MLK Musings

What a fun day! My oldest friend, Kayren, came through town today, and we were able to spend some time with her. Actually, she's the person outside my family that I've been friends with the longest, not my oldest friend - that would be Mrs. Altman, a blog for another day! Kayren and I met on the ill-fated McMaster for US Senate campaign in 1986 - a secret from my past - and have been fast friends ever since.

We started the day with brunch at the IHOP in St. Andrews. Sister and I had planned on just calling it a day there, but ended up getting some retail therapy at Columbiana Mall. We exchanged gifts over breakfast. Kayren gave me the most beautiful black knit wrap dress from Talbot's, and it fits perfectly! It will look great with my new black BCBG shoes! She gave Sister a DARLING Planet Dog t-shirt that says "You Had Me at Woof." Cuuuuuute! We gave Kayren a SC wine bottle lamp (handcrafted by moi) and a vase shaped like a handbag - Kayren collects handbags. Earlier, I'd given her a purse page-a-day calendar and the BEST book, Life's Little Annoyances, True Tales of People Who Just Can't Take It Anymore. I you haven't read this book, you must! I may even blog it soon.

We had a great time at the mall. We only went to two stores. Bath and Body Works is still having their annual sale, and all three of us did quite well. The BBW at Columbia is one of their flagship stores, which means they have a lotta stuff the other stores don't. My big score was the eggnog candle that originally sold for $19.50. FINALLY, it was marked down 75% off, and I got it for less than $5. Hooray! I can't wait to light it! I also got some Fresh cologne for 90% off! Sweet! Beth stocked up on Restorative Cocoa bath products, so the next time you see her, she'll probably smell like a chocolate chip!

We also went to Victoria's Secret, which totally disappointed me! One of the things I've been looking forward to doing now that I've lost 70 lbs. is shopping at these great lingerie stores, but I haven't been missing much. It was crowded, loud and the prepubescent salesGIRLS - note the emphasis on girls - were just no help whatsoever. What a bummer.

And I'm leaving out the big excitement of the day - our basement flooded this morning! Every few years, we have a plumbing problem downstairs, and today was the lucky day! I threw down a few towels on the way out with the best intention to come straight home to clean up, but as you can see, we were distracted. We stopped by Wal-Mart to get some clean-up products, and I'm about halfway through as I type. I needed a break, though. What is it with the Sisters and flooding this week?

Oh, while we were at Wal-Mart, we hit the mother lode with those Crystal Light-type drink mixes. Crystal Light has a new pomegranate cherry, which looks yummy and promises to help boost immunity. I also found sugar free Hawaiian Punch, my favorite, for only $1 a box. I bought about 12 boxes! There were also some great flavors that were fortified - vitamin, fiber, joint health. Between Sister and I, we must've bought 20 boxes. Love the stuff!

Off to finish drying and cleaning the basement. It's not nearly as bad as it's been in the past, but I need to take care of it. Keep your fingers crossed that this is the last flood we have for a while! And take our advice - basements are nice, but before you buy a house with one, have a plumber check it out THOROUGHLY! And then get a second opinion...