January 10th, 2019
“Chubo dele” Wishing all a fine “Good Morning” in Dzongkha (རྫོང་ཁ), a South Tibetic language spoken in Bhutan.
After Christmas, I kind of was making fun of our addiction to time and some might have gotten the impression that I thought my watch christmas present was silly or unthoughtful. I got a watch for Christmas for the same reason I strap that redundant source of manufactured information on my arm every day, Love. I got the watch because I am loved and I wear it proudly because I love my wife. Even though the whole concept of time is silly and as is micro managing our lives to this ridiculous concept.
This week I learned some stuff:
• We celebrate NATIONAL SAVE THE EAGLES DAY!!! Save the Eagles Day is observed annually on the 10th of January. Some species of eagles are on the endangered list. However, due to the work of scientists and the public, the American Bald Eagle was removed from this list in June 2007.
Website Update:
• 2nd week for our “New” Vocabulary Quiz.
• Last week for the UJT Music Trivia Quiz!
• I added a dessert recipe from my new discovery from New Zealand, Annabel Langbein. This one is called, Vanilla Citrus Terrine.
• Recently, I have been a lot more prolific in my painting. And somewhere along the way, I might have found my style, maybe, I think. Anyway, I posted 5 new watercolors (Jensen Beach Moonlight, Tulips by a Window, Wisteria, Beached Boat Bow and Mr. Raccoon) on the Things to See page. Check them out.
• This week, I added a real old, great quote to the UJT. I imagine I was like 5 or so when I first read these true and wonderful words in “Winnie the Pooh (A.A. Milne, 1926)”. ” A friend is one of the nicest things you can have and one of the best things you can be.” ….. Winnie The Pooh.
Writing, Ceramics and Painting Update:
• School is back in session and I really enjoyed critiquing some of the paintings that I did over the holiday with my class. I started a new Flamingo project in Ceramics.
• Grandpa Stories is still not re-published.
• An high school classmate of mine married a talented photographer. I happened to see some of his photos and was very impressed. So I asked he and his wife,if I might try to paint some of his images of nature and they were very gracious in giving me permission. I did one that I think turned out good and started 2 more this week. This guy just as such a good eye for beauty and color. He must be also both incredibly patient and lucky to catch some of his subjects the way he does. If you want to see more, you can look for him on Facebook. His name is Christopher Spain. I also owe him thanks for reminding me of my favorite Winnie the Pooh quote!
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
• I think that I may have mentioned that my granddaughter got a Bob Ross ChiaPet for Christmas. Now, for those of you who do not remember this great American artist and PBS painting show pioneer. The sweet, funny and gentle TV instructor showed millions how to use his wet-on-wet oil painting techniques to create rich paintings in less than a half hour. The “ Joy of Painting” was on PBS from 1983 to 1994 when it ended due to Bob’s failing health. The weird part is that I am pretty sure that my granddaughter and her friend never heard of Bob before. I think he was chosen because they thought is white-guy afro would be a cool ChiaPet.
• I think that, other than the inside of SCROTUS’s head, the worlds weirdest places have to be Emergency Rooms. I got to observe our best emergency room in the area for about 8 hours Monday night. It was a Code Black evening with triage nurses taking vitals ordering blood and urine tests while ordering Xray and Sonograms from the waiting room when its full and all 62 beds in back are occupied. I didn’t remember so many people wearing masks the other times I visited. At one point, there were 9 ambulances restocking after bring in patients. The scope of episodic human misery is wide. I saw people of every walk of life and social position huddled together waiting their turn. They really are amazing places and you can clearly see why it is the most expensive medical service delivery channel there is. They have to be ready for anything that walks or is rolled through the door. That means maintaining a huge stock of materials and medicines that expire or get superseded. It kind of reminded me of Star Wars with all the beeping and alarms coming from the nurses station and many o the rooms and their portable computers, blood gas machines, X-rays and Sonogram machines being pushed from patient to patient. None of that stuff or the people who know how to use it are free. I am glad we have it but serving people at the ER for non-emergency reasons just because they have no insurance is kind of like taking an elephant gun to a tweety bird hunt. Just Plain Dumb!
Music Update:
As part of this weeks UJT Radio Broadcast, I am challenging our listeners to a Hard Question. If stranded on a desert island, what 3 musicians of the entire selection available today (no dead people), would like to be with you. Not just their music but themselves with whatever instruments they play. Who would you choose? Wow! Tough call, at least is was for me. Give it some thought and send me back your selection. My selections are at the bottom of this weeks musical samples. Go to this week’s UJT Radio program.
• Jack Johnson — Upside Down — This one comes from the sound track titled, “Sing-a-Longs and Lullabies for the film, Curious George.” Jack is a very special person, just like Curious George!
• Carly Simon — It Was So Easy — From the Vinyl!!!! This one comes from her “No Secrets” that was released in 1972. This is a great song to accompany our reminiscences.
• Tom Rush — Urge for Going — This is the long version of a beautiful Joni Mitchel song sung by one of 60’s folk world’s favorite singer/songwriters. This song always takes me back to walking around Coconut Grove alone on cold rainy day… discovering that the world was bigger and stranger than I had first thought.
• David Pack & Timothy B. Schmidt — Where We Started From — Some pretty wonderful harmonies from two boys who know a lot of about harmony. This one is from David’s “ The Secret of Moving On” released in 2008.
• Styx – Come Sail Away (Edit) – From their, Grand Illusion album released in 1977.
• James Taylor — Up On the Roof — This is my favorite cover of this 1962 hit for The Drifters. I am climbing the stairs folks:) This one comes from James’ 1979 release, “Flag”
• ZZ Top — La Grange — Sometimes you just gotta kick out the jams and let it all go:) Crank it up, perhaps drink too much and let it go… practice your apologies in the mirror after you take the Alka Seltzer.
• Jackson Browne — Which Side ? — This one kind of just says, “If you aren’t part of the solution… you are part of the problem..” This is a deep cut from his most recent, “Standing in the Breach”. Think about it.
My desert island fellow castaways – James Taylor, Jackson Browne and Jimmy Buffet. But I could answer that question about a million different ways at any given moment.
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!