August 20th, 2020
“בוינוס דייאס!”(Buenos diyas), or “Good Morning!” in Ladino, a Jewish language that evolved from medieval Spanish that is spoken mainly in Israel, Turkey and Greece. It is Day 154 of the California Lock Down with “Normal” face mask/distancing ” becomes part of our everyday life, like pants or shoes.
I completed my first week of Census interviews. I am learning a lot. First, I recommend that you do not start a census to coincide with heat wave. Secondly, I am amazed at all the variations on how people spell names. I have to get them to spell out each name. I have only had one “hostile” respondent. I aggressively asserted that he did not have to answer any questions. I agreed with him, said thank you and left as he started to walk towards me. Putz! But most people who are home are very nice and want to do the interview. I worked my way up to a full day. almost(7.5 hours) but by the time I returned home I was completely sweated thru and felt like someone has swapped my blood with lead. I am keeping hydrated and resting my phone and my old guy butt as needed during the day. Everyone at home has been really helpful. Its been a long time since I wasn’t the one cooking all the meals. The only meal I cooked since I started this gig is Little Ceasars!
This week I learned some stuff:
• Darrian found a nice spot for the stained glass panel I gave her. She has the two strange little windows way up high near the ceiling in her room and the little panel I did for her fits perfectly.
• August 20th is the 233rd day of the year (because 2020 is a leap year – but there still only 127 days till Christmas!). Today in 1858, Charles Darwin first publishes his theory of evolution through natural selection in The Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London, alongside Alfred Russel Wallace’s same theory; President Andrew Johnson formally declares the American Civil War over today in 1866; On this day in 1882, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture debuts in Moscow, Russia; In 1920, the first commercial radio station, 8MK (now WWJ), begins operations in Detroit; On this day in 1860, Annie Oakley, American target shooter was born; In 1898, The Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz, Bert Lahr, American actor was born; In 1938, Lou Gehrig hits his 23rd career grand slam, a record that stood for 75 years until it was broken by Alex Rodriguez; The Troubles: Eight British soldiers are killed and 28 wounded when their bus is hit by an IRA roadside bomb in Ballygawley, County Tyrone in 1988; Jacqueline Susann, American actress and author was born today in 1918; Sneaky Pete Kleinow, American country-rock pedal-steel guitarist and songwriter was born today in 1934; Connie Chung, American journalist was born today in 1946; Al Roker, American news anchor, television personality, and author was born today in 1954; And finally, Jerry Lewis, American actor and comedian, passed today in 2004.
Website Update:
This week we made the following changes:
• A “New” Vocabulary Quiz Woooo Whooo!!!
• Last week for the “New” UJT Musical Trivia Quiz!
• I didn’t cook anything this week, nor did create any new dishes. Jess made this really nice Pork Tenderloin dinner with mashed taters, gravy and all .. yum!
Writing, Ceramics and Painting Update:
• This week I have focused all my attention on transitioning from idle old fat guy to industrious Census enumerator. It has been and I think will continue to be an interesting transition.
• Grandpa Stories is still not re-published.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
• This week a friend told me that he had Covid-19 and lived through it. My sister in law and her daughter both got infected. No one is untouched by this thing. I know there is nothing that I could have done to help but I feel badly that I didn’t even know until they got better. Be careful and safe you all!!!
Music Update:
Once again, your fossilized DJ takes you on another tiptoe though the archives to share some things you might missed or never have heard or at least not heard recently.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
• Savoy Brown — Sunday Night — This is a pretty cool song that invokes some guys sitting in a smoky little jazz club making music. This one comes from their 1970 release, “Looking In”.
• Billy Joel – Captain Jack – This is a great song from his “Piano Man album released in 1970. I love the lyrics and the music.
• Spirit — Nature’s Way — This was one of my favorites growing up up. I always had a healthy respect for nature’s tendency to find balance in all things. Cosmic Karma maybe?? Wonder what exactly we did it deserve 2020. This is another release from 1970 called, “Twelve Dreams of Doctor Sardonicus”.
• Mindy Smith — One Moment More — I think that her voice is beautiful and the lyrics are so sweet in this title cut from her 2004 release.
• Boston — Livin’ for You — I kind of lost track of Boston in the 1980s but I always love thier roaring guitars and harmonies. This on is from their 1994 release, “Walk On”.
• Justin Timberlake — What Goes Around…/…Comes Around (Interlude) — I am not sure how it happened. I am not much into the newer “boy band” sound on the radio that my grandkids play but I liked this one a lot. This is from his “FutureSex/LoveSounds” released in 2006.
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!