April 27th, 2024
“ Dobroho ranku”, or “Good Morning!” in Ukrainian, 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 815 days since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Today is my little girl’s birthday!!! Happy Birthday Jessica!! I hope it is your best birthday ever but not quite as good as next year.
This week I learned some stuff:
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- This week my Ceramics Professor notified me that the pieces I had started in class before I had to withdraw, had been found, finished, and were ready for pickup. I am profoundly grateful for her kindness and thoughtfulness.
- This week, I was in a doctor’s office and we were reviewing the maladies on the chart to make sure that they had a full and accurate list of all the broke shit on the carcass. As I responded to their queries, I was struck by the number of “No” answers that were given. It seems like our personal list of broken stuff is endless but clearly, it is not and we are fortunate that we do not have more of nature’s old folks’ maladies available to us. It was a positive interpretation of the same data.
- You can find out all about today in history here.
This week’s Website Update:
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- I came up with a new dish this week, that we seemed to enjoy a lot. My Empanada Casserole was very tasty and fast to prepare. I also updated my Homemade Jambalaya recipe.
- Back once again is the Musical Trivia Quiz. This one is different than those of the past in that it focuses on one person’s music – Bruce Springsteen.
- The Home Page quote for this week’s wisdom is from one of the iconic father figures from Blue Bloods, Frank Regan: ‘ We judge ourselves by our good intentions, we are judged by our last worst act”.
Writing, Bonsai Trees, Stained Glass, and Painting Update:
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- There are 2 or 3 scary times if you are a bonsai person. The first spring after bonsai-ing a deciduous tree the year before. That is when you find out if your tree is really alive and begins to bud and is going to make you happy, or not. Another time is after reporting or potting a new bonsai, those first weeks when the tree is deciding if it has been abused too much or will forgive us and grow anyway. I have two trees in the latter category right now. Keep your fingers crossed.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
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- When you are young you take for granted your attractiveness, strength, wind, and smarts (such as the are) and live as if all of these things will remain the same for all of your life. Which is true if you die very young. But if you are given the gift of old age, you are given a whole new life to live. The choices about how to live with this new set of rules demonstrate one’s true character. Everything about your life has changed since you were young. You cannot do as much mentally or physically. You don’t know as much. The world seems to change much faster and has many unfamiliar things going on or available. Your options, once accepted as valid, are now just tolerated or no longer relevant by their audience. Perhaps the most challenging aspect of this new life is the determination to keep learning and growing when it seems your body and mind may be headed the other way. We cannot pretend we or the world are the same, it just doesn’t work. I am pretty sure all of us will face this if we live long enough. How we embrace this part of our lives should be at least as gracious as we accept our younger selves. Our goals are to laugh as much as we can; To love with all of our hearts, And to deliberately get up every day expecting a good day- albeit slower and with more pills:)
Music Update:
I am dangerously close to establishing a workout habit or routine. I have been hitting the gym almost every day for a half hour of Elliptical time.” Why do you mention it in the UJT Radio space, you ask? Because I am getting a lot more quality time with my iTunes Library. Enjoy the ride!!
For your listening pleasure: This week’s UJT Radio Program:
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- Bruce Springsteen — Human Touch — I first heard this song when it was released as part of the “Songs for Japan”, a charity compilation album created to benefit relief efforts for the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. It quickly became one of my favorite BS songs. I have a lot of favorite songs by Bruce.
- Neil Young — Harvest —I think Neil Young might be the Earnest Hemingway of music. His compositions are so concise and set to such simple melodies yet still strike me as profound and moving. This is the title cut of his iconic 19y2 release that featured virtually off of my favorite players.
- Nickelback – Someday — This song was one of the first tunes I heard by these Canadian boys. t debuted on UJT Radio in 2016. I am not sure what it is that people don’t seem to like about this band but I have always enjoyed their music. This was released in 2003 on their “The Long Road” album.
- Three Dog Night — Try a Little Tenderness(LIVE) — I got to see these guys play once. The images are fuzzy but the memory is a good one. They we the opening act for someone else back in the days when each concert ticket was under $10 and featured at least 3 bands. This was a big hit for them in 1969.
- John Mayer — Daughters — As I said earlier, today is my little girl Jessica’s birthday! Every time I hear this song I think of her. This was from his 2003 release, “ Heavier Things”.
- Steve Miller Band — Baby Calling Me Home — This is a special song from ‘back in the day’ when SMB was a very very psychedelic band! Boz Scaggs wrote this song for their “Children of the Future” released in 1968.
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!