Boot dilemma

First there was the bag dilemma. Now there is the boot dilemma.

There was an earlier boot dilemma, but it has been sorta solved after some trial and error. This was the adventure of replacing my very, very beloved riding boots. I don't think I'll ever love any shoes or article of clothing as much as I love(d) those boots. They're actually broken and unwearable, yet still in my closet, because I have this fantasy that my Russian shoe guy can replace the entire broken zipper tread on the right boot and that I will still wear them no matter how beat-up they are. Maybe someday I'll get a horse. It wouldn't matter if I actually rode in super beat-up riding boots!

Now it's getting chilly and there is the winter boot dilemma. Last year, I decided to stop f*#king around and start dressing like I live in Alaska. I've had my eye on these Thinsulate-lined waterproof boots for a few months:

I wouldn't have to bring extra shoes to work with these! But the customer reviews say they are very wide in the calf, and various sites give different measurements. Might just order and try.

Here are the other (and cheaper!) options:

I'm looking at black so I don't have to worry about them getting dirty. And I'm looking at stuff that is not suede, which is tough to come by. Suede is not for slogging through slush puddles!

I never know how much to spend on shoes, because I'm positive that I will kick the crap out of *any* pair of shoes with all the walking I do. But Chris just told me about something he read: Most clothing sales are down, but not shoe sales. When asked about buying a pricey pair of shoes, a woman in NYC said she considers her shoes to be her car and is willing to spend what she might spend on keeping up a car. Hmmmmm, I wish he had never told me that...