Category: Ties

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Bigly Bridge Near Taos

One of the fabulous sights we saw on our Taos vacation was a sight we didn’t know existed until we got there: The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. It sits 650 feet above the Rio Grande, connecting a highway. Sidewalks are provided for walking across the bridge.

The first thing Candy Corn Bow Tie On A Shelf o’ the Day and my Halloween-colors Tie o’ the Day had to do when we stopped on the bridge to take photos was, of course, to strike the pose of all folks having their pic taken above water: pretend to dive into the whatever-body-of-water it is. Suzanne’s thumb also managed to do the dive pose for the photo, right along with Bow Tie.

We were all enjoying the spectacular views, and suddenly Bow Tie found this suicide crisis call box. We were reminded that for some people a phenomenal bridge and a river can look like a way out of indescribable pain. I was sad the box was necessary, but glad it was there for someone in such desperate pain.

I stood on The Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Maryland on the night of January 7, 2000. I was done. As I waited for whatever I was waiting for before I jumped, the bridge and the bay and the sky came together in such a way that I felt almost lightning-struck by the scene’s elegance. Its beauty called me back to solid ground. I didn’t want to miss this. I can’t explain it beyond that.

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I Found A Car In The Airport Terminal

At the ABQ airport, while chasing Candy Corn Bow Tie On A Shelf o’ the Day around, I found a lowrider on display which spoke to my artistic bent. It’s a ’47 Chevrolet Fleetline, and it happens to be in the Lowrider Hall of Fame, according to the plaque by its display. Dandy paint job! I would love to have seen it jump though.

As much as I like being on vacation, when it’s time to go home, I just want to get there. Apparently, I was so excited to be heading home at the ABQ airport that I did a neckwear two-fer— by wearing a plaid, wood, magnet Bow Tie o’ the Day on my t-shirt AND a Breast Cancer Awareness Month Tie o’ the Day around my neck.

Hey, I’m gonna tie up our Taos visit in tomorrow’s posts if at all possible, and I’ll give you our all-around opinion about the place. Hint: Taos is kind of a “meh,” but kind of a do-over.

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A Doc Appointment In SLC

I stole my Wrangler pink ribbon hat back from Skitter this afternoon when I had to zip into SLC for a quick appointment with my pain doc, Dr. Bow. (Her real name has “bo” in it.) She did not recognize me when she came into the exam room, because she had never before seen me in a Tie o’ the Day. Apparently, I’ve only ever worn bow ties to my appointments with her. She said she liked my Tie o’ the Day as a snappy, purple reminder to everyone to steer clear of domestic violence this month and every month. She also told me that I act more like a bow tie gal than a necktie gal. I told her I completely agree, but there’s no way in heck I’m ditchin’ my beautificent necktie pals. They are a part of me too.

Y’all might be wondering why this tblog is called TIE O’ THE DAY, instead of BOW TIE O’ THE DAY, since I wear more bow ties than any other kind of neckwear. Well, a couple of years ago when I finally persuaded Suzanne to build me a website, I was actually wearing neckties seven days a week, plus wearing a bow tie to church. Hence, I created and purchased the domain name tie-o-the-day. I’m not getting a new one. No new domain name for me. “Tie” is a general term that can cover all types of ties, so it’s still accurate, no matter what kind of neckwear I’m sporting.

Anyhoo… This afternoon, I had a hallelujah time at my pain appointment. And what makes a pain appointment fantastic? I asked my doc to reduce my pain meds by half, and Dr. Bow gave it the thumbs-up. It’s all thanks to the heavy duty pancreas surgery I had a year ago. It has also helped that I have spent the last year doing relatively nothing strenuous as I’ve recovered from my little operation. I’ve overly babied myself, and I have moved super-gingerly since surgery. My Hanky Panky hurt 24/7 for almost two decades. I’ve only got 1/3 of it left now, and that remaining 1/3 is mostly healthy. It emits much less pain, yet functions better than my whole Hanky Panky did. I’m feeling pretty good these days, physically. Knock on wood. Maybe my next Dr. Bow pain appointment will be the last. A girl can dream.

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A Seriously Busy Month

October is a jam-packed month, in terms of awareness/causes and celebrations. I plan to address as many as possible. The neckwear and I won’t be doing Oktoberfest, yet again. I haven’t celebrated that doozy since 2006, which is the right thing for yours truly. You’ll have to tackle that one on your own, if you are so inclined. Halloween, of course, is the bigly party deal of the entire month. And then there are the various hunts going on up in them thar hills. I was born to celebrate all that hubbub.

