January 12, 2006

So are guys wearing shorts today in Madison?

Yes! You know that I think men should resist shorts to the last limit of their masculine strength. But here in Madison, manliness manifests itself in the wearing of the shorts if the winter eases up just a bit, and right now it's 49°, so the inadequate pants are everywhere. Lots of young women in sleeveless tops too. We are hardy folk up here in the north. Somewhat style-challenged, but still....

19 comments:

MadisonMan said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
MadisonMan said...

Shorts are practical. How many pairs of shorts can be washed in one load? How many pairs of long pants?

Save the environment! Wear shorts!! :)

That said, I'm wearing long pants today.

Gordon Freece said...

Hey, it's 53 degrees fahrenheit in Boston today, and I drove in to work with the top down, laughing at all the wussies who didn't even have their windows open.

Robert R. said...

When I was attending Madison, I had a friend on the dorm floor who wore shorts every day. Yes, including December, January and February.

And he's a doctor now, go figure.

I don't care much for shorts myself. Maybe if it's really hot, but then you usually have to deal with sunscreen as well. Long pants are just more practical.

D.E. Cloutier said...

Bring back the military draft. I am tired of wimpy American mamma's boys in their short pants.

reader_iam said...

Shorts ... January ... Shorts ... January ...

Too jarring.

Mid-50s here in Davenport; postively balmy.

Not to worry: Friday the 13th will usher the 20s in again overnight.

Madisonman: One of the many things I like about spring/summer is the dramatic drop in the number of loads of laundry I have to do. I'll put with the sight of knobby knees on that basis alone.

LoafingOaf said...

Yeah, there are some very hardy folks up there. I was once a student at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN and there was this eccentric male student who only wore shorts all winter long. I never understood what was up with that. Did he lose a bet or something? You'd see him walking to the cafeteria in a blizzard in shorts, and I mean shorts as short as tennis shorts. Very strange people up there...but hardy indeed.

Beth said...

When I evacuated for Katrina in August, I brought nothing but cargo shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops. When we ended up in Massachusetts for part of the winter, I bought one pair of Carhardt flannel-lined jeans, some thermal Henleys, and a pair of hiking boots. I saved the jeans for days below 30 degrees, and otherwise wore the shorts. It was invigorating! Southern women are hardy, too. And frugal--evacuation is expensive.

James Wigderson said...

I don't understand the thing against shorts. Some nice Docker style shorts, some black socks, sandals - I'm set.

Jennifer said...

Wait, wait, wait...I don't have a problem with shorts. But, James - shorts AND socks AND sandals. No no no. That can't be right!

But, seriously, I have to admit that I don't understand the shorts phobia, Ann. Of course, I grew up in Hawaii.

Verification word: cedxy (Which only cracked me up because I was going to add a line about not minding shorts because my husband's legs are sexy. I guess blogger didn't want me to leave that out.)

Jennifer said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
knox said...

It's been warm here in Knoxville this week, and people are breaking out the shorts AND sandals. I mean, it's warm for *January* but it's still just in the 50s... I think some people just get ants in their pants (no pun intended) to strip down for some reason.

Beth said...

James, the only thing that goes better with black socks and sandals is a pair of coach's shorts--you know, the sans-a-belt polyester wonders. Now that's manly coture.

Icepick said...

Elizabeth, to really set off the coach's shorts it's best to have no ass and a beer gut. You know, so they hang right.

WHen I lived in Baltimore, whose winters are far less severe than Madison's, I went from being a Florida boy who pulled out the heavy coat for anything under 65 to a guy who would wear shorts in 45 degree weather. It depended on the winter: the one mild winter we had didn't make me want to break the shorts out until spring. The two cold winters REALLY gave me the itch to wear them whenever it got above 40. After something like 40 straight days of the temps not getting above 30 I wanted to at least pretend the weather wasn't that bad when it got to a balmy 40 degrees.

As for the anti-shorts thing, that just wouldn't fly in FLA. I don't care how light you say you slacks can be, come July and August the closer to naked you can get the better.

Robert R., what's this "sunscreen" you speak of? Is that like an parasol or something?

Beth said...

Elizabeth, to really set off the coach's shorts it's best to have no ass and a beer gut. You know, so they hang right.

There is just such a fellow in my neighborhood. He wears them with suspenders. Fetching.

Kev said...

It was a flip-flops day here in Dallas, where it hit in the upper 70's this afternoon (I would indulge myself once I finished teaching). What I think is interesting in places with warm days but cool nights is the combinations of summer/winter clothing: Jackets and shorts, hoodies and flip-flops, etc. At least the wearer is 50% right at all times!

price said...

It seems like shorts are really unflattering to legs. Is that irony? I can never seem to use that word correctly. But look, some people have really fantastic calves. But calves, like politics, religion, cartoons and candy, are best celebrated in the privacy of one's own home.

knox said...

sans-a-belt polyester wonders

LOL

This one conjures up all sorts of unpleasant images

Icepick said...

E:izabeth, you're right, I forgot about the suspenders. What a fashion faux pas, forgetting the suspenders!