I Have A Hypothetical Question For My Blog Buddies... Obviously, I Need Help In Making A Decision

Okay, here's the deal. The same surgeon that performed my Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is now offering face lifts with a ten day recovery period. Huh? Yup, TEN DAYS. It's about $5,000.00 and believe me, I'd trust this doctor to the ends of the earth because he is really caring and one of the best in the field of plastic surgery; in these parts anyway. He claims that this new procedure lasts longer and is much safer. It's called a Cranial Suspension Short Incision Face Lift with minimal downtime using local anesthesia. This sounds like just *the ticket* for someone like me who has (after many surgeries) developed a fear of going under the knife. Yes, I think this would be by far preferable to the old *nip and tuck* face lift of days gone by. It's certainly something worth considering. Normally, with all the costs added together a face lift is up around $35,000.00, which is more than I'd ever spend.

Then, a couple of young doctors opened up a practice locally where they offer the latest technology in foot and ankle pain management without needles and drugs, the "Pediatric/Adult Flatfoot Reconstruction", which I didn't even realize existed until now. I'm uncertain as to what it costs, but for someone who has been teased unmercifully about her flat feet for an entire lifetime, I'm thinking this might be like the dream of a lifetime, come true. Frankly, I'd have to see and talk with someone (or several someones) before I ever decided to dive in head first, but just the thought of having arches in my feet makes me totally giddy.



These are the feet I was given at conception and lived with for 57 years. Sometimes they really hurt, having to walk around on my ankles isn't all fun, you know. Sure, I'm a great swimmer, but that is the ONLY advantage to having flat feet.

So, here is my dilemma: Mr. Snoots says I could pick one and have it done, BUT there would be no vacations or trips to see the kids or anything else for a year. Hmmmm... So, speaking hypothetically, would either be worth it? Which one would be more worthy? Having my sagging upper eyelids, under eye bags, sagging jowls and turkey neck fixed or having arches in my feet for the first time in 57 years? Would it be worth only seeing my children at Christmastime? I just don't know. I'm in a complete quandary over this, so I'd appreciate a bit (or a ton) of input here. These are things that really plague and occupy my mind right now but I'm not sure I could stay put for a whole year without seeing my kids or taking a vacation.

Quite obviously, I need help in making a decision and I'm nearly in tears at the thought of having to choose. Any thoughts from anyone? Or experience? Should I just blow them both off and learn to accept my aging process, therefore continuing to take a few vacations every year and see my kids more often? I keep thinking of things like: What if I did one of these, missed seeing my kids, then I have something happen and I die? Would it have been worth it then? Of course not. No one can weigh the pros and cons of a situation better than I... To the point that I cannot make decisions about things of this caliber.

This picture was almost a year ago and it's not getting any better.... I don't want to hear what you think I want to hear. I want to hear what you really think. I can't help but wonder if either procedure is worth the risk.

Any thoughts out there? Clearly, I must trust all of you or I wouldn't be asking, so help me out here. Please? Pretty please?

Packing For Las Vegas Begins Today...AKA The Painful Decision Making Process

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that I'm an anal retentive packer before I take a trip. Granted, when we went to Galveston for the Fourth of July, I was hungover and packed nothing I really needed. That was fine though, since we mostly hung out at the beach. Besides, that faux pas afforded me two shopping trips. However, when headed to some place like Los Angeles, Mexico or Las Vegas, I want everything to be perfect. So, this gives me time to sew on loose buttons and do whatever mending needs to be done. Thus, I begin packing a week ahead of time, which makes Mr. Snooty crazy. He throws his things into his bag at the very last moment and that's that. You know how easy it is for guys. Pack khakis, starched shirts, navy blazer, loafers, and a dark suit and they are good. For most women, life has never been that simple. However, I don't want to show up in Las Vegas like I'm Meryl Streep in Out of Africa. You know, with crates full of clothes.


