July 1st, 2021
“ Guid mornin”, or “Good Morning!” in Scots, a West Germanic language spoken in Scotland. Scots is considered a separate language from Scottish English and from the English of England, and is recognized as such by the Scottish and UK governments. I have been emerged in crime novels set in Scotland lately. It lingers with you.
“Hi ho! Hi ho! It’s off to work I go” Or Not! I am not sure if I mentioned it but the US Census service called me back to duty… I don’t know …something about saving the planet with better data … anyway, I got a road trip to Burbank for training. I had started to detect an anomaly in my running gear the previous week but figured it was just the temporary wobbles or something. But by the second day of training, when I walked the 100 yds or so to get to the class from my hotel I found myself breathless 4-6 times with each recovery time taking a bit longer. I had just ruled out Pulmonary stuff with a visit to a specialist a few weeks back. I made a note to talk to my Dr. when we have my annual physical in August. But this was getting worse, so at lunch time I called the doc to move my August appt closer and by the end of the conversation, the Triage nurse was saying go to the ER. So I negotiated a reprieve to get me through the second day of class at least and went to the ER. By 2 am, the next morning I in my hospital room, wired for every possible contingency. After two days or testing, new meds and lectures, I was once again free to find my way home. Jessica and BJ made the journey to look after me and cart my fat but on home. We listened to a Scottish crime novel all the way back on the I5. The kids had decorated, Tippy made veggie lasagna and I felt very welcomed. And lucky to be kicking around still. The Census folks have been great about the whole thing. We are going to schedule something next week to catch me up on what I missed.
This week I learned some stuff:
• I learned a lot about governmental surveys that go way beyond the counts we did for the 2020 Census. These are much longer, more intrusive and even more important as the form the knowledgeable for much of the US Health policy and service delivery.
• It’s been so great having Chloe here. We have had some fun, repotting plants, playing games, doing stained glass projects. She is so smart, sweet and pretty. Hard to believe she is related to me, even distantly!
• I was able to make a nice stir fry on my second attempt to made edible tofu! You might remember my failure at the smoker 🙁
• July 1st is the 182nd day of 2021. Just 177 days till Christmas! Today in 1766, François-Jean de la Barre, a young French nobleman, is tortured and beheaded before his body is burnt on a pyre along with a copy of Voltaire’s Dictionnaire philosophique nailed to his torso for the crime of not saluting a Roman Catholic religious procession in Abbeville, France – WOW!; Today in 1770, Lexell’s Comet is seen closer to the Earth than any other comet in recorded history, approaching to a distance of 0.0146 astronomical units (2,180,000 km; 1,360,000 mi); On this day in 1846, Adolphe Sax patents the saxophone;Today in 1870, the United States Department of Justice formally comes into existence; SOS is adopted as the international distress signal today in 1908; Today in 1966, the first color television transmission in Canada takes place from Toronto; On this day in 1972. the first Gay pride march in England takes place; Today in 1979, Sony introduces the Walkman; David Brower, American environmentalist, founded Sierra Club Foundation was born today in 1912;Willie Dixon, American blues singer-songwriter, bass player, guitarist and producer, was born today in 1915; Sydney Pollack, American actor, director and producer was born on this day in 1934; Delaney Bramlett, American singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer was born today in 1939; Today in 1948, John Ford, English-American singer-songwriter and guitarist was born; Dan Aykroyd, Canadian actor, producer and screenwriter was born on July 1st 1952; Allan Pinkerton, Scottish-American detective and spy passed away today in 1884; Harriet Beecher Stowe, American author and activist died today in 1896; Buckminster Fuller, American architect, designed the Montreal Biosphère passed in 1983; We lost Wolfman Jack, American radio host today in 1995; And finally, Herbie Mann, American flute player and saxophonist, passed away today in 2003.
Website Update:
Forgive me but I wasn’t up to making many changes to the UJT this week.
• Last week for the new Vocabulary Quiz
• Week two for our new Musical Trivia Quiz
• I added one new recipe this week – Bimbimbap. It is a delicious Korean veggie dish.
• This week’s Home Page quote comes from Thomas Edison, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
Writing, Ceramics, Stained Glass and Painting Update:
• My granddaughter Chloe has sort of kick started my stained glass thing again. I also was contacted by some of my watercolor classmates to get me to start back to classes.
• Grandpa Stories is still not re-published.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
• Pills! With my latest adventure I have picked up a whole new crop of pills and only stopped two. I now take 5 two times a day at meals and four one time per day. I feel like Clint Eastwood’s character in “Bloodwork”! I am taking my weight (always depressing), my BP, temp and O2 saturation two times per day. I never wanted to know this much about me.
• When you have a chance, just stop and enjoy that moment. It doesn’t have to be anywhere or anytime special. Just that one moment, that only you can have and then it is gone. In that moment, just feel the gratitude for all who have helped you. Look for forgiveness for all those who harmed you. Find something new to know or understand. Enjoy your successes and failures equally. And then just smile for it only takes that one moment. That is what we are here for .. that moment.
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:
• Joe Walsh – Rocky Mountain Way — From the vinyl !!! The last time I saw Joe in Concert, he played this song. It was funny because he said if knew how popular the song was gong to get he never would have recorded it because every show that he does now, the audience demands that he play it.
• Mary Gauthier – Mercy Now — Featured this one back in 2013 but it came around on the iPhone rotation this week and I thought I would treat you to it once more.
• Jack Johnson – Dreams Be Dreams — This is one of my favorites by JJ!!! .. Its a really good advice .. don’t let your dreams just be dream .. make them goals and work at them.
• Lifehouse – Hanging By a Moment – These guys are just amazing and almost as talented as their manager/producer Jude Cole. This is just a great tune.
• Dave Mathews Band – Two Step – Here is one of my favorites from a band that too its sweet ass time sneaking up on me and taking my heart. Hang on … its a good ride.
• James Taylor – Shower the People — From the vinyl !!!!Another wonderful piece of advise… just say it .. when you feel it .. say it to the ones you love. There are no do overs.
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!