Haven for the Human Amoeba

Hi tlshell, Well I was not diagnosed with (AS) Asperger Syndrome also known as (HFA) High Functioning Autism until I was in my mid forties. I'd say around 45 years old. I am now 47 years old. Who knows, it could be AS or HFA or just HSP Highly Sensitive Person as that link said. Either way the needs of people like this are very different and the distress can interfere with relationships and being in the workforce too.

Yes, this topic of deafness is truly going full circle.

Jen

I have been in therapy too. It did help but not enough. I lack many of the social cues that others are able to naturally pick up. This is due to being a high functioning Autistic. You would never guess it or notice it. I am just awkward socially and overwhelmed by too much stimuli. In fact too much stimuli is exhausting to me.

That sounds so much like me that I wonder if I'm an undiagnosed autistic too. Well, whatever. I find I really perk up once I'm by myself, even when I think I'm really tired.

This "deafies convention" is getting to be just too funny though.

(-:

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Hello Cijay, Well you are right the diagnosis is not so important but rather how to cope with how our nervous system is to make life pleasurable and manageable.

I am amazed you don't need ear plugs during the day. I must tell you I have days that just the sound of the air is too loud. I never know if I will be having an more sensitive day or not. I do not have anyone living above me as that would likely make me nuts or nuttier than I already am.

There can be no TV, no radio and only me and one other person talking and I still need ear plugs. The typing I do on my computer is too much so I have my ears plugged. Believe me, I can still hear it all through the plugs it's just not so sharp and therefore I calm down.

I have 2 cats. I must say they are different than humans. Most of the time they can come up on my bed, rub against me and so on and it is welcomed and not disturbing at all.

Jen

Yes, all hearing aids would do to me would be to amplify the sounds that I can't make out to begin with LOL.

I'm rattled by hyperstimulation, too, they thought I was autistic when I was little, don't know what they finally decided on, don't care. It's like the saying "I don't know much about art but I know what I like." I don't know if I'm autistic, anti-social or what but, like most people I know what I can handle and what I have to get away from. Actually, I use earplugs (or as my niece calls them ug-pleers :D) when I sleep because there are too many things to keep me awake (neighbors walking across "my ceiling" or flushing their toilet etc) but in the day I don't need them, I just avoid the overstimulation. I actually work on the telephone but I have headphones so it shuts out everything but the voice I'm supposed to hear. I use headphones for my stereo and telly.

Funny, the only thing that has never woken me up before has been the cat. He jumps all over the place, uses his litterbox, eats etc in the night but I never hear him.

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Hello Glenn, thanks so much for sending this info with the links for HSP. This is great! I took the free test and was a 25 out of 27 so that is quite high to say the least. I am thinking I may want to buy a couple of those books.

Jen

I'm rattled by hyperstimulation, too, they thought I was autistic when I was little, don't know what they finally decided on, don't care. It's like the saying "I don't know much about art but I know what I like." I don't know if I'm autistic, anti-social or what but, like most people I know what I can handle and what I have to get away from.

I remember a similar topic coming up on another mailing list. On the Introvert Retreat group (also on Yahoo), there has been in the past some discussion about what the "Highly Sensitive Personality" (HSP for short). By "sensitive" they don't mean someone who's emotionally fragile (which is how the term is commonly used these days); it means someone who is easily overstimulated or overwhelmed by sensory input. According to studies, HSPs make up about 15-20% of the population. Most (70%) are introverts. Sounds to me like both Cijay and Jen may well be HSPs.

A couple of web sites: http://www.hsperson.com/ http://www.highlysensitivepeople.com/

BTW, I myself am not an HSP. Very few of the traits that typically identify an HSP apply to me. HSPs are typically very aware of the subtleties in their environment, whereas I need to have things pointed out to me. HSPs are affected by other people's moods; I am oblivious to them. HSPs often avoid violent movies and TV shows; I'm quite the opposite. Loud noises don't bother me; I can mentally block out unwanted sensory input if I have to (eg, at a busy workplace). Just thought I'd mention it. :)

Cheers,

Glenn

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I wear my headphones all day so that's probably a good thing because all I do hear is the phonecall I'm on. When I'm home I'm fine because whatever sound is happening, it's the only one. If I'm watching TV then I'm not typing, if I'm on the phone the TV is off, if I'm typing the TV is off. It's nice to live on the 14th floor because there's NO sound through the windows. When I lived on the 2nd floor I had to close my window when I wanted to watch the telly or talk on the phone. One thing that hits me is sharp noises! Kid's toys that make sound just drive me crazy, cartoon voices, any beeps like answering machines or microwave buttons.

