Vive la difference!

….some thoughts about men and women - by Susan

Of course we all know there are differences between men and women. Periodically, in this column, I’m going to explore some of them. No gender bashing (at least not in this piece!)… just food for thought.

I recently read that men have an average of 6 items in their bathrooms and that women average over 400. And furthermore, most men can’t even identify half of the items a lady has in her bathroom.

I decided to test this theory around town, so this "roving reporter" hit the street to ask people about their bathroom collections. I found out that on Cape Cod, there are a lot of men who claim they have fewer then 6 items. (They need to go shopping.) Many of the men I spoke to said that their significant other has so many items that they don’t even have space for their allotment of 6! One guy told me he keeps his stuff in his truck for lack of space in the bathroom. (So look for this guy brushing his teeth at a red light.)

Most of the women I talked to initially thought 400 was WAY too many toiletry items. However, as we talked about what we have and what we can't live without, they came to the conclusion that 400 items was just about right. (think: make-up, face creams, tweezers, Q-tips, curling irons, permanent magic marker?)

The article went on to say that even after years of sharing the same bathroom, many men were mystified by the items their wives/girlfriends kept in there. During my interviews with Cape men I tested this theory by showing them a few items from my own bathroom. No, an Epilady is not a stun gun. (It hurts enough that it could be used as one in a pinch.) Yes, a PedEgg is sort of a "sander." But my eyelash curler stumped almost all of the guys out there. (One man may still by trying to clip his toenails with it.)

I began to ponder the cost of all this…. if the average item in my bathroom cost me about $5. each (and I’m sure that average is far too low considering the cost of my anti-wrinkle creams) then I’ve got an ongoing $2000. investment in just in my bath toiletries. (Please don't go looking in my purse.)

I’m sure I replace these items at least a couple of times a year, which over the course of 20 years is an $80,000 investment. If I had banked that money I’d be in a happier place, given this economy. Think about that! I did, and let me tell you, I’m opting for the anti-wrinkle cream.

Cape Cod Baseball

One, two, three, strikes and you’re in for a great evening - by Susan

Why drive to Boston to see the Red Sox when we’ve got the best baseball right here on Cape Cod?  I love the Sox, so there won’t be any team bashing going on here.  But I'm just discovering the Cape Cod Baseball League 

(after 17 years on the Cape!). I usually go to a few CCBL games a year but when you start learning about the league, wow!  This year they are celebrating their 114th year!

This is baseball at its finest; the crack of the wooden bats, small parks where you can meet the players, great competition, major league baseball scouts, and most importantly: the fans.  Where do the fans applaud when the "other team" makes a good play?  No park I've ever seen.

Those loyal fans open up their homes to the players for housing from June to August every year and many people volunteer all year round to keep the organization going.  Thousands of fans turn out for every game, which makes playing in this league so exciting for the players. 

Just a few statistics… the league can trace its origins back to the late 1800’s.  Currently there are 10 teams and our league is considered the showcase for the best collegiate baseball in the country.  What’s not to like?  Oh, did I mention that 1 out of 7 active major league players played in the CCBL? 

Now my home team is the Cotuit Kettleers and their park, Lowell Field, is the best.  It’s nestled in the trees in Cotuit and on game day there is a lot of excitement in the air around town.

People go early and have a baseball dinner (hotdog, what else!) and watch the team warm up.  Mind you these are all college guys….  athletic college guys… a great way to spend an evening for this single gal! (see picture at right!)

The action is fast and, best of all, the games and parking are free.  The regular season starts this week so check out the game dates, times, and field locations (all over the Cape) at the Cape Cod Baseball League web site. I'll be writing more about the League as the summer goes on.  It’s great old fashion fun for everyone, so batter up!

Spectacular Sandy Neck Beach

Home of the heart-shaped rocks - by susan

My favorite beach is Sandy Neck. It’s a 6 mile long coastal barrier beach which is shared by the towns of Sandwich and Barnstable. Sans a resident beach sticker, the $15 daily fee is a real bargain.

