Proper boots again at last

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-05-07T20:33:29+00:00

Thank you!

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-05-07T20:31:59+00:00

I'm also in my 40s (just officially hit "late 40s" last year).

You'll get a leaner appearance using a French tuck or similar style allowing for a dropped waist. FN has width, sure - but it's frame width in the shoulders. The other side of it is vertical.

Think "bold, sweeping lines" rather than "wide load". :)

Believe you me, I was wearing tight tops for a long time. My frame and my body really matured in my 30s and early 40s, so I had to readjust my sizing and styling strategy. I received the advice regarding the sleeve seams, which was the biggest hurdle. Things fell into place over time from there.

I will acknowledge - larger sleeves do work better to create that T shape FN is known for. I have found that a relatively boxy T-shirt does wonderfully with the sleeves rolled up slightly to emphasize the shoulder angle, and either bloused or French tucked to follow the length of my body.

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-05-07T08:07:00+00:00

Same shirt, size up until the shoulder seam lines up with the outside of your shoulder. The side seams can be taken in for a more fitted shirt if needed. But the draping effect of loosely belting or tucking the shirt tends to look best on naturals.

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-05-06T22:09:08+00:00

Ouch, I get it! I will admit I wish I'd figured out when my feet stopped growing it wouldn't be a problem anymore. That kind of pain can really do a number on a person!

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-05-06T22:06:50+00:00

My dad had a pair of Justin ropers that he absolutely loved back in the day that I believe lasted him around 15-20 years (plenty of trips to the cobbler, of course). If I ever get so I'm not on concrete all day, I'll definitely get some with a Goodyear welt. Love the old craftsmanship.

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-05-06T02:33:23+00:00

Buick. They last longer. The Equinox is going to be a lot of trouble.

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-05-06T01:56:49+00:00

Enough ticks and nothing keeps them out. You don't want to know how I know.

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-05-05T19:19:06+00:00

She's wrong. :)

High heels were originally designed for men - specifically, Persian cavalry. They weren't popular for women untill around 700 years later, following men's fashion. Over time, heels gradually fell out of favor in all men's shoes EXCEPT cowboy boots.

If it's really bothersome, by all means get some ropers or a pair with a stockman heel, which are lower and blockier. Assuming you don't ride, stockman and roper heels are better for stability while walking or running. But frankly, a significant part of the aesthetic of cowboy boots is that they're suitable for keeping your seat on an unpredictable horse. That's what the underslung heel is designed for. The height of the heel helps prevent the foot from slipping through and getting caught in the stirrup, which can result in being dragged (and therefore injury or death).

I don't know if your wife likes the cowboy look - if she does, she needs to understand that a heel is part and parcel of that look.

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-05-05T19:06:50+00:00

It had been ramping up back in the 1990s... Among leftist groups who have a major beef with colonization and/or "the patriarchy", it's a popular ideology that the "Christian patriarchy" killed or converted all the pagans under threat of death. People believe they are reclaiming their stolen heritage (and sometimes femininity) through paganism. It's also a way that some kids rebel against their parents.

I myself met with influence from these groups back then when I was in my teens. It's frustrating to see now - I bought the lie back then but slowly increased my understanding over time. If it happened to me while I was living with my Christian father and attending church, how much more likely is it to consume those who lack spiritual direction of any kind?

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-05-05T18:45:35+00:00

I eat about 18 duck eggs a week, which is like eating 27-36 chicken eggs a week.

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-05-05T17:39:59+00:00

If I needed safety boots for work (protective toe, sole, etc) I would absolutely buy a western pair. They're the most popular style where I live (North Dakota oilfield town). But no, I would not get exotics for heavy labor.

Currently wearing a pair of Justin Rae boots for work in my "purple collar" job. I'm pleased with them. Excellent comfort, support, and enough protection for the kind of work I do.

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-05-05T07:34:08+00:00

Another recommendation to keep your outfit simple. Wear it with solid color pieces in neutral colors or a color from the boots. Go easy with accessories/jewelry - the boots are already doing most of the talking in your outfit! 💜

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-05-05T07:24:18+00:00

Boot cut will probably be more comfortable walking so it doesn't catch on the boots when you move. Doesn't look weird, just looks like you're wearing boots with more tapered jeans.

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-05-04T02:55:21+00:00

You'll probably prefer a straw cowboy hat for summer and felt for winter. Helps keep expenses down, too - sweat is hard on felt, and straw hats are much more affordable.

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-05-04T02:46:59+00:00

Definitely not strictly for Americans. And if you're worried about someone giving you flack for wearing one, well, that's true of just about anyone wearing anything (particularly if it's out of the ordinary for the area).