I can see Spaz (the cat) not waking me while he's walking all over me (the 2AM tittie dance as I call it) but funny I don't hear anything when he's knocking things over or yakking hairballs.

Hello Cijay, Well you are right the diagnosis is not so important but rather how to cope with how our nervous system is to make life pleasurable and manageable.

I am amazed you don't need ear plugs during the day. I must tell you I have days that just the sound of the air is too loud. I never know if I will be having an more sensitive day or not. I do not have anyone living above me as that would likely make me nuts or nuttier than I already am.

There can be no TV, no radio and only me and one other person talking and I still need ear plugs. The typing I do on my computer is too much so I have my ears plugged. Believe me, I can still hear it all through the plugs it's just not so sharp and therefore I calm down.

I have 2 cats. I must say they are different than humans. Most of the time they can come up on my bed, rub against me and so on and it is welcomed and not disturbing at all.

Jen

Message

6

Date

Mon, 08 Dec 2003 02:25:32 -0000

From

"Cijay" <cijaym@y...>

Subject

Re:Deafness & solitude

Yes, all hearing aids would do to me would be to amplify the sounds that I can't make out to begin with LOL.

I'm rattled by hyperstimulation, too, they thought I was autistic when I was little, don't know what they finally decided on, don't care. It's like the saying "I don't know much about art but I know what I like." I don't know if I'm autistic, anti-social or what but, like most people I know what I can handle and what I have to get away from. Actually, I use earplugs (or as my niece calls them ug-pleers :D) when I sleep because there are too many things to keep me awake (neighbors walking across "my ceiling" or flushing their toilet etc) but in the day I don't need them, I just avoid the overstimulation. I actually work on the telephone but I have headphones so it shuts out everything but the voice I'm supposed to hear. I use headphones for my stereo and telly.

Funny, the only thing that has never woken me up before has been the cat. He jumps all over the place, uses his litterbox, eats etc in the night but I never hear him.

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IN THE BEGINNING: The human male and female were created equal (like the other creatures) with no sexual inhibitions or hidden secrets. We were at peace and in harmony with God, the universe and each other. Gender issues, as we know them today, did not exist. Then, we created many artificial differences that resulted in unnatural problems, secrecy and gender tensions.

CLOTHING: We first created clothing, not to protect us from the elements but to hide our physical differences from each other. This resulted in stereotyped female and male clothing to further disguise and promote our differences. It created unnatural secrecy, curiosity and tensions between female and male. What a giant step backward!

Today, the clothing trend is starting to reverse. It is now acceptable for the female to wear all traditional male styled clothing. However, there is still a real bias against the male wearing any traditional female styled clothing (skirts, dresses, blouses, underwear, lacy and frilly items).

RESTROOMS: Next, we created an unnatural secrecy around basic bodily functions by establishing separate restrooms for female and male users and implementing different levels of secrecy for both. The female was always provided private stalls with 6-foot walls and doors. However, the male was given open urinals and inadequate stalls. Male stalls were either non-existent or had only 4-foot walls (sometimes without doors). This secrecy only promoted unnatural curiosity and perversion.

Today, due to long lines, females frequently use male restrooms. However, the male is still prohibited from using the female restroom unless he can pass as a female. The family restroom addresses some aspects of this bias by permitting opposite gender assistance for children, elderly and handicapped. However, true unisex use is prohibited (even for married adults).

