Classic Style

  S oft air, partly sunny, and quiet following the Young Master's departure for school aboard the big yellow bus this morning.  Perfect for another cup of coffee and then a trip down the road to the supermarket for the week's groceries.   Normally, the Grand Duchess handles this particular chore, but she is away at a conference in South Korea this week, so yours truly is picking up the slack.  In any case, a good excuse to get moving today, brush my teeth, dress presentably, and take care of things before lunch.  That frees me up for re-mulching duties this evening after dinner once the Young Master plants himself in front of the TV for an hour or so before bedtime.  I'll don some older clothes for that particular task of course. Classes have been finished for just over two weeks, final course grades were submitted last Monday, and the Spring 2025 semester/term is now well and truly over although one failure contacted me just a few days ago to ask abou...

  W ith the possible exception of lawn care activities, cleaning out the garage, or changing the oil in your car, there's never any reason not to look reasonably presentable.  People can argue to the contrary all they want in 2025, but I will stick to my guns on that one.  Looking as if you have perpetually rolled out from beneath Oscar the Grouch's garbage can two minutes ago is not how to go through life.  The mindset and habit neither make (nor maintain) a decent impression, do not instill confidence among others, and do not encourage people to take seriously anything that one might have to say. Of course, I recognize and revel in my outlier status. With this particular contrarian approach to personal appearance in mind, I took the opportunity to attire myself as usual for the first session of a summer writing group on campus Monday morning.  About 10 of us will meet once a month between May and August to work in each others' proximity on campus, have lunch, ...

  Vivian Surratt Stokes-Williams (1945-2020) Vivian Jesse Bennett Roberts Stokes (1917-2007)   The Grand Duchess, December 2024 Clowning with my sister in Washington, D.C., late June 2022 M y sister sent me the top two photographs via text of our mother and maternal grandmother early today, both which were taken sometime in the early 1960s.  I believe the top photo was my mother's high school graduation photograph, or taken just before she started at Washington University that September.  To the women in our lives who somehow keep everything glued together by hook or by crook.  Happy Mother's Day 2025. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  T he Grand Duchess and I attended an afternoon party hosted by a colleague this (Saturday) afternoon for about 90 minutes.  This being Michigan, I was horribly overdressed, but the various women in attendance made an effort and looked the nicer for it.  The best part was that we cut it short to pick up a few things at the supermarket and come home where we will enjoy dinner on our screened back porch where I snapped these pictures before we left for the party.   Socializing is nice in limited doses, but after a busy couple of weeks and a conference, I'd rather spend time at home with the Grand Duchess, Young Master, and the cats.  With apologies to the young Michael Caine, know what I mean? -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A sunny but cool spring day yesterday for the in-person day of our annual internal spring conference on teaching and learning at my institution.  Well-attended and busy with a number of male professors and administrators actually attired in suits and neckties, or some combination of sports jacket and odd pants. One administrator even sported a very nice pair of black leather cap toe oxford shoes.  Not something you see everyday here in Mid-Michigan where it's usually sneakers or some kind of work boot, but then he is from another country after all.  Rather than my usual navy blazer, I decided to go with this particular Glen Plaid number on the top just to shake things up a bit.  Worn with a light blue OCBD shirt from J. Press and vintage Black Watch regimental necktie by Reis of New Haven that I stumbled across many years ago at my preferred thrift/charity shop in our old stomping grounds of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois.  Otherwise, a good day all around...