July 28, 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 152 days since Russia attacked Ukraine.
We have a visitor from Florida this week. It is great to see one of my favorite sisters in law again. Sharon has always been champ when it comes to helping people along. We are all exited to be seeing her again.
This week I learned some stuff:
• Starting this month, no matter where you live in the U.S., you can easily access 24/7 emotional support by calling 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visiting 988lifeline.org/chat to chat with a caring counselor. Please tell your friends and relatives about this support and how to access it.
• I have split my time between Stained Glass and Bonsai Trees this week. My stained glass project is proceeding in spurts and dips … with only a little bit of frustration scream shared with my neighbors. Recently, I acquired 2 Weeping Willow sticks. According to directions these bad boys love to propagate in water. One has a lot of roots and the other not so much the both have a lot of new growth. I will be maving them into pots soon.
• July 28 is the 210th day of 2022. Just 159 days till Christmas! Today in 1854, USS Constellation, the last all-sail warship built by the United States Navy and now a museum ship in Baltimore Harbor, is commissioned; Today in 1866, at the age of 18, Vinnie Ream becomes the first and youngest female artist to receive a commission from the United States government for a statue (of Abraham Lincoln); In 1866 on this day, the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution is certified, establishing African American citizenship and guaranteeing due process of law; In 1896 on this day, the city of Miami, Florida is incorporated; Today in 1918, the Silent Parade takes place in New York City, in protest against murders, lynchings, and other violence directed towards African Americans; U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson announces his order to increase the number of United States troops in South Vietnam; Summer Jam at Watkins Glen: Nearly 600,000 people attend a rock festival at the Watkins Glen International Raceway today in 1973; Today in 1866, Beatrix Potter, English children’s book writer and illustrator was born; Born today in 1901, Rudy Vallée, American actor, singer, and saxophonist; Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, American journalist and socialite, 37th First Lady of the United States was born today in 1929; Mike Bloomfield, American guitarist and songwriter was born today in 1943; Sally Struthers, American actress was born today in 1947; Today in 1954, Steve Morse, American singer-songwriter and guitarist was born; Johann Sebastian Bach, German organist and composer died today in 1750; Archer John Porter Martin, English chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate passed away today in 2002; And lastly, today in 2021, Dusty Hill, American musician and founding member of ZZ Top, passed away.
Website Update:
This week:
• Last Week for our Vocabulary Quiz.
• A New Musical Trivia Quiz!!! Yeah!
• I was unable to come up with a new recipe this week.
• The Home Page quote this week is from one of my favorites, Winston Churchill, “Great success always come at the risk of enormous failure”.
Writing, Ceramics, Bonsai Trees, Stained Glass and Painting Update:
• I put off plsnting my Weeping Willow trees. I trimmed the roots some and put them back in the water to get a bit more established.
• The new stained glass project is a learning experience. I had to disassemble it back to the first part because I cut the lead came short on one of the longer runs which is what they call, “No Bueno”.
• 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:
I have the strangest allergies!Every morning or almost every morning, I will sneeze 10-15 times in a row. Then I am done. It happens at all times of the year and has happened in virtually all the places I have lived throughout the world. No one can explain it to me. Sometimes I sneeze so hard and fast that I loose count of how many sneezes I have had.
Music Update:
This week’s eclectic mix is another reflection of the parts of life that often mean the most.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
• Billy McLaughlin — The Pond — Now for something completely different. This is a beautiful instrumental that one could meditate to, I think. It is apply named as it reminds me of the time I enjoy sitting in my back yard listening to the waterfalls in my pond with the birds singing back up. Google Billy sometime when you have a moment to be impressed. This one is from his Stormseeker album released in 2001. • Three Dog Night — Try a Little Tenderness(Live) — These boys just kind of rolled out of nowhere to make a soulful difference for us hard core rockers. I got to see them once – a great show. This is from their, “Three Dog Night: Greatest Hits Live ” album released in 2008.
• Ambrosia — You’re the Only Woman — From the Vinyl!!! This is a great tune from their “One Eighty” album released in 1980. There are so many great songs on this record! • Bob Schneider — Metal and Steel — This is a deep cut from his great, “Lonelyland” album released in 2001.
• Mike + The Mechanics — Taken In (Remastered) — I love the sax on this tune. This is a remastered version of the cut on their debut self titled album released in 1985.
• Pink Floyd — Comfortably Numb — This is a live version of a song that is about a place far that too many of us find our way to at various points in our lives. Sometimes its drugs, alcohol or just ambivalence that takes you to that place where there is nothing wrong but at the same time, not a hell of lot of right either. Some never come back. This a live version of thier classic is from their “The Wall” album released in 1979, recorded as “Is There Anybody Out There? – The Wall Live 1980-81”.
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!