Monday, August 31, 2009

Talents

Hi,

The art show came to an end, the music room got a makeover and Daku finally got to come home. There's a lot more so stick around.

I got a few answers to this one. It was The Temptations with "I Wish It Would Rain". 'Easy Monday' song:
"Though I've tried before to tell her, of the feelings I have for her in my heart. Every time that I come near her I just lose my nerve as I've done from the start." Hint: English group who patrolled the charts for some time. This one is about a shy guy who can't quite tell her what she means to him. Hmm.

Over the weekend we had visits with Daku and today we brought him home. He was so excited to see daylight. He still has to wear the big cone until Friday and he has no idea how much it hurts when he bashes us, but it's all done with love. (Ha) BamBam was also very excited, but a little freaked out by the cone. She wanted so much to give him a proper greeting but that thing just made her bark. They finally had a nose-touching, face-licking moment but they still can't play together. Makes us feel like such 'meanies'. They'll get over it soon.

There's nothing like house guests to motivate one into getting things done. My music room has been on 'hold' since we moved in and Lisa finally figured out what was wrong. The whole setup was backwards. We switched the furniture around, got a few new storage pieces and hung some paintings and now it has a real 'vibe' that I'm happy with.

The guests are Blue, Ming and Andi, Ming's girlfriend. They'll be with us for eight days and we're pretty jazzed about the visit. They've been in Bangkok for three days and it's been raining there. Hopefully our weather will hold and they can see some sights and do some proper hanging out. We'll get to play tourist again and maybe see some new things ourselves.

Lisa's art show actually ended today (Monday) but the gallery is closed. They're going to keep everything on the walls tomorrow so Blue and the crew can see the show. Then we'll pack up all but the pieces that sold and bring them home. The walls have been lonely.

There seem to be a lot of tourist in town, which is good for the local economy. It adds a sort of carnival atmosphere to the evenings downtown. It's a far cry from Krabi since it's based on people coming to see the culture and not the attractions. We have attractions but it's the simpler charms that make this place the destination of travelers. Just an opinion but I'm sticking to it. Hmm.

For those of you in the fire areas of SoCal, we're keeping up as best we can and hoping things get better soon.

Have a Great Week,

Peace,
Danny

P.S. There are 30 new photos from the Krabi vacation at the Flickr site.

"Use what talents you possess;
the woods would be very silent
if no birds sang except those that sang best."
~Henry Van Dyke

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Friday, August 28, 2009

Friday Funnies

Hi,

Today we went out for provisions (Ha), visited with Daku and had a mutiny at the ballet class. Oh yeah, and evening thunder.

Wednesday's song was a stumper. It was "Wild Night" by Van Morrison. The weekend song is dedicated to all you cats and kitties out there burnin' up in SoCal. Relief my be in sight.
"Sunshine, blue sky, please go away. My girl has found another, and gone away...I know to you it might sound strange, __ __ __ __ __." Clues: Looks like 'My Girl' flew the coop and left his tears wanting company. Hmm.

Since we hadn't been to Big C in over a week, there were a few things we needed. Armed with a list, we went early to beat the crowds. They have a counter you go to after you check out and if you've purchased certain items, you get a gift. It might be a glass, a container, or something real special. Today we got 'special'. Four eggs and a bottle of Pepsi. Rock on Big C.

After lunch we were getting ready to go visit Daku when Boot asked if we could take BamBam with us. Bam's been very lonely and it was a sweet idea, but we let her know that only people could visit the animals. The three of us spent a short time with a very excited Daku. I think he was hoping we would take the cone off and help him with his bandages. After he calmed down we all took turns comforting him. And the beat goes on.

Today in ballet class one of the girls noticed a baby gecko inside the grill of the fan. She became very concerned for his safety and suddenly all three of the girls were determined to rescue the baby. Lisa went over and tried to explain that it was not in danger but it fell on deaf ears. It wasn't until Lisa convinced them that I could take the fan apart and save him that they relented and refocused their attention.

We had planned to go for a swim this evening but then the thunder came. The sky is clear above the house but we saw lightning in the distance. There we were, swim suits on, towels in hand and ready to go and the sky said 'wait'. Guess we better wait 'til tomorrow. (Does that sound familiar?)

Have a Cool WeekEnd if you can.

Peace,
Danny

'Bless me Father, for I have sinned. I have been with a loose girl'.

The priest asks, 'Is that you, little Joey Pagano ?'

'Yes, Father, it is.'

'And who was the girl you were with?'

'I can't tell you, Father, I don't want to ruin her reputation'.

Well, Joey, I'm sure to find out her name sooner or later so you may as well tell me now. Was it Tina Minetti?'

'I cannot say.'

'Was it Teresa Mazzarelli?'

'I'll never tell.'

'Was it Nina Capelli?'

'I'm sorry, but I cannot name her.'

'Was it Cathy Piriano?'

'My lips are sealed.'

'Was it Rosa DiAngelo, then?'

'Please, Father, I cannot tell you.'

The priest sighs in frustration. 'You're very tight lipped, and I admire
that.

But you've sinned and have to atone. You cannot be an altar boy now
for 4 months. Now you go and behave yourself.'

Joey walks back to his pew, and his friend Franco slides over and
whispers, 'What'd you get?'

'Four months vacation and five good leads.

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Power

Hi,

This morning was a little tense, waiting for news about Daku. We got a call around 10am from Dr. Arnon telling us that the surgery was over and Daku was doing fine. Meanwhile, the sky was clear, the air was hot and our afternoon massage was a welcomed tension reliever.

I've only had one response to the latest song. Barry wrote with the answer. Hopefully these lines will help:
"...And ev'rything looks so complete, when you walk out on the street. And the wind catches your feet and sends you flyin', cryin'. Woo-woo-wee! __ __ is calling, alright (repeat)" Hint: The sun has set and the party is on.

This afternoon we went to visit Daku. He was frisky and very happy to see us. We finally got him calmed down and had a nice time. We told him how much Boot and BamBam missed him and he snuggled at our feet. He was a little put out that he had the big cone thing around his neck. We'll visit him tomorrow and bring him home on Monday. Things aren't the same without him around.

