things i enjoyed...
1) growing closer to God
2) spending the weekend with Mallory
3) the shack
4) brooks brothers 3-pack slim fits
5) my first musical
6) fixing up an old victorian chair
7) long convos on the 5
8) weekend plans with good men
9) checking twitter for the umpteenth time
10) 3-day weekend
11) blue skies and crisp air
12) new TOMS
13) engagement photos
things i enjoyed...
1) growing closer to God
2) spending the weekend with Mallory
3) the shack
4) brooks brothers 3-pack slim fits
5) my first musical
6) fixing up an old victorian chair
7) long convos on the 5
8) weekend plans with good men
9) checking twitter for the umpteenth time
10) 3-day weekend
11) blue skies and crisp air
12) new TOMS
13) engagement photos
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
words
have you ever been in a situation where you know something is true with all your heart, but it never really hits home until its spoken aloud?
i think a lot of things in life are like that, and i wonder at the power words have to both comfort and disillusion.
in a good sense, i know that the first time i told mallory that i loved her, she experienced the confirming power of spoken word over all that she had grown to know and feel. in a sense, speaking those beautiful words made the reality more tangible to me as well.
tonight i experienced that same power of word in a different sense. tonight words confirmed something i had long known, but never accepted. I suppose that is a large part of love though...knowledge and acceptance that is...and love grows to encompass both. have you ever been in a situation where you know something is true with all your heart, but it never really hits home until its spoken aloud?
i think a lot of things in life are like that, and i wonder at the power words have to both comfort and disillusion.
in a good sense, i know that the first time i told mallory that i loved her, she experienced the confirming power of spoken word over all that she had grown to know and feel. in a sense, speaking those beautiful words made the reality more tangible to me as well.
tonight i experienced that same power of word in a different sense. tonight words confirmed something i had long known, but never accepted. I suppose that is a large part of love though...knowledge and acceptance that is...and love grows to encompass both.
i think a lot of things in life are like that, and i wonder at the power words have to both comfort and disillusion.
in a good sense, i know that the first time i told mallory that i loved her, she experienced the confirming power of spoken word over all that she had grown to know and feel. in a sense, speaking those beautiful words made the reality more tangible to me as well.
tonight i experienced that same power of word in a different sense. tonight words confirmed something i had long known, but never accepted. I suppose that is a large part of love though...knowledge and acceptance that is...and love grows to encompass both. have you ever been in a situation where you know something is true with all your heart, but it never really hits home until its spoken aloud?
i think a lot of things in life are like that, and i wonder at the power words have to both comfort and disillusion.
in a good sense, i know that the first time i told mallory that i loved her, she experienced the confirming power of spoken word over all that she had grown to know and feel. in a sense, speaking those beautiful words made the reality more tangible to me as well.
tonight i experienced that same power of word in a different sense. tonight words confirmed something i had long known, but never accepted. I suppose that is a large part of love though...knowledge and acceptance that is...and love grows to encompass both.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
transition
i've been thinking a lot about the transitions that i've gone through in my life to date, and more specifically, the transition that i'm passing through right now. it's actually a little bit overwhelming if i try to sit back and digest it all at one moment. there have been so many different kinds of transitions in my life, many of them simultaneous, overlapping, ebbing and flowing at various intensities, that reflecting on all this really moves me past the scope of my understanding as i look at the man i've become today.
for instance, there are the locational transitions...living in danville, moving to denver, moving to malibu, moving to florence, moving back to malibu, and finally landing back in the bay area; each transition with its own set of challenges and joys.
there is also the physical transition from childhood to adulthood. each stage has made its own unique mark on my life: my the pure joy of my youth, the seemingly "tortured" moments of my pre-adolescence which i would later find was quite wonderful and blessed, the awkwardness and confusion of adolescence, the exhilaration of reaching young adulthood, and the excited sense of content, assurance, and hope i feel as i step forward into the unknown as an adult.
oh and there are so many other transitions...the intellectual transition from pre-school to institutions of higher education and beyond...the spiritual transition from the faith of my parents to a dynamic relationship with the Lord...the relational transition as friends have come, gone, or continue to stay...i've really only touched on some of the most basic transitions, but i believe these are the most essential...you can weave the story of one's whole life when you layer these transitions upon each other, and if you pick up nearly every book, it is likely a story of transition and change.
i write this now because i want to reflect and slow down. i am now betrothed to mallory, and i think it almost goes without saying that behind my journey with the Lord, this is one of the most important periods of transition in my whole life. can i really say that though? who would i be today if not for every little transition, every change, every movement, every friend, every hardship, every loss, every triumph, every joy? the truth of the matter is that life is all one transition, one movement, moving in the same direction, never ceasing, never slowing...i find myself so buried in the minutia of the day that i've almost lost the beauty of this grand movement. imagine...the whole world, every person, moving, changing, coming, going, passing through, staying (but only for a while), and one day, at the end of our time, we meet the One who knew us, who loved us, who walked with us, who spoke to us, and who held my hand and guided my step through every change along the way.
