Sam, I have about six pairs of shoes (different kinds) and I wear them til they are worn out. I definitely don't go barefoot when I get dolled up though.

highpockets: I once went out with a woman who had 30 pairs of black shoes (yes, I counted), most of them indistinguishable to the untrained eye. We had to buy a special wall-mounted shoe rack so that the rest of the closet was usable. :-)

30 pairs of black shoes! Yikes! I've never had 30 pairs of anything.

Wow. 30 pairs, Sam? Holy toledo. Did she just collect them like salt and pepper shakers, or did she, like, actually find a use for all those? :)

It's not hard to collect that many pairs of black shoes. Flats, heels, special occasion, boots (both flat and heeled), etc..

Good question, Sherlock. I'm not sure how many of them she actually wore, since most of the time I couldn't tell them apart! And naturally, every morning before work she'd put 2 different shoes on and ask me which one looked better.

"...she'd put 2 different shoes on and ask me which one looked better."

The question every man fears. :)

Actually, the question every man fears is "does this outfit make me look fat?". :-)

Sam - the answer to that question is always "no" - never hesitate in your answer - just say no - save yourself , man
The shoe question is harder. but Steggy is so right - there are many types of black shoes - so it is not hard to have that many. High maintenance one here has lost track of the number of shoes -

LOL, Sam. You've definitely got that right. :)

Wow. Not hard to have 30 pairs of shoes of just one color? I have to ponder that for a while. Sounds like one situation where it's good to be a man. I think I've only got about 5 pair of shoes to worry about. :)

Beth: Don't worry, I always answered no to that question!

I forgot to add, lovely picture Beth, you look like a Swede?

You forgot the rest of the story, Sam. Too good to not tell it again: She figured out eventually that you always chose the shoe on the right! :)

At least you made a choice...

Guilty as charged, Tari. :-) Though at first I did try to pick a shoe ... then she fouled me up by trying on multiple combinations of shoes. What's a guy to do? :-)

Samantha - very observant - my grandmother was of Swedish descent - and I look very much like her.
Sam- too funny - the shoe on the right. Come on - you can't tell the difference between sandals and pumps . boots and flats- etc - really ? Just go with your gut. If she asks - your opinion is fair - as long as you don't say she is fat!

Nah, Beth. I'm thinking Sam could tell the difference, he was just trying to shorten his misery. ;-)

My grandfather was 100% Swede, Beth. Cheers!

And boy..the "Drive-By" thread...did someone say they missed the old times here? ;-)

Tari: It won't last. Of that, I am most certain. Sniping isn't tolerated, nor is trolling.

Beth, it was easy to tell, I was born in Sweden and most of my relatives still live there. I was there over Easter break visiting my grandma who is about the coolest grandma a girl could have. I loved hanging out with her. Go Justine!

Tari and Samantha- yeah for the Swedish heritage. funny thing - both my kids are blonde -like me. My husband is of Armenian descent - so I have two little blond Armenians. That sure confuses some folks.
funny about men and shoes- my husband cannot tell the difference either - after 21 years I have quit asking his opinion about all things fashionable
Samantha - my grandma was a very cool lady as well - I am sure yours is very proud of you - I understand she is a Rafa fan - my mom likes him as well - She saw him and said "wow - look at those arms!" Although - truth be told - Federer is more to her taste- she prefers the classic to the exotic.
and I know what you mean about the "Drive by" - old times - Tim does like to stir the pot.

Beth I gotta say, after seeing the pic, your children are just out-and-out beautiful. Birks agreed with me (he cropped that pic while I was busy making dinner).

thank you ,Steggy.I am very proud of them - they are good kids as well - not perfect - but they have many good qualities aside from looks.

Beth: That's good, cause they'll need em when things go south through the years. :) Seriously though, you don't come across a good-looking entire family often, you know?

*waves hello*

This thread seems like the safe one to post on. And, Beth, I agree on all the comments on the photos. How are Jake's finals going?

AmyLu: So far it hasn't been hijacked (nor will it, to be brutally honest, so don't worry).

I'm still weighing the O-OT and OT-Tennis split entries, and seeing how they go, and how people respond to them. One thing I have noticed is that restricting the OT entries to tennis-only discussion appears to have brought people out of the woodwork, which is good (of course, Rome itself would bring people out of the woodwork, so this is not scientific to any degree).

it will be interesting to see what they do in life . Jake pretty much has a plan - I am sure it will change. Missie has not figured out what she wants to do yet - she starts the college picking process next year. so we will see where that goes.

