I started carrying the new red purse I bought in Florence yesterday. Believe it or not, it really does make me feel just a tad bit more fashionable. And several people have already complimented me on it....primarily because it's so unlike me. I am not a red purse kind of girl. But I've been thinking that it's about time to become one. Maybe I can use the red purse as the first step in making my little midlife crisis a positive thing. I already have a peppier attitude when I'm carrying it. And since I have not yet lost my "Italy has opened my eyes to the possibilities of the world" feeling, I'm going to do everything I can to keep it all going and snowball it into the energy I need to really motivate myself to make the major changes I need to make: lose the weight and find a more satisfying career. (And then when I've done it all, I'll write a book about it called "It all started with a red purse...!)