Friday, December 28, 2007

Friday Funnies

Hi,
As August put it, we had 'Christmas, part 3' this morning. The Boys Grandmother arrived late Wednesday night. Thursday morning found us all in the living room opening gifts, again. Not long after that, we had a lunch date in the Marina. In the evening we had dinner with our older Godsons, C-Bass and Darryl Jr., who had his 24th birthday on the 26th. We went to Natalie Thai and had a great time. Later, DJ August put on a show, with all his bells and whistles.
Since nobody got the song, I'm extending it through the weekend. I'm hoping that the first verse will help you:
"Yeah (sunrise) there's a new sun risin' (In your eyes) I can see a new horizon (Realize) that will keep me realizin'
__ __ __ __ __ __" If you need a clue, go back to yesterday.
Today, the plan is to go down to China Town. Oh, yesterday we got our International Driving Permits in the mail. Now all we need is something to drive. Supat has suggested that we start with an older car, so if we run into things it won't hurt so bad. (of course he laughed as he said it) Keeping that in mind, we'll get a transportation vehicle when we return and start learning to drive on the other side of road, from the other side of the car, on the quiet side streets.
The calendar year is coming to an end. A supposed time for reflection and introspection. Do you really do that, or do you look forward with big plans and dreams? Tell me how you handle the New Year thing.
Speaking of New Years, we'll be missing a lot of fireworks, being here in the U.S. In LOS it's a time to light up the sky. (not to mention, make a lot of noise) Maybe we're not missing anything, really. I like displays, but not firecrackers and bombs. At the same time, I'm missing the old gang. We asked Boot, a while back, if there was a holiday when they exchanged gifts. She told us New Years was the time. So, we missed another occasion. No matter, at least for now.
Observations: Things have changed around here. Driving down Culver Bl. we were shocked to see so much of the median bike path gone, for the freeway and traffic control. Somehow, more pavement doesn't seem like such a good idea. Not my call. We heard that the Fox Hills Mall is going the way of malls. Being rebuilt as a clone of The Grove. The little folks will be pushed out, in favor of the major chains and it will be same-same from mall to mall. Again, they didn't consult with me. There's seems to be a trend for theaters not to post the features they're showing on the outside. So how do you know if you want to go to the trouble to even park? (which usually cost money) Another dumb idea? Hmm. Nothing stays the same. Oh well.
It's time for the 'Funnies'. Have a Brisk Last WeekEnd of the Year.

Peace,
Danny


One day a policeman stopped a motorist who had just gone through a
four way stop sign and was about to give him a ticket when the
motorist said. "Officer you can't give me a ticket for that!' "Why
not" said the officer. "Because although I did not stop I slowed right
down and its almost the same." "But you did not stop" replied the
officer, "and the sign says STOP." "But the way was clear and it was
safe" replied the motorist. The officer then pulls out his batton and
starts hitting the motorist. "What are you doing!" yells the motorist
in surprise. "Do you want me to slow down or stop?" says the officer.


Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Progress

Hi,
Brrr, it's cold. The wind has not made it any easier to deal with the SoCal Cold. I'm still impressed by the way some people seem to be immune to the chill. (walking around in T-shirts and shorts) Oh well.
We have been enjoying hanging with the boys. C-Bass has a great sense of humor, if you can stay calm through the 13 y/o part of it. August notices everything and has an answer for almost everything (or thinks he does) Last night was a time to have the digital recorder handy. DJ August was sitting at the table, after dinner, when all of a sudden he was taken over by an outside force and went into 'the zone'. He started with 'two turntables and a microphone' and progressed to 'boom chaka-la-ka' from Sly, and finished by reciting a Fergie hit. (Oh, I'm so behind)
The song in question, was "The Christmas Song" as sung by Nat 'King' Cole and written by Mel Torme. Try this one from 1980: "Well, make a wish baby, well and I will make it come true. Make a list baby, of the things I'll do for you...
Clue: Soft-Rock ballad (I guess) by a group whose name is also a salad, these lines are from the 'B' section. It's about relative size.
So, traffic seems to move at a quicker pace than in LOS. There is traffic, and sometimes it seems like it's going fast, but I don't think it's like here. Two lanes is as big as it gets, except for parts of the Super Highway that runs through the whole country. Two lanes of cars, motorcycles and Tuk-Tuks doesn't move at the same rate as Venice Bl. Also, traffic doesn't stack up the same way during rush hour. It's going to be quite a challenge to actually drive over there. Driving here is being fun, for the most part, but there are moments when I wish I was just a passenger.
We made an attempt to call Boot last night, but she didn't answer. Not unusual for her to leave her phone at the house and go across the street to visit. We'll try again tonight. I'm missing the place. If I didn't, something would be wrong with this picture. The picture is clear. (5)
I'm just getting the hang of sending the message on the same day you'll get it. Also writing it in the morning is taking a little effort. Hang in there. Oh, and I guess you've noticed, I'm not quite as long-winded as when I'm in LOS.
Have a Great Thursday.

