It was a great weekend. While I didn't achieve being barefoot for the whole weekend, I did spend most of the weekend without shoes. My previous post discussed my successful hike. While not of epic proportions, it was still a first for me and I was definitely encouraged by the success.
The remainder of Saturday was spend without shoes, except for a short trip to the grocery store where they have requested I wear shoes. The hardware store was a much more positive experience. When I told the owner what I needed he suggested I wait there since there might be glass on the floor in the back. The part I needed was behind where they repair screens and windows, so his concern was genuine. Putting people's perceptions that that the city streets are fill with broken glass, I told him I walk on the city streets all the time. He asked if I also walked on fire as well and I responded that his parking lot was pretty close. (The parking lot was recently paved so it a nice deep black and was hot.) The owner told me he know of a customer that went everywhere barefoot and to the dismay of his wife, even a wedding. So Leblanc's Hardware in Manchester, NH is certified barefoot friendly. Yes I did follow the owner our back and we got the parts I needed.
Sunday, I arrived at church and dropped everyone off at the front door and then found my parking sport. I was half way to the front door when I realized I had left my shoes in the vehicle. I wear shoes at church on Sunday morning mostly out of respect for my mother, who does not wholly embrace my bare footedness. The rest of the day was spent without shoes and even in church my shoes were off most of the time I was sitting or standing in the pew.
Monday, was almost another 100% barefooted day. I visited Wal-Mart in the morning without a single comment by the employees. Upon my return to Wal-Mart for my cell phone which I has somehow left behind I was told I needed to wear shoes. It then dawned on me that Wal-Mart does probably not tell it's employees to kick shoppers our that are barefooted, but rather the employee takes it upon themselves to enforce what they believe is the law or what is socially acceptable. This employee was concerned I would get hurt and I said I hike and do most things barefooted. She was not impressed, but the gentlemen in front of me in line were. I did have to pick up a few groceries for supper, so returned with shoes in had to shop at the nearby Price Rite.
Overall a great week.
Showing posts with label grocery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grocery. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Weekend Update
We had a cold, wet week and I had stomach bug on Tuesday, so my week has not been the best. On Friday I felt good enough and it was warm, though slightly damp outside, so I went running. Went 1.6 miles. I
t wasn't that great, very slow and almost walked at one point, but got it done.
The best part of the weekend was my daughter worked on her Raddish kids meal. She made a One-Pot Pasta Primavera. It had red peppers and broccoli and the kids ate it with only a slight hesitation with the red peppers. They also perfected the Whipped Chocolate Mousse that was a bit runny the last time they made it. When they were done, they cleaned up the kitchen and I cleaned out the refrigerator. Also, while they were cooking I gave the living room a really good clean, so the house is looking a lot better again, but still needs some work.
use code h3rwph to save $20 on a Raddish subscription. Visit http://www.raddishkids.com and check them out.
t wasn't that great, very slow and almost walked at one point, but got it done.
On Saturday was our boy's group Ranger Derby car race. We had been working on the race cars for the past several days and finally got them done Friday night. I headed out the door barefoot and picked up the foster kids mom. As my usual practice I entered the church with my shoes on and then took them off shortly after arriving. Not a single person said a word about my shoeless state. Things are improving.
I got some gas and while pumping my gas barefoot a friend was pumping next to me and we chatted for a while, once again no comment on my bare feet. My local grocery store still hasn't said anything as we picked up the groceries.
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| The pasta primavera with left over fish sticks |
use code h3rwph to save $20 on a Raddish subscription. Visit http://www.raddishkids.com and check them out.
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Still Adjusting
Good Barefoot Day
Another Saturday arrived and it was cold and wet in the morning. Headout out the door without a second thought, but had doubts when my feet hit the cold wet pavement, but kept going. Went out and picked up a friend for my daughters sleepover. Then over to BJ's to pick up some items. Then back over to Price Rite for some basics. Barefoot the whole time and no problems at all.
