FREE FALLING...or maybe not

I just returned from seven days in a world different from my usual life. In that world, I lost track of time and days as I laughed and loved with my family on vacation.  I needed to see my family and catch up on some lost time. And we did just that. We told stories and created a lot more family stories that will be told and most likely embellished in future family gatherings.  

We headed further south to Orange Beach, Alabama this past Friday.  For six days, the condo doors greeted a total of 16 people. Some stayed longer than others but all of us shared the common bond of being lost in laughter and fun.  We danced and cooked. We ate and drank...then drank a little bit more, especially the day of our para sailing adventure.

Floating around in the bay known as Old River on the second afternoon, Andrew, Ed and I decided we were going para sailing. We greeted my cousin Jimmy later that day with the information that he would be going with us.  The three of us were excited. Jimmy, however, asked for adult diapers or possibly some anti-anxiety meds.  Yet as the day got closer, Jimmy got braver and I got a little more worried. Andrew only made my fears worse as he talked about how you could see for miles because you were at least 100 feet in the air.  He would happily make this whoosh sound and quickly push his hand up to indicate how fast you were propelled up.The mental visual of a piece of fabric jerking me up 100 feet in mere seconds made me just a tad bit more worried.  Maybe I should go with Jimmy for the diaper fitting I thought. 

I tried to console myself by asking what I always thought, "You get a signal to give to the boat if you want to come down right?" 

"Nope, " my cousin Andrew said smiling. He was enjoying picking on my fear and my animated personality only encouraged him more. 

What I didn't tell anyone, although probably evident in my face, was that I was wondering if a perfectly healthy 32-year-old belle could have a heart attack and die from panic.  A ridiculous worry, I know,  but all of a sudden this activity wasn't sounding so good. Sitting on the beach with a cold, fruity drink melting in my hand sounded a lot better. After all, hadn't I come down to relax and be lazy? Unfortunately, I had talked the big, tough talk with the guys so if they weren't backing out then I wasn't either.

The para sailing adventure day arrived. We were doing our morning routine of sitting outside drinking coffee watching the beach and the occasional porpoise sighting when we saw the first para sailor take flight.  I was so grateful to witness one before I whooshed myself up into the sky.  I was relieved to see the ascension into the air was not too fast. No whooshing sound heard.  However, she was wildly kicking her legs as the parachute lifted her up.  At the distance that I watched from, I couldn't tell if her wild flailing was out of fear or if she was just doing her morning bicycle exercises. Either way, the jerky body movement wasn't terribly comforting.

Watching her, Andrew confirmed he was just joking about being catapulted into the sky...sort of.  Ed comforted me by telling me it wasn't really 100 feet.  I chose to believe my sweet boyfriend even though he had never been para sailing himself. Andrew, who had been before, compared the height to a six story building.  I thought I can do that - I have been on the sixth floor of a building before.

"Well maybe more like a 7 story building or possibly an 8....", Andrew who just didn't want to give up the fun torture kept adding more every chance he got.  An hour later we were up to a potential height of at least 9 stories. 

Ignoring my fear, I made my mind up to go so I started the necessary para sailing preparations which included the mandatory mimosa. A mimosa by the pool can ease anxiety and cure a lot of ailments. However, the mimosas didn't work as quickly as I needed.  Therefore as the time got closer, I begin to relish the potential last moments with my family as the reality of what I was about to do hit.  Maybe I am being a little dramatic but you need to understand my level of fear!

Did you know that you can see sharks and all kinds of sea creatures from the air?  Sounds cool. But what if, just what if, that little rope snaps and you go diving into that pretty blue ocean to join your new shark friends?  Not so cool. Oh and yes that little rope can break because Andrew's favorite para sailing story revolves around the rope breaking. Ten years ago the rope snapped causing the para sailor to take off on the not-so-joy ride of his life. Or at least on a ride across the highway into a condominium building. Thankfully the free sailor lived but I didn't want to find out if I had the same level of maneuvering skills if  my rope snapped.  However, Andrew assured me every time he told the story that it was perfectly safe. Nothing bad ever happens...except that one time. Oh...but you do have to sign a release.

