I feel just awful that I recommended a shoe to Red that didn't work for her, and I feel for her frustration and the waste of money. And part of the reason I feel terrible is because the shoe I advocated so strongly is not what Orthaheel is currently selling as the Wave flip-flop. Last month, I ordered a Wave pair and a Tide and found I can't wear either one because OrthaheelUSA has redesigned the product! I measured them for comparison against my older ones. The strap is tighter, the footbed is a little softer and more padded, and the angles and hollows of the footbed are shallower (it's been made just a little flatter). But the worst part is--and I can't understand why they would do such a thing--the thong has been positioned one-quarter inch farther back from the front of the shoe, which means that the thong digs painfully between the toes and prevents the arch and heel from settling fully into the places designed to receive them. A noticeably larger amount of empty sole now extends beyond my toes (enough to be a tripping hazard). The new flip-flops were so uncomfortable that I couldn't keep them on for even half a minute. For any other product, I would have shrugged philosophically and sent them back, but I was so concerned (actually, DH would probably describe it as enraged and distraught) about this threat to long-term physical health and well-being that I fired off emails to the place from which I ordered them, to OrthaheelUSA, and to the office of the Australian doctor who developed them. The redesigned shoes are easily differentiated from the original ones by the Orthaheel logo on the bottom of the shoe---the old good one has ORTHAHEEL in all caps with a squiggly line under the first 4 letters (ORTH), whereas the new logo has larger letters all in lower case with the squiggle under the last 4 letters (heel). If I wear the good flip-flops every day (first thing in the morning and last thing at night), the old Orthaheel design stabilizes my plantar fascitis and my feet NEVER hurt, even if I walk around barefoot for part of the day. I dread the day my old ones wear out and I return to the chronic pain and inflammation of heel spurs that I lived with before I bought my first pair of Orthaheel flip-flops. Anyway, the vendor followed up on my anguished complaint, contacted the manufacturer, and responded as follows: "We learn something new every day! . . . There is a difference between the new foot bed and the old. Apparently, Orthaheel has moved to a new manufacturer (for better quality, they say). The variance on the foot bed is meant to be so slight that it should not be noticeable. Obviously it is for you." Now I will try to locate a bunch of the old version of the flip-flops and stockpile enough of them to last 15 or 20 years. It illustrates something I must have forgotten: Just because you've found a perfect product, don't assume it will always be obtainable. And boy am I kicking myself.

On another note, I did read a blog post that interviewed a recipient of one of their remodels. It sounded like a pretty positive experience overall. They mentioned that they were surprised and impressed with the quality of the renovations and that they do the entire house but only stage a few rooms, the ones we see. That they were gifted a few items that Joanne did especially for them but that they do have to buy most of the other staging stuff if they want to keep it. They also said that Chip is pretty much how he appears on air while Joanne is pretty quiet but you can see she is always thinking about the reno and design. They did not become best friends with them, lol. I suspect they are pretty busy people now with all they have going on with there little Wacko empire. Despite some of the many flaws, it is a big hit for the network. I tweeted a plea to bring the Sarah's Cottage Rental to the US. I think I'll post it on their Facebook too. I suggest you all do the same, I do think they might just consider it if they know there is an audience here that is tired of shiplap!

Other than a couple of the Bravo realty-based shows (Million Dollar Listing etc) I only watch HGTV, by which I mean I have a few shows set to record new episodes and that's all I generally watch on tv other than the evening news my husband is addicted to seeing :). I only watch television to be my complete mindless entertainment plus prefer to utilize the majority of my leisure time reading so I've never gotten interested in all the must-see shows that require seasons' worth of view time that everybody seems to like. Never seen Downton Abbey or Scandal or House of Cards or really any of the popular stuff....HGTV lets me get my 20 minutes' fix (since it's always recorded I never watch commercials) of views into houses: what people want to buy or what people buy and fix up. I like Property Brothers and it's a fast watch if you skip the first half hour (because who cares about the first already done house and the ones they don't pick) and start with whichever house they select. I like House Hunters and some HH Int'l and the spin offs renovation and where are they now versions. Love all the beach and tropical house hunting shows. Like Flip or Flop. Don't care for Love it or List it because of the hosts, same with Fixer Upper and also because FU seems to do the exact same house style every time. Although come to think of it Property Brothers hasn't done anything other than that same white shaker style/quartz counter/gourmet appliance look in forever either. My enjoyment may be tinged by the fact that I didn't get cable tv until 7-8 years ago so I missed what seem to be the halycon days of yore that many sigh wistfully about. I do recall dimly watching some fix up show many years ago with people gluing grass to walls and doing other strange things so I'm a bit dubious that HGTV was all that perfect LOL. It serves its purpose for me which is to allow me to unwind every evening with a little entertainment that requires no brainpower or extended commitment.

artemis_ma Why does HGTV and the Food Network do back to back episodes of the same show all evening long? I don't have a TV, but occasionally I try to watch stuff if I am in a hotel or motel. Suddenly, it's back to back Fixer Upper or back to back Guy Fiori or whomever it is. Those two shows are very popular so they run them into the ground w/supersaturation. I remember reading on the old GW, US posters being excited about finally getting to see Mike Holmes show and the Canadian we're replying the show is repeated so often they're sick of it. Later, the same did happen here. Have to say though, sometimes on a Sat or Sun I don't mind a marathon of a particular show I like,