Today Is ...

from husband Bill, March 11, 2026, at home

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, March 11, 2026, at home

In May 1998 at age was 37, I moved to southeastern Florida from New Jersey. Soon, I got a job as a part-time, hardware salesman at Sears while searching for a job in my profession (journalism). I thought that I possessed some knowledge of hardware because one of my many jobs had been writing about home improvement and home building for weekly national newsletters in New York City. That didn't help me. I knew the financial aspects, but little of the practical applications. I learned quickly.

I worked at Sears for more than five year. During that time, I secured a job as a full-time newspaper editor for a chain of weekly newspapers, but I decided to remain at Sears. I worked 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday as a journalist. A few days per week, I worked 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. as a hardware salesman. I would also work a nine-hour shift on Saturday and/or Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

I ultimately left Sears due to scheduling conflicts and tiredness. What happened was: I got a better job as a full-time editor in the sports department of a daily newspaper. I now had different working hours at the paper, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., weekdays, so I had to quit Sears.

(I am also a fan of the 1990s sitcom "Home Improvement.")y

from husband Bill, March 11, 2026, at home

I have never eaten oatmeal nut waffles.

from husband Bill, March 11, 2026, at home

On March 11, National 311 Day offers an annual reminder that 311 is a resource for communities around the country to connect with their city and non-emergency services. The 311 system is the non-emergency number to call in many cities across the country for residents to report issues, find out about city services, and ask questions.

from husband Bill, March 11, 2026, at home

Popovers & Marios

from husband Bill, March 10, 2026, at home

I have eaten Popovers (Yorkshire Pudding) many times, but never with blueberries.

from husband Bill, March 10, 2026, at home

4th Anniversary: Heart Surgery

I created and uploaded onto my YouTube channel a video celebrating the fourth anniversary of my Quadruple Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery !!!

4th Anniversary: Open-Heart Surgery (March 9, 2026)

https://youtu.be/T1LdS3LPAt8?si=xLHyGgnhYMC3oamg

Today (March 9, 2026) marks the fourth anniversary of my Quadruple Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery !!! The photo taken by my wife in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit on March 10, 2022, shows my state of affairs the day AFTER my surgery.

In the photo, I am breathing supplemental oxygen after using a ventilator tube stuck down my throat. I have a catheter (needle) stuck in a vein in my neck with an apparatus attached. I am being monitored with many electrodes stuck on my upper body. I have two electrodes attached directly onto my heart with the wires sticking out of my chest.

This was the first of eight surgeries that I endured between March 2022 and November 2025:

*March 2022: quadruple coronary artery bypass surgery ... removal of a vein in my left thigh to be used in my open-heart surgery; broken sternum (breastbone)
*May 2022: first chest surgery to remove loose screws/sternal plate holding my broken breastbone together, and to clean out a staph infection within my chest
*May 2022: second chest surgery to close a 14-inch-long incision in my chest after it remained open for about a week.
*September 2023: first spine surgery to remove an abscess within an infected disk
*October 2023: second spine surgery to affix titanium metal rods to my "collapsing" spine due to a bone infection
*April 2024: right ankle surgery due to two fractures and a bone infection
*November 4, 2025: artery bypass surgery ...  three-fo-long blockage in the main artery in my left leg ... three-foot-long vein in my right leg removed and inserted within my left leg
*November 8, 2025: amputation of the third and fourth toes of my left foot due to my artery blockage. My toes were black. My left heel is still black.

I haven't been able to walk without support from a walker since my heart surgery. I am still receiving wound care at home for my left foot. I engaged in physical therapy and occupational therapy at facilities and at home, but I am now on my own.

Today Is ...

from husband Bill, March 9, 2026, at home

Being half Italian, I do like meatballs. (Spaghetti and meatballs is an American invention and is not typically eaten in Italy.)

from husband Bill, March 9, 2026, at home

When I was a kid (preteen and teenager) in the 1970s, my parents, our neighbors, and I would chase blue crabs with spotlights and nets at night on our boat on the Great South Bay, off West Islip, Long Island, New York, where we were living.

from husband Bill, March 9, 2026, at home

Barbie made her debut on March 9, 1959.

from husband Bill, March 9, 2026, at home

Today Is ...

from husband Bill, March 8, 2026, at home

I was a journalist from September 1982 to April 2017, so I have had many jobs (newspapers, magazines, newsletters, a wire service, and websites), where proofreading has been a major part of my job descriptions. I have also edited/proofread three books: two biographies (1. Johnny Cash and 2. Whitney Houston); and a book on bankruptcy law written by my fraternity brother Mark, whom I continue to extend many thanks. I have also worked as a reporter, writer, editor, researcher, photographer, and page designer for many publications and news outlets, depending on my job descriptions at my time of employment.

from husband Bill, March 8, 2026, at home

I suppose that I like peanut clusters, but I prefer cashew clusters.

from husband Bill, March 8, 2026, at home

The second Sunday in March celebrates National I AM Day as a reminder to set time aside for daily positive affirmation and self-care.

from husband Bill, March 8, 2026, at home

Today Is ...

from husband Bill, March 7, 2026, at home

I do like pfannkuchen, flapjacks, well, pancakes, especially with chocolate chips. I also like blueberry pancakes. Musts are butter and real maple syrup.

from husband Bill, March 7, 2026, at home

My cereals of choice are Cap'n Crunch, Froot Loops, and Frosted Flakes.

from husband Bill, March 7, 2026, at home

I have often eaten crown roast. I do like it.

from husband Bill, March 7, 2026, at home

Honoring Lord Krishna (God)

March 6, 2026, at home

I created and uploaded onto my YouTube channel a very short video in honor of Lord Krishna (God). (length: 1 minute, 30 seconds) ... My religion is Gaudiya Vaishnavism (Hare Krishna), a sect of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism).

Honoring Lord Krishna (God) (March 6, 2026)

https://youtube.com/shorts/2YKn4xH3Gys?si=cec-tSE20juo3Vig

Today Is ...

from husband Bill, March 6, 2026, at home

The first rule of Dudeism is to sit back, relax, and go with the flow. That's always been me.

from husband Bill, March 6, 2026, at home

I don't particularly like cheesecake, except for when it's my Great-Aunt Laura's homemade cheesecake ... and my Mom's homemade cheesecake (using Laura's recipe). 😉😁 ... NOTE: The recipe is for a standard New York cheesecake: no chocolate.

from husband Bill, March 6, 2026, at home

I sometimes enjoy the occasional Oreo or five, but I would definitely NOT consider it to be a true chocolate cookie.

from husband Bill, March 6, 2026, at home

In an effort to knock out one of the top cancers causing death, National Dress in Blue Day on the first Friday in March encourages everyone to learn about the causes of colon cancer and raise awareness by wearing blue. I'm wearing a blue Superman T-shirt.

from husband Bill, March 6, 2026, at home