How I Learned to Stop Hating and Love the Slippah

Left behind.

Until the last year I never understood how some people could wear flip flops anytime anywhere.  I wondered why one would subject one’s foot to such exposure.  Plus it was rare to find a pair that actually fit.  This resulted in many bad experiences of tripping and stubbing toes.  For this reason they were seldom worn and I never had opportunity to find a good pair.  Sure there were a few great fits and uses here and there over the years; after soccer, showers in college, camping, going to the pool, lakes, beaches.  A pair would last a decade in the midwest… and I could never bring myself to buy a second pair until the last wore out… even when they didn’t fit.

Two weeks ago I wore a pair of shoes to go on a hike.  Last weekend I put some on to ride my bike.  A year ago I began to wonder what it would be like not to wear shoes all the time.  Then I moved to Hawaii.  There are stores dedicated to the island footwear and companies that specialize in personal fitting of a slippah.

I now have at least 4 pair:  One for the beach, which I can’t wait to wear out; one for going out, when I want to look nice; one because it was a good deal on line, still breaking those in; and one backup in the car, for those unexpected occasions… flip flop failure/loss/post hike relief.

I hope to share more in future posts.  Topics to include:

Flip Flop Failures and Shortcomings

Lost Flip Flops

Stuck Flip Flops

Sippah Parking

Related Injuries

What?  you found this post and read this far?  Comment on which topic most intrigues you.

And for those unfamiliar a definition of slippah:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=rubbah%20slippah

Dear future self,

Please don’t look this up in 20 years and be sad you didn’t buy it:

http://www.unitedlandsales.com/land-for-sale/Hawaii/Parcel-022-Lot-633-Black-Sand-Beach-Subdivision/16

The link probably wont work anyway.  You don’t really have the cash on hand now and it would cost you hundreds of todays dollars to do your due diligence.  You know like 1997 when you wanted to buy stock in Apple at $17.  Before several 2:1 splits and reinvested dividends.  That idea would only be worth enough to buy the land and pay off your car now.  Too bad.

After thousands of miles and many falls I finally had the one that broke my camel.

This is back information for the previous post.  Explaining why I needed a new bike after 16 years.  

 

Took a spill last night returning from listening to jimmy buffett in the park.  Let’s just say I thought I could fit past the gate…  I got my pedal past but I think the curb might have been too high for the derailleur, or maybe the quick release got caught.  Slow motion fall ensued. Result: bent rim (blown tire from riding on bent rim), jammed thumb, and road rash on knee and shin. I was looking at parts and thought:  If I get a new cassette, I’ll want a new chain; if I get a new chain, I’ll want a new crankset; if i get a new crankset, i’ll want a new bottom bracket.  Oh and Ishould probably replace the derailleurs, cables, and brakes too.  So it was on to searching for a new bike.

 

First ride on the new bike.

Purchased a commuter bike over the weekend, specialized sirrus.  Opted for the base model since I don’t know where it is going to be locked up or if I’ll accidentally ride it into the ocean.  

Installed kid seat and took grae for an inaugural 7 mile cruise to the bank and around diamond head. Overall good feel and seemed a bit more stable with grae on board. Due to fork as well as tire size and position. Remorse of today is noticing that the front chainrings as well as shifters are pressed not forged, oops. And handle bar kid carriers don’t mix well with trigger shifting. Curious kids may change gears when you are signaling. But, Grae was signaling with me today so that was kind of fun.

80% of drivers here don’t understand the concept of sharing the road or yielding to a bicycle or ped.

Incidents from today:

Cars with no oncoming traffic not moving past center line when passing. (Happens several times on every ride)

Cars passing with ample space (thank you) but then not realizing you are going to catch up to them at the stop sign, or light, or parked cars.

Car almost turning right in front of me. (result nasty look while tracking her eyecontact)

Range rover speeding up to pass with ample room (thank you) but then slowing down and taking up the lane in front of me.  Then cutting me off by turning right into a parking lot. also signaled late. (wtf look almost flipped off)

Aloha

No excuses.

Turns out I could remember my password.  No excuses for not posting now.  However I am somewhat hesitant to start yet one more thing I am going to have to manage separately from the rest of my digital domain.  Do I post here, facebook, google+, or just keep it to myself?  What should it look like?  Should I keep the tone consistent and on topic, or just dogmatically ramble? Plus, who am I to assume anyone wants to read me?  I’ll start small and find just a few.

rain face

I live in Hawaii, didn’t see that coming. After 10pm it cooled down a bit, 78. Rained a bit, and after sitting on the lanai I started browsing on my phone. Ended up on facebook. Had some flashbacks and need to get the last half hour of my life back.

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