December 27th, 2025
“ Dobroho ranku”, or “Good Morning!” in Ukrainian, is an Eastern Slavic language spoken mainly in Ukraine. The UJT will remain focused on Ukraine until we can all rejoice at the end of hostilities. It has been 2,298////// days since Russia invaded Ukraine.
This week, I learned some stuff:
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- I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Our was very peaceful and fun. We played some games. We laughed a lot. We enjoyed our presents. Of course for me the highlights of the occasion is the meal usually. We got a beautiful ham for Christmas and it was so tasty over the years were starting to migrate some of the cooking duties during the holidays this year I just cooked the ham for the most part. Jessica did all the sides and of course organized the setting the table, the cleaning of the kitchen and all that s it all came off perfectly. I even made a pumpkin pie this year!
- Christmas is often double edge sword in terms of our emotions. For me, I miss the people that aren’t at my Christmas anymore. I think of them their laughter how good it felt to be with them and when I do, there’s a tinge of sadness for me, but also a lot of warmt. I hope all those that proceeding me across the rainbow bridge before this Christmas know that I think of them and I’m grateful for everything they gave us.
- You can find out all about today’s history here.
This week’s Website Update:
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- No new recipes this week
- This week’s quote is from Desmond Tutu: “Hope is the ability to see the light despite all the darkness around us.”
Bonsai Tree and Stained Glass, Update:
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- My daughter and I have been talking about some bonsai trees. We wanna try it the first of the year.
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Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
Perhaps since a syndrome of my current situation, but I’ve begun to detect the preference for old love. Love that is injured decades of challenges and blinding happiness and personal growth. These things never happen to all the people you love the same way the same time and as your love grows on, you have to learn how to accommodate them in each other but if you do, you have accumulated one of the most precious things that a person can have that is time with the people you love. I’m grateful to all those I’ve learned to love and been able to love for a long time.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
- Dan Fogelberg— Same Old Lang Syne —Dan left us far too early! This is a beautiful song like so many of his contributions he’s saying to our shared experiences and we were able to ride along on his melancholy harmonies. This song was released on his second album, “the innocent age”, released in 1981.
- Daryl Hall & John Oates — I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do) — This song was released as a single in 1981 as well. I love the sax on this song exclamation point..
- Mary Gauthier — Mercy Now —This thoughtful song breaks my heart and gives me hope at the same time. It’s such a wonderful sentiment that she applies to sad stories that we all feel one way or another. It’s the title cut to her 2005 release.
- Bruce Springsteen —Worlds Apart — This song is a deep cut from his wonderful album the rising. This song demonstrates how Bruce kept growing and growing throughout his career. His soul got older and it started out pretty old, but he always had something important to tell us. “The Rising” was released in 2002.
- Quarterflash — Harden My Heart— This just a great song I love listening to on the radio.. Released in 1981 on their self titled album it just took over the airways in the radio world. I always liked it. Great guitars good vocals made me smile.
- John Mayer —83 —Thi s is the first song I heard by John as I was driving south from Seattle towards Seattle. I could tell right away there was something magical about this performer. He just knew what to do. Great instrumentation phrasing lyrics yeah the whole package. Release in 2001, “room for squares” was a huge success.
- The Beatles —The Long and Winding Road (2021 Mix) — This i seems like the perfect song to finish out 2025UJT radio selections. This comes from a 2021 mix of their wonderful, “let it be close” album. We had us a year and my challenges were joyfully overcome one at a time (with a lot of cussing). I learned so much this year. I loved so much this year. And I’m grateful for every moment. I hope that 2026 is even better.
,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!