Classic Style

Kills 99.9% of germs.  And, very likely, 99.9% of the people who might ingest it somehow simply because some ignoramus wandered off-script once again and gave voice to whatever half-baked thought drifted into his head.  Calls to poison control centers around the U.S. have been on the rise during the last several days.  It is difficult to  fathom and almost incomprehensible that there are actually people out there who might entertain using cleaners and disinfectants like this in the wake of the president's latest gaff last week.  As tragic as that desperate reality is, it does not say much for a certain segment of the electorate who might seriously consider drinking, snorting, rinsing with, or injecting household cleaners like Lysol, Clorox, and others. L eading others effectively is a delicate balancing act of many things.    In more specific detail, we should prepare ourselves to lead by being proactive.  We must practice and cultivate the art of informing ourselves throug

All dressed for the office of days gone by. W e have only been lightly confined for a few weeks relatively speaking, so it seems almost incomprehensible when I see and hear in the news people of various ages and stripes complaining about one thing or another connected with self-quarantines, stay-at-home orders, or social distancing.  How entitled and soft we have become in the decades since The Great Depression and WWII, when so many people around the world had to make do with far less for much longer and often under far worse circumstances.  And that’s not even taking into consideration the sheer number of injuries and deaths endured by so many military personnel and civilians around the world between 1939-1945.  Oh, I get it.  We’re disappointed if prom and graduation have been cancelled.  We’re scared. We’re frustrated.  In some instances, we disguise (we kid ourselves) our great anxiety behind politically charged bluster.  We may have lost our jobs, or been

The model of mask I ordered this morning, Royal Oxford Cloth in blue. E ven in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting political mess in Washington (Let's be frank with ourselves here, folks.), there is a bit of fun to be had now and then.   I learned via Ivy Style early this morning that Kamakura Shirts has geared up to produce surgical masks made from a variety of fabrics, available in reasonably priced three-packs.  Well, how could I resist?   The only drawback is that these probably will not ship until late June.  But I'm sure there will be ample opportunity to use and, um, enjoy these (?!) once they arrive. -- Heinz-Ulrich

 The back just post-mow.  Not too bad for the first cutting of the season.  Still greening up, but more rain, increasing warmth, and some organic fertilizer should help that along. W ent to work on curing some of that cabin fever midday today by changing the oil in the ol' Toro Timemaster, firing her up, and clipping the lawn for the first time since last November.  Funny how something as simple as mowing will suddenly make the areas around the house look so much better.   Not that the grass was high by any stretch, but we're now at a nice, clean starting point.  Much like you look after trip to the barbershop or hair stylist.  A good trim and clean-up gets rid of the shag.   I find myself looking forward to more time in the yard during the next six months or so.  Our local weather here is supposed to be sunny and almost warm for Monday, so putting down some organic fertilizer at some point tomorrow looks like a distinct possibility. -- Heinz-Ulrich Part of th

K eeping up with our vintage hat advertisement theme, here are a bunch from the 1940s-1950s, showing various models made and sold by Dobbs.  Enjoy! I hope everyone is otherwise holding up reasonably well during all of this Covid-19 worry.  I certainly grasp why we are to remain at home for the time being -- It's a communicable illness, folks! -- and those who would suggest otherwise are being incredibly foolish.  However, I'm really starting to miss the normal Monday through Thursday or Friday routine.   You know.  Rising early (Yes, really.), dressing after a shower and shave, and then heading to the car for the usual brief jaunt to campus, invariably followed by a coffee and a few hours at work in the main library's cafe before classes and afternoon meetings fill the rest of the day.  Well, I can do without the meetings, but you hopefully understand what I mean.   Certainly, we all wish we had more days off, more summer vacation tim

F un to peruse these old hat ads as we endure our Covid-19 social distancing quarantine.  Working from home ain't all it's cracked up to be, folks.  But that's a conversation for another time.   Did you spot any movie actors of the era as you looked through these?  If ever we get back out into the world again, I might celebrate by adding a Stetson fedora to the rotation.  Something in a taupe I think. -- Heinz-Ulrich

The top this Easter morning following a shower and blow-dry.  Some Wahl clippers are on the way, via Mr. Amazon, to clean up our necks and around the ears. A nd the message for today?  Put on a collared shirt before you sit down to the dinner table, gents!  No one in your family should be forced to endure man boobs and/or nippleage peaking through a t-shirt that's too small, and which should have been given to the ragman 20 years ago.  Come on. -- Heinz-Ulrich And the lower half.  A bit chilly here today in Mid-Michigan, so we're still sporting the usual corduroy jeans.  The navy and red surcingle belt (one of two casual belts in the rotation) is just out of sight here. Finally, what would Easter be without a photo of the mad chef preparing some Easter Bread?  He's gotta work off some of that sugar-infused energy following waffles with syrup for breakfast and then several chocolate eggs from the Easter basket for dessert.  The finished product.  A br

Left by the front door late yesterday (Thursday) afternoon, the first of two shirts ordered from Mercer.  The Tattersall model is delayed until the factory opens again. T he first of two shirts ordered at the start of February arrived yesterday afternoon. WHile my second shirt will be delayed by a bit, I am very pleased with the results overall for the first shirt and will most likely place another order for two or three OCBDs in various colors once things get back to normal.  Would you look at that collar roll below! -- Heinz-Ulrich Said shirt modeled with necktie and navy blazer this (Friday) afternoon.  Very comfortable, nice collar roll, and good fit prior to washing.  My normal dimensions for many, many years have been 15" x 33".  The sleeves are a bit too long and the collar a tad loose around the neck, but some shrinkage is expected with a warm first wash and cycle in the dryer, so I'll reserve judgement.  Not bad for a first run.  Not bad at a