That afternoon we were invited to a birthday party for the foster boy I have been looking after. I didn't want to show up there barefoot, so I put on my new Xeroshoes. I didn't care for wearing anything, but knowing how people can react to someone who doesn't wear shoes I figure it would be best to have something on my feet. Maybe after I get established as a barefooter I'll be a bit braver,
but for now just being a little cautious.
Exercise
This morning my exercise routine didn't go well at all, not sure what happened. Felt like I got up on the wrong side of the bed and just couldn't get anything right. Think the auto program I'm following should have set me up for a reduced load, that is definitely set up for next week.
Tomorrow we are due for some snow.
Another Saturday arrived and it was cold and wet in the morning. Headout out the door without a second thought, but had doubts when my feet hit the cold wet pavement, but kept going. Went out and picked up a friend for my daughters sleepover. Then over to BJ's to pick up some items. Then back over to Price Rite for some basics. Barefoot the whole time and no problems at all.
That afternoon we were invited to a birthday party for the foster boy I have been looking after. I didn't want to show up there barefoot, so I put on my new Xeroshoes. I didn't care for wearing anything, but knowing how people can react to someone who doesn't wear shoes I figure it would be best to have something on my feet. Maybe after I get established as a barefooter I'll be a bit braver,
but for now just being a little cautious.
Exercise
This morning my exercise routine didn't go well at all, not sure what happened. Felt like I got up on the wrong side of the bed and just couldn't get anything right. Think the auto program I'm following should have set me up for a reduced load, that is definitely set up for next week.
Tomorrow we are due for some snow.
Saturday, March 12, 2016
First Full Day Barefoot & Two Disapprovals
FIRST BAREFOOT DAY
Today I planned to be barefoot all day. I dressed in my nice shorts and headed out. The weather was in the 50's, but it felt cooler with the breeze and on the shady patches of the sidewalk. Our first store was our local hardware store where everyone knows us well. Nothing was said about my feet, but they commented that it was now spring and time for my beard to come off. I told them it was on the agenda for the day.
FIRST ENCOUNTER
The next stop was the grocery store. I've been in there several times now and nothing has been said. Today a customer came up and warned me that I better not let them (meaning the store employees) see that I was not wearing shoes. I told him it was legal. He doubted me so I assured him that no law existed stopping me from shopping in bare feet. He was a bit surprised but eventually said he thought it was gross that I would be spreading my athlete foot fungus all over the store. I was a little taken back by that remark and tried to assure him that athletes foot normally doesn't survive on bare feet, but he turned off down another isle anxious to get away from me. Perhaps I should have responded that it is a good thing he is wearing shoes.
BARNES & NOBLE
Our next store was Barnes & Noble. We stopped at the help desk to get my Nook checked out and then headed to the sweets counter where my daughter got a soda and a free cookie. Then back to the help desk to find a book she wanted, but it was out of my price range this week. She settle on something more affordable. We checked out without any mention of my bare feet.
CONCLUSION
It was a very enjoyable day. I am getting more relaxed going about barefoot, even with the one encounter I had today. I actually felt sorry for him. It was also amazing how many different textures and temperatures your feet cross in a day and the shod never experience it. Probably the best part was my daughter said something about how she wished she could go barefoot and I told her she could. She was surprised, but glad I'll let her go barefoot. She still hasn't taken her shoes off yet, but hopefully she will in the future.
POST SCRIPT
After I wrote this post I headed out once more to my favorite neighborhood dollar store. Was shopping when a store employee approached me and mentioned I was not wearing shoes and then told me that I had to have shoes. He did let me finish shopping, but I cut it to just the one item I needed and then I left. It put a little damper on my day, but it still was still a good day.
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| After my first full barefoot day |
FIRST ENCOUNTER
The next stop was the grocery store. I've been in there several times now and nothing has been said. Today a customer came up and warned me that I better not let them (meaning the store employees) see that I was not wearing shoes. I told him it was legal. He doubted me so I assured him that no law existed stopping me from shopping in bare feet. He was a bit surprised but eventually said he thought it was gross that I would be spreading my athlete foot fungus all over the store. I was a little taken back by that remark and tried to assure him that athletes foot normally doesn't survive on bare feet, but he turned off down another isle anxious to get away from me. Perhaps I should have responded that it is a good thing he is wearing shoes.
