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to my surprise, i discovered that i'm more shallow than i thought. i've been needing a new pair of birks since last summer when i got a hole in my sole. i went to my favourite birk shoe store (thanasis – best prices in town), and looked thru the selection. i've had the same style of birks for the last 10 years – black with 3 straps – i've bought replacements 3 times, all exactly the same. but i noticed a lady wearing a different style and i quite liked it, so i thought i'd try something different. when i was at the shoe store i couldn't see the exact style i was looking for, but found something else. i tried them on, and hummed + hawed, until i decided to do it. they're more delicate than i'm used it, more grown-up. but they're also kind of funky. i think it'll take me some time to get used to. when i got them home and put them on, my stomach dropped when i discovered they weren't birkenstocks, they were "birki's" i was quite confused because they seemed exactly the same as birks, but i immediately wanted to take them back. they weren't "real birkenstocks", and this bothered me a lot, "what would people think?!?!" yes, i know, that's preposterous. and i'm ashamed that that thought even passed thru my head. i looked closer at them, they were still good quality, and they were comfortable, and slightly less expensive. so i finally swallowed hard and accepted the fact that i did not have a brand-name sandle :S funnily enough, when i was searching for a photo for the link above i discovered that birki's are a line of shoes made by birkenstock. so i got what i wanted AND learned a valuable lesson. i hang my head in shame.

if i lived closer to the bulk barn i think i'd shop there often. i bought some spices there today for dirt cheap! i feel like i've awoken to the bulk barn. what a fabulous store! you get a lot of quantity without the excess packaging or brand-names (as we've just discovered, i am sometimes swayed by such things – at least when i believe it's a question of quality). i raise my glass to toast the bulk barn.

rach lent me season one of "flight of the concordes". it's all the rage at storytellers, the whole gang really likes it, and i can see why! within minutes i was a fan. so great.

the only peace i get is from hearing your voice.