World’s Best-Looking Man On World’s Ugliest Sofa
Family | Posted by Jannie on 27 January 2010 @ 7:24 AM 43 Comments
Did you think he was nekkid at first glance? That’s what Kelly thought during our recent Great Photo Organizing Frenzy when she found this pic of her dad, taken right around the time I met him. Jim-Him, that is. Holy cow – a little over 20 years ago now.
And yes, that sofa was here in this house when I moved in 19.6 years ago, omg. Can’t you just feel it’s ugliness scratching your skin?? Couldn’t you just single-handedly heave it onto the nearest bonfire, or back into the college dorm beer room from whenst it came?!?!
Wait — you had one of those uncomely couches pass through your life at one point too, didn’t you??!
Edit: [It's not that Jim has or ever had "bad taste." Money was tight for him back then and the sofa was a hand-me-down he gladly accepted.]
Luckily, we’ve moved on to more appealing sofas since then. And you will get to see each and every one of them! I’ve tons of photos from over the years that I’ve been scanning at the library for my upcoming “Queen Of Remodeling Patience” series, which will be posted in at least 12 installments. Maybe 20! I mentioned we started remodeling and adding onto our house almost 17 years ago, right? We’ve gone from 1400 square feet to over 2700. And now we’re remodeling the remodel! I should have the first installment ready for you on Friday. Hopefully. Possibly. 
Exciting to no end, eh??
xoxo
On 27 January 2010 at 8:47 am Glenn Buttkus said,
BB–be kind to your Jannie, never two mutch beers, and hey, no donuts this time!
Daddy Jim: 20 years ago, more hair and less tummy. I remember the days. I must admit as one tracks down the photo after the site opens, there is a strange moment when we wondered if Jannie has moved to soft porn over here in Funsterville. Yes, that couch is triple butt ugly, been whupped with a peck of ugly sticks. Somehow you moved into his house and did not bring your old princess Jannie couch?
Austin Domicle: 1400 sq. feet to 2700, hey, that is some hammering and nailing and taping and painting and dry walling and plumbing and planning. But it does make sense to stay in the same property and just keep changing your space within the same house. Besides, you are still close to Jim Funster Chev, or whatever the car dealership is called.
Scary Clown: Even Stephen King cowers when you smile.
Photo Op Plans: Yeah, hell yeah, bring those pics of the past on. We are tingling with alacrity and curiousity.
Glenn Buttkus´s last blog ..Stature
On 27 January 2010 at 8:48 am Glenn Buttkus said,
Hot damn, blue bunny, I’se madeit agin. Number One for the moment, scooped the gaggle of Funsters out there. How can one old fat man in the north woods be so lucky?
Glenn Buttkus´s last blog ..Stature
On 27 January 2010 at 9:27 am Lynn said,
Hoo woo! He is a handsome man and did look nekkid at first glance.
Those plaid sofas were all the rage back then…
Lynn´s last blog ..Bright flowers, comparison and unsweet
On 27 January 2010 at 10:19 am Talon said,
Nothing improves the look of a sofa better than a little Jim Dandy!
And now that sofa is in ugly couch heaven where all good and deserving chesterfields go.
And I’ve seen much uglier by the way!
Talon´s last blog ..Repository…
On 27 January 2010 at 10:35 am jingle said,
Wow, My God,
Can we call Wednesday Naked Joke Day?
I read a post about being naked at Brian Miller’s place yesterday, today I feel shocked at first glance..
The Sofa is lifeless,
With your man attached,
It becomes timeless,
I am sure everyone will giggle while stirring at his hairs and
thank you for the awesome shares
of FUN.
you are the best, Jannie.
jingle´s last blog ..You Can Make A Difference
On 27 January 2010 at 10:52 am Jannie said,
..
Hidee-ho, the Gang’s all here.
Glenn!! “Triple butt ugly,” that rings true for me on that sofa. I think I must’ve thrown a quilt over it too, as the polyesterness of it was an affront to my delicaate skin. Actually, Jim’s shop is about 30 minutes from our house, but he loves the commute, gets to listen to his jazz while driving.