God, to YOU be all the glory as i wake and sleep each day. please guide my steps as I pass through this life. i want to live every day to the fullest and richest, not in fear of transition, but loving the people and embracing the opportunities you've put in my life now. i love you with all my heart. i've been thinking a lot about the transitions that i've gone through in my life to date, and more specifically, the transition that i'm passing through right now. it's actually a little bit overwhelming if i try to sit back and digest it all at one moment. there have been so many different kinds of transitions in my life, many of them simultaneous, overlapping, ebbing and flowing at various intensities, that reflecting on all this really moves me past the scope of my understanding as i look at the man i've become today.
for instance, there are the locational transitions...living in danville, moving to denver, moving to malibu, moving to florence, moving back to malibu, and finally landing back in the bay area; each transition with its own set of challenges and joys.
there is also the physical transition from childhood to adulthood. each stage has made its own unique mark on my life: my the pure joy of my youth, the seemingly "tortured" moments of my pre-adolescence which i would later find was quite wonderful and blessed, the awkwardness and confusion of adolescence, the exhilaration of reaching young adulthood, and the excited sense of content, assurance, and hope i feel as i step forward into the unknown as an adult.
oh and there are so many other transitions...the intellectual transition from pre-school to institutions of higher education and beyond...the spiritual transition from the faith of my parents to a dynamic relationship with the Lord...the relational transition as friends have come, gone, or continue to stay...i've really only touched on some of the most basic transitions, but i believe these are the most essential...you can weave the story of one's whole life when you layer these transitions upon each other, and if you pick up nearly every book, it is likely a story of transition and change.
i write this now because i want to reflect and slow down. i am now betrothed to mallory, and i think it almost goes without saying that behind my journey with the Lord, this is one of the most important periods of transition in my whole life. can i really say that though? who would i be today if not for every little transition, every change, every movement, every friend, every hardship, every loss, every triumph, every joy? the truth of the matter is that life is all one transition, one movement, moving in the same direction, never ceasing, never slowing...i find myself so buried in the minutia of the day that i've almost lost the beauty of this grand movement. imagine...the whole world, every person, moving, changing, coming, going, passing through, staying (but only for a while), and one day, at the end of our time, we meet the One who knew us, who loved us, who walked with us, who spoke to us, and who held my hand and guided my step through every change along the way.
God, to YOU be all the glory as i wake and sleep each day. please guide my steps as I pass through this life. i want to live every day to the fullest and richest, not in fear of transition, but loving the people and embracing the opportunities you've put in my life now. i love you with all my heart.
for instance, there are the locational transitions...living in danville, moving to denver, moving to malibu, moving to florence, moving back to malibu, and finally landing back in the bay area; each transition with its own set of challenges and joys.
there is also the physical transition from childhood to adulthood. each stage has made its own unique mark on my life: my the pure joy of my youth, the seemingly "tortured" moments of my pre-adolescence which i would later find was quite wonderful and blessed, the awkwardness and confusion of adolescence, the exhilaration of reaching young adulthood, and the excited sense of content, assurance, and hope i feel as i step forward into the unknown as an adult.
oh and there are so many other transitions...the intellectual transition from pre-school to institutions of higher education and beyond...the spiritual transition from the faith of my parents to a dynamic relationship with the Lord...the relational transition as friends have come, gone, or continue to stay...i've really only touched on some of the most basic transitions, but i believe these are the most essential...you can weave the story of one's whole life when you layer these transitions upon each other, and if you pick up nearly every book, it is likely a story of transition and change.
i write this now because i want to reflect and slow down. i am now betrothed to mallory, and i think it almost goes without saying that behind my journey with the Lord, this is one of the most important periods of transition in my whole life. can i really say that though? who would i be today if not for every little transition, every change, every movement, every friend, every hardship, every loss, every triumph, every joy? the truth of the matter is that life is all one transition, one movement, moving in the same direction, never ceasing, never slowing...i find myself so buried in the minutia of the day that i've almost lost the beauty of this grand movement. imagine...the whole world, every person, moving, changing, coming, going, passing through, staying (but only for a while), and one day, at the end of our time, we meet the One who knew us, who loved us, who walked with us, who spoke to us, and who held my hand and guided my step through every change along the way.
God, to YOU be all the glory as i wake and sleep each day. please guide my steps as I pass through this life. i want to live every day to the fullest and richest, not in fear of transition, but loving the people and embracing the opportunities you've put in my life now. i love you with all my heart. i've been thinking a lot about the transitions that i've gone through in my life to date, and more specifically, the transition that i'm passing through right now. it's actually a little bit overwhelming if i try to sit back and digest it all at one moment. there have been so many different kinds of transitions in my life, many of them simultaneous, overlapping, ebbing and flowing at various intensities, that reflecting on all this really moves me past the scope of my understanding as i look at the man i've become today.
for instance, there are the locational transitions...living in danville, moving to denver, moving to malibu, moving to florence, moving back to malibu, and finally landing back in the bay area; each transition with its own set of challenges and joys.
there is also the physical transition from childhood to adulthood. each stage has made its own unique mark on my life: my the pure joy of my youth, the seemingly "tortured" moments of my pre-adolescence which i would later find was quite wonderful and blessed, the awkwardness and confusion of adolescence, the exhilaration of reaching young adulthood, and the excited sense of content, assurance, and hope i feel as i step forward into the unknown as an adult.
oh and there are so many other transitions...the intellectual transition from pre-school to institutions of higher education and beyond...the spiritual transition from the faith of my parents to a dynamic relationship with the Lord...the relational transition as friends have come, gone, or continue to stay...i've really only touched on some of the most basic transitions, but i believe these are the most essential...you can weave the story of one's whole life when you layer these transitions upon each other, and if you pick up nearly every book, it is likely a story of transition and change.
i write this now because i want to reflect and slow down. i am now betrothed to mallory, and i think it almost goes without saying that behind my journey with the Lord, this is one of the most important periods of transition in my whole life. can i really say that though? who would i be today if not for every little transition, every change, every movement, every friend, every hardship, every loss, every triumph, every joy? the truth of the matter is that life is all one transition, one movement, moving in the same direction, never ceasing, never slowing...i find myself so buried in the minutia of the day that i've almost lost the beauty of this grand movement. imagine...the whole world, every person, moving, changing, coming, going, passing through, staying (but only for a while), and one day, at the end of our time, we meet the One who knew us, who loved us, who walked with us, who spoke to us, and who held my hand and guided my step through every change along the way.
