<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-9070" title="4587873964_93fd37973e" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4587873964_93fd37973e-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" />

I apologize, but I am unable to share with you what I did for Playdate #2 at this time.

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My silence may seem pretty lame considering that this is only my 2nd entry of the year, but . . . .

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Playdate #2 involved the creation of a BIG and UNIQUE surprise for <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/26/and-the-winner-for-name-that-italian-is/" target="_blank">Romeo Mio.</a></strong>  And since Romeo Mio reads this blog . . . .

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Ahhhhhh.  <em>Now</em> you understand.  :-D

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In a couple of weeks, I am off to the <strong><a href="http://www.les3vallees.com/" target="_blank">French Alps</a></strong> to visit Romeo Mio at his winter abode.  We decided that we would celebrate our Christmas together at that time, and this is when I will present The Top Secret Surprise.  If it's o.k. with him, then I will reveal to you!

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In the meantime . . . .

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<span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>HELP!</strong></span>  I live in the desert.  Are you a snow dweller?  Share any and all of your cold-weather "must-haves" for me.  I'm compiling a list and heading over to <a href="http://www.rei.com/" target="_blank">REI.  </a>

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My main concern is my feet.  Or to rephrase, what the heck do I wear on them?  You may laugh, but these are the shoes that I've been wearing most frequently during this year's Phoenix "winter".  Something tells me that they're not going to cut it in an Alpine village.

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/17/playdate-2-its-top-secret/olympus-digital-camera-684/" rel="attachment wp-att-9084"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-9084" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/P1160004-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

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99.9% of my shoes have heels.  Even my comfy winter clogs.  Are you tracking with me?

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Here are my only two options in my current wardrobe (at the advice of Romeo Mio):

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/17/playdate-2-its-top-secret/olympus-digital-camera-685/" rel="attachment wp-att-9085"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-9085" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/P1160002-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

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Those are my hiking boots on the right.  I would wear those if we're walking on a snowy parking lot from the car to dinner.  I would wear <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/11/08/day-41-you-need-cowgirl-boots-not-plastic-surgery-let-me-explain/" target="_blank">my beloved cowgirl boots</a></strong> (pictured left) while walking around the towns which (Romeo Mio assures me) are not snowy.

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During our trip to Romeo Mio's hometown of Torino, I will have the option to purchase Italian shoes which are deeply discounted this time of year.

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Sound like a plan?  Or do you have other thoughts?

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Merci, peeps!

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