After reading many of the NAS posts I realized I'd better get going. I called and got an appointment with someone I don't know--Jasmine. I told her my 20-year old cat was named Jasmine and she said she was 20 too. (My cat is 96 in human years.) Oh oh, I thought this might be a problem because of big age gap.

It wasn't. Jasmine hustled and ran everything down and was honest when I asked her opinion about a color that I wasn't sure of. I picked a lot of things to try on from several departments and kept her busy running back and forth along the whole floor.

I wasn't well prepared--but I did remember a few things I wanted to check out. One was the Lafayette jacket. There were only two left, a 10 and a 2. I would have like to try the 8, and would have ordered online if the 10 didn't work. I also tried on several other leather jackets. I tried on a lot of stuff and rejected a lot. After going through it all we went down to the shoe department where I was unhappy to find that most of the items I wanted to try were out in my size.

Jasmine noted what kind of boots I was looking at and brought out this pair for me to try--I never would have picked them out. I kind of like them, but I am afraid they are too big around.

#1 & #2 Lafayette 148 leather jacket. Leather is distressed--not like anything I've had before. On me it doesn't look like the model in the catalog at all. DH loves it to death. It is roomy, but I mainly weather leather in the cooler months when I wear layers. I'm sure the 8 would be too tight around the waist.

#1 & 3 I am wearing Paige jeans. I bought my first pair of Paige last year and love them. I was disappointed they didn't have my size at the sale, but had the next smaller and it's a size I wear in other brands. The pair worked. To think that a few months ago I wrote off skinny jeans as not being for me--well my eye adjusted.

#4 Halogen cardigan also in #3. I wear lots of cardis in cooler weather. This is brown--other colors were given thumbs down by Jasmine. Cute pocket detail doesn't show up.

#5 Halogen Whitney pants in brown/black houndstooth don't show up well in photos. I bought a pair of black washable ones last year and liked them. These are dry clean though, and part polyester, but they have a wool-like texture. I'm trying to move away from black to brown. I am hiding my extra waist stuff.

#6 This jean jacket comes from the 1/2 yearly sale--doesn't show up well but I love it to death. By Tria, I think. There were other colors but they were too bright for me.

The Via Spiga riding boot. I've never worn anything like these before but these are growing on me. They are 10 1/2--my difficult size, and roomy enough for pads & inserts for my poor old feet. They are comfortable though. I've never had such a shiny pair of boots. The more I wear them around the house the more I like them.

#7 & 8 The boots are big around. Too big? I am 13 1/2 and the boots are 15". I am unlikely to ever wear them with a skirt--I will either under bootcut pants or with tucked in jeans.

Am I too um, mature for the tucked in look?

I know they are bigger around than recommended for skinnier calves. The only time I might wear them with a dress or skirt is if I have to attend a serious occasion in Chicago or Utah in the winter. But then, would they be too casual for a funeral? And in the winter I'd probably wear pants and my SW snow boots anyway.

Should I return the boots?

I can't believe I've spent more than an hour on this post.

Jasmine the cat, not the shopper, looking her age.

We will appreciate all input.