I've Gone Too Far! Or Have I?

     My sad blog has been hibernating through this balmy winter. The rapidly approaching warmth is eagerly embraced by these piggies screaming to air out and flaunt their colorful shells. They've been cooped up in socks and are ready to dance with flirty sun rays.

     I've been experimenting with a bit of nail art, if you could call it that. Google image "nail art" and you'll find exquisitely painted examples of the master skills of true nail artists. As with many aspects of my life, I can't seem to leave things well alone. First the nail polish, then the batty toe piercings, and now polished nail decorations. Reds, much like wine, are simply my favorites. With a touch of a fine particle silver at the tips a la French, I've got a stunning set of toesies. In my opinion, the silver is more subtle than a white on just about any color. Minor chips, which are excrutiating, tend to be more tolerable and less conspicuous. The fix: easy! Silvery silver touches up magically. I wore this look for most of the winter then had to exaggerate it a bit by adding lines across the nail top. A word of advice. Don't use black for the tips. Too much for a guy? That's an interesting question to pose since it "normally" isn't even a remote consideration. But those few who read this, you're at some level just like me. So it's OK. I will be posting an updated picture soon, next week maybe, with the new look.

New Profile Pic and Look

Since I began paying attention to my feet, with extra special treatment for my toes, I've undergone a major personal change. For better I'd like to think. The simple and seemingly innocent act of painting my own toenails pink while coloring those tiny toenails of my beautiful daughters sparked a part of me that was hidden, repressed perhaps. A feminine side of me that I didn't know was there, waiting to come out. I don't regret it and I 'm a better and happier person for it, despite the struggle that my wife, my mom have suffered. I'll admit that I also have struggled intermittently with it and at times wonder if I should give it up so that I conform. So that I fit into that typical male role that society pressures us all to obey. This may be all nonsense. How long can I keep this up? I don't know.

Whew! Well, what was that? I've decided to update my profile picture. As you can see, I'm sporting a strong pink. Daylight really makes this baby jump out and scream at you. I love it! I happen to shop at Old Navy and as I was checking out, the clearance bin had polish in it. I couldn't resist and bought two shades. The polish they sell is called Tip Toe Nail Polish and it's made for Old Navy. As one would expect, it's not the highest quality stuff but hey, it was on clearance and I wasn't expecting it to be liquid gold. The color is called "Shot of Love" or "Dose D'Amour." I suppose it's marketed to the continental US and Canada. It's a lovely pink with a hint of sparkles that barely show. It's thin in consistency and it took 3, almost 4 layers to finally obtain its boldness on the nail plate. It dried quickly between coats and I like that. I coat it with China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat, which smells funky and fruity, but does a great job at stretching the paint and making it last. I took that picture today and the sky was overcast.

I might be obsessed with my feet. I want to decorate them and make them look pretty. Pretty to me anyway. I always liked the toe ring look on girls' feet so I decided to wear them as well. I keep them on and don't have to take them off. I don't feel them now. What do you think? As for my one toe...that's a whole story and therapy session to explain. The dorsal toe piercing was a crazy and not well thought out act. It's been over a month now and it is slowly rejecting.

Love Vegas!

Finally someone (Molly, thank you!) prompted me to get with it and try to maintain my sad blog. I left to Las Vegas this past weekend with the family and wore nothing but sandals and flip flops. It stayed cold and damp at home and I even heard it snowed in our surrounding mountains. Some ski resorts are still open on the weekends.

Las Vegas enjoyed good weather except for Sunday, which suffered with strong winds and some sprinkles. The strip was crowded with the usual holiday weekend masses. People from all walks of life were there to have fun and let loose, just like me. I suppose because it's Las Vegas that people are somewhat more accepting of the guy wearing colored toes and a "satchel" but not really. I prefer ESB, European shoulder bag. Ha! I credit that to the Progressive TV commercial. I just call it my purse. I can carry more and I don't have to have a bulge on the back of my ass or stuff filling my front pockets. Besides, it's uncomfortable to sit on. How did I ever do it before?

I stayed up late Thursday night to decorate my piggies for the trip. I took off the dark red from Essie that just chipped a day ago and put this number on. I was sifting through my lacquer box and initially felt this urge to go all out with a slutty red. Hey, it's Vegas and anything less than flashy would just blend into the smoky casino carpet or be overwhelmed by the flashing slot lights and seemingly incessant ringing. Being red-green color blind, I actually don't even know exactly what color I'm wearing. It's called Awakening from China Glaze. I've worn it before. It carries a fine golden shimmer that reflects nicely against the sunlight and at times it looks like an odd shade of pink to me. I like it a lot and I'm glad that's what I wore. It seemed more subdued and mature. Funny that I'm writing about nail polish and I can't even figure out what color I'm using.

J.Crew Ad: Publicity Stunt? or Pure Innocence?

OK, so I've really fallen off the horse and it would seem that my passion for sharing life through colored nails is not a priority. Truth is, laziness and a bit of low self-esteem has gotten the better of me. However, I continue to adorn my piggies in all colors and have no shame in displaying my set of nails for the world to see. Proudly, they are quite well done and even nicer than most of my lovely female counterparts, including my loving wife. The weather has been depressingly awful and frigid, which also compounds on my lack of motivation to write in my blog.

