November 26, 2010

In search of the Perfect Boots

I must vent. I have been in search of the perfect boots since my house burned down. That was almost FOUR YEARS AGO. I have very wide feet, with high arches and most women's shoes do not fit me. Boots are especially difficult because the wide versions tend to have wide calves, which I do not need. Boots tend to be seasonal so my search is not effective year-round. This further decreases the liklihood of finding the perfect boots.

Last year I found my dream boots. Keen's Bern boots: waterproof, brown, flat(ish)--they work for both function and fashion. Of course they don't come in wide sizes.

A similar shoe by Merrell, also does not come in wide sizes.
And as I search the internet right now, I see Teva even makes a great option. Again, not in wide.

I was excited recently when one of my friends, who has similar-shaped feet, turned me on to Aerosoles, who make wide size shoes. Some of their regular sized shoes are even wide enough to accommodate my feet! I was doubly excited today because Ben and I went to the Aerosoles store in Berkeley to try on the 2 boots on the ends below, to see if these regular-sized boots would actually fit my wide feet. To my utter chagrin, they did not. The boots in the middle did fit my feet, but are not quite what I'm looking for (too ridingbootish, not waterproof).
So close and yet so far away. I used to get shoes that were "pretty good" when I couldn't find "perfect". But after battling Morton's neuroma for wearing too-narrow shoes for my whole life, I have vowed never to get "pretty good" shoes again. Currently, I have a recently-sprained ankle, for which I'm wearing an ankle brace which adds to the urgency of finding flat, comfortable, reasonable, functional shoes. A search online lead me to these, which are too tall in the heel, but at least are advertised as wide. Of course when I plug in my size and width, whadya know, "This combination is not available".
These are perhaps a bit more ornate than I'd like but close. Still, not wide.

All in all, I remain very frustrated. I own 4 pairs of shoes that fit me. (I have others, but they're not sufficiently wide enough for every-day use. I can only use them here and there, interspersed between normal wide-shoe wearings so that the neuroma doesn't flair up again.)
1. New Balance. Yay. Their shoes are always wide enough. But they have no boots.
2. Tevas. These. But my pinky toes hang off the edge and the velcro strap only closes half-way across my foot, thus Teva's closed shoes are too small for my feet.
3. These Danskos. Can't wear them now because of my ankle brace (heel).
4. Aerosoles, very cute but high heeled. Also not practical for current use.
Which effectively means I have 2 pairs of shoes. Tevas and running shoes. Not practical for cold, rainy days in Monterey. I need some friggin' boots! arrrrgggg...


If you have any other suggestions lemme know.

I have asked this question before, and have been sent in the direction of finding shoes for drag-queens. Great idea in theory! But I have no need for go-go boot, platforms, or stripper heels.


November 21, 2010

Candelabras

As the days get shorter, I think more and more about light.
I like these three candelabras.

Black Mass, Casino de Paris 1927. Via


Valetina by Alfred Eisenstaedt 1944. Via.


Greta Garbo in Anna Karenina, 1935. Via.



November 19, 2010

Species Size


Dogs have the greatest variances of size within a species. I always think of this picture when I remember that little fact. I never thought I'd see a picture of humans to rival it.
Sultan Kosen (8'1") and He Pingping (2'5"). Tallest and shortest men able to walk, 2009. He died March 2010.
However, dogs still win because the Great Dane and Chihuahua above are healthy breeds whereas both gentlemen have growth hormone abnormalities (gigantism/dwarfism) to explain their respective enormous and diminutive proportions. Still, it's a cool comparison.

November 11, 2010

Dad's visit

Dad came 2 weeks ago (already that long ago?!) and we had a great time with him. On his first day, we spent the day in Gilroy: lunch at Pericos, some pastries, dinner at Lizarran, and some bowling on top. The next day, Dad and I had the most filling breakfast at OD's cafe, and then we jaunted down to Point Lobos where we had an amazing hike. We saw sea lions, seals, dolphins, birds, kayakers, scuba divers, neat trees...and I sprained my ankle.



There is a Butterfly Preserve in little Pacific Grove~ a spot of magic! Monday, Ben and Dad explored the Monterey Bay Aquarium while I took a midterm exam, then we all went to Big Sur and enjoyed Route 1's incredible scenic beauty. I was sad to see him go!




November 10, 2010

Earrings

I made the earrings in this picture. (Picture of me as a Rock Creature from Elevation 2010, Golden Colorado)

Which is probably why I like the earrings in this picture. They're similar, yes? I think my taste is consistent.