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Friday 17 November 2017

Mermen

It's been another one of those weeks where things don't go as planned and there are too many nerve-wracking appointments (root canal finale, plus doctor appointment to follow up on my lingering back pain and numb foot, which by the way seems like it should be terribly serious but probably isn't, but I'm having an x-ray at some point to make sure) and it feels like walking through mud up to your knees and all of a sudden it's time to write a post and WHAT???

Well, this is what bookmarks are good for. And today the bookmarks tell me I must inform you about Mermen and a hilarious, catchy, warm-your-heart fundraising calendar being sold in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Here's a picture of Newfoundland and Labrador (abbreviated as NL), in case you're "from away" (as they say in that province, meaning "someone who doesn't live there"):

Newfound and Labrador is outlined in red.


Okay, if I were to do this post the way it deserves to be done, it would take a lot of work. So I'm going to be lazy and just put in a link and a picture, because I am pooped. My apologies.

The link to an article on the Mermen and their fundraiser:  HERE

And a picture to whet your appetite for more:


Can you even stand how much fun that is?? (picture courtesy of The Daily Mail from the link above)


By the way, in case you're as pooped as I am and don't want to follow the link, the money raised from sales of the calendar is going to Spirit Horse NL, a project that uses horses to help young people, adults, families and other groups enhance their mental health and learn new skills.

And plans are already underway for next year's calendar, to benefit a different charity.

The world is full of wonderful people, innit?
* * * * *

Have a good weekend, all!

Question: Would YOU dress up in a mermaid/merman costume for a good cause? Have you ever done anything outrageous (even slightly) for a good cause of any kind? Spill the beans, people!





42 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

Brilliant initiative for a wonderful cause. Smiling all over my face. Thank you - and them.
And sending, as always, oceans of good wishes and hopes that your back woes can be settled quickly and easily.

LL Cool Joe said...

See that's what happens when I click on a link on the Mail's website I start reading all the trashy side bar activities of celebs and learn that Justin Bieber is going out with Selena Gomaz again. I blame you! Ha. And no I wouldn't dress as a merman, too cold. :D

River said...

I've always thought Newfoundland was way up high on the west coast. Every time I see it on a map I'm surprised.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

I have never done anything outrageous for a good cause but I have given hundreds of hours of my time to Oxfam. It seems to me that the NL calendar is rather sexist - portraying bare-chested men as mere sex objects. To redress the balance perhaps you can organise a Nova Scotia mermaid calendar next year.

Janie Junebug said...

How I long for my very own merman. I've never done anything outrageous for a good cause. I stick to giving away money.

Love,
Janie

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

I would do many things for a good cause, but probably would not choose to be dress as a mermaid. However, last week I went to a daylong (which went into night) outdoor band competition that my grandson was a participant. It was freezing! A few seats over from us was a young woman dressed up in a full mermaid blanket-bodysuit (pajamas?). She looked quite comfortable but I did wonder about her ability to climb down the bleachers.

Joanne Noragon said...

It's good, silly fun. I've never been approached....

Linda d said...

I'd sure dress up for a good cause but I wouldn't expose. I'm not that brave. I loved the movie Calendar Girls and wish I had the courage they did.

Marie Smith said...

Nothing outrageous here. Just regular volunteer work. Love that Mermen story though!

Chicken said...

I would absolutely dress up as a Mermaid. What I might not do is a dance competition, which is what we have around here, but I do buy a ticket. I just ordered a copy of the calendar. I love it. It appeals to every quirky little funny bone in my body.

jenny_o said...

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, EC!

And thank you. Hugs, dear friend.

jenny_o said...

But they're such a cute couple!! lol

Actually I didn't notice it was a UK source; I just picked the one with the best pictures and for some reason I thought it was a Newfoundland paper :)

jenny_o said...

Hah! In the winter I bet a lot of N'ers would love to live on the west coast . . . they might get a tad less snow and ice :)

jenny_o said...

But merMAIDs are so predictable, YP! One thing I love about this initiative is that there is nothing on display - or even hinted at - that you wouldn't see on a warm day on a farm or fishing boat. It's just pure fun.

jenny_o said...

And volunteering time or money gets the job done every bit as well as dressing up as a merman.

jenny_o said...

Neither have I, Janie. And I'm not sure I would. I'll stick with other ways to give, like you do :)

jenny_o said...

Yes, I wonder how that would work ... maybe there's a zipper somewhere to open up the tail fin to walk.

jenny_o said...

Me neither. And you're right, it is just good, silly fun. Maybe outrageous was too strong a word for me to use! I like that it is clean fun.

jenny_o said...

Same here, Linda, about dressing up but not exposing. Or even suggesting, actually. I think it takes more creativity to come up with something like this that is just fun, not suggestive.

jenny_o said...

Where would we be without "regular" volunteers? Ideas like Mermen come along once in a very long while!

jenny_o said...

Yay, Chicken!! I wasn't plugging it, just thought it was a good story, but if it has helped the fundraising that's icing on the cake! Thank you. It's such a great idea, isn't it?

Hasan Hai said...

Hi! Great point and I'd love to comment!

First - I'm Hasan Hai, founder of the NL Beard and Moustache Club and creator of our MerB'ys 2018 calendar.

