Tanya took me shopping for clothes today. I have a love/hate relationship with clothes shopping. I love new clothes but hate spending money on them. But Tanya was buying, so what could I do. I don't mind suits and ties but always feel uncomfortable in them as they do not always fit like they should. No matter what, I never look like the Armani models. I am a jeans and shirt man. I never met a shirt I didn't like, especially western style, in loud colours with pearl snaps. Two pairs of jeans and forty-'leven shirts and I am good to go for years. I would meet the Crowned Heads of Europe wearing jeans and shirt except my wife would be embarrassed to tears if I did.
A local magazine "Animal Industry Today" is sponsoring a Round Table on the Ukrainian beef industry on Feb 2. The magazine has published a few articles of mine related to improving the beef industry in Ukraine. These have come to the attention of the Deputy Minister (Livestock) of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy. The publisher asked me to write an article for the January issue in preparation for the Round Table that would (my paraphrase) agitate the fecal mass a bit. Not that I am good at that but I gave it my best shot; repeating in my usual diplomatic style, advice that the Ministry was given 10 years ago and never acted on. I have now been invited to participate in the Round Table. The Minister of Agrarian Policy will be there as will the Deputy Minister and several other heavy hitters from around the country.
This is NOT a jeans and shirt crowd. Darn! The suit I wore to my daughter's wedding two years ago (well,17 months ago) is still good as new. But I need a car length dress coat. My good leather coat is too heavy unless it is -30. And a new shirt. A shirt?? Now you are talking my language. Let's go!
Left for Krivii Rih at 10 am, Andrei driving. Best men's store in town ( I bought the suit there) has some very nice coats but not my size. A city of almost 1 million people and no "Big and Tall" that any one knew of. If Andrei can't find it in Krivii Rih, it doesn't exist. By 2:00 we were in Dnipropetrovs'k at a "Big and Tall" where winter coats were half price, no less. There were several that fit and I got one both Tanya and I liked. Along with a new shirt.
We next stopped at Tanya's favourite ladies' wear (She is coming to the Round Table with me, of course! I don't leave home without her; she keeps me out of trouble). Tanya got a skirt and two tops for the same price as my new shirt. There is no justice.
You will have to post pictures!
ReplyDeleteYou didn't tell me that the new coat was a dress coat for business. Tanya's absolutely right that you would need one. I'm glad you found one that works.
OH, BF; hobnobbing again with a minister and deputy minister of agriculture. How Saskatchewan of you! And I've seen you in a suit once or twice, so you do have things that suit you. Besides, you're more than 25 miles from home; if you've got a set of slides or a power point presentation, you WILL be an expert.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have no doubt that you'll be able to put your points across with considerable diplomacy. With a phrase like "agitate the fecal mass," who can doubt your ability to engage in circumlocution?
Best wishes!
You should come to England. They have the greatest name for a Big and Tall store ever: High and Mighty. How fantastic is that? I haven't been in, so I don't know what their stuff is like, but it's probably pretty cool and only 10 or 20 times the price you's pay in the Ukraine.
ReplyDeleteAlso, my word verification is ingstyn. Weird.
Congrats on the new togs. I hope the round table goes well and the "new" ideas sink in this time. Maybe try wrapping them in a humorous story if you can. I've seen that work in the U.S. Congress.
ReplyDeleteThe problem will be to keep my cool and not alienate everyone in sight. I tend not to call a spade a spade but rather a f--king shovel from time to time.
ReplyDelete