Did Someone steal your shoes at the shelter?

So my english class ended early today. The people of Providence were unusually vocal today. I got a lot of questions and a lot of stares and comments as I passed. I spent some time talking to Will. I asked him how his day was how his luck has been so far with donations etc. My mother swung by to give me the keys to my room that I had left at home. I now was able to grab the stuff I brought up earlier for him. I walked back to my room, got some more comments nothing major. The only real conversation I had was a man passing by who said "Your feet must be fucking freezing." I told him "No I never wear those things anymore." He then asked if I often have a skateboard I told him yeah that's me. We wished each other a good day and went our separate ways.

On the way back up right near Kennedy Plaza at what I think was the corner of Westminster and Eddy a car drove by and a woman said "poor soul" and as the car got closer she said "Please tell me there's a pair of shoes in that bag!" (I was holding a bag of things for will) I told her no I don't wear shoes its better for you that way. I turned around to see that six or seven people were staring mouth agape at me. None commented though. I went over to Will to see that he had moved down a lot because of the shifting sun. It wasn't more than two minutes till the car swung by again. They had both windows rolled down on my side and the woman in front said "Come here, yeah you come here." with that angry mother finger hook motion. I asked her what she needed and the older woman in the back put out a tiny pair of blue socks out the window. The woman in the front asked me "Did someone steal your shoes at the shelter?"I was blown away by that comment.

She and the other woman in the back seat continued to try to push shoes (One rain boot that looked like a woman's size 7 (I'm a mens 12)) or socks onto me. I told her that I have plenty of shoes back at my DORM ROOM (I'm not homeless!) and not to worry about me I don't wear shoes because being barefoot fixed my chronic back pain that tortured me for most of my life. Naturally they were talking about orthodics and things like that but my constant talking cut them off at every turn. I said shoes are actually unhealthy and I mentioned the elevated heel and how it shifts the center of gravity forward (which I didn't know until reading Daniel Howell's The Barefoot Book thanks!) she cut me off and said thats true but we are in the medical field and know what thats doing to you. Thats [barefoot] really bad on you and you'll get arthritis and all sorts of problems down the road. I told them theres a lot of information online about what Im doing and I am loving it. I told them I have never liked wearing shoes and I made this choice so I wouldn't have to live in pain. They insisted I would get arthritis later on and they were blocking the street so I figured I wouldn't waste my time telling them things they were going to just dismiss and thanked them for their concern, assured them I was alright and wished them a nice day. They said "God Bless" and drove off.

So readers, what do you all think of this? By the way I will be calling RIPTA (see earlier post) probably today. I will post later if I get to it what the results of that call are. For now though, tell me what you think of this group in the car? Is there anything I could have done to communicate better. I realize I couldn't remember exactly the conversation so parts are inevitably left out or slightly misquoted. The meaning is the same. So tell me what you think everyone!

Remember folks,

Barefooting is easy

Barefooting is good for you
Barefooting is NOT illegal
Join the revolution
GO BAREFOOT

Please comment!

Susan G Komen and Drawing

While outstretched out on the couch watching TV my girlfriend and I saw a commercial for one of those get some sponsors and walk to raise money for breast cancer research. I suggested that we do the walk barefoot. She was receptive to the idea. She mentioned we would need sponsors. I told her that many people would be willing to donate to the teenage couple not wearing shoes.

At the same time it would also be some good publicity for barefooting. I have to watch for the commercial again to see when it is. I urge anyone who sees this who's local-ish to kick off your shoes and raise some money for a good cause.

In other news, I was reading the emails in the SBL list and one of them mentioned a relative who could draw with his foot. I immediately decided I had to give it a try. One of my favorite things to draw are old style two masted sailing ships.

Here it is. 

I am honestly very proud of this. I drew this with my left foot and it was my first try. Tell me what you think world! That means the walk and the drawing. 

Remember folks,

Barefooting is easy
Barefooting is good for you
Barefooting is NOT illegal
Join the revolution
GO BAREFOOT

Please comment!

