Hi,
Cloudy with mid-day rain. It's getting to be typical now. It was three-ring circus day at The Big Brown House. The time has come to get serious with the travel preparations.
In case you missed it, the 'Easy' song was "Biggest Part of Me" by Ambrosia. Not likin' the 80's? Here's one for you: "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 everything's alright. __ __ makes me feel fine...." Hint: Really? This should have been the 'Easy' song. Answer this and redeem yourself. (Ha)
This morning we had repair guys working on the bedroom air/con, the bug spray guys, and the pool guys all working at the same time. It was crazy, but it's all done. Tomorrow the landscape crew returns for the monthly grooming. This way Boot won't have to deal with major appointments while we're gone.
There is one more thing to tell you about our weekend. After the elephants, we had breakfast, and then a group of us were taken by van down to the river. We boarded a boat that took us across the Mae Kong to Laos. Our destination was a fairly new casino. This is basically a Chinese project, and there seems to be a pattern of casinos moving south. Gambling is illegal in Thailand, except for the lottery. I guess they're banking on travelers from across the river.
With memories of Las Vegas still fresh after 12 years, it was a bit of a let down when we walked in. Of course walking in was different too. We went through a metal detector and had to leave cameras at the door. The place was so quiet it felt like a tea room. The tables were mostly empty, partly because it was 11am. There were players at some of the games, and this brings me to the most interesting thing about the whole visit. They have a system where you can have a surrogate place your bet, and sit at the table with a headset on while you watch the game via internet. You won't see that in Vegas. There was also a big dimly lit room off to the side. I think it was the hall of contemplation. Men were just sitting in silence, staring off into space. It doesn't take much to imagine what they were thinking. We were hostages for an hour, but had some fun interchanges with other bored guests. (Ha) If you're ever in northern Thailand and someone suggests going to the casino in Laos, don't go.
As our trip to the U.S. gets closer and we get more excited, let me remind you about the picnic on July 18. It will be at Culver City Park, at the corner of Jefferson Bl. and Duquesne Ave. Space has been reserved from 10am to 4pm. We will probably get there around 12n, but you're welcome to come and hang out early. Bring whatever you want to eat. We will not be serving Thai food, or anything else. Of course, if you want to bring enough to share with a friend, that would be nice. We have lots of friends coming, and we hope to see you there too.
Speaking of friends, I know you all remember Seth Isler aka The Godfadda Workout. Well, Seth has taken the show to Bally's in Atlantic City. Check this out:http://web.me.com/susanjsullivan/The_Godfadda_Workout/Home.html
Needless to say, Seth won't be at the picnic. We wish him well, and also wish we were there.
Today's quote came from my friend Eileen. It's so ironic that July 10 will be the 50th reunion of my graduating class from John Muir High School in Pasadena. Funny how I didn't appreciate what he had to say as a teenager. Hmm.
Time for Wacky Wednesday.
Peace,
Danny
"The sun shines not on us but in us. The rivers flow not past, but
through us, thrilling, tingling, vibrating every fiber and cell of the substance
of our bodies, making them glide and sing."
~John Muir
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Balance
Hi,
Welcome to part two of the great adventure weekend. In this episode we'll spend the morning with a group of elephants, and some people too.
Looks like this song was a little 'Easy'. Many got the title, but not the group. There's a hint later:
"(Stay the night) need your lovin' here beside me, (Shine the light) need you close enough to guide me, (All my life) I've been hopin' you would find me, you're the __ __ __ __." Clue: As you can see, the title is really only 4 words. The group name is also the name of a famous salad. Hmm, no it's not 'tossed'.
The Anantara Resort is known for it's elephant rescue program. For many years they have been offering a home for elephants, and the families that they worked with in the teak forests of Thailand. When teak harvesting became illegal, there was nothing for these elephants to do. Many ended up on the streets, their mahoots using them to make money by having people touch their trunks for luck. It was very unhealthy for the elephants. This was the beginning of the rescue programs. When we found out that 'Mahoot Training' was being offered in the weekend package, we were overjoyed.
Our thoughts of sleeping in on our getaway weekend were dashed when we were instructed to report at 7am for our training session. If it's not dogs getting us up, it's elephants. There were six of us and we were driven down the road and dropped off by some giant steps. Our guide's name was Em, and after we joked about the stairs being for elephants, she told us we were right. We made our way down to a meadow where we saw six very large animals standing around. Not long after we arrived they were taken into the river and bathed. It rained the night before, and they like to throw dirt on their backs when they get wet. Their mahoots gave them very thorough scrubbings before handing them over to us.
Lisa was bonding with one of the elephants. When Em asked who wanted to go first, and nobody else responded, Lisa volunteered. The look on her face, once she was on board, was priceless. Little did we know that each of us would soon have that same look on our faces. I was the last to climb up on my 'ride'. She lifted her foot, I stepped up on it, and was then told to grab her ear. As soon as I gripped her ear I was pushed up, and hanging on for dear life. Once seated on the elephant's neck, my first thought was: 'This is a bad idea'. Not only was I way up in the air, there was nothing to hold onto. Her ears were too low, it felt like I'd just tumble over her head. I soon learned that the trick is to just rest your hands on her head. Our little parade of elephants walked all the way back to the main camp, about a half a mile, with the purpose of us getting acquainted with our charges. Once back in camp we were helped down, and given instructions on the basics of controlling the elephant.
After we'd learned how to direct them to go forward, backward, turn, and kneel down, it was back on top for some drills. With a 'real' mahoot on the ground, we were told to move our elephants over to the 'slalom' course. A series of pilings we had to weave in and out of in order to work on our turns. Then we practiced backing up, and then getting off and on. There are several ways to do both, and the one we used the most was sliding down the elephants head. Very strange thing to do.
Here's a quick guide for you: To go forward, kick behind both ears and say 'Pai'. To stop: Squeeze your knees on the neck and say 'How'. To turn: Kick behind the ear opposite of the direction you want to go and say 'Baen'. To back up: Rock back and forth and say 'Toi'. If you want to get off, over the head: 'Tak Lung'. To give your elephant a treat, lean forward, tap on her head and her trunk will come up. These elephants do this all the time and were very cooperative, unless they saw some vegetation and decided to have a treat. They made us look good, and I'm cool with that. I now know how to 'drive' a Thai elephant. My body is still sore, but I'd do it again if given the chance.
Have a Happy Tuesday.
Peace,
Danny
"Our outward behavior is just a reflection of our
inner balance or our out of balance."
~John-Roger
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Welcome to part two of the great adventure weekend. In this episode we'll spend the morning with a group of elephants, and some people too.
Looks like this song was a little 'Easy'. Many got the title, but not the group. There's a hint later:
"(Stay the night) need your lovin' here beside me, (Shine the light) need you close enough to guide me, (All my life) I've been hopin' you would find me, you're the __ __ __ __." Clue: As you can see, the title is really only 4 words. The group name is also the name of a famous salad. Hmm, no it's not 'tossed'.
The Anantara Resort is known for it's elephant rescue program. For many years they have been offering a home for elephants, and the families that they worked with in the teak forests of Thailand. When teak harvesting became illegal, there was nothing for these elephants to do. Many ended up on the streets, their mahoots using them to make money by having people touch their trunks for luck. It was very unhealthy for the elephants. This was the beginning of the rescue programs. When we found out that 'Mahoot Training' was being offered in the weekend package, we were overjoyed.
Our thoughts of sleeping in on our getaway weekend were dashed when we were instructed to report at 7am for our training session. If it's not dogs getting us up, it's elephants. There were six of us and we were driven down the road and dropped off by some giant steps. Our guide's name was Em, and after we joked about the stairs being for elephants, she told us we were right. We made our way down to a meadow where we saw six very large animals standing around. Not long after we arrived they were taken into the river and bathed. It rained the night before, and they like to throw dirt on their backs when they get wet. Their mahoots gave them very thorough scrubbings before handing them over to us.
Lisa was bonding with one of the elephants. When Em asked who wanted to go first, and nobody else responded, Lisa volunteered. The look on her face, once she was on board, was priceless. Little did we know that each of us would soon have that same look on our faces. I was the last to climb up on my 'ride'. She lifted her foot, I stepped up on it, and was then told to grab her ear. As soon as I gripped her ear I was pushed up, and hanging on for dear life. Once seated on the elephant's neck, my first thought was: 'This is a bad idea'. Not only was I way up in the air, there was nothing to hold onto. Her ears were too low, it felt like I'd just tumble over her head. I soon learned that the trick is to just rest your hands on her head. Our little parade of elephants walked all the way back to the main camp, about a half a mile, with the purpose of us getting acquainted with our charges. Once back in camp we were helped down, and given instructions on the basics of controlling the elephant.
After we'd learned how to direct them to go forward, backward, turn, and kneel down, it was back on top for some drills. With a 'real' mahoot on the ground, we were told to move our elephants over to the 'slalom' course. A series of pilings we had to weave in and out of in order to work on our turns. Then we practiced backing up, and then getting off and on. There are several ways to do both, and the one we used the most was sliding down the elephants head. Very strange thing to do.
Here's a quick guide for you: To go forward, kick behind both ears and say 'Pai'. To stop: Squeeze your knees on the neck and say 'How'. To turn: Kick behind the ear opposite of the direction you want to go and say 'Baen'. To back up: Rock back and forth and say 'Toi'. If you want to get off, over the head: 'Tak Lung'. To give your elephant a treat, lean forward, tap on her head and her trunk will come up. These elephants do this all the time and were very cooperative, unless they saw some vegetation and decided to have a treat. They made us look good, and I'm cool with that. I now know how to 'drive' a Thai elephant. My body is still sore, but I'd do it again if given the chance.
Have a Happy Tuesday.
Peace,
Danny
"Our outward behavior is just a reflection of our
inner balance or our out of balance."
~John-Roger
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Monday, June 28, 2010
Laughter
Hi,
We're back from an incredible weekend at Anantara Resort. We had a beautiful room, enjoyed 'cocktails' by a rice paddy, dined at a baby elephant camp, and rode elephants. It will probably take me two days to tell you everything, so hang on for the ride.
The 'Old School' song was "I Only Have Eyes For You" by The Flamingos. 'Easy Monday' is here and it's a good one:
"Yeah (Sunrise) there's a new sun risin', (In your eyes) I can see a new horizon, (Realize) that will keep me realizin'
__ __ __ __ __ __." Hint: This song from 1980 was has to do with the magnitude of the person in the singers life. It's six words that proclaim his devotion.
