Friday night I enjoyed attending the Houston Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter's 66th Annual Wild Game Dinner. It's always nice to be around 150 of the Brothers. The food was incredible, with at least 15 different dishes of wild game ranging from pheasant stew to venison loaf to alligator nuggets. The guest speaker was Brother Clarence Gilyard, an accomplished actor who starred in Walker Texas Ranger, Matlock and several other notable TV shows. He also had a part in Top Gun, although we're not talking about Goose, Iceman or Maverick. He did not feel the need for speed!
Of course the big event of the evening was the debut of my latest custom suit. This particular suit I decided to stay fairly conservative and went with a straight light weight worsted wool in solid navy blue. I did however, choose a very fuzzy (to borrow a term from a blogger friend) lining of royal purple. With a conservative suit, the option to go crazy with shirts and ties becomes wide open. I can go with a striped or windowpane shirt and mix in some color with almost any tie. A blue suit is like a great pair of blue jeans where any shirt will do and should be a staple garment in every man's wardrobe.
For the Sigma Chi dinner rig, I just stayed conservatively cool with a custom white spread collar shirt with french cuffs, a Stovelli Italian necktie finished off at the bottom with my black gucci horsebit slip-ons. My son asked why I wasn't wearing my purple suit and I had to remind him that it was just the lining that was purple. I do love my son!
Then Saturday night our dear friends Dan and Allison Ownby joined us for dinner. Although he does have a day job in the oil/gas pipeline industry, Dan's true passion is Scouting. He has just been elected to the World Scout Council as one of 12 delegates and the only American. This committee manages over 31 million Boy Scouts worldwide, making this a very important position. Dan has spent many years working with Boy Scouts all over the world and has truly earned his seat at the big table.
Dan's lovely wife Allison is also very accomplished in her own right, having attained a Ph.D. at Rice and an extra Master's degree in education just to round out her education. Dr. A works for the University of Texas Medical School, is currently undertaking violin lessons, spends a great deal of time with her dressage horse Fritz and occasionaly follows Dan around the world, all while managing the houselhold's two labs Charlie and Mocha and a whole fish pond full of Koy.
The meal was a hit as there were 4 "Happy Plates" upon completion. I prepared a Filet Mignon with Roquefort Sauce next to butter/garlic/parmesan green beans and gnocchi. We ended with pound cake/strawberries w/whipped cream. The wine flowed freely and we even had Tom and Amber Caver stop in for wine late in the evening.
And now I'm sitting here Sunday preparing smoked chickens that will cook until about 6:00 or about 6 hours. We'll be entertaining my in-laws Sharon and Fred, in from Austin. So lots of fun that just doesn't seem to stop! Yes, another normal, jam-packed weekend at the Sudduth camp! Bring on Monday! This week Sand Gnat 6 year old baseball kicks-off, and yours truly is back at the helm as Manager.
Wow, I see why you're hanging with the Ownby's instead of the Sakson's! We can't compete with that!! Ha - just joking. Sort of. I want that meal next time we come over! And the suit looks great on you - purple fuzz and all!
ReplyDeleteSherri