RIPTA Rhode Island PUBLIC Transportation Authority

     On a mad dash around Providence I actually managed to get to my bus stop on time for the ride home. Since the day the man told me I needed shoes I have kept shoes on me and complied from fear of being kicked off and left at a bus stop in the middle of nowhere like that guy a few months ago. Anyway. I always make the attempt to get on without shoes because on NO Ripta bus is there a sign on the door saying I need shoes. On the front and back of the cabin are signs saying no smoking no food and drink and no radios. One would think that any reference to a shoe or shirt requirement would be there. Also as I previously stated there is no mention of shoes in RIPTA's rules page on their site. <RIPTA rules>

    As the bus came to a stop the driver got up and stood in the doorway and as soon as I stepped on she yelled at me saying I need shoes on the bus, again, not wanting to be dropped somewhere I said yeah I have some in my bag. She cut me off and said I need to put them on immediately. Again I complied. As I was putting my shoes on she saw that they were smartwool five fingers, an admittedly weird looking shoe. She looked to another passenger and said "Is there a shelter in Westerly?" The passenger replied yes and I said "A few, why do you ask?" She quickly told me to watch my sas. What is that even supposed to mean? You insinuate I am either homeless or crazy and tell ME to watch my sas? I was fuming.

    Anyway so I rode the bus home tweeting what had happened. Planning what I would say to her.

    The bus came to a stop back in Westerly and I silently strode up to where my bags were right next to the driver. I will post a recording of this if the file format works so you can hear the intonation in her voice.

SORRY ABOUT THE AUDIO I'LL POST IT SOON...ISH

Incase you can't hear, understand, or the audio doesn't play this is the transcript of the confrontation. 

"May I ask...uhh...why is it that you asked me to put on shoes when there are no signs on the door."

"EXCUSE ME?"

"I'm asking you why I was required to put on shoes if there are no signs on the door."

"Because it's a rule on the bus. You need a shirt and shoes on the bus. You can call RIPTA and ask what the rules are required on on uhh..."

"So why isn't on the website in the rules?"

"Why is it not?" 

"Yeah."

*pause*

"Sir I don't know but you can call the - call RIPTA and ask em they'll tell you...it is the law it is required for you to have shoe-"

"A law?"

"Sir it is required for you to have shoes and shirts on this bus. You call RIPTA they'll tell you that."

"It's not a law." 

"Well you can call RIPTA and ask them."

"I WILL BE CALLING RIPTA ABOUT THIS!"

"Thats fine." 

    Needless to say, I will be calling RIPTA and reporting this woman. What occurred to me after this little episode was that RIPTA contains a P and that P stands for PUBLIC. It is a public transportation system and that means that it is a state service. Then it would probably be subject to state regulations or lack there of. 

    So I will be calling RIPTA at some point tomorrow and reporting on the results of that. Hopefully I get the response I'm looking for. And if they do confirm that I am protected under the law (even though I know I am), and that woman still feels the need to discriminate against me further, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a discrimination suit being leveled...I do have a very good lawyer. 

    I can understand discrimination one time and I am giving her the benefit of the doubt and assuming it was simple ignorance. If she feels the need to continue this when confronted with the facts, I will not tolerate it. I really hope that she will listen to me and just let me on the bus. I am not looking to cause trouble, but I am not afraid to fight for justice and equal treatment for barefooters.

Wish me luck friends!

Barefooting is easy
Barefooting is good for you
Barefooting is NOT illegal
Join the revolution
GO BAREFOOT!

Please comment!

My dumb ass...

I didn't go to class today because I was feeling ill today. I did however go down to the Kennedy Plaza area to see if Will. (my Vietnam buddy) I went from the Kennedy Plaza entrance of CVS to go see will who sits near there. On the door I was SHOCKED to see that on the door was a sign containing the section saying "Footwear Required BY ORDER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH" I have seen only a few no shoes no service signs but never in my memory have I seen one claiming it was a Department of Health order.

On my way through I passed un noticed from one door to the other side door and again a sign saying the same thing. I slapped up one of my BRING DOWN THE MYTH magnets. Hopefully an employee will take it, visit this site and see what  I am about to say.

Dear CVS employee,

      I am very glad you visited my site. I was very upset to see this sign (pictured above) on the doors of your store. There are no Health Department laws, codes, or regulations mentioning footwear. This sign while I'm sure you didn't realize represents a lie, it does.

