Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner

October 13, 2024, at home

In celebration of Canadian Thanksgiving (a day early), my wonderful wife created this delicious dinner: stuffed turkey roll ups; extra stuffing with dried cranberries; mashed potatoes sprinkled with paprika; extra gravy; cranberry sauce; white shoepeg corn; and green peas.

UPDATE: My wife is from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, so we celebrate both Thanksgivings.

Today Is ...

October 13, 2024, at home

Today is the U.S. Navy's 249th birthday (founded in 1775).

My father retired at the rank of Commander after serving for twenty-two (22) years in the U.S. Navy, both on active duty and in the reserves. My mother worked for the U.S. Navy as a civilian.

My dad was stationed in Hawaii in and around 1958. A few years before that, he served aboard a Navy ship, transporting displaced persons (delayed pilgrims, as he called them) multiple times from Bremerhaven, Germany, to New York City after World War II.

After his death in 1997 at age 62, some of his ashes were scattered from a Navy ship into the North Atlantic Ocean, where he spent much of his time in the Navy. The rest of his ashes were interred at Breslau Cemetery in Lindenhurst, Long Island, New York. (Lindenhurst was formerly named Breslau after the city in Germany.)

October 13, 2024, at home

When I was a kid in the 1960s and 1970s, my mom made a version of Yorkshire Pudding but without the gravy. They are called Popovers, and we ate them with lots of butter. My wife, who is from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, has made Yorkshire Pudding for me.

Today Is ...

October 12, 2024, at home

The oldest book that I own is "The Art of Thinking" by T. Sharper Knowlson. It was printed in 1899. I posted a photo of this book in the comment section below.

Pulaski & Sausage Pizza

October 11, 2024, at home

Zucchini Bread

October 11, 2024, at home

This morning, my wonderful wife made this loaf of zucchini bread with chocolate chips, apple sauce, and walnuts.

Today Is ...

October 10, 2024, at home

I don't like cake, but I do like frosting.

Happy Birthday JL

October 9, 2024, at home

Happy Birthday to John Lennon (October 9, 1940 - December 8, 1980)

Today Is ...

October 9, 2024, at home

I do particularly like moldy, stinky cheeses.

October 9, 2024, at home

I am 100-percent pro-life.

Hurricane Milton

Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at home

It appears that we will probably be OK as Hurricane Milton rumbles through. Here is an update from around 7:45 p.m. today. My wife and I, and my mom about a mile away, live at the blue dot.

Hurricane Movement

October 8, 2024, at home

The guy on The Weather Channel was funny, but he didn't mean to be. He said Tampa was going to get hit hard because Tampa was in line with the center of the hurricane, and south of Tampa won't get hit as hard. He then said, "If the hurricane moves south, Tampa won't get hit as hard, but south of Tampa would get hit harder." 😆😆😆 ... Well, duh.

Fluffernutters & Pierogis

October 8, 2024, at home

As a young kid in the 1960s into the 1970s, I loved eating Fluffernutter sandwiches. I haven't eaten one in probably decades.

October 8, 2024, at home

I do enjoy eating pierogis.

LED

Today (October 7, 2024) is "National LED Light Day," so this is my excuse for sharing with you a magazine article I wrote about ... LED lighting.

This link will take you to scans of my two-page article, plus the contents page and the cover of the magazine issue in which my article appears. Just click/tap on each scan to enlarge it. By the way, I also took the three photos that accompany my article.

Click/Tap on this link, then on the headline of the second article (LED), and then on each page to see a larger version. If you wish, you can do the same for the other three articles.

https://williamsantoswritingsamples.blogspot.com/?m=1

I conducted all of the interviews for my article (and took the photos) at our three-day annual trade show in Las Vegas in February 2016, where more than 750 companies from around the world exhibited their products on 715,000 square feet of a convention center. I was also able to spend a little time with my childhood best friend Bryan who lives in Vegas.

I scanned my lighting article, along with three other articles I wrote, when I was editing and writing for "Retail Environments" magazine, as well as "Shop! Insider" magazine. Using a blog program, I uploaded all four of my articles online for the purpose of job hunting.

From February 2016 to February 2017, I was the Associate Editor for "Shop!," an international nonprofit association that represents manufacturers of components for retail store displays, specifically lighting, shelving, flooring, showcases, graphics, mannequins, etc. I worked at the office in Hollywood, Florida. The main office is in Chicago. (I had to leave this job for medical reasons.)