Lynn!! I put in a little edit as to how Jim got acquired the sofa. I’ts kind of a “Roseanne” couch. Yes, very handsome, and still is, of course.
Talon!! My Jim Dandy improves the look of anything he is photographed by.
But seriously, he really does. Of course. What have some of those ugly sofas looked like that you’ve seen?
Jingle!! No more semi-naked pix to come, I think. I heard recently about those Half Naked Thursday blog posts. gee. He does make things timeless indeed, Jimmy does. Wait til you see the amazing woodwork he did in our house, with his own hands (and power tools.)
On 27 January 2010 at 11:05 am sheila said,
Love the sexy shorts! ha ha!
And, I think everyone had a couch just like that back in the day!
sheila´s last blog ..Killer Icicles
On 27 January 2010 at 11:19 am J.D. Meier said,
Those couches are actually an endangered species. They are hunted in some parts for curtains and other everyday uses.
J.D. Meier´s last blog ..Career Growth and Finding Your Way Forward
On 27 January 2010 at 12:25 pm vered | blogger for hire said,
20 years… that’s long! You seem like such a loving couple. I love that.
On 27 January 2010 at 1:27 pm krissy said,
He did look nekkid. lol I did a double take. We did the whole hand me down sofa thing for years too…thank GOD we got new ones. lol They were uglier than that
On 27 January 2010 at 1:49 pm K said,
I think I have a chair that matches that sofa.
And my husband won’t let me replace it (and it’s a not a money thing). Oh well, I didn’t marry the man for his decorating taste.
Have a great day.
On 27 January 2010 at 2:04 pm jan said,
I had one of those really horrible couches, actually it was a sectional, gray swirly stripey thing, but thank God it was not scratchy. Oh, the 80s! Your guy is great and I am sure he still is 20 years later. Thank goodness our love deepens as we age.. You got a good thing, girl. xo
On 27 January 2010 at 2:42 pm Chris said,
I TOTALLY thought he was naked for a moment. I almost minimized my screen! [I'm in a public library right now, sharing a table with others... who, not to be unkind, don't have the best hygiene.]
I honestly don’t think the couch is that unattractive. Really! Handsome, handsome hubby though! It’s so fun looking at old pics. XO
On 27 January 2010 at 3:05 pm Avani Mehta said,
Yeah, that’s exactly what I thought on first look. It’s only after reading your first para that I dared to look at the snap again
Looking forward to the house remodel series. (That really needs patience) Should be fun for us
On 27 January 2010 at 3:13 pm Yaya said,
I did think he was naked, lol!
We had the hand-me-down furniture way back when. We called it ‘Dorm Style’ to make us seem chic!
On 27 January 2010 at 3:21 pm Lance said,
Whoa! He’s chameleon-like! In a naked sort of way…
My mind has quickly wandered off to skinny-dipping…
I LOVE that sofa!!! It would look sooo good in that 70’s room we are creating! Are you sure you don’t still have it, Jannie??? I’ll pick it up for free!
On 27 January 2010 at 3:37 pm Jannie said,
…
Sheila, I know, eh! He was quite the dresser back then. And still is! And still good looking, of course , as he always will be with his flashing blue eyes and sweet grin.
J.D. Endangered species, ha! Poor things, will their be a save-the-ugly-scratchy-plaid sofa committee?? Maybe there already is?
Vered!! We are lucky to have found each other, yes. And still growing together, even when we’re ticked off at each other.
Krissy!! And we actually had a card table for about our first 5 years together in the eat-in kitchen. And a borrowed card table at that!
K! Really, a chair to match? Yikes. Archie Bunker, look out! I think this sofa went to our car shop, but was even too homely for there.
Jan!! Yes, I do indeed have a very good man, and thing going. And your sgrey ectional actually sounds kind nice, must’ve been a velour?
Chris!! Sorry!!! Did I ever tell you about the time I stumbled onto Redtube while Kelly was beside me?? We were checking out the highest-ranked sites on the Net. OMG, talk about closing a window FAST!! REALLYY??_ — You like the couch?? Really????