Beth: I usually change what I want to be when I grow up about every two weeks. This week it's to be a fisherperson. I'm just ignoring the facts that I get motion-sick at the drop of a hat and don't like fish. :)

Do you think Missie will aim for a college away from home?

steggy, I think the OT entries for tennis-only discussions have been great this week. A really good idea that's led to insightful comments and posts.

And I should have just ignored and not posted on that thread - but sometimes I can't bite my tongue. I normally do well with that here, but alas, today was not one of those days.

"waves' to Amylu - he called earlier to say he was through. Felt like 3 of the 4 went pretty well - the 4th one - well - he was not so sure - He does better on those fact based things - like accounting and statistics - rather than essays and opinions on reading material - so that is probably what happened. ( He is in business)
so tonite - he said he is going to go out with some friends. and relax.
Steggy - this new system seems to be working pretty well so far, IMO

Beth, I changed my major (didn't really know what I wanted to major in before I went to college, started as a psych major, and hated my first psych class - not a good sign) so in some respects it might be better for Missie if she doesn't have an idea because she can take a huge breadth of courses and figure out what she likes.

AmyLu: Hey, don't apologize for what you said over there. First off, it was beautifully written. Second, it should be bronzed like a little baby shoe.

I just worry that people feel ostracized over here. I suppose someone will pipe up if they feel that way, eventually.

Thanks steggy. :-)

And, while I certainly can't speak for everyone, no, I don't feel ostracized. It was my choice to move over here - and I just appreciate that there was a thread for me to move over to.

Beth, one of my favorite things after all my finals were over was to just have a relaxing night/day. I've been doing that today - I've spent the vast majority of it in pajamas.

"funny about men and shoes- my husband cannot tell the difference either"

Beth, what can I say, it's what we do. :) But ask us about the differences between the '66 and '67 Mustang, or how Pickett's charge could have altered American history, oh yeah, now we're talking. :)

Steggy - I am not sure about Missie' s college choices. Her only prerequisite is warm weather. She hates the cold. She has seen the great experience her brother is having at SC - so I am sure that she will apply there. There are a few good schools in San Diego that might appeal to her. And the UC in Santa Barbara . She has also talked about schools in Arizona - so she has a few to look at. My gut feeling is that she would not go too far away. Even though jake is only 30 minutes down the freeway - we don't see him that often - maybe twice a month - so, it is like he is gone away - He is close if he needs our help.
Jake is in the business school . Every new core class is THE one for him. Accounting - then marketing , then management , next semester beginning finance. Who knows - at least he is getting a feel for all aspects of business - we will see where he winds up.
Missie still does not know what she wants to study - so when she narrows it down - that may help her decision.

Sherlock - you sound like the men in my house. They have gasoline in their blood. rebuilt an old 68 camaro for Jake to drive - it is a beauty- spent days/weeks with their heads under the hood- Jake wipes it down with a diaper every night.
Amylu - from what he was telling me - I doubt that we would consider his evening relaxing - apparently some promoter is sponsoring a party at a Sunset Blvd 18 and over club for the students - and they were going to go there.

Well those nights work too, Beth. :-) Sadly, I've never gone to school in a place that has really had a club scene - good college bars, yes, but that would be about it.

Just for the record, I don't mind the "Drive by" thread at all. What's wrong with a little snarkiness now and then? :) Intense discussion is fun sometimes. I think we're all certainly capable of holding our own.

Sherlock: Oh, snarky and intense is fine, as long as it doesn't get personal and it's not done just for the sake of snarkiness. There's gotta be a point to all that snark, you know?

LA is lousy with clubs - the promoters send buses and sometimes limos to SC to pick up the kids. charge a fee - and get them there and back - and into the club. There really is only one college bar near campus - but then, SC is not in the best neighborhood of LA - so not really a good idea for the students to be wandering around too much at night in that neighborhood.
Jake says sometimes those are fun -and sometimes not - just depends on who is going i guess.

Totally agree, Steggy. Well, 99% maybe. :)

"I'm thinking Sam could tell the difference, he was just trying to shorten his misery. ;-)"

Somewhat. :-) And Beth, I can tell the differences between the shoes you mentions, but many of those were variations on the same tshoes. Some women I know probably wouldn'y be able to tell the difference!

Sherlock: Loved your car comment. :-)

Sam- glad to know you are aware of those differences. My husband is not :) Black shoes are black shoes to him.

