15 November 23

My tie for 15 November originally belonged to Otha Dell Brigance (1922-2000), who was born on this date. Mr. Brigance was the grandfather of our daughter-by-inclusion Rachel Haskins, and I'm very happy to have a few of his ties to wear!

15 November 22

Today's tie belonged to Otha Dell Brigance (1922-2000), who would be 100 years old today. Mr. Brigance eventually had a granddaughter whom we know as Rachel Haskins -- and who counts as one of our daughters! I am happy to help Rachel remember her grandfather.

15 November 21

My tie for 15 November originally belonged to Otha Dell Brigance (1922-2000), who was born on this date. Mr. Brigance was the grandfather of our daughter-by-inclusion Rachel Haskins, and I'm very happy to have a few of his ties to wear!

2 November 21

 Today is the annual celebration of "Looking For Circles Day." My tie is covered with circles and I have an obsolete circular mouse pad. And I have a lot of circular mugs! Extra thought for today: every ellipse (oval) can be considered as the orthogonal projection of its principal circle. Just look sideways at your own mug.

7 July 21

Today is a special day to celebrate pattern making and pattern discovery, and it even looms large in the history of computers. It's the birthday of Joseph Marie Jacquard (1752-1834), a French weaver and merchant. He is credited with developing the programmable loom, and the Jacquard name has long been associated with repeating patterns woven into fabric. My tie is one of several in my closet with cleverly woven patterns. Jacquard's programming for the loom was based on a sequence of punched cards, directing the operation of hooks to guide the yarn. This idea eventually became the basis for all sorts of calculating machines, down to the 20th-century "modern" computers receiving their instructions from decks of punched cards.

25 August 20

 Today is National Secondhand Wardrobe Day! The primary purpose is to encourage us to shop for clothes at thrift shops, etc. But I use it as a day to wear a tie that has been "handed down" to me. This tie with bright diagonal stripes originally belonged to Otha Dell Brigance (1922-2000), grandfather of our daughter Rachel Haskins.

23 March 20

Your math for today: 23 - 3 = 20. I'm working from home, like at least 60% of the country, during the Great Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020. But I'm still wearing ties, for my classes and faculty consultations! Today's choice is the tie from my collection that best represents my father's neckwear, for his daily work at Bethlehem Fabricators, Inc. Arthur Jeremiah Kleppinger died on this date in 2004.

15 November 18

Today's tie originally belonged to Otha Dell Brigance, born on this date in 1922. He became the grandfather of our daughter-by-loving-inclusion Rachel Haskins, and she gave me his tie!

16 August 18

Happy Birthday, "son" David Haskins! This tie originally belonged to David's grandfather-in-law, Otha Dell Brigance.

15 November 17

Today's tie belonged to Otha Dell Brigance (1922-2000), who was born on this date. Mr. Brigance eventually had a granddaughter whom we know as Rachel Haskins -- and who counts as one of our daughters! I am happy to help Rachel remember her grandfather.

15 November 16

Today marks the birthday (in 1922) of Otha Dell Brigance, grandfather of our "adopted daughter" Rachel Haskins. She gave me this tie from his collection some years ago, remarking that it was one of her favorites. I like the bright diagonals!

2 November 16

Looking For Circles Day has come around again! For my photo I'm holding some of the objects that Nate David (now 18 months old) uses as his favorite circular things. Now I hope I've made you notice at least one circle near you!

20 July 16

Today I'm wearing what I think is my most "imperial" tie, with circlets of white and red on gray and dark red diagonals, to honor the birthday of Alexander the Great, in 356 BCE. I would not agree with his militaristic politics aimed at world domination, but there can be no doubt at all that he was a "great" character. Early in life he was tutored by the great philosopher Aristotle (whose teacher was Plato, whose teacher was Socrates), but he seems to have found intellectual studies quite boring, and chose instead to conquer the known world through military force. This date is also the birthday (in 1893 CE) of Alexander, King of Greece from 1917-1920. Oh, by the way, humans first walked on the Moon on this date in 1969 CE.

16 November 15

The tie I'm wearing today originally belonged to Otha Dell Brigance, born 15 November 1922. Later in life he became the grandfather of our "adopted" daughter Rachel Haskins. She treasured this tie as a favorite memory of him, and gave it to me several years ago!

22 July 15

Happy ∏ Approximation Day! One easy-to-remember fraction that's close to the true value for pi is 22/7, and so the 22nd of July is always ∏ Approximation Day. My tie for today displays red and white ovals, which are approximately circular. At Beth's suggestion/insistence I will be enjoying Free Pie Wednesday today at O'Charley's®, at approximately lunchtime.

15 June 15

Today's tie belonged to Otha Dell Brigance, grandfather of our daughter-by-inclusion Rachel Haskins. Today I am visiting Rachel and David and their 14-month-old son Jamison, who has just learned to walk! So Jamison will see his great-grandfather's tie.

15-16 November 14

Today's tie originally belonged to Otha Dell Brigance, grandfather of our daughter-by-inclusion Rachel Haskins. Yesterday (Saturday) would have been Mr. Brigance's 92nd birthday.

30 January 14

Today's tie honors our daughter (by friendship) Rachel Haskins, who celebrated her birthday yesterday. It belonged to her grandfather, Otha Dell Brigance, and I like wearing it!

23 September 13

Marking the birthday of Augustus Caesar, in 63 BCE. His name at birth was Gaius Octavius Thurinus, but after adoption by his uncle Julius Caesar he became Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. He took the name Augustus when he became Emperor, in 27 BCE. I think the circlets on this tie resemble the Roman imperial "civic crown."

15 November 12

Our family friend/daughter Rachel Haskins' grandfather, Otha Dell Brigance, would be 90 years old today. This is one of his ties, and it is also one of Rachel's favorites.