Mr Coopers Balls

Our precious little angel, Mr Cooper is a rescue dog. He had a hard start in this life and he is very lucky to have found us (and we feel the same back at him). One thing I discovered early on was that he LOVES a squeaky ball. LOVES IT!
So I promised him that every morning he could have a brand new still squeaking squeaky ball. He has a very rigid schedule. Get up, go pee. Eat breakfast, go poop. Run inside, wait for ball. Then it's ball, ball, ball, ball, ball, ball, ball.... up and down the hallway squeaking, squeaking, squeaking, squeaking, squeaking, squeaking, squeaking... it's only good if someone can hear it. After about 3-5 minutes, the squeaker is pulled out and the ball is slobbered into submission.

Tomorrow will be the same. And the day after that, and the day after that, and the day after that, and the day after that...

Originally I found the Kong squeaky balls at Target. They were about $1.35 per ball. Each time I'd give Cooper a ball I'd say, "Here's your $1.35, don't play in the street." But they were always running out and I was being forced to go from store to store, buying all they had and perpetuating the curse of them always being out. That's when I started to look online.

I found the BEST place to get Mr Cooper's balls: DogSupplies.Com

I am not getting anything in return for this post. I am just telling you if you have pets, this place is great. I now order 100 balls at a time and the price has come down to .83¢ a ball.

They are currently running a "Black Friday" special where you can enter BLACK in the discount code and get an additional 11% off your purchase.

I share all this because I want them to stay in business so I can continue to get Mr Cooper's balls for such a good price. After all, Mr Cooper loves his balls, what man doesn't?

You Stink

So, after many, many, many, MANY tours of all the shopping malls in America (seriously, MANY) I have come to the conclusion that I can't stand Abercrombie and Fitch. A few years ago, I stopped shopping there. It's not my style anymore. And you know the old saying, "If it's too loud, your too old"? Well it was too loud in there.

In the following years a strange thing has happened, they started reaching out to lure customers in. It started with half nude models at the front door and now includes a scent sprayer just (barely) inside their doors. From 6 to 10 stores away, whether indoors or outdoors, you can smell that store before you can see it.

It fills my head. It closes off my breathing. My brain shuts down and the headache begins.

I'm not alone. 30% of Americans have some form of asthma, allergy, scent sensitivity or breathing issue. ONE THIRD of America is being poisoned by one store.

I already know all the arguments that are about to come up. If you don't like it, don't go there. Other stores have perfume spritzers too. Get over yourself. (I know those are the arguments because I was looking into this topic and read all the 14 year old comments to all the crabby grandpas online.)

So news flash, I DON'T GO THERE. And yes, other stores have perfumes and perfume spraying salespeople, but none of them have a perfume misting machine written into their lease agreement to be used at their front door. And as for getting over myself, I did that years ago.

So now in addition to not going into the physical store, I am avoiding wings of malls. This week, I have decided to give up an entire mall because there is just no escape. And since I am now a crabby old grandpa, I no longer just walk away. I believe retailers have the right to know why they lost my business and what they can do to get it back.

So I wrote the following letter to my local mall:

Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 10:38 AM
To: thegrovela@carusoaffiliated.com
Subject: Air quality concerns

I recently came to the Grove to shop the Men’s Half Yearly sale at Nordstrom. I parked my car at the East Valet and as I entered the open air courtyard I was surprised at how much of the “open air” was filled with Abercrombie perfume.

I am a member of the Grove Loyalty Rewards program. I live within walking distance of the Grove. I am unable to enjoy any part of the Grove that is to the East of the fountains. I can not access any of the stores that surround the fountain area.

Abercrombie is using scent spraying machines inside their stores. They are filling the public air space with toxic chemicals. 30% of Americans have allergies, asthma or other breathing issues. By not stopping Abercrombie from filling the public space you are telling 30% of your customers.

Abercrombie is free to do what it likes with the air inside its store. But when that scent enters the public air space as such a level that it chokes your customers then the landlord is responsible. I am sorry, but until the matter is resolved, I will be forced to shop other locations. I will be letting Nordstrom, the Gap, Crate & Barrel and the restaurants at the Grove know why I am unable to enter their establishments as well.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

And that is when I discovered that Abercrombie has it IN THEIR LEASE that they are allowed to poison the shopping experience for 30% of America:

Dear Jim,

I am very sorry to hear that the cologne at Abercrombie is of an annoyance to you. It is by no means an intention of our Center to deter any of our guests from having the best experience possible while on property. We always appreciate any feedback given to us here at The Grove as it only assists us in creating the most well tuned instrument possible for our visitors.