The corn in the fields around us is being harvested this week. It's interesting that they plant it and just leave it until it's done. I guess with all the rain and sun there's not much else to do. It looks kinda gross, like it's all yellowish-brown and dead, but I guess the corn's good enough to harvest. Now Mr. Narong's cows are grazing in the fields. They're the 'clean up crew' around these parts. Four white cows and a big black bull have all the dogs going crazy, barking their heads off. They'll get used to it in a few days.

The local police have been out in force all over town ticketing bikers with no helmets. There are 'ambushes' in the most unlikely places. They've even started ticketing at night since everyone assumes that their day is over. (Ha)

Enjoy your Thursday.

Peace,
Danny

"None of us has the power to make someone else love us.
But we all have the power to give away love, to love other people.
And if we do so, we change the kind of person we are,
and we change the kind of world we live in."
~Rabbi Harold Kushner

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Nothing

Hi,

Today was really hot in Chiang Rai. Daku now has inpatient status and BamBam is lonely.

We finally got an 'Easy' one on Monday. It was "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" by Steely Dan. Now sing this:
"And all the girls walk by, dressed up for each other. And the boys do the boogie-woogie on the corner of the street..." Hint: This '71 tune is by an Irish singer who loves the blues. The second verse lyrics describe the scene of an unfolding evening. Hmm.

Yesterday I reported that Baby Daku was going to be alright. Well, he will be but not until he has a rock removed from his intestines. He had a rough night last night and this morning he turned down breakfast. We took him back to the vet and he kept him so they could take x-rays and give him an i-v for nourishment. Poor guy hadn't eaten since yesterday's breakfast. Later we saw the x-ray and it was clear what the problem was. Dr. Arnon will operate tomorrow morning and Daku will stay in the hospital until Monday. It's difficult emotionally but we'll get through this. Daku is with a very competent doctor and we found out today that there's another Golden a month older that just had a rock removed. I guess it's what they do. The other dog is doing fine now.

How hot was it? It was so hot that I saw at least three bike riders carrying electric fans. I guess someone needed relief and they were delivering. It was quite a sight.

The daughter of the carpet guy came over today with more samples. The one we had chosen was out of stock so she brought some new samples and we found an even better choice than before. Many Thais are reluctant to tell us their real names because they think it will just overwhelm us. Such was the case today when Lisa asked about her name. She thought, stammered and then said, "You can call me 'Cutie'". Everyone has a short, simple play name but now I was curious. She told us her real name and it wasn't that hard.

Speaking of names, I'm sure you've Googled yourself at one time or another, just out of curiosity. (Ha) I read an article in the L.A. Times about how easy it is to get access to certain personal information from 'social network' sites and search engines. I went to snitch.name and discovered there are over 130 people around the world with my name. What? I was floored. I became weak and disoriented and my vision blurred. (Ha) It does rattle one. So, setting about to find a new name can be playful, nerve racking and self-centered. Maybe I'll do like they do here. Just pick an object and be that. The list of names that have no specific meaning to the person is long and curious. Short list: Milky, Boy, Boot, Yam, Bam, Moo, and Pun (short for Apple). I have no idea where all this is really going, except that I resent all those people running around with my name. So there.

This really is Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

"Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely."
~Auguste Rodin

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Speak

Hi,

Today the weather was fair and warm. We visited 9 Art Gallery and the frame shop. In the afternoon we got a house call from our internet people and we got some speed. Yea. The evening was spent at the vet's with Baby Daku, who was feeling kinda blue.

Something told me that you'd find this Monday's song 'Easy' and I was right. There's still time to write me. (Ha) "__ __ __ __ __ It's the only one you own. You might use it if you feel better, when you get home." Hint: It's about a girl with a name that's usually a boy's. If you loved Lucy then you know the clue. Hmm.

When we left off, we were headed to the last stop on our four island cruise. It was referred to as the last island, but it's really not an island. It felt like one though. Railay Beach is famous for it's caves and cliffs. People come from around the world to climb and explore. Our boat pulled into a quiet, beachless cove and we were led along the shore line, past an exclusive hotel, onto a paved path that had vendors selling hand made items spread out on the ground. We walked a little farther and saw sand and more vendors. The next bend in the path revealed a small bay surrounded by huge limestone cliffs. We had arrived. It was like this secret beach that we'd discovered, along with a few other boatloads of people. There was something magical about being there. A carnival atmosphere filled the air and we all seemed a little giddy. We parked our stuff and went back into the water. Another memorable experience for sure. Oh, that exclusive hotel I mentioned costs about $3,000 per night during high season. I should also mention that there are no roads to any of this. The only access to Railay is by boat.

Saturday night we had planned to go into town and experience the Krabi Night Bazaar but the rain came and we decided to stay in. Besides, there was Formula One Qualifying for the Sunday race. Even though our cruise was over at 2pm, were realized we'd used a lot of energy so rest was a good choice.

Sunday morning we went back up to the area with tourist shops and got some souvenirs. Someday we'll return to Krabi for another holiday.

Daku has a little stomach upset but he's going to be alright. He has go until morning without food or water. Right now he's doing what he does best, sleeping. While we were at the vet's we met two women who have three Goldens at home. There's a handful.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,

Danny

P.S. Art Show pics are up at the Flickr site.

"If one speaks with a cruel mind, misery follows,
as a cart follows the horse...
If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows,
as a shadow follows its source."
~The Dhammapada, a collection of Buddhist teachings

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Monday, August 24, 2009

Beauty

Hi,

We're back in Chiang Rai, but the Krabi adventure is far from over. Put on some sunscreen and get ready for the cruise.

The weekend song seemed to be quite popular. It was "Born To Run" by Bruce 'The Boss' Springsteen. And now for the 'Easy Monday' entry. This one's from '74 and I'm hoping it's so easy that you'll write and tell me. (Ha)
"We hear you're leaving, that's OK. I thought our little wild time had just begun. I guess you kind of scared yourself, you turn and run. But if you have a change of heart __ __ __ __ __, you don't wanna call nobody else..."
Clues: It's from a duo that brought us a ton of favorites. The singer is hoping not to be forgotten. Hmm.

Saturday morning we got up early, packed up our 'gear' and had breakfast. We were told that there was no place to change on the boat so we had to dress in layers. A van picked us up from the hotel and took us to a marina that was tucked away. Our 'speed boat' was a very modern, twin-engined outboard. There were 19 passengers and a crew of about four plus our guide, Khun Dao. She was very cordial and spoke pretty good English.

