The Flip Flop Girl

Toe-sucking on Televison

One of my international friends on Blogger was wondering what TV shows have made any foot fetish references. She asked because I had pointed out in a previous post that we here in the States are preoccupied with, well, ourselves, and with sex, and that one of the more private and intimate sex acts, that of toe-sucking, has made its way to American prime time television. It has not happened in a totally big way but its there and maybe you'll notice it more after this post if you haven't already. I would say provocative foot references, no matter how brief, have been on the tube for at least the last ten years. I can't name them all but it might be interesting to try to compile them all. I'm talking about anything titillating having to do with feet. For instance, I have a vague recollection of a scene on "Cheers." I don't think I ever saw the episode but I remember relentless ads for that week's show that showed a girl on a barstool, perhaps responding to a dare or contest, who is doing her best to fit her whole foot in her mouth. It sounds outrageous but that is the whole point. To make people curious to see and drive up the ratings.

One of the most involved scenes I can think of regarding foot fancy was on the old Fox show, "Ally McBeal." I need to look that show up because, the more I think about it, that was a very good show and I remember it was considered, at the time, back in the early '90s, to have a very good pulse on what was going on. It was a show set in a law firm and it depicted the lawyers and the whole law profession as a crazy business not fit for anyone with a sensible mind. Well, anyway, the scene I recall is between a very important client and one of the lawyers in a private meeting. This client takes a good hard look at her lawyer and asks him if he'd like to suck on her toes. He says he would and he kneels down as the camera fades out. Now, this scene is classic "Ally McBeal." It's right on target about the madness of the law world and it's acknowledging the more open acceptance of what was once only considered taboo. What is funny is how innocent that scene appears to be compared to how television has taken things to a new level. That's not to say the scene is antiquated. I think it holds up well and retains some of its shock value. But then you've got reality TV and all these dating shows where anything goes and now you've also got all the toe-sucking to view online.

I'd say what stands out about the "Ally McBeal" scene is that it was an extended dramatic sequence and not a "now you see it, now you don't" shot where, if you blink, you miss the whole thing. I think keeping these foot moments brief is the standard. Afterall, television is working in a gray area here. This is basically a sex act but because it involves a cute little foot, the TV show people can pretend it's not much different from kissing. Well, I wouldn't want a child to see it. All in due time, don't you think? While I don't want to stigmatize this sex act, I still don't want to pretend it is not an intense thing. When it happens on one of these dating shows, not very often but now and then, it is briefly given a few moments and dismissed. It's usually some frat boy treating his date like a piece of meat and coaxing her to let him kiss her foot. She giggles and he takes a few sucks off her toes. This is all stuff that I wonder if it was best to leave in the bedroom. Too late for that. In a way, I like to think, it's good that it's out in the open. We need to embrace our sexuality. As for the networks, I don't think they're being very philosophical about it. They see another way to make a fast buck.

So, maybe you were unaware of all this. Now you are. These foot-related scenes come up here and there. America, for the most part, is a prudish nation. It retains it Puritan ethic. But, in the urban areas, and among many youth, and other groups, it is clear that we're definitely ready to open up. Maybe a little more than half among us Americans are open to these ideas. That's why the networks show the titillating stuff but try to hold back too.

Anyway, I'll have to try to come up with a Top Ten Foot Moments on Television. In such a format, I think the "Ally McBeal" scene might rank as number one for sheer focus and quality. Another one comes to mind right now. It was on the NBC show, "Just Shoot Me." It is set in the headquarters of a very high-end fashion magazine. The craven little receptionist character played by David Spade ends up becoming a temporary personal assistant to one of the super models. He continously suggests things he could do to help the model. Finally, she agrees to a pedicure. No sooner does he start to pamper her feet than, off camera, he sticks her toes in his mouth. She screams and he explains it is part of the treatment. Very brief scene but very funny.

