Algern0n

Into the Rain: Would rep you if I could on Robert Musil. One of the authors I like but most hate reading. The Confusions of Young Torless left me really dissatisfied in the best way. His writing is like a yawn that doesn't click that lets you keeping yawning these almost-rewarding yawns. That won't make sense to anyone but me, I bet...

Antihero and/or poopslushie: What is Catch22 like? It's been on my list for a while, but I don't think I can start something that will be a tremendous amount of work to read right before I go back to school.

In the meantime:

The man was a cot-damn superhero.

Followed by:

Thanks! It took way too long (a solid hour) considering it is only a few feet tall, but in my defense I only used the pocket knife I had on me and had previously always been a snow-fort elitist.

My STFs and I took advantage of the snow and made a snowshark!

Ok, so that was after last week's storm, but I needed someone to see it!

Smoke break after shoveling.

1 day old RWs! Can't wait to show 'em off when they've seen some shit.

I'm not sure if I am breaking in my new Red Wing GTs as much as they are breaking me in! I sealed them with the leather protectant that Baker Shoes shipped them with, and they held up great shoveling our driveway of the 2 feet of snow that dumped on us last night. I'm really pleased but mostly looking forward to a time when my shins and ankles do not feel like burger when I take the my shoes off. Pics to follow later (not of foot-burgers).

Wwiiimpressions.com makes some cool boots for under 200. And the Chippewa boots for LLbean- the khatadhin(sp?) those are pretty good.

I like the roughouts from wwiiimpressions, but it seemed like the consensus from everyone's experience is that customer service is rough and there is a tremendous wait for most sizes. I can't make it through any more of this winter in topsiders.

I've been looking at Chippewa's too, including the Bean's Katahdin, but I can't find anything appropriate with leather that can take a polish. I don't need to have shoes that I can dress up appropriately, but I hate how the nubuck-y looking leather scratches and looks dull, rather than brilliant when worn in. I appreciate the suggestions though! I'm just being picky because I don't want to be tempted to buy any other "lifetime" boots until I am making some good bank.

I ordered a pair of Red Wing GTs and they should be here in a few days. If they fit, everything is tits and I'll be happy. If they are too large (a measurably small possibility), I'm sending 'em back. I'm not sure if I would exchange them for another size, as I really shouldn't have bought anything for $230 dollars (poor college kid in need of books and all). What I want to know is if there are any similar boots that are worth buying for under $200 bucks? I'm looking for a low-profile lace-up 6 inch boot with a leather midsole, and I would prefer a sole without giant lugs.

About 400 pages back I read that RWs don't come with insoles... my bad.

Also, with all these people wearing boots every day, I have to imagine some are going to be pretty opinionated about socks. What's everyone wear sockwise? I feel like it might be time to step my sock-game up above Costco wool socks.

How necessary are aftermarket insoles in Red Wing GTs? I have a pair on the way and am anxious to get em on my feet.