Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Stars

Hi,
Today is Wednesday, December 31, 2008 and it's New Years Eve. This is the story of December 30th, of freeways and fog, of braiders and dogs and once again, fog.
The song we almost knew was "(Just) Two Kinds of People In the World" by Little Anthony and The Imperials. That was from the mid 60's. Since most of you aren't reading your mail anyway, I'll just go for the song of the day (Ha) and offer this:
"Should auld acuaintance be forgot and....?" Who had the hit and who wrote it (Ha)???
We actually did everything we set out to do yesterday. Got up while it was still dark, made our way to Lot 'C' for the first time, passed TSA inspection, and had time to discover that LAX has no free WiFi. After our plane took off, we were informed that we might be going to Oakland instead of San Jose because there were earlier reports of fog at SJ. Nice time to tell us.
A 'Hot' landing in SJ and then we got another shock. It was early morning and it was really cold. We had to walk to the rental car pick-up spot and it was torture. There was a bus waiting, but it wasn't our bus. The driver let us sit in the warmth until he had to leave. Then it was a short wait on a cold, metal bench.
Driving around the area was going to be fun since we got upgraded to a PT Cruiser. Oh, I should mention that it was Turbocharged. While it wasn't a muscle-car, it had plenty of 'scoot' and it was a blast. First stop, Palo Alto and breakfast with Joe. Since he and Lisa talk every week, there wasn't the 'catching up' that one might expect. We all had the same thing for breakfast, which rarely happens. After our meal we went to Joe's studio to see his latest work. He's been working on a paper-sculpture using pages from an old dictionary. Interesting and unique are just a few of the inadequate words I could come up with.
Joe gave Lisa a demonstration on part of his technique and cleared up some questions with regards to Cast Acrylic Print making. It's always inspirational to visit the studio and see all the activity. Here's an observation: It is possible to see motion and activity in a still room.
On to Oakland and the Jack London Square. That's where we were meeting the Oakland Cousins. We arrived just in time to see Trudye crossing the street to the square. Eunice and Skip were a few minutes away. What timing. James, Eunice's husband, couldn't make it because he was feeding the homeless. Lunch at Kincaid's is like the total opposite of that. It's decadence at it's best. Well, not really, but it's rich food, and high prices. The visits are always way too short.
We all ate food, but we dined mostly on smiles and laughter. With every lunch or dinner or coffee, we get the same questions, put different ways and we get different questions that are unique to the company. All that makes us think hard, and dig for new perspectives on the whole adventure.
Since it was such a big day, I'm going to finish tomorrow. There's a whole lot more to tell you.
It's time for Wacky Wednesday and a Happy New Years Eve.

Peace,
Danny

"Shoot for the moon.
Even if you miss it you will land among the stars."
~Les Brown


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Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Going

Hi,
Yesterday was a busy one. We tried to get an appointment at the Apple Store for some service on Lisa's computer but learned that the earliest opening was Wednesday. On to plan 'B'. Many copies had to be made for our visit to the Thai Consulate in the afternoon.
Nice to see that someone knew the song without the help of Mr. Google. Before I forget, I forgot to tell you the name of a previous song. It was "1,2,3" by Len Barry. Oooops. Now, as for the current tune we're pondering: "__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __, they are a boy and girl." Hint: This group left us with tears on our collective pillows back in the day.
In the afternoon we met Blue, Joyce and Ming at the Thai Consulate to take care of some business with our property. As part of the process we had to go across the street and get documents notarized, wait, get copies made, wait and then finish. It was actually rather painless and we got a lot accomplished.
After we finished our business we went for a late lunch at a place called Grand Lux in the Beverly Center. The food was good, in mass quantities, and we did our traditional gift exchange and had a wonderful time. Ming told us about his first quarter at Stanford and we laughed a lot.
This morning we're headed up to Northern California to visit Joe (Lisa's Dad), lunch with the Oakland Cousins and then coffee with the Athas family right before getting back on the plane to LAX. It's going to be quite a whirlwind tour. We usually stay overnight but we're trying to do it in a day. (Ha)
It's time for a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

"If you don't know where you're going,
you'll end up somewhere else."
~Alfred Adler


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Monday, December 29, 2008

Shoes

Hi,
Well, it hasn't been the warmest welcome one could hope for, literally. It's cold and I'll mention it as long as I have to wear three layers of clothes to be comfortable.
How ironic that we would be humming "Santa Baby" as Eartha Kitt's life came to an end. Who knew? She had quite a life and it's worth reading about, for many reasons. It will make you go 'Hmm'.
Let's end the year with an oldie that some will know. "Boy meets girl and love begins. Oh what a feeling you get from within..." Clue: By a group led by a 'Little'. There's a number in the title.
Friday we traveled over the hill to spend the afternoon with the Valley Cousins. It was a really cool time. We met at Jenny and Nowell's. They're setting up vegetable gardens in their yard and 'greening' the house. Nice to see commitment. Martha made a platter of chicken mole, which was my favorite. There were iPhones all around the table and I was duly tortured. (Ha) Joel was blown away when we gave him a 'Thai copy' of a Star Gate movie. It was especially funny to him since he writes the music and knew the Thai version was unauthorized. (oh, what have I done? 555).
Saturday was another busy day. My mom came over to see 'The Boys' in the morning. They had a good visit and she now knows how to set up an overhead projector and work an iPod Nano, courtesy of Mr. August.
Then it was off to lunch with our friends Paul and Joy. The last time we were in town they got married. When we return in the summer, we'll meet their new family member. And the beat goes on.
Saturday evening we took Darryl Jr. and C-Bass to dinner. This little dinner is turning into a tradition. This is the third year in a row that we've done it. After we picked Darryl up, there was an eerie glow in the back seat. Between C-Bass and his iPod Touch and Darryl with his Sidekick, it must have looked a little strange from outside. Both devices have large screens and gave off a blue/white cast. We ate at Dinah's again this year. I had breakfast for dinner. Only in America.
Sunday was spent catching up on what's happening with old friends. That's been a big part of the trip each time. I have to hunt you down for information since you don't seem to be able to send me mail and keep me up to date. (Ha) Every day you get all my business, and I sit over there, staring at the river, wondering.... Ok, you can stop laughing now.
It's the last week of the year. Have a good one.

Peace,
Danny

"If you walk in the shoes of others you will
come to find that they are too big for you.
However, if you look through the eyes of others you will
find that we are all equal..."
~Unknown


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Friday, December 26, 2008

Friday Funnies

Hi,
Well, now that you've had a chance to try things out, then read the directions, it's almost time to return to normal. (Ha) Pedro wrote to say that he thinks his son took his toys. Hmm, bet that happened in lots of households.
I'm assuming that I heard from everyone on the last song. It was "Santa Baby" by the late Eartha Kitt. There's an extensive bio in yesterday's NY Times. Let's hit the weekend with something more familiar. __ __ __, that's how easy baby, it's gonna be....like takin' candy from a baby..." Hint: I know it's goofy, but it was a big hit in its day. You can count on me to keep you in memories. (555)
So, Christmas Eve found me wandering the streets looking fora gift that was not found. Went to the mall for a little cultural overload, stood in line at the phone store to add time to my sim, and then remembered that I could do it on-line. Ugh.
The evening was spent with the kids. We had a delicious '7 Fish' dinner; an Italian tradition. After the boys decided on what they'd leave Mr. Claus, August made a note (on his laptop) and printed it out. I suppose this might be welcomed by Santa when you consider some of the notes he has to try and figure out. The boys had a sleep-over but didn't get much sleep. Of course that no surprise.
We got a call from August on the morning of the 25th saying that they were ready to do presents and we should come to the house. It was Show Time. It's so much fun watching the reactions of kids as they open gifts. In this case, August was over the top with enthusiasm over a few of his gifts, like the overhead projector he's been wanting forever. C-Bass was excited/cool as he opened his gifts. Hey, he's fourteen and he's naturally cool. I think one of his favorite gifts, besides the PSP (Lisa wanted me to tell you that is means PlayStation Portable), was a Wok set. He loves to cook.
We spent the evening with my mother Jean, Denny and Sheila (brother/sister-in-law), Aunt Sara, Cousin Wendy and Ruthie (Sara's helper). We dined at the Westin in Pasadena and it was amazingly good. Since we'd had plenty of turkey already, it was ok having chicken for the evening's main course. Oh, and did I mention that it was cold?
After dinner we went to Mom's house to open gifts and hang out. I got to see photos of Denny's '32 Ford Coupe Hot Rod. Now that's what I need in Chiang Rai. (Ha) We walked down memory lane, shared lots of laughs and learned some family history. An evening to be remembered.
I think it's time for some 'Funnies'. Have a Great WeekEnd and Bundle up.

Peace,
Danny

Disney Password

My kids love going to the Web, and they keep track of their passwords by writing them on Post-it notes.

I noticed their Disney password was "MickeyMinnieGoofyPluto," and asked why it was so long.

"Because," my son explained, "they say it has to have at least four characters."


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Thursday, December 25, 2008

Happy Everything

Hi,
I know you have toys to play with and you're not really interested in someone else's adventure today so I'll just leave you with Season's Greetings.

Peace,
Danny

Happy Hanukkah/Chanukah, Happy Kwanza, Happy Winter Solstice....

