Sunday Funday

25 May 2014 Sunday

Today I couldn't take being at home anymore. So myself and Lauren (girlfriend) went to go and see our friend Scotty.

Nacho King

24 May 2014 Saturday

Today was spent on the couch tending to my wounds and eating homemade nachos. Doritos + cheese + microwave = a happy Andy.

I am the Nacho King

I didn’t want to go any public places for fear of seeing anyone I knew. And it wouldn’t be as if I could blend into the background. I would stand out like a turd in a punchbowl if I wore a jacket and tie to the Winston. I really didn’t want to explain to every person I saw that I was dressed in a suit because of a VEGA intervention brief. And getting the “WTF are you wearing” look.

I. Don’t. Wear. Suits.

I miss the freedom of just putting on a t-shirt, pants, and going out knowing ill feel comfortable.  It takes double the amount of time getting dressed than it normally would. Making sure that everything is neat, tucked-in and looking smart. The amount of times I’ve had to change my tie because of a small bit of toothpaste getting caught on the tip must be over 20.

These are some illustrations I did while bored. 

duck….duck…duck….?….

Mr Happy

Woza Friday!

23 May 2014 Friday

So it’s Friday. I finished college at about 3 and because I worked so hard throughout the week, I thought I deserved a beer. I went to one of my favourite watering holes, Billy The B.U.M.S. Walking into the establishment I felt like a businessman on a much-needed break. I was lucky enough that there weren’t many people at the restaurant but the few that were there gave me strange looks as if to say, “why is that kid wearing a suit?”

I had worked at Billy’s for about 9 months and still are friends with many of the waiters and waitresses. I sat at an outside table with my back towards the door as to hide my face. I wanted to see if anyone would notice me in my new attire. A waitress who I have know for some time (Jadine) approached me with a cheerful “good morning” and began to ask if I would like anything to drink. As soon as she realised it was me she stopped mid-sentence and burst out laughing.

Others who were also working were quite shocked to see me with a haircut and looking smart. Someone from the kitchen staff asked if I had won the lottery and if I could give him a loan. It was a strange feeling having people I've know for some time see me like this.

The time was now 5 and after having a few quiet beers I thought it would be a good idea to go skateboarding with my friend (Jarryd) around my moms house in Grayville. Not wearing my suit of course. I would have to hire a team of surgeons to remove my dads’ foot from my rear-end if I ruined the suit in any way. My mom lives in Robarts Road.  The road is on a heavy slope that is great for skating down. The only problem is that at the bottom of the hill there is a T-junction. Which is awesome because you can carry on skating either left or right. The only downside is the traffic and the fact that you can’t really see anything coming when you’re skating down the hill. So someone has to stand at the bottom and warm you if there is any car coming.

The higher you go up the hill will determine how fast you will eventually be going when you get to the bottom. I don’t know what was giving me the courage to go higher and higher (beer) because I knew eventually our luck would run out and one of us would fall. Or get hit by a car.

Take one guess that that person was.

This was around my tenth try at tackling this hill and Jarryd and myself had worked out a foolproof method of telling each other if a car was coming. Simply shout, “STOP!” Going from the top of the hill I began my descent. Sliding right to left as to keep balance. All I could hear was the sound of the wind rushing past my ears and the gravel passing underneath my feet. Nearing the bottom of the hill I saw Jarryd flapping his arms like a confused chicken. I felt a sickening pull in my gut, “hmm..well now what?” I jumped onto what I thought would be a soft cushion of grass but turned out to be a hard patch of dirt. The next sound I heard was Jarryd laughing and running over.

A twisted knee and grazes on my arms and legs. 

Wooh! WOZA FRIDAY!

SO…..

22 May 2014 Thursday

So what have I learnt from this weeks experience of wearing a suit and looking formal so far.

• The wearing a tie all day is like being strangled very slowly by a weak person. Wearing a tie and a backpack feels like you have an angry member of the lollypop-guild trying to ride you like a bucking bronco.
• 
  
• Wearing a suit in public places makes you feel like you need to be spending more.
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• You constantly have to take the suit jacket on and off. Making sure that it is not getting dirty or creased.

