While walking to work, you get an inevitable greeting from across the street: "Nice legs!"
It's annoying. Immature. Demeaning. And...flattering?
Jezebel offers an interesting discussion about whether there's anything appealing about catcalls. It's prompted by a recent advice column in which a writer confesses she missed catcalls upon getting old.
Here's an excerpt from the Jezebel piece:
Real talk: I'd be lying if I said I'd never in my life been flattered by a catcall. There's a variety that can be nonthreatening — I don't really mind some guy saying "hey beautiful" to me on the sidewalk, and if I'm in the right frame of mind, it can feel kind of nice. The problem is that this can verge all too quickly into scary territory.
I, too, am occasionally flattered by catcalls.
But then I usually remind myself there's probably nothing special about me that warrants the compliments.
No, I'm not being too hard on myself.
I think that if guys are going to make a habit out of shouting at women from a street corner, they're not too serious about a "type." They just want a living, breathing woman.
Right?
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Seventy years of marriage
Check out my article about a local couple celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary today. I had fun doing the interview and left feeling a little more confident in the power of love.
In my career as a professional journalist, I've done my share of anniversary stories. I've also interviewed quite a few people who have lived to be 100. And beyond.
When I write these articles, I go into the experience expecting the interviewee to disclose some shocking secret to longevity.
That pretty much never happens.
Instead, they generally speak to the benefits of living a simple life and sculpting your basic life philosophy according to, well, common sense.
Here's what the husband in the 70-year relationship said when I asked him about conquering obstacles to marriage:
"We’d just always come home when we were supposed to."
Amid life's pressures, things aren't always that simple.
But sometimes they are.
In my career as a professional journalist, I've done my share of anniversary stories. I've also interviewed quite a few people who have lived to be 100. And beyond.
When I write these articles, I go into the experience expecting the interviewee to disclose some shocking secret to longevity.
That pretty much never happens.
Instead, they generally speak to the benefits of living a simple life and sculpting your basic life philosophy according to, well, common sense.
Here's what the husband in the 70-year relationship said when I asked him about conquering obstacles to marriage:
"We’d just always come home when we were supposed to."
Amid life's pressures, things aren't always that simple.
But sometimes they are.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Looking for a hot single dad?
Sad news, daters. If you want to hook up with a "foodie dad," you might have to move to Arizona.
I recently found this Match.com press release, which lists a variety of cities where daters can "find the single dad who's just right for you."
The lists are divided into categories: foodie dads, do-it-yourself dads and sports-crazed dads.
Unfortunately, the lists don't mention any cities in Georgia. Or Alabama.
Fun fact: Single dads of all ages are apparently 46 percent more likely to meet someone on Match.com versus men without children.
I recently found this Match.com press release, which lists a variety of cities where daters can "find the single dad who's just right for you."
The lists are divided into categories: foodie dads, do-it-yourself dads and sports-crazed dads.
Unfortunately, the lists don't mention any cities in Georgia. Or Alabama.
Fun fact: Single dads of all ages are apparently 46 percent more likely to meet someone on Match.com versus men without children.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Must love cats
Tell me, friends: Are you tired of seeing this video in your Facebook news feed? It has to be fake, right?
Monday power anthem
How's your Monday going? I'm having a pretty good day, due largely to the fact that I'm still in somewhat of a '90s mood. Hence today's power anthem.
But you can't go wrong with Ace of Base, right? I know at least one Ledger-Enquirer employee who will be psyched to hear this song.
Seize the day!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Male engagement gifts
Don't get too obsessed with your new piece of engagement bling, ladies. After all, you still have to buy that engagement gift for your guy.
Huh?
Here's an interesting discussion of a possible trend of male engagement gifts.
That is, when a women receives an engagement ring and then gives her significant other a token of appreciation -- often a watch.
Yeah, I'm not jumping up and down, either.
If my boyfriend proposed, I MIGHT give him a bottle of gin. But I'm not sold on the whole watch idea, partially because I think a general appreciation for watches is declining.
What's more, you're supposed to celebrate your relationship in an engagement's aftermath -- as opposed to trying to one-up each other with gifts.
Huh?
Here's an interesting discussion of a possible trend of male engagement gifts.
That is, when a women receives an engagement ring and then gives her significant other a token of appreciation -- often a watch.
Yeah, I'm not jumping up and down, either.
If my boyfriend proposed, I MIGHT give him a bottle of gin. But I'm not sold on the whole watch idea, partially because I think a general appreciation for watches is declining.
What's more, you're supposed to celebrate your relationship in an engagement's aftermath -- as opposed to trying to one-up each other with gifts.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Chweeting
The recent Anthony Weiner scandal has produced inevitable debates over whether Internet sex is cheating.
Even I couldn't resist those discussions, as illustrated by my decision to create this Ledger-Enquirer poll.
Anyway, the ordeal has also apparently spawned a new word: chweeting.
It seems like a nice hybrid of "cheating" and "tweeting." Cute, right? But also a little disturbing.
Amid discussions of Internet boundaries and relationships, I wonder if infidelity via social media will soon develop its own vocabulary.
Any additions to the growing dictionary?
Even I couldn't resist those discussions, as illustrated by my decision to create this Ledger-Enquirer poll.
Anyway, the ordeal has also apparently spawned a new word: chweeting.
It seems like a nice hybrid of "cheating" and "tweeting." Cute, right? But also a little disturbing.
Amid discussions of Internet boundaries and relationships, I wonder if infidelity via social media will soon develop its own vocabulary.
Any additions to the growing dictionary?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
