February 20th, 2020
“Ыра кун пултӑр (Yra kun pultăr)!” or “Good Morning” in Chuvash, a Turkic language spoken mainly in the Chuvash Republic, a part of the Russian Federation.
During the backyard grilling project, I became aware that one section of fence was just about falling down and that my wisteria needed pruning so I took on those projects this week. I filled a huge yard waste can full of wisteria cuttings! I got some quotes for the fence repair but found them to be exorbitant so I decided to do the work on my own. I am sure it will take longer but I think I can save my neighbor and I a lot of money.
This week I learned some stuff:
• Have you ever had just a bad week? There is no particular reason for it but maybe just a lot of little aggravations that sum up to a bad week. I don’t have them very often but I just couldn’t seem to find my bootstraps to pull them up.
• February 20th is the 51st day of the year (leaving only 310 days till Christmas!). On this day in 1792, President George Washington signed the act establishing the United States Postal Service (some are still waiting for their copy:) ; In 1816, the Rossini opera, “The Barber of Seville” premiered in Teatro Argentina in Rome. Of course, it didn’t become popular in the US until Woody Woodpecker (Walter Lanz in 1944) and Bugs Bunny (Warner Bros in 1957) performed their versions; Today in 1877, Tchaikovsky’s ballet “Swan Lake” receives its premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow; In 1962, While aboard Friendship 7, John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the earth, making three orbits in four hours, 55 minutes; on this day in 1902, Ansel Adams, American photographer and environmentalist was born; Roy Cohn, infamous American lawyer, Council for Senator Joseph McCarthy and also Donald Trump’s attorney from 1973-85; in 1927 Sidney Poitier, Bahamian-American actor, director, and diplomat; Mitch McConnell, American lawyer, and politician in 1942; Today was J. Geils’, American singer-songwriter and guitarist birthday; On this day in 1895, Frederick Douglass, American author and activist passed; We lost Chester W. Nimitz, American admiral on this day 1966; Hunter S. Thompson, American journalist and author passed away today in 2005.
Website Update:
• Last week for the Vocabulary Quiz.
• Week 2 for the “New” Trivia Quiz
• I tried a couple of new recipes from Jamie Oliver’s 5 ingredients series – a messy meatball sandwich that was pretty good. I also am going to try some green spaghetti that is actually good for you ,,, well sort of but it is green! I included the messy meatball sandwich on the UJT this week but probably won’t do the green spaghetti until next week.
Writing, Ceramics and Painting Update:
• Painted a Valentines Day card that seemed to come out well. Working on a Smudge pot painting and going to start a new image from Chris Spain of some birds in a birdbath. The work proceeds on the totem in ceramics.
• Grandpa Stories is still not re-published.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
• I seem to be less resilient and I certainly do not have the stamina that I once did. I don’t let it bother me too much but this week presented me with some pretty graphic reminders of my old guy “slippage”. I am not ready to throw in the towel and completely veg out with my drool bucket but I have lived a life looking forward to each moment and not regretting the last one. Waking up with a winced view of the coming day is not something I am used to nor want to get used to. I know that everyone goes through their biorhythm undulations and this too shall pass but its a very weird thing for me.
Music Update:
Another tiptoe though the archives to share some things you might missed or never have heard or at least not heard recently.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
• Jude Cole — Speed of Life — Every time I listen to one of Jude’s songs I am more impressed with him as a song writer.
• Zephyr — Sold My Heart — From the Vinyl!!! This was a great band out of Colorado that included a teenaged Tommy Bolin on guitar and Candy Givens on piano and vocals. I loved every song they played. They are both gone now but their music lives on.
• Sheryl Crowe – Chances Are — This is a really special song that is well written and performed. …”We were apes before we spoke of sin…” This is another great cut from her “Wildflower” album released in 2005. No! It’s not a cover of Johnny Mathis’ song!!!
• Grateful Dead — West LA Fadeaway — From the Vinyl!!!! This is a deep cut from their iconic, 1987 release, “In the Dark”. Jerry’s vocals, guitar and the the percussion interplay is mesmerizing on this song.
• Teitur – Let the Dog Drive Home – The title cut from his 2010 album. Even the title makes me smile.
• Brad Paisley – Kim — This is wonderful instrumental by this gifted guitarist. This one is from his 2008 release, “Play”/
• Sarah Jorosz — Take Me Back — This song comes from her 2016 release, “Undercurrent”. This lady just pulls me into her songs and makes me feel them so deeply. I also love the guitar work on this cut.
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!