Happiness 101

The Modern Traditionalist tagged me on this a number of weeks ago, but ambivalence has muted my response.  I actually had to think about what 10 things made me most happy.   I essentially spooked myself by thinking too abstractly.   That was more difficult than I had anticipated.   One often defines their likes by their dislikes.  To dislike something takes no sweat off one’s brow.  To like something or to derive happiness from it requires a serious understanding of a thing and its component parts.  With all this in mind, here are 10 things that make me happy in no particular order or classification.  Keep in mind; this is not a top 10 list.

Award Rules:

List 10 things that make you happy.

Tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day.

If you are one of the 10 bloggers awarded, link back to this blog and pass along.

1. Bow Ties and sundry formalities of a time forgotten.

Many of the items to follow can certainly fall in the later category. In an age of when widgets are merely assembled and created with its disposability in mind, I seek out the rather rare items made to last generations. I love when something is created with care and consideration.  Items with storied histories and blemishes of age attract my attention.

Fred and Adele Astaire in 1921 Courtesy of Wkipedia

2. Cigars & Fine Scotch


Nothing enlightens the mind and refuels the soul faster.

Photo Courtesy of Google Image

3. Fitted Clothes

There, I’ve declared it.  Clothes make me happy.  While confidence cannot be drawn from the clothes on your back, it can be enhanced.  This isn’t fashion by any means.  I really do not care what other people seem to believe is “in”.  Sticking to the well-tailored classics has always suited me well.

Courtesy of The Modern Traditionalist

4. Driving Cars

I simply love to drive. To me destination and distance don’t matter, but rather what I am driving.

Courtesy of Autoblog

5. Gadgets and Technology

I think it is a guy thing.  We all want to be James Bond for one reason or another.  Jet pack, grenade pen, laser watch, underwater car...you name it he had it.  Of course those are slightly more advanced that what is available to us today.  I should add that these things make me happy, when they work. My iPhone being the obvious exception since it only frustrates. 

Photo Courtesy of Google Image

6. Keeping Fit

Strenuous physical activity certainly clears the mind of the trivial and keeps the body functioning efficiently.  

Photo Courtesy of Google Image

7. Manly Pursuits

From shooting skeet to shooting the proverbial, you name the manly pursuit and I likely enjoy it.

Photo Courtesy of Google Image

8. History

"If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development."

Aristotle

Photo Courtesy of Google Image

9. Family and close Friends

Sure they exasperate from time to time, but there is little else more rewarding than the good times we have. The fond memories of shared experiences, inside jokes, and family dinners will always be some of the most influential ingredients of BTG.

Photo Courtesy of Google Image

10. Time with the Modern Traditionalist

Here are ten bloggers who add to my happiness daily:

Being Manly

Red Clay Soul

Young Man/Old Man

Southern Gent

The Art of Manliness

Unabashedly Prep

Wasp 101

Sartorially Inclined

The Modern Traditionalist

Easy and Elegant Life

BTG

Belated Presidents Day

Image Courtesy of Disney-Hyperion

While in Charlottesville with MT over the weekend, we visited Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Among the items procured during our stay was the delightful book for youth on some of the Founding Fathers. The subjects include John Hancock, Paul Revere, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson - despite the title. Lane Smith has created the exemplar publication for the education of youth on matters of history.

The book highlights each of the aforementioned characters with anecdotes about both their contribution to the forming of America as well as their individual personality. A true work of art this. The Modern Traditionalist, who gets full credit for actually finding the book, and I were laughing as we read. In addition to the physical volume there are online extensions of the experience, which as a marketing professional delights me. The extra elements include an online game, a video trailer and a theater script.

Suffice it to say, if more children's books were of this likeness, then I would not tremble for my country.

BTG

Saint Valentine's Day

Images Courtesy of Google

We have Pope Gelasius I to thank for this day on which we honor our beloved. Above are some lovely paintings by Jack Vettriano which to me exhibit a most charming elegance.

BTG

Not Nattering II

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia

"We are lovers of beauty without extravagance, and lovers of wisdom without unmanliness. Wealth to us is not mere material for vainglory but an opportunity for achievement; and poverty we think it no disgrace to acknowledge but a real degradation to make no effort to overcome."

"But the bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding go out to meet it."

"We secure our friends not by accepting favors but by doing them."

Thucydides, Peloponnesian War II, 40

Wise words of motivation of assorted variety offered in the hope to cause fewer words written or said without prior profound cerebration.

BTG

Abode Requirements

Photos courtesy of Restoration Hardware

I am working from home today due to the blizzard conditions in the DC area. Working at home from the sofa, chair and dinner table really has me thinking a desk would be a practical investment. It's been making me fancy this particular desk I've been eyeing. Restoration Hardware's 1920's French Drafting Table has old world charm and modern functionality. The ability to tilt the table offers a host of convenient uses. Given this is from RH, it is likely excellently crafted as well. This is certainly on the wish list.

BTG

To Boot

Images Courtesy of Google

The greater D.C. area seems to be in a state of mass hysteria. For those of us effected (or perhaps I should say affected) by this bit of inclement winter precipitation, here are some essential boots you'll need to weather the climate.

The prototypical Bean Boot by L.L. Bean (bottom left) is for plodding through the snow banks. These boots don't discriminate; they simply dominate everything nature throws at them. Bean's construction quality leads to life-long wear. Ultimately, you'll want another - read second - pair and for that occasion they stock a profusion of styles.

Equally becoming with khaki chinos and denim, the Blundstone 500 (top left) are the most resourceful boots one can have - also my personal go-to boot. These stalwart companions require minimal care and are the labrador of the variety.

With the technical superiority of a swiss timepiece and infinitely multitalented traits of a Swiss Army knife, Raichle's hiking boots (top right), swiss-made, are as ready for climbing glaciers as they are a stroll through the park.

Once the snow begins to deliquesce, the man about town has two options at his at his disposal. For traction, the Red Wing rugged classic boot (bottom right) and for perambulating around the Alden 405 (center), or Indy Boot. Both are available at J.Crew. Each pair evinces dashing style somewhere between Steve McQueen and Harrison Ford.

Of course there are other purpose built boots for a myriad of activities these should serve as a taste of the options most germane for the conditions.

BTG

Not Nattering

Directly in the face of today's ubiquitous mindless blather and other contemptuously supercilious twaddle, let's take some time to remember the importance with which one used to address their thoughts. People paid heed to the use of their words and we should live in their likeness. When most of us are intellectually satisfied by mere newsprint and eloquent online periodicals, I will strive to provide a lagniappe of historical quotes. I have started here with the author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, as his prose symbolize a brass ring of meaning, eloquence and incisiveness.

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia

"Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time, who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done, if we are always doing. And that you may be always doing good, my dear, is the ardent prayer of yours affectionately." Thomas Jefferson, letter to Martha Jefferson, May 5, 1787

I will endeavor to be less idle and more frequent with my posts.

BTG