BARNES & NOBLE
Our next store was Barnes & Noble. We stopped at the help desk to get my Nook checked out and then headed to the sweets counter where my daughter got a soda and a free cookie. Then back to the help desk to find a book she wanted, but it was out of my price range this week. She settle on something more affordable. We checked out without any mention of my bare feet.
CONCLUSION
It was a very enjoyable day. I am getting more relaxed going about barefoot, even with the one encounter I had today. I actually felt sorry for him. It was also amazing how many different textures and temperatures your feet cross in a day and the shod never experience it. Probably the best part was my daughter said something about how she wished she could go barefoot and I told her she could. She was surprised, but glad I'll let her go barefoot. She still hasn't taken her shoes off yet, but hopefully she will in the future.
POST SCRIPT
After I wrote this post I headed out once more to my favorite neighborhood dollar store. Was shopping when a store employee approached me and mentioned I was not wearing shoes and then told me that I had to have shoes. He did let me finish shopping, but I cut it to just the one item I needed and then I left. It put a little damper on my day, but it still was still a good day.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Feet Warm - Hands Cold
RUNNING
Today I went for my Sunday run and it was soooo nice. The pavement felt warm beneath my soles. The only thing I notice was a slight discomfort on my middle toe on the right foot. I haven't figured out what it was, probably just still getting use to running barefoot. On the other hand, my hands were noticeably cold, guess I should have worn some light gloves or maybe a hat. My time is still pretty steady at around 12 minute mile, but heart rate is at running at least at 80% of maximum capacity. So I probably should start going at a slower pace more often. Especially since I want to increase my running to 3 times a week.
ALMOST FREEZING TEMPERATURE
I had thought the temperatures for the day were going to be in the 40's, but since my hands felt so cold I look at my Garmin running report and the temperature was 39ºF with 6 mph winds which converts to 35ºF temperature, just a few degrees above freezing and my bare feet was very comfortable. I love that my feet were fine and find it interesting that my hands were the ones having a problem.
STORE & CHURCH
Visited the neighborhood grocery store again with no problems and I'm starting to feeling more relaxed. Church in the morning I put my shoes on in the van upon arriving and took them off upon returning to the van. I haven't figure out how to handle this one since I attend church with my mom. My mom was instrumental in starting this church and I want to be respectful, so I'll play this one by ear. In the evening I go back to the church and work with the boys group. I wear my shoes into the church but then after the meeting starts I take them off, but have them sitting by my chair. I think come summer when others start wearing their flip flops I'll leave the shoes at home.
Today I went for my Sunday run and it was soooo nice. The pavement felt warm beneath my soles. The only thing I notice was a slight discomfort on my middle toe on the right foot. I haven't figured out what it was, probably just still getting use to running barefoot. On the other hand, my hands were noticeably cold, guess I should have worn some light gloves or maybe a hat. My time is still pretty steady at around 12 minute mile, but heart rate is at running at least at 80% of maximum capacity. So I probably should start going at a slower pace more often. Especially since I want to increase my running to 3 times a week.
ALMOST FREEZING TEMPERATURE
I had thought the temperatures for the day were going to be in the 40's, but since my hands felt so cold I look at my Garmin running report and the temperature was 39ºF with 6 mph winds which converts to 35ºF temperature, just a few degrees above freezing and my bare feet was very comfortable. I love that my feet were fine and find it interesting that my hands were the ones having a problem.
STORE & CHURCH
Visited the neighborhood grocery store again with no problems and I'm starting to feeling more relaxed. Church in the morning I put my shoes on in the van upon arriving and took them off upon returning to the van. I haven't figure out how to handle this one since I attend church with my mom. My mom was instrumental in starting this church and I want to be respectful, so I'll play this one by ear. In the evening I go back to the church and work with the boys group. I wear my shoes into the church but then after the meeting starts I take them off, but have them sitting by my chair. I think come summer when others start wearing their flip flops I'll leave the shoes at home.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Another Run and a Grocery Store
Sundays I attend church in the morning. The church has a poured concrete floor and even with my Vivobarefoot shoes I can still feel the heat being taken from my body, so it is not warm enough to skip the shoes at church just yet. We are still in the middle of winter, so I feel lucky to have accomplished as much as I have so far.
