I'm not Catholic, but . . .

I really don't understand the heat that the new pope is receiving about washing feet of two young women.  I don't get it.  Again, I'm not Catholic so some clarity here (constructive, please) would be wonderful.

I think that it is wonderful that he is willing to take on a church that was (sorry) seemingly a hot mess for a while with all of the ick and garbage that was coming out.  He seems to be a very humble man and that by his example, perhaps people can see that life is about living and being a servant, not about the person with the most toys winning at the end.

He is an example that extravagances are unneeded and that instead of lavishing upon ourselves, we should move forth and share among the masses.  Again, I'm looking at this from a non-Catholic point of view, but to say that I don't pay attention to the pope would be a lie.  My grandmother LOVED Pope John Paul.  I recall her love for him and how she spoke of him.  No big offense to Pope Benedict, but I don't believe that my grandmother would have been as enamored with him.

So please explain, if you can and if you would choose to, how a humble man who requires literally very little and is willing to move amongst the masses minus the popemobile and all, how he can be criticized for being who he is and how he is conducting business.

Be constructive and be kind, please.

I'm in a bit of a sandal quandary.

I'm having a bit of a hard time with the sandal thing this year.  I've been on a "no heels, no sandals (flippy kind) and NO! FLIP FLOPS" decree from the doctor since October.  I've been obedient.  The other day, I had to go see Dr. W for a smile and a wave to get orders for cholesterol blood work and he asked about my foot. 

"It's good.  It tweaks and twinges every now and then, but when I ruptured my ACL, I also broke a bone.  That did the same thing.  It's just going to take a while."

"A long while," my darling doctor says.

So goes the part where I was going to ask about flip flops.  I'm on a flip flop and any other shoe that isn't "securely strapped to my foot" ban until at least August 31.  I have particular parameters I need to fall within for sandals.

1.  Must be strapped to my foot.
2.  Must be comfortable.
3.  I like some toes to peek out, but I hate it when the sandal front begins an inch before your toes do.  Yikes.
4.  They can't look orthopedic.
5.  They can't look like they came from my grandmother's closet (though I have no grandparents left at all).  Yes, that request is different from #4.
6.  In the spirit of needing to keep my 5th metatarsal which is still on the mend happy, it needs to be practical.  This is why I bought the Keen Balboa sandals in lime green.  Practical.  Fits the bill and kicky.  Sadly, lime green doesn't go with absolutely everything in my wardrobe and frankly, I don't want to have two of the exact same pairs of shoes in different colors.  Yes, I realize that lime was slightly impractical, but my feet have to be firmly attached to a foot bed and I am an artist.  You've got to give me some room to play with.
7.  I will not wear Crocs.  To those who love them, God bless you.  I just can't do them. 
8.  I tried Earth shoes (the Imply sandal) and it rubbed so badly on my heel that I sent them back right away.  Yikes. 
9.  I have and love the several pair of Birkenstocks that I have.  They are elfin, but they are comfy.  I do have a pair of t-strap clog/sandals that I wear a lot. 

K- and I stopped by DSW and TJ Maxx today.  I probably tried 30 pairs of sandals on.  If it was cute, it rubbed in a weird place and was dead to me. 

I might add that while I am money conscious, in our house, we don't wear cheap shoes.  Really, I'm willing to pay decent money for something that I WILL wear and WILL love.  I just can't find them.

Any suggestions?