tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769998861011454642024-02-18T20:05:26.239-06:00The Mark of a GentlemanA Stylishly Witty, Delightfully Irreverent Guide for the Refined 21st Century ManBlakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-76459565240429024452014-09-16T21:18:00.001-05:002014-09-16T21:57:58.257-05:00The Watch That Ends the Universe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">I'd be lying if I said I even have the slightest idea how to write a blog post anymore.</span></i></b><br />
The past few months have been nothing short of a whirlwind of excitement, panic, stress, bewilderment, confusion...and all that merely in the 5 seconds following my wife handing me a plastic stick and whispering, "Guess what <i>this </i>means??" <br />
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Impending fatherhood (<i>coming Feb '15) </i>has a way of making a gentleman see the world differently. Not only do I find myself evaluating my own actions under the lens of <i>What Would Dad Do? </i>but I additionally find myself frequently spinning into fits of rage and general hysterics at the antics of the world in which my future child will inevitably be a part of--and the utterly moronic co-inhabitants with which they'll share our planet.<br />
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But the most recent antic--so heinous that it brought me out of blog radio silence--is one I believe we can all agree is the most terrifying and despicable thing our Earth has seen in centuries--Apple's newest announcement of the infamous iWatch that's simply called <i>Watch.* </i>Here and now, my friends, is where we witness the end. The end of <i>time</i> as it were. The end of vintage analog timepieces passed from generation to generation. The end of refinement. The beginning of the Age of Borg.<br />
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What are we to do? Can assimilation into the wearable tech collective be unavoidable? Is resistance futile?<br />
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Well, confused masses, you're in luck. For the answers to these questions and more are exactly what my Chief Technology Correspondent, possessor of the mustache Ron Swanson would kill for, and all-around best friend, <b>Brandon</b> and I have been discussing lately. Check out our definitive guide below if you want any chance of weathering the approaching iWatch Apocalypse. <br />
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<i><span style="color: #e06666;">*Note: Yes, this is written in satire. I am well aware of the madness going on around the world that actually requires sincere prayer and humanitarian support. Calm down.</span></i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1. <u>Is This The End of Analog As We Know It?</u></span></b><br />
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Both Brandon and I are huge fans of the vintage, analog timepiece look in watches. In fact, throughout our long friendship, we've probably given each other more watches as gifts than hours in the day. And as two guys who will readily admit their addiction to wrist accoutrements of the time-keeping persuasion, our aversion to anything that looks and smells like a "smartwatch" could be classified on the avoidance scale as the far end of "like the plague."<br />
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And while the announcement of the "<strike>i</strike>Watch" initially brought forth the first of many eye-rolls that would border on Jr. High girl-like speed and frequency throughout the course of the inevitable public displays of lunacy and materialism that were soon to follow--to my surprise, I awoke to find myself actually watching Apple's lustful picture show and thinking, "<i>Oooooooo, that's actually pretty cool."</i><br />
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To see the sinful display for yourself, check it out here:<br />
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So what do I think now? Is this the end of analog timepieces? <br />
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No. The ultimate reality is that there will always be a market for quality craftsmanship in the art form of watchmaking. Those same people that shutter at the thought of us all walking around (<i>and into each other) </i>bespectacled with Google Glass are the same kind of people that desire a handcrafted mechanical beauty to hug their wrist along their journey...and ultimately hug the wrists of their grandchildren decades down the road. Unfortunately for Apple and Samsung, mass-produced wearable gadgetry will never fully replace quality craftsmanship within the realm of a gentleman's favorite accessory.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2. <u>So It's All Evil and We Should Lay Siege to the Nearest Glass Building With a Fruit On It?</u> </span></b><br />
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Now hold on. We didn't say it was all bad. Throughout our conversation, we finally agreed on our <b><span style="color: #990000;">T</span></b><span style="color: #990000;"><b>op Three Things</b></span> we're actually excited to see come out of later generations of the "watch formerly known as iWatch but now only Watch." Here they are:<br />
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<li>Given <a href="http://tsbmen.com/47285/is-creative-custom-the-future-of-menswear/">the recent talk of the next wave</a> of men's style sailing toward the beautifully named "<b>Menswear Creative</b>," the idea that we could have an endless collection of interchangeable, computer animated watch faces that literally match our mood and style choice in that exact moment is supremely intriguing. Need the serenity of the Aurora Borealis seamlessly passing before your eyes under an "analog" watch face designed to bring out the very colors in the shadow plaid of your suit that day? Look no further.</li>
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<li>I've always wanted to learn Morse Code--mainly so I could spell out "<i>Danger! Danger! Will Robinson!"</i> But apart from that, Brandon and I agreed that it would be super cool to tap custom vibrations to each other's wrists (<i>a feature of the Apple Watch</i>) in the middle of a business meeting. Juvenile? Maybe. But also cool as heck!</li>
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<li>The crown of the <i>A.Watch</i> is also a bit intriguing. Perhaps because it gives me a little more hope that later generations of the smart-bracelet may draw further upon classic, vintage styles. An Apple Pocket Watch? Oh yeah...that's your iPhone. Point made. </li>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. <u>But Isn't There A Better Solution To All of This Madness?</u></span></b></div>
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Brandon and I both agree this generation of Apple Watch is a no-go for us. Later generations look promising, and we'll just have to see. But isn't there a plain better option than all of this? In his words Brandon explains: </div>
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"Let's say you're a businessman and you travel frequently. You don't always have the convenience to charge your phone, so what do you do? Buy a bulky case for a hundred dollars that risks ruining the battery because it doesn't have the proper voltage that (<i>phone company</i>) requires. Screw that. If I want a bigger, longer lasting battery I should be able to get it. I should be able to walk into a store and go, "Hey, here's my phone. I need the bigger battery installed, please." "Yes sir, no problem. That will be $25.00 and it will be ready in 30 minutes. Would you like some coffee while you wait?" "Why, yes I would. Thank you." "You are most welcome and please help yourself. " </blockquote>
Can't we all agree this model sounds better than the infinite purchasing loop that is, by definition, buying the newest smartphones? Perhaps we should all just wait until <a href="https://phonebloks.com/en">Phonebloks</a> develops its first smartwatch. The dream sounds almost too good to be true.<br />
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But until then, my friends, tread carefully as you make your way through what is sure to be the craziest new tech lust epidemic since.....well, since the last Apple product was released. Personally, I think I'll stick with trying to build up a collection of beautiful analog timepieces (<i>some pictured above)</i>, each with their own personal "war story" to pass on to the little person in my wife's belly one day. And if it's a girl, I guess we'll hope for a sartorially inclined grandson somewhere around the year 2050.<br />
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By then, though, I'm sure we'll all be born with Apple tech already implanted into our brains. Text grandpa when you need your next bottle, won't you?<br />
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Blessings,<br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-91205442493799862762014-06-04T14:23:00.001-05:002014-06-04T22:13:23.213-05:00Summer Grooming Tips Inspired by Some Bears I Saw At the Zoo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"Oh! Check 'em out, he's just like Baloo from <i>The Jungle Book</i>!"</b></span><br />
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For once, the hoard of selfie-taking, gorilla-impersonating, cage-rattling teenage girls was correct. The bear that stood before us, separated by a 5-foot wide retaining moat and some uncomfortably thin-looking plexiglass, was indeed standing on his hind legs against one of the wooden columns that upheld his quaint habitat "porch" and proceeding to scratch and rub his back with what appeared to be an almost euphoric smile upon his giant man-eating jaws. The dude was loving it. And as his squealing, gum-smacking adolescent admirers watched in an amazement so powerful that an absence of the word <i>Instagram </i>could be felt for a whole 15 seconds across the universe, I think I saw his smile get a little bigger as a collective "<i>EEEWWWW" </i>came squawking from them as the giant bit of winter coat came peeling off his back onto the ground.<br />
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My boy, <i>Baloo (or whatever the Fort Worth Zoo calls their male bear)</i>, was shedding if you haven't guessed, and not a day too soon. The poor boy had to be getting miserable in the 85+ degree heat with his lovely coat looking like a buzzcut gone horribly wrong:<br />
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And it was at that moment, dear readers, standing in the heat exercising my right to see bear arms, that I felt an odd sort of bond with my furry, black Winnie the Pooh descendant. The more I stood outside in the early summer Texas heat with the knowledge it only gets worse from here, the more I wanted to find the nearest porch and shave off all my warmth-trapping hair too! But certainly, there must be a better way for a modern gent to loose the winter coat and still keep things cool.<br />
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So it is without further dallying about, that I present to you <b>3 of the best summer grooming tools</b> I've run across in the past few weeks. I call it <span style="color: #990000;"><b><u>The M.O.G.'s Summer Grooming Guide</u></b> </span>sponsored by my Fort Worth Zoo Bear brother....this one's for you, mate.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>1. Dollar Shave Club</u></b></span><br />
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Ok, so you know how when you were a single guy in college you made a trip every three months or so to Wal-Mart and just picked up a Mach3 with a few disposable heads and called it a semester? (<i>or maybe that's you right now) </i>Well, you can forget about all that once you're married. Those Mach3's <b>AND </b>all of the heads are done in a week. One in the shower, one next to the bathtub, one that's sorta for you but not really, and BOOM--you're off to buy more blades every other time you walk out of your house. The struggle, and the expense, is real my friend. <br />
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So what's the answer? Try <a href="http://shaved.by/WEjj" target="_blank">Dollar Shave Club</a>. For less than the price of a bag of Doritos, DSC sends you a razor and 5 cartridges a month for as long as you need it. And if you ever feel like you're about to drown in too many cartridges, you can switch over to the <i style="font-weight: bold;">Not So Hairy </i>plan and you'll get 5 every other month. Seriously?! A buck every two months and you get as many razors as you (<i>and the Mrs.) </i>could possibly use? You got it.<br />
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Put two in the shower, one on the bathtub, use one on the dog, and save one for your hobbit feet. It's awesome. The less hair on your body, the less hair follicle sponges to soak up the dude sweat odor. Think about it.<br />
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I opted for <i><b>The 4X</b></i> option (<i>my first delivery is pictured at the top of the post) </i>just because I like to do the dance with a few more blades, but if you're in need of some serious time and money shavers...this is it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>2. The Beard Trimmer</u></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/philips-norelco-multigroom-all-in-one-facial-styling-kit-black-orange/8050175.p?id=1218863729144&skuId=8050175&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=8050175&extensionType=pla:g&s_kwcid=PTC!pla!!!50573939799!g!!43604825439&kpid=8050175&k_clickid=03f2e43a-91f1-bf29-224f-0000109d9310" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePwO2UCoTTjixtsYl8piGOYzKnSU7DIp2EudZs0YTbg_BtmkZSlY2amRXhCWlWQwLdpOCFdxi9N6DNagTiEJIVzhotka7gbjrI7WhWn4fkFKM0Se2fn50IcxbLzwXYkC81a9Yqe7K4CJN/s1600/philips+norelco+grooming+kit.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
For years I have been playing a very dangerous game. I shave about once every week or week and a half (<i>I know, I know you're awesome and you'd have a ZZ Top beard by then--Pipe it.), </i>and because my beard is so <a href="http://21stcenturygent.blogspot.com/2013/11/remember-remember-stache-of-movember.html" target="_blank">gosh darn patchy</a>, I reach the pinnacle of cool-looking stubble on like day two. Any kind of event or picture-taking or date night comes along outside of day two and its either a shabby mess or baby-face magoo. I can't even tell you the hours I've spent calculating the exact millisecond to shave for the week as to align the perfection of day two stubble with the right moment--that is, until now.<br />
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Enter the <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/philips-norelco-multigroom-all-in-one-facial-styling-kit-black-orange/8050175.p?id=1218863729144&skuId=8050175&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=8050175&extensionType=pla:g&s_kwcid=PTC!pla!!!50573939799!g!!43604825439&kpid=8050175&k_clickid=03f2e43a-91f1-bf29-224f-0000109d9310" target="_blank">Philips Norelco - Multigroom All-in-One Facial Styling Kit</a>. I bought this bad boy a few weeks ago with a gift card I received for Teacher Appreciation Week (<i>it's ok, you can be jealous)</i> and Oh My Groomer is it astounding. You know that perfect sweet spot Day Two stubble I was talking about? All. The. Time. I'm grooming stuff on my face I didn't even know I had. And at 19 bucks, there's absolutely no need for you to be sweltering underneath a mountain-man face adornment (<i>as insanely manly as it looks). </i>Trim it all down a bit and cool off during these insane summer months.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>3. The Haircut</u></b></span><br />
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I've been taking this picture to my barber for the past two months or so...or as soon as the temperatures started sneaking their way into the high 80s. I had the whole long-on-top thing going through the fall and winter, but there's no way I could handle it through what's sure to be an extremely harsh summer.<br />
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Get a close crop like Mr. Pine here until the sun takes a breather sometime in August long enough for you to peak outside without your head catching on fire. And the good news is that this kind of cut (<i>super short on the sides and a tad longer on top) </i>grows out super easily for that sartorially inclined dapper coif you're wanting to rock this fall. <br />
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And with that, my friends, I leave you to your grooming cool down. I wish you all the best as you battle this scorcher of a season from whatever side of the Northern Hemisphere you find yourself on. Thanks so much to our sponsor, Baloo (<i>still not sure of his real name)</i>, for being such a great inspiration. And if you gents find yourselves with any additional razors, trimmers, or "staying cool" tips, do pass them along to the old boy...he sure could use a hand.<br />
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Blessings,<br />
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P.S. There's some exciting new stuff happening around the M.O.G. if you haven't noticed. Some new collaborations are in the works, we've got a new site design which I hope you like, and you can check out the new <u><b>Recognition</b></u> menu up at the top which will take you to a few shout-outs myself and my dog have been honored with recently! Until next time!</div>
Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-30927068825763829892014-04-08T19:26:00.001-05:002014-04-08T19:26:10.792-05:00Confessions of a Nostalgic: Back in the Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>I'm quite sure I've got the buffest eyeballs on the planet...</i></b></span><br />
