My gigs are about 60 miles from home. Last night, a lady friend got some bad news and asked if I'd stay over in the city. I didn't plan to stay in town, so I'm wearing the same all-black I wore yesterday (slacks/black henley). Because I'm working a double today and tomorrow, I'm going to have to go out and find more black. Which sucks, because at home I have: - 4 dress shirts - 3 long-sleeve shirts - 1 t-shirt - 1 camp shirt All in black. I've yet to buy new black jeans since I've lost weight, so I am probably going to do that (pit musicians don't usually have a specific formality level; just black so you're not as visible to the audience). I only have one sweater that fits well, so I can get a black v-neck. Any other suggestions? These seem to be the most likely to add to my rotation, but I'm rarely in weather that requires a sweater here in Central Florida.

Another day at the office in NYC — finally starting to warm up a bit -- and then dinner with friends . . . Tom Ford gray and black wool sport coat; Hermès orange pocket square; Apposta white cotton broadcloth button-up shirt; Ralph Lauren Purple Label black wool cardigan; Luca Faloni black cotton chinos; rafalgar black silk suspenders; Orvis black merino wool crew socks; Santoni dark gray Chukka boots; Apple Watch Hermès Series 10 with Grand H stainless steel watch band; Polo Ralph Lauren black leather and wool gloves; Irish black tweed flat cap from Hanna Hats of Donegal; Italian silk scarf; Kiaura “Eichler” sunglasses in black; Loro Piana wool greatcoat over it all. Also stopped in at the Peninsula Hotel on Fifth Avenue for a drink in the rooftop bar and to see the Christmas decorations (pretty spiffy).

Life is a competition. One that you were born into. Regardless of what you may think or may have been told... Choosing not to compete doesn't remove you from that competition. Nor does it make you "enlightened"... "Morally superior"... ...or whatever other bullshit lie you sell yourself. You know what choosing not to compete actually makes you? A loser. By default. All the people willing to compete will take everything you aren't willing to fight for. Everything. Competition isn’t something society created. It’s biological. You see it in children before they even develop any type of moral compass. They want to win. They celebrate when they do. They lose their shit when they don’t. That instinct didn’t disappear. It was conditioned out of you by people who never had the heart or grit to fight for themselves. People who refuse to compete don’t build great lives. They don't build great businesses. They don't build great families. They don't build great anything. They spectate. They criticize. They cope. Get your ass off of the bench and onto the field. Life has winners and losers. Don't choose to be a loser by "opting-out" of the competition. You can't. ~ Andy Frisella