Friday, March 8, 2013

Miller Time Friday, Part Deux - When Wendy Met Ema, The Naked Cowgirl, Farragut and Teddy

Oh My Goodness! 

I have arrived back with blisters on my feet!!!  That can only mean one thing - I had fun.  Oh yes, the other one thing it can mean is: I need better walking boots, shoes, etc.  I brought sensible foot wear, but to no avail.  That topic can wait till Wednesday however!!!

HOW ARE YOU!!!!!  I managed to sneak in a couple of times and loved all of your comments to GetFresh's posts!!!  Wasn't she wonderful????? I think this officially means she needs her own blog and I am starting the petition immediately!!!!!!  Thank you SOOO much Elizabeth Anne - your posts were interesting and fun!!!!!!!!  Take your applause!!!!!  And if you are signing in late and only see this post first, please go back and read Anne's post of today here, as there is a great drink recipe, a great question and just her all-around wonderful writing!  At this point, I am leading a rousing chorus of "For She's a Jolly Good Fellow!"

This was a very nice trip for Barry and I.  Because our children had friends with them, we were able to go at a much more relaxed pace...

AND THEY'RE OFF!




Four people with money burning in their pockets.  There will be no Forever 21, Hipster record store, book store or shop with Boho clothing left unscathed!   I did 2 hours with the girls on Sunday and gave up!

I will not bore you with every place we went, and purchases will await another day!  But I did get to meet Ema the day we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  All of the kids came to say hello to her  en route to the museum, mainly because my son kept telling them that he was certain that Ema was likely an ex-convict named Charlie and I was about to get the surprise of my life!!!

A cappucino with Ema

Nope.   In real life, Ema is very beautiful and funny and quite lovely!  Barry and I stayed and had a cappucino with her for about an hour and half and we gabbed like we were old friends.  As much as you like Ema in her blog, you would like her even more in real life (well I guess our blogs are real life too!).  I was a bit nervous that Ema might find us country bumpkins, but I don't think so and we are taking her (and maybe her husband and daughter too!) out to dinner next time we are in the big city!


Ema told me she was in her "uniform" and looked simple and elegant!  I am wearing the j crew scarf I picked up the day before - a lovely blue with navy checks silk scarf.  I am surprised you can't catch the paparazzi who were outside the window waiting for us to leave! 


With Barry, who was quite besotted with Ema!  He talked and talked and talked which I knew meant that a) he really liked her because he doesn't normally talk THAT much and b) he really wanted to make a friend in New York City!


Ema and I on the street, saying goodby!  Look - she even had her earmuffs with her - I was so excited to see them!!!  It was so cold and EVERYONE (except me) had puffy coats on on!  I wish I had brought mine!!!

Ema - thank you so much!  We just loved meeting you!

The Naked Cowgirl in Times Square

Actually, there was a naked cowboy there, too, just so you know!  I know she was there making money, but I am telling you folks, with the windchill, it was probably 20 degrees fahrenheit!  I worried about her all evening....Barry thought I was crazy, but I am a mother and she definitely needed Ema's earmuffs for strategic places...




Meeting Farragut

If you recall, I was obsessed with seeing Augustus Saint-Gaudens' statue of Admiral Farragut when I went to New York City.  You can read about that obsession in my earlier post here.  So Monday morning, in freezing cold temperatures, Barry and I trooped off to Madison Square Park so I could see it for myself!



I have never looked closely enough at statues before reading about Saint-Gaudens; that will not be the case now.  Now I am gobsmacked when I look at them, having read how they are created and the amount of physical and artistic effort required by the artist to make the final piece truly representative of the subject.  So we stood in front of old Farragut for a good 20 minutes in the freezing cold, but it is truly a beautiful statue and worth a visit.  Perhaps you might go on a nicer day.  A lot of folks stared at us staring at Farragut ("Ah, another person who had read McCullough's book," they thought knowingly to themselves "and stupid enough to visit the Admiral when it is not fit weather for man nor beast and Farragut is actually wintering in Miami..")  Never mind, I had a little conversation with Mr. Saint-Gaudens (and Farragut himself!) as I walked about, and gave Barry the whole story, which helped him get over the fact that we were standing in sub-zero temperatures with the wind beating us down...  The one thing that you cannot get from the pictures is that the stone behind me is so well done that it feels like sand - it was amazing and Farragut looks as if he is on his ship's bow, every inch a Commander!




