<p>Alrighty I confess. Under the category: Things You Do to Coddle Yourself because your Eldest just Left for College:</p>
<p>Yep I bought those cute boots at DSW. For me. And that’s the truth, pffffffftttttt.</p>
<p>I don’t know what DSW is but I just bought myself and my youngest daughter some Ariats- of course she is the only only one who will probably be using them for riding…</p>
<p>Well, I bought a new matress pad today for our bed… (Is that thrilling or what???)</p>
<p>Either I’m out of it, or you guys are speaking in code. I don’t know what either DSW or Ariats are.</p>
<p>I am going to a Leadership conference In Ca, 4 weeks spread over the couse of a year. Time to grow myself now that both kids are in college. I am nervous but excited. We have DSW( outlet for shoes) here in town now- Great store! I don’t know what Ariats is either dmd77. Maybe someone will enlighten us.</p>
<p>DSW–Designer Shoe Warehouse–large shoe store, with a discount.
(I think that the d stands for designer)</p>
<p>Ariat-riding boots.</p>
<p>Well, after my oldest left I bought myself an outrageously expensive pair of sunglasses. I love them and have coveted them for a long time.</p>
<p>I was walking past the counter on the way out to the car and saw them and charged them. </p>
<p>Did I need them, no. But I really do love them.</p>
<p>I had our garage doors replaced, then splurged a bunch of saved-up credit card points on a set of non-stick cookware. Go me.</p>
<p>I’m recovering the sofa now that there are no children at home to spill; only the dog to do what dogs do to sofas!</p>
<p>I made a recipe which we enjoyed before we had kids, and which I probably hadn’t made in at least 15 years!</p>
<p>Since my youngest is now in NYC (and certainly NOT driving the used car she had “inherited” from her grandad), we have three vehicles. We only need two. And one of those will be a Mini Cooper convertible ;). It makes those empty nest pangs MUCH easier to handle.</p>
<p>Also taking classes and spending more time with developing some things at work (note the name)…</p>
<p>I bought a 12-pack of his favorite carbonated beverage at the food store, just to make sure we have it when he comes home at Thanksgiving.</p>
<p>It made me feel good to be able to SOMETHING constructive. :)</p>
<p>I’m running for public office.</p>
<p>I am involved in the organization of the dinner for my 30th college (fraternity) reunion this Saturday, where we will tell stories of the nefarious activities that were the center of our insular universe 30 years ago, which we now hope our college age children are not doing.</p>
<p>mootmom: Thanks for the laugh.</p>
<p>I spent labor day weekend in vancouver british columbia- where I attended a rock concert( my husband however looked like he was at a very dull opera)- where I drank beer, hooted and hollered and took the skytrain back to my hotel room with on the 24th floor with floor to ceiling windows- then the next day I went shopping ! ( but I am such a mom I had a hard time spending money)
( I bought my boots at zappos)
I also was pleased to discover that my cell phone still worked in vancouver ;)</p>
<p>Me? I started my novel…again.</p>
<p>reading or writing garland ?- whichever it is congratulations! :)</p>
<p>( when my daughter was little- it was all I could do to read magazine articles or short stories- didn’t have the time or attention span for longer)</p>
<p>Writing…supposedly.</p>
<p>My reading addiction already has full control of my life!</p>
<p>National Novel Writing Month ([NaNoWriMo](<a href=“http://www.nanowrimo.org%5DNaNoWriMo%5B/url%5D”>www.nanowrimo.org)</a>) is coming up in November! I’ll be working on my 4th novel this fall, anyone join me?</p>
<p>I invited sixty people to a party next weekend. I dropped my son of last weekend, get one week to feel sorry for myself, then have to get my a** is gear.</p>