In regards to the scent machines at Abercrombie: In their leasing agreements the Abercrombie store is permitted to use their cologne machine inside their store. This agreement is the same for every mall and location an Abercrombie is located at. If you are looking at other Centers, you might want to check if there are any Abercrombie stores or any of their affiliated stores on those grounds as well, because they will all contain scent machines. As a result of them having open doors during business hours some of the smell is lifted by the wind, but I assure you there is no scent machine located on the outer parts of Abercrombie or any in use by The Grove itself.

Furthermore, they are regulated at what levels they are allowed to use their scent machines. At the Grove, in compliance with their leasing agreement, they have to have their machine set at the lowest possible setting. It is consistently monitored by both the Managers of Abercrombie and The Grove Management makes sure this is done.
Again, we at The Grove are deeply saddened that you are disappointed with that area of the property. We hope you are able to have the best experiences possible when visiting The Grove and as always we appreciate your patronage. I truly hope you have a better experience going forward. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future with any other future inquiries or feedback you may have.

Best of the best,
Drew M.

I'm no expert, but isn't this all the grounds for some sort of class action lawsuit? American with Disabilities Act? Isn't having Asthma bad enough, but to be shut out of the unique American experience of shopping in a public space... that's just downright cruel.

Christmas Windows in Paris

Going to Paris is at Christmas is like going to New York City at Christmas. The city is alive and humming and everyone is trying to lure your money into their shop. They are very successful in this endeavor.

There are three BIG department stores in Paris. We will start here with BHV. Their theme this year:

Noël Circus.
(click on any photo to see it larger)

Most of their windows are animated. Most of the animation we saw was not from below, but more like marionettes animated by fishing line being worked from above.

This window has a dancing bear.
Apparently dancing bears used to be big in Paris entertainment.
Until they were outlawed.

This isn't a window, but I really liked their advertising in the subway as well.

Fauchon had very nice gold window transfers.

And very flavorful window displays.

Guerlain has amazingly beautiful windows.

This was from Cartier on the Champs-Elysees.

And I had to make a quick look by at the Chanel Windows.

Look closer, they are all holding Madame Coco dolls.

I really want one of those, but what would I do with it?

This is for Ted Baker of London. The skirt on Santa raised up and down to look more flirty.

For my cousin Julie who adores Sephora, this one is again on the Champs-Elysses.

Retail Therapy

So everyone remembers when we all got together and went to Milan for the Spring 2010 Runway shows, right? We all hopped that chartered plane and had such a good time. Carolyn, you may not remember all of it, you were severely medicated for the plane ride. Same for you Michael. Oh and David, you're always severely medicated. Okay, so none of you probably remember it but I do. It's as if it were yesterday when I was sitting front row at the Gucci show...

Or maybe I was just reviewing the show via slide show on my computer? Well, in any case I fell in love with the Gucci Spring 2010 collection.

As is my habit, I was at the mall a few months later and I was visiting (okay, stalking) some pricey items at Gucci Beverly Center, when I turned around and there it was. High on a shelf, but still within reach, lit beyond what should be legal in retail: the world's most amazingly gorgeous blue duffel bag.

I made a zig-zag line through the store so as to not alert security and casually sidled up to the shelf where I reached up and put my hands on it. Electricity flowed through my veins.

Now I am no fool. I know exactly which store I was in and that this bag was hand crafted, rare and was going to be "serious" money. In fact, so sure of its costliness, I didn't even remove it from the shelf. I caressed it, and I left it. The bag and I were now officially dating.

I came home and reviewed my runway snaps. Yes, there it was. The Julia Roberts of Gucci bags, and I was the Hugh Grant of runway watching in my own personal movie, "Not-a-chance of Getting-it Gate."

So I placed a photo of it into my iPhone and carried it with me wherever I went. "See this bag?" I'd say to random strangers (as my friends and loved ones were already sick of hearing about it), "It's Gucci. It's gorgeous. And I'm stalking it."

The photo that has lived in my phone.

Two weeks later, I took Lyle to the mall to show him what our adopted child would look like if I had my way... the bag was GONE.

