espadrilles. Oh, happy day! I have espadrilles, I have espadrilles!

Fast-forward to the first or second week of school. I am decked out in my new outfit, complete with white espadrilles and I look good. I made it through 1st and 2nd periods with no problem (solely due to the fact that the classes were across the hall from one another and very close to my locker). 3rd period? That didn't go as well. I hobbled...uh, I mean...had to walk to the middle of the campus. Luckily, I was in the office, so sitting offered sweet relief. The rest of the day was all downhill from there.

By the time school was over, I was cursing my espadrilles. I couldn't walk, I was in such pain. I literally shuffled home. Like a geisha.

Hell yeah, I wore those espadrilles again!