After we motored out of the marina the boat lived up to it's designation and sped us to our first stop, Chicken Island. It's a small island with two little islands connected by what could be called sand bars. We got off the boat and walked around and then noticed that some people were swimming. The water was warm and inviting so we pealed off our clothes and went in. The turquoise color of the Andaman Sea is breathtaking. We swam out about half way to one of the tiny islands and realized that we could stand on the bottom. Back on shore the little kids in our party were wading and a school of Tiger fish swam over. After a brief stay we loaded up and raced off to 'Island Number Four'.

At 'Number Four' we got our snorkeling instructions and they passed out life jackets, snorkels and masks. This was it, no turning back. We stepped off the back of the boat and, after numerous adjustments to the masks, started cruising around looking beneath the sea. There were more Tiger fish,and some long blue fish with iridescent fins. These were our favorites. There were a few other fish that were not part of a school. We watched them as they nibbled on what looked like dead coral and swam in and out of it. The water started getting choppy so we got back in the boat. What a rush. Now we can't wait to do it again in some calm water.

We had lunch at Koh Poda (Koh means island). Dao passed out box lunches of Thai food that was quite good. After we had finished she came around with fresh fruit and cake. Then it was time to stroll around the shore. We went back into the water and took lots of pictures of the surrounding islands. All around us were various sized islands that just stuck up out of the water. So much to take in, it was amazing.

I'll save the last stop for tomorrow. There's so much more to tell. Have a Great Week.

Peace,
Danny

"Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old."
~Franz Kafka

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Friday, August 21, 2009

Friday Funnies

Hi,

Today we went to Krabi Town, swam, and made plans for tomorrow. After a musical interlude, our adventure will continue.

I guess sometimes you need to have the clues handed to you. It was "I'm Only Sleeping by The Beatles. Hmm.
"It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap. We gotta get out while we're young 'cause tramps like us, baby we were __ __ __." Clue: It's by someone the call 'The Boss' and it became an anthem of sorts. You've got the weekend to figure it out.

The hotel we chose is one of many on the coast of the Andaman Sea. It's in district called Ao Nang and it's only a few years old. Sala Talay is a modern experiment in design. All of the rooms have patios that look out over the swimming pool. The rooms on the first floor have steps into the pool. Breakfast and dinner are served in an open air dining room that looks out over the bay. It reminded both of us of John P.'s dining room at the villa in Bali. Last night we were the only people in the dining room and as we ate, we watched an incredible pink sunset. The clouds were pink and their reflection created a pink sea.

After dinner we took what they call a Tuk-Tuk up the road to the coastal tourist district. Our ride consisted of a motorbike with a large side car with an 'L' shaped bench. Not the same at all, but it gets you there. Anyway, we were looking for some batik and we found it. We strolled along looking into a few of the shops. This place thrives on the tourist trade that the islands and beaches bring. The 'vibe' here is very different from that of Chiang Rai. We live in a town where people come to get a flavor of Thailand. Here, on the beach, everything caters to the tourist. We were constantly asked 'Where are you from?'. When I'd tell them 'Chiang Rai', it stopped them in their tracks. It's an odd feeling, after almost two years of trying to not be a tourist, to be in a situation where I am actually a tourist.

As a tourist, I must tour. Tomorrow were going on a tour of four islands. It's a half day tour with snorkeling at two of the stops, and lunch at one of the beaches. This will be one of the highlights of the vacation.

This morning we went into Krabi Town to see the department store and check out the downtown area. That's where we saw Thai life happening. There are some things that stand out in terms of observations. The south has a large Muslim population due to the fact that at one time some of it was part of Malaysia. The street vendors, the food smells and some of the shops gave us the feeling of being in a different country.

This afternoon we relaxed for a while and then went for a swim in the big pool. The part under our room was empty while the other 'leg' had several families with kids playing and having a good time. Quite a contrast and nice to be able to do our thing without bumping into anybody. The pool is about the same depth as ours so it was easy to get used to. Tomorrow we swim in the sea.

Have a Wonderfilled WeekEnd. It's time for the 'Funnies'.

Peace,
Danny

Grown Up Talk

It was the first day after Christmas vacation in a 3rd grade class.
The teacher told the class that each student could tell the class 1
thing they got for Christmas. So, the teacher calls on a girl to come
up to the front of the class and tell everyone 1 thing she got.

"My daddy got me a Bow-Wow," she said.

The teacher tells the class that they are old enough to know the
correct words for things without using nicknames. The teacher tells
the girl to try again. The girl thinks real hard ........

"My dad got me a dog," she said.
She sat down and a boy got up and said,
"I got a choo-choo!"

The teacher scolded him and told him to try again. The boy thought
hard and said,
"I got an electric train!!"

That boy sits down and a really shy kid gets up and sadly says,
"I got a book"
The teacher feels bad for the kid and she asks,
"What was the title of the book??"

The boy thinks very hard. The class waits as the boy is thinking.
Finally, the boys face brightened and he said,

"Winnie The Sh*t!!

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Surprise

Hi,

Today we're down at the other end of Thailand. Our trip had it's own adventure and we discovered that some things are quite different in the south.

I'm surprised I didn't get more mail from you about this song. You really should know this one. This should do it.
"When I wake up early in the morning, lift my head, I'm still yawning. When I'm in the middle of a dream, stay in bed, float upstream." Hint: Like you need one. OK, four guys/Liverpool, from an LP named after something that goes around. What were you doing before you woke up? Oh now I've done it.

Mr. Daku woke us up promptly at 6am this morning. I don't know how he does it. We had our usual morning plus the packing for the trip. Tye drove us to the airport and we flew to Bangkok. We were to leave BKK on a smaller plane for Krabi at 1:30pm. At 1 o'clock we were sitting in the waiting area that our ticket had designated. Then we noticed people exiting a plane at that gate. Hmm. The plane would not be leaving on time. Half an hour later we're still wondering what was happening and then a Thai Airways attendant came over to me and asked if I was going to Krabi. She explained that we were at the wrong gate and rushed us to a waiting van one floor down. They raced us across the runway to our plane. Everyone was on board, except us and our seats were all the way in the back of the plane. Ugh. Our tickets in Chiang Rai had been given the wrong gate number for the second leg of the trip. Nice bit of drama to break up an otherwise easy trip.

