A FEW MORE.....

Human beings, by change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves otherwise we harden.

Books are the blessed chloroform of the mind.

Honor isn't about making the right choices. It's about dealing with the consequences.

We do pretty much whatever we want to.

When of a gossiping circle it was asked, What are they doing? The answer was, Swapping lies.

Atheism is easy in fair weather.

If you believe in fate, believe in it, at least, for your good.

Never contend with a man who has nothing to lose.

Children begin by loving their parents. After a time they judge them. Rarely, if ever, do they forgive them.

Don't wait for people to be friendly, show them how.

When you can't have what you choose, you just choose what you have.

LYNN RADCLIFF

JUST A FEW THOUGHTS FOR A CHANGE.

Thought rather then write about podiatry today I would throw some thoughts toprovoke some thought. Hope you enjoy em'...

Be bold-and mighty forces will come to your aid.

A ship should not ride on a single anchor, nor life on a single hope.

A good beginning makes a good end.

Doing easily what others find difficult is talent doing what is impossible for talent is genius.

I believe in getting into hot water. I think it keeps you clean.

Be not the fourth friend of him who had three before and lost them.

The only sure thing about luck is that it will change.

Life is like riding a bicycle. You don't fall off unless you stop peddling.

Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.

When you go in search of honey you must expect to be stung by bees.

If you want a quality, act as if you already had it. Try the ''as if'' technique.

Never despair, but if you do, work on in despair.

No fact of human nature is more characteristic that its willingness to live on a chance.

The luck of having talent is not enough one must also have a talent for luck.

It is not necessary to have enemies if you go out of your way to make friends hate you.

We are digging our graves with our teeth.

Adversity is a fact of life. It can't be controlled. What we can control is how we react to it.

Change is inevitable. Change is constant.
.
One man with courage makes a majority.
Few people can distinguish the genuinely good from the reverse.
The best doctors in the world are Doctor Diet, Doctor Quiet, and Doctor Peace

If you didn’t know how old you were, how old would you think you are?

Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.
He who denies all, confesses all.

The humblest individual exerts some influence, either for good or evil, upon others.

You don't get to choose how you're going to die, or when. You can decide how you're going to live now.

Don't be afraid your life will end be afraid it will never begin.

Absence is one of the most useful ingredients of family life, and to dose it rightly is an art like any other.

What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?

Biography is a higher gossip.

Wherever you are it is your own friends who make your world.

It is not enough to succeed, others must fail.

Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact.

A healthy adult bore consumes each year one and a half times his own weight in other people's patience.

The swift wind of compromise is a lot more devastating than the sudden jolt of misfortune.

What an ugly beast the ape, and how like us.

It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else's eyes.

The action is best that secures the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

Fear is what kills us.

Why do strong arms fatigue themselves with frivolous dumbbells? To dig a vineyard is worthier exercise for men.

Experience is what keeps a man who makes the same mistake twice from admitting it the third time around.

The one thing that a fish can never find is water and the one thing that man can never find is God.

ForSmooth and Soft feet

For Extra Smooth and Soft Tootsies...
Everyone loves to be treated like a queen and pampered. The essence of femininity is being soft and sensual. Well some of us girls need some extra TLC when it comes to our feet. Feet take a lot of wear and tear day in and day
For the same reasons you would soak a tea bag on your eyes you would emerge your favorite tea three to five bags at a time, into a quart and a half of water. Boil the water until you see bubbles and notice the tea steeping rapidly. Turn down the flame and add some cool water to lower temperature immediately, you may transfer the water into a more suited dish for you feet and begin soaking! Tannin the active ingredient in tea works to dry the skin while tightening and preventing odor from perspiration. Tea is an antioxidant and will revitalize your feet, leaving them feeling fresh while easing inflammation and relieving swelling.
All Purpose Vaseline-Smooth it works On Everything…
This isn't your grandmother telling you to put Vaseline on your face, your elbows, you lips, although there is truth in all of the above. When speaking of progression, buy yourself a foot file and use it after soaking your feet in warm soapy water or before you get out of the shower. File away softened dead cells and lather on a layer of Vaseline before going to bed. We guarantee your feet will be baby soft in a week! If you are more daring heat up some Crisco in the microwave, not too hot though and rub it all over your newly filed feet. You will probably achieve the same results in a week or less!
Strawberries and Champaign or Strawberries and Milk?
Bring out the heavy cream and the basket of strawberries and indulge your self in a foot bath good enough to taste. Milk is naturally soothing, and heavy cream has a much thicker consistency and is more fatty and therefore more moisturizing in nature. Strawberries have natural glucose in them that help absorption of the moisturizers in the cream absorb into the foot.