...because an entire childhood of rolling them at the merest mention of my father's "back in the day" flashback narratives should have at least toned a few of those corneal triceps back there, right? But alas, such is the punishment to all those who grow up in a household were their parents are coincidentally older than they are. We've all heard the "<i>uphill both ways</i>," "<i>slaughtering my own buffalo for supper when Mama was away</i>," and "<i>shaving my chest, face, and back by the time I was smoking 4 packs a day--which was age 6" </i>a time or twenty I'm sure...I mean, who hasn't? But what I've come to realize over the past few years is something horrifyingly reminiscent of that far-away gaze my father used to get when someone mentioned an Allis Chalmers tractor, 8-tracks, and the Beach Boys...<br />
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<b>I miss the old days.</b><br />
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With a slight alteration--I don't miss MY old days. In fact, I don't even miss my parents' old days entirely. I think, if I'm totally honest here, I miss the good ol' days of my great grandparents, whose nostalgia I unfortunately never even had the pleasure of hearing. And it's not the whole "simpler time" mumbo-jumbo-country-crock that you hear most people spout off regarding days past...I just have to fight the urge everyday to not think everything was just plain cooler back in the day.<br />
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I know, I know this is about the lamest, most recycled bunch of high-brow posh talk I've ever read too, but if I might convince you, for just a moment, to join me in a look at the exhibits below, maybe together we could process through what I believe to be the 21st century's biggest fabrication--that we're the peak of our own civilization: <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>EXHIBIT A: Kids These Days</u></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxYQW2VOTIvbwGgqPywk8cYJSpscq3xHcOP6Kfao-9R3E0LyVft5jDLSbP3SmHfBiznVAMxhsqQeLVJXgdkGeX8CdrT1Dxc0jLdBhiGUDRHdCMUZ6EirPcM9mOobHGxsDpDBXkhBZHAly/s1600/kids+these+days+nostalgia+1940s+teenagers+vs+today.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxYQW2VOTIvbwGgqPywk8cYJSpscq3xHcOP6Kfao-9R3E0LyVft5jDLSbP3SmHfBiznVAMxhsqQeLVJXgdkGeX8CdrT1Dxc0jLdBhiGUDRHdCMUZ6EirPcM9mOobHGxsDpDBXkhBZHAly/s1600/kids+these+days+nostalgia+1940s+teenagers+vs+today.png" height="345" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">EXHIBIT B: The Sunday Drive</span></u></b><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">EXHIBIT C: What on Earth Are You Listening To?!</span></u></b><br />
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Just as a little addition to this one, here's some lyric samples from both eras:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>EXHIBIT D: Casual Weekend Attire</u></b></span></div>
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Now before you say it, Yes I know the modern day isn't too terribly bad. For every party of frat guys, there's a sensible gathering with respectable gentlemen and ladies in attendance; for every (1 million) Hondas, there's a Bugatti Veyron; for every Bieber, there's a National or J. Roddy Walston and the Business; and for every spectatular display of omnipotent douchery, there's a battalion of you, my dapper brothers-in-arms, to fight the good fight.<br />
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Perhaps it just feels like far too often, the strengths of our present seem to dwindle in comparison to even the commonplace of the past. At any rate, I'm glad there's been a little resurgence of the classics as of late. Perhaps one day I'll be the one telling my grandkids how good they've got it and shushing their insistence that using a Nokia is super hipster and retro. Who knows? Maybe the future will be hip again soon (<i>a hooverboard would certainly help</i>), but until then, I think I'll continue to take my style inspiration from Downton Abbey and my morning pick-me-up from Black Sabbath. <br />
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And who said it's unhealthy to live in the past.<br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-64459655715028786482014-01-29T18:07:00.002-06:002014-01-29T18:25:17.821-06:00Thank God It's Friday Tieday <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Happy 2014, everyone! </i></span></b><br />
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Yes, yes I know it's nearly the end of the first 1/12 of our Earth's annual outrageous 29.78 km/s jolt around Superman's best friend, but having been busier than a mosquito at a nudist colony these past few weeks (<i>and with no sign of it slowing down until around summer vacation), </i>I figured I'd better sit down for just a sec to tell you about an awesome menswear experience I've had since we last spoke. <i> </i><br />
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Around a month ago (<i>far back within the dark regions of what was once 2013</i>), South Africa's resident menswear titan and my personal sartorial hero, <b><i>Sergio Ines</i> </b>of <b><a href="http://whatmyboyfriendwore.com/" target="_blank">WhatMyBoyfriendWore</a>, </b>posted on his site about an incredible new Swedish company that sells monthly subscriptions to...neckties. Yes, you read that right, and No, it's actually <b><i>more</i></b> beautiful than you're imagining right now. The company's name is <a href="https://fridaytieday.com/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Friday Tieday</a> and their goal is to have every man on the planet rushing out to his mailbox each month in nearly unbearable anticipation for a new piece of fashion bliss. And what's even better, is that last month the company <a href="http://whatmyboyfriendwore.com/2013/12/01/win-1-of-200-tie-subscriptions/" target="_blank">gave Sergio 200 one-month tie subscriptions</a> to give out to his followers as he chose over the following 4 weeks. <br />
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Understandably skeptical at first, I waited for Mr. Ines to post the promo code for the first 50 free one-month subscriptions (read: <i>free tie from Sweden</i>). I grabbed the code, raced my way over to the website and prayed to God it wasn't a scam. <br />
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What you see above and in the picture below is what arrived in my mailbox a few weeks later...<br />
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As you can see, FridayTieday delivers. Big time. (<i>and NO I'm not being payed or blackmailed in any way to say this) </i>I, personally, went with a gorgeous blue and red preppy stripe number and was extremely pleased. Now, unfortunately, Mr. Ines ran out of his free promo codes some time ago--long before I was sure these people could be trusted enough to recommend them to you, my beloved readers. But that doesn't mean that a tie subscription is completely out of reach. Sure, the price tag is a bit higher than <i>free</i>, but for the quality and class that comes prepackaged with each neck or bow tie, it's certainly worth it just for the excitement of opening up your mailbox to find a thousand new look combos you didn't even know you were looking for.<br />
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But alas, my friends, my clock has run out and it's time to get back to the work of educating the coming generations. I wish you all the best as you blaze into the new year at the full break-neck speed of our Mother Earth. Some super posts coming soon, so stay tuned.<br />
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Blessings,<br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-56953584251894020502013-12-31T17:22:00.001-06:002014-06-03T17:18:37.347-05:00Why You Should Be Singing Auld Lang in a Canadian Tuxedo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>"Should Old Acquaintance be forgot and.....hmmmhmhmhm hmmmmmm!</i></b><br />
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So apparently (<i>as I've been told all my life) </i>my family hails from Scotland. In fact, I have a brother-in-law that's actually from the haggis-eatin', kilt-wearin' Highlands themselves--he's got the accent, cool hair...everything. But I'm quite positive you'd never know <i>me vains run red wit Scottish freeeeedom</i> if you stood beside me this New Year's Eve evening as the crowd burst gloriously into the old Scottish poem <i style="font-weight: bold;">Auld Lang Syne.</i> Because, shamefully, I honestly have no idea what any of the words are after the first bit and the occasional "Auld Lang Syne" that everyone shouts at the end of each verse. And while there's a part of me that thinks maybe I should learn the words to earn a notch on my scholarly, refined gentleman scorecard, the other side of me says as long as I've got my wife and friends around when the clock hits 12, all that other stuff can go rot in 2013.<br />
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But with a brand new year, my friends, comes brand new possibilities. A fresh start--which is why I think our society makes such a big deal about a day that basically amounts to us flipping our calendars over and doing this thing all over again. It's a time to reflect on the good and bad of the past year and take inventory of the people and things that are actually worth something. Or for my wife and I, it's a moment that we know just brings us one step closer to the day we bring our beautiful baby girl home from Ethiopia.<br />
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So as you're standing there tonight, in-doors or out, with your loved ones or merely just a bottle of __________ keeping you company, make sure you're putting your best sartorial foot forward to kick off a new 365 days of being a refined, tough as nails, sharp dressed Man. And what better way to kick it off right than going full denim on denim on denim on denim? What you think I'm joking? (<i>ok I am a little) </i>But the Double Denim look is as bad-boy American as you can get, mi lad. Don't believe me? Just ask <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyXtoTLLcDk">Mr JT</a> himself. It's classic cool at its greatest. <br />
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The "Canadian Tuxedo" has never looked better (<i>but please don't call it that if you're actually wearing it)</i>...<b>IF </b>you know how to pull it off. Here, I've compiled 3 looks for your New Years Eve destination of choice to rock the working man's formal wear.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>1. Dos Denim en La Playa</u></span></b><br />
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For those of you spending New Year's Eve in a blissfully warm, tropical heat (<i>I'm guessing maybe Miami or Buenos Aires)</i>, trying starting out your DD looks with a breathable white henley, dark wash jeans, and a light denim button down. Throw in some beat-to-heck boots for that <i>just got done changing my own oil and wrestling a rhino</i> feel and see if anyone even thinks about mentioning the word "Canadian." (<i>not that there's anything wrong with Canadians....on the contrary some of the greatest people I've ever met are from the Great North.....I'm just saying the Canadian Tuxedo is no more, ya see.)</i><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;"><i>Denim shirt from <a href="http://www.tillys.com/tillys/Categories.aspx?ctlg=010_Guys&cid=">Tilly's</a>; Henley from <a href="http://hm.com/">H&M</a>; Jeans from <a href="http://www.oldnavy.com/">Old Navy</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Tres Leches? No, Tres Denimes</u></b></span><br />
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<i> </i>Now if you're the aforementioned guy that's going to be surrounded by bottles of....er...root beer (<i>as pictured above, calm down children) </i>rather than family this year, maybe it's time to step up your denim game and go full-on Triple D! However, if you're piling on multiple layers of the beloved Canadian fabric, <b>never</b> mix the same shade. Notice the gray denim jeans merely compliment the dark gray denim in the shirt and indigo in the jacket. Bend the colors to your will and you will become the master.<br />
<i><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;">Color blocked oxford shirt from <a href="http://www.express.com/clothing/Men/sec/menCategory">ExpressMen</a>;</span> </i><i style="color: #660000; font-size: small;">Jean jacket by <a href="http://us.levi.com/family/index.jsp;jsessionid=dnZ2SDLRlDlGWtyG3Nm9tF4KyWJr3QLyrSxwh70nWXyj2vxHvmGv!-2028731180?ab=Men_megaNav_Sale_men%27ssaleouterwear&cp=3146842.18396886&categoryId=11893487">Levi's</a> </i><i> </i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>3. Frio in Times Sqaure</u> (</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">I don't know why these ended up in Spanish</span><span style="font-size: large;">)</span></b><br />
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Finally, if you're like most of us caught in this year's brutally fierce, <i>Jack-Frost-just-ripped-my-face-off-my-numb, frost-bitten-body </i>winter, you'll probably need to layer up whether you're standing outside waiting for the ball to drop or merely scurrying from your car to the house. Try taking all your newly-acquired denim knowledge and using it to make some dang-near impenetrable forces against the wintry gusts. A dark denim band collar shirt works great with some rust colored jeans, your trusty jean jacket, and the wool topcoat to keep everything sealed up tight. It's bound to get cold out there, so make sure you've got someone to run and get the cider while you hold place in line. After all, you'll want those pipes thawed out before the first chorus of <i>Lang Syne.</i><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;"><i>Rust colored jeans and band collared shirt from <a href="http://hm.com/">H&M</a>; Topcoat from <a href="http://zara.com/">Zara</a>; Jean jacket by <a href="http://us.levi.com/family/index.jsp;jsessionid=dnZ2SDLRlDlGWtyG3Nm9tF4KyWJr3QLyrSxwh70nWXyj2vxHvmGv!-2028731180?ab=Men_megaNav_Sale_men%27ssaleouterwear&cp=3146842.18396886&categoryId=11893487">Levi's</a> </i></span><br />
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And with that, my friends, I wish you all the best for your New Year's celebrations and hope they are all filled with the people and things that you hold most dear. See you all in 2014!<br />
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Blessings,<br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-87678522822658147992013-11-26T16:31:00.000-06:002014-01-20T17:02:51.542-06:00Dude Must Be Packin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"It's <i>Texas</i>...everyone in this whole dang place is packin'."</b></span><br />
For those of you out there who find yourselves residing in a place somewhere on the outskirts of the Lone Star Republic or perhaps even find yourselves living outside of its border country known as the United States, allow me to put your minds at ease--<b><u>all</u></b> of the rumors you've heard about us are true. We've all got guns, and as a friend of mine is fond of saying, "<i>That's the reason we drive our trucks with one hand on the steering wheel--the other hand's gotta be on the revolver</i>." It's also true that if it's not a truck we're driving to work, then it's probably a horse or longhorn. We each own at least one set of spurs for everyday and at least one pair for weddings and funerals. Free holsters are handed out along with koozies at football games, and there's never a week that goes by that you don't hear of some poor, stupid Yankee that got shot for trying to knock-over a PetsMart. Yeah, even our dogs are packin' heat. <br />
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But as skilled as we gentlemen down in the <i>always-secession-ready</i> <i>Tejas</i> may be at the art of "packing the heat," I feel we often have no idea how to carry around anything other than that Desert Eagle and Swiss Army knife strapped next to our keys. And if that wasn't enough, the fashion world at large seems to consistently push the idea that the <i>man-purse</i> is the <a href="http://a.sccdn.net/news-5/486x/94148_1277320151.jpg">wave of the future</a>. All kidding aside, my red-blooded American soul just can't even consider that an option. <br />
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So I figured, what better time than around the Holidays--when nearly every gentleman around the globe will be packing up for some light to heavy travel at one point or another--to finally nail down the basics of packing up your stuff like a grown man. Here they are in ascending order...or like a giant set of Russian nesting dolls:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. The Smallest but Most Important Stuff</b></span><br />
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Packing begins with the stuff you tote around with you all day, every day. It's also the stuff that, if left behind on a long trip, can leave you feeling royally screwed. So get a head start on the packing fiasco by keeping the daily important stuff neatly organized all the time with accessories like a slim wallet and modern money clip. On the wallet front, I continue to recommend the <a href="https://www.dynomighty.com/">Mighty Wallet</a>. I've had mine now for nearly 3 years and it's still going strong like the day I bought it. If you work or travel to places in which you need something a little more <i>profesh</i>-looking (although Dynomighty now allows you to design your <a href="https://www.dynomighty.com/custom/">own custom Mighty Wallet</a>), then I suggest going with a streamlined card wallet like <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=card+wallet&rlz=1C1TSNO_enUS522US522&espvd=210&es_sm=93&tbm=shop&source=lnms&sa=X&ei=4B6VUrv9LafC2wXE6oGwBw&ved=0CAsQ_AUoAw&biw=1366&bih=666&dpr=1">these</a>. Also, if you're the guy that carries around so much <i>cash-Munay! </i>that your wallet's always bursting at the seams (<i>it's 2013, dude, get a debit card)</i>, then try investing in a super modern <a href="https://store.kaufmann-mercantile.com/collections/made-in-great-britain/products/horn-money-clip">horn money clip</a> that will actually turn heads in an intrigued sort of way rather than in the drug lord <i>diamond-encrusted-serpents-on-my-belt-and-fat-stacks-homes</i> sort of way. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. The Medium but Still Pretty Important Stuff </b></span><br />
