Omnis, I toddled off to bed after calling you out last night, and I apologize for not being around to give you a proper answer -- and in the mean time, Kristin said it perfectly. For what it's worth, I've never thought you were anything other than a genuinely good dude in need of a little dope slap.

The issue with "ladies" is that it connotes a class (think aristocracy) or a behavior/culture (think southern belles) where men are the actors and women are expected to be decorative. That's where the mindset of actresses who think they don't sweat is coming from. So in everyday life, it gets my back up -- but in sports, it's even more problematic, since the implication of being a decorative object is directly antithetical to competition. If you can't muss your hair, you're not really pushing your hardest.

And I hear comments all the time (yes, in 2008) saying that women in sports *are* still expected to to look pretty and not too competitive. Why does she have to look so mean. Why can't she smile more. I wish they wouldn't yell like that -- it's so ugly. Ooh, is that the sport with the bikinis/leotards/tight pants. AthleteName looks like a man. And on and on and fucking on. And I'm not calling you out specifically for that level of crap, but it's absolutely part of our culture when it comes to watching women's sports.

"Lady" sports teams are in fact a huge issue; they're a remnant of the first days of women's sports teams. It's unthinkable for girls to be Bulldogs, or Tigers, or whatever, so we'll make them Lady Bulldogs, and Lady Tigers. They aren't the real thing; they're cute and unthreatening. And you know, since you obviously know women's basketball, that in reality, those women are absolutely fierce athletes -- but the name still suggests "not really as tough as the Mighty Fightin' Whatnots".

Trust me, women sweat!

Oh yeah. Denotation/connotation thing going on in this issue. We all know what the words mean; but they mean something different to different people.

IOtotalcutenessN, when I woke up to Harvey purring, he had taken over my pillow, leaving me with a small corner. Sammie was lying on the headboard right next to him, identical position. Synchronized cat napping. It was cute enough to forgive the pillow theft.

"not really as tough as the Mighty Fightin' Whatnots".

Dude. Now I have to sponsor a softball team, just so I can name it that.

"...the Mighty Fightin' Whatnots are looking good this year against last year's rival team, Sammy's Pub's Loutish Drunken Slobfaces..."

In RE: vw's meeting CBD's parents going well - raise your hands if you are at all surprised... anyone? Crickets.

I can't even say *I'm* totally surprised. I was just anxious for a bit.

So, in my anxious stupidity, I wore heels last night. This morning my hip REALLY hurts, and I can hardly walk. I'm trying to decide if I can get myself to therapy, or if I need to go crawl back into bed with some ice packs. I've already been to the chiro, so it should feel better soonish, I hope.

can I get a little quick dentist~ma? Just a regular visit, but a new dentist and I HATE dentists.

The Mighty Fightin' Whatnots will need a really excellent mascot.

I'm interested in the whole "lady" discussion. Growing up in a determinedly southern family, where being ladylike was a major goal, I came to despise the whole mystique. I gave up the "lady" thing and tried to just be human.

However, I've noticed that in the past several years, the words "male" and "female" have, to a large extent, replaced "man" and "woman". And I really hate it - unless you're doing a form for health or police purposes, male and female imply animals to me.

(And MM - she asked for a flaming COW, not a duck.)

The best of dog~ma to Lucy and sane~ma to you, Brenda. I'll be thinking about y'all today.

I am going to the Y. Now. If you see me post in the next hour, slap me.

goose!

And MM - she asked for a flaming COW, not a duck.

After you see so many AFLAC commercials, any excuse for flaming duck is a good one.

Fandom's Bitch that I am, I was pondering what Captain/Doctor Carter would think of the use of the word lady. If a man can be an officer and a gentleman, why then, she shouldn't object to being referred to as a lady. But then... the phrase "an officer and a lady" conjures up a totally different mental image, doesn't it?