Flaky Co-Workers

January 31, 2023

This describes my co-workers at Sears many years ago.

Happy Birthday Phil

January 31, 2023

Birthday wishes go my favorite guitarist: Phil Manzanera. He was the guitarist for the band Roxy Music (years active: 1970–1976, 1978–1983, 2001–2011). He was also the guitarist for the group The Explorers in the 1980s with fellow Roxy Music saxophonist/oboist Andy Mackay, plus Manzanera has recorded many solo albums. In this video of his live solo performance, you may recognize Ray Cooper on tambourine; he was the percussionist in Elton John's band in the 1970s.

https://youtu.be/s5JyqHWts0w

Today Is ...

January 31, 2023

Does this mean I need to be forward today?

Incorrect Scheduling

I scheduled our wedding weekend in 2006 based on: not during hurricane season here in Florida and by the proper phase of the moon based on my Hindu religion. I am not a football fan, so I didn't think to check the date of the Super Bowl. Well, it was the day after our wedding reception and the same day as our wedding brunch. Oh, well.

Bob: 15 Years Since

Today (January 30, 2023) marks the 15th anniversary of the passing of a great man: my father-in-law. He was not only down to earth but also larger than life. Here I am with my wife's parents at our wedding reception on February 4, 2006. Bob, you are sorely missed and forever in our thoughts and in our hearts.

Random Political Question

January 30, 2023

In Ireland, pepper spray is banned because it is considered to be an assault weapon. In the United States, if we ban assault rifles, can we then ban pepper spray? My answer is yes. What do you think?

What's Going On Today?

January 30, 2023

The croissant was first created in Austria, NOT France.

January 30, 2023

Bubble wrap was invented as wallpaper.

R.I.P. Bobby Hull

January 30, 2023

R.I.P. Bobby Hull

Dinner: Lasagna

January 29, 2023

My wonderful wife made lasagna for dinner: lasagna pasta, eggplant, tomato sauce, olive oil, and cheeses (ricotta, mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, asiago, and romano).

R.I.P. Floyd Sneed

January 29, 2023

R.I.P.: Floyd Chester Sneed (November 22, 1942 – January 27, 2023) was a Canadian drummer, best known for his work with the band Three Dog Night.

What's Doin' Today?

January 29, 2023

One of my favorite snacks is Doritos nacho corn chips dipped in chocolate pudding. When I was in sixth grade (1972-73; age 11 or 12), I first ate it in the cafeteria of Bayview Elementary School (West Islip, Long Island, New York) in an attempt to make two girls disgusted. They didn't care all that much, and I discovered that I really like it. I have eaten it many times over the years.

January 29, 2023

I am the quintessential curmudgeon.

Today Is ...

January 28, 2023

Chocolate Cake Day

January 27, 2023

I really don't like to eat cake, but I do like to eat chocolate frosting, frozen and right out of the tub with a spoon. (I don't do that anymore, but I will enjoy a piece of cake as long as there is more frosting than cake.)

What's Going On Today?

January 26, 2023

I like peanut brittle, but I haven't eaten it in many years.

Beef Stew

January 25, 2023

My wonderful wife made this delicious beef stew around 6 a.m. today.

What's Doin' Today?

January 25, 2023

I am a contrarian, so I suppose today I must behave in a regular way. I'm not sure that is possible for me.

January 25, 2023

I moved to Florida in May 1998.

Today Is ...

January 24, 2023

extra crunchy for me

Pie & Handwriting

January 23, 2023

Video: Mom's Birthday

January 22, 2023

Happy Birthday To My Mom (Jan. 22, 2023)

Happy Birthday To My Mom, January 22, 2023

Yesterday afternoon (January 21, 2023), my wife and I invited my mother to our home to celebrate my mother's 86th birthday a day early. We enjoyed a small charcuterie that my wife made: Saltine crackers, slices of French bread, cheeses (Brie and Swiss), ground black pepper-encrusted salami, and pitted black olives. We then enjoyed White Chocolate Raspberry Cake, cannoli, and cookies, both Italian and Linzer.

https://youtu.be/3XCYwgvMvvw

Music: Trip to the East
Musician: Alexei De Bronhe
URL: https://icons8.com/music/

What's Going On Today?

January 22, 2023

Today would have been the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. About six months ago, we were blessed with its repeal. I am happy to be living in a post-Roe country.

Me As Superman

January 21, 2023

My wife took this photo of myself this afternoon at our home during a day-early birthday celebration for my mother. I am using it as my Facebook profile photo; as my YouTube channel profile photo; as my Google profile photo; and as my profile photo and my main photo on my personal blog. (I cropped out some of the blank space at the top of the photo.)

My wife gave me for Christmas two Superman T-shirts: one charcoal-colored and one blue (her idea). The company accidentally sent her two more Superman T-shirts, a black one and another blue one, but the black T-shirt unfortunately is too small for me.

My wife now (sometimes) refers to me as Superman because I survived seven-hour-long, quadruple coronary artery bypass surgery in March 2022, plus TWO chest reconstructive surgeries about a week apart in May 2022. I relate more to Superman's alter-ego Clark Kent because I was a journalist from 1982 to 2017.

