September 16th, 2021
“Buorre Idit”, or “Good Morning!” iin Northern Sámi, a Western Sámi language spoken in parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland..
For me it has been a sad week of remembering. Between the commemorative specials and my own recollections, I spent much of the week of 09/11/2021 as I spent the same week 20 years earlier – Innocent – Furious – Outraged – Horrified – Helpless then Defiant – Hopeful and finally, Proud. My cheeks were wet with tears and my heart was filled with impotent rage. And then I remembered what happened on 9/12. We finally found a reason to stop bickering, blaming and bitching about each other! We pulled together, bought stocks, displayed signs and donated money to the fallen, as we watched our world change before out eyes.
This week we made real progress in our endeavors to recover our beautiful yard from the ravages of time. Our pavers are all level and reset. The front yard grass is so green it kind of hurts your eyes to look at it. We replaced our sprinkler heads to the newest, most water stingy versions. We are using drip irrigation for our plants. In the back, our poor Wisteria has been pruned extensively. For the first time in years I can actually see the wood on the top of the arbor. The pond has been cleaned and the new filtration is keeping the water crystal clear. Our koi appear delirious with joy. My pond guy told me that we have too many koi for our sized pond, so I contacted a Koi Re-homing guy to help us find good homes for our extra fish. We also cut down the big red grasses that were contributing most of the debris since the wisteria is not bald! Yet to come is replacing all the of the backyard sprinklers, re-soding, pruning the Crepe Myrtle and mulching all the newly formed flower beds in front and back. My landscaping guy has some addition planting ideas for our next project.
This week I learned some stuff:
• I should not whine about my periodic stroll down colonoscopy lane. This week I met a guy who has to do it every month to keep his doctors from removing his large intestine and fitting him with a colostomy bag.
• September 16th is the 259th day of 2021. Just 100 days till Christmas! Today in 1893, settlers make a land run for prime land in the Cherokee Strip in Oklahoma; Today in 1908, the General Motors Corporation is founded; Today in 1955, a Soviet Zulu-class submarine becomes the first to launch a ballistic missile; The first successful photocopier, the Xerox 914, is demonstrated on live television from New York City on this day in 1959; Today in 1961, Pakistan establishes its Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission with Abdus Salam as its head;Today in 1970, King Hussein of Jordan declares war against the Palestine Liberation Organization, the conflict came to be known as Black September; Eight people escape from East Germany to the west in a homemade hot air balloon on this day in 1979; Today in 1992, the trial of the deposed Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega ends in the United States with a 40-year sentence for drug trafficking and money laundering;Security guards working for Blackwater Worldwide shoot and kill 17 Iraqis in Nisour Square, Baghdad on this day in 2007; Miriam Benjamin, African-American educator and inventor was born today in 1861; James Cash Penney, American businessman and philanthropist, founded J. C. Penney was born on this day in 1875; W. O. Bentley, English race car driver and engineer, founded Bentley Motors Limited was born today in 1888; Today in 1898, H. A. Rey, American author and illustrator, co-created Curious George was born; Allen Funt, creator and host of Candid Camera, director, producer, and screenwriter was born today in 1914; Lauren Bacall, American actress was born today in 1924; Today in 1925, B.B. King, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer was born; Bernie Calvert, English bass player and keyboard player for the Hollies was born today in 1942; Richard Brautigan, American novelist, poet, and short story write passed away today in 1984; McGeorge Bundy, American intelligence officer and diplomat, 6th United States National Security Advisor passed away on this day in 1996; And finally, W. P. Kinsella, American novelist (“Shoeless Joe” used as the basis for A Field of Dreams) died today in 2016.
Website Update:
Restarting the cycle this week:
• Week 2 for our new Vocabulary Quiz
• A “New” Musical Trivia Quiz !!! Whooo Hooo!!
• This week I am adding a recipe that I have made before but never captured for the UJT site.
• This week’s Home Page quote comes from Noel Coward, “I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.” .
Writing, Ceramics, Stained Glass and Painting Update:
• I was again distracted this week. I haven’t made any progress on my art projects 🙁
• Grandpa Stories is still not re-published.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
• This week I was both reassured and relieved when the majority of Californians voted to have our Governor continue his term. I think Gavin Newsome has done an excellent job for our state during perhaps some of the most difficult years in our history. I hope he takes up the task to eliminate the recall provision in our voting laws. This represents an incredible waste of state resources at a time when we should be trying to conserve as much as we can. I hope the voters will remember the candidates that orchestrated and perpetrated this waste and distraction.
• I apologize for the shameless animal video link not working. I tried to retrieve it to send it out but I cannot find it.
Music Update:
Once again, yours truly takes you on another meander through the dusty cobwebs of my music library. I hope you enjoy!
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
• Venice — Keep On Tryin’ — All my life I have been in love with harmony in music, art and life. When I was coming up there was one band who always made me smile with their Harmonies – Poco. This is a cover of Timothy Schmidt’s (before he was an Eagle) beautiful song, by another band who loves harmonies. The Lemon brothers and cousins really do justice to this tribute from their “Brunch Buffett”, their album of covers released in 2016.
• Carly Simon — The Right Thing — “No Secrets” just blew me away when it came out in 1972. I thought it might have been the best album cover ever!
• Pat Benatar — We Belong — This is a little bit of a woman who stole our hearts with her big voice. This is a recent remix of her big hit love song from her 1984 release,” Tropico”.
• Steely Dan — I Got the News — I tried to name my daughter after this album’s name but Tippy had her heart set on Jessica Faye. But it still is one of my favorite SD albums, “Aja” released in 1977. This cut even has Michael McDonald singing back up.
• Vance Joy — Red Eye — I think that this guy is just such a great singer/songwriter!! “I’m a dog layin down in a warm bit of pavement…” This one come from this Dream Your Life Away” released in 2014.
• U2– Angel of Harlem – This is another example of why U2 has lasted so long. They take the ample stuff that they each bring to the party and mix it just so to give their music that unique feel. This one comes from, “Rattle and Hum” released in 1988.
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!