Peace,
Danny

"You progress not through improving what has been done,
but reaching toward what has yet to be done."
~Kahlil Gibran

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

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Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Abundance

Hi,
We are slowly discovering the consequences of the power outage. Things are blown, burnt, not working. We're doing OK, because nothing really important was damaged. Unless, of course, you consider hot water, the toaster oven, blah blah, unimportant.
August hooked up his new gear and gave us a 'demo show'. As he put it, "it's sooo, sooo, cool" There was a rainbow light-wheel, projecting a beam through a cloud of fog that was pulsing to a strobe that flashed to the drums of the track he was playing. Whew! This seven-year-old is way ahead of the curve, when it comes to electronics and dance music. He's been collecting tracks on iTunes. C-Bass finds cool DJs on YouTube and shows them to August. The ones he likes are then downloaded and burned to CD so he can play them on his 'turntable'. Did you follow all that?
I guess we'll go another day with the song, since you were so busy yesterday. A few of you knew it right away, but I was expecting to hear from a lot more of you. "They know that Santa's on his way, he's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh. And ev'ry mother's child is gonna spy, to see if reindeer really know how to fly." Go on, make my day.
We went out to Joel and Martha's last night for an evening with the Valley Cousins. It was good to see everybody. The last time we saw Nowell, was on Skype. He was in Vancouver and we were in Thailand. We had a really nice time and got to take a shower, as an added bonus. A shower with a steam jet, which will be remembered when we return to LOS. It will also be added to the house 'wish list'.
It's time to dash off into the day. L.A. has us so busy. Of course, some of it's our own doing, but busy just the same.
Have a Wonderful Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

"...And so, bless those who are finding abundance. And
in your blessing of them and their abundance, you will become abundant,
too. But in your cursing of their abundance, you hold yourself apart
from it. It is a law—it is a powerful law."
~Abraham

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

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Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Alone/Together

Hi,
We've been improvising since about 2pm yesterday. A transformer blew up somewhere in the neighborhood and we've been without power for about 18 hours. Dinner by candle light, no heat, no hot water, no TV (just got it installed). Happy Holidays. Actually, it wasn't so bad. Just bad enough for everyone to whine about it for 18 hours. We still don't have hot water. Hmm, feels like home.
We got up this morning and watched the kids open their presents and that was big fun. DJ August got a light kit with spots, a fog machine and a black light. His gigs are going to move up a notch now. C-Bass was thrilled with 2008 upgrade of a soccer game since the '04 edition. August had left a letter to Santa, a family tradition, and Santa ate the cookies and answered the letter. All very cute. August reminded Santa that he's a boy. The Culver City Santa wasn't sure when he met August, because his hair is long (old people). Santa answered in his letter that sometimes he got confused. I'll say. He still thinks he brought me a couple of things I've never received.
We're moving to a new song today, since no one had a clue. It was "Donde Esta Santa Claus" by Augie Rios. I have nothing to say. Oh, Barry just wrote in with the title. Yea. You surely know this one. A chance for everybody to win, to triumph at least once this year. Here goes:
"Chestnuts roasting on an open flame, Jack Frost nipping at your nose...." Hint: you don't need any. Bonus goodness if you know who made it a standard and who wrote it.
I've been asked if I've encountered any culture shock, coming back to the US. Well, I must say that the food has been the biggest shock to my system. I am in sync with Thai food. I have just a few limitations and I can do just fine. Not quite the same here. I have to make sure I take certain digestive enzymes with me, just in case I encounter the dreaded lactose monster, the soy gremlin. Over in LOS, I never have to take the pills to meals. Right there, is a great reduction in stress.

Peace,
Danny

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
~Helen Keller


Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics

Risk (Monday's Message)

Hi,
Well, the Jet-Lag is about over. Notice how I gave it capital letters. That's because it's a very big, powerful, unseen force that can render one sleepy and helpless, at will. Usually around mid afternoon, the eye-lids droop and there's the need to recline. If this is not surrendered to, it may strike more abruptly when one least expects. Lisa was reading to August the other night and nodded between words. Add to that, the fact that it can wake one up in the previous time zone and you have a recipe for disaster. Wide awake at five in the morning, or four, or three.
One of our favorite songs (yours and mine) was "Santa Baby" by Eartha Kitt. "So hurry down the chimney tonight."
"I know that I should be sleeping, But maybe he's not far away, Out of the window I'm peeping, Hoping to see him in his sleigh...Mamacita, __ __ __ __ .." Clue: I do this one every year, so some of you have no excuse. Probably one of the least played holiday songs about the fat man.
We've been busy, these first few days. Going there, running here, and trying to hang out with the boys. I'll post the apartment pics today on Flickr. We're getting used to life without Boot. You know, picking up after ourselves, having to decide what to eat, and such.
Oh, we've been having phone problems. If you've tried to call my cell (310) 499-0102, you've probably been told that all lines are busy or something to that effect. I don't know what that's about. If you get a recording of 'busyness', call (858)231-7793 and you should get me without a problem. It's all going to the same phone. Just different routing.
We had our Family dinner with my mom last night. Denny, Sheila and Gavin (the Colorado Moses'), Jean and us, in a fine type restaurant. Oh my. We behaved in an adult manner and had a really good time. After dinner we went back to mom's house and opened gifts. So, we've kept the tradition alive, even though we live so far away. Denny is retiring at the end of January and mom has consented to fly out for the big party his company is throwing. After 25 years, it should be quite an affair.
Tonight we hang with the kids for awhile. Tomorrow morning we'll get up early and see what Santa brought. This will be very interesting. In the past, we would 'go' to their house after most of the gifts had been opened. This time, we'll be there 'live' and on the scene. Should be fun.
The elections are over back 'home', and regardless of who one, there will once again, be a civilian government in Thailand. The beat will go one and life will flow. Don't pay too much attention to what you read in the Western press. It's all speculation, with a lean towards doom.
I want to wish you a Happy-Whatever-You-Celebrate.