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If you're going on any kind of trip longer than a couple of hours, you'd best bring your electronic devices to keep you company. Ipad, laptop, Kindle, original Gameboy, that novel you've been trying to finish since senior year--whatever it is, it's imperative you pack it up and protect it. For your tablets, I absolutely love <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA04V0Y81452&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-_-pla-_-Business+Cases-_-9SIA04V0Y81452&ef_id=UpQRRwAAAdOH4hBz:20131126215327:s">vintage</a> <a href="http://www.dhgate.com/product/dhgate/162902692.html/?utm_source=pla&utm_medium=GMC&utm_campaign=jerrycao&utm_term=162902692&f=bm%7c162902692%7c104014-TabletPCAccessories%7cGMC%7cAdwords%7cpla%7cjerrycao%7cUS%7c104014005-TabletPCCases-Bags%7cc%7c%7c&gclid=CI2KnoS4g7sCFUMV7AodtQ0ATA">leather</a>, beat-to-heck cases that make it seem like you're carrying around the lost scrolls of Mordor rather than a host carrier of the infuriating iOS7. For your laptop, novel, and gradebook (<i>sorry, that's the teacher in me</i>) try investing in a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/163935205/saddleback-leather-bag-crazy-horse?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_listing_promoted&utm_campaign=vintage_mid&gclid=CNWTwby3g7sCFW0V7AodankASA">vintage leather briefcase</a> that comes pre-loaded with all of the weathered, bad-to-the-bone coolness factor of a history teacher/archaeologist that just happened to stumble upon a Nazi plot to find the Ark of the Covenant.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. Let's Make This An Overnight Thing </b></span><br />
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I remember the moment I first caught a glimpse of this <a href="http://www.target.com/p/merona-men-s-backpack-olive/-/A-14577723#prodSlot=large_1_8">wickedly cool canvas backpack</a> from Target....yesterday, and it was love at first sight. When it's time to head on over to Auntie's or Nana-in-Law's for just a night or two, break out the medium artillery with a simple canvas backpack and <a href="http://www.target.com/p/merona-men-s-canvas-dopp-kit-navy/-/A-14359553#prodSlot=large_1_7">dopp kit</a>. Change of clothes, shoes, iPad, sunglasses, coat, few toiletries, and Boom! you're done. All without having to clear out the backseat of the car--or even the passenger seat.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">4. Christmas at Mom and Dad's </span></b><br />
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It's here. Sure you haven't even finished putting up those Christmas lights you promised your wife you'd nail to the side of the house yet, but it's the week of the 25th and you know what that means...it's off to family. But whether it's your parents or hers, you know one thing is for certain--you're going to need to pack nearly everything you own. Who knows? Her dad may need help with a tractor. <i>Work clothes.</i> Your mom may want a family photo of you and the dogs. <i>Ugly Christmas sweater</i>. You may go out for your birthday because it's the day before Christmas (<i>no one else? Just me? Ok.) Oxford shirt, sweater, and chinos</i>. You see? So ditch the idea of having to be the "man's man who only packs a paper bag for a 2-week stay" and just grab a super durable<a href="http://www.ebags.com/product/j-world/fairman-28-drop-bottom-wheeled-duffel/247025?productid=10223657"> rolling duffle</a>. My wife and I have personally taken ours on all of our 2- to 3-week long trips to Africa and they've never let us down. Of course, if you're the kind of guy who hates the idea of packing a large suitcase in general, another option is just to throw your entire wardrobe and every other worldly possession you own into a giant FedEx crate and just ship it to Mom and Pop's beforehand. You get to fly or drive worry-free and breaking out the crowbar once you arrive will feel like Christmas morning all over again.<br />
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Alright, safe travels and blessings my friends! <br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-58932448495931297902013-11-07T18:14:00.001-06:002014-01-20T17:03:07.760-06:00Remember, Remember The Stache of Movember<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"You trying to grow a goatee or something? What's up with all that on your face?" </b></span><br />
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The words pierce like steak knives recently marinated in lemon juice. Every. Time. And I mean every bloody time since my first peach-fuzz whisker triumphantly crawled his way out onto my upper lip that I've decided to forego the razor for even just a few days--I get the same response. "<i>What's all this you got going on?</i>" the scoffer says pointing to his face of remarkably even and coarse beard hair that only partially masks the wicked, condescending smile lurking beneath.<br />
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I'm going to be completely honest with you: I suffer from what many professionals have deemed "patchy beard syndrome" or PBS. It looks alright for the first few days after shaving as it deceivingly appears to be coming in as nice full stubble--but it's all trickery. By day four or five, it all takes an ugly and shameful detour into the land of defined mutton chops and mustache without the accompanying connectors to make the entire beard pull together as one. In short, the full beard I'm afraid, while something I long to make a part of my daily sartorial statement as a gruff, manly warrior, will elude me perhaps until the days I can transplant some hair from my ears and eyebrows at around birthday 85. <br />
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But that doesn't mean <b>MOVEMBER</b> is off the table.<br />
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So if you haven't heard the hype, Movember (<i>and the accompanying No-Shave November</i>) is a campaign designed to bring awareness, raise funds, and start serious real-life conversations with everyday guys about a number of men's health issues--the chiefest of which are prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and male depression. Every year, men from around the globe launch themselves out into the great unknown of facial hair growth in an incredibly dapper and compassionate gesture with the ultimate goal of keeping manliness alive and well. And until recently, I had no idea that my very own father is one of them--growing a glorious family stache for a charity donation at his place of employment.<br />
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So obviously, with the patriarch of the family leading the way, I believe I finally have the push I need to stay the course and finish strong this year. I shaved on November 1st, but now only a few days in, I'm feeling some doubts. Here they are: <br />
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<li>I work at an elementary school. I feel a <i><b>trash stache</b></i> is a little out of the question if I'd like to keep my job and not seriously concern some parents. </li>
<li>As I've said before the full beard option is beyond my grasp. </li>
<li>I'm far too young to sport a goatee. </li>
<li>I'm far too conscious of personal hygiene to grow mutton chops.</li>
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But I'm going to do <i><b>something</b></i>. I've registered for the campaign at <a href="http://movember.com/">Movember.com</a> (<i>which you should too</i>) in order to tell myself I can't back out. But I'm at a bit of a loss. What is a gentleman in my position supposed to do? Pony up and trash stache it up? I honestly have no clue.....but in another effort to keep myself from backing out, here's a picture of my current growth to date:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCGv7Ds3JMQ6NTY5Oxy5ilvmF7NJ41WGICZegxrg_ZJNMCg1yByA5aSQEzItP5phQKgxmtGVFu85RSifatC0hz9n6wUVXA0ZSMsucNl17wUQrxQGQYUSPsHljJZOtChAXdAHM7aK0Cei6/s1600/beard.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCGv7Ds3JMQ6NTY5Oxy5ilvmF7NJ41WGICZegxrg_ZJNMCg1yByA5aSQEzItP5phQKgxmtGVFu85RSifatC0hz9n6wUVXA0ZSMsucNl17wUQrxQGQYUSPsHljJZOtChAXdAHM7aK0Cei6/s320/beard.png" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
See what I'm saying? Not alot going on. But for a great cause, I'll stick it out. And I promise to share at least one update photo to this post before I shave the <i>disgrace-to-manliness</i> off come December.<br />
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For those of you who can and are growing some rocking facial hair for Movember, I applaud you! Keep it up through the scraggly phase and start those conversations! Or if you're staying clean shaven this November, at least consider <a href="http://us.movember.com/donate">donating</a> or hosting an event to help spread the word. And if you have any ideas on what kind of Movember-supporting facial hair designs I could attempt, please do let me know.<br />
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Blessings and Happy Movember,<br />
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P.S. This is the <u><span style="color: #990000;"><b>100th POST</b></span></u> on the Mark of a Gentleman blog! My greatest thanks for those of you who've stuck it out with me thus far. More to come. Much love!<br />
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">UPDATE:</span></b></u><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Week 2</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Week 3</u> (</b><i><span style="font-size: small;">actually had some students ask me if I was growing <u>a beard</u> this week!</span>)</i></span></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDlQys18nHxFj8Jq65GdJWMtAjU91wimNmslSLHocPj04OBbsfiPwVQ6NKyIZMHVdxSKuAYtfrtISAxSF7E5OWiZRpANktlsU-BVGwWNPPNd7qAnF9LJ_XnffK8dre12l-yFhHYiaH0CW/s400/beard+week+3.png" height="400" width="270" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>FINAL RESULT:</u></b></span></div>
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So, as predicted, my final beard result was indeed patchy and kind of wiry near the end there, yet I stand by my decision and have no regrets! In fact in a bizarre plot twist, my wife actually <i style="font-weight: bold;">didn't </i>want me to shave it off. But alas, the time had come to either commit to the gnarliness of it all or revert back to my tried and true.....</div>
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Well, with perhaps a slight pit stop on the way in Stacheland!!</div>
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Oh dear this is gloriously hideous. In fact the lady of the house refused to look at me or do anything other than scream "Take it off or I will!" until I did just that. Still....was good to have the classic Mo' for just a bit while off from school (<i>where I certainly would have been fired on the spot should I had tried to teach elementary school kids like this....and rightfully so.)</i></div>
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Hope your Movember was a great one, dear readers. </div>
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Cheers!</div>
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-74960176233747317322013-10-22T19:04:00.001-05:002014-01-20T17:03:22.971-06:00My Jacket Can Beat Up Your NorthFace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfRRYGg3hUE9Gv0ALAZKPEuq4ESfOhd82fNpw73VC5CnZZX99rqoQHr6FZuxCA2eHvislHUHNkn-bzL01O4wD1Gst7iSpjpKtTxuw85doPGwzHJk3hvirptJTFt-l9Sw7mdrLhouOvUme/s1600/robert+redford+jean+jacket+motorcycle+sunglasses.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfRRYGg3hUE9Gv0ALAZKPEuq4ESfOhd82fNpw73VC5CnZZX99rqoQHr6FZuxCA2eHvislHUHNkn-bzL01O4wD1Gst7iSpjpKtTxuw85doPGwzHJk3hvirptJTFt-l9Sw7mdrLhouOvUme/s1600/robert+redford+jean+jacket+motorcycle+sunglasses.png" /></a></div>
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">The weather app read "</span></b></i><b><span style="font-size: large;">40 degrees</span></b><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">."</span></b></i><br />
I could hardly believe my eyes. The season known to most outsiders as <i>Winter</i> had finally come to Texas! (<i>and it was only October</i>) It had to be some sort of record, I thought, or some devilishly-schemed trick designed by a government in the shivering cold of shutdown to try to send us Lone Star folk a message. Either way, I hopped excitedly from under the covers of my bed only to be greeted by the icy tingle of the unheated wood floor. Like a sweet tea junkie looking for his next iced brew hit (<i>something I'd know nothing about), </i>I flung myself to the floor of my closet with nails tearing at the the giant ziploc bag known to house my winter gear. <br />
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One henley, a v-neck sweater, a cardigan, and a wool topcoat later, I stood ready to greet the frostbite-inducing blizzard that lay beyond the protection of my garage door. I dove in the door of my car, flipped on the heater and defroster in one expertly-timed, Jackie Chan-esque move and embarked on my journey to work, cozy and stylish as ever. <i>Wait until my co-workers got a load of this masterfully debonair layering</i>, I thought, <i>they won't see it coming. Today is going to be my day.</i><br />
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That is until the temperature skyrocketed during my drive into the mid-80s, leaving me stranded with my expertly crafted, interconnected dungeon of heat-trapping, heavy, <i>might-as-well-have-been-tinfoil-cooking-me-like-a-giant-potato </i>layers to slowly broil me to heat exhaustion throughout the remainder of the day. Brilliant.<br />
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Fortunately, should a bipolar weather day catch you with your sartorial pants down, there is one option that's as easy to throw on as it is to take off....and it goes with everything from a t-shirt and jeans to a vest and bow-tie: Let me introduce (<i>or perhaps <b>re</b>-introduce) </i>to you, <u><b><span style="color: #990000;">The Jean Jacket</span></b></u>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pq4cb4_EQmDURqb4uj2KLwSyi7THAL-qxxDh_xWTpjeF9YyhMdMpN_5mEMpUiEnaP8c2YSLE9Pse-n_E-zW4a4xcI3t_vCIXGQdu3ifFnrHDqJRJlbQwFNehVVEprwfYk_oIbhzuGg-b/s1600/jean+jacket+mark+of+a+gentleman+bow+tie.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pq4cb4_EQmDURqb4uj2KLwSyi7THAL-qxxDh_xWTpjeF9YyhMdMpN_5mEMpUiEnaP8c2YSLE9Pse-n_E-zW4a4xcI3t_vCIXGQdu3ifFnrHDqJRJlbQwFNehVVEprwfYk_oIbhzuGg-b/s640/jean+jacket+mark+of+a+gentleman+bow+tie.png" height="640" width="436" /></a></div>
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I first decided to snag this <a href="http://us.levi.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=3692021&cp=3146842.3146845.3146860">Levi's Slim Trucker</a> jacket about 5 years ago while going through a <b><i>JET </i></b>and <i><b>The Strokes</b></i> phase where I thought it was uber cool and original to wear a pair of beat-to-heck cowboy boots, a rock-n-roll tshirt, and a jean jacket. (<i>Ok, who am I kidding? I'm still in that phase every other week or so)</i> And the honest dumb-luck of the purchase still puzzles me. This is hands down the most worn jacket in my wardrobe rotation, and for good reason--<i><b>it goes with everything.</b></i> Throw on the aforementioned rock t-shirt and a pair of Ray-Bans = Bad Boy Cool. Throw it on over a patterned shirt and tie combo for keeping warm at work until the sun comes up = Golden. No matter how you rock it, a denim jacket keeps you cozy without encapsulating you in warmth layers that take an act of Congress to get out of. (<i>See what I did there? #governmentshutdown #yesIknowitsover #yeshashtagsinablogareworthless)</i> <br />
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So for those of you Southerns like me who find ourselves in the intermediate ground betwixt the End of Summer and the Start of Fall, pick up the most indispensable removable layer man has ever created. And with <a href="http://www.gq.com/fashion-shows/blogs/fashion-week/2013/06/how-to-wear-a-denim-jacket-10-ways-spotted-at-paris-fashion-week.html">designers now taking things to a whole new level</a> in regards to color and fit, there's probably never been a better time to saunter into your place of work with the attitude of, "<i>Oh, no, I know it's not Jean Day Friday but I decided to confuse the heck out of everyone and wear denim on the top of my body all blasted week long. Now if you need me, I'll be the guy blaring The Strokes from his cubicle."</i><br />
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Blessings and thanks for reading,<br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-54746238707171735362013-09-19T19:17:00.000-05:002014-01-20T17:03:40.504-06:00Men of Inspiration: Harvey Specter & Mike Ross<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Well, Heeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyy!! OMG, how ARE you?? You know I was just sayin it's been WAAAAY too-----</b></i></span><br />
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You know what, let's just cut to it. Yes, my dear readers, it has been nearly <b>two months</b> since we've been able to spend some quality time together here at the M.O.G. Yes, it is because of the move to a new house, endless home improvement projects coupled with the beginning of a new school year as a teacher, and a continuous stream of delightful house guests since our arrival. Yes to all of that. But I wouldn't dare do you the disservice of trying to butter you up with lame excuses and empty promises. The truth is, I've missed you all, but I've also been having a blast setting down some more permanent roots and establishing my Man Manor from the bare bones of a suburban 3-bedroom home.<br />
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Yet with all the painting, nailing, staining, assembling, disassembling, and reassembling that purchasing a new home entails, there comes a time when you finally look at your wife from under the blood-and grease-stained bandanna tied around your brow and faintly murmur in a near telepathic fashion that it is time to sit on the concrete floor and just do nothing for an hour or twelve. And it has been during this exact time over the past few months, that my wife and I have found ourselves becoming hopelessly addicted to the cut-throat law drama that is USA's <span style="color: #990000;"><i><u><b>SUITS</b></u></i></span><br />
