--- We had to go downtown on Saturday, which meant a sidetrip to the
shoe department at Needless Markup. Of course, we only went there after
we'd warmed up at Saks. Needless, needless to say, has the better shoe
department of the two. Why? you ask. They have Manolos. And Gucci's.
And Pradas. And all those pretty, pretty, pretty shoes that I SOOOO
love, but would probably never wear if a. I were in a position to spend
$495 on a pair of shoes and b. I didn't dislike high heels. These are cute and actually somewhat practical, for four inch sandals. These are hot. The husband liked these
because of the ankle wrap-around things (thinks they're sexy), but he'd
gag at these colors. They had them in black at the store. But the piece
de resistance. Oh, be still my beating heart. I WANT THESE SHOES! I WOULD WEAR THEM! I SWEAR! AND NO, I'M NOT HOLDING A SET OF CROSSED FINGERS BEHIND MY BACK!
Ooooooooooohhhhh. {/Homer Simpson Drooling} I'm not crazy about the
logo on the back of the heel, but honestly, who looks at the back of a
woman's heel other than a guy with a foot fetish? The only shoes I
decided were really worth considering at Saks were these Isaac mules,
but I wouldn't ever buy them because they're so impractical. They're
cute, though, and very pretty and I think they would look fabulous on
my feet should some unknown benefactor out there in internet land
decide to buy them for me. (They're only $270---WAY cheaper than the
Prada heels! It's a bargain, I'm tellin' ya!.) Ahhhh, spring
must be just around the corner. I want new shoes. I also want a new
handbag, too, but that can wait for a time because none that I saw on
Saturday jumped out and screamed BUY ME!.
--- And now for something completely non-shoe related.
Interesting. The bombings didn't swing the Spanish elections yesterday.
Or so says the new Spanish PM:
U.S. authorities said Monday they believe al-Qaida had a role inthe
Madrid attacks. Police also were investigating a possible link between
the bombings in Spain and attacks in Casablanca last year, focusing on
a Moroccan arrested in Spain over the weekend.
Yet Zapatero was keen to dismiss suggestions that the bombings swung
the elections. ``People wanted change in Spain because there was a
government that had done things badly,'' he said.
I find this so interesting. What is he trying to say here? That, no,
the worst bombing in our country's history---and we've had a few, so
we're almost old hat at this---did not play a part in my party's
victory at the polls. I don't want anyone to think this because:
a. I don't want to be the perceived benefactor of Al-Qaeda's attempt to
manipulate the Spanish elections. or b. Terrorism doesn't exist,
therefore I could not possibly be the perceived benefactor of
Al-Qaeda's electoral manipulations. The war was a sham. One man's
terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. Bush lied! People died!
etc. or c. I want to be more like the French, so I'll spin it that way.
I'm leaning towards a, and think that's probably the correct reason
here, but b and c both have the acceptable leftist spin to them. He is
a socialist, after all. The definition of that word can't have changed
too much over the years. As you might have guessed, I don't exactly get
what the Spanish people are thinking, let alone Zapatero. What exactly
is not clear about the message Al-Qaeda sent on Thursday? They, in
essence, said to the people of Spain, WE WANT TO KILL YOU! WE WILL
TRY TO KILL YOU EVERY CHANCE WE GET. AND WE REALLY DON'T GIVE A RAT'S
ASS HOW MANY PEOPLE WE DO MANAGE TO KILL IN THE MEANTIME. YOU DESERVE
TO DIE!
What, I ask you, my devoted Cake Eater Readers, is not clear in that message?
I know. Seems simple, doesn't it? As does the reaction most people would have.
Someone wants to kill me, hence I will give them no quarter when they
attempt such a thing. I will kill them before they have the opportunity
to do it. Now, that's a pretty simple message, too. But that's not
what the Spanish people think, or else they wouldn't have voted the way
that they did. They saw it as We did something to bring the nutjobs out of the closet; we must change course.
I'm not fried that people voted; that they took part in their
democracy---that's good that they did. BUT, they voted to appease the
terrorists---the people who would honestly prefer that EVERY SINGLE
SPANISH CITIZEN BE DEAD AND BURIED---with their votes. They voted to
stop offending the wrong-doers lest they come back and kill more
people. Wow. And they think this is the solution to the problem. That
Al-Qaeda will suddenly say, Ooops.
Sorry. Don't want to kill you anymore. You did what we wanted. Thanks.
We appreciate it. We're sorry for your loss and the trouble we caused
for all your poor commuters by blowing up those trains. SHA! Like
that's going to happen. In case you hadn't heard, one of the chinks in
Al-Qaeda's platform is that they want Andalusia back. And they would
like it back without the current population, thank you ever so much.
So, it seems as if Spain has two options: are all the Spainards going
to move? Or are they going to fight back? Neither, it seems. They're
going to appease the terrorists. They think that's the way to go. Don't want to bring trouble upon myself, I'll change my ways, duck my head and hopefully they won't notice me anymore.
I tried this tactic in grade school. Didn't work. Still was bullied. To
further the analogy, since a soveriegn country has its own
individuality, is run by people, and there are still bullies in the
world who want to beat you up and take your lunch money, when are they
going to learn the lesson I learned in the seventh grade? Because I
sincerely hope they don't have to go through seven years of bombings
and murders before they get the message that appeasement just doesn't
work. People just shouldn't have to die so that politicians can have a
learning curve. --- Ok, the husband has fired up a cigar in the office.
{GACK} I'm outta here. Poor man. Spring needs to come soon so he can
take a walk and smoke those things. Oh, and don't forget---EAT MEAT FOR DINNER TONIGHT! It's the
2nd Annual Eat An Animal for PETA day. Celebrate appropriately and open
a nice bottle of wine to add to the festive mood.