Peace,
Danny

"And the day came when the risk
to remain tight in a bud was more painful
than the risk it took to blossom."
~Anais Nin

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics

Friday, December 21, 2007

Friday Funnies

Hi,
The next three weeks could be titled, "Coming To America". Whether you've seen the movie or not, this is definitely not "Adventures In Thailand". There are some parallels to the movie, in that we are leaving behind a life of relative leisure and pampering, thought we never got the rose petals at our feet. You will watch, with voyeuristic fascination, as we relearn to wash and iron our clothes, cook light meals, and generally clean up after ourselves. (5)
Brrr, it's cold in L.A. I've gone from T-shirts to thermals. Sandals to socks. Our night time temps were warmer than the daytime highs here. Hmm.
You must all be our chasing the sales, playing Santa and not reading your mail, or you would have noticed the hit by
Sonny and Cher titled "Baby, Don't Go". What can I say? It was a big one, back in the day.
" __ __, I want a yacht, And really that's not a lot, Been an angel all year,__ __, so hurry down the chimney tonight." Hint: This is a holiday standard that doesn't get a lot to play. A seductive 'letter to Santa' by an earthy singer. Oh, you just got a present.
I'm coming to you this morning, and every morning for the next three weeks, from our amazingly beautiful garage apartment at 'The Kids'. Jeff and Anna have created a thing of beauty that took my breath away. I will be putting some photos on Flickr so you can see what the fuss is all about. Words don't come easy. We have a kitchenette, a living/sleeping area and a bathroom with a tub and shower. Oh, and every faucet produces hot water. There's a skylight over the tub and another over the bed. The one over the bed has adjustable blinds so we can vary the degree of light. Anna is an artist and while her dominant medium is human hair, she shines as a decorator. There are little touches that not only show attention to detail and convenience, but a lot of love.
When we arrived at the house, there were notes to each of us on the side door to the main house. August had to go to bed before we got there, so he left notes, welcoming us home. He also left one on the door to our new apartment. I'll put them on the site as well.
Monday, I'll try and recap the mad 24 hours we spent getting here. Well, all of it wasn't mad, just part, but it's a good story.
It's time for the 'Funnies'. Have a Happy Holiday WeekEnd.

Peace,
Danny

An 8-year-old girl went to her dad, who was working in the yard. She
asked him, "Daddy, what is sex?" The father was surprised that she
would ask such a question, but decides that if she is old enough to
ask the question, then she is old enough to get a straight answer. He
proceeded to tell her all about the "birds and the bees." When he
finished explaining, the little girl was looking at him with her mouth
hanging open. The father asked her, "Why did you ask this question?"
The little girl replied, "Mom told me to tell you that dinner would be
ready in just a couple of secs."

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Remember

Hi,
Well, here we are, sitting in the Taipei airport. It's been 'everything run late day', but we're managing to be on time for the next late thing. We're 'parked' right in front of a giant Hello Kitty pavilion. You won't believe it, so I'll take a couple of pics and post them later.
"I never had a mother, I hardly knew my dad, I've been in town for 18 years, You're the only boy I've had..." Clue: It's what someone says when they don't want you to leave.... Oh, come on now...
There was a tearful good-bye at the house. Boot was going to go to the airport with us, but the bags filled the car. At the airport, Supat gave me a big hug, which was a big surprise.
This will be brief, for obvious reason. First, I have to go and find a Wi-Fi connection, and then get ready for the long leg of our journey. It's almost 7 a.m. West Coast time. We arrive in L.A. at 7:25 p.m.
Have a Time Warped Thursday. (I know I will)

Peace,
Danny

"Remember the powerful presence that you are.
Remember the powerful being that you are.
Remember the light that you are."
~Aq'naton Ben-Ish

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

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Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Ripples

Hi,
'Twas the night before leaving, and all through the house, bags were being packed and hard decisions were being made about what to take...
The song you were stuck on was "Save The Last Dance For Me" by The Drifters. Oh, now you remember. Try this:
"I never had no money, I bought at the second store. The way this old town laughs at me, I just can't take it no more.
I can't stay, I'm gonna be a lady some day. __ __ __ ....." Hint: This duo was big in the mid 60s, solo careers and politics were the final result. Somebody doesn't want somebody to do something.
Today we set up a special account for The Place. Oddly enough, it's called 'Danny & Lisa Home'. I don't need to tell you what a relief it is to be working with a sophisticated team who's not afraid of accountability. Whew. We spent the afternoon packing the bags. It's very tricky, trying to take warm clothes from a climate where one doesn't need many warm clothes. Maybe the cold spell will end while we're in L.A. One thing's for sure, buying clothes 'over there' will seem like a very expensive proposition. And then there's the toys. I openly admit that I'm really into the toys. The laptop is coming, the small drive with 'shows', new software to play with on the plane, our music players, and some DVDs that didn't get finalized (I can fix that because I saved the old machine). Clever Lisa devised a way for us to unpack so 'the boys' won't see our stash of gifts. Coming to America, we have to leave everything unwrapped. (no comment) All in all, we're pretty excited about seeing family and friends and our new 'apartment'.
This evening, Aunt Jen and her son Nu came over to get the keys to our place. They're going to stay here while we're gone. Boot will come and keep things together and cook dinner for them. We had fun, kidding them about having wild parties while we're gone. It will be nice to know that the house won't be empty and unwatched.
Yesterday I forgot to mention, to some of you, that there are a bunch of new pics up on the Flickr site. I guess I'll have to look for odd and unique things around the Culver City area to report on over the next three weeks. Hmm, may not be as interesting as LOS, but I'm sure I can give you a new perspective. (5)
Well, Have a Wacky Wednesday and I'll write you from Taipei (a little late, but I'll write.). Just think, we leave on the 20th and arrive on the 20th. I just can't get over it. I just love a good worm-hole.

