Nugget
August 21st 2008 04:39
Today I mediated a settlement meeting between a retired couple. The couple were fighting over a storage shed located in the south end of the 15 acres they own. The husband had tricked it out by adding a toilet/shower combination, new ventilation system, a plasma television, a bed, and a mini fridge filled with beer. The husband explained that he was tired of his wife's nagging and would spend evenings down in the storage shed (after a "long hard day in the field). The wife was upset by how "it looked to the neighbors" especially since some of the neighbor men had "taken" to staying down there too and she was tired of the wives continuous phone calls looking for their husbands. The wife wanted to take the shed off the property.
This meeting sent my mind to-ing and fro-ing about my fascination with men spaces.
The observation that men want, and perhaps even need, private space is not new or startling. American men, for instance, have always headed for the hills, gone off to the frontier, down to the cellar, or out to the golf course, when the pressure was on.
Growing up, I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to frequent many incarnations of these spaces. I was honored to be a "visitor" in these foreign landscapes. Many of these locations tended to be dirty and dingy. You know these places....deer camps, cigar bars, strip clubs, race tracks, garages, locker rooms, and even barber shops, men seem to be more comfortable in the company of other men especially if there's not too much of the "clean" I have always been hypnotized by the camaraderie of men where raunchy language prevailed, alcohol was the necessary social lubricant and urination was celebrated.
After meeting the superworded nagging wife and being overwhelmed myself by the lengths this woman would go to to get her point across, it is crystal clear to me why these spaces exist. I want to send a shout out to every man out there who has gone for a drive, worked out in his shop, or resorted to yardwork as a retreat from his beloved without getting out his gun. Lord knows I wanted to put her out of my misery (and I was only with them for 2 hours). (Okay all you humorless feminist types that believe I am now officially a turncoat, think again. I am just telling you what I observed today)
Needless to say, here is the song that is a perfect metaphor for my afternoon and one that I cannot seem to get out of my head link
This meeting sent my mind to-ing and fro-ing about my fascination with men spaces.
The observation that men want, and perhaps even need, private space is not new or startling. American men, for instance, have always headed for the hills, gone off to the frontier, down to the cellar, or out to the golf course, when the pressure was on.
Growing up, I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to frequent many incarnations of these spaces. I was honored to be a "visitor" in these foreign landscapes. Many of these locations tended to be dirty and dingy. You know these places....deer camps, cigar bars, strip clubs, race tracks, garages, locker rooms, and even barber shops, men seem to be more comfortable in the company of other men especially if there's not too much of the "clean" I have always been hypnotized by the camaraderie of men where raunchy language prevailed, alcohol was the necessary social lubricant and urination was celebrated.
After meeting the superworded nagging wife and being overwhelmed myself by the lengths this woman would go to to get her point across, it is crystal clear to me why these spaces exist. I want to send a shout out to every man out there who has gone for a drive, worked out in his shop, or resorted to yardwork as a retreat from his beloved without getting out his gun. Lord knows I wanted to put her out of my misery (and I was only with them for 2 hours). (Okay all you humorless feminist types that believe I am now officially a turncoat, think again. I am just telling you what I observed today)
Needless to say, here is the song that is a perfect metaphor for my afternoon and one that I cannot seem to get out of my head link
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Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Comment by okeedokee
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
So good to talk to you (vitually and in real time)! I am so glad that you enjoyed this post. I will keep you updated about the farmer and his wife!
See you soon! Hug everyone for me puh-leese!
Mis
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
I am laughing at an old saying here about not sending your man to the dog house, in case he shares his bone with the bitch next door!
Hahaha not my words, or my worry btw ... in fact I find it positively medieval to think that there are people out there that still fight over this stuff... God, after 15 years of marraige, who wants a bloke about the house all the time. I woudl have probably built the shed for him myself!
*LOOOOOOL*
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
I have never heard this!
I am laughing at an old saying here about not sending your man to the dog house, in case he shares his bone with the bitch next door!
HAHAHAHAHA! Can I borrow this?
Mis
PS. Your comment totally cracked me up!
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Great to hear, knock yourself out, have fun with it!
Great to have you back, have missed you, hope alls well.
Lilla ...
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Mis