I'm making an air-wanking motion with my hand right now. You fell for this 'barefoot is better' claptrap?
I'm wearing them right now, and my happy feet refute your skepticism.
Barefoot is better! [wank wank wank]
I covet those mary janes, even though I can think of seventeen reasons to be dismissive of them. Oh wait, here's the overriding one: I'll bet they were expensive.
I'll ask again in five years, when your spine looks like the autobahn.
I've been wearing near-barefoot shoes for at least five years, and my spine is fine.
I'll bet they were expensive
I think they were $60.
What does "looks like the autobahn" mean to an autobahn local?
Is Unfogged becoming the new Karl Pilkington's diary?
I think they were $60.
Whew! Too rich for my blood!
Oh, I like the pair bpl got. I think I want.
Ogged is so liberated he can make air-wanking motions with his feet.
So, when is Ogged going to disclose his endorsement deal with Nike?
Yep, those mary janes are very cute. Yours are ok. Better than the blue ones you linked before. Let us know if they stay comfy.
The ones ogged got really are ugly. The other ones are tolerable, although too bad about the swoosh, there.
I'm sure they're comfortable. So are sansabelt slacks.
I'm just hella bitter because I had to spend like $150 on some craptarded New Balances last week. Literally the cheapest running shoes in Denmark.
But yeah, no, i definitely don't believe in this barefoot thing. Let us know how it is to run in them, eh? I went running barefoot on the beach once in Hawaii, and spent the rest of my vacation feeling like Bruce Willis at the end of Die Hard.
JM, I can get ogged into the Nike employee store, should he come up here this summer, and he can buy you a pair at a discount. Cost to you: absolutely nothing.
Too bad you can't get them without the big friggin' logo on the side...
Those are the shoes I have! Except mine have pink piping! BPL and I can be friends!
I went running barefoot on the beach once in Hawaii
Well, okay now, maybe this isn't the best control. Especially when you weren't used to running barefoot.
Let us know how it is to run in them, eh?
We already had a commenter buy and train in them, and he liked them fine. Running on the beach, needless to say, is a horse of a different color.
the reason i don't like white and fabric shoes, how do you keep them clean?
i hate to wash it with brushes and everything
the blue ones look nice, though with the straps the legs would look shorter, though sure under the jeans it doesn't matter
feeling like Bruce Willis at the end of Die Hard
WINNING.
Buy shoes together --> buy puppy --> happy Granny Ogged's Mom.
I think Hendrik Hertzberg has been reading Unfogged.
The "reëlection" campaign, as we liked to call it, was upon us...
Back when I ran I ran long distances barefoot on grass. I loved it. Asphalt wasn't bad at all, but cement wasn't so good, and cement with scattered gravel was really no good at all.
needless to say? This is conventional wisdom that you're not supposed to run on the beach? I seriously didn't know this. I thought it would be low-impact. Anyway, I haven't done it since, so I'm sure my tarsals have, like, rejiggered or whatever by now. And now I wear the thickest, most unbarefootedest running shoes ever, so as to disconnect myself from nature as much as possible. With a big logo on the side, no less.
26: the New Yorker has been riding the dieresis express since, you know, ever.
Each dot represents one standard deviation of how much smarter than you they think they are.
On the Veldt there were no beaches, because it was the Veldt ffs.
the reason i don't like white and fabric shoes, how do you keep them clean?
Oh, that's easy. Ogged's going to do touch-ups with white shoe polish.
Bpl's shoes are very cute.
29: I know that, but he's being more self-conscious about it than the New Yorker usually is. (Or rather, more openly self-conscious, as opposed to the usual smug silence associated with its use.)
So, the reason I never run anywhere, aside from being lazy, overweight, and out of shape, is that I get the massive shin splints whenever I go for more than a mile or so. Can these barefoot shoes prevent that from happening?
Medicine can do ... whatever we want it to. It's not a science.
30: except they aren't since, having discussed it at some length several times, we now all know all about the very useful dieresis and how to deploy it. Excelsior!
On the other hand, if it turned out the copy editing department at the New Yorker knew more about copy editing than I did, I would be okay with that.
