Also, Hays literally has it. Or them, as the case may be.

Today at The Mall (the one and only) I found my all-time favorite pair of summer shoes:

Photo courtesy: Payless.com

This wouldn't be that exciting, except that I haven't been able to find them for years and years. They were a staple in my college summer wardrobe, and I was quite sad to see them go.

It's been a long time, folks, but they're back. Oh yes, they're back.

Hays has it.

I'm in Hays visiting my grandparents for a few days on my spring break.

I wouldn't particularly describe my grandparents as "glass half full" type people. Take, for example, the following exchange between my grandma and me regarding the lavish attention my 16 month old niece gets from every member of the family:

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Me: I don't think anyone will even notice if I ever have a kid.

Grandma: Ugh. Don't.

Me: What? Don't have a kid?

Grandma: No. It'd just be one more thing for me to worry about.
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Hmm. Thanks Grandma.

Then there was the warning from Grandpa about my parking choice outside the house:

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Grandpa: If you park there, the neighbor'll call the cops and have your car towed. Better move it! Now!
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Hmm. Thanks Grandpa.

I've asked both of them for their perspective on the current economic recession/depression and how it compares to The Great Depression, which they both lived through as children/young adults. Grandma pretty much just shrugged without looking away from the Wheel of Fortune final round. Grandpa, though, surprisingly positive:

"It's better now. No dust storms. About the only damn thing missing is the dust."

Good point, Grandpa. Perhaps we can send that message out to President Obama: It actually COULD be worse. There could be dust storms.