Re political candidates and all this outdoorsy stuff:

May I recall to your attention W. J. Clinton (who's most strenuous sport was jogging), G. H. W. Bush ( who played golf and tennis), R. M. Nixon (who wore shoes and over-the-calf socks while walking on the beach), J. F. Kennedy (who engaged almost exclusively in indoor sports), D. D. Eisenhower (who played golf - a lot), H. S. Truman (who took brisk walks), F. D. Roosevelt (who's legs were paralyzed), C. Coolidge (who once threw a baseball), W. G. Harding (another indoor sportsman), W. Wilson (who didn't even throw a baseball), W. H. Taft (who was too fat to be a sportsman).

That leaves, T. Roosevelt (the paragon of the outdoorsy politician), H. Hoover (who worked out on the White House Lawn), L. B. Johnson (a Texan with a ranch), G. Ford (who was an athlete, but didn't talk about it much), J. Carter (a Georgian with a farm), R. Reagan (A Californian with a ranch) and G. W. Bush (who pretends to be a sportsman).

This image of an athletic, outdoorsy, Nascar fan politician is not only a recent phenomenon in the US, it's hooey.

((I))

Ira, you are forgetting about what avid snowboarders John Adams and Thos. Jefferson were.

And then there was the one about the president who called a reporter a "show-off" for posing a question to Jacques Chirac in, of all things, French.

Hi L,

You are correct.

Lincoln also tried to project the outdoorsy image (splitting rails, etc), but I wanted to limit the discussion to the last 100 years. :)

((I))

Maybe you underestimate your DH's interest in Paris... My own DH's idea of a good time is watching basketball on TV, playing guitar, and looking at cars. But he's also really liked our trips to Europe, and yours may be perfectly happy once there.

My DH really enjoyed the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame. He really enjoyed Musee D'Orsay - the art is secondary there, the space itself is amazing. My DH also would have really enjoyed the catacombs, but they were closed when we went. He thought the Pompidou was also pretty interesting, because of the space and the art was more modern - and therefore interesting. Anything in Paris (including everything I've listed) of a grand and impressive scale - esp. architecturally - was fun for him.

I wouldn't make him go to museum after museum of impressionist paintings, but I bet he will enjoy your trip more than he or you anticipate.

He might enjoy the Crypte Archéologique at Notre Dame. There are the foundations of the ancient Roman settlement. It was low on my list, but I wandered in there one day and was astounded.

Ira,
what you say may be true , to a point. All one has to do o today is look at the adds and spin in the US politics.
Even J. Kerry went duck hunting !
He was ridiculed in some T.V. adds for wind surfing ( even golf is better) and the fact that he speaks French was a sure sign he was "soft".
W. , a " real" Texan ( never mind his background) is always strutting around in cowboy boots, Ronald Regan was often shown chopping wood or riding on his ranch and EVERYONE flashes their guns
at the appropriate time.

nbujic, what kind of man would "plaid" the piano? A macho Scottish golfing interior decorator? (Sorry to pounce on your typo, but I love the image.)

LOL


Paul Gautier or Alexander McQueen

I think we are married to the same man/ Every vacation except one in 34 years has been either the beach or fishing. Do not let him get away with this or you will be stuck with it. Try to interest him in art or old buildings or something. The one thing mine liked was old moldy castles.

For your consideration: There is a cool hardware store in the lower level of BHV. The sex museum in Pigalle has that special tongue in groove chair (you know you all have seen it). And then off to the river to dynamite some carp.

Mimar,
you need a very complicated stencil to plaid the piano.

Maybe you should think about getting another man :)

Hi "Loveitaly" wanna meet me in Paris?

Who wants to go to Paris with a mans man? Take a gay friend, much more fun !!!

Well leather, that is the most interesting offer I have had this month!!!

:) I will be in Paris on march 23rd for a few days, can meet you anytime, and I do speak french!!

Men enjoy the catacombs.

leather and loveitaly, why don't we make it a threesome part-e in paris.

I think a "man's man" is obviously gay, what else would that term mean.