Peace,
Danny

"Like a stone dropped into a lake, our acts of kindness can create a ripple effect.
The long-term effects may be unknown to us, but the ripples of one wave creating another and another,
to forever impact - that is a definite fact.
Make your ripples today."
~Susan Fahncke

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Walls

Hi,
Life is never dull around here. Today we did several new things. Can you say that, almost every day? Supat came over with some samples of roof tiles and paint. He also brought the ingredients for making his Pikanet amulets. They are molded out of a clay mixture, pressed into a silicone mold, air-dried and then fired in a kiln. After that they are painted in various combinations, some based on birthday and some on power. Pikanet is to Thai folklore what Ganesh is to Indian. I'll post some pics later, of him showing us how he makes them.
I just knew I'd get mail about the song. Hmm, just a few of you remember this gem, from 1960. Weren't born? Google. "But don't forget who's taking you home, and in whose arms you're gonna be, so darlin', __ __ __ __ __ __, mmmm" Hint: Maybe the melody will drift through your mind.
This evening, Supat came over and took us to the property. He'd been telling us how he had a balloon he wanted up to send up, while saying a few words about the land and asking for good luck. Boot followed us on her bike and we set off for a night-time adventure. It turned out he had ten balloons, plus ten long strings of fireworks. It was Loy Kratong all over again. Only this time it was extra large. The devices he brought were much larger than the ones we sent into the air by the river. They had cloth rings, which he soaked in kerosene and then attached to the bottom of the balloon. Then he tied the string of fireworks to the frame. The fireworks consisted of firecrackers and something like a Roman candle, that spewed sparks. Over and over, we'd light the ring, watch it fill up with hot air, light the fuse and let go. The wind was low, so they went straight up and drifted over the river. That's when the firecrackers started popping and sparks fell to earth. Later in the flight, more sparks would stream down. At several times, we could see the glow of five at a time, miles up in the night sky. It's an experience we will never forget. Especially considering we were doing it on our very own land. Hmm, could this get any better?
After the balloons were all gone, we went to the NB, in short sleeves (5). Boot met us there on her bike and we had fun shopping together. It's the first time we'd done that. We can tell that Boot is missing us already, doing extra things around the house, coming early, hanging out more. It's cool, 'cause we'll miss her too.
Oh, Blue wrote to tell us that Ming got accepted to Stanford, with a full scholarship for his freshman year. Congrats to Ming and his very proud parents. Blue also wrote with the name of the lizard. "The phonetic pronunciation of the "large lizard" is "Tuk-g-a-a-ah". The name is the same as the strange sound it makes. "Tuk-G-a-a-ah, Tuk-G-a-a-ah!"
You don't want to hear that alone, outside. Freaky.
Well, it's time for a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

PS There's a bunch of new pics over at the Flickr site


"Love is the light that dissolves all walls between souls, families and nations."
~Paramahansa Yogananda


Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics

Monday, December 17, 2007

Light

Hi,
As August would say, only 'three more sleepings' until we arrive in America. Interestingly enough, here in LOS, bedrooms are referred to as 'sleeping rooms'. Makes sense. Of course, for us it's far more than a sleeping room. It's the living room, den and sometimes office. Oh well.
Only three of you got the song. It was "Through The Years" by Kenny Rogers. Great song. You should know it.
"You can dance, ev'ry dance with the guy, who gives you the eye, let him hold you tight..." Clues: It's about saving something, by a group with numerous hits, who sang about a rose and a boardwalk. You gotta know.
We had a pleasant weekend with nice warm weather. (don't mean to rub it in) (5). Sunday we heard a very strange sound that we couldn't identify. It almost sounded mechanical, but had an odd animal sound as well. Today we heard it again and asked Boot if she knew what it was. She told us it was some kind of large lizard that scares her. When I get the name I'll tell you. Anyway, it was bizarre. They like to eat flys. That's comforting. At least we're not in danger.
Today Supat took us to the bank and then he took us to a tailor he knows, to get some sleeves shortened on a jacket I got. The tailor quickly measured the length and said it would be done in the afternoon. The cost? Sixty baht, or about $.65. Oh my.
In the afternoon, we had a meeting with our 'production team' for The Place. Dee, Supat and the engineer, Yutina. Khun Yutina is one of the top engineer in Northern Thailand. He presented a time-line for the project, a cost sheet and a projected end date. We were impressed, to say the least. Each member of the team brings an expertise in a different area and they all communicate well. Our new house is supposed to be done by the end of July. All of the questions we had were answered and we're feeling very comfortable with the whole arrangement.
Another observation. We are in a part of the world where the lines of progress are blurred. By that I mean that one can see modern convenience side by side with very old school. A fully customized chopper on the same street as a three-wheeled peddle driven Samlor. A kitchen with a microwave oven, and mortar and pestle. Coffee might be prepared in the latest espresso machine or in a cloth cone, Thai style. New houses are framed with steel instead of wood. It goes on and on, always fascinating.
Tonight we're preparing our applications for our international driver's licenses. When we return, in January, we'll start the search for a vehicle and take the plunge. I've gotten pretty used to the idea of driving on the left side of the road. There are a few intersections that I'll avoid in the beginning, because there's just too much to keep track of. Cars and motorcycles appearing from everywhere, at the same time. Not ready. (Ha) In time, I'll learn to go with the flow.
Have a Warm Week.

Peace,
Danny


"Nothing can dim the light which shines from within."
~Maya Angelou


Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics

Friday, December 14, 2007

Friday Funnies

Hi,
Here we are at the end of another five days. But seven days makes a week, that's why I didn't say 'the end of another week' like I usually do. (Now watch, next week I'll revert)
The second-day clues seemed to have jarred your memories. "Don't Say It's Over" by Crowded, House must be playing in your mind. For the weekend, ponder this line. It's the first half of the chorus by a country artist with many hits:
"__ __ __ you've never let me down, you turned my life around, the sweetest days I've found I've found with you..."
Well, we went to the bank today, and got incredible, embarrassing, first-class treatment. Hey, we're nice people with what appears to be a lot of money. (5) There were more forms to sign for on-line banking. We don't want to open a bank, we just want to check our balance at home. Oh well, different. When we left the desk of our 'friend', she noticed we were in the process of filing out a withdrawal slip. She jumped up, took the slip and went and got the money. Wow.
Then we rolled out to The Place. It looks totally different with all the dirt spread out and compact. There are still mounds in front of the area where they're working on the wall, but the space is apparent. I'll post some pics. This afternoon, Dee came over with the first computer renderings from the engineer/architect team. Most impressive, to see the transformation of our little pencil drawings. We spent some time going over everything, making changes, adding suggestions, and standing up for what we want in our house. "Oh they can't do that", "you don't want to do that" mean nothing. If they're good, they'll find a way to make it work. That's what I always say. (5) (feels good to say it though)
Boot told us it was time to start packing. She's right. Supat calls her 'Big Mama' because she looks out for everybody and makes sure you're alright. It's interesting, because she's much younger than us, but she is very protective. You won't find us complaining. She told us she wants to go to the airport when we leave. I think it's going to get emotional. She's been a part of our 'family' for almost three months and we've bonded. No one could have foreseen the events that have taken place in our lives.
It's time for the 'Funnies'. Have a Warm WeekEnd.

