February 15th, 2025
“ Dobroho ranku”, or “Good Morning!” in Ukrainian, is an Eastern Slavic language spoken mainly in Ukraine. I have decided that the UJT will remain focused on Ukraine until we can all rejoice at the end of hostilities. It has been 2,003 days since Russia invaded Ukraine.
This week, I learned some stuff:
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- Happy Valentines Day to all those Valentines ou there!!! I think I was like 5 when I had my first Valentines Day at school. My mom took us out he night before and bought us those colorful packages off cards and envelopes. We sat at the kitchen table trying to remember all the girls names in our classes. We had no idea what Valentines Day was or what is was celebrating, My brother and I dutifully filled them out. It was clear that the gils knew all about it it and giggled at us a lot.
- Be Safe Out There!!! the world is not as it used to be. A gay couple we know were traveling back from Pennsylvania this week and made an offhand remark about getting coffee for the other gay spouse in Tennessee. The coffee shop there in suddenly went silent and they were afraid they were afraid to be who they are in their own country no matter how you slice it. That’s fucking sad. Later this week I was visiting with an old friend of mine, he’d been he moved away about three years ago and we hadn’t spoken since sharing a cigar what would’ve been cocktails 15 years ago that’s the subject of the last election came up and we started commiserating over the terrible choice our country made and suddenly I was concerned about who could hear what we were saying. I hope I’m wrong but this is not gonna end well.
- Last week I mentioned that corporate America has already begun to embrace the greed and avarice pf the new regime with gusto. They are changing long standing policies of inclusion and protections for their employees. I am ashamed of my country’s leadership and the self-serving fearful people who elected this corrupt regime. However, resistance has already begun. OnFebruary 28, 2025, the empathetic Americans, are participating in the Nationwide Economic Blackout. No one participating in this boycott will be purchasing anything from corporate “citizens”. If punching is required, these Americans have committed to punching only from small businesses. I encourage you to refrain from any online or in-person purchases of goods or services that are provided by corporate entities.
- Taxes! All done.
- we have been enjoying some fairly frequent rain this pas week. This will help us resist burning down the state for a bit longer.
- You can find out all about today’s history here.
This week’s Website Update:
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- one new recipe this week- Homemade Peanut Butter Cookies!!!
- The Home Page this week is from Jimmy Buffett, “I am growing older. but not up.”
- I have returned the Countdown of Shame to the home page. This marks the Days, Hours, Minutes and seconds until January 20, 2029 – The next time a decent human being can be sworn in as President. Endurance is the key.
Bonsai Tree and Stained Glass, Update:
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- Raining all week, so the bonsai are happy but no progress on Stained Glass project.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
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- Missing those who have passed on is sneaky! It seems to sneak up on me often, when I least expect it. Sometimes it’s a song or an image that triggers that memory of times together. Sometimes its something I see on TV that takes me back to the times when i wasn’t as along as I sometimes feel today. It warms me to know how lucky I have been in my friendships and family. It’s impossible for me to listen to Jimmy Buffett and not think of all the wonderful rascals I have known – my Mom and my Dad, Jack, John and my brother Pat. All witnessed or assisted in some of my more racal-like behaviors. I am grateful for our imperfections that complimented our relationships so well. I am even grateful for the tinge of sadness that comes to me as their loss is felt more keenly at these times of reflection. Like a bit of salt in the cookie recipe that makes that cookies that much sweeter. I hope your recollections give you reason to smile.
Music Update:
This week I am mining the “M” section of my music library. I am enjoying this particular method of selecting songs because it takes me to music. I might not ordinarily hit and it’s nice to have a wide mix of different genres of what I think are good music pieces. I hope you agree.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
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- Mac Miller — Dang! (feat. Anderson .Paak) — This song will surprise some of you I am sure. As an old time rock & roller, this kind of rap music doesn’t get selected as much. This one is a keeper I think. It was released in 2016 on Mac Miller’s, “The Devine Feminine”.
- The Mamas & Papas — Creeque Alley (Single Version) [Stereo] – This is a good time song celebrating the magic that was Laurel Canyon in 1960s & 1970s. This one comes from their 1967 r;eleae, “Deliver”.
- Manfred Mann —Do Wah Diddy Diddy— This song came out asa single in 1964. I loved singing it walking home from the sdance. I was 12 years old.
- Marc Cohen —Walking in Memphis — In 085 a struggling blocked songwriter decided to visit the church where Al Green preached and the home where Elvis lived to see if it might help hm find his songwriter’s voice. It did. Though his debut self-named album and the song would not be released until 1991, Marc found his voice. I just love this song!
- Marcin Patrzałek— Beethoven’s 5th Symphony — This is just amazing music to me. It is hard to imagine that its just one guy on a guitar. This one was released in 2018 on his “Revamp – EP”.
- Marika Hackman — Ophelia — This soulful tune is moving for me. IT was released in 2015, on her “We Slept at Last” album. I hope you enjoy it too.
- Mark Knopfler — on Song at a Time — Mark is a giant in the guitar playing world. To me he seems like a reincarnation of his friend, Chet Adkins. Like Chet, Mark is not imprisoned by any set of genres. This one is from his 2018 solo release, “Down the Road Wherever (Deluxe)”.
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!