Flying south from Bangkok we flew over the Gulf of Thailand. On the west side of the plane we could see the eastern coast of Thailand. We could actually see the bottom of the ocean. Well, the water's very clear and it's not that deep, but it's pretty amazing to see. We also saw some coral reefs. Near the end of the flight the pilot turned the plane to the west and we flew over land and then we saw the Andaman Sea. This is the part of Thailand that draws divers from around the world to its clear, warm waters. We're planning to go snorkeling as soon as we can convince someone to take us out for less than four hours.

The landscape, as seen from the air, is completely different from up north. We saw what looked like plantations growing pineapple. There were many fields with distinct patterns made up of two tones of green. It was as if they had planted dark green bushes on a light green lawn. After landing we waited at the baggage belt. I have to say that I have never seen a neater assemblage of luggage in my life. All the bags were lined up so the handles on the end were facing their waiting owners. Nothing was askew and nothing was on top of anything else. It took longer to get the bags, but I understand why and there wasn't any 'panic' at the belt because someone didn't see their bag until it was gone. Hmm.

At this point I need to tell you that it took a total of two hours 'in the air' to get to Krabi. If you ever come here be sure not to take the shuttle bus from the airport. It took us over an hour to get to our hotel. We stopped to let passengers off, to pick up local riders, and watched while some stood and decided if they really wanted to get off the bus. It was nice to see Krabi town and take in the countryside, but we were ready to start our vacation.

Tomorrow I'll tell you about our hotel and our sunset dinner. Have a Cool Day.

Peace,
Danny


I would love to live like a river flows,
Carried by the surprise
Of its own unfolding
~John O'Donohue

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Peace

Hi,

Today we observed 39 years together. Tomorrow the real celebration begins when we board a plane for a flight south to the city of Krabi (krah-bee, accent on the second syllable). We'll be vacationing at Ao Nang, which is a beach resort area. Our hotel is across the street from the Andaman Sea. Clear water, hot temps and occasional rain. It will be our first trip to the beach in Thailand.

Man, another Monday that wasn't so 'Easy'. It was "Legs" by ZZ Top. I'll make sure next week is really easy.
"Please don't spoil my day, I'm miles away and after all __ __ __." Clue: This may be easy for some, but others may need to sleep on the line. It's from the middle of the song. Oh, a guitar went backwards. Hmm.

We spent a rather typical day today. Well, maybe not. We stopped by the gallery and our friend Tye came over to see Lisa's exhibit. We were given an impromptu violin interlude by Khun Nai's son. Once again we were blown away by this talented 14 year old. It was like we were transported for about 10 minutes.

There was another ballet class this afternoon and the girls are making progress. For many years I would go to various studios with Lisa and watch her take classes. I also ended up stage managing for a couple of the companies she dance with. It's really something to watch her teach. It's like old times. (Ha) Who's old?

Well, I'm going to sign off for today. Gotta go pack for the trip. I'll be writing you from Ao Nang for the rest of the week.

Peace,
Danny

"If we have not peace within ourselves,
It is vain to seek it from outside sources."
~Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Dancing

Hi,

Today we took to the streets, refilled our supply of liquids, gave the frame guy more business and had another ballet class. There was still time in between for odds and ends.

Looks like the song was 'Easy' for some of you. Maybe not easy enough. You might try again with these clues:
"She's got __, she knows how to use them.....stays out at night, movin' through time..." Clue: I found it difficult to give you more lyrics because, well, they're kinda tacky and far from PC. If you don't remember the group, maybe you remember long beards and low-slung guitars. They were sharp dressed men.

Our days seem to go in segments. The first one is the early morning shift, when Daku wakes us up. That's at 6am and he's very accurate. He makes sure we both get out of bed and go downstairs with him. Now we eat an early breakfast, after Daku, and read email and browse the news. Segment two is mid/late morning. That's the time for doing errands that can be done by lunch. Unless we mention something, lunch is on the table at noon so we try to work with that in mind. Besides, after eating breakfast so early noon can't come soon enough.

The early afternoon segment of our day is often nap time. It last about an hour and then the real afternoon begins. Boot brings coffee at 2 o'clock and then we're usually doing something until dinner at 6. Evening is the final segment until bedtime. Now you know the framework of our day.

Let's see if I can get this right. Segment two was spent at the frame shop. Since most of Lisa's current paintings and prints are at the gallery, our walls have been bare. We took some of her early watercolors and acrylics to be framed. Khun Noy was quick to notice the difference between the work we brought in and the work in the show. He's become a big fan of Lisa's work.

From there we went down the highway to Big C. We didn't do our weekend shopping so it was time for juices and water and staples. I got a big surprise when I reached for a bottle of Sprite. Attached to it was a roll of toilet tissue, as a promotion. We couldn't decide whether to just go 'Hmm', or laugh hysterically. I took a picture of it as soon as we got home.

After lunch and a siesta Lisa prepared for the ballet class and I went into town to mail some things at the coffee bar post office which is in the same store where I get my yummy cookies. There are many 'combination' businesses and sometimes it's hard to figure what the motivation was. In this case, I guess it made sense for the postal service to have a small outlet in the center of the tourist part of town. There are no lines and it's very casual. Imagine sitting on a stool, sipping coffee while they weigh your mail. No stamps to buy, nothing to do but pay a small fee and be on your way.

Today's quote was 'lifted' from the Rising Stardom blog site. I highly suggest you go and visit. Blue and Ming offer a variety of entries that I find interesting, entertaining and informative. Blue has been documenting his many years on the road as tour coordinator for some of the world-class jazz acts of our time, complete with photos he took at the time. Ming finds things you probably didn't know were out there and offers a taste. Anyway, I also enjoy the 'Today's Thought' entries.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

"The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing"
~James Brown

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Monday, August 17, 2009

Dream

Hi,

I'm back from a rather mellow weekend. It rained a lot, the animals got restless and I got creative with my handyman duties. We also got permission to stay in the Kingdom another year.

So, the weekend song was apparently a stumper. A few of you remembered "Sunshine Superman" by Donovan. Oh, it all comes back to you now. I think 'Easy Monday' should be just that. Here's one I'm sure you remember:
"She's got __, she knows how to use them. She never begs, she knows how to choose them..." Hint: Everybody's got them. The trio that did this tune is known for their hot-rods. Hmm.