God, to YOU be all the glory as i wake and sleep each day. please guide my steps as I pass through this life. i want to live every day to the fullest and richest, not in fear of transition, but loving the people and embracing the opportunities you've put in my life now. i love you with all my heart.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Holy Father, i am weary and i am weak. there is a swelling in my throat and i'm having trouble differentiating between the pain from screaming rock band songs and the all too familiar feeling of helplessness when i realize i can't navigate this life without You.
to You be all the glory. please take my burden. You've promised that Yours is light in exchange. i long to follow You and know Your ways. i want to be close to Your heart. i want my life to reflect your Lordship and i am disappointed in my own attempts.
i'm beginning, what seems to me, one of the most important stages of my life to date. i want to follow You into the dark, into the unknown. like a small child, i want to stand behind You, hold Your mighty hand, and know that you are God, you are Father, and you are strong. thank You for Your many blessings. i love You with all my heart.
your son,
Jonathan Holy Father, i am weary and i am weak. there is a swelling in my throat and i'm having trouble differentiating between the pain from screaming rock band songs and the all too familiar feeling of helplessness when i realize i can't navigate this life without You.
to You be all the glory. please take my burden. You've promised that Yours is light in exchange. i long to follow You and know Your ways. i want to be close to Your heart. i want my life to reflect your Lordship and i am disappointed in my own attempts.
i'm beginning, what seems to me, one of the most important stages of my life to date. i want to follow You into the dark, into the unknown. like a small child, i want to stand behind You, hold Your mighty hand, and know that you are God, you are Father, and you are strong. thank You for Your many blessings. i love You with all my heart.
your son,
Jonathan
to You be all the glory. please take my burden. You've promised that Yours is light in exchange. i long to follow You and know Your ways. i want to be close to Your heart. i want my life to reflect your Lordship and i am disappointed in my own attempts.
i'm beginning, what seems to me, one of the most important stages of my life to date. i want to follow You into the dark, into the unknown. like a small child, i want to stand behind You, hold Your mighty hand, and know that you are God, you are Father, and you are strong. thank You for Your many blessings. i love You with all my heart.
your son,
Jonathan Holy Father, i am weary and i am weak. there is a swelling in my throat and i'm having trouble differentiating between the pain from screaming rock band songs and the all too familiar feeling of helplessness when i realize i can't navigate this life without You.
to You be all the glory. please take my burden. You've promised that Yours is light in exchange. i long to follow You and know Your ways. i want to be close to Your heart. i want my life to reflect your Lordship and i am disappointed in my own attempts.
i'm beginning, what seems to me, one of the most important stages of my life to date. i want to follow You into the dark, into the unknown. like a small child, i want to stand behind You, hold Your mighty hand, and know that you are God, you are Father, and you are strong. thank You for Your many blessings. i love You with all my heart.
your son,
Jonathan
a new project!!!!
i've had a side project on the backburner of my mind for a number of months now, and i'm feeling so strongly compelled to take action that it just might happen.
it all started in a creative rut. my line of work doesn't necessarily lend to the highest degree of creative output (unless you're bernard madoff, in which case you got REALLY creative and lost your character in the process). i suppose there is some truth in saying that creativity is required in appropriately structuring a loan, as much of the syndicated corporate lending space does not resign itself to your plain vanilla structuring needs. that aside, i've had to pursue creative outlets outside of work.
for a while, i would fire up my beautiful 5150 every night and shred until i felt it was sufficiently late that my neighbors would pound on the wall at any moment. recently though, i've been so exhausted from work that i really have not felt very musical, and instead, have chosen to sit in mike's dilapidated lazy boy and watch 24/lost/the office/etc. until my early bed time rolls around.
i've been getting a bit restless with no outlet for my creativity, so i tried imitating mallory for a while and found that most arts and crafts really aren't a guy thing, and that it is pretty wrong of me to even attempt to steal her "thunder" in this area. crafts are something that she is really good at, and just because i'm starving to find a creative outlet doesn't mean that i should latch on to hers. i learned this lesson early (fortunately without a lecture from her!) and i hit the road again in search of my exit.
i noticed something a couple months ago that got me thinking about my current project: men in our generation have very few role models. aside from men in the Bible, and those of us who are lucky enough to have wonderful fathers or older influences, i really believe there is a drought when it comes to male role models of immovable character, outstanding courage, deep faith and love, lofty thought, romantic hearts, articulate speech, and effortless style. i could write volumes about the previous sentence and all the men i look up to in those respective areas, but what inspired me creatively is the most superficial of these traits...the men of seemingly effortless and eternal style.
where are the bogart's, sinatra's, martin's, davis jr's, twain's, warhol's, jagger's, clooney's, reagan's, and beatles', etc. of our generation? as i've grown up, i've bounced from one horrible style into another...yes, jinco's, bull cuts, flat tops, tommy bahama, and abercrombie cargo pants included...largely because i had no one to teach me how to present myself like a man/young man! today i find myself no closer than my middle school days as i walk into the office with oxford shirts that could fit men three times my size, skinny jeans that bunch up in all the wrong places, and deep v's that have enough extra material on the chest to fit boobs that i (thankfully) was not endowed with.
