New Feet

 Maybe this post should be called 'Funny Feet', because I think these are pretty funny looking; they put me in mind of ape feet:

If you haven't seen them before, these are 'Vibram 5-Finger' shoes, all the rage in the barefoot movement.

They actually have a Vibram sole:

The sole is thick enough that it's no big deal to walk on gravel, but thin enough that I pay attention to where I'm putting my feet when walking on gravel.

I don't have to worry about glass or other sharps, but I still get the happy, care-free feeling of barefooted-ness. I'm hoping there's some truth to the idea that going barefoot can help your entire body stay in proper alignment. I sit on a ball when on the computer and it's much better for my back than a chair, so I suppose the same concept could apply for shoes (or no-shoes, as the case may be).

I just got these yesterday evening. I put them on right away and went tromping. I did my usual walk-loop, but made sure to wade through all the puddles instead of walking around them. Usually shoes feel pretty ick-y when wet and, with most sandals, my feet end up sliding around a bit. In these it actually felt GOOD to get them wet: no sliding around inside them. 

They are definitely odd-looking, so if you don't want people staring at your feet, these are not going to work for you. I've had a few comments today, but they have been positive and curious comments.

I've been curious about these shoes for a long time and happy to finally have a pair.

So far, so good. Nothing negative to report yet, but I don't have enough time in them yet to tell how I'll adapt to them. I'll update in a few weeks...

I have a marathoning friend who couldn't get past the odd look of these 5-Fingers and ended up with another style of 'Barefoot Shoes.' (Okay, she called them -with vehemence - ugly, but I think they're more odd than ugly. However, it's very likely that my sense of style is warped non-existent.) 

She's had them for a few weeks now, so maybe she'll jump on here and tell us how she likes them so far....

Birthday Quote...

...worth saving:

"Dude, that's not syrup, that's grease."

Yum.

"Sometimes I just don't feel like moving my arms..."

I've seen this before, but I just watched it again (PC just sent it to me) and I was cracking up, so it's gotta be worth posting:


"...food into our customers gaping craws..."

Too funny.



I think this might fall into the odd sense of humor category...

The Loon Center

Although I haven't written much about anything lately, I have quite a few pictures waiting to be posted both from the Oregon coffee trip and from the New Hampshire vacation.
Here's one:

I thought it was appropriate to take my family to visit the Loon Center.

And then I saw this picture, taken on a foray into the Goodwill store a few weeks ago:


Somehow, these pictures seemed appropriate together.

It's a Sign

This sign was good enough to find a spot to turn around and go back to snap a picture:

You can see M's smiling face in the side mirror. We were cracking up. I didn't want to take the chance of it not being here next time I drove by; I had to get a picture. Actually, I got several.

There were other -worse- words painted onto the board and scribbled out with spray paint, but apparently the most important word was unmistakable.

I wonder who lives down that way?

Bear Warning

After being enthralled with 'Moose Crossing' signs while in New Hampshire, I can especially appreciate this Warning sign.
I would be happy to give credit to whoever is responsible for this sign, but I don't know who that would be. PC sent it to me, but it's likely it was forwarded to him, too.
Whoever you are, thank you for the laugh; it's too good not to share.

Analytics

Occasionally I take a look at the Google Analytics site to keep tabs on web site visitors.
Here are the most recent Google searches that brought people over here to this blog:

1. weird load stickers
2. why can vultures eat rotten shit
3. west virginia
4. mud boots
5. should i refrigerate my dogs stool sample
6. halloween
7. "office mess" jokes
8. "weird load" bumpersticker

'Shoot to Win'

I followed this down Route 50, coming back from Preston County:



I've always said that I am going to get a bumper sticker made especially for PC that says "Weird Load," but this guy wins for the day because, for once, our load wasn't all that weird.
What were we hauling? You'll have to wait until I get time to post about it over at The Grafton 123 House of Coffee blog site.....

Flying Silver Tricycle

Every once in a while I drive by this tricycle.
Every time I drive by, I say I need to stop and take a picture.
Yesterday I finally did.



I was kinda' hoping someone would come out of the house and ask me what I was doing, but the driveway is long and no one did.
I still want to ask if there's some significance or symbolism in a suspended silver tricycle.




Maybe they just couldn't bear to part with it when their child grew up and eventually moved away.
Maybe they couldn't stand to find another home for it, so hung it in the tree to keep it out of the way but close at hand, waiting for grandkids perhaps.

Eyeballs

During my bout with the flu, my two youngest kids left this on the kitchen table for me when they left for school. I took a picture and forgot about it until I uploaded my pics yesterday.