New issues that I've encountered and this is likely old news to anyone on the up and up of the nail blog cosmo is the controversial ad by J. Crew this month. Their president and designer Jenna Lyons was photographed painting her cute son's toenails pink. "OMG! WTF?!" the conservative crowd cried. Boy, the controversy this stirred up is mind bloggling. Surely it was an innocent moment that a loving mother was sharing with her son on a lazy weekend but the firestorm it ignited was ridiculous. Being guilty of indulging in nail lacquer as a grown "normal" man, I saw no wrong in that ad. I don't believe that boy will become gay or be psychologically or emotionally destroyed as even a psychiatrist pointed out on national television. How unprofessional of him to place his own bias and self righteous attitude to create a "professional" opinion about this matter. I honestly felt glad and happy to see such an ad. I printed it and have it posted in my office corkboard. I wanted to write her a letter of support but couldn't figure out where to send it. I guess I could just send it to J. Crew and hope that she receives it. It seems silly to ask any of you who reads this what they think since I would only expect support for Mrs. Lyons. If I had a son, would I paint his toenails too, like I paint my daughters' nails? I would do it only if he wanted me to and my wife agreed. The big question is: should I do it when I know that he can't make a mature, adult decision on it? If he did want it, he'd only want to be more like daddy and everyone else in our family (who are girls). I probably would if he wanted it so send me to Hell for feminizing my (theoretical) boy.

Be mine! I heart you! Kiss me!

Cupid was quite industrious buzzing around taking aim at many hearts last night seeing that many eateries were packed with eager hearts and hungry bellies. It occurred to me late last week that I should probably get reservations and by then the hours between 5pm and 830pm were booked at all upscale places. I toil until late on Mondays anyway and so it wasn't a big deal to have a late dinner with my wife, lover, and mother of our beautiful girls. We took our time savoring all the dishes in the Valentine's dinner special. New place for us and we were pleasantly surprised.

I hope yesterday went well with everyone and I'm guessing most of us lacquered men had fun wearing a strong red for the occasion. I certainly did ensure that this past week a red snuck in my rotation of colors.

Though any day is good for pretty nails, I make an effort to pair themes to many occasions. Red is very sexy and it fits occasions like yesterday and the holidays in December. Christmas shined brightly with a red sparkle number named Hulu Heels by Orly. Green is not my color but would fare well for this holiday as well as for St. Patrick's day. For fourth of July I like to wear blue and I'm considering a small patriotic decal for this year. Red, blue, and white over many toes seems a bit much for me but it could work for others. Halloween is fun and the standard black plays in. This year I hope to do pumpkin toes and find a spooky sparkly orange to wear. If I'm still here, Halloween is always too cold and the kids have to wear large coats over their costumes. Those ghouly toes will have to be contained in boots. No fun! What would one wear for Thanksgiving day? Black I suppose would do the pilgrims justice. Any other holidays? Easter with a pastel color. Mother's day with a warm, nurturing tone like pink. Birthday? Any color you want!

New year 2011

Summer and a chilly fall came and went SO fast. I've been quite distraught. New job; girls are growing fast and ever more beautiful; wife and I are ticking along with the usual ups and downs. She still struggles with the girly me but acceptance and my charm is winning over her.

My piggies have to stay warm but I sneak them out for quick yogurt shop runs or supermarket sprees in flip flops. Burr! The snow will only get worse as the winter swells. They did get a break during our recent trip to Arizona but without a snowy day at the end. Snow among Sahuaro Cacti?! Quite picturesque.

I am currently wearing Ruby Heels from China Glaze. It is a fabulous silver glittery red that I thought would express my holiday cheer and secure me a spot on Santa's good boy list. My pedicure skills have developed well. I find that the lacquer extends a fortnight unscathed. My right fourth piggy tends to chip first, followed by its smaller playmate. It's consistent and odd. It must be related to my swagger. Ha! Compulsion drives me to multiply my layers of color and topcoat which I attribute to their lasting power.

My routine fluctuates directly with my schedule. The most naked my toes have been over the past year was close to 3 weeks. It's all I could endure. Believe that I tried to quit this obssessive, eccentric habit. My condition has worsened, I'm afraid, and now on occasion, the chromatic fever has spread to my fingernails beyond the clear or pink-hued tones. My knuckly digits and veiny hands betray the pretty in my glossy nails. Nevertheless, it's fun when I get around to it. It's a challenge to keep fingernails from chipping from everyday living. Those are active high contact little guys.

I wish you all the best in this upcoming year.

There Are Others

Now that the snow is quickly defrosting into a muddy slush, those sheltered warm feet are crawling out from their winter haven shoes. It's refreshing to see decorated toes again wrapped in stylish sandals or plain flip flops. Flower decals are a sweet touch. I'm jealous that girls have much more fun with dressing. Not a second thought is given when their toes have flair but boy are brows raised when I wear mine. Girls, you are blessed and be glad.

Last week I was dragging feet at work when I spotted an ultra shiny set of nails in silver. Only this time they belonged to a rather manly of a man. He was dressed casual with jeans and an untucked shirt, pacing as he spoke on his cell phone. He lacked hair and looked rather intimidating. Cage fighter on the weekends? He must have been discussing the pay outs from the last brawl. I'd wet my pants if I found myself cornered against that rusty bloodied fence and his fists charging. Kudos for him