Merry Christmas to me!

[Jeff]

I was looking for something, and ended up in the bowls of our office area closet. Clearly I had not been in there in a long time. Back in the far dark corner I found not what I was looking for, but something that was placed there a long time ago, before I left the mill, which I think was around 2005. Can't remember.

I've been needing a pair of decent shoes as mine have all gotten really rugged and hard on my feet. There in the darkness of the closet floor was the last pair of boots that the company bought for me. Still brand new. I would never buy Rockies if it wasn't for the mill reimbursements we got on safety shoes. I must of stashed them in there knowing it would be months before I was back after that last shoulder surgery and when I was never able to go back, just forgot about them. What a find!

[CCCLLC]

That is a pretty sweet  find. Doesn't get much better.  Mink oil and go.

[doc henderson]

Merry Christmas.  "God bless us everyone!"  Tiny Tim.  

[Nebraska]

Yeah that's pretty awesome.  

[Texas Ranger]

I put up a pair of combat boots I brought back and, like you, forgot them until years later.  When I tried them on they fit perfectly, except for the soft soles had turned to concrete.

[SwampDonkey]

I did that once with a near pristine pair of Redwings, they were in a trunk. I put them on and went for a walk up the road. By the time I got home the soles were falling off. So not a good ending and as I recall, they were $US300 boots. Not what one expects from a  respected boot maker, as we had purchased a few of their boots over the years. I don't know if it was a Chinese joke or what? I also asked a boot shop if they could put new soles on, they said there is no foundation to attach a sole to.

[Peter Drouin]

good for you boss

[Cedarman]

Soles for the Soul.  Merry Christman

[Old Greenhorn]

Nice score Jeff. I too had lots of boots and safety shoes from work collected over the years and still have 2 pairs of Keene's low hikers I am wearing through, plus some zip sides. None are new but still in working condition.
 Daily work boots I am now reduced to buying on my own   and the brand/style I finally settled on is now discontinued.

Swamp, back in the late 90's Red Wing had an issue with rubber, their soles, and their glue process. I too was a 'Red Wing' guy back then but after 3 pairs in a row self destructed, I quit them. Plus, they were no longer making boots that were comfortable on concrete floors 12 hours/day.

 My buddy Bill is about quit on them too now after a lifetime buying the same style high logger's boots, 2 pair at a time. They discontinued the style on him. He is pretty angry about the whole thing and has now, after 2 years, run out of stores that still might have a pair left in stock.

[SwampDonkey]

Yeah, I been buying from two Canadian makers the last 2 pairs of shoes/boots. One in Winnipeg, Man. and one in Quebec. Great shoes, well constructed, and feel good. They mostly cater to the cowboy style, but one of them do make working man boots as well. Nobody stocks Canadian made around here, for at least 30 years. I like my Bean boots out of Maine as well for winter. Maine used to make Dexter brand as well, have not seen them for years. Was an outlet not far from here in Presque Isle, Maine. Those border towns have pretty much gone destitute, except Walmart, Marden's and places to eat. Those towns had lots of nice stores years ago.

[SawyerTed]

That's a great "gift"!   

This is a good reminder.  

Work boots are like saw blades, consumable. Except we tend to get attached to a pair of boots and wear them too long.  

I have boots I've worn off and on for years.  Only one pair is "comfortable" lately.  It's time for the others to go.  My feet have gotten bigger -used to be 9.5, now 11.  

[gspren]

I have bad ankles, knees, and memory and have found that Merrel shoes help with 2 out of 3.

[WV Sawmiller]

That is a pretty sweet  find. Doesn't get much better.  Mink oil and go.

I like that since Jeff keeps complaining about his unwanted guest at his pond stealing his fish. Now when he catches the critter we know what he will be doing with it. Get to work there Cedar!

[Jeff]

Merry Christmas me. The video

When I took those pics.

[Jim_Rogers]

The only thing I can say about this is "I love when that happens".

Jim Rogers

[Jeff]

It almost as good as the birthday present I got just a few years ago. For an entire year I was thinking I was a year older than I really was. I dunno why, I just did. And the when my birthday came around, I found I was going to stay the same age for another year! That's pretty hard to beat.

[WV Sawmiller]

Jeff,

   I don't know why you are surprised. My wife, and many women I know, has not gotten one year older in many, many years.

[Resonator]

Great find!

Reminds me of when I worked driving delivery routes, and I'd be issued uniform shirts, and a jacket or a winter coat for free from the company every year. After a few years I had a whole wardrobe of them. Funny thing was complete strangers would call me by first name. It would throw me off guard until I'd remember my name was written on my shirt.

Now I'm self employed, I don't get issued clothes. But I do get the tax write off on boots, gloves, and other work expenses.

[GAB]

Jeff,

  I don't know why you are surprised. My wife, and many women I know, has not gotten one year older in many, many years.

You mean like 39 for the 42nd time.
GAB

[SawyerTed]

29 again!?!?

[Hilltop366]

I did find $20 on the ground the other day but a new pair of boots would be better. One of our rental properties is across the road from a small grocery store and there is often some garbage blowing over so I took a picture of the 20 and sent it to my brother saying "finally something decent blew across the road".

SD a few years ago I went to town for some new work boots and tried Walmart expecting to find Made in China boots but most of them were made in Canada, unfortunately the did not fit me well and I ended getting some from Marks that were made in China but fit better and were way more comfortable for me.

[WV Sawmiller]

Hilltop.

   Have you had a DNA test to see if you have Chinese DNA since that seems to be the kind of feet you have?

[Hilltop366]

No Chinese DNA, got mostly French and a bit of English, Mi'kmaq, Berber.....

I do have a friend that is Chinese, when we started getting cheap stuff from China back in the 80's someone say that made in China stuff is no good he would say "hey I was made in China"

[WV Sawmiller]

Hilltop.

   It good I was not there .I'd have probably smarted off and said something like "See, that proves it." and either made the guy mad or hurt his feelings, neither of which would I mean to do. 

[SwampDonkey]

I guarantee there are no Canada made boots in Walmart near here, never did have any. I think your memory is questionable. :D When ours first opened, all the Christmas lights were made in the USA. All that stuff now is all China. Never had a Chinese shoe last more than 6 months, even moccasin style slippers that are knock offs at Walmart, the rubber sole break up like crackers.   I have a pair of LL beans that are now 4 years old and going strong. Nice and comfy warm to, and my feet don't sweet in them. Prospector used to make their shoes in Canada, then they started using China. They tried to keep up their policy of replacing shoes that needed repair, because it got so bad they stopped the policy. Haven't seen them in years. I get my casuals now at Boulet Boots, gotta wait a few weeks because they make them on demand. The pair I have now is going on the 3rd year. Wear them every day. Prospector always went in the heal, the leather would wear out. Not Boulet, far superior, vibrum sole and leather heal.  The  Hide  in Dartmouth carries the brand, they probably only stock the western style boots because most of their dealers are tack shops. You can buy up all the Chinese stuff you want, won't affect me.