A Serious Hiatus

I have recently been informed by my employer that I have been terminated "for cause." Normally, when people are fired, they are given a reason. I was not, except for "poor performance." Amazingly, this "poor performance" came less than 6 months after being transfered to a new city, given a raise and scoring a 4 out of 5 on my latest performance review (given just 2 months before my termination.)

Something else was going on - but I'm obviously not at liberty to say what I suspect in this "anonymous" (or so I thought) blog.

Needless to say, I will be halting all gender topics both on this blog and in comment sections at other sites until I can secure new work. As I was the primary breadwinner among my wife and I, finding employment takes utmost importance.

Much thanks for all your support.

EE

This Story Gives Me the "Cold Scratchies"

It might just be me, but this doesn't seem like much of a "good romance" story. Not only does she not really seem terribly in love with her husband (rather, she just seems to be doing it because he is dedicated and financially stable) but ... what about the original bus guy? 

He just lost his best friend and girlfriend in one fell swoop when they decided to sleep together while he was taking care of a family emergency.

Because, you know, "GIRL POWER!"

Tales of Validation: The Beast's Affection

Over the course of the past year or so, I've come to some realizations about my ability to converse on certain topics online without - well, losing it.

Probably my most "delicate" trigger is the concept of poisonous male sexuality. My upbringing in an anti-sex, second-wave feminist household (and being raised by my mother alone through puberty) meant that I grew up with the idea that male sexual affection is a burden borne by women.

It is not good, it is not noble - it is a disgusting, hurtful burden. This drove my "Nice Guy"-ism in earlier years and my regular placement in the FriendZone by women I was attracted to. Many of my female objects of affection were under the impression I was gay - and told me as much when I finally worked up the nerve to express my affection.

I eventually got over that - but there has always been a lingering question: Why would women appreciate affection from big, burly, hairy, masculine men? Our society clearly pedstalizes the physical beauty of femininity and women - how could women find pleasure in a man's affection?

Well, today I read a comment at NSWATM that was one of those once-in-a-lifetime "click" moments.

My mother was, and is, a horse-lover. We had horses on our farm and I was encouraged by her to learn how to care for and ride a horse. I still remember overcoming my massive fear of an animal far larger, stronger and faster than me. There was a point, after regularly taking care of my horse, Ginger, that she began to trust me, and I began to trust her. There was a surreal nature to our relationship - that a small boy like myself could care for and work together with an animal so capable of a life independent of me. I remember brushing her down one day, and I could feel her leaning into my brush strokes while wrapping her massive head around my back - and taking deep sniffs of my hair and shirt.

This comment was left by Katie Powell over at NSWATM:

things I find attractive in men:
...
men who hug me with their arms, their chest, and sometimes their pelvis or neck, as if being pressed up against me and holding me close is all they want to do,
men who make me feel a bit like I did when I was a kid and I’d hug the horses I used to ride and they’d wrap their big horse necks around and hug me back, awkwardly, distantly, and smelling of hay and leather, an animal not made for this mode of affection trying valiantly to give it a go.

 And it clicked for me. I suddenly understood why my wife would give an appreciative but brief moan when I come up from behind and wrap my arms around her.

I can finally relate to the deep, inner validation that comes from receiving affection from something that isn't expected to do such things.

I know I'm not a beast - I know the women in my life haven't viewed me as one, either. But I am a human being whose chromosomes, hormones and genetics passed down from tens of thousands of ancestors have twisted and fortified my body and mind for battle.

I find it massively comforting to finally be able to identify with my wife's obvious appreciation for my affection. It feels great.