      Also, this sign I have not seen in any other CVS I have visited. So chances are you have no corporate policy against it. Common sense dictates that bare feet are of absolutely no risk to the contamination of your food. The Rhode Island Food Code, which I HAVE read contains no references to shoes not only on patrons, but makes no requirement for shoes on employees. The Health Department is concerned with a phrase repeatedly mentioned in the Food Code, "Food contact surfaces." The floor is not a food contact surface is it? If so you're in a lot more violations than just the mythical shoe rule.

     A major thing of this is that you have a sign that represents discrimination. As you may see by my site, I do not wear shoes for reasons of health, yes HEALTH. Studies for over a century have shown that shoes are unhealthy for the entire body. This sign represents a policy (non-existent) that could be easily considered discrimination against a person's health requirements.

    I strongly suggest that you take down these signs before someone like a Health Department employee sees this misrepresentation of their authority and in all likelihood, smacks you with a fine. I don't want that any more than you do. I don't think your store means to discriminate. That is just plain unAmerican. You are representing a regulation that you thought was legitimate. I am here to tell you that that regulation is a myth and that you need not misrepresent the Department of Health and yourselves.

   Attached is a link to a state index proving that the shoe Health Code is a myth and no state has a law requiring shoes. Bare Feet and the Health Department. I would be so excited to see those signs taken down. Once again thank you so much for your visit. I hope I have changed your minds on this subject. Feel free to comment on this post with your response.

Thank you again!

Anyway, I also sent a much shorter and simpler form of this complaint to the CVS feedback site. I copied it planning on pasting it here. I totally forgot about it though and the copy was lost. So yeah sorry about that mental lapse. (hence the title) Anyway I really hope I get a positive response from CVS. After all, it is a HEALTH company. If anyone would understand a health requirement it would be them.

As always my friends,

Barefooting is easy
Barefooting is good for you
Barefooting is NOT illegal
Join the revolution
GO BAREFOOT

Please comment!

Five Guys Success

I went in to FIVE GUYS to get my semi weekly burger there. I tried to hide my feet for the first few minutes because even though I am breaking no laws I try to generally avoid confrontation. After about 10 minutes of waiting behind a woman confused by the menu, a manager looking man came out from behind and walked past me. Around that time the woman had just finished. I started walking forward and the man passed me again and this time did a major double take, his legs passed me but his body swung down to see my feet. I kept walking a few more feet and he said I couldn't be in here without shoes. My response was something like, "There is no sign on the door saying I can't." Predictably enough his response was "It's a Health Code." (If I only had a nickel right guys?) I told him that it actually wasn't and showed him the paper. I told him that that law was a myth and no state has a law against it. I presented him the paper and he began to read down it. After about a minute of reading he asked to make a copy of it. I said absolutely and he took it into what I assume was an  office behind the kitchen.

I ordered my food and around the time I finished my order he emerged again and handed me back my paper. I saw that the copy had been placed on the front counter which seemed strange but I didn't ask.  I sat down and tweeted and foursquared away as people all around the restaurant looked and pointed towards my feet.

My order was called and the same employee delivered me my food. We wished each other a nice day and I put ketchup on my burger and went to my car.

I was so pleased to see how professional and polite this man was. Compared to other experiences I have had this should be a model of dealing with customers. He provided me with something he thought was a fact. I proved that that information was not factual and he let me present my case and allowed me to have my meal. So a BIG bravo to FIVE GUYS and the same to that employee. People could learn from him. If I had had a negative experience I would have most likely never come back and told everyone I knew what happened. Instead I am telling everyone I know how positive and professional the exchange was. If only everyone was like that.

Barefooting is easy
Barefooting is good for you
Barefooting is NOT illegal
Join the revolution
GO BAREFOOT


Please comment!

