Christmas List 2010

I find myself sitting on the couch tonight with Katy watching a documentary, Objectified, I'm reminded of Christmas because we're in our warm comfortable clothes with one blind open watching the snow fall from the sky.

(Objectified, turns out, is a very very interesting documentary about products and the design and thought that goes into each and every product-from your alarm clock, to your bowl for breakfast, to technology and more.)

It's been going for six hours by now and is accumulating to a few inches already. It'll continue through tomorrow morning.

But, I don't think I've mentioned much of a Christmas list and if I did I said I was going to expand on it.

Here's a quick outline of things I'd potentially like for Christmas 2010.

The Boring List-Gift Cards

1. Banana Republic
2. Gap
3. J. Crew
4. Express
5. Herberger's
6. Macy's
7. Nike
8. Sports Authority
9. Dick's Sporting Goods
10. The North Face
11. Columbia
12. Ralph Lauren
13. Thomas Pink
14. REI
15. Tommy Hilfiger
    
16. Martin Patrick (Minnesota only)
17. BlackBlue (Minnesota only)
18. Run N Fun
19. Target
20. Timberland
21. Levi's
22. Club Monaco
23. Aw heck, Marshalls
24. Land's End
25. Asics
26. H&M
    
27. Brasa (Minnesota only)
28. California Pizza Kitchen
29. Old Chicago
30. Chipotle
31. Oh, let's just make it an even 30.
    

Things I'm into right now

1. Shawl collar sweaters-merino wool, cotton, cashmere
2. Flannel shirts-Target, Club Monaco, J.Crew, Gap, Timberland, Banana Republic
3. Socks-J.Crew calls them "Camp" socks I believe. They're very textured, marled looking. (meaning ex. black and white fibers woven together creating what could be tv fuzz looking)
4. Thin ties-3" or less-wool, textured, herringbone or tweed in blacks, grays or browns. Maybe even some plaid textured ties.
5. Bow Ties-Pierrepont Hicks at Martin Patrick
   
6. Coffee-I've been looking for a higher quality four to six cup coffeemaker. They're hard to find, most are pretty cheap. (Black, stainless steel)
7. Cashmere-not so much the normal v-neck or crew neck but a shawl collar or cardigan or hoodie--J. Crew cashmere
   

Specific Items

1. Banana Republic-straight fit corduroy pants-Acorn color-31x32 (hopefully quality is consistent-tried one pair of 31x32 on in store and they actually worked. Normally BR 31x32 are too short.)-SALE NOW
   
2. Banana Republic-Tailored fit Italian wool two button navy suit-38R, 31x34
3. Banana Republic-Tailored fit charcoal herringbone suit-38R, 31x34
4. Express-Flannel two button light gray suit-38R, 31x34 or 32x34-SALE NOW
   
5. Express-Button down collar fitted shirt-either gray heather or heather gray-medium-SALE NOW
6. Express-Button down collar fitted shirt-gray plaid-same as above-just those two shirts combined into a plaid.
7. Run-N-Fun-wind briefs, Nike quarter length dri-fit running socks
   
8. Gap-hooded toggle sweater-navy/carbon blue-medium
9. Mentor Leader-Tony Dungy
10. Run to Overcome-Meb Keflezighi
11. Pre-
12. Sub 4:00 Alan Webb and the quest for the fastest mile-Chris Lear
    

iPhone shots...just giving you ideas and real life examples of things I'd like.



















REI
Marmot softshell track jacket
$175.
Uber-expensive but I just might have it for the rest of my life.



















REI
Marmot Zeus Vest
$130, have seen it on sale



















H&M
Shawl collar sweatshirt
Navy blue
Casual, warm, everyday/night use



















H&M
Outerwear vest
Grey herringbone
I like puffy vests. This one is great because it's got a herringbone pattern.



















H&M
Nordic Shawl Collar Sweaters
Ah, different. Just like 'em.



















