Rainy Days and Mondays…..And why does no one know about Fukushima?

Karen Carpenter’s death happened before I was of an age to be affected by the loss of great talent. Prince and George Michael however made me sad. Its odd to morn the loss of people we didn’t personally know. (Plus I was totally expecting to marry one of them when I was in High School— yes I know—but I was in High School, don’t judge)

But in a way we do know great artists, they spoke to us with music. You must have an ice cube for a heart not to hear Karen Carpenter sing “Rainy days and Mondays always get me down… “ and not feel at least a bit mellon collie.  I heard this song this last week and I admit I teared up.  I think our collective sadness over the death of talent is in part being deprived of what they might have shared with the world in the future.  And the other part of how they made us feel human, connected and not alone through their music.

It has been raining in SoCal, and based on the News coverage you think the apocalypse was upon us. Now granted Sothern Californian’s don’t do well in the rain. We can’t drive in it. It messes up our hair, melts our Botox and ruins outdoor activities.  For which we have come to expect as available for our enjoyment 365 days of the year. The rest of the world knows better; sunny days, great songs, good friends, happiness and love… all should be cherished because rain and Mondays are inevitable.

What I really don’t understand with all the news coverage about rain and Trump’s latest tweet, why no one knows about the Fukushima nuclear disaster?  I like to think I’m somewhat informed about current events, but when a friend mentioned it, I had no idea what he was talking about.

So here you go…. There was an accident at Fukushima nuclear plant initiated primarily by the tsunami following the Tohoku earthquake in March 2011. There is tons of details online if you want be more informed and alarmed. But basically the plant had a complete meltdown, the damage has yet to be contained and has been leaking 300 tons of radiation into the Pacific since 2011 every eight days. It is estimated that the radiation would take 3-5 years to hit the west coast. So now.

It is stated by the ‘experts’ the radiation levels would be low and highly diluted by the time it gets to the west coast. And this might be comforting if the damage was contained and the radioactive material was not still constantly dumbing into the Pacific, but they don’t know when this might stop, it is completely uncontained.

Anyone wanna borrow my Geiger counter? And I hope these goulashes are more than waterproof.

Apparently I’m Wonder Women and I Love Shoes

We’ve all done it—admit it.

Those silly online quizzes that let you know how old you look. How long you will live. And really who don’t want to know what super hero they are?

(Wonder Women by the way)

I’m sure I’ve sold my soul to the devil every time I press the key that links me to one of those prompts – but they are such silly fun timewasters, designed to entice us.  Yes, I’m sure something evil is happening every time I succumb to one of these quizzes.

Since on some level we all want love and to be loved, I was curious who I was in a relationship with, with Brad Pitt newly single and all, I was thinking– maybe?

But I should have guessed.

It was a Dorothy at the end of The Wizard of OZ moment –I have known all along—it’s my shoes!  They are always there carrying me through life.  Supporting me through good times and bad. Only draw back, we have gone to dinner many many times—they aren’t much for conversation and they never pick up the check. But with all relationships they is an ebb and flow.

Laura

Camp vs. Cute

Truly it should be camp verses cute, verses kitschy verses cheesy. And yes there is a difference.

Camp is so extreme that it has an amusing and sometimes perversely sophisticated appeal. Over the top and farcical, intentionally exaggerated so as not to be taken seriously.  Think the movies ‘The Little Shop of Horrors’ and ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’.

Camp is often confused with kitsch. But kitsch is more single items not an entire work of art per say.

Camp sometimes is also described as cheesy, to confuse things. To make things even more confusing cheesy and cute are often bantered about together. Might as well throw in tacky for good measure.

I figure some examples might help.

RuPaul, Liberace, Paul Lynde all camp

Meg Ryan in her famous roles, so cute.

Kitschy is harder to define think lava lamps, trucker hats and Thomas Kinkaid paintings.

Cheese is many many horror movies and also RomComs and how we love both. No judgment, cheese it is highly entertaining and a cheap guilty pleasure.

And lastly tacky, when all these ideals can blend into something horrible like Roseanne Barr singing the National Anthem.

Still confused?

Not to worry, I saw these shoes and almost bought them home, but somehow the kitsch, camp verses cute; tacky didn’t work for me personally. Maybe if I was a 17-year-old girl or a drag queen I could of made it work. Besides sharks are vicious and aggressive, I’m a more honey badger meets Labrador.