Life in Chiang Rai was calm and easy over the weekend. With the rain doing its thing it kept us out of the pool, so we had to sweat it out. I spent a lot of the time trying to find a way to make my new CD recorder communicate with my laptop. Not a very satisfying conclusion though. I finally gave in and ordered one on-line. I'll be taking the other one back.

In an effort to make life a little easier for Daku while he gets over his strained shoulder, Lisa came up with an idea for a little enclosed area off the kitchen door. He has better footing on the surface outside and likes to hang out there. With her basic concept I was able to do a few hardware runs and build it using some plastic fencing that's sold here. So far it's working pretty cool and Daku is happy. He's limping less since we've kept him off the stairs. When the carpet is installed the stairs won't be quite as slippery for him. He's still in that clumsy stage where he's not always aware of where all of his body is all of the time.

Today we drove up to Mae Sai again for our visa renewal. This is our second time doing this. We were more prepared, armed with numerous copies of everything they asked for last time. Of course, they had changed the procedure a bit and we still had to get copies of pages from our passports but it was a small thing. The whole thing took just about an hour and we were on our way home. The countryside is really green and beautiful due to all the rain. Some amazing 'gardens' are being planted on the median between the north and south lanes and by the looks of it, it's taken many days to do the work. Highway beautification at it's finest.

Tonight I saw a scene that I wish I could have captured on film. A mother and her small son were sitting on her motorbike by a roadside food vendor. When the vendor approached with her order she put her hand behind her back and gave the money to her son so he could pay. Too cute.

Have a Great Week.

Peace,
Danny

"The only place where your dream becomes impossible
is in your own thinking."
~Robert H. Schuller

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Friday, August 14, 2009

Friday Funnies

Hi,

It's been a very interesting and productive day. We reconnected with a friend, Lisa met a fan, and we visited the art supply dealer/patron. The details in a minute.

The song we just couldn't get out of our heads was "Sunshine of Your Love" by Cream. See, all those clues meant something. Did you catch the 'Sun' theme of the last two songs? This weekend song may be a stumper in the sun. "Sunshine came softly through my a-window today. Could've tripped out easy a-but I've changed my ways...'Cause I've made my mind up, you're going to be mine. I'll tell you right now, any trick in the book now baby, that I can find..." Clues: This tune came out in late '66, from across the pond. There's a reference to some D.C. Comics heros and Jimmy Page (Led Zep) was one of the guitar players. Singer went by one name. Break out the flowers and tambourines. (Ha)

This morning we arrived at the gallery just before 10am. Our friends Pui and Nat showed up soon after. Nat lives in Chiang Mai and we learned that now she has a showroom in Bangkok. She really liked Lisa's work and as a result, Lisa has been commissioned to create several works. We had quite a fun visit at the gallery and then went to our house. The last time we saw Nat we were living in the rental house. She didn't realize we had built a new house. After a tour of the Big Brown House we went to a buffet lunch at one of the local resorts.

During lunch I noticed a gentleman eating by himself. Near the end of our meal he came over to our table and asked Lisa if she was the artist with the exhibit at 9 Art Gallery. He went on to say how much he enjoyed her work and even described his favorite piece. I told her this was going to happen. (Ha)

The rest of our day in the street was mainly going to the bank to get documents for immigration and a stop at the art store for more canvas. The owner of the shop bought two of Lisa's paintings at the opening, and she lit up when we walked in. They had an exchange in Thai about the work that she bought. She wanted to know what kind of paint was used. She seemed pleased that the got an acrylic and a water color.

Just as we got home it started raining and it hasn't stopped since. For a while it was that 'giant drop' rain that splashes when it hits a puddle and splats when it hits your head. Really makes for a lazy afternoon.

There is a real sense of community here. That's something that happens all over the world, but it seems different right now. This train of thought started at lunch when Nat asked us how we felt, living here for almost two years. There was a sense of belonging that kept coming up. Even though we're not Thai, we've been made to feel very welcome. Then, right before dinner the gate bell rang. As the gate opened Napa came running down the driveway with a bag. She and her mom, Tye, just wanted to drop off a watermelon. Then they were gone. Amazing Thailand.

It's time for the 'Funnies'. A little something from the archives. Have a 'Groovy' WeekEnd.

Peace,

Danny

Norma

A sweet grandmother telephoned St. Joseph's Hospital. She timidly asked,
'Is it possible to speak to someone who can tell me how a patient is doing?'
The operator said, 'I'll be glad to help, dear. What's the name and room number?'

The grandmother in her weak, tremulous voice said, 'Norma Findlay, Room 302.'

The operator replied, 'Let me place you on hold while I check with her nurse.'

After a few minutes, the operator returned to the phone and said, 'Oh, I have good news. Her nurse just told me that Norma is doing very well. Her blood pressure is fine; her blood work just came back as normal, and her physician, Dr. Cohen, has scheduled her to be discharged on Tuesday.'

The grandmother said, 'Thank you. That's wonderful! I was so worried! God bless you for the good news.'

The operator replied, 'You're more than welcome. Is Norma your daughter?'

The grandmother said, 'No, I'm Norma Findlay in 302. No one tells me sh*t.'

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Do

Hi,

Today we filled in the gaps from yesterday. Mr. Daku got a diagnosis, and we got a massage. Oh yeah, more rain came in the afternoon.

There were some sharp memories out there this time. Maybe the rest of you will get it from the hook. Hmm.
"I've been waiting so long, to be where I'm going, in the __ __ __ __." Hint: Signature guitar/bass riff was a big part of the appeal. Like the stuff in milk, they rose to the top.

This morning we took Daku back to the vet to see why he's limping. On the way, Lisa managed to get him up on the back seat and he discovered the joys of being a dog in a car with the window down. We had been thinking that there was something wrong with his left leg, based on the way he walked. Dr. Arnon checked his left leg and then had us walk him around again. Then he manipulated his right shoulder and Daku let out a yelp. That was the problem. He's on pain meds for five days, no playing with BamBam and no running. He's not totally happy about not being able to play. He got weighed today and he's up to 55 pounds. Still growing.

We went to the appliance store that was closed yesterday and got our toaster oven. It hasn't been used yet, but from the looks of things, it will add some new options to our menus.

