Funny story about having pretty toes!

[Eryn]

Like a lot of CDers, I like having my toenails polished. This is a nice way to feel a little femme even when I can't dress. Of course the downside is that shoes or socks have to stay on in the presence of muggles.

So, here's the scene. I'm over at a friend's house, 15 miles from home, helping him work on his car. We're doing manly stuff involving big wrenches and even bigger hammers. It's a hot day here in SoCal and I'm wearing mechanic's overalls so I'm sweatin' like a swine.

We finish the job and my friend says "Hey, let's grab a couple of beers and jump into the spa to cool off!" "Great idea!" I said! A minute or so later I had the sudden realization that "jump into the spa" is invariably preceded by "take off your shoes" and my rather pretty toes (Orly "Sea Shell") were unlikely to go over well. Since I was otherwise in drab, I had no reason to have any polish remover handy.

My brain is now in panic mode. My wife was coming over later and could bring remover, but that wasn't going to help right away, and my friend was already rummaging around looking for a spare set of trunks for me to wear. He went into the house and in a panic I looked around his garage.

Whoever watches over CDers must have been smiling on me because there on the shelf of painting supplies was a blessed can of acetone! I grabbed the can and a paper towel, jumped into my car, ripped off my shoes and attacked the polish, cursing the fact that I had done a beautiful 5-layer polish application that was meant to last. A couple of minutes later the polish was gone and I was able to proceed in full guy mode for the evening.

Lesson learned: A one-ounce bottle of polish remover is now going to be part of the permanent inventory of my purse!

[kendra_gurl]

Thank God you don't have a bikini top tan line too go with those beautiful toes

[Persephone]

Lol!

Hugs,
Persephone.

[kimdl93]

Thats so funny. But I see a fly in the ointment - will you have your purse handy next time you're using big wrenches and hammers?

[Jackiefl]

or when he sawthem painted you could have said i put color on them because i like it.

[JohnH]

Only negative comment I ever got from somebody (one of a group of blue collar men) is someone noticing I did a sloppy job that day of applying nail polish on my toenails. Eryn, I think your fear of having someone see your painted toenails is overblown!

John

[Cindy M]

That's a good story. Many times after work, I'm pulling my boots off in the kitchen and my son is home from work too, and I catch myself starting to pull a sock off when I remember my toenails are red.

[Eryn]

Thats so funny. But I see a fly in the ointment - will you have your purse handy next time you're using big wrenches and hammers?

Yes, since I carry one in both modes.


or when he sawthem painted you could have said i put color on them because i like it.

Eryn, I think your fear of having someone see your painted toenails is overblown!

Probably so, but I "leak" badly enough without displaying something blatantly femme in front of my friend. Since this is within my drab community I will err on the side of caution! :)

[Eryn]

Well, it was a quart can and I probably used about an ounce of it. The can was already half-empty and covered with dust so I doubt that the missing ounce will be noticed. Technically, I was a bad boy, but it was for the greater good.

The five layers were ridge filler, two color coats, two top coats.

I used exactly one sheet of paper toweling and got my toes quite clean with it.

And folks who say "just sayin'" aren't really just sayin'!

[kelliT]

That was the funniest thing yet today. You were being watched.

Thank you for sharing and making me smile.

[prettytoes]

Yes, since I carry one in both modes.




You carry a purse, yet you didn't want your pretty toenail polish to be noticed?

[Eryn]

You carry a purse, yet you didn't want your pretty toenail polish to be noticed?

I knew that one was coming! :)

My male mode purse is a small messenger bag made by timbuk2 in San Francisco. Made of ballistic nylon in beige and dark purple, it isn't particularly femme.

Pink toes, however, do stand out a bit more!

[kimmyg]

very funny story. boy scout motto....be prepared

[Miriam-J]

My wife solved this one for me. If spotted, I just claim that I let her have some fun with my toes. No one seems to care beyond that, and she always backs the story.

Miriam

[Bernadina]

I usually just forget and get nice comments about the nail polish and toe ring.

[Marleena]

Great story Eryn! The powers that be had to be watching over you.:)

[BobbieBrooks]

You did recycle the paper towel, right?? Car windows were Down, fumes can be dangerous!!!! Love the story LOL

BobbieB

[sissystephanie]

I think Jackie gave the best answer! It is your body, so your toes can be painted if that is what you want!! I have had painted finger nails and toe nails for over 50 years. And many people, inlcuding a lot of my friends, have seen them. If they ask me about them, I just tell them I like them that way. Nobody really cares anyway!! BTW, my fingers are always some shade of pale pink and my toes are usually bright red!! I get mine done at a salon!