BATH, DRESSING, & SPORTS: When the concept of a bath was established, we again created separate facilities for the female and male. Heaven forbid they should see each other without clothes. We provided privacy curtains for the female, but not the male, in dressing and shower areas. Why the difference? We even added basic health and fitness as secret and forbidden differences by creating separate exercise and recreational facilities. Why so much secrecy?

OTHER GENDER BIAS: We continued these exclusions and differences to all areas of human life: employment, sports, recreation, family life, and etcetera. Fortunately, some of these biases are now being eliminated. However, the rate of change is much too slow.

CONCLUSIONS: We must establish true gender equity for everyone. Making all clothing acceptable for both sexes will abolish one stereotype. True unisex restrooms with adequate stalls for privacy will eliminate another bias and provide additional security for both female and male users. Bath and dressing facilities must be designed for unisex usage and individual privacy. Sports, health and recreation facilities must offer shared usage for both female and male users. Gender biases must also be eliminated from employment and all other social areas of our life.

CONCLUSIONS: We must establish true gender equity for everyone. Making all clothing acceptable for both sexes will abolish one stereotype. True unisex restrooms with adequate stalls for privacy will eliminate another bias and provide additional security for both female and male users. Bath and dressing facilities must be designed for unisex usage and individual privacy. Sports, health and recreation facilities must offer shared usage for both female and male users. Gender biases must also be eliminated from employment and all other social areas of our life.

I'd agree about the clothing and gender biases but for physical security reasons, I think unisex bathrooms (for use by more than one person) would be unwise. There are far too many male predators out there with an advantage in strength. In public areas, children also should be accompanied by an adult for the same reason.

Therese Shellabarger / The Roving Reporter - Civis Mundi tlshell@... / http://tlshell.cnc.net/

Gender issues are far more complex than clothing and lines at the loo tho'. If you want to go "in the beginning", women were 'created' to be beside man but never were because there was always the 'lesson' that we were created from man. Men were told to cover their extremities while women were told to draw a cloth across themself (and the interpretation of that is open to this very day). Women were 'condemned' to carry the curse of a woman and there isn't a monotheistic sect that doesn't promote that. We were sold, we were thought of as property, everything we had belonged to our father and then our husband and if we didn't have either, it went to our brother, uncle or some wino out on the street just because he was a man. This is if you want to go to the beginning (back to when you couldn't speak to a woman who was menstruating and she couldn't talk to God because she was filthy).

Low or inadequate stalls didn't promote unnatural curiosity or perversion - perversion goes WAY beyond anything in the environment and any kind of perverts can blame society all they want. If it was society's fault, then everyone would be a pervert, wouldn't they? I'm all for giving guys stalls (separate washrooms tho', I agree) but you're gonna' get perverts everywhere. Hain't been too many women dressed as men going into the men's shitter and raping them tho'. (As for the children issue, that's totally different. There's a paedophile in our family (was an in-law by the way, there is NO kin between he and I) and the lecherous, drooling slobs wouldn't pick on a kid.

As far as clothing, I think the issue of cleanliness is first and foremost, so are the elements. While we're talking about differences in clothing, how about a guy can buy 6 pairs of underpants for $1 and women have to pay $3 a pair? How come it costs $5 to dryclean a woman's blouse and $2 to clean a man's shirt? Why do men's sport socks come in a bad of 1/2dozen for $7 and women's shitty little nylon socks with butterflies around the ankle (because they don't pull up any farther than that) cost $7/pair? So yeah, I'm with you on the clothing. I think anyone is daft to pay so much for women's clothing, preference or not.

Bathing etc., I don't know about anyone else but I really don't give a shit about what a guy has. And I don't know a lot of people who do (none of my friends are asexual, by the way). But the only guys I know who don't say lewd and piggish thing about when a woman is dressed are gay. I don't want to be naked in amongst 50 guys who aren't there for the bath. I know there are women who do the same thing so I'm for keeping those separate.

I agree about the gender equity in the workforce, one thing that has GOT to go is the quota bullshit. Where they have to have X% of women on the job. So, if 4 guys and one woman apply for a job, and she's not qualified, she gets the job anyway. However, until that happens, guys can stop blaming women for it and resenting them as if they are personally resonsible for it. Sexual harassment is 80% higher in male against female cases and when they ask male pig employees why they did it, it's because they don't feel a woman has a right to be there. When they ask female sow employees why they did it, they more or less said it was for fun. Not that either are okay, just illustrating the differences.

