The High Heeled Ruminations Of Melrose Plant

[Puffer]

10 hours ago, mlroseplant said:

...

"Well!" I said. "Would you like to see my euphonium?" She immediately followed me to the basement ...  

... And I hope the girl remembers my advice to practice her horn a little bit every day while they're off school.  

.. and I hope you practise likewise too!

I had to laugh at your (presumably) unintended double entendres!   I think you could get a job (working currently from home, of course) as a scriptwriter for such as the erstwhile (UK) 'Carry On' films.  

[mlroseplant]

11 hours ago, Puffer said:

.. and I hope you practise likewise too!

I had to laugh at your (presumably) unintended double entendres!   I think you could get a job (working currently from home, of course) as a scriptwriter for such as the erstwhile (UK) 'Carry On' films.  

The double entendres were indeed unintended, but were not reduced to a writing without my noticing them. I just told the story how it actually happened. May I also gently suggest that, considering the age of the girls, pointing out.  .  . other interpretations.  .  . of my words is at best stretching the boundaries of good taste. However, this conversation has made me realize that I do have two important aims in life: 1) Promoting the study and performance of music, and 2) promoting the wearing of high heels! If more people did both, the world would be a better place.

To be clear, I am not personally offended in the least by your comments. Please enjoy this clip I found from the film "Brassed Off."

 

[SF]

Are they speaking English???  ha ha ha.....    sf

[Puffer]

11 hours ago, mlroseplant said:

The double entendres were indeed unintended, but were not reduced to a writing without my noticing them. I just told the story how it actually happened. May I also gently suggest that, considering the age of the girls, pointing out.  .  . other interpretations.  .  . of my words is at best stretching the boundaries of good taste. However, this conversation has made me realize that I do have two important aims in life: 1) Promoting the study and performance of music, and 2) promoting the wearing of high heels! If more people did both, the world would be a better place.

To be clear, I am not personally offended in the least by your comments. Please enjoy this clip I found from the film "Brassed Off."

I didn't really notice the ages of the girls (and the friend's was not stated), but I had no belief that you might actually have acted as the words suggested!   I think we all know you well enough!   Anyway, we can agree that offence was neither intended nor taken!   And your stated aims in life are thoroughly laudable too.  

Yes, 'Brassed Off' was a good film with an excellent cast - well worth watching.   The bandmaster was played by the late Pete Postlethwaite, considered by many to be one of England's finest actors of his time.    And the character in the clip was played by Jim Carter, another fine actor, better known these days as 'Carson' (the butler) in Downton Abbey. 

[mlroseplant]

I find it somewhat heartening that the foot exercises I have devised for myself actually do some good. In the past year, I have become rather lazy about keeping up with them, and I have paid the price. When I wear my steepest heels, I find that if I wear them for more than a couple of hours, my left foot cramps up quite painfully, and the right doesn't feel that great. This doesn't happen right away when I'm actually wearing the shoes (thank goodness!), but maybe several hours after I take the super high heels off and happen to move my foot in a certain way. It's debilitating for several minutes.

I have been really good about doing the exercises at least twice a day for the past month, and guess what? I got by with wearing my House of Harlow oxfords for about six hours last Sunday, much of that time standing in one spot. No cramping. This is the first time I've actually worn them outside, and I questioned the wisdom of doing so, but I figured what the heck? They're pushing past the point of 4 1/2" difference between heel and toe, which is about my limit for actual real world use.

[Pierre1961]

Hello @mlroseplant

that’s interesting. I am now stuck at home. And I am afraid for long. With no possibility to wear heels. 

So,what foot/ ankle exercises would you recommend?

Thank’s 

Pierre 

ps. I love your Oxford shoes. 

[spikesmike]

In one way I am lucky. No children, No wife anymore. Don't give a damn about the neighbors or what they think. So, I also do not have a problem with cramps. My day to day exercises are done in these.

[Cali]

Toe raisers. Stand/balance on the toes of one foot for a minute. Rest 1 minute. Repeat 5 times. Switch feet. Do this at least three times a day.  Or simply wear your heels indoors.

[Pierre1961]

Thank’s @CaliJust tried it. That’s not so easy. 