so what value could i possibly add to this area of life given that i have little to no style of my own?!? i've decided to approach this problem two ways. 1) i'm going on a journey. given that i have no substantive advice of my own to offer, i've started researching and learning. my goal is to write another blog that is an amalgamation of everything that i've learned about the essentials of men's style and grooming. this will not be the most fashion forward stuff. this will not be all that trash you see on the runways. i want to write a basic guide for men that just teaches us (emphasis on myself included) how we can dress ourselves and take care of ourselves hygenically in such a way that we don't look like we never progressed beyond the watchful, nitpicking eye of our mothers in elementary school.
my second approach to this problem is where i can actually add some value. i've always been really good at finding the same thing everyone else has for a lot less money. i'm not always the most innovative, i'm not always ahead of the curve, but i'm really good at finding stuff for cheap. example: capiz floor lamps.
mallory has a capiz table lamp that is pretty baller, albeit a bit fem. i was wandering around target the other day and found two capiz floor lamps at a deeeeep discount. this was more of a mistake than diligent research on my part, but having an eye for deals, i did a quick check with her and snatched these babies up for our future casa. to put this in perspective, these things usually go for ~$230 each at west elm. i picked up two of these, nearly identical to the one above for $35 each. this puts savings somewhere in the ballpark of $390.
i'm not necessarily a cheapskate...i'm just a businessman who understands how businesses work. whenever you go into a place to buy something, there is obviously a profit margin attached. some stores are volume stores and will sell on thin margins, just barely over cost, and they stay in business because of the volume of items that they sell. other businesses market to you as "premium" or "designer" vendors and add ridiculously thick margins that no self-respecting person should ever pay. somehow we trick ourselves into thinking that because something is new, or designer, that it's ok to pay 500% the actual cost of making the item. this is never the case and it's all marketing. sure, some well made things cost a lot more to make and you need to pay up for the quality. in most cases though, especially the junk that comes out of the large fashion houses, the crap you're buying isn't worth nearly the sticker price.
essentially, the second part of my blog will teach guys (including myself, again), how to find the essentials (grooming and dress) for a price that you won't regret. this is my value add and hopefully will help some other curious viewers as well.
anyways, this might be a horrible idea, but i think it will be edifying for me at least in that i get to learn a few things about taking care of myself and i'll get to express myself somewhat uniquely and creatively in the process. thanks for reading!!!! i've had a side project on the backburner of my mind for a number of months now, and i'm feeling so strongly compelled to take action that it just might happen.
it all started in a creative rut. my line of work doesn't necessarily lend to the highest degree of creative output (unless you're bernard madoff, in which case you got REALLY creative and lost your character in the process). i suppose there is some truth in saying that creativity is required in appropriately structuring a loan, as much of the syndicated corporate lending space does not resign itself to your plain vanilla structuring needs. that aside, i've had to pursue creative outlets outside of work.
for a while, i would fire up my beautiful 5150 every night and shred until i felt it was sufficiently late that my neighbors would pound on the wall at any moment. recently though, i've been so exhausted from work that i really have not felt very musical, and instead, have chosen to sit in mike's dilapidated lazy boy and watch 24/lost/the office/etc. until my early bed time rolls around.
i've been getting a bit restless with no outlet for my creativity, so i tried imitating mallory for a while and found that most arts and crafts really aren't a guy thing, and that it is pretty wrong of me to even attempt to steal her "thunder" in this area. crafts are something that she is really good at, and just because i'm starving to find a creative outlet doesn't mean that i should latch on to hers. i learned this lesson early (fortunately without a lecture from her!) and i hit the road again in search of my exit.
i noticed something a couple months ago that got me thinking about my current project: men in our generation have very few role models. aside from men in the Bible, and those of us who are lucky enough to have wonderful fathers or older influences, i really believe there is a drought when it comes to male role models of immovable character, outstanding courage, deep faith and love, lofty thought, romantic hearts, articulate speech, and effortless style. i could write volumes about the previous sentence and all the men i look up to in those respective areas, but what inspired me creatively is the most superficial of these traits...the men of seemingly effortless and eternal style.
where are the bogart's, sinatra's, martin's, davis jr's, twain's, warhol's, jagger's, clooney's, reagan's, and beatles', etc. of our generation? as i've grown up, i've bounced from one horrible style into another...yes, jinco's, bull cuts, flat tops, tommy bahama, and abercrombie cargo pants included...largely because i had no one to teach me how to present myself like a man/young man! today i find myself no closer than my middle school days as i walk into the office with oxford shirts that could fit men three times my size, skinny jeans that bunch up in all the wrong places, and deep v's that have enough extra material on the chest to fit boobs that i (thankfully) was not endowed with.
so what value could i possibly add to this area of life given that i have little to no style of my own?!? i've decided to approach this problem two ways. 1) i'm going on a journey. given that i have no substantive advice of my own to offer, i've started researching and learning. my goal is to write another blog that is an amalgamation of everything that i've learned about the essentials of men's style and grooming. this will not be the most fashion forward stuff. this will not be all that trash you see on the runways. i want to write a basic guide for men that just teaches us (emphasis on myself included) how we can dress ourselves and take care of ourselves hygenically in such a way that we don't look like we never progressed beyond the watchful, nitpicking eye of our mothers in elementary school.
my second approach to this problem is where i can actually add some value. i've always been really good at finding the same thing everyone else has for a lot less money. i'm not always the most innovative, i'm not always ahead of the curve, but i'm really good at finding stuff for cheap. example: capiz floor lamps.
mallory has a capiz table lamp that is pretty baller, albeit a bit fem. i was wandering around target the other day and found two capiz floor lamps at a deeeeep discount. this was more of a mistake than diligent research on my part, but having an eye for deals, i did a quick check with her and snatched these babies up for our future casa. to put this in perspective, these things usually go for ~$230 each at west elm. i picked up two of these, nearly identical to the one above for $35 each. this puts savings somewhere in the ballpark of $390.
