The Sanity Hearing

A Girl's Car?

2011-06-08T09:49:00.000-07:00

At one point in my life I would have been afraid to drive this car because I thought people would see it as a "girl's car". I guess I either am more girly or more secure now. A cheap summer ride under 5k in good shape and I love VW. Reminds me of my grandfather with his VW Thing.

Moose

2011-06-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

via Etsy

An Old Jag

2011-06-03T06:56:00.000-07:00

Men my dad's age always have funny stories about Jags. From what I have heard it's because in the 1960s foreign imports to the US were somewhat limited except for the Brit cars, which explains the high number of MGs, Triumphs, etc on the road from that era. I remember my dad telling me he borrowed an XKE from a fellow associate at the law firm where he had is first job to go on a date and the car had serious HP. Although my dad always drove a Dodge van for my entire life, he swore that if he ever got a sports car it would be a Jaguar.

The newer Jags seem to have no soul, although the older ones are fraught with electrical problems. I remember a caller to the NPR program car talk saying that his XJS convertible was like a beautiful high maintenance mistress who constantly screwed him over and took his money.

SUMO

2011-05-24T23:33:00.000-07:00

Meet my dog, "Sumo". He's a Boston Chin- a Boston Terrier/Japanese Chin.

Can't help loving it

2011-05-24T23:30:00.000-07:00

Canal Barge

2011-05-24T23:27:00.000-07:00

I would love to get a canal boat. I have no idea what would be involved in getting one of these things to New England, but it would the perfect summer movable summer cottage.

Babyhead

2011-05-24T14:31:00.001-07:00

via Etsy

Hats

2011-05-24T10:38:00.000-07:00

Eldorado in Brooklyn

2011-05-21T19:41:00.000-07:00

Dice was in the mirror. @ Mike's B-day.

Black and White

2011-05-20T20:08:00.000-07:00

on Etsy

Saddles

2011-05-20T12:52:00.001-07:00

Florsheim by Duckie Brown.

Truth

2011-05-19T20:45:00.001-07:00

Dots

2011-05-19T20:42:00.000-07:00

Via Modern Tailor

Hair on

2011-05-19T20:37:00.001-07:00

Hair-on tooled belt from Sheplers.

2011-05-18T18:07:00.001-07:00

Steel Prefab.

FEED

2011-05-18T17:49:00.001-07:00

Feed...

Caddy

2011-05-17T06:48:00.001-07:00

2011-05-15T14:01:00.001-07:00

2011-05-15T13:57:00.001-07:00

Chili

2011-05-11T16:54:00.001-07:00

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 onions, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 pound ground beef

3/4 pound beef sirloin, cubed

1 (14.5 ounce) can peeled and diced tomatoes with juice

1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle dark beer

1 cup strong brewed coffee

2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste

1 (14 ounce) can beef broth

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

3 1/2 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon cumin seeds

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon salt

4 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans

4 fresh hot chile peppers, seeded and chopped

Directions

1.Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook onions, garlic, ground beef and cubed sirloin in oil for 10 minutes, or until the meat is well browned and the onions are tender.

2.Mix in the diced tomatoes with juice, dark beer, coffee, tomato paste and beef broth. Season with brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, cocoa powder, oregano, cayenne pepper, coriander and salt. Stir in 2 cans of the beans and hot chile peppers. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.

3.Stir in the 2 remaining cans of beans, and simmer for another 30 minutes.

2011-05-11T16:48:00.001-07:00

2011-05-11T16:46:00.001-07:00

2011-05-11T16:44:00.001-07:00

Kelly Reemtsen

2010-12-28T19:34:00.000-08:00

Very cool. Would dig this in mi casa. Kelly Reemtsen.

Wanted and Desired: a Goal

2010-11-03T19:57:00.000-07:00

I love clothes, but I am not rich. Ultimately for those of us mortals at some point money plays some kind of role in how we plan our wardrobe. Over the last few years I have picked up a lot of nice clothes. I almost always bought on sale, at store closings, and at discount. However, I look in my closet I still see that I lack kind of a broader strategy in terms of what I want to add to my wardrobe. My lack planning isn't some kind of huge deal- after all it's nice to just walk through a store and have that "find" where something you weren't expecting jumps out at you. Ultimately I feel like I would like a little more direction.

I am feeling like I really want to save my pennies and really go for something bespoke that I design and envision. Ultimately, I know this will be an expensive process if I have a chance to do it, but in the future I would like to spend less on small items and save up for that big purchase.

So what do I want? I want some kind of windowpane or check sport coat-- maybe a suit with a jacket that could be worn individually.

Ideally I'd like to take the time to find a tailor here in Boston or maybe in NYC who would do something like this for me. I have a few ideas, but if my 5 readers want to make suggestions that would be greatly appreciated.

Vietnam: The Trip to Vung Tau

2010-10-04T22:04:00.000-07:00

Bear with me if this is one of those blog installments that is just another guy reliving his boring vacation stories, but my visit to Vietnam was more than just a trip to Cancun and it's something I really want to write about....and since this is my blog: that's what I am writing about.

The GF and I arrived in Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City, and spent about a day there. Her aunt, uncle, mom, and dad met us and we spent the night at a small but nice hotel in the backpacking district of the city. Saigon was amazing, but the plan was to head to the area where the GF's family lived. Although we could have taken a car, the GF convinced her mom and dad that we should try out the hydrophoil. The hydrophoil seemd like something out of a 1960s spy movie as it raised up out of the water on skis and sped down the river away from Saigon and towards the open ocean.

The gentleman with the ponytail ended up speaking to the GF's dad (who loves to chat). He told us his story about leaving South Vietnam after the end of the war as one of the "boat people" who fled the fallen south crowded into wooden boats. These people floated on the open ocean in hopes of finding asylum someplace else. This man in particular made it with his family to California where he now works as a construction worker. His english was very good and enjoyed chatting it up with the GF's dad until we arrived at Vung Tau.

The entire ride to Vung Tau this TV played the same serious of commercials for noodles, fish sauce, and some other stuff I could not understand.

Driving down the main avenue along the coastline in Vung Tau the road is lined with hotels on one side.

On the other side a view of the coast line, which seems constantly filled with ships of all sorts. Far off the coast you can see the oil rigs.

The "lobby" of our hotel was a beautiful open air pagoda type building. The owners of our hotel were Chinese, a fact the people seemed to mention to us an incredible amount of times. Nonetheless, for less than the cost of a Holiday Inn express we were staying in as close to paradise as I can imagine.

The GF's dad posing for me along the seawall in front of the hotel.

More Boats.

The GF's uncle bought this fedora at the central market the day before and wore it for the rest of our trip back to his village. Here he is contemplating the view. A fisherman all his life, I can only wonder what he was thinking as he looked out on the giant oil tankers, fishing boats, and all manner of boats dotting the horizon.

Once the GF and I got settled in, I retreated to the hotel lobby to enjoy an ice cold Tiger beer. Although generally beer is served with a giant chuck of ice in your glass (remember refrigeration is not always readily available), this Chinese/westernized hotel seemed to serve drinks in the manner I was accustomed to at home. Nothing tastes quite as good on a humid day in Vietnam.

A serious thought: About being grateful.

