February 25th, 2021
“Nyob zoo”, or “Good Morning!” in White Hmong, a Hmong-Mien language spoken mainly in Laos and Thailand. It is Day 357 since the first California Lock Down. We are opening up more vaccine delivery points that we can keep stocked with vaccine. The terrible winter storms are hampering the government’s increasing efforts to stock vaccine sites.
Some time back, we discovered we needed to replace our old bed. With some of the challenges we are working with we decided to go with a california king split adjustable bed with some of the newest gel technology. Well, we got the bed and the two different mattresses but my wife has had trouble adapting to the new mattresses …she tried both and decided that neither of the ones we had would work. I contacted the company and they dutifully sent out a more plush replacement but that was even worse. So now, I am getting another hybred mattress that incorporates layers of the new memory foam gel on top of the more supportive traditional mattress springs. I hope this does the trick.
This week I learned some stuff:
• February 25th is the 49th day of 2021. Just 309 days till Christmas! Today in 1836, Samuel Colt is granted a United States patent for his revolver firearm; On this day in 1933, USS Ranger was launched at Newport News, Virginia. It is the first purpose-built aircraft carrier to be commissioned by the US Navy.; Today in 1986, President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos flees the nation after 20 years of rule; Corazon Aquino becomes the Philippines’ first woman president; On this day in 1954, the first Church of Scientology is established in Los Angeles; Today in 1888, John Foster Dulles, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 52nd United States Secretary of State; Today in 1901, Zeppo Marx, American comedian (the youngest of the Marx Brothers) and theatrical agent was born; Today in 1913, Jim Backus, American actor and screenwriter; the voice of Mr. Magoo was born; George Harrison, English singer-songwriter, guitarist and film producer; lead guitarist of The Beatles was born today in 1943; Rudy or Sean Astin, American actor, director and producer was born on this day in 1971; Daniel James, Jr., first African American four-star general and pilot passed away today in 1978; Tennessee Williams, American playwright, and poet passed away today in 1983; And finally, Louisiana Red, American singer-songwriter and guitarist passed on this day in 2012.
Website Update:
This week we made the following changes:
• A New UJT Vocabulary Quiz! Who Hoo!!! I also increased the font size to make the page more readable.
• Last week for our Musical Trivia Quiz !
• This week I didn’t develop or post any new recipes.
Writing, Ceramics, Stained Glass and Painting Update:
• I finally start back to work on my stained glass project this week.
• I missed my watercolor classes this week but i did order some new mediums I am looking to try!
• Grandpa Stories is still not re-published.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
• As a practicing “old guy” for the past 40 years or so, I have always found that amplifying my limitations or discounting my personal abilities to be a helpful mechanism for engaging others more fully in the endeavor at hand. Leaning on my more limited “old guy” status, seemed to put some people more at ease in their contributions and less threatened by some perceived org chart positioning. For the most part this method (among others) has served me well. Now that I am complete committed “old guy”, I am afraid some of my previously presented limitations maybe in fact present. So if anything I say or do feels offensive to you in anyway, please just let me know. I will do my “old guy” best to avoid those pitfalls in the future.
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:
• Return to Forever – Medieval Overture – After such an eloquent epitaph for Chick Corea last week, it completely slipped my mind to include an example of his music for your consideration. I understand fusion jazz is not everyone’s cup of tea but I encourage you to listen to this song and hear the musicianship in the chaos. This one is from their “Romantic Warrior” album released in 1976.
• The Eagles — Desperado — From the Vinyl!!! I think this my third copy of this record. The other two were sacrificed to overplaying and loss of motor skill whilst consuming celebratory levels of Tequila Sunrises in altered Monopoly games that are some what fuzzy to recall, just now. Without a doubt my favorite Eagles record right up until, “Hotel California” was released. This title song set the stage for the whole album and took us all back to a romantic time of outlaw cowboys and wide open spaces. Though it was never released as single, it has always been recognized as a great song. Eagles’ “Desperado” album was released in 1973.
• Jewel — Foolish Games (feat. Kelly Clarkson) — There has always been something special about Jewel for me. This is a cut from her debut album, “Pieces of You” released in 1995. This duet version was from her “Greatest Hits” album released in 2013.
• Spoon — The Underdog — This one always reminds me of Billy Joel for some reason. Maybe because it’s got this catchy vibe to it like so many of his records. This one is from their, “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” album released in 2007.
• Steely Dan — Doctor Wu — We haven’t heard from Dr. Wu is a year or so…This one is just a Miami song. I can close my eyes and see the Cuban gentlemen playing backgammon in the park smoking their stinky cigars and laughing. Great percussion and Phill Wood’s sax is special on this one. This one is a sound track for too much cocaine and weirdness that came to us from their, “Katy Lied” album released in 1975.
• • Jefferson Airplane — Volunteers — Another cut from one of my favorite Woodstock bands. I saw them at the Miami Jai Lai just before I went into the Navy in 1970. It was just magical! I loved watching Marty Balen and Grace Slick sing with Paul Kanter on rhythm and Jorma Kaukonen, on lead guitars and Jack Casady on bass. This was the title cut for their album released in 1969 but this version is a remastered cut from their “Hits” album released in 1998.
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!