September 28th, 2024
“ Dobroho ranku”, or “Good Morning!” in Ukrainian, is an Eastern Slavic language spoken mainly in Ukraine. I have decided that the UJT will remain focused on Ukraine until we can all rejoice at the end of hostilities. It has been 963 days since Russia invaded Ukraine.
This week I learned some stuff:
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- I am starting my waterfall replacement project this week by clearing out all the other debris from the backyard. I will arrange a trip out to the Rock folks to pick out the rocks I want to use. I also need to get the other parts (filter, membrane, seam tape & foam) and some demolition tools. With any luck, I should start demoing the old waterfall this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed.
- I am still trying to work out the details of the Braille Institute audiobook library.
- You can find out all about today’s history here.
This week’s Website Update:
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- It has been a busy week for recipes! This week you will find a new crock pot roast beef recipe, a grilled pizza thing. I started a new roasted cauliflower recipe but it won’t be ready for the IJT till next week. Every so often, we have a Sushi night at our house. If you like fresh seafood, getting creative in a crowd and trying something different, I encourage you do it with your family. We always have a lot of fun and eat some great sushi, not necessarily rolled to perfection, though. Life is good!
- This week, the Home Page will quote from one of our most brilliant contributors – Unknown, sometimes referred to as Anonymous: “Only those who care about you can hear you when you’re quiet.”.
Bonsai Tree and Stained Glass, Update:
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- I managed to procrastinate my way past donating my Bonsai pots to the San Diego Bonsai Club this week. I will try again next week.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
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- You don’t know what you don’t know or can’t know. For example, that path not taken in your life. You witness others taking it and either they do fine or not but they took it when you did not. We cannot know how it would have worked for us. That is the tricky thing abut not having any rehearsals for this life thing. It can also be true for changes in your path made during your life. For example, when I was a younger man. I ‘enhanced” my experiences almost every day and sometimes multiple times a day with Pot or Vodka or Scotch. Oh I had some great times that I almost remember. Then I stopped. First I stopped doing pot and later, booze. No one made me stop, I just made a different choice for that day. I don’t judge my choices either way nor do I miss how it used to be for me. But I am pretty sure my life didn’t need much enhancement.
Music Update:
The women of music theme can proceed forever, I think. There are just so many incredibly talented women making so much wonderful music. But there are also all that music produced by that other kind of human. I truly love both.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
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- James Taylor — Mud Slide Slim — My friend James came to me when I was just reporting to my first Ship as new bootcamp sailor. He got me past all that strangeness listening to this album over and over on my cassette player. It is still one of my favorites. This was the title song for his 1971 release.
- The Beach Boys — Sail On Sailor— The album that they recorded this song on was perhaps their most underrated album. Everyone talks about “Pet Sounds” and that was a spectacular album but in my opinion, this record was just as if not more spectacular. This song was released on their 1973 release, “Holland”.
- Blind Faith — In the Presence of the Lord — For me it is hard to imagine the term “Supergroup” without thinking of Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood. I am not a religious person but this song made me feel as if I was. It kind of reminds me of that line in that great tune, “Walking in Memphis” by Marc Cohn, “Tell me are you a Christian child?”And I said, “Ma’am, I am tonight”. This one is from their album,” Blind Faith,” released in 1969.
- Marc Cohen — Walking in Memphis — This song won my heart the first time I heard it. It also won about every award available in 1991 when his self-titled album was released.
- Cat Stevens — Father and Son — I am not sure why this song grabbed me so hard. Maybe it was because my father and I were still estranged when it came out. Maybe it is what I hoped my father felt about me and how I felt about my son someday. This one is from his “ Tea For the Tillerman” bum released in 1970.
- Eric Clapton/Carlos Santana – The Calling – Recently;y there was a Facebook query – what is your favorite song over 6 minutes – this was my choice. This is from the album, “Supernatural” released in 1999.
That’s it… Do the best you can; Laugh every chance you get; Always remember… The best is yet to come! As always, thank you for being my friend!