Laura

 

 

Can’t Leave Behind

Some things refuse to be left behind.  Friendships, jobs, love interests etc… that keep circling back into our lives. Why?  I’m sure based on your personal belief system, your thoughts on fate, karma and destiny this discussion could go on for years—

My thoughts on this vary. Maybe we still have something to be gleaned from the past? Maybe it’s to show us how much we have grown and to remind us where we once were?  Maybe that person/ thing can’t let go of you? Again big discussion topic that could go on and on, but if its toxic and you found a way to push past—leave it in the past! Or maybe it’s because this thing should be in your life?

I really don’t need a new pair of shoes. I have plenty. I do love to peruse a shoe store I admit. It’s the only shopping I truly enjoy. However, these days I mostly look; I have shoes of every color and design. It is a challenge for me to find anything that I don’t already own— I’m serious.

Recently I saw this lovely strappy pair in the Heathrow airport. If my travels had gone according to my plan I would have never been in London and delayed 5 hours.  Travel woes. They popped up again while I was visiting Scotland. I still thought they were very appealing, but I have several pairs of black strappy sandals, I really don’t need another.

Then this tenacious pair of heels showed up again in Dublin.  They really know how to wear a girl down. I’ve had boyfriends that weren’t this persistent.  I’m sure there is something to be learned from that as well. I still didn’t purchase these beauties but I did try them on, which was a mistake. I loved them. But I still left them behind.

Back stateside not even a day and this scrappy determined pair of shoes showed up as a pop up ad on my computer. Ok, you win sexy strappy sandals I’m bringing you in. Maybe these persistent pumps know that I will need them in the near future? How exciting to think what our future together might bring. Dear Future– I have the shoes—I’m ready –bring it!

Laura

 

 

Feet, Feet, Feet!

“In the house, and on the street, how many, many feet you meet.”

—The Foot Book by Dr. Suess

We really don’t give our feet enough love. I’m serious. A little anatomy lesson from the Doc; the human foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles and tendons and the 52 bones in your feet make up about 25% of all the bones in your body. Show some respect. Feet support the entire body all day whenever you’re standing, walking or running. They even have their own chakras if you wanna get into metaphysical and biophysical ideals. And feet are the keystone to the massage technique of reflexology, which I love, one of the true great affordable luxuries. Want to open up your foot chakras? Walk bare foot on grass. It’s that easy but how often to we do that? Ah never.

Feet have hundreds of religious and social significances in many many cultures. I could write an encyclopedia on this topic, but I won’t. You wouldn’t read it, admit it. Also I’m not going to discuss the practice of foot binding—it’s a horrible painful procedure that leaves/left women in excruciating pain and unable to walk more than a few feet and never without pain.

I like the practices in India much better where feet are honored. The feet of older people are revered by youth. How nice is that? And lovers show their affection for each other by caressing each other’s feet. I’m definitely on board with this as well. Men, women, and children in India wear anklets and toes rings, they are not only decorative but have social and religious meaning. Women in some regions of India wear anklets to show their marital status.  And women often decorate feet with henna and dye the soles of their feet red particularly for their wedding day, Lovely.

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who’ii decide where to go.”

—The Foot Book by Dr Suess

Let your feet take you some place good—walk on some grass—your toes will love it.

Laura

 

 

Shoes- Cars, Both Transportation

 

If a woman can live in a shoe, then why can’t I drive one?

Sadly, I’m gonna need a new ride in the next year or so. My road warrior SUV has 242K miles. I would love nothing more than for it to continue running-forever. It has been by far the best car I have ever owned. And I have had a few doozies; many had made it to stage as comedy.

My mechanic who has been caring for my sidekick has even told me likes a doctor breaking the news about a terminal disease—you need to start planning for the end.

Thinking about a new car is fun, actually having to shop for one and then pay for it—not fun, more nightmare.

I can tell you right now I would rock a Maserati! I love beautiful cars! To quote a movie we all know “ I have a need for speed!” Anyone who has even driven with me knows I can pull out the Mario Andretti when needed to get where we need to be—in lets say a timely manner. I love high performance cars. I also have a passion for late 60s muscle cars—so fabulous in style. Sadly neither is practical for my wallet or current driving needs. Yes I need a hybrid—which is hilarious for those who know my “love” of Prius drivers. I jest in fun. So maybe we can start a crowd funding for a New Lauramobile.  The worst part of all this—the current shoe budget is at zero as I save for a car. Shoes- cars they are both forms of transportation and in my life both need to be sexy. Fingers crossed for the Tesla ;o)

Laura

Rage with a Cherry on Top

Rage is a feeling of intense, violent, or growing anger and if left unchecked, may lead to violence.

Sounds like the world today. Wouldn’t you agree? Pick any topic personal, local, national or global. Rage is everywhere. It’s affecting all of us as citizens of the world. The world is angry. I’m angry. I’m sure you are too.

