thanks guys for the compliments. i am definitely a proud mama of 3.
as for the whiskey update: yes, i finally got her back from the shop. i didn't get a chance to update, cuz i'm crazily working on my taxes. for those in SF, i took her to Frank's Shoe Repair on Polk Street. Frank Jr. is great. He special ordered the dye for me from LA, said something about mixing 3 different color to get the proper shade. i wish i had taken a before-picture of the mess I made from the pen mark so that you would be able to appreciate the difference. only cost $35 to fix. i'm so happy she was salvagable. i thought she was a gonner. lesson learned: DIY leather cleaning does not apply to "IT" bags. Professional cleaning only.