i'm not necessarily a cheapskate...i'm just a businessman who understands how businesses work. whenever you go into a place to buy something, there is obviously a profit margin attached. some stores are volume stores and will sell on thin margins, just barely over cost, and they stay in business because of the volume of items that they sell. other businesses market to you as "premium" or "designer" vendors and add ridiculously thick margins that no self-respecting person should ever pay. somehow we trick ourselves into thinking that because something is new, or designer, that it's ok to pay 500% the actual cost of making the item. this is never the case and it's all marketing. sure, some well made things cost a lot more to make and you need to pay up for the quality. in most cases though, especially the junk that comes out of the large fashion houses, the crap you're buying isn't worth nearly the sticker price.
essentially, the second part of my blog will teach guys (including myself, again), how to find the essentials (grooming and dress) for a price that you won't regret. this is my value add and hopefully will help some other curious viewers as well.
anyways, this might be a horrible idea, but i think it will be edifying for me at least in that i get to learn a few things about taking care of myself and i'll get to express myself somewhat uniquely and creatively in the process. thanks for reading!!!!
it all started in a creative rut. my line of work doesn't necessarily lend to the highest degree of creative output (unless you're bernard madoff, in which case you got REALLY creative and lost your character in the process). i suppose there is some truth in saying that creativity is required in appropriately structuring a loan, as much of the syndicated corporate lending space does not resign itself to your plain vanilla structuring needs. that aside, i've had to pursue creative outlets outside of work.
for a while, i would fire up my beautiful 5150 every night and shred until i felt it was sufficiently late that my neighbors would pound on the wall at any moment. recently though, i've been so exhausted from work that i really have not felt very musical, and instead, have chosen to sit in mike's dilapidated lazy boy and watch 24/lost/the office/etc. until my early bed time rolls around.
i've been getting a bit restless with no outlet for my creativity, so i tried imitating mallory for a while and found that most arts and crafts really aren't a guy thing, and that it is pretty wrong of me to even attempt to steal her "thunder" in this area. crafts are something that she is really good at, and just because i'm starving to find a creative outlet doesn't mean that i should latch on to hers. i learned this lesson early (fortunately without a lecture from her!) and i hit the road again in search of my exit.
i noticed something a couple months ago that got me thinking about my current project: men in our generation have very few role models. aside from men in the Bible, and those of us who are lucky enough to have wonderful fathers or older influences, i really believe there is a drought when it comes to male role models of immovable character, outstanding courage, deep faith and love, lofty thought, romantic hearts, articulate speech, and effortless style. i could write volumes about the previous sentence and all the men i look up to in those respective areas, but what inspired me creatively is the most superficial of these traits...the men of seemingly effortless and eternal style.
where are the bogart's, sinatra's, martin's, davis jr's, twain's, warhol's, jagger's, clooney's, reagan's, and beatles', etc. of our generation? as i've grown up, i've bounced from one horrible style into another...yes, jinco's, bull cuts, flat tops, tommy bahama, and abercrombie cargo pants included...largely because i had no one to teach me how to present myself like a man/young man! today i find myself no closer than my middle school days as i walk into the office with oxford shirts that could fit men three times my size, skinny jeans that bunch up in all the wrong places, and deep v's that have enough extra material on the chest to fit boobs that i (thankfully) was not endowed with.
so what value could i possibly add to this area of life given that i have little to no style of my own?!? i've decided to approach this problem two ways. 1) i'm going on a journey. given that i have no substantive advice of my own to offer, i've started researching and learning. my goal is to write another blog that is an amalgamation of everything that i've learned about the essentials of men's style and grooming. this will not be the most fashion forward stuff. this will not be all that trash you see on the runways. i want to write a basic guide for men that just teaches us (emphasis on myself included) how we can dress ourselves and take care of ourselves hygenically in such a way that we don't look like we never progressed beyond the watchful, nitpicking eye of our mothers in elementary school.
my second approach to this problem is where i can actually add some value. i've always been really good at finding the same thing everyone else has for a lot less money. i'm not always the most innovative, i'm not always ahead of the curve, but i'm really good at finding stuff for cheap. example: capiz floor lamps.
mallory has a capiz table lamp that is pretty baller, albeit a bit fem. i was wandering around target the other day and found two capiz floor lamps at a deeeeep discount. this was more of a mistake than diligent research on my part, but having an eye for deals, i did a quick check with her and snatched these babies up for our future casa. to put this in perspective, these things usually go for ~$230 each at west elm. i picked up two of these, nearly identical to the one above for $35 each. this puts savings somewhere in the ballpark of $390.
i'm not necessarily a cheapskate...i'm just a businessman who understands how businesses work. whenever you go into a place to buy something, there is obviously a profit margin attached. some stores are volume stores and will sell on thin margins, just barely over cost, and they stay in business because of the volume of items that they sell. other businesses market to you as "premium" or "designer" vendors and add ridiculously thick margins that no self-respecting person should ever pay. somehow we trick ourselves into thinking that because something is new, or designer, that it's ok to pay 500% the actual cost of making the item. this is never the case and it's all marketing. sure, some well made things cost a lot more to make and you need to pay up for the quality. in most cases though, especially the junk that comes out of the large fashion houses, the crap you're buying isn't worth nearly the sticker price.
essentially, the second part of my blog will teach guys (including myself, again), how to find the essentials (grooming and dress) for a price that you won't regret. this is my value add and hopefully will help some other curious viewers as well.
