a few unconnected things

[skygiants]

I continue my Changeover-inspired quest to read all the way through Margaret Mahy's oeuvre! (I expect it will be a long quest, seeing as she has written lots and lots of books.) Last week it was Alchemy, which is similar to Changeover in that it is about a theoretically-ordinary teenager who develops their latent magical powers by hanging out with a less ordinary and more magical love interest. It is also similar in that the protagonist's family is tied into the plot in important and interesting ways, although not nearly so much as in Changeover, which remains one of the best examples for me of wonderful real-feeling families in fiction. The characters in Alchemy were also less likeable overall, I think, and at one point one of them did something that I found significantly less forgiveable than the narrative did; also I am really not sure about the conclusion. But there was a lot of stuff about how to balance the fantastic with an ordinary life, and you know I eat that kind of theme up like candy.


In other news, my main nemesis of the moment: GLADIATOR SANDALS. My last pair of boots recently fell apart (I do not know how that happens so often!) so I have been needing a new pair desperately, since nice chunky-heeled black boots are often the most comfortable and convenient work-appropriate footware for me. I have been in and out of half the shoe stores in Manhattan and every DSW over the past few days, and I CANNOT find boots that fit my requirements - or even a new pair of comfortable ballet flats, which I also really need - because every single shelf is taken up with STUPID GLADIATOR SANDALS. (I mean no offense to anyone who approves of the current footware trend for gladiator sandals, I am probably biased against them unfairly by the circumstances above! BUT STILL.) Curse you, spring fashion trends! Cuuuuurse yoooooooooou.


To balance out my ARGH, I have a request - can anyone recommend me Bollywood movies? Preferably musicals with amazing dance scenes? I have been feeling the urge to watch some awesome dancing lately!

Comments

[blacksheep91.livejournal.com]

Boo. Those shoes are quite ugly. Quite ugly indeed. (You've tried looking online?)

[skygiants]

Yeah, I have, and there's one or two boots at DSW online that would be tolerable for me - I hate buying online because my feet are weird and wide, so I'm always wary about buying something without being able to try it on first, but I'm seriously considering giving in just out of desperation!

[blacksheep91.livejournal.com]

Pff. Understandable. (I suppose when you live in really trendy states there's not a lot to choose from but the latest fashions?)

[skygiants]

(It is so bizarre! Usually they have at least some staples, but these days it is all sandals sandals sandals and wtf.)

[wickedtrue.livejournal.com]

I come with shoes instead of Bollywood, I'm sorry to say! Shoe trends lately mean it is HARD to find staples for your wardrobe. (DO NOT get me started on finding a simple, black and brown pair of loafers!)

Modista (http://www.modista.com/)

You tell it what you want, and you get it! I love them, and they are connected with sites that are really good about consistent sizing.

...I am ever hopeful I might get sent out today! The girl next to me just did! I MIGHT!!!!

[skygiants]

Your shoe expertise is ALWAYS WELCOME. Since goodness knows it is approximately 100x greater than mine! *clings and sneakily goes to check out site*

(WHY gladiator sandals. WHY. It is only April! It is not like it is even sandal season yet!)

I will keep my fingers crossed for you! GO WORKING FEATHER GO.

[kattahj.livejournal.com]

RE: Mahy, have you read Librarian and the Robbers yet? I am very fond of that one, for obvious reasons. :-)

RE: Bollywood movies, I can't remember what the musical numbers were like, but I much loved Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, a very touching love story. (The resolution reminded me of another of my favourite stories, Lagerlöf's Jerusalem - and that's all I'm saying about that. Wouldn't want to spoil you. *g*)

[skygiants]

I have not! So far I've only read Changeover - which was the one that made me go 'WHY have I not read any Mahy before!' - and then Maddigan's Fantasia and Alchemy. I am looking for whatever recommendations I can get, though, because . . . she has written so many! Must prioritize somehow. :O

And oooh. *makes note* I am not familiar with either of those - thank you!