Thinking about Flip Flops and Other Things

So, yeah, I want to keep making progress. I think what it might come down to is an understanding. Perhaps you need to embrace your fetish or fetishes and just enjoy life. Maybe so. I trying to understand how deep I want to get involved with it. I'm also someone who is fascinated with understanding every aspect of any particular subject. Does that make sense? So, as I write and as I struggle, I do welcome the occassional feedback. I'm not sure how much I'll get. Maybe you just want to read my blog and step back and think. But if you're inclined to comment, go ahead. Because I think there alot of people out there like me: maybe a bit too self-absorbed, maybe a little too distracted, maybe a little too over-sexed. Is this a good thing, I ask you? Maybe this is the new reality. I don't want to let go of the new reality because I do like it. And I think the best way to comment on all this is to just bounce off whatever I come across in my research and in my own life. Who do I want as a lover, or even as a hookup? Who will I end up with next time? What will that be like? I almost feel like I can wait on all that. It will happen soon enough. I'm rambling but it feels good. And I will never give up on my flip flop obession. I just like them too much. Like I said before, I see this as a symbol or metaphor for bigger issues. And a way for me to meditate on my own life as it unfolds. I have alot going on and I do stress out. And sometimes I can see curling up like a little baby and sucking your toes and good therapy. But to broadcast that on YouTube--how did we get there? Interesting. Some of the imagery I've seen is sort of beautiful. Really, you find some fairly intriguing things in that category. I maintain is all very human. But what are we reacting to? A very hostile and complicated world? Or have we found a more casual and inviting environment and we're just running with it. Now, all that I'm saying is going to fall on deaf or hostile ears in some areas. Some people are just not flexible or open enough to understand. I guess I like my flip flop and foot fetish stuff to be fun and full of positive energy. I mean all the "dirty old men" are going to remain marginalized in their interest to all this. It could be an arm pit fetish they're into or a nose fetish and they will approach it in a very creepy way. I don't think there's a way to change that and I wish there was. Enough rambling for now.

Reflexology will Save the World

The subject of feet is such a multi-layered subject isn't it? Well, feet and flip flops go hand in hand or foot in foot. So, any blog on flip flops is going to be blog on feet as well. From sex to pop culture to overall health, it's all there to discuss. And what I want to celebrate right now is reflexology. Let's not forget about that. It's not open for debate. It's simply a proven method to take care of yourself. If you press down on all those pressure points on your feet, you're going to help dislodge alot of toxins that have collected there and, with a lot of water, you can flush those toxins out. Along with reflexology massage, keep in mind that there are also reflexology foot paths where you can walk barefoot and get all that healthy stimulation from walking on a variety of smooth rock configurations.

I got to thinking about reflexology again because of the recent opening of the new reflexology foot path at Marymoor Park here in Seattle. It's not just a path, it's like a huge path, a huge maze-like path. That's really cool and I'm going to try it out as soon as possible. If you've had a chance to go out there already, let me know what you think.

About that New York Lover

I did want to jot down some thoughts I've been harboring about an escapde earlier this year in New York. I've been hinting about writing this down but haven't brought myself to say what I want to say. Now, this is all about flip flops. Maybe this led to my starting this blog in the first place. Well, sort of. I would have written about flips either way but, anyway, I was in New York for a business trip and I met this guy. We really hit it off. He was very professional looking and fashion forward. He was into art and books and, yes, flip flops! This was this June and so the perfect time to be wearing them. He made a bold comment about how he loved the way my feet looked in flip flops. That got my attention. We had met at the convention and made our way to the hotel bar. And we chatted about our careers and, as things got comfortable, he made that comment about my feet. Well, I've definitely heard this before but not from such a hot guy.

I have to say that, before this particular hookup, I was basically a girl who was in love with flip flops and wanted to have pretty feet but I hadn't really gotten too much into the foot fetish scene. This guy was totally into it. And that was cool. I mean, who hasn't had a little toe-sucking action, right? Well, this guy definitely took it to a new level. What happened was that we really felt comfortable with each other. We ended up having dinner at this great little restaurant and then dessert at an ice cream parlor and then back to my hotel room. He took me a little by surprise in the fact he lavished so much attention to my feet. I'd say he placed more attention to them than to the rest of my beautiful bod, if I do say so myself. He did, to his credit, make the rest of me feel good too but it was my feet that he was so in love with! I don't know. It felt good, all his attention placed on my toes and my soles. His hot tongue just licking away. His big mouth just sucking away. His cock all over my feet. I must say. That was the first time a guy came on my feet. It was fun. I don't know. Maybe he enjoyed it more than I did since he is such a foot freak but I did enjoy it too. I wonder what other girls think about this? I'd like to hear.

So, this whole little episode has opened up alot of questions for me. I think this guy is fairly typical. What led up to this sort of behavior? Is it simply something new that has been added to the sex menu? I think it's a relatively new thing. I think we're suppose to be more open about our sexuality now. And what was once taboo is not considered a quirk and is quickly becoming just another item in our sexual bag of tricks. As this becomes more above ground, I think it will be even less of a surprise in bed but taken for granted, even expected from those with a healthy sexual appetite. Oh, I'm just rambling. But I'd love to hear what others have to say.