Saturday morning I went and got the car washed. I didn't want to show up at a five star resort with a dirty car. (Ha) While I was waiting I had coffee at Doi Chaang with my friend Eddy, the benefactor of the 'Kid Band'. Then it was back to the house to pack the car. The trip to the Golden Triangle took about an hour, and the weather was perfect. Just as we got there it started raining, but at least we arrived in a clean car.
We were greeted by a friendly staff that made us feel very special. While we were checking in, Bodo, the General Manager came out and met us. Once we had our keys we were led up a path through the garden that kept going higher and higher up a hill. Our guide told us we just had one more hill to go but we told her we didn't want to go any higher. We finally got a room at the second level. Teak floors, wood cabinets, and a giant, double sized bathtub were waiting for us. As we were getting settled, a man brought us a small tray with gardenias, and exotic soaps. A little later someone came with a fruit tray that came with instructions on how to eat it.
We were liking this place.
The weekend was an annual gathering of an organization called Skal, for people in the travel, and tour business here in Thailand. Most of them came from Chiang Mai, with a few from Bangkok and Chiang Rai. Before dinner we were taken to what they call the Rice Paddy. It was a clearing next to a real rice field. The first thing they did was spray us with insect repellant, which was a good thing. Then we had drinks and snacks. The real treat was three young elephants that were on hand for picture taking. We also got to give them bananas. One of them was a real clown, playing with some of the guests, and rolling on the ground. As the sun set, the glow of fire lanterns in the rice field gave the whole thing a very exotic mood.
At the close of the cocktail hour we were led up a path through the forest to the baby elephant camp. It was too dark to even know where the babies were, but we entered a shelter with a long banquet table, and lots of traditional decorations. There were a few presentations, and then we had a wonderful buffet dinner. We met many interesting people, and made some new friends. Thankfully, we were taken back to the hotel in a van. It would have been a long walk in the dark.
Tomorrow I'll tell you all about our adventures at the Mahoot Training. A mahoot is the driver of the elephant. You won't want to miss this thrilling episode.
Have a Great Week.
Peace,
Danny
"Laughter is the shortest distance between two people."
~Victor Borge
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
We're back from an incredible weekend at Anantara Resort. We had a beautiful room, enjoyed 'cocktails' by a rice paddy, dined at a baby elephant camp, and rode elephants. It will probably take me two days to tell you everything, so hang on for the ride.
The 'Old School' song was "I Only Have Eyes For You" by The Flamingos. 'Easy Monday' is here and it's a good one:
"Yeah (Sunrise) there's a new sun risin', (In your eyes) I can see a new horizon, (Realize) that will keep me realizin'
__ __ __ __ __ __." Hint: This song from 1980 was has to do with the magnitude of the person in the singers life. It's six words that proclaim his devotion.
Saturday morning I went and got the car washed. I didn't want to show up at a five star resort with a dirty car. (Ha) While I was waiting I had coffee at Doi Chaang with my friend Eddy, the benefactor of the 'Kid Band'. Then it was back to the house to pack the car. The trip to the Golden Triangle took about an hour, and the weather was perfect. Just as we got there it started raining, but at least we arrived in a clean car.
We were greeted by a friendly staff that made us feel very special. While we were checking in, Bodo, the General Manager came out and met us. Once we had our keys we were led up a path through the garden that kept going higher and higher up a hill. Our guide told us we just had one more hill to go but we told her we didn't want to go any higher. We finally got a room at the second level. Teak floors, wood cabinets, and a giant, double sized bathtub were waiting for us. As we were getting settled, a man brought us a small tray with gardenias, and exotic soaps. A little later someone came with a fruit tray that came with instructions on how to eat it.
We were liking this place.
The weekend was an annual gathering of an organization called Skal, for people in the travel, and tour business here in Thailand. Most of them came from Chiang Mai, with a few from Bangkok and Chiang Rai. Before dinner we were taken to what they call the Rice Paddy. It was a clearing next to a real rice field. The first thing they did was spray us with insect repellant, which was a good thing. Then we had drinks and snacks. The real treat was three young elephants that were on hand for picture taking. We also got to give them bananas. One of them was a real clown, playing with some of the guests, and rolling on the ground. As the sun set, the glow of fire lanterns in the rice field gave the whole thing a very exotic mood.
At the close of the cocktail hour we were led up a path through the forest to the baby elephant camp. It was too dark to even know where the babies were, but we entered a shelter with a long banquet table, and lots of traditional decorations. There were a few presentations, and then we had a wonderful buffet dinner. We met many interesting people, and made some new friends. Thankfully, we were taken back to the hotel in a van. It would have been a long walk in the dark.
Tomorrow I'll tell you all about our adventures at the Mahoot Training. A mahoot is the driver of the elephant. You won't want to miss this thrilling episode.
Have a Great Week.
Peace,
Danny
"Laughter is the shortest distance between two people."
~Victor Borge
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Friday, June 25, 2010
Friday Funnies
Hi,
It didn't rain today. We had cloudy skies, with moments of bright sun. We went to the market, and plan to hit the Night Bazaar again this evening. This weekend is the European GP of Formula One. Zoom.
I must tell you that the song was "Politician" by Cream. It time for 'Old School Friday'. A smooth ballad classic:
"My love must be a kind of blind love. I can't see anyone but you. (Sha bop sha bop) Are the stars out tonight? I don't know if it's cloudy or bright. __ __ __ __ __ __ dear..." Hint: This version of a standard was sung by a group in '59 who have the same name as a big bird.
This morning we could tell that it rained overnight. We heard it around bedtime, but it was still wet when we got up.
Thailand has been in a drought, but maybe there's hope for the north. If it keeps up, there might be a good crop of corn, and rice. The country is facing the need for better water management.
We went to the market again today. Lisa wanted to get a pair of shoes for our friend Tye. We got the shoes, the treats, and found a store that sells sporting apparel. We've been looking for World Cup shirts. The woman running the store spoke pretty good English, and explained that shirts are in production. The shirt makers wait until the final group is chosen, and then print those teams since that's what everyone wants. The one we wanted got eliminated today. Oh well.
As we were leaving the market, we spotted a magazine store. Lisa wanted to get Boot something to read so we went in. At the check out we were questioned, in English, by a very friendly man. He not only wanted to know what country we were from, but when we told him, he said 'What state'. It turns out he's been to America. He's been to Disneyland. Right now his daughter is attending Harvard, and he's one proud father.
I will leave you with a link to where we'll be staying this weekend: http://goldentriangle.anantara.com/default.aspx
Have a Wonderful WeekEnd. Now it's time for the 'Funnies'. A favorite from a year ago.
Peace,
Danny
Knock on Wood
Three older ladies were discussing the problems of getting older. One
said, "Sometimes I catch myself with a jar of mayonnaise in my hand,
in front of the refrigerator, and can’t remember whether I need to put
it away, or start making a sandwich.
The second lady chimed in, "Yes, sometimes I find myself standing on
the stairs and can’t remember whether I was on my way up or on my way
down."
The third one responded, "Well, I am glad I don’t have that problem;
knock on wood," as she rapped her knuckles on the table. She looked up
and said, "That must be the door, I’ll get it!"
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
It didn't rain today. We had cloudy skies, with moments of bright sun. We went to the market, and plan to hit the Night Bazaar again this evening. This weekend is the European GP of Formula One. Zoom.
I must tell you that the song was "Politician" by Cream. It time for 'Old School Friday'. A smooth ballad classic:
"My love must be a kind of blind love. I can't see anyone but you. (Sha bop sha bop) Are the stars out tonight? I don't know if it's cloudy or bright. __ __ __ __ __ __ dear..." Hint: This version of a standard was sung by a group in '59 who have the same name as a big bird.
This morning we could tell that it rained overnight. We heard it around bedtime, but it was still wet when we got up.
Thailand has been in a drought, but maybe there's hope for the north. If it keeps up, there might be a good crop of corn, and rice. The country is facing the need for better water management.
We went to the market again today. Lisa wanted to get a pair of shoes for our friend Tye. We got the shoes, the treats, and found a store that sells sporting apparel. We've been looking for World Cup shirts. The woman running the store spoke pretty good English, and explained that shirts are in production. The shirt makers wait until the final group is chosen, and then print those teams since that's what everyone wants. The one we wanted got eliminated today. Oh well.
As we were leaving the market, we spotted a magazine store. Lisa wanted to get Boot something to read so we went in. At the check out we were questioned, in English, by a very friendly man. He not only wanted to know what country we were from, but when we told him, he said 'What state'. It turns out he's been to America. He's been to Disneyland. Right now his daughter is attending Harvard, and he's one proud father.
I will leave you with a link to where we'll be staying this weekend: http://goldentriangle.anantara.com/default.aspx
Have a Wonderful WeekEnd. Now it's time for the 'Funnies'. A favorite from a year ago.
Peace,
Danny
Knock on Wood
Three older ladies were discussing the problems of getting older. One
said, "Sometimes I catch myself with a jar of mayonnaise in my hand,
in front of the refrigerator, and can’t remember whether I need to put
it away, or start making a sandwich.
The second lady chimed in, "Yes, sometimes I find myself standing on
the stairs and can’t remember whether I was on my way up or on my way
down."
The third one responded, "Well, I am glad I don’t have that problem;
knock on wood," as she rapped her knuckles on the table. She looked up
and said, "That must be the door, I’ll get it!"
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Measure
Hi,
There was more rain today. We did have a lot of sunshine during most of the day. Last night, after our massage, we went to the Night Bazaar, and saw friends. That's always nice. Today I had another eye exam, and crept through the market at rush hour. Hmm.
I'm surprised that more of you don't know the current song. I did get mail though, so I know it's not a stumper.
"Hey now baby, get into my big black car. (repeat) I wanna just show you what my politics are." Clue: I think that should do it.
Living in a small town is nice because we always see someone we know. Last night was no exception. We went to the Night Bazaar to look for a few things, and stopped to talk to Paladon, and his family at the booth. Then we saw Deirdre, and Rachel, the new manager of the Sold Project. We visited for a bit and moved on. There is a woman artist who has a gallery in the Bazaar and we stopped to say hello. She had gone to Lisa's website, and raved about all the colors. She works in charcoal so all her work is basically black and white. The two of them had a great exchange.
In my quest for multifocal contacts, I decided to go to Overbrook Hospital to get an exam. It was suggested by the guy who did the first exam, since he's not really able to give a complete exam. I had the usual wait, which wasn't too long. Then I met the doctor. She first had me put my chin in a little cup and turned on a light so she could give my eyes a proper look. Everything is fine so she moved me to a second machine. Apparently my pupils were too tight for the thing to read me properly so they had to dilate my eyes. That meant more waiting. Finally we finished, and I have a new set of numbers for the prescription. More will be revealed.
