Sole-comfort, part deux.

As my good friends and family know, these flip-flops have been a bit of an eyesore for many many years now. I purchased them in Kimberley back when I was living down there and I have had them and worn them every summer since. As I wrote last year about them, there was something about them I just couldn't let go of. Whether it was they perfect way they conformed to my feet, the story behind purchasing them or the fact that if I actually put them out of their misery and threw them out, a part of my life would also be thrown out with them.

Well. More people have started chirping up about them lately and I finally decided to take the plunge and purchase a new pair of sandals. They are a far cry from the $17 flip flops that have lasted me the last 8 years but at least I know these new ones will carry me threw at least the next 8 years.

Incentive to cook.

Although I'm not usually looking this seductive in the kitchen while cooking (and by usually I mean never), I do have this apron. My apron proclaims "will cook for shoes" and I will cook to the end of the world to get these shoes.

Santa Mom bought it for me for Christmas and it wasn't until I've moved into the new place that I've been able to hang it with pride. Since then though, I've worn it quite a bit. In fact, it might need a good solid wash.

Side note, who in a million years, would have thought I would write a blog about wearing an apron. Good God Mike, you were right. I am becoming more and more domesticated as the days go by.

Wait a minute, is she even wearing clothes? Maybe I should try that...

Check out this apron and others at Domistyle.

Apparently these doctors were commissioned by companies who design high heels...

... but I am not one to complain. In fact, all my shoes are high heels. When people ask me "how tall are you?" I reply "with or without heels"?

So, thank you random doctors who somehow found that the higher the heel, the tighter the vajayjay.

Bring on the stilettos.

Sole - comfort.

If you know me, you know just how much these $17 flip flops mean to me. Mom gives me a hard time about them. Dad rolls his eyes. Tanu has been known to walk away from them. In reality though? They are the best shoes I own.


These flip flops however are neither eclectic or elegant. They are old and busted, worn and tired. I have had to smear shoe-goo all over the soles of both shoes as I had gone through them. At one point I inquired into having Birkenstock soles put on these little things as I couldn't imagine not wearing them one summer.

There is something about them that I can't let go of. I'm not sure if it's the way they conform to my feet, the story behind purchasing them or the fact that if I throw them out, a large part of my life which happened while wearing these damn things would be thrown out with them.

What to do while on vacation in beautiful Revelstoke, BC.

1. Make a tee time at the Revelstoke Golf Course. Our 9:44 a.m. tee time included a couple things. It included a golf cart, (which included space for our massively large purses, 2 coffees, golf bags chalk-full of clubs) and a partner by the name of Tom.
   
   Now, Tom is a manager at Bucars RV. Sure, Tom. The entire time we played he would harass Karen (as he clearly knew I wasn't good enough to give advice to) and say crap like 'try your iron instead of your wood, try your wood instead of your iron'. Now, Karen might have taken advice from him if he didn't shoot all his balls into the trees.
   
   My inner dialogue went something like this: "Megan, you suck. You're not good enough to hit the tree which is dead in front of you". And you know what? It totally worked. I didn't hit a single tree. That's right PGA, watch out!
   
   
2. Take a girlfriend with you who is good at absolutely everything - not to mention a total party. And I mean everything. Need a wrench? She's got one in her purse. Need to re shingle a roof? Handy that, she knows how to do that too! Need to get drunk with someone? Good gracious she's good at that too! Fan-freakin-tastic! Not only is she good at everything, but she is a heckuva good time too.
   
   
3. Ensure the fridge is fully stocked with all the essentials. All you need is Mojitos and Coolers... after that? Everything is just extra. After our stellar golf game, we headed straight for the local liquor store. After scouring each aisle we asked the pretty trailer park chick behind the counter for some assistance. She soon told us that "heck ya'll, we don't carry that here! Cheers carries that stuff!" Yes, she gave us the 'heck ya'll'. Thanks, Britney.
   
   We headed to Cheers only to find the last 2 bottles of Smirnoff Mojito and sweet baby Jesus - we bought it as fast as we could possibly swipe our debit cards and we were on our way home to refrigerate it. In the meantime? Karen set out to the deck for some r n' r on the couch with her popcorn book and I was out to the yard to catch some of that golden sunlight and read my umpteen dozen magazines I brought out.
   
   
4. Hike to Miller and / or Eva Lake. Ok this was a good idea but it turned into a total bust. See, as you header up Mount Revelstoke, you need to stop at the good ol' park entrance and pay for your travels up the hill. Before I could even throw my $19.48 at her, she says "Sorry, grizzly mama and her grizzly babies are walking around. We're trying to tag them so - sorry." Sure you're sorry. And I even had my flat tire fixed for the venture up the hill. Le sigh. Turn around and did a little sightseeing... for Karen of course. Saw things like... super hot maybe Priest who was sitting outside St. Peters Church asking if we were looking for a meeting. Um, meeting with you? (snicker...) Then headed to see the new super awesome wicked cool ski hill and to find out where the heck the brand new 18-hole course is being built.
   