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Now I know what you're going to say: "<i><b>Uh, Blake...it's called 'SUITS' and they wear SUITS...a guy like you is honestly just hopping on board this showboat?</b>" </i><br />
Ok, well yes, I am. Sure I'd always heard good things and should have been drawn to it merely because of the title, but truth be told, I'm glad I waited to stumble into this delightful series two and a half seasons late. So if you're like me and you've been hesitant to jump in or have never even heard of the show, let me spare you the plot synopsis and simply say that <i>Suits</i> is by far one of the most addicting, well-written, suspenseful, charming, and downright stylish shows I've ever seen on television. The characters are beautifully complex, the plot lines ulcer-inducing, and the chemistry between relationships is electrifying. <br />
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But enough about all that....you can go pirate the whole first two seasons for all that jazz. But what we're all about here, is of course the incredible style of the two male leads: <b><span style="color: #990000;">Harvey Specter</span> </b>and <b><span style="color: #990000;">Mike Ross</span>.</b> <i> </i><br />
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Harvey's Style:</span></b></u> </div>
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The thing I love about Harvey Specter's character is that from the second you see him on screen, you recognize him as the bad-to-the-bone, effortlessly cool, "Attack Dog" of one of the most powerful law firms in New York City. He drives expensive cars, romances women like he's simply walking out to check the mail, and dresses impeccably in every situation. </div>
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Harvey's wardrobe usually includes:</div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Brilliantly tailored three-piece suits that certainly cost more than my newly-purchased home </li>
<li>Simple solid or pinstriped french-cuff shirts </li>
<li>Understated ties </li>
<li>Not to mention that man's got a perfectly parted coif of power. </li>
</ol>
Some ideas for making this look your own without having to score a Senior Partnership:<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://us.suitsupply.com/suits/suit-light-brown-plain-havana-p3726/P3726,en_US,pd.html?start=8&cgid=Suits"><i>Havana Light Brown 3-Piece Suit, $599, SuitSupply.com</i></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.express.com/clothing/extra+slim+1mx+french+cuff+shirt/pro/0307211/cat1020001"><i>Extra Slim 1MX French Cuff Shirt, $59, Express.com</i></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.thetiebar.com/categoryPages/Wool_Ties.asp"><i>Wool Ties, $15, TheTieBar.com</i></a></li>
</ol>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Mike's Style: </span></b></u><br />
Mike's style is basically what every guy between the age of 20-39 should be wearing anyways. As a genius and semi-con-artist, Mike's look illustrates his need to blend in (dependable white dress shirts) but also his need to stand above the rest (as evidenced by some of his <a href="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120722221152/suits/images/a/ac/S02E05P17_Mike.png">wicked cool bold-striped ties</a>).<br />
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Mike's wardrobe usually includes:<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Slim cut suits </li>
<li>Bold slim ties with some covet-worthy patterns </li>
<li>And an indispensable rotation of crisp white dress shirts</li>
</ol>
Some ideas for making this look your own without having to fake a Harvard Law Degree:<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><i><a href="http://www.hm.com/us/product/14909?article=14909-A">H&M Wool 2-Piece Suit in Navy, $210, hm.com</a> </i></li>
<li><a href="http://www.thetiebar.com/order_page.asp?pn=24516&orderPageReturn=%2Fsearch.asp%3Ftarget%3Dprodigy%2520stripe%26viewall%3Dviewall"><i>Prodigy Stripe - Silver/Navy/Light Blue (Skinny), $15, TheTieBar.com</i></a></li>
</ol>
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And with that, my friends, I leave you to strut around town looking for motions to file, subpoenas to serve, and depositions to dominate! If you accomplish all that, you might just earn the right to stroll through your office, one hand in your pocket like the omnipotent Mr. Specter while this song plays over the loud speaker:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8ykP0x8KekU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Long Live the King,<br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-17630270896218206352013-07-23T16:08:00.000-05:002014-07-07T14:05:44.482-05:00Your Arms Broken?? Make That Bow Tie Yourself!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Party. P-A-R-T-Y? Well because it's my best bro's wedding week, of course! <br />
That's right, dear readers, by this time next week my best friend Brandon will have been a married man for just long enough to have finally rinsed most of the bird seed out of his hair and just noticed the beginnings of a tan line on the ring finger of his left hand. This weekend marks the culmination of what I'm sure has felt like <i>years</i> of planning, stressing, ordering, tasting, buying, tailoring, cutting, and mailing--and that's just what the poor chap couldn't get out of with a doctor's note or work excuse. <br />
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But come Saturday, it's all worth it. The moment arrives, and I'll find myself proudly standing next to my brother, misty-eyed and dapper as my other best friend walks down the aisle with her father in spotless white, radiant and eager to begin her life with the beaming charmer beside me.<br />
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And so it was, with love in the air and the celebration of the century just a few days away, that this past weekend I set my mind to pulling out all the stops in my style game for the special occasion. I wanted to rock something I'd never been able to prior--something unique and dedicated to the union of my two best friends. It didn't take long for the answer to come sailing its way over my Google search:<br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why not a bow tie?</span></b></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCA3TUiBeFrv-KGJmQ7EU9MsXICVcvQrp9js40XKw4c_ypfNUNLjnMp0YjQTGYIeVUCS6ZRMJzUrQCZRz2zwZZSVP-OEfAgLhofs7yArF7jUnpgzAe7zARhKX8u3OMAVKsQzEJsTH3ZVjF/s1600/bow+tie+closeup+diy+diamond+point+men+sew.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCA3TUiBeFrv-KGJmQ7EU9MsXICVcvQrp9js40XKw4c_ypfNUNLjnMp0YjQTGYIeVUCS6ZRMJzUrQCZRz2zwZZSVP-OEfAgLhofs7yArF7jUnpgzAe7zARhKX8u3OMAVKsQzEJsTH3ZVjF/s1600/bow+tie+closeup+diy+diamond+point+men+sew.png" /></a></div>
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If for some reason you either haven't paid much attention to any of the gentlemanly mannequins along the window displays in your local outlet mall or don't happen to be a big follower of hip-hop culture, the fact that the <a href="http://www.gq.com/style/wear-it-now/201307/what-to-wear-with-a-bow-tie#slide=1">bow tie is back</a> in a huge way may have skimmed past you. The new versions are cooler, more stream-lined and less <i>Bozo the Clown </i>and more <i>Lord Grantham of Downtown Abbey. </i>But what's even better about this trend is that it doesn't have to cost you half a paycheck to bring into your closet--if you or someone you know is even half-way familiar with a sewing machine, you can create an insanely cool bow tie like mine above from any fabric you like.<br />
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Luckily, as I've <a href="http://21stcenturygent.blogspot.com/2012/04/your-arms-broken-make-that-skinny-tie.html">shared</a> <a href="http://21stcenturygent.blogspot.com/2011/11/do-it-yourself-swagger.html">before</a> on this blog, my wife is a master wizard when it comes to sewing and has outfitted me with some incredible handmade style in the past. So when I related to the Lady of the house that I wished to bring some serious bow tie swagger to my style game this weekend, she pulled out some chambray fabric, found a pattern online, and in no more time than it would have taken to walk across a Dillard's to the tie section, she'd whipped out the absolutely perfect specimen you see me sporting in the pictures above. Wanna know how she did it? Well then you're in luck, check it out: <br />
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<b>FOR THE FREE DIY BOW TIE PATTERN</b> <a href="http://shorelark.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/free-bow-tie-pattern/">CLICK HERE</a>. <br />
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Once you've got your fabric and the pattern printed out, if you'd like to alter the pattern to look like mine follow these additional steps:<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Cut out two right triangles to add to the end of the pattern for the Diamond Point bow tie (<i>which I think looks much more <u>Downtown Abbey</u> classic cool</i>) </li>
<li>For a skinnier bow tie, we changed the <b><i>seam allowance </i></b>from 1cm (3/8") to 1/2" all the way around.</li>
<li>To keep the bow tie from getting too long and therefore jetting out too far when tied, we altered the length of the entire back portion of the bow tie. The pattern will fit roughly a 17" neck, so if you're like me, for example, and have a 14.5" neck, it's a good idea to shorten it no more than about 2" or proportionally whatever works for you. (<i>Better to have it a bit long than too short)</i></li>
</ul>
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And there you have it! All that's left to do now is learn how to tie it--which I'll admit took me a good hour using Youtube videos and Google Images. (<i>Maybe a MOG Instructional for the future??) </i> Remember not to get too anal about the knot in the middle or the symmetry of the tie ends. The disheveled, slightly unpolished bit is part of the charm of ditching the clip-on for the real deal. May whatever celebration on which you decide to christen it be beautiful and memorable for all the right reasons. I know mine will be.<br />
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To my best friend, Brandon and his lovely bride-to-be (<i>and my oldest friend) </i>Meredith. All the happiness in the world, you two.<br />
Blessings,<br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-91202596607521523572013-07-15T15:04:00.001-05:002014-01-20T17:01:01.103-06:00We'll Take It!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Fatherly Wisdom to Heed Before Purchasing Your First Home</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I've never seen myself as the home buyer type. In fact for as long as I can remember I've always been fascinated by the idea of living in the moment--ready to hit the road and live off the land should my manly subprimal instincts stir me in my slumber and instruct me to migrate into the thicket with my wife and dog. But alas, due to my genetic disposition to be deathly allergic to anything fishy or poision-ivy-y and the manly way I start to gag at the thought of skinning a woodland rodent, I resorted to proclaiming my lone wolf independence by refusing to sink permanent roots into any place in which my wife and I have lived since we've been married. We are the generation of the Renter...and I was quite content in knowing I always had the option available to stick it to the landlord one month and nomad it all the way to Florida if the occasion called for it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">That all changed a few weeks ago, when in an eye-popping moment of realization our little family face-planted into the fact that our current job situation AND adoption process demands that we stay put for at least.......<b>FOUR YEARS</b>. The resulting math was indisputable. <u>Option A</u>: throw a substantially high 5-figure sum into the awaiting inferno that is a landlord's pocket, never to return; or <u>Option B</u>: buy something of our own to perhaps sell down the road at a profit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So it was then, my friends, with a nervous tick and hyper-paced heart that I reached for the phone to call the only home-buying expert I know to have successfully bought and sold over a dozen homes all around the country while dragging an ignorant, mamby-pamby sissy-boy son along for the ride--My Father.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The resulting conversation with my phenomenally wise padre ended simply with me holding the phone speechless and crushed under the weight of my own inadequacy as a husband and future father. In 15 seconds the man had told me his <i>Idiot's Guide to Home Buying</i> and not a single one of his "common sense" scenarios had ever even begun to look both ways or press the crosswalk button on the far side of my mind. Nonetheless, I felt better about the whole situation. Like I was now somehow walking into a Manly Life Achievement Test with some of the answers scribbled on a gum wrapper in my pocket. <br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It therefore gives me great pleasure, dear readers, to pass this list of <span style="color: #cc0000;"><u><b>21 Questions to Ask Before Purchasing a Home</b></u></span> on to you. I'm certainly no expert, but I can pass on some tips from someone who certainly is. If you're like me and you find yourself walking around a plethora of empty houses with your wife and an all-smiles realtor anytime soon....make sure you've got these memorized or scratched on that aforementioned piece of gum wrapper. Look and act like you're a blasted grown man and shock your wife as you take charge with questions like:</span><br />
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Does the house look like it naturally belongs in the neighborhood? </b></li>
<li><b>Does it blend in price and style with the surrounding houses?</b></li>
<li><b>Why is the house on the market and how long has it been listed?</b></li>
<li><b>In what condition are the appliances? </b></li>
<li><b>Are there any damp patches inside or outside of the house? (</b><i>damp patches could indicate something leaking</i><b>) </b></li>
<li><b>What are the normal heating and cooling costs? </b></li>
<li><b>Is the house well insulated? (*</b><i>get up in the attic and look on any house you are seriously considering purchasing</i><b>) </b></li>
<li><b>Also, in the attic look for light and leaks. </b></li>
<li><b>Is the neighborhood a popular one? (</b><i>If people are moving out of the neighborhood in droves, it may be starting to decline. Don’t buy the house even if it’s a good deal.</i><b>) </b></li>
<li><b>Look at comparable house that have sold in the area to compare if the price is in line with them. </b></li>
<li><b>Look at the roof and shingles. Don’t buy a house with wooden shingles. If the shingles have a lot of black on them, it will probably need to be replaced soon. Ask how old the roof is. </b></li>
<li><b>Flush every toilet, turn on every shower and sink faucets to see if they work and if they leak. </b></li>
<li><b>Check the floors in all bathrooms and utility rooms (</b><i>washer and dryer area</i><b>) to look for evidence of past leaking or damage to the floor. </b></li>
<li><b>Check the breaker box to see if all the breakers are marked as to what room or circuit they control. A well labeled box shows order in the electrical wiring. </b></li>
<li><b>Check garage door to see if it opens easily and the remote opener works. </b></li>
<li><b>Note where the hot water heater is. Does it have a drain and pan to prevent it from overflowing into the rest of the house if the hot water heater goes bad? </b></li>
<li><b>Look for cracks in the brick and/or foundation. If there are some, it could be a sign of settling, which would require a foundation repair to re-sale and is expensive. </b></li>
<li><b>Look at the drainage around the house. </b></li>
<li><b>Look at the AC Unit and ensure it is not old and repainted. Turn on the AC and then the heat to ensure they are both working. </b></li>
<li><b>Turn on the oven, the stove top, and dishwasher to ensure they all work. </b></li>
<li><b>Look for signs of termites (</b><i>i.e. tiny holes in wood, wrinkled wood, also appears rotten</i><b>). </b></li>
</ol>
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Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to put this list to good use grilling my realtor. Good luck to all of you who might be along the same Man Life Achievement path as I find myself. Some great guest posts coming up soon!<br />
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Blessings,<br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-17980976418811247972013-06-28T15:48:00.000-05:002014-01-20T17:04:40.205-06:00Some Do's for Watching Those "I Do's"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/unpluggedphotography">Unplugged Photography</a></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">The M.O.G.'s Complete Guide to Being the Perfect Gentleman Wedding Guest </span></b></i><br />
For those of you out there now in your early 40's or 60's who've found yourself struggling to remember what a sizzling summer as a 20-something was like, allow me to refresh your memory:<br />
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WEDDINGS.<br />
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Constant, endless, painful, irritating, stressful, hilarious, sometimes beautiful, <i>refrigerator-tipping-over-from-too-many-SavetheDates</i> weddings. Remember now? Sure, by this point in life all of your friends are throwing their third or fifth wedding ceremonies down at the Justice of the Peace with a reception at Applebee's to follow, but its nothing like the month of June in your twenties. I honestly can't think of a single man, woman, or dog I know that has <i><b>not</b></i> exchanged vows sometime in the past two years--and there's little chance of it stopping anytime soon.<br />
