LL Bean Catalog and the new Hippies

This is a potpourri post because I have nothing really to write about.  I should probably not write at all then, but what the hell.

To people in Texas, the LL Bean catalog is sorta like the Play.boy Magazine.  We countdown until it arrives.  We stare at it longingly.  The Adirondack Barn Jackets, Maine fisherman sweaters, old rustic barns that serve as the backdrop for the flannel lined chinos being worn by a latte sipping model while her model family plays football among the fall foliage, it all excites us in a carnal way.  You see, we don't have these things in Texas.  Texas has about three cold months.  One of those is rainy.  Unless you live in Lost Maples State Park , you never see fiery fall foliage.  The need for an down jacket doesn't exist.  Most of the time you can make do with a University of Texas sweatshirt under a rain slicker.  So when the LL Bean Fall catalog arrives, I spend a good hour thumbing through the pages wishing I lived in upstate New York, or rural Pennsylvania... anywhere north of the Mason Dixon.  And then I saw it.  The most beautiful brick red wool pea-coat jacket.  I had to have it.  It would be an impulse buy for sure.  But it was so beautiful.  I decided against ordering immediately.  I said that I would wait a few weeks and if I still wanted it, then I should get it.  Well two weeks went by and I still wanted it, badly.  I went on-line to order it, only to find out my size is sold out.  I learned my lesson.  Buy things immediately without considering the consequence of a foolish buy.  That's the last time I try to be responsible!

My parents (who live in the next neighborhood over) got new neighbors.  My dad said they were hippies.  Well my dad thinks anyone with hair past his ears is a hippie, so I pressed for more details.  He said they were from Oregon.  Hmmm... definite hippie possibility, but not definitely.  I said not everyone from Oregon is a hippie.  Then he said, "They unpacked about ten boxes then stopped and pulled out lawn chairs and played guitars".  I had to agree with the old man. 

*ps, this post was in no means intended to disparage hippies.  I'm rather fond of them, and that is in no way intended to patronize hippies either.

Monica and Critter (he's coming soon)

Comments

[The Nanny]

Amen, sister, about the LL Bean catalogue thing. And sorry about the jacket--hopefully you can find another somewhere else! :-)

[Monica H]

Sam has two favorite catalogs, Cabela's and LLBean Christmas. He shares that same fascination with you. He will look at it for hours over a span of a few weeks then start making his "list". He will rack up a list worth thousands of dollars and would buy everything on it if only I let him. Yeah, I know poor Sam! I don't think it's too late to order your coat. It's only September and it's still in the 90's. Are you in a hurry? My MIL orders from Bean all the time and usually when they say they are out or on backorder, they end up shipping things out within a couple of weeks. There's still hope for you and your red wool coat after all :)

[Monica]

OHH... I love Cabela's too! But not the hunting stuff. I don't hunt. But I love to fish and I love all the camping things.

[furrow]

I know what you mean about winter envy. We can get some really bitter cold snaps down here, but the next week it might be back up in the 70s. Makes it hard to store anything away.

[slouching mom]

Monica, you come visit me for a rural PA fix. Anytime. It'll drill that longing right out of you.

[Monica]

hehe, Slouching Mom! That's what everyone up north tells me whenever I complain that I never get to wear winter clothes.

[Hennifer]

As a lifelong Oregonian I thank you for recognizing that not all of us are hippies :) But I do admit I went through a hippish phase in high school :)

[basilbean]

I'm glad you wrote this post--I love to read your writing, no matter what it is about:)

I have a red pea coat like the one you described and I love it. You shouldn't give up on it, I'm sure you can still get one.

The date sure is getting close! I can't wait for you to have Critter in your arms and to hear all about it. I'm looking forward to finding out his name, too.

[Lori]

llbean is so commonplace in these parts, it has lost its fascination for me. But I can understand how you could find yourself drooling over pea coats and turtlenecks, when you know the opportunity to wear them is unlikely to present itself. I always enjoy the change season if for no other reason than I get to break out a new wardrobe.

Oh, those crazy Oregonians! (I say this with the smile of a crazy Washingtonian!)

[Megan]

As someone who has seasons – Canadian seasons, no less – I'd give it all up for a bowl of menudo. LL Bean will FedEx, why not Mi Tierra?

[Monica]

Get over yourself Megan!! That is too funny. I have all the menudo I want. There has got to be a taqueria somewhere in Canada.. They are everywhere here in Texas.

[Carole]

Too funny...pulling out lawn chairs and playing guitars. I grew up in Maine...and didn't realize how big the LL Bean catalog was until I moved to Kentucky. lol Go figure.
~Carole

[Megan]

I'm sure there's a great taqueria in Kensington Market in Toronto, a few hours away, but I loved eating in Texas. There's a particularly great roadside BBQ place near Blanco, Threadgills, Hut's Hamburgers....
Don't forget to feed Critter.

[Monica H]

My LL Bean Christmas catalog came in today! Sam is in the bathroom right now making a mental list :) I may not get to see it for a few hours.

[Monica]

Megan,
Oh I just love Hut's Hamburgers, and the side dishes at the Austin Threadgill's are incredible. That's why Critter is so big.. too much food.

Monica,
I better check my mail my catalog may have arrived too.

[Monica H]

I have something to tell you about LL Bean, but it's slightly inappropriate, so I don't want to post it on your blog, but it's funny and it made me think of you. I'll tell you later :)

[Jenny W.]

LMAO...you crack me up!