2010-10-04T10:42:00.000-07:00

When I started The Sanity Hearing, I vowed that it would be a lighthearted collection of my obsession with the world of clothing and aesthetics- things that are very important to me, but ultimately not the most "serious" subjects for most people.

I have not posted as much as I would like to lately as it's been someone of a tumultuous time in my personal/family/professional life. However, one thing I can draw from the current trials going on in my real world life are that for all the tough things we face on a day to day basis: job loss, financial woes, health crises, etc. etc. etc. Nonetheless most of us have a lot to be thankful for in our lives. I say this as someone who perhaps has not always realized that worrying about paying your student loans and wanting a nicer sport coat is in and of itself a blessing.

It's a crazy world and sometimes there is not much explanation beyond that for the tragedies going on around the globe. I watch the news and I love documentary films and both are frequent sources for information on things like Thai girls being forced into prostitution or the North Korean government systematically starving their own people. I am not sure what rationalization there can be for humans being so cruel to other humans let alone the natural disasters that crush lives and nations in an instant indiscriminately.

Here in America we face serious struggles in our lives and I certainly do not intend to diminish that fact. On the contrary, when times are tough as they are now, we must take solace in how good things are for most of us. I am not sure whether this appreciation will solve anything, but perhaps it can allow us to be our best selves in these challenging times.

Enjoy the Local Flavor

2010-09-23T18:36:00.000-07:00

I am loving this local commercial. I say "Awwnt" not "Ant", grew up in New Yorkachusetts, and currently reside in the Irish Riviera (kinda).

Although I will never be a "true" Bostonian to locals, I still appreciate this Affleck clip. BTW, I was a Mighty Mighty Bosstones fan back in high school:

Rumors: The Mora

2010-09-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

L.A.S.http://sartoriallyinclined.blogspot.com/2010/09/fingers-crossed.html got some hot intel that Allen Edmonds might bring back their epic double monk shoe "the Mora".

I'll take a 13D in chocolate suede please.

Everyman should own part Two: Two Pairs of Dress Shoes

2010-09-21T21:55:00.000-07:00

Part two in a series. Coincidentally, my advice is that every man needs two pairs of dress shoes.

Allen Edmonds Park Avenue available via Zappos

My next post will most likely be about suits, but I am a shoe guy. I will admit it, just like the infamous Carrie Bradshaw- I really like shoes above most else. You'll hear the advice very often that one of the things that women first check out on a date is your shoes, and although I would not take most women's advice on buying shoes, the maxim seems like some good motivation for the average dude to upgrade his footwear.

So if you are looking to upgrade your wardrobe and invest in some quality dress shoes the most important thing to look for is versatility. You can easily read up on the many varieties of men's formal shoes, believe it or not there are many and there is a hierarchy of formality. However, for purposes of this blog, what you need to know is that at least one of your dress pair of dress shoes should be lace ups. Conservative is better. The most formal shoes are oxfords- like the above pictured Allen Edmonds Park Avenue, but in this day and age, any manner of derby, split toe, or wing tip is totally acceptable. Black is also more formal, but these days brown is perfectly fine in almost every situation.

Allen Edmonds Augusta

In terms of brands- the shoe-neverse is huge, but Allen Edmonds and Alden are at the top of the heap in terms of American made shoes. Johnston & Murphy or Cole Haan are somewhere in the middle. Once we get to the lower end (around $100) a Bass, Sebago, Florsheim are personal favorites of mine, but there are many brands out there. Santoni, Church's, Trickers, Loake, are some more brands to check out if you are interested.

Trickers Wingtip

My personal advice is to stay away from "designers" like Ferragamo or Gucci when you are building your wardrobe. While these premium brands make perfectly nice products, you are paying a great premium for the marketing and the reality is that brands less well known to the general public are generally better quality and more revered by those in "the know". Your lace up shoes will be the shoe that you wear to interviews and with your suit(s).

The Classic Bass Weejuns

I am taking somewhat of a controversial position when I say this, but if I could only buy two pairs of dress shoes- one pair would be a pair of loafers. The loafer is far less formal than a lace up, but for some time now men have worn loafers with suits and in a variety of other situations. It's because of it's versatility I think that every man needs a pair of loafers. There are so many varieties, it's difficult for me to really suggest a brand. As a preppy bastard, my go to would be the classic Bass Weejun-it's affordable, acceptable almost everywhere and extremely versatile. That said, you could easily spend a small fortune for iconic Gucci loafers or a very well made pair of Allen Edmonds that might last your life time. Loafers are perfect for the modern business casual environment where a man might wear khakis or chinos on a daily basis. You can easily pair loafers with jeans or even shorts if you are especially daring.

Most importantly in selecting these two shoes are these additional thoughts: 1. You need to get a belt that matches. No matter if you have $50 Bass Weejuns or $500 Guccis, nothing will make you look silly faster than a black belt with brown shoes. I am by no means a Nazi about all this matching, but at least make some effort to match browns and blacks.

Alden Tassels

2. You need to take care of your shoes. Care means polishing your shoes with shoe cream or polish. I recommend Meltonian or the old stand by Kiwi for starters. I have stated here before Colonil is a great product you can find on Amazon as well. Find a good shoe repair shop- he is your friend. When a whole forms in your shoe or the soles get worn down, visit your shoe repair guy. You can also ask for protective rubber or metal taps or coverings to be applied to the soles of your shoes as a preventative measure against wear.

Also, shoe trees will assist more than anything else in maintaining the quality of your shoes. They soak up moisture and retain the shoe's form when you aren't wearing them.

3. Finally, my motivation for saying that you need at least two pairs of shoes is beyond just style. Your feet sweat just like the rest of your body. You wouldn't wear the same shirt or pants two days in a row (probably). Alternate your shoes and you will find that they wear and probably feel and smell better.

Knot Clothing

2010-09-14T19:33:00.000-07:00

My friend Brendan met the owner in person at Boston's waterfront Tia's. My aunt got a free key fob from him. From what I can tell the founder producing Knot Clothing's belts and other items are a class act. Along with his creative partner Caitlin O'Hara, Nick Mannella is making a cool product. While there are a lot of ribbon belts out there, the Knot is made in the USA right in Boston. Check them out. With clever belts like "ski bunny" and "BYOB" I haven't seen belts this nice since CK Bradley stopped making belts.

http://knotclothing.com/index.html

Vietnam: the Arrival

2010-09-09T14:07:00.000-07:00

Saigon Skyline

The GF brought up again to me a couple days ago that I still had not written anything about our trip to Vietnam. It's been six months or so since we went and I feel bad I have not yet written a post.

But here is the problem: It was such an experience and so personally awakening- I hardly know where to begin. Nonetheless I have many great pictures and experiences I would love to write about so I am going to just try to start someplace and hopefully things will go from there.

Arriving in Vietnam the first thing I noticed coming from late February Boston (we left in the middle of a snow storm) is the tremendous heat. Hot, humid, sticky...the heat was a true force and as soon as we walked in the airport I could feel the stale air conditioning fighting off the outside world. Of course some of our luggage got "misplaced" by the airline somehow... so for most of the first day I was in jeans cowboy boots and a quickly soaked polo shirt. As the GF and I walked with her parents and aunt and uncle through the Saigon central market, her aunt who spoke no English rushed and got me napkins for my face which was coated in beads of sweat. Strangely, even magically, I adjusted to the heat and by the end of the trip I hardly even noticed it.