Socially, when there's a table full of guys in a lounge or at a restaurant, they are merely out with the guys, when it's a table full of women, they're bitches in heat waiting for someone to sweep them away for a night of heated, horny passion.

Oh yes, the rules should change but there are some I'm still for.

Hello Glenn, thanks so much for sending this info with the links for HSP. This is great! I took the free test and was a 25 out of 27 so that is quite high to say the least. I am thinking I may want to buy a couple of those books.

Glad to be of service. :)

BTW, I scored 4 out of 27...

glenn

So yeah, I'm with you on the clothing. I think anyone is daft to pay so much for women's clothing, preference or not.

OK, and why, for about the same price, are men's clothes more durable and warmer than women's? (I don't pay for "fashion" so the the biggest difference is *style*.) Women's shirts are shorter so you can't tuck them into pants on cold days, the pants are often shorter too so along with the inadequate socks, the ankles are totally neglected areas. Jackets are often short too. What's the matter, they don't think we get cold around the waist??? And what about the modesty issue? Obviously, none of the designers have to wear their designs while waiting for a bus in wintertime. Why should women have to wear skiwear to be warm in the city?

And lastly, my favorite gripe, don't forget the deodorant slogan, "strong enough for a man, blah blah for a woman..." Women don't work hard???

Therese Shellabarger / The Roving Reporter - Civis Mundi [email protected] / http://tlshell.cnc.net/

Yeah and WTF is this with all shirts riding up the back but the sleeves hang down to your knees? Do they think EVERYONE wants to dress like that? Nobody has boobs or a torso but they all have arms like orangutans? Problem is, it's rarely for the same price, it's usually twice the price for half the material.

And shoes!!! Don't let me get started, the dressiest I can get is semi-fancy desert boots (I don't wear dresses so I don't have to worry about too fancy) so I can wear decent socks and not icky little $5/pair trouser socks that run as soon as you put them on.

Long johns! Ladies' long johns are about as thermal as a bathing suit. Guys have nice padded tushy ones and even our long underwear has to be femmie, like anyone is going to see them.

Speaking of bathing suits, why are our bathing suits (again, thrice the price) designed to go up our bums and barely cover our boobs while guys get boxer style ones. (well, there are men's Speedos but...). I do wear boxers over my bathing suit but I'd like to not have to, just for them to make women's bathing suits with boxer style bottoms.

The deoderant one I don't care about but did you get the commercial for maxi-pads where there are a dozen sweaty men on a beach making a human pyramid? WTF was up with that?

On 11 Dec 2002, 14:05 +00:00, Cijay said:

So yeah, I'm with you on the clothing. I think anyone is daft to pay so much for women's clothing, preference or not.

OK, and why, for about the same price, are men's clothes more durable and warmer than women's? (I don't pay for "fashion" so the the biggest difference is *style*.) Women's shirts are shorter so you can't tuck them into pants on cold days, the pants are often shorter too so along with the inadequate socks, the ankles are totally neglected areas. Jackets are often short too. What's the matter, they don't think we get cold around the waist??? And what about the modesty issue? Obviously, none of the designers have to wear their designs while waiting for a bus in wintertime. Why should women have to wear skiwear to be warm in the city?

And lastly, my favorite gripe, don't forget the deodorant slogan, "strong enough for a man, blah blah for a woman..." Women don't work hard???

---

Therese Shellabarger / The Roving Reporter - Civis Mundi tlshell@c... / http://tlshell.cnc.net/

I have read with interest the comments of those of you with Asperger's Syndrome or are Highly Sensitive to stimuli. Ya'll have highlighted a major theory of the autism spectrum disorders- that such persons have difficulty handling large amounts of stimulation. When I was an undergrad psych major, I had to do some research on this topic.