Immediately in front of the statue is a base of smaller smooth rocks set in stone.  And embedded beside those rocks is a small bronze crab, with the words Augustus  Saint-Gaudens, Sculptor on top and Stanford White, architect, on the bottom.  I truly recommend (for the 15th time - I know I am getting tedious) reading The Greater Journey to read more about this artist and his interesting friendship with architect Stanford White, who many of you will be familiar with due to the movie Ragtime, which dramatized the sensational trial that followed White's murder at the hands of his mistress' husband.

So Mr. Saint-Gaudens did not disappoint!  Nor did his statue of Sherman up at Central Park, but it was even colder the day I was up there, so I passed on standing about with that one! Next time!  Nor was it warm enough to do the High Line or the Brooklyn Bridge - the wind was just brutal during our entire stay.

Finally, the last person I had my picture taken with was Teddy Roosevelt in The Museum of Natural History.  Teddy is always mixed up for me with the movie Arsenic and Old Lace.  If you have not seen this movie, it is worth it to see Cary Grant and Raymond Massey chew up the scenery!


Bully!
Oh I have a few more stories up my sleeve, including adventures in clothing, shoe and makeup shopping, the play we saw, and my Sunday at Tiffanys.  
But I have missed you all and am glad to be back.  I was telling Ema that I often feel like this blog is sort of like Cheers, people come in and out, stop for a chat, or not, depending on their day or week and talk or not depending on how they feel, and I am just Sam behind the counter washing the glasses!  So was so glad to see you kept on with the party without me and am happy to jump back in and say hello, I missed you!

Happy Friday - am off to make Anne's drink du jour and put my feet up!!! 

72 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. STATUESQUE Crushing on the snapshot of you with Teddy. Tell that Barry I think he's a trooper (well he did get charming Ema as recompense.) So glad you two met in person, that's cool. And, officially, welcome back! (Bowing and curtseying to all your fine readers that tolerated me.)

    SAM: "Have you noticed that, uh...somebody in this bar is getting a little loony."
    FRASIER: "Sam, everybody in this bar is on a connecting flight to beyond loony."
    (Ted Danson actually did that line for us in the Lakeview Lounge in AB, between his Cheers and CSI fame.)

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    1. PS Your DS kills me, although I get it!

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    2. THat is such a great Sam line! Forgot that one!!!! I hope he was nice IRL - I always liked Ted Danson!!!

      Oh yes, Barry is a trooper, especially if there are good looking blondes involved. DOn't cry for him, Argentina!

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    3. TD lovely along w/ his wife Mary Steenburgen. Both big dog lovers, very funny IRL.

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  3. I just knew you'd have fun. You did give us a wonderful hostess for the time you were away.

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    1. I know - wasn't she/isn't she awesome!!!

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    2. BB, just for that had to leave you a vicarious treat on today's earlier post. Serious drool factor.

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    3. I would have laid money Paula Deen came up with this. When I see it, not if cuz you know it's gonna happen, I will give it a go and think of you just before my arteries harden.

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  4. I love your Cheers analogy!!! And, I also love that you got to meet another blogger while in NYC!!!!

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    1. It was so much fun! Hope that your book is coming well - can't even imagine the work involved in that, Rynetta!

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  5. Welcome back! GetFresh did an excellent job in your absence and she should absolutely start a blog!

    You look like you are 6 feet tall in the photo with the Admiral! That's a great picture and you look very chic. I'm sorry your feet hurt, I was wondering about that during your packing posts, but I have overly finicky feet/knees and thought it is probably only me that could not survive touring NYC in anything other than a good pair of running shoes. I would be laughed out of town, I'm afraid. And in the end, my feet and knees would probably hurt anyway and I wouldn't even have looked good while inflicting pain on them :)

    Well anyway welcome back! and I look forward to hearing about your trip when you have settled in.

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    1. Cate - you are a good buddy to not disabuse me of my shoe fantasy!!! I soldiered on and when I couldn't walk, I cabbed and when I couldn't cab, I drank. Really, it was quite noble....

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    2. Welcome back! I had the same thought about how long and slim you look in that photo. Glad you had a marvelous time.

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    3. Damn! I have decided that I will only now get picture taken at strange angles in front of giant statues!! No need to diet! Oh there were other pictures I chose not to share!

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  6. Looks like you had a magnificent time! Ahhhh...love NYC. Can't wait to hear the rest of the stories, and of course the full report on the shopping and restaurants!

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    1. Thanks LR! For one of my posts, i am going to need Kathy to help me out with her thoughts - she will understand why when she sees the post!

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    2. Oooooh, I do hope we get some art from the Goog etc. Kathy as guest docent - perfect!

