The City and Country Beaux. And, COTW of TV.

The City and Country Beaux, Francis William Edmonds. [http://www.metmuseum.org/special/americanstories/objectView.aspx?oid=3&sid=3]

Consider the above painting (it's currently on exhibit at the LACMA). Reflective of society at the time, Edmonds' portrayal illustrated the rivalry that existed among the city and the countryside folk in the mid-19th century.

The woman has two suitors, the gentleman from the countryside sitting off to the side of the room, and the gentleman from the city off to the right, more sharply dressed. The orientation of the city gentleman in closer proximity to the woman, suggests that she may prefer the city man as opposed to the more brutish countryman, whom sits with a more crude posture and is juxtaposed next to the door, suggesting that he's likely on his way out.

Interesting. Something to think about.



COTW [crush-of-the-week] Stylewatch
The sources of inspiration for this edition of COTW has derived from fictional characters prevalent in television. Let's take a look, shall we?

Toofer, 30 Rock. Clean, sophisticated, fresh. Preppy. [Photo: http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/30-rock/photos/281135/95866]

Vincent Chase, Entourage. He doesn't make all the most fashionable choices, however, he is constantly rockin' the bedhead-and-I-did-not-put-any-effort-in-dressing-myself-yet-it-looks-nice-on-me look.  Must be the babe magnet quality of nonchalant confidence.

Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Lots of black and leather. A tall glass of dark and brooding.

Shawn Hunter, Boy Meets World. It was the hair. All about the hair

On a completely unrelated note, Javier Bardem works at Porto's Bakery in Burbank. OKAY - it's not Javier, but someone who looks a lot like him. Is he attractive because he looks like Javier Bardem, or is Javier Bardem attractive only because he's Javier Bardem?

So we are. Officially, at least, we guess so.

Good enough. Having the DTR talk is frickin nerve wrecking. Ah, nerves.

I miss Dunkin' Donuts. And chicken fingers. And buffalo wings with blue cheese. And cheese steaks with onions and hot peppers and mushrooms. It's a wonder I wasn't twice my size while growing up. It's high time I saw the folks and the bro. Los Angeles truly is la-la land. People are weird here. You know what I mean. Time to get out of town.

Fiscal Responsibility
So I bought my fourth pair of jeans within a month span. I've got to stop. These are not times to be fiscally irresponsible. The last pair of jeans were - well, I had a gift card. And they were 30% off. Ahh. Working-middle-class-upbringing-guilt-in-times-of-economic-crisis. But then I had three pairs of jeans altered. Why can't petite sizes be all around? Not all of us are 5'7". Venga, hombre!

COTW

Guys who are attentive. As in, not wrapped up in the chic flakiness of LA which has permeated through the air with the smog into everyone's lungs. If you do what you say you were going to do, it's refreshing (sadly). So, in conclusion, don't be sorry, just do what you say you're going to do.

Tasting menus. Unnecessary, but a nice touch.

Being able to conclude that we are, in fact, officially dating. I mean, we guess so.

Fast forward, s'il vous plait.

Let's skip the bs and get to Friday already. Life is short.

Should I get rid of my car?
I've been thinking. What if I got rid of my car? I took it in for it's overdue round of service - let's see, what was that, $2-300? Then I'm renewing my insurance policy on it so there's the monthly insurance payments to the tune of $100/month. Such a burden. Car is king in LA, I know; but, alas, it's become luggage. Having to traipse around LA trying to find parking. That keeps sucking money out of you...

So this is what my life has come to. Reviewing my car insurance policy. That's the most important thing on my to do list these days. That and filing my taxes (still haven't done them), getting the button sown back on my jacket, and doing the laundry this weekend. But no one really talks about all that. And why would they?

Why can't men be like Europe?
Europe is just as old and charming and romantic and beautiful as I remember it to be. Why can't more men be like that? Hmm. Well, minus the 'old,' of course.

And, as much as I'm trying not to rub it in, it is really nice to get out of LA. Honestly. Really, really, really nice.

COTW crush-of-the-week

Spotted: the matching shirt and ascot combo. Niiice. If you don't ask me out by next week, maybe I'll have to ask you out myself. Yeah! No - don't make me do that.

People who like pie. And, of course, House of Pies on Vermont.