The Vent and Rant Thread

[cromag]

The furnace is on the blink.

Last month -- December 22nd, to be exact -- I noticed that the house felt chilly. I checked the thermostat and it was still set at 70, where it was supposed to be, but the house temperature was 66.

The furnace uses 4 inch thick high efficiency filters that are supposed to be changed every 6 to 12 months. It hadn't been 12 months yet, but I replaced the filter anyway. To do that you have to shut the system completely off. When I started it back up with the new filter, the heat came back on and the house warmed up. I figured I'd found the problem.

Tonight, I noticed that the house was a bit cool again. I checked the thermostat again and it was a replay of last time -- the thermostat was still set at 70, but the house temperature was 66. I tried raising the setting, but that didn't do anything. So, I shut the system down and checked the filter. No surprise, the filter looked practically new. But, when I started the system back up the heat came on. For now, at least.

Fortunately, we have a maintenance contract with the local gas utility. It'll take them a while to get someone out, but that's not too much of a problem -- especially if I can get the system to limp along and crank out a little heat. My biggest concern is that they'll come out, say that it's working now, and ask me to call back again the next time it's not working.

[badgoodDeb]

Maybe call ahead and ask if they need to see the fault in action. And if so, get a few electric space heaters.
Dollars to donuts, though, they'll say it's the "motherboard" (whatever the furnace equivalent is) which doubtless costs an arm and a leg.

[Rumpelteazer]

Why I hate clothes shopping.

I've been thinking of getting a skirt (no I don't have any, I only have trousers), to be worn with a legging (because it's impossible for me to find tights that fit properly). But then I started wondering what shoes to wear. I don't do heals, due to floppy ankles. I have only one or two pairs of shoes that can be considered cute, but those aren't shoes I can work all day in. Sneakers could also work, but I only got very basic black sneaker that are in need of replacing.

So now I'm first looking for sneakers that look nice and are comfortable. Or maybe some Dr. Martens. And this is the reason why I always dress in jeans, a simple top or t-shirt and a cardigan.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

Why I hate clothes shopping.

I've been thinking of getting a skirt (no I don't have any, I only have trousers), to be worn with a legging (because it's impossible for me to find tights that fit properly). But then I started wondering what shoes to wear. I don't do heals, due to floppy ankles. I have only one or two pairs of shoes that can be considered cute, but those aren't shoes I can work all day in. Sneakers could also work, but I only got very basic black sneaker that are in need of replacing.

So now I'm first looking for sneakers that look nice and are comfortable. Or maybe some Dr. Martens. And this is the reason why I always dress in jeans, a simple top or t-shirt and a cardigan.

Wedges. They are the answer to your dilemma. Trust me.

Hitch

[4691mls]

Maybe some Mary Jane style flats? I've been thinking of looking for some of those for myself. I don't like to order shoes online though because I'm hard to fit and there aren't many good shoe stores where I live.

Something like one of these:

https://www.zappos.com/p/trotters-de...4476/color/401

https://www.6pm.com/p/nine-west-aime...293268/color/3

[tempest@de]

what about some boots? if you are going for leggings you could pair them with boots.

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

Maybe some Mary Jane style flats? I've been thinking of looking for some of those for myself. I don't like to order shoes online though because I'm hard to fit and there aren't many good shoe stores where I live.

Something like one of these:

https://www.zappos.com/p/trotters-de...4476/color/401

https://www.6pm.com/p/nine-west-aime...293268/color/3

Those shoes are nice, but I won't be able to work in the store all day wearing those.

I was on the Dr. Martens website and they also have Mary Janes, very chunky, but very much my style. I know Dr. Martens support my feet enough for me to be able to wear them all day. I had their Polley shoes at uni, they were painful to break in but once I did they were my favourite shoes.

Originally Posted by tempest@de

what about some boots? if you are going for leggings you could pair them with boots.

I would love to get higher book, and some biker (like) boots, but I have chunky calves, so finding boots that both fit and that I like is very hard. I can do lace up boots, like the classic Dr. Martens or Timberlands, but that's it.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

Those shoes are nice, but I won't be able to work in the store all day wearing those.

I was on the Dr. Martens website and they also have Mary Janes, very chunky, but very much my style. I know Dr. Martens support my feet enough for me to be able to wear them all day. I had their Polley shoes at uni, they were painful to break in but once I did they were my favourite shoes.