And now you can amaze your friends in many languages:

English - Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Afrikaans - Geseende Kerfees en 'n gelukkige nuwe jaar
Albanian - Gézuar Krishlindjet Vitin e Ri!
Arabic - I'D Miilad Said ous Sana Saida
Armenian - Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Bahasa Malaysia - Selamat Hari Natal
Bohemian - Vesele Vanoce
Brazilian - Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo
Bulgarian - Vasel Koleda; Tchestita nova godina!
Cantonese - Seng Dan Fai Lok, Sang Nian Fai Lok
Creek - Afvcke Nettvcakorakko
Croatian - Sretan Bozic
Czech - Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Danish - Glædelig Jul og godt nytår
Dutch - Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
Egyptian - Colo sana wintom tiebeen
Eskimo - Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!
Finnish - Hyvää Joulua or Hauskaa Joulua
Flemish - Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar
French - Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!
Gaelic - Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ur!
German - Froehliche Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
Greek - Kala Christougenna Kieftihismenos O Kenourios Chronos
Hawaiian - Mele Kalikimaka & Hauoli Makahiki Hou
Hebrew - Mo'adim Lesimkha. Shana Tova
Hindi - Shub Naya Baras
Hungarian - Kellemes Karacsonyiunnepeket & Boldog Új Évet
Icelandic - Gle›ileg Jól og Farsaelt Komandi ár!
Indonesian - Selamat Hari Natal
Iraqi - Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish -Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Italian - Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo
Japanese - Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Korean - Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Latin - Natale hilare et Annum Nuovo!
Latvian - Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu!
Luxemburgish - Schéi Krëschtdeeg an e Schéint Néi Joer
Malayalam - Puthuvalsara Aashamsakal
Mandarin - Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
Mongolian - Zul saryn bolon shine ony mend devshuulye
Nepalese - Subha bada din
Norwegian - God Jul og Godt Nyttår
Papiamento - Bon Pasco y un Feliz Aña Nobo
Papua New Guinea - Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela
yia i go long yu
Polish - Wesolych Swiat i Szczesliwego Nowego Roku.
Portuguese - Boas Festas e um feliz Ano Novo
Punjabi - Nave sal di mubaraka
Romanian - Craciun fericit si un An Nou fericit!
Russian - Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva i s Novim Godom
Samoan - La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Scots Gaelic - Nollaig chridheil huibh
Singhalese - Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Somali - ciid wanaagsan iyo sanad cusub oo fiican.
Slovakian - Vesele Vianoce a stastny novy rok
Slovak - Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovene - Vesele bozicne praznike in srecno novo leto
Spanish - Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
Swedish - God Jul och Gott Nytt År
Sudanese - Wilujeng Natal Sareng Warsa Enggal
Thai - Suksan Wan Christmas lae Sawadee Pee Mai
Turkish - Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian - Veseloho Vam Rizdva i Shchastlyvoho Novoho Roku!
Vietnamese - Chuc Mung Giang Sinh - Chuc Mung Tan Nien
Welsh - Nadolig LLawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Yiddish - Gute Vaynakhtn un a Gut Nay Yor
Zulu - Sinifesela Ukhisimusi Omuhle Nonyaka Omusha Onempumelelo


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Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Part

Hi,
Today we experienced Los Angeles traffic, went on a wild goose chase, both got tattoos (sort of) and the wrapping began.
Some of you knew that the song was "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" as sung by B.J. Thomas, written by Bacharach and David and featured in Butch and Sundance. That should explain the last clues. Big thanks to Denny for the B & S clue. Our next song comes up every year around this time. "__ __, just slip a sable under the tree for me. Been awful good girl, __ __, so hurry down the chimney to me." Hint: My gift to you is an obvious song from way back when. It's been covered by tons of artists, so your real challenge is giving me the original artist.
This morning we went to the Fox Hills Mall to pick up a few items and were quite surprised by all the changes. Stores are in different places, some are gone completely and there's an incredible mural at one end that must be seen. Oh yeah, and I saw Santa. No silly, I didn't sit on his lap, I just peeked at him from the escalator.
Our adventure in traffic was quite a contrast to Chiang Rai driving. We went up to Olympic Bl. near Sawtelle in the middle of the day. So many cars, so many people. Our destination was the Social Security office. The location is being kept a mystery for some unknown reason. If you Google it, you get a wrong address. What's up with that? Anyway, we went in, got a number, waited, only to find out that we have to come back in four years to do what we wanted to do. Misinformation from the last visit.
Hmm.
Mr. August has a full set of washable marking pens and has set up a Tattoo Parlor in his bedroom. He even has a sign on the door and a 'menu' of types of tattoos and the colors available. Lisa got a foot on one arm and a hand on the other. Inside of each is a colorful mosaic that looks a lot like a reflexology chart. I got a simple Christmas tree. The real trip is that they're scented. I got a blend of cherry and blackberry. Yum.
I got a cute message from Linda in response to the freeway signs. She saw them too and thought they should have read:
"dnt txt while drvng - 1/1/09" (555)

With that, it's time for a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,

Danny

"I am part of all that I have met."

~Ulysses, from Homer's 'Odyssey'



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Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Mountain

Hi,
I know, it's a bit late this morning. I'm having to write this late because I can't seem to get an internet signal in our little apartment. It's a mystery I have yet to solve.
It's nice to see some familiar faces getting the song as well as some new ones. The clue worked for one day at least.
"...crying's not for me, 'cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin', because I'm free, nothing's worryin' me." Hint: Oh, you know this one. Hit writers B & D wrote it and B.J. sang it and it made B & S household names. How about that?
We just got back from breakfast at Dinah's with our friends Pam and Steve. It's becoming a 'visit tradition' of sorts. It's good to catch up on things and see how life is on the other side of the water.
Yesterday I got a call from my mom. She had a special gift for Lisa and wanted me to come get it. Here's the background: We had hoped to get a turkey dinner at some point, since we don't have them in Thailand. Lisa had mentioned this to my mom and she said she knew a woman who was in chef school. Not much was mentioned after that and we were on the verge of giving up on having a turkey dinner when she called and said she had a turkey.
Lisa was at a lunch meeting so I raced across the freeways to Altadena to retrieve the bird. I should say big bird. In the course of my travel, I noticed that all the message signs on the freeways said the same thing: "Don't Text While Driving...Jan. 1, 2009" Now, does that mean not to do it on Jan. 1, or it's illegal after Jan. 1? I'm just saying, some people need to have specific directions. (Ha) Does it mean that it's ok to text until Jan. 1? Don't worry, I won't rant. I give up.
It's time for a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

"Mountains cannot be surmounted except by winding paths."
~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe


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Monday, December 22, 2008

Flame

Hi,
I think I'm back on track. (Ha) We arrived in L.A. on Saturday afternoon. The anticipated 'Jet Lag' did not disappoint.
Early waking, afternoon naps and heavy eye-lids are a matter of course now. Just have to roll with it for a few days.
The weekend song was "Tightrope" by Leon Russell. Nobody got it. Hmm. Maybe it's because the message on Friday required extra work. (5) Let's start the week with something everybody knows: "__ __ __ __ __ __, And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed, nothing seems to fit." Clue: We did this one back in September of '07 and if the weather forecast is correct, it should work today. If they're wrong then you're on your own. It's easy.
We're riding around L.A. in a Mazda 6 and it's pretty cool. Funny thing is, it's silver. Just can't get away from the silver, the most popular vehicle color in Chiang Rai. I think it has to do with reflective qualities or something.
It's nice to be back with 'The Boys' and see how much they've changed. C-Bass is taller and his voice is deeper. At 14 he's becoming quite a young man. Mr. August is still doing his projects and making things. He has wanted two computer monitors since the day I got my second one a few years ago. Now he's living his dream. He has his laptop and a second monitor. He's into a program called 'SmileBox' and he has sent us a couple of greeting cards he made. For our arrival he made one with his picture and it changes from black and white to color, back and forth. Plus it's set to some cool dance music.
Oh my, where did you get all this cold air? I know, it's winter and what did I expect? It's a different kind of cold than we have in CR. I'll just have to get used to it for the time being. Thank goodness I brought thermal shirts. I got a message from my friend Ling, who lives in Arlington, Texas and he said it was 22 degrees in the morning, going up to a sunny day in the mid 30s. I guess I'll stop complaining now. Lisa's sister Nila lives in the same area. Bundle up y'all.
We have busy days ahead but that's why we came. Seeing lots of friends and family and hanging with the kids. Now if I can just get used to using my left hand for the turn signal lever instead of the wipers, things will be alright. Oh, the adjustments.
While we're in town you can reach Lisa at (310) 280-8597. My number this time is (323) 404-2725. If you missed Friday's message and don't want to deal with the blog site, write me and I'll try and send it to you.
Have a Wonderfilled Week.

