Picky?

I've worn the same brown shoes to work five or more days a week for well over a year. I love them dearly, but recently it has come to the point where I need to retire them a few days a week. I think they are still In great shape and go with everything, right, however partnered with my poor posture and sole tread I decided to begin the search for new shoes. It has been a long 6 weeks of searching... Seriously. Philip almost refuses to go shoe shopping with me anymore because, as he puts it, I am a bit particular. In my mind, if you're gonna drop $100 or more on shoes, they better be comfortable, look hot, and last a long time. Our joint search started at a shoe store in Andersonville where I tried almost every brown dress loafer style in stock, and one oxford that I did not even ask for. I felt so guilty after having someone help me for so long that I just bought the pair that I hated the least. I work in retail and I know how it feels to help someone who walks out empty handed. The very next day, less than 24 hrs later, I returned the heavy clunky unattractive shoes. After several trips later to DSW, which btw is somehow overwhelming and under exciting , other local shoe stores and even a few in Kokomo, Indiana, I am still shoeless today. Cut to a few hours ago and Piperlime.com, which I have always had a secret love for, but never used. After virtually searching all the mens shoes in size 13 and brown, I narrowed it down to this pair below.

Now I will wait around a week or so and hope that they fit well and are comfortable... I don't think I have the patience or energy to start all over again.

Indiana

Philip and I , along with Franklin are in Indiana visiting Philip's parents for a few days. We are sitting outside on a lawn chair under an umbrella stairing at the intersection of a corn field and a soybean field spread out over acres of rich land. While I could never live in a place as rural as this, there is much to appreciate in the relaxation and quaintness that it offers. I always look forward to our short trips here full of food, family time, and so much relaxing. It is nice to get out of the urban oasis that Chicago is every once in a while and just be in a place where life is different.
Franklin doesn't know what to do with himself. He has a house full of carpet with space to run his crazy laps far bigger than back home and a yard with what seems to be unlimited grass to rub his head in and rollover. He has had that, not so attractive, crazy frenchie face for well over an hour at this point from overheating his poorly designed but adorable body. Ringo, the older and wiser resident yellow lab doesn't seem to appreciate Franklins antics and attempts to alarm him into "play mode". He just lays there waiting for some diversion of the attention and hopes for a dog rub.