I also note, in relation to the introverts topic, that one possible biological basis of the introvert/extrovert distinction is again the amount of stimulation the person is able to handle, or rather, the ideal amount for that person. There's a part of the brainstem called the reticular activating system that in part regulates overall arousal levels and how much stimulation gets to other parts of the brain from the incoming nerves. Introverts' RAS allow more stimulation to get through, thus they need less stimulation. Extroverts' RAS allow less stimulation to get through, thus they need more stimulation. At least that is one possible theory.

Sexual activity and attraction is, as far as I understand, highly sensual and arousing. Perhaps a reason those of you who are introverts or have Asperger's Syndrome identify as asexual is that you can't tolerate the amount of stimulation that sexual activity brings. Just a thought.

I actually have had good experiences with therapists with regard to my current asexual orientation. In fact they stated that there is a percentage of people who have the low end of the sexual desire bell curve. So it's "normal" (pun intended). This leads me to think that there probably has been some literature out there in the journals if the therapists have been thus enlightened, but I haven't had the time yet to search PsychInfo (psychological abstracts database) to check it out.

Btw Annie's Mailbox recently had a column on a 51 year old man who asks if asexuality is normal and that he has always been that way. They advised him to have his hormones checked out. I wrote to them about AVEN and us...

--Julie

Hi Everyone, I was given approximately 5 huge plastic garbage bags of new and some used clothing. They were both dressy and casual. So I brought those and many boxes of things into my apartment. I decided to ask my youngest sister and my youngest brother's wife to go through everything and take what they wanted. These are the 2 women in my family that would be able to fit into these clothes and they happen to be the two that are really needing some new clothes too.

Well, I was very overwhelmed with the amount of clothing so I packed up the bags into a van and took them to a friends house. We spent then entire day sorting. We created a dressy bag for each woman and a casual bag for each woman. The things that were not so nice were donated to a free locker.

Friday, I brought all of the clothing back to my apartment and set up a dressing room in my master room and my bathroom since both had mirrors and good lighting. I added a chair for each woman. I offered tea to both too.

Yesterday, both women showed. My Sister in-law showed up and went through her bags quickly and didn't seem to leave with a lot. Well, I learned she is a woman that is not very comfortable with prints but I didn't know this when I separated the clothing. She left after a few hours. About 30 minutes before she left my youngest sister arrived from out of town. This would have been around noon. She didn't leave until after midnight. So needless to say we were both entirely exhausted but we had a great day. We also went to lunch and dinner together.

My sister left with a huge over flowing bag along with picking out many things that were not clothing. Actually both picked out quite few things before leaving.

My sister was so happy she could hardly see straight. I knew she needed everyday clothes and clothes to go to work in because soon she will need to work.

Now that my sister has gone through all of these clothes, I'll take the remainder to my sister in-law because she didn't get to look at the remainder clothing since my sister was late. After she finishes she'll bring them back to me and I will take them to a free locker for the poor to be able to get some nice clothing.

I still have a lot of additional things that are not clothing that no one wanted so I need to pack these things up too.

I have some cleaning up to do around here also, so it's been busy this weekend so far but I must say I am grateful. I don't like to just be here alone in my apartment with my cats anyway.

Sometime later today I'll be helping a neighbor sort and pack so she can move at the end of the month too.

Well, that's my new for now.

I hope you are all having a nice weekend.

Jen USA

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Don't forget too, the trend for many years (until the early 70s here) was that guys at work/school could dress however they wanted, women HAD to wear skirts/dresses. HAD TO. It can be -40 here in the winter - not often but it does happen. Women HAD TO wear dresses, shitty little ginky shoes and stockings. It progressed in the work place to they could wear pants but it HAD TO be a pantsuit. No co-ordinates, the pieces had to be purchased as a set. I can bet you a pair of frozen legs/toes that it wasn't a women who thought up that rule. So, why wouldn't we want to wear what WAS once men's clothes (but what ARE now unisex) and why would men WANT to wear nylon, fortrelle and clicky-ticky high heel shoes? Why would they WANT to pay 3 times the price for 1/2 the material?