My Day Sofar

So far my day has been pretty routine. I went to class, I came back to my room. I went out at around 2:00 to see if I could find Will, my Vietnam Sargent buddy. I found him in his usual spot. I asked him how he was. He said he was freezing. I asked him if he wanted anything to keep warm. Of course yes was his response. I came back with a bag of stuff my mom wrapped for him and delivered it. The bag was a little too large for the canvas bag on the back of his wheel chair (he lost his left leg) Luckily the drawstrings fit around the handles so it fit. So we had a nice conversation and yet again my bare feet brought a lot of attention our way and donations for him came along with that.

Anyway, back to barefooting related news. I am taking the RIPTA bus home today for the weekend. Last time on the bus I was told I need to wear shoes. I complied because I wasn't going to risk being thrown off. This time however, I am going to examine the bus for signs of any kind that say I cant be barefoot. If I see none at the END of my ride I will confront the driver. I looked at the RIPTA website aswell...here is what I  found.

RIPTA Riding Guidelines

Someone tell me where the rule against barefooting is.

So here is my plan:

1 Board the bus in smartwool vffs. As I do check doors and cockpit for signs prohibiting being barefoot.
2 Ride comfortably until I get to my destination.
3 Once there ask if he is always the driver for this route. If yes...
4 Inform him of how I was very disappointed I was asked to wear shoes last bus ride bring up there are no signs on the bus saying I could not be barefoot (if accurate after assessment of the bus).
5 If told its a Health Code, present paperwork proving that false.
6 If told it is a RIPTA policy, ask if it would then be viewable on the RIPTA rules page.
7 If told yes I present the printout of the RIPTA rules which contain no reference to footwear.
8 Hopefully by then the issue will be done with. If not, bring up that it is discrimination not to let me on especially since you have no rule against it nor does the government.

Wish me luck friends!

Barefooting is easy
Barefooting is good for you
Barefooting is NOT illegal
Join the revolution
GO BAREFOOT

Please comment!

Reactions.

Went to the mall. I still haven't resumed my battle with those people over my rights. Just slowly gathering data and evidence. So I went there barefoot and slipped on my smartwool vffs. On my way back to my dorm I went barefoot through Waterplace Park. The park ends in a tunnel that goes under the road. The outlet of the tunnel had a two foot wide path through the snow. Three young girls were on the far end of the path. They were middle school kids probably around 13 or so. As we approached each other I stepped to the side and walked around them through the snow. One of them said "Oh my god aren't your feet cold?" I told her no and I mentioned that shoes are bad for you. As we walked further and further apart one of them said to another "He just said shoes are bad for you." I replied "Yeah Google it." Another turned around and said "Why are they bad for you?" I turned and listed all the different things shoes could do to the body. One of them with a huge smile told me I was cool. I wished them a nice day and told them to Google it and they would find a lot of cool stuff.

A man in Kennedy Plaza looked over at me with a smirk. "Great day to leave the shoes at home huh?" I replied that I don't wear them because they're unhealthy. He replied with a very puzzled "Oh..."

I went to the bank and one of the employees on the way to his break looked down for a good second at my feet and didn't comment. I guess a bank doesn't care if they get their money.

On the way to my last stop a construction worker who I had apparently talked to before said "You still don't have shoes?" I cut him off and said "They're bad for you I don't wear em." "He finished his sentence by saying "We'll have to fix that."

A store I went to to look for something for my girlfriend had absolutely no issue with it. She saw my feet and looked down but was again not about to kick out a potential customer.

When I got back to the dorm I passed through the outer gates and when I was about fifty feet away a student yelled to me. I turned around and he said "Where are your shoes?" I replied "I don't wear em they're bad for you." So basically I repeated the same generic response to just about everyone that asked. Oh well.


As always,

Barefooting is easy
Barefooting is good for you
Barefooting is NOT illegal
Join the revolution
GO BAREFOOT


Please comment!

Insider

Well I did a lot of barefooting today even though I was trudging through ankle deep water in freezing rain. I can still feel all my toes and have full mobility. My marketing teacher was very surprised to see me barefoot.

I went to Weybosett Cafe and saw an employee I knew. She was working the counter and when my turn came up in line she said something like, "What's up shoeless boy?" I mumbled some responses and complained about lack of sleep. I am very happy to see that she didn't try to kick me out though. I actually informed her when she was off duty that there are no laws against being barefoot and they couldn't kick me out. Maybe it sunk in.

