Today Is ...

From husband Bill, August 13, 2026, home from the hospital on August 11, 2026, after 8 days in the hospital (with pneumonia)

Are you right handed or left handed? I do some things right handed and some things left handed:

Right Handed

1. write on paper

2. play golf

3. play hockey

4. play racket sports (tennis, table tennis, racquetball)

5. throw a baseball

6. shave my face

Left Handed

1. use door knobs

2. use keys

3. shoot pool/billiards

4. shoot a rifle (once)

5. shoot a bow and arrow

6. type on my cell phone

I do have a cultural-spiritual conflict in regard to eating. My European heritage states that I should hold my fork in my left hand, but my religion (Hindu/Hare Krishna) states that I am only permitted to hold my fork in my right hand.

From husband Bill, August 13, 2026, home from the hospital on August 11, 2026, after 8 days in the hospital (with pneumonia)

I prefer Prosecco to Champagne.

From husband Bill, August 13, 2026, home from the hospital on August 11, 2026, after 8 days in the hospital (with pneumonia)

As a teenager in the 1970s, I would occasionally enjoy a filet mignon with Béarnaise sauce.

Back in the 1980s, when I was in my 20s, my dad would invite friends and family over for barbecues. He would cover a whole slab of filet mignon with lots of Kosher salt and then wrap it in wax paper. He would then put it on the barbecue and cook it for 16 to 18 minutes on all four sides for medium-rare. Of course, the wax paper would burn off and get charred. It was absolutely delicious and didn't taste all that salty after he scraped off most of the salt.

August 13, 2026, home from the hospital on August 11, 2026, after 8 days in the hospital (with pneumonia)

2 a.m. to 5 a.m.

From husband Bill, August 12, 2026, home from the hospital yesterday (pneumonia)

I was in the hospital with pneumonia from August 4 to 11, 2026. Between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on August 5, 2026, I took a series of videos of myself. I uploaded them onto my YouTube channel. Here they are. (length: 9 minutes, 58 seconds)

Hospital: 2 a.m. to 5 a.m., August 5, 2026 (August 12, 2026)

https://youtu.be/mZvJ66SnaQc?is=bhIq28fjyUnWu1jf

"A Hard Day's Night"

"A Hard Day's Night"

From husband Bill, August 12, 2026, home from the hospital yesterday (pneumonia)

Today (August 12) in 1964, The Beatles first movie, "A Hard Day's Night," was generally released in movie theaters for the first time in the United States. I am still a huge Beatles fan. 

World Premiere: July 6, 1964 (London Pavilion, UK)

General UK Release: July 10, 1964

US Premiere / Opening Date: August 12, 1964

My earliest childhood memory is attending the movie "A Hard Day's Night" in a movie theater during the summer of 1964, when I was three years old, with my mother, the woman who lived next door to us with her husband, and one of her two daughters who was a few years older than me. My mom was a huge Beatles fan in their early days and often played Beatles songs. I used to listen to Beatles 45-rpm records with those two girls in the basement of their house next door when I was very young. I am sure that they were babysitting me. Sadly, one passed several years ago. Her parents are also deceased.

Here is the opening from the movie (title song):

https://youtu.be/70QfHtKdh_0?is=o4fFOgkUtt1Wq5ZW

FULL MOVIE: https://youtu.be/GzdMT3EJ1Pc?is=lB-2IkCjoxkdHr-y

Today Is ...

From husband Bill, August 12, 2026, home from the hospital yesterday (pneumonia)

I grew up listening to rock/pop vinyl records in the 1960s and 1970s, mostly The Beatles and solo Beatles, and into the early 1980s, when I was in my early 20s. I have a turntable, so I still listen to what records that I have left, which include a pile of records that my mother's friend gave to me (her son's collection of mostly '70s pop/rock). I lost many of my vinyl records that were at my father's home in the early 1990s. He passed in 1997, so I am sure my stepmother just disposed of them. I still do have many of my own vinyl records (LPs and singles/45s) from my own original collection.

From husband Bill, August 12, 2026, home from the hospital yesterday (pneumonia)

I prefer regular french fries traditionally dipped in mayonnaise. I sometimes use tartar sauce.

From husband Bill, August 12, 2026, home from the hospital yesterday (pneumonia)

Always vote for The Elephants.

From husband Bill, August 12, 2026, home from the hospital yesterday (pneumonia)

I grew up as an only child, but then appeared a younger stepsister in the early 1980s, when I was in my early 20s.

August 12, 2026, home from the hospital yesterday (pneumonia)

Help!

Help!

From husband Bill, August 11, 2026, home today from the hospital after eight days there with severe pneumonia

61st Anniversary of "Help!"

My all-time favorite movie, "Help!," The Beatles' second movie, was released in U.S. movie theaters on this date (August 11) in 1965, SIXTY-ONE years ago today. It opened in British theatres on July 29, 1965.

I have the movie on DVD (also with short, behind-the-scenes films) and on VHS videotape, plus the soundtrack album (both the U.S. version and the British version) on CD. I used to have both versions on vinyl record.

Here are trailers for the movie:

https://youtu.be/s5nUoShgbso

I recently found the full movie on YouTube. I have seen "Help!" more than 50 times, including many times at many annual Beatles conventions in New York City (Manhattan) and in New Jersey as a teenager during the 1970s and also at the conventions in the 1980s and early 1990s. I still enjoy watching it.