Lyle inquired about how much would the bag have been if it had actually been in the store. They told us the price and I silently gasped inside (on my face it would have been a very wide eyed blink) and Lyle said, "thanks," and we left the store. I said to Lyle, "WOW. I guess I was right about not being able to afford that bag." And Lyle said very matter of fact, "You can afford that bag. You have that much money in the bank. If that's what you want to do with your money." I muttered something about starving children and someday buying a car or a house and Lyle said, "If that's what you want to do with your money, you can do that too. But if you really WANT that bag, you CAN afford it."

The next day we were at the Gucci flagship store in Beverly Hills (pre-sale, thank you very much) and I hemmed and hawed with the salesperson until Lyle finally took my phone and showed the man what I searching for.

"Oh yes, we had that. But we sold it."
Will you be getting more in? I asked hopefully.
"We did get a refill, but we won't get any more."
How can you be so sure?
"Because it was a runway item and we normally only get one. I was surprised when we got a refill."
Would other stores have one left?
"No. They only make between 25 to 40 of those items. They'll be certain to be gone by now."

We ended our conversation with he'd keep his eyes open if he saw or heard of one via the computer stocking system but that I shouldn't get my hopes up.

We left the store and I said to Lyle, "Well, I guess I guess I dodged a bullet on that bag. Now I don't even have to consider buying it versus feeding starving children." And Lyle said very matter of fact, "Next time you see something you really want that badly, remember just to get it. It won't be there later. You work hard for your money and you can do whatever you want with it." And then I muttered something along the lines of, "well, that street doesn't go both ways, you better save your money for a house or a car or something..." and luckily he didn't really hear me.

While at that Gucci pre-sale I did purchase a pair of white shorts and since it was "pre-sale" I couldn't pick them up until the actual sale day broke. A week and half later I picked up my new white shorts and realized that my $9 flip flops didn't really create the look I was going for with my new pricey Gucci white shorts and I needed some nicer white shoes or some such to go with these shorts.

Since I don't have a car (I ride my bike or take the bus, so I can buy more shoes) I went looking on the Internet. I knew Sak's Fifth Avenue was having a sale because, well, I'm just that gay. I know things. There I found the most perfect white shoes. Made by... wait for it... Gucci! I sent Lyle off a photo to him on his phone telling him of my plans to possess them. A text message came back "Sounds good. I wanted those shoes. You're lucky they aren't available in my size!"

Then on a whim, I left the sale section and went to the regular priced Gucci section online at Sak's. This is how it begins, the hunt for the perfect item, find it at regular price then wait for it to go on sale. But today was to be different. Sitting there on the Sak's Gucci page on the Internet, just as blithely as you like, there IT was...

MY BEAUTIFUL BLUE BAG.

I let out an audible gasp that woke up the dogs behind me. Then I sent Lyle a picture text message, "MY BAG!!!"

And I received the reply, "We have that much money in the bank."

Then I sat here staring at the page on the Internet.

I kept saying inside my head, "It's too much. Too much to spend on myself. I shouldn't spend that kind of money on myself when we have so many other things we need to take care of." And then it came to me. I was telling myself I didn't deserve a bag that nice.

I thought, "Lyle thinks I deserve this. Why don't I?" "WHY DON'T I !?!" What inside tells me that I am not good enough, worth enough or deserving of an unbelievable pricey work of hand crafted cobalt blue mobile art?!

I signed up to be on the Saks.com mailing list and was immediately given a 10% off coupon. Armed with my coupon and a deep DEEP breath, I made my purchase!

Then I freaked out and re-read the return policy (just in case).

The shoes and bag arrived a week later.

They had to sit and acclimate themselves to their new environment, like when you add goldfish to the pond.

"Delivery from Saks!" I texted Lyle. Then I burst into tears and left both boxes sitting unopened on the dining room table. I went and had a nap. When I woke up I opened the smaller box with the white shoes inside. They were prettier than online and have the most amazing grey/silver polished sole on the bottom.
I felt guilty the first time I put them on and placed my foot on the ground. Not so guilty that I took them off, but still... they're that pretty.

Then I waited for Lyle to come home to open the box with the bag inside.