Peace,
Danny

A guy comes home completely drunk one night. He lurches through the
door and is met by his scowling wife, who is most definitely not
happy. "Where the hell have you been all night?" she demands.

"At this fantastic new bar," he says. "The Golden Saloon. Everything
there is golden. It's got huge golden doors, a golden floor, the works
- hell, even the urinal's gold!"

The wife still doesn't believe his story, and the next day checks the
phone book, finding a place across town called the Golden Saloon. She
calls up the place to check her husband's story.

"Is this the Golden Saloon?" she asks when the bartender answers the phone.
"Yes it is," bartender answers.
"Do you have huge golden doors?"
"Sure do." "Do you have golden floors?"
"Most certainly do."
"What about golden urinals?"
There's a long pause, then the woman hears the bartender yelling,
"Hey, Duke, I think I got a lead on the guy that pissed in your
saxophone last night!


Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Waiting

Hi,

Well, not much is happening around here. We traveled home today. Spent the morning just hanging out in our hotel room. We did stop by the pool and gym after breakfast. Very nice facility. We'll stay there again, the next time we motor down.

"There's a battle ahead, many battles are lost, but you'll never see the end of the road while you're travelling with me. Hey now, hey now, __ __ __ __, hey now, hey now..." Hint: I practically gave it to you. No mail today, on the song. Hmm, Lisa got it. You must all be out shopping.

The dirt chapter is done at the site. I've been pondering what to call this whole project. It's not a house yet, and it's not quite a yard (one of my favorites), it is 'the place' where all those things will happen. Hmm, maybe that's it, 'The Place'.

Tomorrow Supat will take us over to The Place to look around and check out the progress on the dirt wall. This is not a wall of dirt, but a wall to hold the tons of dirt that were dumped at The Place. The collective minds have been working overtime, thinking about floors, lights, roof style, trees, pools, windows, and then it's nap time. (that list made me sleepy)

Thailand Observation: There is always some sort of construction going on and it's not unusual to see women working side by side with the traditional male workers. Whether it's carrying lumber, laying bricks, smoothing concrete or pondering a problem, it's nice to see an equality of labor that we weren't used to seeing. I'm not sure what it says, but it speaks to me.

One week from today we will arrive in America. We take off from BKK on December 20, travel through a wormhole, and arrive at LAX on the same date. Pretty slick. Now comes the task of deciding what not to bring with us. Is it still cold, is it snowing there, do we leave our 'Thai clothes' and just wear what we left? I know, way too many questions. Oh well, I just wanted you to know that it's not all a bed of roses over here. Sometimes we have to make critical decisions.

Have a Great Day.

Peace,

Danny


"Being on the tightrope is living; everything else is waiting."
~Karl Wallenda (Do you know who he was?)


Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

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Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Life - Wednesday Post 12-12-07

Hi,
I guess the second day clue nailed it for ya. Now you're all humming 'I Can't Help Myself', by The Four Tops. Our intrepid researcher/knower of things, Lane, sent this: "Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland-Dozier-Holland, The Four Tops, the song is one of the most well-known Motown tunes of the 1960s. It was the number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 for two non-consecutive weeks, from June 12-19 1965 and from June 26-July 3. It replaced "Back in my Arms Again" by labelmates The Supremes, was first replaced by "Mr Tambourine Man" by The Byrds, then regained the top spot before being permanently replaced by "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones." He sent more, but you're falling asleep.
"There is freedom within, there is freedom without, try to catch the deluge in a paper cup..." Clues: Group name comes from too many in one place, song is about not giving up. Hmm, thought you needed a tough one.
Our trip to Chiang Mai was routine and on time. Even with some slow traffic and construction detours, we made it in just under 3 hours. We're in a different hotel this time. The Empress is the bomb. This place is very elegant and our room is the nicest we've stayed in, here in LOS. Everything is coordinated, beautiful wood/laminate floors, really pretty wastebaskets and, last but not least, a bathtub. Trumpets blared, birds sang and someone took a bath. (5)
We found a wonderful little restaurant on the main drag that was decorated with traditional Lana Thai art. The food was good and we ended up eating there twice. This evening we did the NB, which seemed to be much larger than the last time we were here. "The Season" is in full swing and the streets were thick with tourists. We walked and walked, shopped a bit and noticed how everything started looking the same and how occasionally something different would jump out and grab our attention. Oh, I didn't mention that we went back to the tech plaza this morning and picked up a few software items. Hmm, hope they work.
The level of intensity here in Chiang Mai is very different from Chiang Rai. We've noticed more variation in the Tuk-Tuks as well. In CR they're all blue. Here in CM you can see gold ones, black ones and we even saw a pink one. To add to the Hmm factor, I saw a woman driver. That's a first. Well, I'll be back on my own connection tomorrow and not on a timer. The hotels here make you 'buy' time. Have a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

"Life might be able to be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."
~Unknown


Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

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Encourage - Tuesday Post

Hi,
What a day. Lots of running around. It started with a trip to the bank. We forgot that it would be crowded since the bank was closed yesterday. That's because it was a holiday. Constitution Day, in a place that's been running without one since the coup. There's a big national election on the 23rd of this month that could change all that, or not. Anyway, in the bank, all banks, you take a number and have a seat until you're called. That's right, no standing in line. It's so nice. When a window is open, a soft voice asks number 140 to go to window four. Also, they use counting machines that you can watch. The teller puts the bills in the machine and it displays the count. Then they turn the bills around and do it again. Very efficient.
After the bank, it was off to the land for more payments. The dirt was really built up today. I forgot to take pictures, but the level is coming up. By the time we get back from Chiang Mai, it should be about done. It was the first time Lisa had seen the place with the dirt.
The afternoon found us downtown shopping for essentials. Later a long meeting with Dee, back at the house. He's been meeting with an engineer and an architect. They both like the land and want to submit ideas, based on our work with Dee. This thing is happening. The hard part will be allowing it to flow, without taking on a life of it's own and running away with itself. (I know some of you got that)
We may have found an answer to the overseas TV dilemma. Our friend Bill, up at Apple suggested a program called Timbuktu. It's been around for years, but who knew. Basically, it allows you to control one computer from another. So, I could watch a movie on NetFlix on a 'legal' North American based computer from my laptop. Since the networks (except NBC) allow viewing of shows after airing, we could see 'our shows'. It still might be a little funky because of bandwidth, but we're working on that too. So many things to think about.
Speaking of thinking, I know a few of you have been thinking about the song. Some of you wrote, with the right group, but you missed on the title. Come on people, you gotta sing past the first phrase. This opening line should help:
"Sugarpie honeybunch, you know that I love you __ __ __ __, I love you and nobody else..." Clue: Ha, you get no more clues.
You've probably gotten used to my going (Ha) when I'm making a joke or a tongue-in-cheek comment. It evolved from some writing Ming did when he was young. He'd throw in things like Blam! Kapow!, you know, comic book stuff. Couldn't help myself. Anyway, here in Thailand, the number five is 'ha'. Some text savvy writers now use 555 in place of LOL or something similar. Pretty cool if you ask me. So, don't be surprised if you see the number five pop up in the writing from time to time. (5)
It's time for Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

PS I will make every effort to write to you tomorrow. If you don't get an email, go to the blogspot site.

A student asked Soen Nakagawa during a meditation retreat,
"I am very discouraged. What should I do?"
Soen replied, "Encourage others."
~Excerpted from Essential Zen

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

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Monday, December 10, 2007

Peace

Hi,
Congratulations to those of you who remembered the weekend song. Today's the day to sing it loud. Lane wrote:
"Manic Monday" (1986) was the first hit single by pop group the Bangles. It was written by Prince in 1984 and recorded as a duet for the Apollonia 6 album, but the song was eventually pulled. Two years later, as he was attempting to "court" lead singer Susanna Hoffs, Prince (under pseudonym Christopher) offered the song to The Bangles, who recorded their version. The song reached #2 in both the UK and US record charts, coincidentally behind Prince's own song " Kiss", which reached #1 in the US. Now you know. Today's song is from my favorite year for music. Hmm, from verse one:
"In and out my life, you come and you go, leaving just your picture behind, and I’ve kissed it a thousand times..." Hint: They were at the their game at the time, motoring up the charts.
Today was 'Dirt Day' at the new homestead. Supat spent the day helping to manage the trucks and the tractors. Actually, there was a young woman who was in charge of the trucks that rolled in, over and over, dumping a surprising amount of beautiful red dirt all over the place. There was a bit of a dispute early in the day when two mooban leaders claimed they were due a commission on the dirt because it came from their village. We left it for the dirt woman to settle the dispute. I arrived around 2:30 and couldn't believe the progress that had been made. The two tractors were going back and forth, spreading the dirt as each truck dumped their load. At the end of the day, they'll drive a water truck around and soak the dirt, let it settle over night and do it again tomorrow. I'll post some pictures on Flickr.
Yesterday the well was created in order to provide the water needed for the various stages of building. The whole thing is a bit mind boggling, to say the least.
Things are done differently here, as if you didn't know by now. Not only are houses built differently, there's a cultural divide that must be dealt with. We've been told by many people, that there's the way you plan it, and the Thai way. One has to be careful not to give 'free reign' in most situations. We met an American woman who's been in LOS for four years. She told us her experiences with building and renovation and cautioned us to supervise everything. Message received.
We're going down to Chiang Mai again, on Wednesday. Once again, we'll ride the V.I.P. bus and stay one night. This time we have the name of a driver with a car, who speaks a bit of English. That should make things a little more pleasant. I've been told to check out a housing development in town that has some great ideas to draw on. Even though we pretty much know what we want, how it's done can make a big difference. We're looking to have a Thai Style house, with western touches. Hmm.
The trip back to the States is getting closer and we're getting excited about seeing family and friends. Our 'room' at Jeff and Anna's is complete and, according to C-Bass, is pretty cool. That tells me we're going to like it.
Have a Wonderful Week. (notice I didn't say 'cool')

Peace,
Danny

"Peace is possible.
Each moment that one individual chooses peace inside,
the whole of humanity moves forward.
We each have the ability and responsibility
to become peacemakers in our daily lives."
~John Morton