Peace,
Danny

"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another
human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who
have rekindled this light."
~Albert Schweitzer (1875 - 1965)


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Friday, December 19, 2008

Friday Not So Funnies

Hi,
we had a nice flight to Bangkok this morning, after long good-byes with BamBam and a brief one at the airport with Boot. This message will be brief. I'm having to write it in the lobby of the hotel on their P.C. with an H.P. Thai/English keyboard.
The most recent song was "Laughter In The Rain" by Neil Sedaka. The man could write a song. For the weekend, see if you know this one: I'm up on a tightwire, one side's ice, the other is fire. It's a circus game with you and me. I'm up on a ___"
Clue: This singer/writer/performer is masquerading as a circus act in this song. Maybe he knows Walenda. Hmm.
So, we went to three different malls today. The Esplanade was first. It was very nice. A modern affair that had a bookstore we hunted down because they had a line of maps we wanted. There was an interesting shop that could have been transplanted from Venice Beach. It was called NYLA and it had skateboard videos playing, a row of chopper type beach cruiser bikes, and different lines of clothing. Kind of a surf/goth place. Very cool anyway.
We wanted to take the train to Siam Plaza and we started asking for directions. While having coffee, we asked one of the servers who spoke English. She turned and asked one of the other customers. The young woman spoke very good English and was very helpful. She even wrote down the stops we needed to watch for.
When we got to the station we started asking more questions and we met Olive. The short version is, she took us to another mall I'd read about. It's called MBK and it's seven stories of whatever you need and don't need. One entire floor devoted to phones and accessories. There must have been over 100 phone shops. It was incredible. We managed to maintain some discipline and not buy too much. In fact, I don't think I bought anything. Oh, but wait until we return without travel/weight restrictions. I'll tell you more about our guide Olive next week.
I'm afraid you'll have to wait until I hit Taipei to get your dose of Funny this week. I knew the day would come when I'd be tossed out into the world, naked without my laptop.
Look at it this way, you get extra mail from me this week. Doesn't that just put you in the Holiday Spirit? (5555) Got to go. Overdosing on badly produced copies of Christmas music. All day has been quite enough. Must retreat to the seclusion of the room.
Have a Warm WeekEnd. See you soon.

Peace,
Danny

(This is where you're supposed to laugh)

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Laughter

Hi,
Today we packed bags, went on a wild goose chase and wallowed in anticipation. (Ha) Bet you never heard it put like that before. We still have a late run to the country for a bag pick-up.
There were only two responses to the song question. The rain must have wiped some memory. This was a big one. Sing it:
"Ooooo, I hear __ __ __ __ , walking hand in hand with the one I love..." Hint: Once again, if you know it, you know it. I'm out of hints.
Miraculously, we are packed. It's not late at night and the bags are packed. Oh, there are those last minute things, like stuff you need in the morning and such, but we basically did it ahead of time and that's pretty cool.
Tomorrow morning we leave the house at 7:30 a.m. for the airport. We'll spend a day and a night in Bangkok and then fly to Taipei and L.A. on Saturday.
Earlier today we went to Big C for a few snacks and a charger for our movie camera. It has somehow disappeared and I wanted to shoot some footage of Bam before we left. Alas, our search took us to four different stores and no one had what we needed. Lots of help and cooperation, but each time the same answer: 'mai mi' (sounds like 'my me') which means 'no have'.
Oh well, maybe next time.
It is now a little after 10p.m. and we just got back from our 'bag run' and one more trip to the Night Bazaar. Oh, I have to tell you, as we were leaving the N.B. we saw a young woman holding a rabbit in her arms. The rabbit was wearing a sweater. Just thought you'd like to know. (Ha)
The bags came out great. We now have two styles. There's the traditional tote with a long strap and 'The Man Bag' with one of Lisa's newest dancers on it. The bag has a longer shape than a tote and the male Thai Dancer is captioned 'Lighten Up'. We'll have to take some pics modeling the bags so you can see what all the fuss is about.
With the exception of the downtown strip, most of Chiang Rai looked pretty sleepy this late at night. That's how it goes in a small city/town.
Have a Great Thursday and I'll write to you from Bangkok tomorrow.

Peace,
Danny


"The wise student hears of the Tao and practices it diligently.
The average student hears of the Tao and gives it thought now and again.
The foolish student hears of the Tao and laughs aloud.
If there were no laughter, the Tao would not be what it is."
~Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching


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Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Love

Hi,
Today I had a revelation about driving protocol, we had a meeting with our attorney, and preparations for our trip moved into high gear.
I'm happy to report that I got tons of correct answers on the song. It was "Use Me" by Bill Withers. In honor of the weather where we're headed, I give you this little number: "Strolling along country roads with my baby, it starts to rain, it begins to pour..." Clue: This singer told us breaking us was hard to do, but in this tune he keeps a sense of humor.
You've read many accounts of my experiences driving in Chiang Rai. Well, today it hit me that there's a reason people turn right, in front of opposing traffic when the light turns green. I noticed that the oncoming traffic seemed to wait for them to turn and that maybe it's an unspoken courtesy. It relieves the pressure on the lane with the turners. If all the motorbikes make their turn, then the rest of the lane can proceed. You see, when a light is red, all the bikes cluster at the head of the waiting cars. If they all waited for the oncoming lane to clear, the traffic behind them would not make the light. Crazy, but simple. Another reason why it's called 'Amazing Thailand'.
How nice it is that our attorney, Khun Preecha, makes house calls. We met today to go over papers we have to get signed while we're in America, regarding our property. He's an interesting fellow. When we asked him what he was doing for New Years, he said he'd be spending it with his mom and dad. What a guy.
Leaving the country for almost four weeks means lots of preparation. Aside from making sure Boot has what she needs to run the house, there's the concept of packing. How much to take and planning for the weather are the general categories. The details can be exhausting. Since the weather is colder than what we're experiencing here, that part gets difficult. Warmer clothes take up more space. As far as how much to take, well, it becomes a matter of practicality. If it was just clothes it would be easy but there's always more stuff to pack. There's the gifts for family, the gadgets I can't do without, and the new weight limits imposed by the airlines. Before starting, it seems overwhelming but as we go along, it gets better. I suppose we could just 'rough it' and travel with a change of clothes and a toothbrush. (Ha)
Speaking of traveling, I have news for you. During our dinner on Saturday night we were talking about our trip and I casually referred to our trip to 'The West'. Ruud pointed out that we were actually going to the '...far, far East'. We all had a big laugh and an 'Ah Ha' over that one. Thing about it, we're actually traveling east. So, those of you in America are not in the West, from our point of reference. Hmm.
That brings us to a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

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


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Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Light

Hi,
This was a day on the town. 'East side, west side, all around the town...' (to quote an old song. Oh, and we also spent time in the middle.
I'm suspecting that all the usual suspects have already weighed in on this song. In case you can't nail it, here's some more:
"I-I and I, wanna spread the news, that if it feels this good getting used, oh, you just keep on __ __ Until you __ __up."
Hint: The big hint is, I've practically handed you the song. Get it?
The August Chronicles: It's been awhile since we looked in on our resident 'renaissance boy'. His third grade class was given an assignment to do a report on the Solar System. August decided he wanted to do a video. The family held some concept meetings and then August and his Dad (Jeff) went to work. Every night for two weeks, they worked on the production. I invite you to go to YouTube and experience the results: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCmCQW4DRDc
This morning we went to the central market to look for some gift ideas for a little boy, find a basket, and browse. We got everything we went for, and a little more. The place is always amazing. Just the sheer variety and density of merchandise, not to mention the food. There are still smells that I have trouble with, but they're not actual food smells. The smell of burning oil is very unsettling to me. Anyway, we left the market and went home for lunch.
After lunch, we realized that we really needed more ink for the printer and vitamins for BamBam. After our coffee we went to the vets and then over to Big C. It was a relatively quick and easy trip, mainly because we only needed a few things and they were both on the same end of the store. In and out.
We've been expecting a box that Ten was sending from Chiang Mai, with the silk-screening and the material for our bags. It hadn't arrived so I decided we should drive up the highway to Ban Du and visit the P.O. Boot and BamBam went with us, which added to the adventure. I didn't know it, but we got to the place just before closing. I explained what we were looking for and gave them our address. After a long wait, the clerk came up and invited Boot and me to come to the back and get the package. I signed for it and as we were leaving, he explained that it was sent to the wrong post office first. Comforting to know that it happens all over the world.
On the way back from Ban Du, Lisa called Gan (the woman who sews the bags) and asked her if we could drop off the material so she could make a few before we leave town. Arrangements were made, we stopped by the house and off we went to the west of town. Actually, it's past that, really in the country. We'll pick up our samples on Thursday afternoon. It's all coming together. Oh yeah, the new silk screens of Lisa's work are much better than the first run. Can't wait to show you the finished product.
Yesterday I mentioned that I had reflections from the dinner the other night that I'd share. Basically, we had long discussions that revolved around the constant contrast we are exposed to on a daily basis. As Ruud put it, "Like living in different time periods, all in the same day." Jane and Ruud told us of their adventures in getting Thai driver's licenses. Did you know that they use a touch screen testing device? I wonder if I could get my Thai license and then apply for an international one as a visitor to the U.S.? Hmm, still trying to get out of taking the Cali test.
I think it's time for a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

