August 25th, 2022
“ Dobroho ranku”, or “Good Morning!” in Ukrainian, an Eastern Slavic language spoken mainly in Ukraine. I have decided that the UJT will remain focused on Ukraine until we can all rejoice in the end of hostilities. It has been 180 days since Russia attacked Ukraine.
This week I learned some stuff:
• Teaching myself to cook healthier is a challenge. I am trying to limit my red meat intake to 3-6oz every two weeks or so. It’s arbitrary but seems to make sense. I intend to eat much more seafood that I have been eating. I have always enjoyed fresh veggies but I am cranking that up a notch with a lot more fruit in my diet. So far so good.
• Our grandson just returned from Wyoming visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. They camped and had a great time. We are all happy he is home safe with some great experiences under his belt.
• My stained glass saga continues. GRRRR!
• August 25th is the 237th day of 2022. Just 131 days till Christmas! Today in 1509, Galileo Galilei demonstrates his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers; Today in 1916, The United States National Park Service is created; In 1944 on this day, Paris is liberated by the WII Allies; In 1948 on this day, The House Un-American Activities Committee holds first-ever televised congressional hearing: “Confrontation Day” between Whittaker Chambers and Alger Hiss; On this day in 1982,Voyager 2 spacecraft makes its closest approach to Saturn; Today in 1989, Voyager 2 spacecraft makes its closest approach to Neptune, the last planet in the Solar System at the time, due to Pluto being within Neptune’s orbit from 1979 to 1999; Voyager 1 spacecraft enters interstellar space becoming the first man-made object to do so on this day in 2012; Today in 1796, James Lick, American carpenter and piano builder who became one of the wealthiest men in California at the time of his death was born; Born today in 1819, Allan Pinkerton, Scottish-American detective and spy; Today in 1900, Hans Adolf Krebs, German physician and biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate was born; Leonard Bernstein, American pianist, composer, and conductor born today in 1918; Born today in 1921, Monty Hall, Canadian-American television personality and game show host; Sean Connery, Scottish actor and producer was born today in 1930; Tom Skerritt, American actor was born today in 1933; Frederick Forsyth, English journalist and author was born today in 1938; Elvis Costello, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer was born today in 1954; Tim Burton, American director, producer, and screenwriter born today in 1956;Michael Faraday, English physicist and chemist passed away today in 1867; Friedrich Nietzsche, German philologist, philosopher, and critic passed away today in 1900; Alfred Kinsey, American biologist and academic died today in 1956; Truman Capote, American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter died today in 1984; Jack Nitzsche, American pianist, composer, and producer) today in 2000; Neil Armstrong, American pilot, engineer, and astronaut passed away today in 2012; And lastly, today in 2018, John McCain, American Naval pilot, POW in Vietnam, Veteran and politician passed away.
Website Update:
This week:
• A New Vocabulary Quiz!!!!!!
• Week Two for the Musical Trivia Quiz!!!
• Another busy week in the Kitchen, creating and trying new recipes – Crab Stuffed Portobellos and Roasted Garlic.
• The Home Page quote this week is actually a quote from someone I had never heard of, Soren Kierkegaard,“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”.
Writing, Ceramics, Bonsai Trees, Stained Glass and Painting Update:
• My new Weeping Willow bonsai has turned the corner into early treedom. YEAH!! I have another willow stick that I really need to pot this week.
• I am proud of my perseverance if not my success in doing this stained glass project. I am learning a lot. Ahem!! Enough Learning!! I want this thing done!
• 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:
This week is just a couple environmental and situational observations with recommendations. First, my house is becoming “Catland”! There are a triple decker cat activity condo, hundreds of cat toys in essentially every room in the house, cat leashes with harnesses and of course to obligatory cat boxes (1 per cat) and feeding stations. I mention this as a cautionary tale. Cats are going to take over the world!!! You have been warned!. Another thing is roasted garlic. My mom converted to a roasted garlic aficionado back in the 1980s. She would preach the gospel of roasted garlic to anyone who would listen. But I successfully resisted until now. OMG! Really good! Try it. Lastly, I am not sure where you all are on your downward spiral towards the drain but modern medicine has created huge numbers of remedies for our ever increasing list of ailments and maladies. For example, if you have congestive heart failure, you are probably taking a “directic” which helps your body shed unwanted or needed water. It really is not too disruptive unless, you brush your teeth, wash dishes, clean pond filters, water bonsai plants or change physical position such as to sit or stand up (unless this happens on the toilet). If you do any of those things plan to be interrupted by your suddenly very persistent bladder. Just about everything I do is a 3 or 4 step process now .. step 1 start work; step 2 go pee; step 3 return to task. The 4th step may occur prior to or shortly after attempting the task – to go pee. And so it goes…
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:
• The Jimmy Hendrix Experience — The Wind Cries Mary — I was one of the fortunate who discovered Jimi Hendrix almost at the same time his first album, “Are You Experienced?” released this week in 1967. His innovations changed the entire realm of possibilities of electric guitar playing. And I always thought his vocals were magical as well.
• U2 — Vertigo — The boys were just kicking out the jams on this one. I really like the song. It was released in 2004, on their 11th studio album,“How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb”.
• Jude Cole — Tell the Truth(Album Version) — This was another wonderful song by Jude that I loved as soon as it came out. This is a deeper cut from his 2005 release, “Start the Car ”. I love the guitar work as well as the song writing on this one.
• Harry Chapin — Taxi — When I hear this song it still gives me a little lump in my throat. This comes from his “Heads & Tales” album released in 1972
• Lee Ritenaur —Freeway Jam (feat. Lee Ritenour, Mike Stern & Tomoyasu Hotei)— To me this is just so hot and tight. Impossible to believe it was just an unrehearsed jam. This one is from Lee’s, “Lee Ritenaur’s Six String Theory” album released in 2010.
• George Gomez – Bistro Fada v 1.3.a – This one has not been released on an album yet. My friend George shared it with me a few years ago. I think it is just beautiful..
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!