26 July 26

Today we're having a family supper that includes brother Mark and nibling Nathan Wollenweber. Nathan is a devotee of Viking and Nordic culture, and so I've chosen to wear my chain mail tie! The Hurstwic Web site explains that "mail is a protective iron fabric made up of thousands of interlocking iron rings. In the Viking era, mail was always made with a 4-in-1 pattern, in which each ring passes through its four nearest neighbors." My tie captures the chain mail pattern in aluminum rings.

4 August 24

 Happy Birthday to me! I continue into very happpy septagenerianhood. My sister Gloria sent me a card that says "Your birthday is a SERIOUSLY IMPORTANT occasion [featuring a picture of a tophatted ostrich, wearing a monocle] . . . But I'm not serious or important, so I got you this ridiculous card." She is ahead of me in years but we have very similar humours.

I'm wearing my chain-mail tie because I am well prepared for whatever battles and tournaments may come my way.

Others born on 4 August include Queen Mother Elizabeth (1900-2002), Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) and Barack Obama (1961). "Poppin' Fresh," the Pillsbury Doughboy, was registered as a trademark in 1970.

4 August 23

Today some of my cells, specifically those in my brain's visual cortex, turn 70 years old! The rest of my body is quite a bit younger, ranging down to 5 days for the cells lining the surface of my gut. For my birthday I am choosing to wear my chain-mail tie, to show that I am "steeled" for whatever comes next. (The tie's rings are aluminum but they are as shiny as steel.) Others born on 4 August include Barack Obama (now 62), Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) and Queen Mother Elizabeth (1900-2002).

20 April 22

Around this time in 1290, England's King Edward I held a jousting tournament (with knights in full armor) to celebrate the betrothal of his daughter. He was enamored of the legends surrounding King Arthur, and had a huge Round Table constructed for this event; the table top hangs today in the Great Hall of Winchester Castle. My chain-mail tie is perfectly suited to honor this event (and it offers me a tiny bit of protection).

4 August 21

For my birthday I'm "armoring" myself for another 68 years! My chain-mail tie (or chainmaille, if you prefer) is actually made of aluminum rings rather than wrought iron or mithril, but it offers excellent protection against any attacks on the center of my torso. I wonder what my life will be like in 2089 . . .

29 May 20

Today is honored as End of the Middle Ages Day. On 29 May 1453, military forces from the Ottoman Empire achieved "success" when they conquered the city of Constantinople, centerpiece of the Byzantine Empire. My chain mail tie fits this medieval history theme very well! Note that this is about the End of the Middle Ages, not the End of Middle Earth, though it might turn out to be the Middle of Gene's Age.

   

29 May 18

Today I'm celebrating End of the Middle Ages Day! On this date in 1453, the city of Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire. Out of that chaos, Greek scholarly learning and culture spread into Europe, ushering in the period of renewed interest in exploration and learning we call the Renaissance. My chain-mail tie (forged with aluminum circlets) symbolizes the armor that protected many medieval knights in battles and jousting tournaments.

30 August 17

From the annals of medieval warfare: On this date in 1146, European leaders outlawed the crossbow, intending to end war for all time. I will take almost any opportunity to wear my own armor, in the form of my chain mail tie! And today Esther Rae demanded to be included in my photo.

4 August 16

Happy Birthday to me! Here's one bit of trivia about the number 63: 63 is the smallest number out of two (the other being 69) such that the common alphabetical value of its Roman representation is equal to itself (LXIII - 12+24+9+9+9 = 63). Read more about 63 at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/63_(number). Others born on August 4 include Barack Obama (now 55), Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) and Queen Mother Elizabeth (1900-2002). My celebratory tie is styled from chain mail (and I'm also wearing a ring of chain mail at my pony tail!). Andrew (now 8 months old) decided to join me for the photo.

4-5 June 15

Tomorrow is Kirsten Rae (Huizenga) Caminiti's birthday! She and Joseph visited us yesterday (on their way home from visiting brother Nolan Huizenga in Nashville), and she took the opportunity to select a tie for me for today. She liked my rotating tie racks, and when she discovered the chain mail tie she was joyous.

3 August 14

Friday was Jonathan's 26th birthday! He chose to have me wear my chain mail tie today, because he really likes this tie and because his wedding ring contains metal originally in chain mail armor.

18 June 14

Today may be International Panic Day, but thanks to my new CHAIN-MAIL tie, I am stoically prepared for any kind of attack! (It was a Father's Day gift from my wife!)



For at least a short time, my photo is being displayed on ThinkGeek's product page, as a "Customer Action Shot."