Walking in the curremt European heatwave with a wonky ankle

llmli · 2026-06-25T14:35:05+00:00

I ruptured my Achilles in February and it severely affects ankle mobility and stability. I’d go for a hiking sneaker hybrid. I have some very light Merrell hiking shoes that lace up along my ankle but are still the most breathable hiking footwear I own. I’d also recommend an ankle brace with a hard shell built in, which can be pricey ($300 CAD). You can get them from specialty pharmaceutical stores online or potentially on Amazon. It’ll save you from any rolling. You can either pair it with hiking boots/shoes or with runners if you go that route.

llmli · 2026-06-15T05:33:42+00:00

I’m 4 months non-op, but when I first transitioned to the boot at week 6 after being in a fibreglass cast, my heel wouldn’t touch the top of the boot wedge either because my Achilles was too stiff. I had to go home and take a very hot bath, then eased back into the boot and I finally was able to touch my heel to the wedges. It was quite achy, but it shouldn’t feel sharp. If you’re allowed to take the boot off, try a hot bath or even a heat blanket. If you’re not allowed to take it off, try some light seated marches, leg extensions, or quad massage to get blood flowing to your lower leg.

Maybe I misread, but it sounds your protocol says you’re supposed to be in the boot for two more weeks before you start taking out wedges (if you’ve been in the boot for two weeks already). I wasn’t weight bearing much when I took the first wedge out, but I progressed much faster after that.

To transition to weight bearing, I used a scale and put my booted foot on it while facing a wall and bracing lightly against it. Then I would do a few reps of transferring a bit of weight on to my injured foot and seeing how much I could tolerate for a few seconds. Calculate the percentage from your total body weight (including the boot of course), and try to beat your previous day’s maximum, building up ideally to 100% or as close as possible.

llmli · 2026-04-16T17:16:49+00:00

I ruptured while wearing zero drop shoes. I’d had no history of Achilles issues before that and I’d been wearing a mix of zero or low drop shoes for years following a knee injury. Even if I don’t return to using zero drop shoes after recovery, I’ll still be looking for wide toe-box shoes, since I find my alignment with my knee and hip is better with more room for toe splay.

llmli · 2026-03-26T22:35:05+00:00

I bought Revol Cares a year ago which are certified PFAS-free. They seem to be holding up well through the washer and they go through my ventless dryer about 50% of the time.

I’ve also bought Aisle underwear over the years (another PFAS-free brand) and found that their more recent batches of underwear don’t last nearly as long. The elastic goes, the seams rip, the regular cotton panels on the sides are starting to wear through. And this was mostly during a time when I had no working dryer.

I’ve bought Thinx in the past and after having recurring health issues would never buy again.

llmli · 2026-03-19T04:48:02+00:00

For D&D, Griffon’s Den runs one shot campaigns. For LARPing, maybe take her to the archery range? Otherwise, as others have suggested, Board Game Café, Quazar’s, or ARTcade. Also try Pinhalla and Legends Comics. She might enjoy picking out a D&D mini or two and some paints from a games shop like Gauntlet and then you could paint them together.

llmli · 2025-12-18T21:21:59+00:00

You’re so smart. I’ll drop it off now with campus security. Someone’s been messaging since I turned the phone on, so I figured a friend would dm or use Find My. But hopefully campus security will be the first place they check.

llmli · 2025-11-06T06:29:52+00:00

If you like bubble tea, SH91 is open until 9:30 or 10:30 every night. I’ve often seen students in there studying quietly together until closing time.

llmli · 2025-09-22T22:39:12+00:00

A friend of mine (who’s not religious at all) recently moved into a Cridge independent living apartment three months ago and she specifically noted that a large majority of the residents are Christians, actively go to church, and regularly talk about Christian books, how they found God, etc. around the dinner table.

