Ever wonder what to get that man in your life? Well if he is a civilized man, wonder no more. Any "refined man" as we put it here would probably love anything in these categories. Some are probably out of your price range, and fesibility, but have fun reading them anyway. The links are pictures that represent what I think are typical examples of the descriptions.
(These are not ranked but just simply numbered in no specific order)
10. A simple piece of functional art for the office (desk or wall) (http://www.lumens.com/Perpetual-Calendar-by-MoMA/uu280508/Product)
This list is meant for the "refined" man. Not the guy with the R2D2 trashcan in his cubicle. A functional desk accessory that is artsy shows that you are not only serious about your job, but have a refined side which is what this entire post is about.\
9. A signed piece of memorabilia. (http://allamericansportscollectibles.com/catalog/i68.html)
Everyman has one piece of history (whether it be sports or not) that they want to own. It could be a helmet from WWII, a baseball from a famous baseball player, or a signed record from a rock star. Whatever it is that a man loves to do or watch...he wants a piece of it for himself.
8. His dream car. (http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/front_website/octane_interact/carspecs.php?see=3654)
A car is a pretty obvious symbol of status in America. Most guys want to look cool in their car, it comes from our desire to pick up girls when we are teenagers. Sometimes it's because the car is ultra fast, sometimes it's because it just looks cool. Either way cars are something every body wants and everybody needs, and if a guy can have a cool one, he wants one.
7. The ultimate media viewing/listing system. (http://www.kineticshometheater.com/products/stretchtrak.html)
Sports, Movies, Music, TV, or Video Games. Different strokes for different folks, and as far as the men folk in this world whatever media we follow we want to experience it in the most awesome way possible. Whether it is a stereo, or a complete home theater system, if it helps us experience what we like to watch/listen its something we want.
6. A "Chair". (http://newyork.olx.com/mib-egg-chair-999-free-shipping-guaranteed-you-wont-find-it-cheaper-iid-51866464) (mine is maybe a little unorthodox)
After a long hard day a man just wants to sit down and watch a baseball game. He just wants to sit somewhere that he can call his and his own. Somewhere that when he walks in the room, if someone is sitting there, they know to get up so he can sit in "his chair".
5. The ultimate man cave. (http://www.mybadpad.com/fun-stuff/12-man-tastic-man-caves) (minus the stripper pole, that's trashy)
This whole list is about things a man can call their own and this is the ultimate example of it. A lot of things prior (6, 7, 9) could be put in this space, but it is truly the space that we desire. The peace of mind knowing we can talk endlessly with our friends about our fantasy football team, or the latest trade of bullfrog for fartenknocker. The thought that we can do whatever we want is what makes this one of the most coveted things on this list.
4. A suit that fits perfectly. (http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/get-the-obama-look-1021333.html?action=Gallery&ino=2)
When a man dresses up he wants to look good. Really good. Unfortunately most suits aren't tailor made. They are made for a size and while most men generally fit a size it is never a perfect fit. The picture here is of President Obama sporting a great two button suit. Notice the length of the sleeves and how they fall perfectly at the base of the thumbs. A suit is more than just a jacket though, it is the perfect combination of a jacket, shirt, tie, pants and shoes. A perfect suit is something a man would love to have, but probably would never spring for without a bit of nudging.
3. A completely loyal dog. (http://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/pet-travel/10-rules-for-houseguests-with-pets.htm)
A man whether he is married or single wants a dog that will listen to him. A dog has that ability that no other animal has to always understand the mood in a room. With a simple look, whine, whimper, or doggy emotion a dog can sum up the way a man feels like no other animal can. A dog that sits on a couch and watches a football game, but at the same time goes outside plays fetch. A dog that is playful with kids and ferocious with intruders. A "Where the Red Fern Grows" dog, or a "I am Legend" dog. One that no matter what has a man's back.
2. A bottle of their favorite alcohol/A humidor full of your favorite cigar (http://www.keywestcigar.com/cigars/program.html)
While not all men love cigars (like me) or alcohol it is less about those specifically and more about have a stash of their favorite vice. Every man has something (hopefully it's not porn) and so it is fair for them to have some stashed somewhere. A crystal tumbler full of scotch or a ton of cigars should be allowed for a man if he wants them. Now that doesn't mean that mean we get to abuse our stash and drown ourselves in our vices, but indulging in it every once in a while is not bad.
