As I've mentioned in multiple posts here, I have this
little thing for shoes. If by little you mean 45ish pairs of shoes, 2 pairs of knee-high boots, 2pairs of sneakers and 5 pairs of flip flops.
Don't judge. I haven't said a word about your "action figure" collection or Pokemons or Pogs.
(Pogs. Holy carp. 'Member those?)
Back to what's important. Shoes.
My love for shoes is akin to my love for Jamba Juice smoothies. Much like my desire for the Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie dessert from Chili's when it used to be served in a hot skillet. Near to my need for NARS blush from Sephora in a color that has a name that is not appropriate for a family board. And like my fondness for the frosty goodness that is the strawberry kiwi slushy vodka drink they make at Outback Steakhouse.
Am I clear, Mr. Bender?
Crystal.
(That's for you, JKMJ.)
Behold Exhibit A:
This is part of my shoe tree. You can't quite see the sneakers or boots and I know I have a couple of pairs in a desk drawer at work. And I know my two sequined pairs from Old Navy were under the dining room table when this was taken. One of my cats was napping on them. She loves to lay on our shoes.
The majority of my shoes are heels, most of which are in the 4"-6" range. They come in all varieties - pointy toe, peep toe, sandal, round toe, black patent, red patent, leather, leopard print, cheap, expensive and shiny.
Unfortunately, as much as I love them, they will not do for a full day of park touring. I'm pretty sure, anyway. You tell me:
Yes. Patent leather + peep toe + leopard print 5" heel = HOT.
EVERY woman needs a pair of red shoes. Follow Dorothy's lead.
And lest you think I have calves of steel, I do wear flats:
Aren't they too cute?! $10 at Payless!!
Behold, Exhibit B:
The flip flop collection and my normal MO for footwear in the World. While most of you are shuddering and pulling out your Moleskin, I have to say this - they have served me well. I can only think of two real occasions where they were an issue. Out of 9 trips.
Once I made the mistake of bringing brand new, non-broken in flippies and wearing them for my first full day of touring the MK. Mhm. Welcome to Blister City. We have Band-Aids.
The other time was kind of a weird freak thing. I was walking around MGM and all of a sudden, out of nowhere as I was walking away from the Muppet area, I got the most intense pain up through the arch of my foot, into my ankle and up the back of my calf. It was debilitating. And then, as if that weren't enough, it started to rain, making a painful walk in flippies, a slow and difficult one. I went back to the room and ended up hobbling around the rest of the vacation, in as much pain in my Nikes as I'd been in the flippies.
But other than that, I've been perfectly happy flap-flapping around the World. I know it's not for everyone, but I simply cannot stand having hot feet, so sneakers are out. And Tevas? Birkenstocks? Well, do you see anything remotely Teva-like in my shoe tree? Uh-uh. And Birk's are a bit too earthy-crunchy for me.
Sorry.
I'm a tried and true shoe snot.
I'm at peace with it.
Then the Croc revolution happened. I couldn't figure out why people were wearing ugly, plastic shoes. The more I saw them, the more I wanted to hug these people and take them to the nearest DSW. But I was very quickly outnumbered and I began to foster my dislike for the aerated clogs in silence. But not in secret.
I couldn't believe it when
Crocs tried to get "cute" with the Mary Janes and all. I was like, "Noooooooooo!!!!! I see a future of rubbery shoes with nubbins. Dear LORD. Save me." I had to resist the urge to throw them.
And for the record, no, I never EVER wanted to try them on regardless of how comfy people said they were.
But then, last weekend, something curious happened. My friend and I were at the mall with my godson. There, in the center of the first floor was a Crocs kiosk (conveniently by COACH, which made me cry a little inside). I was about to open my mouth and start the bashing when something caught my eye...is that...there, just below those royal blue smurf shoes with the Jibbitz thingys on them...could those be...FLIP FLOPS?
I couldn't believe it. Really couldn't. So much so that I walked over and said to the girl running the kiosk, "Um, excuse me. Are those CROC FLIP FLOPS?" Then my mouth kind of hung open.
After she sized me up and wondered if I was on a day pass from the state mental institution, she nodded and said, "Um, yup."
I pulled them off the rack and tried them on. I had them on all of 0.68 seconds when I was enamored of the gray/pink color combo, the squishy, nubbiny inside and the fact that somewhere in the insanity of the Croc factory,
someone was thinking outside the box. Because these were kind of cute.
So I bought them. Best $29 bucks I spent that day. The Athens, I think?
Now here's the thing, I don't want to wear them to the wedding I'm in in 4 short weeks or out on a Friday night, but I DO think they're acceptable for Disneying it up and running errands. I think they'll be a might more comfy than my Old Navy jobbers but still satisfy the flippy need.
There's a Crocs store near my work in Boston. I plan on making at least one trip there to get these bad boys in two other color combos, though I haven't decided which ones yet. Probably one neutral set and another color set.
And so ends the Great Disney Shoe Debate 2008. The votes were cast and unlike the George W/John Kerry election, the true winner surfaced. I only hope these suckers last
at least two terms in office.
More to come!
...please, say it ain't so. Has she gone mad? 
but go see '21'. We saw it this past weekend. It was excellent.
Thank goodness that I didn't know about these boards while I was doing my Masters degree and getting my gifted endorsement! I would never have graduated from either one!
When I woke up in the middle of the night, I knew what I had to do! 
at others but that had me 
I'm lovin' it! Like McDonalds without all the grease!!
Just kidding. I will certainly let you slide because as long as you don't get the "smurf" style (what is the name of this shoe anyway?) you're okay in my book.....
. I was really touched by your wee note, it came just at the right time as I've been floored all weekend with food poisoning and feeling very sorry for myself so you achieve your goal of putting a smile on all of our faces. Niamh wanted to play with them all 
you now have a serious fan base in Scotland
