Normal Service Has Resumed

Sorry - got a little side tracked by a tree, a lot of rain, a crap city sewage system and a basement. That's all I'm saying otherwise I will explode and undo all the calming thoughts I've been practicing over the last few days.
I bet you thought I'd just left those photos up of me in a vain, look-at-me sort of way?
Anyhoo, not much going in here in Chicago except that it's plunged to freezing temps and is SNOWING. Yes, that's right. I'm not ready for it, either emotionally or practically. Half the gloves I thought we had, seem to have mislaid their partners, and the hats that 8 year old wore last year no longer fit. I didn't think heads grew that much. In fact, isn't there a myth that a baby's born with the size head it will have for the rest of its life? No, that can't be right. It must be eyeballs.
And the black ski jacket that I really like and that I've had for well, an embarrassing number of years, has finally given up the ghost. Actually, it's only the zipper that's gone so I could have another one put in, but I was going to use this opportunity to force myself to buy a new one. I have even tried a few on, but the fashion at the moment is for jackets that sit just above the bum - and I'm not having that. Not just because I don't want to inflict that much bum on the viewing public but because you can literally freeze it off in Chicago. I will give myself a few weeks to find a replacement and if I fail, I will take it as a sign from above that I'm meant to stick with the one I have. (Doesn't take much to persuade me out of shopping for clothes does it?)
Oh, and I also have to buy the dog booties. Yes, booties. I'm sure you'll think that's a bit precious but she somehow managed to scrape all the skin off her front paws a few months ago and it's still not heeled well enough to cope with the salt that gets sprinkled everywhere in the winter. Ow - hurts just thinking about it really.  We think it's because she races around our basement (which is tiled) and slides everywhere.
Have you ever bought dog booties? I was looking at some the other day in the pet shop and had no clue what her paw size would be, which means I'll have to take her in. Which means that she'll be jumping at all the other dogs and trying to play and I'll end up tense and sweating bullets. I can't wait.