On that note, I will shift back to that day I was discriminated against at Snowden last week. I checked the school's handbook. The handbook stipulates that food employees must wear regulation standard issue shoes. There was no mention of footwear for patrons though. So, no law against it, no written policy, no problem. Except of course for petty people that feel the need to discriminate. Oh what's that? My school has a nondiscrimination policy? Oh dear, perhaps I should carry the student handbook along with a copy of the health code at all times. How do you think my chances are at justice?

Please respond below!
As always,

Barefooting is easy
Barefooting is good for you
Barefooting is NOT illegal
Join the revolution
GO BAREFOOT

Bungie

So I started a topic on a Bungie.net (creators of Halo) forum to see if there were any barefooters online there. Within a few minutes I got dozens of replies mostly like "Wear shoes weirdo" and things like that. I did however get some positive feedback and even got a barefooter from Colorado to stick up for barefooting a little bit too. So that was cool.

Anyway, I got told by a guy at 7/11 it was a law and through his thick accent I managed to tell him it isn't a law and I have proof it isn't and he wouldn't hear it (possibly understand it?). I was in a rush and was in no mood for a confrontation. I told him he was probably confusing a store policy with a law. They may have a policy against it I'll have to check. But yeah and then I got on the bus I had to catch after trudging through a lot of slushy crap I sat near the back of the bus and I hear someone (the driver) call back "Buddy do you have shoes?" I said yeah in my bag (vff smartwools) He told me that I had to have them on in the bus. Remembering the case of that kid in cali who was dropped off and left at a bus stop in the middle of nowhere at 11 at night, I didn't bother arguing because I had a dinner to get to. I was going to confront him but he was talking to another passenger and I was in a rush. Next time maybe.

As always,

Barefooting is easy
Barefooting is good for you
Barefooting is NOT illegal
Join the revolution
GO BAREFOOT

City Burger

At one of my favorite dining places at my college one of the reasons for that is that I have never had a problem being barefoot there. At the counter I ordered my food and I was shocked to hear him ask "Do you have shoes this time? They told me you didn't have shoes on last time" I said "No." He then told me I couldn't be in here without shoes. I asked him "Why's that?" He said its illegal. I informed him it actually wasn't then he said I could step on something and sue him. I told him there was no law against it and he told me that may be true but this is a private university and can make its own policies. I asked him to show me the policy. He said he would check to see if there is a policy. I told him I would very much like to see the policy and we left it as a sort of a friendly "you're on" sort of sentiment. The last thing I remember him saying was "I'll look for that policy for you." I told him thanks and wished him a nice night.

Compared to my other experiences especially the one just yesterday this guy was really laid back and willing to listen. I also at some point midway through the conversation I told him I don't wear shoes for health reasons and I told him that it fixed my crippling back pain. He seemed really surprised and intrigued by that remarking "Really it does that?"

I went back to my dorm and reviewed the student handbook and no did I see a rule it requiring students dining on campus to have shoes on. Culinary students (employees) need university issue dress shoes. I'm a tech student. So hopefully with that all cleared up I will be able to stride into City Burger bare feet shown without fear and greet all my friends and chow down on a burger.

Wish me luck!

Barefooting is easy
Barefooting is good for you
Barefooting is NOT illegal
Join the revolution
GO BAREFOOT

Please comment!

Advertisements

To those who have picked up my ads around town, thanks for visiting! This site is here to dispel rumors and correct misconceptions about barefooting. One of the biggest and most frustrating myths that surround barefooting is that it is against health code to go barefoot in establishments. That is just plain not true. Stores or restaurants that hide behind that tired old myth are doing nothing but engaging in anti barefoot discrimination. Anyway, another site which is more information rich is barefooters.org. They have all kinds of useful links and info.

Anyways, thanks for visiting!


Barefooting is easy
Barefooting is good for you
Barefooting is NOT illegal
Join the revolution
GO BAREFOOT

Please comment!

Snowden Dining Hall Bigot

I went down to the Snowden Dining Hall to grab myself some food before class. I saw a tall man on the other side of the room who looked like he was high ranking. While of course I was in violation of no laws, I was not looking for confrontation. I had a class to get to.

