Shoes, Dogs and Best Friends

Do you have a best friend?  I do.  I have known her since we were kids- know everything about each other- have been there for each other through many hard times as well as many good times!

They say that man's best friend is a dog.  I get that. Dogs are loyal and always happy to see you.
They say that diamonds are a girl's best friend.  I don't know how I feel about that, because diamonds are cold, hard and very expensive.  
I have also heard it said that shoes are a girl's best friend.  I can also tell you that my shoes are definitely not my best friend right now!  Shoes are more like my frenemies- those people who act like friends, but secretly wish you harm.  Both seem all sweet and nice at first, but hang around them long enough and they can hurt you!  This summer, I got these great hiking shoes.  I wore them walking on the treadmill and all around my school to break them in ahead of time.  When we took our big hike, by the walk out on the third day, my feet were full of blisters, and I had two toenails that were damaged and (OMG!) later fell off!  Thanks, hundred dollar hiking shoes!
My feet always hurt by the end of the day at school because as a teacher, I never sit down and am constantly walking in circles between the desks.  So, I thought I would treat myself to a pair of Danskos for back to school.  They were so cute and comfortable to wear- until the end of the day when they had rubbed blisters on the skin on the tops of my feet!
It seems as if no matter what type of shoe I buy, nothing compares to my best friends:

Five Question Friday

This is my first "blog hop". Here goes my first "five question Friday" post. Feel free to join in!

1. Do you know what your REAL hair color is?
Have not seen it since college!

2. Do you plan ahead for summer, or fly by the seat of your pants?
I plan to relax and recover this summer like I do every summer. I get money deducted from my paycheck during the school year so I can have some money to pay the bills over the summer and that is about as much planning as I can handle.

3. What is your favorite meal to cook?
Chicken Picatta is my specialty
Lightly flour two chicken breasts and sear in 2 Tbsp oil in the frying pan for 2 minutes each side. Transfer to baking dish and place in oven 20 minutes at 375 degrees. Meanwhile, pour 1/2 cup lemon juice into pan and scrape, add 1/2 cup white wine and 1 jar of capers. Let simmer on low heat until chicken is done. Just before pouring sauce over chicken, swirl 2 Tbsp butter into it. MMMmmm!

4. Do you get offended by not receiving thank yous?
No, because I don't send them out either!

5. How did you meet your best friend?
We have known each other since I was 12 and she was 8. I would spend a few weeks visiting my grandmother every summer, and she lived a few doors down. My brother, her, her uncle, and I were all inseparable. We used to play LIFE in her uncle's basement, walk up to get snowballs at the snowball stand, swim in my aunt's pool and sit up late telling jokes and stories!