Have you noticed all the references that are made to having a foot fetish on television? I've seen more than a few dating shows where the guy, just upon meeting the girl, ends up with her toes in his mouth. That must be quite a thrill for the guy. Not sure if that is the sign of the start of a long-lasting relationship. But we all want instant gratificaion, don't we? And we all want to be distracted and stimulated as often as possible. Hey, I have no problem with this, of course. I'm just trying to understand it more, how we got here. I'll let you in on more stuff as I go.

Do support the (Product) RED project. Just click on the (Blog) RED icon down below to learn more. Not all products are actually the color the red. This is not a simple charity donation. You're actually buying a product you'd want to own and supporting an amazing cause. Just read for yourself. I bought a RED iPod!

So, I hope all this makes sense. I support AIDS awareness with RED flip flops, and RED purchases, but I vote BLUE, Democrat! Got it? Thank you!

(BLOG) RED: The Color Wheel
So, this is really inspiring. I own plenty of red flip flops--maybe that, and my own bubbly personality, will help spread the word. Seriously, I think I will go red in a big way and purchase RED from the GAP and other sponsors.

The Flip Flop Girl is a Democrat

I am really amused by all those right wing blogs and all their strategizing as if the running of the country is one big football game. Well, right wingers, your quarterback, Dubya, is a loser. And your game plan is lame, lame, lame--and stupid, arrogant, and dangerous. "Stay the Course?" No, we can't afford to blindly follow the Bushies. The Iraq war must come to and end. Tax cuts for the rich is no policy. And, if you really need a wake up call, read a typical story on Bush's job approval. We need Democrats to bring back balance and sanity to government.

May 11, 2006, 9:12 pm
Bush Dips Into the 20s
President Bush’s job-approval rating has fallen to its lowest mark of his presidency, according to a new Harris Interactive poll. Of 1,003 U.S. adults surveyed in a telephone poll, 29% think Mr. Bush is doing an “excellent or pretty good” job as president, down from 35% in April and significantly lower than 43% in January. Approval ratings for Congress overall also sank, and now stand at 18%.

Roughly one-quarter of U.S. adults say “things in the country are going in the right direction,” while 69% say “things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track.” This has been the trend since January, when 33% said the nation was heading in the right direction. Iraq remains a key concern for the general public, as 28% of Americans said they consider Iraq to be one of the top two most important issues the government should address, up from 23% in April. The immigration debate also prompted 16% of Americans to consider it a top issue, down from 19% last month, but still sharply higher from 4% in March.

The Harris poll comes two days after a downbeat assessement of Bush in a New York Times/CBS News poll. The Times, in analyzing the results, said “Americans have a bleaker view of the country’s direction than at any time in more than two decades.”

Should you Flip Flop at Work?

This is quite an interesting on-going discussion at Monster.com:

http://monster.typepad.com/monsterblog/2006/07/should_you_flip.html#comments

It definitely covers the gamut on the whole flip flop issue. Everything from whether flip flops are too noisy to whether coworkers should be flirting with other coworkers byway of their pedicured feet in flips. It's pretty amazing.

Flip Flop Fetish

I think we're definitely in a time of Extreme Casualness. This is way beyond the Me Decade. We want to express ourselves as never before. We want to see and listen to other people's visions and thoughts as never before. We want to embrace the DIY spirit as never before. Where do we go from here? I think more exposed nipples would be interesting. But I wonder if that would be possible. There is only so far that the mainstream will go. Flip flops are seen as relatively safe. It's a fairly safe way to live dangerously.

Tsa La Gi (Cherokee) Times: On feet and flip flops
So, this essay really gets it. There is something going on. People are into flip flops as never before. It is the New Narcissism. But I don't mind. I simply don't mind! Because I'm the biggest navel-gazer around! I guess I find redemption is acknowledging my flip flop fetish.

Political Flip Flops

Okay, I want to tackle another aspect of flip flops in our culture. They have taken off dramatically as a political term. Flip flops have referred to politicians switching around on issues for a very long time but that term is gaining more and more popularity. Maybe it has to do with the rise of the flip flop itself and our hunger for instant symbols to express more complex issues. As this photo makes clear, Republicans really did a number on John Kerry in 2004 by relentlessly labeling him as a "Flip flopper." Just a flip flop was enough to conjure up a negative image of Kerry. It didn't matter that their boy, Dubya, was just as bad about flip flopping on any number of issues. George W. just has seemed tough and simple so the theory has been that good ole plain folk will just go along, ignore the news, and just follow orders. But that has changed.

