Tie a Day, Number 47

The last Christmas tie of the 2009 season is a tie with Santa on it. This is a musical tie that plays Jingle Bells. There is a little hidden button that activates the song.

By itself, I would not say this tie is remarkable just because it is musical. I am in awe that the tie is still able to play its song after at least 12 years! That must be some kind of Holiday themed tie record.

This time of year is exhausting, if you are like me you are still buying and wrapping presents. The video below came out last year and I couldn’t help but think about it as spent some time wrapping presents over the weekend.

No, I am not finished yet!

Tie a Day, Number 46

Red, bright red, with small Christmas trees spread across it- that is what Thursday’s tie was all about. The red in this tie is the enraging color that is known to send bulls into wild charging attacks. I tried very hard to stay away from all bulls yesterday. Since I was not gored, I must conclude that I succeeded.

The small Christmas trees on this tie easily fade into the overwhelming red background. While the tiny bits of yellow sprinkled on the trees adequately represent decorative lights and stars, they can be easily missed unless you stand very close to the tie.

Normally, I would never wear so much red. It hurts the eyes. But I have worn a festive tie and almost completed the Doss Christmas Holiday Tie Collection for the year.

Wednesday was a non-tie day. We could wear a t-shirt as long as we wore the color green and paid $2 to the Gator Aid fund, a fund to help families at my school. I wore my Grinch t-shirt and read How the Grinch Stole Christmas five times that day.

So, I only have one more Christmas themed tie to wear...

More Holiday themed fun- Make yourself, or your friend into a Dancing Santa! http://www.dancingsantacard.com/en/?santa=1523943

Also, I thought I would share some pictures of the beautiful Christmas trees that are on display at the Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke, VA.

I think they have some sort of contest there and different groups set up displays all over the hotel. I am not sure what the contest is all about or what the award is but if you scroll through the trees, I bet you can pick out my favorite display!

Tie a Day, Number 45

Looney Tunes and Christmas; what could be more fun than that? This parade of Looney Tunes characters marches across today’s tie in rows divided by Holly leaves. All the little figures are wearing Santa hats. I love all of them, but there is a special place in my heart for Taz…

The Christmas ties are going quickly, I think I only have two more, but I might be able to sneak in a couple of Christmas themed T-shirts to make up the difference before my school is off for winter break.

I have been reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas over the last week or so to students at my school, and it has gotten to be such a habit that reading the story is like 12 and half minutes of total peace; for me. It is a very strange experience, sort of like the Zen of reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Most of the time it is like a Zen experience, except for last Friday. I read the story and it started badly because it was a last minute, unexpected event and I was rushing around right before I began. I became very upset with myself because I started the story out of breath, and I messed up 3 times. I also had my coordinator there and other adults kept popping in. I guess I am not perfectly in tune with the story, because if I was, none of that would have mattered.

I think I need to work harder at reading the Grinch.

A friend of mine shared this awesome lighted house video-

Amazing Grace Techno - Computer Controlled Christmas Lights from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.

It makes me want to go to Utah just to see it!

Tie a Day, Number 44

Today’s tie is a snowman themed tie. The background is black and snowmen from around the world appear on stamps. Pisa, Honolulu, England, Florida New York and Cairo are the locations on the tie. A fun holiday themed tie with amusing pictures.

I really like this tie, but if you say you don’t like a Holiday themed tie you are sort of saying that you don’t like the holidays, so I try to be careful. I do have some other holiday themed apparel- a couple of Holiday T-shirts (Christmas Vacation and, of course, the Grinch) and about 4 pair of Christmas themed underwear (is that TMI?), but I must admit to burning a holiday sweater one year. I hope that doesn't make me a holiday hater!

The year that Amy and I began dating, our school (we have always worked together in the same school) had a holiday party at a local restaurant. That day I decided to wear a sweater that I think my grandmother gave me, because my kindergarten class was also having the class winter party that day. It seemed like a fun choice and the kids did like it.

This was a red sweater with white stitching that showed little reindeer prancing merrily around the torso with jagged mountains in the background and little snowflakes all about. Not exactly the most manly of sweaters to wear out in public, but you can understand why the kids liked it.

Of course, at the party later that day, after the people from work started to loosen up a bit, you can probably imagine that the sweater mocking began. By the end of the night, I was over that sweater, and to ensure that I would never accidentally wear it again, I burned it.

