Pastry Style in Ann Arbor. . .

The Grand Duchess and I enjoyed a grand day out on Saturday, when we drove about a hour southeast of East Lansing to Ann Arbor for brunch, some tooling around various favorite shops, and stop at our favorite patisserie-cafe before heading home late in the afternoon. As we walked along hand in hand toward our first destination, shortly after parking the car, a passerby remarked that we were a striking couple.

I don't know about that, but it was nice of the woman in question to say so. The Grand Duchess, by the way, wore a navy dress with a navy cardigan over her shoulders, a pair of low black heels, and pearls. She was certainly the more striking of the two!

It was, we discovered, graduation weekend for the University of Michigan, and there were actually many male graduates and family in suits or sports jackets with neckties milling around along with tastefully attired women of various ages dressed to the nines. Great to see actually, and an indicator that many remain aware of and dress for special occasions.

A stark contrast to most of the student body and family I observe here in East Lansing for similar occasions. One of several clear differences between a flagship and a land grant university I suppose. Location, location, location as the saying goes.

In any case, Sonja and I had a wonderful day just the two of us and consumed far too many culinary treats of one kind or another, but just such a getaway sans child was looooooong overdue. About 14.5 years to be exact. Not that I'm keeping track or anything.

Speaking of which, the Young Master returned from his whirlwind class trip to Washing, D. C. very late last night. He apparently saw a lot and had his own nice time away with classmates and teachers. God bless Mrs. K. and Mr. R!

Escorting and safeguarding approximately 30 8th Graders through airports on the way to and from another city several hours away is certainly not a task I would ever consider. Thank goodness for those with the patience, tact, and kind nature necessary to do so however.

-- Heinz-Ulrich.

Comments

The Problem of "Business Casual" Attire. . .

This is how it's done. Business Casual the RIGHT way, ladies and gentlemen. Even during the summer months. A photograph (taken by Studio B Portraits ) which appeared in 425 Business Magazine in May 2017. T his post on the problem of business casual dress began as a quick postscript to a previous blog entry last week but quickly grew and grew as additional thoughts occurred, were developed in more detail, and revisions made. So much so, that it seemed, eventually, like a better idea to make the initial P.S. afterthought into its own entry . Are ya ready, Freddy? Then, here we go. . . ------------ U nless you actually plan to sell beach snacks and trinkets on Cozumel, become a serial barista, or greet customers at a fancy nightclub after taking out huge student loans to attend university somewhere for four or five years, plus an MBA afterward, it's really a better idea to err on the side of (somewhat) more formal work attire any time you head into the

Four Little Words. . .

R egardless of the cut of one's sports jacket, odd pants, suit, or shirt collar, four key words spring to mind when it comes to being intentional about our attire, personal habits, daily interactions and so much else. Here they are: Polish -- Good manners and ease with people. Sophistication -- Refinement, good taste, and subtlety in not only a social context but also the cultural and intellectual senses . Finesse -- Sensibility, grace, and social competence. Awareness -- Perspective, empathy, and emotional intelligence And my point? We should strive to cultivate these qualities in ourselves with (more) conscious intent. More of the four within and from everyone would make the world in 2024 a far more pleasant place in which to live and operate. Best of all, these four things cost nothing, making them accessible to everyone regardless of education level or income bracket. -- Heinz-Ulrich

Friday Breakfast Style. . .

N ow and again, the Grand Duchess and I manage to find the time for an adults' breakfast out on Friday mornings once the Young Master has climbed aboard the school bus. Today was the first such outing in quite some time, and we visited our favorite quick and greasy about 10 minute up the road. Since I've got a couple of Zoom meetings midday and in the early afternoon, I opted for a sports jacket over an OCBD shirt rather than the more typical Rugby top or flannel shirt. Hey, it's still quite chilly here in the mornings. -- Heinz-Ulrich

Classic Style

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