Teaching ballet can wake up old dancing aches, so we went over to Pai Massage for some therapy. It was an hour and twenty minutes well spent. From there we stopped by the 9 Art Gallery to check in with Nai. There had been some visitors to the exhibit, which is good. Tomorrow we go back in the morning and meet with our friend Pui and Nat, a friend who has several jewelry stores in Chiang Mai. We're hoping she can give us some insights on approaching galleries down there.

Boot has a friend named Nowan who is from the Akha Hill Tribe. She visited yesterday and at one point she tasted some panang curry that Boot had prepared for us. She told Boot that she wasn't a good cook since it was a little sweet and wasn't spicy enough. I told Boot she could blame it on my 'weak' mouth. (Ha)

Tomorrow we start preparing for our Monday trip back to Mae Sai for our annual visa renewal. We're getting close to the end of our second year here. My, how the time flies when you're having fun.

Have a Fantastic Thursday.

Peace,
Danny

"What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Thorns

Hi,

Today is The Queen's birthday. It's known as Mother or Mother's Day, depending on who's saying it. It changed a few of our plans for the day since it's a holiday. Right now we can hear fireworks in the distance.

'Easy Monday' wasn't so easy was it? The song was "Sunny" by Bobby Hebb. A wonderful one hit wonder. Now it's time for a real challenge. It's a song you know but I'm starting from the second half of the first verse.
"I'll be with you darling soon, I'll be with you when the stars start falling..." Clue: By a trio from across the pond, this song is not just about stars. It was the groups biggest selling single.

The first time we came to Thailand was in 2001. I remember the cab ride into Bangkok and noticing huge banners and posters with pictures of the Queen, wishing her a happy day. Some celebrations go on for a week. During our stay in Bangkok we learned of the things she has done to help provide health care and education for many people in The Kingdom.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we took Daku to the vet's this morning but Dr. Arnon had taken the day off. Even though there was a doctor on duty, the staff acted like we only wanted to see Arnon and sort of ignored us. We left and will take him back tomorrow. Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches.

We had planned to purchase the long sought after toaster oven today but our store was closed. We pressed on since I just knew that Big C would be open. I was right and so were many other shoppers. We got what we needed plus a few other things and managed to get home by lunch time.

The rain started on our way home from Big C. Light at first and then turned into a steady, moderate dump. The day was very hot and it didn't help that it was raining. We took a nap and woke up to bluish sky. What else to do but take a swim to cool off. We had a short swim and then got ready for the ballet lesson.

We eat more fruit here then we did when we live in America. In fact, we have fruit with lunch and dinner. It's something Boot started doing when she first started working for us. It's like our dessert. In the mornings I like orange juice and Lisa likes an orange. Today we stopped at our local fruit stand to pick up some oranges. I bought 6 of them and it came to 30 baht. That's 87 cents. It's a nice place to like fruit.

It's time for Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

"You can complain because roses have thorns,
or you can rejoice because thorns have roses."
~Tom Wilson

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Mistake

Hi,

Little things from the art show keep popping into my mind. Today we entered a new chapter in our Thailand adventure, and some home improvements are underway.

I can't believe I didn't get more mail on this tune. Has 'Easy Monday' has turned into a stumper? Sing on:
"You gave me your all and all, now I feel ten feet tall, oh __ one so true, I love you." Hint: Even though it's 'easy', I'll tell you it's the name of a woman and it's something in the sky. No, it's not Star or Moon. (Ha)

During the art show opening there were little things that happened that are worth sharing. There was a little boy of about four years old who was going around taking pictures of all the paintings. He was very serious about it. He even got a picture of Lisa with one of her pieces. I managed to get a shot of him taking the pic. Then there was the guy with the big Cannon camera with a long lens. I noticed him taking photos during the evening and got into a conversation with him. He told me he doesn't usually take pictures of "humans." Something about infringing on rights and such. He specializes in landscapes because "they don't mind." That night was "different" because he knew most of the people.

Yesterday we noticed Daku limping. At first we thought he just strained his leg playing with BamBam. When it persisted we got concerned. He didn't want to stop being his semi-active self but we tried to get him to take it easy. He was very tentative on the stairs, especially going down. The stairs are tile and there's not much traction. Today we went out in search of some carpet to put down the center portion of the stairs for better footing. Good for beast and man. We got a referral to a shop near us and they came out and measured, we chose some carpet and in about a week it will be installed. In the meantime we're having Daku spend most of the day downstairs and trying to keep him away from BamBam since their play can get rough. He's hanging in there. If it doesn't improve we'll take him to the vet.

The big new chapter in our adventure happened late this afternoon. Lisa began teaching a ballet class to four girls. The whole thing is a spinoff of the private lessons she was giving Napa. When the other mothers heard about it they wanted their daughters to take from Lisa as well. They found a big room at what is called a 'Sports Stadium' and had a barre made. The girls range in age from 8 to 13 and they will have two lessons a week from Lisa. The first day went pretty well. The floor is too slick so the mothers are getting a floor covering that's used at the ballet studio. They really want this to work and they're trying to make everything right. I call it Miss Lisa's Ballet Academy, though we dare not hang a sign. (Ha)

As soon as we get a decent upload speed from our provider I'll post pictures from the art show. Give me a couple of days.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

"The biggest mistake we could ever make in our lives is
to think we work for anybody but ourselves."
~Brian Tracy

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Monday, August 10, 2009

Compassion

Hi,

Amazing, stupendous, incredible, outrageous, and successful. Just a few words to describe the opening of Lisa's art show, "Spirits In Nature". Stay tuned for all the news.

The weekend song appeared to be a bit challenging for most of you. It was "The Crunge" by Led Zeppelin and it was a nod to Mr. James Brown. In many of James Brown's songs he'd instruct the band to take it to the bridge. Not to worry, it's 'Easy Monday' and this one should be no problem for you. It's a classic from the '60's.
"__, yesterday my life was filled with rain. __, you smiled at me and really eased the pain." Hint: Nice play on a word dealing with a certain state of weather. What?