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So what's the modern young gentleman to do to spice things up as he gallivants from one best bro's <i>happily ever after</i> to the next? Here, I break down 3 (<i><span style="color: #990000;">not entirely serious</span>) </i>essential tips to ensure you look your best, have a blast, and become the Life of the Party without stealing the spotlight from the day's special couple.<br />
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<b> <u><span style="font-size: large;">1. Fill the Awkward Silence</span></u></b><br />
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We've all been there. The wedding in which you're only slightly acquainted with one-half of the happy couple (<i>usually the groom</i>), but yet you find yourself queued in the obligatory congratulation line along with your excited date awaiting your turn to shoot the bull and offer your unique soliloquy as to why their special day was nothing short of angelic. The moment comes, you congratulate the Half you know and then it's time to switch. You shake hands, smile, say congrats and then..........you both throw your hands in your pockets and glance around while your two ladies chat it up for an eternity. <br />
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Wouldn't it be great if you could plan for this moment? I believe you can. All it takes is a few moments of preparation before the wedding to whip out a custom <b><u>Love Mix</u> </b>CD. Then, as the awkwardness is about to strike, reach into your jacket pocket, pull out the CD and slide it into his hands. "<i>I made you a little something for tonight. You can thank me later</i>," you say as he fumbles for words at the sight of the ghastly decorated blank CD with red sharpie hearts. With any luck, it'll stall for just long enough for your ladies to quit talking, and allow you the satisfaction of knowing you're probably the strangest guest he'll talk to all night. And even if they both laugh about your insanity later.....you know curiosity and a CD player will win out eventually.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">**Ok, this was the "not entirely serious" part I was talking about. Maybe just tell him a joke. </span></i><br />
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">2. Stroll in With A Fat Stack </span></b></u><br />
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Ok, so you've finally made it back to your table. You're relaxing, chugging back a cherry limeade punch, and bobbing your head to the beat of the semi-decent DJ while you and your table catch up on old times.<br />
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Then, it hits. The DJ announces the infamous "<b>Money Dance" </b>and the wave of guilt hits your soul like a tsunami into a seawall.<br />
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<i>Money? As is CASH? Paper currency...who even carries that stuff around anymore? </i>The truth is, I've been caught with my pants down far too many times than I'd like to admit in relation to the Money Dance--cowering at my table, ashamed to even make eye contact with the Bride and Groom. Avoid this whole scenario by just remembering to slip a couple Hamiltons into your wallet before you leave, just in case the dreaded $$$Dance raises its ugly dance-floor shaped head.<br />
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<i><b><span style="color: #990000;">TIP FOR THE GROOM:</span> </b></i>Dude, if you're smart you'll avoid this whole scenario too by investing in <a href="https://squareup.com/">one of these bad boys</a> for less than $10. That way Gramps can just come on over and swipe the trust fund plastic without breaking a sweat. Cha-ching, my friend.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>3. And, Of Course, Bring Your Style A-Game</b></u></span><br />
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Believe it or not, guys have some pretty harsh rules when it comes to wedding attire. Black tie, White tie, Black tie Optional, Casual, Evening attire, Afternoon attire, Super Casual (<i>whatever that means)</i>....the list could span an orbit around the sun. So I live by this rule: <i><b>"Never be afraid to be the best dressed guy in the room." </b></i><br />
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With that said, however, here's a common sense guide to wedding style by order of festivity environment:<br />
<ul>
<li><u><b>Beach wedding:</b></u> Linen or breathable cotton shirt and trousers; no tie; sandals or no shoes at all </li>
<li><u><b>Summer wedding outside in a field:</b></u> Light-weight sports coat or none at all; chinos; loafers; sunglasses; oxford shirt; cotton tie; stylish straw fedora</li>
<li><u><b>Afternoon wedding:</b></u> Light-weight cotton suit sans tie OR Nice jeans with shirt and tie (bow-tie is a nice touch) OR chinos with a vest and tie </li>
<li><u><b>Evening wedding: </b></u>Dark suit (gray, black, navy); Tux (if the ceremony calls for it)</li>
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For more ideas, check out GQ's advice <a href="http://www.gq.com/style/wear-it-now/201106/darren-criss-summer-wedding-style-men#slide=1">HERE</a>. <br />
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And with that, gentlemen, I leave you to your nonstop summer "vacation." If your calendar is looking anything like mine, I'm sure you'll be off soon to your next celebration of matrimony (<i>in fact, this weekend is one of the only ones in which I'm not attending a wedding shindig). </i>Remember to have fun and do so responsibly. Whatever you do, don't be <i>that</i> wedding guest who blacks out into the punch bowl halfway through the daddy-daughter dance. Wish all those happy couples well for me, and leave any additional advice you come across in the comments below if you like. <br />
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Blessings,<br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-57173148548901721842013-06-04T18:37:00.000-05:002014-01-20T17:04:57.471-06:00You Can Tell Alot About a Man Once He's Vaporized<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Tears.<br />
True, unadulterated, flowing, salty grown man tears. These are the phenomena that unashamedly poured down my face as I watched the <i>bromance </i>of Captain Kirk and Commander Spock in <i>Star Trek: Into Darkness</i>--a film, which if you haven't seen, is by far one of the greatest adaptions of the franchise to date. There I sat, with my wife on one side, and my BestBro on the other. Only two of us were sobbing uncontrollably as {<b>SPOILER ALERT</b>} Spock and Kirk deliver their final declarations of friendship through irradiated glass and tear-filled eyes. I'll let you decide which two of us left the theatre with moist faces.<br />
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But amidst all the gorgeous special effects, sinister villains (<i>Good Gravy, Mr. Cumberbatch is incredible)</i>, and the valiant dedication of the U.S.S. Enterprise and her crew, I was left with a somewhat different thought when exiting the 2-hr. sci-fi masterpiece:<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><i><b>What would it be like to get phasered?</b></i></span></div>
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An odd question, perhaps, but an intriguing one nonetheless. We've been lead to believe by earlier Trek installments that a phaser on STUN feels something like a light tasing or roundhouse kick to the kidneys. But I'm talking about full-on <i>Vaporize Mode. </i>Which got me thinking of what might get left behind once an individual's been mercilessly phasered into the hereafter. Jewelry? Teeth? Borg implants? Who's to say? So I decided to let my imagination run wild for a bit (<i>hard to believe, I know</i>) and worked out a scenario of what I'd like that CSI: Miami guy to say (<i>and find) </i>once he found the remains of my dearly departed incinerated self.</div>
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In some of the <a href="http://21stcenturygent.blogspot.com/2011/01/get-jewelry-with-war-story.html">earliest posts</a> of this blog, we talked of the importance of ensuring your jewelry has a purpose. That the history and story behind your accoutrements strikes the difference between the <i>Man of Mystery </i>and the <i>Man Who Frequents the Cash Register at American Eagle. </i>If I were to answer the door later this evening to an incineration, the one piece of jewelry that would sure to be left behind for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Caine">Horatio Caine</a> besides my wedding band and <a href="http://www.orphanbracelet.org/">orphan bracelet</a>, would most definitely be my Ethiopian Birr necklace.</div>
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Why am I constantly wearing a piece of Ethiopian currency, you ask? Well you see last year my wife and I took a trip with an incredible team of American and Canadians to the beautiful African country to help with several humanitarian projects around the capital city of Addis Ababa. While there, I punched a forever notch on my Man Card when I successfully fed and rocked an infant orphan girl to sleep in an orphanage near the city.</div>
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That moment, changed my life. And while my wife and I had talked for some time about building our family through international adoption, that afternoon kicked my heart into overdrive. We officially began the process of adopting a little girl from Ethiopia at the beginning of February this year, and while the wait is still excruciatingly long, I can't wait to be a father. The necklace I wear everyday helps to remind me of that. That no matter how horrible a day at work may go, I dream that my life's purpose will be far greater than I can ever hope to comprehend. It reminds me of our own little piece of Ethiopia that we hope to soon bring home to a forever family.</div>
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So what would I have the CSI guys say about my vaporized remains? Simply that my heart was elsewhere--on a continent an ocean away, and fixated upon the hope of being part of something greater in the life of just one little girl in her time of greatest need.</div>
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Let your style reflect your passions and dreams in life. Whether you've just been phasered by Khan (<i>pronounced: KHAAAAAAAAN!) </i>or you're just walking down the street, you never know what message you might be sending simply by the details in your daily swagger. In the end, however, all that really matters is that Horatio says something cool about your phasering before the opening credits, like say....<i></i></div>
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<i><b>"Well, I guess that's one way to PHASE him out." (press PLAY below now)</b></i></div>
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<i><b> </b></i>Blessings,</div>
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-19817321145342560462013-05-02T18:48:00.002-05:002014-01-20T17:05:13.532-06:00If You Liked It Then You Shoulda Put A Spring On It<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Is it just me? Or has Spring this year been more indecisive than a woman picking out a.......you know what, that's sexist, let me try again......than <i>ME </i>trying to pick out what pair of shoes to wear to a dinner with Ryan Gosling? Here in Texas, it's been downright bipolar--80 degrees on Monday, a nail-bitting plummet to the 40s mid-week, only to soar back up to provide some gorgeously perfect sunny days over the weekend and then have the cycle drop-kick us in the sinuses all over again. <br />
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But after all the split-personality-inducing <i>boxing, unboxing, and reboxing</i> of winter gear over the past few weeks, I believe it's finally happened. Like an old man on a porch with an arthritic knee, I can feel a change in the weather...except in my case my knee is my cell phone and my arthritic joint is my Weather Channel app. The warmth is coming. Yet with such an imminent meteorological change for the better ahead, one can't help but wonder what the refined summer gentleman should be donning during the intermission known as <i>Spring </i>before it all-to-quickly gives way to the eye-ball-melting EasyBake oven of a Texas summer.<br />
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It is therefore in an effort to answer such musings today, my friends, that I present to you <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>My Top 4 Favorite Spring Upgrades</b></span> <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Under $50</b></span> (for the southern gentleman on a budget): <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>1. Say It Wit<span style="font-size: large;">'cha</span> Chest</b></u></span><br />
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If you've understandably been living under a rock throughout the winter months you might have missed the news that the chest-stripe is back in a gargantuan manner. It's the resurrection of a gentleman's classic. In fact, I recently found an old home video of my father wearing nearly this exact same shirt with 2 year-old me on a beach in California. So, as it heats up outside, do yourself a favor and resist the urge to abandon all sense of style as you grab the nearest dingy college t-shirt. Keep your dappermeter on 11 straight into the summer months with one of these astonishingly affordable numbers from Target.<br />
<a href="http://www.target.com/p/mossimo-supply-co-men-s-athletic-fit-polo-assorted-colors/-/A-14421609#?lnk=sc_qi_detaillink"><i>Mossimo chest-stripe polo, Target, $15</i></a> <br />
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">2. The Tortoise and the Hair </span></b></u><br />
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By now you've noticed that the sun's hanging around a bit longer and determined to glare you to death on your morning commute. So drive full on into the blinding eastern sky with confidence with a slick pair of tortoise shell clubmasters. The classic shape flatters nearly every face shape and the dapper tortoise shell color goes with everything from a suit and tie to a pair of cutoffs and a henley. And as far as the rest of your noggin goes (<i>aka your man mane)</i>, now's the time of year to go short and cool--which I'm about to do very soon. <a href="http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/15500000/chris-pine-chris-pine-15503874-967-1450.jpg">Here's a</a> <a href="http://www.amyvolk.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/MR.-CLEAN.jpg">few</a> <a href="http://cdn02.cdn.justjared.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/walker-office/paul-walker-office-wardrobe-04.jpg">looks</a> to try if you'd like to keep your head cool when Dante's Inferno begins in your neck of the woods.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=clubmaster+tortoise&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=6704712807&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12100875891241899426&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_29xb2a3de_b"><i>Tortoise shell clubmaster sunglasses, $20+</i></a><br />
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></u>
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">3. A Time for Color</span></b></u><br />
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There's the watch passed down from your great great grandfather that you're saving for your grandchildren, and then there's the watch that you wear every day as you stroll effortlessly handsome into work. The Timex Weekender has been my day-to-day watch for over a year now and it looks as blasted new as the day I got it. Of course, it doesn't hurt that I can swap out the band anytime I like and <i>watch</i> it transform into a totally different piece. Add a blast of color to your regular wrist accroutrements this spring by swapping out you bands for a bold new statement. And with bands that'll cost you right around $<i>7</i>, there's no reason not to change it up every other hour.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_6?url=search-alias%3Dwatches&field-keywords=timex+weekender&sprefix=timex+%2Cwatches%2C278&rh=n%3A377110011%2Ck%3Atimex+weekender">Timex Weekender, $27-42</a>; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_kk_3?rh=i%3Awatches%2Ck%3Atimex+weekender+strap&keywords=timex+weekender+strap&ie=UTF8&qid=1367380245">Straps from $7</a></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>4. Add <span style="font-size: large;">a</span> Little Spring <span style="font-size: large;">i</span>n Your Step</b></u></span><br />
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I had one of those <i>shining light from heaven, choir of angels</i> moments when, after months of hunting, I finally spotted these swagger-packed colored dress shoe laces at Nordstrom Rack last weekend. Since then, everyone from my middle school students to the office lady in my apartment complex have done a double-take and thrown out some serious compliments. To put it simply, and in the words of the aforementioned office lady, "<i>I love those! They really pop</i>!" And pop they do. For such a small detail a pair of colored laces can revitalize your 9 to 5 kicks like nothing else. There's no reason your upper body should know it's Spring but forget to tell your feet--especially when it costs less than 2 bucks to get the message across. Grab a few dozen colors and tie'em on with your favorite lace-ups for those Spring days when the occasion requires something punchier than your espadrilldes or flip-flops. <br />
<a href="http://www.penguinbrands.com/"><i>Penguin Fashion Laces, Nordstrom Rack, $2</i></a><br />
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And there you have it. Now if you play your cards right down here in the good ol' South, we've probably got right around 3 weeks of this so-called "Spring" to rock all of this before we're sucker-punched in the face by the scorching hand of the summer solstice. Enjoy shaking your fist at the elements for as long as you can, fearless gentlemen...just keep the sunscreen and ice chest at the ready.<br />