"A little light in a dark room is still a great illumination."
~Ernest Holmes


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Monday, December 15, 2008

Tightrope

Hi,
Back from the weekend with stories to tell, and news to spread. BamBam exhibited new talents and a friend came through in a pinch. Read all about it after a musical interlude. (Ha)
The song most of you didn't know was "One Way Out" as recorded by the Allman Bros. Band. Lane sent me the whole history of this song. I'll give you a few notes that will give you loads of trivia so you can show how much you know about the blues. "It seems to have been originally recorded by Elmore James at Beltone Studios in New York City in late 1960 or early 1961. It features a full band arrangement with a four-piece horn section, but a completely different melody from later versions. James appears not to have released it at that time. Sonny Boy Williamson II reworked and recorded it for Chess Records in Chicago in September 1961,releasing it shortly thereafter. Returning to the original title, The Allman Brothers Band is known to have been playing "One Way Out" in concert from at least February 1971. A live recording was included on their 1972 album Eat a Peach." Big thanks to Lane for all the research. If you'd like to know the whole story, email me and I'll send it to you. Now, for today:
"My friends feel it's their appointed duty They keep trying to tell me All you want to do is __ __..." Clue: He's had us lean on him but in this song, it's taken on a different meaning. Word on the street was, this was a real life story. Hmm.
Saturday afternoon, as we prepared for our dinner party, the kitchen sink decided not to drain. I called Nu and asked him where I could get a tool to open the drain. He mentioned that he could call a 'water works man' even though it was his day off. I tried to explain that the water was working but wasn't sure he understood. I set off for the hardware store to see what I could find. They sold me a potion of powder and liquid that I was to mix and put in the sink. I took it home and we were preparing to mix it up when the doorbell rang. BamBam was in the yard and tore out towards the gate. She wouldn't respond to our calls as the gate began to open. A stranger was standing there, terrified, as this little dog ran back and forth in front of the entrance to the property, barking all the time. We'd never seen her do this before. Once we captured the wild animal we discovered that Nu had sent him to help us. He was able to take the pipes apart and clean them out. His name is Chot and he is a general handy guy. Nu called just as Chot finished and we thanked him for the rescue.
Our little party came off without a hitch. Ruud, his wife Jane, and Johan came bearing flowers and wine. We told them it was a B.Y.O. affair. Boot prepared one of her delicious meals and we had a great time. I'll reflect on the evening tomorrow.
Rene, Boots friend, will be staying with her at the house while we're gone. It will be nice for her to have someone there with her. He and BamBam get along famously and we like him a lot.
Have a Fabulous Week.

Peace,
Danny

"Being on the tightrope is living; everything else is waiting."
~Karl Wallenda


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Friday, December 12, 2008

Friday Funnies

Hi,
Today was 'Surprises by the Numbers' day. Unexpected workers, surprise guests, and a surprisingly odd encounter that made my day.
So, the song was "I Want You To Want Me" by Cheap Trick, from their 'Live At Budokan' which first came out 30 years ago. The band is still gigging, by the way. Big thanks to Linda for bringing all this to my attention. For the weekend, some blues.
"Aint but __ __ __ baby, and lord I just cant go out the door. (repeat) 'Cause theres a man down there, might be your man I dont know." Clue: This classic tune was made famous by real 'brothers' who understood what the blues was about. The song is about a man who is literally trapped. Ooops.
The doorbell (gatebell) rang at 8 a.m. On the other side was Kek and a truck load of garden workers. The morning went pretty smooth, with BamBam occasionally doing her 'play with me' bark at the workers. By the afternoon, she was quietly hanging out with them as they worked the flower beds. New friends.
Speaking of BamBam, today was bath day. Lisa and I bathed her while the workers were in the front. She stood perfectly still through most of the process. When we were done and let her go, it was as if she were possessed.
We had a 2p.m. appointment at Pai massage. Today we got the operators we wanted and had another good session. It's amazing how you can go through a week and notice an ache here or a hurt there and figure those are the only problem areas. Then you go in for a treatment and discover little sources of pain all over the place. Today Chacoy, my masseuse, woke up a bunch of stuff in my feet and ankles, just to mention a few. It's totally worth it to keep the energy flowin'.
When we got back to the house, there were two motorbikes in the driveway. Tay had come to visit Boot and Lisa, and Berm had come to see Lisa and me. It was nice to see Tay since we hadn't spoken in a couple of weeks.
Berm is a singer/guitar player we met at a restaurant where he sings every night. We have enjoyed his sets very much. We have tried to make a connection several times but things always came up. Apparently he saw one of Lisa's paintings at our neighbor's house and asked about the artist. When Mr. Narong told him who it was, he made a point of coming to the house to meet with both of us. He's been studying English for a month and wants to learn to draw. We all went up to the art studio and we talked and he looked around. He loves music and art. He knows how to make music so now he wants to learn to make art. Makes perfect sense.
After Lisa worked out a meeting time for his first lesson, Berm and I went down to the music room where he asked me to show him my music. I had already admitted that I had not been 'rehearsing', as he put it. I played him a couple of songs and we talked about an exchange. He'll learn a song in English and I'll learn a song in Thai. When we return from America we'll start the process.
An old friend of Boot's is in town for an extended stay. They haven't seen each other for two years, but have been communicating through email and by phone. His name is Rene and he's from France. She had the cutest look on her face when he called to say he was in town. We'll meet him tomorrow.
It's time for the 'Funnies'. Have a Warm, Cozy WeekEnd.

Peace,
Danny


Bumper Stickers

Santa's elves are just a bunch of subordinate Clauses.

Editing is a rewording activity.

Make yourself at home .....clean my kitchen

Allow me to introduce my selves

Better living through denial

Chaos. Panic. Disorder. My work here is done

Is it time for your medication or mine?

I'm not tense, just terribly, terribly alert....


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Thursday, December 11, 2008

Peace

Hi,
It was a beautiful day in 'The Rai'. We went to school, dined by a lake, and cruised the Night Bazaar. Oh, and BamBam played guard dog and smiled at strangers.
Our most recent song brought out all the Rockers in the crowd. Paul and Pedro even knew the concert that I mentioned.
"__ __ __ __ __ __, I need you to need me I'd love you to love me, I'm beggin' you to beg me." Hint: Imagine, a Rock and Roll song about want and need. Hmm.
As planned, this morning Lek and a fellow teacher friend of hers arrived in a school van to pick us up for our latest adventure. We went to Chiang Rai Technical College to record some conversational exchanges for her English class. She wanted them to hear English spoken without a Thai accent. We were joined by Pun, who teaches internet technology. We were given our 'parts' and after a little practice, committed various conversations to tape. It was fun, and after we were done Lek invited us to lunch.
We were taken to a restaurant called Keung Doi (beside the mountain). It sat next to a big man-made lake and the view was incredible. It's actually a fishing lake and there were many people on the bank doing just that. We had a delicious lunch, walked around a bit and headed back to our house.
When the gate opened at the house we realized that BamBam was in the yard. She came tearing around a corner barking her head off. Intruder alert. She knew that Boot was at home and our truck was in the car port, so something was not right. After we got out of Pun's truck she kept barking, but did her 'smiling' thing. Lek, who is a dog lover, immediately commented on the smile. She has 16 dogs. I don't know how she does it. After we return from our vacation we'll go back to the college and speak to her class.
This evening we had dinner at the Night Bazaar and then strolled around and picked up a few gifts. We don't usually walk around as early as we did and it was interesting watching vendors setting up their tables and stalls.
That's all from Chiang Rai. Have a Good Thursday.

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


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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Friendship

Hi,
It was a busy day around here. We met with an engineer, a fence was built, and plans were made. If that all sounds mysterious, read on.
"I Will Survive" still has lots of fans. Gloria Gaynor hit it big with that one during the disco days. A close friend suggested:
"__ __ __ __ __ __ , I need you to need me, I'd love you to love me. I'll shine up the old brown shoes, put on a brand-new shirt, I'll get home early from work if you say that you love me." Clues: This anthem of sorts was featured on this groups historic concert in the Far East, 30 years ago. There's no trick to this, but a checkerboard theme is in evidence. Hmm.
We've been in the house for six months now. We have some cracks in the walls that are cosmetic, rather than structural but we're insisting that the builder make the repairs. Today our friend Suthera brought her engineer over to survey what needed to be fixed and give us an estimate on materials. We now know why these things happened and how they should be repaired. Not the kind of thing you want to have to deal with, but now we have information. We also got assurances that the house is sound. Whew.
Our garden upgrade has become a point of fascination with Miss BamBam. Lots of new rocks to bite and chew. That called for a fence like the ones I put up around two other little plots. After two separate trips to two different stores, I got the materials I needed and erected a barrier. We're hoping it does the trick. Bam is a little older now and a bit bolder. I have a feeling she'll leave things alone.
The planning continues for our trip to the States on the 20th of this month. Lots of lists of things to take, things to bring back and people to see. While we're there, I have to renew my driver's license. That has been a breeze for years, but this time I have to take the test. I don't think they'd accept the answers I'd give if I based it on driving in LOS. (Ha) Guess I'll have to study.
Tomorrow we're going to a local university with a teacher who was referred to us by our vet. She teaches English and wants us to record some phrases and sentences. That should be an interesting experience. At some time in the future she wants us to come and speak to one of her classes. Must be on my best grammar. (5)
Once again, it's time for a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

"Friendships begin because, even without words,
we understand how someone feels."
~Joan Walsh Anglund

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Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Strange

