Multiple Use Items...an Update

As I mentioned in my last posting, my shoes have multiple uses.  One being shoes and the other being bottle openers…bottle openers that, at the time of the posting, I had never actually used.  

I had no idea what fun I was missing. 

We were picking my daughter up from camp in Hunt Texas.  If you’re not from The Lone Star State, and even if you are, there is a good chance you’ve never heard of Hunt Texas.  Hunt Texas is a small, nay tiny community in the heart of the Texas hill country.  While Hunt is small population wise, it has enough acreage to be home to more summer camps that I can name.  I believe there are about 8 to 10 different camps.  

This was Friday at about noon and many of the eager Camp Waldemar parents had stopped at the Hunt Store for a quick lunch before heading to camp.  Waldemar is steeped in tradition and the gates don’t open until 2:00 PM, but a line of cars magically begins forming outside the gates about an hour before they open.    

The Hunt Store, which is a combination gas station, grocery store, butcher shop, burger joint, post office and bank, is as far as I can tell, the only store in this quaint little town.   End of camp for each of the camps in the area means big business for The Hunt Store.  

But anyway, back to my shoes.  

So there we are, standing in the store’s restaurant waiting for some friends to arrive and I decide to buy a bottle of IBC Root Beer and open it with my shoe.  Standing next to the table I said, “Hey everyone, check out the cool bottle opener shoes on their maiden voyage!”  

I lifted my foot, flipped the bottle upside down and popped off the top in one quick fluid motion.  And it worked like a charm!  

As it turned out, my fluid motions may have been a wee-bit too quick.  No sooner had I gotten the bottle turned back upright, it started to spew root beer everywhere.  

On the up side, the spew was quite impressive.  We’re talking about a root beer flying in a perfect arch for about five feet. 

On the down side, the spew was quite impressive.  We’re talking about close to 12 ounces of root beer spread out over about five feet that I got to clean up.  

After all was said and done, I got almost two full gulps of root beer and lots of angry looks. 

 

Like I said, I had no idea what fun I was missing.

Multiple Use Items

You know how some things are made to have more than one purpose?   For instance, I have a phone that can also be a calendar, and an iPod, as well as a whole host of other things.   I also have a printer that can be a scanner, a fax machine and a copier.  The list of things like this in my house goes on and on.  

In the garage, I have a small hammer that can also be a crowbar.  And then I have an electric drill that can be used to as a power screwdriver.  Come to think of it my grass trimmer can be used as an edger with one small twist.  

Yep, in life there are quite a few of these “Multiple Use” items and I own my fare share of them I’m sure.  

It seems to me that an item’s different uses would have some logical relationship.  It makes sense to be able to twist one small part and go from trimming your yard to edging, or having the ability to scan, then fax or copy the same document.  And I find it quite handy to be able to make a phone call and then enter new information into my calendar, as well as listen to my favorite tunes.  

However, I recently acquired a pair of flop-flops that have a quite unlikely second function.  

I’ve wanted some black flip-flops for quite a while, but I’m rather picky.  A few years ago I picked up some Tommy Hilfiger flip-flops on sale.  These had the soles that weren't just flat rubber, but rather the kind that were formed to your foot.  

I wore them out! 

After setting on the back porch wet for a few days and becoming green and furry I decided it was time to buy new ones.  But replacing these wasn’t easy.  

Don’t get me wrong, I was willing to pay, but I just couldn’t find the right ones.  

That was over a year ago and I finally found ones I like, but like I said, they have a rather odd second function.  (Yes, I looked for over a year, but not 24/7!) 

At first glance they seem like just ordinary flip-flops.  However, on closer inspection you'll notice a small irregularity on the bottom of each shoe.  Turns out it’s a bottle opener.  

So now I add flip-flops/bottle opener to my list of “Multiple Use” items.  

What’s really funny is I’ve had them since the beginning of June, but still haven’t opened even one bottle with them.  

Maybe today’s the day I'll finally pop a brew with my shoe!

 

 

Note:  It did occur to me that I need to be extra careful where I step…I mean cool, multi-use flip-flops are one thing, but I don’t want dog poop anywhere near the top of a bottle I’m planning on putting my mouth on!