August 18th, 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 173 days since Russia attacked Ukraine.
This week I learned some stuff:
• I was working out our menu for the week and discovered some errors (boo boos and omissions) from my Grandpa’s Stuffed Pablano pepper recipe. I updated it. Speaking of glaring errors, I forgot to update the historic context of August 11th, I simply left the August 4th write up stand. I am sorry.
• Our first week without Georgie has been tough. I am not sure why but we don’t talk about it much but we all feel her absence and the gapping hole in our lives. I cannot enter the house or answer the doorbell or listen my neighbors in the yard without missing her.
• My continuing stained glass saga continues. I managed to burn up my trusty old soldering iron. I ordered a new one which kept me from doing much for the rest of this week too.
• August 18th is the 230th day of 2022. Just 138 days till Christmas! Today in 1590, John White, the governor of the Roanoke Colony, returns from a supply trip to England and finds his settlement deserted; Today in 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, guaranteeing women’s suffrage; In 1958 on this day, Vladimir Nabokov’s controversial novel Lolita is published in the United States; In 1963 on this day, James Meredith becomes the first African American to graduate from the University of Mississippi; On this day in 1971, Australia and New Zealand decide to withdraw their troops from Vietnam; Steve Biko is arrested at a police roadblock under the Terrorism Act No. 83 of 1967 in King William’s Town, South Africa. He later dies from injuries sustained during this arrest bringing attention to South Africa’s apartheid policies. today in 1977; One hundred activists, officials, and other concerned citizens in Iceland hold a funeral for Okjökull glacier, which has completely melted after once covering six square miles (15.5 km2) on this day in 2019; Today in 1587, Virginia Dare, granddaughter of Governor John White of the Colony of Roanoke, the first child born to English parents in the Americas was born; Born today in 1984, Marshall Field, American businessman, founded Marshall Field’s (my mom’s favorite department store in Chicago) was born; Today in 1841, William Halford, English-American sailor, lieutenant, and Medal of Honor recipient was born; The Grandmother of the American Conservation movement, Margaret Murie, American environmentalist and author was born today in 1902; Born today in 1911, Amelia Boynton Robinson, American activist; Caspar Weinberger, American captain, lawyer, and politician, 15th United States Secretary of Defense was born today in 1917; Shelley Winters, American actress was born today in 1920; Rosalynn Carter, 41st First Lady of the United States was born today in 1927; Vincent Bugliosi, American lawyer and author best known for his prosecution of the Charles Manson group was born today in 1934; Gail Fisher, American actress best known as Manix’s secretary was born today in 1935; Robert Redford, American actor, director, and producer was born today in 1936; Patrick Swayze, American actor and dancer was born today in 1952; Today in 1866, Eli Whitney Blake, American inventor, invented the Mortise lock passed away; Joseph E. Seagram, Canadian businessman and politician, founded the Seagram Company passed away today in 1919; Walter Chrysler, American businessman, founded Chrysler died today in 1940; B. F. Skinner, American psychologist and philosopher, invented the Skinner box died today in 1990; Scott McKenzie, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (Are You Going to San Francisco) today in 2012; Don Pardo, American radio and television announcer passed away today in 2014; And lastly, today in 2018, Kofi Annan, Ghanaian diplomat and seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations passed away.
Website Update:
This week:
• Last week for our Vocabulary Quiz.
• A New Musical Trivia Quiz!!!
• I have been busy this week, creating and trying new recipes – Hot and Sour Soup; Cuban Shrimp Creole, Turkey Burgers, Cajun Corn Cobbettes, Airfryer Corn Fritters and Saltless Creole Seasoning. I did the hot and sour recipe last week but couldn’t test it until this week.
• The Home Page quote this week is actually a quote from one of my favorite actors, Tom Selleck, “Few of us are as good as we think. None of us are as good as we can be.”.
Writing, Ceramics, Bonsai Trees, Stained Glass and Painting Update:
• Still keeping my fingers crossed for my new Weeping Willow bonsai . I have another willow stick to pot this week. We did a bunch of Bonsai maintenance this week… removing/replacing wiring, pruning…etc.
• I am proud of my perseverance if not my success in doing this stained glass project. I am learning a lot.
• 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 was wasting time on Facebook the other day and something occurred to me. Over the past few years, a fairly large number of “amazing, incredible, ancient remedies are rediscovered or new fantastic breakthroughs have happened that are alleviating pain, extending life, eliminating belly fat or smoothing skin and helping with erections”. I find it strange with all this impressive chances to fix their lives, I have yet to see one of my FB comrades or connections post anything saying any thing like, “I heard about product X on FB and it changed my life, or now have a full head of hair, or my wife is complaining that my erections are now too big or long lasting.” So the next time you are enticed down the mouse clicking path to a video where someone you never heard of promises to present to you (in just a few minutes) that remedy that you would like or the fortune just waiting for you to build, remember.. no one you ever heard of has experienced what they are selling. Just saying…
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:
• Paul Simon — Something So Right — Paul Simon had a knack of hitting my feelings on the head in his music. This sone is an example of that trend. This is cut from his, “ There Goes Rhymin’ Simon” album released in 1973.
• Sarah Betton — Come Over Here — This is an interesting song from an interesting artist. Sarah is a trans man who began her career as Sam Betton. In any case, I really like the song. It was released in 2005, on their album,“Scream”.
• The Youngbloods — Darkness, Darkness — This was another anthem kind of a song from my youth. This is from their 1969 release, “Elephant Mountain”.
• Jerry Garcia — Sugaree — From the Vinyl!!!! We lost Jerry 27 years ago last week. This one of my favorites from his first solo effort, “Garcia” released in 1972.
• Nickel Creek — Smoothie Song — This is a wonderfully upbeat “Joyful Noise” kind of a intramental by a very gifted trio (mandolin, fiddle and guitar. This one is from their, “This Side” album released in 2002.
• George Michael — As (Duet with Mary J. Blige) — George Micheal has a wonderful voice. I kind of thought of him as our generation’s Perry Como or Johnny Mathis. This is a wonderful cover of one of my favorite Stevie Wonder songs, released on his Ladies & Gentlemen” released in 2011.
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!