Image is important - particularly in the professional world. Call it superficial, but a good first impression is crucial. When you're trying to be appealing in the professional world, there's a number of things to consider. For one, who are you trying to impress? If it's a group of latte drinking yuppies, with monogrammed shirts, and their names inscribed on $800 pens, the last look you want to have is similar to that of the pony-tailed cyclist who cut in front of their shiny Mercedes. Depending on your career choice, your "audience" may vary. But the important thing to note is that you have an audience, if you want to get anywhere in this world, you better try your darndest to impress them.

Whether you sit in a cubicle, or have your own office, one thing you've surely come to learn is that your office space is an extension of yourself. Some homey folk go with pictures of their kids, cute little figurines that are holding up paperclips, and a calendar of puppies that make you feel a little nauseated. Some over-compensating alpha-male types may go with the dumbell resting on the floor, the poster of bikini-clad models, and the Harley-Davidson emblem. There's the overly professional type that has the stainless steel stapler, the crisp set of business cards, perhaps a lint-removing brush, and a calendar of motivational words, with pictures of human accomplishment. There's the office geek with pens that are either out of ink, or spilling their ink, there's always the mysterious smell of cheese around his cubicle, and of course, it's capped with a Dilbert or Farside calendar. As you may have noticed, there's a commonality among all of these: Calendars.

Calendars say a lot about who you are, and what you want out of life. Just like that office space, your calendar tells people immediately the type of person you are. It determines your approachability, your ability to discuss particular topics - be they motorcycles, hot rods, philosophers, or kittens. It also gives an immediate hint as to whether you are that professional type, or the home body, the yuppie, or the programmer who didn't shower today.

But what if you're like me? What if your own goal is to appear like the everyman? What if you want to be approached by all, and achieve an immediate level of comfort with people? What if you want to make people intrigued by your calendar selection, perhaps providing them with some humor while also exciting them with your similar interests? Unfortunately, there are no calendards to my knowledge that feature a glorious mountain one month, followed by a fiery hotrod the next month. Even if they did exist, that first month you show up in the office may immediately leave you marked as a free spirited Horse loving weirdo. No, a calendar like that wouldn't do.

The calendar I'm thinking of would mix in the love of the outdoors, the encouragement and motivation of someone accomplishing some difficult task, some form of athleticism - all the better if it's extreme athleticism, importantly it includes some humor, perhaps a mundane task, something that says "homey," but also "I'm a guy who prefers to look professional, crisp, clean and smart." Yes, a calendar such as this would more than suffice. And I did not think this calendar existed until I was strolling through the neighborhood QFC and happened to glance up at the calendar rack.

And in my amazement, there it was: Extreme Ironing - Glorious photos of people ironing an item of clothing on an ironing board. As the official website, Extreme Ironing Bureau, states it's "The latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well pressed shirt." Just where do these Extreme Ironing performances take place? Maybe on a kayak, maybe while snowboarding. Perhaps while parachuting, or under a lake covered of ice.

While Extreme Ironing is not only a calendar, but a sport that's quite popular among the English, it has been in calendar form since the late 90s. Not much else can be said about the awesomeness that is the Extreme Ironing calendar except for this: Chicks dig it too.