Sharks, breaking ropes, panic attacks, unattractive adult diapers....I was trying to remember why I had ever wanted to do this para sailing thing.  I am not an adrenaline seeker. I have no desire to go sky diving. I like how my boyfriend puts it, "Why jump out of a perfectly good airplane?"  I don't like roller coasters and I would never entertain the idea of jumping off a cliff tied to a rubber band that would hopefully snap me back up in the very last second.  But para sailing above water had always seemed safe and fun.   I thought it would be like water tubing but in the air.  All my nice thoughts were fine in my head until I actually faced the flying activity. 

One o'clock approached signaling one hour until take off and bravery kicked in....or maybe it was just the mimosas finally working.  I decided that I would just do it and I was going to love it.  So I was ready and completely psyched about it.  We piled into the car and drove to the Flora Bama to take off but not before the necessary pre-flight "milkshake." The people around this area call their milkshakes Bushwhackers for some reason. We had one of the local milkshakes and by the time we walked out on the beach, I was ready to go.  We had several of our new found Flora Bama friends standing along the walk cheering us on and building the excitement.  I felt like an astronaut walking to the ship for our mission.  All four of us walking down the walk in a slow, stoic pace as our supporters cheered us on. Well maybe they were just a bunch of drunks yelling but if you listened just right it sounded like an adoring crowd. Then we reached the end of the walk as the cheers faded in the background and approached the para sailing window to find it.....closed.

What??? All that worry and excitement and fear and cheering and they were closed?!?!  I had spent all day gearing up for my amazing trip that would result in an equally amazing story that would be embellished over the next ten years and they were closed?!?!  We found the guy that worked there but all he could do that day was rent us jet skis. They only offered para sailing a few days of the week due to slow business. The business down the street was closed that day because the water conditions were not ideal.  So para sailing was not an option.

We rented the jet skis and had a great time but all were disappointed about missing out on the para sailing adventure.  I am ready to go for next time which could be as soon as August.  Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately), I did find out the real details from the guy renting us the jet skis.  The facts include that they don't send you up 100 feet. They actually send you up more like 400 feet.  Far scarier! But  you don't have to endure fear of death from a panic attack very long.  I originally was told that you stay up about 30 minutes but you really only stay up 8 minutes.  I can deal with anything 8 minutes. To make me feel even better, I read somewhere that the age minimum is five. Surely if they will send a five-year-old up in the air, I can handle it. Guess I will get to find out in August because I will be ready...just let me have one of those local milkshakes first...


                                                       THE PARA-SAILING CREW


Andrew, Experienced Para-Sailor



Ed, My Co-Captain and My Love

Jimmy, Fellow Para-Worrier

Me

Beach Bound!

Shortly after my first winter-complaining post, my sweet and thoughtful boyfriend gave me a silver necklace with a tiny silver flip flop pendant hanging on it.  He told me it was to remind me that summer would again return and to cheer me up until it did.  My little necklace did make me smile a lot.  Then another set of winter blues set in causing me to write yet another blog about my summer dreaming.  Boyfriend then reminded me I had already wrote one blog on that topic....I guess I was really suffering from snow suffocation by that point.  This morning I was thinking about what I should blog on this week when I came up with the perfect idea - I could write about all the fun things I plan on doing this summer!  Half way through mentally writing the blog in my head, I thought something seemed familiar. Then I remembered that I had already blogged on the summer topic and my plans for summer twice before.  Either I am getting very absent minded lately or I am really, really excited about summer.

I love all four seasons but this particular winter seemed to last longer than ever with our last 37 degree morning just being this past Monday. I have never in my life witnessed 30 something degrees on May 16th. I just don't know how our Yankee cousins do it. Maybe that is why there is such a thing as Southern Hospitality - it is a lot easier to be friendly to all kinds of strangers when you aren't FREEZING! Northerners aren't unfriendly at all - they are just COLD!