Other than the heat, the first thing I had to notice is how absolutely ALIVE with scooters the streets are. As our taxi drove us to the hotel you immediately are surrounded with people on scooters driving down bustling streets. It's a total alien experience to an American, since even cities like New York are orderly in comparison. People on bikes, people on scooters, sometimes 5 people on ONE scooter, people carrying huge bundles of things on scooters, all driving in a whirlwind of traffic.

Look closely- that is a little kid on his dad's lap. Saw this a lot.

As with scooters, there seemed to be people everywhere. All manner of stores and shops have people spilling out onto the sidewalks. People seem to be sitting and drinking coffee or eating or smoking on the streets at all hours of the day. As we sat and had one of our first Vietnamese coffees of the trip, I had multiple shoe shine men try to approach me to shine my boots. I tried to wave them off in English, "The leather is distressed I bought them this way!"

Knit Ties at Ben Silver

2010-09-08T17:25:00.000-07:00

I like knit ties. I wore my first knit tie to a fundraiser in West Haven, CT a few years ago. I was embarrassingly overdressed. The candidate was the only other person wearing a tie. Nonetheless, I surprisingly struck up a conversation with one of the locals about my tie. He told me his mother used to make him wear knit ties to school when he was a little boy. He remembered that he hated wearing those ties and isn't funny how things change. What's funny to me is that every time I wear a knit tie I will probably remember that fundraiser.

Ben Silver has some top notch stuff. I can't help looking in their catalog and wanting to purchase one of everything. Ben Silver does have a factory outlet section on their site for those of us in a lower tax bracket. Right now they are offering some very cool knit ties you might want to pick up. They come in summer colors, but if you are anything like me- you could rock them year round.

Wanted and Desired: Faux Deer Head

2010-09-07T20:31:00.000-07:00

My grandfather on my mother's side was a world class hunter. He almost made the Olympic team for shooting back in the 60s when he made it to the final round of tryouts, only to be beaten by former marines (he never served in the military due to a serious fight with polio while in college).

Grandpa Jack's office was covered in various trophies of all manner of elk, deer, and a bearskin rug I mentioned before. I have to imagine these trophies were kept in the office because two stuffed ducks were the only things my grandmother allowed into their home.

I've always loved these kind of manly hunting lodge type trophies, but alas my Dad and his dad and it seems the whole male side of my family were not hunters. I've fired guns, but I wouldn't know where to even start hunting a deer. We were more the stone-moving, wood chopping clan. Probably something in our Irish DNA.

So a solution: I love these faux deer heads. They are just manly enough to satisfy my need for the deer head over the fireplace I so desire, while having the dual advantages of not needing to be hunted and also looking arty enough to pass muster with the GF. Available in a variety of delightful paint schemes on Etsy.

Once I have some funds I will have to show the GF this blog post...

Making Your Own Pocket Squares Vol.... who knows...

2010-09-07T12:38:00.000-07:00

Via Putthison:

An excellent guide for making your own pocket squares

http://www.purlbee.com/rolled-hem-handkerchiefs/2008/6/3/rolled-hem-handkerchiefs-the-pattern.html#comments

A blog I am reading: Guide to Bad Taste

2010-09-07T12:36:00.000-07:00

This guy is a hoot and I love the blog as well. Check him out

http://guidetobadtaste.blogspot.com/

Everyman Needs to Own, A series by J.P.: The Blue Blazer

2010-09-06T17:16:00.000-07:00

I went shopping at Bloomingdales with the GF and my buddy Brendan. As we searched through racks of suits, ties, blazers, and other clothes Brendan suggested what I really needed was to create a series on my blog where I give guidance to guys like him who were looking for information about how to build a wardrobe of professional clothing. It's a good idea. Only a few weeks before, my older brother, who is a great guy but a self admitted casual clothing person, was discussing the same type of problem with my aunt and I. My brother works in IT and mostly wears polos, jeans, and docksiders, but says he'd like to spruce it up once in a while- he just doesn't know where to start.

I guess somewhere along the line in reading so many clothing websites I lost track of the fact that a lot of regular guys would like to dress better, but don't even know where to start...in that spirit... here we go.

some offerings from J. Press

In my humble opinion I think one item most men can purchase if they don't already have one is a navy blue blazer. It's a work horse. You can go double breasted, three button, or two. Brass buttons are my personal preference although there are some other options. They are sold at most major men's stores and you can't go wrong even if you pick up one from someplace like men's warehouse (can't believe I am saying that).

When I was 17 I had a chance to be an exchange student at a boarding school in Germany. It was a crazy experience that sticks out like a sore thumb from the rest of my run of the mill middle class life. I lived in a castle with children of wealthy european aristocrats for a few months and was free to roam about Europe unsupervised when most of my colleagues were back in Connecticut sneaking Keystone Light and coasting through the spring of their senior years.

I left after Christmas for Germany and I remember my Dad dragging me to Yale Genton in Springfield, a now defunct men's shop and tailor where my Dad bought his suits. My Dad informed me that he was buying me a navy blue blazer and this would be my christmas present, which frankly I was less than thrilled about. I tried on a variety of Hart Schafner Marx and other brands that my Dad favored until he and the salesman decided on a Taso Elba(?) or some such thing with three buttons. "You will be able to wear this anywhere and fit in," I remember my Dad saying, and he was right. I first wore it on the flight to Europe and it served me well through frat part formals, college interviews, graduations, and weddings. I still have it hanging in my closet. Although I have put on a few pounds, the jacket is still in good shape.

The reason a blue blazer is a great pick is because you can dress it up with wool dress pants, a french cuffed shirt, tie, silk pocket square, and dress shoes OR you could just as easily look elegantly casual on date night or for drinks wearing it with jeans and a button down. Personally, I feel the blue blazer makes a lot of sense in the current business culture where "business casual" is so prevalent. A blue blazer immediately goes with any incarnation of the khakis and button down that seems to be the uniform for most businesses.

There are many items a man can have in a basic wardrobe, but it's hard to go wrong with a blue blazer. The basic navy suit might be the first thing I recommend buying, but if you already own an "interview suit". The one thing I think most men would benefit from is a classic blue blazer.

Watch this: Bored to Death

2010-09-02T18:12:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching season one and it was tremendous. I love the style. Suddenly I want to go out and purchase about 5 or 6 different plaid/madras sport coats.

A write up from the NYT explains some of the greater societal implications of the show, but I just find it funny.

I feel a sudden urge for white wine...

Aldens on Sale at Orvis

2010-08-31T20:25:00.000-07:00

Let's be honest, not much is made in America any more. With a few other brands, including my personal fav: Allen Edmonds, Alden remains at the top scion of world class shoes still made in the United States. They are certainly not cheap, but you will find them stocked in the best men's stores.

On sale at Orvis right now is a great looking pair of Alden suede wingtips. Almost 100 bucks off retail isn't bad.

New Blog on my list: Silk Regimental

2010-08-31T19:59:00.000-07:00

Take a few moments to check out Silk Regimental. I recently found his blog through comments on my blog as well as the infamous Trad. For his address- look the the right.

