The Battalion
LIFESTYLES
Monday, October 9,1989
4
Lifestyles Editor Dean Sueltenfuss 845-331
Surviving first discovery
of opposite sex greatest
challenge of manhood
Before a boy becomes a man,
he faces many challenges, many
fears. There are myths about that
final, climactic step to manhood.
Climbing a mountain, slamming a
pitcher of beer or growing a
beard are common misconcep
tions. A boy’s greatest challenge
before manhood is surviving his
first discovery of the opposite sex.
When I was 13, my dream was
to become a baseball star. Girls
were just something to avoid. A
mystery best left unsolved. Adults
kept insisting my priorities would
change, but girls over baseball did
not seem realistic.
Yet girls were becoming a con
stant distraction. I started notic
ing their soft skin, tight jeans, and
binding sweaters. Dreams of hit
ting home runs were being re
placed by images from the most
recent issues of Playboy.
Now, the guys I hung around
with were quite experienced with
girls. Anyone who created a good
story was well respected.
To live up to these stories, I
discovered you actually had to
talk to these girls. I had night
mares of saying hello to a girl; but
somehow, she would notice I
liked her and tell her friends.
Soon, 800 girls would be laughing
at me. The worst kind of torture.
Then, Donna entered my life.
She had nice jeans and great
sweaters. I would have conversa
tions with her and survive it. Even
enjoy it. She didn’t like baseball,
but who cared. I liked her, but I
didn’t know what to do about it.
Desperate, I made an announce
ment to my comrades.
“I like Donna.”
Everyone jumped up and
down and made a lot of noise.
Our group was like a religious
cult, and the girls were our god
desses. When they calmed down,
the interrogation began.
“Have you jumped her? Is she
hot for you?” . . . etc.
I explained I didn’t know any
thing about those topics, and my
comrades finally admitted they
didn’t know anything either.
However, after much deliber
ation, we decided that I had to
ask Donna to “go with me.” This
is how you get girlfriends when
you’re 13, so I went along with
the plan.
“Donna, you and I are friends,
right?” I meekly looked into her
eyes, hoping she would agree.
“Right.” Perfect answer! But
now what do I say?
“You’re a girl, and I’m a guy,
right?” Stupid question! I
couldn’t believe I asked that. I
turned away, hoping she
wouldn’t point out how dumb the
question really was.
“Right,” she replied. I spun
back around. Just the answer I
was looking for. I needed to say
something intelligent.
“Donna, feelings between a girl
and a guy are usually hard to un
derstand because of many stan
dardized social defenses of our
teenage culture, right?” Perfect.
“Huh?” Oh no! She’s puzzled.
’m actually going to have to ask
her. I’ll be direct.
“Let me rephrase that. Now, if
I asked you, hypothetically of
course, to be my girlfriend, would
you say yes or no?”
“I would say yes,” she said with
a smile.
“Oh my God,” I thought, “I
have a girlfriend ... I think?”
Deep down, I knew Donna was
my girlfriend. I could feel a surge
of excitement rush through my
body. I had conquered my great
est fears. I was closer to being a
man than ever before. I was
going to go home, have a beer,
shave, and then, go climb a
mountain. Nothing seemed chal
lenging anymore. I had solved
the mystery of women.
Then, one of my comrades ap
proached and congratulated me
for my major accomplishment. I
was beaming with self-confi
dence. I had done it all.
“When are you going to kiss
her?” he asked.
“Kiss her?”
Now, the kiss is sometimes con
sidered a mere passing moment
when two people briefly smack
lips as a simple exchange of pleas
antries. To the lovers of the
world, it is an honest form of af
fection. For a 13-year-old, who is
making his first effort at it, the
kiss is the ultimate form of terror.
When Donna said yes to my in
vitation of steadiness, I thought
the pressure was off. After all, I
had my girlfriend; I was set. But
girlfriends must be kissed, my
comrades told me. It wouldn’t be
easy.
One day, Donna invited me
over to her house. My big chance.
I was ready. I will grab her with
intense passion and get the damn
thing over with, I thought.
When I arrived, Donna ex
plained that her mother was out
shopping and we were alone. I
felt faint. She suggested we sit on
the couch. I just nodded because
I was unable to speak.
“Is anything wrong?” she
asked.
“Wrong? Me? No. Why do. you
ask? Is it warm in here to you?”
“Well, you just seem nervous.”
