Off the Wagon

I fell off the wagon yesterday. Hard and fast. I’d been having a time lately. Lots of depressing moments when I look at my bank account. Doesn’t help I have a sky-high electric bill to pay this week. Those bastards.

Anyway. I woke up on Sunday, got up, had coffee. And all of the sudden all I could think about were those two $10 gift certificates from DSW. They were burning a huge hole in my pocket. So I started laundry, read email, and thought about shoes.

It’s really a sad obsession I have.

They opened at 11 am, so I figured I’d head that way about that time. I showered, got dressed, read more email, watched the Food Network, and decided to fix my couch. It was the only thing standing between me and DSW – fixing the couch I mean.

It seems there were two springs out of place. It’s happened before and I put them back in place. But this time I was going to fix it so it wouldn’t pop out again. I got my tools of choice – work gloves, hammer, epoxy, staple gun. I managed to get the springs back in place. Both of them! And then I took the lid off the epoxy, got a toothpick and put epoxy in the holes on the front and back of the springs. They won’t be going anywhere this time!

Then I stapled the ripped covering on the bottom of the couch back into place. I even sewed up the holes. Aren’t I crafty? Then I took the cover with the big green and white flowers off and washed it. My couch is all clean and shiny and perfect once again.

Which means I can hold off for a while on purchasing a new one. Darn it.

DSW, though, was still beckoning me. Why not? I thought. I can just go look. There’s no harm in that. Right?

I stuff the two certificates in my bag and off I went. It was cold but sunny and beautiful yesterday. The wind was blustery. I drove to DSW, arriving after them being open about twenty minutes.

I found the clearance rack right away. And two pairs of brown flats – one was 80 percent off. I couldn’t NOT get it. A pair of Steve Madden suede brown ballet flats. I decided to stroll through the store, just to see if there was anything that would catch my fancy.

On the back wall…I saw it. Sitting there in all its beauty. I swear I had the Inward Sucky Noise of Joy.

They were Steve Madden in this luscious striped brown satin. Peep toe with a stiletto four inch heel in dark brown. A little rhinstone faux-buckle on the toe. I was in heaven. I had to have it.

But they didn’t have my size. The closest to it was an 8. I was devastated!

So I took my purchases to the register and asked if they could call another store. Yes, I know. It’s excessive. But I couldn’t help it.

The other store didn’t have my size either. Bummer.

I went to Nordstrom and Macy’s and Shoe Pavilion. No luck. No one had it. (Incidentally, Shoe Pavilion has this really weird smell about it. I know they are trying to compete with DSW, but really – they are no match – and they smell.)

I stopped at Taco Bell on the way home and spent my last $4 in cash. But I couldn’t stop thinking about those shoes. How sad is that?

I scoured the internet for them. I couldn’t find them anywhere. Not even on the Steve Madden website. Again…devastated.

So as I shoved the remaining Nachos Bell Grande in my mouth, I had an urge. I was going to drive across town, to the other side of Fort Worth to see if that other DSW had them. I figured what the heck becuase I didn’t have anything else to do that day and it sure beats sitting at home.

Of course, I had a helluva time finding that other store. But I finally did. And JOY of JOY they had it. But in a 7.

Luckily, the 7 fit. And it was the last pair. So I cradled it against my body as I walked the rest of the store. And found a pair of blue and black Nicole Miller that were to-die-for.

Turns out the lady in the same aisle was a big shoe person like me. We had a lovely conversation about shoes and our favorite brands and we both ended up buying the Nicole Miller. Her husband walked up as she was trying them on and said, “But, honey, look at them. They’re so fabulous.”

hehehehe

Yes, I had a hand in that. It felt great!

So I ended up purchasing four new pairs of shoes. I couldn’t help it. I so needed them. There’s just something about buying shoes that make everything all better again. You know?

After I got home, I decided to have some seriou downtown. I finished reading Karen Marie Moning’s Darkfever and I loved it. It TOTALLY rocks. Of course, I simply must have the second book so I can continue the story and see what happens. It’s very different from her Highlander series. A lot darker. But I liked it a lot and I found myself amazed at the smooth way she could write in first person. It’s amazing. I laughed in a lot of places and even wanted to cry in some. The mark of a fantastic writer. 🙂

I picked up Smoke Thief by Shana Abe next. She’s got a new one out called Queen of Dragons but I wanted to start with the first one. Of course, my TBR pile is getting longer by the minute. I have Melissa Schroder’s to read, too.

And I plan to have a giveaway on Friday of one of her books. Yes, I’m teasing you. So all you lurkers out there will have to post a comment to win.

As for me, I’m off to work. For some it’s a holiday. I wish it was for me!