The quirkiest person in the 'hood.

Last night I did the neighborly thing and stopped in at my neighbor's house where she and another neighbor (how many times can I use the word, neighbor, in a sentence anyway?) were hostessing a clothing and jewelry show. You know the ones, the clothes are gorgeous but overpriced and the jewelry is cheap but overbearing. I'm also a little more than cynical about these things because even though the invitation says that the clothing comes in "sizes 2-20" there is maybe only 3 items on the racks over a size 12. So therefore if I want to spend $300 on a linen skirt, I have to trust the judgement of the size 0 chica that insists that it will look great on me and is available in a size 16. For instance, I fell in lust with a uber-soft indigo suede shirt-dress/duster. I tried the sample on (size12) and it came within 3 inches of actually closing over my less-than-ample bosom. Then I ventured a looky-loo at the price tag, HOLY CRAP! I kid you not, $898. That my dear friends would buy a lot of yarn and fabric thank you very much.

Now on to the quirky part. Remember me telling y'all about my feet and leg pain issues? Wearing the fugly shoes in the privacy of my own home and for the occassional trip to the school or bus stop is all fine and dandy, but I will not wear them out and about in my everyday meanderings. Currently my favorite shoes are what I call my Skull Shoes. They are a pair of brown RocketDogs with a pink skull on the top. I love these shoes. I wear them everywhere (yes, even to church!). Unfortunately lately they haven't been cutting it in the support area and I've had to choose either my Avias or my Converse All-Stars. Monday night I HAD to wear them to the concert so I did what any almost 40 year old that won't admit to reality would do, I stopped at Walgreens and bought a pair of foam insoles to put in them.

Anyhow. Last night I was wearing my now comfy and somewhat supportive Skull Shoes when I attended this high-end fashion boutique down the street. As I was talking to the sales girl and trying on the suede dress, she commented on my cute shoes and showed me a pair of $500 silk slacks that would "match them perfectly." Anyone else see the irony here? These shoes symbolize my last efforts to valiantly hold on to any small remnant of my inner punk in this sprawling suburban upper middle class life I currently inhabit.

This is when neighbor/hostess, Dana, is freed from her other hostessing greeting duties and comes over to me. The sales girl points out my cute shoes and again mentions how the brown slacks would go so good (sic) with them. Dana laughs and says, "Sales-girls-name, this is my neighbor Beth, she is so quirky!"

Call me quirky or call me cheap, but I didn't shell out $900 for the blue suede dress after all.