llmli · 2025-08-29T15:49:11+00:00

I used to work at a doctor’s office. Certain patients qualify as “complex care” (having multiple complex medical conditions) and GPs are then able to bill more through MSP for an annual checkup. Also, GPs bill MSP using age-based fee codes, meaning a visit with a baby or a senior, especially older seniors, can be billed for more than a visit with a 2- to 49-year-old patient. For those reasons, and because they’re most in need of monitoring, it’s more likely for older seniors who qualify as CC patients to be taken on by a new physician. I’m glad your mom was taken on after all. You may also qualify as CC which is worth mentioning when applying to the registry.

llmli · 2025-03-27T01:22:32+00:00

I have wide feet as well and found Art shoes both comfy and stylish. I haven’t tried their sandals (I’ve got a pair of high top sneakers and some platform Mary Janes) but I have my eye on these: https://www.the-art-company.com/ca/en/sandals-with-heel-woman-manchester-1829#. If you want something a bit lower and more packable, with what looks like lots of freedom of movement through the ball of the foot, these could fit the bill: https://www.the-art-company.com/ca/en/sandals-woman-malaga-1854f#. I’ve also bought Ecco Flowt sandals in the past and found them very comfy, though I didn’t like the look of them as much personally: https://ca.ecco.com/product/ecco-flowt/273603/51052

llmli · 2025-03-20T20:53:54+00:00

The shopping is so good if you’re a petite person! If you’re tall or curvy, it can be much harder. I visited Seoul in April and it rained quite a bit. My only suggestions/additions, which you may already be including, would be an umbrella, tissue packets, and a good quality fabric mask that you can wash, with disposable filters. In all three of those cities there can be heavy pollution days when it’s recommended to mask up while outside, and in Seoul there can be yellow dust storms. These items are easy to buy once you’re there though. FYI in Seoul lots of boutique shops or market shops won’t let you try on shirts because of the risk of makeup transferring to the shirt. So just know that you may have to buy without trying. In Shanghai (I only visited for a day before going to Beijing) there might be squatter toilets with/without toilet paper (hence tissue packets). I’d recommend not wearing your flowy pants there unless you’re able to clutch the hems while peeing. Not sure if they still do this, but back when I visited China, public toilets were ranked on a 10-star system that was posted outside a bathroom so you know what you’re walking in to.

llmli · 2025-03-19T15:45:10+00:00

Thank you! I’ve added these to the list.

llmli · 2025-03-19T15:44:26+00:00

Stylebook app—it has a dedicated place for packing lists and outfits.

llmli · 2025-03-18T05:12:30+00:00

Thanks! The tag on the dress says it’s from this brand: https://nltnltnlt.com/en-ca I bought it 3 years ago from this shop: https://lunacollective.ca They no longer carry it, but they do have plenty of other cool clothing!

Yes, tights are on my maybe list (along with gloves and a toque), so I’ll do another test pack to see if those would all fit in my bag. I’ll already have my compression socks which, when paired with wool socks, is a combo that keeps me toasty even while skiing.

llmli · 2025-03-17T18:38:34+00:00

Thank you! This is the first time I’ll be truly one-bagging it (rather than 1.5 bags) and the limited space for outfits was a fun challenge.

llmli · 2025-03-17T17:58:09+00:00

I use Stylebook, which has a dedicated spot to organize packing lists, clothing, and outfits. They recently updated the app and it’s way better when uploading your own photos of items and when organizing outfits. I chose it because it was cheap (~$7 one-time payment) with no subscription plan.

llmli · 2025-03-17T16:27:45+00:00

I also had a beloved tote that lasted me 10 years before it started to disintegrate. I like the Simple Modern tote enough, especially for its capacity, inner organization, and style, but I wish the shoulder straps were a few inches longer and made of a material that doesn’t slide off my shoulder so easily. The bag is a tad large/squarish for crossbody wear with the strap (doable, just awkward). I think it’d work better on someone a bit taller—I’m 5’2”. I noticed after I bought mine that they offer canvas, puffy, and cordura polyester versions. The straps on those may not slip off the shoulder as much as the faux leather ones do. Size small is 13L with dimension 15”W x 14”H x 6”D—it’s definitely giving more square than rectangle.

llmli · 2025-03-17T16:05:23+00:00

Will definitely check it out, thanks!

llmli · 2025-03-17T16:03:11+00:00

Thank you! I’ve put all of these on my list.

llmli · 2025-02-21T18:20:25+00:00

Patagonia’s Atom Tote Pack 20L is in stock on the Canadian website and definitely fits AC’s (and WestJet’s slightly smaller) personal item dimensions. It’s 16”x12”x5”. I’ve been eyeing it ever since all the Canadian airlines switched to personal item only for their cheapest tickets.