I say all this to say I am BEACH BOUND tomorrow which means summer is officially getting kicked off. My plan?  To play summer up for all it's worth so that when the seasons start to change in a few months, I will be ready to embrace colder temps all over again.  Until then, I will spare you any more blogs on my summer plans because now summer is here and the plans are in action!  I will see you wherever there is water y'all!

Trauma in the Tanning Salon

*I wrote this blog a couple of years ago during my attempted spray tan during spring break.  I decided to cross post the blog here after several requests.  Since my experience, I have yet to attempt the spray tan death chamber again.

I had wanted to get a professional spray tan ever since I heard the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders only use the fake stuff. Then every season of Dancing with the Stars, the host always jokes about the gallons of spray tan they go through for the show. Satisfied with the dark healthy tan that this “tan in a can” provided for these people, I decided I wanted to get one too!

This morning I excitedly drove myself over to the tanning salon that had been recommended as the best place in town to get a spray tan. As I drove, I mentally went through my wardrobe trying to decide which outfit would expose enough skin to show my new dark look. My excitement somewhat faded into intimidation as I entered the tanning salon because I was afraid my ivory skin would be super pale in comparison to all the dark women who inhabit the place. Okay, I admit to call my skin ivory at the moment is really flattering myself, my skin is actually a version of pale known as “just got out of the hospital pasty.” I wonder if that comes in a wall paint color? Good name for a color, huh?

I was relieved when I walked in and saw the girl standing in front of me in line was whiter than me! Her skin came from the color variety “just got out of the hospital after being in ICU pasty.” I don’t think that paint color is available in most major retail stores yet. As I stood in line, I looked at all the girls running in and out of the tanning booths and realized this was kind of fun (can you tell I am such a tanning salon first timer???). All of the girls did not look over tanned and most look like they were approaching the tanning process in a healthy manner. I have been against cancer coffin tanning in the past because I wanted to protect my skin from wrinkles and cancer but maybe, I thought to myself, a few times would not hurt. I told myself I need to lighten up and not worry so much - these girls weren’t worried.

I had almost decided to start tanning beyond the self-tanner when in to the salon comes two walking advertisements on why NOT to tan! As they walked behind the counter, I realized the man and woman were the owners. The woman had wrinkles deep enough to hide small children in them and she wore a sun visor. Which why was she even bothering to wear a sun visor now? It was obviously too late to worry about sun exposure! The man (I assume to be her husband) also had a deep, dark tan as well as scars where skin cancer had been cut off. I realized by the way this over tanned couple acted that they had to be in their 50s but had the skin of really wrinkled 90-year-olds. I panicked for them - if they have still 40 more years to go before 90, how bad is their skin going to get???

Really the appearance of them was not good for their business. They really should hide in the back room to avoid scaring customers. I mean it is the equivalent of a cigarette ad having models with oxygen tanks instead of beautiful people partying on the beach.

After I signed a liability release form for real tanning not spray, (I guess I had to have one on file if I ever wanted to lie in the wrinkle box) the attendant walked me down the hall. She explained how to stand with my arms like a hanging scarecrow and legs spread apart like a starfish. She gave me a shower cap and told me to slather my hands and feet with white heavy cream. Before she left, she explained that the jets would spray me left to right on the front then I would turn around and they would do my back. Simple enough, right?

She left and I slathered my hands and feet in white cream as I tried to not think about how many girls had used the same tub of white cream before me. I hope they were all clean! I open the door to the shower type stall and get slightly nervous. The stall is black and has air holes at the top which makes me feel claustrophobic. Friends have told me to close my eyes and hold my breath. I knew to expect a cold mist that would last a few seconds. I noticed I was too short for the top jet to do my face. Oh well.

