September 13th. 2026
“ 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 one, 661 days since Russia invaded Ukraine.
This morning I once again enjoyed sitting in early morning missed feeding the Koi fish in my pond, listening to the water flow. It’s so peaceful and in the morning it’s cooler and the birds seem more active. My daughter thinks the pond is a huge waste of energy money and time and it is all of that but it’s also a source of great peace to me my Fisher getting bigger. We got them there about the size of a computer mouse and now they’re the size of pretty good size keyboard. We have one that’s all gold one that’s kind of a calico color; one that’s a mostly black one is mostly white one that most orange and I think we still have one. That’s all dark all black. I’m not sure if they’re gay or not but we don’t have any babies yet but I love watching them swim together and they’re beautiful wings I guess is the only wagon describe it gossamer wings flowing in the water, pushing them forward. Since I made this pretty reliable daily ritual my plants in my heart are both doing better. Hope everyone has a place in a time like this.
I have no idea what’s going on in the world. It’s kind of spooky but maybe that’s why I enjoy my peaceful morning so much. It’s in good thoughts encouragement a little bit of money every month out to the world to tell it to try to go, that’s crazy and do some good but I can’t watch it.
Lately I’ve gotten phone calls from old friends and that’s always fun. We end up talking about old times mutual friends, etc. we try not to do too much of the ailment inventories but sometimes you can’t help it depend on what’s going on.
I also got some nice replies to my last UGT from folks. I haven’t heard from him in a while, telling me how much I enjoyed it and encouraging me to continue doing it so I’m trying.
I’m working on a new Stainglass project. My granddaughter is helping me with the big one. I started last year and it’s on hold till she gets back to take control of it but in the meantime, I learned that Jessica didn’t like her peace sign so I’m redoing it and getting her more colorful one I think I did 26 of those in about two weeks when I gave Matt’s Christmas present but this one is taking me. I’m on my third week now so you get the idea. I like overcoming the challenges. I’m even like redoing things sometimes but making progress slowly surely not as neatly as Jessica would like me to keep the house, but I’ll work on that too.
Our son got us a smoked brisket from a store that’s available in Texas called H-E-B and it was wonderful. We we thought it out and had it for Memorial Day dinner and everybody loved it. It didn’t last long and it was a huge piece of meat. So if you get a chance, I highly recommend the H-E-B smoked brisket fully cooked frozen and you just go for the gusto heating it up is not a challenge. It’s easy and it taste great. We had everybody over for Labor Day and it was a lot of fun.
I’m still going to pulmonary rehab. I’m getting stronger. I can feel it but it’s not helping my breathing a hell of a lot right yet, but I feel better for doing it so I’m gonna keep doing it. Going to the gym with a tank of oxygen is sort of a huge pain in . Actually going anywhere with a tank of oxygen is a huge pain in the ass. It’s better when they have electric carts I can borrow, but that sort of defeat the purpose of going to the gym wouldn’t it. Anyway, a different challenge for a different day.
About now, it’s when I start thinking about what I’m gonna do for Christmas presents for all my friends. I try to do something homemade for everyone and as the years have gone by, it’s gotten more challenging last year bookmarks where were fun to do and I hope it liked by the people I got them. I don’t know what I’m gonna do this year. I really don’t have any good ideas at this point. If anyone can think of something, a blind old deaf guy could do pretty easily for a bunch of people let me know.
Well, it’s time I switch my focus to the music this week. I hope you enjoy it. My brother Mike reminded me of how crazy some of the lyrics of the songs we love can be and how we seldom realize unless we listen very close. He reminded me that excitable boy by Warren Zevon was actually a song about a rapist and a killer Paul Simon’s lyrics are not always. How do I say this rational but always musical musically correct and of course everyone remembers America with their nonsensical lyrics. He is a bit of trivia. You might not know America had to go to London to get their Allyn made figure that one out.
Those of you have known me for a while well remember my telling you about a book by a fellow by the name of Phillip Toshio Sudo , called, “Zen guitar”. This little book is so insightful and full of good information. Have nothing to do with playing guitar and everything to do with living life. If you haven’t read yet, please go find it. It’s full of simple truths. This weeks front page quote is from Phillip: “The best way to remember where we put things is to have a place for them. As the saying does, “All things in their place, and a place for all things.”.
Last week selections were pointed in the sense that the first two were for my daughter’s edification and the last one was for my son so this week it’s not so tied to anything specific. I’m just randomizing my library. I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless.
The UJT radio selections are as follows:
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- Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson– Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys – I Think I love this song from the first moment I heard it. There’s something super genuine about it. Smile, ginger with sadness I think.
- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Woodstock – this amazing song was actually written in a New York city hotel room while Crosby stills in Nashville riding a helicopter out to Woodstock to perform. There are a few songs that move me as much as this one.
- The Beatles – Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite! – sergeant Pepper’s changed everything! We were all pretty smug in our coolness and thought we understood what the world was about. The Beatles explained it to us that we didn’t have a clue.
- Led Zeppelin – I Can’t Quit You Baby– I got this album about the same week. I got a new girlfriend. She was a blonde girl from California taught me things I never knew and this was the soundtrack.
- Donald Fagen – Good Stuff I think Donald Fagen was a genius! He gave us so much amazing music with his steely Dan partner, but on his own, he was even more impressive. This was the last album by Donald, “Sunken Condos”.
- Les Paul – Good Luck You’re Having – if you don’t have less, Paul and his friends albums, you were missing out on so much great music.! Carlos Santana’s supernatural was a copy of this particular type of music where less got all his friends together to place some amazing music. Hope you enjoy it.
- The Gregg Allman Band I’m No Angel I I’ve always thought that greg Allman had one of the best blues voices in the business. This is a spectacular record with lots of good music on it. This is just a sample. I hope you like it.
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!