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Blessings,<br />
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<i> </i></div>
Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-21281312993041945092013-04-23T19:11:00.002-05:002014-01-20T17:05:39.493-06:00Challenge Accepted: Changing a Flat in a Suit and Tie<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today I write to you all from the depths of
the monochromatic, lifeless pit of despair known as the AutoCare
department of your local Wal-mart. Here, sandwiched between two rather
disheveled and unpleasant-looking patrons undoubtedly visiting for
similar misfortune, I find myself wondering if the lump below me in the
HIV-ridden cushion on which I’m stationed actually just moved or if it
was merely the feeling one gets before they’re about to get royally
screwed in the pocket book.<br />
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But
lest you find your clicker finger inching closer to your Facebook
favorites link in an effort to avoid what has certainly begun as an
introductory deposition for Pessimism 101, let me assure you that this
post has a triumphant conclusion. As you might have guessed, I had a
flat tire this morning. And should you not feel an overwhelming sense
of pity by now, let me articulate that it was not just any flat tire,
but a complete blowout on a major interstate during morning rush hour on
my way to give my school’s yearly standardized test…..while it was
raining…..and hailing……and my wife was giving birth to twins…..just feel
sorry for me, alright!?!<br />
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But despite it all, my friends, a <b>Man Achievement</b> was
unlocked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Namely, “<i>Changing a Flat in a
Suit and Tie</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while it ashamedly
took me more minutes of copious cursing and panicking than I’d care to admit,
the end result was a timely arrival at my place of work and a resiliently
spotless set of duds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How’d I do
it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well if you’re looking for a tutorial
on how to actually Change a Flat, you’ve got the wrong gent—it took every cell of my
pre-8am brain to conjure up every automotive lesson my father ever taught me to
remember the process. (<i><a href="http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/08/15/how-to-change-flat-tire/">Here's the right gent though</a>)</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, no, THIS
particular post is how a few lucky happenings and a few dapper style trends saved
me from a disastrous morning malfunction.</div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">1. Don’t Despair….Keep a Spare!</span></b></u> </div>
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My first inclination when I pulled over and walked around
the front of my car only to be met by a mangled rubber heap was to drop to my knees and commit
the ancient samurai practice of <i>Seppuku</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I remembered I was wearing my nice dress
slacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately,
the art of
changing a tire involves some pretty down-and-dirty business which can
leave you with the ungodly decision of having to sacrifice a good pair
of pants to the goddess of the highway shoulder. Lucky for me, I
happened to be wearing a handkerchief as a pocket square today (<i>like the extremely dapper one pictured right)</i>--one
that is easily washable and only cost me a little over $1. Just unfold
it on the ground where you're taking a knee and crank away at your
jack. However, if you happen to be sporting a silk pocket square that
day, a spare towel in the trunk can work wonders here too.</div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">2. Caution Slippery When Wet</span></b></u></div>
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The
next thing that promised to be the most diabolically opposed to my
arriving at work with any remaining swagger was my breakover bar. As I
wasn't lying earlier when I said it was raining, everything Mother
Nature had in her Mary Poppins purse was being tossed at my morning
commute, making it all quite slippery. It only took three times of
nearly knocking myself out cold when the breakover bar slipped out of my
hand that I finally decided I had to do something--and that something
was my jean jacket. Layered snugly under my blazer as a little added
protection against the elements this morning (<i>and because it's one of my favorite recent layering trends)</i>,
it made the perfect weapon against the slick surface of death and gave
me a little added leverage to pop off those lugs. Again....a spare
towel in the trunk would have probably worked wonders here but the
jacket washes easily enough.</div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">3. What Seems To Be The Trouble, Officer? </span></b></u></div>
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Undividedly
fixated upon my problem at hand, I barely noticed the fact that rush
hour traffic in the Metroplex often gets a bit squirly. So when a kind
officer of the law pulled up behind me and informed me he was there
merely to ensure I "<i>didn't get hit</i>," I resisted the urge to shield my face and scream, "<i>Don't look at me, I'm hideous...ly bad at being a man's man!</i>"
and simply waved and gave a thumbs up. Remember to watch out for
crazies on the road around you. Ashamedly I forgot in all the turmoil
to turn even my hazards on. When in doubt, it's always best to do
something to avoid giving another maniac driver a flat tire after they
run over your somewhat surprised-looking corpse. Perhaps you could even
use a spare towel in your trunk to act as a distress flag.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So
I guess the moral of the story here is keep a towel in your trunk as it
seems it would've solved all of my problems and expedited the situation
substantially. Above all though, gentleman, keep your cool. Ditch the
tie, roll up your sleeves and get to business saving the day. And if
you can do all that with a cool head, you get the satisfaction of
strolling into your job a few minutes late, absolutely filthy, and
down-right prouder than ever that your a man that gets things done and
looks blasted exceptional doing it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But seriously....towel. In the trunk. Do it. </div>
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-11484250284126754212013-04-09T20:55:00.000-05:002014-01-20T17:05:53.712-06:00A Man With A Heart of Globe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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One of my middle school students once told me that you can tell alot about a man from the background on his iPhone--where he's been, his passions, his dreams, and his loved ones. And while I certainly try not to make a habit out of taking life counseling from individuals that find themselves still undecided on the issue of deodorant as a daily necessity, I couldn't help but applaud the young gentleman for his uncanny bit of wisdom. And the truth is, it was the very picture above that prompted his moment of inspiration--a wallpaper I've had for a while now as a small shot of encouragement for those hellishly stressful days public education can all-too-often hurl at you.<br />
<br />
The point of this<i> Pre-Teen Thought of the Day</i>? Here it is: The modern gentleman lives in a world constantly shrinking in size. A world that through advances in technology and transportation has become impossible to ignore. And with it, comes the undeniable reality that many of our brothers and sisters around our world are without the basic essentials for life--food, clean water, shelter, and medical care. So if the essence of a gentleman's passions can be measured in an iPhone background, what could be said through his actions, social outlets, or style? Some of you may have gone overseas like myself and provided humanitarian aid, some of you may feel that's not your saucer of darjeeling. Whatever the case, for this post I'd like to present three of my favorite humanitarian apparel companies for spreading the word that you actually give a.....(<i>ya know</i>) about the world around you.<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. Feed Just One</b></span></u><br />
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By far this company is one of my absolute favorites when it comes to manly tees with a purpose. I sported mine in a<a href="http://21stcenturygent.blogspot.com/2013/01/men-of-inspiration-sherlock-holmes.html"> previous post</a> but failed to actually introduce it properly. The short of it is FeedJustOne is an incredible organization that is combating hunger around the globe. For every shirt sold, FJO provides 30 meals to a family in need in the Majority World. And if that's not enough to convince you, the fact that this is without contest the softest shirt I've ever owned in my life should definitely get you on over to their website for a look around.<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/officialfeedjustone"><i>Feed Just One.com, $20 per shirt</i></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>2. MiiR Water Bottles</b></u></span><br />
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Ok, so if you live in Texas, Mother Nature has already decided to skip the season known to Canadians and Yankees as "Spring" and head barreling at full impulse power into the flame tips of the summer inferno. And for the rest of you, it's certainly on the way. So for those of you brave enough to venture through Hades on your way to the gym, you might consider grabbing yourself a slick new water bottle--one that decidedly makes a statement of "<i>Yes, I DO have the coolest water bottle you've ever seen" </i>and "<i>Oh, and did I mention it provides clean water to people in poverty?"</i> MiiR Bottles recently launched their <b>one4one</b> campaign, which promises that for every water bottle sold a person in need is provided with clean water for a <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">full year</span>!</b> Check out their inspiring video story below:<br />
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<a href="http://www.miir.com/"><i>MiiR.com, $15-$20 per bottle.</i> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>3. Figs Ties</b></u></span>
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Now this one made my knees weak in that <i>head cheerleader asks you to the prom</i> <i>before you do</i> kind of way when I stumbled upon it a few days ago. Ok so as some of you know, many countries in the Majority World do not have
public education, which means private institutions are the only means of
education. As they often require uniforms in order to attend, children
in extreme poverty often cannot afford the clothes necessary to get
their education. Enter<b> Figs Ties</b>--a company whose sophisticated and beautifully crafted products are only outdone by their ingenious global initiative. Figs' <i><b>Threads for Threads </b></i>campaign partners worldwide with local tailors and and weavers to provide school uniforms for Third World kids who need an education (<i>aka ALL OF THEM). </i>With each tie sold, Figs donates part of the proceeds to helping the future generation of the planet get the learning they need. And you had best believe I'm saving my lunch money to snag me one of these beauties post haste.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.wearfigs.com/pages/threads-for-threads">WearFigs.com, from $55</a>.</i><br />
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And with that, my dear gentlemen, I release you upon the world with your new-found globally conscious, sophisticated swagger. Go forth, and BE the change.<br />
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Blessings,<br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-47728568142646697392013-03-26T19:28:00.000-05:002014-01-20T17:06:14.257-06:00Run Along Now, And Let the Grown-Ups Rock: IV<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>A Recurring Segment On Fostering a Refined and Stylish Appreciation for the Modern Musical Arts.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Guilty pleasure<span style="font-size: small;">:</span></u></b> (<i>gil-tea plez-joure</i>) </span>1.<span style="font-size: small;">) </span>A<span style="font-size: small;"> phenomenon that oc<span style="font-size: small;">curs when a </span>certain gentleman of self-declared refined and noble musical taste knowingly allows himself to <span style="font-size: small;">succumb to<span style="font-size: small;"> a musical work or genre that would normally b<span style="font-size: small;">e outs<span style="font-size: small;">ide of h<span style="font-size: small;">is typical stylistic preference ran<span style="font-size: small;">ge but that he cannot deny has captivated his basic, subconscious and animalistic ne<span style="font-size: small;">ed to "<i>get down <span style="font-size: small;">and </span>groove</i>."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote>
Up until last week, the above definition<i> </i>taken from <i>Webster's 1809 Dictionary </i>flawlessly described my relationship with one certain <b>Justin "The Triumphant Returner of the Once-Misplaced <i>Sexy</i>" Timberlake. </b>As an endlessly loyal lover and collector of blues and classic rock, Mr. Timberlake's sultry R&B tunes were reserved for unashamedly belting out and dancing to while stuck in traffic during an intermission between Zeppelin and Buddy Guy albums--that is until I pulled up next to a particularly masculine-looking road worker or guy on a Harley with judgment and pity in their eyes. That all changed, with Justin's newest album, <i><b>The 20/20 Experience.</b></i><br />
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With a title that literally derives from the fact that it delivers "<i>Music That You Can See</i>," JT's newest masterpiece took me by a pleasant and very unexpected surprise. For starters, the average song length is somewhere in the ballpark of 7 minutes--a virtual nightmare when it comes to the mainstream maximum of 4 for radio play, but an absolute delight for music lovers who actually enjoy experiencing the metamorphosis that such a meaty tune can undergo. And <i>morph</i> they do--like some sort of bass-thumping Soul Eagle each track brilliantly soars high, then drops away, poops out something completely different yet oddly majestic, only to have that poop catch a jetstream and skyrocket back and collide with its predecessor creating a glorious masterpiece of a.....I'm sorry I feel that metaphor got away from me. <br />
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The short of it all is that I'm absolutely addicted to this album. It's inventive, sensual, and perhaps best of all, presents itself as an album in its entirety--an intricate mixture of ballads and hits all converging into one singular vision and one cohesive musical journey. The traditional toe-tapping, bass-loaded grooves are there (<i>Spaceship Coupe, Don't Hold the Wall)</i>, as well as the quintessential love songs complete with added soul and even some harkening to a little Rat Pack swagger (<i>Mirror, Pusher Lover Girl, That Girl).</i> In the end it seems JT has delivered the impossible: A mainstream album that refuses to feel mainstream at all. And if all that doesn't convince you, the magnitude of dapper sartorial genius on the cover art should definitely do the trick. <br />
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So feel free to grab a copy of what will probably be the most popular album of the year with a clear conscience. If there was ever a time to get caught at a stoplight belting out <i>Cry Me a River</i>, now's the time--the Timberlake is as cool as it gets.<br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-29183332529289136052013-02-26T19:10:00.002-06:002014-01-20T17:06:43.140-06:00The Right Frame of Mind<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Let's start from the beginning, shall we?</b></i></span><br />
I love my dog. If you're a M.O.G. reader of any lengthy standing I'm sure you'll remember the good Dr. Mwenzi (<i>PhD in Human Sartorial Studies) </i>from some of our early videos and posts together. But I must admit as of late, the scruffy-faced Jack Russell <strike>Terror</strike> Terrier and I have been having a bit of a rough patch. It all started a few weeks ago when I caught him underneath my bed with my favorite ball-point pen....then later, a highlighter...then my retainer....and finally, my <b>glasses</b>. <br />
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A tad on the red zone of severely irritated, I reached under the bed to extract my beloved spectacles from the jaws of the satisfied chew-beast only to discover the ends had been gnawed to razor sharp spearheads out for blood of their own of the unwanted-ear-piercing variety. Desperate, angry, and in need of a good excuse not to take up the art of animal sacrifice, I dove into a hasty internet search begging for answers. And what I found, was <a href="http://coastal.com/">Coastal.com</a>.<br />
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Now before you go and think I've completely sold my soul, hear me out (<i>and know that I'm in no way receiving any benefit from the aforementioned company). </i>I can honestly say that I stumbled upon this website for no other reason than in response to an ad I saw while searching that simply read "<i><a href="http://www.coastal.com/coupon-eligible-glasses">Get Your First Pair Free</a>." </i>Instantly overjoyed at the prospect of solving my problem without liquidating my entire net worth (<i>or lack thereof)</i> I journeyed in to discover the truth.<br />
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<a href="http://coastal.com/"><img alt="http://pyd2.pocketyourdollar.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Coastal-Contacts-free-eyeglasses-400x217.png" class="decoded" src="http://pyd2.pocketyourdollar.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Coastal-Contacts-free-eyeglasses-400x217.png" /></a> </div>
