MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

This is all very train of thought, so deal with it. or click on a different link.

I haven't posted in awhile, because of this damned dog that's taken over my life, which I've also been meaning to write a post about - but I'm all Star Wars distracted. I've been Star Wars distracted, and I'll continue to be Star Wars distracted for quite some time to come.
You see, before I knew Fandoms was a thing, Star Wars was my first fandom.

I don't think I saw Star wars until High School, and I'm pretty sure I saw a bit of it on TV, got super curious because of this thing I was going through with dealing with my issues, and we probably rented it from Blockbuster, back when that was a thing you could do. Because my mom raised me right, and she read me The Hobbit when I was in elementary school, and gave me A Wrinkle in Time in Middle School, and introduced me to Dune my freshman year of High School and where was my door in the wardrobe to Narnia?

But there was Star Wars which I had desperately avoided because of a cousin who always did the Darth Vader voice when we were playing with legos when I was a wee tot - and that voice scared the hell out of me. And I made myself watch Star Wars and it was over.

I poured through all of the books - ALL OF THE BOOKS - that were released until '99, begged for a THX copy of the VHS for my birthday, wrote fan fiction, and tried to build my own lightsaber.
But then the prequels came out, and I went to college where I had no time for anything anyhow, and I discovered others things.

And now The Force Awakens, and I love it. I love the variety of characters, I love their flaws (though Poe may not have any), I love that there's a really strong female lead who not only doens't need saving (a'la Leia) but is also our new Bassass Jedi Savior, and I love that the old cast is involved and how they're involved. I love the look and the shots and the music, and the creepy apricot face alien Maz Kanata and can I have a BB-8 of my own already?

I know that the story is not 100% original, but I don't really care; in part because it's a story I enjoy, and also the characters, and also the whole "repeating the mistakes of our elders" thing... And I get that there are old school fans who don't like this or that character for "insert here" reason, or will find this or that flaw and this or that reason to bitch about whatever and you know what?  I DO NOT CARE.
I just don't.
Because you love what you love, and you don't love what you don't love (to paraphase John Hodgeman) and it's noone's job to convince you otherwise, unless you're in it to be convinced.

So welcome to a Galaxy without Guard rails far far away where space elves teach teenagers how to move rocks, and lasers make sound in space. And yes, a third death star - because that worked so well every other time.
And also, take your gripes with you on your way out - there's a door right over there.

.accidental dance shoes.

As a bellydancer, I feel like I'm constantly looking for good dance shoes that will work indoors as well as outdoors. Street performances, festivals, fairs, weird backyard gigs, and of course the Renaissance festival where my dance surface is mostly gravel. And here's my answer (for this year) lurking in Urban Outfitters of all places.

 

Kimchi Blue Sweetheart Ankle-Tie Skimmer 

$29.00 at Urban Outfitters

I totally missed the ball on this one.

Several months ago a friend and co-worker was wearing an adorable pair of flats, and even though I immediately asked where they came from (we have a tendency to be Twinkies anyhow so we generally try not to exacerbate the situation), I also almost immediately forgot to go and order some.

Then around June I remembered - right around the same time as I was ordering the Nike Studio Flats, and I went on the UO website and found them. Her's had been a cute cream, now they only had black.

And they were back ordered.

I crossed my fingers and made a wish and purchased them and they've just arrived in the last week.

And they are fantastic.

Comfy. Easy to wear. Easy to walk in.

And then I had that circus performance on Saturday night, and I forgot to take them off while getting into costume, and I forgot to take them off before going on stage (did I mention that they're comfy?) and they actually worked brilliantly for dancing in.

Being that they were affordable I went back to get a backup pair, and naturally they now only have my size in the Berry color I'm not sure about but might be able to mod up or something. But based on previous shoe experience better to have them than not.

Be warned that like any shoes they have a breaking in period, but it's not too bad, and they do show a little toe crack - but that's not too bad either.

Hooray for shoes!

.about the Nike Studio Wrap.

please ignore my poor photography and pedicure

I was asked by quite a few other local dancers for my thoughts on these shoes - and they are complicated. I kind of love them, except I kind of hate them - here's what I mean:

The wrap itself it pretty fantastic - goes on fairly easily, and I do think the ribbon give some extra ankle support which I desperately need since my ankles turn so friggin often. The "elastic" or whatever it is around the "toe holes" is a little tight - uncomfortable after several hours but I don't think they're meant to be worn that long, and if they were any looser I don't think the wrap would stay in place, and the more I wear them the less the pinchy-ness bothers me. That being said - these are not meant for working on carpet. Sad story of my life - I originally picked up FootUndeez years ago for foot protection because my home practice space was carpet and quickly realized how unsuited they were for that surface. These have a similar problem - they have too much grip for dancing on carpet, they twist and get super uncomfortable (these however stay in one piece while the FootUndiez completely self destructed). Very much do not recommend for carpet.
I also really like the way they look - I just feel more like a dancer wearing them which makes practicing that much more awesome - except my home dance space is still carpet (for now), and then I get sad because I can't wear them.

The flat that comes with them however.....not so great. The flat is meant to be able to be worn over the wrap portion of the "shoe" (think quick escape shoes) and it is possible to get it on, but tricky, and the fit isn't great. It would seem that very little consideration was given to the wrap taking up extra inside of the show space. On top of that the show is just wierd. Very short in the toes - so it rubs on the top of my big toenail with is distracting, and I can't even wear them with the inserts they came with. On top of all of that the wrap itself is so grip-y that you sort of have to pry open the flalt to get your foot in so that you don't end up giving yourself a toe wedgie - which you're going to get after extended wear anyway. Or maybe like the wrap they were just meant to Stay In Place and not made for extended wear, or quick escapes from dance spaces which I am completely familiar with.

the "ARCH" part of the ribbon goes under your foot, by the way

Also the design is...bizarre. The rubber toe portion is at a completely weird angel to the rest of the shoe, almost giving a pigeon toed look despite any foot position you might be in.  Maybe for ballet or Barre that's supposed to mentally help with turn out? But still unattractive.
I am wearing the flat - but mostly just to pop out of the house to get the mail or whatever, and I'll probably use it for street performances and the Renaissance Faire once I find a way to effectively remove the logos.
I'm also looking for an alternative flat that I can wear in lieu of the Nike ones. Or I was, until I got used to the idea that they aren't made for long term wear. Plus I hate shoe shopping - not shoes, just shopping for them.

But yes, I love them.

Questions?
I will gladly answer.