Confessions of a Cascadian Prep

1. I went to a STATE school for undergrad.
2. I have never owned a VOLVO, tweed jacket, or a boat tote, nor do I intend to.
3. I ended #2 in a PREPOSITION.
4. I do not attend CHURCH very often.
5. More than likely, I will vote for the REPUBLICAN presidential candidate.
6. I prefer travel destinations such as Southeast Asia and Latin America instead of EUROPE.
7. I like all music, especially GOTH & BLUEGRASS music.
8. My house was built in the 1990s and it is furnished with very, very few ANTIQUES.
9. I don't care for PLAYS or MUSICALS.
10. My ear is pierced and I occasionally wear an EARRING.

Serendipity and Mike Tyson

When I started this blog over a year ago, my plan was to strive, to seek, and to find a prep sensibility in the Pacific Northwest region of the USA. Well, in the wise words of boxer Mike Tyson:

“Everybody's got plans...until they get hit.”

Strived and sought I did; finding a true prep sensibility, I did not... at least not yet. But I will keep with my plan, even after being hit with "ubiquitous zip-up hoodies" and bitten on the ear by those who wear hats in nice restaurants.  I will not yield because I know that there are at least 15 of you out there who believe we can do better.  (See last post.)

Mike Tyson

So with the same serendipity I found the above picture of Mike gently holding this little French Bulldog, I also hope to find some true preps in Pugetropolis.  POW, Sucka!!

Is it just me? A Poll.

Last night, I had a business dinner at a popular steakhouse chain (here).  This particular restaurant is in a upscale part of town, surrounded by higher caliber shops. So when our party of six was sat, I was horrified when I noticed the two guys sitting at the next table were wearing baseball hats. I mean, I really thought I made a wrong turn and ended up in the building's break room. Their hats were pulled down in an "I'm a Hollywood star trying to avoid the paparazzi" kind of way... but these guys were no Hollywood stars.

So I ask you, dear reader, am I too old fashioned? Is wearing a hat in a decent restaurant acceptable today?

(BTW, I would have snapped a couple of photos of the guys, but I thought that would be just as off-putting as the flippin' hats.)

See Poll at right. The Poll has closed and the results are that 15 out of 15 voted for "Hell No - hats should not be worn in restaurants."  (I rest my case.)

A Cascadian Prep's Commute Home

One would think that for an urban region with mountains and snow about 30 miles east, we would be used to driving in a little of it here. NOT!

(Play with sound ON)

(music by Ra Ra Riot)

(music by incredible Portland, OR band - The Shins)

The Regionalized Polo Shirt

Much has been written on the venerable  Polo-style shirt, both here and throughout the blogosphere, so I will try not to be too redundant. Of late, I’ve observed that around the country, companies have been sprouting up that seem to base much of their business effort on the Polo, or more exactly, the Polo, the cap, and small accessories.

The strategy seems to be based around the logo – typically using a highly regionalized theme, which evokes a certain lifestyle in a given region.  Here are just a few:

The South

Southern Tide – with Skipjack (fish) motif

http://www.southerntide.com/products/Skipjack-Polo-%252d-Classic.html

Southern Proper – with bow-tied Lab motif

http://www.southernproper.com/store/gentlemen/proper-polo.html

Southern Point – with Pointer motif

http://www.southernpointco.com/category.php?cat=polo

Cash Robinson Clothing Co. - with horse racing theme

http://www.cashrobinson.com/small_batch_apparel/silks_reserve_polos?product_id=63

The Northeast

Green Lobster USA – with Green Lobster motif

http://www.greenlobsterusa.com/menspolos.html

Castaway Clothing – with Life ring motif
http://www.castawayclothing.com/classic-polo-shirts.html

Vineyard Vines – with whale motif

http://www.vineyardvines.com/product__129756_____13068_13050

In my brief Internet search, I didn’t turn up anything for the Midwest, the Rocky Mountain Region or the West Coast, so I apologize in advance for possibly overlooking. But as you can see above, the Northeast and The South are well represented with companies.   I understand that Polos are both a tradition and a traditional shirt in those regions, but is there any reason why other parts of the US can’t have a successful regionalized Polo shirt?  For the Rockies, I could see a pair of crossed skis as a nice motif, for California, perhaps a surfboard or wine bottle motif.  Here in Cascadia, I could see a mountain, an umbrella, a sailboat, or perhaps, a meth lab motif.

But seriously, if there are any venture capitalists reading this, contact me.  Let’s work up a business plan, do a feasibility study, and hopefully represent the West in the regionalization of the Polo shirt.

(by the way, I do like all of the clothing companies shown above... except for one.)

The Joys of Summer

Cascadia is settling in for the "90 Day Gray".  We had a nice December, but Mother Nature is making up for it now... cold... wet... windy.  So naturally, our thoughts turn to sunnier days.

Shark Reef Park - Lopez Island

It was early September - the best time to sail in The San Juan Islands. Mrs. Cascadian Prep and I were anchored in a little cove off of Lopez.  Just a warm and cloudless summer day spent on the foredeck reading and rocking gently with the waves. She - a bikini top and shorts from that lemon (lululemon?) place. He - Orvis quick dry shorts, sans shirt, and Top-siders. The other "she" - at Grandma's place. Could life get any better?

Suddenly, I felt the need to change the tunes and freshen my Dark 'N' Stormy, so down the companionway to the chart table I sprang. Upon my return, I noticed something else had changed.  Her Top was beSide her.

Life did get better.

Jay Ferguson's Thunder Island (I was a wee lad when it came out. Loved it then, love it now.)