*Nervously pokes in head in and swivels it 180 degrees. Coast is clear. Phew!Lightly creeps up to tari's door, swallows hard, and knocks softly. Door opens-figure stands in doorway. With head bowed, steps up, hands figure a bouquet of freshly-cut flowers, and embraces figure in a loving embrace, thereby crushing flowers in the process*

(jac feels bad because he thinks he's upset Tari by dredging up painful memories of that horrible, horrible hoop team from Boston with their unmentionable, vile, despicable players. jac vows never, ever, in the presence of Tari to ever mention them again. Ever. He would sooner forsake life itself than to upset her again. Before retreating from Tari's door, he looks up long enough to see Tari's dad with an extremely puzzled expression on his face, holding the by now bunch of very limp flowers)

*Disconsolately trudges off to corner to contemplate the enormity of his sin and shame-not for hugging Tari's dad, but for upsetting Tari*

jac has one remaining ember of joy left to him-Roger played very, very well in his first match, but jac is worried about the extent to which the difference in clay surfaces from MC is contributing to Roger's performance.

is this the OT thread still- or is the drive by - I am confused now

Not sure, but I think this still is, Beth. We just got carried away over there as things flowed.

Welcome Sherlock to our arena of pure zen!

Hey, Jac, how goes the battle?

If this is pure zen, we're in trouble, aren't we? :) Maybe we need Phil Jackson?

How are your Sox doing tonight?

Hey Sherlock- battle it is-but we're slowly getting there-Yes Mr Zen-I wonder-is he really that calm, coz I just duuno.
The Red Sox are about to cane the Blue Jays tonight.-9'2 top of 9th.
I also caught up with the fortunes of the Tiger's for Tari's sake and they look as if they will win in a squeaker

Glad to hear about the battle and the good baseball fortunes tonight, jac. :)

As for Mr. Zen, I honestly don't know what to make of him. Awfully confident, that's all I do know. :)

Time to run. 'Night, all.

No problem on the dreaded team talk, jac. I was over it already. Meditation, remember?

And the Tigers win! Thanks to two amazing, diving catches by outfielders Monroe and Ordonez!

Go Sox!

Night Sherlock

Hi T

I feel veryhappy to "see" you again. I'm sitting in my office waitng for an appointment to arrive -then I can move on to something more significant-like a sportsbar, for example.

HOW ARE YOU, BY THE WAY?

I'm good, jac! And I agree with you. Roger looked very sharp today. :) Don't sweat the fast clay stuff. He's getting there.

T,

Good result for the Tigers. Were you able to watch Roger play, because he was playing about the time we were chatting 12 hours ago?

Thanks! Yeah, I watched the first set and part of the second. I wasn't worried after the first couple of games, that's how good he looked. :)

T,

My appointment has just arrived, so I have to go now.

Sweet dreams babe,
jac

Good night, jac.

Well, this post was on the "Drive-By Post":

Hank, that last part was funny.

And yes, being called "defensive" in nature isnt' always a compliment. For instance, Man U didn't win the Premiership by scoring 20 more goals than Chelsea; we won the title because we only allowed 3 more goals than them.

Sometimes, the offense vs. defense debate tends to give the offense a right to victory just because of it's nature. I say that if you are an offensive entity and don't play any D, you not only will lose, but you DESERVE to lose.

Defense wins championships after all.

And just wait on the Djoko. More and more things are coming out of that arsenal. A very nice process to watch. Right now, the most interesting thing is to see how he's perfectly aware of the fact that he can just overpower almost anyone in front of him. Even top 10 players. And that serve is going to wreak havoc on the fast surfaces

Chitty chitty bang bang! Just when I finished reading that crazy axe drive by post it closed down! And El Gato was on it with no pants and he got a WMB! and Tim was admiring Nanner's buns in tight pants, and there non-English going on and tecate and it was like a wonderful dream!

What Nole does good I don't know the name for but he is very good at making dudes regret coming in. Like, better than most. That giant Gooch, Nole was just passing him with surgical precision left and right. I don't know what's that's called. But he does it with such confidence like.

Everyone at the hospital, well not everyone, I mean the nurses, all the nurses were wearing crocs.

JJ why do you hate disco jack bauer so much?

06:29 until El Gato destroys A-Rod! the midweek of Gaudio rolls on! Faster pussycat! Kill kill!

Tim wherever you are welcome back.

If Pete Sampras doesn't like watching The Nanner I could give two foos. I didn't particularly care to watch Pete in his day either but it doesn't mean I don't think he was great etc. I can't stand watching us football but whatever, I'm sure it takes lots of athleticism and is a great sport blah blah blah, just not something that interests me no matter how I try.

Vamos Gaston! Vamos Ice Cold Willy! The rest of you, play good!