I locate the glowing green on button and position myself for the spray as I had been instructed. I closed my eyes and took a breath then pushed the green button. Nothing happened. I cautiously opened my eyes and looked at the button - still glowing. I position myself and pushed the button again. Nothing. “Great,” I thought, “I am not going to get my ultra dark tan today - the machine is broken!” Well my desire for my dark exotic look gave me an extra surge of determination and I started jamming away at that annoying green button. I tried to turn it, I held it down, and I poked excessively at it all while totally forgetting to keep myself position like a demented scarecrow. Then I heard a low roar start so I hurry to my position, close my eyes, and hold my breath.

The spray came on with a freezing blast that made me lose my breath and forget to keep my mouth shut. I then opened my eyes to see what was going on. BIG MISTAKE! Brown thick looking gas was filling my little stall now looking more like a gas chamber because it was taking all of my air! What about those air holes??? I started to panic and by then I was running around that little stall trying to find a place to breathe. Yeah instead of looking like a scare crow I am sure I looked like a frighten baby bird because I kept flapping my arms around as I ran around that stall trying to keep the tanning mist down so I could breathe.

Finally, I needed air so I grabbed the stall door open and gasped for air but nooooo - the mist had started to fill the room! The machine stopped which was my signal to turn if I had been standing as originally instructed. I braved up and closed the door trying to salvage half of this tanning experience. I started with my back to the jets and planned on turning around once I got use to it. The jets started again and that brown mist filled my gas chamber again. I couldn’t hold my breath long enough so I opened the door again and stuck my head out for air but only got a mouthful of tanning solution. The tanning spray stopped and I realized my back had been thoroughly sprayed but my front side was almost perfectly dry - uh oh.

Uh oh was right - I stepped out of the stall to face a mirror where I was still pale on the front but now had very dark brown liquid dripping down my back. Underneath the drips I could see a pretty brown color but it did not compliment my pale front side. I did not want to be multicolored! So I grabbed a towel and immediately started rubbing away (what not to do). Then put on my clothes and ran out of the salon to my car without looking at anyone. I had to get home and shower (again what not to do) to get a normal color again. As I was driving home, I noticed a nice brown color on my arm in the form of a splotch. Great, I first went through the torture chamber and now I look like I have some strange skin disease with brown splotches.

I got home and exfoliated a great deal - now I am pale with irritated skin but good news - not splotchy! If I have scared you about the traumas of spray tanning then you shouldn’t be going anyway. Spray tanning is not for those who like to breathe! I am sticking to the bottle from now on or maybe buy one of those airbrush things. Really though why can’t pale just be in?

A Mississippi Theme: More Than Just Fried Foods and Magnolias

Yesterday morning, my graduate assistant was telling me about a wedding that she went to this past weekend.  She had a great time the entire weekend but the thing that stood out the most to her was the attention to detail. The bride had incorporated a  Southern Rustic theme in everything from the engagement pictures to the reception centerpieces.

On the way back up to Oxford from the wedding, her and her boyfriend talked about how they would even start to top that type of wedding.  Her boyfriend decided that they would have to have a theme if they wanted to come close to having that kind of unique and seamless event. My GA replied, "Can't we just have a wedding?" But her boyfriend insisted that a theme would be the only way to have a wedding  that creative.  She agreed with the idea, asking what kind of theme.  He told her he thought a Mississippi theme would be a great one to have.  To that idea, she laughed, "What are we going to have to represent Mississippi? Fried foods and Magnolias?"  With a greasy and floral vision decorating her future wedding, my GA opted for another idea.   I will leave that theme as a secret to not give away any of her potential plans.

My sweet Magnolia

But the cultural symbols of Mississippi  she mentioned got me to thinking and the Mississippian in me got a little fired up - we are much MORE than fried foods and a flower. Now don't get me wrong, I love our state flower. So much in fact, I named my precious dog after it.  Yes, my white furry baby is named Magnolia.  And I do occasionally  (okay often)  like some good fried catfish but I eat fried food so seldom (not that often!) that I would not use that as my defining Mississippi quality. So I kept on thinking, after all I have lived here pretty much all of my life but never gave much thought to our cultural symbols.

