8 May 26

Vincent Van Gogh entered the hospital at Saint-Remy on 8 May 1889. This was during the last two years of his life, when he produced many of his most famous works. Four years ago Beth and I visited the fantastic event called Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, where you can walk right into and through wonderful displays of his paintings. I especially enjoyed sitting in the recreation of his famous Bedroom in Arles (wearing the tie!).

8 May 23

Vincent Van Gogh entered the hospital at Saint-Remy on 8 May 1889. This was during the last two years of his life, when he produced many of his most famous works. In October 2022, Beth and I visited the fantastic event called Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, where you can walk right into and through wonderful displays of his paintings. I especially enjoyed sitting in the recreation of his famous Bedroom in Arles (wearing the tie!)

21 February 22

On 21 February 1888, Vincent Van Gogh moved from Paris to the city of Arles. From that time until his death in July 1890 he produced many of his most famous works, including the "bedroom" scene pictured on my tie!

 

30 August 21

It's time to wear this Van Gogh tie. I'll note that today is National Toasted Marshmallow Day and also the 120th anniversary of the patenting of the vacuum cleaner.

30 March 20

Wearing my "Bedroom in Arles" tie to honor today's birthday of Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890).

28 November 18

I chose today's tie because I don't need any excuse to wear a Van Gogh painting. This one is Bedroom in Arles, from 1888. I also found out that Van Gogh created the lithograph called "Old Man, Head in Hands" on 26-27 November 1882.

15-16 October 17

Seven years ago, on 16 October, Ben Kleppinger and Amanda Wheeler were married in a beautiful outdoor celebration at Indian Fort Mountain here in Berea. Last week they enjoyed the sights and sounds and flavors in Paris, including seeing the Van Gogh painting pictured on this tie. Happy Anniversary, Ben and Amanda!

29 September 16

Happy Birthday, Sherilyn Sheets! Sher is one of my first-cousins-once-removed, the daughter of Sally (Miller) Sheets and her husband Paul. Sher lives and works in north Chicago, and her primary calling is managing a neighborhood hospitality house called JustEmbrace. Regular neighborhood activities include weekly gatherings for games, conversations, music and Bible studies; special events include health clinics and garden planting/harvesting. In about one month JustEmbrace will begin their annual seven weeks of homestyle Thanksgiving dinners for the neighborhood, and later in November "Santa" (who happens to look a lot like Sherilyn's father) will arrive for photos. Sher told me that she loves Van Gogh's paintings, so I'm wearing my "Bedroom in Arles" tie -- especially because it represents the themes of home and hospitality!

25 October 15

For International Artists' Day I'm wearing some Van Gogh!

1 February 15

Today was our day to celebrate the birthdays of sisters Beth Kleppinger (27 January) and Faith Lang (29 January), and also to include Ben Kleppinger (16 January) in the birthday-cake-candle-extinguishing ritual. Beth chose my Van Gogh "Bedroom at Arles" tie for today, and I'm taking the photos in our own master bedroom.

8 September 14

No special occasion today (except that my Aunt Grace York is 101 years old). Next month marks 126 years after Vincent van Gogh completed "Bedroom in Arles."

29 July 13

Marking 123 years since the death of Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890):

29 March 12

Tomorrow--March 30--marks Vincent Van Gogh's birthday (born in 1853). You can get essentially all of his artwork on your iPhone or iPad for 99 cents! (Other artists' collections such as da Vinci, Rembrandt and Monet are also available at the same price.)

30 August 10

There is no special occasion for today, except that I am being interviewed about my ties by staff from the Eastern Progress, for a feature story to be published soon. I chose one of my van Gogh ties that I hadn't worn recently. These photos were taken by Trey Burke.

31 March 10

Yesterday was Vincent van Gogh's birthday but I had to celebrate Pencil Day instead. So today's the right time to display this great painter's legacy. He lived from 1853 to 1890.

29 March 09

Yesterday was Amanda Wheeler's 23rd birthday, and tomorrow is the anniversary of Vincent Van Gogh's birthday (in 1853). I asked Amanda to choose my tie for today, and she selected the purple-themed "Bedroom at Arles" tie.

02 November 08

The Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) has proclaimed November as "Home Staging Awareness Month." Home staging is the sales strategy of placing designer furniture and (sometimes) professional actors in homes to simulate family living during "open house" events. To show my awareness of this important celebration I wore my tie featuring Van Gogh's view of his bedroom at Arles.

7 July 08

Among other revolutionary events that happened in July, it was on this date in 1953 that Che Guevara set out on a trip through Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador, discovering for himself the political institutions that perpetuate poverty and classism. This tie is vaguely related to the topic because Vincent Van Gogh was a revolutionary painter. I welcome other suggestions for July 7, or ties with a more prominent "revolting" theme.