I want to wear my Jimmy Choo's!

The latest fashions in women’s shoes may look great but they can be a real pain to walk in..
However, some women have found a solution.... they’re altering their feet to fit into those
trendy and tight shoes...
Instead of dipping her feet in this tub at the doctor’s office... Cindy Jones could have spent
her spring break walking along the beach.
"I would like to be on vacation in Cabo, but I had to get my foot done."
She gave up her vacation to have plastic surgery.. on her feet.
Why?: They were too wide to comfortably get into the latest and most popular shoes.
"When I first put on heels or shoes my foot would be fine but after a couple of hours they’d
start to hurt."
And Cindy is far from alone. Doctors say many women want to get into the latest tight
fitting fashions so bad they’re willing to have they’re feet altered.
"They’re bringing in pictures of Minolos or Jimmy Choo’s or the pointy
toe shoes and saying my foot doesn’t fit into this is there something you can do."
Doctor Ted Cohen says the most common procedure is removing feet widening bunions...
and something called hammertoes.... where the toes curl up and into each other.... many
times caused by mis-fitting shoes.
"So what we do is a procedure to get rid of the deformity on the side of the big toe, the
deformities on the side of the little toe and if any of the toes are curled, such as a hammertoe
we straighten those as well."
The hammer-toe is straightened by taking a piece of bone out of the toe. the results?...
With her feet almost fully healed Cindy is now able to comfortably get into her favorite
shoes.
"After a couple of weeks I was in high heels boots, everything.
And next spring break she can show off her new feet on the beach at Cabo.

Flip-Flops

They never really went away. But, wow, have flip-flops
made a comeback. Once a convenient kick-around
shoe associated with beachwear, the thong sandals are
one of the latest raves in the fashion industry. Whether they're a few bucks to a few hundred dollars -- high heeled, platforms or traditional -- it seems like everybody's wearing some form of flip-flops. "And this summer is no exception.

Fashion and comfort

Flip-flops solved Kathie Strader's problem. A New Yorker vacationing in Staunton, Strader's feet are a little too long and too wide for most women's shoes she considers fashionable.
So she opts for the thong sandals, like the ones she is wearing in the above photo.
"I'm the flip-flop queen of New York state," said Strader, parading down North Augusta Street in a pair of bright orange flip flops. Strader said she has between 20 to 25 pairs, including footwear decorated in sequins. "They're comfortable and they're one size fits all."
Fashion and comfort is what Wendy Wolther had in mind when she designed Sugar Shoes, the latest craze in flip-flops. Sugar Shoes has a special patent on a sponge-dipped material they use for the soles of the thong sandals. "It feels like you're walking on marshmallows," Wolther said. "Comfort's most important. If they're killing you, they won't sell ... It's like the Holy Grail, searching for the softest material." Wolther and Levy both said the hottest selling flip-flops now are the ones with the kitten heels, and also the sandals with the best graphics.
"I'm noticing this season, flip-flops are becoming more and more ornate," Levy said.
"We have prints, preppy looks, Japanimation and bright colors," Wolther said.
Amanda Simon and Amanda Harmon, both students in Mary Baldwin College's Program for the Exceptionally Gifted, opted for pretty conservative flip-flops for their walk through downtown Staunton. But if they wanted to spice them up, it wouldn't be too difficult. The thong sandals are perfect for do-it-yourself fashion experts. Wolther said a glue gun, gemstones and some markers are easy ways to embellish and personalize flip-flops. "You can tie bows, put initials, have all sorts of fun," Levy said. "You can do anything with 'em."

