Pantyhose v. Mannyhose

Once upon a time there were guys with names like Kimberly, Courtney, and Ashley long before Johnny Cash introduced us to a boy named Sue. I have known men named all three of those above. They were not always girl's names as they are now associated, but originally boy names. Courtney is one of the most fit middle-aged men I know. He regularly runs 3-7 miles a day, not only climbs mountains for fun - but ice climbs in the winter. I once suggested an activity he might enjoy, and his response was "is it dangerous?" In fashion women have been stealing from men for years - we've got the boyfriend jean and the power suit. I've often been told there is nothing sexier than a woman wearing just her man's shirt around the house.

MSNBC is on in the background at work and the term "mannyhose" caught my attention. Is this what I think it is? OMG - yes! Now, why would men want to punish themselves? Okay, when I wear them I go for the ones with a challenge - you know the kind that shrinks you at least a dress size - that if you were watching me get dressed you would be ROTFLYAO. I know one lady that is doing the "Pantyhose Diet". She has been gaining and losing the same 25 lbs for years. She decided that when she went above a certain weight she would wear pantyhose every day - dressy or casual until she lost the weight. Only exceptions were bedtimes and running. She said it was an uncomfortable reminder, but not torture.

Googling "mannyhose" I discovered more terms that I knew the origin: guyliner, manscara, murse, manpri (confession did have to look this one up), mandal, and mansturizer. I had heard of Metrosexuals before - but didn't know it has spread like this.

Is this a way to take back the feminizing of male names? Women - what female item do you recommend next for men to claim? Men - would you consider trying out a pair of mannyhose? What have your borrowed and liked from females?

- Disaster Chick

Do the shoes make the man?

I read this story and was amazed. Here is a young man that made a bet that he could have easily swept under the rug and no one would remember a thing about it. It really seems like the world has changed. No longer is “my word” and a handshake acceptable we must have a contract for our attorneys to go over – and don’t forget to read the small print!

We’ve also become so much more judging. He said that people thought he was poor because of his shoes. I wonder what his social life was like at school – which group did he belong to? If you don’t wear the right clothes you won’t fit in. We all desperately wanted to fit in when we were in school.

One of the things I just read was don’t worry about getting the approval of other people because people are self focused and are wanting to get your approval of them. Is this what life is about – trying to get approval from others?

In college there was a guy that had dreds and walked barefoot even in snow. One day the University Daily Kansan did an article on him. He said as a youth his family went to Alaska. There he walked on the tundra barefoot and enjoyed the feeling so much that he wanted to experience the world though his feet. This goes to show there is always more to the story. Maybe the hippie guy has it right – maybe we should experience life how we want to and not give a damn what others think. Oh, yeah, he did carry a cheap pair of flip flops in his back pack when he went into places that required shoes.

The more I think about it shoes really doesn’t make the man, because both of these men are very interesting, but their shoes weren’t. Why am I in a competition with Imelda Marcos for shoes?

-Disaster Chick