Tuesday, October 02, 2007

New Shoe Euphoria

Yes, yes, I know. Money can’t buy happiness.* I should find joy in the simple things—the laugh of a child, the rainbow after the storm. Materialism is a trap.

Blah, blah, blah. I hear ya, but I’m really not listening to you. Why?

Because I have new shoes. And not just any new shoes.

A little background info: Counselor Shelley is in town, and we made our compulsory trip over to Scottsboro to the Unclaimed Baggage Center. This is a pilgrimage we always make when she’s in town. Now, if you’ve never heard of the UBC, this is the place where your luggage ends up when the airline loses it. (Take note: if the UBC taught me anything, it’s the vital importance of making sure my luggage is properly tagged both inside and out.)

If you’re the type of shopper who goes to the store knowing she wants a black knee-length skirt, this is probably not the place for you. Yes, they have black skirts, but they may not be in your size and they may not be remotely what you are looking for. You can’t go looking for any one particular thing; instead, you must be open to the possibilities. For some, this is hell on earth; for others, it’s a shopping adventure.

Every trip is a crap shoot. On previous trips, I’ve come home with the rug in my living room (loading that in to the Bug was an adventure all its own), hammock chairs for my porch, an inflatable bed with sleeping bag for AC, office supplies, and of course, a variety of clothes, shoes, purses, belts, sunglasses, books, and jewelry.

So, Friday morning (after staying up half the night and drinking way too many White Russians), we drag our carcasses out of bed and head for Scottsboro. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed in the pickings this time. Nothing really jumped out at me. I grabbed a new pair of sunglasses (because I’m constantly losing the things and can never have too many pairs), a few DVDs, and I eyeball a couple of those fold up chairs like you take to the ball field. Nothing exciting. Nothing really worth the drive.

Then I find them.

Shoes. And not just any shoes. A pair of black Stuart Weitzman evening shoes. Soft fabric, skinny heels, rhinestones, and ribbons. The epitome of “Thin soled, pointy toed, high-heeled girl shoes.” Soooo pretty. They’re BRAND NEW—the soles don’t have a single scuff mark. And, joy of joys, they are my size.

And they’re only $35! This is a miracle. A sign they should come home with me.

Here are some pictures. DG didn’t get the angle quite right, but hopefully you can see how pretty they are. On the back are four rhinestone circles with black ribbon laced through them and tied into a bow. The toes are very narrow, but not uncomfortable. Totally impractical shoes. No support whatsoever. I won’t be able to dance in them, but who cares if they are shoes designed for sitting instead of walking? They’re pretty, darn it. And they were only $35. I came home and immediately emailed all the Playfriends. (I also looked them up on the internet, and estimate their value at over $200. Possibly more.)

So, I’m still floating with my New Shoes Euphoria. The fact I got them for a steal only adds to the euphoric feeling. This might just keep the “passed the four-month mark on that submission” depression at bay a little while longer. Who needs Prozac? I have new shoes!


So what do you think of my shoes? Do you get new shoe euphoria? If not, what does give you that drug-free high? Have you bagged a brilliant bargain lately?
PC
*But neither can food stamps...

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think I have a severe case of shoe envy! They are beautimous. Lucky for you, your foot looks smaller than mind because otherwise I'm bigger than you and could easily knock you down and take'em, but that'd be pointless since they wouldn't fit anyway. Heave a sigh of relief. You're safe. ;)

I think I need to go to the UCB cause it sounds like a very cool place.

Anonymous said...

Duh, that'd be "mine" not "mind". Ack, I hate it when I do stuff like that. :(

Rhonda Nelson said...

Very pretty, PC! When it comes to shoes I fall more into the "practical" than "pretty" camp, but that's because I have huge ugly feet. Whah!

You, on the other hand, don't. :-)

Linda Winstead Jones said...

New Shoe Euphoria AND Great Deal Euphoria at once. What a wonderful feeling.

Yes, I get both -- I tingle for new shoes and for great bargain finds. When you can combine them it's a red letter day. :-)

LJ

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

Kudos on the find. I've always wanted to go out there, but never have. Figured there might not be many women with my size foot losing their luggage. Of course, there are a great many other things I could get...

Problem Child said...

I don't know, Jen. I'd fight for my shoes. I'm little, but I'm mean.

Come on over and we'll do a trip to the UCB! Seriously!

Lynn Raye Harris said...

Oh, PC, they're so pretty! Great bargain. I loves me a bargain.

I just got a new pair of shoes on Saturday too! My bargain wasn't anything like yours, but I got a gorgeous pair of Guess platform peep toe leopard print shoes for $50. The regular price was $110, so I was kind of happy about that.

I tried to get hubby to take me to the UBC over the weekend, but he wouldn't do it. *sigh* I AM going out there someday.

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

New shoe euphoria. Sigh. It's a wonderful feeling :-) There's just something about walking around in pretty shoes that makes a girl feel pretty all over.

I've never been to the UCB. Can I get in on the trip with Jen and PC?

Instigator

Playground Monitor said...

Never been to UCB??? Do I hear a Playfriends and Honorary Playfriends field trip in the works? I was there in June and found 2 new pairs of Clark's shoes -- beige sandals and red clogs. They're not as pretty and fancy as PC's pumps, but they were great finds at $30 a pair. I'm still wearing a Land's End polarfleece jacket I got there about ten years ago for $15 (regularly retails for about $60). And #1 son found a London Fog coat for next to nothing. Oh... and when I went last month, one of my friends who went too got a $1500 Fendi purse for $300 (she managed to talk them down from $350)

Like PC said, it's a crap shoot. I've gone and come home empty-handed.

PM

Rhonda Nelson said...

Hmmm. I have never been to the UCB either.

Where's Angel today? She's too quiet...

Maven Linda said...

New shoes . . . there's nothing like 'em. When they're your size, there's only one pair, and they're on sale, that's a Sign From On High that they were meant, positively MEANT, for you.

Even better, I can borrow them, because PC and I wear the same size :-).

The UCB is a place where I can browse for hours. A $35,000 emerald used to be show-cased there. Now, if the airlines had lost my luggage containing an emerald that size, you can bet I'd be in their unclaimed baggage going through every suitcase until it was found!

Linda

PS: The verification word is quccywb. I think. The "q" could be a "g", in which case I'm gonna have a second verification word.

PPS: Okay, so it must have been a "g," in which case I contend that the letter should have had a little tailhook on it, which it didn't. The new word is pcyxokz.

Anonymous said...

January. We need to go in January when all the lost in Christmas flight luggage shows up. :)

Rhonda Nelson said...

Oooh, Jen, an excellent idea!

Angel said...

Here I am. I've been sleeping on the couch instead of lurking on the computer because I've been sick.

Yes, we definitely need a field trip someday. I've never been out there either. Sounds like just the place for a big group of women, don't you think? :)

Angel

Katherine Bone said...

Wowza! Pretty shoes, PC! But like SP, they'd probably never have my size. Sigh.

In all these years I've lived here, I've never been to the UCB either. Please include me when you decide to go. :-)


Get well, Angel!!!