I'll ask you the same question I regularly ask my three sisters:

"What IS it with you chicks? I mean, jeez, what's the deal? They're freakin' shoes, not hubcaps, fer cryin' out loud."

And this is the point where I usually run away.

So, what's it like to be nucking futz? You can buy a pretty good meal for that kind of dough.

Gentlemen! If they can put up with us building a pumpkin catapult at 2AM (with or without the aid of alcohol), we can put up with them buying 80 or 90 pairs of shoes.

my God, but those shoes belong in a museum, they're so pretty!

Victor,

You built a pumpkin catapult? Totally cool.

Surgical tubing: it's not just for the operating room.

It's also for catapulting pumpkins.

In other pumpkin news, this limerick from NOR's John Derbyshire should please one and all:

A certain young hillbilly bumpkin
Was caught having sex with a pumpkin.
When arrested he swore:
"What's all this fuss for?
Where I'm from, it's okay to hump kin!"

Thank you! Good night!

Yes, but ONLY 80 or 90..

Victor,

I must respectfully dissent. The fact that I construct one pumpkin catapult -- a purely utilitarian device, one of which belongs in every household -- does not necessarily say anything about my better half's need for more than one pair of shoes!

Of course if my better half questions me regarding that statement, I will point out that anyone could have used my name and e-mail in composing this comment.

Further, I have no interest in discussing why I need to own about seven different varients of the M1911 pistol in .45 ACP caliber. It should suffice to say that they're all different. In really important ways. No, I mean it. Seriously!

All kidding aside, though: Holy shit! $400 for shoes? Those shoes?! Christ, my Danner boots only cost half that!

May as well buy them, Annika, that whole re-incarnation thing isn't what it's rumored to be..

Matt, I can think of several reasons why you should own "seven different varients of the M1911 pistol in .45 ACP caliber." Hell's bell's, didja forget to put one in each of the bathrooms?

annika, you need a "momma needs a new pair of shoes" donation button somewhere.