Utils in Bat Country

Magical shoes

The dream (Duchess Shinylocks and her LK Bennett Maddox wedges).

You'll never guess where and how much.

Bumper Cars

I was up in NJ for the weekend and after my less than fun trip on the Del last time, I was hoping for a low key trip home. 

Alas.

One quirk of MD drivers is the predilection to not accelerating through turns. I've adapted enough and now just usually stay a decent amount back from the cars so instead of braking and accelerating all the time, I can coast and adjust as need be. 

I'm heading down 95 South yesterday afternoon with a fair bit of space between me and the car in front, even with heavy traffic (was driving in MI and a ladder flew off the back of a truck in front of me on the highway and I was far enough back to swerve lanes but ever since am wary). We came up to a curve and all of a sudden, I just see brake lights.  Most of the way down there'd been plenty of stop and starts but since I had adopted my coasting habit, I was able to avoid that part. This, however, was different. I slam on my brakes, watch the bumper of the car in front of me come up far too quickly, but am able to stop with a few feet to spare.

While stopping, I hear squealing tires, and wonder if it's mine so I glance left and see most of the cars in the left lane swerving into the sholder because they did not have enough distance to stop but that's not it. Look in the rearview mirror and it takes a minute to register that I'm watching a blue Mack truck with a smashed in front end maybe 200 feet back barrel up my lane before jack knifing across the left lane of traffic and crashing into the shoulder. Right behind me was a silver car, also with a smashed in front end that cut across traffic to get to the shoulder. Traffic in front of me moved again (no accident, no construction, nothing to justify the abrupt stoppage) and as I started driving I saw other cars pull off including a not involved truck so am hoping help was on the scene quickly.

Surreal. Scary.

Keep a decent distance between you and the other cars on the highway, kids. Bumper cars in real life is not a good thing to watch.

For want of sunglasses

Over the last couple of years, I don't know if my face changed shaped or what but I suddenly cannot find any sunglasses that don't make me look like a bug or like some sort of shrunken zombie.

I have one pair, aviators from Ralph Lauren that I got a few years ago from the outlet.  They live in my car and I'm amazed I haven't lost them. Probably because they were expensive (for me) at $70 so they pretty much always stay in my car and I only use them while driving.  Which helps since the way the nose pieces are mean I can't push them up on my head without causing giant tangles in my hair (super smooth, I know.)

I would like to have a pair I can wear when I'm out and about. And I feel like I photograph much better when I have a pair on (because somethings covering half my face? Surely no...) I've been checking at various stores over the last couple of months and have struck out at Target, Old Navy, Macys, and Loft. I don't want to go super expensive because that seems a bit unnecessary and also because aside from the car pair, I typically lose sunglasses within a few months of getting them.

Decent size, but not too big. Not boring but easy to pair with anything. Opaque enough lenses where you can't see my eyes through them (am such a spy).  Basically, I'm goldilocks when it comes sunglasses.

I'm stumped. Any suggestions?

Giotto

Oh, kitty boy.

He'd been sick for awhile but D said he'd seemed like he was doing a bit better.  Then the phone rang. D was with him at the animal hospital, said he'd stopped eating.  They took a blood panel and said the best thing would be to put him down.

Since I have distance, am sad, but ok. I feel bad that D had to deal with it by himself, I've had to take both Giotto and Tilly to the animal hospital by myself before and it sucks, and my experiences had happy endings. Is good that Bella and Tilly are there. *sigh*. Circle of Life, Lion King, etc. :(

Rest in peace, Giotto. I hope you had a good life.

At the races

Tass' next door neighbor and I have become friends and we were hanging out a few days ago and were talking about the Triple Crown and I mentioned that I'd never been to any of the events but wanted to go to Preakness since am now conveniently located.  She said Preakness was on her 30 to do in 30 list and once we both clarified that we were of the attend in fancy dresses and hats mind and not the drunken infield one, we squealed and made plans to go. 

And now tickets and parking have been procured - yay!

I think I'm going to wear my blue Pezza dress but am debating what to do as far as headwear. It seems that the Derby is the most floppiest of floppy hat events so perhaps I can go the fascinator route? Something with peacock feathers perhaps? Or would that be a hat faux pas? 

On Sunday we stood out on our respective porches and modeled possible outfits. My gingerbread socks looked amazing against the blue :)  The neighbors were very confused. 

Now this is fun outfit planning.

Book Reviews

Thanks to my oh so long commute, I've been blowing through books. Some good, some horrifying.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith.  I loved this one. I do have a special soft spot for anything involving aviation but I thought this one was just delightful.

Tempted by Trouble by Liz Fielding. A nice little confection of a thing. A bit too sacchrine for my re-reading tastes but enjoyable enough the first time around.

One Hot Cowboy Wedding by Carolyn Brown.  Ugh.  I go in fits and starts with this series. Every third one or so is just god awful to me but the intervening ones are entertaining enough to keep me checking in. Nothing like the good old you have to get married else you forfeit everything will clause. The presence of the other characters felt wedged in, the main characters were irritating and the opposite of sexy.

