The truth about glitz

"But in this world, I wonder do ya'll realize that most guys could care less about your makeup?"

I'll share a story.  A while back I was getting dressed to go to a fancy dinner/gala type thing with an ex.  For AN HOUR AND A HALF, I primped, preened, pressed, pulled, plucked and painted- get my drift?  I mean, for real, red carpet ready.  When he arrived, I quickly finished up, walked into my living room and asked the fateful question, "How do I look?"

He glanced, dryly replied "You look fine" and returned to his Blackberry.  (Insert creative sound effect for dying boner here.)

I think at that point I decided I didn't like him anymore.

Well, obviously there were much deeper reasons for the demise of the relationship than the lackluster reaction to the 'fit.  But rest assured, a laconic response to a woman's very ardent effort to look good for her man will cause an abrupt and certain skydive from cloud 9.  And while I did not think he would walk in and somehow mistake me for Beyonce in concert in my own home, I would have appreciated a more enthusiastic approval.

So in response to the question I say yes, we do realize that most [straight] men do not care about the way we blend a matte chocolate brown shadow into the outside corner of the lid to create a subtle smokey eye effect.  But that's not the point.  If a woman will go through painstaking and time consuming efforts to look good for someone who she knows would find her just as captivating in a t-shirt and sweats, then she cares... a lot.  Women (who enjoy the glam) take pride in that.  Because the truth about glitz is we don't do it because we think a man will suddenly feel differently if he sees us bronzed and blushed.  The truth is that outside of a little pride in appearance, we hope a man will appreciate our efforts to make him the envy of all other men when he walks into the room with us on his arm, just as much as we appreciate him putting on a suit to meet our parents.

That said, of course a woman knows when a man thinks she is pretty with or without makeup.  That's usually at least part of the reason she dates/marries/loves him.  (I mean, I personally don't see the fun in dating a man who doesn't think I'm cute but, hey, if masochism is your thing I'm not knocking it.)  The extra effort is like buying a new car and getting a free leather interior upgrade.  You were going to buy it anyway but damn that makes you happy!  That's my humble opinion.  I'd love to hear what my girls think.  Goodnight

Allow me to explain

I have insomnia.  There are few options for entertainment at 3a.m.  Thus far, I have found the following to be most amusing: 

(1) the infomercial advertising pills that will increase the size of the male appendage; specifically, the young lady approaching random men on the street asking if they've heard of it.  Interestingly, they've not only heard of it, but every single one of them has also been taking it for months.  All of their wives are quite happy as well.  FYI.

(2) the Teen News (though I can't quite figure out why they run this so late at night, do teenagers watch the news at 3a.m.? I wouldn't think so.  I mean, that wouldn't have been my first slumber party choice.  But I also wasn't sexting at that age.  Nor do I currently sext.  All I'm saying is times have changed.  Anyway, I digress...)

(3) the loan modification hotline, allegedly endorsed by Pres. Obama himself.

The dual action colon cleanse system was a close runner up.  You get my point yes?  As gramma used to say, ain't nothin open this late but legs.  Um, not mine though.  Well the infomercial invigoration doesn't last for long.  I think this could be a rather exciting alternative.

Sooo... Men, money and makeup?  Allow me to explain.

I've started to embrace that as I get older, I spend more and more time either seeking, chasing or using these things, in no respective order.  Lately, conversations with my girlfriends seem to focus almost exclusively on them.  We laugh, we cry, we anger because of them.  And in one way or another, they creep into convo every day.  Every hour.

Sure, I enjoy a good amount of political and religious banter as well.  I frequently dabble in social commentary.  And I have really, really smart friends who can hold their own with any pundit.  But we can't hide that we all seek happiness- companionship, a rewarding career and comfortable lifestyle, and beauty, both physical and mental.  Not you huh?  Yeah... right.

And since we spend half our lives either looking for or complaining about these things, I thought it'd be cool to have a forum.  I invite my friends to participate.  I think it'll be fun.  At least for me.

Goodnight