And now the news: Saturday we arrived at the 9 Art Gallery at 6pm just in case guests arrived early. There is a concrete apron about the width of three sidewalks in front of the gallery. Tables were set up and food and drinks were being arranged. There were benches and chairs near the highway, facing the gallery. One of the early arrivals was Khun Noy, the man who framed Lisa art work. He had taken a copy of the catalog, cut it up and put it in a frame. One for Lisa and one for Paradorn, the other artist in the show. It was a beautiful momento of the experience.

As invited guests began to arrive so did the flowers. It seemed like the floral arrangements just kept coming. I think there were over 20 by the end of the evening. The show was scheduled to open at 7pm but since people were still coming they decided to wait about 20 minutes. By then the sidewalk area was packed. We were busy greeting people and I was also taking photos and doing video duty. While the guests were waiting they were entertained by Tonoi, the 14 year old son of the gallery owners. He is a violinist and to say that he's good would be a gross understatement. He goes to school in Bangkok on a scholarship and the crowd was amazed and delighted by his playing.

The gallery is situated on the main highway and the Saturday night traffic made it hard to hold conversations outside. As a result they decided to have the opening ceremonies inside. With an estimated 100 guests, it was a crush inside and there were still people outside. The artists were introduced and then the both spoke to the audience. Paradorn spoke first, in Thai, and an American woman who has lived in Chiang Rai for 20 years sat next to Lisa and translated. Then Lisa spoke and thanked those involved and gave a brief overview of her work.
A few more people spoke and then a ribbon was cut, officially opening the show.

For three hours we talked, met new people, and generally 'worked' the room. Lisa sold five of her pieces and signed two autographs. Two of the pieces were purchased by a woman who ownes an art supply/stationary store. There were many local artists in attendance and we got a chance to meet and talk with them. We also met several expats who are artists and made some great connections. It was truly a night to remember.

Have a Wonderful Week.

Peace,
Danny

"Treat every person with kindness and respect,
even those who are rude to you.
Remember that you show compassion to others
not because of who they are,
but because of who you are."
~Andrew T. Somers

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Friday, August 7, 2009

Friday Funnies

Hi,

Today it rained all day. Most of it was a steady medium rain that didn't stop us from our appointed rounds, it was just very wet.

The mid-week song was "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton. A lot of you kept thinking about a coal mine. Maybe some day.
For the weekend let's switch gears. This one came from across the pond. Another group, another flying machine. "I wanna tell you 'bout my good friend. I ain't disclosing no names but, he sure is a good friend and...Oh excuse me...has anybody seen the bridge?" Clue: It's a bit of a tribute. The title is not in the lyrics, and sometimes the lyrics make no sense. Extra 'Cool Points' if you can tell me the singer that motivated this tune.
Have fun.

This morning we woke up to rain. As hard as I tried to make it stop, it wouldn't. It meant I'd have a wet drive to Mae Sai for our final check-in for this visa. It was such a light rain for most of the trip that it didn't pose any problems. It was the first time we'd been to immigration on a Friday. We'll make a point of not doing that again. The little room was rather crowded but it didn't really affect our business since we knew what to do. Fill out the simple form, get a number and see the nice man at the desk. We go back on the 17th to renew our visa for another year.

On the way back to Chiang Rai we stopped at a Tesco Lotus store that we see all the time but had never checked out. It's much bigger than the one we usually go to but it's also a lot farther from home. We didn't find what we were looking for, but we found things anyway. (Ha)

We went back to 9 Art Gallery this afternoon for another 'look' before the show. There was one print that had been put in a secluded location and we wanted to see how they'd corrected that. It's now in a prominent spot and the artist is happy. I took some pictures of the environment and I'll take more with art lovers present. I still have some work to do on the bags, but the rest is done. Next stop: Show time.

The dogs got a little crazy today since they didn't have a chance to have their usual exercise. Lisa took them out this evening and Daku got in trouble for biting a limb off of one of our little flowering trees. It's difficult to remember that he's still a puppy. Hmm. He tries really hard and most of the time he's pretty cool. He and BamBam played a bunch after dinner in the living room and we just watched and laughed.

It's time for the 'Funnies'. Have a Great WeekEnd.

Peace,
Danny

Following a woman with a dog out of the movie theater, a man stopped
her and said, "I'm sorry to bother you, but I was amazed that your dog
seemed to get into the movie so much. He cried at the right spots,
moved nervously at the boring spots, and laughed like crazy at the
funny parts. Don't you find that unusual?" "Yes," she replied. "I find
it very unusual. Especially considering that he hated the book!"

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Life

Hi,

This morning the sky looked like rain. We met with Johan for some 'pool talk' and then lunched at Big C. In the afternoon we went to 9 Art Gallery for a preview of the show.

I got several hits on this hit. I just know you know the song. Here's a bit of the chorus. Everybody sing:
"Workin' __ __ __, what a way to make a livin'. Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin'." Hint: Do you really need a hint after that?

Sometimes the rainy season is just a lot of sprinkles. Today was almost one of those days. Mostly sprinkles with one baby dump. It was a little cooler today but still warm and humid. Johan came by and we discussed the continuing saga of the 'mystery pool'. We think we have some solutions but we won't know for sure until they've been implemented. And so it goes.

Since Boot had a doctor appointment we went over to Big C for lunch. We ate at our usual spot, Black Canyon. As always, the food was great. The manager posted two copies of the catalog on the wall, so it showed both sides. Nothing like a little promotion. After lunch we did a little light shopping for supplies and made our way home before the next bit of rain.

The gallery has posted some of the art on various web sites that relate to art events in Thailand. They are doing a wonderful job of promoting the show and exposing Lisa and Paradorn's art work. This afternoon we met with our friend Sutheera at the gallery since she'll be out of town for the opening. We had not seen her for several months and we had a good visit.

It seems like every time we leave the house we see something we've never seen before. It could be anything from a form of transportation to a field of cultivated flowers. Today we saw a large transport truck with one of those large wings to deflect the wind, mounted on the roof of the cab. Nothing special about that except that it was hot pink. Oh my. On some roads one might think that motorbikes were the only form of transportation. Many of them have side car/platforms for carrying goods and others have some sort of trailer. Speaking of the two-wheeled world, the police have been out in force all week with their roadblocks. They stop all the bikes, even if the rider is wearing a helmet. They check registration, license, and insurance. You'll see crowds of riders by the side of the road, being inspected. Sutheera teaches at Chiang Rai University and I asked her if she ever had students who were late as a result of these stops. She smiled and said, 'Yes'. Then she motioned with her fingers as if to say 'money'. Hmm.