Will keep on doing because I can wear my heels at home at present 

[p1ng74]

I recommend ballet exercises - releve, in particular

[mlroseplant]

I do two exercises mainly, one involves the use of a golf ball. One of my projects from years past was built on an ex-golf course, so in the course of construction, we found 5 gallon bucketfuls of golf balls. Naturally, I have quite a few around still, and even if they were good enough to play with, I have more than I will ever use in a lifetime, unless I seriously take up the game in my eventual retirement.

At least twice a day, or whenever I have a minute, I sit in a chair, or wherever is handy, and first roll the golf ball underneath my feet slowly, from front to back, to massage the plantar fascia. Then I pick up the golf ball with my toes and hold it for several seconds, maybe longer if I'm in the mood. I found it impossible to do this at first, but slowly over time I was able to master it. Then I set the golf ball down and pick it up with the other foot. To make this exercise much harder, try to point your toes while holding the golf ball. Then I roll the golf ball on the bottom of my foot for a while. Repeat as desired. This has helped me enormously in my construction job as well as helping my endurance in heels. I used to suffer from a lot of foot pain in a way that I don't anymore.

The other exercise I like to do while I'm "doing nothing" is to sit and trace out the alphabet on the floor with my toes. This is much more tiring than it sounds, and is mainly for ankle strength.

The third thing I do, and it's more of a stretch than an exercise is as often as I can, when I have to go upstairs, where it is required that one remove his shoes at our house, is I will stretch out my calf with my bare foot flat on the floor while simultaneously curling the toes of the opposite foot underneath, almost like a ballet exercise. I've never quite mastered that walking on your curled-under toes thing, and at my age, I'm not even sure that's a great idea anyway, but I guess that's what one could work toward, while simultaneously making sure calves and achilles tendons don't get too tight from wearing heels often.

I hope this helps. Ha, this just reminded me of a coworker who must say at least once a day, "Hey, I'm not saying it's right, that's just what I do." I miss going to work already.

[mlroseplant]

The more time I spend at home, the more difficult it is to come up with anything to report. I did have to go to the supermarket yesterday, and though it was a blustery, gray day, by golly I was going to wear some sandals outside. I obviously did not dress up at all, sticking to the most basic formula of t-shirt and jeans, but I wore my new pair of BCBGirls "Bonny" sandals, which I bought to eventually replace my old pair, which has been pretty much beat to death. Now it's all coming back to me, how LONG it took to break in the original pair. This is one of those situations where I kept a pair of shoes which was not all that comfortable just because they were super cute and I couldn't bear to part with them. Eventually, somehow, they became not only wearable, but suitable for all day walking, as I proved a couple of summers ago during my trip to Chicago. Now we're back to Square One, and I had better get these slowly broken in before the old pair fails completely, as I'm sure it will one of these days. While the leather on the new pair is still incredibly stiff, I didn't get any blisters or weird marks on my feet even though I had to park far away from the entrance to the supermarket.

Also, I finally repositioned the mirror in my dining room as I had been promising my wife to do for about a year. Good news: It IS better for actual use in real life. Bad news: It is now much harder to take selfies with. I'm going to need to come up with something different. The quality of my selfies has gotten even worse than before. I didn't think that was possible!

[SF]

Nice sandals....   

[Puffer]

In one sense your work with moving the mirror reflects well on you - but, on the other hand ...     

Did you get any reaction to your footwear at the supermarket?

[hiddenheels]

That's a nice casual look! I also would be curious about reactions...

[mlroseplant]

On 3/29/2020 at 5:08 PM, Puffer said:

In one sense your work with moving the mirror reflects well on you - but, on the other hand ...     

Did you get any reaction to your footwear at the supermarket?

Nope. I rarely get any discernible reaction anymore wearing such a tame outfit these days. I guess the only way I could make it any tamer would be to wear wedges!

As far as the actual photographs go, I don't like taking any of them. Perhaps it shows. Now that I look at the last one, it's goofy as hell. I am trying to show off the heels, but it's awkward. I don't actually stand like that in real life.

17 hours ago, hiddenheels said:

That's a nice casual look! I also would be curious about reactions...

I live in a small community. I think after all these years, people just know me, even if they don't "know" me.

