4th of July eve

On Friday we went to the Mall at St. Matthews - to one of two local high-end Knott's shoe stores - and Stephanie finally got the black Dansko sandals she had hoped to get at the Zappo's outlet store. Partly from wearing cheap shoes, Stephanie for years had feet problems. In Tallahassee and St. Paul, she discovered high-end Brkenstock's, and in Louisville Danskos, from Denmark. Danskos have a high arch that Stephanie needs. Stephanie also, finally with good insurance, went to podiatrists here, did exercises, and for a while took medication. Of course, she's a teacher and so keeping her shoes feeling comfortable is a special challenge. It probably helps that she moves around a lot while she's on her feet. Vincent and I yell at her when she spends less than $90 for a pair of shoes, but we know she'll have to end up giving them up in weeks. Playing a newlywed-type game at a wedding shower, I hit one question on the nail. How much did your wife's last pair of shoes cost? I knew the right answer (which Stephanie gave separately, out of ear shot): $125. We thought we had a little money because Stephanie had just gotten her summer school pay. She actually turned in her old broken-down black sandals, which she had worn into the store, and I failed to get a picture of them. Pictured above and below are the new ones.

The salesperson below was very helpful and patient.

Later that night we went to a restaurant/pool place - largely empty on 4th of July eve when there were fireworks several places in town - where our friend John's band Cadillac Shack played - late 50s, 60s, and 70s oldies. John plays drums and sang incredibly mimicky Stones and BeeGees songs. A few people - includiing us, despite Stephanie's foot hurting - not because of her new shoes - danced.

We met most of the band members and watched a drama between a drunk guy who danced with some of us and the wife of some of the other singers. During a break between sets we walked across the street and around a strip mall and into a tented fireworks store where we bought a few things for Vincent.

At some point during the weekend we saw two foreign films: Japan's "Tokyo Sonata" (partly about the global recession) and "Summer House" (a French movie that reminded us about Penny's in-laws, visiting France, and aging family members).

-- Perry