Oh, that's easy. Ogged's going to do touch-ups with white shoe polish wear them in the shower.
You know, you can go barefoot and still sport the swoosh.
Can these barefoot shoes prevent that from happening?
And cure impotence!
Seriously, Nike itself markets them as a "training tool" to be used occasionally, not as an everyday running shoe. But people who swear by them run in them all the time, and I have read people saying that they used to get shin splints and no longer do. But someone, somewhere will say basically anything, so I wouldn't count on the shoes to solve your problem. The more common solutions are to start very slowly and with very short distances, and to stretch your calves a lot before and after you run.
33: I'm unconvinced that's what he meant. On the other hand, I don't know what the hell else he could have meant.
"Fabulous."
Does the bpl version feature velcro?
38: I guess I'm intrigued by the running on the mid-sole rather than the heal. The way I see it, the farther the distance between the impact, and my shins, the better...
But yeah, I should probably stretch more.
Does the bpl version feature velcro?
Yes.
are those 7, 5, or 3?
Mine are 5. I don't know what the the bpl's are rated as.
The Nike Frees are indeed quite comfortable for running, even on asphalt. They're the only shoe I use for jogging anymore, even though I own a pair of traditional trail running shoes from my former life as a North Face salesmonkey. Of course they can't compete with the feeling of broken-in cleats on fresh turf, but what can? I can't speak for shin splints, since I've never experienced them myself, but the greater flexibility allowed by the Frees definitely keeps your ankle and foot muscles stronger and allows a more natural push-off. For that same reason, you may want to start slowly if you're not used to running in a light shoe.
Beach running is the exercise of the lazy toned gods, and I pity those who can't get up to it every other day in the summer. Seriously good for one's sprinting speed. I won't deny that any sprinting training tends to be hell on the back and ass at the start.
By the way, if people are interested in a good demonstration of the current thinking about good running form, this clip is very good. If you just want to see the part about proper footstrike, skip to about 4:55 in.
he can buy you a pair at a discount. Cost to you: absolutely nothing.
Yes, should ogged buy me shoes, then I wouldn't have to spend money on shoes, but I'm not going to bank on his generosity.
For shin splints: pliés! And then the slow plié--sautés!
Running on the beach, needless to say, is a horse of a different color
do what? it's a bit like standing still on the beach, and a bit like running while not on the beach, but it's hardly massively qualitatively different from either.
In related news, I'm now down to just over eight minute mile pace for the 10,000 metres, bastards.
Other than being among the ugliest products ever designed, these look promising.
Here is the guy's blog.
massively qualitatively different
I may not be much of a runner, but I'm not an amateur at being baited on the internet, my friend.
Why is the name of God is the vast majority of athletic footwear so ugly?
I'm sure they're comfortable. So are sansabelt slacks.
Tweety gets it pretty much right, except that like everyone else he's too much of a pussy to say straight out that the girl shoes are ugly too.
RiD, running on beaches is a great idea, as you found out; it *is* low impact, which means that the sand gives as you run on it, which means that your muscles end up doing a *lot* more work. End result: sore muscles.
But hey, great workout!
The trick is to jog along the bit near the water where the sand is firmer, my fuzzy little friend.
50: Presumably because while you're being athletic, function matters more than form. The real question is why people wear athletic footwear as if they were real shoes.
50: an excellent question. I, personally blame Nike in every particular.
The real question is why people wear athletic footwear as if they were real shoes.
been going out to the opera again?
re: 34
Nothing cured my shin splints.
I tried everything. All those stretches? Nope. Strengthening the shin muscles? Nope. Different shoes? Nope.
These days I can run short distances -- ironically, sprinting is easier on my shins than jogging -- but I think the only solution is going to be to get thin. I think being fairly fat is a primary cause [although I suffered from shin splints when I was a lot lighter too]. And then maybe look at running technique, gait, etc.
It's definitely something specific to the gait used when jogging or walking.
The trick is to jog along the bit near the water where the sand is firmer, my fuzzy little friend.
Surely I've told the story from when I was working in daycare when a little boy, around three or four, absentmindedly rubbed the hair on my arm and said "Say, Ogged, you're kinda furry."
