May 27th, 2021
“დილა მშვიდობისა (dila mshvidobisa)”, or “Good Morning!” in Georgian, a South Caucasian language spoken mainly in Georgia.
This week has been a great one for me. I was able to reach an amicable settlement with the home maintenance giant AHS using the Better Business Bureau complaint system. It took a lot of “to-ing and fro-ing” but in the end, I walked away with an equitable resolution. For the record, I do not believe that AHS operates a good faith business model. Another great thing that happened this week is that I found Jack’s ex. She is lovely lady who lives in Ottawa, Canada. I reached her through a post I made on Linked In that some EDS Canada folks saw. As I had feared, none of his golfing buddies or Cathy had heard of Jack’s passing. It was great to share stories and our mutual loss of this very special man. I was also able to confirm that Jack was indeed a multi-nationally recognized shitty golfer:)
This week I learned some stuff:
• I know every one teases Californian’s for some of our, how should I say it, ‘unconventional’ methods of living. But every once and awhile, I stumble over something that though it may happen elsewhere, just makes me happy to be a Californian. This week, while driving my wife to the doctor, we happened across a field of goats. There must have been well over 100 goats in this small field by the road. It took awhile to figure out that they weren’t goats at all. They were California organic weeding and fertilizing machines doing their part without fossil fuels.
• May 27th is the 147th day of 2021. Just 212 days till Christmas! Today in 1927, Ford Motor Company ceases manufacture of the Ford Model T and begins to retool plants to make the Ford Model A; Today in 1933, Walt Disney Company releases the cartoon Three Little Pigs, with its hit song “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?”; On this day in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge opens to pedestrian traffic, creating a vital link between San Francisco and Marin County, California; Today in 1962, the Centralia coal seam mine fire in Pennsylvania is ignited in the town’s landfill above a coal mine. Current estimates are that it will burn for another 250 years before it runs out of fuel; U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy is launched by Jacqueline Kennedy and her daughter Caroline. today in 1967; Today in 2016, Barack Obama is the first president of United States to visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and meet Hibakushal Wild Bill Hickok, American police officer was born today in 1837; Dashiell Hammett, American detective novelist and screenwriter was born on this day in 1894; Vincent Price, American actor was born today in 1911; Louis Gossett, Jr., American actor and producer was born today in 1936; Bruce Cockburn, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist was born today in 1945; Today in 1955, Juanita Kurtz McCann, partner and mom extraordinaire was born; And finally, Gregg Allman, American musician, singer and songwriter passed away today in 2017.
Website Update:
This week we made the following changes:
• Last week for our new Vocabulary Quiz.
• Week two for new Musical Trivia Quiz.
• No new recipes this week.
• This week’s Home Page quote comes from Mahatma Gandhi. “You must be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
Writing, Ceramics, Stained Glass and Painting Update:
• My creative gear box has been and still is stuck in neutral. I haven’t figured out how to push start this particular VW!
• I didn’t attend watercolor classes this week via zoom. I hope we can go back to the classroom soon.
• Grandpa Stories is still not re-published.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
• I am a fully committed BritBox British Crime series binger. It started several years ago when I discovered “Midsomer Murders” and “Sherlock” but by now I have completed numerous others. I have also taken on the empire, as it were, across space and time by binging on the Canadian series, “Murdock Mysteries” and even the down ender post WWII series, “Dr. Blake Mysteries”. However, these excursions into the colonies are mere dalliances as it appears I cannot take my eyes away from the various British counties and cities in the search for villains and dastardly cowards who would
“Pervert the cause of justice”. Tally Ho Watson!
Music Update:
Once again, yours truly takes you on another meander through the dusty cobwebs of my music library.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
• Jude Cole — Worlds Apart (Album Version) — This is just a very pretty song played beautifully. This is a great cut from his “Start the Car ” album released in 2005. I love the guitar and harmonies!
• Seal — A Prayer for the Dying — This is from his second album entitled “Seal” released in 1994. Hearing this takes me back to chilly German mornings driving the Opel through the autumn leaves on my way to Amsterdam for the weekend. I truly loved singing to the steering wheel with this one. Rumor has it that my grandson, BJ has taken up this genetically induced practice with this song as well. I also captured the lyrics for this one on UJT here. I hope you will sing along too.
• Eric Clapton – Crying Eyes (feat. Christine Lakeland & Derek Trucks)— Like Mr. Clapton, I miss our old friend J.J. I enjoy Derek’s sweet guitar work on this one too. I hope you like this cut from his 2014 memorial release, “The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale”.
• Soundgarden — Black Hole Sun — My son Sean was the first one to tell me about this band I think. This was released on their “Superunknown” album released in 1994.
• U2 — With or Without You — I love every song not this album! This one comes from their iconic, “Joshua Tree” released in 1987.
• Eric Clapton and Tracy Chapman — Give Me One Reason — This song was another reminder of by my brother Mike. This week he sent me a couple of very interesting covers of some great old tunes. I am funny about covering songs, especially ones I really like to begin with. Sometimes it takes me several listens or maybe just time to adjust to the new take on my old favorite. This one is not exactly a cover but it is amazing. This was released in 1999 on “A Very Special Christmas: Live from Washington, D.C.”
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!