ANNARCHY - Latest Comments in ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

MartyS82 — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:12:05 -0000

Getting my boots shined at the airport..Damn life's rough..Gotta put my head back for a sec...J/K
Nicole Austin (Coco, wife of Ice T) - from her cocosworld Twitter

She wears OTKs with HIGH heels!

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Tile Cleaning Bucks County — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:41:31 -0000

I really like when people are expressing their opinion and thought. So I like the way you are writing

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

rogershoeshiner — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:41:51 -0000

I am THE Shoe Shine guy at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas.. I apprecitated the story very much! Thank You. I shine a womans boots on average twice a day. They really appreciate the love I put into fixing up there purses as well!! definantly consider wearing stockings when you plan your next shoe shine ladies!!! unless your coming too Vegas!!! Whew Hoo!!

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Carport — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 02:19:45 -0000

Hey all I love the writing, thanks for this....

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

MightyCasey — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:20:03 -0000

Ann, this took me back to my early years @ NBC - there was a shoe shine guy, an elderly Italian gent named Sal, who went from office to office shining the wingtips & loafers of the executive suite.

He was also happy to shine the shoes of secretaries - including me.

Shoeshine stands are still being placed in new air terminals (like the spankin' new one @ RIC, my home airport).

I've never experienced the gyno-moment you did, although I have never ascended the shoe-shine throne in anything but pants. A skirt or dress would be a little too Basic Instinct, n'est pas?

But this took me right back to those days long ago, as Sal-the-Shine-Man shined my shoes at my desk.

Now, go listen to Ry Cooder's "Get Rhythm"...

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

sarah — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:53:13 -0000

i've always wanted seven league boots, too! if you find some, let me know and maybe we'll talk them into a two-for-one deal...

beautiful writing, btw!

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Ann Handley — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:56:59 -0000

I dunno, Jim. But maybe someday I'll see if that's an option!

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Jim Sutton — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:05:34 -0000

I saw this was listed on your website as a "Most Popular" and I can see why. It's hilarious and awkward enough to make anyone reading it feel some of your discomfort. Your writings deserve a "Collected Blogs" volume. Are there any collections of blogs printed? Jim

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

kari peterson — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:18:43 -0000

Hello. Don't know you, haven't ever been here; got the link on twitter from a friend of yours.

But.. wow. This is very funny. You are a gifted writer.

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

danna Call — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:58:49 -0000

I had a shoe shine guy once try to get me to have my sneakers shined. I guess he was having a slow day. I felt your horror when you described the stirrups.

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Jay, writer MemberSpeed.com — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:10:45 -0000

I wish I could experience having my shoe shined by another guy. There aren’t any shoeshine guys in our country or any country I visited. It’s always a hassle to have to shine your shoes in the morning especially when you are in a rush and still have to wrestle with the city traffic.

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

anne simons — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:14:29 -0000

hey ann: love the post----and the blog, especially your 'about' page. you're just so new englandy!

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Uwe Hook — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:22:10 -0000

Wonderful writing and impressive observational skills.

I never got my shoe shined, (Except in a hotel when somebody picks up my shoes.) I would love to but it's just not in my genes. I feel very uncomfortable when I pay somebody to do a task that I don't want to do. It was such a big deal for me to hire weekly maid service. The first few months, I cleaned and organized the whole house just to make sure that the maid doesn't have too much to do. My wife was just shaking her hand, not understanding that I feel slightly embarassed to ask people to do these job. I cut down on my pre-cleaning considerably but I still scan the house and fix things before she shows up. Same goes for gardening work, pedicures and, yes, shoe shines. I think I would feel better if I'd pay for a shoe shine $20. But, for that money, I do it myself.

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Scott Monty — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:14:56 -0000

Ann,

Others have said it above, but I'm not averse to piling on here: you really have a talent for writing. You set the scene with some very powerful descriptions and made me feel like I was back at the airport.

I've always enjoyed getting my shoes shined - I often find that I'm lulled into a state of relaxation by the rhythmic rubbing & polishing that's like a foot massage. I too find the shoe stands a little awkward, and I stand about 6' tall - I can't imagine how difficult it must have been for you, as petite as you are.

I think your anecdote here leads to a larger issue: how frequently we simply take certain things for granted and miss the perspective of another. Thanks for taking a questionable experience and translating it into something half-humorous, half-tragic and wholly understandable.