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    3. Now, I'm really curious.

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  7. Welcome "home"! I love your Cheers analogy.

    Sounds like you had a great trip! I don't think it's possible to buy nice shoes that will stay comfortable for an entire NYC trip :)

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  8. I am so glad to hear that your trip to NYC lived up to your expectations. Sorry that the weather didn't cooperate for you. For people that have not spent time in the city during the winter, it is hard to overestimate just how cold it feels with the wind. I suppose it is something about being an island with tall buildings and skyscrapers forming canyons to freeze out the meek daring to tread its hallowed streets and avenues! Indeed the city becomes a sea of long black puffy coats with the occasional fur to break up the sameness. Wool coats just do not cut it! But I am happy to read that you braved the cold and carried on with so many adventures. Blisters on the feet, well that is another topic as there aren't many great solutions since I know that you thought about it and packed what normally works for you. As you said, it all proves that you made the absolute most of your time. I think its really funny that your kids thought you were going to meet a convict when you had coffee with Ema!It is easy to let your imagination run wild when conjuring up who is sitting on the next bar stool at Cheers. Well welcome back and thanks to Anne for so masterfully filling the void with interesting topics. I will stay tuned for more tidbits about your trip.

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    1. Teacups, thank you for the compliment! WMM has built a charming clubhouse/ roster.

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    2. Thanks Teacups! And I just LOVE your handle - it is awesome! I tried to explain to him about Ema's blog, all her pics, etc, etc, but he just thought it could be all a very elaborate ruse! He watches too many movies!!!!

      Isn't Anne grand! I really want her to do a blog!!!

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    3. So about the name - I do love a nice cup of tea and indulge frequently. Even though there is no type'A' in my DNA, tea from a coffee mug is not the same.I like my tea in a teacup. a china teacup if you please. They are so pretty afterall.

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    4. Apologies for all of the typos. I have to get the knack of actually hitting the Preview button instead of the Publish!

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    5. I like a proper teacup, too! Barry gave me a really nice one with chicken on it for Christmas and have been using it even more than my bone china ones! My kids are huge tea drinkers and were thrilled that I gave them each an individual teapot/teacup combo!

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  9. Loving Barry's threads there! What a fab pic of you and Ema, I'm suppurating with blisters too, those Hermes flat boots are hell to walk in, hubs has mocked me silly for paying so much for something that shears my feet.
    Good to have you back nd yes our girl was fab!

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    1. I think husbands should NEVER comment on what is on their wives' feet. It should be a rule and they should have to sign a waiver before they are allowed to marry saying that a) all shoes are exempt from ANY comment unless it is "those are stunning" b) all weight, clothing choices are likewise not to be commented upon unless you have something good and positive to say! :-)

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  10. Ps. I loved Cheers.

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  11. Welcome back Wendy!
    So nice to see the pics of you and Ema.JCA's are the best!!!

    Get Fresh def needs to start her own blog,you both are so eloquent.
    Have a great weekend!!!

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    1. Hi Ina! I noted that you are were very helpful to her this week! Love that she called out your wonderful style!

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    2. Yep, Ina's bracelet's the bomb and thrilled to discover we are height as well as stripey tee besties. Her corner of GER sounds wonderful.

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  12. How nice to see two bloggy friends meet up IRL! Glad you had a nice trip.

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    1. Hey Hexicon - love that - "bloggy" friends - for some reason it makes me think of those "Frog and Toad are Friends" books - I loved those! I guess that would make me Toad!

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    2. It makes me think of "furry friends", in a good way!

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  13. Oh my gosh I just lost my big long comment, aaargh!
    Anyway as I was saying you look amazing in these photos, really beautiful and well rested. I hated saying goodbye to Ema when I met her last year in NYC, not knowing when I would be back, she is so lovely! We met up with ajc as well and the talking was non-stop, not sure how we would have fit Barry in!
    Love your new scarf and Barry is looking very sharp indeed in that outfit.
    Happy you're home, GF did an amazing job and needs her own blog for certain!

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    1. I know - we needed a whole day to yack! I really am feeling quite rested these days - slept very well in NYC and even for 9 hours last night! Am making a nice tomato sauce now and then we are stopping over at friends later on for a glass of wine - The husband is Italian and we were actually chatting about him with Ema when we met! God - I just looked at me and Teddy again and realized we are dressed remarkably similar!!!! I should have put the scarf on him!

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  14. Welcome back Wendy!! Can't wait to hear more about your trip. GetFresh was fabulous!!

