eCache

Jamie’s Feet Hurt and Mine Stink

Jamie (NFA) has an interesting post today regarding the current condition of a pair of Bean shoes.

The shoes weren’t all that great to begin with…”boat shoes” is what the catalog calls them…really they’re like slippers with marginally more serious soles. I think of them as the moral equivalent of flip-flops, but with a little more siding. I’ve always owned a pair, and they generally last me about 10-12 years before the start looking too ratty to wear past the end of my driveway.

Ah yes, the classic Camp Moc. I have been wearing these ever since my parents sent me away to that preppy high school all those years ago. I love the Camp Moc, but Jamie is right on target in that there isn’t really much to them.

And me being from the family of wide feet blows through the outer walls eventually. The pair I have now are about 12 years old. I still wear them, although I suspect my mother would cringe at that. But they are limited now. Ever since I reached 40, I seem to understand that shoes with holes in them can only be worn around others in specific circumstances. My wife disagrees with that assessment.

I even re-soled these several years ago, but the wear and tear they have taken have really ended their wearability.

But Bean also makes the Blucher, a more shoey shoe. I believe these were the first shoes I ever mail ordered.
My current ones are newer than the Camp Moc . . . probably about a decade old. But they have doubled as a caching shoe. That did them in years ago. Here is a photograph from 29 July 2002 at a cache. Nope, they weren’t in good condition then either. And as I recall, the blood oozed into them.

Since then, a hole has developed where the bunyon is forming. My family’s feet have passed on to me. This is one thing they can pass on without an inheritance tax, although I suspect the medical bill to correct it will be heavy.

Recently I had them on (I’m a guy and I will wear them until they die.). I was straightening up some stuff and discovered an Igloo that we had not emptied. Uh oh . . .

This thing had baked in the sun and apparently someone left a couple slices of cheese in the cooler. Nastyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

There was a Seinfeld episode where Jerry used a valet to park his Volvo. The valet had a bad case of body odor and made the car stink. The stench was so bad that Jerry ended up abandoning the vehicle. Even the bums on the corner wanted nothing to do with the vehicle.

After cleaning this cooler, I had that stench! We were to go to the in-laws and I announced I need to shower. Despite my best efforts, the stench remained. Lovely. The Bluchers still have that stench two weeks later!

Amazingly to Gert, I own but eight pairs of shoes:

• dress shoes
• Sunday loafers
• work loafers
• Camp Mocs
• Bluchers
• hiking boots
• sneakers (now dirty from night caching in Wichita
• sandals

The Camp Mocs, Bluchers, and sneakers are not particularly wearable these days. That leaves loafers (the comfy ones really need a polishing) and a pair of sandals.

Gert is onboard with me buying new shoes. She has recommended new Bean shoes and new sneakers.

Jamie, you have inspired me to order from Bean. I will not try to adjust to the holes in these shoes or deal with the stench. I am treating myself to some gifts!

Also blogged on this date . . .

• Van Drew & Albano Disappointment - 2007
• Welcome Back to School - 2006
• What beer do you drink? - 2005
• Neil Young w/ Friends & Family - 2000

Tags: Bob, Geocaching, GPS Games