Saturday, February 21, 2009

Dermatographia

Several weeks ago I made an appoinment with an allergist because of itchy hives. I'd been taking an antihistamine everyday for about six months. Eventually I figured that it was silly to have to take a pill everyday and I ought to look into this.

After my follow-up appointment this week, it seems that I have the best case scenario of all the possible diagnoses: Dermatographia. The treatment? Take an antihistamine everyday. Hmmm, sounds strangly familiar. While it's nice to know I don't have Lupis or a thyroid problem, the thought of taking an antihistamine everyday indefinitely is annoying. On the plus side, at least now I know I'm not allergic to anyparticular foods and that I won't suffer anaphylactic shock (again).

Dermatographia: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/Dermatographia/DS00755

Monday, February 2, 2009

Hats

I would like to see more men wear hats. No, not stocking caps for cold weather or basball caps, though these have their place, sometimes that place is in the trash. I would like men to wear hats that look like they paused a moment, pondered, and selected a particular hat for a reason other than covering bed head or to support their favorite sports teams.

Why don't men wear real hats anymore? Some say that the decline of the hat fashion began when President John F. Kennedy went to his inauguration hatless. However, maybe it has more to do with laziness. I do not think many men want to be bothered with the extra step of selecting a hat to match their clothes, coat, or style. Oh, and then there is the added step of removing the hat indoors, a step baseball caps do not seem to need anymore. Believe it or not, there is actually laziness beyond the baseball cap. Consider the frayed brim baseball cap (the ones you actually buy pre-frayed, perhaps a cousin to the pre-ripped jeans). Some men can not be bothered to put forth the dedication involved in wearing a baseball cap so much that the brim frays. Which is surprising since they tend to get a lot of wear indoors and out.

Hats used to define a man's status. What happened to the Fedora? That is a fine hat with some style. What does the Fedora say about a man's status compared the the frayed baseball cap, store frayed or otherwise? I am not going to say it, you can judge for yourself. However, I am going to urge men to wear Fedoras. Toss laziness aside and bring real hats back in style!