The more I've dug into the subject of flip flops, the more I've come across political references to it. I've come across a great many right wing blogs claiming we should "stay the course" and honoring creeps like Dick Armey as noble statesmen. I'll bet all these right wingers would just love to decree Richard Nixon a saint-and Nixon wasn't even right wing. I don't think he respected them much to begin with. Ronald Reagan? Ah, the poor guy didn't know any better!

I can't stand it. How about you? The fact is, more and more Americans have woken up to the fact that things are not going "right," as in correct, with Bush in the White House. Or maybe less and less Americans are in denial about it.

Case in point:

A CNN Poll just out asked Americans:
What is your stand on the War in Iraq?
OPPOSE 64%
FAVOR 34%

So, that has to wake up alot of people, doesn't it? We've got a mid-term election coming up and I know what I'm going to do.
I'm going to march down in my flip flops and vote DEMOCRAT!

So, I was looking over photos from this summer and found this shot from a New York trip. This guy is hot and I love his flip flop stylin. He is certainly not alone in wearing flip flops in the urban jungle. I do admit that, after awhile, it can be a bit of a challenge wearing flips all day in the big city. Sometimes you wish you could switch into anything else just for a change. There are those days when you just go with the flow and we love wearing them. I say big city life requires the ability to switch around in footwear: have your flips with you at all times and have a backup pair, or two or three, of other footwear back at the office. All things considered, there is still nothing like being able to stroll around in flip flops.

Jennifer Aniston in flip flops

Jen is wearing flip flops just the way every girl would want to be seen wearing them--very casaul, very cool, very free-spirited.

Here is another version of these fabulous flip flops!

These are the gold standard

So, aren't these so cute or what? They are absolutely adorable flip flops. And they're Havaianas. Other cool celebs that are into their feet that I adore are Cameron Diaz and Eva Longoria. Yeah, these girls are all into their feet-and flip flops too. I'll have to do separate posts for them. Anyway, I was just thinking about Jennifer Aniston today. I think the first time I really noticed her in flip flops was after the big breakup with Brad Pitt. She was all over the place and I remember seeing alot of her in flip flops. Maybe her way of saying she was too cool to worry out in public. She is so a flip flop girl. The epitome of casual chic. The photo, btw, came from this very cool fashion website that sells these flip flops: www.asos.com

The Flip Flop in the Global Village

If we are becoming more and more of a global village, which I think we already are in many respects, I think it makes sense that we follow our inner desires to let go of all our inhibitions, be storytellers by the campfire, and respond to our need to "go primitive" in one form or another, be it tattoos, piercings, or just wearing flip flops as much as possible. I wonder what Marshall McLuhan would have to say about flip flops. I'm sure he would recognize it as a powerful cultural phenomenon short-circuiting issues of class and race--to some degree. Of course, if you wear ratty ole flip flops and don't have any social graces, then you're in trouble.

And along with the flip flop musings, here are some sobering flip flop factoids I uncovered on www.ralphmag.org:

Flip-flops --- zori sandals --- are produced at a rate of 125,000,000 a year. Calvin Klein has a pair for $245. But it is the cheapest and most comfortable footware for millions of people over the world. Regular thong sandals cost 30 - 40 cents to manufacture. Havaianas has sold over two billion pairs of its brand filp-flops. But "discarded plastic footware is a major component of the world's flotsam, washing up in surprising places. In 1996 the Australian Cocos and Keeling Islands, home to a number of endangered species, were assaulted by hundreds of thousands of discarded flip-flop sandals, rejects of Indonesian manufacturers ... One Australian member of Parliament said, The beaches are the home of the green sea turtle and the blue rubber thong. One of them has to go. And the surfer Allan Seymour said, We call them go-aheads, because you can't walk backwards in them."

superstar: THUNDERCATS
Superstar has style. I love him!

A Blue Day

Took off the pink polish and decided to go with a deep blue. It looks so good on my tanned skin. As usual, it was a little chilly in the morning only to get very hot by mid-day. So, I started out the day with a blue hoodie. I like the sensation of being bundled up in a hoodie while my nearly barefeet get hit by the morning's chill. I wore blue Old Navy flip flops with a light green thong. It made for a nice look.