anyways, this might be a horrible idea, but i think it will be edifying for me at least in that i get to learn a few things about taking care of myself and i'll get to express myself somewhat uniquely and creatively in the process. thanks for reading!!!! i've had a side project on the backburner of my mind for a number of months now, and i'm feeling so strongly compelled to take action that it just might happen.
it all started in a creative rut. my line of work doesn't necessarily lend to the highest degree of creative output (unless you're bernard madoff, in which case you got REALLY creative and lost your character in the process). i suppose there is some truth in saying that creativity is required in appropriately structuring a loan, as much of the syndicated corporate lending space does not resign itself to your plain vanilla structuring needs. that aside, i've had to pursue creative outlets outside of work.
for a while, i would fire up my beautiful 5150 every night and shred until i felt it was sufficiently late that my neighbors would pound on the wall at any moment. recently though, i've been so exhausted from work that i really have not felt very musical, and instead, have chosen to sit in mike's dilapidated lazy boy and watch 24/lost/the office/etc. until my early bed time rolls around.
i've been getting a bit restless with no outlet for my creativity, so i tried imitating mallory for a while and found that most arts and crafts really aren't a guy thing, and that it is pretty wrong of me to even attempt to steal her "thunder" in this area. crafts are something that she is really good at, and just because i'm starving to find a creative outlet doesn't mean that i should latch on to hers. i learned this lesson early (fortunately without a lecture from her!) and i hit the road again in search of my exit.
i noticed something a couple months ago that got me thinking about my current project: men in our generation have very few role models. aside from men in the Bible, and those of us who are lucky enough to have wonderful fathers or older influences, i really believe there is a drought when it comes to male role models of immovable character, outstanding courage, deep faith and love, lofty thought, romantic hearts, articulate speech, and effortless style. i could write volumes about the previous sentence and all the men i look up to in those respective areas, but what inspired me creatively is the most superficial of these traits...the men of seemingly effortless and eternal style.
where are the bogart's, sinatra's, martin's, davis jr's, twain's, warhol's, jagger's, clooney's, reagan's, and beatles', etc. of our generation? as i've grown up, i've bounced from one horrible style into another...yes, jinco's, bull cuts, flat tops, tommy bahama, and abercrombie cargo pants included...largely because i had no one to teach me how to present myself like a man/young man! today i find myself no closer than my middle school days as i walk into the office with oxford shirts that could fit men three times my size, skinny jeans that bunch up in all the wrong places, and deep v's that have enough extra material on the chest to fit boobs that i (thankfully) was not endowed with.
so what value could i possibly add to this area of life given that i have little to no style of my own?!? i've decided to approach this problem two ways. 1) i'm going on a journey. given that i have no substantive advice of my own to offer, i've started researching and learning. my goal is to write another blog that is an amalgamation of everything that i've learned about the essentials of men's style and grooming. this will not be the most fashion forward stuff. this will not be all that trash you see on the runways. i want to write a basic guide for men that just teaches us (emphasis on myself included) how we can dress ourselves and take care of ourselves hygenically in such a way that we don't look like we never progressed beyond the watchful, nitpicking eye of our mothers in elementary school.
my second approach to this problem is where i can actually add some value. i've always been really good at finding the same thing everyone else has for a lot less money. i'm not always the most innovative, i'm not always ahead of the curve, but i'm really good at finding stuff for cheap. example: capiz floor lamps.
mallory has a capiz table lamp that is pretty baller, albeit a bit fem. i was wandering around target the other day and found two capiz floor lamps at a deeeeep discount. this was more of a mistake than diligent research on my part, but having an eye for deals, i did a quick check with her and snatched these babies up for our future casa. to put this in perspective, these things usually go for ~$230 each at west elm. i picked up two of these, nearly identical to the one above for $35 each. this puts savings somewhere in the ballpark of $390.
i'm not necessarily a cheapskate...i'm just a businessman who understands how businesses work. whenever you go into a place to buy something, there is obviously a profit margin attached. some stores are volume stores and will sell on thin margins, just barely over cost, and they stay in business because of the volume of items that they sell. other businesses market to you as "premium" or "designer" vendors and add ridiculously thick margins that no self-respecting person should ever pay. somehow we trick ourselves into thinking that because something is new, or designer, that it's ok to pay 500% the actual cost of making the item. this is never the case and it's all marketing. sure, some well made things cost a lot more to make and you need to pay up for the quality. in most cases though, especially the junk that comes out of the large fashion houses, the crap you're buying isn't worth nearly the sticker price.
essentially, the second part of my blog will teach guys (including myself, again), how to find the essentials (grooming and dress) for a price that you won't regret. this is my value add and hopefully will help some other curious viewers as well.
anyways, this might be a horrible idea, but i think it will be edifying for me at least in that i get to learn a few things about taking care of myself and i'll get to express myself somewhat uniquely and creatively in the process. thanks for reading!!!!
Monday, February 2, 2009
a social experiment of sorts
rather than being in my own self-absorbed world when i walk down the street, i've starting lifting up my eyes and looking around the city, looking into the eyes of others, and taking joy in my surroundings. it freaks people out if they are used to being in a zombie-esque state where everyone just walks from one task to another. i love it.
rather than being in my own self-absorbed world when i walk down the street, i've starting lifting up my eyes and looking around the city, looking into the eyes of others, and taking joy in my surroundings. it freaks people out if they are used to being in a zombie-esque state where everyone just walks from one task to another. i love it.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
come all you weary
So I'm sitting at work and had a bit of a discovery and I have to write this quickly before the beauty of the whole thing leaves me. I should probably also be quick because there is more than likely a guy locked in a dark room somewhere working for our company who watches my every move on the internet. I'm preeetty sure writing an entry here doesn't count as a value-added proposition…so I'll be brief.
