So as many of you know my wife is on disability, she does not work anymore, except to help me when she can with work from home. So I know that being home all the time and alone can take its toll on people. So I got her a small dog that she could have companionship with when I am not home, and yet small enough to be able to handle, bring before we raised and trained German Shepards for work. So I got her a Bichon Frise’ when are just playful bundles of joy. So when I got her one she wanted another one to have so they can play together, so I found the brother of the first one. Then the breeders contacted me and said that one of the sisters of the two I have was bought, and the owners for whatever reason was for sale. My wife asked me to buy it for her, so I was going out of town and not far from where the dog was. So I surprised her a went four hours away from where I was working to get this dog to surprise her. My wife was so excited! Well, recently we found out that the mother of these past away and the breeder had the last puppy from her and I just happened to find out from another person who has Bichons. So I contacted the breeder and he said he had one little 13 weeks male left from this lineage, so last week we made another trip to get the last Bichon from this lineage. So now we have four Bichons two males , two females. Which this lasted one in my little terrorist! He has so much energy that the older ones hide from him! But what makes I all worth while is seeing the joy it brings my wife. They bring her joy and make her have a sense of purpose despite her disability illness. I would buy 50 more if it brings her happiness and joy. Yes this new one wears me out as you can see, but to see my wife smile when they love on her is all worth it.

Today I got into a bad accident thanks to someone ignoring a stop sign. I’m ok, but the car will be in the shop for a while. On the flipside, I had a package stolen while I was away. it was a three piece herringbone suit, and got there just two days before I did. My neighborhood is typically very safe, but a gang took it. Well I had shrugged it off as a lost investment, but a neighbor filed a report and the police were able to recover it! The neighbor delivered it himself. Also a good samaritan drove me to the body shop. The takeaway here is for every bad person, there are so many good people who will surprise you with kindness. We musn’t lose sight of that.

Lots of internal meetings to advance all of the adjacent client meetings this week. We're busy enough that I had to cancel my attendance in the family's third trip this summer. I had a heart to heart with my son, who is leaving for college right after the third trip, to ensure he understood why and had a chance to discuss. He immediately understood and knows this year is a very big deal for the company's growth and long-term strategy. Sharing my company's goals with not just my wife, but also my boys, provides benefits beyond them just appreciating what goes into running a business. It helps them understand the importance of hard work, dedication, and occasionally, sacrifice. Another moderately warm day here, so the linen blend suit felt like the right call. Today’s Outfit — Summer Suit with Tuesday-Rule Focus Color and seasonality: The look starts with a matte mid-blue summer suit and crisp white shirt, then adds cream, sand, cocoa, and burgundy for controlled warmth. The wool-silk-linen cloth, half-lined jacket, white ground, and pale accessories keep the August presentation light; richer brown-red accents add depth without making it feel autumnal. Tuesday rule: NT-076 is today’s qualifying anchor with it being the first wear. It meets Tuesday’s priority while also improving the outfit through its seasonally appropriate cream-and-brown palette. • Suit — SJ-017, SL-026 (Suitsupply): A matching mid-blue suit in matte, summer-weight wool, silk, and linen, with a natural-shouldered, half-lined two-button jacket and straight-leg cuffed trousers. The airy plain weave suits an August day while remaining business-formal enough for video leadership work and a polished medical appointment. • Shirt — DS-040 (Charles Tyrwhitt): A crisp white non-iron, two-ply cotton-twill shirt with a classic point collar and rounded French cuffs. Its bright neutral color sharpens the mid-blue suit and gives the cream-and-brown tie a clean, seasonally light canvas. • Undershirt — US-003 (Pro Club): A white heavyweight-cotton crew-neck undershirt with a secure, comfortable fit. The white-on-white pairing keeps it visually quiet beneath the dress shirt.

One of the things I love about Classic Timeless Menswear is the mastery in the minutia: The sheen of a highly polished shell cordovan shoe, the perfect silhouette of a pair of deep double forward pleated trousers made out of quality wool; The shoulder fit of a half or full canvas suit that’s been broken in that gets better with each wearing; The depth of a well harmonized outfit with a classic tattersall shirt featuring a quality regimental tie; the natural sprezzatura of a welted toe on a classic pair of dress tassel shoes with a suit or the beef roll stitching of a Waxhide pair of penny loafers; the elegance of a cardigan sweater with top and bottom buttons unbuttoned; etc. it’s the minor details that have enduring aspects of style that make clothing more of an investment rather than merely an expenditure. I miss the day when guys with discerning eyes lead gentlemen to admire this aspect of their friends wardrobe choices (yet I am inspired by this community’s return to this tradition). Today clothing has a throw-away aspect. Let me give one example: I saw an ad for Peter Manning (PM) recentlythat troubled me. It mistakenly conflated fit with its concept of style (actually a trendy fashion) PM has a great concept: to make clothing for the other half of guys, ie if 5’9” is the average height then presumably about half are above that and half are below that. Unfortunately PM has embraced the oddity of the modern fashion trends ( too short of a coat skirt, too high of an operable button, and a limited selection trend of solid quarter zips and non traditional polo shirts etc). I question if there might be a market of guys in that height range who would embrace a more classic timeless menswear design that is focused on 100 year old proven designs for gentlemen whose height is below 5’9”. Peter Manning fails in that CTM aspect in my eyes. Speaking of details, I find it easy to move from clothing design to interior design (an area of study that my friend @Trevor Hudson is much more qualified than I to address). As a complete amateur in this arena I have an eclectic sense that allows me to enjoy many different designs: from Frank Lloyd Wright and Bauhouse to classic Cotswold cottages or neo-Tudor and New England gambrel roof Dutch colonial exteriors; or interiors that mix antiques either with modern open layouts or interspersed within homes with cosy Ralph Lauren inspired nooks and rooms to escape and enjoy a cup of tea and a great book. The house where I presently live was built in 2004 out of a two year frustration of searching and not finding anything we liked, so when I was working 90 hours a week I built my 1st generation American born German wife a little cottage on my one person working salary. It was the best I could do with my severely limited time constraints, but I enjoy it.

Today I went into school with my daughter as part of education week. We played a game called “Golden Child”, went on the playground and then into the classroom to do some spelling. I chose to wear my new Sparrods & Co Double Monks to get more wear into them. Also chose the flat cap to match the overcoat. I have also done a “Layer Cake” fold with the pocket square, this requires two square to give it the layers look, next time I might try to constraint them a little more. Plus a have used the Van Wijk knot again because I just love the look it has. Todays outfit consists of; Oxford Wool-rich Roger Overcoat in Camel Brixton Brood Snap Cap in Oatmeal and Charcoal houndstooth M.J. Bale Bonato Suit, in a Super 130’s Washed Cherry cloth Charles Tyrwhitt Westminster Weave Shirt in Mocha Brown OTAA Sheffield Burgundy Line Tie with a Van Wijk Knot OTAA Silver Bond Tie Clip OTAA Don Vitone Blue Wool & Mr Bandito Wool Pocket Squares in a Layer Cake fold OTAA Wine Burgundy Textured Socks Sparrods & Co Oslo Double Monkstrap in Espresso (Referal code is ChadS) SOTD - Versace Eros Flame WOTD - Islander Greenport, Stone Grey with Sky Blue Accents