September 2, 2021
“ Pėhévevóonā’o”, or “Good Morning!” in Cheyenne (Tsėhesenėstsestotse), a Plains Algonquian language spoken in Montana and Oklahoma in the USA.
Make your time count. Do things that matter to as many others as you can. Art is like that so are generosity and kindness are as well. If you can create something and give it away, then that work may be enjoyed by others you have never met and will never meet even after you are done. It doesn’t have to be painting or sculpture.. It can be anything that you give of you without reservation. It is the only way I know to live forever.
This week I learned some stuff:
• My “nice O2 leash” is a still pain in the “tookus”. Just saying!
• This week marks the 16th anniversary of when Katrina hit Louisiana and Mississippi as another storm, Ida, heads their way. I hope we learned all the lessons we needed in Katrina.
• September 2nd is the 245th day of 2021. Just 114 days till Christmas! Today in 1901, Vice President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt utters the famous phrase, “Speak softly and carry a big stick” at the Minnesota State Fair; Today in 1912, Arthur Rose Eldred is awarded the first Eagle Scout award of the Boy Scouts of America; Today in 1838, The last Hawaiian monarch, Liliʻuokalani of Hawaii was born; Ruth Bancroft, American landscape and garden designer was born on this day in 1908; Billy Preston, American singer-songwriter, pianist, and actor was born today in 1946;In 1948,Christa McAuliffe, American educator and astronaut was born today; Mark Harmon, “Gibbs”, American actor and producer born today in 1949; Mik Kaminski, English musician, rock violinist foe Electric Light Orchestra was born today in 1951; Today in 1957, Steve Porcaro, co-founder of Toto, American keyboard player and songwriter was born; Keanu Reeves, Lebanese-Canadian actor, singer, and producer was born today in 1964; Ho Chi Minh, Vietnamese politician, 1st President of Vietnam passed away today in 1969; We lost – J. R. R. Tolkien, English novelist, short story writer, poet, and philologist today in 1973; Christiaan Barnard, South African surgeon and academic who performed the first human to human heart transplant passed away today in 2001; Neil Simon, American playwright and author on this day in 2017; And finally, we lost,Mark Abrahamian, American guitarist for Starship, died today in 2012.
Website Update:
Restarting the cycle this week:
• Last week for “New” Vocabulary Quiz
• Week 2 for our “New” Musical Trivia Quiz
• Last week I had a couple of new recipes to share but I also had technical issues. I will leave the links to 1 Pan Fish with Bacon, Chicken, Corn and Okra with Tarter Butter and Sausage Mushroom Polenta recipes.
• This week’s Home Page quote comes from Fred Rogers as a message of comfort after 9/11, “No matter what our particular job, especially in our world today, we all are called to be Tikkun Olam — repairers of creation. Thank you for whatever you do, wherever you are, to bring joy, and light, and hope, and faith, and pardon and love to your neighbor and to yourself.” I am guessing that following this concept of classic rabbinic teachings, went a long way towards creating Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.
Writing, Ceramics, Stained Glass and Painting Update:
• I was again distracted this week getting cat scans, O2 started and various projects around the house. I haven’t made any progress on my art projects 🙁
• Grandpa Stories is still not re-published.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
• This week I read a new book that I really enjoyed. I am not sure other places do this or not but San Diego has a program called, “One Book One San Diego”. It was established 15 years ago by a partnership between KPBS, The San Diego Public Library and the San Diego County Library. With every one reading the same book we create a shared experience in the community. I have enjoyed conversations about these books with total stranger so it works at least at some level. And there is a good chance that everyone will read at least one good book each year! This year’s book is, “Being Heumann” by Judith Heumann.” I fell in love with Judy’s completely unique perspective on my life. Judy’s story is told from the perspective of an infant made a quadriplegic by polio and growing up at roughly the same time as me. She described my life from the perspective of an intelligent woman in a wheelchair. I remember my Mom teaching me not to stare at people with disabilities as staring was rude. I was curious but always afraid of being rude I was afraid to approach any of the disabled kids I came across. Reading this book, I regret that limitation, a lot. Judith’s memoir puts Grandpa Stories to shame on a lot of different levels. If you want to be impressed, ashamed and experience the out of body experience of living life from Judy’s perspective, I highly recommend this book. One last point to consider: As medical techniques improve and our lives get longer there is a very good chance that each of us might experience life from a disabled person’s perspective before we are done. The work that Judy and the people she tells us about in her memoir, have given us a much better chance of retaining autonomy when we are disabled some day.
• This week’s CNN’s Good News newsletter came with a shameless cute animal video as always but this beastie was so friendly I just have to share it with you all. Spoiler alert, if you are not ready to smile and “aawww” do not click this link!
Music Update:
Once again, yours truly takes you on another meander through the dusty cobwebs of my music library. I hope you enjoy!
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
• Dire Straights — Down to the Water Line — This song is so tight like everything DS has ever done but Mark’s guitar work is just perfect. His tuning and fingering combine to become musical water flowing down a pebbly brook in my mind. This one should be heard live or through the headphones your brother got you. It’s from their debut, “Dire Straits” album released in 1978.
• Good Old War — That’s Some Dream — Another of my all time favorite songs! One of my poker buddies, turned me on to these guys. He told me that they broke up which I was sorry to hear as I really liked their music. This comes from their 2010 release, “Good Old War”.
• Carl Verheyen Band — Come Down to Night — My friend George turned me on to these guys. George is currently studying with Carl and maybe working on some music together. Really nice guitar work, and harmonies! This is from their 2003 release.
• James Taylor — September Grass — This one has been featured on UJT Radio before but its just such a great song!!! For some reason, I always get choked up and tears in my eyes. It’s strange; This is a song about all things I will miss when I am gone. Welcome September! This is from JT’s “October Road” album, released in 2008.
• Bruce Hornsby and The Noisemakers — The Way It Is — This one is a live seriously cranked up version of this first huge hit. Its a great song but there are some seriously skilled players on this song! This is from their 2016 release, “The Way It Is – Live 2016”. He almost sounds like Brahms in one part.
• Seals & Crofts – I’ll Play For You – A flash back to a time where every one was trying to out kind each other. Songs were sung, the words well meant and people looked for ways to connect. This one is the title cut from their 1975 release. These boys had such great harmonies and I just thought we needed more harmony around here.
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!