Update on The Boyz

A few changes have occurred in my world the last few years. I'm OK with change, for the most part. As Pearl Bailey said ' We must change in order to survive'.

So, I decided to change my blog design a bit..do a little updating. Which brings me to what I started to write about..The Boyz. I was debating on whether or not to delete their pic. They haven't lived with me for over a year and a half, which is why I haven't made any posts to their blog. They live with their 'dad'...the EX. I was unable to care for them after I injured my ankle so he agreed to look after them. His pup, Tigger was overjoyed to have them back. Turns out the little guy had been depressed because he missed his 'bros'. And they loved being re-united with him. I tried having them visit back and forth but found it difficult to have that much contact with 'you know who'. Especially after I moved on, so to speak. Let's just say that my social life (and work) took up most of my time, making it impossible to properly take care of Elvis and Presley.

Gradually, I've stopped seeing them. It was just too hard to see their sad little faces each time I had to leave. They wanted to go with me and I couldn't take them. Now that the house is on the market, they can't come here and make their doggy messes and I just can't go to their house any more...

Some changes are hard..but for the best. I miss my boyz but they're happy with their dad and Tigger.

And life goes on, y'all

Women's Shoes vs Men's Shoes

Rob wanted to buy a new pair of Rockports. Macy's was having a one day sale and I noticed in their ad that Rockports were on sale. So I met him at the mall Saturday afternoon. I entered the store and found myself in the midst of the ladies shoe department. It was a madhouse..utter chaos! Women were everywhere, trying on shoes, scanning the massive sale rack while the kids ran wild. There were hundreds of styles to choose from; dress to casual, low heels, high heels, wedges, flats, flip flops, bling, no bling, every color of the rainbow including metallic. Sales people were running back and forth getting sizes. What men that were there were wandering around with a glazed look, probably wishing they were home watching ESPN or something. Across the aisle was the cosmetics department. There was a flurry of activity there! Rock music was blaring while make artists demonstrated the latest products on any female who was willing to sit in their chair. Next to that, the jewelry department, where more bling than you could imagine was waiting to be snapped up. It was crazy!


It was the day before Father's day..but they had to stop and buy themselves 'a little something' before taking care of dad...right?


I browsed around, taking it all in, resisting the urge to make a purchase. I had in the car a brand new pair of Yellow Box sandals to wear to dinner that night. Anyway, I had just bought a new brown top to go with them. Rob finally arrived and we proceeded upstairs to the men's department where the shoes were tucked away in the corner. It was virtually empty. We went straight to the Rockports. There were about six styles to choose from. A salesman casually asked if he could help. Rob picked up the black pair that was on sale and inquired about them. The guy measured his foot then went to retrieve his size..perfect fit, good price. He wanted them in brown but they only had black. He has a pair of black ones but they're really old..I suggested that he needed a new pair of black and could find brown later..done deal..he proceeded to check out.

Meanwhile, a couple around our age came in. The lady sat down and waited while the guy went straight to a style and inquired about them. The salesman brought the shoes out, the guy took them and got in line top pay. I casually mentioned to the lady that men's shoes are so uncomplicated. They go in, choose from several styles and colors; mainly black or brown, make their purchase and they're done. She told me that her husband wears the same style, same size, same brand (Rockports) so he doesn't even try them on..just replaces them as needed. This all took place in about 20 minutes! Our men each had a brand new pair of 'Pepaw shoes'...she and I had a good laugh and we all went on our way.

So that's why they put the women's shoes and accessories right in the front door. We are slaves to fashion and they know it! It's not about needing shoes. It's all about the thrill of the hunt...the right pair to go with the right outfit. Of course, then we need to finish the look with jewelry. Making a fashion statement is more important than comfort. Guys for the most part just want basic, comfortable, functional covers for their feet.

I'm Still Here...

Just been busy. It's been over a year since I've blogged! A lot of water under the bridge since November '08. Hurricane Ike kind of put a damper on things for a while but we recovered.

Now, we're almost half way through 2010! Time does fly when you're having fun. Yes, I'm having fun! Still working in The World of Hair. I moved back into a private suite about a year ago. I'm still with Mr B.... That's where the fun comes in.

Him and me
We're a 'we'
There's still a lot
Of world to see.

We're going to sail
And explore
We're in it together
Forever more!

So, that's why I haven't had made much time for blogging. I have someone to share the good times with. Perhaps I'll start writing more about our escapades and adventures. Well..we both still work, so we don't venture too far away....yet! We manage to find many interesting things to do locally. Last week we went to see Straight No Chaser, a men's a capella group. They're relatively new and currently on tour. Check them out on Youtube or facebook. That's another thing that takes up some of my down time...facebook!

And yes, we really are going to learn to sail, y'all!