Tomorrow we go to Mae Sai for our three month visa check-in. It will be nice to get out on the road for a bit.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

Peace,
Danny

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

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Love/Power

Hi,

Today was a lot mellower day than yesterday. We had a bunch of rain this afternoon and a pre-dinner swim. There was more, like playing with the dogs, and doing research on the internet.

That illusive song was "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane. I guess it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. Let's move to another genre and see if you remember this song. It was also the vehicle for a movie debut: "Tumble outta bed and stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition. Yawnin', stretchin', try to come to life..." Clue: There are numbers and some big hair. Work on it and you might remember.

If you recall, yesterday we had just unloaded the truck at the art gallery. All of Lisa's paintings were stacked against a wall and we waited for Nai and Sompong, the owners, to return. A few minutes passed and everyone arrived at once. They jumped right into the process of 'hanging the show'. Sompong is an artist himself and really connected with Lisa's work. He had already decided where he wanted her work, and he and his assistant went to work putting them in various positions, stepping back, repositioning them and so on. In less than a hour he had set the locations for her 22 works of art. Next step would be actually hanging them on the walls and setting the lights.

While they were working, we met the woman who will preside over the opening. Khun Siripan is from the local dance world and chosen by the gallery not only for her creative connection but because she also speaks English. She will introduce Lisa and Paradorn, our artist friend who is showing his traditional Chinese watercolors.

Amidst all the excitement of realizing that this was really happening, there were more details to attend to and at times it was difficult to focus. We think everything is finally in place for the Saturday opening.

OK, one quick dog story. BamBam and Daku have this thing that they consistently do whenever they're given a bone or a chew. They trade and then get to work. They will sit and receive their treat, run over to the cushion where they hang out and make the trade. More from the odd but cute file.

It's time for Wacky Wednesday. Today's quote came by way of the Risingstardom blog site. Go check it out.

Peace,

Danny

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
~Jimi Hendrix

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Path

Hi,

Today was 'move in day' at 9 Art Gallery. That should say it all but it doesn't begin to tell the tale. Stay tuned for the current adventure.

If we were playing 'How well do you remember the '60's, some of you would lose points. It's funny how we can know a song but forget the title. I know just how you feel. Our 'Easy' song is one of those that has a title that seems hard to remember. (or so it would seem) (Ha) I hope this helps to jar your memory. "Remember what the doormouse said: 'Keep your head'". Hint: This was way before the starship days. The title is a character from a famous story about someone falling into a hole. And no, it's not the Easter Bunny. (Ha)

This morning there was excitement in the air. There was also a pinch of urgency. So much to do by the time we were due at the gallery with Lisa's 'collection' for the show. It's one thing to just take some paintings to a place. It's another to have everything labeled, protected, and priced. The gallery is letting us sell the bags that have prints of two of the paintings in the show. That meant preparing the bags as well. That was the first order of business.

With 22 pieces in the show, it meant that we would definitely be using the pick-up for transport. It rained yesterday, so we had a little lake in the bed of the truck. The truck hadn't had a bath in weeks so we set out for the car wash. While that was going on, we walked over to the stationery store on 'clock tower street' and got some last minute supplies. Then we had coffee at Doi Chaang while they finished the truck.
A pleasant morning. The calm before the storm.

Speaking of storms, our afternoon was filled with glances to the sky to see if rain was coming. We were due at the gallery at 4pm and that's about the time of day the rain can come. We had to time the loading of the truck just right and hope it didn't rain. It turned out that rain never came, but the loading was a lot of work just the same. In the end we got all the paintings and prints in the truck, insulated with every blanket and towel in the house and covered by a plastic tarp. We were ready.

Fortunately there was an assistant at the gallery to help us unload. It's amazing how much weight a frame can add to a large painting. The young man who helped us was right on time. There's much more to the story so I'll finish it tomorrow.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

"The spiritual path is not one of attainment, but return."
~Alan Cohen

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com

Monday, August 3, 2009

Gift

Hi,

We had a tasty adventure and big rain on Saturday, and lots of 'busy' in the streets today. There's never a dull moment in The Rai.

Well, the weekend song was "The Thrill Is Gone" by B.B. King and his guitar Lucille. Several of you got the whole thing right. Today is 'Easy Monday' so this one should be a snap: "One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small, and the ones that mother gives you don't do anything at all..." Clue: A 60's hit by a group named for a machine. Big reference to somebody in wonderland. Hmm.

We had made plans to take our friends Jenny and Atom to lunch on Saturday as a way of saying 'Thank You' for all the work they did in translating the catalog for the art show. We learned that some things we say in English don't translate as Thai concepts and visa versa. It was a major undertaking and it all came out making sense in both languages. It turned out that Saturday was to be 'Testing Day' at the Mantrini Hotel that is owned by their family. Their mom was planning a new menu and when this happens, the family sits down and samples all the new dishes. They invited us to be a part of the process. Having guests at a 'testing' was a first and we felt very privileged to be included. There were about five or six dishes and they were all incredible. We picked our favorites and then got a tour of the hotel. It was an experience we won't forget.

Saturday afternoon the rains came. We had giant lakes in the yard but they all drained after the rain stopped. We were imagining that it had a negative impact on 'Walking Street' since it's all outside. One thing's for sure, we don't have to water for quite awhile.

Today we went out to get things we needed in preparation for the show. Little things that somehow seemed hard to find, but we did get things accomplished. Boot wasn't feeling well today so we were on our own for lunch and dinner. We stopped at a restaurant that had been highly recommended, but discovered that we didn't eat anything they served. We ended up going to the Rimkok Hotel for the lunch buffet. They serve the usual combination of Thai and Chinese food. We got there just as the singer was finishing her set and that was a good thing. The backing tracks were a little 'mushy' and a bit too loud. Add to that the fact that the singer was a little out of tune. It would have made lunch an ordeal. We finished just as she was coming back for her next set.

We were too busy to swim this afternoon since we had an appointment for our weekly massage so we're going to go for another evening swim. The water is warm and the moon is out.

Have a Fantastic Week.

Peace,
Danny

"The purpose of life is to discover your gift.
The meaning of life is giving your gift away."
~David Viscott

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com