THE RUN
Sunday arrived warm again, so I decided to take another run in the afternoon. I was hoping to be able to run the whole mile. This run has more up hills compared to the last run on Thursday, so I wasn't sure I would make the whole distance. Once again I notice how cool the pavement was and you could feel where the sun had a chance to thaw out the ground a bit more. Running barefoot tunes you into nature to a whole new level, even though I am in the middle of the city. My toes got a bit cold on this run, but I managed to run the whole mile in 12 minutes. I was very happy.
GROCERY STORE
After the run I walked over to the nearby grocery store for some food. It really seems like most people don't notice your feet. When I grabbed a cart it was funny how I thought this would help hide my feet a bit. Was making a ham and chicken casserole, so visited the deli counter to get only the amount of ham I needed, just one thick slice. As the lady took my order and helped me pick out what I wanted I don't think she even noticed my feet. The checkout process at the end went very smoothly as well. Four stores and no problem. This grocery store was the biggest store I have visited yet.
After I finished my run and errands I noticed my feet had warmed up and they stayed nice and toasty warm for the rest of the night.
INSIDE MY HEAD
It is interesting when I read another blog about their barefoot experiences it always did seem they were hyper aware of their feet being bare and most of those around them didn't notice or at least didn't comment. I realized that a lot of my concerns would be in my head and that I too would be hyper aware of my feet while most others wouldn't notice. But you still don't know when you will be called out, so until you have some experience interacting with others a few times you will still be on high alert. Yet despite this the experience is still enjoyable, even though I may be a bit self conscious at this stage. I'm wondering about my own reaction to others reaction will be. Will I be more focused on sharing this new found joy and freedom of walking barefoot or will something else stumble out of my mouth.
Stats:
Miles Run Barefoot: 3
Stores Visited 4
Days 100% Barefoot - 0
THE RUN
Sunday arrived warm again, so I decided to take another run in the afternoon. I was hoping to be able to run the whole mile. This run has more up hills compared to the last run on Thursday, so I wasn't sure I would make the whole distance. Once again I notice how cool the pavement was and you could feel where the sun had a chance to thaw out the ground a bit more. Running barefoot tunes you into nature to a whole new level, even though I am in the middle of the city. My toes got a bit cold on this run, but I managed to run the whole mile in 12 minutes. I was very happy.
GROCERY STORE
After the run I walked over to the nearby grocery store for some food. It really seems like most people don't notice your feet. When I grabbed a cart it was funny how I thought this would help hide my feet a bit. Was making a ham and chicken casserole, so visited the deli counter to get only the amount of ham I needed, just one thick slice. As the lady took my order and helped me pick out what I wanted I don't think she even noticed my feet. The checkout process at the end went very smoothly as well. Four stores and no problem. This grocery store was the biggest store I have visited yet.
After I finished my run and errands I noticed my feet had warmed up and they stayed nice and toasty warm for the rest of the night.
INSIDE MY HEAD
It is interesting when I read another blog about their barefoot experiences it always did seem they were hyper aware of their feet being bare and most of those around them didn't notice or at least didn't comment. I realized that a lot of my concerns would be in my head and that I too would be hyper aware of my feet while most others wouldn't notice. But you still don't know when you will be called out, so until you have some experience interacting with others a few times you will still be on high alert. Yet despite this the experience is still enjoyable, even though I may be a bit self conscious at this stage. I'm wondering about my own reaction to others reaction will be. Will I be more focused on sharing this new found joy and freedom of walking barefoot or will something else stumble out of my mouth.
Stats:
Miles Run Barefoot: 3
Stores Visited 4
Days 100% Barefoot - 0
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