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And what is the truth about Coastal.com's "First Pair Free" ad? Simply, that it's amazing. Within minutes I instantly fell in love with a pair of dapper tortoise shell frames and gave the whole promo code thing a shot just for the heck of it. It worked. Instantly the price of the frames vanished like a scruffy-faced dog caught with an iPhone cord and I merely had to pay for shipping! A quick few days later, my lovely new frames arrived with the correct prescription and accompanying swag and the rest, my friends, has been a finely focused fairly tale.<br />
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So for those of you who might have similar chew-happy terriers (<i>or toddlers) </i>around your dwellings that promise to reunite your beloved spectacles with their awaiting chompers--fear not. Give these guys a chance. It's <u><i>clear to see</i></u> they're the right choice. They'll put you in the <i><u>right frame of mind</u></i> so your life can be in <i><u>perfect focus.</u></i> A peek into the <i><u>looking glasses</u> </i>tells---No? Ok, I'll stop. <br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-43600185420711588192013-02-19T18:55:00.001-06:002014-01-20T17:06:58.188-06:00The Code For Men<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Since the dawn of Creation, Man has attempted to solve the limitless mysteries of universe in which he has found himself. Among these musings are the great questions of life, the universe, and everything--inquiries that could easily take the world's most advanced super computer endless millennia to digest and evaluate. And while History finds itself with an increasingly gluttonous bulge of "brilliant" thinkers throughout its centuries that have claimed to have uncovered the ultimate answer in it all (<i>it's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Answer_to_The_Ultimate_Question_of_Life,_the_Universe,_and_Everything#Answer_to_the_Ultimate_Question_of_Life.2C_the_Universe.2C_and_Everything_.2842.29">42</a>, by the way, as we all know), </i>there has yet to be even the slightest theory correctly postulated about the chiefest of all of these questions....<br />
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Until now.<br />
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Enter my online friend <b>Oli Thier </b>and his book <b><a href="http://www.thecodeformen.com/"><span style="color: #990000;"><i>The Code For Men</i></span></a>--t</b>he ultimate answer to the question that<i> </i>has puzzled homo sapiens for generations: "<i><b>How the devil is a grown Man supposed to act in everyday situations?"</b></i><br />
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I first read Thier's book a few weeks ago after we'd corresponded by email. Ever the gentleman himself, he sent me a copy digitally and asked if I'd read it and provide some feedback. After pouring myself into the first few pages, I found myself utterly hooked. It was though someone was finally speaking the language that the last few gentlemen on the planet had been secretly keeping alive by a generational oral tradition. Now, Thier had finally printed the sacred Code for all to have and follow. <br />
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So I write to you, my friends, to encourage you, Nay! <i>beseech</i> you, to journey on over to the <a href="http://www.thecodeformen.com/">Code's website</a> and have a look around. You'll find some exceptionally good free excepts <a href="http://www.thecodeformen.com/free-excerpts.html">HERE</a> and you might even find a quote from Yours Truly on the homepage! All in all, it's a brilliant work, and I'm honored Mr. Thier allowed me to be a small part of its beginnings.<br />
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Follow the Code, my noble gentlemen, and as its author would say "Live the bright life in a dull society."<br />
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Blessings,<br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-28978063415224816672013-02-14T17:29:00.000-06:002014-01-20T17:07:19.626-06:00GUEST BLOGGER: Mike<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It is with great honor, my friends, that I present to you a guest post from my long-time friend and internationally-recognized proficient in all things Manly, <b>Michael</b> from over at the <a href="http://dirtbagging.blogspot.com/">Dirtbagging in the 21st Century</a> blog. Today, this real-life man of adventure answers the questions we've all been asking since we read the name of his blog....<i>What is dirtbagging? </i>and <i>Could it really be the testosterone kick that's been missing in my life?</i></div>
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I was talking with my good friend Blake over at <a href="http://21stcenturygent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Mark of a Gentleman</a> the other day, and he asked me if I would be interested in doing a guest blog for his site. Now of course, I was more than flattered by the request, and so I happily agreed to the undertaking. However, this left me with a quandary: what would I write for the MOG, a men's lifestyle and fashion blog. After a few more correspondences, Blake suggested something great! An exposé of the dirtbagging lifestyle and how it fulfills a man's need for adventure. So here it is, my thoughts on dirtbagging and adventure in our modern society.<br />
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"Every man dies, not every man really lives."</div>
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Above: the prolific tagline from the 1995 film Braveheart. If any movie (not involving a beloved dog) has ever captured the heart of a man, it's Braveheart. It has everything: love, honor, glory, and most of all adventure! I think there is something in all of us that craves a real adventure, something bigger than ourselves that holds its own meaning.<br />
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Perhaps I suffer a bit too much from the Golden Age fallacy, but it seems that it's a little harder to have these types of life changing adventures in our modern age. In a world of automated toilets, fast food, and high-speed internet, the opportunity to live by our wits and eat only that which we kill seems all but lost. The task of returning The Ring to Mordor seems even more insurmountable when we have to be back to work by Monday. So what is a man to do in this stifling world? While The Ring may have already been destroyed, and Scotland already freed from the imperialism of the British Empire, there are still many an adventure waiting for you, Man of the 21st Century.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The journey is the destination...</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">“In Spanish there is a word for which I can't find a counterword in English. It is the verb </span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">vacilar</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">, present participle </span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">vacilando</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">. It does not mean vacillating at all. If one is </span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">vacilando</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">, he is going somewhere, but does not greatly care whether or not he gets there, although he has direction."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">- John Steinbeck <i>Travels With Charley: In Search of America</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">If you haven't read it, I highly suggest you do. This autobiographical work</span><i style="line-height: 19px;"> </i><span style="line-height: 19px;">is truly a tale of the modern adventure. Steinbeck outfits a truck with a camper top and sets forth on a 10,000 mile journey around the United States with only his dog Charley to keep him company. Now, not all of us have the time or the money for such a radical Don Quixote-</span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">esque undertaking, but that doesn't mean we can't take part in some sort of amazing journey. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">Dirtbagging:</span></h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by:<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c2a47; font-size: small; text-align: left;"><a href="http://peterlongno.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Peter Longno</a></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Dirtbagging can be the modern answer to this inborn desire. The purest form of dirtbagging is giving up the amenities of modern life and the conveniences of a steady job in order to pursue your passion. Many a climber scrape by on random part-time jobs while living in tents, cars, and hostels in order to be closer to the rocks that they love. You've seen them around Boulder and Yosemite; bearded and unwashed, they sleep in their vans and cook in camp stoves. They are wearing the same clothes they were when you saw them yesterday, but lug around a $1,500 trad rack and wear $170 climbing shoes. This is the ultimate example of financial dedication. Far from homeless, these are the dirtbaggers, the men and women who have decided to cast off the mold of a traditional life in pursuit of what drives them. Now obviously I'm biased towards the climbing community, but the same force is what drives those who live aboard their sailboats, live out of backpacks on the Appalachian Trial, or otherwise pursue their particular passions at the expense of a normal life. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">I suppose I idolize these people a bit; I can't claim their unyielding passion. As a law student I have opted for a slightly more traditional life, but that doesn't mean I don't share many of the same desires. This desire is what has motivated me, a weekend warrior of climbing, to spend two months living out of the back of my car in order to do as much climbing as I possibly can during the last summer of my academic career. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Nor do you have to give up your spirit of adventure just because you have a job or a family. There are still plenty of opportunities just waiting to be grasped: </span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">If just getting outside is something that brings you to the brink of your comfort zone, then plan some camping trips. After all, no one ever had an adventure who didn't step outside their front door. </span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">If you are comfortable outdoors, try a backpacking trip. The trip can be as long as you want: just the weekend in that national forest, a couple of weeks through the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">mountains, or even two or three months on the Appalachian Trail. Some of my best memories are from week-long trips through the mountains of New Mexico. Maybe after a few trips, the idea of hiking the AT sounds appealing to you; but there's no way you can take three months out of your life to through-hike it. That's OK-- many people who complete the 2,200 mile trip through 14 states do it by section hiking. By section hiking, you can complete the entire trail piece by piece when you have the time. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Pick up sailing, climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, backpacking, or mountaineering, anything that will get you out in the thick of it. Spend the night on a big exposure with nothing but a bivy and your iron will. Find something worth being on the drift for! </span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">The Fun Scale </span></span></h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you ain't bleeding you ain't trying!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Now, the most important, and possibly most beneficial, practice of the dirtbag lifestyle is redefining the word "FUN" in your life. For years my friends and I, as well as adventurers around the world, have spent evenings around the fire talking about The Fun Scale. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">The Concept is simple:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><u>Type I Fun</u>: Good food, good friends, a cold beer after along day at the crag. These are the visceral things, things that are incredibly enjoyable in that moment. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u style="line-height: 19px;">Type II Fun</u><span style="line-height: 19px;">: Now things get a little more interesting. The unexpected squall that crops up, leaving you to batten the hatches and rough out 30ft seas; the night it gets so cold your 0º sleeping bag might as well be a My Little Pony slumber-party bedroll; or the day you scare yourself senseless because your third cam blows and you take a 20ft ripper down the wall. These are the kind of things that may not seem fun when they're happening but end up being the things you remember, the things that stories are made of. These are the things that you and your buddies will reminisce about for years to come</span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">.</span><br />
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<u style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">Type III Fun</u><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">: Quite possibly the loosest definition of the word. These are the full on torture-fests. These are the days you subject yourself to conditions that may never be fondly remembered. But hey, who said adventure was all sunshine and rainbows? Besides, these are the stories that people actually want to hear! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">However, the goal of the scale is not to fill your life with Type I Fun; the goal is to recategorize fun in your own mind. Try to recognize the fun of Type II situations in the moment. When the rain is pouring down, and you are soaked to bone, enjoy it! This is the story you will be telling your friends later, this is the adventure you have been searching for! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">This is your life and it's ending one minute at a time...</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">So here we are, men longing for adventure in a seemingly sterilized world. It's up to you... to grab life by the scruff of the neck and take it for everything it's worth. Wrestle a bear, catch a catfish with your arm, grow a moustache, the world is your oyster! We love books and movies about adventure; they resonate with us at our very core. It touches something within us, some primal desire to shake off the shackles of the mundane and truly live life; to earn our place in this world; to stand shoulder to shoulder with the heros of old and once and for all lay claim to our destiny! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Find something you love, and GO LIVE YOUR LIFE! </span></span><br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-45217505768245704772013-02-07T18:44:00.001-06:002014-01-20T17:07:35.190-06:00Well, It's a Boot Dang Time!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I'm going to be completely open with you for a moment if you don't mind...Ready?<br />
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I hate country music. <br />
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Now for those of you who haven't just suffered severe jawline fractures as your chin plummeted to the table top in front of you, let me explain. Yes, I'm from Texas. Yes, everything's bigger here. Yes, we all ride to work on horses. But that's beside the point. It's just my personal taste. However, despite my soul's boiling disgust for such putrid redneck breakup songs they somehow find their way into permanent residence within my brain more times than I'd care to admit. Case in point, the song <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0go5Q_v0EIk">Boots On</a> by Randy Houser.<br />
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I can't tell you why. I can't tell you how. But as my wife can attest, it is physically impossible in the universe in which we reside for me to put on a pair of boots without singing the last stanza of that chorus. And you know what? I'm not ashamed. Because there's something about throwing on a pair of boots with your duds that gives your ego a charitable kick in the kahones and tells it to man up--you're a certifiable bad-to-the-bone, crazy-eyed king of cool whether you like it or not now, son!<br />
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Alright, another confession: I have far surpassed my wife in the accumulation-of-shoes department. It's a sickness, I know, but I can't help it. And in my defense, many of the above kicks were gifts or insane bargains (<i>no lie, the gray ones cost me $9). </i>But all that is skirting the ultimate highlight of what makes boots so dang cool--they're one of the most versatile shoe choices a gentleman can ever own. Dress them up, dress them down. Wear them dancing or hunting (<i>"hand-holding" or "deer-gutting"). </i>And with our nation's most recent abysmal excuse for a winter, perhaps the best thing about these gentlemanly spur holders is that they're the one piece of fall clothing you can hold onto through most of the spring too.<br />
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Take a note from the always chivalric and dapper Idris Elba (<i>pictured above). </i>Not only is the man the star of one of my all-time favorite shows, BBC's <i><a href="http://www.bbcamerica.com/luther/">Luther</a>, </i>he's also a regular on the Best Dressed list of every website from here to Alpha Centauri. Steal a page from his swagbook and try pairing your favorite beat-to-heck boots with jeans and a t-shirt all the way up until you're staring Summer with it's 100-degree breath right in the scorching face.<br />
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....and then for goodness sake, ditch the boots AND the socks and scramble for the nearest slip-on.<br />
