Speaking of Fords, I drive a Ford Mondeo. It´s a very nice car, although I kinda doubt you could get one in the USA, as it comes with gears by default (instead of automatic. Automatic cars are still frowned upon, around here).
So far, I was too much of a chicken to go 200 km/h (~125 mph) and the fastest I went was 180 km/h (~110 mph). Oh well, eventually I´ll get there.
Actually, Optihut, IIRC, the US version of the Mondeo is (was?) called the Contour, and, yes, manual transmissions were rare. They weren’t bad driving cars at all, but as with most of Ford’s European-based cars, there wasn’t a strong market for them here. Weird. I’ve always love the European Fords, especially the early and mid-'70s Capri and the Merkur XR4Ti (Sierra to you, I think ;)).
Of course, no Ford discussion would be complete without mention of the GT40.
:: drool ::
Oh, Salem, the TR7s were just the coolest cars! Unfortunately I never had the chance to own one, but I always thought they were spiffy. Did you have a convertible or a coupe?
Ok, the only think I can add to the car chat that has evolved in this thread is my dream to own a '65 Mustang convertable. sigh
Ah, Simple Dreamer stay away from convertibles! Unless you´ve got a garage, it never (or seldom) rains in your vicinity or you´re using it as your summer car and drive a different car during the rainy seasons, then a convertible is just asking for trouble.
My parents used to have a “convertible” VW Golf and my brother currently drives a Seat Ibiza with a retractable roof. It didn´t take long for both cars to leak water into the car, so my personal experience with convertibles is rather bad. I would like to have one too, but only if I can meet any of the above mentioned conditions.
Yeah, I know Optihut, it’s not exactly a kid-friendly car either, thus it is a dream car. [dreamy voice] But in candy apple red, with black interiror… [/voice] shiver
Yeah but Optihut that’s because it rains in Germany all the freakin’ time!! in one year in Germany you get like 30 years worth of rain in any other normal place!!! LOL
So, I’m out classed with all this car talk. i pretty much just make payments, fill them with gas and drive…I have owned a couple of cool sports cars though. I had a 944 years ago in my single days that I adored and a little Alpha Romeo in Italy that was a pain in the ass in Italy. Drove the piss out of that car though.
By the way Psalex - I’ve sworn off of men more times than I can count. Just about every time I get another bone headed man who drives me up the wall…I can paint nice daisies too, and give pedicures, and lots of other things.
Is Car Talk over without so much as a properly accented Bostonian twang from Davebear? How disappointing.
White Ink, I was referring to the movie Bullit. The car of your dreams is put through its paces in that movie, and the movie reruns frequently on any Ted Turner network.
(Fellow Bullit aficionados: what is the color of the bug that is passed 11 times during the San Francisco chase scene? The winner gets a cookie)
Steve McQueen was a beautiful man, a terrible actor, but an incredibly cool guy. I was weaned on Any Given Sunday- (Dad raced dirt bikes semi-pro every summer until I was 12, I even have a copy of a home movie that Dad and his friends shot to mimic AGS)
if6was9, I own Bullit on DVD, and can choose the chase scene without suffering the acting. You would be amazed at the sound- the Charger’s snore with surround sound will make your left foot double clutch involuntarily.
Optihut, both convertibles and girls leak on unpleasant days. Don’t let a little waterworks stop you from enjoying either; or both if you can swing it.
Robot Arm, - where is my cookie? And in what condition is your MG?
Salem, I had a TR7, too. Only adventurous girls would buy a car that difficult to get parts for. Hard to resist such a cutie, isn’t it? Bet you looked pretty in it…
Wyatt, bring milk.
peritrochoid, a blue and white rally striped GT40 is dreamy.
mipiace, I understand you perfectly. What color would you like your toenails, today? Purrrrr…
Jaade, how are you doing today? 
Psalex…today I am in the mood for bright red. 
I think I feel like a little splash of color. Sound good? How about you?
goes to the 'fridge and gets a pitcher of milk*
well… I guess it’s time for my rant. I spent a lot of time thinking about just what’s bugging me.