So what does one do when one does not know something, needs inspiration, or wants an answer to a question? A smart one googles!  And therefore, I turned to my good friend Google.  I googled cultural symbols of Mississippi and then I googled Mississippian culture.  Instead of a fried catfish on a plate garnished with a Magnolia, I was proud to be bombarded with so many positive images of our culture. Read on if any of you out there want a Mississippi themed party or just want to know a little more about our state....

The first symbol that came up consistently was the great sounds and images of our state music, the Blues.  Okay, so maybe the idea of the blues wouldn't be the best themed music to have at a happy party like a wedding reception.  Then again I know a lot of almost married people that might find the theme fitting. Just kidding!  I only know a few.  Anyway, regardless of the origin, a good blues band is hard to compete with for a better type of music.  If you have a talented blues artist then you have a happy crowd.  Fortunately, living in Oxford, I get to expose myself quite often to this genre. Aren't I lucky?

Jillian Cotton Centerpieces

Another symbol of our state is something you are probably wearing right now.  Yes, cotton.  When this symbol came up, I then remembered seeing centerpieces made of cotton in The Grove this past year.  So besides dressing in it, you can even decorate with it!  I call it our Mississippi snow because the fields are so pretty right before the cotton is harvested. So whether you are planning a reception, a tailgating event, or just wanting ideas to redecorate your home, cotton may be your innovative, Mississippi themed choice!

A beautiful state symbol

A few years ago after Hurricane Katrina devasted our coast, the state symbol for the car tags became the famous lighthouse that still stood.  I heard a few people complain over it, saying that it did not represent the entire state. They wondered why we were all using the lighthouse on our tags.  But to me it did represent the state.  These people just have to allow themselves to see past the concrete image and look at the meaning.  The lighthouse represents hope and a bright light to guide us, as a state, out of a devasting time to a better future.  To me it was crucial that the lighthouse was used all over the state, not because we all lived on the coast, but because we were all pulling together like one family to help our coast residents.  Mississippi is a state that pulls together and helps in times of crisis. We also celebrate the joys of life together. So the lighthouse to me is a happy, enduring symbol.  And just plain ole' pretty too!

Are you Irish and want a Mississippi themed event?  Do you like to have fun?  Well another image that came up when I hit search was our nationally recognized St. Paddy's Day Parade!  This unique event has been compared to our nation's other large parades in Chicago and Savannah. I have heard rumors too that it is ranked in the top five or so of parades. However, when I googled it I couldn't find that exact article. Still 60,000 parade goers take to the streets of Downtown Jackson in the middle of March every year for a great Southern/Irish style party!  To me the symbol of this parade was the Sweet Potato Queens but sadly they went to their own parade this year but that is a whole other blog topic. 

Rowan Oak

Some more cultural symbols of our state included famous writers, musicians, craftsmen, cooks and artists.  I once heard a writer at Thacker Mountain Radio once chide the audience, "I hate you Southern writers, you don't even have to make this stuff up!"  The audience laughed at this good natured statement because it is true. We live a life so unbelievable and wonderful down here, some in beautiful Southern Colonial style homes (another symbolic image), that being creative comes easy to most of us.

I could go on with images of sweet tea, antebellum dresses, and pearls. I also left out Mississippi Mud Cake, pecans, football, bottle trees, and cheese straws.   You get the picture or symbol, right? Once again, I am proud of my state and what it has to offer.  Now you have a good start of ideas for cultural symbols if you are planning a themed party, a redecoration project, or just wanted to know more about Mississippi culture.  And as a hospitable modern Southerner would say, "Until next time y'all! And tell your mama I said hey!"

The Spring Fever Cure

I have it.  Yes, it is the source of frustration and agitation. It can cause extreme mood swings from elation to the doldrums. It is the source of lack of focus due to a general longing for sun, sand, and water.  Yes, I have spring fever.  Actually, I was told that I have the more severe strain that is going around this season.  I know I had the opportunity to get my free spring fever vaccine from the health center and did not. But I just can't help it, I don't like shots so I took my chances.