Going into town after 4pm calls for patience. That's when the traffic begins. I went to get more printer ink for our artist in residence. At one point I had to circle around through the market. The street was buzzing with activity. People come to shop for ingredients for dinner, or buy prepared food. It's also the time when all the self-contained, blind musicians seem to descend on the market. I counted four of them, singing to backing tracks. There was one man who was sitting in the street, right at an intersection with his home-made drums. A policeman was gently telling him that he had to move, and helped him up. There is a different tolerance for these musicians because they're offering something in exchange for a handout. They're not seen in the same light as beggars. They're actually trying to do something.
We're getting excited about visiting America next month. We're also gearing up for our weekend trip to Anantara, a hotel resort near the Golden Triangle. We're hoping to get a chance to learn how to 'drive' an elephant. Should be interesting.
Have a Fantastic Thursday.
Peace,
Danny
"The measure of our life is not whether others know our name,
but whether we have touched the lives of others."
~Unknown
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
There was more rain today. We did have a lot of sunshine during most of the day. Last night, after our massage, we went to the Night Bazaar, and saw friends. That's always nice. Today I had another eye exam, and crept through the market at rush hour. Hmm.
I'm surprised that more of you don't know the current song. I did get mail though, so I know it's not a stumper.
"Hey now baby, get into my big black car. (repeat) I wanna just show you what my politics are." Clue: I think that should do it.
Living in a small town is nice because we always see someone we know. Last night was no exception. We went to the Night Bazaar to look for a few things, and stopped to talk to Paladon, and his family at the booth. Then we saw Deirdre, and Rachel, the new manager of the Sold Project. We visited for a bit and moved on. There is a woman artist who has a gallery in the Bazaar and we stopped to say hello. She had gone to Lisa's website, and raved about all the colors. She works in charcoal so all her work is basically black and white. The two of them had a great exchange.
In my quest for multifocal contacts, I decided to go to Overbrook Hospital to get an exam. It was suggested by the guy who did the first exam, since he's not really able to give a complete exam. I had the usual wait, which wasn't too long. Then I met the doctor. She first had me put my chin in a little cup and turned on a light so she could give my eyes a proper look. Everything is fine so she moved me to a second machine. Apparently my pupils were too tight for the thing to read me properly so they had to dilate my eyes. That meant more waiting. Finally we finished, and I have a new set of numbers for the prescription. More will be revealed.
Going into town after 4pm calls for patience. That's when the traffic begins. I went to get more printer ink for our artist in residence. At one point I had to circle around through the market. The street was buzzing with activity. People come to shop for ingredients for dinner, or buy prepared food. It's also the time when all the self-contained, blind musicians seem to descend on the market. I counted four of them, singing to backing tracks. There was one man who was sitting in the street, right at an intersection with his home-made drums. A policeman was gently telling him that he had to move, and helped him up. There is a different tolerance for these musicians because they're offering something in exchange for a handout. They're not seen in the same light as beggars. They're actually trying to do something.
We're getting excited about visiting America next month. We're also gearing up for our weekend trip to Anantara, a hotel resort near the Golden Triangle. We're hoping to get a chance to learn how to 'drive' an elephant. Should be interesting.
Have a Fantastic Thursday.
Peace,
Danny
"The measure of our life is not whether others know our name,
but whether we have touched the lives of others."
~Unknown
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Round
Hi.
It looks like the rainy season has arrived. It rained last night, and again today. The pool is cooling. We bounced around town today, and tonight we get a massage.
The 'Easy' song was "Hotel California" by The Eagles. There really is a Hotel California. I'll bet there's a story there. Our mid-week song is one of my all-time favorites. I think we all know at least one of these. Maybe more.
"I support the left, though I'm leanin', leanin' to the right. I support the left, though I'm leanin' to the right. But I'm just not there when it comes to a fight." Hint: It's a blues, by a trio, and it's pretty clear who it's about. Hmm.
Our recent investment of rain gutters and the canopy are already paying off. Rain stays outside, and we don't have to worry about our shoes that sit outside the door getting wet. We noticed that the river is up a bit, and I'm sure the long-tail boat drivers are happy about that.
With all the rain, comes the cooling of the pool. The rain isn't cold, but it brought the pool down from 92F to 86F in a few storms. That's about our comfortable low temp for swimming. We've gone from walking into spa type water to involuntary shuddering from the cold. This year I won't complain too much. We've done a lot of swimming and I'm grateful. Maybe I can get used to a few degrees colder. (Ha)
One of the stops we made today was at the Hill Tribe store. There were four women sitting near the back of the store around a desk, and they were all doing intricate cross-stitching. When I think about all the beautiful patterns, garments, bags, etc. that are on display I will keep that image in my mind. It takes hours of work to create a few inches of needle work. Hmm.
When we see Thai words in English, it may or may not be the correct translation. Many common words are spelled many different ways when presented for our consumption. Market is seen as 'Talat' or 'Talad'. The universal greeting can be: Sawatdee, Sawasdee, or Sawadee, depending on who wrote it down. It starts with the ear, and how these words are heard. I suppose many years ago there were Westerners who heard these words, wrote them down, and that writing was adapted by Thais. It's all a bit fascinating, and sometimes confusing. Amazing Thailand.
It's time for Wacky Wednesday.
Peace,
Danny
"The world is round, and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning."
~Ivy Baker Priest
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
It looks like the rainy season has arrived. It rained last night, and again today. The pool is cooling. We bounced around town today, and tonight we get a massage.
The 'Easy' song was "Hotel California" by The Eagles. There really is a Hotel California. I'll bet there's a story there. Our mid-week song is one of my all-time favorites. I think we all know at least one of these. Maybe more.
"I support the left, though I'm leanin', leanin' to the right. I support the left, though I'm leanin' to the right. But I'm just not there when it comes to a fight." Hint: It's a blues, by a trio, and it's pretty clear who it's about. Hmm.
Our recent investment of rain gutters and the canopy are already paying off. Rain stays outside, and we don't have to worry about our shoes that sit outside the door getting wet. We noticed that the river is up a bit, and I'm sure the long-tail boat drivers are happy about that.
With all the rain, comes the cooling of the pool. The rain isn't cold, but it brought the pool down from 92F to 86F in a few storms. That's about our comfortable low temp for swimming. We've gone from walking into spa type water to involuntary shuddering from the cold. This year I won't complain too much. We've done a lot of swimming and I'm grateful. Maybe I can get used to a few degrees colder. (Ha)
One of the stops we made today was at the Hill Tribe store. There were four women sitting near the back of the store around a desk, and they were all doing intricate cross-stitching. When I think about all the beautiful patterns, garments, bags, etc. that are on display I will keep that image in my mind. It takes hours of work to create a few inches of needle work. Hmm.
When we see Thai words in English, it may or may not be the correct translation. Many common words are spelled many different ways when presented for our consumption. Market is seen as 'Talat' or 'Talad'. The universal greeting can be: Sawatdee, Sawasdee, or Sawadee, depending on who wrote it down. It starts with the ear, and how these words are heard. I suppose many years ago there were Westerners who heard these words, wrote them down, and that writing was adapted by Thais. It's all a bit fascinating, and sometimes confusing. Amazing Thailand.
It's time for Wacky Wednesday.
Peace,
Danny
"The world is round, and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning."
~Ivy Baker Priest
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Heart
Hi,
Another overnight storm left us with a beautiful day today. We ran morning errands, and discovered a new store. Chiang Rai is starting early with preparations for a birthday, and we've become fans of a Thai pop group.
Got lots of email on this one. Stuie wrote to tell me that there really is an establishment named in the title. Guess I have been away for awhile. Here's a chorus for those still guessing: "Welcome to the __ __. Such a lovely Place, such a lovely face. They're livin' it up at the __ __. What a nice surprise, bring your alibis." Hint: 'You can check in any time you like, but you can never leave.'
Last night there was a steady rain for about six hours. As a result, when I took Daku out this morning we strolled through a lake in the front yard. He didn't seem to mind at all. He's a dog. Later, when I took both dogs out, BamBam chased a ball, and slid when she put on her brakes. She just stood there and looked around for a moment, as if to say 'What just happened?'. I had to laugh.
We traveled out to Ghan's house to pick up the bag she was making for me. The result is wonderful. Now I have a 'formal' shoulder bag made from black silk. I'm becoming a bit of a designer. Hmm.
There is an art supply/stationary store where Lisa buys all her necessities. The woman who owns it is a patron of the local artists, and bought two of Lisa works at her first show. Today we went by and picked up some thing she needed. Next door to the art store is a one-man gallery. The artist is really into 'the old west', American style. He has paintings of horses, and various things hanging from the wall that make it feel like you're out on the range. He even wears a big cowboy belt buckle. The funny thing is that most of his work is beautiful flowers. If he needs supplies he just has to walk next door. Cool.
Walking back to our car Lisa noticed a colorful blouse in what looked like a small shop. We went in, and I began to explore. The place was huge. There was a women's department, men's clothing, school uniforms, football gear, and a complete section of swim suits, goggles, and snorkels. That last part seemed a little odd since the only natural water around here is brown and there's nothing to be seen. Anyway, we have a new place to check out when we want 'nice' clothes.
When it comes to celebrations, there seems to be no such thing as starting early to get ready. In 2012 Chiang Rai will celebrate it's 750th birthday. We're seeing signs promoting the event, even though it's almost a year and a half away. There is great pride in this area, and the culture of the North. I'll be keeping you informed as we get closer. You may even want to come over and party with us. (555)
Lately I've been putting in time on Youtube, looking at current Thai music groups as well as traditional performers. I've come across some pretty cool music. One of the groups we both like is C-Quint. It's a R&B/Pop vocal group with some outstanding arrangements. Every now and then they'll sing a line in English, but its mostly in Thai. Doesn't matter at all. For those of you looking for adventure, just search for them, or Thai R&B and see what you get.
Have a Happy Tuesday.
Peace,
Danny
"Occasionally in life there are those moments
of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained
by those symbols called words.
Their meanings can only be articulated
by the inaudible language of the heart."
~Martin Luther King, Jr.
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Another overnight storm left us with a beautiful day today. We ran morning errands, and discovered a new store. Chiang Rai is starting early with preparations for a birthday, and we've become fans of a Thai pop group.