H&M
Hoodie
Navy, Brown
A very inexpensive but warm and comfortable piece of clothing. *Something Mark would probably like. Simple, good colors, cheap enough to wear to work if he needed.



















H&M
Short sleeve graphic tee
Cheap and fun.



















H&M
Charcoal or black button up cardigan with hood.
Wear it casual, wear it dressy with a patterned dress shirt and skinny tie.



















H&M
Long sleeve blue and white striped woven
Wear it to work or wear it underneath the previous button up cardigan.



















H&M
Button up cardigan
Brown
Different, warm, fun.



















Macy's
The North Face
Denali hooded fleece
Wanted it in brown.
$179



















Macy's
Club Room cashmere plaid scarf





































Target 3 Pack Socks
$5, if I remember correctly.



















Target
Merona Thermal Henley-Medium
$15ish



















Target
Merona Duffle Coat
$75ish



















Gap socks



















Marshalls-snow shoes! I need another way to get some cardio this winter. Snow shoeing might be fun!

General Ideas

1. Banana Republic-you'd be very very safe there going there and getting just about anything.
2. J. Crew-you're pretty safe here as well.
3. Herberger's-I work there. We carry lots of stuff from men's to home to women's I'd buy for me or Katy
4. Macy's-I work in the mall. I wander in there alot. I can find something Club Room or Timberland boots or Ralph Lauren or some cheap trendy stuff or expensive fashion.
5. Twins, Timberwolves, Vikings tickets
6. Home improvement money?
   

Things I'm staying away from

1. Quarter zip sweaters-things that zip or button near my neck and don't lay down on my shoulders-rubbing on the back of my neck/head causing a headache
2. Western shirts
3. Skinny jeans

THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT FOR NOW

WATCH FOR UPDATES

Cashmere for Christmas

I like this. Not that anyone will get this but it's cashmere and it's wonderful.

Although, today is cyber Monday, where deals abound! My sister Emily might be able to coupon the heck out of this day!

Charles Tyrwhitt Cashmere Button Neck Sweater



























This is better.

Charles Tyrwhitt Chocolate w/ Blue Stripe Cashmere Sweater






























This is the best, brought to you by J. Crew.

J.Crew Cashmere Henley Hoodie
























That is all, thank you for listening and have a great day!

Quick Column: NFL Thinking

I've worked the weekend and didn't see much of Sunday's football action but I still have some thoughts about the results.

The difference a year makes, huh?

At the end of last year the Vikings were one running play (rather than one pass) from getting to the Super Bowl.

One year ago, Brett Favre was having the "best" season of his career and Minnesota fans were praising him like he was a career Viking and Viking HOF'er. People were ultimately loving Brett Favre's stats; 33 TD's vs. 7 INT's. They loved 4,202 passing yards and the best passer rating in his career, 107.2. They happened to lose in the NFC Championship game with a chance to win it and wanted Brett Favre back.

I don't blame fans, Viking fans, NFL fans, friends or family at all for that. The Vikings had it going on last season. The got numerous bounces within games leading them to win games.

However, I had a different opinion. I do love Brett Favre and what he did for the Packers all of those years. Though I have seen him throw so many interceptions, have my childhood best friend Will, make so much fun of me because my favorite player did that, that I knew it was a one year wonder.

Favre's TD % is one half the number than it was last year and his INT % is five times higher than last year. His 10 TD's and 17 INT's are 11 TD's fewer and 14 INT's more than at the same point last season.

CHILDRESS FIRED! As I sit here at 11:15am, listening to KFAN and watching the old Twitter feed, Childress is gone and Leslie Frazier is in.

Again, what a year makes for Brad Childress too. A year ago his job was safe and Brett Favre kept covering him for, what I believe, his mediocrity as an NFL head coach. In his four seasons as head coach he's gone from 6-10 to 8-8 to 10-6 and then 12-4 last year before deteriorating so much this season, 3-7 before being fired today. The lifespan of a coach; stop winning and you stop coaching.