Wanted and Desired: Moped + CML 30th

2010-08-31T10:51:00.000-07:00

On Sunday I made it out to Madison, CT for my friend CML's 30th. The drive from Rhode Island was beautiful and the weather was that perfect kind of late summer breezy day that wasn't so oppressively hot you could actually enjoy yourself.

CML has a little Yamaha "Chappy" moped that he actually found in the house when him and his wife purchased a small cottage from his wife's aunt. I was skeptical that I would enjoy this little thing, but it was tremendously fun. That is until I ran out of gas about a mile down the road from the pavilion where the party was taking place....

I had worked up a nice sweat by this point. Also I caused a minor crisis because CML then lacked gas to get the bike home. Luckily there was a reserve tank (which obviously I was unaware of).

Happy birthday buddy!

Sat. Polo, part II

2010-08-29T17:43:00.000-07:00

My sweet pants:

ADG style recline shot.

Details.

At the match:

Not bad for ten bucks.

My older Bro and I stomping the divots. If you don't know what that is- watch Pretty Woman, the source of all my polo knowledge (really).

Saturday Polo

2010-08-28T12:16:00.000-07:00

Despite my lack of funds, I am in RI for the weekend with my family. We are heading over to a little polo match this afternoon. Hopefully they can accomodate a rube like me. I have some sweet GTH pants I picked up for the occasion. Pics of my togs later.

The Truth About Politics...

2010-08-27T17:29:00.000-07:00

South Park may be my favorite show ever. I love Mad Men, Sopranos, Dexter, so many others, but I consistently watch South Park. It's funny and irreverent and it lampoons so many important issues of our time in a way more serious shows never could.

Stan:	I think voting is great. I just didn't care this time because it was between a giant douche and a turd sandwich.
Balding Man:	But Stan, don't you know, it's always between a giant douche and a turd sandwich. Nearly every election since the beginning of time has been between some douche and some turd. They're the only people who suck up enough to make it that far in politics.

The Collar Pin Problem

2010-08-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite blogs answers the important collar pin question I wrote about a few weeks ago.

Read it here.

Friday Movie Quote

2010-08-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

This pops into my head so often.

Walter Sobchak: Am I wrong?
The Dude: No you're not wrong.
Walter Sobchak: Am I wrong?
The Dude: You're not wrong Walter. You're just an asshole.
Walter Sobchak: Okay then.

Homemade "Pocket Squares" round II

2010-08-25T16:10:00.000-07:00

When I went to Vietnam I bought a couple of yards of different silks with the idea that I would create some unique pocket squares when I got back to the states. Well, after procrastinating for a few months I finally sat down over the weekend and tried my hand at making some hand rolled edges on a piece of fabric. The first attempt was terrible. I suppose I may rock the square at some point without the edges showing, but I am not going to bother posting my handiwork on the blog right now.

The GF suggested to me that I try giving a more forgiving fabric like cotton or linen a shot and that is what I did. (sorry for the blackberry pics).

By no means is this the finest workmanship ever, but I feel proud of myself for at least setting out to make one and achieving it. After examining some of the designer-made squares in my own closet I have some more ideas to improve my process next time. All that said, I have a strong desire to just use a sewing machine, which is how the edges are done on a few of my various other cotton hankies/squares.

For now though, it's a fun little project that's keeping me busy. Down the line maybe I will send some off to lucky members of my massive blogging audience.

Cow skin rug

2010-08-25T15:49:00.000-07:00

It drives the GF nuts, but I would love to have a genuine cow skin rug. They sell them at Ikea for a reasonable 250 bones and you can also find them online. There is something very manly about the rug. My dad had a genuine zebra skin on the wall in his home office for a long time until it started smell and eventually had to be tossed. My grandfather had a bearskin rug in his office, which I think is awesome, but I don't hunt. I do like hamburgers though, so maybe this is my happy medium.

Searching for a Hat

2010-08-23T10:48:00.000-07:00

I love the Daily Show. It's one of the few shows that consistently makes me laugh out loud. The other day host Jon Stewart had on Tea Party grand poo-bah Dick Armey. Armey brought Stewart a Ronald Reagan edition Stetson hat. While I may have no taste for Reagan or Armey's politics, I do think that the special edition hat made for President Reagan is pretty sharp. I am not sure I could wear a hat like this around Boston without getting a lot of looks. The irish scally cap is probably a little more acceptable around here. But like my dad, I am a New England boy who on some level wants to be a cowboy... I spent quite a few hours looking for a cowboy hat to suit my tastes the other night. I think I would look pretty sharp in a Stetson Hutchins:

So if you see some crazy guy wearing a Stetson walking down Boylston Street...

The GF comes home.

2010-08-21T10:37:00.000-07:00

The GF arrived home safe and sound from her business trip to Dublin, Ireland. It was her first business trip and to Dublin to boot. I am proud of her for working so hard and the trip is definitely a sign of how much she gives to her career.

I was lucky enough to get a little something out of the trip (other than getting to sit on the couch in my boxers for most of the week...)

Some nice cotton pocket squares from a place called Dalvey. Apparently it's a Scottish brand and I dig the accessories carried on their website. I look forward to rocking my squares sometime soon.

Life imitating fiction?

2010-08-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

Anyone else notice John Hamm (a.k.a. Don Draper of Mad Men) is the new voice of Mercedes Benz? Interesting...

If I had money...

2010-08-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

For those of you with dough, Drake's is having a sale right now. In my humble opinion, you can't find nicer ties and accessories. If anyone wants to buy me a gift:

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

2010-08-18T14:02:00.000-07:00

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was one of my favorite movies growing up. For some reason it popped into my head today.

"Freddy, as a younger man, I was a sculptor, a painter, and a musician. There was just one problem: I wasn't very good. As a matter of fact, I was dreadful. I finally came to the frustrating conclusion that I had taste and style, but not talent. I knew my limitations. We all have our limitations, Freddy. Fortunately, I discovered that taste and style were commodities that people desired. Freddy, what I am saying is: know your limitations. You are a moron."

Alpha Convertible

2010-08-17T18:27:00.000-07:00

Saw one of these parked near the apartment today while I was running. It's an iconic car because of the Graduate, personally I just like it because it's an elegant little italian car. Probably one of the few italian cars a working man like myself could ever dream of having while still young.

I remember seeing them for sale for only a grand or two a few years after I got my license. As incredibly impractical as it would have been for a New Englander, I think it would been a great little ride.

La Dolce Vita...

2010-08-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

I watched the No Reservations Rome episode last night. I love that Bourdain shot it in black and white to honor Fellini. All I can say is about halfway through the episode I had the desire to don some Persol shades and a linen suit...

Roger Sterling chic: the collar bar

2010-08-01T19:09:00.000-07:00

Mad Men has returned. I have begun to really enjoy Mad Men, although I have to admit I am something of a latecomer to the Mad Men fan party. Scads of friends recommended the show to me when it first aired, but I didn't want to get involved mid way so I waited for the DVD release.

When Season 1 arrived I barely made it through. I loved the costumes and the realism of the portrayal or the 60s, but having been born in the 80s...a bit of the nostalgia went a long way. I later pushed through season 1 and by the end of watching season three on demand in a 1 week span, I anxiously awaited season 4. The premier episode left me wanting more.

Sartorially, Mad Men has inspired a lot of imitators, a trend of life following fiction that can be welcomed with more zeal than say fans of Sopranos...