So, here is my dilemma. I'm trying to decide if I should take cocktail clothes (really dressy) or just go with Casual Dressy. Or maybe I should do a combination of both. I have a great deal of trouble making little decisions like this. For the first time in our marriage, Mr. Snooty told me to *Go For It*. Take anything and everything I want. Southwest Airlines allows TWO checked bags per person (For Free), so why not? Well, if I actually took everything I wanted to, I'd need for him to stuff a lot of my things into his two bags. What can I say? He was nice to tell me to go for it but really, I'd need several steamer trunks to accomplish that.



I also have another quandary about what to wear at night. I never can decide what to wear this time of year when the weather is still warm. So, I'm going to need a little help from my Bloggy Friends. I was thinking I might take the Victor Costa cocktail suit I wore to my friends' son's wedding last April, but I'm worried that it might be too Spring-y. I've been dying to wear it again ever since I spent $75.00 on fabulous new Swarovski crystal & gold buttons. You just have to click on the picture to see them, because they are tres fabulous. But, tell me if you think it's just too late in the year to wear it, and I won't take it. Otherwise, I will.





Then, I'm thinking I might take this black and white pants outfit that is really dressy and shows my cleavage in the best way. I love this outfit and have only worn it once to a big Christmas party last year, so I've been dying to wear it again. I'll probably wear the mules instead of the stilettos, for comfort purposes. I don't need a repeat of the Los Angeles trip blisters on my feet and everyone knows there is a lot of walking to be done in Vegas. The pants are made of a polyester crepe, with full legs and they feel sexy as well as comfortable, which is a very nice, although unusual, combination for me. I also have a long black crepe pencil skirt that I can replace the pants with, if and when I feel like it.


You probably might remember this outfit. It's not quite as dressy as the first two, but certainly dressy enough for going out to an elegant dinner. Also, I can wear my bronze flats with it and still be relatively comfortable. I have no doubts with this outfit, as it's going with me, no matter what I finally decide on the others. It makes me feel feminine and stylish and I love it.


For a more casual evening, I'm thinking I could wear this next outfit. The skirt is a washable suede and this is another one of my most favorite outfits for the Fall and Winter. The tan leather booties are by Nickels and they are some of the most comfortable shoes I own, even though they have 3 inch heels. I feel really wonderful when I wear this outfit and I'm coming close to completely wearing it out. This is also my favorite outfit to wear when going to watch the Texas Longhorns play football. Hook 'Em Horns!





Then, if I decide to go casual dressy another night, I have this wonderful outfit, which you've probably seen before. It's another one of my favorites. The skirt is reversible with Fall looking flowers on one side and a subtle Cheetah print on the reversible side. I love to wear this with my cowboy boots I bought on eBay for $35.00 (then had to spend $130.00 to have them repaired. Uh-Huh.) They once belonged to a real live working cowboy in Montana and they were broken in just a bit too much. Anyway, they are comfortable and I love them. However, I could also wear this outfit during the day, which is nice too. I have a couple of different tops I can wear with this skirt as well. You can click on the pictures to see a larger view.

I'm planning to wear jeans and flats on the airplane, for comfort purposes. I never know if my feet are going to swell or not. Sometimes they swell like a helium balloon, then other times not at all. I don't think I'll ever figure that one out. Then again, I might wear a casual long skirt with a top and flats, even though it tends to make me look a bit house frau-ish. Why is it so damn hard for me to make decisions like this? I wish I had a clue.


You see, the key to me winning and having a certain amount of good luck depends on how I feel. Much of how I feel is governed by how I feel in the clothes I'm wearing. I know. It does sound a bit cuckoo, but it's the way I am. If I don't think I look great, then I just don't feel right. If I don't feel right, then the good luck won't be flowing. So, I have to believe that I look great, right? Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. By the way, this is my jewelry box contents, but I'm not quite sure what I'm going to take, if any. I might just stick with costume jewelry, that way I won't be too upset if I'm robbed in Vegas (it happened once before).

So, Dear Bloggy Friends, I obviously need your support, input, and opinions to make this a successful trip for our 31st anniversary and my 56th birthday. I need this help from you because I can't seem to make a damned decision and frankly, I don't want to drag my entire wardrobe along with me. Please help!!!!!!!