March 28th, 2019
“Dila Mshvidobisa” “Good Morning !!!” to you all in Georgian, a South Caucasian language spoken mainly in Georgia.
The Wisteria are in Bloom!!!! Oh there is joy in this world as I set up my paints to paint out in my back yard. The subtle aroma is like that of a fine dish blending sweet with savory in just the right balance. The beautiful blue/purple blossoms hang like bunches of delicate grapes from every vine. I can see and smell my dreams come true every spring.
Already SEVEN Democrats have thrown their hats into the ring for the 2020 Presidential race. Does it bother anyone else that our best hope for replacing this “self-serving-opportunist-lying-raciset-POS” in the white house is taking the form of the Keystone Cops?? I am sure with a couple more yahoos, we can completely dilute the message of that there are reasonable, level headed, honorable, men and women ready and able to lead us out of this pit of despair that SCROTUS has dug for us. It would be very nice if the Democratic Party stopped being “The Democratic Party” long enough to select a top caliber candidate and running mate and define a well thought out (what to do and how to pay for it ) platform to run this abomination and his ilk out of our government. Just saying that would be nice.
Speaking of a lapse of leadership, on October 1st, 2017 a single 64 year old man fired on crowd of concert goers, killing 58 and wounding 851 people in the span of 10 minutes before killing himself making this the deadliest mass shooting in American History. On Tuesday, our government enacted regulations to classify the “bumpstock” devices used in Las Vegas that enable continuous firing started with the first pull of the trigger. Promptly 542 days later, the regulation is in place. Perhaps the folks who enjoy automatic weapons were unable to acquire theirs in that period of time. Probably almost no chance a motivated sick puppy would be able to find one now that we have the regulation. Not our finest hour.
I have been cranking out recipes for a while now and to be honest less than diligent about filing them in my cookbook.. I have been printing them out and just jamming them all willy-nilly in the binder. So this week I did a little spring cleaning of the looseleaf notebook where I collect them to use in my kitchen (no I don’t remember them all).
This week I learned some stuff:
• Today, March 28 is National Triglycerides Day!!! This national holiday shines a spotlight on one of the key factors to a healthy lifestyle. National Triglycerides Day is a reminder to patients and practitioners to know about the hidden risks of triglycerides. Get yours checked today !!
Website Update:
• A new Vocabulary Quiz!! Yeeaahhhh!!!
• Last week for UJT Music Trivia Quiz.
• I worked up a new South Asian dish for us this week. I made Marsala Tika Chicken for the first time and was very pleased with the results. Its a bit complicated but in the process of locating some of the ingredients, I discovered a new and very interesting grocery store where I discovered the baby eggplant used in this week’s second recipe. I have never been what one would call an “Eggplant” kind of guy but I liked this flavorful version.
Writing, Ceramics and Painting Update:
• I worked on my colored clay box in last weeks’s ceramics class. I also did more work on my Flamingo too. To finish it I need to make yet another body(this will be my third!) I also started a couple of new paintings. I am still working on the “Kiss” painting.
• Grandpa Stories is still not re-published.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
• I got my fifth phone call informing that this call was the “Final Attempt” to get me my pre-approved student loan this week. I am so excited!
• Why is it that a TV show can address the really important issues of our time but our government can’t? “Madam Secretary” has taken on several, To name a few I have watched thought provoking episodes on nuclear disarmament, immigration, global refugees (both political and climate related), the effects of when the US stops getting enough children vaccinated for things like Measles and perhaps the biggest threat to civilization – the disparity between scientifically predictable trends and political convenience . All of these topics are truly national security threats. Perhaps not all are immediate but if you believe that global warming is happening and the projected impacts are even possible, they we need to be working together globally to mitigate the effects of things like sea level rise and more and more intense storms. We need global infrastructure and agreements to manage the people who will be impacted by these predictable events. On TV, the US is the leader of the free world inspiring planning and preparations for the foreseeable. In real life, our country is searching for new ways to profitably bury our collective heads in the sand deeper so as not to be distracted by the science!
Music Update:
There is something funky going on with my website management tool since I installed the last update. It seem my ability to play one song after the other has gone away. I am looking into it.
Go to this week’s UJT Radio program.
• Andy Grammar — Fine By Me — This one is from his 2011 debut album entitled simply enough, “ Andy Grammar”. There is something about this guy that I enjoy.
• Good Old War — Over and Over — I just heard that these boys broke up the band:(. I love their harmonies. I hope they can get get it back together. This one comes from their. “Come Back as Rain” released in 20112
• Zucherro — Ci si arrende (feat. Mark Knopfler) — Another one from this interesting player from his “Black Cat album” released in 2016. There is something, “most interesting man in the world” about his voice and smile. Don’t you think?
• Sting — Fields of Gold — A truly beautiful piece. This one comes from his, Ten Summoners Tales released in 1983. Sting remembering his schooling and letting his Lit professorship run wild.
• Simon and Garfunkel — For Emily, Whenever I Might Find Her (Live) — I believe this was recorded at a live show at The Granada in 1967. This may just be one of the most beautiful songs I have heard. Turns out Emily was a fictitious person, a vision of who they hoped to meet someday.
• Tab Benoit – In It To Win It – Been awhile since I got my Tab Benoit fix. This one comes from his amazing album, “Medicine” released in 2011.
• Otis Redding — (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay — This is a great tune release postumously after Otis died in a plane crash. He had just finished his, “The Dock of The Bay” album in 1967 with Steve Cropper on guitars.
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!