“Nervous. No. I’m fine, really.
It feels warm in here to me.”
Wait! I have to keep my cool.
At that moment, I decided to
kiss her. Then, I thought I should
wait. I tried to force myself, but I
just wasn’t sure. I couldn’t figure
out if she wanted me to kiss her,
and I was also afraid I would miss
her mouth and kiss her nose. I
was too strung out to do any
thing. This wasn’t worth it. I
See kiss/Page 5
‘Man’s best friend’ requires
proper care, responsible owner
By James Johnson
Of The Battalion Staff
Having a dog can be a pleasant experience, but
if you decide to own one without considering the
responsibilities involved, you could deprive your
self and the dog of a potentially smooth, longlast-
ing relationship.
Dr. Bonnie Beaver, professor of small animal
medicine and surgery at the College of Veteri
nary Medicine’s Small Animal Clinic, said people
who do not really like dogs or do not intend to
spend enough time with them should dismiss the
thought of owning one.
“Most dogs are bought as a spur-of-the-mo-
ment decision,” Beaver said. “That’s the wrong
way to buy them because owners can expect to
spend at least 10 years with the animal.”
Dr. Dru Forrester, a lecturer at the Clinic, said
owners can expect small dogs to live between 12
to 15 years, while the life expectancy of larger
ones is usually between eight and 10 years.
“Dogs are social animals and they need social
contact,” Forrester said. “Anyone with an erxatic
schedule should not consider getting one.”
For best results, Forrester advises prospective
dog owners to first try to obtain a dog from a rep
utable breeder. She said breeders are more expe
rienced and are more likely to inform a new
owner of what they can expect from a particular
type of dog.
Forrester said dogs can best be described as
loyal. And an important trait owners should pos
sess, she said, is dependability.
“People should spend some time with their an
imal every day,” she explained.
Prospective dog owners need to consider their
level of activity so they can search for a dog that
best matches their personality, Beaver said. Fas
ter, more active people are most compatible with
larger dogs because they have longer legs and
can participate in strenuous activities for lengthy
periods of time.
Forrester named miniature schnauzers, dachs
hunds, Yorkshire terriers, poodles and chihua
huas as more perky canines. Smaller dogs and
puppies wear out much faster and are more
suited for indoor activities.
For calm, relaxed people, an appropriate
choice is a hound dog.
“Hounds are your more laid back dogs,” Bea
ver said. “They’re happy if you simply pet them
occasionally.”
Although terriers are active, Beaver said they
are less trained and, like beagles, are less obedi
ent.
Most dogs are bought as a spur-
of-the-moment decision. That’s the
wrong way to buy them because
owners can expect to spend at least
10 years with the animal.”
— Bonnie Beaver,
A&M professor
Forrester said an additional trait to watch for
in dogs is temperment.
“Chow-chows can be very bad dogs,” Forrester
said. “Many of the ones I’ve seen will bite.”
Despite the popular belief that pit bulls are vi
cious creatures, Forrester disagrees.
“I’ve never met a pit bull I didn’t like,” she
said, smiling. “I’ve seen worse tempers in
schnauzers, poodles and cocker spaniels than in
pit bulls.”
Gender may also play an important part in a
dog’s behavior.
“The main difference between a male and fe
male dog is the amount of protection they’ll
show,” Beaver said. “Females are easier totraii
while males are much more protective.”
FLEA CONTROL
No more fleas — Please! If you haveanirrio
ble dog, you can probably thank those peskylittlf
creatures that it seems nothing WxW kill.
But don’t fret — there are ways to alleviate®
at least reduce the problem.
Danny Martillotti, who has worked atPostOai
Pets for three years, said the most effective
to doctor the problem is to bathe a dog wi
good flea and tick shampoo and then pour a (lei
and tick dip over the dog once a month.
He said fleas multiply quickly by laying
The eggs hatch three to four weeks later.
“If you dip them (dogs) once a month, you cat
stop the cycle before it continues,” Martillott
said.
Shampoo costs about $7 and the dip runs
tween $8 and $10.
Martillotti advises owners who keep theirdo|
fenced in back yards to spray the entire area wii
kennel spray (which costs about $10). Eachbottif
of spray lasts as long as three months.
HOUSEBREAKING
Owners should realize that dogs need an
equate daily diet. Crucial in proper developmel
of a canine’s nervous system, nutrition plays;
key role in a dog’s health and mood. Beaversai
dogs should be fed good quality foods, preferabl
not cheap generic products.