I realized that God gives me perspective. I also realized what a rare and beautiful gift perspective is. Some of the wisest, most respected people I know are the ones who can simply put the everyday happenings of life into their proper places in the grand scheme.
Over the past week, I've heard what I would normally consider some pretty bad news from a variety of people on a variety of things. Instead of pulling my hair out and elevating my blood pressure to levels that kills men over 40, I've had a strange peace. I say strange because rationally, I feel like these things should stress me or make me angry, but I surprise even myself and stay calm.
My peace largely comes from knowing that the course of my life is ultimately in the Lord's hands. With trials comes perseverance, and when one door closes, another has opened somewhere in its place. I know that sounds a bit cliché, but I'm serious when I say that I'm relieved to have my life out of my control. It gives life depth, putting instances into perspective, knowing that others have endured far worse than I in the past, and that the quality of my future is dependent only on my ability to submit. Not saying that everyday with Jesus is a happy-go-lucky march into candyland, because that's not what He promises. It is, however, a rich journey where my burden is His, and His is mine. So I'm sitting at work and had a bit of a discovery and I have to write this quickly before the beauty of the whole thing leaves me. I should probably also be quick because there is more than likely a guy locked in a dark room somewhere working for our company who watches my every move on the internet. I'm preeetty sure writing an entry here doesn't count as a value-added proposition…so I'll be brief.
I realized that God gives me perspective. I also realized what a rare and beautiful gift perspective is. Some of the wisest, most respected people I know are the ones who can simply put the everyday happenings of life into their proper places in the grand scheme.
Over the past week, I've heard what I would normally consider some pretty bad news from a variety of people on a variety of things. Instead of pulling my hair out and elevating my blood pressure to levels that kills men over 40, I've had a strange peace. I say strange because rationally, I feel like these things should stress me or make me angry, but I surprise even myself and stay calm.
My peace largely comes from knowing that the course of my life is ultimately in the Lord's hands. With trials comes perseverance, and when one door closes, another has opened somewhere in its place. I know that sounds a bit cliché, but I'm serious when I say that I'm relieved to have my life out of my control. It gives life depth, putting instances into perspective, knowing that others have endured far worse than I in the past, and that the quality of my future is dependent only on my ability to submit. Not saying that everyday with Jesus is a happy-go-lucky march into candyland, because that's not what He promises. It is, however, a rich journey where my burden is His, and His is mine.
I realized that God gives me perspective. I also realized what a rare and beautiful gift perspective is. Some of the wisest, most respected people I know are the ones who can simply put the everyday happenings of life into their proper places in the grand scheme.
Over the past week, I've heard what I would normally consider some pretty bad news from a variety of people on a variety of things. Instead of pulling my hair out and elevating my blood pressure to levels that kills men over 40, I've had a strange peace. I say strange because rationally, I feel like these things should stress me or make me angry, but I surprise even myself and stay calm.
My peace largely comes from knowing that the course of my life is ultimately in the Lord's hands. With trials comes perseverance, and when one door closes, another has opened somewhere in its place. I know that sounds a bit cliché, but I'm serious when I say that I'm relieved to have my life out of my control. It gives life depth, putting instances into perspective, knowing that others have endured far worse than I in the past, and that the quality of my future is dependent only on my ability to submit. Not saying that everyday with Jesus is a happy-go-lucky march into candyland, because that's not what He promises. It is, however, a rich journey where my burden is His, and His is mine. So I'm sitting at work and had a bit of a discovery and I have to write this quickly before the beauty of the whole thing leaves me. I should probably also be quick because there is more than likely a guy locked in a dark room somewhere working for our company who watches my every move on the internet. I'm preeetty sure writing an entry here doesn't count as a value-added proposition…so I'll be brief.
I realized that God gives me perspective. I also realized what a rare and beautiful gift perspective is. Some of the wisest, most respected people I know are the ones who can simply put the everyday happenings of life into their proper places in the grand scheme.
Over the past week, I've heard what I would normally consider some pretty bad news from a variety of people on a variety of things. Instead of pulling my hair out and elevating my blood pressure to levels that kills men over 40, I've had a strange peace. I say strange because rationally, I feel like these things should stress me or make me angry, but I surprise even myself and stay calm.
My peace largely comes from knowing that the course of my life is ultimately in the Lord's hands. With trials comes perseverance, and when one door closes, another has opened somewhere in its place. I know that sounds a bit cliché, but I'm serious when I say that I'm relieved to have my life out of my control. It gives life depth, putting instances into perspective, knowing that others have endured far worse than I in the past, and that the quality of my future is dependent only on my ability to submit. Not saying that everyday with Jesus is a happy-go-lucky march into candyland, because that's not what He promises. It is, however, a rich journey where my burden is His, and His is mine.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
this is war
This is war like you ain't seen.
This winter's long, it's cold and mean.
With hangdog hearts we stood condemned,
But the tide turns now at Bethlehem.
This is war and born tonight,
The Word as flesh, the Lord of Light,
The Son of God, the low-born king;
Who demons fear, of whom angels sing.
This is war on sin and death;
The dark will take it's final breath.
It shakes the earth, confounds all plans;
The mystery of God as man.
It's the red ornament on the upper left! This is war like you ain't seen.
This winter's long, it's cold and mean.
With hangdog hearts we stood condemned,
But the tide turns now at Bethlehem.
This is war and born tonight,
The Word as flesh, the Lord of Light,
The Son of God, the low-born king;
Who demons fear, of whom angels sing.
