White Girl Problems

This certainly falls under the "White Girl Problems" header, as it's not terribly problematic in the grand scheme, though it's what's currently troubling me.  And as I'm a white girl and it is currently a "problem," I'm going to let it out. 

See these shoes?  They're from a Fluevog collaboration with Lip Service that was released in December of 2005 and are not made anymore.  Also, I own a pair of each, both acquired on eBay, both loved so much I licked them.  (I'm finding my degree of love for shoes translates to licking.  I don't know.) 

I got the Mandalays first after a bit of a bidding war.  They are used and show some minor scuffing here and there but for a pair of 5 year old shoes, they're in remarkable condition and are simply beautiful.  They're in a size 7, my regular size.  Unfortunately, Fluevogs often run a wee bit small and my Mandalays are true to this norm.  A wee bit small on my wide feet.  They squeeze my pies numb.  I have shoe stretchers, but I don't know if they'll be able to stretch the shoes enough to make them wearable.  I'd hate to bust them by over-stretching them, and I'm not sure if I can get the leather to not only allow blood flow, but to also not hurt. 

My Gillys were acquired later, also through eBay.  These are a size 8, a full size larger than I generally wear, and they are fanfuckingtastic to wear.  No hurty pain and there's enough room for even thick socks if necessary.  I somehow scored a never-worn pair that were still in the box, so these are pristine.  I love them dearly and they're what I was wearing when I met Mr. Snog.  He admired them.  Damn skippy.

My issue is that while I like the look of the Mandalays just a wee bit more than the Gillys, the comfort of the shoes is reversed.  I'm pretty sure the Mandalays would do well on eBay if I listed them, but I am scared to list them and NOT have them do well.  $40 isn't worth giving them up; but I know auctions with reserves don't do very well.  I'd love to have the money for New York, but is it work risking having to give them up?  And is it really that much of a "give up" if they make my feet numb and I can't even wear them? 

Advice?  Opinions?

i am the other shoe

I'm not sure what I've done to deserve such awesome friends; I'd like to know so that I can keep on doing it though! Yesterday, a package arrived at Maison Pants. It was from Sydney, whose son has the kissiest kissy lips in the world. (Seriously. Go check!) In that box is the latest book from Audrey Niffenegger and these:

We got the go-ahead to wear jeans today in honour of football starting or something. They designated it "spirit day" and we were supposed to wear gear, jerseys, whatever of our favourite football team. I think football is stupid, so I just wore these shoes, jeans, and a black shirt. Surely some team wears black. Someone saw my shoes and decided I'm supporting the Carolina Panthers today. So okay. I have no idea if they're the Northern or Southern Carolina Panthers, nor do I care. I just like that I'm in jeans and really cute shoes. And I'm amazed that I have friends that send me shoes. My friends are awesome!

September tax deadline was Wednesday (though I did process a late return today) and things have settled quite dramatically since. Kinda like, a giant plop, really. Work work work work work no breathing allowed, work work work, aaaaaaaaaand plunk. Nothing. It's jarring. And it makes me realise how exhausted I am just that much more. I've gotten home at a decent time these last couple days and been able to do just about nothing because I'm so tired. Last night, I fell asleep sitting upright during Wipeout. I fell asleep while watching people fall down! That's either indicative of sheer exhaustion or narcolepsy.

disco feets

How ridonk are these?! Seriously.

loose ends

I'm working on another entry for later on today, courtesy of assignment from Ape. Okay, so her name is April, but I'm one of a scant few people who are allowed to call her Ape, so I tend to do so because I like the feeling of elitism. She, her husband Patrick, and her two adorable boys just moved into a new, giant, and absolutely gorgeous historic home in Grand Rapids and they're looking for artwork for their house. I like an assignment that makes me look for art!

Before that though, I wanted to acknowledge Jennifer's mention of the Chef Pants recipe book that I put together a few years (years, really???) ago. I know I have the Word Files somewhere in my stash and I actually have been meaning to seek it out. I only printed two copies of the book—one for my mother, one for my brother. (Mama Pants still uses it. Crackpot Crockpot Lasagna is a fave of hers.) I don't know why I didn't print one out for myself—probably because I figured I'd just look them up on the computer, which is fine except that I've now switched machines. I'm nearly positive I have it on a couple of different cds (I get paranoid) and in an email account or two. If/when I find the files, I'll upload them here and make it available again because that thing was a bitch to format and I'd like it to go to good use! It was a fun project, but it became a lot more labour intensive than I ever expected it would be.

As for New York, Karen…. Ideally, I'd like to be a full time artist in New York, but I'm well aware this is a lofty dream. My goal is to move there by my 40th birthday, which gives me about 5 years to scrimp, pay debts, save, and get out there. I think it's doable. If I may be so bold, I anticipate beating that goal. I'll most likely drive out there with a truck full of my crap and pick up a shitpot of beer when I'm close to wherever I've rented to live so that I can bribe the Band o' Boys (read: Amanda's male friends whom I met and got on well with) to help me move the heavy shit. Though I doubt I can do the full-time-art thing, I do have people who have offered to help me find work. I would really like to have a job and apartment secured before I get there. Since I do admin-dayjob stuff now, that's probably easiest to fall into out there as well. I've done it for a long time, I'm good at it, and it's relatively easy. However, I'm not above schlepping coffee or waiting tables if it means living in New York.

As for shoe porn…. That's an easy one, y'all. On my feet right now are a pair of Burgundy Gibson Swirl Vogs that I got off ebay for $9.99. They fit like buttah. I must be in a red phase, because I'm coveting the Cherry Wherever Gracias (size 7.5 for any anonymous benefactors out there), the Red Together Hi Benetars (also 7.5), and the ridiculous, I'd-have-to-hack-my-calves-in-half Red Minis Sugar Boots. You satiated?