I got up early on Saturday and washed clothes, cleaned a little, and played on the computer (I’m trying to build a database for work). I desperately needed shoes and non-work clothes. Me mum was kind enough to come with me as I like other opinions, and she (for someone out of touch with current styles) seems to have an eye for what is attractive. So, I met her at The Mall in Columbia. She had been in Virginia with my sister, getting their hair done. We started our afternoon properly: in the food court. We went to the mall version of Bourbon Street Café and got, of course, Bourbon Chicken and broccoli. Then, fortified as we were, set off to do some serious shopping.

Since shoes were a top priority and the hardest thing for me find—having a mere 6½ shoe size—we began our adventure at Nordstrom. The last time I bought dress shoes, I walked into the aforementioned department store, tried on a pair of Rockports and bought them. So precedent had been set. Unfortunately, they only had two pairs in my size this time. Both were not attractive and the wrong color. We were 0-1. Our next stop was the Rockport store. Again, the only pair in my size was some ugly saddle shoe…no thanks! So, we crossed the mall to Johnston & Murphy where a very kind British bloke informed us that their smallest size was a 9. He gave me a catalog and suggested that I look online. 0-3. We trekked through The Walking Company, breezed through Lord & Taylor, forgot about Bostonian, and finally ended up at Payless ShoeSource. Now, I’m not a big fan of the store; their shoes look as cheap as they are (and feel just as cheap), but I have never walked into a Payless ShoeSource without finding at least 5 pairs of shoes on the 6½ rack. So, while I still want a pair of nice, expensive, quality shoes, I did pick up two cheap pairs. They had a sale, so it was buy 1 get one ½ price. So that made us, what, 0-6? We’re doing better than the Washington Redskins.

With shoes in hand, we set out to look for clothes. I don’t remember the order, but I know we went back to Nordstrom and Lord & Taylor. We sidled through The Gap, sauntered through J. Crew, and I even condescended to look in Hecht’s, but drew the line and refused to look in JC Penney or Sears.

For reasons unknown, we decided to go into Eddie Bauer. The last time I was in Eddie Bauer, I picked up a very nice yellow, short-sleeved button-down. I loved that shirt, and as a matter of fact, I still have it hanging in my closet back at Chez Jo. Unfortunately, because it was a strong, bright yellow, I was ridiculed and teased so badly about it, that I only wore it once, and never put it on again. So, due to the psychological trauma inflicted on me because of Eddie’s designs, I have never been a big fan of Mr. Bauer or his store. But, we went in, and it was a good thing too. After looking through all the dreck in the aforementioned department and “trendy” stores (it was all very retro ‘70s. I remember enough of the ‘70s that I never want to have anything to do with it again!), I was astounded to find shirts that appealed to me on every rack and table throughout the Eddie Bauer store. In the end, I walked out with 4 tops (a sweater, a button-down, a sweatshirt, and another thing I’m forgetting in a senior moment). They, like the rest of the mall, were having a big ole sale, and two of the shirts were marked down from $49.99 to $15. One was marked down from $45.99 to $9. I got the lot for $63! (My math isn't working right here, but you get the idea.)

So, while I don’t have the nicest shoes in the world, I do have two new pairs to replace the ones that are falling apart, and I have a bunch of shirts for the winter.

Yeah for me!