Recently spent some time in the Ozarks. Heading off to Ireland in a couple of weeks…should have some interesting photos to share.

The person you want to become is likely on the other side of a season of discomfort.

I missed you guys in RMRS, BoS and Watch Lover. I am amazed and happy to see the growth of all three communities and can't wait to get caught up with you all! So, any recommendations on where I should start? Maybe some HOT topics?

This is just a vent, nothing more than a few paragraphs of whining! Does anyone remember when you got dressed up before going to a steakhouse? Maybe it's just a Texas thing where people don't worry about appearance before going out. I don't mean blazers and shined shoes; but the outfit of choice had at least a touch of gentlemanly style. This Sunday (before Labor Day) I decided to treat myself to a moderately nice steak. I go to the local Longhorn Steakhouse and am advised there would be a slight wait. As I wait in the lobby, I start checking out the people around me--mainly those who were obviously together on some sort of date. The ladies were all dressed well: heels, semi-formal evening wear, care is put into the hair, make up is on point. You get the picture. They looked stunning. Then I look at the man they are with. Why is it some men look at the lady they are with and they think to themselves, "She looks amazing! I'm going to put on my best slides with black crew socks, a stained pair of cut-off camoflague shorts, a sleeveless shirt showing off my favorite metal band and my bushy arm pit hair, and then top it off with a grimey ball cap turned backwards. I'll even prop my favorite pair of sunglasses on the bill even though it's night." This was the majority of men who were paired with an elegantly dressed lady. There were some men who took some pride in their image. What has happened in society where it is an accepted norm for a man to put zero effort into his image, especially on a date? Why are the ladies putting up with this? I'm sure the immediate answer is "he's got a big, thick wallet." But if that's the case, couldn't he afford basic clothing that look presentable? I'm about to turn 51 in a few days. Maybe I'm just a grumpy old man who's starting to say, "Back in my day..." Yes, I need to just mind my own business and worry about myself. I'm only sharing a lamentation about the decline of gentlemanly presentation. Thanks.

The old adage in the women’s fashion world was no white after Labor Day. This bled over in to men’s clothing and consequently white bucks and seersuckers after Labor Day became a faux pax. Seersucker, especially in the southern states of US is the summer gentleman’s ubiquitous pinstripe. Its design that causes that classic puckering is what makes it the perfect summer suit or sportcoat because air flows through it. Where a linen suit is the summer’s version of a winter flannel suit-the other summer garment would then be the Seersucker. So irrespective of an arbitrary September holiday, at 106 degrees it’s just plain “DUCKING😎” hot. A couple of things about today’s outfit. I’ve posted frequently about taking cues from nature and one of my favorite combos is deep green against blue (think sky and trees- add clouds and a green tie with a seersucker’s blue and white is ideal. While I rarely wear a solid tie-I did some bold pattern matching today wearing a blue (that reads solid from a distance) PoW French cuff shirt that has a green accent (not essential but adds a nice touch), so the solid grenadine tie felt right. I accessorized with Guinness cufflinks, 1993 Shell Cordovan brogues in British Tan and a Caravelle Bulova watch. Quack Quack should I add a mint julip with my coffee😏🦆