July 5tth, 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 2,153 days since Russia invaded Ukraine.
This week, I learned some stuff:
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- When I first retired, I was so busy doing not work that I had no time for anything. I rushed around volunteering for this taking that class exercising painting doing ceramics, intending my bonsai. I had no idea how I managed to work and do all that stuff before. But now I think of myself is really retired. I can’t see or hear very well so I don’t do much volunteering. I can’t pay anymore. I can’t do ceramics anymore. I still mess with my bonsai a little, but not as much as I used to. I seem to get a lot of pleasure sitting outside, listening to the waterfall, but other things have changed too. Poor example I have had the same screensaver on my Mac for a good deal of time, but I never noticed before that the forest is a redwood forest, but unlike most pictures of redwood you see these are not gigantic towering thousand year-old species. These are thinner and more plentiful. The perspective of the viewer changes it’s like the viewer is walking around the nearest tree and you see different perspectives on the trees behind it. I don’t think I ever would’ve noticed that if I was still working or still retired like I used to be it’s rather peaceful.
- We are ramping up for some fairly significant events this month. On July 9 our granddaughter from Texas will join us. Chloe always brings a lot of energy and interesting information and perspectives to our little party. And this will be the first time she’s meeting Riley, Darrian’s new kitty. Ben on the 11th, her grandmother and grandfather celebrate their 52nd wedding anniversary! That is a long time!! We talked it over and we’re having a fairly low-key event – grilling some steaks, baking, some potatoes and everyone picking up a side dish or dessert they can make of course we’ll have a keg and ice cream just because we can. You don’t have to read.my book to know that I am a lucky man.
- This week I started planning the 19th anniversary of the first game our GLCPS&L ever played. I’m hoping we can set up a game that will include some of our friends who have moved away. Keep your fingers crossed.
- I still need to do something about my grass. But this week, I treated the pond for some algae growth and it looks much better.
- You can find out all about today’s history here
This week’s Website Update:
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- I I popped here – add recipes.
- I didn’t think it would happen again in my life, but once again I find myself conflicted on the date of our celebrated independence. True, we have much to still be proud of, but these days we have a lot more to work on. The Home Page quote this week is from Stevie Wonder: “As we stand between history’s, pain, and tomorrow’s promise, we must choose courage over complacency.”.
Bonsai Tree and Stained Glass, Update:
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- Last week, I said I was restarting my Stained Glass project… I lied. Maybe this week. I did prune and rewired my old Fcus bonsai tree that I’ve been training for 15 years or so.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
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- I didn’t get to protest this week. I couldn’t arrange the transportation, but in my heart I’m still against the status quo and struggling to change things the best I can. I fear for the health and safety of my fellow Americans, who standard of living and very survival or being so cavalierly bantered about in Congress. Those of us in greatest needs are being used as pawns on a chessboard by people who have no stick in the game. Their nourishment, healthcare and viability as individuals and citizens is being threatened by the very people that are supposed to be representing their needs. We should all feel a sense of shame for the total disregard being shown by our political leadership for those of us who need help.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
This week let’s continue with the artists under the “S” category.
- Spirit — Nature’s Way — I feel like spirit is one of the most underappreciated bands of their time. Randy California and the boys put together some amazing records that talked about real things real issues and made you think this was a major hit for them. This song was released in 1970 on their “Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus album.
- SpookyTtooth —Better by You, Better Than Me —spooky too there’s another one of those unsigned bands from that era. This was a cut off there “Spooky Two” album released in 1969.
- Spoon — Don’t Make Me a Target — My daughter recommended these guys to me and I really enjoyed them right from the start. This cut is from their 2007 release, “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Bonus Track Version)”.
- Steely Dan — Aja — Steely Dan is one of my all-time favorite bands! Everyone of their albums is unique and amazing. With each release, they got more sophisticated, infected themselves as songwriters and musicians. A lot of people don’t know they’re when they were first starting out they had a bass player by the name of Chevy Chase that they went to college with. This song was the title cut from their 1977 release. There are just too many cuts that I could play for you from this album.
- Steely Dan — Out of Mi Ind — This is a favorite song that my friends and I would play backgammon drink, Cuban coffee and enjoy fine Colombian in South Florida in between my stents in the Navy. These were golden days. This is from their album, “Gaucho” release in 1975.
- Steely Dan —Any World (That I’m Welcome To) —t this is another Cuban coffee favorite! “Katie I Lied” was a great album re released in 1975.
- Dan — Pretzel Logic — this is the title cut for one of my favorite cheerleading hand records. This is one of his records you could put on listen to one side go and flip it over and listen to the other side and enjoy the whole experience. “Pretzel Logic” was released in 1974.
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!