Let’s talk footwear. Which, as you can see from the header, is an issue with me. (I want to update that photo, but haven’t been able to get a good new shot of me, the bike, me-on-the-bike, or any combination thereof.) My feet are fat and I have hugely high arches. Also, I would be barefoot 100% of the time if it weren’t for potential road hazards and weather.
After much trial and error, to which you were all witness, we finally got some bargain priced walking sneakers that work well, with added in-soles for the arch condition. But I’m also good with my Birks. Or a vast selection of flip-flops and clogs. And then, my Crocs arrived. Oh the joy! I’ve worn them SO much. Including on all the bike rides lately.
The other day, in a comment, Skye asked,
“Any thoughts on other bike-in-the-rain shoes?”
Later, on that same page, this was my reply to Robin:
“When I first got the bike out I tried my walking shoes (still can’t run and haven’t been able to afford any running shoes yet). It was a waste of socks. Made more laundry than I needed to be doing. (And I love laundry.)“
After I found* those super cool sporty socks (and figured out the edema situation, thanks in part to Carol) I no longer had a horrible swelling issues. I mostly only wear the shoes-and-socks selection if I know we’re going to be marching for some measurable distance. Like an after-meal constitutional or a big ol’ hefty hike. For the two-wheeled errands I’m just usually too freaking sweaty to even contemplate covering any more skin than I can get away with. (I’m kinda pushing it with the shorts as it is.)
*Or rather, was directed to; thank you again, Kari.
As we get more cool and/or rainy days (so far it’s still been warm, in the 60s, wet or dry) I’ll see what appeals to me, and what I think might offer the best options. One of the reason I’ve chosen my real Crocs, and before that my imitations, is because they have such a nice solid sole and roomy toe area. These fit the best onto my pedals. Holes or not, I wore the old ones nearly all of last winter.
I appreciate your suggestions, ideas, and experience on this topic. I think it’s important, and valuable, for us to hear what worked for others. Like what I just found out about the no shampoo movement. Some people doing this have shared that their hair is slightly more frizzy on the ends, so several readers chimed in with the notion that it’s the towel, not the lack of commercially manufactured products.
After asking around (I conducted a limited survey at the pool), I found out that this suggestion, using a t-shirt (after showering or rinsing off) for head-wrapping, was actually known amongst some of my questioned group. (Technically two, one life guard actually did this, and one young mom had read about it but never tried it.) I’m currently wearing such a garment snugly twisted around my noggin. I’ll keep you posted on results, as I notice them.
On our card altar this afternoon, we’ve reached the end of another rotation with one of our animal decks. Next time we come around to it, I’ll shuffle, and restart that stack.
“Wren (Drui-en pronounced as Droo-y-en) ~
Humility, Cunning, God
The card shows a wren holding a feather in its beak, as it guards its nest filled with eggs. Tradition calls the wren’s nest the ‘Druid’s House.’ A bolt of lightning represents Taranis, the bull-god of thunder and lightning, the oak tree and the wren. The Ogham sign in the stone is the Duir, the oak.
Drui-en allows us to glimpse the beauty of God and Goddess in all things. He tells us that ‘small is beautiful ’ and that self-realization lies not in grandiosity or apparent power, but in humility, gentleness and subtlety. Cunning, if tempered with humor and good intent, is a way of achieving great things with an economy of effort, and a rational and honest use of the achievements of others.”
We definitely got this one right-side up, but it felt like we needed to see both directions of the definitions.
“Drawn reversed, this could mean that you need to look at whether your humility and gentleness actually render you invisible to others. Are they your way of defending yourself from life and from others, rather than facing life and its difficulties? Perhaps you also need to look at how you use your cunning, your native wit….. Cleverness and building on the work of others require wisdom and honest skill if they are to be of value, and not become dishonest.”
And this piece, which went well with the entire message. (There are four full pages in the guidebook.)
“….. in the Druid tradition, the wren symbolized wisdom and divinity. It is difficult actually to see a wren. At their New Year, the apprentice Druid would go out by himself into the countryside in search of hidden wisdom, in the same way that a Native American would go on a Vision Quest. If he found a wren he would take that as a sign that he would be blessed with inner knowledge in the coming year. Finding a creature small and elusive to the point of invisibility was a metaphor for finding the elusive divinity within all life.”
Today’s Deck:
The Druid Animal Oracle – Working With The Sacred Animals Of The Druid Tradition by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm illustrated by Bill Worthington
Can’t add much on the shoe or frizzy hair discussions (you’ve seen my hair… and that I’d have to stick a fork in an electrical socket for it to even consider thinking about trying frizziness).