I think our campus must have been hit hard. At first I thought it was just me experiencing some typical end of the semester burn-out, but I realize I am in the company of many after meeting with student appointments and talking to colleagues. I must have caught it from one of them. I really need to use disinfectant spray more often. After all, I am in very close quarters with potential spring fever carriers all day and I have no window in my office for the germs to escape.

Based on my extensive research, I believe if the newspaper included a public service announcement on how to handle spring fever it would read something like this:. 

While not deadly but very serious, spring fever is the result of the wearing of extremely heavy clothes on the body for an extended period of time.  Spring fever is also caused by frequent snow storms and below freezing temperatures. This ailment may be made worse by faux spring days that appear to be sunny but still require the wearing of heavy clothes.  While there is only one cure for spring fever, you can take a couple of steps to improve your condition.  Sufferers should avert focus to a list of the sufferer's choosing of enjoyable summer activities they plan to partake in.  The sufferer should then plan, daydream, and talk about these activities at least three times per day for a period of two weeks to see an ease in symptoms.  One may find listening to tropical inspired music such as Buffett or Marley while drinking frozen drinks eases pain. However, spring fever is usually only cured by a long vacation on the beach and actually doing the items on the summer wish list.

Being one to definitely  follow doctor's orders, I am made my list that I will read three times per day. And of course I created my list while listening to my fellow Golden Eagle, Jimmy's margarita inspired tunes. I am already feeling a little better! My list includes but not limited to the following activities that will fill my summer:

Becoming a Certified Pool Girl
Note: certified pool girl is NOT the same thing as certified life guard.  Life guarding takes energy which is not something I wish to use at the pool. Why work at the pool when you can play?  So yes, I plan on obtaining my certification as a pool girl.  Not a tanned one (unless tan in a bottle counts). I am a faithful sunblock pool girl which means I actually like to play in the pool....on a float so too much energy is not expended. The idea is pool relaxation with friends and good music. Oh and don't forget the frozen drink. What??? I am just following doctor's orders.

I'm on a BOAT!
Yeah, I know that song is so two years ago but two years ago I developed my new found love for my boyfriend's boat.  I think he may have created an over-enthusiast because with each summer I fall more and more for the feeling of being on the boat in the Reservoir.  I am learning to drive it and plan on becoming a very skilled driver this year! Yep, just call me Casey the Certified Boat Driver. I am going to be quite productive this season with all these certifications!

Beach Bumming It
Apparently one of the symptoms of the worst strand of spring fever like I have is a fixation with beaches. Lately my procrastination habit revolves around looking up beach vacations. I want to lay on a beach somewhere for about a week and do nothing but sit beside my cooler while listening to Marley and Buffett.   Luckily, I am going with the family in May which should cure me of my spring fever.

LOU Sunset Concert Series
I have had the best of intentions to sit in The Grove on a summer Sunday afternoon for the concert series but have yet to do so. However, this activity is definitely on my to do list this summer after the fabulous experience I had at the Goo Goo Dolls concert in The Grove a couple of weeks ago. We packed a cooler full of yummy treats (both solid and liquid form) and attended the outdoor concert. Even though the Goo Goo Dolls won't be performing every Sunday in the Grove, I could definitely get use to spending my Sundays this summer relaxing to some great music in the shade.


The 3rd Annual 4th of July Sidewalk Party
Two years ago, my mother and I wanted to do something for the 4th of July. We thought everyone headed out of town for the holiday but we found a friend or two that would be around and invited them over for a dinner party. Then we got to talking and realized a lot of people were in town with no plans for the summer holiday.  All of a sudden that small little party grew from four to 15.  We had so much fun.  Obviously our guests did too because when the winter blues settled in that January so did the discussion about the next Fourth of July party.

This past summer our party grew a reputation and grew in size. Our sidewalk was filled with 40 of our friends, co-workers, and family. I definitely look forward to our new family tradition, which will be our third annual Fourth of July sidewalk party.  If we double it again, we may have to move out into the parking lot! But the more people the more fun to be had!

