May 10th, 2018
“ Mayad nga tiprano” “Good Morning” in Cuyonon, a Philippine language spoken mainly in the Cuyo Islands in the Philippines..
To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, we did a bunch of new Mexican dishes. It was fun and tasty!
My vertical pallet garden is planted. I am so excited to see it grow. We have onions, cilantro, marjoram, rosemary, a few types of lettuce,peppers and watermelon. We have it in a sunny part of our backyard near to the table and grill. Please keep a good thought for our little fledgling plants!
This week I learned some stuff:
• Have you heard of Amazon’s Treasure Truck? Its pretty cool. From time to time, the get really good (like 40-60% off) deals and just put them on a truck, text their customers about the deals and where the trucks will be and for how long. If you like the deal, you buy it on Amazon Smile (you are using Amazon Smile right?) and then meet the truck at one of the locations posted to pick up the deal. We have done it twice so far. The first time was for some beautiful wild salmon and yesterday, I got a set of Calphalon pots and pans for 50% off the price I had been looking at. Its not available in all cities but it is pretty cool.
• May 10th is is “National Clean Up Your Room Day”, so take that journey into the unknown of what is under your bed, wash that quilt you have been using all winter, organize your bookshelf and start on the 6 weeks of laundry you had piled up in your closet!
Website Update:
• New Vocabulary Quiz!!! Woohoo!!
• I added several new recipes this week.
Writing, Ceramics and Painting Update:
• Still cannot touch the Wisteria in bloom painting. I started the String Of Pearls painting in class but was too hung over to do anything last Friday. I have another painting still banging around in my head as well.
• Took the Blue Meany and Glove home. I have to redo Glove because the finger was not supported well enough and was broken. Started Urge II!
• I told you all that I had started the detail work on the Chewy acrylic painting last week. Started my be too strong a word. I did stare at it and get disgusted…doesn’t brush and paint have to be involved to constitute a start ?? I may have exaggerated…. a lot..
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
• Well it appears that we did incur the medical costs as the time it was billed. Oh well.
• I watched our California Gubernatorial Debates last night where 6 of the 27 people who have gotten their names on the ballot reminded us of all their good deeds as mayors, state senators or representatives or businessmen and of all the reasons that we should not vote for the other guys. Several made excellent points but the saddest part is that there were at least 2 who have taken a page from Donald Trump’s play book. One democrat and one republican just kept each of their statements to the marketing message instead of taking the opportunity to articulate the steps that they would take to address the issue being discussed. They chose to stay in polarization mode where they blurt out reactionary positions and the fluffy justifications that pander to their preferred audience. One has even mirrored Trump’s reneging practice on legally established agreements already in place. I wonder if any one else has noticed that the “deal maker” has only made one significant deal since he got the job. He negotiated the biggest windfall tax break for the wealthiest people in the country. But virtually none of the “deals” promised that would be “fast and easy” have happened – No health care deal, no Immigration deal (except to back out of the Dreamer deal in place) No DAW deal (dumbass wall deal where Mexico pays for it). Has anyone else pondered the question, “Why would anyone sign agreements with the US, now that they know the US will not honor its obligations and commitments?” The cost of lost credibility in our commitments is a price our children and their children will be paying for a long time. Now we have those dishonorable practices taking place at the state level. It is just sad. 986 days and counting!
Music Update:
Go to this week’s UJT Radio program.
• ZZ Top — Manic Mechanic — These bearded boys just having some fun. This one is from their “Dequello”, released in 1979
• Poco — Keep On Trying — This is one of the most beautiful harmony songs of the 1970s. This one was released on their, “Head Over Heels” album in 1975.
• Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels — Devil With the Blue Dress On / Good Golly Miss Molly — This is an great dance song from 1965. Do you remember seeing them on ShinDig or Dick Clark’s
• The Police — Roxanne — This was one of their earliest and biggest hits. This one comes from their 1978 debut release, “Outlandos d’Amour”. Eddie Murphy does a pretty good cover in “48 hours”.
• Dan Fogelberg — Nether Lands — From the Vinyl!!!! This is the title song from his album released in 1977. Dan’s beautiful voice song writing is woven into an orchestra of sound. Its a pretty song, sung well. I miss Dan alot.
• Santana — Black Magic Woman — Whenever I hear this song, I flash back to the strip outside NOB in Norfolk, VA where a young sailor could drink all the 3.2 beer he could afford and watch women about their moms age shake those tasseled pasties in 1970. This comes from their, “Abraxas” album released that year.
• Bruce Springsteen — Further On (Up the Road) — Just Bruce telling another story to music. This one is from his album, “The Rising” released in 2002.
• Bruce Hornsby — The Longest Night — Just some very very tight music from Bruce. This one is from his 1994 release called, “Hot House”. Oh my my …
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!
James
Under the Jacaranda Tree URL: http://www.jfmccann.com