Fashion-wise I can pick and choose what I like about the show. I am reminded of my dad who began working in the 60s. Suits and ties were uniforms and there is a certain amount of this lockstep adherence we can see reflected in the show. The suit wearing man of today is more often opting for formality out of personal expression than out of social necessity.

What I like about the show are the many subtle fashion choices and rituals that we see less often today. I actually think the suave Don Draper is less of an avenue for these sartorial perks of the show than the rakish Roger and the old fashioned Bert Cooper.

I the idea of getting a haircut touch-up at my desk like Roger, something I could never imagine even being available these days.

One item I really would like to try in my daily wardrobe is the collar bar, an item Roger Sterling regularly sports on the show.

There are many varieties of these bars- you can get shirts with the holes ready made or you can buy a sharp safety pin style bar that pierces the fabric of your short (the only downside of course being over time you will have holes in your shirt.) Roger seems to favor the slide on collar bar, which seems like a good choice for practical reasons. A version is available via J Press.

I need to start getting serious about blogging again

2010-07-08T15:06:00.000-07:00

I have promised for months now to get serious about this blog again. I have to admit I have not felt much like blogging. My personal situation has been hectic and fashion, clothes, and whatever else I initially intended to write about has not been on my mind much.

I've spent the last few months searching for a job, moving to Boston, searching for a job, moving south of Boston, searching for a job...

If anything else I have been learning to live on a stricter budget, which is probably for the best, but as the GF's Vietnamese mom said to me, "No more shopping for you!" which is pretty much on point. So beyond just writing tons of "wants and desires" posts I need to change up this blog a tad and widen my scope. Hopefully I will get around to writing those Vietnam posts in the next couple days.

Something to come tomorrow about my 4th of July weekend in Rhode Island, so stay tuned.

New Hat

2010-05-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

I know I promised more posts when I got back from 'Nam, but it's been a crazy couple months. Moving to Boston along with looking for a job(s) has taken up a lot of my free time. Along with certain other distractions I will not speak about here....

I have also been trying very hard to pinch my pennies lately, thus blogging about fashion has taken somewhat of a backseat. My judgment tells me that I may need to broaden the focus of my blog away from it's original conception on to something a little broader. But, enough of that for now.

As I have mentioned for a while, I have been looking for a nice new summer hat to wear. Unfortunately I have a big noggin so I rarely find something that looks good on my giant head.

Fast forward to this Saturday, the GF, B. Long, and I went on an epic tour of Ikea, Target, and Hooters. I found this hat at Target and I have to say it is not bad for 14.99. I feel a little like Ron Swanson's alter ego "Duke" a little each time I wear it, but I am liking it.

I leave you with this:

And....I'm back

2010-04-14T19:23:00.000-07:00

Well, Vietnam was incredible. It was a life changing experience to say the least- seeing how lucky Americans are in terms of the material wealth that even the "poor" take for granted in this country is somewhat sobering, but there were other aspects that made me want to stay in Vietnam over the U.S. Values like family and culture were clearly valued a great deal more than Americans really value them (at least in the real sense- not the lip-service"family values" sense).

I am hoping to make a few posts over the coming week about a few of my experiences while on my trip.

After some gentle prodding I figured I need to get blogging again and I don't have anything written about the 'nam trip, so I flipped through my little blog notes pad and all I found were some random thoughts about double breasted jackets and one note that said, "Kanye West is a ripoff artist. That is all."

So... with few options to chose from I decided I would endorse a product I used today and use often when shining my shoes. Shining your shoes is in many ways a metaphor for life and the kind of man you are. Sure, you can pay someone else to shine your shoes, but really most shoeshine men use cheap product and don't take care of your shoes. It's a dirty and often messy job, but if done right it lengthens the life of your shoes and brightens your overall appearance. 10 year old shoes can look better than new ones if treated right.

One product I have found produces an excellent shine once I have applied shoe cream is Collonil. I read about this at some point on the fora, but I can't remember specifically where. A thin layer of this cream buffed once it dries produces a great result.

I'll be out.

2010-02-22T13:09:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note for any readers. I am about to head out to Albany for the Bar there and then on to Boston from there and finally departing for Vietnam on Friday. I would say it is unlikely I will post anything for the next few weeks, but I am sure I will have some great material when I get back. I will be looking forward to reading the posts from my fellow bloggers (Sart Inc., ADG, Conor, David, ETC ETC ETC) I miss when I return as well!

WISH ME LUCK!

Onward, JP

Hats

2010-02-19T10:47:00.001-08:00

Via Selectism. I have always loved hats. When I was a little kid I hat a "hat collection" and my dad made me hat racks, which consisted of boards with drilled in pegs, that went across the walls of my room. I wear hats a lot less now, but I have toyed with the idea of wearing a smart fedora or Homburg. Something like this hat featured on Selectism looks perfect.

One week

2010-02-18T22:18:00.000-08:00

Oh hello dear reader. About a week until I head to head to Vietnam and only a few days until I sit for the NY and Mass bar exams. Exciting and stressful times. I have been quite a bit on my mind in terms of posts for this blog (assuming anyone is reading- which I am beginning to doubt), but for the time being I just want everyone to know what is on my mind.

Let this post be an open forum for suggestions as to what I should buy look into sartorially in 'nam.

Heresy: the Dockers Mac Coat

2010-02-17T20:06:00.000-08:00

To my friends and family I imagine that this post will come off as both mundane in content and paranoid in attitude. However, to the various clothing bloggers and forumites I imagine might come across my blog I am guessing the idea that I am about to endorse a Dockers product is somewhat of a heresy.

Dockers seems to have peaked in the early nineties when the rise of business casual dress seemed to be reaching a critical mass. Although there has never been anything per se with a pair of Dockers khakis, I think most clothing snobs would describe them as the dullest of the dull choices for pants. Dockers seems to be attempting to make some kind of comeback and bravo to them for that effort. Apparently they were giving away free pants as some kind of promotion after the Superbowl, which would not have been my marketing strategy, but what do I know?

So, the main reason for making this post is the above jacket. I have wanted a simple lightweight Mac coat for a while. It would make the perfect finish to my desire to be a large hulking American version of TinTin (the comic book character, not the blogger). I have admired the ones that J. Crew was/is offering, but frankly I find the price a bit high. When I was flipping through this months edition of Outside Magazine, this jacket jumped out as me as just the type of coat I pictured myself in. As I went to read the details, imagine my surprise when I read it was made by Dockers! A very reasonable $99.

The Boathouse Jacket and Prep School regrets.

2010-02-16T21:59:00.001-08:00

The above is just a random pic of a Boathouse brand pullover I found on the web, because, as I will get to in a moment, I never in fact owned such a jacket.

In the mid nineties I was in high school (which seems crazy to say was over 10 years ago). I went to a small prep school in Connecticut not too far from where I grew up. I have to admit I Was somewhat of an outsider at my small school. Not smart enough to be a nerd and frankly too invisible to be a geek or a dork. I think this feeling of invisibility is at the root of how I first became intensely interested in clothing. Since I was not part of the in crowd, I was extremely observant of every tiny detail of clothing, style, and life. I suppose now I could say it is superficial- I would rather have been just secure in who I was, but I suppose this is the story of many teenagers.