Hi,
Today has been what I'd call an 'ultra laid-back' day. We stayed in all day. The weather changed and so did our clothes. Even BamBam called for wardrobe.
Ah yes, those were the days. In spite of the way we tried to trash disco, it survived and still lives on. Who knew? Hmm.
"Oh no, not I, __ __ __ as long as i know how to love I know I will stay alive..." Hints: I think I've dropped enough hints to bury you.
We slept in this morning. We got up at 8a.m. It was cold and we found ourselves dressing warm to start the day. Late morning found us outside watering in shorts and T-shirts. Earlier BamBam had to have her sweater taken off. She sleeps in one of her little outfits on the cold nights.
It took Lisa and me about an hour to water all the flower beds and trees. Tomorrow I'll water the lawns. Yesterday I got a length of garden hose to add to our collection so we don't have to keep re-attaching hoses as we go. There are faucets all around the yard, so it's just a matter of strategically placing the hoses for a given area.
There is something in the back of the house that gives off a very sweet scent in the afternoon. We used to think it was coming from someone's Spirit House or something, but now I know it's in our yard. I guess I'll have to walk around and smell everything and see. (that's one of those odd occasions when one smells to see.)
Tomorrow is Constitution Day. It's a holiday commemorating the establishment of the Thai constitution 60 years ago. When I think about this in perspective, this is a young 'nation' and it's still going through growing pains. I'm not sure what people do on this day, other than have another holiday. We'll see.
Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

"What is right for one soul may not be right for another.
It may mean standing on your own and
doing something strange in the eyes of others."
~Unknown

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Monday, December 8, 2008

Still

Hi,
Well, I'm back from a fun-filled weekend here in Chiang Rai. We had a dinner party, walked the 'street' and played in the dirt.
Looks like a few of you remembered the disco days and "Stayin' Alive" by The Bee Gees. Let's stay here awhile with this:
"First I was afraid I was petrified Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side." Clue: Could have been the theme song for a popular reality show. Hmm.
Saturday night was a blast. Jen, Nu and Pui came over for dinner. We got to hear about Jen's return trip from America. She was flying to Bangkok on the last leg of her journey when the plane was turned around and sent to Hong Kong. The airport in Bangkok had just been occupied by protesters so they couldn't land. She was then flown to Narita airport in Japan where she spent five days. The passengers were put up in accommodations at the airport. She's very glad to be home. Boot prepared one of her marvelous meals and we ate and laughed and had a great time. After dinner they wanted to go to Walking Street so we went with them.
As we walked the street we ran into people we knew and Jen met up with many of her friends. A woman selling fresh squeezed orange juice turned out to be one of those friends and we got free juice. There was lots of live music on the street. Small groups of young people playing acoustic guitars and singing through small P.A. systems. Sometimes the sounds would overlap and it was hard to take. Near the end of the street I heard the familiar sound of Northern instruments. When we got closer I recognized the two singers. They were at a street fair we went to last year. We made eye contact and there were big smiles all around. The group is made up of a guitar-like instrument, two flute like instruments that sound like raspy oboes and the two singers. The whole thing is called a 'saw' (not sure of the correct spelling). The vocals are totally improvisational. They sing about what's going on and what they see. So, they sang about people in the crowd. I inquired about the flutes (musical curiosity) and one of the men hanging out with the group said that one of the players had an extra set. I placed one in my mouth and blew and produced that raspy sound. They tried to sell me a set but it was more than I wanted to spend. I'm not sure what all the chatter was, but I ended up in the song. Oh my. There's a way to get noticed. We politely moved on and called it a night.
Sunday we went back to the massage parlor and then spent the evening hanging out with BamBam. Today we went into town and then did some gardening. We stopped by a small travel agency and had them look up our flight to the U.S. It's scheduled to fly and we're greatly relieved.
Have a Wonderful Week.

Peace,
Danny

"Be not afraid of going slowly;
be afraid only of standing still."
~Unknown


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Friday, December 5, 2008

Friday Funnies

Hi,
After our 'working vacation' it was only fitting that we spend a quiet day at the Big Brown House. We were awakened way too early by BamBam, who came to our door and escalated her greeting by banging on the door. We ignored her and she finally went away.
My hat is off to all of you who remembered "25 Or 6 To 4" by Chicago. Christopher did a little research and came up with this:
"Chicago fans have long argued about the meaning of the song. When it was released, there was speculation that the lyrics were drug-related; but the same thing was said about many songs in the late 1960s and early 1970s and the rumor has been largely dismissed. Lamm himself says that the title is "just a reference to the time of day," and that "the song is about writing a song. It's not mystical. "The time of day in reference is 3:35 AM (or 3:34 AM), which would then be 25 (or 26) minutes to 4 AM. Lamm was not above perpetuating the mythology of the song, though. In one interview, he referred to the song title as "a cricket score."
The source was Wikipedia. Now you know. For the weekend we're going to do an easy one. The year was '78 and this group recorded a great number of the hits. "Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk I'm a woman's man, no time to talk..." Hints: A fever started on a Saturday night and went on and on. Three brothers from across the pond.
The big excitement for the day was BamBam getting a bath. She may be getting used to the routine, but after it's over, she still goes a little crazy. She runs around the yard, rolls around on the grass and generally acts like a kid. Oh yeah, she is a kid. We've all learned to stay out of her way after the cone collar is put on. (she has to wear it for three hours) The banging and bruising is not cute anymore. She makes her adjustments so she can pick up her toys and usually relaxes after a bit. Today she came upstairs and finally fell asleep with the cone resting on the bottom shelf of a table.
We went out in the afternoon for a Big C run. The place was jam packed since it was a national holiday for the King's birthday and many people were off work. I still find the place fascinating. Today there seemed to be lots of little kids. Some were running around, some in carts, all with big friendly smiles. At the same time it was also a little claustrophobic. As we approached the row of check stands we were greeted by a young woman who led us to an open spot. That's what I call service. On the way home we stopped by the bakery for fresh bread.
Tomorrow we're having Jen and her three son's over for dinner. We haven't done this in awhile and we look forward to hearing about her trip to America. She went there to visit her oldest son who is an engineer. She got stranded in Japan due to the airport closure. Should be an interesting evening.
Now it's time for the 'Funnies'. Have a Great WeekEnd.

Peace,
Danny

The Other Side
A brunette is trying to get across a river and suddenly she spots a blonde on the other side. She yells over to the blonde "Hey, excuse me! How do I get over to the other side?" And after a quick survey of the river, the blonde calls back "You ARE on the other side!"

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Thursday, December 4, 2008

Words

Hi,
It was a wonderfilled day in Chiang Mai. We walked, rode in three kinds of vehicles, experienced the big market place, and now it's nice to be home.
A few of you met the challenge and named the song and the artists. This group was a bit of a departure from the norm.
"Feeling like I ought to sleep, spinning room is sinking deep. Searching for something to say, waiting for the break of day, __ __ __ __ __." Hint: If you can't recall the group, think: Windy City. Oh, and there are a bunch of numbers involved.
This morning we started early on our mission. Ten met us at 8:30 and we walked down a long alley to the market. There we were confronted with a bustling mix of food, wholesalers and shops. We set out to find the right material for our new bags. Ten was invaluable in knowing where to go, in addition to negotiating and understanding what was going on. Two different measurements were used for a bolt of fabric, which added to the confusion. We finally found what we needed and started our search for someone to cut it to the right sizes. Two stops later we found a woman at a tailor shop who took on the task. Now we wait and hope.
After a coffee break we went back to the hotel, dropped off a big bag of material and went back to the market alone. It was totally different than the Night Bazaar. We found many treasures to consider in the future. Some gift shopping and a nice conversation with a guy who ran tours, and we were done.
After lunch we just relaxed in the hotel until time to head for the bus station. The trip back was different. Usually the bus is very quiet. Today it was buzzing with conversation, people talking on phones and more cold air than we wanted. I think tomorrow's holiday for the King's birthday had something to do with it. It's a very big deal.
I forgot to tell you something I saw Wednesday night. Crossing the Narawat Bridge in Chiang Mai I noticed two men walking to the shore of the river. It was well lit from the lights on the bridge. One of them was carrying a spear. Now I'm curious. He put a miner's light on his head and shined the light on the water. They were going night fishing. Hmm.
Have a Beautiful Thursday.

Peace,
Danny

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

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Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Gratitude

Hi,
I'm a little late today. We just got back from a night on the town in Chiang Mai. Actually, we were cruising the Night Bazaar and having a late second dinner. It's been a very full day. A 'working vacation' of sorts.
Lots of mail poured in for "I Feel Fine" by The Beatles. Nothing like a Beatles' song to bring you out. So, it's time for a challenge. Hmm. "Waiting for the break of day, searching for somethng to say. Flashing lights against the sky, giving up I close my eyes. Sitting cross-legged on the floor __ __ __ __ __." Clue: A song about a 60's experience by a band named after a city.
And please don't ask me what the title means, I don't know.
It took the usual three hours to go from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai. After we checked in at the hotel we had our traditional arrival lunch of fried chicken at Mickey D's. We called Ten and let him know we were in town. He's been checking out silk-screeners for us in the area. We've been looking for a place that could provide better quality. He met us at the hotel and we followed him back to his place to see the "Healing Hands Center" that he and Alan have put together. The place is beautiful. I took a few pictures, and after our tour, we set out to meet with the screeners he found.
Without too much detail, the first place we went to actually did the work on the bags we ordered in Chiang Rai. Hmm. So, we went to another place that was recommended and it turned out to be just what we were looking for. A mom and pop operation who could do what we need. Tomorrow morning Ten is meeting us early and we're going to the 'market' to buy some material for the bags. Then we'll engage someone to cut the front panels for the screening process. Fortunately we booked a later bus this time so we should be able to get all our work done with a little cushion.
We had an early dinner on the Ping River at an outdoor restaurant Ten knew about. We were the only diners so it was a special treat. We sat next to the river under some trees. They turned on the sound system and the first song that played was
"Hotel California" by The Eagles. We had to laugh at the irony. When we get back to the Rai I'll post some pictures from the trip.
The latest word we're getting is that the airports should be back up and running in fine fashion by the time we're scheduled to leave for L.A. We had been considering alternate routes but it looks like we can travel as planned.
Now it's time for a 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

