Hello! How are you? Would you like to link up to Manic Monday Linky Party? And have you entered into my Fat Quarter Shop Welcome Giveaway? You’ve still got time!
Not long ago I asked if you’d like to get to know me better, as I tend to keep things pretty sterile here at SewHappyGeek. Many said yes, they’d like to know the blogger behind the blog, so here’s a little of what’s been happening in my life. :p
I teach Patchwork and Quilting at Cantell College on Mondays, and because it’s through the local council (gov’t), I have to do lots of paperwork and be observed occasionally. Monday was my first ever observation and I was nervous as heck. My pals on Twitter were ever so supportive, and before I went in I had decided I’d just have to teach as though she wasn’t even there. So that’s what I did. One of the good things about being ADD is that when you’re really into something, you get a sort of hyperconcentration, where everything but what you’re doing recedes. I do it when I’m really into a book. There could be a marching band in the room playing the Barney song over and over and I probably wouldn’t notice.
Anyway…………so I demonstrated how to cut and sew the Star Template Block, and then helped everyone with their fabric choice, cutting and sewing. Then she asked to see me outside. I could see she wrote all over her paper with notes and I thought, Oh crap, here we go. But she said I’d done an excellent job and didn’t have any pointers for me! WAHOOOOO!!!
That makes it sound like my life is all roses. But actually it’s not. My stupid feet are giving me all sorts of problems, as are my knees. Last night I went to Total Foot Health in Salisbury and had a gait analysis done. I went in assuming I’d have to pay £300 (around $450) for a pair of custom orthotics. But the lovely Elizabeth said my feet aren’t that weird (given how much of me is weird, I’m over the moon about normal feet!) and I didn’t really need custom inserts. So I ended up with these:
And I owe you guys a HUGE thank you for all the supportive comments and emails I’ve gotten, chock full of advice on shoes, lifestyle changes, exercises, and support. THANK YOU. I’m cooking up something very special for you guys, I promise.
They feel very weird, and off balance too. But I’ll get used to them. I do need some new shoes that are supportive, will take my inserts comfortably and look ok with skirts and dresses, so I’m off again to Salisbury today to go to Hotter shoes. Yes, I know, they do lots of old lady shoes, but I think the Mary Jane styles don’t look too bad, and unlike Clarks they do half sizes. So I’ll keep you informed.
But I have to rush off as I’m meeting a friend with a baby, and I’m going to whip up a flannel comfort blankie thingie with ribbons poking out of the sides. You know what I mean, right?
So if you’re STILL reading, I’d love to get to know you too. What’s going on with you? Leave a comment, or even email me at sewhappygeek@gmail.com! And if you’re on Twitter, send me a message!
P.S. Because I write a non-Blogger blog, I am one of those unfortunates who will lose my Google Friend Connect widget soon. I really value you as a reader and follower, and I’d like to ask you to consider following me on BlogLovin’, a free service built specifically for people to follow their favourite blogs, or by Feedburner, which is an RSS feed. Thanks!! 🙂
© J C Excell, 2011
I don’t know if you’d have a store like this there, but we have a running shoe store here where you go in and they have you walk on a treadmill as the record your feet to see how the pronate. Then they can recommend shoes that help with that which might be good with your orthotics.
Congratulations on the fantastic observation!
Thanks goodness you didn’t heed to shell out a fortune.
My son has to have orthotics inserts made for him, thankfully they are on the NHS as he has to have them redone every 6 months!!
Be careful getting shoes with them, as you need to make sure they are not too shallow at the heal, as your foot sticks out too much!!! My son moans, all he want to wear are converse but they aren’t deep enough. Good luck shopping!
I was a teacher before staying home. It’s a long story but I traveled from classroom to classroom after I had my second child and started working only part time. One day I was particularly hare brained and forgot my teaching bag with attendance and lesson plans at home. The day went okay until my third class when I walked in and there was the principal sitting in the classroom for an unannounced observation (you get 2 or 3 of them a school year). Well luckily I had been teaching over 5 years at this point. If it had been my first or second year I would have been doomed, but I just winged it and it went fine. I was sweating bullets though!