1. A nice simple watch. (http://www.uniformwares.com/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=38)
For me, I don't like wearing watches often. But I like wearing watches when I dress up. I don't like pulling my cellphone out and looking at the time. Often it is inappropriate to do so when you are dressed in a suit. However, glancing at a nice simple watch is completely acceptable. Watches are fairly expensive however and for most of us we would rather spend our money on something else.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
An IED hits home
I have a brother in law who is in the military. A combat medic in the 101st airborne to be exact. He has recently (within the last few months) returned home from a 18 month long tour to Afghanistan. I hadn't heard much from him while he was over there, I got a friend request from him while on facebook, but other than that I hadn't seen him in awhile.
When he was leaving for Afghanistan, it was a strange process for me. I knew him, but he was a brother "in-law". Not that that is anything less than a brother, but still you get the idea of the little bit of distance. I basically tried to sneak away and not say good bye to anyone before he left, and it was a really intense moment. We caught him before he left however and it was really emotional. Obviously my sister was crying, my step mom was crying, and it was odd by their newborn was crying too. Almost instinctively as if he knew. Not a full wail, but more of a whimper. As I got to say my good bye and hugged him, emotions hit me like a brick wall. He is leaving for War. Not for boot camp, not for training, he is leaving for WAR. I don't car what anyone says whether we are officially at war or not...we are. Men and women are loosing their lives defend freedom abroad...we are at war.
It all hit me at once, and I am not ashamed to say I cried too. This man was leaving his 4 month old child, his wife of not even a year, and all of his friends and family to go fight an enemy on the other side of the world. He was leaving all of this behind, knowing full well that he may not come back. Take a minute to think about that. In 3 months he was told he was leaving, we trained for leaving, and left everything he knew for his country. If that's not bravery I can't tell you what is.
Last night, I was at the dinner table waiting for Brian (my brother in law) and Heidi (my sister) to arrive. We were eating at El Sol on the east side and some how we got on the topic of Brian. My step mom made a comment that he had been having some trouble with alcoholism, and sleep problems since he had gotten home. Then she dropped the bombshell. While he was in Afghanistan Brian's convoy had been hit 5 times by IEDs. He was hospitalized once with a neck injury, and a concussion. He is maybe one of the toughest guys I know, so I know he probably should've been in the hospital more than that. Apparently he had been getting severe headaches at night (probably from multiple concussions) and was trying to just drink them away.
The fact that he survived any of those attacks let alone all five is a miracle. Thankfully he is still with us today and will be taking a non-deployable assignment in Seattle shortly. He will be far away, but he will be alive and there for his son and wife and that's what matters. I layed in bed last night just thinking how things could've been completely different, and it just made me think how proud of him I really was.
I say it often that I am proud to be a Phi Psi. Which I 100% am....but today and all days....I'm proud to be an American. And thanks to guys like Brian Stephens I will be for a long time.
Brian: I thank you for your service to your country. There are no words that can describe my gratitude. Thank you for being there when the world needed you....but I thank god that you made it home.
sm
When he was leaving for Afghanistan, it was a strange process for me. I knew him, but he was a brother "in-law". Not that that is anything less than a brother, but still you get the idea of the little bit of distance. I basically tried to sneak away and not say good bye to anyone before he left, and it was a really intense moment. We caught him before he left however and it was really emotional. Obviously my sister was crying, my step mom was crying, and it was odd by their newborn was crying too. Almost instinctively as if he knew. Not a full wail, but more of a whimper. As I got to say my good bye and hugged him, emotions hit me like a brick wall. He is leaving for War. Not for boot camp, not for training, he is leaving for WAR. I don't car what anyone says whether we are officially at war or not...we are. Men and women are loosing their lives defend freedom abroad...we are at war.
It all hit me at once, and I am not ashamed to say I cried too. This man was leaving his 4 month old child, his wife of not even a year, and all of his friends and family to go fight an enemy on the other side of the world. He was leaving all of this behind, knowing full well that he may not come back. Take a minute to think about that. In 3 months he was told he was leaving, we trained for leaving, and left everything he knew for his country. If that's not bravery I can't tell you what is.