We unpacked it together and marveled at the craftsmanship and detail. The inside is lined with brown suede that is unbelievably soft. This photo doesn't do it any real justice.We caressed it, fondled it and then I placed it back inside it's protective fabric bag. I placed it high up on a shelf so no dog could accidentally find it and do it any harm.

Lyle looked me over and said, "I can't believe you just spent that amount of money on a purse."

I turned to Lyle, beaming and said, "We need to plan a trip to Paris for this bag!"

Christmas meltdown (almost) averted

I am a confirmed Christmas nut. It's not just the decor and the music and all that stuff, I also have issues with the "perfect gift". A few years ago I just stopped torturing myself and quit gift giving. Even between Lyle and I, we decided that we'd have more fun if we didn't buy each other gifts and instead went out the week after Christmas and bought twice as much on sale.

But it creeps back in.

This year, on the 24th of December I panic. I am technically done with Christmas. But I always feel as though I could do more. So I announce that we need to go to the mall. Breezy. We'll park at valet. Since we don't NEED to buy anything, we can just wander and laugh at people who are really panicking. Unlike us. We are professionals. We are done with our shopping. I am lying.

Halfway through our shopping I start to cry. It's the dreaded Christmas meltdown. Lyle grabs my hand and whispers that I'll be fine. He asks if we should stop for food. He tells me to breathe. We continue on and I realize that he is giving me one of my favorite gifts, enabling me. He knows I will panic if I go shopping. He knows I will panic if I stay home. He knows if he doesn't go with me, I will panic all by myself. So he agrees to come along and play along as if I am not going to have a meltdown and he manages to make it all smaller. And I love that he knew it was ll coming and came along to keep me company in spite of the fact that it can't be that much fun.

I drop him off at Border's in the cafe to feed him. I can't eat, nerves. He finishes and finds me in line to buy a couple of last minute gifts. I shoo him away. One (or both) are for him.

I know. I know we agreed in years past to not buy gifts for each other. But seriously, how sad would Christmas day be? I mean, what would Christmas be without presents under the tree? Or at our house, presents on top of bookcases (those dogs will tear open anything near head height or below).

AS we pick up the car from valet, Lyle says to me, "We're not doing gifts with each other, right?"
And there is a long pause from me where I say, "Wellllll....."
And my confessional begins, "I'm sorry, I know we normally don't, but I found a bargain or two, I didn't spend a lot of money and I bought something small for myself at the same time so that you can wrap it up and pretend you picked it out, because I just thought how sad would we both be if there was nothing to unwrap on Christmas morning?"

And then we get in the car and drive to Beverly Hills where Lyle tells me that we will find something for him to buy to give to me to for Christmas, where he is actually there when it is chosen. And since I am incredibly difficult to buy for, I will have to help him choose it.

Except its Christmas eve. And if you thought my mood was funky early in the day, you probably know what's coming the closer we get to Christmas Day. I can barely function. Everything we see is ugly. Everything we see is too expensive. Everything we see will probably be on sale on the 26th so I refuse to buy it on the 24th. Nothing is going to be right. Nothing will ever be right. And by now I'm crying on Rodeo Drive. Don't worry, I've worn sunglasses.

Battered and bruised, we've walked from Ralph Lauren to Neiman's, through Sak's and Burberry, Hermes, Gucci and Louis Vuitton. We're tired and cranky and our feet hurt. It's 3:30 and stores are closing early. We duck into our last store Ferragamo. I find a very pretty blue bracelet. It's the last one. It's on sale. It's a reasonable price and as fate would have it, too small. Luckily it's leather and has some give. Both the salesperson and I pull on it and stretch it slightly. It's fitting much nicer. This is it. This will be "the gift". Lyle gets it gift wrapped and we are on our way home.

On Christmas Day I open it and put it on. I am very happy. I love it. I haven't taken it off since then. Today I am looking at the bracelet and have an epiphany (why wait for January6th?) . It's not just that it is a very attractive accessory, what I love most about it is all the effort that went in to acquiring it. How important it was for Lyle to take care of me and fulfill my expectations for "the perfect gift". After 20 years together and many minor (and major) Christmas meltdowns, he is still there humoring me and taking care of me. And this bracelet is a stylish reminder of all that.

CHOOsey

Hey, remember when I slagged off on the Jimmy Choo collection debuting at H&M? Guess who went in today a week and half AFTER it launched and bought that pair of grey suede boots?