I don't understand the sense in which ogged's shoes are thought to be ugly. They're pretty much plain white running shoes. Yes they have a big "swoosh", but who really cares?
Actually, the only pair of "athletic" shoes I even own are a pair of converse hi tops. When I go to the gym I wear Pradas.
(This is actually true; I have an awesome pair of Prada flats that I got on consignment for $40, and they're my mucking-about shoes.)
Presumably because while you're being athletic, function matters more than form
If only it were just that. Those shoes in Brock's link would be just fine in plain black, but no, that's not ugly enough—let's put this gratuitous screaming yellow squiggly on it! There, that's better.
Velcro is pretty unfabulous.
while you're being athletic, function matters more than form.
meet
When I go to the gym I wear Pradas.
B, you goofball.
56: Some of that can also be due to bone structure. A friend of mine just had poor bone structure through his feet and ankles, which caused horrible shin splints even though he was quite thin (very tall though, so he still had to carry a decent amount of weight).
Count yourself lucky if you just get shin splints, he's actually had to have some major reconstructive surgery on both feet in order to put everything back in the right place. I really hope he'll be able to run again someday, he used to be a damn good athlete.
I can't remember if the correct plural is "Pradi" or "Prade".
They're pretty much plain white running shoes.
The platonic ideal of the plain white running shoe is, in fact, ugly. Why do they have to be white?
A rare example of acceptable athletic shoes. A classic, in white. What I wear, of course.
I of course am in a perfect position to judge since my sneaker choices tend to be so tasteful and understated.
"Pradae" seems quite unlikely to me; they're modern Italian shoes and I don't think Italians bother with the "ae" any more. If they're stitched in one of the Slavic countries I might venture a small covering wager on "Prad"
Frankly the only really acceptable trainers are the Adidas Sambiae.
re: 63
Yeah. I used to run a lot in high school and again in my early 20s, but there were always periods when I stopped due to shin splints. I'll probably give it a go again in the future. Look at working on gait/technique, etc once I'm less fat.
My running shoes are pretty horrible looking. But they are very light and comfortable [for non-running gym activities].
re: 70
Puma Pele's. Which also have 1970s playground orthodoxy on their side. Or Gola Harrier's or something.
Ok, that url wasn't a url. Go here and see the Adidas Gruen, top right corner.
70: Well, of course. Sambas are the most widely accepted shoes on this earth. No other shoe can escape mockery when worn with a suit or left on during a hasty midday rendezvous. B even deems them appropriate opera wear.
re: 73
Yeah, they are horrible looking. But they also weigh basically nothing and really breathe like nothing I've ever had before. I can't wear them or any other orthodox running shoe for sparring, though. The edge of the soles acts like a blade. Which has nasty results.
Sambas are indeed the acceptable looking running shoe. Sadly they hurt my feet, so I prefer the Okapi. The flaw of those is that they are difficult to find in sane colors.
76: Lay off my blue suede shoes, heebie.
The obvious solution to the problem of ugly running shoes is not to run. Why does everyone have to be in such a rush all the time?
81: indeed.
My previous answer to the question of running, which I can no longer use without a little bit of hypocrisy, was "only when chased."
I am loving those Okapi. Coincidentally, the Okapi is also one of my favorite animals at the zoo. I totally need new shoes, and now I can just check that one off the list.
75: The Midiru 2s on that page make me jealous. I may have to look for those in a women's size 11 at my local Adidas store. They really don't seem to have anything that sleek and good-looking in men's.
I really love the Okapi, and find them ultra comfortable, but they really are hard to find in low-key colors. Note that the Adidas site only has them in white with kelly green stripes, with sky blue for the semicircle in back. Lively!
Onitsuka Tiger do a load of nice retro faux-running shoes.
I have always run in Adidas, but I could be converted.
I have several pairs of these, in different colors.
I may have to paw through the change drawer and buy those Adidas Gruens. Damn you, ogged!
But not for running. Just for fun.
I bought some ballet flats a few months ago, having never owned anything with a thin sole, and it's really weird. It feels exactly like I'm walking around barefoot all the time. I'm sure it's good for me, but I feel naked in them.
