April 22nd, 2021
“Buerie aerede”, or “Good Morning!” in Southern Sámi, a Western Sámi language spoken in parts of Norway and Sweden. Everyone in our family has had their second shot this week. WeeHa!!
Last Nag! I promise! If you haven’t sent me your alternative POC yet, please reply to this email with your selection. I would appreciate it.
This week I learned some stuff:
• Our insurance company has a geezer incentive program. They send a nurse practitioner to review your meds, general health and perform a few tests to try to identify any big issues before they are big issues. In my case, its usually a fairly ho hum non-event that results in a $15-25 gift card. Each year it is a bit different. This year it resulted in a free (to us) trip to Cold Stone for our favorite ice cream. Yum!
• April 22nd is the 112th day of 2021. Just 247 days till Christmas! Today in 1836, the day after the Battle of San Jacinto in the Texas Revolution, forces under Texas General Sam Houston identify Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna among the captives of the battle when some of his fellow soldiers mistakenly give away his identity; Today in 1876, the first game in the history of the National League was played at the Jefferson Street Grounds in Philadelphia. This game is often pointed to as the beginning of Major League Baseball; On this day in 1889, at noon, thousands rush to claim land in the Land Rush of 1889. Within hours the cities of Oklahoma City and Guthrie are formed with populations of at least 10,000; Today in 1844, the 1st Air Commando Group using Sikorsky R-4 helicopters stage the first use of helicopters in combat with combat search and rescue operations in the China Burma India Theater; Today in 1954, witnesses begin testifying and live television coverage of the Army–McCarthy hearings begins; Today in 1970, the first Earth Day is celebrated; Optical fiber is first used to carry live telephone traffic today in 1977; the Paris Agreement is signed, an agreement to help fight global warming today in 2016; Vladimir Lenin, Russian revolutionary and founder of Soviet Russia was born on this day in 1870; Today the brilliant Vladimir Nabokov, the brilliant Russian-born novelist and critic was born in 1899; Today in 1904, J. Robert Oppenheimer, American physicist and academic; Glen Campbell, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor was born today in 1936; Jack Nicholson, American actor and producer was born today in 1937; Ansel Adams, American photographer and environmentalist away today in 1984; Richard Nixon, American lieutenant, lawyer, and politician, 37th President of the United States passed away today in 1994; Today in 2002, Linda Lovelace, American porn actress and activist; And finally, Richie Havens, American singer-songwriter and guitarist passed away today in 2014.
Website Update:
This week we made the following changes:
• A New Vocabulary Quiz!!!!
• Last Week for the new Musical Trivia Quiz!!
• This week I did sort of whip up a couple of interesting one pan dishes. Usually, I will put together a recipe from out of my head and then cook it and adjust before publishing the taste tested results here. I am not sure I could accurate capture these dishes after the fact.
• This week’s Home Page quote comes from another very interesting guy, Robin Willams.
Writing, Ceramics, Stained Glass and Painting Update:
• I got stuck on my stained glass project again this week. Oh well!
• I didn’t attend watercolor classes this week via zoom. I hope we can go back to the classroom soon.
• Grandpa Stories is still not re-published.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
• I met with my doc this week. She told me that all my tests were good so nothing important is getting ready to fall off.
Music Update:
Once again, yours truly takes you on another meander through the dusty cobwebs of my music library.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
• Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young — Don’t Let It Bring You Down — This one is another one inspired by my brother Mike. This is my favorite version of this song, every time I hear the intro I flash back on the first time we heard it and all cracked up. It’s from their 4 Way Street (Live) album released this month way back in 1971.
• Genesis — Tonight, Tonight, Tonight — I remember when Miami was very much like Miami Vice and this song was the sound track for those crazy times. I always loved Phil Collin’s voice and when he took over the leadership of the band, I liked how the drums became much more prominent in their music. This was released in 1986 on their album, “Invisible Touch”.
• Eric Clapton — Can’t Let You Do It — This one is deep cut off his solo album, “I Still Do” released in 2016. Yep .. .he still do! Love the piano work on this one too.
• Tom Petty – Free Fallin’ – From the Vinyl!! This is was the 3 single from Tom’s first solo album, “Full Moon Fever” released in 1989 and produced by Jeff Lynn of ELO. Tom and Jeff wrote this one together.
• Little Feat — Oh Atlanta — From the Vinyl!! This here is one of my favorite cuts off of one of my “favorite-est” albums of all time. Now listen up you all! If you want a soundtrack to a party, “Waiting for Columbus” will do the trick. This iconic live album was released in 1978.
• Howie Day — Collide – I first heard of Howie Day when I was visiting friends in Norfolk, Va one weekend. They had tickets to his show at William & Mary college. I was completely blown away and bought his CD on the spot. This comes from his, “Stop All the World” released in 2003.
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!