America...the Beautiful!

    Sorry Sorry Sorry I haven't updated this in a while. For someone with an excess of free time, I sure manage to not find enough of it.
    The finger is doing well. Well, it's OK anyway. They may have to cut it again to get full motion, but it doesn't sound like that big a deal. I'm at least able to ride my bike and stuff like that. Just don't know about surfing yet, since the finger is still stiff and seems like a bend the wrong way could cause trouble, and after two months, I figure I can wait a little bit longer. Still, I was in the ocean for a little bit yesterday and today, and there were some decent waves, and it made me a thing like homesick, but sick for the sea instead of home. Seasick, I guess. It'll be nice to surf again when I do. And I probably won't have to wear a wetsuit again until fall.
     Jeannine and Erin had the grand opening of their store School of Vintage yesterday, and it went very well. Thanks to all who came out, and if you didn't, come out now! The store is on the Boulevard in Surf City between 15th and 16th, across from Callahan's (aside: a recent dining experience at that restaurant may be the catalyst to spark the rejuvenation of my esteemed blog I'll Never Go There Again. Stay tuned.) Get there.

    So, it's Memorial Day. The beginning of the Summer season, and of all the wonderful things that come along with it. But the day is also a lot more (see above photo). For the past few months, for one reason or another, it has become increasingly important to me, when looking for a product, to seek out a U.S. manufacturer of that product. This is not just a jingoist pursuit, because if something is made better in Switzerland, I'll buy that thing from the Swiss. But, I feel that during the recession, the country (maybe every country) adopts a pseudo-isolationist point of view. It does make sense that if everyone bought things made in the U.S. instead of things made by our red brothers across the Pacific, the economy would do a bit better. I'm not against international trade, that would be stupid, but the fact of the matter is, while American made stuff may be generally more expensive, it is also generally much better quality than the "equivalent" made in China.
     So, during the patriotic season, which lasts from now to the magnificent 4th of July, I'm going to try to post some of my Made in the USA findings. By no means a definitive list, these are just things that I have a use for. Here we go...

MADE IN THE USA:

Darn Tough Vermont wool socks - Some of you know about my wool-only sweater policy. Well, I've expanded it to other garments. Socks, especially in the cold weather, must be wool. Darn Tough has been making wonderful wool socks in Vermont for 30 years, and so far, the pair I have has lived up to the name. A little more expensive than garbage cotton blend socks you'd buy at Walmart, but I prefer warm feet in the winter as opposed to frostbite. But that's just me.

EXPECT LOTS OF SOUSA!