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

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Friday, December 7, 2007

Friday Funnies

Hi,
Well, it seems that in spite of the guesses and near misses, nobody else got the song. It was "Caroline, No"
by The Beach Boys. See, I told you. That means you probably don't know this on either. This time it's a 'girl band'.
"Six o'clock already, I was just in the middle of a dream...It's just another __ __, I wish it was sunday
'Cause that's my funday..." Clue: You have until Monday to make a statement with this song.
Another beautiful day in LOS. Joyce got a call from the property office that they needed her to sign something else, so we all went down. Her cousin drove us in one of those four-door pick-up trucks. Very nice. Anyway, after that, they dropped us off, we said good-bye to our 'benefactor' and had a quiet day.
So, as we come to the end of the celebration week for The King's Birthday, here's a quote from the man:
"To give anything to anyone, in whatever circumstance, is highly desirable, as it significantly helps cement friendship between two individuals and solidifies the society with the virtue of unity. Moreover, giving brings happiness, to the one who gives from self-satisfaction, and to the one who gets, because of the encouragement. The society as a whole and finally the country can thus exist in peace and harmony."
Tonight we had another chapter in our 'Sports Night' marathon. Can't tell you just how many episodes we watched, but we had a good time. There's more left. What a great show. We've been missing a lot of old shows and new ones. For some reason, Slingbox has failed to meet expectations. May take some technical tweaking while we're stateside. All that to say that if you want to send us back to LOS smiling, remember: iTunes cards are available everywhere. (so crass)
We hear that you're bracing for the storm of the century in SoCal. Hope it doesn't smack you down. Surf's up, be careful. We're having very pleasant weather. It's not as cold at night as it had been and the days are warm.
It's time for the 'Funnies'. Have a Wild WeekEnd.

Peace,
Danny

Lipstick at School

According to a news report, a certain private school in Washington
recently was faced with a unique problem. A number of 12-year-old
girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the
bathroom.

That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would press
their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints.

Every night, the maintenance man would remove them and the next day,
the girls would put them back. Finally the principal decided that
something had to be done. She called all the girls to the bathroom and
met them there with the maintenance man. She explained that all these
lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to
clean the mirrors every night.

To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she
asked the maintenance man to show the girls how much effort was
required. He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the
toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it. Since then, there have been no
lip prints on the mirror.

There are teachers, and then there are educators...

And Finally:

Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get
the Sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it Monday, we
thought it was Sunday.


Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

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Thursday, December 6, 2007

Words

Hi,
You must be really be busy. Nobody wrote me about the song. Lisa knew it, and I'm sure August knows it. Think:
"Break my heart, I want to go and cry. It's so sad to watch a sweet thing die Oh, __ __" Hint: They spent their early years at the beach. There's a girls name in the title. Oh, come on, you should know this.
Today we went out with Supat and looked at the property since the brush had been cleared. Now we get to see exactly what we bought. Huge, to us. I'll put some pics on the site so you can see just what I mean. The only bummer is, there's a really cool tree, right in the middle, where the house will be. We learned that there's a wall that must be built, to keep the dirt from spreading. Then, there will be another wall that protects the property, later.
This afternoon we went to the hospital for our final Hepatitis-B vaccination. Once again, we were amazed at how easy and friendly everything went. We walked in, unannounced and were sent to a station in the main building. A few minutes later we saw a doctor (a pediatrician) who filed out our cards as she asked us a few questions. The nurses had quoted us a price of 555 Baht per shot and the doctor confirmed it. We noted that it would be much more in the U.S. She said she thought that's where it came from. Hmm. Oh yeah, that amounts to $18.25 apiece, for everything.
From the hospital we walked a block, into the marketplace and found a store we'd been to before. We were looking for light-bulbs, but walked out with a water dispenser, batteries, and sponges. Oh, well, it's stuff we'll use. Took a few random shot of 'things you've never seen' for you to check out.
An observation: There is something that struck me today. We had been told that there were certain forms of bigotry in LOS. One doesn't want to see these things, but after a few months, it's had to deny. Amazing as it may seem, skin tone is something that tends to separate people. Hmm, who'd imagine? Even here in Thailand, most of the advertising shows fair-skinned happy people, yet when one walks the street, everyone is not the same. Like the song said, 'Everyone is beautiful, in their own way', but some feel less-than and we've learned this first hand. A stroll down the aisles of Boots Drug and Cosmetics store and you'll see countless products with the phrase 'whitening or skin whitening' as one of the benefits. It's just an observation, of a culture that's different.
This is Joyce's last night in Chiang Rai. Tomorrow she'll fly to Bangkok and finally home in a few days. It's amazing to have friends that will fly half way around the world to help you realize a dream. By the way, Bangkok Blue is having a one day Holiday Boutique on December 17. That's a Monday. If you want to find some great gift ideas, check it out.
Time to go play over at Flickr. Have a Great Day.

Peace,
Danny

"Appreciative words are the most powerful force for good on earth!"
~George W. Crane

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

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Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Gratitude

Hi,
Today (Wednesday) was The King's birthday. I watched a little of the celebrations on TV this morning. One channel was showing various dance and musical numbers being presented by different schools, I guess. What continues to impress me is the care and effort taken to continue the traditional forms. Oh, speaking of this morning, at 6:30 a woman's voice came over the loudspeakers that are mounted in the neighborhood. After about five minutes, the national anthem was played, over and over until 7:00. I'm awake, really. Forgot to tell you the significance of the yellow and pink shirts. The King was born late on a Monday. The color for Monday births is yellow. When he left the hospital recently, he wore a pink blazer and everyone scrambled to wear pink. He said he just wanted to wear something different and not be boring.
He has a pretty cool sense of humor for an 80 year old.
We had a birthday dinner planned for this evening for Jen. The one thing missing was a cake, so we went into the market, to a bakery we'd seen a few days ago. I somehow remembered how to get through the maze of stalls and find the place. We had the woman write 'Happy Birthday' in Thai on a cake with pretty roses. That was our big outing of the day. We spent the day around the house. I finally changed a broken string on my guitar and played a bit. Joyce went to Mae Sai with the family and since most offices were closed, there wasn't much to do on the house project.
The travelers arrived at the house with bags of goods from their shopping trip. It was fun, watching them sort through things to find out what was who's. I don't wear suits very often (hardly ever), but the Armani that Pui brought back make me want to go get one. I think the price had something to do with it. I thought a $100 suit from downtown was a bargain. For what translates to $60, it makes one want a suit. Hmm.
We had a feast. Boot whipped up some new dishes along with the favorites and we had a great variety of tastes. As usual, there was one spicy dish that we left alone. One of the after dinner fruits was avocado. Thai avocados are round. They have a thicker skin that's almost like a shell. They're cut in half and after the seed is removed, the meat is scooped out with a spoon. I didn't have any, but I watched as our guest poured a bit of raw honey into the 'cup', mixed and ate. Interesting. After the fruit, we had the cake, complete with candles and the same 'Happy Birthday' song (in English) that's sung in the States. (I find that very interesting)
After dinner, we ended up having our first Karaoke Hostage Night. Somehow, we didn't see it coming, but it beats the Wangcom Inn. Nu wanted to go to a website to find the lyrics for a song Joyce wanted to sing. From there it became clear that singing was on the menu. What a trip. They sang song after song, with Lisa's laptop serving as the 'machine' and mine being a search engine for news of the day. Third started playing with one of my digeredoos and that became a sideshow to the singing. He began to get a tone and in between the laughter, an interest was born.
Speaking of music, the song was "Come Together" by The Beatles. Lane wrote that it was the first track on the '69 Abbey Road album. See if you remember this one, from a group on this side of the pond. They battled the Beatles.
"Where did your long hair go? Where is the girl I used to know? How could you lose that happy glow? Oh, __ __"
I think it's time for Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

