Crocs - such a guilty pleasure

The first time I slid my feet into a pair of Crocs - the hideously ugly rubber shoes that deserve all the fashion scorn they receive - I felt the rush of a guilty pleasure.

"Oh, this feels really good," my feet seemed to say. "And really bad, too."

A few months ago the offensive shoes snuck their way into our house as a gift, one that I immediately intended to regift at a white elephant party.

But one cold morning the perfect storm arrived: It was too wet outside to wear the fuzzy slippers, too cold for flip-flops. I turned to the Crocs, a fleece-lined hybrid that kept my feet dry and comfortably warm.

Since then, the Crocs have become a staple for morning-wear and general futzing around the house. I may never marshal the courage to wear them in public, though perhaps like most guilty pleasures, they're best enjoyed in private.

Like Journey.