The latest hot trend?  Using plumage in your hair.   Extensions are out, people.   Chicken feathers are in.   And giddy girls have bombarded local fly-fishing stores from coast to cast.   In fact, there’s been such a run on certain types of feathers that supply can’t keep up with demand.   Supplies at stores from the coasts of Maine to landlocked Idaho are running out.   In fact, some feathers sold online are fetching hundreds of dollars more than the usual prices.

According to a recent MSNBC.com article: fly fishermen are not happy about it. Online message boards have been lighting up — pointing blame at so-called “feather ladies.”

But how did feathers go from being on boas to being weaved into hair?

Well, American Idol judge and rocker Steven Tyler began sporting the look in his long hair this season.   And we all know — it can’t get much more mainstream than AI.

As hair extensions, the feathers can be brushed, blow-dried, straightened and curled once they are snapped into place. Most salons sell the feather strands for $5 to $10 a piece — but they’re considerably cheaper at your local fly-fishing store where they’re sold as bait.

The feathers are not easy to come by in the first place. They come from roosters that are genetically bred and raised for their plumage. In most cases, the birds do not survive the plucking.  I recently did a story on it … uh, not the plucking – but the actual extensions.  Check it out:

If you want to get your mitts on some of these difficult-to-find feathers, don’t hold your breath.   Some fly-fishing and tackle stores are refusing to sell the lures to women.   Yep — you read right.   As fly shops try to hold onto their regular customers, they’re denying sales to hairstylists.   Can’t wait to see what happens from here.   I predict chicken feathers on the black market … and NO good can come of that.

A couple years ago, I visited my friend JC in Vegas.  He was doing a show there and as I was walking down the Strip, there was a picture of him (and his group) on a billboard ten stories high.  I was shocked, proud, jealous and awe-inspired within fourteen seconds.

And it was at that exact moment that I realized that I really enjoy seeing my name in print.  Or in lights.  Or attached to the back of a restraining order.  Heck – I would be thrilled with the prospect of seeing my name scrawled on a bathroom wall somewhere provided it’s in a legible, tasteful font.

My name has a certain ring to it.  It flows.  And the alliteration helps.  I’ve often thought of becoming a weatherman just so I could hear the announcer say “Meteorologist Michael Mackie”.

If that just doesn’t kick ass … I don’t know WHAT does.

Lately, I’ve been using my moniker “M2, Esq.” in my e-mail signatures and for a majority of my correspondence.  I worked with a guy who arbitrarily added “Esquire” after his name.  People would always ask if he was a lawyer and he would respond, “Hell, no!”  But it made for a good conversation starter.  (And then later I found out it was technically illegal to portray yourself as a lawyer – but whatever – I’m undaunted.)  Half the world knows me as MBob (circa 1991-2001).  The other half knows me as M2, Esq.  Everyone knows (or should know) not to call me Mike.  Call me Mike — and it will only happen once.

At the Iowa State Fair, I found an artist who custom-crafts your name by bending a long strand of wire.  When I wrote down my name as “M2, Esq.” – she didn’t miss a beat.  Six minutes later, I had a work of art with my nickname in all of its glory and splendor.  I hung it with much fanfare next to the bumper sticker and handmade wooden carving featuring my personal handle.

You know what else makes me happy?  Seeing my name on this website.  Vanity kills … it don’t pay the bills.  Except when it does.