It’s About Making Babies!

I find there is a quiet search that has been going on for several years.

Pluma made a very good quality t-shirt, that they sold at Sam’s Club for several years.

Only the Pluma company went out of business about eight years ago - 1999. So why are people still, today, looking for a good alternate? The t-shirts were that good.

Russell Athletics made Pluma t-shirts under the ‘Pluma by Russel Athletics’ for several years.

But now, five years later, those last Pluma shirts are showing some wear. Seriously - these plain, seriously heavy weight cotton jersey shirts are well made, wear like iron - and were sold at a plain price. About $5-8 each. They came in maybe 5 colors, part of the year there was a long sleeve version. Pluma specialized in fleece - there was an amazing line of quality, heavy fleece shorts, pants, and sweatshirts in basic colors. For $5-10 each. Amazing. I have a sweatshirt on that is over 10 years old, now, and t-shirts that range from 2 years old to 6 (well, those earliest ones are starting to wear out). Why do I like these shirts? They are comfortable, dependable, I don’t like shopping that much. And they are plain. I might want to wear something about a movie or a saying once in a while, but logos and cartoons don’t define me. (Hopefully my actions, my words, and my smile do well enough.)

There was some excitement on the Pluma front. One of the seekers was told that Wal-Mart expected to present a trial product - a 7 oz (most t-shirts are 5 oz or lighter) cotton jersey t-shirt that is supposed to be comparable to the venerable Pluma shirts sold in Sam’s Club. Today I ran across a modest rack - 2 shirts of each size only - of Walls brand ‘construct quality’ heavyweight t-shirts. For $10.44. Plain, but with a pocket. I got a grey one - they only had blue and grey. There was a shooter style and a ‘three button henley’.

Otherwise it looks like the best alternate to the Pluma tees is the Max-Weight® heavyweight T-shirts from Camber Sportswear. They list two online vendors. http://All Seasons Uniforms is a GSA Schedule provider, Go Bros is the other vendor listed. It appears that GoBros hasn’t added the new Camber shirts to their other athletic apparel listings.

The All Seasons Uniform site lists the Camber shirts at a moderate price - $17-21, depending on color and regular or tall sizes.

The 7 oz and 8 oz shirts are great for screen printing. They print well, and your logo or design lasts for years. When the shirt or printing start to show wear, the message actually gets stronger - the customer is still pleased with the message and the garment.

A lighter shirt is the Gildan Ultra Cotton Heavyweight T-Shirt. At 6.1 oz cotton jersey (some colors add a poly blend) this looks like an intermediate-heavy garment - but priced attractively for screen printing, sport teams, and other bulk uses. Lots of colors. They list for $8.99, but are on sale today (3/24/08) for $3.58 each. There is no indication how long the sale lasts.

BlankShirts.com lists several t-shirts, including the Gildan Ultra and Russell Athletics Jerzees. Several styles of shirt, colors, etc.

Amazon.com lists the Champion 7 oz. shirt for $8.49 - $10.49, depending on size and color. This may be my next try, if the Walls shirt doesn’t hold up to the Pluma standard.

I will be trying out this new Walls t-shirt. Hopefully there won’t be anything to report for a few years.

I saw a t-shirt the other day, that just seems .. horrible.

Do you believe in love at first sight?
Or should I walk by you again?
- Hooters

So I get this email, from Amanda. Amanda is the ex-girlfriend of my neighbor’s nephew, who just got married last June to a good man. And I am still on her email list. This morning I get these points to ponder for 2008.

Ten Things to Ponder for 2008

Number 10
Life is sexually transmitted.

Number 9
Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

Number 8
Men have two emotions:
Hungry and Horny. If you see him without an erection, make him a
sandwich.

Number 7
Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day, teach a person to use
the Internet and they won’t bother you for weeks.

Number 6
Some people are like a Slinky ..Not really good for anything, but you
still can’t help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.

Number 5
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying
of nothing.

Number 4
All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to
Criticism.

Number 3
Why does a slight tax increase cost you $200.00 and a substantial tax
cut saves you $30.00?

Number 2
In the 60’s, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is
Weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

And The Number 1 Thought For 2008:
We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located among
millions and millions of cows in America but we haven’t got a clue as to
where millions of illegal immigrants and terrorists are located. Maybe
we should put the Department of Agriculture in charge of Immigration.

“Life is like a jar of Jalapeno peppers.
What you do today, may Burn Your Ass Tomorrow”.

Number eight struck me as related to the above t-shirt. It seems like Homes for Humanity, the Salvation Army bell ringers and other volunteer efforts, churches, schools, railroads, and many other organizations and niches in society might quibble about that narrow definition of uses for a man, or relevant interactions between men and women.

But I understand. At times we can simplify our treasures and our problems. And I think the Hooter’s t-shirt bothers me more. Not only did the lady expect her breasts to win her instant love and admiration - she implies people that don’t agree are damaged.

I suppose a woman that uses words pasted across her chest to find a mate, probably deserves a guy that watches women’s tits and then reads the t-shirt. And they can just deal with what five years time or a change of t-shirt, or observing another set of breasts, will do to their relationship.

And, yes, I believe in love at first sight. I think it usually starts with an offer of help, or a smile. I don’t think love ever happens until you give of yourself.