10 December 19

Today is International Animal Rights Day. The reindeer on my tie are exercising their right to love and be loved!

9 December 19

54 years ago today, the TV production of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" premiered. According to TV Guide you can watch it this year on 17 Dec. (next Tuesday), at 8:00 p.m. on ABC.

8 December 19

The traditional theme for the Second Sunday in Advent is "Peace." My tie shows a large choir of very peaceful penguins, obviously singing Christmas carols. This tie originally belonged to Allan Durand Stephens (1940-2010).

5-6 December 19

Friday, 6 December is St. Nicholas Day! My tie shows Santa schussing past his reindeer while they play football.

2 December 19

For the second day of Advent 2019 I'm wearing my "Christmas lights" tie. For our second-last class in Honors Freshman Seminar we're meeting with EKU President Benson, to learn about "the President's view" of the university. This is the fourth time I've ended the course this way, and the students (and I) have found his perspective very engaging and enlightening!

1 December 19

For the first Sunday in Advent 2019 I'm wearing my poinsettias tie. My shirt is blue, which is the approved alternate color for Advent (traditionally purple). Poinsettias are closely associated with decorations for Advent/Christmas, with no authoritative source except a Mexican folk tale and some arbitrary symbolism. And today my grandson Joel is wearing a koala bear tie (and pocket square)!

26 November 19

Twenty-three-and-a-half years ago, a pair of Genes/Jeans started working together for Academic Computing Services at Eastern Kentucky University. We were both "Consultants On Duty," which meant that we answered phone calls for computer help and went on "house calls" to university offices to fix things. One of our favorite (???) tasks in 1996-1997 was installing Windows 95 on many DOS machines, using our sets of 12-15 floppy disks. By 2019 I had become "Manager for Online Learning," while Jean had progressed to be "Deputy Chief Information Officer." Today we're celebrating Jean's retirement! (while I continue working with no particular end in sight). She chose my "steaming coffee" tie for today, because she said from now on "I’ll be enjoying a leisurely cup every morning!"