Men's Causes And Why They Are Important

There are 2 things that happen in November that warm my heart in the way of causes. One is Movember which is a fun way to raise awareness and funds towards prostate cancer and depression. Despite women's jokes about men, we do need them and we want them to be around. We want them to be healthy and mentally well adjusted. My friend Vicki never knew her father. When she was two years old,he started getting a pain in the old family jewels and ignored it. By the time one of his testicles was the size of a grapefruit,it was too late and he was dead 3 months later. It's all very well and good to be manly and no one wants to believe there is anything wrong with their bits (and I can attest to that)but WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CANCER!!! Another friend,Melanie's husband Pepijn was unwell last year and it ended up that he had a small tumour in one of his testicles. Luckily for him,they got it early and was able to remove it. He had a small amount of chemo and was given a clean bill of health not long ago. So, men of the world-look after your meat and 2 veg! Think of it as your Ferrari,your 59 Chevy Impala or your Mustang (personally I love an old Valliant). We women do love you and want you around. Who's gonna change the lightbulbs for us?

As for your mental state-very,very important. If you do your research on suicide,the rates on males doing the darstardly deed are way more than women. Women attempt suicide more than they do it. When men decide to end it all, they go all the way. No mucking about. I think it's sad that society thinks that 'big boys don't cry'and all that crap. Say what you feel and what you mean. Have a cry and talk to friends if you need to. If someone calls you a 'big girl's blouse' or a poof or whatever- who cares? A well adjusted healthy person is crucial for anyone to get through this thing called life (to quote His Purpleness).

Today is White Ribbon Day. If you are not aware of what this is, it is an initiative to stop men's violence against women. Whether it be physical,sexual,verbal or mental- it is not on. I have just read this excellent article written by Andrew O'Keefe (yes Mr Deal or No Deal)who is the chairman for White Ribbon Day. The statistics for women who die in domestic violence under the hands of a man is frightening. I'm glad such an initiative exists and it must be run by men for men. It's time to get these things out so that we can begin to change.

In the words of the great Martin Luther King Jnr;
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

La Fiesta de Hispanica

Las chicas con paella...

The Uruguayan and The Aussie get up close and personal after snarfing an alfajore

Sarah and Mags pose for a shot after food and sangria

Sarah and Amanda snarfing yet more alfajores

Sarah,Amanda and those alfajores... by god they are good.

Booty shakin' action on stage

The Johnston Street crowd at dusk

Dipping My Toes Into The Shallow End Of The Pool

My last post was all about what I find disconcerting about all things 'general' Aussie male. Maybe it has left you thinking " what the fark do you like,MM?"

The fundamentals of honesty,sense of humour,kindness etcetera are important to me. The rest comes with getting to know someone (which is why internet,on line stuff will never really work for me). Meeting someone has to be a more organic process and if we say looks don't count, we are really kidding ourselves.

A lot of the time it involves nice guys wearing the wrong clothes and I will be the first one to tell you, I am a snob in that area (see previous blog). A picture tells a thousand words-as they say-so here's a few pics to show you what I mean;

A bit of a quiff- ooh yeah! Brylcreem:'a little dab will do ya!'

However, decent hair do's work for me. If you're losing it, don't try to over compensate by growing a ponytail. Ewww on so many levels.

Not always convenient or appropriate but I'm a sucker for a man in a well tailored suit- especially a la Italian 60's mod style. Great on guys who are slight of build and preferably in charcoal grey not taupe as illustrated).

Classic Ben Sherman and Fred Perry shirts (although the Modfather going blonde doesn't pop my cork at all)

Don Draper style (que ZZ Top's 'Sharp Dressed Man) This man can do no wrong-style wise. Personally, you wouldn't touch him with a barge pole- toxic boyfriend personified.

STYLE- Me encanta mucho!

She's Just Not That Into You

Las chicas and myself were having a chat the other week about men and in particular-Australian men and the dodgy encounters we have had with them thus far in our lives. I can't speak for every woman on the planet but I can speak for myself and here are some of the things I've discovered in my time on the planet with said Aussie males;

