Temptation resisted! For now...

I am less than a week into my shop-free journey and I have already faced my first temptation. Yesterday, my all-time favorite UK basketball player, Patrick Patterson, was at the Towne Mall in Etown signing autographs. Normally, I would scoff at the idea of waiting in line for hours with other UK fans just to get some person's signature, a quick picture and then get pushed along the line, my two minutes with the player long forgotten. But this was Patrick. Patterson. Do you understand this? The man that rose to team leadership as the "senior" of the team. The man that helped his freshmen teammates to mature as basketball players. The quiet, but intellegent, leader of last year's amazing basketball team. He is, by far, my favorite Kentucky player ever (and that's saying a lot, considering I was born watching Kentucky basketball). I had to go. Two hours in line and a dinky $25 picture would be a small price to pay to actually meet THE Patrick Patterson. When closing time arrived at work, I quickly gathered my things and ran out to my car, where my little sister was waiting for me to drive her towards a few hours of greatness. One and half hours, two basketball players autographs and one very shaky picture later, we are through the line and absolutely glowing with basketball enthusiasm. I file the moment away as one of my favorite Kentucky basketball memories. On our way out of the mall, I remembered a stop I needed to make: to Payless. Given my recent swearing off shopping, I was nervous to step foot in a shoe store. But I had a specific reason: buy shoes for an upcoming wedding that I'm in. I knew exactly which pair I needed. All I would have to do would be to quickly walk in the store, find the shoe, try them on, check out and leave. After giving myself a mini pep talk, I rushed into the store. I can do this. I can buy the required pair of shoes without taking a glance at any other shoes or being tempted. After all, I just met Patrick Patterson. I can do anything at this moment. I quickly walk into the section labeled "size 7." Without much searching, I find the shoes that I'm looking for. I slip them on my feet, make sure the size I have will work and make my way to the sales clerk. Silently, I congratulate myself for not even considering another pair of shoes. Maybe the next 3 months won't be as difficult as I had expected! I hand the shoes to the cashier, who looks at the shoes and sweetly says "Are you going to get another pair for half off? It includes anything in the store, including half priced items and accessories." Crap. I am the biggest sucker for a sale. Especially half priced shoes. Taking an extremely deep (and probably longer than necessary) breath, I announce "No thank you. I'm trying not to buy myself anything and these shoes are for a wedding I'm in." The cashier looks surprised...how many people turn down a half priced pair of shoes?? She rings up my single item, I pay and leave. Crisis averted. I know it hasn't even been a week, but I think I can do this for 3 more months. Maybe......