One item of clothing I was keenly aware of were boathouse jackets. Produced by Boathouse Sports, a small company started by an Olympic rower, these jackets were the symbol of your athletic stature within the school, the modern day equivalent of the Eisenhower years' letter sweater or varsity jacket. On the back in big letter was the name of the school and below that your sport. On the front was your name and perhaps a championship title if you were so lucky. I wanted one so badly.

The only way to get one of these jackets of course was to be an athlete on a varsity sport and then in certain cases they were only given out when the team achieved some type of special achievement such as winning a championship in a given year.

It was truly the heartbreak of my young life that my junior year I did not earn a varsity letter on the football team. Through a bad combination of the fact I had no idea how football worked and a badly re-sprained ankle I did not dress for enough for enough games to earn my varsity letter. But more importantly than being denied my letter that year I was denied a boathouse jacket as the football team was league champion. Senior year when I did get my letter, we did not repeat and thus no jacket.

In looking at posts of the recent Gant show, looking through RL Rugby and every other designer hoping to capture the prep school aesthetic that I can't help but wonder where the boathouse jackets are...

Happy Chinese New Year, Happy Tet

2010-02-15T15:10:00.000-08:00

Sesame Bun

Moon pie/cake

The GF and I had a chance to head over to Boston's Chinatown this weekend to buy some small red envelopes that are apparently used to put money in and exchanged on both the Chinese New Year as well as Tet.

The lines at each and every store were out the door and although the GF had to wait in line for about 15 minutes at the bakery she managed to get a few moonpies and a few sesame buns. Both are filled with red bean, which is somewhat of an acquired taste- a slightly sweet...bean flavor for lack of a better description. The sesame bun is somewhat of a "grease sponge" in the words of our friend Carlos, but I still enjoyed it.

Regardless, happy New Year!

Countdown to Vietnam (and the Bar exam)

2010-02-13T05:50:00.000-08:00

An unusual Saturday morning post from me, but I was awoken at 5:30 this morning to the GF speaking to her parents who are already in Vietnam. Luckily I had gone to bed early, so the early hour (for me at least) was no big deal. I am really looking forward to our trip to Vietnam. I know it will be exciting for the GF because of seeing where her mother grew up and meeting so much of her family, but I think both of us are genuinely excited to go on an adventure to such an exotic place with so much history.

I am hoping I have a chance to buy some interesting sartorial items while I am there- any suggestions would of course be appreciated, but I am thinking of some interesting fabric and of course the ubiquitous knock off watches. For a cool website with 720 views of sites throughout Vietnam check out www.vietnam720.com.

Things I need: a scooter.

2010-02-11T16:55:00.001-08:00

Ok, So I don't NEED a scooter per se, but I certainly want one. For years I wished I had a vespa, but of course there are the inevitable cracks about the Vespa not being very...well..masculine. Not that I am really that type of guy to worry about that. However, I was at an ice cream social this summer (yes it really was an ice cream social) where I saw and learned about this wonderful device- the Honda Ruckus. I feel like it is the kind of scooter Mad Max would ride if he needed to ride a scooter.

The guy who had the scooter I saw was quite a character actually. He had some Texas long horns zip tied to the handlebars- it was pretty funny. Anyways, I picture myself buzzing around Aquidneck Island this summer or scooting over to Cambridge for some coffee. I doubt the GF would be down with riding on the back, but maybe I can find a side car.

Southern Proper

2010-02-11T11:20:00.000-08:00

Another brand that is giving Shep and Ian a run for their money these days is Southern Proper. I have to admit I knew of their existence through the clothing fora and blogs, but in the past I had taken note of their products, but was not blown away. Well, after looking at the CK Bradley blog recently I went to S.P.'s website and was really impressed by their expanded line of products and a very pleasant tongue in cheek designs.

Although you might see a bit of overlap with other brands, the quality of the materials and designs they are offering really intrigue me. Their array of belts (you know I love them!), pocket squares and accessories are reasonably priced and I think you may see me posting some more comments about them sometime soon after I have a chance to place an order.

My Beckel Bag

2010-02-10T13:04:00.001-08:00

Secret Forts has a post about my beloved Beckel bag.

Rapha SS2010

2010-02-09T20:46:00.000-08:00

The last few days I have been walking a lot while listening to bar lectures on MP3. I admit walking sounds pretty wimpy compared to running or biking, but frankly I can't run for more than an hour or so without passing out so I figure walking is a pretty good middle ground.

My grandfather lived to be 86 and he was still in great shape, going for a walk each and every day-- often while smoking his pipe. As a younger man Teddy Roosevelt was an ardent walker for exercise. If anything, you rarely see an obese person out walking.

Anyways, getting to Rapha. Rapha is a beautiful line of bike clothing, most of their stuff is made of wool which, believe it or not, is one of the best fabrics for wicking and breathability.

While generally the clothing obsessed such as myself tend to focus on more formal and casual clothing, who says you can't be stylish while out sporting or exercising? The above "Gentlemen' Cap" is a cool and stylish bike cap from the sneak peak presently available on their website.

While Rapha ain't cheap, it's line of biking related and inspired clothing makes you stylish while sweatin'.

NOM NOM NOM

2010-02-04T18:46:00.000-08:00

Via Tokyo Slim on SF I found these on The Noble Pig. These look amazing. Simple, yet scrumptious with three of the things I love most: eggs, cheese, and delicious bread. I may make them this weekend!

Getting Crafty...

2010-02-04T13:27:00.000-08:00

Although I haven't donned so much as a sport coat in recent weeks, when I do wear one I have found myself increasingly likely to spruce up my look with an interesting or bright pocket square or handkerchief. (not me above! Stolen from Ask Andy.)

While I have amassed an interesting little collection, I am getting to the point where I am toying with the idea of attempting to create some homemade squares with hand-rolled edges. Several guys on the infamous internet clothing fora have produced their own and gone so far as to set up little web businesses. While I don't think I will be going far beyond just making a few myself and friends, I would like to give it a shot. Sam Hober provides an excellent guide if anyone else wants to give it a shot.

Presents to Myself

2010-02-03T14:57:00.000-08:00

I have about twenty days left before the bar exams I will be taking in Albany and Boston. I am reaching the stage where I realize I have less than half of my allotted study time left and a lot left to study. I suppose the mild panic is a positive force because it helps me to redouble my efforts to buckle down and get the necessary studying completed.

Although thanks to the GF I will be headed to Vietnam for 2.5 weeks immediately following the bar, I find myself day dreaming of some kind of reward to myself for a job well done if and when I pass the bars. Granted, I am currently unemployed and haven't even taken the test yet, but when does that ever stop me from dreaming?

I have wanted a pair of these iconic shoes for a while. I like the small bow on the front and the unusual colors and materials. As ADG has said- they remind me of a dressed up pair of camp mocs, which are probably my most used shoe. Whether I get a pair any time soon? We'll have to wait and see.

New Years Resolutions....about a month late

2010-01-22T13:18:00.000-08:00

I know: very late.

1. Get back to reading more books. As much as I have watched some great TV Shows lately, such as Mad Men, I also find myself watching some real mindless crap.

2. Fewer impulse buys. It feels good to give into your impulses sometimes, but there are several items in my closet that get very little wear in comparison to their price because I felt I "had to have it" only to realize I probably could have lived without it.

