Nothing beats finding a much sought after “object” in the midst of a flea market’s “madness”. This is especially true when the encounter is absolutely by chance. Imagine walking into a flea market with the idea of finding a pair of cufflinks and as you browse the various displays and stands, you notice a older gentlemen with watchmaker-glasses polishing what looks like a set of vintage Meisterstück pens. Like a moth to a flame, you recklessly stumble across the room to observe the procedure and low and behold a glint of gold peaks through the glass-top counter he is working on. There, amongst a batch of “normal” pens, is a Parker “51”! Nonchalantly you ask to see the pens and you twitch with anticipation as you work your way to the Parker “51”. It is 1/10 12K gold filled and as you open it you see it is an Aerometric.
The cap needs a good scrub and the barrel has a couple of nicks and scratches, but the sac is supple and the nib looks like it is in good shape. You ask the price of the various pens trying not to show too much interest in the Parker “51” and the old gentlemen says that the ones with the nib that says 14K gold on them are more expensive because they are made of gold. Fair enough, according to conventional logic, but if you only want the Parker “51” the price apparently is half that of the other pens. You haggle because it’s a flea market and it would not be proper etiquette to do otherwise and after a quick cash exchange you walk out of the doors with beads of sweat trickling down your cheeks as you examine your prize in the light of day. The sunshine and fresh air make it look even more beautiful. Bliss!
The true test comes, of course, when you stand over the sink back at home and plunge the tip into the water-filled basin and pump the lever (firmly and six times as instructed). The sound of suction and the release of residual ink tells you that you are in business. Once it is clean you let it dry, then dip it in your favorite ink, pump the lever and enjoy!
If you got goose bumps reading that you are probably a proud owner and if not you may want to find out more about the Parker “51”. In that case, checkout Richard Binder’s website http://www.richardspens.com/ and blog http://blog.richardspens.com/pens/.
That’s actually not just a headline, but the name of the brand. I got a pair of their Carport Elastics over the summer and love them. Their tag line is appropriate: “For grown-ups who can’t tie their shoes.” With so many well-known “casual” sneaker brands out there, Simple Shoes definitely has a style that is unique and unlike many other shoes in this category they are actually very comfortable. I personally do not like wearing running shoes or cross trainers if I am not, well, running or cross training so with rare exceptions I prefer to find a comfortable casual sneaker to wear with my jeans. The Carport Elastics are cushioned and wide (which is a life saver for my extra wide feet) and they fit snug so I avoid blisters.
Aesthetically they may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but they have a very cool understated look that is, just like the brand, simple. The added bonus, even for the least eco-friendly and ethical of you, is the entire supply chain used to make these shoes is aimed at being sustainable. If you want to feel good about your future purchase of Simple Shoes you can read all about their ethical supply chain guidelines and about the materials they use on their website. As always with shoes you have to try them on to see if you really like them. Looks will only get your feet so far.
If I may so bold as to give all you gents a tip as you go about your business during the day. Although it is always easier to grab a t-shirt from the hamper, sniff it, gag and proceed to pull it on anyway, just once a week I beg of you to grab a clean shirt and if you are in a colder climate throw on a v-neck sweater. It is a simple step and will make you look and feel that much better (no need for a jacket and tie). This goes for a trip to the supermarket, to the playground or when dropping off the kids at school. Shirts and sweaters are washable so no need to fear your kids unless of course they are wielding a Sharpie. Men really clean up nicely when wearing a shirt compared to a T-shirt. Just something to consider unless of course you are heading out to chop wood, pour concrete or play paintball.
Autumn has hit New York full force and it is wet, wet, wet. Dusting off the rain boots I thought I would share with you my favorite pair: JCrew waxed duck boots. Perfect for jumping into puddles with your kids!