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Hope you all enjoy the new look of the site! Figured after two years it was time for a light facelift.<br />
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Blessings,<br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-29824736980658447472013-01-21T17:55:00.002-06:002014-01-20T17:07:58.601-06:00Happy Two-Year Anniversary!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This month marks yet another year past since the inception of this blog, and let me assure you that no one is more shocked than I that its heart is still beating. And as much as I would like to say that my individual determination and cosmic destiny to assist fellow gentlemen with the finer things in life are the sole reasons for these sartorial ramblings reaching into the year 2013--we all know that the true thanks and honor belong to you, my wonderful readers. <br />
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Through the rain, sleet, snow, and insane semesters of teaching villainous Middle School children, you've managed to be there despite the frequency or infrequency of these posts. And for that, I am truly grateful.<br />
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So, just as last year, I'd like to present you with a short video that in a small manner illustrates my deepest gratitude to you all. I hope you enjoy, and here's to many more! Cheers.<br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-33680080663149002052013-01-03T18:16:00.000-06:002014-01-20T17:08:15.402-06:00Men of Inspiration: Sherlock Holmes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>"My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other people do not know.” </b></i></span><br />
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...like, for instance, how to dress exceptionally well while solving the world's most diabolically evil mysteries crafted by maniacal university professors bent on global domination....and then keeping my fanbase for over 100 years.<br />
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You know the name. The books. The radio shows. Over the years it's been brought to life in film by some of the greatest names IMDB has to offer. Perhaps it's even been used against you in an ironically derogatory manner after you observed something about a situation that the rest of the present company found agonizingly obvious. Whatever the case, (<i>Get it? Case? Ha!) </i>the brilliance and charisma of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's flagship character, Sherlock Holmes, is unmistakable as well as timeless. Not to mention, the guy's a super snazzy dresser.<br />
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Over the last century, there have been innumerable incarnations of Doyle's character--some bearing the iconic name, and some not. All, however, bring the genius, sophistication, and downfalls of the character into new light. And so, for this post I give you the<span style="color: #990000;"><u><i><b> 3 most popular modern television interpretations</b></i></u> </span>of Mr. Holmes and the style tips from each of them you can steal. Elementary, my dear readers. Let's begin: <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. <u>Elementary (CBS)</u></b></span><br />
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Yes, yes, I know. <b><i>"Watson is a GIRL! Horrible premise! BBC is so much better! Blah, blah, blah." </i></b><br />
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I get it, alright? And in fact I'd probably agree with you on many of your points. But the truth is, <i>Elementary's</i> Sherlock is actually pretty darn cool AND just plain fun to watch. Sure, <i>other</i> networks across the pond may have done undeniably better work with the story arcs than its American counterpart, but I'm a fan of Jonny Lee Miller's interpretation and I think he does a delightful job at bringing a new spin to the legend.<br />
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Of course, there's also the matter of his style, which I particularly like for all it's disheveled and grungy glory. One of my particular favorites, is his consistent use of the hipster-ish (<i>but also characteristic of a detail-obsessed personality</i>) Full Dress Shirt Button-Up. Take a note from Mr. Holmes, and ditch the tie while anchoring the look with the finer details like a vest, blazer, and leather boots. It's a look that's classy but sugar-coated with an air of genius-level rebellion to conventional rules.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.express.com/shirts-ties-49/control/show/12/index.cat">Patterned shirt from Express</a>, <a href="http://us.topman.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogNavigationSearchResultCmd?catalogId=33059&storeId=13051&langId=-1&viewAllFlag=false&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=207543&parent_categoryId=247580&beginIndex=1&pageSize=20">Blazer from TopMan</a>, <a href="http://www.aldoshoes.com/us/men/boots/casual-boots/91254670-klepac/97">Klepac black boots from ALDO</a></i> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. <u>House M.D. (FOX)</u></b></span><br />
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So like I said, these are some of the many television <i><b>incarnations</b></i> (<i>not in-name only) </i>of Sherlock Holmes, and one of the absolute best in my opinion is that of Dr. Gregory House in Fox's late <i>House M.D. </i>To be honest, this was one of my favorite television shows of all time and it's one that made no secret of its similarities and overall basing of its characters on that of the Sir Conan Doyle's literary masterpieces. One glowing aspect of House's character was his constant struggle with dependence on narcotics--a very similar vice to that of Sherlock Holmes with his addiction to cocaine and morphine in the original works. <br />
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House's style was also that of apathy and rebellion--most of which consisted of blazers over t-shirts and jeans. This style is insanely easy to pull off and is therefore a look you'll see nearly anywhere on guys with slightly more style than a dung beetle on burrito night. Try amping up the details with a jolt of color in your jeans and a patterned pocket square to tie it all together. But only throw in the cane if you have a doctor's note to back it up.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/category.jsp?id=M_BOTTOMS">Blazer and <span style="font-size: small;">m</span>aroon cords from Urban Outfitters</a>, <a href="http://feedjustone.com/">Shi<span style="font-size: small;">rt from FeedJustOne.com</span></a> </span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. <u>Sherlock (BBC)</u></b></span> <br />
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Lastly, and perhaps best of all is ,of course, the Mother Country's newest rendition of her native hero, BBC's <i>Sherlock. </i>Cumberbatch's Holmes is an absolutely brilliant modern take on a character steeped in internal turmoil yet consistently dismissive of anything remotely resembling genuine human attachment or feeling. And with an episode length more like a full-length motion picture at 90 minutes each, his mysteries are exponentially more detailed, intriguing, and riddled with twists and turns that keep audiences enthralled in Holmes and Watson's every move. (<i>not to mention one of the most demented and obsessively sadistic portrayals of Moriarty that I've ever seen) </i><br />
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And the man's style? Impeccable (<i>he is British afterall</i>). The Sherlock of modern London embraces the classics and the trendy, with expertly tailored suits, mid-century-esque topcoats, and surprisingly colorful scarves. In fact, there's hardly anything on which to improve in this look--it's already that dapper. Perhaps just toss in a slightly more patterned shirt and maybe a pocket square on your jacket and you're ready to hit the streets of London looking the part of an international super legend. <br />
<i><a href="http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category/us/en/zara-us-W2012-s/323310/Man">Houndstooth topcoat and black suit from Zara</a>, <a href="http://www.express.com/shirts-ties-49/control/show/12/index.cat">Shirt from Express</a></i><a href="http://www.express.com/shirts-ties-49/control/show/12/index.cat"> </a><br />
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And with that my friends, there is nothing more to do than to send you on your way with your new-found inspiration. I therefore leave you with a charge from the man himself....<br />
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<b>"Come, Watson, come!' he cried. 'The game is afoot. Not a word! <u>Into your clothes</u> and come!' </b><br />
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Cheers and Happy 2013,<br />
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Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-83531085373803667362012-12-11T19:24:00.001-06:002014-01-20T17:08:32.924-06:00What to Get Him for Christmas: 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>You've done it again, haven't you?</b></span></i><br />
Here it is less than two weeks away from the most joyful holiday of the year...and you've already resigned to scouring Ebay or Amazon for some meaningless trinket that will hopefully induce a polite Yuletide chuckle from the gentleman on your list as he opens it and places it atop the pile of hideously wrapped department store ties he has beside him. I'll even give you the benefit of the doubt! Let's say that you actually have <i><b>not</b></i> procrastinated but have simply been hopelessly puzzled as to what to get your special guy (<i>husband, friend, boyfriend, dad, son, whathaveyou)</i>. Well, I'm here to tell you first off, that it's not your fault. We can be hellishly hard to shop for if we have even the slightest amount of taste exceeding that of being instantly satisfied with a 6-pack of domestic booze and a fresh pair of sweat pants.<br />
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So in an effort to assist all of you last-minute gentlemen gift-givers, I'd like to present the M.O.G's official (<i>and far from definitive) </i>gift guide for 2012. <br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">1. Twas the Noon Before Christmas</span></b></i><br />
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I first stumbled upon these insanely slick timepieces...well, two days ago while on a date with my wife in the Arts District of Dallas. They were way in the back, lost in the forest of random, Lysol-drenched vintage clothing and "unique finds" and I was instantly drawn to them. Entranced by their beauty, I couldn't help but notice the vast array of colors and geometric shapes. Now granted, they're a bit pricey from a mild acquaintance gift-giving standpoint, but for an exceptionally versatile and classy wrist accoutrement, the price is perfect for that dapper gentleman father or husband on your list.<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><a href="http://shopus.nooncopenhagen.com/pages/changer"><i>Noon Copenhagen Watch, $135 (pictured)</i></a></span><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">2. And He, He Himself, The Gr<span style="font-size: large;">i</span>nch Carved the Old Book</span></b></i><br />
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If you're the more handmade gifting person then this a <b>wonderful, awful idea!</b> (<i>that was a Grinch line, sorry, this actually is a good idea) </i>Get a few old books from a Goodwill store nearby and follow the blog instructions (<i>below) </i>to carve it into a masterful-looking, and super suave gift for any gentleman. I did this for two of my best friends last year and I must say it was holly jolly-good fun to make and to give. And best of all, it's from the heart<i>--</i>one that may be two sizes too small. (<i>sorry, sorry another Grinch quote...seriously this is a good idea)</i><br />
<i><a href="http://artofmanliness.com/2010/12/07/how-to-make-a-secret-book-safe/">Make your own Secret Book Safe, $2-5 for book</a> </i> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_i-Xk6W3NPqvaKlCafdNqe6MBK2Gl3Pw64exsF0djg2sH1psG-9EWcQP_bUb9cqPMoA0hNGz4DO39_bX6biJfIDbMcXMEULPGZPCyUAMHUww2w-Cg5-PZcXzW9X0hDzvX2HvqrGX5wM9h/s1600/art+of+shaving+starter+kit.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_i-Xk6W3NPqvaKlCafdNqe6MBK2Gl3Pw64exsF0djg2sH1psG-9EWcQP_bUb9cqPMoA0hNGz4DO39_bX6biJfIDbMcXMEULPGZPCyUAMHUww2w-Cg5-PZcXzW9X0hDzvX2HvqrGX5wM9h/s320/art+of+shaving+starter+kit.png" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>3. Oh, What Fun It Is To Start With a Perfect Christmas Shave, Hey!</i></span></b><br />
I can't think of any present more thoughtful than the abolishing of inadequate shaving for your gentleman giftee. The people over at the Art of Shaving have created the perfect starter kit to get you out of those dollar store jugular-slicers and into a routine of refined, precision whisker removal. <br />
<i><a href="http://brotherhood.theartofshaving.com/giftguide2012?ref=NA&utm_campaign=2012-Holidays-Web&utm_content=Top-Center&utm_source=TAOS-Homepage&utm_medium=Banner&cm_mmc=TAOS-Homepage-_-2012-Holidays-Web-_-Top-Center-_-NA#category=gifts-by-price-75">Art of Shaving Starter Kit, $25</a></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzd8hpeH7erd2U8jXwGSd_KpxzJZnd1TXODqaiYZIM-dd99f2DHPvmUIZ11WdrHkdQQsIAy_y5rXR2UsBWH4R6MaOrd15L14Le8txN4Nzhhw2urLWC0uSy3PbqfsZXHbCLWTu2KcQmzz_r/s1600/DYNOMIGHTY-Kickstarter-group-shot-w-Logos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzd8hpeH7erd2U8jXwGSd_KpxzJZnd1TXODqaiYZIM-dd99f2DHPvmUIZ11WdrHkdQQsIAy_y5rXR2UsBWH4R6MaOrd15L14Le8txN4Nzhhw2urLWC0uSy3PbqfsZXHbCLWTu2KcQmzz_r/s320/DYNOMIGHTY-Kickstarter-group-shot-w-Logos.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">4. O Holy Might</span></b></i> <br />
I've spoken before about my adoration for Dynomighty's Might Wallets--in fact, my own personal wallet has been with me now for over a year and a half and it's still going strong. Recently, however, Dynomighty has expanded their game to include incredible products such as laptop and tablet cases, and streamlined mini versions of their wallets. With a truly endless selection of "prints," there's definitely an option and a design to fit any guy on your list.<br />
<a href="http://www.mightywallets.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=mighty%20wallets&z=rkg"><i>Dynomighty Products, $10-25</i></a><br />
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And there you have it! Please leave a comment below with any other gift suggestions you might have...I'll be sure to do the same or post again if I come up with anything else. Happy shopping, my friends, and do try to remember amidst the insanity of the holidays those people and things that are truly the most important. Merry Christmas to you all!</div>
Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276999886101145464.post-74136123183118426262012-12-04T19:25:00.001-06:002014-01-20T17:08:53.386-06:00Run Along Now, And Let the Grown-Ups Rock: III<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>A Recurring Segment On Fostering a Refined and Stylish Appreciation for the Modern Musical Arts.</b></span></span><br />
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When all the bureaucratic nonsense, government meddling, and standardized assessment fecal matter all melts away....a teacher's job is to influence their students--influence them to love the subject, to study it, to adopt certain habits and values that make a good student and an eventual productive member of society. And though, at times, it seems the reality is often much closer to that of a correctional officer at Alcatraz rather than Socrates, there is honestly nothing like the moment when a teacher knows they have made a meaningful impact in a student's life.</div>
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That moment happened for me today...but not in the traditional instructional way. You see, the students that stop by for tutoring after school often merely stop by to talk music with me. For days now, we've gone back and forth after-hours pulling up Youtube clips of our "best musician of his time" moments and debating eras and genres--I pulling for the classics (<i>Zeppelin, Rush, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Hendrix, Buddy Guy, etc.</i>), and they pulling for mostly modern hardcore latrines of musical by-products (<i>sorry, honesty hurts)</i>.<br />
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The moment the light bulb went on, however, and the grown-up rock revelation occurred was the introduction of one single man into the conversation--and that man was <span style="color: #990000;"><i><u><b>Buddy Rich</b></u></i></span>.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span></span></span><br />
Speechless. I don't think I'd ever seen these students like that before. They'd been 100% positive moments before I showed them this video that Travis Barker (<i>Blink182)</i> had been the end-all drummer of the solar system. But when confronted by a true musical legend who could put the aforementioned boy to shame at over 60 years old and all in a dapper tuxedo....they'd never see music the same again.<br />
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Neal Pert and John Bonham, of course, made appearances and the conversation continued, but nothing solidified my point better than the classically smooth jazz rythms of a man truly gifted in the art of swagger (<i>even if his temper got the best of him a few times).</i><br />
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But alas, that's all I've got. I've just been meaning to revive this series for some time now but had never found the right one with which to do it. Be sure to check out some of Buddy's old records and compilations. Even if you don't have a soft spot in your heart for jazz and swing like I do, I can assure you that it will not disappoint.<br />
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Until next time, rock on, my friends. </div>
Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725606568890507062noreply@blogger.com0