April 19th, 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 2,076 days since Russia invaded Ukraine.
This week, I learned some stuff:
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- My heroes all have one trait in common. They have an unwavering commitment to something that others can’t even really imagine. Fred Rogers was committed to a world that was kinder and better a better place for us to raise children. Bob Ross wasn’t committed to a world where everyone explored their creativity. Jimmy Buffett was committed to living in life and sharing that life with as many people who would find it interesting and fun Bob Taylor’s like that. Bob began his guitar building business in his garage in high school in El Cajon, California. That garage business has grown into a full-fledged factory that produces some of the finest guitars available, but that’s not what makes Bob special bob saw the quality of wood that he needed to make great guitars diminishing worldwide and two steps to reclaim any wood that was available to him now and to create sustainable force so guitar makers would have wood of quality needed for guitar making going forward. This week I found another method of Bob was using to get good wood. He calls it urban reclamation. He is in business with various municipal groundskeeping organizations to reclaim the wood that comes from pruning or taking down trees in the course of their business.
- Ever since my warranty ran out of my body, I have been getting regular annual check ups. Each one a little more depressing than the last this year will be no different except my healthcare provider requires a response to a very detailed comparative survey. They ask you to assess your life over the past 12 months. Doing this reminded me that I’m living in a time of my life where change comes in the form of increments that are so small. They are almost un knowledgeable unless you look at them in a comparative analysis like a 12 month gap. For me, the comparison caused the realization. realization that while I’m sure the comparison is valuable to my healthcare providers it’s sort of depressing to me. I’ve been so focused on the transition from being able to see in here well to what I have now that I’ve missed how much the transitions cost me don’t misunderstand. I’m not complaining, but it was shocking when I look back over the year.
- Our lovely visitor left us this week. She says she will determine her next visit by the role of the dice so. It could be a long time or a relatively short time before she comes to see us again. In any case, it will be too long. She brings such an energy and joy to our home when she visits. It’s always missed when she leaves. The only downside to her visits are the accompanying permission to eat anything in sight that it comes with her after every visit we all go on these aggressive diets to try to recover the mere level of health we had before she came.
- Audiobooks continue to grow an importance in my life. As my ability to see and hear the TV diminishes my joy of reading continues to grow this week. I’ve read three books by author by the name of Ellery Adams. She writes very interesting books. They’re who done it, but they all have a unique twist involving either food or books or both in any case she’s a gifted writer I think and very entertaining and I can get lost in her stories. She writes series and I recommend if you’re going to read any of her books. Try to read them in order cause they can’t seem to build on each other kind of like a Dire Straits song.
- Each month I get a little more proficient with the tools that allow me to continue to write read compute and communicate, using less eyesight and less hearing. I may have mentioned it before, but I discovered a software from my iPhone called AI. It’s a collaborative work by Microsoft in Apple I think but it enables limited low vision blind people to see things and read things they couldn’t do any other way they must depend on others to read for them it’s a brilliant piece of work and very helpful and I’m getting better at using it for sometime now, I’ve used the assistance of a magnifier start out is just a very, very weak one and has worked its way up to a fairly significant one. I used to use it just for reading things on my phone now I use it for reading things on my computer as well just like any other skill you have to get used to reaching for keep keeping it with you and thinking of it in terms of a step in the process of you doing some task for it to be valuable. For training purposes I write letters to people and I use this UJT update. I’m very grateful for the things that I have available to me that not so long ago we’re not available to anyone.
- You can find out all about today’s history here.
This week’s Website Update:
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- No new recipes this week.
- The Home Page quote this week is from Random Internet Wisdom (RIW): “Love what you have before life teaches you to love what you have lost.”
Bonsai Tree and Stained Glass, Update:
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- Howdy high procrastinate some more of my Stained Glass project.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
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- My lifelong addiction to reading is just as strong now as it was when I was a child . The titles. have changed but the magic that happens when I read is just as strong now as it ever was. There are stories that make us feel as if we’re standing in the same room as the protagonist for. For some stories, it’s the characters that engages. They pull us into their world. We feel their pain. We share their joy. I think so. I don’t know. I would guess the best books to both the books and authors are very individual. The authors I love, than motivate me and make me feel these things, may not be the same as anyone else’s. As long as I have books, I will never be alone.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
This week we will begin our journey through the letter, “J”. I realized that many of my favorite musicians have names that begin with J. I hope you enjoy this trip.
- Jean-Luc Ponty — Gardens of Babylon — his violin has graced many many songs as part of an ensemble, but this is from his solo album, which I thought was magnificent. I hope you enjoy them too.This songs from his 1977 release, “imaginary voyage”.
- Jeff Beck Grpup — Greensleaves — This record March a turning point in my life, my true discovery of quality rock ‘n’ roll and blues. Jeff Beck introduced us to a fellow by the name of Rod Stewart on this record. It was amazing.This is a great song from his, “Truth” album released in 1968.
- Jefferson Airplane — White Rabbit —This is another game changer album for me.”Surrealistic Pillow.” . released in 1967, introduced us all to a great group of musicians. This band in various forms would take us through decades of great music. Grace Slick k was the heartthrob of most of us growing up at that time she now paints.
- Jefferson Starship — Miracles. — this is another permutation of the band. Released in 1975 “red octopus” continue the brilliant started in the 60s.
- Jimmy Blake — lost Inside — I have no idea how I found out about Jimmy, but this song is impressive to me. I hope you like this it’s different but I hope you like it This one is from his.“Music to do Nothing To” released in 2019.
- Jerry Garcia — Deal — From the vinyl!! The Grateful Dead have always been a tremendous influence on my musical adventures. Jerry was the wizard of the dead leading us all down this wonderful musical path. This was his first show album. released in 1975.
- Jerry Jeff Walker — Little Bird — JJW gave us so much great music. But this little song is always made me smile. I hope you like it. enough.This song. is from “Mr. Bojangles” album released in 1068.
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!