[rant] It’s my perception that for many (most? 51% or more?) men sex is the single most important non-survival aspect of their lives. They way that I observe them talking about getting it or not getting it, and the amount of time that men I’ve observed actively engaged in or discussed other activities that sate their sexual appetites (such as but not limited to wanking, watching porn, girl ogling, strip clubs) leads me to this conclusion.
Furthermore, while it strikes that for some men sex can be an intimate, meaningful encounter but that it isn’t always that way. Some encounters will be as recreational and meaningless as playing a video game or shooting hoops in the driveway.
Yarrgghhh. That freaks me out. I am utterly disturbed by those encounters. While I understand that from the male perspective that sex with another person is the pinnacle of sensory satisfaction I am completely uncomfortable with the idea of a man using another my body (and to some extent, those of other people) as a masturbatory tool for a meaningless encounter. Bleah. Freak out. Red Alert. panic Panic. DISRESPECT. [/rant]
Thoughts? Esp from youse boys?
My thoughts: A guy that doesn´t behave that way will be too caring and sensitive to get any sex and thus will ruin any and all relationships in their initial stage.
Oh and sometimes said guy will afterwards be accused of “All you wanted was sex!”
So perhaps it is better to view some encounters as nothing more than shooting hoops in the driveway (thanks for that visual, by the way).
True White ink. That is mostly what led me to become such a cock tease. I hit the point you are at when I was in my early 20s and decided I wasn’t going to make it easy for them any more. If they wanted to me then they were going to have to work for it. This weeded out most of the ones who would use me as a human pocket pussy and sent them on toward easier prey. Also got me hassled, pinched, thrown out of cars, nearly forced, and in the end tempered like seasoned steel into a ball busting bitch but …if it’s all the same, I got laid just the same and the boys that stuck around (and some of them do) managed to get the lay of their lifetimes because I appreciated that they weren’t using me as a mastabatory tool and I made sure to make it worth their time and effort.
Fuck that three date rule. I dont’ have sex u ntil I know he respects me. could be three dates, or three fucking life times…then again sometimes they respect you and lose that respect after a while and have to be reminded again…I don’t know…dating sucks…fuck it…I’d going to stick to pedicures. It’s much simpler.
One thing I learned about guys discussing sex with other guys is that all that testosterone usually gets in the way of any meaningful discussion.
A guy can’t tell his buddies about the amazingly romantic dinner date he made for his girl so he just tells them about the superb screwing he got at the end of the evening.
I also learned that he who boasts the most usually is getting laid the least.
That said, if you go with a guy for a while and they can’t drop the testosterone thing with you then don’t let them get any! You aren’t one of the boys and deserve to be treated with respect and as a human being!
I dated a few guys that thought all women were good for was cooking and sex. Then I realized I was dating my father and made some changes within myself. Coincidentially those changes allowed me to meet the hubby - a guy with whom sex is never impersonal or disrespectful even at its sweatiest and raunchiest. Although like Optihut said … he wasn’t trying for sex and that was a little confusing in the beginning… I didn’t know how to react to a guy who didn’t seem to be interested. We figured it out though.
Know what you want and be confident. If they call you a bitch for it then they aren’t worth knowing. Don’t sell yourself short. hugs Lay it on the line for them… tell guys right up that you won’t be their masturbatory aid for the evening… they show their true colors very quickly when you speak their language. I’ve had guys say ‘fine’ and walk away and I’ve had some wonderful non sexual evenings and made good friends.
Optihut sounded like he was confirming my view.
Tanookie et al. Does that mean that in no part of your committed relationship you get the feeling that your husband is scratching a sexual itch? Anyone else?
I’m sort of less concerned about the dating, and more concerned about the long term relationship. I don’t expect that men will change and that there will always be occasions where for the man in question, sexually he’s feeling itchy, wants to get his rocks off, ideally with a human partner, tho who that partner might be isn’t all that important.
We all have sexual itches to scratch… at least I know I do… isn’t that what being horny is? Never have I felt like a warm sex doll/masturbatory aid though. Hubby is always concientious about making sure my itches are as thoroughly scratched as his are and I try to do the same.