3. Run. At one time I was a pretty respectable runner and now I am a mess. Combined with this resolution is to curtail the weightlifting.

4. Be positive about work and finding a job. After I finish studying for the bar comes looking for a job. I am often sort of pessimistic about this type of thing, but I need to avoid that this time.

5. Study hard, Work hard, Party (not too) hard, love hard. Dress well, eat well.

2010-01-12T13:55:00.000-08:00

I've been MIA for a while. For that I apologize (assuming I have readers out there! Ha!). The new year has found your author in a state of transition. I am no longer working in Hartford at the lobbying firm I was with for the last couple of years. I am sad to no longer be working with the two great bosses that took me in after law school and gave me the opportunity to see and do a lot of interesting things. That said, I think hopefully the many things I am taking care of right now will lead to some new and important opportunities in my life.

For now I am spending my days and nights attempting to do as many PMBR practice questions as I can to prepare myself to take the Massachusetts and NY bars in February. Knock on wood, studying for the bar is not as gruesome as I think it is made out to be, but without out a doubt it is a long, often extremely boring and arduously repetive process.

With respect to clothes, all I can say is I find myself in a strange realm where I am spending most of my day sitting in shorts and a t-shirt drinking tea. When I do get up I am wearing my gap Cowichan rip-off sweater and khakis. Yup-- I feel like the dude. I highly productive dude, but him nonetheless.

I promise to you and to myself I will attempt to get back into a groove with posting in the near future. Until then- The Dude abides.

Wanted and Desired: Two more belts

2009-12-31T08:07:00.001-08:00

Yet another two belts I would love to pick up. A hoof pick belt and a Pelican hook belt.

Christmas gift to myself

2009-12-30T15:43:00.000-08:00

After guest blogging on Tucker Blair's site I kind of persuaded myself to pick up this Fox in the Henhouse belt. Ho Ho Ho.

Dream Car

2009-12-22T21:27:00.001-08:00

1986 M5. Perfection.

Wanted and Desired: Tartan belt

2009-12-18T07:17:00.000-08:00

The Trad refers to his new belt from the Leatherman Limited in his post today. I am jealous. I have been toying with the idea of picking one of these up for a few weeks now.

NYT Dress Codes

2009-12-17T13:06:00.000-08:00

My fellow clothing and style bloggers get a nod in the NYT Times today. Looks like we are going mainstream....

Guest Post at Tuckerblair.com

2009-12-17T09:05:00.001-08:00

Check out my guest post over at TuckerBlair.com today!

Racquetball

2009-12-15T07:36:00.001-08:00

Not long ago I had to step back from my weight lifting routine after I strained my shoulder. My trusty mechanic and gym yoda assured me that he knew a guy who lost 40 lbs after he started playing racquetball and since I am attempting to slim down in order to get into the Air Force Reserve, I figured I would give racquetball a shot. I had always loved squash since I started playing in high school, but I never was particularly good- probably since I didn't consistently practice at any point.

For the past three weeks or so I have been playing racquetball about 3 or 4 nights a week and I love it. I manage to have fun while exercising my body to the point of exhaustion.

All this said- what does racquetball have to do with fashion? Not much I suppose, except I find myself wanting to dress like Luke Wilson in the Royal Tannenbaums since I started playing.

The Shell House

2009-12-04T12:24:00.001-08:00

I love watching documentaries and I recently watched one called "Sherman's March" a rather meandering movie that often comes off more as a home movie of one man's life and search for love in the 70s in the South while supposedly retracing Sherman's march to the sea. In some ways the movie is interesting only because it is such a visionary ancestor of modern reality T.V.

About 2 hours into the movie the filmmaker visits the Ashley Hall School for Girls. As a true Yankee I am unfamiliar with pretty much all the landmarks in the movie (my exposure to the south is limited to Memphis, Tennessee where my grandparents and some of my mom's family lives.) The above building is amazing though. Apparently it is called the Shell House and is located at this Ashley Hall School for Girls. I wonder how they are able to prevent any of the Conch's from cracking, but that aside I love the design and the use of natural materials.

The Pocket Square

2009-12-03T20:22:00.000-08:00

My friend Derek and I recently took a trip to the court house nearby in Connecticut on somewhat of a mission to "scope things out". Funny enough I was asked to leave the lawyer's row in the court room due to my lack of tie and the fact that I was wearing jeans. Derek on the other hand was called counselor due to his smart grey suit. Both of us though were wearing a "TV fold" pocket square. The look has come to be known as Mad Men-esque, but frankly I love the pocket square. It is the real mark of a modern dandy.

The Red Audi

2009-12-02T21:52:00.001-08:00

My Dad and Mom bought this absolutely amazing car for my brothers (and me) about a year before my Dad died. I had never had a car of my own while in high school or college, so I was insanely jealous of my brother Tim when he had such a sweet ride. Eventually I got into an accident in this car while at college for which my younger brothers will probably never forgive me.

The recent thanksgiving at my family's place in Vermont made me remember one of the funny, peaceful, enjoyable, and completely strange times after my Dad's death. My brother Tim was at the wheel and I was in the passenger seat in this great car, driving at speeds that only teenage boys would consider reasonable. The sunroof was open letting in the summer air, while we listened to a Frank Sinatra CD for some reason. It will always be a memory that sticks out in my mind.

Thanksgiving and crazy pants

2009-11-23T21:21:00.000-08:00

I am looking forward to thanksgiving this year. The GF's parents will be attending the family celebrations at our chalet in southern Vermont. All the brothers' beloved GFs of the many brothers will be there and I am expecting an extremely fun bonding experience.

So the most important question: what does one wear to such an event? My plan is my polo pheasant pants pictured above. I realize I won't be eating pheasant, but if I knew how to shoot such a thing I can guarantee you I would be.

With that in mind--happy thanksgiving dear reader.

Vampire Weekend and psycho analysis

2009-11-23T21:19:00.001-08:00

Take a moment to watch this Vampire Weekend song. Not sure what to tell you dear readers except it's a piece of who I am and more importantly who I wish I was. It also has a catchy tune.

Crawl before you walk

2009-11-17T20:28:00.000-08:00

People frequently ask me what they should invest in first if they are looking to buy a suit. I am someone who believes that the basics and the classics are where you should spend your money first- they will never fail you. While I think that the most important thing is to feel confident and happy with whatever you buy, a double breasted prince of wales check suit is not what I would advise you buy to wear to an interview.

When I first went to Europe as an exchange student my dad insisted that he buy me a blue blazer. He took me to Yale Genton, a now defunct men's shop in West Springfield, Mass. where he sometimes bought suits. He bought me a Frano Tassi three button that I still have today. Though i have gotten fatter, I still wear the blazer and I defy anyone who disagrees that a basic blue blazer is an important first item in any man's wardrobe.

My second suggestion is a navy blue single breasted suit. Patterns and colors can come along later, but there is no item as important as this staple. Not black, that is for funerals, weddings, and Da' Club.

Stealing My Ideas

2009-11-05T20:36:00.000-08:00

Any of my close friends know I have been scheming to start my own needlepoint belt company. I even found a Chinese company to do the needlepoint for me, but I never found a supplier to do the leather work that was reasonably priced. Well-- Connecticut's own The Leatherman is in the game now. I have to admit I really want to buy one.

