Singing Cowboys Hang Their Heads and Cry

Wow! The "Naked Singing Cowboy" from New York City is in a huge battle with Peanut M&Ms over slamming his identity (or could it be a money issue?). Let's get to the bottom of this, the background and the real circumstances.

I'm a huge fan of westerns, cowboys — and yes, even singing cowboys. Growing up, I couldn't get enough of Gene Autry (a museum dedicated to him still exists in Gene Autry, Oklahoma), Roy Rogers, Jimmie Wakely, Johnny Mack Brown or the numerous other movie cowboys.

These cowboys could sing, ride, rope and display the characteristics of strong moral values. They knew kids looked up to them. They saved the day and made right all the wrongs in the Old West. Some wore kind of wild western wear, but mostly really wearable western wear. Plus, they were into being respectful of women, and were always polite.

Let's now take a look at the "Naked Singing Cowboy" (well, not really...). Who is this guy? He wears a cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and wears only "tighty whitey" Fruit of the Loom briefs. He's got a guitar and he prowls the streets of New York playing, singing and accepting money for his "performance art". He sometimes sells advertising on his shorts and guitar.

This New York oddball has finagled his way onto guest appearances on television, motion pictures and print media. He's really well known, and I don't think there's a lot of "Naked Singing Cowboy" imitators. In Oklahoma, he and they would probably be arrested. A naked singing cowboy in Bricktown is likely not in our near future.

For most of you who don't know, a woman (definitely not a lady) can go topless in public in New York City (which is not the law of the land in most places). So if your 12-, 13- or 14-year-old boys run away, they might go to New York City instead of California. If you've ever been to New York City, you'll realize that the "Naked Singing Cowboy" is just a small part of the whole bizarre mix!

Our precious M&Ms decided to include in their new upbeat, cartoonish advertising campaign a peanut M&M in "tighty whiteys" with a cowboy hat and a guitar. If people associate this with that New York CIty NUT, he ought to be honored — attention seems to be his goal in life. Does he deserve any $$$ for this satirical parody? I think not. He should be flattered, but definitely not compensated.

Chad Stevens (the Fowler car commercial guy) does parodies all the time — like the Mathis Brothers (holding the dog was priceless), UPS (playing with the marker on the whiteboard), and the infamous noodling movie parody. I don't think those people are suing him!

Besides, all the "Naked Singing Cowboy" needs is a gym membership, because he doesn't buy clothes and food (no shirt, no service). If they give him anything, it should be peanuts (M&Ms, that is) or sunscreen.

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Check your roofs — with all this weather we've had, even newer roofs might have been severely damaged. check it out before leaks start or other problems occur.

If you know someone buying or selling a home, tell them to call me. Thanks, and let's all look forward to a great 4th of July!!!

Pinky Lee...And Who Dressed Me?

Recently, I was getting ready for another busy day. As I was getting dressed, I chose a pink oxford cloth button-down collar shirt, gray slacks and a bright blue/pink/yellow/green striped tie. This would be a great spring outfit!

My first stop was a home inspection. Upon arrival, the inspector said, "You must be very confident of your manhood to wear that pink shirt." Well, I never thought it was in question. Aren't we way past this pink shirt pastel preponderance of ridicule for just trying to be stylish and using the whole palette of choices? It's just a shirt!

I'm a life-long reader of GQ magazine, former clothes salesman and life-long clothes horse. Now, could you convince my daughters I know how to dress? I think not. I'll admit my recent combos of clothes sometimes push the downward limits. 

My childhood friend Randy and I have spent a zillion hours over the years looking at men's clothes to find the "Greatest Bargain of the Western Hemisphere". A lot of styles and trends have come and gone over the years such as bell bottoms, leisure suits with vests, big collar or small collar shirts. Ties with flowers, stars, stripes, globs, assorted abstract figures and cars. Shirts in yellow, blue, pink, green, beige which are plain, plaid, striped, or with goofy designs have graced your upper torso.

Our mecca of conservative clothing for men is fixing to close — Harold's Men's Wear on Campus Corner in Norman. When I read this, I didn't know whether to cry or go out and gather protesters to march with big signs. Then I realized it had sold its soul to the corporate demi-gods instead of staying a small family business. The home of the rugby shirt, 429 loafers and the endless madras shirt will close the doors, no matter what anybody does.

Our world keeps going in spite of the Harold's Campus Corner closing because Oklahomans are resilient. A change to another long-standing icon of individual style in clothing, Langston's department store in Stockyards City, is that place. Now remember my new mantra — "Only Real Cowboys Wear Pink Shirts!"

A short tip: If you have guttering, please clean them out ASAP — and if you don't have gutters, get them. This will save and relieve stress on that big asset — YOUR HOME.

Say "hi" if you see me (the guy in the pink shirt)...

Greetings!

Welcome to the first installment of Whaddaya Say, Glen Ray?, my entry into the world of blogging.

I hope to impart some real estate knowledge and information on educational issues, as well as share some humor, current events and commentary. I'll also have suggestions for things to see, places to go, music to listen to and restaurants to enjoy.

We all have the problem of setting a date to go out to dinner with friends, family or business associates and having to figure out the answers to the two big questions: 1.) Where are we going? and 2.) What are you hungry for? I will attempt to solve this dilemma for you, or at least increase the multiple-choice answers.

Oklahomans like to think we are known for our barbeque — but folks, we are the Chicken Fried Steak Capital of the World! Ours is the best in the good ol' U. S. of A. Over the years in my travels, I've tried so-called "chicken fried steak" in other states. Besides Texas or maybe Arkansas, it's just not the same. These pitiful desecrations, tarnished with brown gravy or made with Hereford Heaven cubes, are being masqueraded as a sacred food of our forefathers across the nation.

So if you have the chance, take your out-of-town visitors to a place like Soda Pop's Diner at SW 119th and Western. This U.S. Grant alumni Roy Mize has got it down to an art. The chicken fried steak with cream gravy is "slap-daddy good"! Soda Pop's has other great menu items, but for goodness sake, please make them order chicken fried steak! Don't you LOVE 'em?

As for real estate, this time of year, you need to check, caulk or seal your windows. Call for that semi-annual heating and air check-up/cleaning so your system will run more efficiently in the warmer weather. If you don't have a regular H&A jockey, call John at KMP Heating and Air, and he'll get somebody out for you.

Also, this time of year is a great time to check your roof. I bet you haven't been up there in awhile, and a little prevention on your roof and fireplace stuff goes a long way.