(Also, I will totally get to your new vid draft tonight - I meant to do it this weekend and then ended up flopping instead. I am sorry for the delay! *sheepish*)

[kattahj.livejournal.com]

Cool! Though I could give you another one, if you'd rather - I've added a bit more since then.

[emmaco.livejournal.com]

Re Mahy recs - Contending with The changeover in my favourite Mahy stakes is The catalogue of the universe. This is a non-fantasy YA coming of age romance type of story but exceedingly well done. Fantastic characters and family interactions.

I love The tricksters, which is another family centred YA mixed with subtle fantasy. The other side of silence is yet another very family focussed story.

For something completely different, I adore her short story collection The door in the air and other stories, and I don't even normally like short stories.

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

How about Paheli? It's a heavily folktale-influenced film, set in some never-never Indian past where everyone dances and sings and wears very dramatic costumes! Shahrukh Khan plays both a new bride's cold and unloving husband and the much more interesting spirit who comes to her and pretends to be her husband after the real husband goes off on a business trip.

[skygiants]

You know me well, because that sounds 100% up my alley! (Mention very dramatic costumes and I am SOLD.)

IMPORTANT QUESTION: in this film, does Shahrukh Khan sport facial hair?

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

He does. Is the mustache a good thing or a bad thing?

[shati.livejournal.com]

I hate gladiator sandals!! I burn them with lasers from my eyes.

There are shoe websites that make it really easy to send back shoes that don't fit for a full refund -- DSW might even be one of them, I can't remember. Just FYI.

[skygiants]

THEY ARE MADE OF SHELF-DOMINATING EVIL. Also I just find them incomprehensible. More incomprehensible than Uggs! Uggs at least are useful in cold weather!

I think you are right about DSW, which is why they are top of my potential-buying-online-from list! But the other problem is, uh, my all-encompassing laziness that means that I suspect that once I have bought something I will never actually get around to shipping it back, no matter how much I originally intend to . . .

[oneechan19.livejournal.com]

How can -anyone- think that Gladiator Sandals are fashionable? I saw a pair on display at the mall this last weekend and went "...UM?" Give me normal plain flip-flops any day.

[skygiants]

For serious! I do not understaaaaand. D: I feel like an alien in the shoe stores. 'EXPLAIN YOUR STRANGE HUMAN WAYS TO ME, EARTHLINGS.' And this is coming from someone who generally likes lace-uppy-things, too!

[magwana.livejournal.com]

Target seems to have cute flats this season, judging by the website. I haven't gone to check them out in person because, well, I would buy them ALL and then have no money. But! They seem cute!

Gladiator sandals are not cool.

[skygiants]

Ooh, Target! That is a good suggestion - there is one pretty much right on my way home from work, too. As an added benefit, those are likely to be affordable!

[magwana.livejournal.com]

Good luck! Report on what you find, if you can!

I find with flats, expensive and cheap tend to wear out equally quickly, so I am OK with inexpensive. Boots, though, you should hold out for, if you can.

[dramaturgca.livejournal.com]

Uther/Gaius?

[skygiants]

I can see it . . . but now I have seen it, can I un-see it? D:

[dramaturgca.livejournal.com]

The last ep of the series is all about the wacky ships. Arthur/Gwen, Uther/Gaius (which looks in my head like Giles/Baltar)... (Little bit of Arthur/Morgana)...

[obopolsk.livejournal.com]

The gladiator sandals have been annoying the hell out of me, too. Why can there be no normal summer shoes?!

My black boots are from either Naturalizer or Easy Spirit. I can't remember, but I've had them for about four or five years and they're great. I have wide feet, and they're one of the few pairs of boots I've tried that fit me right. I have a shorter pair of black boots from Bass, too, but I got them at an outlet so I'm not sure Bass still makes them.

[skygiants]

I don't knooooow. But we will know we've reached the height of ridiculous trends when people are still wearing the gladiator sandals in winter!

Oooh. *makes notes* I will be on the lookout for those - thank you!