grey leather coat, Ferragamo black-grey striped DB wool jacket, classic Pierre Cardin Paris subtle grey-blue houndstooth cotton shirt, Booswell sky-blue dotted silk tie silver-blue dotted silk handkerchief silver-yellow silk cufflinks grey flannel wool trousers, tailored grey-lilac cotton socks black leather oxford shoes THE WHOLE OUTFIT SECONDHAND FOR 100€ TOTAL! Today Finland celebrates its 108th independence day. I dressed up as usual when I went to the mall to buy some delicious food and champagne for the evening watching tv, the annual Presidential Independence Ball at the Palace. Before WWII, Stalin's Russia and Nazi Hitler secretly negotiated and agreed on how to divide Europe and the riches of Europe for their own interests. The secret Ribbentrop agreement 1939 between Stalin and Hitler was negotiated secretly over the heads of the rest of Europe. It is also called the Nazi-Soviet Pact. A week later, World War II began. I was born a few years after World War II and have been lucky enough to live a good life in peacetime for 70+ years. I hope my children and grandchildren would have an equally peaceful life. Since we in Finland understand the Russian mentality, falsity and unreliability best of all, it is frightening to follow today's ”similar” negotiations between Nazi-like Russia and today's USA, where the integrity and the riches found in other countries is negotiated secretly over the heads of the rest of Europe.

I’ve not posted an OOTD for a while. Frankly been in a bit of funk and have not felt like sharing, though I’ve continued to want to encourage and encourage with all of you in this community. Today, it’s snowing and despite itself DC looks beautiful. It’s also Advent and in spite of the music playing everywhere I go and the lights and people wearing Santa hats around the office and people planning parties ever other day and twice on Sunday my faith calls for us to quiet ourselves, decreases the distractions, and wait in silent yet joyful expectation. With the snow the sounds of a city are muted so I was able to walk in silence and dig deep this morning to burry into my soul and start that process of clearing space. It was a good reminder for me to ensure at Christmas my heart is the cave and not the overcrowded inn. Have a great Friday gentlemen.