May 4th, 2023
“ 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 in the end of hostilities. It has been 427 days since Russia invaded Ukraine.
This has been a tough week in a couple of different ways. As you know most of the past little while its been “my time in the bucket”. I am an avid believer in mother nature’s insistence on balance. I have lived a truly gifted life, and enjoyed health, friendship, experiences, loves, and passions some only dream of. I have come to understand that our lovely pendulum will indeed swing back when it’s time. I call those swing backs, “my time in the bucket” and try to smile the best I can. We lost a Canadian giant this week too. Gordon Lightfoot’s songs, singing and playing gave me such joy and comfort throughout my life. His songs always made me cry but not always in sadness. I got to watch him play when we were both younger men. RIP sweet Gordon!
This week I learned some stuff:
My productivity continues to inch its way back to normal. I cooked a couple of dinners and fixed the bathroom faucets. Whoo Hoo! I still didn’t make the weekly GLPS&L gig. Oh well.
My younger brother makes these incredibly detailed metal models. Today, he sent me his latest creation. It was amazing and I could never ever do one. Thanks, Mike!
I had this habit of writing handwritten letters to friends of mine. In a world of tests, phones, and emails, I really thought doing a letter made the recipients feel cared for which was my goal. I am going to try to pick up the habit again. Emails just don’t say it right.
This week’s historical reference section has been put on hold. Frankly, I possess neither the energy or desire for it this week, Having said that May 4th is the 124th day of 2023. Just 243 days till Christmas.
This week’s Website Update:
One more week before we get a new Vocabulary Quiz
Week 2 for the New Musical Trivia Quiz
This week I added no new recipes.
The Home Page quote for this week is from, Rene Magritte, Artist. (Man in Suit, Pink Floyd Album cover for “Wish You Were Hear”), “I dread precisely knowing what my limits are.”
Writing, Ceramics, Bonsai Trees, Stained Glass, and Painting Update:
Been thinking about painting an awful lot but so far have avoided any actual work. Haven’t made it to Ceramics class yet. Tools in the car but the butt is on the toilet.
I am continuing my streak of slacking off on the paper edits of Grandpa Stories. I just haven’t carved out any time for more chapters.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
Being sick is mostly about being stuck and limited. This week was like that for me. But i did manage to stumble over some weird stuff. Maigret is a fictional French Chief Inspector brought to us by Georges Simenon. My mother read every Maigret mystery should get her hands on. In spite of my love of good mysteries and my trust in Mom’s taste, by the time she told about them, I had found out about girls .. and so it goes. Anyway, I digress! While stuck couch surfing, I found a new to me TV series based up on this pragmatic semi priggish sleuth, played by none other than Mr. Bean – Rowan Adkisson! And he plays the role well even though the concept of him doing is very strange indeed. I digress yet again. I was trying to find the next episode when i stumbled across Rene Magritte, an impressionist from the 19th century. I ended up watching his bio and found it fascinating!
Music Update:
Another week of joy and music to share. Enjoy.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
Steve Winwood — Higher Love (Full) — This is another song that makes me smile. This one comes from his fourth solo record, “Back In The High Life” released in 1986. Chaka Khan sings back up on this great song.
Gordon Lightfoot — Sundown — This is the title cut from his 1974 release.
Gordon Lightfoot – If You Could Read My Mind — This was my introduction to Gordon’s music. An important relationship just ended, and I was brokenhearted even though in my heart I knew it was for the best. The tears still flow when I listen. I remember trying to learn the song on guitar and the words and music getting all blurry on the sheet music page. This one comes from his 1970 release, “Sit Down Young Stranger”.
Stephen Stills & Judy Collins — So Begins the Task — This is just a great song sung by two of my favs but the guitar work is what truly blows me away… even after all these years of being amazed by Stephen’s guitar work! This one comes from their 2017 release, : Everybody Knows”. This is a heartbreaking song for me too. I seem to picking a few this week.
Cold Play — Speed of Sound — These guys have always impressed me. This was one of the first songs I heard from this band. I liked it a lot. This is from their album, “X&Y” released in 2005..
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!