Monday, June 26, 2017

My Quirky Obsession

I have to admit that I am very picky when it comes to my shoes or boots, they have to fit just right for me to wear them comfortably. When buying a pair I can't go in and just grab a pair of shoes in my size off of the shelf, sometimes I end up trying on every shoe in that size, and sometimes all the shoes in the half sizes close to my size before I find one that fits my foot.

Needless to say I can spend a lot of time shoe shopping, also I have noticed the older I get the looser I want my shoes to fit, I have actually gone up a size and a wide shoe is a must.

Cindy's Dad won't even go shoe shopping with me anymore. He is actually one of those people who can just grab a pair in his size and be comfortable with the first pair he sees, so with this said he has no patience for my quirky obsession with correctly fitting shoes, I have even tried on a pair where the left one fits but the right one doesn't.

When I was a kid growing up in South Carolina we hardly ever wore shoes. I remember walking everywhere barefoot, we played outside, rode our bikes, climbed trees, anything that could be done in shoes as a kid we did barefoot, there were exceptions though, going to school, church, or Grannys house we wore shoes, but anything else the shoes were missing.

I guess my feet were tough back then, but now I don't dare go outside without shoes on my feet. One of the side effects of being a long time diabetic is neuropathy which causes you to lose sensation in your feet and hands, I can't exactly explain how this works on most people but it is really strange to me.

My Doctor can take his little tack and poke around on my feet and legs with me feeling nothing, he does the tuning fork test.......nothing, I once had a brown recluse spider bite on a toe and the Doctor at Urgent Care poked around on it....nothing, gave me a shot in that toe....nothing, dug what he called a core out of the middle...nothing, you get the idea.

But let me have a sock twisted or get a sock on the wrong foot and my whole world comes apart, yes I actually said "sock on the wrong foot" I can't feel anything else but this gives me a sensation that I cannot handle.
Quirky obsession with socks, socked feet propped up
I love new socks and I could wear new socks every day, and they have to be the right socks also, I don't wear any socks that are sewn where the seam runs around the end of your toes, I buy all the same sock and when the new ones come out, the old ones go away, because after a few wearings socks take on a personality all their own.

A new sock can be grabbed out of the package and worn comfortably, they give you such a good feeling, a feeling of happiness, joy, euphoria, nirvana, I could even say complete ecstasy......pretty bad for a guy who can't feel his feet.

A worn sock takes on the characteristics of the last foot it was on, have you ever grabbed a pair of socks from your handy dandy sock drawer and noticed that the sock is a bit tight on your big toe but has excess material sticking above your pinkie toe? This sock is on the wrong foot, take it off and move it to the other foot, it will fit that foot just fine.

Now if you already have a sock fitting just fine on the other foot, you have a mismatched pair of socks, two lefties leaves me going back into the sock drawer because in there somewhere is a pair of righties folded together.

When they get to where they are all mismatched, it takes me a while to get my shoes on because I want to straighten out the mess, now when I find an non-ambidextrous sock, one that doesn't fit either foot to my satisfaction then it's time for new socks.

All socks should be ambidextrous you are thinking, but don't fall for that marketing ploy by the worldwide sock industry, they will market their wares as ambidextrous, making you think their socks will fit either foot, but there is a fine line between truth and fiction, we have proven that fact right here.

A sock may be ambidextrous right out of the pack, but like I said earlier it will take on a personality that suits only one foot, you will start seeing this now that I have pointed it out for you.

Remember the tube socks we wore back in the seventies, a tube sock was supposed to fit anybody or any foot, anytime. Just how quickly did they form a spot where your heel was? Now get that puppy twisted and you had what looked like a lump on either the side or top of your foot.

Excess sock material sticking out of your shoe where your heel was last time you wore them. With this said it's beginning to make sense to have a right and left sock isn't it?

Now think of the tube sock with a heel formed sideways to the toes because you wore them with the heel material on the side, now think of the stripes, you have to match the correct heels and toes with the matching color stripes, this is another reason why I hated tube socks.

It's a good day when I have correctly fitting socks on my feet to slip into my correctly fitting shoes, I reach for my correctly fitting hat......but that's a whole other post.

