8 November 23

According to some Web pages, Benjamin Franklin opened the first public library, in Philadelphia, on 8 November 1731 (293 years ago!). I've recorded that in my personal calendar, but it is apparently an inaccurate record of library history. Ben and his comrades in the "Junto" discussion club founded the Library Company of Philadelphia, with a wide variety of books for sharing, but it was open to members who bought shares and contributed money, so it was not like the modern model of free public libraries. Snoopy doesn't really care about the historical details; he and Woodstock simply enjoy books!

22 May 23

Happy Birthday, Aimee Moiso! Aimee is Associate Director at the Louisville Institute, a nonprofit foundation that "awards grants and fellowships to those who lead and study North American religious institutions, practices, and movements, advancing scholarship to strengthen church, academy, and wider society." She is married to my nephew C. Nolan Huizenga, and as she joined our family in 2016 I learned that her favorite color is yellow, and so today's shirt and hair tie are yellow. I asked her to choose my tie for today; she suggested something with Peanuts® characters, and we settled on "Snoopy Joe Preppy" as "the best one since I give out grants mostly for research!"

12 April 23

I read about "Drop Everything and Read Day" (12 April) yesterday, so I dropped everything and chose a tie about reading! Snoopy and Woodstock are clearly enjoying some books. The date celebrates the birthday of author Beverly Cleary (1916-2021).

8 November 21

On this date in 1731, Benjamin Franklin opened The Library Company of Philadelphia, the first public library in the "colonies." On my tie, Snoopy ("Joe Preppy") and Woodstock are dancing among library stacks.

17 August 20

 Today I'm helping David Haskins celebrate his birthday, officially yesterday. David is our son-by-inclusion; he is an Area Manager for Amazon.com, in Lexington, KY. He asked me to wear a tie featuring books, and we chose "Snoopy Joe Preppy."

25 November 19

Snoopy Joe Preppy is here today to celebrate Charles Schulz' birthday tomorrow! The creator of Peanuts® was born in 1922 in Minneapolis. He lived in Colorado and Minnesota, and spent much of his life in California until his death in 2000.

13 November 18

It's Young Readers Day! It was founded in 1989 by Pizza Hut® and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Our sons participated in the BOOK-IT! promotion for at least eight years. Snoopy Joe Preppy is excited about books! The best children's book in my office is "Hooray for Diffendoofer Day," a less-known but excellent classic by Dr. Seuss, which was completed by Jack Prelutsky and Lane Smith after Theodore Geisel's death.

17 August 17

This is National Smile Week! Or at least it was, in 2010 and 2013, according to some Web calendars. (Maybe reading that made you smile or smirk?) Anyway, Snoopy Joe Preppy is always ready to show his smile. And so am I.

12 April 16

This is National Library Week, sponsored by the American Library Association. The special focus for Tuesday is "National Library Workers' Day," honoring all library staff -- which includes our own daughter, Amanda Wheeler!

19 June 15

Today I'm going to the luncheon for the annual presentation of the Kevin Burberry Award by the Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky. Kevin was a very special family friend whose work with the HDI some 15 years ago continues to inform and inspire people who want to support the "disabled." The award helps students pursue advanced certifications and degrees in specialized areas of health and education. Kevin would have enjoyed my Snoopy Joe Preppy tie!

26 November 13

Charles M. Schulz was born on this date in 1922. Snoopy gets pretty excited when he gets to celebrate the birthday of the creator of Peanuts®!

27 March 13

Today is National "Joe" Day! If your name happens to be Joe, this is your special day. If you don't like your given name, today is your special day to adopt "Joe" as your name, and celebrate. My tie shows Snoopy as "Joe Preppy."

8 November 12

November 8, 1731: Benjamin Franklin opens the first public library, in Philadelphia.

8 November 11

Celebrating 280 years of public libraries! Benjamin Franklin opened the first public library (in Philadelphia) on this date in 1731. My tie reminds of the moment in the movie Snoopy, Come Home! where Snoopy finds out that libraries have a rule: NO DOGS ALLOWED.

27 January 11

For her birthday celebration today, Beth chose my "Snoopy Joe Preppy" tie because she thinks he looks like a teacher.

08 November 10

I guess this is supposed to be a very special entry in this blog, marking the 500th posting. According to these records, I've worn about 140 different ties over the last 929 days! The frequencies are all still in the single digits, and I am happy to sport new ones at any time.

Today marks two great anniversaries in the history of public libraries: in 1602, the Bodleian Library at Oxford University was first opened to the public, and in 1731, Benjamin Franklin opened the first public library in what would become the United States, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Time to celebrate with Snoopy!

12 April 10

Today is the beginning of National Library Week, and it is also D. E. A. R. Day, a day to Drop Everything And Read, honoring the birthday of author Beverly Cleary.

07 February 10

Birthday of several famous writers: Charles Dickens (1812-1870), Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957) and Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951).

24 November 09

Today is "Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day." I don't know which of my talents is unique, but Snoopy is the only beagle who can fly his doghouse and write novels (with help from Woodstock his "secretary").

10 May 09

Today is Mother's Day, and so I invited Beth to select my tie, and she chose Snoopy Joe Preppy. It's also appropriate for remembering yesterday's commencement exercises at Eastern Kentucky University, where we witnessed the graduations of both Benjamin R. Kleppinger (summa cum laude and Honors graduate) and Amanda Eveleen Wheeler. I wore my "dinosaur skeleton" tie to those ceremonies because that's Ben's favorite.