I may have made a terrible mistake. Yep... I think I bought a crappy pair of shoes!!! I had a feeling this might happen!! I wasn't certain they were The Pair when I bought them today. I had doubts. But I always have doubts when I buy shoes! I even doubted my last pair as I walked out the door with them, but by the end of the evening, it was more than apparent that they were perfect. I've worn them almost daily since I bought them in February, which is kind of obvious when you look at them. They're a little dingy, sure. A little greyer than their first day out of the box. But they're so freakin' comfortable, and I love them!!

Why the new shoes, then, you ask? Well, I'll tell you. It's this crazy new job I have. I love my new job, don't get me wrong. Love! The second night went even better than the first, complete with hugs from my co-workers and everything. I think the phrase, "You are the most awesome New Person ever!" may have been tossed in my direction. Also? People I can banter with? Best thing ever! I'm just saying.

Well, we had a work meeting Sunday night, so I dressed kind of nice. Not as nice as I would have if I'd had to work and interact with customers, yet not as "laid-back" (sure, that's a nice way to put it) as if I'd stayed home watching t.v. with Joe (which is what my previous Sunday night plans had been!). In other words, I didn't go to work in my pajamas, which I thought was a pretty smart move.

I may have mentioned this is a clothing store, big on popular fashions, etc, so when I arrived and saw that at least one other girl was dressed kind of like me, I figured I'd made a few smart outfit choices. Go, me!

Then came the presentation. Yeah. The "what not to wear to work" presentation. I'm sure you see where this is going. The girl who I thought was dressed similar to me? She'd been dressed up pre-meeting as the "don't dress like this" girl. My heart sank. Damn it.

My past couple of jobs have not only been "no need to dress up" kinds of jobs, they've been, "please don't dress up or you may hurt yourself" kinds of jobs. Seriously, walking big strong dogs in platform shoes? I don't think so. Walking around a marsh in my Sunday best? Not a good idea.

So that's why I knew I could get excited about finally having a gig that requires me to get a little dressed up and be fashionable. As I've said, being girly can be fun. Trying out new trends and looking sharp can be great, in fact. But shoe shopping? Please dear god, no. I am not a shoe shopper! I've never been one of those girls with twenty pairs of shoes. I don't ever plan on being one, either. If I must confess, I have no real shoe affinity.

Right now, I own:

1) a pair of sandals from Payless that I've worn once because I had to go to a nice restaurant. They're not comfortable!

2) a pair of sandals I love and wear often, but only for short periods of time, or errands which require mostly driving and not so much walking, because I have no orthotics to go inside them.

3) my wedding shoes in my closet which are cute but insanely uncomfortable, and which I'm likely never to wear again in my entire life.

4) my trusty New Balance sneakers I wear everywhere and love, love, love!

5) my brand new Skechers I just bought today... They're like little elf bowling shoes with the upturned toe and all. I'm not so sure I like that particular aspect. I'm not so sure I like them at all, in fact!

The first pair I tried on today sucked weasels. It was not a happy-feet situation. The next pair I tried on worked. They felt okay. The Skechers sales guy was super helpful, too, and yanked out the insoles so I could stick in my orthotics. I walked around and around, feeling fine, chatting with the sales folks. So I bought them. And just like last time, I did get to wear them out of the store! I love it when that happens! Except I realized only today why they let you do that. Not so much for the sake of convenience, really, or for letting you re-live fun childhood memories of walking out of the store, parading your sparkly new shoes for all the world to see. Instead, it's because if shoes are worn, you can't return them for a refund. You can only exchange them for store credit. And you sure as heck can't argue you haven't worn them if they saw you waltz out of the store with them on your happy little feet. It's all about business and money and such. Man. Another optimistic vision, dashed before my very eyes! How am I supposed to retain my childlike innocence when I'm exposed to these kinds of harsh realities? I ask you!

Anyway, I continued my shopping, finally redeeming a gift certificate given to me last Christmas! (I figured it was about time! Hooray for new Victoria's Secret stuff!) The entire time I walked the mall, I concentrated intently on each step I took. Am I aching? Am I in pain? Was that a sharp pain? Are my feet slowly falling apart and reverting back to the horrible state they were in last year??? Because that's what all this worrying is about, really -- the health of my feet! I got so sick/tired/scared of not being able to walk without pain last year that I am paranoid of doing anything that might damage my feet ever again. I never want to relive that!

And even though that's all the walking I did in those shoes today, which was hardly any at all, I'm sitting here tonight with achey feet. Not achey in a, "Boy, I was on my feet a lot today!" feeling, but more of a, "Hooboy! My plantar fascia is experiencing short bursts of pain every 30 seconds or so (sans shoes), and now I am sad," kind of feeling.

I'm frustrated. I don't know whether to return the shoes or give them another chance. (dramatic pause) I guess I'm leaning towards the latter. I think they could grow on me. They are awfully cute, and I hate to turn them away. I just don't want to get hurt... Hee!

Well, I'm working tomorrow. I think I'll wear the new shoes, and take my New Balance sneakers along for the ride. That way, if I really start having a problem, I'll have some shoes I can change into. Who knows? Maybe I'll discover my Skechers aren't so bad after all. Here's hoping!