February 27th, 2020
“안녕하십니까 (annyeong hashimnikka)!” or “Good Morning” in Korean, spoken in both North and South Korea.
I hope everyone had a great Mardi Gras this year. Hope every one got your fix of Zydeco music and cajun cooking? Oh my!! Da Gumbo Cher!
Well, the fence section was replaced with the help of Jessica and BJ(needing their help was another reminder of how I have lost my super powers!). During the installation process we discovered that one of the posts had rotted below the cement that anchored it and broke off when we installed the new, “not rotted, stronger fence section. Ah well, shit! We fixed it up and I decided that new repair was a project for another day. Walking by my cute little (but aged) potting table where I used to do all my Bonsai maintenance, I noticed how decrepit (or decrepid, if you were born in the 1950s) it had become. All the paint is peeling and worse yet the legs are all wobbly. So a new project is born!
This week I learned some stuff:
• It seems I am not the only one who has had bad weeks. I thank every one who sent encouragement my way. It helped a lot! Like the song says, “With a little help from my friends…” Thank you!
• February 27th is the 58th day of the year (leaving only 303 days till Christmas!). On this day in 1782, the British House of Commons votes against further war with America; In 1801, the District of Columbia is placed under the jurisdiction of Congress – no one is sure what the district did to deserve such a heinous punishment; Today in 1900, the British Labor Party was founded; In 1951, the 22nd Amendment is ratified, limiting presidents to two terms; on this day in 1807, American Poet and educator, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born; Hugo Black, lawyer, politician and Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court was born in1886; in 1887 Uncle Charley from, “My Three Sons” (aka William Demerest) was born;”Kelly” Johnson, engineer and co-founder of’ Skunk Works, which gave the US designs for the super sonic U2, Blackbird and numerous other aircraft in 1910; Today was American Actress and humanitarian, Elizabeth Taylor’s birthday in 1932; Johnny Van Zant, lead vocalist for Lynyrd Skynyrd was born today in 1960; On this day in 1892, Louis Vuitton, French fashion designer and business man passed; We lost Lilian Gish American actress from silent films on this day 1993; Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Andrew Markinson, USMC, from “A Few Good Men” (aka. James T. Walsh) American actor passed away today in 1998.
Website Update:
• A new Vocabulary Quiz. YEAHHH – The crowd goes wild!
• Last week for the “New” Trivia Quiz
• I didn’t get to the Green Spaghetti the week. But I did manage to create some new dishes this week. Thai Caprese Salad and a really nice Grilled Miso-Ginger Salmon and Bok Choy. I am NOT a salmon guy but this dish was good! I worked up my own version of Gumbo to celebrate Fat Tuesday this year and it was wonderful! …. Iffn, I do say so myself!
Writing, Ceramics and Painting Update:
• I am sort of finished with the Smudge pot painting (Sort of not happy with it but cannot think of anything that will fix it!) and made some progress on Chris Spain’s amazing image of some birds in a birdbath. Still assembling the VW Bus (Urge II image for the totem and have started the glazing of the Jacaranda Tree topper in ceramics.
• Grandpa Stories is still not re-published.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
• A Facebook friend had to put her old doggy down this week(RIP Crosby!). For me, taking my beloved pet to thier last veterinary procedure is one of the toughest acts I have had to perform in my long life. I know, in my head, that letting my old friend just drift off into sweet doggy sleep is much kinder that watching the certain decline and pain associated with not helping. But none of that helps much when you are blinking tears as your little furry friend is looking up at you for the last time. My heart goes out to any pet parent who has said goodbye this way.
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:
• The Subdudes — All the Time in the Word — This is a live cut that reminds me so much of the great “Fat Man in the Bathtub” era of Little Feat performances. This one from their “Live at the Rams Head” released in 2008.
• Jean-Luc Ponty — Gardens of Babalon — I hope you don’t get whiplash from the sudden change in genre but this is perhaps the most versatile and talented “fiddle” player that you probably never heard of. He was discovered by Frank Zappa a million or so years ago. This one is from his 1977 solo release, “Imaginary Voyage” album.
• Paul Simon – Still Crazy After All These Years — This song stole my heart from the first time I heard it. The title cut from Paul’s fourth solo album released in 1975.
• The Doobie Brothers — Listen to the Music — From the Vinyl !!!! This comes from their “Toulouse Street” album and was their first big hit in 1972
• John Denver – Rocky Mountain High – This song invaded my soul as the title cut from his sixth album released in 1972. Growing up in flat-assed Florida, I knew a lot more about lobster and Snook than I did mountains. But when John sang this one, I was right there. feeling those cool mountain breezes and those unbelievable beautiful sights just like I had always been there.
• Bob Seger and the Silverbullet Band – Her Strut — Speaking of wonderful musical imagery, this one comes from their “Against the Wind” album released in 1980. Bob said that the song was inspired by Jane Fonda’s appearance before the Campaign for Economic Democracies. He said he admired her crust for standing up like that.
• Sting — Desert Rose — This one is a truly beautiful song from his, “Brand New Day” album release in 1999. This is a wonderful example of Sting’s experimenting with a multitude of sounds and cultures.
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!