On 'class day' at the gym, I generally get there early. I get the equipment I need for the class, find a chair, get set up and then use the time before class to walk laps. I can get about a half mile in before class.
I am not the only person who does this and another woman and I sometimes walk together. She is a fast walker too, and we tend to 'lap' people, coming up on slower walkers, and passing them without comment.
Last week, we passed a guy. I don't know him but he seems to know everyone else. He is a talker. Anyways. As we passed, he made some comment to my walking partner that I didn't really attend to.
Then much to my surprise, he spoke to me, calling me 'crazy hair'.
This is interesting to me.
One thing that I have noticed is that a lot of women come to their classes with neatly styled hair, full makeup. Jewelry and cute little workout clothes.
Then there is me, I suppose. My hair is combed but truth be told, it needed to be cut. I had an appointment. I imagine that by the end of class, I probably looked a sight. I just never bothered to look. I don't wear makeup because (to call a spade a spade) I sweat. I am not wearing jewelry. My workout clothes are a pair of sweatpants and a baggy tee-shirt.
I just find myself coming back to that comment and wondering why a man would call out something like that to a woman he doesn't even know.
Anyway.
Supper is planned, recipe sent to myself.
We got through the cold snap. It is lightly snowing and very windy. Another storm moving in. The weather folks are not giving any estimates on snow amounts. The official quote seems to be 'it all depends...'
In the time honored tradition, we will pick up a gallon of milk after gym. We do not need bread or toilet paper.
This morning, I woke up early. I finally just gave up and got up. While I was making my coffee, I became aware of a plane. It sounded very low. Maybe it was a trick of the cloud cover. I don't know. I stood there at the coffee pot, listening. Both Freddie and Houdi stopped and stood staring curiously at the southern windows.
It suddenly struck me how surreal it is to be living in a time where a situation like this immediately leads to thoughts of 'dear heavens, who has he pissed off now?'
One last comment: Chris in the UK sent me a link in yesterday's comments. You know, Chris, I appreciate that. We are carefully vetting our news sources, and I am sorry to say, I get a far more accurate idea of what is going on from foreign news agencies. Gwynneth does a great job of that too. I welcome it, and am grateful.
I'm heading to my Zumba class today in sweatpants and a sweatshirt because it is cold out. Some of the ladies dress in cute workout clothes but nobody judges anyone and we all smile and laugh and try to follow the steps if we can and just keep moving if we can't.
ReplyDeleteStay safe and warm!
He is probably outnumbered 8 women to every one of the guys. Maybe he just got very comfortable teasing the women
DeleteFrom where I sit that guy's comment was completely out of line.
ReplyDeleteIt struck me as out of place. I did find myself wondering if maybe he was trying to make a joke. Who knows. He may have embarrassed himself. I am a bit social awkward myself.
DeleteWhat a rude man.
ReplyDeletePeculiar. The thing is, women tend to become 'invisible' as they age. The remark took me by surprise.
DeleteI agree with Jim!
ReplyDeleteI suppose we will see. He is either a jerk or a nitwit.
DeleteYou're welcome ❤️
ReplyDeleteSome people... usually men...feel that they have a right to comment on other people's appearance... usually women.
Definitely not acceptable... unless it is done in a well meaning kind manner...and even then.....
❤️ right back at you. There are men like that. You are right. I do have to say that I have met more critical women than men though.
DeleteI tried to read that article Chris referred to. Not available! :(
ReplyDeleteReally? I wonder why. It came up for me, and what I loved about it was all the links contained within the article.
DeleteWell I don't know about your neck of the woods, but the men in my family... they would say something like that to a lady and think that they are being charming and friendly!! I guess it depends on how he himself was turned out... EIther way, "crazy hair day" is a wonderful book ... so I can't see how crazy hair can be an insult... :) Cathy.
ReplyDeleteNow I have a book to look up!
DeleteI love that meme "Snow Predicted" oil on canvas. I laughed out loud.
ReplyDeleteWhy do men do that? He is a man who is entitled and thinks the rest of the world should listen to him, especially women I'm guessing. I'm so done with old, white men, entitled men, the young ones too. I don't need your opinion, I never asked for it, fuck off.
Well, I will say that he always makes a point to work out beside a very frail, very elderly man, which is kind. He could be just a dork.
DeleteA man would call out something like that to a woman he doesn't know because he can and doesn't care at all what the woman might think.
ReplyDeleteYou know, that actually occurred to me: what he say if I said something re: his appearance such as 'buddy. I am here to tell you that you need to focus on your walking instead of gawking at how everyone else's looks. If the view had been worth it, I wouldn't have passed you."
DeleteWe basically watch BBC news
ReplyDeleteI am angry on your behalf. What a jerk. Who does he think he is? Does he go up to men and say - hey, you need a shave, hair getting a little busy, huh, man, you need a facial. Or maybe, hey Mr gross toe nails? Hey nose hair guy.
Men are not here to judge women. Women are not here to be judged. He was not at a trump pageant, it is a gym. And I am on your side - dress for the gym ladies, not a pickup joint.
Sorry for the rant.
Oh, don't be angry. I am new in the class. It ranges from 40-50 students, I would guess. The women outnumber the men by 8:1. Maybe the other women think he's boyish and cute and mischievious. I like people watching, and group dynamics are always interesting.
DeleteAh, some men just never progress past the snotty little schoolboy phase.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what my hairdresser said.
DeleteAs they say, the male loneliness epidemic isn't severe enough yet.
ReplyDeleteBahahahahaaaa!
DeleteI'm always surprised how rude some people can be, but I guess I shouldn't be. This jerk obviously doesn't know who he's talking to. :^) PS. I have the local weather on right now (Pittsburgh) and they are estimating 10" of snow here but said it's too soon to say.
ReplyDeleteSome men just have to make sure everyone knows they are there!
ReplyDeleteYou know what it made me think of, right away. We had a kid in my clas who was a big mouth, always had a smart aleck comment, thought he was hilarious. I just kind of thought it was something that got outgrown
DeleteSpeaking of news did you happen to hear Canada's prime minster's speech at Davos? I listened to the whole thing then tried to listen to tRump's but it was so bad I had to turn it off.
ReplyDeleteI did hear it. It was very good.
DeleteWhat a bizarre thing for him to say. I just don't get people sometimes. I'm sure he thought he was being funny, not that that's any excuse.
ReplyDeleteI think he wanted to get your attention, but out of line to say something like that.
ReplyDeleteI wear exercise clothes, sweats in winter, stretchy capris in summer. Some in the last class I attended wore street clothes and jewelry and makeup. That wouldn't work for me.
The link came up for me but I hit a paywall when I tried to read an article.
You're not alone in thinking that. I know ICE has been around the Kansas City area. Sometimes I hear small planes or a helicopter going over and ICE is the first thing I think of. It didn't used to be, there's a small regional airfield and a military base not far away. I read this morning that now ICE can break into our homes with no warrant from a judge. I hope that is not correct but nothing surprises me. We should not have to live this way.
“Crazy hair” feels like one of those comments that says a lot more about him than it does about you. You were there to move and get your laps in, not audition for a shampoo commercial, so I like your sweatpants and baggy tee approach a lot better anyway.
ReplyDeleteThe storm prep tradition made me smile; glad it’s just milk this time and not the whole bread and toilet paper trifecta. That moment with the low plane and the cats listening says a lot about the world we’re in right now, and you put words to that unease really well.
Take care, Debby.