I grabbed some apples. Walked around the edge of the counter and grabbed some cereal. As I was filling the bowls with milk, an older man, probably a manager, came up and told me that I neded shoes to be in here. I said whys that and he said I can't be in any store witbout shoes. I told him it wasn't against any law. He told me it was a health hazard and I said again I'm not breaking any laws. He called the tall man from before over and told him he says being barefoot isn't against the law and I can't kick him out. He got more irritated and said you cant be in here its a health issue. The other man piped up and said try going to the store across the street and I interrupted saying I do all the time. The shorter man seemed more shocked than the taller who seemed furious and disgusted at what I was doing. I told him again I'm breaking no laws and he looked me right in the eye and said "You are breaking MY law."

Right then I was so repulsed I just said "this is discrimination." I picked up my cereal and walked toward the spoons. He said to another person "Call security." I whipped around so quickly when I heard that and said "I am getting a spoon and I'm leaving." I shot him a glare and again said this is discrimination, wished the other man a nice day, he said "You too."

I ate my breakfast outside the door standing barefoot in the snow. I am still so blown away from that encounter. The first man I am not mad at though. He was just misinformed and upholding a rule he isn't aware doesn't exist. The taller man though took it too far. He was clearly a hardheaded bigot. The fact he said "You're breaking MY law." was just proof of how closed-minded he is. Clearly I have to write some letters to people over his head. Problem is I don't know who he is so I'm not sure exactly where his head is. That kind of blatant discrimination though is something I will not tolerate.

As always my friends,

Barefooting is easy
Barefooting is good for you
Barefooting is NOT illegal
Join the revolution
GO BAREFOOT

Please comment!

Refuted some misconceptions within my own family

This saturday was my grandmother's funeral. Much to the agony of my feet, I had on Cole Haan formal shoes with what felt like wooden soles. I went through the entire three or four hours of the funeral events until we finally got back to my grandfather's house to all relax and eat some food. Naturally, my shoes were off before I even got to the door of the car. My brother quickly followed and we both strode through the snow covered driveway inside. I got a lot of questions from concerned family members and changed a lot of opinions about shoes (I think/hope) I think I had some additional traction to my arguement considering just about everyone kicked off their pointed toe heels and penny loafers at the door for the same reason as me.

Anyway to the misconceptions. I had to excuse myself to go pick up my girlfriend from school because the funerary events had gone on longer than expected. My brother and I both left the house barefoot and on getting into my car a relative of mine said "You know it is illegal to drive barefoot." I told her thats not true and she said "Yes it is you cannot drive barefoot in the state of Rhode Island." I told her I did my research and that was a myth and I also informed her that there were no health codes against being barefoot even in restaurants.

Before school let out my brother and I ran the track barefoot which was easier for me than him because he is just starting to try winter barefooting. We picked her up and brought her back to meet parts of the family she had not yet met.

Later that night some members of my family wanted to go out to dinner I was in the kitchen with an aunt, my mother, and my grandmother's best friend. Naturally one of them piped up and said "It's against health code to be in a restaurant with no shoes." I said no its not and quickly got a response of "Yes it is." I said that that is a myth and shockingly of all people my mother chimes in "It is actually not a law he has done a lot of research on it and has documents proving it isn't a law." So that was fun. I'm glad to see that people are starting to at least talk to me more about it within my own family instead of just holding their questions in. I know what I'm doing isn't the norm. I would love any chance to correct any misconceptions about what I do. Maybe then they might try testing the waters a bit and see how much better their lives could be.

As always,

Barefooting is easy
Barefooting is good for you
Barefooting is NOT illegal
Join the revolution
GO BAREFOOT

Please comment!

Barefoot at the Governor's Ceremony

Today I recieved a lot of attendtion towards my feet. Most of it was curious or concerned. Nothing was hostile. I found a store that sells Vibram Five Fingers which is so good to see. There was a huge sign above the shoes talking about minimalist running. If only every store had those.

