I learned something this summer.  I mean really learned it (as opposed to just thinking it).  I have always known that good shoes can make a differnce in your feet.  I haven't been immune to the appeal of cheap, cute, stylish shoes but I have also tried to make sure that I am putting shoes with support on my feet for most days.

This summer I bought two pairs of these.  One pair in this beige color and one is a charcoal grey color.  I figured they would take me through most of the summer in comfort.  And they're cute.

They're comfortable when you put them on and stay comfortable all day.  I wore them without socks and they looked good with my summer clothes.

I didn't notice how much my feet/ankles/legs/lower back were hurting me at the end of the day until I wore shoes and socks during one of our cooler summer days.

Peter Kevin and I went to the Dansko outlet and I got some new shoes for fall/winter.  Including a pair of these palepale green with roses embroidered on them.  I also got a pair of Dansko sneaker-like shoes which I have been wearing the last few days.

And I noticed that my feet/ankles/legs/lower back felt so much better at the end of the day.  No aching, no pain.  These have terrific support and are so comfortable.  What a difference.  It's remarkable to me that the difference is so profound. 

I am wearing the cute-summer-no-support shoes today.  It's not a run around day, most of my time will be in meetings or spent at my desk so I should be ok.  And the summer will be over within the month and the no sock shoes will be put away in favor of shoes with socks both handknit and otherwise.

I realized last night that I have no idea what to wear to Kate's wedding.  I have to find a dress (and not a MOB dress-that's just not me) that will be ok while we're in the trees at Batsto and then still look appropriate for the reception.  And shoes!  Maybe some small heels because walking through the dirt/leaves will ruin anything else.  I ordered a dress from LandsEnd (I love their clothes).  I have this dress but sleeveless and in fuschia.  It fits perfectly and is comfortable and looks good all day.  I can wear a colorful pair of shoes or go classic in black with black stockings.  And it will dress down for work throughout the fall and winter.  (and it's machine washable!). 

And if I work diligently, I can finish the Fir Cone Shawl to wear with it.

I'm still waiting for Kate to buy shoes so we can hem her dress and I can call it done. 

Well, I'm off to start the round of meetings and paperwork.  The day outside the window looks glorious.  Maybe dinner in the park is in order.

It's Monday morning and I noticed that it is darker now in the early mornings than it has been.  The year will slide toward the holidays so quickly.

Pk and I have been taking it easy for the summer.  He's anxious about finding work before the unemployment runs out and I feel some anxiety too.  The upshot is that we are both a abit more easily irritated than usual.  I have to keep it in mind when he (or I) snaps. 

I spoke to my pcp about these perimenopause issues.  I have some days when I feel like myself but then other days when I am so headachy or grouchy or just having power surges one after another that I want to scream (and there's another reason for the increased irritability)

She suggested Evening Primrose Oil and B complex vitamins (and gave me a prescription for an anti-anxiety med if I need it).  She also said some women take antidepressants.......I told her I was all too familiar with the psychotropics and would pass on them.  I did take the script for the xanax because it helps take the sharp corners off on those days when I can't just sit down with some chamomile tea and put up my feet.  I have an appt with the gyn in Sept and we'll be having a similar discussion.

My Fir Cone Shawl is coming along.  I finished the center part and am now knitting the endless edging.  It's a 14 row repeat and there are probably 500 repeats!  I always have trouble starting a knitted on edge.  I usually call Kate and she helps me see what I'm supposed to do but I figured it out myself this time.

I was moving counter clockwise around the shawl and the edge goes on clockwise.  It took me a bit to see that but once I did, it all fell into place.  I lovelovelove the way this is coming out to be one enormous soft wrap.  It would make a gorgeous baby blanket if babies didn't throw up or drool or have other accidents.

I finished one Watermelon sock.  I absolutely love this yarn.  It is so much fun to knit with.  It's been my go-to knit when the weather has been to hot to hold onto a lap full of wool.

Our weather has been really nice lately.  Actually, all summer.  There were a few days when it was beastly but for the most part it's been a great summer.  A lot of rain which is good but also makes the tomatos burst through their skins.  I'd send some of it out west where they are experiencing drought of historic proportions.

Time to go get my charts and get things moving.  It's a Monday and for me that means BUSY.  It's the fullest day of the week for me (and this week I'm covering for someone's vacation) so Whoopee! Let the fun begin!

Happy Monday y'all!

Although I try to not wish it were Friday every day because I don't want to spend most of my week wishing my day away, I can't ignore the extra bit of sparkle that Friday brings.  It's humid and still outside this morning and the sky is uniformly grey.  No big storm in the offing but it looks like we're in for a rainy afternoon (followed by a rainy weekend). 

Did you ever hear that expression, "too dumb to walk and chew gum at the same time"?  Well, I was walking down the street this morning and looked down.  (this is not an actual photo of the sidewalk I was on but it could be.  It looked just like this)  All those black spots represent a piece of gum.  And the sidewalks in Philadelphia all look like this. 

It indicates a serious number of people who are very uncoordinated!  And now that I've noticed it and thought about it, it sticks out more.  I see old gum on all the sidewalks.  It's pretty disgusting.

Last weekend I finished Kate's dress.  Here it is hanging on a door.  Kate has tried it on and it fits perfectly.  As soon as she decides on shoes, we can pin the hem and I can finish it up completely.

She loves it.  She put it on and twirled around.  "It twirls!".  This made her happy (which of course, made me happy).  She looks amazingly beautiful in it and will make a lovely bride. 

And now that Kate's dress is done, I can think about what I'm going to wear for a wedding in the woods.  I'm thinking jeans and hiking boots but will probably have to go a bit dressier.

I am getting ready for the last section on my Fir Cone Shawl.  It has knit up so much faster than I anticipated and is so soft.  Unfortunately, it's a large lapful of wool and I can only work on it when A) the a/c is on in the bedroom or B) we have one of our rare cool days in the summer.

Last Friday was one such cool day.  Pk and I took ourselves on an adventure to the Groff and Groff lumber yard.  He bought a few small pieces of lignum vitae.  Sounds very impressive, doesn't it?  It's wood that is hard and dense enough that if you throw it into water, it will sink.  It's heavy as all get out.  He's going to make some wooden mallets for his shop.

We then went to the Dansko outlet so I could get some shoes for the fall/winter.  I got a pair of blue suede sneaker-like shoes, and two pairs of enclosed clogs.  One is a sage green with brown roses embroidered on it and the other is ruby red patent leather.  Peter Kevin insisted on those.  "These are fun".  They ARE fun and out of character for me which is part of the appeal. 

The day was warm and sunny and low humidity and just about perfect.  We rode with the windows down and just enjoyed the day together.  The grocery shopping got done and then we had pizza with Kate and Patrick for dinner. 

This weekend we have no plans other than to finish up Kate's birthday present (description of which will come later) and relax.  I think we're in for an uncomfortable one so there will probably not be too much moving around.

Life is moving on slowly but surely.  Pk is still sending resumes out into the void of the internet.  He sends out tons of them every day and doesn't hear back.  It's so frustrating because he doesn't know why they don't answer and is left trying to figure it out.  Job hunting sucks.

Time to get to work.  I haven't been terribly productive this week and I'd like to correct that today.  Happy Friday!