LindaC, I tried to reply earlier but my browser crashed! When I went to that xmas "open house" the 'look' was: walk in the front door (directly into the LR, with one of those add-on hardwood-type floors), greeted by the host who said: "We're asking everyone to remove their shoes for the comfort of all the guests.". (WHAT?!) There was no closet or place to put coats -- so I removed my coat and handed it to the host. There was one small scatter rug, already overflowing with shoes. There was NO place to sit down to remove my shoes, and then no place to put them. (eventually the door and 'entryway' were littered with shoes). The gathering place was in the kitchen/dining area off the LR. It had cold tile floors. There were no scatter rugs anywhere -- I looked, because my feet were freezing and I spent the entire time there with one or the other foot against the back of my other leg trying to get it to warm up. That hostess has never offered or been asked to remove her shoes in my house. I was shocked that I was asked to remove my shoes at her "party". To those who say I should have brought slippers to wear: it never occurred to me that she would ask me to remove my shoes, if I wanted to wear slippers I would have stayed at home, and it's plain gross to carry slippers with you to someone else's house. I really hated being cold and barefoot in a house where I didn't know if I might step on a glass shard, let alone mingling with un-shoed strangers who might have any number of contagious foot problems!

You might consider calling Road Runner Sports (see link). They carry all kinds of athletic shoes, not just running shoes. Their customer service folks are extremely knowledgeable and very helpful. They will ask you all the right questions to help you make a selection. They also have an excellent return policy to insure proper fit. I have purchased all of my athletic and walking shoes from them for over 20 years and have never been disappointed. Your shoes will probably be your most important fitness item, so don't try to find something on the cheap. You'll appreciate their expert advice. Good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: Road Runner Sports

We used our neighbors water to fill our pool. I think we gave them $10. BTW, I am not a PebbleTec fan. We don't have it and had no desire to have it. I just don't like the look or feel of the pebbles. It is so good that there are different products. We had our pool finished last May, my BIL's was finished in Jan., and our friends' was just dug 2 wks. ago. All of ours are different and none of us would want the others. Ours is freeform w/ a rock waterfall, 7 ft., UltraPoz (which is a type of plaster w/ quartz in it), w/ acrylic decking, and a large Baja step. BILs is a rectangle w/ a lg. Baja, UltraPoz, square spa, sheer decent, play pool, and grey decking. Very modern looking and way too angular for me. Our friends' is a kidney shape w/ no Baja, Pebble Sheen, rolled bond beam, rock waterfall, spa, and is a play pool too. I don't like the rolled bond beam and I just love the Baja. Couldn't imagine not having it. BIL doesn't like either of ours because they are too curvy. Ours is also the only one w/ a pool fence. So I guess my point is that you just need to get what you like. You are not trying to make anyone else happy. All that matters is that you are happy w/ it. I can't wait to see it.

Cute, Glenda! They remind me of my thongs I found in a dollar/close out bin at Penneys years back. Mine are black with a red flower..I'm wearing them right now..and still get compliments on them. Heck of a deal, huh? :)