Was the sock really invented by an ancestor of Garth Brooks? My husband and I have a lobster dinner riding on this.

This is another great question, because many people believe it to be true. Actually, the common sock was invented by a shepherd boy in 4233 B.C. Despite its clever design, it did not become a popular clothing addition until many years later, when someone invented the other sock. Despite a few early gaps in Garth Brooks lineage, it does not appear that either of these two sock inventors were related to the famous Country and Western Singer. I'd say, "Myth Busted!"

On a related clothing issue: Many people have asked me recently why the buttons on a man's shirt are sewn on the right side, and the buttons on a woman's blouse are on the left. While I should think it would be obvious, apparently the answer eludes many. Buttons on the right for men, and on the left for women makes perfect sense, and once the logic is explained, it just might save you from an *embarrassing faux pos. You see, with the buttons arranged in this manner, it is very easy to tell the gender of the person to whom you are addressing, by a simple glance at the chest. Buttons on the right, it's a guy -- on the left, a gal. In the old days, you could tell gender by hair length, or makeup, or skirts vs pants, etc., but today this simple trick is one of the few remaining ways to be absolutely sure whether the person is male or female.

* Yes, I know it's redundant, but it's MY blog.