Ahhh, comfy

…HA apologizes for once talking about Crocs. When the president had some on with socks, those were over.

…Erica Sagon, in the AZ Republic, May 14, 2008, does talk about Crocs of sorts in a story on what shoes are good for hot summer days. “The You” is a Crocs version that looks like a flat instead of a Jellie on ‘roids.

…For people with neuroma or foot pain, burning, tingling or numbness, think Taryn Rose. www.tarynrose.com. Spendy!

…Bunions? You need a wide shoe—how about the Foy by Born. www.bornshoes.com?

…Heel pain sucks, HA has had it. The “Air Aidan” satin ballet flat with Nike technology may be the ticket. www.colehaan.com.

…If your feet swell, and heck, whose don’t, look at city sneakers by Naturalizer. www.naturalizer.com.

…And HA’s standby and favorite, which gets tons of comps everywhere: The rope sandal from Ozark Sandals. http://www.ozarksandals.com/.

….Ah, summer. The best! Even in AZ.

Living off the fat of the yard

…Food? Pish-tosh, who can afford that anymore? Especially healthy food (and not HA’s beloved Kraft Dinner Recession Favorite, which is palling even for her).

…Fran Sorin, USA Today Weekend (May 9-11, 2008), talks about some forms of organic gardening that do not require you to plow up the back forty.

…First is permaculture gardening. In this, plants, animals, people, buildings and nature work together. You remove the lawn, she says, and plant fruit trees and veggie beds.

…HA would also add shade trees, but then again, HA lives in Arizona, hell’s waiting room. (Her new mesquite tree-let is beginning to recognize her, she is so proud.)

…Sustainable gardening is another approach. This conserves water, no chemicals, and doesn’t pollute.The garden sustains itself, Sorin says. This seems to involve compost and natural fertilizers like kelp. Personally, HA thinks only weeds sustain themselves.

….Biointensive gardening is both Eastern and Western. You grow cover crops, such as alfalfa or oats when the veggies are not growing. Make hexagonal beds, which is said to eliminate weeds.

…Why does that eliminate weeds—or does it make the weeds closer and easier to throttle while screaming the Die Die scream?

…HA is at war with her weedeater. They don’t get along. The weedeater is a demon, is why.

…One epilogue. When HA moved to AZ 12 years ago, she (hope brimming) read a book on organic gardening. It said that compost will eventually become compost, no matter what.

…She recently looked in the composter. Still twigs and sticks in there. Let’s give it another 12.

…Second epilogue. You can eat cactus. Some Mexican neighbors sometimes come over with a card that reads: Can we have cactus? HA has big prickly pears in her front yard (pix). She says yes. Once she tasted the salsa they made…yummo!

...They live off HA's yard. It all works out.

Recognizing the obvious

…HA often wonders when this country is going to grow up and get some smarts. Not all that nuanced nonsense, but real commonsense smarts.

…Yochi J Dreazen, writing in the WSJ, May 13, 2008, reports that the military is thinking of giving purple hearts for post-traumatic stress—a wound you cannot see on the outside.

…Reportedly Secy Robert Gates is sort of for this, saying it needs to be looked at (that’s for, right, since it’s not against?).

…There is no formal proposal at the moment, though.

…They just said enough to set off the blogs.

…Awarding the Purple Heart to those with PTSD would take away some of the stigma of the disorder, proponents say.

…Men with PTSD, said one man who works with these patients, paid as high a price as someone with a brain injury or shrapnel wound.

…Purple hearts are to be awarded for a wound received “in action with an enemy.” Mental wounds can be faked, opponents say.

….Mental problems have been associated with war since the beginning of history. Shellshock, the thousand yard stare. Three hundred thousand Iraq and Afghanistan vets have been diagnosed. Similar numbers suffered from it in Vietnam.

…Maybe this recognition would help remove the stigma somewhat. Then we can get going on getting the VA up to speed on support groups and treatment.

…A lot of soldiers and their families are suffering because the servicemember cannot hold a job, support a family, sleep, stop drinking or taking drugs, or even drive down a busy street.

…This is pain, people.

...All of this.