The Ties That Bind

I have never understood the long standing jokes about the Father’s Day presents of ties and how they are a horrid gift.  I don’t get it. I love them.  …and I’m not even a father, nor ever will be.

I hate shopping.  I’m a bad gay man that way.  I’d rather do anything than go clothes shopping.   If I need a suit, I buy five.  If I need a pair of shoes, I buy three or four.  Anything to not to have to return to a store.

But each time I am at one of these stores, I look at their ties.  Even in my last job when I only needed them for travel and not everyday wear, I’d look and I’d sometimes buy.

Here is a sampling of just some of my ties.

I know I am in the minority with this, but I was not a fan of the casual work environment.   I missed not wearing a suit and tie daily to work.  And now I’m back at it.  Score!

I could seemingly never pull off the casual look that well.  It seemed wrong.  I’d chuckle at the men-folk in the office who had to wear ties to meetings and could not wait to take them off at first chance.

So, I’m back in my element.  Suits.  Shined Shoes.  And ties.  In theory I don’t have wear the same one for 3-4 months.  But let’s face it, some of them are hold-overs that I just can’t get rid of.  I have my favourites – one of them being a Jerry Garcia tie.   I never was a Grateful Dead fan, and yeah, I though making ties with his estate’s name attached was kind of a sell-out, but ya gotta make a buck, no?

….and I look good!

Song by: Bruce Springsteen

The Man With the Child in His Eyes

Since I started my new job mid-month (or actually, since I left my old job mid-month), my benefits from the former place were still good through the end of this month. Now I signed up for a high deductible health plan, so it didn’t make sense to try to get a bunch of stuff done the only month I was going to be part of it. That’s crazy talk.

But I did cash in on the vision piece of it. Last year I got contacts, this year, I went for a new pair of specs. You can always use those, right?

I usually feel I end up settling on frames – and the older I get, the worse my eyes get. And the worse my eyes get, the less creative I can be (for the most part) with the frames that will support the lenses needed to actually see.

So I found a new frame place. The amount they had was overwhelming, but the owner was great (and funny) and he helped me find – ok ok, he found – a new pair of frames.  Not coincidentally they were the most expensive I had looked at, but the insurance made it a great deal.

…and they are a bit different.

In the picture above, they seem to disappear, which is kind of cool.  In person, they look a bit more neat-o.  They contain chrome accents.

The arms of the are bowed a bit and they don’t even touch my temple.  Nor do they wrap around my ears.  That’s a good thing.

But as I saw this self-picture above, it has come to my attention that I am about one step away from being Dr. Bunson Honeydew.

Song by: Kate Bush

Fashion

A friend of mine, Tony, provided me a link yesterday that just made me laugh and laugh.

Allegedly someone doing work in their house came across a 1977 JC Penney catalog and decided to have fun with it on the internets.

The looks. The feel. The stigma!

For those of you who weren’t a child of the ’70’s, this might not be as fun or funny. For those of us who are, this might not be as fun or funny – as it just might hit too close to home, at least at one time.

We’re stretch terry coordinates ever really in?  Granted, I was never the height of fashion – especially at 14, so it seems I might have dodged a bullet.

For one of my readers, who was a child of the ’70’s and who now work at JC Penney, well – this just might not be funny at all. Ever.

You can view the entire thing here. JCPenney1977Catalogue_1.pdf

Song by: David Bowie

Them There Eyes

I don’t really have a post subject matter at hand. It’s been a whirlwind few days in DC – work work work. No play. So this is all just random thoughts.

But it was beautiful. The weather couldn’t have been nicer, but these folks seem to think they are in the deep south. 50 degrees and they are still wearing gloves and scarves. …and still are when the temps creep into the 70s. Me? I’m wearing nothing but a shirt and suit coat. ….well, pants too. But no overcoat. I didn’t even pack one.

It is also the end of Cherry Blossom Festival and from what I could see they were still in bloom. Always purdy.

But now I’m stuck at the airport. Not stuck stuck. Delayed. My plane ran over a bolt on the runway during landing and they had to get a part from Dulles. The kitties should have me home by now to comfort them during my being away, but even that is delayed. And though this bolt thing has thwarted me getting home, I keep coming back to: which plane lost the bolt? I’m assuming it’s a needed part. And even if not – isn’t that what the Concord hit right before it upon taking off in France a few years ago – effectively sealing that airline’s fate?

The pope came and went from DC….and not a moment too soon. He’s NYC’s problem now. But there are more priests in this airport than you can shake an altar boy at.

Upon wondering around DC I stumbled up on an eyeglass store. One that’s hip but not too artsy-fartsy. I mean, they are, but not TOO artsy-fartsy. Mohammed helped me (not the religious leader, just a store clerk). As you may have read here over the years, I’m always in search of a great pair of frames. I always feel like I settle and never truly happy with whatever I select (save one pair).

But I did find them this time. They were my first selection and even though Mo (as I thought of him as) and I went through other glasses, we both agreed the initial pair were the ones. I then asked the $64,000 Question……or as it turns out the $1,375 question.

To paraphrase the pope: “Jesus Fuckin Christ!” Almost $1,400 for frames? I couldn’t even ask what it would cost with lenses.

I should mention these aren’t just any frames. No. I’m too good for just any frames. These are made out of horns from African water buffalo and cattle. I can only assume the carrying case is lined with baby seal fur. I didn’t ask.

The thing is – I still want the frames. So extravagant. I was telling Denton about them saying I couldn’t possibly afford them and the iPhone (not that I’m really planning on getting that anytime soon either), but his reply was priceless: “well, do you want to see or be seen?”.

 

Song by: Billie Holiday