4 August 25

Happy Birthday to me! Given that I have upwards of 370 ties, the set of those I haven't worn for several years keeps growing! About forty haven't seen daylight for three years or more. My choice for today from that set is covered with beach chairs and umbrellas, because during this retirement summer we've spent a good number of days relaxing near our small pool while our grandchildren play in the water! And yes, it is a little weird to be wearing a tie while enjoying my hammock.

15 August 22

 Today is National Relaxation Day, so I'm wearing my beach-chairs-and-umbrellas tie to remind me about the joys of relaxation -- on the opening day of classes for the fall semester at Eastern Kentucky University. “The rule of the day is to avoid doing anything stressful.” My work day, on the other hand, will be cluttered with many different tasks, including off-the-wall reports of problems with Blackboard. But I will take some moments for deep breaths and quietude.

22 July 21

Today has been declared National Hammock Day. I have a nice hammock, and it is a beautiful day! The most appropriate tie in my collection is covered with sling-style beach chairs and umbrellas. 

15 August 19

National Relaxation Day is celebrated every 15 August. I'm wearing my tie featuring beach umbrellas and beach chairs. If I don't get to use my hammock today, my celebration will continue on Friday . . .

15 August 18

For National Relaxation Day, I'm wearing my beach-chairs-and-umbrellas tie. I'm also leaving work early to go home and relax outdoors!

30 June 16

Today marks the 111th anniversary of Einstein's publication about special relativity. But I'm choosing to celebrate my Father's Day gift (from Beth) of a new hammock! My tie's design has beach chairs and umbrellas . . .

26 May 15

First work day of summer, which "unofficially" began yesterday (according to the television weather reporters). I'm using a hammock to match up with the beach chair motif on my tie.

2 August 11

It's National Psychic Week! Some of you already knew that. Anyway, this tie celebrates relaxing summertime. Today is also National Ice Cream Sandwich Day, and I'll be celebrating that this evening.

09 February 11

My sister Gloria Rae Kleppinger Huizenga was born on this day! She lives near Philadelpha and has (not) been enjoying several wonderfully snowy winters in recent years. The past three months have been one heavy snowstorm after another for the northeastern states! When I invited her to select my tie for her special day, she suggested "beach chairs and umbrellas" to help her dream about warmth and sunshine. Happy Birthday, Glo!

30 June 10

Summertime -- thinking about beach chairs and ocean waves . . .

10 February 10

Umbrella Day always falls on February 10, according to the calendarwatchers at Holiday Insights. So it's time to show some beach umbrellas and sand chairs, in the middle of some big winter storms.

30 July 09

Today's tie celebrates summer with beach chairs and umbrellas. The closest thing we have to that is our hammock.

22 June 08

This is the first Sunday after the official beginning of summer. It's the midpoint of Eastern Kentucky University's summer sessions, where my Beginning Ethics class is nearing its end and Beth's Introductory Chemistry II class is just ready to start. Ben's summer mission project is also nearing its midpoint, while Jonathan faces the midpoint of one class and the start of another. Meanwhile my ordinary work with Blackboard goes on unperturbed by seasonal fluctuations . . . I'm trying to find some afternoons to relax in our hammock . . .