Got lots of email on this one. Stuie wrote to tell me that there really is an establishment named in the title. Guess I have been away for awhile. Here's a chorus for those still guessing: "Welcome to the __ __. Such a lovely Place, such a lovely face. They're livin' it up at the __ __. What a nice surprise, bring your alibis." Hint: 'You can check in any time you like, but you can never leave.'
Last night there was a steady rain for about six hours. As a result, when I took Daku out this morning we strolled through a lake in the front yard. He didn't seem to mind at all. He's a dog. Later, when I took both dogs out, BamBam chased a ball, and slid when she put on her brakes. She just stood there and looked around for a moment, as if to say 'What just happened?'. I had to laugh.
We traveled out to Ghan's house to pick up the bag she was making for me. The result is wonderful. Now I have a 'formal' shoulder bag made from black silk. I'm becoming a bit of a designer. Hmm.
There is an art supply/stationary store where Lisa buys all her necessities. The woman who owns it is a patron of the local artists, and bought two of Lisa works at her first show. Today we went by and picked up some thing she needed. Next door to the art store is a one-man gallery. The artist is really into 'the old west', American style. He has paintings of horses, and various things hanging from the wall that make it feel like you're out on the range. He even wears a big cowboy belt buckle. The funny thing is that most of his work is beautiful flowers. If he needs supplies he just has to walk next door. Cool.
Walking back to our car Lisa noticed a colorful blouse in what looked like a small shop. We went in, and I began to explore. The place was huge. There was a women's department, men's clothing, school uniforms, football gear, and a complete section of swim suits, goggles, and snorkels. That last part seemed a little odd since the only natural water around here is brown and there's nothing to be seen. Anyway, we have a new place to check out when we want 'nice' clothes.
When it comes to celebrations, there seems to be no such thing as starting early to get ready. In 2012 Chiang Rai will celebrate it's 750th birthday. We're seeing signs promoting the event, even though it's almost a year and a half away. There is great pride in this area, and the culture of the North. I'll be keeping you informed as we get closer. You may even want to come over and party with us. (555)
Lately I've been putting in time on Youtube, looking at current Thai music groups as well as traditional performers. I've come across some pretty cool music. One of the groups we both like is C-Quint. It's a R&B/Pop vocal group with some outstanding arrangements. Every now and then they'll sing a line in English, but its mostly in Thai. Doesn't matter at all. For those of you looking for adventure, just search for them, or Thai R&B and see what you get.
Have a Happy Tuesday.
Peace,
Danny
"Occasionally in life there are those moments
of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained
by those symbols called words.
Their meanings can only be articulated
by the inaudible language of the heart."
~Martin Luther King, Jr.
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Monday, June 21, 2010
Teach
Hi,
Today was overcast for most of the day. It was the left-overs of the big storm we had Sunday night. The weekend was fun, with a Thai-Italian lunch, and dinner in a Thai-Dutch restaurant with the World Cup as our entertainment. The Picnic location has been confirmed so we hope to see you on July 18 at Culver City Park. It will be from 12n to 4pm. It's BYOP (Bring Your Own Picnic) The park is at Jefferson and Duquesne Ave. in Culver City.
There were a lot of 'Old School' pros out there. The song was "Blue Monday" by Fats Domino. Now for 'Easy Monday', a song by a group named for the national bird. "Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes Benz. She's got a lot of pretty, pretty boys she calls friends. How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat. Some dance to remember, some dance to forget." Clue: The title, in two words, is the name of a fictional establishment. Strange things go on there. It's so easy. If not, tomorrow you'll get the chorus. (Ha)
Saturday morning was 'Farm Chore Day' for me. I watered all the lawns. We held out for as long as we could, but the grass was begging for water. In the evening we went to 9 Gallery for an opening. The artist not only paints, but is also a music video director. The turnout was slow initially, so we were invited to go into the gallery for a guided tour by the artist. We learned so much more than if we'd just been part of the crowd. He explained the process of some of his pieces, and we got the political meaning of one series he was showing. The interesting thing was that I had been watching some Thai music videos on Youtube earlier in the day, and one of the groups I enjoyed was 'Clash', a Thai band that he had filmed. Later in the year he will direct his first feature film.
There seem to be several weather systems here in Chiang Rai. We were talking with Nine before the art show, and she was telling us that in the afternoon there had been a heavy rain storm just down the highway at Big C. It's about a mile south, yet no rain fell at the gallery or out our way. It can rain at our house, but not in town. Very strange stuff.
Sunday we went to the Pizza Company for lunch for spaghetti. We decided that we like the pizza better. Oh well. In the evening we went back to town for dinner at Aye's (pronounced 'A's'). There was only one other couple in the place, and they were sitting in front of a TV set. We were seated behind them so we could watch the World Cup match that was about to begin. What a treat. They had decorated the area around the set with lots of orange streamers, a shirt, and a banner from Holland. Aye, the Thai owner is married to Hans who is Dutch. We watched a bit of the match between Paraguay and Slovakia. After dinner we went to the Night Bazaar for a while, and then home.
Our observation for today centered around the age of the two-wheel riders in town. There are a lot more older people riding motorbikes than one might expect. We see men and women who appear to be in their 70's making their way through the traffic with great ease. I was trying to imagine this scene in L.A. and it just didn't compute. It all comes down to necessity I guess. If you've got to get there, you go by any means necessary.
Have a Great Week.
Peace,
Danny
"We cannot teach people anything;
we can only help them discover it within themselves."
~Galileo Galilei
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Today was overcast for most of the day. It was the left-overs of the big storm we had Sunday night. The weekend was fun, with a Thai-Italian lunch, and dinner in a Thai-Dutch restaurant with the World Cup as our entertainment. The Picnic location has been confirmed so we hope to see you on July 18 at Culver City Park. It will be from 12n to 4pm. It's BYOP (Bring Your Own Picnic) The park is at Jefferson and Duquesne Ave. in Culver City.
There were a lot of 'Old School' pros out there. The song was "Blue Monday" by Fats Domino. Now for 'Easy Monday', a song by a group named for the national bird. "Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes Benz. She's got a lot of pretty, pretty boys she calls friends. How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat. Some dance to remember, some dance to forget." Clue: The title, in two words, is the name of a fictional establishment. Strange things go on there. It's so easy. If not, tomorrow you'll get the chorus. (Ha)
Saturday morning was 'Farm Chore Day' for me. I watered all the lawns. We held out for as long as we could, but the grass was begging for water. In the evening we went to 9 Gallery for an opening. The artist not only paints, but is also a music video director. The turnout was slow initially, so we were invited to go into the gallery for a guided tour by the artist. We learned so much more than if we'd just been part of the crowd. He explained the process of some of his pieces, and we got the political meaning of one series he was showing. The interesting thing was that I had been watching some Thai music videos on Youtube earlier in the day, and one of the groups I enjoyed was 'Clash', a Thai band that he had filmed. Later in the year he will direct his first feature film.
There seem to be several weather systems here in Chiang Rai. We were talking with Nine before the art show, and she was telling us that in the afternoon there had been a heavy rain storm just down the highway at Big C. It's about a mile south, yet no rain fell at the gallery or out our way. It can rain at our house, but not in town. Very strange stuff.
Sunday we went to the Pizza Company for lunch for spaghetti. We decided that we like the pizza better. Oh well. In the evening we went back to town for dinner at Aye's (pronounced 'A's'). There was only one other couple in the place, and they were sitting in front of a TV set. We were seated behind them so we could watch the World Cup match that was about to begin. What a treat. They had decorated the area around the set with lots of orange streamers, a shirt, and a banner from Holland. Aye, the Thai owner is married to Hans who is Dutch. We watched a bit of the match between Paraguay and Slovakia. After dinner we went to the Night Bazaar for a while, and then home.
Our observation for today centered around the age of the two-wheel riders in town. There are a lot more older people riding motorbikes than one might expect. We see men and women who appear to be in their 70's making their way through the traffic with great ease. I was trying to imagine this scene in L.A. and it just didn't compute. It all comes down to necessity I guess. If you've got to get there, you go by any means necessary.
Have a Great Week.
Peace,
Danny
"We cannot teach people anything;
we can only help them discover it within themselves."
~Galileo Galilei
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Friday, June 18, 2010
Friday Funnies
Hi,
You guessed it. Another beautiful, hot, humid day in Chiang Rai. Where's our rainy season? We visited Big C, the market, and the dogs were reunited.
Our mid-week song was "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper. Those second day clues do it every time. Now it's time for 'Old School Friday', and this one might be easy too. It's by a 'plump' piano player who once went to Blueberry Hill. Now he's got a problem with part of his week. "__ __ how I hate __ __, got to work like a slave all day. Here come Tuesday, oh hard Tuesday, I'm so tired got no time to play..... Sunday mornin' my head is bad, but it's worth it for the time that I had. But I got to get my rest 'cause __ is a mess." Hint: They don't call it Rhythm and Blues for nothin'. The title is actually two words, but if I didn't use a blank on the last line I'd give it all away.
We needed some basic cooking things for the kitchen so we made our Big C run on Friday this week. It was probably the smallest cart load in a long time. While we were there I saw our gardener, Kek. We exchanged pleasantries, and kept shopping. The scheme of moving merchandise around in the store appears to be a universal gimmick. It gets doubled when you can't read the signs above the aisles. Hmm.
Our trip to the market was mostly for fun. We went for the treats. We looked at things, but we had a mission. (Ha) When we parked the car, I noticed the 'parking lady' was up the street. When I held out the four baht to her and pointed out our car, she gave me a big smile. She was pleased that I didn't just ignore her and not pay. I have no idea how much these women make for collecting for parking, but it couldn't be much. When you consider that we pay $0.12 to park on the street it beats a meter in L.A. every time. I'm sure her pay is based on the amount collected.
This afternoon Boot gave Lisa a neck massage. While she did that I went into town for an eye exam. I needed to get 'fresh' numbers for a contact lens prescription. I'm going to order some multi-focus contacts that I can only get in the States. I'll order them from here, pick them up on our visit, and hopefully be able to see everything without any glasses at all.
The big news of the day is that the dogs are once again a team. Daku is done with the ointment, which means that he and BamBam can be together. They are so happy. So are we. It was very difficult trying to keep them apart, feeding them separately, and having to keep one inside while the other runs the yard.
Even though we live half way around the world, we still root for the 'Home Team' on certain occasions. We watched some of the NBA Final, which came on at 8am this morning. Now it's on to the World Cup. I got a message from my friend Laura who said that in Argentina they brought TVs into all the schools so the kids can watch anytime Argentina is playing. Four years ago they had 100% absentees. There's a photo in the Bangkok Post of a crowd of people in the streets in Korea watching a match on giant screens. It looks like Times Square on New Years Eve. The Fever has struck.