Avani!! I can guarantee the house remodel series will be much more fun for you than it has for me over the years. I don’t mean to whine and go on but it has been SEVENTEEN YEARS of 2×4s, and drywall, and dust and chaos, on and on and ON!!
Yaya!! Nothing but the finest dorm-style chappy chic, eh? (And sorry ’bout the almost nekkid thing!)
Lance!! Really ?? You all doing up a 70s style room? Well, that sofa went to the office in our car shop, to the curb, to God only knows where, but if you’re really really lucky you might be able to dig one up somewhere. But act fact, they sell like hotcakes on ebay.
xoxo
On 27 January 2010 at 3:47 pm Dot said,
Neekid but anatomically incorrect was my first take.
Looks like we’re all going to have to become Kings and Queens of Remodeling Picture Patience.
On 27 January 2010 at 4:19 pm Sami - Life, Laughs & Lemmings said,
Jannie, does Jim the sausage know you’re posting half nekkid pics of him on his beloved but not in the slightest bit desirable sofa?
Man does this bring back memories (the sofa that is, not the half nekkid sausage). I’ve had some doozies (sofas and sausages). One particular sofa was a pink, fake leather number which had huge cracks in the upholstery. It was so hideous, we covered it with a sheet. Jim’s sofa looks positively glamorous in comparison!
On 27 January 2010 at 5:13 pm Trey - Swollen Thumb Entertainment said,
Eh, I like couches like that. They’re nice and comfy. As long as they’re clean…
On 27 January 2010 at 5:29 pm Tess The Bold Life said,
Jannie,
He’s hot I can see why you fell in love. We did have a sofa just like it except with some orange in the plaid! What a hoot! Did you have shag carpet as well?
On 27 January 2010 at 5:38 pm Patricia said,
Oh I was given a sofa just like that – not the fellow – when I lived in a remodeled garage behind the Methodist Church on my first job. I made $500 a month, paid utilities and then garage was part of the salary package. I worked about 75 hours a week…had to get a car to get to work…and waited a year before I could find a bed…so slept on scratchy sofa….It has had several more lives since I married the guy who proposed to me at the “Challenge of Being Single” Conference I put together at the college….hmmm those were the days!
On 27 January 2010 at 7:12 pm LL Cool Joe said,
Before the days when men waxed I see?
On 27 January 2010 at 7:42 pm Momisodes said,
Yup, I totally had to do a double take because I thought he was nekkid
And we totally had a couch just like that one growing up. Same colors too.
On 27 January 2010 at 7:46 pm Tammy said,
You know Jannie I had a sofa sorta like that just a few yrs ago. It had recliners on both ends and the matching love seat reclined. Now, that ensemble was ugly, but man it was soooo comfortable. It was worn down just enough to sink into it. My living room has almost new (not practical) furniture now. It looks really nice, but dang I miss my old ugly set. One of my friends discouraged me when I bought the new furniture. He said, “practical Tammy. Go with practical” Well, I am too much of a matching freak so I bought the pretty one and I hate to sit on it.
I just can’t have it all.
Hi to Jim-Bo. I had a friend that I worked with for a long time, his name was Jimmy and I nick named him Jim Bo.
On 27 January 2010 at 8:00 pm Thomma Lyn said,
OH MY GOODNESS!!!! That looks exactly like an ugly couch my parents used to have. Har!
Good luck with your remodeling, my friend! I know that everything will look fantabulous.
xoxoxo
On 27 January 2010 at 8:14 pm Jannie said,
..
WHOO-HOO!!
Dot!! That first take is rather a stunner until the clouds lift. Dot, I really think the first Queen Of Remodeling Patience will go up Friday!! Found some more pix today to shape up the story a bit better.
Sami!! My sausage man does share this house computer with me (since my laptop died,) and I’m sure he saw this, this morning after I left with Kelly for school, but he has not mentioned it yet in his calls to me. he should be home from work any minute. Glamorous in comparison!! My eyes would not want to see the sofa you speak of. But I’d sample the sausage at your local diner. Pork is so darn tasty!
Trey!! Well, they were mass produced and sold so many obviously like that style sofa. Yes, clean furniture is a high priority in my books too. Clean everything, really.