   Oh, did I mention? Mr. Nick Faldo was playing in front of us on the course. Tom pointed him out by saying "See that guy in the white shirt and tacky (Karen will argue he said khaki, not tacky) shorts? That's Nick Faldo". Karen and I both scratched out heads and mosied on. Who knew that this guy was actually something else. He's like this big time PGA british player who's kind of a big deal. What's even a bigger deal? He's designing his first ever golf course in western Canada and in the quaint little town of Revelstoke, BC.
   
   
5. Support the local economy and you know, spend! I had to support the local snow and skate shop, Society Snow and Skate - the guys in there are super stellar. They have managed to keep the first real skate shop truly alive in Revelstoke. And they carry a huge selection of Lifetime Clothing which is one of my fave casual brands. And then of course had to buy Karen some new shoes and a couple grilled cheese sandwiches from the Modern Bakery. And then there was the piece-de-resistance, Woolsey Creek. Le sigh... We shared a delicious bottle of red wine (Winds of Change, Pinotage Shiraz from South Africa), had an even more delicious dinner, enjoyed some gluten-free chocolate mousse (mmMMmMmm) and the glorious outdoors.... until the mosquitos became a little too pesky.
   
   Karen even mentioned to me "I had no idea there was a town behind the A&W, MacDonalds and PetroCanada". Well, looks like I have opened the eyes of another person to this wonderful town.
   
   
6. Find some friends who will take you to The Regent Inn where you can dance like you're not from there. Um, in all my years of going to Revelstoke, I had never once been to The Regent for anything else than lunch, once. I have 2 friends who live and work in Revelstoke and who opened my eyes to this little nightclub. In fact, I have officially had my beer cherry popped: I drank an entire bottle of Budweiser. Egad... thank God for the JagerBombs that washed the yeasty taste down. *shudder*
   
   
7. Other things you can do? Do a puzzle in your bathing suit in the yard while drinking coolers. Chase a spider the size of a Ribeye steak around the kitchen until finally catching it and putting it under a glass where you can tap on it and torture it and leave it for your dad to kill when he arrives days later... or you can lift up the glass and kill it on the brand new carpet with my favourite flip-flops. Take a gander at the ol' Farmers Market held on Saturdays, and only Saturdays. Scream like a banshee on the golf course because a bug the size of a golf bag is climbing up your leg only to literally turn it's neck so it's looking at you - mocking you - as you jump out of a moving golf cart and onto the green as your male partner beats the snot out of it with his club. Or, just simply enjoy the delicious crisp 35-degree mountain air.

The Calgary Stampede. Day 1.

The passes are being taken, the beef on a bun is being served, the rides are in full throttle and my tents are set. It is officially the Calgary Stampede. Giddy. Up.

Notes from my first day working Stampede:

• My feet kill. Cowboy boots are not the best shoes to walk in. In fact, they may be the worst shoes to walk in. I soaked my feet tonite and whispered sweet nothings to them; secretly I think they're plotting to kill me over the next couple days. I'm sorry little feet - it wasn't my idea to implement the dresscode of strictly cowboy boots.
• MMmmmm midway concessions. If it wasn't for the fact that I do nothing but walk across park all day, I would be fat. Fat fat fat. I mean really, who can resist the sweet smell of pizza-on-a-stick, turkey legs, greek cuisine, dill pickles, sno-cones, ice cream, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies... and sadly I could go on.
• Each sneak-a-peak night, Nashville North is host to a 'secret band'. Tickets are sold and won and given away - all with the anticipation that someone spectacular will light up the stage. Well. This year? No, it's not Dave Matthews Band or Radiohead, Coldplay or Joseph Arthur - it's Tom Cochrane. Seriously? I'd ask for a refund.
• I had my first $4.50 cookies n' cream waffle cone in Weadick Ville tonite. It was hella delicious. HELLA delicious. Fun fact: you can buy slurpees in Weadick Ville for $1, get fresh baked goods at the bakery, and cheapo ice cream at the Breyers Creamery. Now - try and find Weadick Ville...
• If you are one of those ambitious people who are looking to venture into the event planning or decor industry - a word from the (sometimes) wise: ensure your decor is fire retardant. Make sure you have the certificate from the certified person who did it saying that it is indeed fire retardant before he kiboshes thousands of dollars worth of decor an hour prior to your event taking place.
• Even though I'm not a lover of the 10-days of drunken partying - there is nothing better than the thought of drinking a glorious cold one in one of the dicey beer gardens. In fact, it is something that will keep you feeling alive while wandering around the sweltering tarmac.
• You can only justify eating midway meals if you packed and ate a healthy lunch.

And last but definitely not least...

• Never ever ever underestimate the power of being kind to those who work behind the scenes; you never know when you'll need 50 amps of power moved from one side of the concourse to the other, carnies to stop bothering you, a door unlocked or water turned on.

Happy Stampeding.

A conversation at work.

Megan: Those are really cute shoes.

Coworker: You think? I bought them for $0.50 at a hospital bazaar last year. They were brand new! I think they make me look old...

Megan: You bought them at a hospital bazaar?

Coworker: Yah -

Megan: So you bought a pair of shoes at a hospital for $0.50 - they were sooo stolen from a dead lady. They weren't new! The old lady never had a chance to really wear them!

Coworker: (kicks off shoes) Ew... I thought it was too good to be true!