Chivalry 100

The code of chivalry is often thought of today only in terms of the behavior of men toward women. It is so much more than that. The part of chivalry most remembered today is really better known as gentlemanly behavior. I’ve recently had requests for a crash course on being a gentleman so I will keep this a short yet overarching instruction on the manners of gentlemen.

A gentleman knows and follows the rules. The rules of polite society are sometimes insanely complicated. Luckily, many of them can be summarized within just a few categories.

Dressing: Easy! All the rules about black tie, white tie, casual, business, and other forms of dress are well documented. Whether or not you like them isn’t the issue. Ladies don’t like wearing stockings but we do. Also, no matter what you wear, make sure it is clean, without stains, and hole free. Yes, this means even the items “no one” will see.

No, this is not a stock photo. It was a real dinner I attended.
(It was wonderful.)

Dining: Use silverware starting from the outside and work your way in. Which fork? Use the one on the outside. Once the first course is cleared, the next set in is the one used. The staff will clear any silver which is no longer needed.

Drinking: Glasses have even easier rules. Use the one with something in it. Each course may have its own wine. The staff knows which glass to use so you don't have to. Also, know thy limits. At all times a gentleman must be prepared to defend his lady. Impaired judgement in such cases is a no go.

Dancing: Just be able to stand in one spot and move a bit. Most ladies will make you look good anyway.

Deferring: Always defer to a lady. More than anything else, this rule defines a gentleman. If you are sitting and there are no more seats, no lady should be standing in your presence. If you are walking with a lady, make sure she is on the inside of the walkway, away from traffic. If you are at a party and you are starving, so is she. Make sure she is fed first. And if after the party she asks you for the car keys, defer. She’ll thank you later.

Only Serious Timepieces Need Apply

I recently had a watch stolen from my suitcase. (I'm pretty sure I know which organization of anti-Fourth Amendment criminals took it but that's another issue.) I bought this particular watch a year ago to celebrate a new job. I absolutely loved it. The two tone design (steel and rose gold), and the combination of a black leather strap and diamond face, made it extremely versatile. So after failing to recover it I went on the hunt for a replacement. This is what I discovered.

• This particular watch was only produced for a limited amount of time (no pun intended) and was no longer available.
• This watch was a Bulova analog chronograph which would hold it's value for, well, pretty much ever. Replacing the exact watch was a smart move since I'd only paid 1/4 of the retail price for it in the first place. (Classify this as "Never Pay Retail For... Watches.)
• The new digital Apple watch has just hit the market at some ridiculous price, thus I'm expecting the Apple II next-gen watch sometime next week. Digital watches are still of no interest to me. They never hold their value and frankly, never look good on. I'm old enough to remember the first ones and the snob appeal that came with them. Nothing has changed.
• My choices were limited if I wanted the features I valued in this model. Steel and rose gold with a leather strap is a combination not often found.

So I looked at other options, keeping in mind that summer is around the corner and maybe a lighter look would work just as well. 

After considering various "designer" brands, I came right back to the analog watchmakers I trusted: Bulova, Seiko, and yes, Timex. Don't get me wrong. Fossil and Michael Kors make some lovely watches. But by-and-large they charge the same prices for "crystals" as Bulova charges for actual diamonds. And I am just a girl after all. Given the choice, I'll take the diamonds all day, every day.

So I did buy a different watch. Another Bulova with a leather strap and diamonds. Found it for 1/3 of the retail price. Lovely watch but... just wasn't the "go with everything" piece I'd hoped for.

Long story short, I found one site online that had two of the original watches left. They were the demos. I didn't care. It's like having a good friend back in town.  And I learned something about watches. The classics keep their value for decades. Look on ebay and you'll see. Diamond Hamilton and Bulova watches from the early to mid 1900s STILL go for the same or more than these newer ones. Someday my son's wives will thank me.