Our club is open to men or women (anyone who appreciates facial hair), however the idea was to throw some stereotypes of masculinity out the window in a fun, engaging way. "real men" are able to be cute, whimsical, show emotion and be vulnerable.

I respectfully disagree that there is anything about this calendar which is sexist, as there is no discrimination involved.

Many of the MerModels in the calendar have their own struggles with body image and mental health - this calendar has been a wonderful experience for them to build their confidence, push through barriers which would otherwise be impossible to overcome, and make a ton of new friends.

The BEST part, is that we're raising boat-loads of money for a wonderful charity, and general awareness to mental health in general.

If the Nova Scotia folk want to do a calendar, they can visit us here in Newfoundland ;)

Mr. Shife said...

Hope all of your appointments went well. I read about the Mermen and I think it's awesome. I wrote a book about all of my public humiliations so dressing up as a Mermen would be no problem. Take care, jenny_o.

dinthebeast said...

Let's see, there's a band out here who call themselves the Mermen, but I don't know if they're any good or not, there's the Jimi Hendrix song that mentions a merman, but it seems way to cold for me to pull off, even without the snow that it looks like that poor guy is lying in.
I participated in the production of a few benefit shows when I was younger, but nothing special lately, unless you count helping Briana volunteer at Fix Our Ferals right after Kitters went missing...

-Doug in Oakland

e said...

I would dress up and have as an Elvira look alike...I think that merman has a heart to do his bit on snow! I hope your foot improves.

jenny_o said...

Hi Hasan,

May I begin by saying how gobsmacked I am that you left a comment here - I'd have done a better job on the post had I known you would see it. I've been recovering from a back injury that makes it hard to sit for very long.

Second, I love every part of your initiative - the giving aspect, the good humour the men have shown, the originality, the costumes, the settings - everything! I hope that much, at least, came across in the post.

As for Yorkshire Pudding's comment, what you wouldn't (couldn't) know unless you came here regularly is that he was making a tongue-in-cheek comment. I think I can speak on his behalf and say he'd be one of the first in line to support this endeavor and the men who are doing it. We are used to his humour here, which is why I didn't even address it.

Thank you - and all the other people involved - for taking on this project. You have 100% support from me and - if you look at the other comments - from the readers who visit here too. Much luck to all of you :)

Jenny

jenny_o said...

Excellent, Mr. S! It's such a great idea and a worthy cause.

jenny_o said...

That counts in my books, Doug :)

That does look like a chilly place to lie down without a parka on, doesn't it?

jenny_o said...

I so agree! And thank you.

jenny_o said...

And I had to look up Elvira - wow!

Martha said...

HAHAHA! This really tickled my funny bone. Mermen...what fun! And for such a great cause, too. Love it.

kylie said...

I have never done anything remotely interesting in the name of a good cause but I would be happy to do something like this!
I like the merman, it's a fun idea

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Thank you for your defence of my tongue-in-cheek comment Jenny. Of course I applaud the NL merman initiative in which Hasan has played a key role. The initiative is in no way sexist. However, I would still like to see some bare-chested Nova Scotian mermaids in various poses! Obviously, my interest is purely connected with charity fundraising!

jenny_o said...

OBVIOUSLY :)

jenny_o said...

Heartwarming in every way!

jenny_o said...

I like it, too, and I think a lot of people do - the story has gone international in a short time. Kudos to these guys!

Steve Reed said...

That picture makes me feel VERY cold.

I dated a guy in college who was a "Newfie" (a term he used quite proudly). He didn't have a big beard like that,though. :)

jenny_o said...

Not too many people had beards like that even, what, ten years ago? - impressive, isn't it?! And yes, Newfies are proud to be called that. I would be too, if I lived there. I can't make any false claims, though ~

Diane Henders said...

Those guys are adorable! No matter what shape or size a guy is, a great sense of humour is his most appealing feature. (And a beard is just icing on the cake.) Kudos to them for making fun for a good cause!

If there's any foolishness to be done, I'm usually up for it. I did the ALS Ice Bucket challenge, and I'd definitely do a silly fundraising calendar if anybody asked me... but that hasn't happened yet. Maybe there's such a thing as being TOO foolish for a good cause...? ;-)

jenny_o said...

I fully agree about the sense of humour, Diane. And somehow it does not surprise me that you'd embrace "silly" for a good cause!

baili said...

How sweet to wear such interesting clothes for great cause !

I was since beginning little weird for people around as since childhood i started to serve elderly people in my small village which was striking for all but i followed my heart and did for them their little chores which were big for them due to be in such helpless age.

later in my life in my life i did help of others by going against the wave without thinking that what will other think of me .
once i helped an old lady to pick up her heavy stuff and dropped it to her home which was quite for from mine ,than i was young and it was not good for me to walk away from my home as far according to the tradition here for young ladies than .old woman was suffering with sudden chest pain near the edge of market and no one was paying attention .

i am totally agree with the idea of taking an x ray Jenny ,i really think you should take this pain serious as it is taking so long to go my dear friend!
please take great care .
lots of love and hugs

jenny_o said...

As your experience shows, what is "outrageous" for a good cause can depend on what the norms are in any particular culture, baili. You were stepping outside of the usual behavior to help others; it does not surprise me, because you have a huge heart!

Thank you for your good wishes, my friend!