I've had a hard time with ballet flats. Ballet slippers have an elastic band across the ankle for a reason----and it's so that you don't fuck up your feet scrunching up your toes to keep the shoes on. In the subway I see all sorts of very cute women shuffling along in their "sensible" slippery-soled ballet flats.
re: 93
My wife is always showing me those kinds of things [she runs a posh shoe shop]. Old-lady/loafer type shoes with 'hipster' repurposing. They really don't look good to me. Especially don't get me started on the ones that come in metallic looking leathers.
Old-lady/loafer type shoes with 'hipster' repurposing.
I swear it's unique and original and snowflake-esque when I do it.
94: Huh. I bought mine a little tight, so they fit really well now. I still don't see how people get around NYC in flip-flops though. How gruesome to do that to one's toes!
What do flip-flops do to your toes?
When I was in elementary school, Nikes became the must have item for the fashionable grade-schooler. My parents were very thrifty, so even though my family was probably financially better off than 90% of my classmates' families, I belonged to 25-30% of the class that didn't have Nikes. I can recall very clearly that Nikes were the first brand name clothing item that I longed for.
One day I went to a flea market with my father where there was a guy selling pirated Nikes (I'm pretty sure I didn't recognize that they were pirated at the time). He was charging $18 a pair--half the retail price! My father told me that I could them with my own money, if I wanted.
So I discreetly took out my money (probably $20 or $25), peeled off $14 in singles, and put it back in my pocket. I then went over and asked the guy how much the shoes were, he quoted me the $18 price, and I pulled the money out of my pocket and began slowly counting out singles. When I stopped at 14, I affected a pained look, and the vendor quickly said he would give me a deal and sell me the shoes for $14.
My father was so inordinately proud of me! He still tells that story from time to time, in that tone that parents use when they want to emphasize that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
sambas look good, though sambae also sounds fine
if pradae and pradas are not good enough then i can always call them pradanuud though the slavic version should be pradu (pronounced like ee)
98: spit on them, insult them, deny them service at restaurants and gas stations, enshrine bigotry against them in the constitution. It's really disgusting.
98: Maybe I have extra-sensitive toes or something, but I find anything with a thong between my digits just rips them up.
102: Even if it's cloth? The rubber Old Navy type ones hurt my toesies, I'll admit.
Not that I'm pushing flip-flops. Fashion-wise, they are problematic.
I like the look of those Okapi.
Now can someone tell me what the best shoes are for retail work? I've walked through several pairs now, none of them really satisfactory, even though I only do this part-time. I need to be able to stand and/or walk for hours, plus occasionally climb, squat & sprint. And I don't want my feet to hurt at the end of an 8-hour Sunday shift. The shoes also need to be cute.
Miracle shoe recommendations, anyone?
plus occasionally climb, squat & sprint.
You work at the obstacle course store?
101: I've heard rumors that the flip-flops are trying to get an amendment passed that toes from the same foot can't marry each other.
106: flip-flops say toes who bend that way are making a lifestyle choice, rather than just trying to make their way with the joints they were born with like any other appendage.
62: It's the goofy aspect that drives me on! (Seriously, though, other than the brand name they're a basic pair of rubber-soled slipons).
I'm glad to hear that JM disparages ballet flats, which I find not only uncomfortable but actually also very ugly on almost everyone.
I, too, used to hate flipflops. I'll confess: since moving here, I've acquired three pairs: one normal, one with ridiculous 3-4" rainbow platforms, and one with dangly little charms decorating the straps.
The space between my toes is delicate and tender too. It does not want to be taken violently by the brutish flipflop thong.
flip-flops are good beach shoes. It seems like this should be inarguable. The problem is when you think the beach extends to places like fancy restaurants or the downtowns of large cities. Similar to the problem that arises when you think a Teva-requiring kayak expedition might break out in the office building you work in.
The space says Non, but your toes say Oui, oui, take me, is it not so?
I like the idea of ballet flats! I'm not wild about a lot of the ones I've tried on, though.