• Australian men seem to have a deep insecurity about themselves which is always masked by a macho bravado. Instead of approaching a woman and simply introducing themselves, they generally come out with something insulting,cliched or just plain uninspired. When they don't get the desired result,the woman usually ends up on the receiving end of verbal abuse or insults (fucking dyke,you're a dog and I was hard up,etc etc.)
• Stalking a woman like prey all night whilst getting drunk and then expecting a result is just plain delusional. I was at a club one night and this guy seemed to be everywhere I was. After a few hours and much alcohol consumed, he approached me and said "So are we going home together or what?"I don't even remember my response- I just remember being horrified. I don't know what universe that line works in but perhaps the poor sod reads too many comics.
• Tell an Aussie male what you want and he does the complete opposite. Somehow I don't think reverse psychology works here either.
• Australian men don't talk about anything real. Conversation is banal and random. They need to discuss 'things' which generally don't involve any sort of personal feeling or emotion. If it's not about sport,cars or alcohol then they tend to be a bit lost.
• Australian men tend to have a pack mentality- told that Ed Hardy t shirts,jeans and thongs with a faux hawk hair do is the thing and they all do it. With mobile phone glued to their ear muttering 'schweet maaate' at intervals into the handset.
• Most Aussie men seem to be disconnected from their feelings. The macho bloke seems archaic in this day and age. Seeing packs of guys wandering around the city without girls cements this ideal- girls have wised up and won't take the shit anymore. I wish we were taught the 'smarten up or fuck off' attitude when I was in high school. Sexism was a ideal that we hated but thought we had to accept. Thank god for the wisdom of age.
• Watching an episode of The Footy Show is proof that the Australian male is sorely lacking in anything intelligent. Billy Brownless is a gormless fool with NO clue about women or anything (then again he has a wife with 4 children between them-she probably has a few shots before sex and thinks of the cash he provides or at least I hope she does). Sam Newman - look up the word 'misogynist' in the dictionary and you'll find his picture there. He has no regard for women whatsoever. I don't know how Caroline Wilson does it-she will never respected for her thoughts and knowledge regarding football simply because she is a woman. I hate that any woman with any football knowledge is feared and shunned or she is treated like one of the boys.
• I also hate it when a girl is a bit wild, a bit out there,that a man(of any nationality) thinks they have the right to mistreat them. Porno speak,slapping,biting etc is not acceptable unless of course the woman has asked for it. Take her lead and respect her. Even if it's a one night stand, there are rules. Same goes for meeting someone on line- unless she has invited it, sleazy talk is a no go -again-unless she has invited it. Consensual sleazy chat is fine.

Okay menfolk, before you start burning dog poo on my doorstep, I don't mean all of you. I am not a man basher. I love men and I know many Australian guys who do not fit the mold of what I have said thus far. However, I feel that I can speak generally in regards to my experience.

A few pointers lads- if you're interested.

• When you see a girl in a bar,pub etc that takes your fancy, approach her and say hello. Ask her her name, how her night is. Don't go up and offer to buy her a drink- first thought a girl has is drink spiking or 'he's trying to get me drunk and have his way with me'. Sorry guys-sad but true. The mongrels of this world have made it hard for the nice guys (and they do exist-the nice guys that is).
• Nothing wrong with wanting a one night stand but make sure it's right for both parties. Be respectful and yes,this works both ways. If she makes YOU feel uncomfortable- tell her or leave. Don't exchange numbers,etc if you don't want to go there again. Be honest and say you just wanted this night of fun and that's it. If she cracks it, it's her problem-not your's.
• Safe sex. Needs to be said. Don't assume someone is safe just because they say so. No glove,no love.
• If you do exchange numbers, answer texts or calls if she contacts you. Again,works both ways.
• Try new things. Even dancing. Don't use the 'I've got 2 left feet' line if you've never danced before. Feel the fear and do it anyway. You might surprise yourself.

These are my thoughts and feelings- I don't profess to be right but it's something I've been thinking about and thought 'what the hell, blog it out'.

Opinions are good. Don't hate me for it. The Milonguita has spoken.

Beige

That pretty much sums me up at the moment. Nothing bad is happening- I just feel beige.

Need to get out and feel the red again. In the meantime, I'll set myself some beige projects to keep busy until I'm back in my crimson haze....

Back to beigey work....

Vale Richo

I arrived at the train station this morning and saw the head line on the Herald Scum 'RICHO RETIRES' and I immediatly said 'NOOOOOOO!!! It can't be!!!" I alerted Nikki in disbelief.

Someone left The Age sports page on the train which confirmed that he has indeed retired.

I could do my research and go on about stats etc etc but I won't. I will miss going to the footy and seeing him out there. I don't care who you follow in footy- everyone loves him. I will miss him getting shirty when he misses a set shot, I will miss his goofy face when he doesn't. I will miss the way he runs and runs and runs. I'll miss those big hands taking a grab.

All the best you big,beautiful man. Richmond will never be the same without you.

A Link To The World...

How special do I feel?

I checked my gmail email last week and received an email with the subject 'Compliments on your blog'. I opened it to find the following email;

Hi Milonguita,
I just found your blog today. I have a project I am working on for a tango site, http://tangotix.com/.
As one of our promotional tools we are planning to create a comical quiz about tango called something like "How big of a tango fan are you?". We are still working on the title... The style of your blog, and the way you write matches the style we are going for. I have been searching through A LOT of tango blogs, and they are all very lovely and some of them are written beautifully with a lot of detail and elegant prose, but for us, we would rather go for something catchy and funny to hold our quiz taker's attention. The way you write in your blog makes me think that you would be the perfect ally. We would like to find someone creative like you to write the quiz for us, and we could supply the graphics. We would definitely be able to give you credit on our website, and a link to your site from the quiz page, or even get you a discount to a Tango Show in B's A's. Feel free to let us know what you would be interested in. Let me know if you are at all interested in this fun little project. Hope the weather in nice in Melbourne!
Lucy

Ooh err! Colour me happy! I've been blogging on and off since 2004 more or less to entertain myself. I have received some compliments on my writings but sometimes you feel as if it's for naught. To be asked to write a quiz in my style is a great honour and a nice little ego massage for the Milonguita.

I responded to her email with a resounding yes and have scrawled a few ideas which I will email back to her today. It doesn't mean cash (the offer of a free show is lovely but it would be better if it came with return flights to LA and BA) but the recognition of my blog is rather nice. Makes you feel your words are worth something.

If you go here you can see my link!

Call me Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong because this girl's blowing her own trumpet...