The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie. Two thumbs up. Am usually a fan of Crusie's writing and this one proved to be entertaining. Another I need a fake wife trope but done well.

The Last Cowboy by Lindsay McKenna.  WORST BOOK I'VE READ IN YEARS.  I'm certainly not a professional writer but oh good god, show not tell. Also, for the record, it is beyond ridiculous when a character has been gored by a bull and is getting the tourniquet put on and the focus is on the blood dripping down his "hairy, muscular leg." Blech.

Fairytale by Maggie Shayne.  Definite page turner.  Was writtern in the late 90s and reads a bit dated but the plot and the writing truck along very nicely.  I've got the follow up, waiting on the Kindle. 

The Marquis at Midnight by Kate Harper. I've been off the historical train lately but I enjoyed this one.

London Calling by Emma Carr.  I love a good contemporary and this one was most enjoyable.

The Way Back by Stephanie Doyle. Am a sucker for anything involving dogs.

Single in the City by Michele Gorman. Another enjoyable contemporary.

Firelight by Kristen Callihan. Such a good plot. Loved the twist on the trope.

Me, Myself and Paris by Ruth Yunker. Not my favorite book of travel essays, it didn't flow as easily as I would have liked. Was difficult, especially on the train, to stay pulled into the story.

A Little Night Magic by Lucy March. The heroine was a bit too sugary perfect do gooder but the rest was great.

Dangerous to Love by Sally Tyler Hayes. Am usually not a fan of romantic suspense but I liked this one quite a bit.

Anything good I should add to my queue?

 

Train Tales

Riddle me this - politeness vs independence.

Occasionally, I'll take the 6pm train and there's a conductor who waits at the bottom of the platform steps and holds his hand up so any of us climbing down can make use of the extra help. Since I get off the train most every other day without extra help, I typically don't make use of it.

I always smile and say have a goodnight but I feel like I'm being rude. I took the hand one time and it was just odd. Awkward since I'm used to using the hand rail and strange since typically getting a hand down or up is from someone you're used to holding hands with.

But what to do. Take the hand?

Nail Polish Review

Most of my nail polish collection is the typical mix of OPI, Essie, and Butter London. But, for the super trendy shades, I typically look for one of the cheaper drug store brands.

While wandering Target I eyed various minty and sparkly shades and ended up grabbing a bottle of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Mint Sorbet and a rose glitter shade of Revlon in Sparkling.  And, thus far, they're both outperforming my more expensive brands. I applied two coats on Sunday (pink glitter on my ring fingers because I like to sport the same manicures as all the 12 yr olds wandering the streets) and with days filled with typing, cooking, all sorts of things involving nails, and I have zero chips. And this is with no top coat. I'm kind of amazed. (And perpetually tempted to chip it off myself because there's something bizarrely satisfying about peeling off nail polish.)

Best of all, the Sally Hansen was only $2.79.  

Two (delightfully pretty) thumb(nail)s up!

La dee bla, disclaimer, I paid for all nail polish out of my own pocket.

Bottoms, again

Of course, 3 days after my full price pants purchase spree, Old Navy has stuff and save with 30% off your purchase.  Since I'm here in NJ house/pet sitting, I made the much easier drive and I'm pretty sure I managed to repurchase everything from last weekend. Thanks to the sale, for a net increase of $25 I was able to repurchase everything from last week plus 2 skirts, lounge pants, a cardigan, 3 pairs of flip flops and a shirt.

This round to me, Old Navy!

(so long as I actually return the original set)

Final Sale: Agony and Ecstasy

(Shopping is very dramatic, don't ya know)

Even though it was the dreaded final sale, with the 30% off incentive, I caved on a few things from JCrew. I figured that even though their sizing has become rather generous over the years, it's mostly consistent so I felt pretty comfortable ordering some never before tried on pieces.

Oh, ha, JCrew, hahaHA.

Two shirts, both size xs fit well.  One belt, size s/m had to streeeetch but is definitely workable. One skirt, size 4 that definitely needs me to stop eating bags of candy.  It's my goal piece? 

And the pants. Like I said earlier in the week, I've had a need for properly attired bottoms. They had the cafe capri's (in bright dahlia!) in a 4 and an 8. Debated over the 4, took a look at my backside in the mirror, sighed over the loss of the 6 and ordered the 8. No problems, just a smidge on the big side but like my co-worker who has them said they're cut relatively slim so sizing up from a 6 just means they lay nicer on me. I also threw in for fun, bright orange sailor pants. For some reason, I thought they were linen and they only had a 10 but I figured they'd be easy enough to alter. But no. Not only are they a heavy cotton material, suckers are tiiiight. The 10 barely zipped. Hooray for ordering the proper size but my sizing consistency theory is pretty much blown out of the water.

But you don't try on purses or jewelry... 

:)