The Suit Went Back.

Happy New Year's Eve. Best wishes to you all for a great 2009.

This song always reminds me of New Year's Eve due to the Auld Lang Syne lyrical and musical references contained therein. So much so that I have permanently deleted the "Christmas eve" lyric in my head and only hear "New Year eve". Maybe you will too.



Today's Song: Same Auld Lang Syne, Dan Fogelberg

If You're Asking Andy, You're Asking for Trouble

It's New Year's Eve tomorrow and I'm going to a formal party downtown.

Last night, I was at Banana Republic and they appeared to be liquidating their current inventory. They had on offer a black suit in my size at an almost ridiculously low price. I tried on the jacket and it fit nearly perfectly. The pants also. So I bought it thinking I could wear it to the New Year's party. But it's not that simple.

True story: When I was a younger man, my dad took me shopping for suits. As we looked at the various cuts and patterns, he explained to me that navy, gray, or charcoal suits make the most sense because you can wear them during the day or at night. He also explained that black suits aren't very practical because they are viewed as too formal, too heavy, and not well suited for daytime or business wear.

I got home last night with my new suit and I just kept thinking that rather than buy an impractical black suit on sale, I should put that money toward a more practical suit that I'll wear more often than just a random New Year party or even a more formal event. But then I wondered if my dad's advice still held true. I mean the shops all carry black suits these days. For example, Banana Republic is always stocked with one black suit or another. So are black suits fine for daytime these days?

I sat down at the computer and googled "black suit daytime". And this was the first result. I challenge you to read that thread. I did. And now I need to know if everyone feels that strongly about black suits or if it is just a handful of strange sartorialists with vehement opinions. Go on, check it out if you have a few minutes. The short answer to my question: black suits are ABSOLUTELY inappropriate for daytime unless you want to look like a poverty stricken idiot with no sense of the greater world and you are a complete fool for even asking the question and an even bigger fool for buying a suit off the rack that cost less than $2000. (Of course my inner dialogue was all "Well, they make good points and I do respect good taste and fine things" "But then are these guys really that great if they are spending their time commenting on this dumb forum - shouldn't they be out wearing their fine things rather than just sitting around talking about them with strangers?" And back and forth and back and forth.)

So what did I decide? I decided that the suit is fine for a downtown party in SLC. And I'm betting that within the next 14 days, the suit will be further marked down and I will go and get a price adjustment. And then it will have been so cheap, I won't care. Most importantly, I decided I will be very careful about reading the AskAndy forums. Because sometimes, ignorance is bliss.

Today's Song: What Are You Doing New Year's Eve (Jackpot Mix), Black Widow

Mele Kalikimaka

My sister and brother in law are terrorizing me by e-mailing me pictures while they are on vacation in Hawaii. So, I guess I'll terrorize you:




Today's Song: Closer to Me, Dar Williams

Well

This sign was in a convenience store in Park City. I hope that there
was a separate loo for employees. Because this shop sells hot dogs,
sausages, nachos, and the like.

Todays Song: We Are The Normal, Goo Goo Dolls

Worn Me Down

Thanks to Zarr, I've got a blog topic for today. A Music Meme (I don't know even know what "meme" stands for or means).

Instructions:

Take your I-Pod in your hand:
1. Put your Music on shuffle;
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer;
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS! (And like Zarr, I committed to playing by the rules and didn't deviate from these rules. Results were not doctored.)

1. IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Head Over Feet, Alanis Morissette

2. WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
If I Ever Feel Better, Phoenix

3. WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Fill My Little World, The Feeling

4. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
How To Disappear Completely, Radiohead

5. WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Eartha Kitt

6. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Beat It, Michael Jackson

7. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Sugar We're Goin Down, Fall Out Boy

8. WHAT IS 2+2?
Funky Town, Pseudo Echo

9. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
We Both Reached for the Gun, Chicago Soundtrack

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Cheek to Cheek, The Starting Line

11. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Sunday Morning Coming Down, Johnny Cash

12. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Rooftops, Lostprophets

13. WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Some Like It Hot, Robert Palmer

14. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Streets of Philadelphia, Bruce Springsteen

15. WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
If You Intend, 10,000 Maniacs

16. WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Australia, The Shins

17. WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Something's Always Wrong, Toad the Wet Sprocket

18. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
I Can't Wait, Nu Shooz

19. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
If Ya Gettin Down, Five

20. WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Stand Inside Your Love, Smashing Pumpkins

21. HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Heaven Knows, Donna Summer

22. WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Why Waste More Time, Rosie Thomas

23. WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Is There A Ghost, Band of Horses

24. WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
It Had To Be You, Harry Connick, Jr.

25. WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
My Love is Your Love, Whitney Houston

26. WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
My Favorite Mistake, Sheryl Crow

27. DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Allentown, Billy Joel

28. IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
You Give Love A Bad Name, Bon Jovi

29. WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Rose Rouge, St. Germain

30. WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Worn Me Down, Rachael Yamagata

Please play along in the comments or at your own website.

We've got alot to talk about

so let's get started:

1. B-Lo and I saw a film last night. We intended to see A Christmas Tale at the Broadway. When we got there, ticket man said that movie wouldn't actually be playing, but instead a super sneak preview of Crazy Tom Cruise's Valkyrie. Ticket man offered us free tickets to that. I balked. He touted Bryan Singer as a filmmaker (Usual Suspects), I said I had no problem with Singer, my problem was with Tom Cruise. Realizing that I was turning down a free ticket, I quickly backtracked and accepted.

2. We saw Let the Right One In instead of Valkyrie. I'm pretty sure it was a prequel to Twilight. I kid, I kid. Film was good.

3. Saw Wynonna Judd in Wendover over the weekend. Not my choice. But because I had friends that suffered through NKOTB with me, I had to pay back the debt. She only sang Christmas carols and songs by other artists - such as Foreigner. Or maybe it was REO Speedwagon. For example, I Wanna Know What Love Is.

4. Had no idea Wynonna was so popular with lesbians. Seriously. It was a mullet convention.

5. It's cold enough, it's dark enough, it's hurried enough - so why doesn't it feel like December.

6. Download I Like What You Say, Nada Surf. Some really nice lyrics.

7. I think I am the only person I know watching Summer Heights High on HBO. Doesn't anyone want to know and love Ja'ime, Jonah, and Mr. G as much as me? Seriously, it's quite a funny show.

8. To be continued . . .

Today's Song: Calling on Mary, Aimee Mann