...can take it back", to quote Boysmom.
So it's the first day of Spring, and I'm SO over it.

Yesterday, my neighbor kids were jumping, jacketless, on their trampoline. Today, this is the activity and attire of choice:


Aside from the obvious fact that, um, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SPRING?, this little development is a problem for me because I have a footwear issue.
These:

have had it.
They have a hole in them down there by the toe and both sets of laces are on the hairy edge of breaking, and I'm loathe to buy a new pair until next fall because, until last night, the weather was just at the point where I could switch over to my running shoes for the warm seasons' outdoor dog activities.
Fooey.

But they've served me well, these Keen Targhee. I did the math with a little help from my Garmin Forerunner GPS, and I think they've got close to 1500 miles on them over two winter seasons of dog walking, which is nothing compared to the old guy I met in town the other day. He told me he walked his dog every day for 23 years and figures he has 23,000 miles around our town! I told him to check back with me in 20 years and we could compare notes...
Anyway, these boots have been wonderfully comfortable and warm and waterproof and lightweight enough to be fairly decent for running, which is a lot to ask of a shoe. But I can't say that I'm sad to see them go. What I am sad about is that I'm going to have to put some duct tape over that hole and keep them out for at least a few more days.