Put it in perspective.

Have knife, will travel.

About a month ago, while helping friends man a fresh mozzarella stand at the Williamsburg, Brooklyn food bazaar Smorgasburg, a simple question came up.

There was a moment when we needed to cut some rope and I called out for a knife. Someone responded, "Who carries a knife?" Well, no one nowadays. But my grandfather, a market vendor coming from a long line of fruits and vegetable sellers at Cincinnati's Findlay Market, always had a knife on his person. And he still does to this day. His knife is his lifeline. A symbol of utility and craftsmanship. Today, the most ubiquitous item we carry is an IPhone. And since that is fucking sad, I vowed to get myself a knife.

The next day I noticed a little write up on knives in Field & Stream. I've never been into knives per say, but I thought that this nice-looking, classic French designed Opinel was what I wanted.

Manufactured since the 1890's in the French town of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, this time-honoured peasant's knife has since become the iconic symbol of French culture and lifestyle. Pablo Picasso used an Opinel to carve his sculptures and the Savoyard alpine guide Roger Frison-Roche never made an ascent without one. The Opinel was also selected in the 1985 Victoria and Albert Museum's "100 Most Beautiful Products in The World", alongside the Porche 911 and the Rolex watch. It's handsome, sturdy and has a great history. Online is costs about 40 dollars with my name engraved. Someday, I'll pass it down to someone equally appreciative of history and craftsmanship.

(Note that I bought the auxillary version with corkscrew, making it even more useful until I master the French Shoe trick.)

Cincinnati Dispatch #09

Back to Cincinnati and the Ohio River for my Old Man's 60th. Lucky to brush up on my boating, baseball and Skyline Chili. Happy Birthday Dad. Keep On, Keeping On.

Brothers II

Free beer. Check. Plus 26 odd-years from last "Brothers" post. Check. Shit being different but staying the same? Check.

Brothers

Roger and Alec. 1983? Cincinnati Reds hat. Check. Chocolate covered birthday face. Check. Toxic Citronella candle. Check.

Nine greatest moments in Cincinnati Reds history

The nine highlights of the Cincinnati Reds history chosen by MLB Network. Number One, Pete Rose surpassing Ty Cobb's All-Time Hits Record (4,192) , I remember fondly, as my dad yelled for my brother and I to "Get in here and see this. You'll never forget it." And I never did.

Link to the MLB Prime 9 Greatest Moments in Reds History.

Picture from Grandpa Joe Sr.

This is a photo of my grandpa posing with a stoned friend. HIS sister Rose, and my Grandma Joan taking the picture. I love this photo. It's hanging on the wood paneled wall of my grandparents basement and i've put my mark on it.

This image was taken by my brother and grandpa on his camera phone, after they mentioned to him that I wanted it. He then baited me with the text message "Look what grandma and grandpa gave me!" I bit, furiously texting my ownership. Look at them in the reflection of the glass giggling like little school girls. Jerks.

Oregon, August 1939

"Unemployed lumber worker goes with his wife to the bean harvest. Note Social Security number tattooed on his arm." (And now a bit of Shorpy scholarship/detective work. A public records search shows that 535-07-5248 belonged to one Thomas Cave, born July 1912, died in 1980 in Portland. Which would make him 27 years old when this picture was taken.) Medium format safety negative by Dorothea Lange.

(via Shorpy)
If you're not familiar with Shorpy, it's an online archive of high-resolution photos from the 1850's to 1950's. It's really an amazing resource.

Postcard from Grandpa Joe Sr.

A note from a man that never misses a party.

California to Ohio to California 1972

Lost photos from my parents road trip as young twenty-somethings.
Mother from Anaheim.
Father from Cincinnati.
Met in California when my father was stationed at Camp Pendleton.