In this photo, you can see the two-inch-long scar in my left thigh from where my heart surgeon removed part of a main vein to use during the surgery on my heart; four segments were used. (I also have an inch-wide, eight-inch-long, vertical scar in the middle of my chest from my lower neck to my upper belly from all three surgeries, plus a purposely broken sternum within my chest.)

Late last year, I purchased an Army green T-shirt with the words in a crest on the front: "Quadruple Bypass Survivor/Official Member/Open Heart Surgery."

This afternoon, my wife and I invited my mother to our home to celebrate my mom's birthday a day early. We enjoyed White Chocolate Raspberry Cake, cannoli, and cookies, both Italian and Linzer. Prior, we enjoyed a small charcuterie that my wife made: cheeses (Brie and Swiss), black pepper-encrusted salami, Saltine crackers, slices of French bread, and pitted black olives.

Birthday Party For My Mom

January 21, 2023

My wife and I invited my mother to our home this afternoon to celebrate my mom's birthday a day early. We enjoyed White Chocolate Raspberry Cake, cannoli, and cookies, both Italian and Linzer. Prior, we enjoyed a small charcuterie that my wife made: cheeses (Brie and Swiss), black pepper-encrusted salami, Saltine crackers, slices of French bread, and pitted black olives.

What's Doin' Today?

January 21, 2023

I like fruitcake.

Today Is ...

January 20, 2023

I like many cheeses, but (I think) my favorite cheese is Leyden, which is similar to Gouda cheese but contains whole cumin seeds and whole caraway seeds.

January 20, 2023

Dan Ingram was my favorite disc jockey on "WABC Musicradio 77" (770 AM) which broadcast from New York City when I was growing up on Long Island in the 1960s and 1970s. The station began broadcasting Top 40 hits on December 7, 1960, less than three months before I was born, and switched to a news-and-talk format on May 10, 1982. After that, Ingram went to WCBS (101.1 FM), which was an oldies music station, to which I also listened. He retired in 2013. Ingram and the other DJs on WABC, including Harry Harrison, Bruce Morrow ("Cousin Brucie"), Ron Lundy (another favorite of mine), and Johnny Donovan, provided the soundtrack to my early life, especially during those many hot summers on the beach at Robert Moses State Park, either Field 4 or Field 5. Here is a link to part of his broadcast on April 19, 1973, when I was 12 years old. (The songs in this clip have been removed.) Around that time, I would record my favorite songs off a clock radio tuned to WABC in my room with my portable cassette tape recorder by holding the microphone close but not too close to the speaker.

https://youtu.be/OJKSm99cE58

January 20, 2023

I like buttercrunch, but I prefer it covered with chocolate.

R.I.P. David Crosby

January 19, 2023

R.I.P. David Crosby

What's Going On Today?

January 19, 2023

I rather like quark, although I don't often eat it. I also like popcorn.

What's Doin' Today?

January 18, 2023

One of my favorite books is "The Tao of Pooh" by Benjamin Hoff. (Tao is pronounced "dow.") Taoism is a Chinese philosophy/religion that emphasizes living in harmony with the universe. It also teaches that one doesn't have to label oneself as anything. One can just be (just exist). Pooh is an example of Taoism. Hoff writes from the perspective of himself, an author writing a book, but as if Pooh were sitting on his desk. He and Pooh have a conversation about Taoism. Hoff also wrote the book "The Te of Piglet" which explains the concept that there is power in being small.

January 18, 2023

I have eaten many ducks, but I don't ever remember eating it in this style.

Power Back On

January 17, 2023, 10 p.m.

Our electricity is back on after being out since around 3:30 p.m. today.

Power Outage

January 17, 2023

The electricity is out here at our home in southeastern Florida. You know, with all of the hurricanes in this area, there are still more power outages unrelated than related to weather conditions. We do have a fair amount of iguanas getting fried when they blow up electrical transformers.

Today Is ...

January 17, 2023

R.I.P. Gina

January 16, 2023

R.I.P. Luigia "Gina" Lollobrigida, 95

What's Goin' On Today?

January 16, 2023

Pork Chops For Dinner

January 15, 2023

For dinner, my wonderful wife made baked pork chops with gravy; mashed sweet potatoes; stuffing; and red cabbage.

What's Doin' Today?

January 15, 2023

I used to wear a Fedora in the 1980s with bright argyle socks and brown bucks (shoes). I still like to wear argyle socks, but these days with subdued colors.

I purchased a Stetson hat in the late 1980s from a haberdasher in Fayette, Missouri; I wrote a story about him for a newspaper in mid-Missouri.

I also had two Alpine hats that I purchased in Austria and an Australian Outback hat that I purchased in Florida, all of which I lost en route from New Jersey to Florida in 1998 when I moved to southeast Florida. I put them on the roof of my car at a gas station and just drove off.

I now sometimes wear my brown hat partially made of hemp from a Roots store in Ontario.

I also have various baseball-style caps; my favorite is one with Pepé Le Pew, my favorite cartoon character. I also like my New York Islanders hat.

Oh, yeah. When I was a kid in the 1960s, a Greek friend gave me a blue hat with a long yellow tassel. Around that time, I had a sombrero that my parents purchased for me on a family trip to Mexico.

January 15, 2023

I quite dislike strawberries.

January 15, 2023

I prefer sesame seed bagels. Actually, I prefer bialys to bagels.