July 14th, 2022
“ Dobroho ranku”, or “Good Morning!” in Ukrainian, an Eastern Slavic language spoken mainly in Ukraine. I have decided to maintain the UJT will focus on Ukraine until we can all rejoice in the end of hostilities. It has been 138 days since Russia attacked Ukraine.
Forty-nine years ago last Sunday, I was about 1/3 through a 33 hour straight work day. We we finished, my best man and I had time to shower and pick up my wife, almost. We arrived at the office of the Honorable Bruce Schmizwick about 10 minutes late for our 3pm appointment. The Norfolk City Marriage Commissioner’s office was dressed in fishing gear and holding a pole and tackle box when we entered the office. He was not pleased but agreed to marry us as I was heading back out to sea the next morning. We all stood in his office with the Commissioner in front of solemnly repeating the legal words that would unite us for at least the next 49 years while my best man swiped Herseys Kisses from his desk and passed them to my wife to be. When it came time to say her “I do” it came out something like “I mechula because her mouth was filled with chocolate. Eric and I laughed but Mr. Schmizwick was not pleased. “Can we finish this thing so I can go fishing before dark?” he scowled at us. We finally got both our “I do’s” done and he said, that famous phrase, “ By the power vested in me, I pronounce you man and wife” as one single word as he was turning to leave. All three of us cracked up and finished off his kisses and left a pile of the wrappers on his desk. The lady in the front office did not smile when she handed us our papers. Eric dropped us off and our honeymoon consisted of me sleeping being exhausted. And that was just the first thing she had to put up with … the list is long but we are still together. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
This week I learned some stuff:
• As young man one of my my jobs was working as the Salad Guy at an upscale restaurant. As the salad guy, I prepare all of the dishes not cooked. This included shucking all the oysters and clams, making lobster salads and making a whole lot of Ceasars Salads. The head chef taught me how to make Ceasars Salad using his own personal Ceasar Salad bow. He told me if I was going to be the Salad Guy, I would need to buy my own bowl and begin to “season” my own bowl. Well, I had other ambitions so I used his bowl until I got out of the Salad Guy biz. Until this week I have been suffering through hundreds of propertied Ceasars Salads. even at high end restaurants. The real thing is illusive. I decided to become a salad guy again and make my own. Yum!
• I was trolling thru Tubi last Friday and came across, “ The USS Indianapolis”. I knew the story of the Indianapolis as I think and hope every sailor if not every American knows. It was not taught in my history class that covered WWII in south Florida but I love to read and love to study history in particular so I knew the story before Robert Shaw told the story as part of Jaws. Fearless Nick Cage took on the role of Captain McVay in this movie and he does a great job of portraying one of Americas greatest unsung heroes. It was an emotional experience for me which is a tribute to the movie but mostly to the men of the USS Indianapolis. My tears were for both survivors and those that perished during her sinking and after by the sharks.
• July 14th is the 195th day of 2022. Just 173 days till Christmas! Today in 1789, the storming of the Bastille in Paris. This event escalates the widespread discontent into the French Revolution. Bastille Day is still celebrated annually in France; Today in 1798, Sedition Act of 1798 becomes law in the United States making it a federal crime to write, publish, or utter false or malicious statements about the United States government; In 1853 on this day, the opening of the first major US world’s fair, the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in New York City; In 1874 on this day, the Chicago Fire of 1874 burns down 47 acres of the city, destroying 812 buildings, killing 20, and resulting in the fire insurance industry demanding municipal reforms from Chicago’s city council; Today in 1933, in a decree called the Gleichschaltung, Adolf Hitler abolishes all German political parties except the Nazis; In Diamond, Missouri, the George Washington Carver National Monument becomes the first United States National Monument in honor of an African American on this day in 1943; Today in 1957, Rawya Ateya takes her seat in the National Assembly of Egypt, thereby becoming the first female parliamentarian in the Arab world; Today in 1960, Jane Goodall arrives at the Gombe Stream Reserve in present-day Tanzania to begin her study of chimpanzees in the wild; the dedication of statue of Rachel Carson, a sculpture named for the environmentalist, in Woods Hole, Massachusetts was held today in 2013; Today in 1910, William Hanna, American animator, director, producer, and actor, co-founded Hanna-Barbera was born; Born today in 1912, Woody Guthrie, American singer-songwriter and guitarist was born: Gerald Ford, American commander, lawyer, and politician, 38th President of the United States was born today in 1913; Harry Dean Stanton, American actor, musician, and singer was born today in 1926; Rosey Grier, American football player and actor was born today in 1932; Today in 1938, Jerry Rubin, American activist, author, and businessman was born; William H. Bonney aka Billy the Kid, American gunfighter and outlaw died today in 1881; Adlai Stevenson II, American soldier and politician, 5th United States Ambassador to the United Nations passed away today in 1965; And lastly, today in 1998, Richard McDonald, American businessman, co-founded McDonald’s passed away.
Website Update:
This week:
• Last week for our Vocabulary Quiz!!! Yeah!!!!
• Week 2 Musical Trivia Quiz
• I was able to come up with a new recipe for real Ceasars Dressing this week.
• The Home Page quote this week is from the ancient biographer and philosopher, Plutarch, “An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics”. I was about 12 when my mom gave me Plutarch’s lives. I was enthralled.
Writing, Ceramics, Bonsai Trees, Stained Glass and Painting Update:
• My freebee Eastern Hemlock is not happy. It is dropping leaves. I hope he can get past the shock. Keep your fingers crossed.
• I mentioned above that I have started another painting of one of Chris Spain’s amazing images. This one has a lone blue chair sitting in the sand when the tide is out at dawn. I am struggling with it but haven’t given up. His images are so beautiful when I can’t make similar beauty happen on the paper, it’s tough.
• 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.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
Some of the happiest days of my life have the days when I got my teeth cleaned. There is a special feeling of clean that washes over me and makes me appreciate well being.
Music Update:
This weeks mix is another reflection of the parts of life that mean the most.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
• Brad Paisley — Waitin’ on a Woman — I have loved this song from the first time I heard it. This song features Brad’s great guitar playing and Andy Griffith is the old man in this song. This seems like an appropriate song this week. This one is from his 2008 release, “Play”.
• Crosby, Stills,Nash & Nash — 4 + 20 — Oh man! This one is one my favorites from “Déjà Vu” released in 1970.
• Cheap Trick – Surrender – This one was treat for me when it came up on this this weeks rotation. Not everyone’s cup of tea but I always like the song. This was a hit singe for them from their 1978 release, “Heaven Tonight”.
• k. d. lang – Constant Craving – This is one of those songs that you get or you don’t. I still get it after all these years. This is from her 1992 hit from “Ingénue”.
• Emerson, Lake and Palmer — Lucky Man — The last time we heard this one was about a year ago. It is from their first album, “Emerson, Lake and Palmer”, released in 1970. This was written by Greg Lake when he was 12 years old. It also features my first experience with a Moog Synthesizer, which blew my little chemically messed with teenage head away.
• The Allman Brothers Band — One Way Out (Live at Fillmore East, 1971) — We are going to close out this weeks UJT playlist with this cut off The Allman Brothers Band’s iconic release of July 1, 1971 to commemorate the 51 year anniversary of that magical event.
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!