"Gratitude is one of the sweet shortcuts to finding peace of mind and happiness inside.
No matter what's going on outside of us, there's always something we could be grateful for."
~Barry Neil Kaufman

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Be Good To You

Hi,
Well, the deed is done. The land is ours. Tomorrow the lot will be cleared and then the well can be dug. (It's really a hole that's drilled into the ground. Water gushes like an oil well and is capped, etc.) Then the dirt comes.
"He wear no shoeshine, he got toe jam football, he got monkey finger, he shoot Coca Cola. He say I know you, you know me, one thing I can tell you is you got to be free, __ __, right now, over me." Hint: Do you really need one? It's a classic from the Fab something.
I love that you're writing, asking when we're coming to visit. We arrive on December 20 and will remain in the country until January 12. My friend Debbie B. said, "I'm a little perturbed that you didn't say "home" but I grudgingly understand that Thailand is home now." That just about says it all.
We spent most of today driving to the land office, waiting at Doi Chaang Coffee, looking at the land, standing in the bank, grinning, looking at the land..... Oh, and we took a short nap. What a wonderful, dizzying day.
A large dose of gratitude and thanks to our dear friend Joyce, for flying over here to acquire the land and teach us about all the in's and out's.
There are new pics over at Flickr. Check out the survey pin and the proud new owners. By the way, if you ever saw our house on Nina Place, this lot is four times as large. Hmm, now what can we do with all that space? Oh, we have a few ideas.
Well, I'm off to ponder the reality. Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

Be Good To You

Be Yourself -- Truthfully
Accept Yourself -- Gracefully
Value Yourself -- Joyfully
Forgive Yourself -- Completely
Treat Yourself -- Generously
Balance Yourself -- Harmoniously
Bless Yourself -- Abundantly
Trust Yourself -- Confidently
Love Yourself -- Wholeheartedly
Empower Yourself -- Prayerfully
Give Yourself -- Enthusiastically
Express Yourself -- Radiantly

~Author Unknown

Monday, December 3, 2007

Moments

Hi,
Well, this is a very big week here in The Kingdom. Wednesday is the King's 80th birthday and there's celebration all week. Everyone's being encouraged to wear either yellow or pink shirts and there are many events planned. The King is the longest reigning living monarch in the world. This is his 60th year as King. Everyone adores him and it's really amazing to watch. Everywhere you go, there are pictures of him. Every house has at least one picture of him. The respect is phenomenal.
The weekend song was "Will It Go 'Round In Circles?" by the late Billy Preston. Here's one from 1970 that you know:
"He got hair down to his knees, got to be a joker he just do what he please, __ __..." Clue: They changed the music of the world and it still lives.
So, Joyce (of Bangkok Blue fame) arrived today from Rancho Cucamonga. She's our third house guest. Her husband Blue was the first. She's here to buy the property we will build on. In Thailand, foreigners can't own land. All the papers are in order and tomorrow morning, we go to the property office and then the bank. I hope you're getting the idea that we're very excited.
Saturday our friend Dee came to lunch and brought some drawings he had made, on his own, based on conversation. It was a big surprise to us. His ideas were very dramatic and we love them. We compared notes and he's going to re-do what he drew and we'll talk some more. He knows an engineer and many builders. Our 'team' is coming together. By the time we come to visit in the States, the land should be filled in and we can start construction sometime after the first of the year. Oh, there's quite a process bringing the land up to street level. First we have to dig for water, and then wet down each layer of dirt before bringing in more. Hopefully, we'll have pictures of the process to show you.
This evening I went into town to meet some friends. Afterwards, as I walked down to where the Tuk-Tuk's hang, I listened to my iPod. It was surreal, listening to Ice Cube's 'Today Was A Good Day' strolling down the main drag, realizing that none of the things he was talking about applied here. This is a new life, on so many levels.
Oh, I mentioned last week about trying to get online banking set up and the grand production that took place. Well, we were at the bank today, using the outside ATM, when the woman who helped us came out and said she had more papers for us to sign. I made a small mistake and wrote over it. Wrong. She had redone the form except for my mistake. Once it was done, we had more papers to sign, and more and more. We still don't know why. I told Lisa that maybe it was so we could get money out of the computer. (Ha)
Today we sent a gift box to NZ and shopped at the government market. Lisa got a pink King shirt and I got a yellow jacket. We watched a guy 'grooming' coconuts and embraced the ambience. We're getting excited about visiting the U.S., and coming back.
Have a Monstrous Monday!

Peace,
Danny

"Life's precious moments don't have value, unless they are shared."
~Unknown

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

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