• I live in Morningside. It is a sad fact that I see many homeless beggars and street children on my drive to VEGA everyday. I have been taking the same route for some time now and have noticed when wearing a suit the attitude of the beggars is very different.

When dressed in normal clothes they will ask for money in a nonchalant approach, “Hey bru! How’s a R2 bru?”

When dressed in a suit they become much more persistent in wanting the money, “Please sir! Anything for the hungry sir? The lord will bless you sir.”

The same people would get on their knees and plead with me for money. By wearing more expensive clothes I felt obliged to help the beggars out.

• Different ties can change the look and feel of the suit.

• You get more of a response from people when wearing a suit. Which I find to be a bunch of bull. Labels are far too easy to slap onto people. This week has really taught me a lot about people and their reactions to others.

• I can tie a tie in 10 seconds flat.

To Tie or Not To Tie

21 May 2014 Wednesday 

Today was another day where I had no lectures although i did spend most of my day again in the VEGA library. 

Can a tie tell a tale?

Took me a few tries to get this right.

So here are a few websites I found interesting


Unspoken Suit Rules
The Most Expensive Suits In The World

YouTube
Barney Stinson- Nothing suits me like a suit
How To Know If A Suit Fits

Monkey Suit

20 May 2014 Tuesday

Day 2

So this morning when rummaging around in my fathers closet in search for shoes that didn’t feel like they were specifically made to destroy my feet, I found something quite strange. It’s a devise called the BobbleOff and it is for getting small bits of fluff or lint off your suits.

“Bobbles can ruin the look of your favorite suit or dress. They make clothing look old, tired and worn out. But now you can say goodbye to bobbles forever- with the fantastic BobbleOff…”

 

The BobbleOff

This is obviously a very thoughtful but utterly pointless gift that someone got for my dad. I can understand why it was abandoned and alone, stuffed in the back next to an old pair of sneakers. When turning the machine on it sounds like an angry hornets nest and looks like it would be used as a prop in a Star Trek episode.  I can understand why someone would want something like this but is it really necessary to have a perfectly sparkling suit with no fluff or creases?

Today was the first day wearing my suit and looking formal to lectures. Still feeling awkward you ask?

I understand how some people think wearing a suit provides them with a certain level of importance and stature. Fancy shoes and a smart haircut obviously mean that I’m a hard working individual who doesn’t drink, smoke or fornicate. Society is definitely visually based.

Someone said to me today, “I never thought I would see you in a suit.” And why should they?

 At first glance people give you a higher sense of respect because of the clothes that you are wearing. In many cases I get how this can give you more confidence as a person and a stronger incentive to work. But let me be the first to tell you that if you need extravagant clothes to give you confidence, you got problems. The second you open your mouth, all those people who might think you have a great suit, forget about it and have to deal with the monkey wearing it.

“ ‘Cause a monkey in silk is a monkey no less “ – Sixto Rodriguez

I don’t enjoy how people can so easily slap a label onto someone. Stereotyping. Sexist. Racist. Call it what you want. I try not to be judgmental towards anyone. People are so quick to analyze and assume things of others rather than trying to reason or understand.

Sixto Rodriguez

- Like Janis

And you measure for wealth by the things you can hold

And you measure for love by the sweet things you're told

And you live in the past of a dream that you're in

And your selfishness is your cardinal sin

And you want to be held with highest regard

If he likes you so much

If he's trying so hard

And you're trying to conceal your ordinary way

With a smile or a shrug

Or some stolen cliché

But don't you understand

And don't you look about

I'm trying to take nothing from you

So why should you act so put out, for me

'Cause emotionally, you're the same basic trip

And you know that I know of the times that you've slipped

So don't try to impress me

You're just pins and paint

And don't try to charm me

With things that you ain't

And don't try to enchant me with your manner of dress

'Cause a monkey in silk is a monkey no less

So measure for measure, reflect on my said

And when I won't see 'ya then measure it dead

'Cause don't you understand

And don't you look about

I'm trying to take nothing from you

So why should you act so put out

And sit there and wonder in doubt, for me