It has everything and more for a fabulous day at the beach: a snack bar, bathrooms, showers, lifeguards, wheelchair ramps, great boogie boarding, and even hiking and horse trails!

Sandy Neck is best enjoyed at low tide because otherwise it’s a bit rocky, so be sure you have beach shoes or flip flops for this beach. Before you, go check this tide chart (use Barnstable Harbor Beach) and get down to the beach a couple of hours before low tide. Soon you'll see the sandbars appear magically before your eyes, a few feet off the water's edge as the tide goes out.

Grab your beach stuff and wade thru the water between the shore and the sandbars and claim a good spot. Your kids will love playing in that “river” between the sandbars and the shore; that’s where all the crabs and starfish are. If you want a closer look at them, put them in a bucket filled with seawater but don’t take them home. When you're done examing them, carefully put them back where you found them. This is a perfect time to teach children to respect nature.

Each year the sandbars are different due to winter storms, but usually it's shallow enough to wade from sandbar to sandbar. The only thing to watch out for: if the tide is still going out there is an undertow between the sandbars. Now in my experience it's never been a serious undertow. I can easily walk thru it but you might not want to let your little toddlers play there; the "river area" is the best for the little ones.

If you're a good beach walker you can head west and walk all the way to Scorton Creek (a couple of miles I’d guess) or head east and walk all the way down to the very tip of Sandy Neck. There you'll find a small and very private cottage colony with a lighthouse. This lighthouse is privately owned (so don’t try to get in it). It was “headless” (no light) for 75 years until October 2007 when, by private donations, it was lit again and is now solar powered.

Oh, about those heart-shaped stones…. Sandy Neck is known among collectors of beach detritus as the place to get small heart-shaped rocks. So as you go beach walking, keep your eyes down and you'll find these treasures. Over the years I’ve collected hundreds of these gems. (see part of my collection below)

Sex and the Country

12 single men and you're done - by susan

I love the Cape; there are very few other places I'd rather live. But when it comes to being single on Cape Cod, my reviews aren't quite so glowing. I think there are like... 12 single guys in my general age range on the entire Cape. I've met and/or dated them all.

Ok... I exaggerate (slightly) but because I "hang" at the same general places; I see the same 12 guys over and over. I suppose there is nothing wrong with any of them (maybe familiarity does breed contempt) but I guess years ago I determined they were not a “match” for me and yet I keep seeing them all over town. (kismet or just a small world?)

I justify not dating them by saying: "See, after all these years they are still single". (yet so am I) But really, the pickin's are slim.

Follow my math here..... we have about 200,000 people on the Cape. So let's say 50% are women... my available pool is now 100,000. However, 51% of that group is married, so now I have 50,000 men left.

According to a recent Gallup poll 20% of Americans say the are gay, so now I have 40,000 available men. About 2% live with a significant other, some percentage are confirmed bachelors (about 10%) and 11% are unemployed (I know I sound picky but having a job is a must for me).

Less than 50% of this remaining group is of "working" age (18-64), so that leaves less then 15,000 single men and, to be honest, I wouldn't date any one under 40, so what am I left with? That group of 12 guys I told you about!

But seriously, if you are single and interested in meeting new people, the key is to get involved in a lot of activities outside of your comfort zone. To help you do that, Marty and I will be writing about a wide variety of singles activities around the Cape. So how do you handle being single on Cape Cod? Oh, don’t forget, those 12 men are still up for grabs. (and more than half are pictured below.)

Spring has Sprung!

send us your spring pictures! - by susan

Spring is here and I don’t need a calendar to tell me so. Plants are popping up, some boats are out, and I see legs again. Spring renews my soul, infuses me with energy, and creates a lot of garden jobs. Below are a few snapshots I’ve taken locally. If you have a picture that you would like to share that says “spring”. Send it to us and I’ll put it up on our website with a photo credit so we can all enjoy the signs of spring on Cape Cod.

(click on pix to enlarge)