Have a Cool WeekEnd. Now it's time for the 'Funnies'.
Peace,
Danny
From the Pen of Maxine:
"I was in the restaurant yesterday when I suddenly
realized I desperately needed to pass gas. The
music was really, really loud, so I timed my gas
with the beat of the music.
After a couple of songs, I started to feel better.
I finished my coffee, and noticed that everybody
was staring at me....
Then I suddenly remembered that I was listening
to my iPod."
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
You guessed it. Another beautiful, hot, humid day in Chiang Rai. Where's our rainy season? We visited Big C, the market, and the dogs were reunited.
Our mid-week song was "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper. Those second day clues do it every time. Now it's time for 'Old School Friday', and this one might be easy too. It's by a 'plump' piano player who once went to Blueberry Hill. Now he's got a problem with part of his week. "__ __ how I hate __ __, got to work like a slave all day. Here come Tuesday, oh hard Tuesday, I'm so tired got no time to play..... Sunday mornin' my head is bad, but it's worth it for the time that I had. But I got to get my rest 'cause __ is a mess." Hint: They don't call it Rhythm and Blues for nothin'. The title is actually two words, but if I didn't use a blank on the last line I'd give it all away.
We needed some basic cooking things for the kitchen so we made our Big C run on Friday this week. It was probably the smallest cart load in a long time. While we were there I saw our gardener, Kek. We exchanged pleasantries, and kept shopping. The scheme of moving merchandise around in the store appears to be a universal gimmick. It gets doubled when you can't read the signs above the aisles. Hmm.
Our trip to the market was mostly for fun. We went for the treats. We looked at things, but we had a mission. (Ha) When we parked the car, I noticed the 'parking lady' was up the street. When I held out the four baht to her and pointed out our car, she gave me a big smile. She was pleased that I didn't just ignore her and not pay. I have no idea how much these women make for collecting for parking, but it couldn't be much. When you consider that we pay $0.12 to park on the street it beats a meter in L.A. every time. I'm sure her pay is based on the amount collected.
This afternoon Boot gave Lisa a neck massage. While she did that I went into town for an eye exam. I needed to get 'fresh' numbers for a contact lens prescription. I'm going to order some multi-focus contacts that I can only get in the States. I'll order them from here, pick them up on our visit, and hopefully be able to see everything without any glasses at all.
The big news of the day is that the dogs are once again a team. Daku is done with the ointment, which means that he and BamBam can be together. They are so happy. So are we. It was very difficult trying to keep them apart, feeding them separately, and having to keep one inside while the other runs the yard.
Even though we live half way around the world, we still root for the 'Home Team' on certain occasions. We watched some of the NBA Final, which came on at 8am this morning. Now it's on to the World Cup. I got a message from my friend Laura who said that in Argentina they brought TVs into all the schools so the kids can watch anytime Argentina is playing. Four years ago they had 100% absentees. There's a photo in the Bangkok Post of a crowd of people in the streets in Korea watching a match on giant screens. It looks like Times Square on New Years Eve. The Fever has struck.
Have a Cool WeekEnd. Now it's time for the 'Funnies'.
Peace,
Danny
From the Pen of Maxine:
"I was in the restaurant yesterday when I suddenly
realized I desperately needed to pass gas. The
music was really, really loud, so I timed my gas
with the beat of the music.
After a couple of songs, I started to feel better.
I finished my coffee, and noticed that everybody
was staring at me....
Then I suddenly remembered that I was listening
to my iPod."
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Give
Hi,
It was another warm, muggy day in Chiang Rai. Today we traveled to the far ends of our 'town' running errands, and seeing sights. There was another interesting two-wheeled observation, and we'll learn how to pick our teeth. What?
Only one person mentioned that they knew the song. It's from 1984, it's a ballad, and its had some great covers.
"If you're lost you can look, and you'll find me __ __ __. If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting __ __ __."
Hint: One of the three words is used twice. Hmm.
This morning we drove out to Ghan's house. She lives out on the western edge of town. She's going to make me a new bag that's fashioned after what is called a 'Monk's Bag'. We got to see the construction that's in progress for her seamstress shop that will be at the front of her property. While we were there we met a friend of hers who is English. He's been here for 17 years. He just returned from a trip to England, and doesn't see himself moving back.
Yesterday there was a notice in the mail box stating that there was a package for Lisa at the Ban Du Post Office. That's located north of town on the highway, near Chiang Rai University. Here's your Thai lesson for today: The word for Super Highway is Super Highway. Got that? Oh, the package was wax paper that our friend Mel sent. Lisa uses it in her art process.
One of the things we did before we came to Thailand was to try and learn some of the do's and don'ts of social etiquette. One of those things was how to use a toothpick in public. You always cover the 'picking hand' with your other hand. This makes perfect sense. No one wants to watch you pick your teeth.
This evening I saw a man on a motorbike with a 4 foot Plumeria tree hanging over his shoulder. The roots were sticking up, above his head, and the branches were flapping in the wind. Amazing Thailand.
Have a Thrilling Thursday.
Peace,
Danny
"To give pleasure to a single heart by a single act is better
than a thousand heads bowed in prayer."
~Mahatma Gandhi
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
It was another warm, muggy day in Chiang Rai. Today we traveled to the far ends of our 'town' running errands, and seeing sights. There was another interesting two-wheeled observation, and we'll learn how to pick our teeth. What?
Only one person mentioned that they knew the song. It's from 1984, it's a ballad, and its had some great covers.
"If you're lost you can look, and you'll find me __ __ __. If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting __ __ __."
Hint: One of the three words is used twice. Hmm.
This morning we drove out to Ghan's house. She lives out on the western edge of town. She's going to make me a new bag that's fashioned after what is called a 'Monk's Bag'. We got to see the construction that's in progress for her seamstress shop that will be at the front of her property. While we were there we met a friend of hers who is English. He's been here for 17 years. He just returned from a trip to England, and doesn't see himself moving back.
Yesterday there was a notice in the mail box stating that there was a package for Lisa at the Ban Du Post Office. That's located north of town on the highway, near Chiang Rai University. Here's your Thai lesson for today: The word for Super Highway is Super Highway. Got that? Oh, the package was wax paper that our friend Mel sent. Lisa uses it in her art process.
One of the things we did before we came to Thailand was to try and learn some of the do's and don'ts of social etiquette. One of those things was how to use a toothpick in public. You always cover the 'picking hand' with your other hand. This makes perfect sense. No one wants to watch you pick your teeth.
This evening I saw a man on a motorbike with a 4 foot Plumeria tree hanging over his shoulder. The roots were sticking up, above his head, and the branches were flapping in the wind. Amazing Thailand.
Have a Thrilling Thursday.
Peace,
Danny
"To give pleasure to a single heart by a single act is better
than a thousand heads bowed in prayer."
~Mahatma Gandhi
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
See
Hi,
We had another day that teased us with the possibility of rain. Incredible cloud formations came, and went, and came back again. We mostly stayed at the house. Hmm.
It really was 'Easy'. "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" by Glen Campbell. It was written by Jim Webb. You knew it.
"Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick, and think of you. Caught up in circles, confusion is nothing new. Flashback, warm nights almost left behind. Suitcases of memories __ __ Sometimes you picture me....." Clue: This song title is in three words. The two lines are part of the title. The artist just wanted to have fun, but now is concerned with what is represented by the clock. Hmm.
Today was kind of a slow one around here. Sleep was interrupted last night by various things. At one point, in the middle of the night, I was awakened by a Tokay, a big gecko that makes a sound like its name, loudly. It sounds like a voice saying 'too kay, too kay, too kay' with each one getting louder. We have several around the outside of the house. The one last night sounded like it was on the balcony. Maybe it was the stillness of the night, but it seemed closer than usual. The tiny geckos just chirp, which is much less alarming. Living in close proximity with nature is something I hadn't figured on when we moved here, but I like the way things turned out. I have learned that lizards have little territories that they like to patrol. Frogs sometimes find refuge in shoes, dogs will chase anything that moves.
We did have a little adventure this morning. Lisa has been looking for certain grade of paper for use in her collages. Today we continued our search, first at the big stationary store, and then at a computer printing shop. The magic paper that will do what she wants hasn't been found yet, but we haven't given up. It's very difficult to try and explain something that is hard enough to talk about in English. In the end, the description comes out 'strong paper', and that's about as far as it goes. We may have to go to the big city for this.
It's time for Wacky Wednesday.
Peace,
Danny
"What we see depends mainly on what we look for."
~John Lubbock
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
We had another day that teased us with the possibility of rain. Incredible cloud formations came, and went, and came back again. We mostly stayed at the house. Hmm.
It really was 'Easy'. "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" by Glen Campbell. It was written by Jim Webb. You knew it.
"Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick, and think of you. Caught up in circles, confusion is nothing new. Flashback, warm nights almost left behind. Suitcases of memories __ __ Sometimes you picture me....." Clue: This song title is in three words. The two lines are part of the title. The artist just wanted to have fun, but now is concerned with what is represented by the clock. Hmm.
Today was kind of a slow one around here. Sleep was interrupted last night by various things. At one point, in the middle of the night, I was awakened by a Tokay, a big gecko that makes a sound like its name, loudly. It sounds like a voice saying 'too kay, too kay, too kay' with each one getting louder. We have several around the outside of the house. The one last night sounded like it was on the balcony. Maybe it was the stillness of the night, but it seemed closer than usual. The tiny geckos just chirp, which is much less alarming. Living in close proximity with nature is something I hadn't figured on when we moved here, but I like the way things turned out. I have learned that lizards have little territories that they like to patrol. Frogs sometimes find refuge in shoes, dogs will chase anything that moves.
We did have a little adventure this morning. Lisa has been looking for certain grade of paper for use in her collages. Today we continued our search, first at the big stationary store, and then at a computer printing shop. The magic paper that will do what she wants hasn't been found yet, but we haven't given up. It's very difficult to try and explain something that is hard enough to talk about in English. In the end, the description comes out 'strong paper', and that's about as far as it goes. We may have to go to the big city for this.
It's time for Wacky Wednesday.
Peace,
Danny
"What we see depends mainly on what we look for."
~John Lubbock
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Good
Hi,
We had another day of great weather. From massages, to ceramic art, to a vet visit, it was pretty busy day. We've also been seeing things around town that are worthy of note.