My duties consisted of editing and writing for the association's two magazines, which alternated every month, plus editing and writing for our news website. I also edited statistical reports, white papers, and directories.

Shop! resulted from the merging of two international nonprofit associations: A.R.E. (Association for Retail Environments) and POPAI (Point Of Purchase Advertising International).

Today Is ...

October 7, 2024, at home

I do like chocolate-covered pretzels.

October 7, 2024, at home

As Hank Hill says: "I sell propane and propane accessories."

October 7, 2024, at home

Worldwide, more women than men are human/sex traffickers, meaning more women than men are the actual perpetrators, not the victims.

Baked Rigatoni

October 6, 2024, at home

My wonderful wife made Baked Rigatoni for dinner and beyond. (Today is National Noodle Day.)

1st Anniversary of Spinal Surgery

October 6, 2024, at home

Today is the one-year anniversary of my second of two spinal surgeries in 2023. I am still unable to walk without support from a frame walker. My thighs are still numb from that surgery. I had a titanium metal rod installed to hold my spine together due to osteomyelitis (bone infection). My first spinal surgery about a month earlier was to remove an infection in one of my spinal disks.

Today Is ...

October 6, 2024, at home

My October 6, 2024, at home

My favorite pasta is bucatini. (maternal Italian side of my family)

When I was a kid in the 1960s and 1970s, my paternal grandmother (Swiss-Austrian) made cooked elbow macaroni mixed with breadcrumbs that were fried in melted butter. We called it "Noodles & Crumbs." pasta is bucatini. (maternal Italian side of my family)

When I was a kid in the 1960s and 1970s, my paternal grandmother (Swiss-Austrian) made cooked elbow macaroni mixed with breadcrumbs that were fried in melted butter. We called it "Noodles & Crumbs."

Apple Betty & Get Funky

October 5, 2024, at home

I have eaten Apple Betty before, and I liked it.

Today Is ...

 October 4, 2024, at home

In July 1981, when I was 20 years old, I was a golf instructor / counselor-in-training at a famous 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 this golf school / camp almost every summer from age 11 in 1972 to age 19 in 1980. I was granted special permission to attend as a "camper" when I was 19 years old.

During July 1981, I had the honor of playing a round with touring / teaching pro Pat McGowan, who at the time was the boyfriend (future husband) of the daughter of the camp / school / lodge 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 while at camp, I eagled the par four 18th hole at the course there. 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, it had dropped into the hole.

I got a hole-in-one during the spring of 1980 while at prep school in northern Massachusetts. The hole was about 135 yards. I wrapped a pitching wedge around my neck from hitting it so hard. The ball landed on the front of the green and rolled into the hole.

Also during the spring of 1980, I shot my best score ever with an 80, but if I bend the rules a little, I shot a 79. I was playing in a tournament with a shotgun start. I started on the 18th hole and played through the 17th hole, shooting an 80. I then played the 18th hole again and shot one better. So, legally for the tournament, I shot 80, but I shot 79 for the last 18 holes that I played that day.

October 4, 2024, at home

I avoid vodka because it gives me a wicked hangover. My alcoholic beverage of choice is Campari and orange juice over ice and in a short glass.

National Boyfriend Day

October 3, 2024, at home

All men want is respect and peace.

Today Is ...

October 2, 2024, at home

In the 1960s and 1970s, to and from school, I either took the bus or I walked with Andy Flower, the neighbor kid who was a year older than me and constantly talked about the weather in semi-technical terms. He was so proud to have been born in the 1950s: December 31, 1959. LOL 😆

October 2, 2024, at home

Misting is a good idea, but supermarkets do it to earn ("steal") extra money by adding water weight to the produce. Before you put any produce in those plastic bags, be sure to shake off the water so that you aren't paying for (too much) water.

October 2, 2024, at home

I have never named any of my many cars that I have had over the decades. However, in the 1960s, my mother named her white Chevy Malibu "Betsy." Her father long ago named his car "Bessie." Have you named any of your cars?

October 2, 2024, at home

These are Smarties in the United States: chalky and fruity. Smarties in Canada (and elsewhere) are similar to m&m's: candy-coated bits of chocolate.

October 2, 2024, at home

I haven't eaten scallops in a long while. Be careful. Often, the larger ocean scallops that are the same size are just punched out of manta rays. Bay scallops are smaller and tastier.

