January 17, 2007

The End of the Ugliest Boots in the World

Last winter we were going through a period of great impecuniousness. I had just started graduate school, and Stuart was in the midst of a long wait before receiving his permanent residency and being able to work in Canada. And so when the snow came in late November 2005, we didn’t have a lot of choice in terms of winter boots. We had to buy the Cheapest Winter Boots in the World, which were on sale two for one and came to about $80 for both pairs. And the Cheapest Winter Boots in the World were also the Ugliest Boots in the World. I was absolutely ashamed of them. They were also horribly uncomfortable too. We both hated them from the start, but they were what we had. And I’d forgotten about their awfulness until this week when I hauled them out of the back of the closet. I wore them to work and back Monday and Tuesday morning this week. Last night I showed Stuart the damage to my ankles which had resulted: blisters bubbling up on the bone, and the top of the boot also cut in through my skin a few centimetres above. In addition, these boots put holes in socks. Anyway, the happy ending is that upon seeing my ankles, Stuart proclaimed that I can buy new boots this weekend. He’s not being so generous. He hates his boots too. I am pleased, however, as I was intending to put in another season on account of thrift. Thrift schrift, though, apparently. How nice.