Flip Flop Alert!

I love flip flops! I wear them in the house during the winter, to the beach in the summer and everywhere in between. I have cheap ones and not so cheap ones. One of my recent favorites is a pair in white patent that I bought at the beginning of summer to go with my white linen pants. And I love the gold bronze pair that I bought to wear on vacation to Key West, that never made it to Key West, thanks to hurricane Ike...but that's another story!! They are quite possibly the most popular, comfortable shoe ever invented. Everyone in the world wears them it seems.

So, why the alert? I recently had a run in with my 'house' flip flops...the cheap rubber ones that I wear around the place. I hate to go bare footed! I vaguely remember hearing at one time that these simple shoes could be dangerous. Well, now I know first hand about the ....gasp...Dangers of Flip Flops!

I was busy being Suzy Homemaker this past Sunday afternoon. The house hadn't been really cleaned since Ike put all our lives on hold a few weeks ago, so I went to work on the floors. I was heading for the closet to get the vacuum cleaner and somehow the front of my right FF bent under and caused me to trip as I was turning around. My left foot got tangled around my right ankle and I started going down. As I fell, my right ankle twisted inward and made a horrible popping sound. It felt like an electric shock went thru the bone. I hit the carpet and lay there stunned from the pain, unable to move. My ankle immediately began to swell to the size of an egg! I couldn't get up and walk so I lay there freaked for a few minutes. Finally, I crawled to the kitchen and managed to get a bag of ice to put on it. Now, what to do?

Call Mr B, that's what! My favorite paramedic, who was on a bike ride in the far reaches of northwest Houston by this time. I frantically speed dialed his number and sent out an SOS... I fired off a text message, just to cover all my bases. Then I crawled to the sofa with my ice bag and waited.

Eventually, he stopped for a break and checked his messages. Long story short, he came to my rescue. By the time he arrived a few hours later, I was in some major pain and really swollen. After assessing my injury, we were fairly sure that it wasn't broken but continued to watch it the rest of the evening. A few glasses of wine helped my feelings a little.. I continued to ice and elevate on Monday but it continued swelling and turning blue.

My bff Lisa loaned me some crutches and a client loaned me an Air Cast which helped me get thru the work day on Tuesday. Now, it's Wednesday and I'm still in pain, bruised and swollen. I finally decided to go get an X ray. Thankfully, it's not broken! I have to wear the Air Cast for 3 or 4 weeks then be in a small brace for a few weeks after that. No prob...as long as I'm able to hobble onto The Carnival Conquest on Oct 26th for a 7 day cruise to the Carribean and Cozumel!

And, I WILL be taking those gold bronze flips flops along too. I refuse to give up my FF's...

I'll just get a maid and stop vacuuming, Y'all!

Remembering Galveston

Galveston and Kemah are trashed. Rob and I visited both places this summer. We ducked into The Balinese Room http://www.balineseroom.net/ to get out of the rain. Rob had never been inside and wanted to check it out. They let us walk all the way to the back and look around. It was the 4th of July weekend and they were setting up for a private party in the ball room. As we walked along the pier, we could see the ocean through holes in the wood floor! It was awesome! We sat at the old bar at the front, sipping a Corona with lime and chatted with the bartender while looking at a wall full of pictures of famous people who had 'played' there (music and otherwise!). ZZ Top played gigs there when they were just a 'little old band' from Houston. They even wrote and recorded a song about it. The place always held a certain mystery for it's reputation from the days of prohibition. Later, it was just a familiar site to we native Houstonians each time we went to The Island. Invariably, someone would say as we passed this old, weathered structure jutting out into the water, 'Look, there's The Balinese Room', like it was some kind of a shrine. Well, to us, in it's own unique way, I suppose it was. A part of our local history that had survived many other storms was finally taken down by Ike. Galveston will recover and rebuild but the Sea Wall won't be the same without The Balinese.

It's sad, y'all....

Ike...Yikes!!!

The driveway was covered in debris. Jim parked mine and Lavonne's car in a warehouse that he owns nearby. We had just gone and moved them back to the house. Good thing...the streets around the warehouse flooded!

Sis, starting the clean up. Papa John's Chestnut tree received a good pruning. He planted it years ago.

Jim, attacking this gigantic limb that fell on the corner of their house.

Very minimal damage was done but it sounded like the entire tree was coming down when it hit.

This is the back of the house. Notice the extension cords running out the window to the generator in the garage. Our lifeline!

A huge limb from this Tallow tree barely missed the swing.

The day after Ike...digging out of the fallen limbs and debris. This is my sister and brother in laws' home, where I 'hunkered' (love that word) during the storm of the century. They live on the north side of Houston, near Bush IAH airport. We fared better than a lot of folks but....

WHAT A MESS, Y'all!!