Snoo: It's back open now (it was down temporarily for extended OT maintenance).

Beth and Tari, just curious, when Sweden plays the US in Davis Cup in September, who will you be cheering for? Me, Sweden all the way. No matter how long I live in America, I'll alway think of myself as a Swede first. Also, to you follow the Swedish players like Sofia? Go Sweden!

Samantha: I root for the Swedes when I feel like I can. I definitely was on their side in DC a couple of years ago, even against my beloved Aussies. :) But I'll be rooting for the Americans here, not just because I'm American, but also because I like Andy and James, and would love for them to win the Cup as a team.

Tari,
I saw those catches you mentioned earlier on Baseball Tonight.The catches really saved Todd(No strikeout) Jones. What's wrong with Rodney? He is giving up runs at an alarming rate. Also, Zumaya is gone for 12 weeks(rest of season???) with injury. Ouch.

Good news,though, Tigers on a 8 game winning streak with their bats doing the damage.

Samantha & Tari,
Did Sweden chose indoor carpet as their surface against USA?

You betcha, patrick! They sure did.

Our relievers have been, uh...less than stellar lately. Rodney makes me nervous and hasn't quite worked out his problems lately. He's capable of amazing stuff, though. Zumaya being out is definitely a concern, but I think we'll be OK. This team is just too good, as you saw with the OF effort last night.

Oh, and I'm loving the addition of Sheffield this year as well.

Patrick, I think Mats picked Gothenborg which is in the Scandinavium arena.

Tari,
Forgot about that great bat you picked up in Sheffield. Gary had a slow start but when Baltimore(Cabrera) hit Gary, Gary has stepped it up. Expect his normal .300-25-100 out of him.

My great granny lives near the arena, so there is a good chance I'll be there.

good morning - so everyone moved back here after the pizza arrived- well I did not make it back last night anyway - so sorry I missed you.
Samantha - not sure on the DC thing - really I would have to say I will cheer for the US - but I just have a hard time cheering for Roddick too often - so if he starts to behave like a horse's rear mid tie , I may find myself cheering for the Swedes. I really enjoy Bjorkman- he is a good player and his parodies of some of the other players are some of the funniest I have seen.
and just in case any of you are seeing this on the news- the giant LA fire is way north of me - so no problems here- and if DM is in the Pasadena area , as I believe is correct, he should be safe as well.

Morning, Beth. :) Glad you and DM are out of the way of that fire.
Awful thing.

yes - it is awful - and the news says that the police are suspecting arson - which makes it worse. had a brush fire here about 2 years ago -about 1/2 mile away and it was really scary - ash covered everything and it was so hot ( no air conditioning) that you had to have the windows open . It was awful - fortuneately - the fire department stopped it before houses were destroyed. Actually , it was very close to a friend's home - her 11 year old is the one who called 911 - he was in the backyard with his new puppy and saw the flames- smart kid - he acted quickly and probably saved his neighborhood.

Well, Beth! Did we kill this thread? :)

Report for Dunlop:

Dunlop, I find it charming when you go on these little informational jags.

Let the record show that I would rather spend the night with Nastassja Kinski (age 46) than Paris Hilton (age 21ish?).

Cary Grant here, but with brains. He was notorious for kinda, ah, lacking 'em.

Tari - nope- we just all are confused and trying to learn the new format.
so here we go discussing old movie stars.
from the wednesday OT - I prefer Gregory Peck - but my favorite is Clark Gable - even though he is way older than the group we were discussing

Ray - Paris is 26 - but score one for us older ladies!

My answer to DM's "Tiffany's" question is no - for both characters. They were perfect for each other, though. And Audrey Hepburn was worth watching in anything.

The Locker Room. Well, its a good thing I didn't bring up James Mason and Martin Landau in "North by Northwest" in "the Locker Room" othewise I might have gotten into real trouble.

I barely survived last fall's Mary Carillo-fest as it is.

It will be interesting to see if any of the chica's opine on "Breakfast at Tiffany's" though.

I would not mess with anything that came from the loins of Klaus Kinski

DM George Peppard did not end up punching Holly Gollighty in the throat so he by definition sucks and is unattractive.

Order of hotness

Brando
Steve McQueen
Paul Newman

This is not debateable.

I think Audrey Hepburn was adorable as all get out - looking at her is a beautiful experience. But she isn't exactly sexy. Gamine, beautiful, stunning, yes. Sexy, not really.

MrsS is on a roll this afternoon, that's for sure.

Yeah, I mean your list is really not debatable. The fact that Cary Grant has so few fans, is, however, interesting.

