A Little Compliment Never Hurts

Last weekend I went out the Georgia Renaissance Festival for the first time.  It was kind of cool out, and rainy, and muddy, and I went alone.  I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy myself, but I figured that if I didn't, I could blame it on the crummy weather and just try again later with some friends.

I had a great time.

Since it was icky outside, it wasn't very busy.  I could walk around without bumping into people, which is always nice.  I didn't have to worry about being too hot.  I could take my time browsing the stalls and shops, and not worry about being in anyone's way.  It took the better part of four hours to make one circuit of the place, and that was without stopping everywhere.

The shows were entertaining, too - rather adult humor, even in front of kidlets, but since I had no kidlets along, I didn't really care ;)  I'd definitely like to go back and intentionally seek out some performances, rather than just stumbling upon them.

I actually spent about an hour at one shop, though I had planned to just ask a quick question and leave.  They sold boots, and I always have a heck of a time finding boots.  I have teeny, tiny little feet (I usually wear kids' shoes, and at best, a woman's 5), but big ol' calves from much tap dancing.  Trying to find boots is tough work.

So I stopped in, and looked.  The guy (Brian) told me that  I really needed to try the boots on to see how they fit.  And I did.  Rather, I let him put me into a boot.  And wow.  It was awesome.  Of course, the top edges just barely met, so if I get a pair, I'll have to special order them so they can be made wide enough, but still.  It was nice to see that I'm not that far off from the standard sizing.

What was even nicer, though, was when Brian asked to play dress-up with me. (And yes, that's what he called it.)  He disappeared into the back, and came out with an armful of things for me to try on - long leather vests, a corset-style vest, a coat, a wrap shirt - all made of such soft, lovely leather.

Even better than all the lovely things, though, was what he said to me: "You've got the body of a real woman.  That's an hourglass figure."

I think that might have been the best I've felt about myself in weeks.

So thanks, Brian.  You made my day. (Sorry I couldn't afford the $500 boots!)

I like shiny things

A couple weeks ago, I had a Pampered Chef party.  It was a lot of fun - I'm such a sucker for those sorts of things!  I've had Partylite candle parties, Stampin' Up parties, Tupperware parties... I was even a Tupperware lady for a while.  There's just something fun about group shopping like that.

Maybe it's the fact that I'm not alone in my shopping in that sort of setting.  There's less guilt about buying stuff when everyone else around you is doing it, too.  Peer pressure, I suppose, can affect a thirty-something just as much as it can affect a teenager.

Of course, the yummy food and wine at Pampered Chef parties help!

I'm pretty happy with what I got, though.  I am now the proud owner of an actual double-boiler, not just a mixing bowl that doesn't quite fit over my pot!  I also now have an actual spice rack, rather than just a Tupperware box that sits on the shelf.  (But don't worry, I have a use for that Tupperware!)

Can you tell that shopping is a weakness for me?  Funny enough, I don't write many characters who have that weakness, and I don't really like reading about characters like that.  Hmm... if I were a psychologist, I'd probably have lots to say about that...

Just a few notes

Dear Target,

You know who has size 5 feet?  Short people.  You know who can't see the top shelf?  Short people.  Please make sure that the dude who sets up your shoe area is aware of this fact.  If I have to jump up to see what's in the box of shoes, chances are, I'm not going to bother.  You're pretty much guaranteeing business for Payless.

Vertically challengedly yours,
Danielle

*****

Dear Sunbeam,

While I appreciate that you manufacture one of the only hot-air poppers I've been able to find, if my options are a) eat no popcorn or b) pick up burning hot kernels from all around my kitchen before my dog can find them, I'm going to just go without popcorn.  More kernels ended up randomly flying around the room than ended up popping and landing in the bowl.  Please talk to your design team and suggest that they fix this issue.

With flying popcorn,
Danielle

*****

Dear subconscious,

Please please please please stop playing the same scene in my mind every time I close my eyes.  I didn't like seeing it the first time, and I don't like replaying it.  It's not pretty.  And it makes me a little bit nauseated.

Sickeningly yours,
Danielle

*****

Dear HEA,

I swear, I haven't forgotten you!  I promise!  I've got a brand new notebook all ready for my next draft, and I promise that I've been thinking of you.  It's just, with this new house, and a show, and work, and a very loving puppy, and a baby blanket to finish, and about a million other little things, well, I've been busy.  But I will make time for you soon.  I promise.

With love and procrastination,
Danielle

*****

Dear Lindt,

You make the best chocolate ever.  I love you.

Melting for you,
Danielle

Ow, my legs...

I got new shoes: check them out.

I wore them shopping today.

My legs say, "Ouch, bitch!"

I thought my internet was out...

...but it turns out, it wasn't! But I did a vlog anyways, so here you go!

I got comments!

Because I'm slow at things, I totally didn't realize that I've had comments on some of my posts! Wow! I feel all popular and special - especially since one of them is from someone I don't even know! I'm way cooler than I thought. Okay, enough ego.

I bought things tonight. I wasn't going to buy lots of things. I was going to buy a watch battery. That was all. I ended up with a watch battery, a black dress, a bottle of Dr. Pepper, two Hershey's Cookies and Cream bars, a bottle of water, a monkey rug, a Sudoku book, two crossword books, and an On-The-Go Organizer. I spent money that should have been saved to replace my camera, because my digital camera decided to finally die on me. But I have a monkey rug to put at the foot of my bed with the monkey duvet and monkey sheets and monkey pillows. I think the next stop is a stuffed monkey (or ten) to live on the bed. Maybe that will go on my birthday wish list for next year - monkeys! I almost bought a monkey shower curtain, but I couldn't let go of the pink yet. (For those of you who have not been in my bathroom, it's pink. Very pink. Barbie pink. Everywhere. Even the toilet has a fuzzy pink cover. It's almost creepy, but I love it.)

While I was in the bookstore tonight, I found "Listology" - a book of lists for your life. I think, on days that I can't find anything else to write about, I'm going to make lists. I like lists.