Wrenae: have you tried Dansko clogs? I have a pair of Mary Janes that I really like, except for the part where they give me bunions. (I have almost perfectly square feet, so you probably won't have the same problem.)
You work at the obstacle course store?
No, I'm an American Gladiator!
I just mean that I have to climb (ladders, shelving) to get high stuff, squat to pet dachunds & apply labels/rearrange bottom shelves, and sprint when called up to the front to override some register hiccup. I work at a pet store.
I thought the round-bottomed shoes someone linked to in the last shoe discussion looked cool until I thought of standing in them for long periods--probably not comfy. Ditto with climbing ladders on those.
Kung fu shoes are way cooler radder than ballet flats, and accomplish the same thing.
flip-flops are good beach shoes
Ugh. Only if you like sand being catapulted up the backs of your legs with every step.
The space between my toes is delicate and tender too.
Your big toes, you mean?
Wrenae: have you tried Dansko clogs? I have a pair of Mary Janes that I really like, except for the part where they give me bunions. (I have almost perfectly square feet, so you probably won't have the same problem.)
No, but I do have coworkers at the museum who swear by them. I thought they were expensive, though.
I have weird curvy feet with extremely high arches, for which I wear special insoles.
Merrells, wrenae? So bourgeois-hiker, but really excellent support for all-day standing and running about, the very opposite of these non-shoe shoes.
I saw a woman on the Street wearing Keen shoes. They looked really comfortable, so I asked her about them. She said that she's had them for over 6 years and that they were great for taking her two year old around.
They looked better in the flesh than they do in this picture.
115: assuming the beach isn't too hot, you take them off then. They're good for getting to the beach, getting from the beach to the car, getting to the ice cream cart; that sort of thing. Basically, they're good in environments where getting what's on your feet off easily is more important than how they actually function when on.
An acquaintance in [ Socal Town My School Is In ] -- a heavy-duty surfer -- expressed one day that the problem with his new job (bar back) was its requirement that he wear regular shoes: he didn't own any, and didn't see the point of buying them just for the sake of a job.
110: Exactly. I would not wear my flipflops to the opera.
I did, however, wear slippers to the movies this weekend.
119: Well, they're also good for schlepping around town in a temperate climate doing errands and crap. I wear 'em on the bike, too.
They function fine. They protect your feet from dirt and broken glass.
119: Ha. My Cali-living former roommate recently had an internship on the East coast, and thought to ask me one day before he left whether I thought they would want him to wear pants. He didn't own any, just shorts. He ended up calling them to ask and they were like, "Oh, yeah, dress here is pretty casual. Button-downs and slacks should do." He was horrified by their differences in the term "casual" and was forced to go buy pants.
I wear 'em on the bike, too
Ooooh, that always seems alarming to me when I see it. It leads me to envision foot carnage.
121: yup. I find them kind of gross as, like grocery store-wear, though, because they come off too easily. Generally any "no shirt no shoes no service" kind of venue seems like an inappropriate one for flip-flops, to me.
122: yup.
123: eh you just need a mellow enough bike. Beach cruisers and flip-flops were basically made for each other.
My Merrell half-boots, while rather pretty and mostly waterproof are Not Good Shoes. I also have freakishly high arches (on my almost perfectly square feet), and in the Merrells, my feet are lolling around atop that too narrow unsupported sole like nobody's business. I thought that the function of a boot was to provide some ankle support, but nooooo.
The Dansko are really pricy. Thanks, mom! They have, however, held up to the abuse I give them. I've only just noticed the stitching along the outer toe start to give a bit (I got them in Nov.), which is pretty good when you consider that these feet of mine were trained to destroy pointe shoes in two weeks.
Seeing above it occurs to me again that any white embroidered logo on black shoes is only a jiffy marker away from nearly invisible if you don't like it.
Did anyone else catch the goofy article in Sunday's Times with a dermatologist saying you really shouldn't go barefoot in a park, because you could catch something or step on a rusty nail or get hookworm? Seriously, no one is going to get hookworm in an NYC park, and if I do, it's treatable. I really wanted the "Counterpoint: Being Afraid of Everything In The World Is Probably A Bigger Problem Than Occasionally Stepping On Something Sharp" to be on the facing page.