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    1. M ditto on the thanks mucha! Hope your blog break gives you wee bit of a breather in your hectic rush; look forward to your posting return.

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  15. Welcome back to the bar. Cheers is the perfect analogy to the blog world. GF did a great job and should be on her way to blog fame soon.
    I can't wait to read more about your trip. So sorry you tootsies hurt, but it sounds like you managed with cab rides and cocktails - you're my kind of gal. I'm just starting to look at dates for my fall trip to NY - your pictures are making me want to go sooner!
    No drinks for me tonight. I have a work function and I'll be "on". Tomorrow is double-date night so I'll save my adult beverages for then-Emerson will be making her debut - along with some new Chie sandals (shhhhh - I was naughty at Neimans after taking back the fab flat sandals that sadly did not look good with anything except jeans.)

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    1. Julie - how do you find Emerson sizing vis-a-vis J Crew? I really want to try the emerald dress... Once I have all my bills from NYC paid off... and sell soul... Ah - it is hard to be on budget! Cannot wait to see Chie Sandals!!!!

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    2. Hi-hard to say about sizing. The top is roomy but the cut is an a-line, so it fits as I expected. If the measurements for the dress aren't online call the customer service number. They are fabulous and helpful and if they don't know the answer to your question they will get the answer and email you. Plus they answer the phone during business houses - now robo voices!

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    3. Oh.... if I can sell a few things, I am ordering that dress pronto. I tried on a Ralph Lauren emerald gree cotton dress, but it wrinkled so badly and the cut of the colout was too high. Have to get organized today to iron the dress and doll up so you can see my purchases! Please take a picture of you in the top and post it - would love to see!

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  16. Welcome back. I have decided there is no such thing as a nice shoe(a shoe- not a sneaker, not a fuzzy boot or clog,nor an orthopedic -ally correct creation)that can handle a full day of city walking, perfectly. Some of my shoes are better than others, but at the end of the day it is always a relief to take them off. GF is a treasure, and I am looking forward to her blog, although I was too busy to comment almost all week. It is wonderful to meet a blog friend. Perhaps next visit we can have a greater NY area JCA's tea!Can't wait to read about your adventures. For now, I am off to find that book!

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    1. Forgot- I thought about your blog today, because a work friend just saw the Tom Hanks show. She said it had a wonderful start, but weakened towards the end. I will look forward to your review!

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    2. I think I need to start in Maine and keep going all the way down to Florida! So many states and wonderful people!!!!!

      Oh I think your friend is right...

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  17. I was convinced our paths would cross!
    feeling a little guilty about not having stressed how really cold it can get here, but I've learned the hard way that very few Canadians will admit the possibility of cold weather anywhere but (1) where they live and (2) north of where they live. I once alerted some visitors to the possibility of 19 or 20 degrees Fahrenheit, plus winds - hah! we wash the car in weather like that, was the pitying reply. Till they got here...

    I am so glad you guys had a good time!

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    1. Oh Fred - too funny! I forgot the whistling building syndrome! Where I live there are 3 skyscrapers, one of which has 8 STORIES!!!! the wind flies around that corner like the devil and we scurry like rats... hmmmmm... should have known. But you know what - we missed the storm (WAS there a storm - Lonnie, NBC New york weatherman with the chiselled cheek bones had us in great fear but still hadn;t started by time we left early Thurs) and no rain so all good!!! Spent all our money, so I felt like I was helping you all with your economy! If I had had a couple of more days maybe I could have taken on the Sequester, but a girl has to prioritize and frankly, shoes were it!

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  18. I'm certain you were a one woman economic stimulus; yes we need you in Maine!

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    1. Oh Lane, I was good. But spent a LOT of money of food and drink.....

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  19. Sorry to be late to the party Wendy, klutz that I am I managed to lose my phone at the International night at school! Luckily someone found it and I could get it back today but I am late catching up with my blog reading. I am so glad that you could make it out before the storm started (yesterday night, luckily it was late), I was worried for you.
    It was so nice spending time with you and Barry, you felt like family or long-time friends to me (and I noticed that he was very talkative for a husband! Glad to hear that I had thos effect on him!) and don't worry you both looked very cosmopolitan (but now I understand why your son looked at me with a puzzled air! Just kidding).
    I feel bad, I should have told you that it's pufferland in the winter around here but truth to be told it was unusally cold even for us. Now that you have experienced skycrapers windchill you have to come back in the summer to experience the much more pleasant phoenomenon of sunset halo over the skycrapers grid whose name totally escapes me now (calling fred to the rescue here if she is reading).
    In any case I hope to see you soon in NYC (you never know but I don't think life will bring me in your part of the world anytome soon)!

