August 31st, 2017

“Saba7 el khayr” A morning greeting for you in Lebanese.

Happy Diatomaceous Earth Day!!!

Our friends in South Texas need your help! You can click on the link on the UJT Home page to donate to their recovery from this terrible storm.

I actually entered some paintings into next month’s SDWS show. I didn’t hold out much hope for acceptance but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Wow! I was so surprised when my “Shamrocks” painting was accepted and my “Frankie in Boots” mini was selected as an alternate.

I had lost touch with some dear old friends for a couple of months. I was so worried but I got back in touch with both this week. Life is good when you know that all the pieces of your heart are present and accounted for no matter where they live.

This week I learned some stuff:

• I am kind of stuck on a programing problem in CSS land. I am too stubborn to ask for help but I am wearing down the wall I am beating my head against .. its going to solve itself any minute!
mine.

Website Update:
• Added two more Great Quotes for you this week. Mathew McConaughey shared some of his famously corn pone wacky wisdom with Stephen Cobert this week and I just finished a delightful little book by a guy named Nick Trout called, “Dog Gone, Be Back Soon” and there was a passage in it that remind me of a great quote by J.W. Stephens about “..being the person your dog thinks you are..” – which I always thought was a complete grand goal.
• New Vocabulary Quiz – Woohoo!!!
• This week I also added the lyrics for “Sunlight” from The Youngbloods for your sing-a-long pleasure. Enjoy!
• This week I have an extra special treat for the faithful UJT Update readers!! I added another button to The Kitchen Drawer section for The Stuff That Doesn’t Fit. You can learn about and actually enjoy the world famous (at least every part of the world that I have visited since 1992) classic comedy, coming of age movie for an American Family – The Harveys – Yep you got it ..You can watch “Captain Ron” staring Kurt Russell and Martin Short on the UJT for free any time you might want to.
• I added a new “On the Side” recipe this week. A magnificent side dish I came up with this week was something I called, “Flavorful Cauliflower”. Try it, you won’t be disappointed.

Writing and Painting Update:
• I finished the Swindle Painting for my sister. The frame for it just arrived. I have to get it framed and mailed. I also started another. Again, if I promised you a painting for helping out with the MS 50 Mile Walk and didn’t deliver a painting as promised, please let me know the subject and 3 colors and I will get it done.
• I wrote most of another chapter for Artifacts this week. But really didn’t work on it enough!

Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
• Well, both my doc’s and my hopes were dashed this week when my blood pressure returned to his previous levels after a month without meds. So its back on the meds (but at a reduced level).

Music Update:
Click here for week’s UJT Radio program:
• Peter Frampton — Lines on My Face — This is deep cut from his, “Frampton Comes Alive” released in 1976. I think Peter Frampton may have been one of the prettiest boy rockers of the time. He had this sweet face and long blonde curls and he was absolutely gifted guitar player. Peter was the first guitar player to do the voice box thing that I heard of. Later Joe Walsh used one on Rocky Mountain way (he later said, if he had known that the tune was going to become so popular he never would have done it 🙂
• The Youngbloods — Sunlight — Here is a deep cut from their 1969 release, “Miscellaneous”. Its a sweet song about young love. Over the years, I have enjoyed sunlight from a few good women and was always grateful for their warmth.
• James Taylor — Jump Up Behind Me — This one comes from his “Hourglass”. Its a happy tune with bongos, a piccolo and James’ sweet voice singing the sweet words. He always makes me smile.
• Jimmy Buffett — The Pascagoula Run — Jimmy is such a hopeless romantic. In this one he romanticizes a crazy uncle showing him the ways of the world. It could happened just that way..either way as always.. its a good story from a great storyteller!
• Nitty Gritty Dirt Band — Mr. Bojangles — These boys took an old folksinger tune from a fella by the name of Jerry Jeff Walker and turned it into a monster hit that always left a tear in my eye.
• Jerry Jeff Walker — Little Bird — This is a deep cut from his Mr. Bojangles LP released in 1968. Its a totally great song but listen carefully for the amazing guitar work.
• Cheap Trick — Surrender — Another anthem song from yesteryear. “Guardians of the Galaxy 2’s sound track is giving everyone flashbacks. Did you know that Kurt Russell,
• Matchbox Twenty — I Believe in Everything — This is another one from their 2012 release, “North”. These boys know just how much is enough.

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!

James
Under the Jacaranda Tree URL: http://www.jfmccann.com