Soul Mates

October 1, 2024, at home

Soul mates can be anyone ... or even dogs. It has nothing to do with sex or attraction or even love. If you have found your kindred spirit, that's your soul mate. You can have many soul mates. It's about a strong connection with someone.

October Observances

October 1, 2024, at home

October Observances

As per my personal Facebook tradition, every October 1, I post the national observances for October. My list below is from www.nationaldaycalendar.com. (I have omitted several entries in an effort to shorten my list, but I don't think that I achieved my goal.) I used to post a different picture from the list every day during October, but I have decided to just continue to post my usual daily observances and to not post the October monthly observances every day because I just posted them here and because it would produced too much clutter on my Facebook wall. Perhaps, I will repost my list a few more times during the month.

Here is my "shortened" list for October:

• National Economic Education Month
• Adopt A Shelter Dog Month
• Antidepressant Death Awareness Month
• Bat Appreciation Month
• Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month
• Celebrating The Bilingual Child Month
• Christmas Seal Campaign (10/1-12/31)
• Church Library Month
• Church Safety and Security Month
• Co-op Month
• Down Syndrome Awareness Month
• Dyslexia Awareness Month
• Eat Better, Eat Together Month
• Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month
• Emotional Wellness Month
• Employee Ownership Month
• Financial Planning Month
• German-American Heritage Month
• Global Diversity Awareness Month
• Halloween Safety Month
• Head Start Awareness Month
• Health Literacy Month
• Home Eye Safety Month
• Italian-American Heritage Month
• International Walk To School Month
• Long-Term Care Planning Month
• National ADD/ADHD Awareness Month
• National Animal Safety and Protection Month
• National Apple Month
• National Applejack Month
• National Arts & Humanities Month
• National Audiology Awareness Month
• National Bake and Decorate Month
• National Book Month
• National Bullying Prevention Month
• National Caramel Month
• National Chili Month
• National Chiropractic Month
• National Cookbook Month
• National Cookie Month
• National Crime Prevention Month
• National Critical Illness Awareness Month
• National Cyber Security Awareness Month
• National Dental Hygiene Month
• National Dessert Month
• National Disability Employment Awareness Month
• National Depression Education & Awareness Month
• National Dropout Prevention Month
• National Dwarfism Awareness Month
• National Ergonomics Month
• National Fair Trade Month
• National Fire Prevention Month
• National Go On A Field Trip Month
• National I’m Just Me Because Month
• National Kitchen & Bath Month
• National Learning and Development Month
• National Liver Awareness Month
• National Medical Librarian Month
• National Orthodontic Health Month
• National Pasta Month
• National Pet CBD Month
• National Physical Therapy Month
• National Pickled Peppers Month
• National Pizza Month
• National Popcorn Poppin’ Month
• National Pork Month
• National Pretzel Month
• National Principals Month
• National Protect Your Hearing Month
• National Reading Group Month
• National Roller Skating Month
• National RSV Awareness Month
• National Sarcastic Awareness Month
• National Sausage Month
• National Seafood Month
• National Sensory Awareness Month
• National Spina Bifida Awareness Month
• National Stamp Collecting Month
• National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month
• National Toilet Tank Repair Month
• National Window Covering Safety Month
• Organize Your Medical Information Month
• Pear and Pineapple Month
• Photographer Appreciation Month
• Polish American Heritage Month
• Positive Attitude Month
• Raptor Month
• Rhizomes and Persimmons Month
• Rhubarb Month
• Right Brainers Rule! Month
• Self-Promotion Month
• Spinach Lovers Month
• Squirrel Awareness Month (Different Than Squirrel Appreciation Day in January)
• Tackling Hunger Month
• Talk About Prescriptions Month
• Vegetarian Month
• Wishbones for Pets Month (10/15 - 11/30)
• Workplace Politics Awareness Month
• World Blindness Awareness Month

Pink

October 1, 2024, at home

October 1, 2024, at home

Need I say more? No.

October 1, 2024, at home

"Black Dog" is my favorite Led Zeppelin song.

https://youtu.be/yBuub4Xe1mw?si=4JZ5pVUvn8IawVMO

October 1, 2024, at home

I do sometimes imbibe warm sake. I haven't in a while.

Italian Heritage Month

October 1, 2024, at home

I am celebrating my Italian heritage during the month of October.

I am 1/2 Italian, plus 1/4 Portuguese, 1/8 Austrian, and 1/8 Swiss.