Quizzical Sojourns 2

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Today Is ...

from husband Bill, May 20, 2026

I like apples in all forms, except raw. I like apple cider, apple juice, apple sauce, baked apples, apple strudel, apple pie, apple crumb cake, apple crisp, apple butter, apple rugelach, Apple Jacks cereal, even dried apples, but give me a raw apple, and I will see how far I can throw it. It's probably because I hate the texture of a raw apple, and it's definitely because I absolutely HATE that "CRUNCH" sound when eating it. It's like fingernails on a chalkboard. So, if you eat an apple near me, don't be offended when I run away. LOL ... I do like eating raw pears. Go figure.

My favorite apple is the Granny Smith because it is sour, and, more importantly, it adorns millions of Beatles records.

from husband Bill, May 20, 2026

I do like Quiche Lorraine.

from husband Bill, May 20, 2026

While I really dislike the taste and texture of strawberries, I do sometimes force myself to eat them because they are healthy. My LEAST favorite dessert is strawberry shortcake. I dislike strawberries; I dislike yellow pound cake; and I dislike whipped cream.

from husband Bill, May 20, 2026

The notion that teachers' salaries are low is false. There are more teachers who are millionaires than lawyers who are millionaires. It's true.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dave-ramsey-more-millionaire-teachers-145901564.html

from husband Bill, May 20, 2026

Please don't call it a "rescue" dog unless you saved it from a burning building or saved it from drowning by jumping into a river with all of your clothes on (as comedian Bill Burr says). Well, you can call your dog whatever you want.

from husband Bill, May 20, 2026

Metrology is the scientific study of measurement. Many years ago, I interviewed a science professor who told me to pronounce the distance as "KILL-oh-MEE-ter" NOT "kill-AH-meh-ter."

from husband Bill, May 20, 2026

Surgery Anniversary

from husband Bill

Today (May 19, 2026) is the 4th anniversary of my 2nd of 3 heart-related surgeries, which is also my 1st of 2 chest surgeries. All 3 surgeries were in 2022. My wife took this photo of myself on May 19, 2022, several hours after my surgery.

*1st Surgery (March 9, 2022): I had quadruple coronary artery bypass surgery. As usual, a section of a vein in my left thigh was removed to be used in my open-heart surgery. I had two drains installed in my belly.

*2nd Surgery (May 19, 2022): A surgeon removed the sternal plates from my 1st surgery that were holding my broken breastbone pieces together from within my chest. The screws became loose. He also cleaned out much of a staph infection also from within my chest. A wound vacuum was then attached to my chest, sucking out the remaining infection and discharge, running 24 hours per day. My chest remained open for a week with the wound vacuum constantly sucking, except during bandage changes for 20 minutes every other day.

*3rd Surgery (May 25, 2022): A surgeon closed my chest by attaching seven sutures, leaving me with eight holes in my body from my lower neck to my upper belly. The wound vacuum was reattached and continued to suck on my chest for many more weeks. The vacuum also served to pull the wounds together to increase the speed of my healing process.

My other recent surgeries:

*September 2023: 1st spine surgery (remove abscess in infected disk)

*October 2023: 2nd spine surgery (placement of titanium metal rod to hold my spine together due to a bone infection)

*April 2024: right ankle surgery due to 2 fractures

*November 2025: artery bypass surgery (3-foot-long blockage in main artery in my left leg; removal of 3-foot-long vein in my right leg and inserted within my left leg)

*November 2025: left foot surgery (3rd and 4th toes of my left foot amputated due to artery blockage)

*April 2026: angioplasty of main vein in left leg related to artery-bypass

Other previous surgeries: three other surgeries on my left foot; nasal/sinus; and tonsils (in 1966, age 5). Also, two plural effusions (draining of fluid surrounding my lungs) and six weeks of dialysis.

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

R.I.P. Ike Willis

from husband Bill, May 19, 2026

Oh, wow. (November 12, 1955 - May 17, 2026), age 70, R.I.P. Ike Willis, guitarist and vocalist with Frank Zappa's band ... I am a huge fan of Zappa. I was fortunate to attend a Zappa concert (with Willis performing) in 1984 at The Pier outdoor theater in New York City (Manhattan) with my cousin Scott.