June 13th, 2019
“Hayirli tong!” “Good Morning !!!” to you all in Uzbek, a Turkic language spoken mainly in Uzbekistan.
As I am celebrated my 67th birthday yesterday, I am thinking a lot about the function of Eloquence. In the dictionary, eloquence is defined as, “fluent or persuasive speaking or writing”. As someone who has bumped into eloquence a time or two, it seems like that definition, though perfectly true, falls very short of the mark explaining the value and power of true eloquence. Eloquence is the difference between Shakespeare and Harold Robins or Dannielle Steele. Eloquence found in Mark Knoffler’s music as compared to Richie Blackmore’s. It is not reserved for either victory nor defeat. It is available to all but effected by very few. It is a wonder and a pleasure to behold and sorely missed when absent. Eloquence is free and easy to create and priceless when you do. It simply takes caring, thought and deep consideration for one’s audience. Most of us can convey information but just a few are able move us to thought or action simply by being eloquent in what they do. So go out there today and just be eloquent.
This week I learned some stuff:
• Tomorrow is WEAR BLUE DAY! Men’s health is the focus of Wear BLUE Day on June 14th. By wearing blue, you are saying you support the men in your life to lead a healthy lifestyle, and you care about their health. It’s a big week for colors. Last weekend was #WearOrangeWeekend to remind us, if we want to end the mass shooting violence of the past decade, we have to act individually and collectively.
Website Update:
• A New Vocabulary Quiz!!!!
• Week two for our UJT Music Trivia Quiz.
• I didn’t add any new recipes this week.
Writing, Ceramics and Painting Update:
• I finished some paintings this week and painted a nice card for a friend. I have started some other paintings and am working on a couple of ceramics projects, as well.
• Grandpa Stories is still not re-published.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
• For my birthday dinner last night, I made Paella Mariscos de Abuelo (Grandpa’s Seafood Paella) which has been my favorite for a long, long time. It turned out great but its a very complicated recipe with lots of ingredients that should be put together very precisely if it is going to come out perfect. Let’s just say my batch last night was not as precise as it could have been. Still tasted really good but I had to add the smoked paprika the end and I totally forgot the peas. But I recommend you give it a try… with fresh stuff it is truly a wonderful dish.
Music Update:
I have created a very nice collection of songs that I think celebrate life in a grand way! I still haven’t relearn my digital turntable and associate software.
Go to this week’s UJT Radio program.
• Cat Stevens — Father and Son — From the Vinyl!!! I was treated to hearing this while watching Guardians of the Galaxy 2. This is another song that makes me cry. From his 1970 release, “Tea For the Tiller man”.
• The Beatles — In My Life — One of my high school classmates posted a question in Facebook the other day. If you absolutely positively had to pick just one Beatles song as your favorite, which one would it be. This was a very very tough call because I love so many of their songs. This one comes from their turning point album, “Rubber Soul” released in December of 1965.
• Mike and the Mechanics — Silent Running — This is a remastered version of another emotive song from the 1980s.
• Jack Johnson Feat. Matt Costa — Lullaby — I guess I am just a sucker for sweet little songs with sweet little harmonies. This one comes from Jack’s Sing-A-Longs & Lullabies For The Film Curious George released in 2006.
• Cold Play — A Sky Full of Stars — This music is always sooo compelling to me. This one comes from their 2014 release, “Ghost Stories”.
• Genesis — Taking It All Too Hard — This is from their “Genesis (Remastered)” album but was originally released 1983. “ Oh no not this confused again! “Oh no, not the same mistakes again! Your taking it all too hard… “ This guys were giants together and as solo artists. I love how tight their music is always!
• Animals – House of the Rising Sun – One of my first favorite songs that I knew was about something secret or “adult”. I was going to try to share “Touch of Grey” by the Dead as my last song this week but I haven’t converted the album to digital yet and the only recorded copy I have is not in a file type that I can upload and share with you all. But I suggest you play it anyway and as loud as you can. After all it is the National Anthem of Old Farts!
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!