mlroseplant

I assume that you're making reference to the fact that in this modern age, everybody pretty much dresses like crap to go almost anywhere. I would say that my 13 year old is the worst offender, but actually, he's not. It does get worse than jeans and a t-shirt. That's how I sort of started the sketch, saying that basically nothing modern in the way of clothing existed back then, and who the hell reads the last 3/5 of the Pentateuch anyway? Nobody. Eating dryer lint is more satisfying. And you know that little sticker that's on a new power saw? The one that says, "Never Change Blade While Motor is Turning?" That came straight from Deuteronomy. Seriously.

My dad is an ordained Southern Baptist minister. He quit that church around the time I was born. That was in the late 60s. I actually wrote a standup comedy routine about the so-called biblical prohibition against cross dressing. Our public health issue happened right after, and I haven't had a chance to share it yet.

Perhaps I have mentioned this before, it might be time to part ways with that old truck, even though I don't really want to. The transmission for that truck is currently sitting on a makeshift table in my garage, waiting for me to do something with it, or not. The problem is, even if I successfully repair the transmission, I'm still stuck with a rusty old truck. My wife kind of needs a cargo van for her business. You see where I'm going with this?

Interesting. . . my 83 year old dad (at the time 73 year old dad) was the first to encourage me, he had to convince my mom to get on board later on. Neither of them have managed to convince my wife that I'm actually ok.

I appreciate your humo(u)r, but perhaps my wife does not! Perhaps I've said this before, I'm really not sure which is true--either she has accepted me, or I've just worn her down.

I don't know that I'd call them "beautiful," but they're definitely really cool. Coolness is in the eye of the beholder. My personal experience mirrors yours. Every time I've been approached by a woman who was with a male companion, the guy always looks as though he'd rather be anywhere else than right there, listening to a conversation he wishes his wife/girlfriend had never started. I usually try to keep it brief for his sake.

SF reminded me that it was National High Heel Day yesterday. Since I missed Tuba Day the other week, it only make sense that I would miss High Heel Day this week. The only significance to me is that I had decided to pick the 20th as my heeling anniversary date. It's impossible to pin down the exact date, as I didn't mark it at the time, but sometime in mid-May of 2012, I ventured outside the house in a pair of high heels for the first time. I don't have a picture of that event, but I have a picture of the shoes I wore under long jeans. By Thanksgiving of that year, I had another pair of clogs with higher and thinner heels. By New Year's, I had a few more pairs. It's been all downhill ever since. Then and now:

I was celebrating, but I was celebrating in other ways. And believe it or don't, I didn't wear heels yesterday. Most people would say I did, but in my mind, these don't count as heels, and certainly not as high heels.

Not much going on here, so I thought I would post a picture of a casual outfit I wore to attend a junior high band concert. Shoes by MiuMiu, Pants by Buffalo (Costco), and polo shirt by God Only Knows. Excuse the background. I really have to find a better place to take pictures.

I have been experimenting with open toed pumps lately. Not that I have my finger on the pulse of fashion, but it seems like they are coming back into style recently. Naturally, my example is from the last go-round, and therefore not cutting edge. I got these silver snake print Via Spiga "Elora" pumps from Poshmark for 35 USD, plus shipping. They have a 5 inch heel with a 7/8 inch plat, for a steepness of just a tad over 4 inches. The heel is slim, but not stiletto. It is wider front to back at 3/4", than it is side to side, at 1/2" and is in a contrasting color, along with the platform. Being relatively new to open toed pumps, I figured I might get away with my sandal size, which is 8 1/2 U.S. Women's, rather than my enclosed shoe size, 9. Whereas close toed mules or clogs always seem to work out better for me in 8 1/2, the same is not true when the open part is on the opposite end of the foot. These babies are tight to the point where they are difficult to get on. I probably could have used a size 9. However, it's really more in the width. The length is actually quite right, to my mind. I do not like there to be a lot of real estate between the end of my toes and the end of the shoe. These are just right, and I'm thinking that the shoe stretcher will make them actually wearable. In my experience, Via Spiga shoes tend to run a little narrow, and when you factor in being half a size small, my poor toes are kind of squashed. But then, that's always the fine balance one strikes with pumps--too tight, and they're uncomfortable. Too loose, and you walk right out of them. I definitely did not have a problem with the latter on my first excursion. I wore them for a little over two hours, and they did seem to stretch out somewhat. Two hours was quite enough, but not in a deal breaking way. I've got them on the shoe stretcher now, and we'll reassess in a few days. If they stay exactly the way they are right now, I will not keep them. If they stretch out a bit widthwise, I probably will.

Given the negative and/or puzzled tone of the replies and reactions I have gotten, perhaps I have failed to supply a key piece of information about these incidents. You see, Squirrel is my name, it's not an insult. Not the name my parents gave me, but it's a work nickname that has stuck so hard that many coworkers don't know what my real name is. As evidence of this, I submit a picture of my hard hat. If I were to see this security guard sometime in the future, and jump up and down and shout, "Ariel! Ariel! Ariel!"(which is her name), it might be unseemly for an old man like me (plus I'd probably hurt my shoulder doing it), but I wouldn't get in any trouble for it either, not even at the Pinko Commie place where I work.

Here is something that is far less attractive than the Maison Ernest pump/sandal, but was far cheaper, and far more practical. I picked up these BCBGeneration "Quintin" thong wedges some time ago, but have not actually worn them out until two days ago. They feature a 4 1/8" heel with a 1 1/8" platform. Which means, they're squarely a mid heel in terms of steepness, which is fine for many purposes, including hawking egg rolls at the farmer's market, which is where I wore them two days ago. Also fine for such purposes is the damage on the back of the right heel, which allowed me to pick them up for less than 10 USD. I have not attempted to repair the damage yet, and would welcome any suggestions you might have about methods. They are fake patent leather bottoms with canvas straps. Despite being my correct size, 8 1/2, and BCBG being a brand I am familiar with, the straps are slightly too loose, allowing my feet to slide forward despite the thong toe. To correct this, I installed some ball of foot cushions to take up some room. This works well as far as fitment goes, but I am convinced, after standing in these for five hours, that these comfort aids which so many so-called experts say are 100% necessary, actually make comfort worse. If not for the fitment issues, I would take those cushions out, and I think the shoes would be much better. However, it appears that I cannot have my cake and eat it too, so I don't know whether these will be keepers or not. That and the fact that they've got that big scar in the back. I think the reason that I haven't gotten rid of them is because of the thong design. I am still looking for the perfect pair of thong high heels, and I haven't found it yet. Actually, I did find it, but sadly, it because too ratty to wear in public, and is gone. Anyway, I'm down to two pair now, and both of them have their issues with fit. In case anybody is interested, I received zero comments, and as far as I can tell, zero looks. Well, zero obvious looks, anyway. We'll see what next week brings.

VH said he injured himself whilst watching an important football match. Not playing, not actually running around. I managed to slightly injure myself while imitating that young security guard. I'm just saying we're getting old, man. It really has nothing to do with heels, other than that VH's injury prevented him from wearing his heels, and mine did not.

Ain't that the truth! It might also explain why you see so many international flight attendants who are heel popping out of their pumps walking through airports. The shoes probably fit correctly by the time they reach their destination! I think that is what most people do not understand. We actually enjoy walking in heels. Nobody believes us. I will keep the secret, I promise!

I understand your issues about the surgery, Henri. My mother has had the same issues, and has had to have similar surgery twice, and I think for the same reason. I wish you a speedy recovery.