Tess!! Yes, isn’t he just a total hottie!!! Hook line and sinker. And his inside as wonderful as his out. Orange in the plaid, oh god, you poor thing. Mom and Dad went that route. Nope, no shag, just that standard issue cheap beige stuff the whole house had been re-done with when he bought the place in ‘88. God, 1988! And underneath all the carpet was vinyl tile we had to blow-torch off.
Patricia!! That “Challenge Of Being Single Conference,” sounds like it was too much of a challenge and you both folded. That sounds like an awesome place to meet! I don’t think I’ve ever heard the story of how you guys met and fell in love. More later, Patricia!!
Gotta fly, Jim’s home!
xoxox
On 28 January 2010 at 12:06 am Rose said,
I didn’t think he was naked.
On 28 January 2010 at 12:59 am Cookie said,
That is funny! Yes, i think I’ve had a couch like that… it might even still be in my family room :S
I love house projects. I’m painting my bedroom right now. hopefully i’ll finish this weekend
On 28 January 2010 at 2:07 am Hilary said,
Hi Jannie .. me too thought his better parts were below the screen?! Goodness me – not a way to start the day?!
Great to see the pics and life through the Funster household .. talk about growing .. 1400 to 2700 doesn’t mean anything to me .. never did quite work out plot sizes in South Africa – probably a good thing I live in half a house here!!
Sounds like you’re having loads of fun and lots of laughs .. I’m off and away to recover from the near-naked man and THAT sofa .. yes we all started with handme downs .. & I buy for fabric comfort = cotton (can’t tolerate anything else – mind you English rose skin??!!))))??
Bye for now – looking forward to tomorrow’s pics ..
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
On 28 January 2010 at 3:02 am SnaggleTooth said,
I too have seen my share of brown, plaid, ’70s furniture.
No sofas in here, since the last one bit the dust about a decade ago. New deck rail makes it impossible to get another one in here thru the small doorway. That’s okay, don’t need one.
Someday I’ll move n get another one. Maybe I can find a guy to pose like that for me, too…
Thinks Lance’s chameleon remark about Jim is a riot- (not the eyes of course!) n what I thought too- camoflauge!
On 28 January 2010 at 3:10 am cinderkeys said,
I wouldn’t hate on that couch. It may not be beautiful, but it looks perfectly functional. Comfortable, even. There’s something wonderful about a cheap and comfortable couch when you’re just starting out.
On 28 January 2010 at 7:59 am Heather Kephart said,
Ack! I totally thought he was naked! Jannie, don’t feel bad. I think about every one of my college friends (20 years ago) had a couch just like that. As for myself, I used to love to go curb-surfing downtown Sacramento when I needed a piece of furniture. Black and grey striped couch on the side of the road? SCORE!
Can’t wait to follow your remodeling adventures! I love that I was one of your “Seriously Weird” contest winners in 2009!
On 28 January 2010 at 8:46 am Nadia - Happy Lotus said,
Hi Jannie,
Congrats on being together for 20 years! That is awesome.
And as for the couch, my parents had one that looked exactly like that. I think that was the style back then.
On 28 January 2010 at 9:12 am JACQUI said,
Oh, I bet he LOVES you for sharing this picture – hee hee x
On 28 January 2010 at 10:13 am Jannie said,
…
hoo-woo !
WONDERFUL comments, thanks!! Working at the library on more pix scans for tomorrow’s post.
See you all later to answer these!!
xoxo
On 28 January 2010 at 1:08 pm Sara said,
Jannie — I have some pictures almost like that one. I love how older color pictures get that brownish tint. Your handsome man looks a bit like Dennis Quaid:~)
Hey, I tried the link…was I the only one who landed on a post entitled, “On Bloglinks, Singing, Donuts and Beer?” Maybe the joke is on me as to how this post relates to Queen of Remodeling Patience. Then again, I imagine when remodeling, singing, donuts and beer might come in very handy:~)
On 28 January 2010 at 2:36 pm jingle said,
Your husband is capable,
You are super able,
Kelly is invaluable,
Your post is always enjoyable…
Happy XXX-ABLE Day!
cheers,
On 28 January 2010 at 3:42 pm teahouseblossom said,
Hahahahahaha!!! LMAO. I love the color scheme, the body hair, everything. It’s priceless.
