Merry Christmas Y'all...

...and Happy Holly Days...thought this stuff wasn't supposed to show up until Christmas time, but here it is in all it's Glo-ry in front of our wall.  It's pretty, but no thank you...not ready for Christmas yet.

However, the change of seasons is fast approaching...temps are dropping into the low 50's at night as the days continue to get shorter...O joy...

...but it does make fires in the early evening enjoyable...

So I shelved my book, "On Being A Man...in a pajama boy world", mainly because it wasn't the book I intended to produce.

It's kind of a long explanation how I could end up completing a 200+ page manuscript and then conclude, "hey!  this isn't what I wanted to write!"

Sounds absurd, but there is a logical progression that occurred at a turning point when I made a conscious decision - the wrong decision I believe now - to keep moving forward in this "new direction".

Without delving into the minutia, the high level explanation is I veered into theological fields I didn't originally intend to plow...

...and as we all know, politics and religion are two subjects capable of eliciting very strong emotional reactions from the hoi polloi, the great unwashed, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free...

As an example, I asked a competent professional female who makes no claim to being a church person if she'd like to read the manuscript before I published it.

Before she did so, I would have told you we were on friendly terms.

Afterwards, not so much.

In fact she was so incensed by what I'd written she told me in very specific language what she thought of me.

I won't repeat the two word epithet here, but will note both words begin with “a” and the first one is “arrogant”.

And while none of that changed my mind about anything I'd written, I decided there are better, more capable men and women to carry whatever banner I may have been waving with that book.

So I've filed it for now under the "potential re-write" category, because I may in the future revisit this subject in the way I had originally intended...pointed, but lighthearted...bc I do believe we have an epidemic of pajama boys skipping about our collapsing society.

When you're 25 years old and the biggest thing you have going is capturing legendary pokemons and choosing the right facial hardware to complement your man bun, something has gone terribly wrong.

It's both hilarious and tragic all at the same time, and I may make attempt number two at chronicling this sad estate.

I't's Saturday morning with much to do on this beautiful late summer / early fall day, so...

later, mcm fans...

On Being A Man...

...In A Pajama Boy World...

I like that title, and I'm kicking around some ideas for a book...any and all feedback re: what it means to be a man in today's world is welcome.

My intention at this point is not to write a combative tome decrying attacks on masculinity or whining about society's confused messaging on all things gender related.

Rather I'm leaning more toward something light hearted, fun and humorous that embraces and celebrates masculinity.

Yes, I know...there are haters everywhere...one prominent feminist was asked recently what she would do if she woke up one day as a man.

"I'd kill myself," the brainless twit responded.

Though some might be tempted to applaud if she followed through on her empty headed response I don't count myself in their number.

I wish her well and am just thankful she's not in fact part of my gender; we have plenty of issues already without adding her obvious problems into the mix.

Really, I have no desire to raise a banner decrying idiots and malcontents.  If stupidity is God's way of thinning the herd -

not an actual picture of our heroine as far as I know

- I'm happy to leave that in His capable hands.

No, I'm more inclined to ignore the haters and keep it upbeat and positive.

Take shaving for example.  While some men have abandoned the practice altogether...

Hans Langseth, possessor of the world's longest beard when he died in 1927...it was 17.5 feet long.

...most of us men have to come to terms with the concept of scraping whiskers off our face on a regular basis.

After years of treating this repetitive task as drudgery, I decided instead to embrace my daily ritual as a uniquely masculine event.

Enter straight razor shaving.

my geneva cutlery straight razor

It's not exactly a lost art - shaving with a straight razor has enjoyed something of a resurgence recently - but neither is it the dominant shaving method of choice.

There's a learning curve and it definitely takes practice to do it right.

It can be dangerous if you're not careful.

do NOT get a shave and haircut from this man if you've pissed him off...

It takes longer than shaving with a safety razor.

You need to maintain your razor by stropping it daily and sharpening it occasionally.

And while you will certainly get a close shave with a good straight razor, no matter what its avid (and in some cases, even rabid) proponents may claim, you will not get as close a shave as you can with some of today's multi-blade safety razors.
(Sorry fanatics, that's just the obvious truth.)

So why do it?

Lots of reasons, I suppose.  Here are 4 to get you started:

1) it's enjoyable to master a uniquely masculine and utilitarian discipline from years gone by. 

The fact that it takes some practice and skill to do it well is rewarding.

2) I don't want my face to feel as smooth as a baby's butt; that's what babies' butts are for.

I like having a 5 o'clock shadow.

3) it's conversational gold at cocktail parties when you want to impress that certain someone.

She:  How'd you get that 4 inch scar on your cheek?

You:  I shave with a straight razor!

(I got you started; you're on your own for the rest of the conversation.)

4) being forced to take a few more minutes in the morning isn't all bad.

Slow down, for crying out loud.  Does everything in today's world have to be a mad panic?  Take a little time and do it right.

So that's not enough for an entire book On Being A Man...but it does merit its own chapter.

later, mcm fans...