Rumple, seriously, shoes should NEVER be painful or uncomfortable to break in. If they are, they are the wrong size or wrong last for your feet. Please believe me on that.


Hitch

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Rumple, seriously, shoes should NEVER be painful or uncomfortable to break in. If they are, they are the wrong size or wrong last for your feet. Please believe me on that.


Hitch

I only make an exception for Dr. Martens, it's because when they're new the leather is stiff and usually (but not always) the top of my toes, where they bend, get sore until the leather has become supple. My last pair of Dr. Martens weren't a problem to wear in. The Mary Janes were, but that was because they were slightly too big IIRC (I couldn't be bothered to wait for the right size to be ordered). But once the leather has become supple Dr. Martens usually last me years, the biggest problem is me taking care of them.

I have weird feet; my toes are long, so that end of my feet are wide, but my heel is very narrow. I just can't wear narrow-toed shoes. My walking boots are men's boots, as are my Timberlands. Dr. Martens, even with narrower toed shoes, are wide enough not to smoosh my toes together. Looking back I'm amazed at how I was able to wear pointy cowboy boots during my secondary school years.

[Hemmi]

Don't know if you have them over in Europe but I love my Klogs. I can't wear heels either but the soles on the Klogs are like an inch and a half thick so I get an extra boost in height. I am on my feet the majority of the day, running around, and my feet never hurt.

[silverraven]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

I have weird feet; my toes are long, so that end of my feet are wide, but my heel is very narrow. I just can't wear narrow-toed shoes.

Yes yes this is my feet exactly!!! I live in my New Balance runners. But only certain ones, some have a toe box that is too small for me. I hate trying to find 'girl shoes' that fit. And heels? Forget it!
S

[badgoodDeb]

Originally Posted by silverraven

Yes yes this is my feet exactly!!! I live in my New Balance runners. But only certain ones, some have a toe box that is too small for me. I hate trying to find 'girl shoes' that fit. And heels? Forget it!
S

New Balance does list which of their "Lasts" each shoe is build on. Maybe some digging will help you avoid the ones that don't work?

Me, I need a 4E wide, which I can only find in some brands. Plus an orthotic. So sneakers all the way, when I can find ones that work.

[silverraven]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

New Balance does list which of their "Lasts" each shoe is build on. Maybe some digging will help you avoid the ones that don't work?

Oh yeah, I am familiar with which Lasts work for me! I had a favorite, then they changed the toe box a few years ago. It made me very sad.
My sister has a narrow foot and complains about it alllll the time. I keep trying to explain that if you have narrow feet you can pad up a shoe, but if you can't even get your foot into a shoe there is nothing you can do! She still complains.....
S

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by silverraven

Yes yes this is my feet exactly!!! I live in my New Balance runners. But only certain ones, some have a toe box that is too small for me. I hate trying to find 'girl shoes' that fit. And heels? Forget it!
S

Me, too. Wide toe box (with pincer nails, too, [genetic, thanks, Grandad!] which means I need roomy-on-top toe boxes) and narrow-as-hell heels, off of which EVERYTHING slides, plus high arches. And I hate open-back shoes, too.

I live in Mephistos, sneakers and anything else i can find that fits, which ain't much. Oh, and sloppy Acorn mocs, around the house, like slippers. Because I live in the boonies, "just" going shoe shopping to see if I can find shoes that perfectly (ha, ha, ha, what a concept, as if...) fit my feet is not on, so I end up with wasted bought-online shoes.

SOOO frustrating. British-last shoes used to work for me,(the old Bally brand fit quite well) but that was 30 years ago. As my feet have not particularly aged well, my old standbys don't work any longer.

Hitch

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by silverraven

Oh yeah, I am familiar with which Lasts work for me! I had a favorite, then they changed the toe box a few years ago. It made me very sad.
My sister has a narrow foot and complains about it alllll the time. I keep trying to explain that if you have narrow feet you can pad up a shoe, but if you can't even get your foot into a shoe there is nothing you can do! She still complains.....
S

I have narrow feet, especially the heels, and adding padding does not work for me. Adding padding at the heel shoves my foot forward in the shoe so that my already-too-long toes are even more cramped, and then the shoes still slide on my heels.

The only shoes that really stay on my feet without slipping when I walk are lace-up shoes (and even a lot of athletic shoes are too pointy in the toes) or sandals where all the straps adjust. I have calluses all over my heels from years of wearing dress shoes that slip when I walk.

I guess I need to move somewhere where it's warm all year so I could just wear sandals all the time