SHOES!

SHOES!

I remember when the shoe-bug bit me.  

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Forget the Prince. Wish for legs for the shoes!!It was time for winter dress shoes, and I was a very excited six year old.  My mom brought me to whatever shoe store was popular in the North at that time (Buster Brown? Hush Puppy?).  And there they were.  "Charlotte" was their name, and they were a beautiful perforated grey leather with a grey leather bow and kitten heels.  By far the most stylish shoes I'd ever seen!  However, the guy in the shoe store came back with a size smaller than what I wore.  "We're out of that size.  But try these on just in case."  I managed to squeeze into them, but there was no room for walking or growth spurts.  They couldn't possibly not have MY size! Didn't he understand that this was destiny, fate, kismet, the will of God?  I had to have them! My mom graciously thanked the man as my bottom lip began to shake after he shoved every girly shoe in my size my direction...but no Charlotte.  He didn't understand.  I only got shoes when I outgrew other shoes! This was a big freakin deal!  Before the tears came, my mom led me from the store and promised to find even better ones for me.  She tried like hell, but all we could find was the typical black patent Mary Jane.   

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Shoes are so important, not just because they are addictive and awesome, but they have such specific purposes.  I quickly learned that the shoes I use for elliptical machines do not work out well for Zumba at the roller rink. I also determined that platforms are quite comfortable. 

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TIME. TO. DANCE.

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These shoes are made for Stylin! Not dancing.

One of the most important shoe discoveries I've ever made issalsa shoes. I tried dancing in several types of shoes that I had.  None were tight enough for my bizarrely skinny feet. Several styles wouldn't slide on the floor and brought me to a halt mid turn.  Then I began to notice that several ladies on the floor had shoes that looked like the ones on "Dancing with the Stars." I asked some people about the shoes.  They were salsa shoes!  I immediately went to Dance Galaxy and got fitted.  These shoes made all the difference.  The last pair I bought came at a time when I didn't need to be spending the money, but I knew that a new pair of dance shoes was a lot cheaper than a broken ankle or foot. 

The shoe bug still bites. I hope it never stops nibbling. 

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007 Pop Culture

007 The Real Love of My Life...



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Bond, James Bond...the Real Love of My Life

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No Koolaid Tonight! Woohoo!!

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The beautiful Maude Adams

I was probably too young to be watching James Bond movies, but my parents seemed to be confident that I could handle it at a young age (four or five).  I had heard about this mysterious man, this "double O" person.  Finally one summer after hours of yard work, my parents ordered pizza, actually bought sodas, and were introducing me to Bond!  Now, to set the scene, we were a military family and did not have a lot of extra cash, so sodas and pizza were a huge deal.  A bonus was that my big brother was staying in and was eager to see Bond as well.  Another bonus was that it was actually a warm night up in the Rocky Mountains- a rare occurrence even in the summer. I could hardly stand the wait.

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The 007 movie I saw that night was "Octopussy."  Definitely the worst Bond movie to date.  However, it is still one of my favorites simply for the memory...and the awesome Blue Ring Octopus. I think if I had been born in a different era and "Casino Royale" with Daniel Craig was my parents' choice, they may not have let me watch that one at a young age.  "Octopussy" had such campy characters, goofy costumes, idiot bad guys, and of course, Roger Moore.  Roger Moore was so benign as a Bond.  

Sean Connery slapped women around; nobody remembers the ones in between the big names; Pierce Brosnan was not allowed to get his flawless hair messed up; and Daniel Craig is a whole different animal.  Roger Moore was funny, his pithy comments were biting but not sharp, and he loved ALL women.  Seeing the other Roger Moore movies that came later was fascinating to me.  He loved African American women and without even batting an eye at the racial prejudice constantly infiltrating American Society.

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Is Roger Moore still my favorite Bond?  Well, in all honesty, Bond is my favorite Bond.  But there is something about Daniel Craig...there is something so painful and real there.  We left the mild decadence of the 1990's and were catapulted into chaos and recession after 9/11.  Did I want to see Pierce Brosnan and his perfect face and hair driving around in an "invisible" Aston Martin Vanquish in 2002 while we scrambled for work, and we feared the world-wide warmongers? Not so much.  Do I want to see a brutal Bond, with hints of a broken nose from the past, who is just as much a sociopath as the bad guys, and insults his nemesis while he is bound and tortured? YES. 

BUT-- I do think the day is coming when we will need a Roger Moore again.  There are too many worries, too many wars, and one day we will need a break.  Until then, I'll fondly remember "Octopussy," always...but look forward to the next grotesque move that Daniel Craig makes.

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Baby Step Bloggologists

Baby Step Bloggologists

Most students are afraid of creating a blog. Many questions come up: "What do I write?" "What do I say?" "Where do I get pics and videos?" "What the h*** is a blog??"

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I was that student a few years ago. Between reading deconstructionist theorist philosophies and joining the universe of cyberspace, I was not happy. 

Blogging is easy. It does take time and some preparation, but once that is down, it's easy.

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What do you want to say?
How do you want your tone to come across?
How will pictures, videos, and links enhance what you're saying?

Decide what you want to say. Then the rest is likely to fall into place after. Before long, you will find your "voice" in writing in an electronic medium.

A few things to keep in mind:

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1. Though some blogs that you will write will be non-academic, you must keep your language and topics professional.  Your grade will reflect my unhappiness if you choose to write purposefully insulting, derogatory, or inflammatory blogs.  Keep your language at a PG to PG-13 level.  We're all legal adults, but let Hollywood work in profanity like an art form...not you.

2. You will be required to write four blogs that are related to class and academia, and four that are whatever you choose to write about.  You may write more, but not less.

3. You are required to read and comment on other blogs.  This is part of your grade.  Keep all commentary constructive, positive, and without any hint of insult.  As aforementioned, keep the language at a PG to PG-13 level. 

4. ALWAYS give credit for your sources, quotes, and photos just like you would if you were writing a research paper.  

5. Have fun! This is your chance to write how you want to write, and to write for a large and varied audience.