May 14th, 2020
“Buen diya! ” or “Good Morning”in Aragonese, a Romance language spoken in parts of Aragon and Catalonia in Spain. It is Day 56 of the California Lock Down (i.e. Shelter in Place order + Face Masks are Required in Public; some relaxing of retail business starting).
It’s been a tough week for old folks. We lost Little Richard and Jerry Stiller this week. Little Richard pushed so many boundaries while delivering old time rock and roll to us all. Jerry Stiller made us all laugh for more years that I can remember. RIP boys and I know you are having fun where ever you are.
This week I learned some stuff:
• I reacquainted myself with the joys (Not!) of tiling. I came up with seemingly simple idea for replacing the destroyed glass top to our table out back with a table new table top made of the same tile and stained would that I used for the Bar B Que island I built. I just needed some backer board (got it), the tile, more mastic and some moulding to cover the edges. It coming together but the 2 day project originally estimated has now become a week long adventure. It will be finished this week!
• May 14th is the 135th day of the year (because 2020 is a leap year – but there still only 230 days till Christmas!). On this day in 1607, Jamestown, Va. is settled as an English Colony; In 1796, the first small pox vaccination was given; Today in 1800, The Lewis and Clark Expedition begins; On this day in 1948, Israel is declared an independent state and initiated the first Arab-Israeli War; In 1955, the Soviet Union and eight other nations sign the Warsaw Pact; Today, in 1973, US launched it’s first space station, Skylab; In 1936, Bobby Darin, American singer-songwriter and actor is born; David Byrne, American singer-songwriter, producer and actor was born today in 1952; In 1984, Mark Zuckerberg, American computer programmer and businessman was born today; American dancer and actor, Rita Hayworth passed away today in 1987; Frank Sinatra passed away today in 1998; B. B. King passed away on this day in 2015; Tim Conway. American actor and writer, exited stage left on this day in 2019.
Website Update:
• Last week for our “New” Vocabulary Quiz
• Week 2 for the “New” UJT Musical Trivia Quiz !!!!
• I did not add any recipes this week.
Writing, Ceramics and Painting Update:
• I still haven’t gotten back into painting much since they switched to virtual classes.
• Grandpa Stories is still not re-published.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
• I feel like a new grandparent for the birds occupying our little bird house. Mom and dad spend every possible moment fetching and delivering meals to their noisy little offspring. Doing a good job! To be honest, all the cool stuff going on in our backyard is keeping me from finishing my projects in a timely manner. I got to see a bunch of humming birds and butterflies this week. I even got to watch a hummingbird shadowing a butterfly.
Music Update:
Another tiptoe though the archives to share some things you might missed or never have heard or at least not heard recently.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
• Bruce Cockburn — Deep Lake — This beautiful meditative instrumental is from his “Speechless” album released in 2005.
• Joni Mitchell — Carey — From the Vinyl!!!! This one is from her iconic double live album, “ Miles of Isles” with Tom Scott and the LA Express, released in 1974.
• Lifehouse — Blind — This deep cut comes from their 2005 release, “Lifehouse”. These guys just mesmerize me whenever their songs come up in my rotation.
• Matchbox Twenty — Overjoyed —. This is another deep cut from a great band. This one comes from their, “North” album released in 2012.
• John Prine — Angel from Montgomery — This one made its way into my headphones when we were all told we lost John to COVID-19. This one comes from his “John Prine” album released in 1971.
• Emerson, Lake and Palmer — Lucky Man — This is from their first album, “Emerson, Lake and Palmer, released in 1970. This was written by Greg Lake when he was 12 years old. It also feature my first experience with a Moog Synthesizer, which blew my little chemically messed with teenage head away.
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!