Skitter showed support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month yesterday, decked out in her pink. Today, her hat represents that cause. In addition, she’s hoping her purple Tie o’ the Day calls your attention to Domestic Abuse Awareness Month.

Skitter and I have chatted about domestic abuse, and we decided on something to say to y’all about it: Hey, folks, that all-encompassing commandment about loving one another– I think that’s supposed to start in your own home. Just a thought.

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Skitter Hates Breast Cancer, Too

Skitter dresses up in my stuff all the time. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I’ve noticed she’s turning up in a lot of pink lately. In this photo, she’s wearing a fabulous pink Tie o’ the Day, and she’s made a tiara out of my SAVE THE TA-TA’S awareness bracelet. Even the sleeping Skitter dreams of a cure for breast cancer. She’s a very compassionate dog.

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Grace Anne Is A Permanent Guest Star

You are correct, if you think I gifted Gracie her Tie o’ the Day bib. Bishopette Collette sent me this photo of her and Bishop Travis’ Wonderment Girl a couple of days ago, along with an explanation that the little darling is wearing her tie bib to eat her very first peas. I think Gracie looks like she’s enjoying them. Or maybe she just puts on this gorgeous face for the camera when she knows she’s gonna be starring on TIE O’ THE DAY. Honestly though, I know for a fact she never takes off this endearing face. It’s the only face I’ve ever seen her wear. How can I not show her off, peas and tie bib and all?!

Face it, folks. Gracie is the newest part of my wild, neckwear-y, spectacular life. She fits right inside my bow-tied heart. Expect to see her here from time to time. If you are tired of seeing her pix here already, you should probably go ahead and unfriend me; unfollow me; and/or unsubscribe to the TIE O’ THE DAY tblog now. Oh, and then you should immediately go visit a therapist, cuz something is surely kaput with The Adorable-osity Detector in your brain. Just sayin’.

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Clashion Pointer

What makes the splash of this look is the complete clash of forms. The shirt’s organic forms couple fabulously with Tie o’ the Day’s geometric forms. Here’s the design equation: organic shapes + geometric shapes = DANDY CLASH SPECTACLE! See, fashion math pays off once again for anyone who is gawking at it. The impulse toward true clash fashion should result in equal parts pop-up book pages, and basic eyesore. Take your pick. Just enjoy the choice.

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Cool-A-Rama

Tie o’ the Day is made of a thick, weighty cotton weave. I wish you could feel its considerable heft. Even better, I wish you could watch me attempt to tie it. Its thick knot is so stiff it can only barely be tightened or loosened. Tie’s heaviness makes it a wonderful choice for wearing on a chilly day. In a pinch, you could crawl inside and use it as a very tight, but cozy, sleeping bag to toast your bones. Or, at least a finger or two.

Last night was the first time since June it was cool enough to sleep with the windows open. Not only does that mean we’re close to cape weather, it means we’re hitting long sleeve weather, which means we’re entering cufflinks weather. We here at TIE O’ THE DAY welcome you with open arms and closed cuffs into a chillier time of year– with mustard and ketchup bottles Cufflinks o’ the Day.

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I Was Just Trying To Help

This morning, I wrote out a list of chores on a Post-it note, listing Tie o’ the Day’s assignments. Tie got started early, and began doing some much-needed ironing for the household. Good Tie!

When I was a wee sprite, one day while Mom was at work at the Delmart,  I decided to learn to iron. Unfortunately, I began my ironing education by attempting to iron my swimming suit. Guess who melted her swimming suit? And then I tried to hide the iron-shaped, melted spot by secretly letting it go for a spin in the washer, putting in gallons of Tide. Foam escaped the washer lid, so I used every towel in the house to sop it up. Of course, the washer venture wasn’t successful in restoring my swimsuit.

My thinker then decided that because there were heavy-duty chemicals in the city pool (the old outdoor pool), going for a swim session in my melted garb would surely put the swimsuit back into its original state. No luck with that either. Alas, I had to confess my well-meaning misstep to my mother. Fortunately for me, she thought it was a funny story. Whew! I never ironed in that house again. Nor did I do any laundry. Mom’s heart was gladdened about all that. 😇