Red Shoes

I do believe today is a good day to wear my red shoes. Men sport red power ties, I have my red shoes.

It is amazing how a new pair of shoes can make a difference in someones countenance. Little kids will lift a foot as high as they can to show off their new shoes to anyone. The best EVER is if their little shoes light up! In Jr High and High school settings, the desired pair of designer sneakers may dictate or decide what social group teens hang with. Some adults must have designer labels on the soles of their shoes to feel validated. Of course buying them at a discount outlet is fine, they just need the label. I have been privy to conversations where women admit to judging a man immediately on the spot simply by the pair of shoes he is wearing.

Our oldest daughter appreciates her shoes. She has a closet devoted to them. They live in neat little rows and special bags and boxes under a chandelier. A plaque hangs over the door announcing "One shoe can change your life....Cinderella" For her birthday last year I found a little book that explained how you tell a woman's moods by her shoes! I do not believe my offspring worships her shoes, she appreciates them. It's not the shoes she loves, but the way they make her feel, and yes, even change her mood.

So today I will wear my red shoes. I call them my fierce red shoes. They look like cowboy boots so I will be able to tread through the bull. They have heels so I feel a tad elevated above whatever muck the day may bring. They have a fancy silver buckle because I believe that sometimes the only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize.....thank you Steel Magnolias. They are leather tooled, which brings a personal element and touch to them. And by golly they are RED! Which could be interpreted as a holiday color or sign of self confidence.

Nope, just a warning....Don't mess with me today.

I must be reading the wrong mail

As I check through my emails each day I have discovered that I must be reading the wrong mail! Everything that is urgent, important, or needs my immediate attention seems to be in my spam mail.......from Nigeria! I don't THINK I know anyone from Nigeria? Wow, but that's the spot that makes me sound so important, wanted and needed!

Ok, back to my normal friends who don't hold me in such high regard......

Friends from the North

Sounds like migrating birds! Well, snow birds. I love my new Canadian friends!

I have had the wonderful opportunity to get to know a great group of people from Calgary, Canada in the last few months. I met my first Canadian contact when Brenda stopped by an open house I was hosting, then she referred me as a Real Estate Agent to others and now my little flock of northern friends keeps growing. This week I was fortunate to meet yet another new friend! Hopefully he and his wife will be joining the Calgary Clan with their very own Hacienda here in the Valley of the Sun.

It's great to learn about how another country works, thrives and survives while I don't even have to learn a new language! Of course selling one of the couples a home on my very own street works out especially well, they invite me to happy hour and for dinner! I almost hate to add that twice I have invited my new neighbors to our home for dinner, and yet on both occasions we ended up at their house! No stuffy attitudes or presumptions, they love me just as I am. Even when I show up to dinner in my slippers!

Deck the Halls

'Tis the season and all......I love decorating the house for Christmas, listening to Christmas Carols, writing the cards, etc. Somehow this year the days are slipping toward Christmas faster than usual and I finally got the tree decorated last night. I love my tree. After years of handcrafted ornaments made with pine cones, Popsicle sticks and pictures with toothless grins I want a "theme" tree. Something beautiful with select ornaments of my choosing. With colors of my choosing, maybe coppers and gold with jewel tones instead of red and green.

I have always felt a tad guilty over this since the kids DID make those treasures for us and my husband DOES love the idea of a "traditional" tree with the all the family ornaments through the years, with kid garland and the train circling the bottom of the tree.

As the kids have grown up they still want the house decorated, candles burning and the tree trimmed, but they don't really want to take part or extend the effort on either end of the decorating process, the set up or the re-packing for next year.

Last night pretty much helped me get over my guilt of wanting a tree MY way. It took several hours of laying things out just getting the lights, ornaments, garland etc, prepped to go on the tree in the order I like. About 3pm our youngest daughter now 19, woke from her nap, she came out and sat while I was on a ladder reaching for the top branches. I asked if she would like to help. Her comment was "No, not really." She then told me she had to get ready to go to her friends house, to help HER mother decorate their tree!

That pretty much told me everything and absolved me from all guilt I have suffered over the years. Our children don't really care WHO puts the tree up or what it looks like.

Done. Tree is up, the way I like it. My way, with my colors, and I may spite them even a little more and put singing bird ornaments on the thing!

1 December

Deck the halls, trim the tree, string the lights. While seasonal decorations begin to puke forth may we all remember the true reason for this season!

Merry Christmas my friends!