Suiting up

First off, I took the Allegra this morning. I wasn’t really too worried about it, whatever impression I might have given yesterday, and it does seem to have helped. That, or the weather cooled off enough with today’s rain that allergies weren’t as big an issue. Either way, I don’t feel like I’m caught in a perpetual sneeze like I did on Thursday.

I also bought a couple of suits today. I went in to the men’s clothing store with the idea of buying a jacket. I have a family wedding coming up, and while I have a sports jacket in my closet, it has probably seen better days. I have a suit as well, but that’s definitely been hanging around for awhile. Not quite as long ago as high school, perhaps, when I wore a jacket and tie every day — we had a dress code — but long enough that it doesn’t fit as well or look as good as it might.

So I went in with the idea, vague in my head, as I don’t really know my measurements beyond waist and leg, of buying a sports coat. And I got fitted for one that I thought looked nice, had the sleeves measured to be tailored slightly, and was taking it up to the register to pay for it. That’s when the other salesman — I have the feeling they work on commission there, and the gentleman helping me initially was just doing so because they were so busy — convinced me to try a couple of suits. They had this “buy one, get another for $100” deal, which was actually not bad. I ended up paying a couple of hundred dollars more than I would have with the other jacket, but I got two full suits out of the bargain. And I got to take the blue suit jacket with me, since this one needed no tailoring. And that’s good, in case they can’t finish tailoring the other jacket and pants before the wedding next month.

I went in and spent more than I had anticipated — and after talking yesterday about my not insubstantial Kaleidotrope expenses — but there’s something grown-up about buying a suit. I don’t know how often I’ll wear either as a suit. Even at the wedding, I’ll probably wearing the blue jacket with some other pair of trousers. But it does feel like an adult thing to do.

Having not really been on my own in awhile, I may have grown a little rusty at that.

Song of the day

“Jesus Was a Crossmaker” by the Hollies

I can’t claim to have really noticed this song in Cameron Crowe’s Elizabethtown, which is where all those clips in the video come from, and on whose soundtrack this song appears. But I’m a big fan of Rachael Yamagata, and of her cover.

Actually, it’s possible her version is the one that appeared in the film and I never noticed it either. It’s on volume 2 of the soundtrack. (You can fault Crowe for a lot with that movie, but the man knows how to put together soundtracks.) It’s possible. I don’t quite feel like watching Elizabethtown again to find out.

Random 10 6-24-11

A pretty good turnout last week, all things considered. Will this week be the same, or better?

  1. “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen, guessed by Kim
    There are plenty of ways that you can hurt a man and bring him to the ground
  2. “Lark” by Josh Ritter
    The arrow shoots forward, though it moves through repetition
  3. “Know Now Then” by Ani DiFranco
    I figured my face had gotten bigger too
  4. “Kooks” by David Bowie
    We bought a lot of things to keep you warm and dry
  5. “This Year” by the Mountain Goats
    I played video games in a drunken haze
  6. “Day Is Done” by Peter, Paul & Mary
    You shall inherit what mankind has done
  7. “I’ll Be Doggone” by Marvin Gaye, guessed by Occupant
    But if I ever caught you running around, blowing my money all over this town
  8. “I Would Die 4 U” by Prince
    I am something that you’ll never understand
  9. “Let’s Get Together” by the Youngbloods, guessed by Kim
    Just one key unlocks them both
  10. “Get Rhythm” by Johnny Cash
    It only costs a dime, just a nickel a shoe

Good luck!