Looks like 'Easy' for some is not so for others. This song has been sung by many singers. Started with a country flavor. "By the time I make Albuquerque, she'll be working. She'll prob'ly stop at lunch and give me a call. But she'll just hear that phone keep on ringin', off the wall, that's all..." Hint: Within the title (7 words) is a city in Arizona. There, I've said too much. Now you're on your own. The writer of this song took us on a balloon ride, and left the cake out in the rain.
We usually get our weekly massage on Wednesday evening. This week we had to go today because the woman who works on me is going to her home town for a week. She is from Isaan, which is northeast of us. It will take her 12 hours to get there. We really like the place we've been using. In the evenings, it's totally quiet, and very relaxing. During the day it can get noisy due to the machine shop next door. Hmm, location, location...
After our massage we drove up the highway to 9 Gallery to pick up the ceramic piece we purchased at the last exhibit. The young artist priced his work to sell and it did. He sold almost everything. Lisa found a great spot for it in our dining area. I'll have to take a photo of it and post it. In fact, there are a lot of photos that need posting. Stay tuned.
Daku had another visit to the doctor today. His infection isn't completely healed. We got more antibiotics for him, and as soon as the ointment is done, he and BamBam can play together again. They'll be so happy.
Sunday, we were driving over the bridge into town when we passed a motorbike with a platform sidecar. Nothing unusual about that, but above the platform was a canopy, and under the canopy was an old woman sitting in a chair. They were out for a Sunday drive. Last night I spotted what looked like a motorbike pulling a food cart. Again, not a strange sight, except that there was a teenage girl sitting on the back of the bike facing the cart, holding what would be the tow bar. Oh my. Finally, today saw a man on an old bicycle towing a two-wheeled cart. The cart was connected to the bike with a rope. The whole thing wandered a bit. Whatever you have to move, you move it however you can.
Have a Happy Tuesday.
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
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
We had another day of great weather. From massages, to ceramic art, to a vet visit, it was pretty busy day. We've also been seeing things around town that are worthy of note.
Looks like 'Easy' for some is not so for others. This song has been sung by many singers. Started with a country flavor. "By the time I make Albuquerque, she'll be working. She'll prob'ly stop at lunch and give me a call. But she'll just hear that phone keep on ringin', off the wall, that's all..." Hint: Within the title (7 words) is a city in Arizona. There, I've said too much. Now you're on your own. The writer of this song took us on a balloon ride, and left the cake out in the rain.
We usually get our weekly massage on Wednesday evening. This week we had to go today because the woman who works on me is going to her home town for a week. She is from Isaan, which is northeast of us. It will take her 12 hours to get there. We really like the place we've been using. In the evenings, it's totally quiet, and very relaxing. During the day it can get noisy due to the machine shop next door. Hmm, location, location...
After our massage we drove up the highway to 9 Gallery to pick up the ceramic piece we purchased at the last exhibit. The young artist priced his work to sell and it did. He sold almost everything. Lisa found a great spot for it in our dining area. I'll have to take a photo of it and post it. In fact, there are a lot of photos that need posting. Stay tuned.
Daku had another visit to the doctor today. His infection isn't completely healed. We got more antibiotics for him, and as soon as the ointment is done, he and BamBam can play together again. They'll be so happy.
Sunday, we were driving over the bridge into town when we passed a motorbike with a platform sidecar. Nothing unusual about that, but above the platform was a canopy, and under the canopy was an old woman sitting in a chair. They were out for a Sunday drive. Last night I spotted what looked like a motorbike pulling a food cart. Again, not a strange sight, except that there was a teenage girl sitting on the back of the bike facing the cart, holding what would be the tow bar. Oh my. Finally, today saw a man on an old bicycle towing a two-wheeled cart. The cart was connected to the bike with a rope. The whole thing wandered a bit. Whatever you have to move, you move it however you can.
Have a Happy Tuesday.
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
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Monday, June 14, 2010
Shadows
Hi,
It was a busy weekend here in Chiang Rai. There was a trip to the vet, a big rain storm, an evening at the Bazaar, a party, World Cup Soccer, and Formula One. Whew.
The 'Old School' song was: "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" by Huey 'Piano' Smith and The Clowns. It's been covered by everyone from Johnny Rivers to The Grateful Dead. Now you know. 'Easy Monday' should be a snap: "__ __ __ __ __ __ __ she'll be rising. She'll find the note I left hangin' on her door. She'll laugh when she reads the part that says I'm leavin', 'cause I've left that girl so many times before." Clue: It's another title in seven words about a man who's traveling, and the girl he left for good. Several cities in the Southwest are featured.
Saturday morning, while grooming Daku, Lisa noticed a quarter size sore on his cheek under his fur. We took him to the vet, and discovered he had an allergic reaction to an insect bite. He's going to be OK, but he has to take medicine, and have salve applied. The hardest part of it is that BamBam can't be around him because she might lick the salve. Keeping the dogs separated has been very difficult for both of them. They usually spend so much time together that they're getting very frustrated. We have to feed them separately, and they don't get to play in the yard together. One more day, and hopefully, they'll get back to their old routine.
Around sunset on Saturday the wind started blowing, and all of a sudden it was storming. One of those hard, blowing rains that lasted for about a half an hour, and then sprinkled for the rest of the evening. Boot, Jindah, and Leah had just set up a little dinner on the patio, but had to come inside. The canopy did it's job, and kept the rain out of the house, and the rain gutters worked perfectly.
Sunday we did our usual lunch and shopping at Big C. We had a pleasant day. In the evening went to the Night Bazaar for dinner, and some shopping. From there we went to a little party at Nate and Rachel's. Nate will be returning to The States this week so it was kind of a casual goodbye party. As we were leaving. a large group of kids from the Resource Center for the Sold Project arrived. Nate and Rachel have been working with them for a year so it was a special time for them.
There's a weird thing happening with the TV feed we're getting for the World Cup. There is no commentary. Just the sound of the crowd, which consists of those horns that are blown constantly. We finally turned the sound off and just watched. Today we watched an exciting Formula One race from Canada.
Have a Great Week.
Peace,
Danny
"Sometimes life's shadows are caused by
our standing in our own sunshine."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
It was a busy weekend here in Chiang Rai. There was a trip to the vet, a big rain storm, an evening at the Bazaar, a party, World Cup Soccer, and Formula One. Whew.
The 'Old School' song was: "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" by Huey 'Piano' Smith and The Clowns. It's been covered by everyone from Johnny Rivers to The Grateful Dead. Now you know. 'Easy Monday' should be a snap: "__ __ __ __ __ __ __ she'll be rising. She'll find the note I left hangin' on her door. She'll laugh when she reads the part that says I'm leavin', 'cause I've left that girl so many times before." Clue: It's another title in seven words about a man who's traveling, and the girl he left for good. Several cities in the Southwest are featured.
Saturday morning, while grooming Daku, Lisa noticed a quarter size sore on his cheek under his fur. We took him to the vet, and discovered he had an allergic reaction to an insect bite. He's going to be OK, but he has to take medicine, and have salve applied. The hardest part of it is that BamBam can't be around him because she might lick the salve. Keeping the dogs separated has been very difficult for both of them. They usually spend so much time together that they're getting very frustrated. We have to feed them separately, and they don't get to play in the yard together. One more day, and hopefully, they'll get back to their old routine.
Around sunset on Saturday the wind started blowing, and all of a sudden it was storming. One of those hard, blowing rains that lasted for about a half an hour, and then sprinkled for the rest of the evening. Boot, Jindah, and Leah had just set up a little dinner on the patio, but had to come inside. The canopy did it's job, and kept the rain out of the house, and the rain gutters worked perfectly.
Sunday we did our usual lunch and shopping at Big C. We had a pleasant day. In the evening went to the Night Bazaar for dinner, and some shopping. From there we went to a little party at Nate and Rachel's. Nate will be returning to The States this week so it was kind of a casual goodbye party. As we were leaving. a large group of kids from the Resource Center for the Sold Project arrived. Nate and Rachel have been working with them for a year so it was a special time for them.
There's a weird thing happening with the TV feed we're getting for the World Cup. There is no commentary. Just the sound of the crowd, which consists of those horns that are blown constantly. We finally turned the sound off and just watched. Today we watched an exciting Formula One race from Canada.
Have a Great Week.
Peace,
Danny
"Sometimes life's shadows are caused by
our standing in our own sunshine."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Friday, June 11, 2010
Friday Funnies
Hi,
Another day in Chiang Rai. I watered, it tried to rain, and we experienced heavy traffic. We plan a mini-vacation, and our trip to The States draws closer.
The song we were pondering was "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'", by Gerry and The Pacemakers. The group was formed by Gerry Marsden and his brother. They called themselves Mars Bars, hoping for sponsorship from the candy company. Instead they got a law suit, and changed the name. 'Old School Friday' is upon us once again. Have fun with this: "I wanna jump but I'm afraid I'll fall. I wanna holler but the joint's too small. Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too, I got the __ __ __ __ __ __ __." Hint: This gem from the past used ailments with musical names to come up with quite a sickness. His middle name was the instrument he played. The year was 1957.
Just after I finished watering the front lawn, the clouds began to move in. By early afternoon we were sure it would storm. By late afternoon we got about 10 minutes of rain, and that was it. The rainy season is getting off to a slow start.
We went to the south end of town at 4:40, forgetting that it's Friday. Oh my, where did all these people come from? The addition of the signal by the new bridge completely changes the flow of traffic across town. Even before we got to that, we encountered a scene from the Keystone Cops. Rounding the bend by the hospital, there's a 'T' intersection. An officer was directing traffic coming from one part of the 'T', but ignoring the other. We were in the other so we just quietly merged into the flow. He looked around and realized there was a line of cars behind him.
We did a lot of sitting still, which brought back memories of another city I used to drive in, a few years ago. (Ha)
We stopped at our little store on our way home, and as we were leaving one of the clerks came up behind us with a little red trash basket. She thrust it out and said 'Promotion' with a thick accent. I finally realized what she was saying and we graciously took it. You just never know when a gift will appear. At Big C they have a counter you go to after check out. They examine your receipt, and depending on what you purchased, you get a gift. Sometimes. It may vary from a glass, to a box of carrot juice. One never knows.
The weekend of June 26 we're going to go on an adventure weekend at the Anantara Resort. This is a five star hotel north of us, on the way to the Golden Triangle. This is the place with the elephant rescue program. Our friend Jaffee is going to a meeting there with a travel organization and they're offering a package that's too good to refuse. I'll tell you more later.