Some pics from the 2010 4th of July party

                                                               

                                           

Wine Daiquiris
I love my patio.  This year it is especially festive with patio lights, happy colored flowers, and bright throw pillows. Yes, I have throw pillows on my patio. Jealous?  No worries. You can come to the Fourth of July party with the rest of the town.

To have a fulfilling patio experience, one needs a good drink to enjoy while relaxing. I am not a big liquor drinker so traditional daiquiris are not my usual choice but I love the idea of something fruity and frozen. I am, however, an avid wine enthusiast. In my case, being a wine enthusiast means I don't know much about a lot of different wines but I know what I like which is all that matters, right? 


So what do you get when you have creative people + wine + fruit?  Yes, the wine daiquiri is created!  They are delicious but be careful because they are very easy to drink so sip slowly!  You can make them anyway you would like but I included a recipe to get you started.  My measurements are not exact but who is ever exact when working or cooking with wine?

• I just keep adding the below ingredients until my mixer is full.  Usually makes enough for three regular sized drinks or two big ones. 
• About 1/2 cup of good 100% orange juice.
• About 1/2 to 3/4 cup of no-sugar added canned pineapple chunks and generously use some of the juice from the can as well.
• A bunch of frozen strawberries still frozen. This acts as flavorful ice. Don't use ice because this will dilute the flavor of the drink.
• About 1/2 cup of the Sam's Choice Peach Carbonated Water (this is the secret to a good wine daiquiri).
• Cold, white wine (we use chardonnay). How much? As much as you like!

I am feeling better already.  What about you? What is on your list?  Go ahead and follow doctor's orders by making your own in my comments box below. I would love to hear others' must do's of Summer 2011!

The Stilts (Formerly Known as Shoes)

In my family, I am known for my high heels. They would not know what to do if I attended any family event without them, this includes even sport-like events that I am not watching but participating in.  Yeah, I am just that good in heels.  Really though heels are a necessity for me. At 5'2 and not knowing how to hem pants and refusing to buy petite length pants, I HAVE to wear heels a lot just so that my pants will fit.  But I love heels and I love the one and a half to two extra inches I get.  Yes, that is right I said one and a half to two extra inches. Not three or four.  I feel very tall with my couple extra inches and wonder as I walk in my heels why again I wasn't tall enough for modeling or the Rockettes.  I can dance in heels!  But I still wasn't tall enough.  However, put me in the mega heels that are so popular today and I don't feel tall, I feel like I need an oxygen mask to keep from being lightheaded. Yes, I get lightheaded at this height even though I am only up there for a few seconds before I fall.  For a dancer, I sure am clumsy!

But seriously what is up with the height of shoes these days?  You seem to get two choices: prairie-plain-like flat or hooker high!  The selection of shoes makes one of my very serious New Year's resolutions extremely challenging. I knew this resolution would be a challenge but I thought I could at least attempt the very esteemed goal of buying more shoes in 2011.  However, shopping for the perfect shoe is getting more and  more difficult.  For example, I absolutely love Lulu's in Oxford (yes, store owners of Lulu's you can pay me later in shoes for this plug) but finding shoes that I can actually walk out of the store wearing is getting harder and harder.  I can find plenty that I can sit in but not walk in,let alone barely stand in without the aid of something to hold on to as I propel myself up, up, and away on those jet liner heels.

And stop! Don't even think about suggesting it! I will not wear flats.  Yuck! I feel dumpy and shorter than my 5'2 height.  My idea of a flat is a platform shoe.  Afterall the bottom of the shoe is flat, right? But there are a ton of flats to choose from in Lulu's. Such a waste to design such beautiful shoes but forget the heel on them.  But I guess this section of Lulu's could be the "tall girl who doesn't need heels" section. So what selections are left for the short girls?  The shoes that will make you as tall as your tall girlfriends.  Let's do the math here, I am 5'2 (have I mentioned that yet?) and my tallest friends are around 6 feet.  Ok, so I am actually 5'1'' and 3/4ths but for my self-esteem I stand up straight and fudge my height ever so slightly.  Give a short girl a break already!  But anyway, that means for me to catch up with them I have to go to the stilt section of the shoe store. Ahhhh but no worries because THAT is just how high the heels are that are currently in fashion today.

