Today Is ...

From husband Bill, August 16, 2026, home from the hospital on August 11, 2026, after 8 days in the hospital (with pneumonia)

Decades ago, I used to drink an alcoholic beverage called the Cuba Libre (simply rum and Coca-Cola). More memorably, in the early 1980s, I used to drink frozen lime daiquiris (we called them "dacks") using rum, ice cubes, and Minute Maid frozen limeade concentrate swirled in a blender.

From husband Bill, August 16, 2026, home from the hospital on August 11, 2026, after 8 days in the hospital (with pneumonia)

I like the occasional bratwurst with mustard.

From husband Bill, August 16, 2026, home from the hospital on August 11, 2026, after 8 days in the hospital (with pneumonia)

I am not a fan of roller coasters. 

August 16, 2026, home from the hospital on August 11, 2026, after 8 days in the hospital (with pneumonia)

Today Is ...

From husband Bill, August 15, 2026, home from the hospital on August 11, 2026, after 8 days in the hospital (with pneumonia)

I have loved my mother's homemade lemon meringue pies since I was a kid in the 1960s.

From husband Bill, August 15, 2026, home from the hospital on August 11, 2026, after 8 days in the hospital (with pneumonia)

That's me ... every ... day.

August 15, 2026, home from the hospital on August 11, 2026, after 8 days in the hospital (with pneumonia)

Today Is ...

From husband Bill, August 14, 2026, home from the hospital on August 11, 2026, after 8 days in the hospital (with pneumonia)

Today (August 14) is World Lizard Day. When I was a kid, some time between 1972 and 1974 (between ages 11 and 13), I had two pet chameleons that would change between the colors green and brown in a terrarium. At one point, they weren't eating their regular food (live mealworms) for weeks, so I caught a bunch of monarch butterflies and put them in with the chameleons. Nothing happened. My dad suggested that I give my chameleons to my dear friend David who lived several houses down the street, which I did. I think my dad just wanted them out of the house ... or maybe it was my mom. I'll have to ask her. Months later, I found out from a book in a pet shop that chameleons sometimes go weeks without eating. The long lizard in the lower photo is the type of chameleons that I had. The reptile in the main photo is also considered to be a chameleon.)

From husband Bill, August 14, 2026, home from the hospital on August 11, 2026, after 8 days in the hospital (with pneumonia)

Today (August 14) is National Creamsicle Day. I like the orange Creamsicle, but I prefer the chocolate version called the Fudgsicle better. The proper pronunciation by people from Long Island, New York, where I grew up, is "Fuhj-ihh-kell." The "S" is silent. At least, that's what my friends and I called them, when we were kids in the 1960s and 1970s.

August 14, 2026, home from the hospital on August 11, 2026, after 8 days in the hospital (with pneumonia)

Happy Birthday, Stepmom

Happy Birthday today to my stepmother.

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

Throwback Thursday

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

Throwback Thursday

In July 1981, when I was 20 years old, I was a golf instructor/counselor-in-training at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club -- https://www.pineneedleslodge.com/ -- which ran Golfari, a golf school/camp for adults (one week) and children (two weeks, ages 10 to 18, formerly 8 to 18) in Southern Pines, North Carolina. I attended almost every summer from age 11 in 1972 to age 19 in 1980. I was given special permission to attend as a "camper" when I was 19 years old.

As per tradition, on the last day of the kids camp, the instructors/counselors served the kids their dinners in the usual dining room. Here I am (in July 1981; age 20), wearing a waiter's jacket, and holding a fork and a half-eaten bowl of salad, as I helped clear the tables.

You know, I got flack from the director/owner of the resort (great guy) for sporting a moustache. I thought it would be OK because the previous July, an instructor/counselor had one. He let me keep it.

During July 1981, I had the honor of playing a round at Pine Needles with PGA touring/teaching pro Pat McGowan, who at the time was the boyfriend (future husband) of the daughter of the resort owners. He helped my game immensely. He was like a machine. I shot an 82. He set the course record at that time with a 64. Amazing.

One summer in the 1970s, when I was a teenager at the school/camp, I eagled the par-four 18th hole. I hit a long drive and then a strong nine iron. The ball hung on the lip of the cup. By the time my three golfing buddies and I reached the green, the ball had dropped into the hole.

Oh, by the way, I met my first of only two girlfriends during the adult section of the school/camp in July 1981. We broke up in February 1982, and I would not have another girlfriend until November 2000. I married my second girlfriend in February 2006.

More Popular Than ...

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

I'm a day late. Yesterday (August 12 ) was the anniversary of the famous/infamous interview of The Beatles in 1966, addressing John Lennon's comment that "The Beatles meant more to kids than Jesus did." His comments started boycotts, record burnings, and violence in the southern part of the United States. 

https://youtu.be/5ZaI7m1xpAg?is=IA6q_5zFW-iLgnZW

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

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