On 29 January 2010 at 12:17 am Davina said,
Did a double take I did, I did. But I don’t think that couch is all that bad. Am I weird?
On 29 January 2010 at 6:26 am Jannie said,
…
whoo-hoo!!
LL Cool Joe!! Men wax? I guess I’m living in a cave, or something?
Momisodes!! That he is naked at first glance seems to be the concensus. And that you all had those sofas.
Tammy!! I like matching freaks! And I think I know what you mean by those recliners. My friend, Trixi has a love seat that reclines on both sides, so comfortable, but hers is very attractive, kind of a medium blue velour. I would love to have one like that. Jim-bo he is too, to many friends. I like that nickname.
Thomma Lyn !! I guess it was the style. And I know some people liked that, but not me. And soon I will be posting the first of the remodeling series!! As in, this morning, whoo hoo.
Rose!! you have good eyes. I didn’t think he was naked either when I first saw the pic.
Cookie!! Painting can gift such a lift, the quickest way to change a room. Is it s wild bright color? Enjoy!
Hilary!! Well, 1400 feet comprised an L-shaped living / kitchen, 2 baths and 4 bedrooms, a decent size I guess. Umm! I too love cotton against my skin. We settled on a dark green cotton velour sectional set, good-used at a consignment shop. And leather, which is nice in summer, but chilly in winter. And I did get the first Remodeling installment ready for today, whoo-hoo!!
Snaggl, My Snaggle!! I think I just got Lance’s chameleon joke, gee Jannie noting like being quick on the uptake. Yes, it’s true! He had a bit of a tan and all that hair to totally blend in. Yeah, a sofa is not a necessity. Are you looking for a guy like that to post for you???
Cinderkeys!! You are so right, I am looking that gift-couch in the mouth. And it is good to start out humble and lean. It was awfully scratchy, tho. My skin is so sensitive. Did I mention all we had for a table in our kitchen for a few years was a borrowed card table?? And the table we now have we got at a yard sale!!
Heather!! I think we all make use of curb surfing at one time or another, don’t we?? As they rightly say, one man’s trash… Remodeling adventures to begin here very very soon, whoo-hoo!!! But I’ll try to contain myself. FantASStic!!!
Nadia!! Yes, this summer it will be 20 years since we first got together. And have been manacled in bliss ever since. Jim thinks it was his mom who took this pic of him when she came to visit Texas for the first time. As to the couch, yah, I think it was the style of the day. Right up there with Harvest Gold colored appliances, the latter which Mom and Dad had.
JACQUI!! He actually said “Hey, I was pretty good-looking back then.” And he still is. And still has lots of hair, tho a bit greyer now.
Sara!! Yes, Dennis Quaid. And from some angles Robert Wagner too. There was a whole group of those photos in a box, all 5″ square, mostly of coastal scenery he took, him with a friend (who is no longer a friend,) and this one. Oh, you have a great question on that link. My post today will explain that further. Sorry for any murkiness on that.
Jingle!! Wait until you see my post today to see just how very capable Jim is!! The man can remodel some houses. And do some woodwork!!
Teahouse!! I just now got Lance’s joke abut Jim looking like a chameleon on that! And it’s true — a total color blend. I wonder if he planned it that way?? :0
Davina!! No, of course you are not weird, that’s what’s so wonderful about the world — we all don’t like the same style. How boring would that be?? That was one scratchy-ass sofa tho, that was the worst.
On 30 January 2010 at 9:17 pm Anne said,
I so thought he was nekkid and had to take a second look. It was this optical illusion with the sofa and the shorts.
I imagine a flip book of sofa shots and other random pieces of furniture. Maybe, maybe, maybe.
On 31 January 2010 at 9:54 am Jannie said,
…
Anne!! you are very creative with your flip-book idea!! Why not? Be better than a lot of the inexplicable art I’ve seen.