For years I was a $2 flip flop queen. I've shopped at Payless, I have. I'll admit it. But the moment I started wearing nice, expensive shoes - and subsequently had my feet joyously thank me - I've been hooked on $100 sandals and running shoes that cost more than a year at the gym. I know, I know - I'm poor. Yadda yadda. I shouldn't be "wasting" my money on *another* pair of black mary janes from Dansko. But it makes such a difference in my attitude and my demeanor and more importantly - how slouchy I am. And as a nurse (bah! Sorta-nurse!), I'm totally on my feet most of the day..... you know, walking around and stuff. Doing nurse things. Years and years of that will do a number on me. Which bring me back to these shoes, you see. They're so so so much nicer on your back. Which will be helpful later in life when I surely develop Osteoporosis and my spine starts to crumple in on itself. And I know this will happen, too - because I read an article in one of my nursing magazines (Ok, it was on webmd) that talked about how dark soda (I'm addicted to the dark stuff - diet) has all sorts of toxins in it that leech the calcium from your bones. As most of you know (or may not), I practically IV myself with Coke Zero on a daily basis. It's sick. I go to the Chili's in Linthicum JUST for the Coke Zero on tap. It's *that* bad. Anyways - where was I? Oh, yes - shoes. I'm a shoe snob. That was my only point.

And also that maybe by writing this blog, my $100+ Brooks running shoes will seem less like a splurge and more like an investment for my future career as a consumer advocate. Or a writer. Or a shoe maker. Oooo, or a professional athlete. One of those things. I bought them to start training for a 5K. Cause I've gotta do something. I mean, I'm still losing some weight, but I'm totally out of shape. In the morning, when I drop Wes off at school - we race to the front door and the last time - I'M NOT EVEN MAKING THIS UP - he totally beat me. And I was so winded that I had to do sign language to the teacher because I couldn't catch my breath long enough to formulate words. Ok - that last part is an exaggeration. But I *was* exhausted. And my heart is all cranky because I've let it just get lazy and sit around on it's little heart couch all day watching old episodes of Married with Children. My heart is like a 50-year old retiree.

As I write this, I am trying to re-establish my Itunes music database, which I foolishly tried to move to my external hard drive and then deleted on my computer only to realize that I lost about half my music in the process. I have a feeling it's somewhere on my computer, but finding it has proven to be an exercise in - well, in running with a 5-year old (see above). Difficult. All my playlists are gone too. Which is fine. I can make them up again... I'm not too upset about that. Also, all the music I've stolen from my friends (Kristi, Amanda, Mark... Danielle) is asking for passwords again. So basically, I went from 60G of music to The Carpenter's Greatest Hits and that classical stuff that is on the computer when you buy it to show you how the speakers work. That's it. Lame.

But the good thing is, in being bored with waiting I chose to write this. So it's a win for you. And isn't it always? A win? This blog? For you, I mean? Not always for me and the children I have to neglect in order to write it. Or the time I could be using to better myself with one of my many self-help books or exercise DVDs. Never mind all that. I just really hope I'm able to get some of my music back, because that would really suck.

I noticed the other day that my neighbors shack/house is protected by the Shloman Shield (I'm probably spelling this wrong). I would have totally thought they bought the sign on ebay or constructed it themselves (or even stole it from another lawn) if I hadn't heard the alarm go off one day at 2 am when one of the 22 people who live in there came home late and drunk from the bar. Do they really think someone is going to rob them? The upstairs window has a sheet with duct tape for a curtain. I'm guessing the only thing of value in there is probably the appliances. Or the methadone/crack they're brewing in the basement (I'm assuming).

Them having a house alarm is right along the same lines as my having an IUD. There's really no threat of penetration.

Oh, wow. I totally went there. I'm sorry. I seriously have incidents of word vomit perversion. And, yes, I do realize I could go back and erase, but that wouldn't be fair to you - blog reader. You come here for the brutally honest and upfront openness that only my sarcastic (and sometimes crude) wit can provide. And, also - for the recipes. Sometimes I post 'em.

Seems like a good time to wrap things up. Until next time: Make good decisions and avoid MSG.