Wren is beautiful, and I love “finding the elusive divinity within all life.” Finding that within yourself, and everything (and I mean everything, even negative judgements about you… gasp!) is what that video link I sent you is all about! Ah, yes, synchronicity!
~
I KNOW !!!
And it kept up today too. So, SO terrific.
J
12:24 a.m.
10-19-12
I think that most folks have a thing (apparel, tool, appliance) where there is an illusive search for the perfect one. Yours is shoes. I have a bit of that, too, but mine are holsters, Christmas lights, ice chests, and sunglasses. The family joke is that the perfect Christmas gift for me would be an ice chest full of light strings. I have yet to get one.
Wren has a good message…back to my usual non-relationship with birds in general, however. Have to search awful hard to find that elusive divinity with some life forms…
~
An ice chest of light strings, I love this image so very much.
J
12:27 a.m.
10-19-12
Interesting card. In the business world, I am rather shy and humble, probably more than is beneficial for me. And I’m that way with new people I meet; unless my anxiety makes me brash and annoying and then I doubt I’ll make friends in that situation.
I have difficulties finding the right shoes too, due to having really high arches and slightly wider than average balls of my feet but narrow heels. Birks don’t work for me. It has helped having orthotics (the custom kind, which are not cheap at all but which have helped a lot with my feet). Then I have to find shoes that not only will fit my orthotics well but be comfortable, too. If I could afford it, I would buy more than one pair of each pair of shoes I find that work. Then I keep those shoes until they are unwearable. And I have to have nicer shoes (not just running shoes or sneakers) for when I work or interview for work. Oy. So I have great sympathies for you in your shoe hunt. My only thought is, the next time you get to LC, go to the outlet mall and shop at the shoe stores there.
~
I am not digging out my Louise Hay at this moment, but I recall that feet issues have to do with our “standing” and how we see ourselves, on a larger scale and in regards to how others see us. Worth investigating further, although, I’m so freaking thrilled with my new Crocs I love thinking that I’ve got THAT particular lesson well and truly put behind me.
J
12:29 a.m.
10-19-12
Great card, lots of think about. Thanks. I’m with you on the difficulty of finding good shoes. I’ve gotten better at it as I get older, though. I have half a dozen pairs of shoes that I LOVE at the moment, and I’m already dreading when they wear out. Or the puppy chews them up.
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Guard them from her !!!
J
12:36 a.m.
10-19-12
Oy. I could write a book on foot/shoe issues. Like Skye I have wide balls of the foot and way too narrow heels. I can walk out of every pair of shoes I own, ’cause if they fit the ball of my foot there are gaps where the heels go. The closest I can get is my running shoes because they have cushions for the heel area around the top. I still get rocks coming in the back though. It’s one of the reasons I spend the money on Saucony brand running shoes (men’s size 8 1/2 ). They have a roomy toe box so nothing is crushed. Finding dress shoes? A nightmare. I have none that “fit”. I just tolerate them only when backed into a corner. I wish you all the luck in finding something to make your feet happy.
“… for finding the elusive divinity within all life.” It can be pretty damn elusive alright. Overall I liked the card, though. And of course I love the wren. I was watching one bounce around in the tree outside my bedroom window this morning. They are such awesome little birds.
And speaking of birds…somebody is pecking hard on my house!!! Not quite a woodpecker kind of pecking. Definitely going to go stop that! Sheesh!
~
I’m finding that the easiest way to find the divinity is to look at all of the shit which USED to irritate me with this Transformative view, from another angle all together. It really helps! Also, practice is good too.
J
12:44 a.m.
10-19-12
Okay. So some Blue Jays and sparrows were hogging the feeder and tussling around. Evidently, a Nuthatch didn’t like the fuss so he was swooping down to the feeder, grabbing a sunflower seed, and then flying up on my roof to try and wedge the seed between the shingles so he could peck it open. Normally they wedge it in the bark on a tree. *sigh*
I have heard of using a t-shirt for drying curly hair. I’ve never tried it so I’ll be curious to see how it goes.
Interesting card. Much to think on.
~
Try it! It feels really nice on my head. Smooth, and since they are stretchy, it’s snug but not too heavy. Today, my shampoo-less hair, with no towel on it for several days, has almost no tangles. I’ll brush it tomorrow before I leave on the bike and put it up in my riding ‘do.
J
12:58 a.m.
10-19-12