November 17th, 2022
“ 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 264 days since Russia attacked Ukraine.
This week I learned some stuff:
• I had a bad week this week. I was in a minor car accident and after exchanging information, my car wouldn’t start. Again! I have taken it to the dealer 3 times and they tell me that they cannot recreate the issue. When I finally got home, we noticed a wet spot in the family room ceiling. Turns out we had a pinhole leak in the plumbing that soaked some drywall and perhaps my office laminate floor. So I got to file another claim with USAA. This time for a homeowner policy claim. They are sending a crew out to remove the stuff from the garage, family room and my office so they don’t get damaged or soiled while they are taking down the walls, ceilings and floors damaged. And so it goes…
• The Prostate Adventure had another milestone this week. I began the ADT (hormone) treatment. I have to get a shot in my butt every quarter for the next 2 years. But the doc said the word “cure” a couple of times. I begin my radiation treatments in a couple of months (Jan?). The doc warned me about hot flashes and emotional sensitivity being side effects of this treatment. Hell, I cry sometimes when certain songs come on or while watching movies sometimes .. no big deal for me. But I hope I don’t get man boobs too bad;) Just keep swimming… just keep swimming…
• November 17th is the 321st day of 2022. Just 39 days till Christmas! Today in 1800, the United States Congress holds its first session in Washington, D.C; H.H. Holmes, one of the first modern serial killers, is arrested in Boston, Massachusetts today in 1894; On this day in 1947, the Screen Actors Guild implements an anti-Communist loyalty oath; Also today in 1947, American scientists John Bardeen and Walter Houser Brattain observe the basic principles of the transistor, a key element for the electronics revolution of the 20th century”; In 1962 on this day, President John F. Kennedy dedicates Washington Dulles International Airport, serving the Washington, D.C., region; Today in 1969, negotiators from the Soviet Union and the United States meet in Helsinki, Finland to begin SALT I negotiations aimed at limiting the number of strategic weapons on both sides.; Today in 1973, in Orlando, Florida, U.S. President Richard Nixon tells 400 Associated Press managing editors “I am not a crook”; United States House of Representatives passes a resolution to establish the North American Free Trade Agreement today in 1993; Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s tenure as the governor of California began. today in 2003; Today in 2019. the first known case of COVID-19 is traced to a 55-year-old man who had visited a market in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Eugene Wigner, Hungarian physicist and mathematician, Nobel Prize laureate was born today in 1902; Soichiro Honda, Japanese engineer and businessman, co-founded the Honda Motor Company was born today in 1906; Stanley Cohen, American biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureatewas born today in 1922; Born today in 1938, Gordon Lightfoot, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist; Martin Scorsese, American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor was born today in 1942; Born today in 1944, Gene Clark, American singer-songwriter(The Byrds) and musician as was Danny DeVito, American actor, director, and producer as was Lorne Michaels, Canadian-American screenwriter and producer, created Saturday Night Live ; Martin Barre, English guitarist for Jethro Tull and songwriter was born today in 1946;RuPaul, American drag queen performer, actor, and singer was born today in 1960; Susan Rice, American academic and politician, 24th United States National Security Advisor was born today in 1964; And lastly,Ruth Brown, American singer-songwriter and actress passed away today in 2006.
Website Update:
This week:
• A New Vocabulary Quiz !!!! Yeah!!
• Week 2 for our Musical Trivia Quiz!
• With weather dipping down into the low 60s these days, I broke out my Beef Barley Soup recipe and realized that I failed to list the amount of barley that should be used. So I updated and reposted it. For anyone, who got that far and had to wing it, I am sorry. If anyone ever sees anything like that on the UJT please drop me a line.
• The Home Page quote this week is from Sun Sherman, an Indian American. He said, “What is the difference between “complete” and “finished”? If you marry the right woman you are “complete”. However if you marry the wrong woman, you are “finished”. When the right woman catches you with the wrong woman, you are “Completely Finished”.
Writing, Ceramics, Bonsai Trees, Stained Glass and Painting Update:
• I worked on both my painting and stained glass project this week. Progress, progress!
• 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:
Life has a big fan, sometimes your shit hits it just to see if you are paying attention. If you are fast, lucky and maybe a little smart you can dodge a lot of it but sooner or later your luck runs out and the mess is yours to deal with. I am grateful, I have always found a way to cope, grow, learn and persevere. Dori was right, “… just keep swimming… just keep swimming… “
Music Update:
This week I am celebrating my good fortune with some remarkable music.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
• U2 — It was a beautiful day — Another favorite from one of my favorite bands. This one is from their “Beautiful Game” album. I am not sure of the release date.
• Joe Cocker – With a Little Help From My Friends — There are about 3-4 songs that make me think of the friends of my youth – this one, Lovely to See You Again by the Moody Blues, Toby Keith’s great song, Nights I Can’t Remember, Friends I’ll Never Forget. and a few others. Makes me smile every time I hear it. This is the title cut of Joe’s debut album released in 1969.
• ZZ Top — La Grange — Sometimes you just gotta kick out the jams and let it all go:) Crank it up, perhaps drink too much and let it go… practice your apologies in the mirror after you take the Alka Seltzer. This one is from their Remastered Tres Hombres released in 2006.
• Neil Young — Helpless — Neil celebrated his 77th birthday this week. This is such a Neil Young song! This version is from a CSN&Y album “ Déjà Vu released in 1970.
• Phil Collins — Another Day in Paradise — One of my favorite Phil Collins tunes. This one is from his 1989 release, “But Seriously Folks…”.
• Bruce Springsteen – Night Shift — This is a great cover on his new album, “Only the Strong Survive”, released just this month.