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spotted while out shopping for combat boots at thrift stores all over O’ahu. We have a dozen women (the DIRTY DOZEN!) doing the Swamp Romp (6 miles through waist-deep mud) at the Marine Corps base near us. I have been scouring (calling, pleading, etc.) the thrift stores for combat boots in our size. Boots are apparently only made in men’s sizes, so you have to subtract 2 from your women’s size to figure out your men’s size. As you might imagine, there aren’t many combat boots in an average women’s size (8). Fortunately about half of our teammates are tall and can fit in a men’s 7, so I was able to find boots for a few of us. It’s funny how excited one can be about paying waaaayyy too much for ratty, old, torn up, combat boots. I found myself wondering about the people who had filled them as I sifted through a big bin of stinky leather jungle boots.

Thank you to Nate, Laurie and Cate for hosting another fantastic dinner of tempura shrimp and veggies, grilled chicken, big salad and lots of desserts, including sticky rice pudding. We are tired, full and headed for bed! We are so lucky to have great friends here on the island – Brendan, Leo, Bridget and Greta were there, too, as were mom and Pete 🙂