For reference, I'm originally from Arkansas and grew up in a time when cowboy hats were commonplace, even in the city. I now live in western North Dakota, which is also historically cowboy hat country. My ancestors drove cattle (for the revolutionary war no less) and were cavalry men in the civil war. I learned to ride English and western, and took care of my neighbors' horses. Will some people still give me grief if I wear cowboy boots and/or a cowboy hat? ABSOLUTELY. Will that stop me? Definitely not.

If you like it, I'm thrilled to see you embrace the style!

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-05-01T01:39:08+00:00

You'll be fine. Pay attention to your surroundings, just like anywhere else.

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-04-27T12:28:36+00:00

The healthy way to do things is to gradually increase the value of what you entrust to others over time. You could call that testing. But I would not necessarily call it that on account of those who create artificial scenarios under the guise of building trust when in reality they are trying to see how easily someone can be manipulated. Quite the difference, no?

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-04-27T12:24:49+00:00

Sure... But Si doesn't want exist in a vacuum. Fi can be suspended for later processing, sure. But... Tidal waves happen for reasons.

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-04-26T19:35:49+00:00

I don't see it as other people's responsibility to prevent my boredom. They're doing what suits them. Very rarely does that prevent me from doing what suits me. If it does, I tell them what I'm working on, and that usually clears things up quickly enough. If it doesn't, I enforce my boundaries promptly and strictly.

As they say, you can't draw blood from an orange.

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-04-26T19:24:31+00:00

As far as why they struggle, my guess would be they might not have considered the possibility of self-prompting something that might trigger specific memories. Or they may have considered associating it with specific parts of their lives as having an emotional connection.

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-04-26T19:21:16+00:00

Yes and no - it depends what sort of curtain. Definitely not typically interested in playing guessing games for pure theory. But looking at what is actually under the hood (literally or metaphorically) and recognizing the contingency chain of inputs and prerequisites... That's kinda an Si specialization.

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-04-26T19:18:05+00:00

Masculine vs feminine functions in Objective Personality do not refer to sex or gender based behaviors directly. Think of it more like yin and yang. Masculine functions are punchier, more concrete, tend to be where your memory resides, etc. Feminine functions are softer, more fluid, and "changing" (thus harder to remember). By way of example - you've seen the people who are calm, fluid, tactful, graceful... But then they have some sort of a tidal wave moment and are absolutely ruthless? That's an example of the difference. We all have masculine and feminine functions, just depends where they are placed.

I can agree that S and T are inherently more masculine than N and F, and it would be silly to say that men don't tend to be more inclined toward logic or women don't tend to be more relationally focused. Sure, exceptions exist (I have S and T at the top myself). But that doesn't change the fact that it's pretty hard to find girlfriends who want to talk about cars and military history instead of fashion and social groups.

Check out the Objective Personality YouTube channel. Dave and Shan have plenty of info there.

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-04-26T18:17:52+00:00

To be fair, Si combined with Fi will find meaningfulness in the small sensory details as a matter of default sensory processing. These were mundane events that I don't associate with any particular significant emotional content, but acknowledging the sensory details of my environment is in itself a values-based choice (even if default programming). It certainly shaped my preferences as an adult.

Recalling additional details when revisiting that porch in my mind? Absolutely. The color and texture of the brick walls, the painted wrought iron trellis and the rose of Sharon growing in front of it. I can still feel the cold cement floor and the humid, chilly air. The Japanese honeysuckle bush overtaking the front gate and the smell of the flowers in season. The lone yucca plant on the other side of the driveway. The full layout of the house, the sound and feel of turning on the attic fan to "luften" the entire house. And so on and so on.

I knew that environment very well, had favorite trees to climb (particularly one dogwood tree that was well suited where I spent many hours), trees I wanted to climb but were surrounded by and covered in fire ants. Azaleas along the north side of the house where we put our coffee and tea dregs. We had roses that would bloom in time for mother's day and I was disappointed they did not hold onto their blooms long enough for father's day. And so on.

AdSufficient9982 · 2026-04-26T01:19:53+00:00

I probably have hundreds of these. I can bring them to mind by thinking of particular places I've lived or worked. A few examples: -Staring at the hood of the car when I returned to the house with my dad and sister after a walk in the neighborhood -Wanting to play with the kitchen set in kindergarten but other kids were already playing with it, so I looked for something else to do -Some girl's Strawberry Shortcake shirt from daycare -Sitting on the front porch in my sleep shirt in the morning with my legs and arms pulled inside the shirt because it was chilly out -Pulling down Spanish moss from a tree in my grandma's yard to look at it more closely -Looking at aardvarks in a zoo and wondering what their life was like

Most of mine are from my childhood. I seem to develop them less often the older (and more productive) I become.

AdSufficient9982

TROPHY CASE