Magic Flip-Flops and the Frog from Hell

Magical thinking can be dangerous. The Xhosa and Thembu tribes of South Africa nearly starved themselves into oblivion because some a**hole ghost told them to sacrifice all their cattle. Many an alchemist poisoned himself in his quest for gold or immortality. Belief in the efficacy of lucky talismans or rituals can lead people to take risks they normally wouldn't even consider.
With Demi, it's two things: Flip-flops and the frog cup pictured above. Even though downtown sidewalks are bristling with glass, poop, and nasties I can't even begin to imagine, she insists on wearing her "lucky flip-flops" everywhere we go. And the frog cup has now become her "lucky cup." It seems to be permanently attached to her face and makes a continuous sluck-sluck; the straw is so gnawed-up that liquid squirts through tiny holes with every sip. Richard and I are both at the end of our patience with this repulsive thing, but separating it from Demi is like trying to pry holy water away from a priest!