Are you implying that if he is itchy and I’m sick or just not in the mood that he’d wander off and scratch himself against the nearest willing female with your second paragraph in that last post? The answer to that is I have never felt that way ever.
White Ink, mi amiga, I don’t quite know how to chime in here. You’re right, most men (but not all) are motivated almost purely by sexual satisfaction. But I know a lot of women who are too. I do think that Optihut’s assessment is true to a large degree, and a guy who prefers to really get to know a woman before sleeping with her comes across as disinterested or wimpy. Trust me, I’ve been accused of both because I don’t come out of the chute with sex on the brain. But it’s a two-way street. There are exceptions to the rule, and perhaps you are one of those. I think I am too. Contrary to my board persona in this thread, I approach relationships very carefully. I’m a thinking man, and I like to know the person I’m investing my time in (and who is investing her time in me) is someone with whom I share meaningful intellectual chemistry as well as sexual chemistry. I have never been one to brag or to kiss and tell, and I’ve always been uncomfortable around my guy friends who do so. I am a very private person, and those acts are between me and my partner, not for public display. The “Medieval Girl” situation that I’ve broadcast here on the boards was brought up because, well, it hit pretty hard and really, really caught me offguard. I needed to vent and wanted advice. In that situation, I felt used for her satisfaction.
Like I said, I really didn’t know how to weigh in on this subject. I probably rambled a bit too much, but I wanted you to know that I think there is an ebb and flow to these things. The trick is in finding that rhythm in synchrony with a like-minded individual. I’m sorry you’re in such a bad place right now. 
But it isn’t always like that, I promise.
I’m a great listener and an objective soul, so if you need to email me, don’t hesitate. Many hugs your way, White Ink.
Actually I honestly don’t think most men are players. I might bitch about it with this one in particular. But I’d have to say once you get into relationship territory and past the just sex stage, I don’t think the average male is going to go screw just anything that’s available - some will that is true - but I don’t think they are all that way. I’ve had enough really close guy buds to know that isn’t the case.
Guys? am I off base?? What do you think the percentage is? You know there are women who are the same tho.
A) Thanks to all of you who are pitching in your perspectives, it is most appreciated. Really.
Tanookie said:
That wasn’t really what I meant. More that if Mr. Dude is all itchy and you aren’t, but you still have sex with him so that he may alleviate that itch. Doesn’t that sorta feel like providing warm doll services? My idea is that in this case, Mr. Dude is your committed partner, so of course the sex is with you, that’s the agreement that you have. But at an impirical level, in dealing with his horniness, does it really MATTER that you’re the one he’s knocking boots with, in that for the purposes of scratching his itch, any woman that he was reasonably attracted to would do the job. I’m specifically NOT implying that Mr. Dude would go outside a marriage/agreement to be monogamous, just that in light of that agreement, the one he’s having sex with is you on the basis of that agreement, not on the basis that you are someone so special that he only wants to have sex with you for the rest of his life because you are that rare a commodity.
Phew, that was a long, not very cogent thought.
Do you (general you, not specific to Tanookie only you, as this is a general question for all & sundry) have sex with Mr. Dude when he’s in the mood & you’re not? or do you say no? If you do say no, how often is that acceptable, or at what point does Mr.Dude start getting upset? Should Mr. Dude get upset?
But WAIT - it isn’t always Mr. Dude who has the higher libido here – very often it is Mrs. Dudette who is finding herself lacking and belive me it is much easier to “accomodate” a a willing male and a half willing female than the other way around…what about then…and how often can you ignore that the steel is just not quite there tonight or that it has been four weeks since the last time you have seen him naked before you start to really go nuts…okay…now I am ranting…sorry
I think what’s missing in that thought, White Ink, is the concept of emotional involvement. I’m not married, so that group can probably flesh this idea out better, but the whole notion of thinking about marriage as simply a contract or agreement to be monogamous leaves me rather cold. It is an agreement, but it’s an agreement between two emotionally connected people who want to travel the same path together.