I hope someone out there can help us secure a few tables in the shade at Veteran's Park sometime next week for our July 18 picnic. I would imagine this is getting into the busy season. Write me if you're willing.
Have a Wonderfilled WeekEnd. Now it's time for the 'Funnies'.
Peace,
Danny
Creative Puns for "Educated Minds"
Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, 'You stay here; I'll go on a head..'
I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'
A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, 'No change yet.'
A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.
A backward poet writes inverse.
In democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.
Don't join dangerous cults: Practice safe sects
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Another day in Chiang Rai. I watered, it tried to rain, and we experienced heavy traffic. We plan a mini-vacation, and our trip to The States draws closer.
The song we were pondering was "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'", by Gerry and The Pacemakers. The group was formed by Gerry Marsden and his brother. They called themselves Mars Bars, hoping for sponsorship from the candy company. Instead they got a law suit, and changed the name. 'Old School Friday' is upon us once again. Have fun with this: "I wanna jump but I'm afraid I'll fall. I wanna holler but the joint's too small. Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too, I got the __ __ __ __ __ __ __." Hint: This gem from the past used ailments with musical names to come up with quite a sickness. His middle name was the instrument he played. The year was 1957.
Just after I finished watering the front lawn, the clouds began to move in. By early afternoon we were sure it would storm. By late afternoon we got about 10 minutes of rain, and that was it. The rainy season is getting off to a slow start.
We went to the south end of town at 4:40, forgetting that it's Friday. Oh my, where did all these people come from? The addition of the signal by the new bridge completely changes the flow of traffic across town. Even before we got to that, we encountered a scene from the Keystone Cops. Rounding the bend by the hospital, there's a 'T' intersection. An officer was directing traffic coming from one part of the 'T', but ignoring the other. We were in the other so we just quietly merged into the flow. He looked around and realized there was a line of cars behind him.
We did a lot of sitting still, which brought back memories of another city I used to drive in, a few years ago. (Ha)
We stopped at our little store on our way home, and as we were leaving one of the clerks came up behind us with a little red trash basket. She thrust it out and said 'Promotion' with a thick accent. I finally realized what she was saying and we graciously took it. You just never know when a gift will appear. At Big C they have a counter you go to after check out. They examine your receipt, and depending on what you purchased, you get a gift. Sometimes. It may vary from a glass, to a box of carrot juice. One never knows.
The weekend of June 26 we're going to go on an adventure weekend at the Anantara Resort. This is a five star hotel north of us, on the way to the Golden Triangle. This is the place with the elephant rescue program. Our friend Jaffee is going to a meeting there with a travel organization and they're offering a package that's too good to refuse. I'll tell you more later.
I hope someone out there can help us secure a few tables in the shade at Veteran's Park sometime next week for our July 18 picnic. I would imagine this is getting into the busy season. Write me if you're willing.
Have a Wonderfilled WeekEnd. Now it's time for the 'Funnies'.
Peace,
Danny
Creative Puns for "Educated Minds"
Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, 'You stay here; I'll go on a head..'
I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'
A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, 'No change yet.'
A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.
A backward poet writes inverse.
In democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.
Don't join dangerous cults: Practice safe sects
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Someone
Hi,
We had another one of those days that looked, and felt like it might rain, but didn't. Today was 'Teacher Day', I ran a couple of errands, World Cup Fever is coming on, and I can now add "cobbler" to my resume. What?
It was nice to know that a few of you remembered the song. Today's lyrics are from the first verse. That may help.
"__ __ __ __ __ __ __. Tonight's the time for all your tears. Your heart may be broken tonight, but tomorrow in the mornin' light __ __ __ __ __ __ __." Clue: The song is suggesting that you not do your cryin' in the daylight. Hmm.
Unless it rains tonight, I'll be dragging the hoses around the yard tomorrow. The lawns haven't been wet in a few days so the time has come. Boot waters the trees and flower beds every day, which is wonderful. She and the dogs have an afternoon ritual of wandering the grounds. There's usually a point when she hangs out on the 'sitting rock' in front of the Spirit House, with the dogs at her feet. It's a very peaceful picture.
I went out this morning for bread, and a run to the 'fan guy'. We have two small fans that need attention, and there's a man who fixes things. We've used him before and he's very fair with his repair prices. He told me he'd be finished 'today', but it struck me later that he might have meant 'two day'. Hmm.
While I was traveling around I noticed lots of school kids on motorbikes carrying bouquets of flowers. When Tye arrived to take Lisa to ballet class we found out that it was 'Teacher Day'. One student in each class is chosen to bring the flowers for the teacher. It's a great honor, and something Tye said she wished for when she was a child. Her daughter, Napa, was chosen to bring the flowers this year for her class, because she's special. During ballet class the two mothers came into the studio with a big fruit basket for the girls to present to Lisa. They sat on the floor, made a deep wai, and touched their foreheads to the floor. Lisa said they were giggling the whole time.
I used the glue we bought yesterday to repair Lisa's dance shoes. Re-gluing the soles inside the shoes, I guess makes me a 'cobbler'. (555)
Here in Thailand, football (soccer) is a very big thing. With the World Cup about to begin, there are lots of signs that it will be closely watched. Our friend Bobby, at the bank, said he can't wait. I'm sure we'll get swept into it as well. We've watched a few qualifying games. It's funny how we now know some of the major players in a sport we couldn't 'get into' when we lived in the States. Over here, football is shown commercial free. It was odd watching the NBA game last night with all the commercial breaks. Oh well.
Have a Thrilling Thursday.
Peace,
Danny
"Unless someone offers a friendly smile,
a helping hand, a caring word, a listening ear.
Somebody, some where loses the courage to live."
~Unknown
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
We had another one of those days that looked, and felt like it might rain, but didn't. Today was 'Teacher Day', I ran a couple of errands, World Cup Fever is coming on, and I can now add "cobbler" to my resume. What?
It was nice to know that a few of you remembered the song. Today's lyrics are from the first verse. That may help.
"__ __ __ __ __ __ __. Tonight's the time for all your tears. Your heart may be broken tonight, but tomorrow in the mornin' light __ __ __ __ __ __ __." Clue: The song is suggesting that you not do your cryin' in the daylight. Hmm.
Unless it rains tonight, I'll be dragging the hoses around the yard tomorrow. The lawns haven't been wet in a few days so the time has come. Boot waters the trees and flower beds every day, which is wonderful. She and the dogs have an afternoon ritual of wandering the grounds. There's usually a point when she hangs out on the 'sitting rock' in front of the Spirit House, with the dogs at her feet. It's a very peaceful picture.
I went out this morning for bread, and a run to the 'fan guy'. We have two small fans that need attention, and there's a man who fixes things. We've used him before and he's very fair with his repair prices. He told me he'd be finished 'today', but it struck me later that he might have meant 'two day'. Hmm.
While I was traveling around I noticed lots of school kids on motorbikes carrying bouquets of flowers. When Tye arrived to take Lisa to ballet class we found out that it was 'Teacher Day'. One student in each class is chosen to bring the flowers for the teacher. It's a great honor, and something Tye said she wished for when she was a child. Her daughter, Napa, was chosen to bring the flowers this year for her class, because she's special. During ballet class the two mothers came into the studio with a big fruit basket for the girls to present to Lisa. They sat on the floor, made a deep wai, and touched their foreheads to the floor. Lisa said they were giggling the whole time.
I used the glue we bought yesterday to repair Lisa's dance shoes. Re-gluing the soles inside the shoes, I guess makes me a 'cobbler'. (555)
Here in Thailand, football (soccer) is a very big thing. With the World Cup about to begin, there are lots of signs that it will be closely watched. Our friend Bobby, at the bank, said he can't wait. I'm sure we'll get swept into it as well. We've watched a few qualifying games. It's funny how we now know some of the major players in a sport we couldn't 'get into' when we lived in the States. Over here, football is shown commercial free. It was odd watching the NBA game last night with all the commercial breaks. Oh well.
Have a Thrilling Thursday.
Peace,
Danny
"Unless someone offers a friendly smile,
a helping hand, a caring word, a listening ear.
Somebody, some where loses the courage to live."
~Unknown
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Flow
Hi,
It was another gorgeous day in Chiang Rai. We went into town, shopped around, and visited with a friend. We also picked a park for the picnic.
Most of the 'players' knew that the 'Easy Monday' song was "Knock On Wood". It was first recorded by Eddie Floyd in 1966. He co-wrote the song with Steve Cropper. All the other versions you know were covers. Let's see who remembers this song: "The night time shadows disappear, and with them go all your tears. For sunshine will bring joy for every boy and girl so __ __ __ __ __ __ __." Clue: That was the second verse of this song that arrived during the 'invasion' of 1964. This group crossed the Mersey to bring you this song of hope, and stuff.
Today we did some of our usual shopping, with a twist. After the pharmacy warehouse, because of where we park, the only way out is through the bus station. Since glue was on our list, I suggested we stop by Sahapaiboon. It's also next to the pet supply store and we need a new bowl for BamBam. We met with Atom and asked her about a product to glue the lining into a shoe. She told us about a glue they sell that would do the trick. It's called Bosny, but she said everyone calls it 'Bossy'. We got the glue for the shoe (get it?).
A few weeks ago I went into a new store by the Clock Tower that is all Hill Tribe products. Lisa had never seen it so today it was on the list. This store has the largest selection I've ever seen. The displays are very neat, and it makes for easy shopping. We didn't see everything in the store, which means we'll have to go back. (Ha) There were colors and stitchings we'd never seen. The proceeds goes to benefit the tribes.
Tonight we go to Arisara for our weekly massage. Sometimes I have to get 'in the mood' for a massage. Once it gets started I'm OK, but the idea of being rubbed and prodded is not always a high priority. What do I know? When we leave I'll be talking about how good I feel.
The picnic will be held on July 18, and we've chosen Veteran's Park in Culver City for the location. We still have to make it all official, and if you have any insights or connections let me know.
Here's another favorite that goes with yesterday's quote. Have a Wacky Wednesday.
Peace,
Danny
"If you can't fight
and you can't flee......
flow."
~Unknown
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
It was another gorgeous day in Chiang Rai. We went into town, shopped around, and visited with a friend. We also picked a park for the picnic.
Most of the 'players' knew that the 'Easy Monday' song was "Knock On Wood". It was first recorded by Eddie Floyd in 1966. He co-wrote the song with Steve Cropper. All the other versions you know were covers. Let's see who remembers this song: "The night time shadows disappear, and with them go all your tears. For sunshine will bring joy for every boy and girl so __ __ __ __ __ __ __." Clue: That was the second verse of this song that arrived during the 'invasion' of 1964. This group crossed the Mersey to bring you this song of hope, and stuff.
