Getting Ready!!!!

I hate shopping. I hate shopping for clothes. I hate shopping for shoes. I hate shopping for purses. There are only two things I do like shopping for - books (that one is a given) and watches. I love collecting watches to match outfits - though I hate shopping for said outfits.

But with a trip to San Francisco coming up soon, I knew I had to start getting ready. Since it's my weekend to work, I had today off and I figured today was as good as any to get started.

I shopped until I dropped. Literally - I got into the house and simply dropped on the couch. Right now I'm so pooped I can't even get excited about what I bought. I'm lucky I even made it into the house with my purchases. I was tempted to leave them in the car until I was less pooped.

So, I got mega clothes. And I mean MEGA. I started from the inside and worked outside. My sisters despair for me over bras. I hate buying them and usually just stick with one or two until they wear out - drives Lisa and Nancy nuts!! But I knew I needed some good ones. And I found one that was comfortable. It was funny though - since the one I wear the most is almost worn out, I've been drooping if you know what I mean. When I tried on the new bra, my chest was higher. It was most disconcerting to look down and see my puppies - OK truth time. They aren't puppies. Puppies makes them sound young and...well.....perky. Mine are more like the old hound dogs you see sitting on porches. Very droopy. Anyway - this new bra gave them life and well - perked them up some.
TMI - I know. I'm going to kick myself when I'm over being so pooped.

Then I had to get new sleepwear. I'm sharing a room with Wendy, Rosie and Kate - with a couple of special guests showing up some of the time. Female guests - just want to make that clear. But I couldn't wear my normal sleepwear. While it's very comfortable, I kind of spilled hair dye on them not long ago while getting rid of that gray hair - which by the way will be taken care of come Monday! I have a hair appointment to get highlights - which Nancy, a former hairdresser herself assures me is the right word to use - not streaks - which is what I was thinking of getting - nope, it's highlights. It seems odd saying that though 'cause I'm getting more than that done. I'm having it coloured then highlights added! I do this about once a year - the rest of the year I colour it myself - and get it all over my comfy sleepwear.
So I had to get nice sleepwear. And since I'll be there for a few nights, I had to get more than one set.
Then I got pants and tops and something special to wear to the RITA's. If I think of what that all cost, I'll have a heart attack. When I paid for them all, I just pretended it was someone else. That should work until the credit card bill comes in. Although a lot of what I got was marked down at the register. It turned out to be $50 less than prices marked. And that allowed me to get another pair of PJ's
SCORE!!

When I was visiting Nance not long ago, I got shoes, two pair of walking shoes - not running shoes because I'm afraid hell will freeze over before I run anywhere. But I remember from last year that comfortable shoes are an absolute must. I also got a couple of pairs of sandals so I was all set for daytime. But I knew I needed something a bit dressier for evening.
Now I don't know how long it's been since I wore heels. I know many women swear by them, and I'm in awe of the people who actually dance in them, but I'm just not a heel wearer. I'll wear high heels right about the same time I start running.
So after my clothes shopping excursion, I headed over to the mall.

At this point I feel compelled to confess something. *Deep sigh*. I lied. I lied to myself and I lied to anyone who reads this blog. I had to walk by the bookstore. It called to me. I could hear it whispering "Kristie, come in. You know you want to. Give in. Give in to my power. Come here Kristie. Enter me" It was like I had no resistance at all. I was compelled to enter. I folded like a wet Kleenix. I don't understand why book stores can't leave me alone when I walk by them. It's that damn Siren call.
But. I did get the last laugh. I didn't go down the romance aisle. Instead I stayed at the front where they have hardcover books on for really good prices. So I picked up a hard cover copy of Innocent as Sin by Elizabeth Lowell for(regularly $34.00) $8.00 minus 10% 'cause of my Chapters Avid Reader Card and Nora Roberts Angels Fall (regularly $29.95) for $10.00 - less 10%. That's $63.95 worth of books for only $18.00 - minus 10% - I'm much to tired to do the math.
SCORE!! I showed those Sirens - oh yes I did. Try to lure me in again - hmphh

So - after that brief stop at a shoe store. Now I knew I was going to have to get something that lifted me a couple of inches off the floor, but heels were out. And the sales clerk pointed out a very nice pair of shoes with wedge heels. I tried them on and low and behold - they were comfortable!! "I said that's it! I'll get these." They gave me a bit of height, were comfy and while not as dressy as I wanted, still two out of three wasn't bad. Plus they were on sale. A Very Good Sale price.
Only one problem. Something odd happened and one was a size 7 and the other was a size 7 1/2. And no matter how hard the clerk looked, she couldn't find a matching pair in either size. The store was getting busy so she asked if I could come back since her manager was on a break. I said no problem.

After that I headed to the bank. I got some American money and some American Travelers Cheques so I'm all set now that way. The only I need to do is hide it somewhere until I go and remember where I hid it. I see a problem with that.
I stopped briefly at the food court for some bottled water as I need to whet my whistle and avoid thinking about all the money I'd spent so far today.
I didn't have to worry about a purse as I got a real cute one in Massachusetts. Funny story that.
Brief history. As well as despairing over my lack of bra sense, Lisa and Nancy HATE my purses. They hate them bad. I need big purses in order to hold 2 or 3 books, but they don't seem to understand that. They complain my purses are Mom purses - the kind our mother used to get. Well, I have to inherit something from my mom. What's wrong with the same taste in purses??? But this latest one I have they hate more then any other purse I've had. Lisa says it looks like a diaper bag and Nancy says it looks like a pair of fat old man's dirty underwear. They are good at coming out with insults those sisters of mine.
So while we were in Massachusetts, I figured I'd shut them up and get a nicer, smaller one to take with me. I saw one that was ever so adorable. I picked it up and wandered around to do some more shopping. Imagine Lisa's horror then, when I went to find the two of them and showed them the purse I was going to get. LISA WAS PLANNING ON GETTING THE SAME PURSE. She was horrified, HORRIFIED I tell you that me - the one who has a purse that looks like a fat old man's pair of dirty underwear, had chosen the same purse she had. There was just no way she was going to get the same one. Heh heh heh. I won!!
So by now I was ready to head back to the shoe store. I went in and the sales clerk told me they couldn't find a matching pair of either 7 or 7 1/2 shoes. But both the ones I tried on were comfortable and I liked them so she said I could get them and they would give me a 10% discount because they were 2 different sizes.
SCORE!! They were regularly $100, marked down to $30 and then with an additional 10% off - I'm too tired to do the math - I got a squeal of a deal for 2 unmatched shoes.
I was on my way out of the mall when I passed a jewelry store that was going out of business and had earings and necklaces marked AS 70% off. Of course I had to get some to match my new clothes.
SCORE!!

So - I think I'm ready clothes, purse and shoes wise. And that's a pretty good feeling!
OH - And I got a new watch too!