[prettytoes]

I also hide my toes when they are polished. One year when we were on vacation my daughters applied some really pretty pink to my toes when I was napping. Little did they know how much I enjoyed my pink toes! You should have seen them run when I was getting ready to try on new sandals at a shop on the boardwalk! I did have to remove it before we went to the beach, though. :(

[Kathy4ever]

Funny story- not sure what I would of done. I'm usually walking around the house with my painted toenails. if I have to I slip a my sneakers on to hide. The past week or so I did not even do that. I just sat there with the polish on. Even the one girl who usually makes comments did not say a word about it. They were painted red . There is no way she did not see them.

[Cheryl T]

Good thing you saw the Acetone.
If he's a car guy and does any painting good ole 3812 would have done the trick too...

[Jamie001]

Only negative comment I ever got from somebody (one of a group of blue collar men) is someone noticing I did a sloppy job that day of applying nail polish on my toenails. Eryn, I think your fear of having someone see your painted toenails is overblown!

John

Yes, your fear is overblown. Today many guys are wearing nail polish, just google for "men wearing nail polish" and you will see. It is not a big deal.

[linda allen]

My wife has talked me into getting a pedicure once in a while while she has her nails done. They usually ask me if I want clear polish and I say "no". The other day my wife was in the chair next to me and between her and the "girls", they kept kidding me about what color I wanted, did I want a US flag for Independence Day, etc.

I should have taken them up on it but I would have had to get sandals to get back home so the polish wouldn't get damaged and then I would have had some explaining to do this weekend when we go to a friend's house to swim in her pool.

[Jamie001]

My wife has talked me into getting a pedicure once in a while while she has her nails done. They usually ask me if I want clear polish and I say "no". The other day my wife was in the chair next to me and between her and the "girls", they kept kidding me about what color I wanted, did I want a US flag for Independence Day, etc.

I should have taken them up on it but I would have had to get sandals to get back home so the polish wouldn't get damaged and then I would have had some explaining to do this weekend when we go to a friend's house to swim in her pool.

You should go back to the nail salon and get the flag before Independence day. Your friends will love it and it will be a lot of fun.

[Eryn]

Good thing you saw the Acetone.
If he's a car guy and does any painting good ole 3812 would have done the trick too...

Hey, I would have settled for carb cleaner! :eek:


It would have not been the end of the world if they had been seen, but I prefer to keep a reasonable separation.

[LaLaChic]

Or you can say that you have a fungal infection and your wife didn't like the look of your yellowed nails. I had to use that one myself last summer.

[Voulez-Vous]

Lesson learned: A one-ounce bottle of polish remover is now going to be part of the permanent inventory of my purse!

Why would you have had a purse with you if you were doing manly stuff?

[Eryn]

Or you can say that you have a fungal infection and your wife didn't like the look of your yellowed nails. I had to use that one myself last summer.

Well, I really wouldn't want to talk about having a fake fungal infection and then expect to get into my friend's spa!

My other plan was to say that I had a cut on my foot so I couldn't go in the water.

However, I could tell that my friend really wanted to do the beer and spa thing so I'm glad that a solution dropped into my lap!


Why would you have had a purse with you if you were doing manly stuff?

Because I carry too much stuff for pockets!

See post #13 :)

Oh, and I was invited to another spa thing this evening, so I'm glad that I didn't do my toes again! OTOH, I'm going to a pool party en femme the week after and I'll be sporting some very bright toes for that one! :)

[Brenda456]

The other day I was working in the house with pretty toes. But then my daughter dropped by while I was in the basement. My wife let her in and they came down to chat. I wasn't thinking about the toes when she looked Dow and said, "nice toes!". I said thanks and that was the end of the conversation. It was a bit embarrassing. . .

[Jilmac]

It just shows to go ya, keep a small can of acetone in the trunk of your car for just such emergencies.

[dragdoll]

I've been in similar situations, and it is such a bummer when you do a really beautiful job painting and pedicuring your toenails only to have to remove the polish because you don't someone to see it. Also, socks don't always cover them. I usually paint my toenails black or dark colors and they will show through white or grey socks. Most of the time though, I just use several layers of clear polish and always wonder how many people notice it when I'm barefoot wearing flip flops/sandals.