Is there something you are particular about that others call quirky?

35 comments:

  1. I could say that the post is funny, but I know for a fact that it's not. #3 son would think he died and went to heaven if he had a brand new pair of socks to put on each morning. He has always been this way. Q: "What do you want for Christmas, Birthday?" A: "New socks." Strange coming from a teenager. He's in mid 40s now and I still get the same answer. He hated tube socks, btw.
    Now, I have that problem with nylon knee highs. No matter how carefully I launder them, they end up with a right and a left foot.
    You are not alone, Jimmy, you are in good company!

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    1. Like your #3 son "new socks" is also my standard answer for what gifts I want, not so sure about nylons myself but it does sound exactly like the same situation as my socks.

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  2. Your sock thing is quirky on steroids! I've never thought of right foot left foot socks. Maybe I just naturally put them on the correct foot, but I have never noticed a difference.

    Now tee shirts! I hate the ones that just are not cut correctly around the neck, they seem to be slightly choking you, and whith the tag printed on the shirt, it gets quickly washed out and I put them on backwards but i'm not sure if it is on backwards, or it is one of those poorly cut chokey shirts...is that quirky?

    Funny post!

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    1. Hey Joe, the chokey t-shirts are not a quirky thing, this too is a real thing, the only person that would call this quirky is the person who has never had a tee turn on them, I'm with you on this one.

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  3. I love new socks, too. But I'm not that persnickety about them. I do agree that they have a left and a right.

    TOWELS! You have to fold the towels right! Fold them in half. Loose edges at the top, fold in half again. Fold that section in half once more. The spine sides go to the left, the open edges to the right. The final spine is at the bottom.

    I have no idea what my husband does to the towels, but when he folds one once every blue moon, it IS NOT RIGHT!

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    1. Hey Val, the towel folding you described sounds confusing to me, I simply fold them in half lengthwise, then fold it in half the other direction, and once more to complete my fold job, Cindy says I do it wrong too but yet I can get more in a stack than her style of folding, you girls must learn a much harder way to fold towels than us guys.

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    2. you and Val fold exactly the same, just describe it differently.

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    3. Isn't it funny how you can say the exact same thing but entirely different.

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  4. I don't notice my own quirks and others haven't told me about any, so I can't answer your last question. But I understand about the toe seams on socks, can't stand them being over the ends of the toes. I don't have that left/right foot problem though. Once my socks are washed, they resume their former ambidextrousness and I can wear them on either foot.
    I have wide feet too, but they're also short, so finding shoes that fit are a problem. There is a shoe store that carries shoes made on European lasts, they're wider than the standard English last used by many manufacturers, and they have shoes in a few styles that fit me comfortably, but they're hellish expensive,$175-$200+, so I stick with boys sneakers in one particular style for $89 a pair.

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    1. Hello River, I say if you found a boys sneaker that fits and you also like it then that is the one to wear, I don't mind paying up for a pair of shoes that fit me comfortably, like you it's finding that shoe that is the problem.

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  5. I wish I could stop giggling. Oh how I enjoyed reading this. Have to say though that I don't have problem with socks, but Val's comment about towels I can identify with. The edges will always try to go their own way and I won't rest until I've conquered the problem. Takes me ages to fold a towel but socks always behave themselves.

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    1. Hi Valerie, I am very impressed that you have found socks that behave themselves, I must have their unruly cousins at my house ha ha

      The towels don't bother me like they do you and Val, how does folding fitted sheets work for you?

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  6. I have indeed experienced the 'wrong foot' side bulge...most annoying. Until you explained it, it was one of those mysteries of life. I only wear socks in late fall winter and early spring....I own two pair of shoes (orthopaedic .. I know I didn't spell that right) so they were fitted with great care. They are ugly and I hate them but they do fit correctly. I guess I am quirky about some things...like dishes...I don't like patterns on my dishes and pots...they have to feel right in the hand....and decorative pillows...I won't have the in the house. So there you go..we all have quirks. It's what makes the world an interesting place.

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    1. Hello Delores, Yes our quirks do make this old world an interesting place for sure, I have not been prescribed the orthopedic shoes yet, like you said I have also been told by others that they do fit well but do not look very good, I think if they fit correctly then I could tolerate the ugly shoe, I would rather that they look nice but would trade the looks for the fit.