Well, economics aside, I have a sister who likes to wear clothes that look good. I notice that she's wearing more "sporty" clothes these days, but she still maintains a certain classy "look" about her no matter if she's at home or going out. I once asked her why she likes to be dressed up all the time and she said it just makes her feel better to look nice. This is the opposite of me, as my philosophy is that if it's not ragged or dirty, it's fine as long as I'm comfortable. Now that I can go to work wearing a T-shirt and jeans, I'm the happiest I've ever been because I no longer have to buy clothes that I know I'll hate to wear.

BTW, you don't "have" to wear skimpy high heels. A compromise is to wear a regular woman's shoe with a 1" thick heel in the back. It's much safer too. If you have wide feet, look for German labels as they seem to have better selection of wide shoes.

Therese Shellabarger / The Roving Reporter - Civis Mundi tlshell@... / http://tlshell.cnc.net/

I really have to agree. I'm male and I'm very happy about it, because I can get away with wearing floppy tracksuit trousers and an old green shirt, both splattered with paint, and a pair of trainers split on the bottom - and no one comments! I feel terrible for girls who have to agonise for hours over their wardrobes, I really do!

But don't you feel the trend for is reversing somewhat? I can get away with dressing like a tramp, but most of the guys around here are rich enough to get good clothes, and spend time making their hair look good instead of living with the 'Young Einstein' effect like I do. Perhaps one day we'll find that, as work clothes become more casual, uncomfortable but aesthetic attire will become the norm, and even a requirement, among men?

I hope not...

- Jordan

We won't be sure that women's liberation has been achieved though until it's OK for men to be like women, then finally we'll have true gender equality.

***I do agree with this, there are many things the women's libbers destroyed because they want supremacy*** As for men not being able to be like women, considering the rugged, "manly" look is only a few hundred years old and up 'til then there were no differences but for the fact that men wore "closed-crotch" clothing and women didn't. Little boys wore dresses. So it's not an age-old custom.

And the icky-ticky high heels were more directed at the dress codes up'til the 70s when we were allowed to wear what we want to work. I don't know anyone who'd give a rat's ass if a guy wears sensible women's shoes. Then again, I don't notice peoples' shoes. I just need shoes that are built for feet that are on sideways (seriously, my feet are deformed) and women's shoes aren't built for that. Funny enough the athletic shoes are, or I can get a "nice" pair for a low price of $375/pair. (men's shoes of the same type run $240).

I think if guys wanna' wear women's clothing, they may as well do it, after awhile nobody'll care. Not to mention the prices of the clothing will come down as the quality goes up.

When I was in highschool (waaaay back in 1978) people were just starting to dye their hair colours other than black, peroxide white, red or brown. Of course they caused heads to turn, especially when combined with the 'new' style haircuts. Now, nobody cares and it's natural to say "see the man over there with the green neon hair...next to the woman with the tie-dyed dreads". So, it'll be just as natural to say "see the guy over there in the black sequined gown with the pink mullet?" Honestly, nobody up here gives a shit what someone is dressed like as long as they don't stink and they're not disturbing anyone.

But don't you feel the trend for is reversing somewhat? I can get away with dressing like a tramp, but most of the guys around here are rich enough to get good clothes, and spend time making their hair look good instead of living with the 'Young Einstein' effect like I do. Perhaps one day we'll find that, as work clothes become more casual, uncomfortable but aesthetic attire will become the norm, and even a requirement, among men?

Possibly. The "Casual Friday" seems to be becoming a thing of the past. I'm glad I found a job where casual is the norm. I work in a call centre, so I don't have to look dressy. My usual workday garb is black jeans and a polo shirt, a notch above the usual jeans-and-T-shirt most people wear.

Any job that required me to wear a shirt and tie is a job I would quickly try to find a replacement for...

glenn

enough the athletic shoes are, or I can get a "nice" pair for a low price of $375/pair. (men's shoes of the same type run $240).

I spend an average of $30 to $40 on shoes. I go to Payless, where it's easy to find my size (13). And all I wear are athletic shoes, because they're the only kind that are built with arch supports. Without which, my feet would be in agony before long. (I have fallen arches.) I do have a pair of Rockports walking shoes, built like a running shoe but with the outward appearance of a dress shoe. Cost me over $100.00. I wear them only when I need a "dress shoe" look, which is maybe three times a year.