Here's a Tweet from Vikings write on ESPN1500.com Tom Pelissero.

Brad Childress' firing comes 368 days after #Vikings signed him to a contract extension. What a difference a year makes.

But it's interesting what changes in a year. Last season the Packers were killed by the Vikings. This season the Packers took it to the Vikings, twice.

Last season the Cardinals beat the Packers in the playoffs with Kurt Warner and this season they are no where to be found.

Last season the Bucs were no where to be found and were one of the worst teams in the NFL. This season they are 7-3 and in the strong NFC South.

Last season the Jets were on the brink of not making the playoffs and were borderline average. But they got on a roll and played well in the playoffs. This season, it seems, they are capitalizing on every single break, just as the Vikings did last season.

What a difference a year makes.

First Snow 2010

The snow has arrived. Forecasts said there was a possibility of 1-to-4 inches of snow but if it was cold enough, soon enough, it could be as much as 5-to-8 inches. Well, I snickered at that, I didn't think there was any chance the rain that was scheduled to come first would yield much snow at all. I was wrong. Good thing I'm not a meteorologist and have no tools of the trade.

I woke up at 7am and took a peek outside. Like a young kid, I still love looking outside to see if it snowed like the forecast said, often getting excited when it did snow. I woke up to a couple of heavy inches of snow and it has been coming down for the last four hours.

Katy and I enjoyed some breakfast and got ready to go to Costco before I work this afternoon. I got outside and cleared my car off, twice, in a matter of ten minutes. By that time, the car had four inches on it, I'd estimate. And it was that heavy wet snow too. I ended up helping a car out of our lot before we went, good thing it still had performance tires on.

Well, we were off after a bit and on highway 36. Before we even got a mile down the road there was a car completely off the road in the ditch no where even close to the road, I'd say 25 feet from the road. Coming westbound there was three cars off of the road and people were playing with their brakes too much so I had enough. We ventured off on Dale Street, where I used to live, and went on home.

I now sit watching the Wisconsin-Indiana college football game with Northwestern and Iowa on ESPN and Tennessee and Ole Miss on CBS. Too bad I can't just sit here all day watching the snow and football.

Language Vimeo I found Interesting

I find language, speaking, fonts, video, production, creativity very interesting.

Therefore, I found this interesting, not only the written speech but the content as well as the visual piece that was created.

If you have a couple minutes, give it a watch. If not; carry on.

Stephen Fry Kinetic Typography - Language from Matthew Rogers on Vimeo.

Car Repair Victory!

Anyone impressed? I am; with Katy!

After taking the truck back to J&B Eurotech for the second time in a couple weeks, with a dead alternator, a blown serpentine belt and an old tension pulley and idle pulley we needed to fix it, sell it or pay for it.

Saturday morning, I went to breakfast with college roommates and friends for our usual monthly gathering. Katy busted out the alternator and was on her way to Hugo to get the replacement for free since it was under a lifetime warranty by the time I got back.

Upon returning, we got the new alternator in a jiffy. Though, it took us a while to nail down a piece of one of the pulleys and it took a couple of trips to find the right length serpentine belt. After a while of playing with the serpentine we knocked it out and got all the parts back in order. It took us a few hours, but I don't think that was terrible at all. We had to run to Target twice to get the right tools and to an auto repair store twice to find the right length serpentine belt.

And we won. We saved a huge chunk of change fixing it ourselves and I can't lie, that felt great. I also had a good time telling a manager at work about it too, as he's a friend and was interested. He was thoroughly impressed! (again, with Katy)




















The truck arriving from J&B Eurotech. Even with the towing cost we saved a ton!




















Katy hard at work. I think we were working on bolting the alternator back in.

Don't believe me?

Here's the proof.

Finger Photos

Here's an update on my finger.

My nail is starting to come in though it still looks a bit rough. Hopefully it continues to come in properly so I don't have to be reminded about it.