For Mother's Day 2025, I'm wearing this tie with pink flowers on dark green, selected (often) by Mom Wilma Wollenweber. We've known each other for nearly 53 years! My tie bar features a script capital K, created from my mother Ethel Kleppinger's pin.
Celebrating 33 years since I received my Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky! It took me 12 years in graduate school in philosophy. My dissertation was titled "Explanations of Science: The Use of Case Studies in the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge," and was NOT exciting. The photo from 1992 includes Ben (6) and Jonathan (3-1/2) and the backs of my mother and father.
Eastern Kentucky University claims two founding dates, 1874 and 1906. On 7 May 1906, the Kentucky Normal School Commission selected the (abandoned) Central University site for a new university, to be called Eastern Kentucky State Normal School No. 1. The standard history traces back to the beginnings of Central University in 1874, but the "state school" that exists today was created on 7 May 1906.
I worked at EKU from 1987 through 2023, nine years as a part-time instructor and 27 years on the academic computing staff.
My tie shows the maroon and white colors, and includes one of the official images of the EKU Colonel.
It's Star Wars Day! May the Fourth Be With You! My tie shows several starfighters, including Empire TIE fighters!
For no particular reason I'm wearing my tie featuring a topographical map of Camel Hump Knob in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It pleased my geologist friends at this morning's donuts meeting!
I tracked the image to Camel Hump Knob by matching labels on the streams and roads to official trail maps. The boldest lines follow Yellow Creek and Big Creek.
Today we're going to an art show! Granddaughter Evelyn is finishing a year of preschool and they are showing off a lot of the kids' creations. I'm choosing this tie because it shows children -- including a blonde-haired girl -- drawing a dog, a school, a bus and a necktie! I captured photos of Evelyn's painting of her family and her "worry monster."
Our favorite Britcom is "Keeping Up Appearances." In one memorable episode, Hyacinth Bucket (which must be pronounced "bouquet" according to her) insists that her husband Richard wear a tie while gardening, to maintain the highest standards of dignity in their "elite" postal zone. Until today I had never worn a tie while mowing the grass, but I decided to take this chance to show this very special shirt for my outdoor work!
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Celebrating grandson Nate's birthday! He is a LEGO-building champion-in-training. He also loves Minecraft and Roblox. Yes, my tie bar is made from LEGO bricks.
Today in computer history: On 27 April 1981, Xerox PARC introduced the first computer mouse. My tie shows mice at a computer keyboard, controlling a game where tinier mice are running in a maze. Below the monitor there's a slot in the tie, where the tail comes through to show a long list of cheeses (on dot-matrix-style "paper") and another mouse with a very long cable-tail! The tie's label says it is "Slice of LIFE neckwear."
Today is also National Gummi Bear Day, which was established in 2022 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of HARIBO Goldbears. I wore my gummi bears necktie in January to help celebrate Beth's birthday.
Today (25 April) is World DNA Day, honoring the first publication of the molecular structure of deoxyribonucleic aced, on this date in 1953. My tie shows an image from gel electrophoresis, the biochemical analytical tool that helps to identify the sequence of amino acids in the helix of DNA. My tie clip is made from part of a computer circuit board. I chose it mistakenly because my calendar included a reference to the patenting of the microchip (actually in February).
Note about World DNA Day: "The aim of World DNA Day-2025 (WDD-2025) is to follow up the commemoration of the 72th anniversary of the publication of DNA double-helix structure in Nature from April 25, 1953 by Dr. James Watson and Dr. Francis Crick. WDD-2025, which is held in conjunction with The 14th World Gene Convention, The 11th Annual Conference of AnalytiX, The 15th World Congress of Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell, The 15th Anniversary of Protein & Peptide Conference, The 10th Symposium on Enzymes & Bio-catalysis and Inaugurate World Congress of Biomedical Information Technology. This “Seven in one” congress will be held in April 23-25, 2025 in Nara, Japan."
One of today's special events is a semiannual check-up with my doctor, giving me a reason to sport a necktie. This one lets me celebrate the organization of the American League on this date in 1901, 25 years after the National League was formed. The gloves and balls pictured on this tie are definitely from the olden days. I was gifted with the tie by my grandchildren five years ago!
On this date in 1924 -- 101 years ago -- Simon & Schuster published the first book of crossword puzzles! My personal favorite crossword activity is the daily "Mini" from the New York Times.
Wearing palm trees for Palm Sunday. The words on the tie are "I''m retired -- I'm free to do whatever I want!"
"Singin' In The Rain" premiered nationally on 11 April 1952. Seventy-three years later I did some singing in the rain on my way to Friday "donuts" with friends at EKU! I hope you enjoy the comedy and romance in this movie!
