chivalry in the city

It took me a while to recognize some of the courteous gestures that men make here in the city. Maybe it sounds strange, but chivalry takes on a different look in a place as big as this.

Back home, a courteous date (at least on the first outing) might open the car door. He might also catch the door at the restaurant for her, and he'll probably watch her walk to her front door to make sure she gets inside without too many June bug attacks.

It's a little different here. In New York, courteous men watch the walking path for puddles, subway grates and sidewalk cracks. If there's a puddle, the guy might steer the chica out of the way so she doesn't catch one of those icky mystery drips that fall from scaffolding and air conditioners. Subway grates and sidewalk cracks tend to break heels, so considerate sweethearts are careful to walk over the grates themselves, sparing the possibly expensive shoes of his date. (Unless the guy is a cross-dresser and he's the one in heels. Adjust as appropriate, of course.)

I've also felt a little grateful flutter when I'm all dressed up and my date does the cab flagging/chasing. Sometimes you've got to get a little aggressive to catch a cabbie's eye, what with the arm waving and the lurching into the street. So when I'm all dolled up, I don't mind taking the princess route and letting the fella hail a ride.

Other dates have made me feel all girly by offering to carry my bag or purse after we've been walking through the city for a while. I don't usually take them up on this one, (My ipod is in there!!) but I'm always flattered. And, finally, up here, dates who want to go the extra mile (no exaggeration) have walked me to my subway stop, even if it's not the station they need to get home. I walk around the city by myself a lot, but I think it's a sweet gesture.

So maybe the fact that I'm wooed by these little things makes me a frilly princess. Oh well. I balance my own checkbook, take out my own trash, buy my own erotic novels and clean my own toilet. I'll take the ocassional mushy moment.

see jane squirm

I was not prepared to see Jane Fonda's nipples. But there they were, staring at me from my new TV screen as soon as I turned on a movie my MOTHER recommended, Barbarella.

If you haven't seen it, I won't spoil all the fun, but it's basically a young Jane Fonda learning to get her rocks off by having kinky sex with a handful of freaks. We're talking about having your clothes ripped off by mean children's toothy dolls, animal skin lovin with the president of the New Orleans Grizzly Bear Club, and nesting with an ego-bruised angel.

But I was very impressed with her ability to change into a new sexy outfit every three minutes, and I would love to know where she to get one of those rooms with shag carpeting all over.

Wow.

Currently listening: Barbarella By Scott Weiland Release date: By 02 June, 1998

lucero

Ben Nichols, if you're reading this, know that you'll have a fan base in any town I call home. And it adds something special that Katie's always there to scream for you to take your shirt off. Hopefully, you'll take her seriously someday....

I went to see Nichols and his band, Lucero, at the Bowery Ballroom this week. Nichols still had the Arkansas flag waving on his arm, and he still holds a handful of my heartstrings. I've seen them in four cities now, which I think is my record for any band, and they just have such a good time singing about drinking and pining while they tear their strings apart. Their sound is sort of Bruce Springsteen meets Bob Dylan.

Currently listening: I Drove All Night By Roy Orbison Release date: By 01 July, 1991