Have you seen my new shoes? They're not made out of wood! (A little shout out to the Pammer on that one)

I noticed Sunday night at work that I had a hole inside my shoe. Not in the shoe, like you could see it, but in the sole inside the shoe. I was quite distraught. Not just because I really like those shoes, but because I just bought a new pair of shoes like a month ago. As most of you know, I'm not a big fan of spending the money. Don't do shopping sprees, try not to buy too many needless things.

It all started when I went to find my tennis shoes. Summer is over, and I can't run around in my Hirachis anymore. So I dug them out of the closet, and discovered some web-looking things in them. Sounds bad, I know, but I haven't worn them in months! Well, I was afraid that spiders were living in them, so I decided to go buy some new tennis shoes.

Then it hit me. I don't think I've ever bought my own tennis shoes. I may be wrong, I may be forgetting a pair somewhere along the line, but I don't think I am. And chances are if I have bought a pair, the money, in reality, came from mom & dad. So not only have I not had a new pair of tennis shoes in like 10 years, (real tennis shoes, not cheap-ass Keds wannabes), I've never bought them with my very own hard-earned money. WTF?

But hey, I love those shoes! My comfy black sambas with the three white stripes. I had no reason to buy tennis shoes until now. They probably have another 10 years in them, but there's that possible spider thing...

Anyway, off to the mall I went, knowing exactly what I wanted. Shoes just like the old ones, only blue! Just one problem. They don't exist! I don't know what I was thinking. After 10 years they're going to have the exact same little soccer-type shoes on the market? Yeah, right. I may not like change, but the rest of the world sure does. I was not happy.

The other thing that ticked me off was that I was apparently invisible to sales people. I went in three stores, didn't even get a hello. One of the stores I was in, a manly athletic-type place, was truly terrible. I walked the perimeter of the store twice, picked shoes up, went back and forth between a few pairs, and nothing. I was pissed! I wanted to tell them that round people wear tennis shoes too, but instead I glared at them and left.

As I passed a fourth store, I saw my new shoes. Not just like my old ones, but pretty damn close. But I vowed that if I was ignored, there would be no new shoes. Luckily, the girl working said hello as soon as I stepped in. I said hello, and that I was going to buy shoes from her because she was the only one to acknowledge me all day. She probably thought I was nuts, but who cares?

So I got my new blue shoes (had to special order them, no shoes small enough at the store) and they arrived in the mail a week later. I was so excited I had to show everyone at work. Pathetic, yes, but it's a milestone ... or something.

My second pair of new shoes, not such a big deal. Just some lovely leather loafer-type things. I like them, but I've bought work shoes before, so no milestones there.

*BURN UPDATE* Now more red and violent-looking, with a nice little scab where I gouged it. The band-aid mark is fainter, but still visible.