I have high arches and I've always found Clark's to be very comfortable (and stylish) work shoes.
stupid s
flip-flops are good beach shoes
and slippers, but if it's the flip-flop high heels or how it is called i don't get it, like it may be dangerous
the wedge shoes i also can't wear coz always feel its heels are like excessive and have to drag them on the ground and i don't like noise by shoes
And I hate all shoes. They all suck. The options are uncomfortable, actively ugly, or just scruffy looking.
I'm thinking of getting some Crocs, now that they are out of style. Is the comfortable worth the ugly?
123: eh you just need a mellow enough bike. Beach cruisers and flip-flops were basically made for each other
Yes, but B is cycling through the mean streets of LA, is she not? I don't think she's limiting herself to the vicinity of Venice Beach.
127: I saw that article. Ugh. The counterpoint will never be published.
Did anyone else catch the goofy article in Sunday's Times
Yeah, although they did have some doctor saying that doctors tend to be overcautious, and another who admitted to going barefoot himself. But it was a strange article.
132: not, LA, no. Posh Deep Blue Beach Town, to adapt a term.
131: No opinion on crocs, but I always want to ask you, "Hey, Spike! Tell me 'bout life," from the old Tom Petty song.
"Hey, Spike! You're scarin' my wife!" I love that line.
I really wanted the "Counterpoint: Being Afraid of Everything In The World Is Probably A Bigger Problem Than Occasionally Stepping On Something Sharp" to be on the facing page.
But the addicts! And their HIV-infected needles!
I for one am (selfishly) glad to see LB showing up on the comment threads during working hours again. I presume that the day after Memorial Day is a little slow in state government.
Okay, so you bought your shoes already, & the aqua socks thing didn't pan out, but while some have sturdy soles, the pair I've been wearing I can twist completely around more than once like I'm wringing out a towel. They remind me of something I read in that shoe article lo back awhile. I can feel stuff on the ground when I step on it and now make a point of walking over street grates and those pebbly panels they've started putting at all the handicap/stroller accessible points at crosswalk corners. I do it just to feel the stuff underneath and get a little foot massage.
Anyway, good on you for convincing the bpl to be good to her feet.
Lunch hour. I'm still not commenting literally from work, and don't plan to. It's really not compatible, for me, with actually doing anything productive.
131: I found, when I tried on crocs, that they were not only ugly, but really not all that comfortable. They were too wide for my foot, so I was slipping all over the place inside the shoe. Absolutely no support, which wouldn't itself have been a problem, but with the width of the shoe, it meant I was curling my toes a lot to keep the shoe on my foot.
Dansko clogs- awesome. I wear them nearly everywhere and they're totally worth the money especially if you're on your feet a lot. I've got Keens too which are lighter and very comfy. Many friends of mine have Keens and say the same thing. These Mary Jane Nike's are super light and don't yet have me convinced about the barefoot hype, but they are really, really comfortable. When Ogged wears his Nike's, he's still attractive. I just cannot look down.
It's really not compatible, for me, with actually doing anything productive.
My vision of LB as a super-productive multitasker has been shattered. And if she can't do it, who among us can?
BPL! Hooray!
Keens strike me as not quite indoorsy enough for most retail jobs.
127: Eh, broken glass would be a pretty real concern around most city parks here. The biggest reason I wouldn't go barefoot here would be thistley plants. I have sensitive soles, and I kind of like it that way. Only good for indoors, beaches and soft, well-maintained turf.
But the addicts! And their HIV-infected needles
Actually, I've lived placed where that's a genuine not-to-be-fucked-with problem. One of my ex g/friends was a teacher, and, at least once a year, she'd have some wee kid awaiting for the results of a test because:
"Ah sat oan a junky's needle, up the park, miss!"
No way in a million years I'd run barefoot in a lot of parks. Sod that.
127: Uncle Buckle, the Safety Buffalo here to remind kids:
1) Don't lie on the ground.
2) Look both ways before going outside.
3) Don't touch dead things.
142: maybe if you convince him to grow his hobbit-like foot hair out, it'll cover the top of the shoes and you won't have to see them.