Racing Season

2009-11-04T20:09:00.001-08:00

Well, election season is over and now my mind is on ski season. I imagine that for all of my family skiing is always going to be one of the most comforting thoughts of home, family, and normalcy. My dad used to say that families that ski together stay together, and I have to say that in our case this has proved to be a creed our parents raised us on, but also a principle that united us in tough times.

My parents met skiing at Hogback Mountain in Vermont, not far from where my dad eventually built a small chalet we have had since the late 70s. My dad brought my brother Bill, an excelllent skier and racer to Hogback for the weekend and while Bill was left to cause mayhem on the slopes my dad, a widower, met my mom on the T-Bar. My mom likes to tell the story that he asked her if she was "single" when he first saw her because as any skier will know this is what you say when you need a partner on the lift. Anyways, the rest is history.

As ski season approaches I feel some nostalgia for these old times. It's hard not to.

I am not sure why this Hanna Andersson sweater I bought seems so perfect to me. The price obviously helps, but I am picturing it worn with a vest. My one sacrifice to modernity will be my helmet.

Connecticut Politics

2009-10-29T20:37:00.000-07:00

Senator Prescott Bush. Those are some GIANT lugs on those shoes he is wearing.

From the Life Archive-- "Connecticut Politics"

Government Surplus

2009-10-28T13:23:00.000-07:00

How cool would it be to pick this thing up for a song? Currently for sale on the GSA website. My brothers and I used to drive these around when we worked on tobacco farms as kids.

The Final Push

2009-10-27T21:11:00.000-07:00

I was somewhat of a late bloomer from the "pol" standpoint. Although I have always been intensely interested in politics, government, and history I never really got very involved directly with politics prior to my law school graduation.

I took a job working for a CT politician who shall remain nameless after taking the CT bar exam because I was desperate for money and my friend Derek had connections to get me the job. I was hired onto the campaign which was far more advanced and top notch than I could have realized at the time. It was a first win and in many respects it was the beginning of a learning experience about politics and government that is lasted up until today. It also got me my current job.

Since this first campaign I have worked for several campaigns and volunteered on even more. My first official gig as a "consultant" was for the above pictured mayor, who I am not going to name here, but I am sure you can figure it out. It was a great experience working for him in the sense that it was one of the most frustrating, maddening, and difficult experiences of my career. However, I saw old school Democrats at their best and worst.

Above is me the night of election day. My guy won and there I am in my trusty Patagonia marsupial with probably the longest hair I have ever had. I had a slight champagne buzz and was ready to get my sleep deprived self home.

My own current campaign has probably been a lot less stressful and a lot different. Win or lose I have enjoyed it a lot and I am looking forward to the next week of intense campaign related activity. Election night is always more fun when you are tired.

My Dad and the Most Interesting Man in the World

2009-10-26T20:16:00.000-07:00

Sorry Trip...I am not waiting for permission-- this is too good.

I was inspired by A Trip Down South to write this...

My dad passed away when I was 19 (and 16? for my brother?). It probably shouldn't come as a surprise that in the imagination of his sons his image looms large. He was a very interesting guy who lived a pretty full life. He skied the Alps, traveled the world, rode in the Concorde, had a pretty sweet convertible, knew how to chop wood, and how lasers worked. Also he had an actual human spine on a rope in the closet of his office! To a kid and more specifically a son, this is pretty amazing stuff. I could probably ramble on about him in far more detail than I could ever do justice in this blog post and frankly I don't even want to try tonight.

Anyways, this summer my brother's GF, Allie, reported to us that she had a dream that she met our dad and...he was the most interesting man in the world. Thanks Allie.

Just awesome

2009-10-26T07:26:00.001-07:00

Lifted from Styleforum What are You Wearing Right Now? The jacket is double breasted.

Capitol Tie Fundraiser

2009-10-23T07:21:00.000-07:00

I had a chance to visit Spencer on Main last night for a fundraiser for our little campaign. I had long heard about this house from people in Suffield. I would do a real disservice trying to summarize the history of this home, but it is a classic New England house that has been in the same family for over a hundred years. The house is absolutely amazing on the inside, decorated with period antiques and family furniture and treasures that all seem to have a very interesting story. The home is now a bed and breakfast run by Caroline and her Belgian husband Etienne. Caroline is a descendant of the Spencer family. I highly recommend if you ever need to or want to visit my neck of the woods you take a look at staying here.

Since this was after all a fundraiser I wore my CT Capitol tie. These ties are for sale in the legislative office building gift store and sadly I have one that is not 100% silk. They are made by Sherman's Cravat of East Hartford, a company who's items I have seen at Filene's Basement before, but can only guess went out of business back in the 80s.

J.P.'s Day Off

2009-10-21T21:09:00.000-07:00

Don't tell my boss. I decided to take a day off yesterday. Originally I planned to work on some campaign related stuff, but I ended up driving to my family's house in Vermont with my younger brother. In a few days I will post some pics of the foliage and the exciting project we worked on (we tore out a rotten wall damaged by water dripping off ice dams on the roof).

I spent some time walking through the woods snapping photos of the trees with the "new" SLR in the morning, did some work with my brother, and then headed to the Chelsea Royal Diner for lunch. The below is what my brother looked at from our booth during lunch. Yes. It's a moose head. Strapped to an ATV Seat on a trailer hauled behind a pickup sitting in the parking lot.

Prefab Buildings

2009-10-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

I found this image in the Life archive. The title is simply: "The Alcoa Beach House" which leads me to believe this was either some type of product or product concept created by aluminum giant Alcoa back in the 60s.

After a lot of internet searching I cannot seem to locate much more info on what this little building is, but I sure am intrigued by it. I seem to have a strong interest in prefab housing and I am not totally sure why. My family's home in Vermont is in part a prefab chalet, though many additions have been made to the house since the 70s when it was built. I think I like the idea that you could purchase a complete home and plunk it down anywhere.

I also have to admit that tiny prefab buildings like this excite me, probably because I was once a boy who loved tree houses and forts and every man I think dreams of building a little tree fort in the woods some place-- even if he has no idea what he would do with it.

Election News

2009-10-19T10:16:00.001-07:00

I don't want to make my politics a regular feature of my blog, but I will take a moment to self promote this press. I am running with a really fine group of people and it has been a privilege to work with them so far. In actual paper there was an error which stated I am a Republican (whoops!), which has since been corrected in the online version.

"New" Camera

2009-10-19T08:01:00.001-07:00

My mom works at a small thrift shop in my home town with a group of other ladies where they sell second hand items to raise money for charity.

Every once and a while my mom will pull aside some great item like a J Press overcoat that sells for around $800 retail or a mint condition Hickey Freeman suit. More recently she grabbed a brand new scrabble game and the above pictured Nikon N60 35mm SLR camera. I managed to haggle her down to $45 and I now am the proud owner of this camera. I stopped by Camera Bar in Hartford on Friday and bought some new batteries and some film and I have been snapping photos for the last three days of just about everything.

I have wanted a film SLR for a while and although Ebay has quite a lot of these types of Cameras for sale, I don't totally trust that they will function properly, so I had never gotten around to buying one.

Maybe it's unreasonable to think this, but I am hoping I can get some of the photos scanned to CD and I will place them up on this blog in the future. All that said, I am excited to embark on the new hobby of photography!