Ski Vacation Style. . .

A few photographs from our recent weekend skiing getaway to Northern Michigan. Amazing conditions. And amazing cold. -17 degrees Fahrenheit one morning. But cross-country skiing warms you up fast and keeps you comfortable all day long.

On Day #1, we skied at Cross Country Ski Headquarters outside of Roscommon, Michigan, just about five minutes from the charming little house we rented. Beautiful groomed trails and rolling terrain through the woods. Excellent for kids and people new to the sport although we saw our share of hard cases with their waxing benches set up in the parking area, applying appropriate glide and grip waxes for the day's snow conditions.

We use universal glide wax on so called "waxless skis" (a misnomer), with a fishscale grip pattern in the kick zone of the bases. The Grand Duchess, bless her, also has a pair of new skate skis (a recent Christmas gift from yours truly), which have no kick zone given the different technique used to propel oneself forward.

Day #2 and Day #3 saw us at the more challenging and extensive Forbush Corners Nordic Ski Center just north of Grayling, Michigan. Top notch conditions, more varied terrain, and, on some trails, pretty technical skiing .

Best of all, The Young Master can now tackle advanced hills, so there was almost nothing we could not do during our three days of skiing followed by comfort food for our evening meals -- tuna casserole, macaroni and cheese, and pizza -- and evenings by the fireplace with coffee, hot chocolate, wine that featured the most delightful conversations with my wife. I cannot recall when I have felt so relaxed and at ease. It has been a long, long time.

We had such a nice time, that we have booked a second VRBO rental in the same general area for a weekend in mid-February. This time, we'll explore the Hanson Hills Recreation Area, another extensive network of groomed trails outside of Grayling, and return to Forbush Corners (Yes, it's that good!). Looking very forward to our next ski getaway in February!

-- Heinz-Ulrich

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

The Average Guy's Guide to Classic Style Now on Ebay!!!

Another great old Laurence Fellows illustration of menswear from the classic era, the 1930s. T he Average Guy's Guide to Classic Style is up and running on Ebay. -- Heinz-Ulrich

"If you see something you want. . ."

The above photograph has been "borrowed" from the J. Press website. "I f you see something you want," advised my late mother, "buy it. It won't be there when you go back later." A favorite (and wise) adage hers that I still follow whenever possible. So when this item appeared on clearance at J. Press, I mulled it over for a couple of days, and then clicked the requisite boxes to make the online purchase. Should be here within the week. Once upon a time, I had a similar jacket by Corbin that I foolishly purged before we left Central Illinois ('Illi-noir' anyone?) for Michigan almost 10 years ago. Not sure what I was thinking at the time since I did like the item and wore it routinely. This one will be a bit nicer and help me make sartorial amends. At least to myself. -- Heinz-Ulrich

Classic Style

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