Not for all occasions

Strader has calloused skin between her big toes and her second toes, just from walking in flip-flops so often. As easy, free and fashionable as the thong sandals may be, they're not perfect for every situation. Levy said having your feet exposed can cause sanitary concerns under certain conditions, and they're not always appropriate for the work environment.
"I think it probably depends on the city. In New York, it's probably not appropriate to wear flip-flops," she said. "Actually, they're not ideal for walking great distances with the thong in between your toe." Just a thong and a sole, flip-flops are just about the least bit of material you could find in a shoe. It's part of what makes the sandals comfy, but it also exposes your foot to the whole world. And, depending on the foot, that could be quite embarrassing.
Dr. Ted Cohen, a Las Vegas podiatrist who specializes in Podiatric surgery, said people who will go through some amazing lengths to get their feet ready for flip-flops.
He performs surgeries to remove bunions and correct hammer toe, a situation where the toes began to curl under. According to Cohen, the latest fad is toe-shortening, a process that involves making the second toe smaller than the big toe.
"They want to have surgery in the winter months, so they can wear open-toe shoes when they go out to the Strip," Cohjen said. Of course, not everyone needs such drastic measures to get their feet ready for flip-flop season. Cohen said everyone could benefit from following simple rules like keeping skin moisturized with exfoliators, doing foot soaks, and following strict sanitizing procedures while getting a pedicure. "The most important thing," Cohen said, "is wearing shoes that fit."

Do You Abuse Your Feet?

Women account for nearly 90 percent of all operations performed to correct common foot disorders such as bunions, hammertoes and neuromas . The shoes women wear are probably the biggest culprits, especially dress shoes, which are typically characterized by a tight fit, narrow toe boxes, high heels and shapes that don't conform to the foot.

On average, women squeeze into shoes that are two and a half sizes too small for their feet. If you're a woman, you can test that yourself: Take off one shoe and place it on the floor alongside your foot. Chances are your foot will be wider than the shoe.

To keep their shoes on, women who wear narrow-toed shoes, a popular fashion item, must squeeze the forefoot tightly, placing considerable pressure on the big and little toes and all the bones in between. If the shoes also have high heels, the pressure on the forefoot soars by a factor of five. As a result, the forefoot is literally molded into an abnormal shape.

The Damage Done

Bunions are among the most common problems caused by wearing tight or ill-fitting shoes. A bunion is a painful bony lump covered by a pad of tender flesh that develops as a result of the body's attempt to cushion the toe from excess pressure or friction. Although many people consider bunions to be simply a cosmetic disorder, the problem is much deeper. The first joint of the big toe is shoved out of alignment, and the end of the foot bone just behind it juts out. A tendency toward bunions may be inherited, since they often run in families. But research has shown that shoes are mainly to blame.

Hammertoes usually accompany bunions . The condition develops when a toe becomes fixed in a crooked position. Ultimately, the end of the toe faces permanently downward, like the head of a hammer. The second and third toes are particularly prone to the condition because they're longer and apt to get shoved backward as a result of the limited toe room in tight shoes. Hammertoes can be painful and, when severe, may impede walking. In addition, thick calluses or corns often develop on the tops of the affected toes.

Neuromas , benign swelling of a nerve in the foot, can also be aggravated by tight or ill-fitting shoes. The continual pressure squeezes the bones of the foot together until they impinge on the neuroma, usually between the third and fourth toes but sometimes between the second and third. The rubbing of the nerve against the bone causes significant irritation, and the entire lower foot may eventually become numb or develop a burning or tingling sensation.