I went to the Water Fire in Providence because its one of my favorite events. I had no idea that it would be the Governor's post inauguration ceremony. I was noticed by a lot of people. I got very frequent questions from a lot of people and a lot of looks and points from news reporters. So a lot of people saw it is possible for someone without shoes to easily survive in the winter. I had to pull out the iPhone4 every few seconds so they didn't think I was homeless. I got footage as Lincoln Chafee walked right past me and talked with crowds right in front of me. After he moved away through the crowd with some other officials, an NBC10 reporter and camera crew came up to me and asked me what I thought of the ceremony. I was sort of suprised to be suddenly on camera and I managed to stutter out a reply that it was great and I had no idea what this ceremony was for. They asked me where I went to college and some other basic questions. I am sure they noticed my feet but it did not come up in the brief interview.

As always my friends,

Barefooting is easy
Barefooting is good for you
Barefooting is NOT illegal
Join the revolution
GO BAREFOOT

Please comment!

Day of loss.

I lost my grandmother today at approximately 5:00 Pm. She was suffering from the final stages of Alzheimer's disease. My brother, (Harrison, kidflyfisherman.blogspot.com) Dedicated a song to her about two months ago.

Here it is.
Songs I used to know
There will be no barefoot news today. Tomorrow barefoot related posts will resume.

As always my friends,

Barefooting is easy
Barefooting is good for you
Barefooting is NOT illegal
Join the revolution
GO BAREFOOT

Please comment!

There's hope for Walmart!

So, YouTube kept crashing my internet connection which made it impossible for me to share my story on it. You may have seen the abbreviated version of the video that I was able to upload. So without further delay, the story:

Last night I went to walmart with my brother and girlfriend. Very quickly in my shopping venture a woman behind me said something about shoes, I started walking a lot faster and cut through some aisles hoping to lose her. She headed me off at a turn and told me I needed shoes. To the best of my memory, here is what was said.

Let me apologize in advance about how long this is....

Employee 1 "You need to leave you don't have shoes."

Me "Why?"

Employee 1 "You need shoes in this store."

Me "Is there law against it?"

Employee 1 "YES it is against the law."

Me "You mean the health code?"

Employee 1 "YES THE HEALTH CODE."

Me "Really because I have a document from the health department saying otherwise.

Employee 1 "Well you can speak to a manager if you want."

Me "Yes please."

Employee 1 "[Radio chatter] Has a piece of paper saying being barefoot isn't against the law."

Employee 1 "(Yelling to another employee) Who's on manager right now?"

Employee 2 "[Manager's name]"

Employee 1 "This man claims that there is no law against being barefoot"

Employee 2 "[chuckle]"

Employee 1 "[To another employee] This man has a piece of paper saying that the health code doesn't say he has to wear shoes."

Employee 3 "Yeah it is a law it's because we have food and serve groceries here."

Me "This paper proves there is no law against it."

Employee 3 "It is a state law that you need shoes in here."

Me "NO it is not a law and if this is a matter of liability I would be happy to sign away any liability."

Employee 3 "[Using Employee 1's radio] Are you on your way to Jewelry?"

Me "[Polite up beat small talk]"

"Employee 3 "Here she comes, coming from the other direction."

Me "Hello I am Hayward Gatch how are you?"

Asst Manager "I am [Name] They did tell me some things before I got here if you have a doctors note or notice the policy can be waved but it is a health code that you cannot be in this store barefoot."

Me "It is not a health code as this paper shows. I accessed these from a site that has signed letters from every states health department verifying there is no health code against being barefoot in establishments."

Manager "Well it is a law and I was told when I became a manager that it was a health code that you cannot be barefoot in here."

Me "Do you have proof that it is a law?"

Manager "No I don't have proof but I can say that this is a private establishment and we have a rule against being barefoot. You can though talk to the manager though because as an assistant manager I can't do anything for you but he has the authority to bend the rules a little bit."

Me "Is his name [Name]"

Manager "Yes it is, and I apologize for any inconvenience."

Me "Hey, no problem hopefully we can get this all resolved [handshake]"

Manager "Alright."

Me "Have a nice night."

Manager "You too."


As always,

Barefooting is easy
Barefooting is good for you
Barefooting is NOT illegal
Join the revolution
GO BAREFOOT

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