Oh heck, you already know the answer. They're a little tight and they were the LAST pair of them in the store. So I don't know if a half size up would have been better or totally loosey-goosey on me. What I do know is that I have a few days to test them out here at home on the carpet and then return them if I don't like them. Either way, I just love getting what I want.

No, they're not brown or beige. That's the reflection from the table. They are very much a grey suede. Ah suede... only in Los Angeles can you be considered a winter boot material...

Choose some Choos

Tomorrow, H&M will be releasing a line of clothing, shoes and accessories designed by Jimmy Choo. They have a whole section devoted to how impossible it will be to get in to a store, where to line up, who gets wristbands, etc. The truth is, we all know four people will get in first by virtue of being friends with someone who works there, they'll load up a shopping cart, buy as much as they can, then re-sell it on eBay for a profit.

Though I would be interested in picking up a pair of Jimmy Choo boots for men, I did notice this little disclaimer just below the item...

Remember that shoes with leather soles are more vulnerable to water. We recommend that you replace the sole before using the shoes.

Seriously, we're just telling you upfront that this shoe is a piece of crap and even we wouldn't bother wearing them the way we sell them. Don't come crying to us when the shoes you wore on the ground fall apart. Buyer be warned.

All that being said, you know I'm still gonna' go take a look.

I freely confess...

I have been OBSESSED with Gucci for some time now.

It started last Thanksgiving when I was Christmas shopping (for myself) and found a pair of striped pants. I was at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills and they didn't have my size. They also didn't even have the pants at the Gucci store on Rodeo Drive. They did however, have my size at the Neiman's in the Topanga Mall, but since they were very new, none of the places I went had them on sale and I am an alleged fugal shopper.

We went to Vegas and the Barney's in the Venetian had my pants in my size at full price. I was cranky and I wanted shopping therapy. I visited those pants every day we were in Las Vegas. But they never went on sale.

Two weeks ago, a friend tipped me off to a "one day sale" at Barney's. I went in as all good shoppers do, the day before. I found my pants. I tried on my pants. I asked if my pants would be on sale tomorrow and the answer came back "Yes. 40% off."

I bought my pants.
I also bought a pair of shoes.
They were 40% off and I always need a pair of black loafers, I told myself.

There was a matching belt that I did NOT purchase that day. I wanted to, but I thought, no. It would be too matchy and over the top. I walked away. I did not buy that belt. I did not need that belt. I walked away.

Then last weekend while in Seattle I was in the Gucci boutique when a sales person came up and said, "Has anyone told you about our sale that starts tomorrow?"

And my reply was, "Not yet. Show me which belts."
It arrives on Thursday.

Paris Day 8, all signs point towards Mecca

I think the pictures show that although Spring had indeed arrived, it was STILL COLD!
It was Friday and I still had a couple of things on my to do list. I still needed to visit my equivalent of Lyle's body being returned to Dom Perignon, I needed to visit Hermés.

Lyle and I went off on our own to Rue de Faubourg St. Honoré and did our super exclusive shopping trip. This is something Lyle has given me. The knowledge that I can go into any store and buy what I want. I am normally a frugal person who will deny myself things because you never know when you might need that $200 cash instead of a pair of shoes. But as my mother used to tell me it is about priorities and options. You get to make choices. And sometimes I want to choose an amazing belt from a high end designer and then pair it with a pair of jeans from H&M and a shirt from Target. At that point, all you're going to notice is the belt anyway.

Our day got off to a rough start and we didn't eat on schedule. I was reminded often on this trip what I tell other people when they visit France. You must adhere to the French eating schedule, it will not bend to yours. Lunch is offered from noon to two. Dinner is not offered until after 8. Yes I know that's a long time in between and no I don't know what the french people do. I suggest you have a snack. Hopefully pastry.

But we had fallen prey to the "late breakfast and coffee then so much to do we can't stop now" trap and suddenly it was 2:15, there was no where to eat and we were cranky. Lyle pulled out his Paris Glittering Hotel Tour papers and remarked that we were next to Le Meurice Hotel. We agreed to go there on one condition, that I would order what I wanted and not look at the prices.

The Meurice Hotel was founded in 1835, and has hosted numerous heads of state and celebrities. The Shah of Iran was staying at the Meurice when the revolution took place and deposed him. We went to Le Bar 228 the grand old style bar that gives Lyle great joy. We said we'd just be having a drink. Well, maybe an appetizer. You know, perhaps a menu.... We had a full lunch, two drinks each and then ordered dessert.