Step In The Right Direction

A change of shoes is often all it takes to alleviate foot problem. Roomy, comfortable shoes, such as running shoes, should be your first step. To get the proper fit, many women may have to resort to wearing men's athletic shoes. Once you've worn roomier shoes for a few weeks you may be unable to squeeze back into your dress shoes. Comfort or fashion, you decide.

In some cases, a bit of felt or foam padding placed in the sensitive area of (roomier) shoes helps relieve discomfort. Painful neuromas sometimes require corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation.

The last resort for treating any of these foot disorders is surgery, which involves realigning the crooked toe bones in the case of bunions and hammertoes or removing the damaged nerve itself in the case of neuromas . Foot surgery is not a minor procedure, and it's not entirely risk-free. There's always the chance of complications developing or of the condition being made worse.

Although most surgical corrections of bunions and hammertoes are successful, these conditions will recur in about 10 percent of cases. Women who develop bunions or hammertoes early in life (in their 20s, for example) may be "ligamentously lax" — that is, the connective tissue in their feet is easily stretched out of shape. For these women, the risk of postsurgical relapse is considerably higher.

Surgical correction of a neuromas should be performed only when necessary because it will result in permanent numbness in the part of the foot that's served by the nerve.

Fortunately, women today are increasingly resisting the urge to crush their feet in the pursuit of fashion. The trend is due in part to changing fashions and in part to less rigid dress codes in the professional world. There are now many more options for women who want to dress professionally and be kind to their feet.

Foot CareFor Diabetics

Foot Care

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Inspect your feet every day, and seek care early if you do get a foot injury. Make sure your health care provider checks your feet at least once a year - more often if you have foot problems. Your health care provider should also give you a list and explain the do's and don'ts of foot care. Most people can prevent any serious foot problem by following some simple steps. So let's begin taking care of your feet today.

Prevention

Your health care provider should perform a complete foot exam at least annually - more often if you have foot problems.

Remember to take off your socks and shoes while you wait for your physical examination.

Call or see your health care provider if you have cuts or breaks in the skin, or have an ingrown nail. Also, tell your health care provider if your foot changes color, shape, or just feels different (for example, becomes less sensitive or hurts).

If you have corns or calluses, your health care provider can trim them for you. Your health care provider can also trim your toenails if you cannot do so safely.

Because people with diabetes are more prone to foot problems, a foot care specialist may be on your health care team.

Caring for Your Feet

There are many things you can do to keep your feet healthy.

1. Take care of your diabetes. Work with your health care team to keep your blood glucose in your target range.
   
   
2. Check your feet every day. Look at your bare feet for red spots, cuts, swelling, and blisters. If you cannot see the bottoms of your feet, use a mirror or ask someone for help.
   
   
3. Be more active. Plan your physical activity program with your health team.
   
   
4. Ask your doctor about Medicare coverage for special shoes.
   
   
5. Wash your feet every day. Dry them carefully, especially between the toes.
   
   
6. Keep your skin soft and smooth. Rub a thin coat of skin lotion over the tops and bottoms of your feet, but not between your toes.
   
   
7. If you can see and reach your toenails, trim them when needed. Trim your toenails straight across and file the edges with an emery board or nail file.
   
   
8. Wear shoes and socks at all times. Never walk barefoot. Wear comfortable shoes that fit well and protect your feet. Check inside your shoes before wearing them. Make sure the lining is smooth and there are no objects inside.
   
   
9. Protect your feet from hot and cold. Wear shoes at the beach or on hot pavement. Don't put your feet into hot water. Test water before putting your feet in it just as you would before bathing a baby. Never use hot water bottles, heating pads, or electric blankets. You can burn your feet without realizing it.
   
   
10. Keep the blood flowing to your feet. Put your feet up when sitting. Wiggle your toes and move your ankles up and down for 5 minutes, two (2) or three (3) times a day. Don't cross your legs for long periods of time. Don't smoke.
    
    
11. Get started now. Begin taking good care of your feet today. Set a time every day to check your feet.