I do particularly like Pfeffernüsse. I am part Austrian, so they are somewhat part of my heritage. Translated from German to English, Pfeffernüsse means "pepper nuts." They are iced, spiced cookies similar to soft gingerbread. The spices shown in the photo are cinnamon/cassia, cloves, and star anise (slight licorice flavor).
December 23, 2025, at home
My heritage is: 50% Italian; 25% Portuguese; 12.5% Austrian; and 12.5% Swiss.
December 23, 2025, at home
a very short video explaining why good men are romantically unsuccessful
https://youtube.com/shorts/RyDIVZ5trA4?si=KeXcJUCTOrRduI3 December 22, 2025, at homeThis morning (December 22, 2025), I had three appointments at home: physical therapy (PT) evaluation; occupational therapy (OT) evaluation; and wound care.
I definitely require PT because I am unable to walk without a walker. I haven't been able to walk, I think, for more than two years due to many surgeries in recent years (see below).Happy Birthday to Frank Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993), one of my favorite guitarists. This video exemplifies just how amazing Zappa is as a guitarist and a composer.
https://youtu.be/wXFxwMAIBYc?si=ROqYnDfan7JKJfpIToday (December 21, 2025), my wonderful wife made two batches of Giambotta (Ciambotta). She made one batch for my mom, how she likes it: with canola oil; and smaller pieces of bell peppers, eggplant (skinless), onions, and tomatoes. My wife made the second batch how I like it: with olive oil; and larger pieces of bell peppers, eggplant (with skin), onions, and tomatoes.
I loved eating my maternal grandmother's Giambotta, when I was a kid in the 1960s and 1970s, and also as an adult. My wife definitely likes it; her mother would make something similar, but being from Canada, she didn't call it that.
Happy Birthday to Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993). I used the pumpkin background in this picture as an homage to Zappa's record label: Barking Pumpkin.
I am a huge Zappa fan. He is one of my favorite guitarists. I have many of his CDs, and, long ago, I used to collect his vinyl albums.
I do occasionally like fried shrimp, especially with shredded coconut in the batter. I haven't eaten them in quite a long time.
December 21, 2025, at home
I just wanted to tell you and to show you that I am healing quite well after my two surgeries in early November 2025. My three incisions in my legs look quite good. My left foot also looks good.
On November 4, 2025, I had artery bypass surgery that took almost six hours to complete. I had a 3-foot-long blockage in the main artery in my left leg, so two surgeons removed a 3-foot-long vein in my right leg, turned it 180 degrees, and then inserted it within my left leg to bypass my blocked artery.
I sort of like sangria (meaning blood). I haven't had in decades, and I am somewhat sure that I have only had it once, maybe twice.
December 20, 2025, at home
I don't think that I have ever been caroling, at least not in contemporary decades. I may have gone door to door with a group when I was a kid in the 1960s.
December 20, 2025, at home
Have you heard the expression "My name is mud"? Well, this is Mudd, Dr. Samuel Mudd. So, the expression is actually, "My name is Mudd." Actually, the former iteration existed before Mudd existed, according to DayCalender.com, which explains:
"After assassinating Lincoln on April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth rode with co-conspirator David Herold to Dr. Samuel Mudd’s home in the early hours of the 15th before crossing into Virginia. Mudd performed surgery on Booth's fractured leg and allowed both men to stay the night. At some point, Mudd must have learned of the assassination. However, he did not report Booth’s visit to the authorities for another 24 hours. This delay appeared to link him to the crime, as did his various changes of the story under interrogation. On April 26th, authorities arrested Mudd. A military commission found him guilty of aiding and conspiring in a murder and sentenced Mudd to life imprisonment. He escaped the death penalty by a single vote. President Andrew Johnson pardoned Mudd, and he was released from prison in 1869. Despite repeated attempts by family members and others, Mudd's conviction has never been overturned, nor has his record been expunged."
December 20, 2025, at home
I have been the quintessential underdog for my entire life so far, and I am proud to continue that tradition.
December 19, 2025, at home
I am not fond of hard candy. I believe that the day I start eating hard candy is the day I admit that I am old. (I'll be 65 in February 2026.) Notable exceptions: When I was a kid in the 1960s and 1970s, my paternal grandmother always had raspberry hard candy (large lozenges) imported from Austria; her heritage was Austrian and Swiss. I liked them, and I still do. I have found them fairly recently. In fact, I think there's an open bag of them in one of our kitchen cupboard. Also, I have been known to enjoy the occasional horehound lozenge as an herbal remedy. More recently, I have enjoyed Werther's Original caramel candies, specifically their semi-hard ones with cream filling; I don't consider them to be hard candy.
December 19, 2025, at home
I am not a fan of muffins.
December 19, 2025, at home
I do particularly like Pfeffernüsse. I am part Austrian, so they are somewhat part of my heritage. Translated from German to English, Pfeffe...