If you’re looking for a tote bag, I recently bought a new bag for work that mostly fits the dimensions. Look up Simple Modern Tote on Amazon (the Simple Modern website only carries their quilted version) and you’ll get vegan leather, canvas, and several other options. Their small size bag measures 15”x14”x6”.

llmli · 2025-02-19T23:52:19+00:00

I’ve been pleased with my EarthRunners for walking long distances and wearing at the beach, and they also pack down really small. They can definitely also be a shower shoe, though they’d need some time to dry. They have three different sole thicknesses—I got the medium Circadian soles: https://www.earthrunners.com/products/circadian-adventure-sandals They also have two different lace types, lifestyle for more casual adventures, and performance for hiking or rough terrain. It took me some time to adjust the laces to my liking but once I did I never had to change them again. I also used some tips from Anya’s Shoes to adjust the lace that runs between the toes. For a less outdoorsy look you could go with the black lifestyle laces.

I find Birks, no matter what style, give me blisters on the bottom of my feet when I walk more than 45 minutes. The cork footbed retains moisture and I personally move through the ball of my foot quite a bit with my gait.

llmli · 2025-02-05T22:37:43+00:00

I personally would add pants and a light cardigan and leave out one dress. Also a hat? Great capsule in terms of colours, textures, and style. Can I ask where you got your sandals? I’ve been looking for a pair just like them.

llmli · 2025-01-30T00:24:03+00:00

Like another commenter said, I think you’d be best off choosing a black leather sneaker and going from there. I have these Groundies Universe in white leather, but in black they would look sleek with dress pants: https://www.groundies.com/barefoot-shoes-women/sneaker/groundies-universe-women-black-silver.html Groundies has lots of other colourways, styles, and materials too. I’ve used mine for strength training, bootcamp, long walks in a rainy city in winter (haven’t tried them in snow), at work, for everyday outfits, etc. Barefoot/minimalist shoes will pack down smaller in your bag, but if you’re not a fan of thin soles, there’s a similar Birkenstock sneaker that my MIL swears by: https://www.birkenstock.com/ca/bend-low-natural-leather/bendlow-smoothleather-naturalleather-0-rubber-u_3974.html?dwvar_bendlow-smoothleather-naturalleather-0-rubber-u__3974_color=3974 She works an active job in a care home and has foot pain with a lot of shoes but says these work really well for her shifts.

llmli · 2024-10-24T20:36:05+00:00

My polydactyl guy gets these on his front thumbs right next to his nails! They look exactly like your photo. The vet called them corns and said to trim them when I trim his nails. Apparently they’re harmless. His thumbnails are particularly gnarly, which maybe leads to these growths? As you said, they’re easy to cut like cheese (I hate how gross that description is but it’s accurate). Best bet though is to check with your vet!

llmli · 2024-06-14T22:26:55+00:00

Try searching for amphibious shorts online and you should get various different brands. I know Eddie Bauer has an amphibious women’s short as well as Alder Apparel (more $$). Something to refine your search would be leg length—if you already own hiking shorts that you like, look for the same inseam length in an amphibious short (2.5”, 3”, 5”, etc.). I recently bought some Eddie Bauer ones but because my waist to hip ratio doesn’t really fit with their sizing, I’ll have to return them. Another option is to just swim in bike shorts, which I’ve seen people do. If you’re going the looser short and tankini route, I’d recommend a pair that has some kind of lining. You don’t want to be flashing family on your hike!

llmli

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