An extreme reaction? Yes, but I was young and as a rule I do tend to run hot and cold. Besides, at the time it was funny to me. I am pretty sure that incident freaked Amy out just a little bit. I am very thankful that she allowed for my bad behavior that day and didn’t hold it against me! Hopefully that has not forever marked me as a "Holiday Hater."

Fun Christmas thing to share- On Saturday, I visited a stop on the Tacky Light Tour in Richmond. It was an incredible sight, two houses side by side, lit up as if they were trying to send a message into space! If you find yourself in Richmond, VA, at night, sometime in the month of December, be sure to stop by 9604 Asbury Ct Richmond, VA 23229 (Normally, I would not put someone’s address in my blog, but I have found this address on multiple Tacky Lights tour links. Also, judging by the line of cars going by the house on Saturday night, the place is not a secret!).

Seeing these two houses lit up has inspired me to seek out houses in my area that would qualify for a “Tacky Light” award. It is a fun free family thing to do, and that is always something to be thankful for- anytime of the year.

Tie a Day, Number 43

The tie I wore last Thursday was like a ghost of Christmas past. This tie has Santa on it. He is in front of a computer and printer set up, on a black background with little toy prints spread out all over. It also has a little red light on the front and at one time I believe it did play a song. The problem is that the battery in the tie is dead. There does not seem to be a way to get the battery out to change it without destroying the tie, so I am thinking this tie may have seen its last holiday season.

It is kind of sad, but a truth we must rediscover everyday; all good things must end. This is not a bad thing, though. When one good thing ends it makes room for the next good thing.

Fun Christmas thing to share- If you haven’t tried Jib Jab, maybe you should. It is a fun way to play with premade movies or scenes that feature you and your family and friends. My kids love it!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Tie a Day, Number 42

The tie I wore today is a fun Christmas tie. All over the tie are cartoon pictures of dogs and who they belong to; Tiny Tim’s Dog, Scrooge’s Dog, Frosty’s Dog, Elf’s Dog, and of course, Santa’s Dog.

If I had to place when I got the tie I would have to guess 1997, although it could be a couple of years later. I am sure it was a gift. It may have been from a kindergarten student, friend or family member. I wish I had a better memory for these things…

Day two of the Grinch reading and I feel the need to share some fun- don't forget to Elf Yourself!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Tie a Day, Number 41

Today’s tie is special because it was a gift! I went to my mailbox at school last week and it was waiting there for me. The attached note mysteriously said, “From the Tie Santa.” What a great Surprise!

This bright and colorful tie has green, white and red stripes that zip diagonally across the tie from the right shoulder to the left foot. Large, bold snowflakes dance merrily on the fabric as if to say, “Tis the season to be Jolly!” The tie also has a little button to push, that when pressed, plays “Silent Night.” I could have sworn that Sammy was able to get it to play more songs this morning, but I haven’t been able to all day…

This tie was the perfect kick off to the Christmas Tie Collection. Over the next few days I will be wearing all of the Xmas ties I have- to make sure I get them all in the correct season! It would be a really strange thing to see me wear a Christmas tie in May. Not that I wouldn’t if someone was so bold as to dare me to do it!

This tie was also perfect for today because I started my annual reading of How the Grinch Stole Christmas with students at my school. I have not read the story in 355 days or so, but I remembered it perfectly and I am pretty sure I could have done it without looking at the pages (but then it would really be more like a recitation and less like a book reading). That is pretty good for a guy who has to really think about it before giving his home phone number!

Thanks Tie Santa!

Tie a Day, Number 40

Last Thursday, I was beat. I had just returned the night before from the VSTE conference in Roanoke, VA, and ironing was not something I was willing to do.

I grabbed my favorite Columbia shirt and started looking for a tie. I love the shirt but normally I iron it before wearing. Luckily it is one of those shirts you can wear without ironing as long as it hasn’t been balled up in a drawer or something.

The tie I chose was one that went with the colors I was wearing, and the design was perfect for distracting viewers from the shirt wrinkles. The cracked glass type of design worked nicely with the color and like of ironing.

Honestly though, I didn’t care. I just wanted my coffee. Soon after this picture, I began a continuous caffeine drip for the rest of the day. It took me two more days to catch up on all the sleep I lost at the conference.

40 ties down and a whole boat-load left to go!