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Steve Woodruff — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:51:44 -0000

Ann,

A great twist; how it feels to suddenly enter the world of another gender. Never would have thought about a woman's reaction to a shoe shine...this is priceless. I'd probably feel just about as awkward getting a manicure or something...it's tough enough buying lingerie for my wife!

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Liz Laneri — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:55:13 -0000

I loved this story! I have always noticed the 'shoeshine man' in almost every airport I've ever been in. I've always wondered how they always seem to have business, partly because it seems so old fashioned. But to your point, I haven't noticed up until your blog posting, that there are never any women! I think I might give it a whirl next time I'm at Logan...just for the experience as well :)

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Peter Kim — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:30:18 -0000

OK, so to your point about shoe shine customers usually being male...on rare occasions, I've noticed female shoe shiners. There was/is one in the State Street building, where I used to park for $500 a month (thankfully I switched jobs) and I think there was a stand at CES (might have been a different conference) where the "call to action" was more overt. In the case of the latter - to your point about positioning - this is exactly what was being marketed, reversing the genders. However, I'm flying out again today and badly need a shine - so I'm going to conveniently forget that I ever read this post!

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Ann Handley — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:06:51 -0000

Warren & Drew - Thanks for stopping by. It;s funny how many guys dig a good stiff shoeshine, huh!? Who knew?

Toad -- Exactly! Love my Blunnies. (Mannish or not.)

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Toad — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:56:28 -0000

Ha! I wear Blundstones on planes for the exact same reason- they're comfortable, easy to kick off and work for a variety of purposes once I get where I'm going.

And I never know whether to get them shined or not: they're the kind of boots that sort of look better a bit scuffed, but then I'm always glad when I do get them polished.

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Drew McLellan — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:34:15 -0000

Ann,

You have uncovered one of men's guilty secrets. There is a decadent pleasure in the airport shoe shine.

I think it's a blend of indulgence and pampering mixed with the lingering memory of the men we used to see getting a shine...and how we probably thought they looked important in their nice suits and fancy shoes.

If I am flying and know I have a decent layover, I'll purposely wear shoes that can be shined. Just for the fun of it.

It puts a little pep in my walk for some reason. But that alone is worth the $10.

Drew

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Warren — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:16:30 -0000

Not to be redundant, but you really do have a way with words. Leave all of the marketing drivel to the rest of us hacks and focus on the good stuff. Your article made me homesick for the shoe shine that I would always get in Logan's terminal C on the way out of town. Like Tim and Matt said, it was something to always look forward to, kind of therapeutic like a manicure or a spa.

And your boots look Mahvelous!

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Ann Handley — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:02:37 -0000

Nedra -- Not really. I mean, yeah.. they looked good. But worth it? Depends on the metric you're using, as the marketers say. For the money -- absolutely. I was more than happy to give George the ten bucks for his work. That said, the discomfort was ridiculous.

The next time I'll take the boots OFF and hand them to George or whoever.. and wait with my stocking feet planted firmly on the ground.

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Nedra Weinreich — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:55:39 -0000

Great story! But how did your boots look when he was all done? Was it worth the discomfort?

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Ann Handley — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:53:31 -0000

Matt - Funny comparison to a pedicure. But I assure you -- a pedicure is WAY more relaxing! Let's start with the lack of a platform.....

Dusan -- Thanks for stopping by.. as always.

Toby -- THANKS, thanks, thanks.. great image of you, too, as a little girl up there.

Lisa -- You are one female I might have thought would have done the shoeshine gig. The boots, BTW, are Blundstones, which are easy to kick on an off.. hence my choice for airport-wear... As for flip-flops in Boston in winter... yeah, I WISH girl....

Re: ‘Hey, Pretty Lady!’

Ann Handley — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:48:06 -0000

Christian -- I knew you'd comment FINALLY... : )

Tim & Toad -- I'm sure they do last longer. George said that the wax protects them from the water shoes and boots would otherwise absorb in winter. Makes sense, yeah?

Sharon, CB, Dan -- Thanks, friends, for the support!

Shelley -- For a sec I was a little worried that the "new business opp" you were suggesting was concourse gynocological care... not female shoe-shining. Now THAT would be a time-saver!

Toad -- You hit on something there. I felt like an incredible novice anyway -- as a virgin shoeshine patron. But compounding my awkwardness was an utter realization that this was one relic that a woman really COULDN'T participate in, without extreme discomfort. Or maybe it's just me.