June 7th, 2025
“ Dobroho ranku”, or “Good Morning!” in Ukrainian, is an Eastern Slavic language spoken mainly in Ukraine. The UJT will remain focused on Ukraine until we can all rejoice at the end of hostilities. It has been 2,1 25 days since Russia invaded Ukraine.
This week, I learned some stuff:
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- Just as last week, the UJT was jetting out across the Internet, I was paging through the Facebook reels when I came upon a a very moving story. It was a story of two men. The first was an 87 year-old hero from Vietnam. The second was a better movie actor the story is how they came together in Arlington Cemetery on a rainy Tuesday morning being jaded by the compost available to us through the Internet. My first question was could this be a true story? But as I listened and was moved by the story, I realized it just didn’t matter. There was truth in this story that I could get if I paid attention. I got my cup of coffee watch the video again started making phone calls. I decided it was time I showed up. Here’s a link to the story.
- Late spring in Hurley summer prime birthday time in our family. We have a lot of Geminis! This week we are celebrating Tippy’s 29th birthday. We had a nice dinner. We went full tilt, Cuban! Ropa, Vieja, black beans and rice and Maduros – YUM!
- Our protests this week was relatively peaceful no MAGA yahoos showed up to demonstrate their ignorance and prejudice.
- Have you ever noticed that some stories never get old. No matter how many times you’ve read the book or saw the movie. You can always watch it one more time. There’s always something you missed the last time. There aren’t a lot of books or movies that fit that category but I suspect my wife and children would say it’s way too many. I am currently rereading the complete works at Sherlock Holmes. I don’t know what kind of doctor Arthur Conan Doyle was but the boy could write! As I age and the billiards on the page don’t they matter differently, but I’m not quite sure how. I’m sorry you were so good to wait for me to get done with that. Thank you so much. You’re such a sweet boy. How do you get to be sweet? Oh my goodness that was quite a belly rub that was quite a b. Go sit down blow my nose and put on my socks. Get ready for the workout.
- Do you remember Reader’s Digest? When I was growing up, those little magazines were stacked up everywhere! At both my grandmother’s house, the doctors offices and school of course. I even read them when I was in the Navy. They’re always seem to be one or two around. You could always find something positive inside those little covers often something funny but always moving and helpful. This week got discovered the online website for readers digest, and I was pleased to know it was still out there and still feeling about the same.
- You can find out all about today’s history here.
This week’s Website Update:
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- I have a new recipe for homemade Gyoza Sauce that I think is every bit as good as the version that Trader Joe sells in a bottle. Everyone at our house is a big fan of Jia so this is an important step forward.
- The Home Page quote this week is from Dolly Parton: “Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”.
Bonsai Tree and Stained Glass, Update:
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- I appear to be perfecting the art of Procrastination
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
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- I’m generally a very positive person. I focus sharply on positive things that have happened in my life. In terms of memories. There may have been bad things going on at the same time, but that’s not the focus I have when I look back in my life. I had two terribly traumatic things happened to me when I was a b boy. The first was when I was six my brother and my grandmother and I were getting into our car in Royal Castle on the corner of US one in Coral Reef Drive in South Florida. My grandmother had taken us up there after a day of driving around the neighborhood, trying to find our lost dog. Arthur had dug a hole under the fence and escaped. We kept looking till it was dark, so grandma didn’t have time to cook dinner. We had just finished our $.15 cheeseburgers and five cent bBirch Beers. We had to go to school tomorrow and needed to get our bath and homework done. Just as we got to our car, we heard barking from across US 1 highway. We all turned and saw a black streak running .across the highway. Arthur got about halfway across when. a truck stopped him from finding his way back home. I didn’t think I would ever get over that moment. From where we were, we could see that the little black body was all mangled. Mu grandmother just drove us home. We did a lot of crying for a while, but we really didn’t know what to do with the feelings we had. As time went on, we seemed to get used the idea that Arthur wasn’t gonna be coming home. We’d still get a little choked up when we saw a little black dog around the neighborhood, When we went to church, we prayed that Arthur was in a better place. Going through it like this again,I can understand why I don’t spend much time focused on the sadness in life, but some days you just can’t get away from it. Or at least I can’t. I’ll never understand anyone who wants to spend their time remembering painful things on purpose.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
This week let’s continue with the “Ns” and then we’ll finish up with the “O’s”.
- Nitty-gritty dirt band —Mr. Bojangles —I have loved this song since the first moment I heard it. I still can’t listen to it without getting a tear in my eye. This is the title cut from their 1970 release.
- Norah Jones — Sunrise — This is Beautiful song comes to us from Quincy Jones’s little girl. Is the title cut from her 2004 release. This particular version comes from the songs for Japan album.
- Ohio Players. — Fire — in the mid to late 70s, those of us who didn’t succumb to the disco draw became more or less obsessed with just funky music In 1974. These boys arrived on the scene joining up with Funkadelic and the Commodores.
- Olomana — Grandfather’s Music — From the Vinyl!!By 1976, my wife and I were living on Oahu with our little baby Sean and learning all about Hawaiian music. This is my first album of wine music self titled and released in 1976. The beautiful harmonies and melodies stole my heart. I hope you like it as well.
- Orleans — Let There Be Music —This is another great band from the 70s. This is the title cut from their first record and it just blew me away when it came out in 1976. The music was so tight and reminding me of Toto and Steely Dan.
- Otis Redding — (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay — this song is all about being at peace. I hope Rose, was a piece when this single was released in 1968, about a month after he died in a plane crash it struck a responsive cord in the kids in my high school. Kids wouldn’t listen to any other soul music at all or even blues we’re humming this song in the hallways..
- The Outlaws —Green Grass and High Tides — I got to see these guys play one time and it was pretty amazing. They couldn’t quite figure out if they’re a rock ‘n’ roll band or country but they did it all real well this is from their self title album released in 1975.
- The Ozark Mountain Daredevils — If You Want to Get to Heaven — There’s another great song for one of those bands that couldn’t figure out whether their country or rock ‘n’ roll. I also got to see these guys when they were touring back when they had four or five bands on every ticket. They were great. This was released in 1973 on their self titled album.
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!