Lyle ordered the rose macaroon with raspberries and I ordered the rhubarb tiramisu. Our desserts arrived at the bar and Lyle noticed that mine was pink and in a parfait glass. "You got a girlie dessert," he teased me. I could also see his dessert and it was even pinker than mine and had a flower petal on top. As the waiter brought them to our table I said, "He says my dessert is a girlie dessert because it's pink and in this tall glass. I say his is the girlier dessert because it's more pink and has a flower on it," remember I'd had two glasses of champagne by now and was feeling very bold, "Who's dessert do you think is the most girlie?"


And our waiter responded, "But monsieur, they are both GIRLIE!" and walked away.

Feeling quite refreshed and no longer cranky, we emerged back into the glorious world of unlimited spending power in the heart of fashion. We went through Collette, Gucci, Valentino, Lanvin and any shop that caught our eye.

But the goal, my reason for living, was still further down the road...
We arrived at Hermes and I was ready to buy another leather ring like the one I had purchased a few years prior. I walked in, giving my newly discovered greeting, "Bonjour Madame, Bonjour Monsieur,"* to anyone within hearing distance. I walked confidently to the men's accessory counter (I'd been here before remember) and inquired about the rings, only to be told they have discontinued them. That can't be! I pulled out my iPhone figuring that my poor English or French skills had led me to mis-speak. I showed the salesperson the photo of my lovely orange Hermes ring. She nodded and said very nonchalant, as if she weren't crushing my soul, "Yes, they do not make it anymore." And my soul was crushed.

* My clever greeting. I had just been reading that well raised french people ALWAYS add a Madam or Monsieur after their greeting when entering a shop. Sure enough, I noticed it immediately after reading it. In fact I got so caught up trying to remember saying it that I accidentally added a "Madame" when I was really greeting a monsieur. Luckily I mumble most of my french so I hope he didn't catch it.

Lyle shows off his French spirit with his Blue, white and red scarf.

The shopping trip was not a total loss. I did find a belt I had been looking for since last Thanksgiving at the Gucci store. As we wound our day down, we stuck to our tradition and retired to the Hôtel Crillon just a block away to rest our weary feet. The Hotel is owned by the Tattinger family and in their bar they serve a delightfully full glass of champagne.

The five-star hotel, with 103 guest rooms and 44 suites, occupies one of two identical stone buildings, divided by the Rue Royale, that were constructed in 1758 as a result of a commission from King Louis XV. The western building was made into a luxury hotel and was soon frequented by Queen Marie Antoinette and her elite friends. The hotel was where she came to take piano lessons.

In 1788, the Count of Crillon, acquired the hotel, only to have it confiscated shortly thereafter by the government of the French Revolution. It was eventually returned to the Count of Crillon's family who ran it until 1907. Today, through the Concorde Hotels Group, the Crillon is still part of the Société du Louvre and is controlled by the Tattinger family. The hotel is run by Anne-Claire Tattinger, Chairperson of the Management Board.

As tradition dictates, Lyle has a Kronenbourg beer, I have a glass of champagne (maybe two) and we open presents. It's like Christmas. Except its in Paris, any month you happen to be there, and you just paid for it yourself. But it brings out the same kind of joy in me without having to decorate for a month prior.

For me! Oh it's just what I wanted!!!

There was no one else in the bar and we struck up a conversation with the bartender about our little tradition and how much we love coming to the bar. He returned to work behind the bar and I said to Lyle, "This is it. Your once in a lifetime chance. You've had a beer, I've had a glass of champagne and there is NO ONE in the bar... let's play tourist. Ask if we can have our photo behind the bar!"

J'adore the Crillon Hotel in Paris!

Mad for plaid

The top left: Lyle's new Comme Des Garçon Shoes. (they only had his size left or that would have read MY new Comme Des Garçon shoes!) Lyle loves his new shoes and was asking if it would be okay if he took them to bed with him tonight. I told him it would be wrong, only because he might drool on them and they've not been weather protected.

The bottom right: My new Ralph Lauren ties with dogs on them.

Background: Fabulous cloth shopping bag from D&G that matched the very cute ties the salesboys were wearing.