[STACY B]

I realy dont know if I could have thought that fast ? I would have just jumped in the spa first an keep my feet outta site >? Just keep the BEER coming ,,,Maybe it would have got dark an you could have slipped out an got dressed without being seen . I think it would have been alot worse getting caught taking it off ? BUSTED ,,, LADY !!!

[Tess]

Isn't it amazing how inventive we can become in an emergency. I don't paint my toe nails but I keep a very nice shine on them. My wife's vision is so bad that there isn't much risk that she will notice and I wear sandals or flip flops during our long long summer. When the kids or grandkids are around I either wear sneakers or, in an emergency, resorted to smearing soap scum on my nails to dull them. It worked in a pinch.

[Noemi]

A Cd'er classic. You beat the odds Eryn. When you become accustomed to having pretty toes one is willing to take the risk.

There are times when CD'ing creates excitement in my life of the fear of being caught variety. Is this healthy I sometimes wonder. Fuel for another post, another day.

I use acetone to clean my old bass strings, and sometimes use nail polish remover. So that is my excuse. I can get another month out of the strings when times are tight, especially expensive double bass strings.

I almost always have my tootsies painted, this summer I have left them painted...its only July though.

Fun Post thanks for the story. Would your pretty toes really have freaked him out I wonder....no one is really straight....I know it would have made an uncomfortable confrontation, I avoid that kind of energy myself.

♥♥♥
Noemi

[Eryn]

Would your pretty toes really have freaked him out I wonder.

Actually, I'm sure that he would have been OK with it, his being one of the more demonstrably tolerant people I know.

However, one boundary that I do respect is that Eryn doesn't come out close to home or with my drab mode friends. There are too many possible repercussions for myself and my family if a wrong person becomes aware.

In this situation there was always a Plan B, namely making up an excuse for not removing my shoes or going into the spa. I'm glad that I didn't have to resort to this, but it would have kept me safe in any case.

[Chickhe]

Its okay to borrow your friends acetone if you are over helping him... Just kind of hard to explain with a red face if he walks in on you while you are frantically removing it.... I guess that's when you say it was a private thing you and your wife did....

...just remember to close the cap tightly and how did you explain the 'acetone' smell that was all over you?! uhh...while you were inside changing I did some emergency body work....

[Eryn]

I was in my car when I removed the polish. Luckily, everything else we did was out of doors so the acetone aroma was not an issue.

[gisella.31]

I used to live in a different town monday to friday and to go back to my wife for the week end (she does not know). Once I got locked out of the house ...wearing nice red polish. The only option was going home for the night and get spare keys. Luckily at the train station a found a shop that was still open selling polish remover. I decided to lock myself in the train WC to 'operate'. As soon as got on the train I went to the restroom, after five minutes the conductor opens the door with his key.. .I had just finished one foot and I managed to put my shoe on in time... he said "you should not use the restroom when the train is in the station"... I was tempted to ask him if he had noticed how good my pupu smells (...I'm sure that the smell of the polish remover was filling the small restroom).. I did not and I don't know what he thought about the situation.. anyway later I did the second foot and got home "safely" :-)

[Rachel Morley]

Actually the "fungal nail infection thing" is a good reason ... not as to why you're waiting nail polish ... but for a reason to give for not being able to take your socks off and go into the spa. I think I might remember that one and use it myself if I ever need it!

[Eryn]

Actually the "fungal nail infection thing" is a good reason ... not as to why you're waiting nail polish ... but for a reason to give for not being able to take your socks off and go into the spa. I think I might remember that one and use it myself if I ever need it!

Rachel, that excuse might work if you never wanted to go into your friend's spa again! Fungal infections are really hard to cure and you might find yourself "blacklisted" from future invitations!

Better to pick a more short-term excuse like a cut or blister on your foot that you don't want to get infected. :)

[Thera Home]

Rachel, that excuse might work if you never wanted to go into your friend's spa again! Fungal infections are really hard to cure and you might find yourself "blacklisted" from future invitations!

Better to pick a more short-term excuse like a cut or blister on your foot that you don't want to get infected. :)

Hello Ladies
I remember this thread and how we came from hiding toenails from an friend and spraying brakecleean on your toes, to fungus. Just remember, Brakcleen kills anything. Just like acetone. Nobody has too worry about you having fungus

Thera

[Jeannie]

We just bought a spa and as of yet have not had anyone over to jump with so I am safe for now but in September we have friends going to stay few days so Jeannie has to go back in the bottle so to speak. September is when I can start planning and shaving certain areas but now that will have to be moved forward a week or two. I am happy for you that the CD fairy showed up just in the nick of time to help you out.