Putting aside his "Archie Leachness" I mean, he's no Marlon Brando, but that's only a difference in type? No?

Just so on one misses it, the report from Samantha is: (i) has no idea who Cary Grant is (probably because he was dead before Samantha was born), (iii) Robert Redford -- hot now, and I think, (iii) Redford/J.Lo would be a hott couple, now.

Oh, and Cliff, of course, still hott.

Mrs. S., as much as I admire you, I think Newman comes ahead of McQueen for many.

And also, did you know Nastassja was married to Quincy Jones!?

Well, I don't even think it's debatable that Robert Redford is NOT hot now. Yick. Did not age well.

Actually, switch mine to Clark Gable. Gable was the one that lacked horse sense, not Grant. (my brain too time off this afternoon)

Tari: Too much bad plastic surgery. A shame, really.

DM hot comes in several different flavours. Cary Grant however is none of them. Dude is good old fashined fugly. Interestingly Grace Kelly's grandson looks like a bootleg Feli Lopez.

Samantha honey the Cliffy thing needs to stop. If you are going for hot old dudes you need to go with either former Treasury Secretary Bob Rubin or Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger.

Mother of Safin is also hot.

Ray who hasn't been married to Quincy Jones? I'm sure if you check your diary you will find some gaps of a couple of months during which you were probably married to Quincy Jones.

Spending the night with Paris Hilton...can we stop this talk right now? I'm trying to eat.

I never realized that Cary Grant wasn't hot. I thought every woman melted with "An Affair To Remember"?

Yet Gregory Peck is hot? Hmm. Which movies best revealed this? I only know him from "Guns of Navarone". He was mighty cool there, for sure.

I definitely melted with "An Affair to Remember".

I'm now wondering if MsSanta was born after Cary Grant died, "fugly?" you must be joking.

I think with all due respect, Arsene Wenger might be a bit on the young side when compare with Cliff Drysdale, so let's stay with apples to apples, shall we?

What does that make Nastassja and I? Ya-Ya sisters or something?

Sherlock raises a good point. Comparing Nastasia Kinski to Paris Hilton is really no comparison at all. Its not that Paris Hilton might not be physically attractive, but, other than chaps like say, Kevin Federline, how many of us guys really think a night of actual, not theoretical mind you, barfing is desirable?

just last week watched Streetcar Named Desire - god was Brando hot -then - how disturbing when i think of him in his later years.
I have never been married to Quincy Jones - but , he was also married to Peggy Lipton of the old Mod Squad tv- remember - one white, one black , one blonde.
"Affari to Remember " - Yes a great chick flick - though I did not swoon - just loved the romance of it.
Gregory Peck - " Guns of Navarone " and what girl would not love Atticus as a father figure - he was great and hot - in an intellectual way in that one . A rare appeal for me - as I apparently am attracted to the big and stupid.
And Mrs S- I am so glad someone finally agrees with me on Grace Kelly's grandsom - what a hot one - and yes a Feli lookalike - Andrea Casirighi - yummty - If I had to pick a prince to marry - he is right up there with Harry the hot Windsor.

Ok, I just googled Gary Grant because everyone was talking about him,yeah he's good looking. Hey, you know who is also very cute, Rafa's uncle Tony.

I think Cary Grant and George Clooney look a like. Ladies - you like George Clooney or no?

Also Gian Marco and Kenny Chesney.

Did someone say Paris Hilton? The locker room is getting skanky. I'm sure you all have signed the petition to free her from her upcoming prison sentence.

Sorry, I would post more, but I keep getting lost. Am I on last Monday's Wednesday OT or Friday's Racquet Locker Room only?

Grace Kelly is HOTT.

Did someone say Paris Hilton? The locker room is getting skanky. I'm sure you all have signed the petition to free her from her upcoming prison sentence.

Sorry, I would post more, but I keep getting lost. Am I on last Monday's Wednesday OT or Friday's Racquet Locker Room only?

Grace Kelly is HOTT.

DM i'm about 102 years old. Cary Grant remains a puffy faced over gelled bore.

Beth I do not find bootleg Feli hot. He's pure distilled Euro trash.

GIAN MARCO DOES NOT LOOK LIKE KENNY CHESNEY!! SACRILEGE!!!!!!

Down with Sanja!

Double postah!

I was thinking about girls that are hott on my run today, and I remembered Michelle Pfeiffer. What happened to her? Did she turn 50 and disappear into the cryogenic Jane Fonda Freezer...only to come back in her 60's to make really awful movies?