I love shoes!

For the past 25 years, I've worn comfortable shoes. I've had loafers, flip flops, and athletic shoes. That's it! Now, I'm actually shoe shopping, finding so many shoes that I like. I like just about everything Avon has in their catalog. As a matter of fact, I just bought 4 pairs of shoes from Avon - flip flops with lots of colorful stones, copper rhinestone sandals, black cutout "cage" wedge heels, and 2-toned blue stretchy sandals. I've polished my toenails, and I'm even wearing shoes without stockings. I've stopped dipping my pantyhosed toes in the pool of fashion. I dove in with both feet. One problem - I'm getting blisters because my feet like pantyhose.

I wore 2-1/2 inch wedge sandals in a nude color Thursday. Really cute, but I have blisters. I have some red 2-inch sandals that I just love. They're from Avon, and they have rubber soles, which make them perfect and comfortable. I wore the cage cutout shoes Friday. And they were so freaking cute. I even wore them to Home Depot, and they were still comfortable when I got home. I actually feel younger in these stylish shoes. Now I know why so many women have a huge shoe collection. I have a shoe thing that hangs on my closet door. Some of the pockets have 3 pairs of shoes in them. Most have at least 2. I saw a really cute shoe cubby thing somewhere that I'll probably have to get. Or I could put them in drawstring bags and hang them on nails on my walk-in closet walls. I've never had this problem before. Usually my problem is a collection of shoes that are no longer comfortable, but I don't want to get rid of them. I've given away lots of them in the past year, and now I'm wishing I kept them. Oh well, live and learn.

Am I Ready?

Someone was hinting around about being my lover. WOW!!! I was so flattered! But there's so much in that proposition that I didn't know what to address first.

I was born in 52 and survived the 60s and 70s, so casual sex isn't a new concept for me. But, at the tender age of 60.9, there are so many more issues besides birth control.

Many things have happened since my last roll in the hay. I've gone through menopause - how does that affect  how my female parts work? I've had both knees replaced - can I even get in those positions any more? I've let myself go - do I have the stamina? I've lost 50 lbs - how do I look naked? Losing 50 lbs has me saggy and baggy, and I'm not talking about my clothes.

My body and heart are a package deal. I've been celibate for a long time, and I'm content with my intimate life. In the "good ole days" I'd been on dates where I swear the guys didn't even know what my face looked like. They were staring at my boobs the whole time. I don't want that again. I want a relationship first, then intimacy. Sex changes everything.

I'm looking for someone to spend time with - movies, dinner, barbeque, work on projects, drive in the country, dance (can I do that any more?), bowl (ditto?), play cards, games, visit. I still have 50 pounds to lose, so I want to be around people who are encouraging, not sabotaging. If I find someone who wants to eat what I eat - awesome. He'll have a chance to spend more time with me. I do not want to be with someone who will encourage me to eat foods that are not part of my new lifestyle. If he encourages me to be more active - even better.

To answer the original question - NO!

Toastmasters Conference and DTM

Someone else called me beautiful! I could get used to this.

This past weekend I attended the Toastmasters District 55 Spring Conference in San Antonio at the Airport Hilton.

The Evaluation contest was held Friday night after dinner and the Parade of Banners. I like to meet people at conferences, so I usually ask to join strangers during the meals. I saw a table with an older couple and found 2 seats next to them were being saved, so I sat next to one of those seats. As it turned out, it was a contestant and her dad who was there to cheer her on. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with Gary, the dad seated to my right. He and I chatted, and I actually developed quite a crush. I found him easy to talk to and I think it was mutual. He started to tell a story about his step father during the minute of silence between contestants, and I had to shush him. I hated doing that. Then, it was difficult to talk anymore because it was contestant, minute of silence, contestant, minute of silence, etc. And at the end of the contest, he disappeared. I couldn't sleep that night I was so excited about meeting him. Because I'm new at this, I didn't think to share contact info. I just knew they'd return the next evening for the International Speech Contest, but they didn't.

The Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) ceremony was after the banquet on Saturday night. I was escorted by my friend Dan Jackson, DTM, whom I've known since we started Slick Talkers in 1992. He told me I was beautiful Saturday night and gave me a big hug on stage after putting the medal on me. Here are some photos of us at the ceremony.