Tie a Day, Number 79

Monday’s tie is a tie that I have always liked, probably because it is brown and always matches my shoes and belt. This means that I can pretty much throw any pair of pants and shirt combination together and leave the house feeling like I match.

As I looked at this tie again on Monday, I decided that it is ugly. There is way too much going on with the design. It seems like the designer had a couple of good ideas but he couldn’t make up his mind so he threw them all on this one tie and turned in his mockup just under the deadline.

I have come to the conclusion that this particular tie is the fashion equivalent to the “Brown Note.” While I don’t think that this tie emits a tone that will make you soil yourself, it is a hideous brown tie.

This tie will need to return to my closet with a do not wear tag on it.

Tie a Day, Number 78

The tie I wore last Thursday was a new one for me. I should define new since I am sure I have had this tie for at least 15 years. I have never worn it before and I am not exactly sure I know how long I have had it (this might be part of the Alien plot, more below). I chose this tie because I decided that the blue in the tie worked with the shirt that I have that is the most blue, so I gave it a shot.

I think it worked, but the tie’s pattern looks like some sort of Alien Face that is trying to come out. The picture did not come out so well. It is kind of blurry, but that is what happens when you are hurrying in the morning trying to get out the door (or it could be an Alien plan to hide their intentions to overthrow humanity. By appearing as harmless patterns in our clothing, the Aliens are acclimating us to their presence so that when they do make themselves known, we will accept them as friendly while they herd us up like cattle to the slaughter. It could be that the image is impossible to photograph clearly due to some sort of Alien technological advance to keep people from seeing the truth.).

I really did not notice the Alien Face thing at first. I think it was about halfway through the day when I noticed that the tie had something on it. While looking at the pattern it came to me. Rows of bulbous headed Alien faces with insectoid overtones. I really kind of gave me the willies.

I will not be an Alien puppet manipulated to cause the downfall of humanity. I refuse to wear this tie any longer! It must be destroyed. Plus, it is kind of ugly.

This is the Alien Face. Can you see it?

Tie a Day, Number 77

The tie I wore on Wednesday is one of my all time favorites. It is rather busy with many colors, large and small paisley designs, and diagonal lines, but I really do like it. I have never been under the illusion that I have good taste in clothing.

One thing people always say when you are talking about ties is to always be careful to not stain them. Even water can ruin a good silk tie. Considering my hatred for tie pins and tie clasps, and that I rarely wear any kind of jacket with my ties, it is fairly obvious that I have had to deal with stains. This tie has a very large area of discoloration on it.

When I taught kindergarten I had to wear ties. That particular age group is very hard on ties; the kids grab and touch the ties, and then there are paints, markers, pencils, crayons, glue and many other things that can mess up a tie. If I remember correctly, this tie had an incident with some tempera paint. I quickly wiped and scrubbed the tie, but while you can’t see the paint, you can just make out the scrubbed area if the tie is turned the right way.

Good times… I really did love teaching kindergarten. But some of my ties barely survived the ordeal!

Tie a Day, Number 76

I was very excited today to find out that I am a World Record holder for the most ties worn by a computer resource specialist! Certainly the legitimacy for this record could be challenged, but I believe the goal of the URDB website is to allow anyone to be a world record holder. You just have to set your record holding criteria so that it makes it difficult for anyone to follow you. My one little catch was that in order to beat my record you have to be a computer resource specialist- so I am challenging all computer resource specialists to beat the, “wearing of 50 ties at once” mark!

I will not try to break your record, wearing 50 ties at once was not fun!

I was interested to see that another guy has a record of 97 ties at once. I am not sure I believe it because there was no picture of the man wearing 97 ties. While I am sure it is possible, without a picture it is hard to believe. The funny thing is the record holder was at a party and there were pictures taken of him but the most ties he is wearing is about 10. In any event, he can have the record. I will not be wearing anywhere close to 50 ties ever again!

Today’s Geoffrey Beene tie has sharp points in the design and made me think of a shark’s mouth. I wanted more than just a bland tie today. Teeth, and it has burgundy in it. A tie with a bit of a bite!

I have no idea if I have ever worn this tie before. I am going to guess no. I don’t particularly like this tie, but I chose it to make a statement. Today’s statement is, “Watch out!” I feel aggressive, or maybe just hungry.

Do not wave a Tagalong in front of my face, if you know what is good for you. Maybe I am more hungry than anything else...

Tie a Day, Number 75

Safety- this one word sums up so much of what drives me in life. Today’s tie is safe. Not unattractive, but this tie certainly lacks something. Imagination? Risk?

As I look at the ties I wear, I often see the reflection of my life. Don’t get me wrong, I like my life, I am very happy. What amuses me is that when I was younger I never could have imagined myself as I am today.

Recently, the family had an automotive crisis. We had always joked that we would drive our 2000 Dodge Caravan until the wheels fell off. I was reminded of this as the vehicle barely made it to the dealership for a trade in. The transmission was shot, and one valve was locked up in the engine. I didn’t think I was going to make it. We were looking at repairs that would cost more than the vehicle, so we were forced to buy a new car.

When we first purchased the Caravan, I was upset. I did not want anyone to see me driving a minivan, but with the second child on the way, it made the most sense. It was large, and safe.

I almost cried as I gave up my sporty little two door Honda Accord.

Last week, as Amy and I finally settled on a tricked out Kia Sedona, I was thrilled. This vehicle has just about everything that we could possibly want. Buttons were everywhere! Most of the buttons I didn’t even know what they were for, and I had to read the manual (I know, what was I thinking, reading the manual! Do I lose both my man card and my tech card for that?). Amazingly, this minivan even has seat warmers…

But the most important feature of all? It was safe. I know this vehicle will run, it is reliable, and it will keep my family safe in case of an accident.

Boy, would the 22 year old Al be laughing if he could see me today. Ignorant punk that he was!

Tie a Day, Number 74

The tie I wore last Thursday was a red tie with gold spiral like designs. It went well with my comfortable Columbia shirt.

I am pretty sure I have never worn that tie before, but it is difficult to say because the tie is not a memorable one. Many ties are that way, just like many days can be uneventful.

Last week was difficult for me. I was out for two and half days of work either being sick, dealing with a sick kid (or kids), or a little of both. So my tie wearing was down to just two days. No one had anything serious; it was simply that time for our house to have a drive by germing.

It is funny to me, but there are so many things that you have to learn the hard way when you become a parent. When you are thinking of having a child, you only think about all the warm and fuzzy experiences. You never think, “I should save up for lots of sick days, not just for myself, but for my kids too.” I am fortunate that I have a job that allows me to accumulate sick days in the first place, and I am also lucky that I have always been relatively healthy.

The end result? A short, little, two tie week.

Tie a Day, Number 73

I had no idea there were any such thing as ties from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and now I have found the second one in my collection (my first was tie number 19). Of course, when I was in search of a tie to go with my grey shirt this morning, I stumbled across this tie hidden behind a handful of other ties. I am not sure how I missed this tie, but because it has been hidden from me probably says something about the number of ties I have not worn yet this school year.

This tie goes with many of the colors that I normally wear, grey, blue, and tan. I like this tie. The intricate design is repeated vertically down the tie is not too much, or too little, it is just right!

I think I am going to have to get Sam to come back and help me pick out ties in the mornings. There is not enough danger in my life since I gave up cat juggling.