What's even hotter than a bunch of Butch Wonders readers?  A bunch of Butch Wonders readers in ties!  You can click on most of them for a larger pic.  Oh--and when you're looking at these, don't forget to breathe.

Whew!  Thanks for these wonderful photos, and keep rocking those ties, butches.  You look terrific!

In an bout of productivity, I've been buying my Christmas gifts early--mainly because my DGF and I have to buy gifts for people we don't know super well (my brother's in-laws and their family).  They're doing a "stocking exchange," meaning that everyone puts a small gift into everyone else's stocking.

The upshot?  I'm turning into a semi-pro stocking stuffer. I figured sharing my ideas might save you some time finding cool gifts.  So forget the bubble bath and candy canes and check out these ideas.  My categories are food, practical, and fun.  All are under $15 (and most are under $10!).

#3: Everything imported from France is vaguely classy and expensive, right?  This 5-star mango lime ginger jam by L'Epicurien is no exception.  There are several other flavors, most around $8-14.  These include confit of rose petals (edible?), banana flambee jam (how do they light a fire in that tiny jar?), and confit d'ananas au poivre de penja (whatever that is).

5 Fun and Frivolous Stocking Stuffers
These are great gifts for kids, people in their 20s, or anyone who you think would appreciate something kind of colorful/fun/frivolous.

Happy Thanksgiving, dear readers!  I wanted to take a second to tell you:

Whether you're gay or bi or queer or straight,
Or have turkey or tofu or yams on your plate--

Whether you're single or looking or coupled or married,
Whether you're chillin' or stressed out or sleepy or harried,

If you're hanging with family or if you are not,
If you're stuffed to the gills or not eating a lot--

If you're sick or you're well or somewhere in between,
Whether you love today or prefer Halloween,

Whether you're watching football or reading a book
Or condemning those Pilgrims for land that they took--

If you voted for Romney or voted Obama,
Or if you're a a grandparent, auntie, or mama,

Whether you find yourself happy or sad,
Or Black Friday makes you incredibly glad,

Whether you live in Milwaukee or Texas,
If you're taking the bus or if you drive a Lexus,

Whether you're in the snow or huddled by heaters,
I'm thankful for you, all my Butch Wonders readers!

Cheesily yours,
BW

Sometimes I get questions from readers in which the reader is essentially asking me if he or she is some kind of weird outlier.  For example:

• Do some gay men find trans men attractive?
• Do some femmes date other femmes?
• Are some people mostly attracted to older lesbians?
• Are some FTMs into bi cis guys?
  

Due to the sheer, huge, incredible range of human interests and preference, whenever you're asking if some people X, or whether some people of type Y find people of type Z attractive, the answer is always the same: yes.

In fact, we could make a mad lib of it:
Do some [type of person, plural] find [adjective] [gender or sexual orientation] attractive?

Yes, yes, yes.  Some butches are only into other butches (BW raises hand).  Some non-binary trans people only want to date femmes who wear leather.  Some guys who identify as gay are attracted to masculine cis women. 

Whatever your preference, identity, interest, or sexual proclivity, I feel safe saying: you are not alone.  Just because you haven't met anyone in your town who's like you doesn't mean that there aren't tons of them in the wider world.  Heck, it doesn't even mean there isn't anyone in your town like you.  Many people are scared to be out and proud about their preferences because they're afraid other people will laugh at them, or tell them they're weird.

Well, I'm here to tell you that there's nothing "weird" about knowing what you like.  There's nothing odd about having preferences that seem different from other people's (assuming those preferences are legal and don't hurt anyone, of course).  And there's nothing wrong or strange about having your attractions change over time. 

After all, you didn't come out as queer to be like everyone else, did you?  Why the heck would you want to start now?

I thought I'd lay out some crucial, basic tie-wearing tips I've been asked about.  Even if you know nothing else about ties, you need to know this stuff:

Q: Where should my tie end? 
A: At the middle of your belt.  Most people know not to let it land too far above the belt, but letting it land a couple inches below is just as bad.

Q: But then I have to re-tie my tie about 20 times to get it right.
A: Yeah, at first--eventually you'll get good at it, though.  This is the price we pay for looking dapper.  Just be glad no one's making you wear high heels.

Q: How wide should my tie be?
A: If the tie is between 2.5 inches and 3 inches at the widest point, you're good.  This is a "narrow" tie.  A skinny tie is about 2 inches wide at the widest point.  I'm not against skinny ties per se, though I think some caution is prudent.

Q: What's the most common butch faux pas you see re: neckties?
A: Okay, admittedly no one actually asked me this, but I feel compelled to share.  At fancy events, I often see butches in too-wide ties that land a couple inches below their belts.  This makes a butch look like she's raided her father's closet.  Please stop.

Q: I never know what knot to wear.
A: A four-in-hand is the easiest to learn, and safe for all except the most formal occasions.  If you're going to learn only one knot, this is the one.  Have a friend teach you, or watch this British guy, whom I find amusing.  And: practice, practice, practice!

Q: What's the deal with the "dimple?"  Do I need one?
A: Yup, you do.  A "dimple" just means that if your knot doesn't do it naturally, you push in the fabric right below the knot.  Here's a picture. 

Q: Do I need fancy shoes?
A: Absolutely not.  As long as your look is pulled together, there are all kinds of different ways to dress down a tie.

Q: You've suggested wearing a loosened tie.  How loose is too loose?
A: I undo the top button of the shirt, then pull gently at either side of the collar.  You're going for this or this, not for this.

Q: Is it okay to wear a tie bar?  Where do I put it?
A: Sure.  Just make sure it's not wider than your tie, and wear it between the third and fourth buttons of your shirt, clipping the whole tie to the shirt.

If you have any more questions about tie-wearing, just let me know.  Meanwhile, I'd love it if you'd send me pictures of yourself in a tie.  I'll post a bunch of my favorites as fashion examples for BW readers!