Of shoes and ships and ceiling wax, of cabbages and kings

[icepixie]

I usually take a lot of pictures on trips, but I was in "too lazy to even pull out the camera" mode on this last one, so there were only about thirty. Of them, ten turned out acceptably.

NYC: Flowers, ships, rain, and fire escapes.

In other news, yesterday I finally, finally, FINALLY had success at finding shoes after months of searching high and low. I try to have two pairs of sandals (one brown, one black) and either two pairs of boots or one pair of boots and one of winter shoes (same color schema), all of which look nice with business casual stuff and yet are still comfortable enough to walk around in and preferably hike up any mountains that need hiking. Unfortunately, ALL of my shoes basically decided to die at the same time. I had my brown sandals (starting to come apart) and an extra pair of brown winter shoes that are less than comfortable, and that was it. I'm going to get the sandals stitched back together and the hole in the bottom of my brown boots patched up, but that still left the problem of black versions of each of them.

Let me preface this by saying that I loathe shoe shopping. I apparently have the world's hardest to fit feet, or something, because most styles just will not work for me. I fall out of flip-flops/thongs and those annoying little ballet flats that are all the rage right now. Like, I will take a step, and the shoe will not come with me. I need material around my heel and over the top of my foot. However, I also need the material over the top of my foot to be adjustable (laces, buckles, velco--and there damn well better be enough velcro, 'cause a lot of times there isn't) because I have the world's highest instep.* I usually wear a 6.5 or a 7; to get a non-adjustable shoe over the top of my foot, I generally need to go up to an 8. You can imagine the blisters this would cause.

* Looked great when I was doing ballet. Sadly, less useful for the rest of my life.

So once we've kicked out about half the shoes in any given store because the style doesn't work, we've got to kick out more, because I refuse to wear a heel over one inch. No, no, a thousand times no. Also, the sole can't be some chintzy-ass piece of plastic; I'm going to be walking around a lot, so I want some frigging shock absorption. Oh, and since I've only had two pairs of regular-use shoes in my LIFE last more than a year, no matter the brand or price, I'm not paying more than $40 for them.

This generally takes care of the rest of the shoes in the store.

I have no problems whatsoever with granny shoes and little kid shoes, because I know they're pretty much my only options. (In a fit of desperation Wednesday, I tried on some shoes in the boys' section. I can wear a 5, and next time I may well resort to them.) To be honest, if I could just find copies of the shoes I had/liked forever and ever amen, I'd do it. When the day comes that I can't patch my brown boots up all Frankenstein-like, I will be a very sad panda.

SO ANYWAY, yesterday, I finally found success! It was amazing! I have black sandals (not great, but comfortable and not hideous) and winter shoes that are not only comfortable/acceptable for work clothes, not only have enough velcro on the strap, but are even *gasp* cute!



I feel like Alice in Wonderland when I wear them. This can only be a plus. (Hmmm. I have the blonde hair. Do I need a blue dress and a white pinafore?)

*

I saw this meme somewhere, and though I know I've done it for other fandoms, I don't think I've done it for B5.

One True Pairing Ship: Ivanova/Garibaldi. Oh, ship of my heart. They might well be my OTP of OTPs, actually; I've certainly written more about them than any other pairing in recent memory. Individually, each of them make me go OMGYES (admittedly, Ivanova more than Garibaldi, but he's no slouch), and together it's like an OMGYES explosion of flirty, playful, snarky, cynical awesome.
Canon Ship: Ivanova/Marcus. I think if it had ever been requited, I wouldn't be nearly as interested, and of course I can't see any other way for it to end than the way it did. But its epic tragedy is certainly very appealing.
If this happens I'll stab my eyes out with a spork Ship: Bester/Garibaldi. I get the whole hatesex thing, but I just don't see Garibaldi doing anything besides murdering him.
You are one sick bastard Ship: Vir/Lennier/Na'Toth (hehehehehehe) (But you know it would be hilarious awesome!)
I dabble a little Ship: Ivanova/Delenn and Ivanova/Talia
It's like a car crash Ship: Delenn/Lennier. I love it so much more than the canon, but we all know it could only end in tears.
Tickles my fancy but not sold just yet Ship: G'Kar/Londo
Makes no canon sense but why the Hell not Ship: Sinclair/Talia and G'Kar/Catherine Sakai
Everyone else loves it but I just don't feel it Ship: Sheridan/Delenn. I think I've gone on enough about that already.

Comments

[aria]

I am gigglingly amused by both Vir/Lennier/Na'Toth (I ... am trying to figure out how to get Na'Toth involved in this!) and G'Kar/Catherine. Those are both awesome.

I could write you a goddamn manifesto on why I ship G'Kar/Londo like burning. I think the most difficult part would be articulating why I love Londo to pieces, though. I think it's a bit easier to understand why G'Kar is so great.

[icepixie]

I've been amused by/drawn to the idea of Vir/Lennier/Na'Toth since S1, but Vir's comment in late S3 about how he "still ha[s] the claw marks" from her tenure on the station really got me into it. But I can't forget Vir/Lennier, so OT3!