Here is a clip from the movie ("Ticket To Ride")

https://youtu.be/hJBesRuthzY?is=Z5yxBu5K8-yr_tDQ

FULL MOVIE: https://youtu.be/oEqakpFIrKE?is=-Y98DKWe0uaereFG

I officially became a Beatles fan during the summer of 1964 at age three after my mom took me to a movie theater to see the Beatles first movie, "A Hard Day's Night." My mom was a huge Beatles fan, so I was an unofficial Beatles fan before watching "A Hard Day's Night" for the first time. Of course, I have seen all five of The Beatles official movies more than 50 times, many times at conventions: "A Hard Day's Night"; "Help!"; "Magical Mystery Tour" (TV movie); "Yellow Submarine"; and "Let It Be"; plus the concert film "The Beatles at Shea Stadium."

Trivia: In the 1970s, my CB radio handle was "Algernon," the scientist's assistant portrayed by Roy Kinnear in the movie "Help!."

August 11, 2026, home today from the hospital after eight days there with severe pneumonia

Today Is ...

From husband Bill, August 11, 2026, home today from the hospital after eight days there with severe pneumonia

I am sure that I have never eaten a raspberry bombe. I have eaten a piece of a chocolate bombe many years ago. Actually, I ate a few individual chocolate bombes in recent years at P. F. Chang's restaurant.

August 11, 2026, home today from the hospital after eight days there with severe pneumonia

HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL

From husband Bill, August 11, 2026

I am HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL !!! ... after eight days there with pneumonia

Medical Update

From husband Bill, August 11, 2026, Day 8 in the hospital with severe pneumonia and swallowing difficulty

Photo: computer screen for second part of testing

Medical Update: The first part of my swallow test yesterday (X-ray monitoring while swallowing chalky, barium liquid) showed all is well. The second part of my swallow test this morning (a tiny camera on a thin tube stuck three inches into my right nostril and down my throat while eating also showed all is well.

I have been here at the hospital for eight days with pneumonia, receiving intravenous antibiotics; intravenous and oral steroids; nebulizer (breathing) treatments; and supplemental oxygen. I am expecting to return home today.

August 11, 2026, Day 8 in the hospital with severe pneumonia and swallowing difficulty

Today Is ...

from husband Bill, August 10, 2026, Day 7, in the hospital with severe pneumonia and swallowing difficulty 

That's me every day. 

August 10, 2026, Day 7, in the hospital with severe pneumonia and swallowing difficulty

Nebulizer Treatment

from husband Bill, August 10, 2026, Day 7, in the hospital with severe pneumonia and swallowing difficulty

I created and uploaded onto my YouTube channel a short video of this morning's nebulizer treatment. (69 seconds) ... See related video on YouTube.

This Morning's Nebulizer Treatment (August 10, 2026)

https://youtube.com/shorts/Jp4NWu2GdJ0?is=Eese-74RlgREOsvi

Medical Update

from husband Bill, August 10, 2026, Day 7, in the hospital with severe pneumonia and swallowing difficulty

I created and uploaded onto my YouTube channel a medical-update video from my hospital bed. (length: 6 minutes, 48 seconds)

Medical Update: Pneumonia (August 10, 2026)

https://youtu.be/IeXebljiv-I?is=gMNP7BrVEh80pBCR

Today Is ...

from husband Bill, August 9, 2026, Day 6 at the hospital with severe pneumonia and swallowing difficulty

I am (still) in the preliminary stages of compiling a book of 75 of the more than 300 self-penned poems that I have written since 1986 for self-publication as a soft-cover book. (Many of my poems have already been published in national anthologies.)

Also, I am in the process of writing an autobiographical novel loosely based on my four years (1992 to 1996) as a reporter, writer, editor, and researcher for an international weekly magazine on the financial and technical aspects of the chemical industry based in the Financial District of New York City (Manhattan). I am including and elaborating on, and partially exaggerating, various aspects of my entire life so far that did NOT happen during those years. I hope to have it self-published.

I was a journalist (reporter, writer, editor, researcher, page designer, photographer) from September 1982 to April 2017 with various newspapers, magazines, a wire service, and on websites and social media.

(I actually run my longer posts through an online spell checker.)

from husband Bill, August 9, 2026, Day 6 at the hospital with severe pneumonia and swallowing difficulty

I love rice pudding (and tapioca pudding) with chocolate syrup, specifically Bosco.

August 9, 2026, Day 6 at the hospital with severe pneumonia and swallowing difficulty

Today Is ...

from husband Bill, August 8, 2026, at hospital with severe pneumonia

I prefer basic chocolate frozen custard (soft-serve, specifically Carvel) with chocolate jimmies in a cup, never in a cone.

from husband Bill, August 8, 2026, at hospital with severe pneumonia

I like zucchini bread, but I really dislike boiled zucchini. My wonderful wife makes delicious zucchini bread, but I like her mango bread better.

from husband Bill, August 8, 2026, at hospital with severe pneumonia

I don't particularly like mochi, mainly because of the texture.

from husband Bill, August 8, 2026, at hospital with severe pneumonia

I would like to try a CBD gummy.

from husband Bill, August 8, 2026, at hospital with severe pneumonia

The word "lunatic" originally meant "someone who sleeps under the moon."

from husband Bill, August 8, 2026, at hospital with severe pneumonia