I think if guys wanna' wear women's clothing, they may as well do it, after awhile nobody'll care. Not to mention the prices of the clothing will come down as the quality goes up.

I dunno. Somehow I can't see myself going to work in a dress...

glenn

Glenn! You're in Edmonton aren't you? Go to Payless at Londonderry (now that it's safe again!) my brother manages that one LOL

That IS another area things have to even out. Girls dance together all the time- why can't guys? The guys in our family don't dance at ALL.

I think this is a great lesson in life. ROFL

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CHRISTMAS CAROLS FROM THE PSYCHIATRIC WARD

SCHIZOPHRENIA Do you hear what I hear?

MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER We three queens disoriented are

DEMENTIA I think I'll be home for Christmas

NARCISSISTIC Hark the Herald Angels sing about me

MANIC Deck the Halls & Walls & house & lawn & streets & stores & office & town & cars & buses & trucks & trees & fire hydrants & everything with balls of holly.

PARANOID Santa Claus is coming to get me.

PERSONALITY DISORDER You better watch out, I'm gonna cry, I'm gonna pout, maybe I'll tell, maybe I won't

BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER Thoughts of roasting on an open fire

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells

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Hello Everyone, I know we don't usually use humor here but I think it's a good thing. Laughter is a wonderful thing that gives us much life and health.

Laughter happens to be my favorite thing in life so sometimes I still share it even where there isn't much around. I suppose I just gotta have it.

I do hope someone enjoyed some of these silly things I sent.

Laffins_Fun is my ID for a very good reason.

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Perhaps one day we'll find that, as work clothes become more casual, uncomfortable but aesthetic attire will become the norm, and even a requirement, among men?

I doubt it. I still remember the uproar about letting young men grow their hair long. Today, the result is that we have some men with short hair, some with medium, and a few with long. I think men will always have the option of dressing whatever way suits their needs and desires. Even in the middle ages, I'm sure that all men didn't wear snobby clothes...they dressed according to their status and the work they did, just as today. My brother, a lawyer, has some very nice suits for work but at home he still has his "laid back" clothes, his "glad rags" and so forth.

Therese Shellabarger / The Roving Reporter - Civis Mundi [email protected] / http://tlshell.cnc.net/

CHRISTMAS CAROLS FROM THE PSYCHIATRIC WARD

LOL! I sent these to a psychiatrist friend of mine...

Therese Shellabarger / The Roving Reporter - Civis Mundi tlshell@... / http://tlshell.cnc.net/

In my high school, we had a small crew of people (maybe 10-15) who tried to institute "Un-casual Friday" We would dress up (dresses, suits, ties..etc) on Friday. We got a small following to participate and actually won over most of the athletes. There's a custom of athletes dressing up on days that they have a game/meet/match. It really was rather fun... I kind of miss the whole thing.

Nowdays, my dress is primarily business casual. I haven't worn shorts since 1998 and haven't worn jeans since 2001. I wear dress pants (fairly loose) and either a t-shirt, button-up shirt or semi-dressy velvet shirt. It looks decent but still feels comfy. Works for me!

Sarae Montgomery We're all mad here!

jordan_ai said:

But don't you feel the trend for is reversing somewhat? I can get away with dressing like a tramp, but most of the guys around here are rich enough to get good clothes, and spend time making their hair look good instead of living with the 'Young Einstein' effect like I do. Perhaps one day we'll find that, as work clothes become more casual, uncomfortable but aesthetic attire will become the norm, and even a requirement, among men?

Possibly. The "Casual Friday" seems to be becoming a thing of the past. I'm glad I found a job where casual is the norm. I work in a call centre, so I don't have to look dressy. My usual workday garb is black jeans and a polo shirt, a notch above the usual jeans-and-T-shirt most people wear.

Any job that required me to wear a shirt and tie is a job I would quickly try to find a replacement for...

glenn

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