I am going to have to dig up my copy of The Red and The Black or just ebay it. I remember a nice little comment about pretty feet. Very sweet and innocent. I want to collect all these comments and references to feet, from the earliest I can find all the way up to unabashed toe-sucking on YouTube. God, who knew. We are so casual about all this. I do have to ask the chicken and egg question: Which came first? The flip flop or the fetish for flip flops? I think they could be inextricably linked. Actually, I imagine we used to be even more open about our sexuality, eons ago when we were closer to wild animals. I guess the flip flop's ancestor could also have just been the result of a need for some covering of the foot. That would have been the over-riding motivation. I know I'm babbling a bit here. But it makes more sense every day. If you happen upon that quote from Stendahl or anything else interesting do reply back. I welcome all responses. I may not always respond or I might respond later when I think of something.

Three Beautiful Things: Foot in the door, calm down and basket case.
I find this so good that I want to strive to make my blog that much better. I believe I have the subject matter and now I really want to take it seriously and see what happens. I'm inspired!

You Wore Flip Flops to the White House?!

So, I'm going to start to treat flip flops as a bona fide research project. I'll just do a little bit every day and, before to long, this will blossom. Here is my first find. I can't believe how easy it is to dig stuff up on this subject. Okay, so these girls decided they really wanted to show off their pretty feet in the White House. This story is dated, 18 July 2005:

(AP) The latest White House flip-flop controversy has nothing to do with President Bush and John Kerry.

After Northwestern University's national championship women's lacrosse team visited the White House, a group photo showed several players wearing flip-flop sandals along with their dresses and skirts.

A controversy quickly followed, with one front-page headline quoting an e-mail sent to a player: "YOU WORE FLIP-FLOPS TO THE WHITE HOUSE?!" Family members of other players were also dismayed, saying the footwear was too casual for a visit with the president.

The young women, meanwhile, are trying to turn the controversy around. The players plan to auction off their White House flip-flops -- and give the proceeds to a ten-year-old girl with a brain tumor.

So, I'm still feeling my way through what I really want to do with my blog. Yes, I did say I wanted to focus on flip flops but I was sort of being silly, at least up to a point. I want to try to create something with my random thoughts. And I do keep coming back to flip flops. I think this is something I'm either going to put into perspective or I'm going to get even crazier about. We'll see. I look at it as a symbol of our times. Alright, everyone discuss amongst yourselves! Seriously, this is going to be interesting. I really want to see what might develop from trying to stick with a theme in this blog. Maybe I'll make this a daily ritual and, as things in my life become more complicated or chaotic or whatever, maybe we'll see where the flip flops fit into it all. Right now, I'm barefoot. Still have the same pink polish. Okay, I just slipped into some Teva flip flops, the really foamy kind with the thick straps. Awesome. The photo, btw, is from a trip to New York. It's some detail I found interesting while at the Met. More on that later. Oh, and I am currently looking for a new boyfriend so that should stir things up quite a bit, don't ya think? Okay, enough for now. I was never really into blogs or journal writing before this. Well, I take it back, I have kept journals in the past but only sporadically, which leads me to the notion of hanging everything to a theme. Flip flops!

9 October 2006

Is summer all over already? Oh, it's hard to face but, here in Seattle, we are easing into fall. We haven't said goodbye to our flip flops yet. Some people, like myself, do our best to wear them year-round. I'll wear them in the dead of winter, if I think I'm up for it. I don't know what it is and maybe all of you out there can help me make sense out of it. It's not just Seattle but everyone is really into flip flops. I think Seattle has a full-on foot fetish when you see so many barefeet. I don't really care. I've always loved flip flops. And that is going to be the recurring theme in my blog. I just know it. This flip flop thing is part of the zeitgeist and I happen to be a very hip girl.

Since I own well over two hundred pairs of flip flops and wear them everywhere and, on top of that own all manner of flip flop accessories and decorations, yeah, it's pretty much a big theme in my life. I think part of it is narcissistic, a big part of it. I do believe I have very pretty feet. And I take very good care of them. I own so many footcare products and probably own as much nail polish as I do flip flops. So, trust me, there's plenty to talk about. So much that I don't know exactly where to begin. I just know I like the idea of having a theme I come back to. That's the neat freak part of me. I want my thoughts to be organized.

But getting back to milder weather is not so bad. It still gets a little warm with a nice breeze running through my toes. The weather right now is actually perfect. Today I chose to go with my pink Havaianas with hot pink nail polish. I still have a bit of tan from going camping last weekend so that sets things off very nicely. When I go camping, I pretty much always wear my Tevas and even will put on boots or running shoes. I do have to look after my feet, don't I. Ha. Ha. Oh, you consider my entire shoe collection, it's pretty big. That's why I think I'll just focus on the flips.