Boots & Boys... They bring me so much joy!

This is pretty much exactly what they look like...
and yes... I drew this with my
Wacom Intuos4.

Well... This has nothing to do with boys. Just boots. I recently purchased a new pair of Uggs for this winter. I already had a brown pair that came up to about mid-calf with ivory colored fur rimming the top, cute suede/leather strings that tied up the front, and an Indian-esque design that went around the top of the boot below the fur. My mother bought these boots for me about a year and a half ago. I wear them out every winter and I LOVE them. I've never had cold toes with them - of which I am very thankful for. They are a size 10 and fit me perfectly. When I was being sized for these boots, the sales associate told me that all Uggs run big and to get a size smaller than I would normally wear. I normally wear a 9, so I tried on the 8. I could barely stand to shove my foot into them. It was ridiculous! Before even heading into the mall, I read on Ugg Australia's website that they run big as well. I was slightly miffed, but continued on to try a bigger size. Moments later, he brings out a 9. This one was much easier to shove my foot in but my toes still felt a bit crowded- of which I cannot stand! I have to have the freedom to move my toes about. So here I am. A size 9 in any normal shoe- be it Adidas or Nine West.... Apparently for me, I am the exception. I had to buy the size 10. I was almost irritated that I had started at the size 8 and had to try on 2 more sizes to find the right one. As I have stated before: I am not a shopper. I dislike trying on clothes, rummaging, purchasing, or bargain hunting. Yes Forever21 is my worst enemy.

[This image is from http://www.miuggs.com/]
[I am not advertising or promoting this site.]

So, fast forwarding a year or so later, I am ready to buy another pair of Uggs. This time I want the classic tall boots in black. I was down in Columbia, SC visiting family and friends and wandered into the Belk in Columbiana Mall. I saw the boots and was jumping to get them. When I picked up the display boot and found a sales associate (which was a challenge in itself because I went December 18th which is WAY too close to Christmas and it was a zoo...) I told him I needed a size 10. He squinted face in such a manner of "We don't have that size in stock anymore but I'll go run around back just to make you  happy." I do have to give the guy some credit because there were so many people swarming around him trying to get their shoes and sizes. I'm surprised his head didn't pop off...
   He disappeared in the back for a few minutes and returned with no box in his hand. My heart sank a little. He told me the only size they had left in black was a 6. I kindly thanked him for looking and was beginning to walk away when he stopped me and told me he would check the inventory of Belk that were nearby to see if they had my size in stock. Alas! He said the Belk in The Village at Sandhills (heading to Florence on I-20; Clemson Road exit) had 3 size 10 classic tall black boots in stock!! Unfortunately I couldn't make it out there that day, but would have to go on my way back home to Wilmington, NC. Two days later it was time to leave. I packed up the car with my and Ashley Lilley's stuff, said bye to the grands, and raced to Sandhills. I quickly found a parking spot (after cutting off an old lady and practically mauling a young couple doing some Christmas shopping) and scampered into Belk. We came in right next to the shoe department which made me happy. I found the boot, brought it to a hounded sales associate, and asked for it in a 10. She said she'd be right back. I was so happy I couldn't contain myself. I quickly found a chair to sit in and pulled both of my shoes off. A few minutes go by and out comes the woman holding a big ole' Ugg shoebox. I smiled and did a quick clapping motion... In retrospect I probably looked more like a disabled sea-lion, but I didn't care. As she approached me and handed me the box, I saw that the size was a 9. I was about to cry... I smiled and told her I needed a 10...... Of which she replied, and I quote: "We is all out of them." I figured that I'll just try them on anyways. I already pulled my shoes off so what have I got to lose? I slid my foot in and even though they were a bit snug, they were definitely do-able. Worse case scenario I'd exchange them when I got back to Wilmington, NC for a size up. Purchased.
    Today, Monday December 20, 2010, I have already made room in my routine to trek up to the mall and *hopefully* make a successful exchange. I'll be lugging my mall-hating husband and my two cousins, aged one and a half and three and a half, with me for my attempted exchange. I will be going to great lengths to get my boots. I will follow up with an [EDIT] to share my success or failure.

[EDIT] I decided to keep the size 9. I'm just not used to things coming near or around my toe. I've always tended to buy things a bit bigger and floppier. Eh. Oh well. So goes my tolerance and simultaneous lack of patience.