New Summer Contest at Veggies, Yarns & Tails!

I thought it was long overdue that I posted a new contest, at any of my blogs so here goes! ;-)

Stop by to read the details at Veggies, Yarns & Tails (my cooking, craft and cat blog) and to enter too. It's easy-peasy to enter btw. 

And also, to read what I'm going to be "up to" in the next little while!

Good luck to all! :-)

Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin (Griffin estate edition)

Do you remember reading the book: Black Like Me as a teenager? I do. 

I read the first edition of this book, while I was in high school, living here in Canada. 

It touched me deeply at the time and now, reading it again this past week, in this new updated edition, it touched me even more as an adult. Reading and contemplating the story of Griffin's amazing journey to the deep South of the US in late 1959; a white man disguised (with the use of drugs, sunlamp treatments and make-up) as a black man.

What came to mind as I finished reading this book for the second time, was the incredible and hard-to-imagine courage that John Howard Griffin showed, in taking on this project. He certainly could have been killed. And he did endure injury and repeated threats to himself and to his family because of what he did and for many years to follow.

I found the additional information in this new estate edition, about Griffin's life, fascinating too. I did not realize that he had been blind for 10 years, earlier in life and also that he died at the relatively early age of 60.

His was a life that mattered. 

I hope that it is still on reading lists in schools. Does anyone know if it is?

The relevance of what he did and his place in US history,will never die.

Overall rating for this book/Ebook: Excellent. 5 out of 5. 

Dr. Scholl's Exercise Sandals

I had a pair of these Dr. Scholl's Exercise Sandals many years ago, when I was a teenager. Actually, EVERYONE had a pair of these sandals (or so it seemed) in the 70's! I just loved mine. 

When I noted on Amazon recently that these were still available (and at the best price I could find anywhere online, including over at eBay) I put them on my birthday "wish list" and lo and behold, a pair arrived for me, as a gift that day. ;-) Thanks Joe!

Mine are navy blue and are very similar to the ones I had years ago. I think the soles are a bit different but otherwise, the same design as I remember. 

They take a bit of getting use to wearing again, with the toe/foot grip feature, on the wooden sole. But after wearing them inside for the past couple of weeks, I just love how they feel. They really do seem to give your feet and legs a mini-workout!

There is one feature that I do not like on these sandals and that is the buckle. I don't remember this being an issue years ago but they are VERY hard to open and close. 

Over at Amazon, I did read the suggestions made by other customers who had bought these sandals but still wasn't able to get them to undo. I didn't want to break the clasp or scratch them up, trying to get them open. Joe tried as well.

I then contacted the Dr. Scholl's company and got a reply with these instructions how to open the buckle:

1. You will need both hands - - place both index fingers under the strap (the shoe should be sideways) and then place one thumb on each side of the buckle and press down while sliding the buckle out (you may need to press down on the buckle with as much force as possible while sliding the strap to the desired notch)

2. Pull the band to the right so that it is no longer in the buckle

3. Decide which hole in the band will provide the correct fit

4. Insert the end of the band into the buckle, pressing the hole in the band onto the metal peg that is located on the buckle

5. Slide the buckle to the right to secure the band

----

I still don't understand why these have to be so hard to adjust. 

I have never had any other shoes or sandals that required actual written instructions when it came to adjusting a strap!

I did suggest to Dr. Scholl's that they should be including these directions or diagrams with their sandals, if they are going to continue to make this type of adjustment buckle design. I read a LOT of complaints about this feature online!

It turned out that the instructions they sent me were NOT for these particular sandals. The ones I have actually have a hinge that needed to be lifted up, to adjust the strap. It took a LOT OF STRENGTH to get this hinge open. Joe did it but I know I couldn't have managed on my own, maybe with a screwdriver but not just with my hands. How anyone with any kind of strength/hand issues could open these, is also hard to imagine. 

This is a VERY poor design for a sandal closure. 

I have written to the company again about this. They should take a look at this buckle and do something about it. 

Otherwise, I am loving this retro-sandal and can't wait for the weather to warm up just a bit more and start wearing them outside. 

Now I need to start working on getting my feet and toes in good shape!

Bring on the foot cream!!! My tootsies sure need it. ;-)

Overall rating for this product: Good. 3 out of 5. 

Are You In For International Screen- Free Week: May 5-11?

You can read more about this upcoming global movement here.

This is NOT about going screen free for work or essentials.

It was a perfect time for me to participate so I'm in!

Happy Screen Free Week ;-)

Two Free Kindle Book Promos This Saturday (May 3)

You can read all the details here! 

Happy Reading and Weekend ;-)