And the rest of your stuff you can keep in this card case. Designed to hold my friends business cards, when I saw him next he was using it as his daily wallet, keeping his cash in the other pocket. It’s made by hand from the same Wicket & Craig Veg-dyed American steer we use most everywhere. Each stitch sewn by hand, with 2 needles and thick waxed cotton thread. This stuff is tough, and as it breaks in, the character becomes the beauty you’ve earned. The leather is thick because we’ve laminated two pieces together giving you the smooth grain inside and out. It’s little details like this that’ll keep you happy. This case can be trained to hold considerably more than the few paper cards it was cut to keep; Credit cards, license and business cards in this compact package might make you think twice about another wallet. Held closed with a sterling silver snap, made here in the GOOD ART foundry.

Simple.

We got a special delivery from the East Coast today. A nondescript dark van pulled into the foundry, a uniformed Fed-X driver got out and said “I got sum-en big here”. There in the back of the van were the two most beautifully packed foam ice chests with frost around their seals. They were filled to the top with King Crab legs, a bag with 10 pounds of fresh King Crab meat already pulled from the shells and steamed. A dozen pounds of fresh lump Lobster and about 200 of the biggest shrimp I’ve ever seen!

So it looks like we’ve done right by the sort of guy who likes to do things the way we do. I’ve always thought you do it right or not at all, whatever you’re doing.  And wherever you can, help out and create a good effect. Living like this we make a lot of great friends along the way, and at the end of the day I think that’s the whole point. We’re pretty lucky over here. George, we can’t thank you enough, this is very cool! Come Monday we’re gonna be feeding a lot of friends and toasting you!

Our Armed Forces are comprised of some very specific and specifically proud groups. And they’ve got a lot to be proud of, membership in any branch puts you in an elite category. The rigors of qualification and acceptance are stiff and the standards high. I’m acknowledging this because it’s an easy error for those not in the know to mistake a USN Petty Officer First Class for a Sargent from the three stripes they share. And while no offense might be intended, I do believe service in our Armed Forces deserves a fair amount of respect. Just as no Ranger wants to be called a Marine, I’m going to tread lightly here and make this clear, I’m about to use the name Army Men very loosely and a bit of latitude would be appreciated. And remember, I’m a lover not a fighter, the artsy sort.

It’s with all the whimsey I can muster that I’d like to introduce these little Army Men. The green plastic variety that is. True to the original Vietnam era Louis Marx & Co. toys I grew up with, these almost faithful replicas are cast in solid sterling silver and finished by hand until they’ve earned their stripes so to speak. Don’t consider the price, the heft of the sterling silver or that I’ve lopped off their heads and replaced them with skulls, forget all that and I’d bet you couldn’t tell them apart from the originals. They’re that good. Toys, yes they are. Ages 80 and younger may now resume play.