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    1. Well I look thinner in the peacoat, so I am glad to stick with what I had! Good for you on finding the phone - that is a typical Wendy thing to have happen!

      Yes we definitely want to come back by ourselves when it is warmer! I have been to NYC twice in the early fall and loved it both times! The last few times with the kids has always been in March! Little different....

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  20. I lived in NYC for 6 years and there's only one kind of comfortable shoe and that's a real trainer, if you're going to be walking around all day. I wore black New Balance shoes all the time, and also found Hogans, which is made by Tod's, and they make a pretty good looking leather sneaker with a small wedge that are incredibly comfortable.
    You look great in all your photos, happy, comfortable and well rested. So excited to hear about the rest of your trip.
    Get Fresh did an amazing job - and yes, a blog of her own, please!

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    1. Hi Kathy,
      We're going to France in September and I need a pair of comfortable shoes. Do the Tod's fit a high arch and narrow foot? Thanks for your help as I purchased Geox and that was a disaster .Just for once I love to have have happy feet.

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    2. They're called Hogans and they're made by Tod's, but it's a slightly different company. I buy the ones that look like wedge sneakers. My foot is narrow, but I have a normal arch, so I'm not sure about that. I actually discovered them in Florence as lots of the younger women who work all day on their feet in the shops wear them, and then walk on the cobblestone streets. I can walk for many miles over all kinds of terrain in them, and never have aching feet. The only problem will be it'll probably be pretty warm in September in France and they're fairly warm shoes.

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    3. Thanks for the info and our department store in Vancouver carries the line and I'll be going over in May.

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    4. I have a little pair of arche trainers. I have a different issue - flat feet and narrow feet in general. Even proper true sneakers will hurt my feet at times depending on the arch.

      I bought a pair of nikes two years ago that look a bit like ballet shoes and they were perfect for doing TO, but of course would do me no good for doing winter!!! I am going to do a post on this on Wednesday so I am hoping people will jump in with great ideas!

      Marsha - I could find no goldsigns in the j crews I was in - they only had their own brand! Sorry! You will liklely have to bit bullet and order a couple of sizes. Does no one in Canada carry them?

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  21. Welcome home Wendy,
    Can't wait to hear about your trip and I was hoping the feet would hold out but it doesn't surprize me. That's the one area I always have trouble with.
    So happy to see the photos of you with Ema ... she 's special.

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  22. If I can give one piece of advice about traveling or just being around a city walking - it's always wear the most comfortable shoes you can buy and forget about what they look like. If the rest of you looks good, hair, coat, bag, etc. - honestly no one cares or looks at your feet, unless you're hobbling. I'm tired of reading on the blogosphere that no one should be in Paris in trainers - who cares??? OK - evidently I've had my Miller time tonight, and it should end now.

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    1. HA! I am with you - the issue is the darm winter - I have a pair of Uggs that look like Sorels and are pretty comfy and they might have worked better, but I honestly thought the high boots I bought were good as they have always been so comfy! I will be looking for better ones for sure!

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  23. Glad you made it home safely. My son should be coming in the door from his NYC trip any minute now. i take it you never witnessed him behaving badly since I never got a posted notice. I'm sure you would have talked him down from that flag pole smashingly with your sensible humor. Can't wait to read more about your trip and see what made it into your suitcase. What fun it must have been for you to meet Ema. It looks like a good time was has by all.

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    1. I bet he will talk about the cold (but maybe the teens are impervious to the cold?) - we saw so many school groups and I kept an eye out for him! All I kept seeing in Times Square were muppets and super heroes!

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    2. The only mention he made of the cold was when they went on the ferry to the Statue of Liberty. They looked like human Popsicles!

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  24. Welcome back, WMM! It looks like you had a fabulous time and how wonderful that you got to meet Ema! GetFresh did an amazing job in your absence, I hope she starts her own blog soon.

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  25. A belated Welcome Back from me, WMM! It sounds like such a fun time was had by all! How nice that you were able to meet up with Ema, too. You both look absolutely lovely in your photos!

    That naked cowgirl must have been absolutely freezing! I just cannot imagine how she can stand being out in that cold with barely any clothes on.

    Agree that GetFresh did an amazing job filling in for you, and also think she should start her own blog. :)

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    1. Thanks FFM! My family laughed at me worrying about the naked cowgirl!

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Kindness is a virtue...