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8 - Orono Weekly Times Wednesday, July 19, 2006 Basic Black by Arthur Black Fancy footwear? What a Croc! A few weeks ago in this space I wrote that good old running shoes ('sneakers' to our neighbours neighbours to the south) were the best thing to happen to the human pedal extremity this side of a barefoot stroll through wann Mississippi mud. I was mistaken. That honour really goes to Crocs. They go by other names. Some folks call them Jelly shoes. I've also heard described as Holey Soles, Garden Trolls and even Dawgs Clogs. All those names describe a two-year old phenomenon: one-piece slip-on sandals made of a specialized closed-cell resinous foam plastic and available in just about any colour Timothy Leary could imagine. The uppers look like they were caught in a drive-by machine gun attack - they're full of holes that serve as ventilation ports. That's pretty well it for the croc, design- wise. No laces, no arch supports, no shoe tongues or fancy treads. Which makes them dirt-cheap as modern footwear goes. If you're a brand-name slave you can pay anywhere from 30 to 60 bucks for a pair of crocs. I got a pair of knock-offs for $9.95 in a bargain bin at Superstore. Superstore. Even at that, manufacturers manufacturers must be making making a killing, considering that a pair of these things consist of nothing more than approximately two bits worth of molded plastic. But the price tag is not the main attraction of crocs. What's turned this footwear into a US$100 million a year bonanza is the Comfort Factor. Every step you* take with a pair of crocs on your feet is like a personal personal foot massage. They arc what the Earth Shoe was in the Sixties and Birkenstocks in the Seventies - only cheaper and better. And, it must be said, homlier. Crocs are butt ugly. They're called crocs because they look like twin crocodile snouts peeping out from under your pant cuffs. But it's the Cabbage Patch Doll syndrome - crocs are so abidingly homely that they're kind of... loveable. loveable. Think Newman on Seinfeld. Or maybe Gollum in Lord of the Rings. And people do love them. They've become favourites of hospital workers who have to stand on cold, hard floors all day. Kitchen workers, from" chefs to dishwashers, adore them ADVERTISE HERE! $7.37 per week Call 983-5301 26 Beech Ave., Bowmanville Modern Facility Historical Setting (30 to 250 people) Self-catering kitchen. 905-697-2856 Clarington Beech Centre Yours for only fenH-Pro Painting Why Wait... Book your summer projects now! Excellent Rates ~ 905-983-5761 Clifford Francis Auto Wreckers and Used Cars JOE MENDONCA Manager Phone: 905-987-4636 91 Cowanville Rd., L1B 1L9 great spot to Only $7.64 per week 905-983-5301 ROBERT E. JACKSON Heating • Electrical Air Conditioning Authorized Consumers Gas Dealer Independent Lennox Dealer Furnaces • Air Conditioners and Appliances Main Street Orono 983-6221 GRUNDY'S COUNTRY UPHOLSTERY 3375 Cone. Rd. 7 (905) 983-9874 www.grundysupholstery.com BRYON GRUNDY Finishes by T. Osmond COMPLETE Furniture Repair and Restoration Caning • Veneering • Carving French Polishes & Wicker Repair 905-786-2477 Experience You Can Trust LARRY JACKSON PLUMBING & WATER CONDITIONING • Pump Repairs & Installation • UV Lights • Water Softeners • Free Estimates For Friendly, Expert Service Call 905-983-6214 Debra Inglis Interior Design 905-983-5900 Automotive Specialties BRIAN COUVIER licenced Technician 117 Mill St. Orono LOB 1 MO. 905-983-9919 "Look to us for all your general ■ repairs to most make 4 models" Rims • Tires • Brakes -Tune-Ups. Custom Exhaust Systems Castrai Engine Oil & Filter Service Specials - Car & Truck Accessories Professional Installation : Complete Residential Renovations, Additions and New Structures Windows •Sol 1 Interlocking Waterproofing • Doors • Roofing Ceramic Tile-Siding Eavestroughing • Chimney Repair - Specializing in Stone Facing - FREE ESTIMATES Call Mike Bonneau Mobile: 905-435-4181 Home: 905-983-9005 6495 Leskard Rd., Orono LOB 1M0 CHATTERTON ELECTRIC RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL POLE LINE CONSTRUCTION Dave Chatterton Tel: 905-983-5546 Orono, Ontario If no answer: 905-983-5940 Classified Business Directory I & T Carpenters • Licensed • 27 Years Experience • Custom Homes • General Contracting • Additions • House Trim • Stairs • Decks •Windows «Doors • Barns And all carpentry- related work. IVAN JONES TONY FANARA Orono 905-983-5303 Hampton 905-263-9988 RESTORATION & General Contracting Inc. 24 Hour Emergency Service Water • Fire • Smoke Wind Damage Custom Homes Additions • Renovations Interior/Exterior Certified • Licenced Insured ADAM CUMMINGS 905-697-7172 Orono Vetèrinary Hospital Dr. Derek de Haan Dr. Mathew Stephenson 30 Cobbledick St., Orono LOB 1M0 Tel: 905-983-9010 ■ Fax:905-983-5308 for the same reason. And the appeal of crocs appears to be near-universal. near-universal. Country singer Faith Hill appeared on television sporting a pair of crocs. I knew they'd really arrived the last time I was in Toronto. Walking past the Roots outlet in the Eaton Centre I noticed that every mannequin in the window was wearing a pair of--you guessed it. Even my brother wears a pair. Orange. The word is that gardeners gardeners love crocs, but frankly, I don't get that. I wore mine in the garden garden for about 15 minutes. minutes. The vents in the uppers took in so much soil I felt like Huckleberry Huckleberry Finn. That said, crocs are a snap to keep clean -jiist wash 'em down with the garden hose. Or jump in the lake if it's nearby. Crocs aren't afraid of a little water.. And they float. Is there a downside to this shoe? Well, yeah. They're supposed to be non-slip, but that's not my experience. One afternoon I made the mistake of walking out of a light rain shower and onto the terrazzo .floor of a grocery store, v It was like stepping onto a raft of banana peels. I "was windmilling and pratfalling like Mister Bean in freefall. I just missed taking out three shelves of bottled water and a Diet Pepsi display. I also don't recommend recommend them for hiking. There's zero ankle support support and they can twist under your foot in rough terrain. Nor would I suggest suggest walking on a wet deck in crocs. Unless you want to know how Steve Podborski feels when he hits a patch of ice. But for ordinary, everyday, informal wear, when you're not trying to look cool or pick up a date - slip into a pair of crocs. Your feet have never had it better. They remind me of a story about the great W.IT. Auden. When he was a young and penniless, penniless, but up-and-coming English writer, someone asked him how his life would be changed if he- should one day find himself himself famous and celebrated. celebrated. . Auden thought about it for a moment and then ' said "I believe that I would always, wear my carpet slippers." And so it was, years later that the Pulitzer Prize winning poet whs often seen at black-tie functions decked out in a splendid tuxedo, with bow tie and cummerbund. cummerbund. And carpet slippers slippers on his feet. You just know Auden would have jumped at the ehance to wear a pair of crocs. Orono Horticultural Society by Marjorie Lowery The July 6th Orono Horticultural Society meeting began with the singing of O Canada and Doreen Lowery playing the piano. President Ann Dilks opened the meeting and Pat Bales gave the secretarial secretarial report. Flo Sharpe gave the x treasurer's report. MaryAnn Winters stated we have several new books to lend with some from the Inez Harris estate. June Heard introduced introduced the Speaker, Kevin Elchuk whose topic "What's a ITosta" was very informative with slides of over 100 different kinds of hostas and a display of the leaves which were labeled for easy identification. identification. Hostas are native to Japan and China and there are at least 4000 different kinds. Don't fertilize them after mid July. Lorna Atkins gave the flower show report and introduced Gloria Spellen. There were 10 exibitors and 68 entries. • Shelley Etmanskie: Judges choice - donated by O.H.S. • Carole Mostert: Best rose - donated by Dini Schoeninaker • Carole Mostert: Most points in show - donated by lsobelle Chaldee • Shelley Etmanskie: Best perennial - donated by Ann Dilks Marilyn Major, Mary K. Hardy and Gail Williamson provided a tasty lunch. Next flower and vegetable vegetable show is August 17th at 7:30 p.m. at Orono United Church Bala Cranberry Marsh Trip - October 13th. Phone Lortia at 983-5608