 

[SF]

I live in a smaller community and go to the same places frequently.  After a while folks see you in heels and may / may not say anything but, being human they certainly tell others about you.  Over the years, I have found out that quite a few folks wind up knowing that I wear "girls shoes."  It does not seem to effect my relationships or friendships which is nice.  People just get to know others by what they do.  Some collect stamps, have classic cars, unique jobs, whatever.  The fact that I wear high heels just makes "me" (and Mr. Mlrose) more unique for conversation.  Smile....   sf

PS....   When I was in Southern MN last summer for a wedding, at the reception there were some folks talking about a guy in central IA who wore high heels around town.  ha ha....   

[Cali]

@SF can I get you stop calling them girl's shoes and just call them shoes or shoes with heels.  You need to normalize them to yourself and to others.  When you call them girls shoes you imply that there is sometime wrong with what you have on. You've been wearing them for years (decades), they are just your shoes now.

[Puffer]

8 hours ago, Cali said:

@SF can I get you stop calling them girl's shoes and just call them shoes or shoes with heels.  You need to normalize them to yourself and to others.  When you call them girls shoes you imply that there is sometime wrong with what you have on. You've been wearing them for years (decades), they are just your shoes now.

I think that SF was merely quoting what others had said, i.e. they said that 'SF wears girls' shoes' (and with the apostrophe correctly placed, of course!).   But you are right to condemn that label as a solecism.

[p1ng74]

1 hour ago, Puffer said:

I think that SF was merely quoting what others had said, i.e. they said that 'SF wears girls' shoes' (and with the apostrophe correctly placed, of course!).   But you are right to condemn that label as a solecism.

Isn’t it amazing how adults can be so childish?  On the school playground boys loved jeering things to each other like “you throw the ball like a girl”.  How is that any different from the jeer, “you wear shoes like a girl”.  You don’t even have to wear heels to get this - I get those comments just by tucking my pants into my boots.  “Only women wear boots that way,” as if that is some sort of insult.  What are these guys saying about women, is their fashion so horrible that men can’t learn or adapt anything from them?

 

[blueparrot]

2 hours ago, p1ng74 said:

Isn’t it amazing how adults can be so childish?  On the school playground boys loved jeering things to each other like “you throw the ball like a girl”.  How is that any different from the jeer, “you wear shoes like a girl”.  You don’t even have to wear heels to get this - I get those comments just by tucking my pants into my boots.  “Only women wear boots that way,” as if that is some sort of insult.  What are these guys saying about women, is their fashion so horrible that men can’t learn or adapt anything from them?

 

Lately I have noticed a lot of young Hispanic males wearing their jeans tucked into western boots around Oak Cliff.  I'm even seeing construction guys doing it and we all know how bad they can tease/harass each other.  It's just coming around again.  In old times it was not uncommon but the practice ended after WWII, briefly seen in the 70's, but not really seen until today.  Skinny jeans are so common now and work great for this look since they don't bunch up above the boot tops.  

[Puffer]

22 hours ago, p1ng74 said:

Isn’t it amazing how adults can be so childish?  On the school playground boys loved jeering things to each other like “you throw the ball like a girl”.  How is that any different from the jeer, “you wear shoes like a girl”.  You don’t even have to wear heels to get this - I get those comments just by tucking my pants into my boots.  “Only women wear boots that way,” as if that is some sort of insult.  What are these guys saying about women, is their fashion so horrible that men can’t learn or adapt anything from them?

Yes, that sort of 'insult' is common in the UK, and not just confined to schoolchildren.   (The expression 'Big girl's blouse', directed at any man perceived as 'soft' comes to mind.)  But at least the wearing of knee-high (or higher) boots by men is an accepted fashion in the US, which is scarcely the case here, alas (unless you are Shyheels!).   The comment here to a man in knee-boots (other than proper riding boots or rubber wellingtons) would more likely be 'Only women wear those boots', regardless of whether they had trousers tucked in.

[p1ng74]

1 hour ago, Puffer said:

But at least the wearing of knee-high (or higher) boots by men is an accepted fashion in the US, which is scarcely the case here, alas (unless you are Shyheels!).   The comment here to a man in knee-boots (other than proper riding boots or rubber wellingtons) would more likely be 'Only women wear those boots', regardless of whether they had trousers tucked in.

