9October 3th, 2019
“Buongiorno” or “Good Morning!!!” in Italian!
Again, I am sorry for the long dissertations embedded in last weeks UJT Update. Every once and awhile I guess I have to say that kind of stuff outlaid to make sure it still makes sense to me as the context of my life changes.
This week on the 29th of September Col. Harry Shoup celebrated his birthday. Harry was the guy who invented the NORAD Santa Tracking system or phenomenon.
We have company this week. It is good to see my sister in law again. She has always been the brains of the outfit, has a big heart and always a kind and positive word for every one around her. Its always good being around people like that!
This week I learned some stuff:
• I used to walk every day for five miles. I learned last week the it is much harder to start walking and sustain it than it is to talk about it. I will try again this week!
• October 5th the 278th day of the year (only 84 days till Christmas!). In 1857 the city of Anaheim, CA was founded;: 1914 the the first airplane was shot down by another airplane in a battle; 98% of the American POWs on Wake Island were executed by the Japanese; in 1984, the Tylenol scare started when poisoned Tylenol bottle were found in Chicago; on this day in 1919 Donald Pleasance was born and on this day in 1813 Tecumseh, great Shawnee chief, leader and philosopher died.
• I learned that I should have purchased a power washer years ago!! It is so useful!!! You can use it to quickly and easily clean patio furniture, pavers, concrete, cars, garage doors and floors, windows and solar panels!! It doesn’t take much to excite me any more:)
• I learned about “preferred pronouns” this week. I think this is a new grammatical term that identifies which gender specific pronoun set (he, him and his or she, her and hers) that transgender folks would like used in reference to themselves. A smart and otherwise thoughtful man I know on Facebook posted his derision of someone he encountered with a “He, His and Him” pin. He any many other presumably smart and compassionate people found this “too much”. One of his family members took the time and had the courage to point out that TG people live under the stress of being singled out for derision every waking moment. The also suffer from horrific suicide rates. She made the point that it may seem silly or over complicated to have to adjust our speech to accommodate the preference it can have a very positive effect of making people feel more included and valued. She praised the person for wearing the pin for their courage and gently tried to influence her friends and relatives engaged in the post to look at the issue differently. I was genuinely impressed. It costs us nothing to show consideration for others. And it is easy to join in the bandwagon or be silent when such derision occurs but it takes someone with a special kind of courage to stand up to their friends and relatives and explain an alternative and perhaps terribly unpopular perspective. I found such character and bravery spectacularly commendable. So take heart that there are women of great character and grace gently leading us to a new level of inclusiveness.
Website Update:
• Last week for our “New” Vocabulary Quiz!
• Week 2 for our “New” Music Trivia Quiz
• This week I added no new recipes.
Writing, Ceramics and Painting Update:
• I have finished the Tapas painting.. eh. I am working on the old door painting now. Started working on a painting of some cool birds.
• Grandpa Stories is still not re-published.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
• Jury Duty again! It’s been a while since I have been called to jury duty. The last time I ended up in a four day sexual assault trial as foreman for our jury. It was an interesting experience. Several of us returned to hear the man’s sentencing and learned a great deal more about him in that phase.. that confirmed our guilty verdict. This time I just sat and waited and waited. I did about 4 or 5 nice watercolor sketches. Of course, I forgot to charge my iPhone and learned what a hopeless handicapped person I have become without it! I actually love the sketching and painting a great deal and hope to more of it.
Music Update:
Once again this week, I have created a very nice collection of song samples that I think celebrate life in a grand way!
Go to this week’s UJT Radio program.
• Brad Paisley – Kentucky Jelly — This boy can play his guitar!!! This one comes from his 2008 release, “Play.”
• Stephen Stills — Tree Top Flyer — I got this one from a play list my friend Randy made for me about a decade ago. It’s one of those great story songs. This one is from his “Stills Alone” released in 1991.
• Jimmy Buffett — Chanson Pour Les Petite Enfants— This wonderful little song came out in 1079 on his “Volcano” album. Jimmy has always found a way to take right there with him, feel the salt spray in your face as you come about on a magic journey.
• Bob Dylan – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – The last time I added this to the UJT playlist it was at this time in 2016. I was happy it came up again this week. This one came out in 1978 on Bob’s “Before the Flood” album. For me it was a metaphor for the era of the old west going away. The first time I heard it was watching Sam Peckinpaw’s last film, “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid”. It just blew me away. The scene in the movie was just so sad.
• Toby Keith — Baddest Boots — This one gave me a surprised smile, when it came up in my music rotation. It reminds me of a time when I got my first pair of grown up boots when I was like 16. They only made sense if you were gonna tuck your pants in or wear bell bottoms. George and I both wore bell bottoms on our skinny asses. Anyway, I like this silly song about a boy and his boots, I hope you like it too.
• Sting – Fragile — Sting’s birthday was this week!!! Happy Birthday young man!! This one is from his second solo studio album, “Nothing Like the Sun” released in 1987. Just a beautiful song done beautifully.
• Little Feat — All That You Dream — From the Vinyl!!!! This live version comes from their “Waiting for Columbus” album released in 1978. Lowell George at his best!
That’s it… Do the best you can; Laugh every chance you get; And always remember … The best is yet to come! As always, thank you for being my friend!