Last night, there was a discussion in Top Comments about diary topics; namely, when we're not sure what to write about and end up umm... light and fluffy. I'm not talking about dryer lint, as that future TC topic is already claimed. K1 was home sick from camp today, not exactly inspirational topicry, and my Muse apparently was taking a beach day today. Then, in a flash of beauty, virgomusic shared a link on Facebook and I knew I had a topic. Follow me below the dingledoodle squigglie dKosagnocchi dividerthingie orange sandal fold after a word from our sponsor...
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The inspirational link was to a Slate piece by Dana Stevens entitled Your Flip-Flops Are Grossing Me Out. As you might guess, she's not a fan of the ubiquitous summer shoe. In general, they're not mine either. My foot has a very particular arch, and with rare exceptions the typical flip-flop is too flat to be comfortable for anything other than keeping my feet fungus-free at the pool. In addition, the big toe on my left foot is angled inward which makes the piece that fits between your toes an uncomfortable blistermaker. In the last decade or three, I've found two pairs that provide enough of an arch and don't irritate my feet while also meeting the final flip-flop criteria: inexpensive.
I DO like shoes to be comfortable, however. Not even during the peer-pressure days of my youth was I into stilettos or anything designed as an instrument of torture. And so, I thought I'd share with you what constitutes comfortable shoes for my particular piggies:
For all but the coldest snowiest months, if I need to wear socks but am not going out for a walk requiring Actual Walking Shoes, you'll find me in a pair of Converse. This pair traversed many miles at NN13:
Summer finds me living in two pairs of sandals; the first an old favorite and DFH-marker, my Birkenstocks. The arch is perfect, the style requires no pesky toe irritant, and I could happily walk around in them all day. My first pair lasted nearly 10 years which amortized brings them down to mid-range flip-flop price :). My current pair is a mere year old courtesy of my 2012 birthday present from Mr. Brillig and the Ks:
The second summer favorite are my new pair of Tevas. I've had one pair, the traditional style available in 2003, when in desperation I went across the street from the convention center I was at and bought a pair because my feet were aching and sweltering in a heat wave. Yes, they've lasted for 10 years and STILL are in my repertoire. However, I wanted a new pair for NN13 and happily, REI was having a sale! Pretty enough to wear with a summer long skirt and comfortable enough to walk around town all day in.
This, pretty much, is my summer rotation of shoes. They take me everywhere I need to go- which tells you how often I end up in an outfit requiring actual dress shoes! K1 took one look and begged to have her favorite pairs included, and I as a Good Parent obliged :)
K1 is a flip-flopper. She has many pairs, and she tends to wear them mismatched. Here's one representative:
Her favorite pair this summer, though, are a pair of Keen's. When I returned home with my Tevas, she begged for a pair of "something other than flip-flops" and so back to REI we went. She wears these everywhere but to summer camp (where she's a counselor-in-training, or CIT). It's a working farm, and close toed shoes are a must for the obvious reason!
What are your favorite comfort shoes? Are shoes supposed to be fashionable, not comfortable? Or would you prefer to be barefoot all day every day? Share your footie favorites in the comments!
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything
without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do
not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down.
From Dragon5616:
Glen The Plumber paid an eloquent tribute to Sara R and winglion, "the thread that joins us together as a community," in smileycreek's beautiful diary Community Quilt FlashMob Brightens up NN13.
From DefendOurConstitution:
Bob Johnson's top comment, from Night Cat's diary Study Provides Alarming Picture About Youth and Guns.
From Yours Truly, brillig:
DarkSyde has a poignant (and thankfully updated) diary up, a must-read imho. In the comments he added this all too true observation.
I had to read Hunter's diary because creeping paganism. So many good comments to be had, but this one by denig set up mmacdDE's perfect response.
Laura Clawson brings us news that Walmart threatens to leave if a living wage is instituted. Puddytat sees an opening for the anti-Walmart folks.
Top Mojo for yesterday, July 8th, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you
mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary
FAQing Top Mojo.
1) Daniel Ellsberg today wrote that Snowden by David Harris Gershon — 198
2) the invisible handgun of the market. by Bindle — 132
3) HIs bubble gets smaller and smaller every day by Heavy Mettle — 117
4) FISA judges approve warrants by Dallasdoc — 115
5) Flout, flout, flout by MsSpentyouth — 102
6) This is the kind of story that by karmsy — 101
7) Link to WaPo opinion piece by Ellsberg: by David Harris Gershon — 101
8) There are many ways to accomplish a coup. by TheOrchid — 93
9) They should have to justify it medically by Norm in Chicago — 90
10) What overshadows your argument by ZhenRen — 89
11) I admire your bravery MsSpent. by One Pissed Off Liberal — 81
12) Can you knock it off please by joanneleon — 81
13) That's part of the suit by Puddytat — 81
14) Eh by david mizner — 80
15) Since when by ActivistGuy — 80
16) So their "anti-Sharia bill" . . . by Aji — 79
17) I would like to thank all the people by navajo — 79
18) Do you really think by Kristina40 — 78
19) yeah, that was pretty funny by New Minas — 77
20) hr by Nada Lemming — 76
21) please provide evidence by Laurence Lewis — 75
22) Oh, yeah, well, by Words In Action — 75
23) I just posted your piece about Daniel Ellsberg. by allenjo — 71
24) And George Stephanopolis. by FrY10cK — 70
25) Powerful story by Catte Nappe — 69
26) Puhleez. "Zimmerman and beat... by Meteor Blades — 68
27) The surveillance state is a bipartisan enterprise by Dallasdoc — 65
28) allenjo, that's exactly what stood out by joanneleon — 65
29) Cops divide non-cops into two groups. by detroitmechworks — 64
30) Damn those actuaries! by FogCityJohn — 63
31) deflect the blame by Victor Ward — 63
Top Pictures for yesterday, July 8th. Click any image to be taken to the full comment. Thank you
jotter for the image magic!