      Correct dishes and no decorative pillows could be considered quirky by some, but I wouldn't hold it against you myself :)

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  7. I was beginning to experience neuropathy in my feet when I decided to deal with my diabetes by losing weight. Lately, I haven't had any neuropathy issues.

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    1. Congratulations Stephen, that is a huge deal to get the neuropathy in your feet taken care of, I am really happy for you on that issue my friend.

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  8. My husband is the same way with his socks. He can not stand to feel a seam. Especially if the seam has a little knot on the side. Im not that picky over shoes because I do not wear a pair for long. Just to go eat or church or something. I mostly were flip flops. However, When it comes to a nice expensive pair of running tennis shoes, They have to be perfect! I will try on all of them to find the right fit.
    Lisa

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    1. Hey Lisa, like your husband if my sock has a knot in the seam you might as well throw it away, knocking around the house shoes I'm not near as picky as a pair that I need to wear for extended periods of time, flip flops are a good choice because the fit issues are not there, I am with you 100% on the high dollar running shoes and don't blame you for being picky there.

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  9. You have issues don't you? You do and so does everyone else. Someday I'll share my issues. This post made me chuckle in places, but it's not funny that you have issues with our feet. Those are real issues.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

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    1. Hi Sandee, yes those issues are real and very serious, but on the other hand they aren't going away and we might as well laugh about it some because laughing can make you feel a little better about it.

      Like you said we all have issues and a good chuckle is worth it in my opinion.

      A great day to you too Lady.

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  10. Mercy, you have a PHD in socks. Can't tell you how oblivious I am to socks. Trying to think of a quirk of my own but am coming up cold right now. I use to have one about milk--had to have it over ice--but since I developed late in life milk intolerance, I no longer drink it. Feeling a little left out here.

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    1. Hello Patti, and a life long PHD too ha ha, a milk intolerance sure took your quirk away, can you drink a lactose free milk? I was just wondering if that is an option with the milk intolerance.

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    2. There's always almond milk...you could have that over ice.

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  11. I think you know you've grown up for the first time when you're excited over a new pair of socks.

    Much different reaction between a kid and a young adult over new socks, especially for xmas

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    1. Yes Sir Adam, I can't think of any kids that would ask for socks, nor be very happy to get them.

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  12. I have absolutely NO idiosyncrasies except...(never mind)!!

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  13. It's so often the quirks that make us who we are ...

    Now as for socks I love them!
    I have a drawer-full of mainly pink - my favourite colour!

    My husband Eddie (Type 2 diabetic) is very careful when buying new socks and shoes. When you are diabetic it is most important to look after your feet.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Hi Jan, I think this is a lot of the reason that I am so particular about my shoes and socks, type one diabetic for the last forty years, yes our quirks make us who we are and I can totally relate with your husband Eddie.

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  14. I am super picky about socks and shoes! I have a bunion on my right foot, which causes all sorts of fitting issues. For socks, they can't be tight at all!

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    1. Good morning Bijoux, does a wide shoe help with the bunion, or does that just throw a too loose issue to the other foot?, just curious

      I completely understand how you wouldn't like tight socks, I couldn't do that either.

      Good to see you my friend.

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    2. I'm usually ok if both shoes are wide. It's just hard to find 10W sometimes!

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    3. Most places don't stock very many wide shoes, I have found the same issue.

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  15. Hey, we all have our quirks. I totally understand about your socks and shoes issues. That's important stuff for a diabetic.

    I can't stand "extra" stuff on clothes or on me. Ruffles or lace? Nope, not for me. "Embellishment" on jeans, purses, or blouses? I won't even look at it. My wardrobe looks very utilitarian. The only "jewelry" I wear is my FitBit. I have to wear glasses since about 6 years ago...I'm STILL trying to get used to them!

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    1. I can understand that totally, like on t-shirts all of mine are plain except our race shirts for the tracks or the "Proud Papa" shirts from the grandson, but the day to day shirts are plain.

      Yes they give you no options when it comes to wearing your glasses, you will adjust one day...slowly I see ha ha

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