It's Seersucker Thursday Y'all

And you thought it was just another Thursday...pish!

Anyone who has spent a summer moment in D.C. knows how the heat can be downright oppressive. Prior to the God-send of air conditioning, senators hailing from the South shed their wool black frock coats for lighter linen and cotton attire. Northern colleagues took note.

In 1909, New Orleans clothier Joseph Haspel made summer wear more comfortable by designing a light-weight suit in pale blue and white striped rumpled cotton fabric.

He named that fabric "seersucker," a cotton that was based on a silk derivation from India popular during the British colonial period. In Persian it is called "Shir Shakkar," which loosely translates into "milk and sugar." The milk described the smooth parts of the material, while the sugar was a metaphor for the texture commonly referred to as "dimples" or "puckers."

Seersucker suits became widely popular because of their wash and wearability, made very necessary in the humid summer.

In the late 1990s, Mississippi Senator Trent Lott revived the long-forgotten Senate tradition. Selecting a day in June to be designated Seersucker Thursday, Senator Lott along with several other Southern Senators donned their seersucker. Three cheers for Trent!

Trent third from left. Lovin' that pink tie!

Today, senators happily make this annual fashion statement in the spirit of harmony. Imagine that? It is also a gentle reminder to their colleagues of what Senates from days past considered proper (read: required) summer attire. Ahem.

All in favor...?

Yours relishing this fashion/political history moment,

Mrs. News Readin'


We now return to your regularly scheduled program.

When bad things happen to good News Readers.

This Inauguration coverage seemed like Spring Break for big time news readers with cushy network gigs. (When is the last time you covered a school board meeting, Campbell Brown? Exactly. Cushy.)

Unfortunately, Mr. News Readin' was stuck here in City K - keeping it real. Today he went to a rally to interview people who were watching the inauguration. On television. In a hotel.

He was displeased to say the least. Especially since a lesser talented reporter from his station scored a tag-a-long gig with a news team out of Sacramento to cover the festivities in D.C. (In the land of news, this means she probably used to sleep with the news director at that station and in order for him to avoid any legal action he is now forced to let her ride his coattails, so to speak.)

At least she didn't make this egregious decision...


Really?

Millions of American will be watching and for years will recall your coverage of this historic event. Also, probably a bright, shiny moment professionally. Surely to be in your sample reel - that your agent will shop around to get you a better gig.

And you decide to have a Blossom moment.



Where's your best friend Six when you need her?


We now return to your regularly scheduled program.

Politically Motivated

While Mr. News Readin' is enthralled by the debates and listening to endless political commentary, I on the other hand, can't bear any of it. If he consumes six or more liquor drinks, he even starts talking about about someday running for public office.

(FYI...I signed up for small towns and the perks of local celebrity. Not yard signs and community forums. Ugh. Makes my teeth itch...)

So, if the mission is filling the last spot on the debate team - Mr. News Readin' is your guy. As for me and the inside voice...if you need to buy gifts for the debate team, give us a call.

I am a self-professed retail whore. I'll shop for anything, anytime. Looking for someone to talk you out of a purchase? Don't call me. No can do.

In honor of the hearty political season we're enjoying, thought I'd share some retail highlights - inspired when I went to order some gifts from Fishs Eddy and found the mugs below.

Although kitsch, I thought they were mildly amusing. (Who doesn't want to start their day with a cup of coffee in the company of Strom Thurmond and Newt Gingrich or RFK and Eleanor Roosevelt?!)

I went on the hunt for other politically inspired gifts - that are not t-shirts, really bad ties and cuff links. We should all be in the trash and trinkets business. These people are making a damn fortune off of crap.

Exhibit A: Presidential Nesting Dolls

'Nuf said.


But here are some things, that I thought, "Meh. Not bad."


Above referenced mugs from Fishs Eddy.



Convention shorts from Orvis. (Slightly out of season...)
Perfection in red and black for a seamless transition to gameday wear for Mr. News Readin'.

Hooked GOP or Democrat Donkey Pillow courtesy of Art & Artifact.




Do you think Mary Matalin and James Carville registered for these?



Pewter Democrat & Republican Salt & Pepper Shakers from Modern Artisans.






Definitely would make us look smarter just by hanging on the wall...
History of the Political Parties print from HistoryShots.








Every politically responsible tot should enjoy carrots in one of these.




Even Noteworthy has gotten in on the act...Republican or Democrat self-inking stamps.

So there is my contribution to all the political blather.

Maybe Mr. News Readin' running for office wouldn't be such a bad thing after all...think of the stationery needs alone!

Stay tuned.