Sunday, September 30, 2007

Fun Monday - goes to the Dogs

As in, "after a long day, my dogs are barkin'."

Robin at Pensieve is hosting Fun Monday this week and this is what she wants to know:

Shoes tell a lot about a person and we wanna delve deeply into your sole. Photograph your favorite pair--or pairs--of shoes and tell us a little about why they're near and dear to your toes heart (I can't wait to see how Swampy ties this in to Breast Cancer Awareness!). Follow in Jenny's footsteps and make a foot-family portrait...show us your baby bronzed booties...let us see the shoes YOU HAD TO HAVE (but have never worn)...or all those grotesquely dyed-to-match formerly white satin bridemaid's shoes that were worn ONCE...the reinforced steel-toe boots that saved your big toe from being hacked off in that industrial "accident"...or, just take pictures of your nekkid feet--gnarly bunions, twin toes, or perfectly OPI-pedicured tootsies.

Once again, Fun Monday is about some area I am impaired in. I'm not a great cook, artist, or any of the other things that Fun Monday has asked us about - and my feet are no exception.


I do not have cute feet.

With tons of brothers, whose feet grew at the speed of light, shoes were a precious commodity in our house. They were saved for special occasions like school or church or eating out, but most of the time we were barefoot. Between being barefoot most of my youth and being cursed/blessed with my father's foot structure genes (blocky and thick), finding shoes to fit in the first place has always been a challenge. It got even harder after my pregnancy that resulted in ZBoy. Now my thick, blocky feet were also wider and flatter than ever before. Offloading the baby didn't mean they snapped back the way waistlines supposedly do. They stayed wide, thick, blocky and flat.

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As a result, I have three pairs of shoes that I actually wear and all of them are functional rather than stylish.

Exhibit A - The Croc flip-flop

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I bought these because there is a nerve in my left foot that flares up with a horrible burning sensation from time to time. Doc says it's usually caused by squinching the toes together in a closed shoe. Because my feet need room to spread out, I now wear these probably 90% of the time.

Exhibit B - The Athletic Shoes

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These I wore almost constantly before that nerve problem showed up. New Balance is the only shoe I've ever found that is actually comfortable to wear. Their toeboxes are square enough that my toes actually fit in there with little squeezing - but after a day's walking and a day's worth of foot swelling, they do get a little tight. Now I only wear them when I'm working out or when I know I'll be walking a lot. I'd say I wear them 9% of the time.

Exhibit C - The Dress Shoes

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I rarely get dressed up (or wear a dress, for that matter). But once in a blue moon, I have to don something more formal than a t-shirt and shorts. For those rare weddings, funerals, or ladies' luncheons, I have these. Although I do not wear heels ever (as a rule), these are actually quite comfortable. I can walk in them and wear them for up to three hours at a time. After that, they come off and whatever form of pantyhose/knee-hi's I am wearing become tattered nylon rags. I would say that I wear these for maybe 1% of the time. Maybe.

I don't have dream shoes. I just dream of shoes that won't torture my feet.

Darling Man was out of town this weekend, soI couldn't really take a picture of his feet for the "family portrait". He really has very elegant feet. They are long and fine-boned. His toes aren't weird.

Mine have toes that looked like they were assembled from parts off an assembly line, with the three toes in the middle looking like one piece. I can't stand having long toenails and keep them cut short, just longer than the bed of the nail. I don't polish them, buff them or really pamper them in any way. My feet are functional and I am grateful for that. My grandmother had horrible feet - she could barely walk on them because they hurt so much. I had a couple of years when walking was extremely painful to me as well as a result of a car accident. My feet were the last things to heal.

My son is blessed with a mixed gene pool. His feet are much finer than mine, thanks to his father, but they are also sturdily built to support a future really-big-man. They grow like wildfire in fits and starts. And they are nearly as big as mine. Which is really saying something.

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25 comments:

Hootin Anni said...

Thanks for the good wishes my friend!! I'm home recovering slowly but surely!!

Great shoes!! I love how you shared your son's feet....cute!!!!

Molly said...