Beaver said accidents will happen despite tkt
most conscientious ef forts of the owner and art
not purposef ul attempts by the pet to get even
with the owner. Instead, they represent a skill not
mastered or, often, unreasonable expectations
from the owner.
“Patience and consistency are essential," sk
said.
The four times a puppy typically eliminate
See dogs/Page 5
Indigo Girls give impressive performance in Deware Saturday
The Indigo Girls perform in Deware Fieldhouse on Saturday.
Photo by Jay Janner
By John Righter
Of The Battalion Staff
Combining a couple of acoustic guitars and some
passionate vocals, Indigo Girls serenaded a full Deware
Fieldhouse Saturday night. Supported by opening act
Gemini, a fellow Georgian folk cluo, Amy Ray and Em
ily Saliers proved that power can lie in the conviction of
a voice without the added support of an electric band.
Taking the stage at a little after 10 p.m., Ray and Sa
liers exchanged greetings with the audience (which in
cluded a “Gig ’em, Ags”), before immediately starting
into “Closer To Fine,” the hit single from their self-ti
tled Epic debut. Performing their most well-known
song first was an interesting decision that succeeded in
setting a tone for the rest of the show, both in enthu
siasm and direction.
Ray and Saliers also made it apparent that their set
would be a representation of their whole career, per
forming songs from their previous Indigo label and
standard covers. Part of this reasoning was due to the
absence of an electric backup necessary to re-create the
sound of songs like “Tried To Be True,” but also you
had the feeling that Ray and Saliers wanted to progress
from just performing a rehash of their latest album.
Serving notice to this diversity was the performance
of “Lone Coyote,” a song that has become a standard of
their live sets but which has not yet appeared on an al
bum. “Lone Coyote” displayed Ray’s strong Christian
influence and deep reverance of nature, themes that
are apparent throughout both her and Salier’s lyrics.
Ray proved self-righteous on the performance of
“Kid Fears,” a heartfelt version of the LP number that
included a duet between Ray and the Aggie audience,
who quite aptly filled the role of Michael Stipe.
“How r many of you came here to see Michael Stipe?”
said Ray. “Well he’s not here, but you can sing his parts
if you want.”
Both Ray and Saliers seemed touched by the a cap-
pella duet and the subsequent applause. In fact, they
continually marvelled over the enthusiasm of the De
ware audience, which may be due to the size of Dewart
the largest venue they appear at in Texas, and probabl'
one of the largest venues of their tour.
“Blood and Fire,” a song that appears on both//rdf
Girls and their earlier Strange Fire album, followed
leaving Ray alone as she interchanged through a cap-
pella and acoustic guitar parts.
Saliers rejoined Ray on stage for a cover version o!
“Summertime,” from the musical Porgy and Bess, anh
rendition of “Prince of Darkness,” a number thatsho"
cased Salier’s lyrics and harmony range.
Both women appeared relaxed on stage, with Ravt^
pecially talkative. At one point a member of the and;
ence shouted for the Lynrd Skynyrd classic “Freebird
which led to some joking by both women, andaieac
into “Sweet Home Alabama.”
After a tongue-in-cheek intro, Ray responded, 3' (
could get in trouble for this. This is totally unprofessio
nal. Our tribute to Will For Power.”
Indigo Girls continued to alternate between materia
from their Epic album and earlier Indigo label wort
even performing their first single “Crazy Game,”aself
released single that appeared by itself in 1985. Ra'
maybe in consideration of the conservative
image, refrained from commenting on the liberal tonf
of “Crazy Game,” saying only, “We’ll leave it up toyoo
to decide.”
The whole tone of the evening was pleasant, as bod
Ray and Saliers let the strength of their lyrics reflec
their emotions and deep beliefs. Their rapport wasver 1
relaxed and displayed an intimacy not destroyed b
self-righteous preaching. Unlike Natalie Merchar I
(lead vocalist of 10,000 Maniacs), Indigo Girls “lettl* I
music do the talking.”
After an hour and 20-minute set, Ray and Salient!- I
turned for a three-song encore that began with “Sect;- I
Yourself,” a song from Indigo Girls. Afterwards, tho I
brought aboard Gemini for a four-piece ensemble b I
the Paul Young hit “Love of the Common People."
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See Indigo/Page 6