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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Amused

Hi,
This morning it was seriously cold. Keep in mind that the lows are not what you would probably call low, but we have finally acclimated and now low 50's seems quite cold. Up and down the streets there are make-shift vendors with racks of warm jackets for sale. It warms up during the day, but the mornings are rough.
There's nothing like a popular song from the 60's to get everybody rockin'. Yesterday's song was no exception. Need more?
"I'm so glad that she's my little girl. She's so glad, she's telling all the world, that her baby buys her things, you know. He buys her diamond rings, you know, she said so. She's in love with me and __ __ __, mmm. Hint: It speaks for itself. Oh, they came from across the water.
There are things I keep meaning to tell you about, and then I forget. I'll bet that never happens to you. (Ha) Anyway, there's a junior high school behind us through the trees, and they have what could be called a Marching Concert Band that plays some very complex, modern arrangements and they sound good. Sometimes we hear them practicing, but the other night we got a little concert and it was really cool.
Tonight we're being serenaded from across the river by various bands. Some of it's cool and some is just bass that rumbles along. We're not sure what the occasion is, but it might be a week long thing in honor of the King's birthday on Friday. Decorations are up all over town. This is a major event in the year.
And speaking of major events, it looks as though the political impasse may have been resolved. What happens from here is anybody's guess, but the ruling party and two others were ordered to be dissolved by a Constitutional Court because of election fraud. That means that the airport is being 'released' and should be operational in about two weeks. That's according to the Bangkok Post. If you want to get a dose of what's going on you can go to www.bangkokpost.com or www.nationmultimedia.com
They're both in English.
Tomorrow we get up bright and early (and cold) and head for the bus station. We're making a run down to Chiang Mai for one of our overnighters.
Now it's time for a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

"Blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves
For we shall never cease to be amused."
~Unknown

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Monday, December 1, 2008

Smile

Hi,
It's been a busy, tense weekend around here. Busy with doing, going and relaxing. Tense only because nobody really knows what's going to happen with the airports and all the political stuff. Our spirits are fine in spite of it all.
I got absolutely no response to the song so I am hereby declaring that I stumped you. (Ha) The song was "Don't You Know", by Della Reese. It was written by Bobby Worth and, as I told you, was based on Musetta's waltz from La Boheme. Now you know. Today I'm going to give you an easy one. It's by four lads, and it's an upbeat tune that will stick in your head.
"Baby's good to me, you know, she's happy as can be, you know, she said so. I'm in love with her and __ __ __." Hint: How you feelin'?
Saturday we went to Big C in the morning, thinking we'd beat the crowds. Wrong. We did our usual shopping and got out as soon as we could. The weather has decided to give us winter after all. I've actually taken to wearing socks and shoes to keep the feet warm. Imagine that? I got a call from Johan while we were shopping and he told me he was sending me the pictures he took at the opera. I'll post some of them this week on the Flickr site. By the way, there are some new ones there if you're interested.
Sunday we went into town and got massages. This time we both got technicians who really tuned in to our trouble spots and we're going to go back next Sunday and have massages with the same women.
In the evening we went back downtown for dinner at Aye's. It turns out that a couple we met at the opera are the owners and it's named after the wife. It's pronounced 'A's' and she's got a bigger than life personality. Her husband's name is Han's and they're both really nice. She sat at our table while we waited for our meal and we had a very interesting conversation about many things. Our circle of friends is growing.
Speaking of that, we met a man at the opera who's name is Vernon. He has an estate house in Bangkok and a country house here in Chiang Rai. We told him where we lived and described our house and today he and his wife dropped by. Apparently this is not an uncommon thing, for folks to just drop by. Anyway, we had a pleasant visit and he told us about some hot springs just west of town. We'll definitely have to check this out.
BamBam has a new thing she's doing. She's figured out that she can use the smooth floors to her advantage by dashing into the house, or a room and sliding. It's really funny to see her gallop across the floor and then put on the brakes, on purpose. She's also gotten very good at catching a bouncing ball in the air. Today she tried to catch the ball and tipped it in the air twice before catching it. It looked like a clever trick but it was an accident. I'll have to try and catch that on film.
Today we went plant shopping in an effort to spruce up one of the gardens. Everything was looking too bland so we got some flowers. At the first place we went, we found a few things, and at the third stop we found a huge complex of garden supplies just up the highway. The guy we bought from speaks English and directed us to the things we were interested in. We came back with a bunch of great plants, including a gardenia bush.
Did you see the planets in the sky? We had a clear night tonight and it looked like they were very close. Venus and Jupiter and the moon. What a picture.
Have a Great Week.

Peace,
Danny

"A smile is the light in your window that tells
others that there is a caring, sharing person inside."
~Unknown


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Friday, November 28, 2008

Friday Funnies

Hi,
This message is late, but I have a note from the opera. Yes, tonight was the night and you'll hear all about it after this interlude.
You guys were all over this song. I got mail from long lost friends (Ha) and usual suspects. It was "Rocket Man" by Sir Elton John. For the weekend, you get a challenge: "__ __ __ I have fallen in love with you, for the rest of my whole life through..."
Hint: This song reached #2 in 1959, the melody was inspired by one of the themes introduced by Musetta in Act II of La Boheme. I spotted it right away and felt compelled to dump it on you. It was recorded by a woman.
Our friend Johan picked us up a little after five and we met his Thai girlfriend of many years. Le Meridien Hotel has just been open for three weeks and we used to see it when we lived in the rental house. We had no idea what it was, or that we'd be rolling up the brick driveway to see an opera. The place is a beautiful new member of an international five star chain. We strolled the grounds before dinner and checked out the pools and other amenities. We had a table for eight but didn't know who the other couple was. Turns out they own a restaurant on the boulevard where we used to have lunch all the time.
Dinner was buffet style, and it was excellent. Not your typical buffet, but gourmet all the way. They also had a group of chefs who would prepare dishes and waiters would bring them to the table. The dessert table was also quite a sight, with marshmallows and a white chocolate fountain to draw your attention.
When we finally got to the ballroom for the production it was seven-thirty. The acting company is a chamber opera group based in London. There are six performers and a pianist. La Boheme is an Italian opera by Puccini set in Paris in the 1800s. Look it up on the net for the full story. This little troupe did a wonderful job in its scaled down form.
There were about sixty audience members. Unfortunately that number didn't fill the house and the way the chairs were set, you could see from anywhere, but it made the room look sparse. We really enjoyed ourselves and hope to do this sort of thing again. The hotel plans to have other presentations so we'll be on the look out.
Have a Pleasant WeekEnd.

Peace,
Danny

Jury Duty

A man was chosen for jury duty who really wanted to be dismissed from serving. He tried every excuse he could think of but none of them worked. On the day of the trial, he decided to give it one more shot. As the trial was about to begin, he asked if he could approach the bench.

"Your Honor," he said, "I must be excused from this trial because I am prejudiced against the defendant. I took one look at the man in the blue suit with those beady eyes and that dishonest face and I said 'He's a crook! He's guilty!' So, your Honor, I cannot possibly stay on this jury!"

With a tired annoyance the judge replied, "Get back in the jury box, you fool. That man is the defendant's lawyer."


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Thursday, November 27, 2008

Gratitude

Hi,
Let me take this opportunity to extend a Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it. Be thankful that you can, if you chose, have a fresh turkey dinner with all the trimmings. We started to go out to one of the restaurants that caters to Westerners but decided to stick to what we know. The last time we had a turkey dinner here it was pressed and processed. Guess we'll just have to wait until we travel across the water.
Boy, a lot of you knew the song on the first day. Here's a part of it that can stick in your head. This may help some to get it.
"And I think it's gonna be a long, long time Till touch down brings me round again to find I'm not the man they think I am at home Oh, no, no, no I'm a __ __ , __ __ burning out his fuse up here alone." Hint: There are some people doing this job as you read. Imagine eating all you want and not gaining a pound. (5)
This morning BamBam came to our door at a little after seven. She gets up at 6:30 every morning. I got up and let her in and she went back and forth from one side of the bed to the other, getting her morning attention. Then she left. She returned later with a toy, or was it a bone?
We've been paying close attention to the airport issue in Bangkok since our friends Cynthia and Lynn are going back there next week. The latest news is that the Provincial Police are going to clear the place for travelers.
After a morning of depressing news we went downtown to send a fax, buy a chair for Boots room, and visit an art gallery I spotted while we were driving. It was a single 'shop house' with the front totally open air. Two artists, a young man and woman, show and sell their paintings. It looked like they work in the back. It was nice to see another way to present art work. They sell to Thais and tourists.
Tomorrow night we're going to a new hotel, Le Meridien, to have dinner and see a presentation of La Boheme. I may write the day's message before we leave, but you can be sure I'll tell you all about it at some point. We're going with Johan, Jane and Ruud, our friends from the Danish community. Now where did I put my top hat and tails?
Have a Good Thursday,

Peace,
Danny

"As we express our gratitude,
we must never forget that the highest appreciation
is not to utter words, but to live by them."
~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

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Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Big Things