I can honestly tell you until a few years ago I had never experienced rage. Maybe it’s an emotion you have to grow into. Now I have rage simmering below the surface all the time. Acts of rage aka what used to be called ‘going postal’ are often acts (based of psychology research) from people/ groups that feel they have no power or low self-esteem. Now I could spend years discussing this and I’m sure all of us have an opinion about it—not the point. The point is I’m about as easy going as they come and even I have rage, which means the world truly must be going mad.

My purpose for bringing it up is what are we going to do about it? I don’t have answers; honestly I’m trying with all my might to keep my own demons under wraps. But I think talking about it, developing a plan even if it’s just for you is helpful.

I spend everyday trying to figure out ways to make my tiny circle of the world better. How can I be of service? How can I help? What can I do to make a difference right now for the people I have contact with? I journal, I write, I talk to people, I scream and sometimes I beat the crap out of a bozo the clown punching bag. It won’t stop ISIS, or injustice or mean people, but its baby steps.

I do know that ignoring it or shoving blame onto others isn’t solving any problems either. At least my ideas are positive and/ or not hurtful. So if I see you and give you a hug—chances it was to cool my dragons more than to help yours. And if you see me in this pair of shoes—I might suggest running the other direction useless you wanna meet my rage—in that case wear a fireproof suit and bring chocolate.

Laura

Sometimes it’s Done

Just like jobs, vacations, relationships and yes shoes, sometimes you just have to call it like it is, done. When I travel I try to streamline the shoe assortment to the bare minimum. Shoes are heavy and take up a lot of space in luggage. Plus I like to travel as light as possible. Less stuff means less to haul around. Which is so much easier if you are on a lot of trains, planes and subways… etc. A big heavy suitcase is cumbersome, annoying and exhausting to lug around.

I also like to travel with items, clothes and particularly shoes that are on their way out i.e. done. Getting one last spin out of them before setting them free in the world. Sadly I don’t know their fate after I have released them, but I hope they found a new purpose. One pair of shoes I loved called my NYC shoes I actually gave a watery funeral and threw them in the Hudson River. They were spectacular filigreed red velvet pumps but their life was over and deserved to be put to rest. My friend Dana and I each threw in a shoe and then cheered to the fun experiences enjoyed while donning these beauties.

My latest adventure I deemed Laurapalooza, rather pretentious sounding, but I really only meant it as fun.  During this holiday aka Laurapalooza I left a very serviceable workhorse pair of CFMs in Brussels. These shoes were by no means a favorite, but I did like them and they served me well. They cruised all over the Mediterranean last year with me and went on two military tours. I will forever fondly remember them as the shoes I was wearing when I fell off stage while performing in Moron, Spain. I am so lucky not to have really hurt myself.  Four feet into the abyss is a big drop. Yes the spot light was that bright. I could see nothing including the edge of the stage. That whole night is another story for another time.

Why did this pair get to travel so much? Because they were easy to match with many things and they were not among my pricey favorites. Never travel with anything you can’t bare to lose, words of wisdom. Trust me. As an added bonus I procured these babies on sale, deeply on sale in Boston. Thank you my road worthy friend, we traveled well together. Adieu.

Laura

Stripper Shoes, Pole Dancing & New Years Resolutions

It has been noted that some of my fabulous shoes seem as if they might be more worthy of the pole than the venues I sport them. I always respond with a smile and “yes”, furthermore many of my shoes might be better suited for over the shoulder activities as well.  Another smile as they figure this one out. But really why should strippers get all the fun shoes? My feet want to rock the stage even if I decide not to go sans clothing.

Pole dancing classes have been an on again off again trend for many years now. I admit I have taken a few classes. Honestly, I will do anything that looks more fun than running or actual sit ups. (Which by the way – traditional sit up are really not good for your back.) What I can tell you is the pole is hard work and the people who choose to participate in this form of dance for exercise are getting a great workout. I have now seen poles in several people’s houses. I know they are always a bit embarrassed to confess that they participate in this ‘sport’. But I applaud them. They found something they love and they are enjoying their workouts. I can see how explaining the pole in your living room to a visiting grandma might be an awkward family moment however.  On the plus side a dance pole can be picked up new for less then $100. Way cheaper than a stationary bike or treadmill and its way harder to hang your laundry on the pole.

Honestly, I wish I could pole dance well. Those aerial moves are truly impressive and if I have that kind of upper body strength I could finally claim one of my on going New Year’s challenges – to be able to do one pull up—I am hopeful this year it will happen. Ok, off to the gym to workout doing things way less fun than pole dancing, but I plan to wear my pole dancing shoes, just to make it more interesting.

Laura