June 1st, 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 455 days since Russia invaded Ukraine.

My youngest grandson, Asa, is graduating from high school this week. Jess and Darrian were able to attend. I am proud of all my grandkids. I don’t need a diploma to celebrate how smart and special they are. I feel so lucky just to have known them and watched them grow up.

This week I learned some stuff:

    • I have started my Cardio Rehab and am really looking forward to it. The programs my doctor prescribed is pretty impressive – 2 hours/session – 1-hour exercise +  1 hour classroom x 3 times/week. They attach these devices that monitor you while you are exercising. The classroom sessions are about diet, cooking and mindset. 
    • June 1st is the 152nd day of 2023. Just 213 days till Christmas.  On this day in 1779, the court-martial for malfeasance of Benedict Arnold, a general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, begins; Today in 1792, Kentucky was admitted to the union, followed 4 years later on the same day, by Tennessee; Today in 1890, the United States Census Bureau begins using Herman Hollerith’s tabulating machine to count census returns; Adolf Eichmann is hanged in Israel today in 1962; Today in 1990,U.S. President George H. W. Bush and  Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev sign a treaty to end chemical weapon production; Oklahoma City bombing co-conspirator Terry Nichols is sentenced to 161 consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole today in 2004; Today in 2011, Space Shuttle Endeavour makes its final landing after 25 flights; Today in 1801, Brigham Young, American religious leader, 2nd President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was born; Frank Whittle, English airman and engineer, developed the jet engine  was born today in 1907; Today was Andy Griffith, American actor, singer, producer, and screenwriter’s birthday in 1926; On that same day in 1926,  Marilyn Monroe was born; Morgan Freeman, American actor and producer was born in 1937; Jim McCarty, American blues rock guitarist form The Detroit Wheels was born today; Today Ronnie Wood, English guitarist, songwriter, and producer with Small Faces, Jeff Beck Group and Rolling Stones was born in 1947; Alanis Morissette, Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actress was born today in 1974; Lizzie Borden, American accused murderer passed away; today in 1927; Helen Keller, American author and activist died today in 1958; Finally, we lost  Hank Ketcham, American cartoonist, created Dennis the Menace in 2001. 

This week’s Website Update:

    • A New Vocabulary Quiz !!!
    • Week 2 for our Musical Trivia Quiz
    • This week I added a few new recipes  – Grilled Chicken and Greek Lemon Potatoes. Both of these dishes were popular at our house. 
    • The Home Page quote for this week is from, Dean Martin,
      “Good judgment comes from experience. And Experience? Well. that comes from poor judgment. 

Writing, Ceramics, Bonsai Trees, Stained Glass, and Painting Update: 

    • I haven’t felt very motivated to create this week. I really don’t have any excuse. 
    • Did some bonsai maintenance.
    • I inventoried my glass, lead came, and Zinc channels. I found some green glass I can use but no browns, yellows or blues I need. I also do not have zinc channels.
    • 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. This might be becoming a habit! 

Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:

    • I have often stated that mother nature seeks balance in all things. I am finding that particularly true in terms of my life. As a boy and young man, I was fit, active, inquisitive, constantly feeding my skinny self and seemingly indestructible. Now that see-saw is on the other side, I have to enforce a regime of fitness, have reduced my food intake to one real meal per day and now through Cardiac Rehab, I am learning that I must reduce or eliminate much of what makes flavor in the food I eat if I want to be healthier. All I can say is now that I have to pay the toll, I am soooooo glad I chose to enjoy the ride to get here. 

Music Update: 

Another week of joy and music to share. It started it out with just one guitar instrumental and just persisted. Enjoy.

This week’s UJT Radio Program: 

  • John Denver — Rocky Mountain High —  Always one of my favorite songs by JD. I love his beautiful voice. We loved singing along to this one on road trips in our car. This is the title cut from his 1972 release. 
  • David Seder — Warm Wind — This a tight instrumental that reminds me of an earlier time, perhaps the jazz clubs of the 1950s. Anyway, I like it. It’s from his.”  This Time in Between  “ album released in 1995. 
  • Mindy Smith – Come to Jesus — This is one of those “I have no idea how I got it” songs but I am glad I did. I like Mindy Smith! There is a genuineness that permeates every song she writes. This one is from her, “One Minute More” album released in 2004. 
  • Led Zeppelin — Black Mountain Side —  This little song (the shortest one on the album) was always one of my favorites. It was just so different than all of their other songs and it showcases Jimmy Page’s excellence at guitar and Viram Jasani’s skills on the tabla.   This is from their debut album released in 1969. 
  • England Dan & John Ford Coley — Love is the Answer — This was one of those songs that whenever it came on the radio, would stick in my head and I would be humming it all afternoon. This is from their, “Dr. Heckle & and Mr. Jive” album released in 1979.
  • Shawn Phillips — Ballad of Casey Deiss — My friend Dean Chimerakis played this album for me during the comedy of the first months of my marriage almost 50 years ago in 1973. I love the range and clarity of Shawn’s voice and the music. This is from his album, “Second Contributions” released in 1970. 

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!