88: SAS!! Aaaaaaaah!!
Since I wear semi-orthopaedic shoes (due to my cool rock climbing injury) I shop at a store that carries tons of these. Why does anyone think old ladies want shiny flesh-colored shoes? I'm going to be an old lady soon, and I'm absolutely positive that shiny flesh-colored shoes are not going to be on my must-have list.
Actually, I've lived placed where that's a genuine not-to-be-fucked-with problem.
This is true. Some sandlots are pretty hazardous walking in sandals, let along barefoot. It's always a bad sign when you can hear them cracking underfoot.
Such parks don't usually look that appealing to walk barefoot in though, ime.
Lunch hour. I'm still not commenting literally from work, and don't plan to.
Good for you, LB. I won't be the crab that pulls you back down into the bucket.
The flaw of those is that they are difficult to find in sane colors.
Ebay Europe! I find the Adidas I like often come in better colors in Germany and the UK. I ordered my current ones from the UK, because they only had stark brown or black with white stripes for sale in the US.
89: be careful of those Adidas Gruens, i've heard they turn bleen after you've had them a while.
I have a pair of Keens which are ugly, but very functional for when I need shoes that have a bit more support, and I'm convinced they're indestructible. I'm usually pretty hard on my shoes, and I've had these a year with no visible wear.
I'm going to be an old lady soon
you are not, mcmc.
Blume--How much does the shipping set you back? I currently hate Paypal, because they didn't work with my bank for a while, and they limit the number of credit card/ debit card transactions you can do in a month.
ING Direct lets me send electronic checks, but unlike in the UK, people here aren't comfortable with bank transfers and don't want to give out their bank account number.
I'm now down to just over eight minute mile pace for the 10,000 metres, bastards.
Wow, that's fast for a fat guy.
I don't remember how much the shipping was-- it came out to somewhere in the neighborhood of $20, I think. I bought my current pair of Adidas through a 'best offer' sale on eBay, so I made an offer that, with the shipping and exchange rates, came out to the lowest price I had ever seen for these shoes in Germany. (Would have bought them there, but they had sold out of that color everywhere.)
Oh, that was for shipping from the UK, though. From places in the US it tends to be around $10 for shoes.
it is indeed, or at least it would be but I am officially no longer fat, being currently 6 foot 2 inches in height and 194 pounds in weight, for a Body Mass Index of 24.9, which I think we can all agree is not fat. Thank you all very much. I am going to look sensational in the wedding photos, apart from my face about which not much can be done.
Congrats d^2. I figured that would be the answer. I'm sure your survival prospects are more than commensurately improved.
I am officially no longer fat
I was going to ask whether you would change the tagline of your blog ("a fat young man without a good word for anyone"), but I see that you have already done so.
Yes, I skipped over there looking for the tag line too!
Well done dsquared!
This getting in shape shit is a lot harder than it used to be, but progress is being made here, too.
Random addition to above comments about eBay shipping: I just got a bra in the mail, and it was packed along with several recipe cards from Martha Stewart Living magazine. ???
164: You buy your bras through ebay? I knew the life of a grad student was marked by privation, but...
Marked by privation and expensive tastes. You can get new stuff on eBay, you know, at a fraction of the price.
progress is being made here, too
Hmm, I must be the yin to those yangs, because I'm heading in the wrong direction.
166: I was just joshing you. I myself have purchased used underwear in online auctions taken advantage of the new stuff available on ebay. Judging from the ballgown, I'd say your ebay-fu is better than most people's full-retail-fu.
I've been wearing Chaco sandals whenever I'm not at work for four years now, and they're fantastic. So durable, and they mold to your foot after a few months to give you that nice fits-like-a-glove feeling.
re: 159
Very impressive and congratulations.
re: 150
I'm talking about green, attractive looking places where you'd otherwise think it'd be OK, unfortunately.
I could easily attain 194 pounds, and I'm much, much shorter. I don't see what everyone's so excited about.
171: Indeed, I am of a similar height to d² and will surely attain that weight someday by doing nothing more than lying there in my coffin.