Hi,
It was a busy day on the compound today. We had some pool revelations, said 'oh well' to the well and did some 'team' watering. Miss BamBam misbehaved and the sky was clear and blue.
Everybody was singing "Please, Mr. Postman" by The Marvelettes. Now we're moving forward in time, and it's out of this world. "She packed my bags last night, pre-flight. Zero hour, nine a.m., and I'm gonna be high as a kite by then." Clues: This first person narrative is by a Knight in flight. Hmm.
We had a visit from Johan and one of his guys this morning. I had figured out that the leak in the pool had to be coming from the light housings since the channel around the pool was wet at each position. Johan agreed so we started pumping water out of the pool. They'll take the lights apart and see what's going on.
Later in the morning Kek came over with a plan for an irrigation system based on well water. After a long discussion he revealed that the well wouldn't really produce enough water beyond an hour at a time. Hmm, and why didn't he tell us that in the beginning? It seems that the well wasn't dug deep enough. Now there's no way to bring in the big drilling truck. Oh well.
In the afternoon Lisa, Boot and I took parts of the yard and watered the flower beds and trees. It went much faster with all of us working at the same time. The water pressure wasn't ideal, but it worked. Later I set up the rainbird and watered the front lawn. Tomorrow I'll do the back. It was nice being out in nature, seeing the little things that I sometimes take for granted.
There comes a time in every teenaged dog's life when they must 'go off'. Today was one of those day's for BamBam. Words like defiance and mischief come to mind. It's cute for a minute and then it get 'tired'. Later she calmed down and returned to her sweet self. She has this thing she does with her rawhide bones where she shakes her head and then lets go and they fly across the room. Then, of course, she has to chase and pounce. It's a hunting thing I suppose. It's fun to watch.
I've received emails of concern regarding the demonstrations in Bangkok. It's nowhere near us, but it is posing a problem for all the tourists who are trying to enter or leave the Kingdom. We're hoping a conclusion comes soon. It's just too bad that this is how we make the world news.
Time for another Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

PS Thanks to Claire for the quote.

"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."
~ Unknown

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Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Light

Hi,
It was another gorgeous day here in Chiang Rai. Blue sky with some fluffy white clouds in the distance. We had a mellow day and tried a language experiment that I'll tell you about in a minute.
See, I told you that this would be a song you knew. Lots of mail. Today's line should nail it if you're on the fence. Easy one.
"There must be some word today, from my boyfriend so far away. __ __ __, look and see, if there's a letter, a letter for me. (and my favorite line) deliver the letter, the sooner the better..." Hint: Could it be any more clear? Please use your imagination.
This morning BamBam spotted the cows from upstairs and really wanted to bark at them. We caught her early and she got off a few and then some low growls. Those big things aren't supposed to be there. We've noticed that when she goes on 'patrol' she's taking an inventory of the yard. If a big leaf falls when she's in the yard, it gets barked at. If she comes out and it's on the ground, it gets bitten. Sometimes she'll run out, attack a leaf and then prance around the yard with it in her mouth. Maybe she's part lion.
It had been suggested that we try watching a movie with Thai language audio and English subtitles, to help us learn the language. We went to our local video store where I still have a valid card, and discovered there were many films to chose from. We got three American comedies and brought them home to practice listening. Well, it really didn't work. The dialogue is going by too fast to listen, while you look at the subtitles to see if you're correct, and then keep it all in context. Whew. We just switched the first one to English and watched the movie. The other plan is to watch some of the programming for children in the morning and see if we can follow along from time to time.
That's about it for today. Tomorrow is pool guy day and later we'll do more planning with the landscape people about a new well water system for the yard. Great lawns require great amounts of water, as do the many trees. Might as well take advantage of the source. (the pun was intended)
Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

"There are two ways of spreading light...
to be the candle,
or the mirror that reflects it."
~Edith Wharton

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Monday, November 24, 2008

Magic

Hi,
Hope you had a nice weekend. Ours was very good. We cruised Chiang Rai with our house guests, did the 'Walk' and played with the dog.
The weekend song was "Don't Mess Around With Jim" by the late Jim Croce. Let's start the week off with one you know.
"__ __ __, look and see (Oh yeah) if there's a letter in your bag for me, why's it takin' such a long time, for me to hear from that boy of mine." Clues: This marvelous oldie is from the early 60s. Neither sleet or snow or the dead of night, blah blah.
Saturday we started the day with our weekly trip to the vet. BamBam is getting better but it will take time for everything to clear up. Her spirits are great and she eats like, well, a dog. (Ha) In the early afternoon we all went downtown and had a massage. Cynthia commented that it was like a slumber party when we were all handed our 'pajamas' to wear. It was an hour well spent.
In the evening we went to the Night Bazaar for dinner at our favorite restaurant and then tackled the Walking Street. This week it was just as wild as last time. Right in the middle of it all there was a DJ set up and some guys break-dancing. Once we got past the crowd around them we slowly made our way down the side of the street we didn't get to last week. There were more 'ready made' things as opposed to the crafts on the other end but we still saw lots of interesting things. The main thing was the experience. It looked as though the whole town was there.
Sunday morning we had an early call since they had to be at the airport at 8:50. Before we left, Lynn took a 'family portrait' of our little household. BamBam didn't cooperate at first, but she finally settled down and he got a good pic. When I get it from him I'll post it. At the airport we said our good-byes and sent them on their way.
Today was rather mellow. BamBam came to our door this morning but we were still asleep. We didn't hear her because she lost the little bell on her collar. What a dog. Speaking of animals, we have new neighbors. There are two cows living in what used to be the corn field behind our house. There's a big brown bull and a white cow. This afternoon we were watching them and taking pictures and I decided to 'Moo'. It got a quick response from the cow. She 'Mooed' back and the bull turned around to see who the new suitor was. Oh my.
Did a little banking, hit Big C and visited the 'Eye Shop'. I had my contacts upgraded and Lisa got some glasses for close work when she's painting. The weather today was the complete opposite of what it had been. Summer was back and we had to put on some cool clothes.
Have a Wonderful Week.

Peace,
Danny

"Believe as a child believes
and the magic will find you."
~Teresa Langdon

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Thursday, November 20, 2008

Greatness

Hi,
Greetings from the north of Thailand. Today was a good day, like all the rest. Our friends from America arrived for a visit and we got to play tour guide for a bit. We saw the sights as you will soon see.
The hints may have been too easy for some, but for others it was a welcome challenge. I hope I get even more mail today.
"You like to think that you're immune to the stuff, who-oh. It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough. You know you're gonna have to face it you're __ __ __" Clue: I suppose by some stretch of the imagination, this could be called a love song. It could also be seen as an intervention of sorts.
This morning I tried out the pressure washer we got at Big C. After making the necessary connections I took a deep breath, ran across the yard and turned on the water. Then it was a mad dash to the machine to turn it on. It worked like a charm. It's a slow process, trying to focus the spray on the terrazzo since it's made of tiny little stones. Once I got my rhythm I could see the true colors reappear. The thought kept occurring to me that I should have insisted on rain gutters across the back of the house. Anyway, I now have a solution for the clean up. In a way, it was kinda fun. Next time I'll know just how to approach the job and save a little time.
We went to the airport for the one o'clock arrival of our friends Cynthia and Lynn. They used to live in Culver City and now live in Prescott, Arizona. They flew up from Bangkok to spend a few days with us. We rolled down the highway to Big C for lunch at Black Canyon and then gave them a brief tour of the mall. From there we continued south to Wat Rong Khun for the obligatory visit to this awesome place. Lynn is a photographer and he took full advantage of the splendor of the intricate designs.
When we finally got to the house they were greeted by BamBam and Boot. They are 'dog people' and Bam has new friends. We hung out for the rest of the afternoon and then enjoyed a great meal that Boot prepared.
This evening we went to the Night Bazaar. After being in Bangkok for two days, they really enjoyed the slower pace of our little town. It's Tourist Season now and the place was packed. Our guests did some light shopping and we noticed that many things have been changed since our last visit. Some of our favorite stalls are now in different locations so we're going to have to get used to the new design. It should benefit the vendors since it seems to give better access for shoppers.
Tomorrow we get picked up by a van with an English speaking driver at ten in the morning and we head out to see the country to the north of us. Stay tuned for what looks like a busy day on the road.
Have a Dynamic Thursday.

