What great posts I've been given thus far.
Thank You.

I admit that I am influenced by appearances to
a certain degree. I guess consciously or subconsciously
we all are. Although probably more now than I used to be.
I can't really criticise what people wear though. All I
have to do is think back to some of the gear that I used
to wear (cringe) ... (bra-less and an Afro come to mind).

Dear Hasbeen,

I agree with you about differentiating between appearances
and beauty.

I also dislike "fuzz" on a man's face. It does
seem to be a bit of a trend now though. My younger brother
(a school principal) and I have constant arguments about
his facial hair. I suspect he's trying for the "academic"
image - but he'd look so much better without it (in my opinion).

As for George Clooney. I think he actually goes against the
"stereotype" of "male model" or "Hollywood Hunk." That's
possibly his drawcard.

Dear Johan (OUG),

Very clever post. Loved it!

i didnt want to be probing too deep..or turn on any lite
but the rain has made me wet...allready..so how much more wet can i get?

anyhow...couples play role play
[or so sitcoms has taught me]

so i will ignore the docter..for[play]way
and the tv repair dude...and some other fantasims
[that so readilly come to mind...and pass info as to why i think it is so]

yesterday i cauight two incidences..that shed lite
one on that 70's show...and the other on lesbe friends

they both involved other 'attraction''
[plus..mention of the pay off..by staying mute]

mood is everything..[i guess]

its not the one..in the dark
as much as the one..in the mind

or whats on the mind..of the one besides us
[in the marital bedhead]...but heck...we know our own mind

gentle men dont talk
genetal men do...[for that time that words arnt enough]

OHHH..heck

im taking the red pill
the blue one makes my mind wander

Dear Johan (OUG),

I'm going to get a bit personal here
(probably a mistake) but you've inspired
me with your writing so I'm going to share
what I found in one of my diaries writen
back in 2000. Here goes:

2000

"I am grateful for the hug I got to give
my father just before sailing for America.
(He died of a massive coronary a few years
later).

I am grateful and proud of my family now -
and proud of the way we look out for each other.
I think of the love and pride I feel for my brothers,
the peace I'm starting to find in my mother's
presence.

We can be open now I hope about needing each other.
She needs a daughter and I need a Mum - and I can take
pleasure in telling her of my affection, I know this
time she won't be counting.

My mother has been my biggest booster, I hers.
I marvel at her capability with which she has organised
her life. Will you look at my mother, I think.
What a beautiful woman. What a knockout!

I am grateful for the miracle of my marriage: that we
managed to find each other, that we get to begin our
days together, share our lives together, respect each
other, support each other, and let the other be.
Sometimes coming home at the end of the day, I worry that
as in a dream it will all have disappeared. We should
take nothing for granted.

You know the Aztecs were terrified each night when the
sun set that it would not rise again the next morning.
They were grateful for each dawn.

It takes a long time to become a person.
Longer than they tell you. Longer than I thought.
I am grateful for my past, it has given me the present.
I want to do well by the future."

Lexi, A little story for your brother.

I have twice sailed into Mooloolaba, in the old days, when it was still a fishing village. On both occasions I had taken a bit of a battering, during a longish passage at sea, & had for some time before that been with out razor blades. This is in the days when battery shavers were not of much use after a few months in the damp salty environment of a boat.

I had many friends in the place in those days. After a couple of days, on both occasions I got round to buying some razor blades, & headed for the yacht club showers.

When I emerged I ran into the club Commodore who exclaimed almost in shock, "Phil, you look 10 years younger without the beard".

The next time some years later it was his wife who was the first one I met after shaving. She reached out & ran the back of her hand down my cheek & said, "MMM, much nicer without all that hair".

I have not worn a beard since.

Dear Hasbeen,

Thank You for sharing your experiences
and while I appreciate your sharing -
I don't think my brother's about to change.
Also it doesn't help that his wife claims she likes his
facial hair. Clever lady, she always backs him
in everything (or at least in what she considers
the "small stuff"). But I'll try and see how we go.
He's got a good face - and he spoils it with all
that unsightly fuzz. He's convinced it gives him an
air of "authority." I can't complain about him too much
I suppose. I used to be paranoid about hair lengths on women.
Long was good, short was bad.

Isn't it funny how we do tend to judge people by
appearances. We tend to go with what is acceptable
social behaviour controlled by social norms -
shared rules and guidelines that prescribe the
appropriate behaviour in a given situation.
Norms define how people "ought" to behave under
particular circumstances in a particular society.

For example if we were asked why do we eat with
knives and forks, or why do men wear pants instead
of skirts, or why do we marry only one person at a
time - we'd probably say, "Because it's right."
"Because that's the way it's done." "Because it's
the custom." Or even, "I don't know."

We expect people to keep their lawns mowed, to
refrain from picking their noses in public, to show
up on time for appointments and to wear a matching
pair of shoes. Those who do not conform would
probably be considered peculiar or eccentric.

A man who walks down a street wearing nothing on the
upper half of his body would probably today not get
too much attention. However a man who walks down the
street wearing nothing on the lower part of his body
would probably get arrested. That's because the
requirement in our society is that people cover their
genitals and buttocks in public. The same as the
desecration of the national flag and contemptuous
use of religious symbols all bring a strong social
reaction.

Remember when long hair for men was frowned upon? When
Mohawks were considered weird? Today - there's a much
wider choice available - long hair, short hair,
dyed hair, helmets, wigs, even bald heads.

Still I wonder how many of us would react if our children
shaved their heads, or wore green hair or sported wigs?

Remember when blue jeans jeans were the traditional clothes of the
working class. Today they are desirable "designer" items
for members of the middle and upper classes as well.