Dress shirt lifestyle

You may have come across this article on the Dude's t-shirts in the Big Lebowski.

Most anyone dedicated to the T-shirt lifestyle maintains some sort of T-shirt rotation. Typically, there's a staff ace – the first shirt worn after laundry day – plus a couple of innings-eater types, maybe a long reliever and spot starter that's useful for mop-up duty late in the laundry cycle, and for some even a closer reserved for high-leverage nights out. 

From the looks of it, the Kaoru Bettu shirt maintained a spot near the front of Bridges' rotation for nearly a decade at the least, looking fresh but untested in the late 80s, blossoming into a star in the early 90s and sticking around with veteran savvy as the new millennium approached.

I was unaware that there is a t-shirt lifestyle, though I confess I was once unknowingly a part. You have your basic rotation through the week as well as dedicated "special occasion" shirts for concerts and parties and whatnot.  But I moved on.



Circa 1999 [via being hessian]

These days the old man is living the dress shirt lifestyle.  You have your Monday all business dress shirt which gradually gives way to the Friday casual dress shirt.  Tucking in is optional with this bad boy.  Because it's casual Friday and those jeans don't give a damn.



Casual Friday



Circa 2013 [via being an oldster]

There is also a rotation for the seasons.  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Lighter shirts and sleeveless in the summer, darker colors and heavier fabrics in the winter.

The beauty of this system is that you are a man for all occasions.  You don't have to plan, you just are.  End up some place upscale?  Just tuck in your tails and you are already "dressed up".  End up someplace casual?  Pull the tails out and suddenly you are the casual gentleman.  I know some people build their wardrobe from the shoes up.  Piffle.  Nobody looks at your shoes.  The shirt is the heart and soul of your attire.

Sure, you can dress up the t-shirt.  But a t-shirt will always say casual, even if you make it a more iustus.



dressy casual is still casual

If this is all new to you and you are ready to get old and embrace the dress shirt lifestyle, remember to be patient.  That closet full of black band t-shirts didn't spring up over night.  In the early days maybe bum around TJ Maxx and Marshalls for some basics and over time you can pick one here and one there to fill in the collection.

End of the year whiskey miscellany

Paddy's Irish whiskey has returned to America.  This time Paddy is available in 750ml bottles.  It is slightly overpriced at my local retailer at 22 dollars (2 dollars more than Jameson).  If you are looking for a last minute Christmas gift to your liver, why not?

Concannon Irish whiskey is available in my area, so probably yours as well.  I have to admit, this is not my favorite Cooley blend.  I still like Michael Collins better.  The bottle has fancy embossing, but for a 750ml bottle it is as tall as a 1 liter bottle and won't fit in my liquor shelf.  Boo!  I notice the petite sirah barrel aging up front with a hint of tart flavor, but the finish turns a little sharp.  Maybe you'll like more than I?

Keeping warm like a lumberjack

Winter was postponed this year. Lucky for you there is time to get some flannel pants. Christmas is the best time of year to be selfish and self-indulgent. I took advantage of the death of JC Penny (I will miss you baby) to get some nice flannel pants and a flannel shirt for a couple bucks. Warm and comfy. So go ahead, sit around your apartment swaddled in flannel. Fill up a snifter of brandy and slip into some slippers. Forget about the heating bill. Wear them under your jeans or dress pants to stay warm at work or at play as well.



Keeping warm like a boss!

Johnny Whiskey

Recently I discovered this defunct fellow bottom shelf troller.  Good ole' Johnny Whiskey.  Too bad the project was abandoned, the writing is gold:

start with the smell.  old crow burns your nose and makes you sad that you are going to drink it.  there's really nothing in the way of yummy whiskey smell --  just burny pain.  and a hint of rich mahogany.*

Also if anyone knows of a BYOB Taco Bell let me know.  I want to drink cheap white wine and eat Doritos Tacos Locos.  Am willing to relocate.

It comes in cans?

Recently my bros at Metalsucks asked a pertinent question:  Did Stella Artois come in cans in the 80s?

Looks like it to me.  Compare to this ancient photo:



Only a slight variation.  So Slayer drank Stella in cans in the 80s?

Mister Booze drops on the youtubes

That's right, Mr. Booze is now uploading things to the webernets.  My grandkids came over and helped me figure out the upspout on the pipes of the internet.  So check out my youtube videos and let me know what you think.


Me playing guitar.  Thrash forever baby!


Sarahbear! Love U BB!


My grandkids are always messing around and taping stuff with their digital 35mm doohickeys

Stay tuned for much more soon.  Unless I die.

Pumpkin wine review

This is a good time of year for pumpkin wine.  Put on your Type O Negative hoodie and sit on the porch drinking this harvest favorite.  Enjoy the fall colors.



This is actually a really good wine. The flavors are really mellow. The pumpkin is restrained and comes out as hints of earthiness.  This is a little sweet, but I think because the there aren't a lot of bitter or tanning flavors the sweetness is a little more forward.  But again it is a good solid wine in its own right.  Completely different than the abomination of a mango wine I drank last time.  The clue that this was going to be good?  Made from pie pumpkin puree.  So if you see any of this at your local vendor, now is the time to drink.