I am behind on my blocks for the QAL but plan to catch up this weekend.
I hope your new inserts bring you some relief! Congratulations on passing your observation with flying colors. They do the same thing to teacher candidates in the states. I am not looking forward to going through that when I finally finish my degree in a few years (in a holding pattern until Anne is older). Right now I am just trying to get over this cold and working on a quilt for my niece. It is not really my style fabric – but I know she will love it.
I’m the same way when I read. Could literally miss the apocalypse. I know that I’m a little late on this, but my dad has some pretty bad plantar’s faciitis, and he did the whole orthotics thing. Then he read this book called Born to Run, and well, apparently one of the causes for feet ailing is that our shoes are too good (!?) so that our feet get lazy and sucky. Or something along those lines. Anyways, long story short, he got some vibrams (bare feet could also work?) and wears them a certain amount to strengthen his feet and then when things get sore he wears his shoes around.
He also has foot exercises that I’m sure you could get from any physiotherapist. Remember, your feet like stretching as much as any other body part so don’t forget to do that at night. If you want.
So, turning off the annoying know-it-all, this is just what worked for him. But apparently the book is really good.
Also, great work on acing teaching your class!!!
haha – steer well clear of the old lady shoes!! Hope the inserts help 🙂
That’s great. I’m sure you’ll be thrilled at how much that helps your balance and the stress on your knees and feet. I remember trying to get used to those myself but wow, they make a huge difference. Good luck.
I’m glad the shoe store people were so nice! I hope the inserts help. My mom’s feet have been bothering her, too, and she got herself some really expensive, cushy slippers to wear in the house that make her feet feel a lot better.
Good luck with the shoe hunting and I’m glad you’re getting on with your inserts I hope they improve things for you.
Some of Hotter shoes are lovely, comfy and trendy – I am really, really picky about shoes and if I can find some to like they must do a good range!
Glad to hear your class went well. I am sure that took a lot of stress away! Also glad to hear that your feet are not that bad. Having bad feet is horrible. Mine have been bad since I was born so even at 30 I wear granny shoes…lol
Taking you at your word, here goes. I’m a new quilter (8 months). I started because our only child was leaving to go to college (not within easy driving distance) and I needed a new hobby to occupy my mind. I am a paralegal by day and a quilter by night. Said son is now on the mission field in a third world country (4 months) so I continue to quilt and check email for updates! Married to my hubby for 24+ years. Whoop! I have no idea how I found your blog but I’m glad I did. (Grin)
If you have a ‘pavers’ shoe shop near by, they do quite a range of shoes where the insole is removable for orthotics to be put in. I cannot recall the names of the ranges off the top of my head, but may be worth looking.
Glad to hear your observation went well. I am a teacher, 4th graders aka 9-10 year olds. I have to be observed this year too. That reminds me I need to schedule it soon, the thought of that just made my heart start pounding. I am good at my job, but having someone watch you is a whole different story. My principal could come in at any moment, and that doesn’t bother me, but having to be formally observed… Eek! Let’s see a little about me, well my days are spent teaching, my nights are with my husband and our two German Shepherd dogs and tonight I get to go Anna Maria Horner’s truck show 🙂
Hmm, Clarks here does half sizes, what kind of weird ass size feet have you got anyway? 😉
Glad your assessment went well anyway 🙂
YAY !! for your good review !!! Hope your feet get ‘happy’ real soon here . I hear stretching (pointing and flexing ) your feet is important . A friend of mine has foot issues ( don’t know what since she has so many ailments and they all run together !!! ) and her foot dr. tapes her feet for several weeks and she goes in a few times a week to get the tape changed . Just thought I’d throw that out there to you ; not sure of it !! A chiropractic adjustment may help , too . That’s all I know about feet !! Good Luck !!
I couldnt get on with the inserts they bit into my inner arch, nhs ones too and maybe the wrong size thinking about it…odd though if they were, since the nhs gave them to me! My pal suffered hers and they did help her but we both found that changing to firmer shoes finally helped us.
Youll be dancing the light fantastic again sooner than you think Im sure….with or without orthotics!
Well done with the obs too!!