Peace,
Danny

"Don't try to be a great person, just try to be a good person.
And if you can succeed at being a good person,
then you have found greatness."
~Don Heitkamp

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Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Things

Hi,
It appears that the forecast for rain was wishful thinking. We had another beautiful, clear day here in Chiang Rai. We spent the day at home, received a new cooking device and got invited to the opera.
Looks like the second day clue got you all on board. "Summer Breeze" by Seals and Crofts sprang into your minds and we're all feeling rather happy. That means I am obligated to try and throw you a curve on this next one. I know you know this one.
"Your lights are on, but you're not home, your mind is not your own. Your heart sweats, your body shakes, another kiss is what it takes..." Clues: The late singer had trade-mark videos, had a dapper wardrobe and the subject of the song could use rehab.
This morning, as with every Wednesday, the pool guys came and did their thing. Johan dropped by to look over the pool and pick up a frozen pump. In the course of conversation he mentioned that a new hotel in town is presenting an evening of dinner and opera. So, next Friday we're going to the Meridian Hotel with our friends Jane, Ruud and Johan for a little La Boheme.
This afternoon we got a surprise visit from Tay. We mentioned to her yesterday that we were looking for a BBQ. Today she brought a small one over on her motorbike. It's actually more like an hibachi, but it could work for something. We'll keep looking for a real BBQ.
Some of you responded to my request for phone numbers but most of you didn't. What's up with that? Are you really out there? (555) I'd also like to know if any of you in SoCal have been affected by the fires. So, now you have a reason to write.
Have a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

"The only things we ever keep are the things we give away."
~Louis Ginsberg

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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Say So

Hi,
Today was a day for a doggie bath, drilling holes, and a visit from friends. It was a laid back day on the compound and that was just fine.
A couple of you figured out the song and that was good. There were also some guesses and that's good to. At least you're making a stab at it. I think today's lyric will really make it clear as to what the song is and even if you just get the song, cool.
"__ __ makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind..." Hint: Less than wind during the warm part of the year. There was a notable R&B cover of this song that some of you may remember.
Lisa and Boot gave BamBam her medicated bath today. Afterwards she had to wear her collar until she was dry. She didn't like that since she's been running free for four days. Have to remember that she's a dog. Hmm. It seems that since she's gotten better she's more mellow. She comes upstairs and like to hang out with us. Also, she may be finally learning that it's not Ok to bite. Playful bites, but bites just the same and it's not something to encourage. It's hard to believe that she's seven months old. Seems like she's been with us for a long time.
Drilling holes is a reference to hanging pictures. Three more went up in the bedroom today and it's starting to look fuller and lived in.
This afternoon I fooled around with a new sprinkler we got at Big C. There isn't a uniform size for faucets, connections or hoses so it takes a bit of doing to match this with that and make it work. I'll be scouring the hardware stores to find the proper adapters to make it easier to change connections of various things. There's a lot of green space that needs water, now that the rainy season is over. Speaking of rain, we may get a bit this week if one can believe the forecasters.
Tay and her friend Tam came by for a visit late this afternoon. We had a good time talking about many things. We also learned a bunch of new words since they speak English and like to teach us Thai. When Tam saw Lisa's latest 'Dancer' painting he immediately recognized the style of the costume as being from southern Thailand. Then we learned that there are two different words for dancing. One for traditional and one for popular. So much to learn.
Time for another Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

"Looking back, I have this to regret,
that too often when I loved, I did not say so."
~David Grayson


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Monday, November 17, 2008

Gratitude

Hi,
This weekend we walked, we shopped and we stuck our toes in the water but couldn't go in. I made a new friend from the other side of the world and we hung more of Lisa's paintings.
The weekend song, that many of you knew but didn't bother to tell me was "I'll Try Something New" by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. We'll start the week with another one of those songs that you know, but probably don't realize from lyrics.
"See the curtains hanging in the window, in the evening on a Friday night. A little light a-shining through the window lets me know everythings alright." Clues: It's by a duo made up of two last names singing about the state of the weather, sort of.
Saturday evening we went to the 'Walking Street' here in town. Two blocks of a street were blocked off and venders of all kinds were set up on either side and down the middle. Walking traffic went down one side and then made a 'U Turn' and continued on the opposite side. The crowd was huge. We had no idea it would be like that. We saw things we'd never seen before. Stuff we'd never seen at the Night Bazaar. There were lots of wonderful gift ideas as well as things for daily life. And of course, there was food everywhere. We ran into an old neighbor from the rental house days and that was nice. BamBam got a new sweater and I bought a waffle from the man who was our overnight security guard during the building of the house. I'm sure we'll be going back since we only covered one of the two blocks.
Late Saturday night we turned on Thai TV and watched a bit of one of the performances that was being held as part of the cremation ceremony for Princess Galyani, sister of the King. One of the performances lasted seven hours. It began at 11 pm and ended at 6 am. Earlier in the day we watched the various processions that were part of the ceremony. Literally, a cast of thousands were involved in this final tribute to the much loved Princess. People began gathering at 4 in the morning to witness the proceedings.
Sunday evening I spent some time with a young man from Dublin, Ireland who got my number from a friend in Chiang Mai. He was here to do some volunteer work at an Akha village north of Chiang Rai. It was interesting to get a travelers perspective of northern Thailand.
Today we went to Mae Sai for our 90 day check in with the immigration office. It takes almost an hour to get up there and the check in is a matter of filling out a form with our current address and when we entered the country. After about 20 minutes we were back on the highway headed for home. We stopped at Tesco-Lotus, a very nice department/grocery type store, and did some shopping for items we can't usually find in Chiang Rai. We made it home for a late lunch and a little relaxation.
The afternoon was spent hanging paintings in various places and planning for more. I suspect that over time we'll have to do some rotating in order to display all of the beautiful art that Lisa has produced. Just not enough wall space.
Have a Wonderful Week.

Peace,
Danny

"Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity:
it must be produced and discharged and used up
in order to exist at all."
~William Faulkner

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Friday, November 14, 2008

Friday Funnies

Hi,
Shhhh. You hear that? That's right. Nothing. No fireworks, no thumping bass, no heavy traffic. I'm not complaining, I love a good party, but after four days it gets a little tired.
The last song we played with was "Baby, I Love Your Way" by Peter Frampton. For the weekend song think harp intro.
"I will build you a castle with a tower so high, it reaches the moon...give you lovin' warm as mama's oven and it that won't do then __ __ __ __" Hint: It would be a miracle if some of you don't remember this one. Oh, and if you were born too late, try something new and search. You may be surprised. (Ha) In case you didn't read carefully, I just gave you the title and the artist. My weekend gift to you.
I spent almost four hours at my friendly Toyota dealer today. This time I remembered to take my iPod. I watched TV coverage of some of the Loy Krathong festivities in Bangkok and learned more about the four day cremation ceremonies for the Princess that began today. While I was waiting for my second car wash in two days, I got to know Keng, a young man who works there and speaks English.
We have a pretty busy Saturday coming up, but it's all neat stuff. There's a street market that started a few weeks ago and we've been meaning to check it out. We found out that Paladorn and his family will be there selling his greeting cards so we'll try to connect with them and stroll around.
Another driving observation: In New Zealand they have a term for what cars should do when traffic goes from two lanes to one. It's called 'Zipping'. Logical and easy to visualize. Cars take turns entering the single lane. In Chiang Rai the zipper is stuck. That's all I'm going to say on that one. Oh, if you're on a motorbike and the traffic is heavy, it's apparently acceptable to use the opposing lane to gain an advantage. Hmm. Please don't try this one. (555)
It's time for the 'Funnies'. Have a Cool WeekEnd.

Peace,
Danny

Bumper Stickers

"Very funny, Scotty. Now beam down my clothes."
EARTH FIRST! We'll stripmine the other planets later.

Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot.

He who laughs last thinks slowest!

Give me ambiguity or give me something else.

A flashlight is a case for holding dead batteries.

Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.

Consciousness: that annoying time between naps.

I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it.

Okay, who put a "stop payment" on my reality check?

Few women admit their age. Few men act theirs.

We have enough youth, how about a fountain of SMART?


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Thursday, November 13, 2008

Fire

Hi,
We had a lazy day at the Big Brown House. We were all kinda sluggish since we didn't get to bed until about 1:30 a.m. Number 12 was the official date for Loy Krathong, but this afternoon Boot informed us that the 12th was Lek Loy Krathong (Lek means small) and that tonight was Yi Loy Krathong (Yi means big). Oh.
I was shocked and amazed that so many of you knew the song on the first day. Many of you remembered the bright-eyed, long haired guitarist who gave us this song. Maybe this next line will rattle the memories of the rest of you.
"But don't hesitate 'cuz your love won't wait. Ooooh, __ __ __ __ __, every day. Want to be with you night and day..."
Today was the day for BamBam to get her medicated bath. This time Lisa and Boot gave her a shower and then used a big tub to soak her in her 'treatment'. She cooperated with the whole thing and afterward, got to run around the yard for a bit without her big cone collar. She was in heaven. We're hoping that after her Saturday visit to the doctor that it can come off for good.
There are lots of little things that make life here rather special. This morning Boot asked us what we'd like to eat today. Lisa mentioned a dish she makes with little fried fish pieces. This afternoon I heard the doorbell and opened the gate. A young man wearing tall rubber boots and carrying a bag entered the property. It turns out he was the fish guy delivering the makings for our dinner. That's what I call service. Oh, and dinner was yummy.
I had to go into town this evening and decided to take the usual route, which goes right by the festival grounds. It was early and it didn't seem like the crowd was going to be as big as yesterday. Well, it was just gearing up and I got to see what happens as the throngs arrive. At 6:45 there were already hundreds of motorbikes neatly parked on the side of the road. Policemen were directing traffic to parking lots and bikes were swooping in and out of lanes. I managed to get past it all and get to my destination. By 8 o'clock the town was really going strong. There was traffic everywhere so I came home by what we call 'the back way'. Up the highway and through another village.
The whole idea of this holiday is to give thanks to the river by sending little baskets made from banana leaves and covered with flowers and incense down the river. The word Loy means to float. Krathong is the name for the little basket. The balloons symbolize letting your problems float away into the sky. Not sure where the fireworks enter into all this, but they're still going off. Theoretically, tonight should be the end of it. We'll see.
Have a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

"You get the best effort from others
not by lighting a fire beneath them,
but by building a fire within."
~Bob Nelson

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

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