Mad Hatter Highlights

There are very few material things the Phactor covets, but then there are hats, especially with broad brims and low crowns. What this means is that some or later when in Australia the Akubras beckon. What wonderful hats, and the Phactor has worn them for over 30 years. The demise of an old friend and the shrinkage of a well used Stetson has left the hat stable a bit thin, not that any excuse was needed. So despite the fact that hats are not easy to travel with, and as soon as you nestle one kindly into an airplane overhead bin, some lady inexplicably carrying several bowling balls in a gigantic carryon bag will sling it into the bin with never a mind for what might already resides therein. But this is an opportunity that cannot be passed up as it has been 8 years since my last visit, and now that the Akubra purchased on that occasion is getting decently broken in, it becomes a possible to get a new one. Here's the model except for the silly feathers. What do they think me? A gallah?

Kentucky Derby

Yesterday was Kentucky Derby day, and as a hat lover this sounded like a nice celebration although never had the Phactor associated a derby with Kentuckians before. The only connection in my memory was coonskin caps, a left over of childhood Disney versions of Davey Crockett. Still a hat is a hat, and even better, according to southern kin, the most important thing about derby day is mint julips. "You can't right be properly married without monogrammed silver mint julip cups", said Cousin Dan (wife's side of course), as he presented a set of four as a gift nearly 40 years ago. The southern side of my family were Baptists. Nuf said. Any beverage made with bourbon is already high on the Phactor's list, and if you have to watch a herd of numbered horses run for about 2 mins to get one, or two, or three, well, that's not too high a price to pay for a frosty minty julip is it? And in viewing the audience, it turns out that hats, big ugly ones, are indeed a part of the derby. Here's one, appropriately floral, a custom made job. A couple of mint julips, a hat like that, and who knows? Oh, yes, a horse won the race.