Shoes, and Other Random Thoughts

What is it about shoes? They can make or break my outfit, my mood, my day. I have become friends with people because I consistently liked their shoes. I have spent days with one of my friends shoe shopping (hi, Margs!). The perfect outfit is absolutely no good without the right shoes. I love them, I wear them, and I save them. My husband looks at my boxes of shoes and says, "How can you POSSIBLY not have any shoes to wear with that outfit? How can you possibly need another pair? How many pairs of shoes can you possibly own?"

He's right... and he's oh, so wrong. I have at least 10 pairs of classic, high-heeled pumps that I wore in my days as a medical rep. Black, navy, brown, tan, spikey-heeled, low-heeled, crocodile -textured, spectators, patent leather, suede. Most of them pinch my feet now, but they are all in good condition and... you just never know! Am I right here?? Then there are the clogs. Black, brown, red, green, closed back, open back, fleece-lined, suede, flat, high. And sandals, both casual and dressy. And sneakers, old ones for painting and new ones for tennis. The odd hiking boots. Flip flops, in rubber, leather and pleather. I know you are the same way. Unless they are totally trashed, I never throw them away. Do you? Luckily, I have a big closet:-)

So, as I sat in my big closet, musing over my shoes, I started thinking about the special events connected to them: the shoes I wore on a job interview. The ones I bought for a special new year's eve. The silver ones I wore to Mike's graduation. The ones I only wore once, because they hurt my feet, yet I love them too much to part with them! My mind continued to wander to the people connected with them. Oh, I bought those when Deb and Nancy were here. I wore those the first time I met Lynn. (She noticed them!) And so on. And really, aren't those shoes a lot like friends?

Sometimes, with friends, it's love at first sight. You know, when you meet that person and you just instantly know that you want to be friends with them! It often works out... sometimes, it doesn't. They looked great, but gave you blisters. Sometimes, they didn't strike you as being so great at first, but they were an absolutely perfect fit, and they grew on you. No matter what, unless they are truly worn out to nothing or absolutely hideous, you save them. Maybe you only see them once in a while, but they are there for you when you need them. Maybe you only wear them with your fat pants, but they fit perfectly and you love them.

So, this is the part where I thank you all for being my friends. I love you all, truly, I do. Thanks for putting up with me, even when I give you blisters or don't quite match your favorite sweater.

Speaking of sweaters... (am I smooth, or what?) Okay, the cabled sweater front is frogged. A big pile of wavy spaghetti looking yarn. I need to rewind it and start anew and I'm ready for it. Of course, I'm just a wee bit side-tracked on my knitting. I'm constantly drawn to the ever convenient-to-carry-around sock #2. I've become re-enamoured with the portofino shawl. It's knitting up so beautifully and it feels so soft. I'm picturing myself sitting on the beach, watching the sunset, the shawl wrapped around my shoulders like a warm hug. That picture in my mind, along with the fact that we really have rented a beach house for a week in August, have led me to believe that perhaps I can truly knit an entire summer wardrobe! Yes, beachwear. A couple of tank tops, easy. Maybe a big, loosely knit swimsuit cover up. (No, Mike, I am NOT knitting that bikini!! At least not for wearing in public!) (He has been begging me to knit that for years. Those of you who know me personally know that me, in any bikini, would send young children screaming for their mothers!) Anyway, I've been browsing my knitting books and magazines, mentally assembling my summer wardrobe.

Okay, let's get real here. Tomorrow is April 1st. I'm not a fast knitter. My neighbor is about to have a baby and NEEDS knitted baby things. (She doesn't know this yet, but she will.) I have to face the fact that I will be lucky to finish the portofino shawl in time for the beach... and maybe one tank top, too, okay??

I only have one piece of yoga news, but it's very exciting: My friend Beth has offered to host my yoga class in her basement! I'm back, baby! I'm so excited to start teaching again; I didn't realize how much I missed it. Let me know if you are interested. (Thank you, Beth!)

"The Raw Food Detox Diet" is going pretty well, thanks for asking. I haven't actually weighed myself, since I hate being depressed, but some of my pants are looser than they were, so I think and hope I'm heading in the right direction. I'm just trying to do fruit/fresh juice until noon, and start with salads, and eat reasonably. Yes, it could very well be that I'm only wearing pants that are stretched out from wearing them before :-) We'll see. In the meantime, I want to share my absolute favorite recipe, slightly modified. This is from "The Raw Food Detox Diet" by Natalia Rose:

Hearty Corn Salad

3 portobello mushrooms, chopped
1/4 C balsamic vinegar
1/4 C olive oil
1 Tbs. maple syrup
3 C fresh corn, +/- (fresh is best, but I usually use thawed frozen corn)
2 scallions, sliced
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 tomato, diced small
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Whisk together the vinegar, oil and maple syrup. Marinate the mushrooms in this mixture for about an hour. Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl. Pour the mushroom mixture on top and mix well. That's it! Best eaten right away. Mike and I love this stuff. I can't wait for the summer corn to arrive, and tomatoes... it will be even better! I have added cucumbers, left out the tomatoes, added celery, it's all good.

I think that's it for now. I do have more to say, but I'll save it for another time. Sorry to go so long between posts! I'll try not to do that again. Leave me a comment! It's not much fun to write if no one reads it:-)