Unfortunately it is not really seen in the US either, unless you happen to be a senior in the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, and if you have gotten to that point you’re not caring what people might call you:  

That said, I recognize that there is some difference in perception there, as my wife said that she felt like everyone was staring at my knee high cowboy boots with 3” heels while we were walking around London, even though they are under the trousers.  

Edited April 1, 2020 by p1ng74

[Shyheels]

9 hours ago, Puffer said:

Yes, that sort of 'insult' is common in the UK, and not just confined to schoolchildren.   (The expression 'Big girl's blouse', directed at any man perceived as 'soft' comes to mind.)  But at least the wearing of knee-high (or higher) boots by men is an accepted fashion in the US, which is scarcely the case here, alas (unless you are Shyheels!).   The comment here to a man in knee-boots (other than proper riding boots or rubber wellingtons) would more likely be 'Only women wear those boots', regardless of whether they had trousers tucked in.

I have never once had that comment made to me and I wear my knee boots frequently, and always with my skinny jeans tucked into the boots.

AS a matter of fact nobody seems to notice or care and the few comments I have had - from both sexes - have been positive.  

 

 

[mlroseplant]

I have noticed that it's becoming more common around here to see construction workers tucking their pants in. What I haven't really seen is guys doing this outside of work. In case you missed it the first time, I attempted my own take on the knee high boot thing.

[Steve63130]

On 3/29/2020 at 8:25 AM, mlroseplant said:

Also, I finally repositioned the mirror in my dining room as I had been promising my wife to do for about a year.

"When a man says he'll do something, he'll do it! You don't have to keep nagging him every three months!"

You reminded me of that quip I saw on Facebook a while back! 

Your photography would be better if you shine a light on yourself. You are backlit in the photo, and the camera is looking at the light, shuts the aperture to compensate for what it thinks is too much light, and the photo comes out too dark overall. The details in your shadow are dark and not very clear. So if you have a utility lamp or can position a floor lamp to illuminate you and your reflection, the photo would be much better. 

I like those sandals!

Steve

[Puffer]

16 hours ago, Steve63130 said:

"When a man says he'll do something, he'll do it! You don't have to keep nagging him every three months!"

...

More like 'every three hours' here!   My wife seems to think that Coronavirus lockdown requires (not merely facilitates) every outstanding task in the house to be done without delay, and cheerfully.   (I'm retired, so being stuck indoors doesn't make much difference.   Nor have I ever been incapable of doing or generally unwilling to do what is needed.   Perhaps I should self-isolate!)

Edited April 3, 2020 by Puffer
typo

[Shyheels]

As John Donne said no man is an island, but you may want to take a crack at it

[mlroseplant]

14 hours ago, Steve63130 said:

"When a man says he'll do something, he'll do it! You don't have to keep nagging him every three months!"

You reminded me of that quip I saw on Facebook a while back! 

Your photography would be better if you shine a light on yourself. You are backlit in the photo, and the camera is looking at the light, shuts the aperture to compensate for what it thinks is too much light, and the photo comes out too dark overall. The details in your shadow are dark and not very clear. So if you have a utility lamp or can position a floor lamp to illuminate you and your reflection, the photo would be much better. 

I like those sandals!

Steve

I'm going to try the auxiliary lamp thing, I think there's a chance it might work. The fundamental problem, besides the fact that I no longer have a proper working camera, is that the overhead light in that room is visible in the corner of the mirror no matter which angle you stand. Now that I've repositioned the mirror, the problem is even worse. If you turn the light off, it's way too dark for my phone to compensate without using the flash, and using flash in a mirror never produces very good results. As I've said before, I don't even really like taking these pictures, but people seem to want to see them. Therefore, this is my compromise. I think I can stand to take enough time to try the lamp thing, though.

I've been off work for only two weeks, and I've already started to get fat. THAT didn't take long.

[Puffer]

4 hours ago, Shyheels said:

As John Donne said no man is an island, but you may want to take a crack at it

If it wasn't for the current travel restrictions, I would be very tempted to move to one, the more isolated the better.   But I would take my full toolkit (and a couple of pairs of heels).