I think I prefer Londo/G'Kar as friends/frienemies rather than an actual pairing. Baggage is great and interesting, but there's a couple of suitcases and then there's the entire luggage car of a train, you know?

[fallingtowers]

Your shoes look both cute and comfy -- an all too rare combination. My feet have got calluses and blisters all over from the various "nice" shoes I bought during the past year and then barely managed to wear for a day.

I wouldn't advise you to try the Alice look, though. Unless you wanna attract stuttering hobby mathematicians with repressed pedophile longings.

[icepixie]

I had given up on ever wearing shoes that looked nice some time ago, so these were quite the fortunate find, yes. (Whyyyyyy do heels have such a stranglehold on so many women? They aren't good for anyone's feet or body!)

I wouldn't advise you to try the Alice look, though. Unless you wanna attract stuttering hobby mathematicians with repressed pedophile longings.

Hmmm. Fair point...

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

tee hee Alice shoes!

[icepixie]

Perfect for chasing rabbits in!

Uh, I may do this semi-regularly in my back yard already. Well, it's more like sneaking up on rabbits, but still...

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

as long as you don't invest in an Elmer Fudd hat and a shotgun...

[icepixie]

...

*heads to Amazon*

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

noooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

(I hear they're good with potatoes?)

Of shoes and ships and ceiling wax, of cabbages and kings

[twinb76.livejournal.com]

May I suggest Birkenstocks? I know they are expensive, but they do really last a long time. The pair I wear the most, I've had over a year and they are no where near falling apart. And they're adjustable. And they have a lot of cute versions now ;). And they msy be on sale now for end of season :).

Re: Of shoes and ships and ceiling wax, of cabbages and kings

[icepixie]

Someone on Facebook recommended them to me, actually. I like the idea of the two pairs they have with heel straps, but I just can't justify paying that much money for sandals. I'm apparently very hard on shoes--I've bought well-known brands on clearance before, and they never held up any better than a $20 pair from Wal-Mart. The two I've had that lasted longer than a year are both fairly cheap brands--maybe $30.

Someone needs to build a real Star Trek-style replicator. That would solve so many of my problems.

[pezprez.livejournal.com]

First off, thanks for sharing pics! You guys all look so chic and New Yorky!

Second, I went shoe shopping today and had the exact same issues! I'm not quite as picky as you, but I was hunting for either sandals or black 'casual but not sneakers' shoes and couldn't find ANY. If I'd wanted Gladiator sandals, I'd have been golden, but I have to agree with you on flimsy soles are lame and in my case, thongs don't look all that pretty on my pasty white varicose feet. Better keep that particular aspect of me well shod.

Your Alice shoes look great tho, well found! I think you may have the beginnings of this year's Halloween costume!

[icepixie]

I think maybe we'll just have to wait for shoe styles to change again to have access to a variety of decent ones. I don't remember having this much trouble last time I was buying shoes, before everyone got into ultra-flat things.

Your Alice shoes look great tho, well found!

Thanks! (If you're interested in a pair for yourself, I found them online too.)

I think you may have the beginnings of this year's Halloween costume!

I should totally find a Halloween party to go to. Or maybe a convention of some kind...

[tarzanic.livejournal.com]

Cute shoes! What size did you end up ordering? I have a high instep and a narrow heel, so I have some of the same problems you do.

[icepixie]

Man, the narrow heel is just insult to injury. My feet are basically built like bricks, except for right at the heel. Grrr.

Anyway, I got a 7 in these so I could wear them with socks, although they fit fine with bare feet as well. The strap is long enough that I didn't have a problem with running out of velcro. I got them at a regional chain, but you can order them here. (I got them for $35 at the store, so you may be able to find a better price elsewhere online. This was the first result.)

[tarzanic.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much for the info! I found them at the store here, tried them on and they fit so well that I bought a pair. Thanks!

[icepixie]

Yay! I'm glad they worked for you! (We should have a ShipperCon next summer and be shoe twins!)

[vallentine.livejournal.com]

I didn't know you were in New York! I guess that's what I get for not keeping up with LJ these days. Hope you had a good trip. :)

[icepixie]

Sorry we missed you! And I had a very nice trip, thanks. :)

[magsyb.livejournal.com]

Those shoes remind me a bit of the ones I saw awhile back on pinupgirlclothing.com .. I can NOT do their heels.. though I wish I could.. but they do get some cute flats in every once in awhile.

It looked like you were having too much fun to worry about taking pics. Hell, if I was in NYC, I wouldn't be taking out my camera either, I'd be busy living it up. :D

And btw.. a Bester ship? No no no no no

[icepixie]

Ooooh...I like some of the dresses at that website.

And btw.. a Bester ship? No no no no no

My thoughts pretty much exactly.

[magsyb.livejournal.com]

That website is the bomb.. I love the clothes, and the bathing suits are adorable... If I had a reason to dress like that all the time.. and the money to.. I totally would..

[magsyb.livejournal.com]

I love alot of the clothes on that site.. If I can I try to find elements like that but cheaper.. it can get a little on the expensive side.. I do once in awhile find some great finds in a magazine and they are on obscure sites for really cheap.. which I adore..