You are right having functional feet is important. I am glad that your feet healed and that you have found three pair of shoes that work for you. Finding the right shoes is not always easy. Being barely able to walk must have been very hard for your grandmother.

Anonymous said...

I now have visions of Aaron's future feet.

Robinella said...

New Balance is the only tennis shoe for me. You are right about the wider fit. I need those too!

Kaytabug said...

I LOVE my Croc flip flops!! I too wear them 90% of the time! You can tell for sure by the bare photo that shows the oh so attractive tan line!!

My oldest feet grow like wildfire too! He is in a mans size 8!

Debs said...

Oh how I want me some Croc Flip Flops!

Sandy said...

Croc Flip Flops? Now maybe I can have me some crocs that don't make my feet look like clown feet!

Beckie said...

I liked your exhibits - very clever. I have some Croc flip flops and I triple love them - I wore them all summer!

SwampAngel65 said...

New Balance are the only sneakers I can wear, too. Crocs? I'd be happy to get either the flip flop kind or the clown shoe kind. They're just comfy and that's what counts!

Your feet are fine. I have a cousin and an aunt that actually have webbed toes, so be thankful you don't have that problem. No flip flops for them!

Anonymous said...

I too have functional feet. And thanks for giving me just the right term to describe them! I avoided wearing open toe shoes for years, but I'm nearly 40 now and no longer care.

Gotta get me some of the croc flops, though. Gotta, gotta...

Anonymous said...

Sayre, well, now...you ROCK for not lovin' your feet but still posting them! I have "twin toes"...you're the first person I've come across who has "triple toes"...

Who says Crocs aren't stylish...that's news to me ;).

But, yeah, my feet are wide across the box...I've got (yikes) bunions, so comfort is a MUST. That's why I hate shoe shopping, most shoes aren't comfortable. I've learned the hard way to walk away from a cute pair if it presses on my foot (bunion...I hate that word :/) at all!

Thanks for playing along! :)

Unknown said...

Funny that we both started with our Croc flip flops, mine being exactly like yours only in another color. I also mentioned my feet becoming huge following birth of boy child. And, New Balance are the most comfy tennies. Bar none.

ChrisB said...

I go with function over style these days. Having seen a lot of croc flip flops I really must get some for next summer.

Tiggerlane said...

I am just amazed from all the Fun Monday posts that Crocs come in flip-flops! I will have to reconsider my anit-Croc stance after seeing your cute shoes!

Anonymous said...

Another fine selection of shoes, very nice indeed.

Manners prevent me from commenting on your feet, but suffice to say that I may not be able to sleep tonight.

Unknown said...

I like the shoes by the kitty are you giving them away? :)

Pamela said...

brave to show your naked feet!
My little toe is attempting to be shy by hiding under its neighbor toe. very bad.

Serina Hope said...

I like your shoes, all of them. I think you have more fashion flare than you know :)

Anonymous said...

Okay, your feet are kind of cute. They look a little like my 10 year old daughters feet, but she has some splashes of polish on the nails, and her feet are usually dirty.

I love comfortable shoes, and I found the nice sandals with closed toe for only $20. They are very wide, and my toes spread nicely, and the heal is only an inch tall. I also have my square toe dress shoes, and my Clarks are not quite as wide, but comfortable.

Great Fun Monday post.

Anonymous said...

Feet. . . not a fan - of anyone's. :P

Anonymous said...

I love the croc-flops.

And I love to say "croc-flops"

Croc-flops.

Anonymous said...

I think your feet are cute - at least you don't have monkey toes.

Anonymous said...

Hey girl, you show absolutely no sign of bunions yet. Keep it that way. Let your feet stay free as long as possible. Keene has a pretty good line for fat feet.

kitten said...

Hey! I like them croc flip flops! I have never heard of them, but I bet I would love 'em. My right foot kills me. Where did you get them? I may need to check in on some of them.
Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I think your feet are nice. No lumps or bumps. I have suddenly developed a "hammer toe". Don't know how THAT happened but my friend said he has some loose boards on his deck that need nailing down. (asshole. she said with love)