This is war on sin and death;
The dark will take it's final breath.
It shakes the earth, confounds all plans;
The mystery of God as man.
It's the red ornament on the upper left!
This winter's long, it's cold and mean.
With hangdog hearts we stood condemned,
But the tide turns now at Bethlehem.
This is war and born tonight,
The Word as flesh, the Lord of Light,
The Son of God, the low-born king;
Who demons fear, of whom angels sing.
This is war on sin and death;
The dark will take it's final breath.
It shakes the earth, confounds all plans;
The mystery of God as man.
It's the red ornament on the upper left! This is war like you ain't seen.
This winter's long, it's cold and mean.
With hangdog hearts we stood condemned,
But the tide turns now at Bethlehem.
This is war and born tonight,
The Word as flesh, the Lord of Light,
The Son of God, the low-born king;
Who demons fear, of whom angels sing.
This is war on sin and death;
The dark will take it's final breath.
It shakes the earth, confounds all plans;
The mystery of God as man.
It's the red ornament on the upper left!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
more adventurous
so i've decided to do something very unlike myself and make a belated new years resolution this year. not only have i resolved to make a resolution (which is a resolution in and of itself) but i've resolved to commit to it (wow that's already two!). i pass through most new years without giving second thought to the things i want to personally accomplish the next year. but this new years was special and i decided this: wouldn't it be fun to look back on 2009 and say that i was more adventurous? and that's it...i resolve to be more adventurous.
now i know that you're probably all (not) thinking, "jonathan, wouldn't you count meeting a woman on the internet, falling madly in love with her, and trying to make her your wife in less than a year enough adventure for an entire decade?" To that i would scratch my hairless chin and answer, "hmmm, why yeessss!"
meeting mallory, falling in love with her, and exploring this life with God as our Shepherd certainly does qualify as the greatest adventure i have ever and will ever embark upon. this isn't a love letter though, so i'll refrain from getting too saccharine. i'm talking about the smaller adventures in life though: backpacking trips into the sierras, climbing halfdome, day hikes up diablo, cycling sweet east bay routes like three bears, late night bowling with friends, and anything else i can find to just soak every second of joy and beauty out of life that i can. more than anything though, i want to live unabashedly for Christ this year. cheers to the memories of 2008 and to the journey to come in 2009. so i've decided to do something very unlike myself and make a belated new years resolution this year. not only have i resolved to make a resolution (which is a resolution in and of itself) but i've resolved to commit to it (wow that's already two!). i pass through most new years without giving second thought to the things i want to personally accomplish the next year. but this new years was special and i decided this: wouldn't it be fun to look back on 2009 and say that i was more adventurous? and that's it...i resolve to be more adventurous.
now i know that you're probably all (not) thinking, "jonathan, wouldn't you count meeting a woman on the internet, falling madly in love with her, and trying to make her your wife in less than a year enough adventure for an entire decade?" To that i would scratch my hairless chin and answer, "hmmm, why yeessss!"
meeting mallory, falling in love with her, and exploring this life with God as our Shepherd certainly does qualify as the greatest adventure i have ever and will ever embark upon. this isn't a love letter though, so i'll refrain from getting too saccharine. i'm talking about the smaller adventures in life though: backpacking trips into the sierras, climbing halfdome, day hikes up diablo, cycling sweet east bay routes like three bears, late night bowling with friends, and anything else i can find to just soak every second of joy and beauty out of life that i can. more than anything though, i want to live unabashedly for Christ this year. cheers to the memories of 2008 and to the journey to come in 2009.
now i know that you're probably all (not) thinking, "jonathan, wouldn't you count meeting a woman on the internet, falling madly in love with her, and trying to make her your wife in less than a year enough adventure for an entire decade?" To that i would scratch my hairless chin and answer, "hmmm, why yeessss!"
meeting mallory, falling in love with her, and exploring this life with God as our Shepherd certainly does qualify as the greatest adventure i have ever and will ever embark upon. this isn't a love letter though, so i'll refrain from getting too saccharine. i'm talking about the smaller adventures in life though: backpacking trips into the sierras, climbing halfdome, day hikes up diablo, cycling sweet east bay routes like three bears, late night bowling with friends, and anything else i can find to just soak every second of joy and beauty out of life that i can. more than anything though, i want to live unabashedly for Christ this year. cheers to the memories of 2008 and to the journey to come in 2009. so i've decided to do something very unlike myself and make a belated new years resolution this year. not only have i resolved to make a resolution (which is a resolution in and of itself) but i've resolved to commit to it (wow that's already two!). i pass through most new years without giving second thought to the things i want to personally accomplish the next year. but this new years was special and i decided this: wouldn't it be fun to look back on 2009 and say that i was more adventurous? and that's it...i resolve to be more adventurous.
now i know that you're probably all (not) thinking, "jonathan, wouldn't you count meeting a woman on the internet, falling madly in love with her, and trying to make her your wife in less than a year enough adventure for an entire decade?" To that i would scratch my hairless chin and answer, "hmmm, why yeessss!"
meeting mallory, falling in love with her, and exploring this life with God as our Shepherd certainly does qualify as the greatest adventure i have ever and will ever embark upon. this isn't a love letter though, so i'll refrain from getting too saccharine. i'm talking about the smaller adventures in life though: backpacking trips into the sierras, climbing halfdome, day hikes up diablo, cycling sweet east bay routes like three bears, late night bowling with friends, and anything else i can find to just soak every second of joy and beauty out of life that i can. more than anything though, i want to live unabashedly for Christ this year. cheers to the memories of 2008 and to the journey to come in 2009.
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