March 2nd, 2023
“ Dobroho ranku”, or “Good Morning!” in Ukrainian, an Eastern Slavic language spoken mainly in Ukraine. I have decided that the UJT will remain focused on Ukraine until we can all rejoice in the end of hostilities. It has been 371 days since Russia invaded Ukraine.
This week I learned some stuff:
- The Prostate Adventure continues. Counting down to my last treatment this Friday. I am not sure what to expect afterward but will talk to the doctor on Wednesday.
- Murphy is continuing to get his mind around being in our family. At the moment he is fixated on Jessica and feels abandoned every time she leaves the room or house. Lots of whining and stress for the little guy. We are investigating doggy college so he can stop being so anxious and learn basic commands. We will see.
- I wish to make a public service announcement! Almost 19 million Americans have early stage Macular Degeneration (sometimes called AMD) and almost 2 million have late stage AMD which means that they are visually impaired. It is much better to find and treat macular degeneration before you are blind in one eye as I am. There is a simple, fast, easy test that we should all do every month. The link to the Amsler Grid is here. This is not a replacement for regular eye exams.
• March 2nd is the 61st day of 2023! Just 306 days till Christmas! Today in 1807, the U.S. Congress passes the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves, disallowing the importation of new slaves into the country. Before we feel al proud of that fact, we should remember that by 1807, many slave owners in the south were making more money breeding and selling human beings than from their farming. So in a sense, all this law did was eliminate foreign sources of competition; United States Steel Corporation is founded as a result of a merger between Carnegie Steel Company and Federal Steel Company which became the first corporation in the world with a market capitalization over $1 billion today in 1901; On that same day, but in 1903, in New York City the Martha Washington Hotel opens, becoming the first hotel exclusively for women; Today in 1937, the Steel Workers Organizing Committee signs a collective bargaining agreement with U.S. Steel, leading to unionization of the United States steel industry: U.S. In Toulouse, France, the first test flight of the Anglo-French Concorde is conducted today in 1969; Today in 1978, the late iconic actor Charlie Chaplin’s coffin is stolen from his grave in Switzerland; Today in 1983, Compact discs and players are released for the first time in the United States and other markets. They had previously been available only in Japan; The elements Moscovium, Tennessine, and Oganesson are officially added to the periodic table at a conference in Moscow, Russia today in 2017; Sam Houston, American soldier and politician, 1st President of the Republic of Texas today in 1793; Also born today but in 1930,Tom Wolfe, American journalist and author; Mikhail Gorbachev, Russian lawyer and politician, the 8th and final leader of the Soviet Union, Nobel Prize laureate was also born today in 1931: Lou Reed, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor was born today in 1942; Today in 1948, Larry Carlton, American guitarist and songwriter was born; Rory Gallagher, Irish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer was born on the same day;Karen Carpenter, American singer was born today in 1950; Jon Bon Jovi, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor was born today in 1960; Howard Carter, English archaeologist that found King Tut and historian passed away today in 1932; George E. Stewart, American colonel, Medal of Honor recipient died today in 1946; Randolph Scott, American actor and director passed away today 1987; Today in 1992, Sandy Dennis, American actress; Dusty Springfield, English singer pass away today in 1999; And lastly, Winston Churchill, English journalist and politician passed away today in 2010.
This week’s Website Update:
• A new Vocabulary Quiz !!!!
• Week 2 for our Musical Trivia Quiz
• This week I didn’t do a lot of cooking,,, we had a pizza night and a leftover night. I made a new pasta salad but while filling it really wasn’t very memorable.
• The Home Page quote for this week is from another really smart guy Michelangelo, “The problem with human beings is not that we aim too hight and fail but that we aim too low and succeed”.
Writing, Ceramics, Bonsai Trees, Stained Glass, and Painting Update:
• No change this week – My energy levels, creative juices, and generally my “Get Up and Go” just got up and went this week. I will try to do better.
• I am continuing my streak of slacking off on the paper edits of Grandpa Stories. I just haven’t carved out any time for more chapters.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
I really am in a strange place in my head. Being tired and lackadaisical most every day is a very foreign state of being for me. I usually have a rather long list of things I am working on that I add to most every day but I also cross off on a regular basis. Well, virtually all projects have stopped and my main pastime seems to be watching the tube and trying to nap in the afternoons. The UJT Updates still are going out but my proofreading is ever more slipshod that its already relatively marginal performance. Trust me. I am not whining. I know that there are so many worse things that could be happening to me and perhaps someday will but it is an adjustment for me. I am told this stuff will pass but it won’t be the day after I finish my radiation. Whenever it comes, it will not be too soon. I have miles to go before I sleep….
Music Update:
A couple of UJT Updates ago, I listed the six songs I had selected for that week and then completely failed to update the site with the new songs. I am sorry. The songs were worthy, but delivery was not. I will put them on when I can. Last week the Peter Gabriel song was from that last. This week are a couple more.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
• Eric Clapton — Spiral — This one is from his“ I Still Do” released in 2016. This is a musician’s lament that reminds me so much of my friend George Gomez. To me, Eric’s lyrics, guitar and voice all resonate with my memories of listening to George play.
• Molly Hatchet — Flirtin’ With Disaster — This is the song from their second album echoing across time to us from 1979. I don’t remember ever hearing another song from these boys but I sure did love air guitar-ing my ass off to this one:) One of those great singing-to-the-steering wheel road trip songs.
• Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – The Long Journey – Probably two of the best vocalists running around loose today somehow found each other for this wonderful duet album, “Raising Sand” released in 2007. This song was written by Rose Lees Watson with her husband Doc providing the music surrounding it. The story is that she was sweeping up the house one day thinking about all the people she had loved who had passed on. The original title was, “Your Lone Journey” and she said it was especially comforting to her when her own son, Merle, passed away. Here is a link to hear Rose Lee and Doc’s version. Rose Lee and Doc’s version was released on “Doc Watson and His Family” in 1963 and has been covered many times since..
• Jeff Beck — Morning Dew — This old blues song introduced me to both Jeff and his frontman, Rod Stewart. This comes from one of the all-time great records released in 1968. This was his debut album!
• Matchbox Twenty — English Town — This is a deep cut from their wonderful album, ”North” released in 2012.
• Men At Work- It’s a Mistake – Another Colin Hay tight song for you all. I just love the guitar work on this song! This one comes to us from their album, “Cargo” released in 1991.
That’s it… Do the best you can; Laugh every chance you get; Always remember… The best is yet to come! As always, thank you for being my friend!