[Jamie001]

I used to live in a different town monday to friday and to go back to my wife for the week end (she does not know). Once I got locked out of the house ...wearing nice red polish. The only option was going home for the night and get spare keys. Luckily at the train station a found a shop that was still open selling polish remover. I decided to lock myself in the train WC to 'operate'. As soon as got on the train I went to the restroom, after five minutes the conductor opens the door with his key.. .I had just finished one foot and I managed to put my shoe on in time... he said "you should not use the restroom when the train is in the station"... I was tempted to ask him if he had noticed how good my pupu smells (...I'm sure that the smell of the polish remover was filling the small restroom).. I did not and I don't know what he thought about the situation.. anyway later I did the second foot and got home "safely" :-)

As Sissie Stephanie said in an earlier post in this thread, there is really no reason to make a big deal out of wearing nail polish. Google for "men wearing nail polish" and you will see that race car drivers, athletes, UFC Fighters, rock stars, and other men are wearing nail polish. It is just not a big deal. You can wear you toenail polish proudly and don't need to hide.

[Paulacder]

I stopped at Mc Donalds early one morning for coffee. I was in my adrogynous dress. Wearing female sandals and having my toes done in a hot red. No reactions from anyone. Either no one noticed or no one cared............

[Jamie001]

I stopped at Mc Donalds early one morning for coffee. I was in my adrogynous dress. Wearing female sandals and having my toes done in a hot red. No reactions from anyone. Either no one noticed or no one cared............

No one really cares. After all, look at all of the folks displaying tatoos on all parts of their bodies. They don't get any comments. Why should you get comments for red toenails? It is very liberating to display bright red toenails in women's sandals and is really not a big deal. We tend to over think things and in reality, the fear is just in our own minds. It is not reality.

[gisella.31]

Google for "men wearing nail polish" and you will see that race car drivers, athletes, UFC Fighters, rock stars, and other men are wearing nail polish. It is just not a big deal. You can wear you toenail polish proudly and don't need to hide.

:heehee: google "flying elephants" and you will get plenty of examples ... I just don't think my wife would have accepted it that easily, Ehy honey I'm home, :D I forgot the keys and bytheway, I saw Johnny Depp nails and I thought that "red Ferrari" was matching my face soooo perfectly :o

but if I ever get caught ... I will keep that in mind :)

[krissy_toronto]

Eryn, my toe are always well Frenched manicured by my wife and I proudly walk around in flip flops in drab all the time. When any of my buddies ever said a word, I would simply say- Hey she like doing it, gives her practise and at least it isnt red. You barely notice :)

[Eryn]

Krissy, I'm glad that you can do that! Everyone has a somewhat different situation and suffice to say that mine is that anything outwardly feminine would be dangerous for me close to home and job. Clear polish is as far as I can go in male mode. Get me out of the no-fly zone and I'm pretty much ready for anything. While I do relate to the "go for it" group, the boundaries I've set for myself allow me to enjoy my CDing with minimal danger to my family.

It's so nice that your wife does a French pedi for you. I'm normally the one doing my wife's toes as well as my own and my skills don't go that far. I'm just happy when I can get a nice glossy finish on the nails (and nowhere else!).

[Jamie001]

http://menwithpaintednails.blogspot.com/

[Joann Smith]

Thats was a pretty funny story ....and I am not even gonna beat you up for being a chicken and not sporting the pink toenails infront of ya budd either...LOL...

FYI....brake fluid will take off nail polish pretty good too ...

[krissy_toronto]

Krissy, I'm glad that you can do that! Everyone has a somewhat different situation and suffice to say that mine is that anything outwardly feminine would be dangerous for me close to home and job. Clear polish is as far as I can go in male mode. Get me out of the no-fly zone and I'm pretty much ready for anything. While I do relate to the "go for it" group, the boundaries I've set for myself allow me to enjoy my CDing with minimal danger to my family.

It's so nice that your wife does a French pedi for you. I'm normally the one doing my wife's toes as well as my own and my skills don't go that far. I'm just happy when I can get a nice glossy finish on the nails (and nowhere else!).

Eryn, I do understand the different boundaries we all have to have to be who we are. If you can get away with a nice clear finish then that is just as good ;)