Vintage Blazer

Vintage is one of those overused words these days. I always say that, "It's not vintage without a story." 

I found the blazer in the pic a year ago for $1.00 at a local thrift store. It was and remains in amazingly pristine condition. It is actually like new. It was a half size big when I purchased it, but I've pushup-ed my way into a perfect fit.

The interesting story here is that the blazer was originally sold by Wells and Coverly here in Syracuse. Wells and Coverly was a high end haberdashery that operated from 1890-1970. This blazer is at least 52 years old given that fact. 

It was a different time. Clothing was made to last more than a lifetime. These days we are very lucky to find clothing that lasts a couple seasons before falling apart or looking shabby.

The Wells and Coverly building still stands in the center  of Salina Street in downtown Syracuse. Today there are three small shops on the main floor of that building. I believe that the upper floors were turned into ballroom event spaces a few years ago.

Go get you some vintage!

All Before Lunch...

How's your day going? Great.
Mine? Well...

This morning, I walked two blocks down my great hill and realized that I had forgotten my phone. I went back to the house. I finally found the phone on the floor. The on/off button on the case had broken off. I've no idea when this happened. No matter, I just removed the case, tossed the cell into my bag, and was again on my way to the bus stop.

Of course, I had missed my regular bus, but I only needed to wait 20 minutes or so for another.

At the bus stop there was a low hanging branch swaying in the breeze.  I thought nothing of it until the leaves brushed against the back of my arm. That's when I freaked out. Someone had apparently gobbed on the leaves of that branch, and the mess transferred to the back of my arm. I was wearing short sleeves. I used my pocket handkerchief (every gentleman carries one 😉), to clean. As a card carrying germaphobe, my only option was to return to the house and shower. "Mama, I scrubbed my skin until it bled."

I dressed and tried again. Instead, I stood at the next corner.

I made it to the bus hub without incident. I transferred to the next bus. About five blocks from my stop there was a very loud noise. At a new dorm construction site, the driver of a 16 wheeler flat bed (used for carrying construction materials,) did not notice the Honda Accord on his blind side. The Accord was totaled, its driver trapped inside but fine.

The flat bed driver jumped out of his vehicle, walked over and said a few words to the Accord driver, then freaked out about 5x as bad as I had earlier. He shouted, "I ain't done nothin" wrong! He paced in circles seemingly pleading his case to himself and the world. His neon shirted coworkers gathered around to survey the damage. No one comforted the trapped driver. Then, the ranting driver opened the passenger door of the Accord and sat inside for about 30 seconds. I'm going to go ahead and assume that he was asked to leave. 

My bus driver, went to check on the Accord's driver. The flat bed driver started shouting at the bus driver. He was trying to make the accident her fault ignoring the fact that the accident crossed the bus' path as the bus was stopped at the traffic light. The angry man took pictures of the bus and driver. She told the man that he could take as many pictures of her as he liked, but she didn't get why?

My bus continued on our route, after the driver called her supervisor. 

My stop.

I walked a block over from my stop to get an iced tea from the grocery store. I stopped in the men's room near the exit. As I stood at the urinal doing my business, a loud man exited the stall. He didn't stop to wash his hands. He instead interrupted his cell conversation to compliment me on my pants, and asked where I got them? I tried to ignore him. He asked again. "Dude, I kinda have my hands full right now," I sarcastically told him. His laugh was scary loud. He complimented me again and left.

I exited the store noticing the beautiful sunshine and warmth. Perfect weather t'was.

4 blocks towards campus, an undergrad guy in a brand new Jeep which apparently did not have either working signal lights or a horn almost flattened me. The driver smiled and said, "Watch where you're going, dude."

All
Before
Lunchtime.