Last night, I was at the dinner table waiting for Brian (my brother in law) and Heidi (my sister) to arrive. We were eating at El Sol on the east side and some how we got on the topic of Brian. My step mom made a comment that he had been having some trouble with alcoholism, and sleep problems since he had gotten home. Then she dropped the bombshell. While he was in Afghanistan Brian's convoy had been hit 5 times by IEDs. He was hospitalized once with a neck injury, and a concussion. He is maybe one of the toughest guys I know, so I know he probably should've been in the hospital more than that. Apparently he had been getting severe headaches at night (probably from multiple concussions) and was trying to just drink them away.
The fact that he survived any of those attacks let alone all five is a miracle. Thankfully he is still with us today and will be taking a non-deployable assignment in Seattle shortly. He will be far away, but he will be alive and there for his son and wife and that's what matters. I layed in bed last night just thinking how things could've been completely different, and it just made me think how proud of him I really was.
I say it often that I am proud to be a Phi Psi. Which I 100% am....but today and all days....I'm proud to be an American. And thanks to guys like Brian Stephens I will be for a long time.
Brian: I thank you for your service to your country. There are no words that can describe my gratitude. Thank you for being there when the world needed you....but I thank god that you made it home.
sm
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Stopped by the FBI!!!
So this morning I was taking Emily to school, and it is ridiculously early.....like 7:30 AM!! We are leaving her house and as I pull out of the driveway I head towards Emerson ave. As I near emerson a lady kind of jumps into the road and waves me down to stop. I do this cautiously normally, but she looked desperate and harmless in her pink pajama outfit. About 5'4" at best, frazzeled blonde hair, bad make up and no shoes she ran up to the window on the passenger side and this is when the fun begins. She looks directly at Emily and I and says in a very serious voice "I am an FBI agent, I need to get to community east hospital RIGHT NOW! They are trying to kill Lauren!" With that she lunges towards my back passenger door. I tap the gas real quick so she cannot get in, luckily the door is locked. She runs back up to the window and starts yelling "call the cops then! have them send a squad car over!!" I start to pull away and she keeps screaming it. I nod my head and say ok, and I hand Emily my phone to call the cops. After she describes what happened to them and they take our information she hangs up and immediately calls her family. She gets through to her mom and tells her to lock up and not go outside because there is a crazy lady trying to get into people's cars. So what does her mom do? Tells her dad to go out there. He doesn't want to, but as he is looking on his porch at this lady still trying to wave down cars, he sees the secina girls cross country team running down the road towards this lady. He then eventually goes outside to try and reroute them away from a crazy lady with another man from the neighborhood, but right as the girls are running up by Emily's house the lady convices someone to take her. She gets in the car and they speed away...towards Emily's dad and the girls. As they fly by I guess they almost hit a few of the girls on the road.
Throughout the day I told people I work with the story and I got varying reactions, but I kept thinking "man, what if she actually was an FBI agent?" and then someone pointed out that by "Lauren" she was probably referring to the missing IU student. So then I was really uneasy. What if this was legit, but too crazy to believe. I sat down and watched the evening news that night and saw there were no developments in the case though, and was reassured then that it was in fact just a crazy lady. Just another crazy story to add to my list.
sm76
Throughout the day I told people I work with the story and I got varying reactions, but I kept thinking "man, what if she actually was an FBI agent?" and then someone pointed out that by "Lauren" she was probably referring to the missing IU student. So then I was really uneasy. What if this was legit, but too crazy to believe. I sat down and watched the evening news that night and saw there were no developments in the case though, and was reassured then that it was in fact just a crazy lady. Just another crazy story to add to my list.
sm76
Friday, June 10, 2011
I remember this...
Inspired by my grandbig Kyle Downs' new blog (kmdowns.posterous.com) I have decided to start back up again. I had a "blog before" it was more of an online journal however. It was much more personal than I plan to be on this blog. I'm not sure what my first real post will be, but I will try to write it tonight while I have the momentum on my side. For now though I bid you farwell. Look forward to my next post here shortly, if you have any suggestions for what I should discuss in my next or upcoming blogs, just let me know.
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