February 10, 2022
“Iterluarit”, or “Good Morning!” in Greenlandic, an Eskimo-Aleut language spoken in Greenland and Denmark.
Last week millions of American’s were digging out from a biggest “Nor Easter” in a long while and right in the middle of it all Punxsutawney Phil saw his damn shadow and hurried back inside his hole. Six more weeks of winter! Oh Boy! I know that this will not garner a lot of sympathy but as a boy growing up in South Miami, I can tell you that 32 degree weather is no laughing matter. Their construction and heating systems are more focused on keeping heat out than in.
This week I learned some stuff:
• I tried Wordle. I even bought the no adds version, mostly because the ads version was unplayable. But even without the ads, it was not very entertaining.
• We began planning the Texas clan’s visit this weekend. It pays to shop around for airfares but they do not make it easy to do. Every airline has its own cutesy way of describing their services and offers such to make comparisons arduous tasks. Working together my son and I figured out the arrangements and I am sure that we did not get the worse deal:)
• February 10th is the 41st day of 2022. Just 327 days till Christmas! Today in 1861,1861 – Jefferson Davis is notified by telegraph that he has been chosen as provisional President of the Confederate States of America; Today in 1923, Texas Tech University is founded as Texas Technological College in Lubbock, Texas; On this day in 1940, the Soviet Union begins mass deportations of Polish citizens from occupied eastern Poland to Siberia(just in case you might have forgotten what a total shit Stalin was); Today in 1989, Ron Brown is elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee, becoming the first African American to lead a major American political party; On this day in 1996, IBM supercomputer Deep Blue defeats Garry Kasparov in chess for the first time; Today in 2021, the traditional Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is canceled for the first time because of the COVID-19 pandemic; In 1890 on this day, Boris Pasternak, Russian poet, novelist, and literary translator Nobel Prize laureate was born: Born today in 1891, Jimmy Durante, American actor, singer, and pianist; Today in 1897,John Franklin Enders, American virologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate; Born today in 1906, Lon Chaney Jr. (AKA The Wolfman), American actor; Today in 1929, Jerry Goldsmith, American composer (for movies such as Star Wares and Rambo) and conductor was born; Robert Wagner, American actor and producer, was born today in 1930; Roberta Flack, American singer-songwriter and pianist, was born today in 1937; Mark Spitz, American swimmer(9 time Olympic Champion), was born today in 1950; On this day in 1960, Daryl Johnston, Dallas Cowboys Fullback, and sportscaster, was born; Today in 1967, Laura Dern, American actress, director, and producert was born; Alex Haley, American soldier, journalist, and author (Roots) passed away today in 1992; Jim Varney (AKA Earnst P. Worrel), American actor, comedian and writer passed away today in 2000; Roy Scheider, American actor and boxer passed away today in 2008; Shirley Temple, American actress and diplomat died today in 2014; and finally, today in 2021, we lost Larry Flynt, American publisher of Hustler magazine.
Website Update:
This week:
• Last week for our new vocabulary Quiz!
• Week two for our new Musical Trivia Quiz!
• Last week told you that I found this really interesting recipe for a Citrus Upside Down cake that I want to try. Well I tried it. It was not a success. The bitterness of pithy membrane left on the outside of the citrus juicy bits was not good. It was a pretty cake though. I did add a nice Sea Scallop and Shrimp Chowder recipe to the site this week.
• The Home Page quote tis week is from Christopher Robin, ”You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you thought.”
Writing, Ceramics, Stained Glass and Painting Update:
• I am painting again!
• Grandpa Stories is once again making progress towards being republished. It is taking me longer this time because I have to use a page magnifier to see the print well enough to read. I just finished editing chapter 38!
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
• Are you a soup/stew person? Like Yoda, I think I could live on soups or hearty stews exclusively. “Yes! Good food, this is. heh heh heh” I love salads, grilled meats, fish and fowel but the whole warm bowl of delicious goodness is just compelling for me. Unlike my daughter, who tolerates my occasional indulgences in my delight in creating all different kinds of soups and stews. She is a good sport about it and upon occasion has even complimented one of my bowl borne creations.
• Last Monday was much like any other Monday except it was the 16th anniversary of that first morning I woke up without my mom being in the world. Talk about working without and net!! I am not sure how she would feel about it if she heard me say that I am very much like her. We share many of the same flaws and joys of living. I am grateful to her for giving me the tools, the confidence and the freedom to find my own way even when it seemed I had no idea what that way was. I miss you every day Mom.
Music Update:
Once again, yours truly takes you on another meander through the dusty cobwebs of my music library. This week I have a lovely mix of new and old that I hope you will enjoy.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
• Carole King – So Far Away — Much like her good friend, James Taylor, Carole always had a way of saying what I was feeling at the time. This is a live version of as song released on her iconic, “Tapestry” album in 1971. On the original version, James Taylor plays guitar. Yesterday, she celebrated her 80th birthday. Happy Birthday Carole!
• Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers — The Red Plain — Speaking of brilliant musicians who remain true to themselves. Bonnie Raitt and I both think that Bruce is one very special piano player. This version is from “The Way It Is – Live 2016”.
• Leo Kottke — June Bug — This guy is perhaps the most gifted 12 string player in the biz! This little ditty is from his 1971 release “Mudlark”. In 1993, Taylor Guitars produced a Leo Kottke Signature guitar (12 String).
• Steely Dan — Deacon Blues — This is another great cut from one of my very favorite SD albums. Released in 1977, “Aja” just blew us all away.
• Jewel — Who Will Save Your Soul — This was the very first song I ever heard from Jewel. She had this very strange video that seemed to be shot in a subway bathroom. She was just so soulful and genuine. I loved it. This comes from her “Pieces of You” album released in 1995.
• Quicksilver Messenger Service — Happy Trails — This title track from their second album release in 1969 , was actually written by Dale Evans. You might remember her as Roy Roghers and Trigger’s sidekick on “The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show” in 1962.
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!