I tell myself that I can wear these heels just like anyone else does and find the shortest of the ladders, I mean shoes.  I find some really cute ones (not ones that look like torture traps but that is a whole other blog) and sit down to try them on.  So cute on while sitting! And then I stand and wobble.  I know how Bambi feels but the lady beside me was far from friendly Thumper.  Because when I said in a lighthearted way that I would need to take a class to learn how to stand in these shoes, she just glared at me in disgrace.  I stopped myself from telling her that I am the girliest girl I know and that by not being able to wear these stupid stilts does not make me any less girlie! But I kept my mouth shut and just thought really mean things about the glarer, things I shouldn't repeat in the written word. However if you really want to know, just call me.

Anyway, to stay on my goal of my buying more shoes this year I bought a pair of ridiculously high heels.  Seriously, the purchase was just to help me stay true to my New Year's resolution which I am very committed to completing. And I took a picture as proof! See below. I know they don't look that high but they really are. I wear them inside my home...sitting.  Sometimes I wobble around in them. I feel so flirty and feminine in them....before I fall.  I got the idea to take a picture of my shoes from a shoe obsessed friend of mine who  daily takes and posts pictures of her shoes on Facebook.  She has mastered the art of wearing the stilts.  However, I do notice that in all the pictures she, too, is sitting.  So is this what we have come to ladies?  We have one pair of seriously killer shoes for sitting and keep another pair handy for actual use?  Hmmm....stay tuned because I guess my next post will be about ridiculously huge handbags to carry our multiple pairs of shoes for multiple uses!

                                                     My cute "sitting" shoes from Lulu's!

The Slow, Sweet Life

I have often heard that compared to other people in the country, us Southerners like to take life slow.  We talk slow, walk slow, and some people think we think slowly as well.  Well, I will somewhat agree that some of us do talk slowly. I tend to speak fast especially when I get excited but I may be the exception to the rule. I do like to walk slowly especially on a beautiful sunny day but I am a short Southerner so even when I walk fast my 5’2 frame can only make so long of a stride!

We may even think slow. But not in the negative stereotype placed on us.  I know, of course, I am biased. If you have not figured out from the title of this blog, I am a Southerner. However, let me offer a different perspective on this slow perception of us.  Why is slow bad? Maybe we savor our thoughts like we savor our words and walks.  Maybe we mull over things and this long thought process takes us to the creative thoughts that also define our region.  Depth takes time and the Southern perspective is composed of layer upon layer hence needing time to slowly take in all the layers.

Another perspective on slowness is enjoyment. Why rush so much through life? I hate to hear people frequently say in a thankful tone that their day or even week was so busy but at least it flew by.  I often wonder when someone says that, especially often, what are they trying to rush to? Death?  If they are that miserable in their daily lives, I would think it is time for some serious self reflection.

Take time to slow down and enjoy a day.  I don’t want to hurry through my life just to get to the end of it.  Isn’t it after all the daily moments, the small pleasures, the slow walks, and the great thoughts that make up our lives? Of course all of us find days that we want to pass but in a content life those should be few in numbers.  And yes I get excited about an upcoming event and wish it would hurry up and get here. But for the majority of my days, I make time to celebrate my "dailyness". I slow down enough to recognize that getting a cup of a coffee with a friend, drinking a glass of wine on the balcony of City Grocery, having a special dinner in the middle of the week with family, or watching frivolous television shows are a few of the many sweet moments when things slow down and I realize once again that I have a very good life. So in the spirt of Southern slowness, I hope you can find something to savor today and many of your days!  Slow down y'all to enjoy the sweet life or at least some sweet tea!