Today we did some of our usual shopping, with a twist. After the pharmacy warehouse, because of where we park, the only way out is through the bus station. Since glue was on our list, I suggested we stop by Sahapaiboon. It's also next to the pet supply store and we need a new bowl for BamBam. We met with Atom and asked her about a product to glue the lining into a shoe. She told us about a glue they sell that would do the trick. It's called Bosny, but she said everyone calls it 'Bossy'. We got the glue for the shoe (get it?).
A few weeks ago I went into a new store by the Clock Tower that is all Hill Tribe products. Lisa had never seen it so today it was on the list. This store has the largest selection I've ever seen. The displays are very neat, and it makes for easy shopping. We didn't see everything in the store, which means we'll have to go back. (Ha) There were colors and stitchings we'd never seen. The proceeds goes to benefit the tribes.
Tonight we go to Arisara for our weekly massage. Sometimes I have to get 'in the mood' for a massage. Once it gets started I'm OK, but the idea of being rubbed and prodded is not always a high priority. What do I know? When we leave I'll be talking about how good I feel.
The picnic will be held on July 18, and we've chosen Veteran's Park in Culver City for the location. We still have to make it all official, and if you have any insights or connections let me know.
Here's another favorite that goes with yesterday's quote. Have a Wacky Wednesday.
Peace,
Danny
"If you can't fight
and you can't flee......
flow."
~Unknown
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Sometimes
Hi,
We had a very quiet day at The Big Brown House. The 'labor' thought it would rain so they didn't come, we had no errands so we didn't go, and the dogs got their yard so they ran.
It would appear that this song still has a lot of fans. If you weren't sure who sang it first, stay tuned one more day.
"Well I'm not superstitious about you, but I can't take no chance. You got me spinnin, baby, baby I'm in a trance...... It's like thunder, light'ning, the way you love me is fright'ning. Think I better __ __ __, baby." Clue: This came out of the 'Memphis Sound' in 1966. Many, many covers.
Today was 'Casual Tuesday' around here. Lisa worked in her studio, I did a little surfing (on the web), and nothing much happened until late afternoon. Lisa teaches ballet on Tuesday and Thursday so she got out into the world. We definitely have schedules that we observe. Things happen almost everyday on a regular basis. I suppose that's called order in ones life. Hmm, maybe. At any rate, we do have places to be, and that's nice.
It never did rain. We had a sprinkle in the afternoon, but not enough to really wet the ground. We swam a little after dinner, just as it was getting dark. Way off in the western sky we could see a huge, dark cloud bank so we just might get some water tonight.
I'll leave you with a favorite quote for your Happy Tuesday.
Peace,
Danny
"Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge
and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you,
you will suddenly know everything there is to be known."
~Winnie-the-Pooh
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
We had a very quiet day at The Big Brown House. The 'labor' thought it would rain so they didn't come, we had no errands so we didn't go, and the dogs got their yard so they ran.
It would appear that this song still has a lot of fans. If you weren't sure who sang it first, stay tuned one more day.
"Well I'm not superstitious about you, but I can't take no chance. You got me spinnin, baby, baby I'm in a trance...... It's like thunder, light'ning, the way you love me is fright'ning. Think I better __ __ __, baby." Clue: This came out of the 'Memphis Sound' in 1966. Many, many covers.
Today was 'Casual Tuesday' around here. Lisa worked in her studio, I did a little surfing (on the web), and nothing much happened until late afternoon. Lisa teaches ballet on Tuesday and Thursday so she got out into the world. We definitely have schedules that we observe. Things happen almost everyday on a regular basis. I suppose that's called order in ones life. Hmm, maybe. At any rate, we do have places to be, and that's nice.
It never did rain. We had a sprinkle in the afternoon, but not enough to really wet the ground. We swam a little after dinner, just as it was getting dark. Way off in the western sky we could see a huge, dark cloud bank so we just might get some water tonight.
I'll leave you with a favorite quote for your Happy Tuesday.
Peace,
Danny
"Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge
and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you,
you will suddenly know everything there is to be known."
~Winnie-the-Pooh
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Monday, June 7, 2010
Colors
Hi,
Today we had a bright morning and rain in the afternoon. The canopy is basically finished, some of the gutters are brown, and the pool has been cooled by the rain.
I got a few 'hits' on our 'Old School' song. It was "Come Go With Me", by The Del Vikings. It's 'Easy Monday' time:
"I don't want to lose this good thing, that I've got, 'cause if I do I will surely, surely lose a lot. 'Cause your love is better than any love I know. It's like thunder, light'ning, the way you love me is fright'ning. I'd better __ __ __."
Clue: The title, in three words, is a superstition.
Saturday morning we went to Big C for the weekly shopping. We usually do it on Sunday, but this week we were low on drinking water so we just went ahead and did the whole thing on Saturday. It's nice going early, with no line to get into the parking lot, and plenty of spots close to the door. It's also nice to be able to cruise the aisles with no hassles.
The big canopy over the patio looks like something from a mall or a resort. It's clear, ribbed plexiglass that is arched. There is still some work to be done on it, but it did keep the rain water from splashing against the doors, and there seems to be less evidence of the presence of birds. The one thing we hadn't counted on was the fact that we can't see part of the patio or the pool from our upstairs window. A small price to pay.
We've been keeping up with the French Open, now that we understand the scoring and know some of the players. We found ourselves rooting for some that won, and some of our favorites lost. Oh well, that's the nature of the game I suppose. Now we'll be watching football (soccer) until the lawn play at Wimbledon. This weekend there's another Formula One race so you know what we'll be watching. They're in Canada this time. Zoom.
Sunday I went to band practice with the kid band. They're making progress but I still have to instill in them the importance of being in tune, and how to listen to what they're doing. I have to keep reminding myself that they're still learning how to play their instruments, They are bright and eager so it makes it all worthwhile.
Today, after going to the bank, we found ourselves in the market. The novelty has not worn off, even though we seem to go at least once a week. We have a few regular spots that we frequent, and we have a great rapport with many of the vendors. Today the lady with the treats gave Lisa three for the price of two. I got my usual raisin pancakes. It's seems weird to eat pancakes without syrup. They're like finger food.
Lisa had lunch with our friend Sutheera, and I ate at the house. There's a father/son team who are painting the rain gutters, and they are doing a beautiful job. When it started raining the son just kept on painting. Finally, they called it a day. I think they might finish tomorrow if it doesn't rain again.
Have a Great Week.
Peace,
Danny
"Paint your days with all the colors you so desire
and enjoy the artwork that you alone can create."
~Unknown
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Today we had a bright morning and rain in the afternoon. The canopy is basically finished, some of the gutters are brown, and the pool has been cooled by the rain.
I got a few 'hits' on our 'Old School' song. It was "Come Go With Me", by The Del Vikings. It's 'Easy Monday' time:
"I don't want to lose this good thing, that I've got, 'cause if I do I will surely, surely lose a lot. 'Cause your love is better than any love I know. It's like thunder, light'ning, the way you love me is fright'ning. I'd better __ __ __."
Clue: The title, in three words, is a superstition.
Saturday morning we went to Big C for the weekly shopping. We usually do it on Sunday, but this week we were low on drinking water so we just went ahead and did the whole thing on Saturday. It's nice going early, with no line to get into the parking lot, and plenty of spots close to the door. It's also nice to be able to cruise the aisles with no hassles.
The big canopy over the patio looks like something from a mall or a resort. It's clear, ribbed plexiglass that is arched. There is still some work to be done on it, but it did keep the rain water from splashing against the doors, and there seems to be less evidence of the presence of birds. The one thing we hadn't counted on was the fact that we can't see part of the patio or the pool from our upstairs window. A small price to pay.
We've been keeping up with the French Open, now that we understand the scoring and know some of the players. We found ourselves rooting for some that won, and some of our favorites lost. Oh well, that's the nature of the game I suppose. Now we'll be watching football (soccer) until the lawn play at Wimbledon. This weekend there's another Formula One race so you know what we'll be watching. They're in Canada this time. Zoom.
Sunday I went to band practice with the kid band. They're making progress but I still have to instill in them the importance of being in tune, and how to listen to what they're doing. I have to keep reminding myself that they're still learning how to play their instruments, They are bright and eager so it makes it all worthwhile.
Today, after going to the bank, we found ourselves in the market. The novelty has not worn off, even though we seem to go at least once a week. We have a few regular spots that we frequent, and we have a great rapport with many of the vendors. Today the lady with the treats gave Lisa three for the price of two. I got my usual raisin pancakes. It's seems weird to eat pancakes without syrup. They're like finger food.
Lisa had lunch with our friend Sutheera, and I ate at the house. There's a father/son team who are painting the rain gutters, and they are doing a beautiful job. When it started raining the son just kept on painting. Finally, they called it a day. I think they might finish tomorrow if it doesn't rain again.
Have a Great Week.
Peace,
Danny
"Paint your days with all the colors you so desire
and enjoy the artwork that you alone can create."
~Unknown
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Friday, June 4, 2010
Friday Funnies
Hi,
On a hot, sunny day in Chiang Rai, The Handyman rode into town. The canopy is taking shape, another piece of art is finished, and the dogs want their yard back.
I won't hold it against you if you didn't know the last song. "The Crunge" by Led Zeppelin is one of those special songs. It was written as a tribute to James Brown. If you read the lyrics carefully, you'll see some of Mr. Brown's direct influence. The bit about the bridge refers to the way Brown would change the arrangements on the fly, calling out to the band where he wanted to go next. Now you know. Oh, if you know what the title means, please tell me.
Now it's time for 'Old School Friday'. The intro may give it away: "(Dom dom dom dom dom, doobee doobee (repeat 2x), whoa whoa whoa whoa) Love, love me darlin' __ __ __ __ __. Please don't send me, 'way beyond the sea; I need you darlin', so __ __ __ __." Hint: The title is actually four words. It's a request, no, a plea. The group is sort of named after some guys who sailed with horns on their heads. Think 1957.
Wednesday was the two year anniversary of our moving into The Big Brown House. My, how time flies. For most of those two years, Lisa has been working on a surface comprised of two wooden tables put together. It has not been an ideal situation, but she's produced some incredible work anyway. We have been talking about either getting a bigger table with a solid top, or converting what we have. Enter The Handyman. This morning, feeling inspired, and creative, I went to the lumber place on the highway. With dimensions in hand, along with a metric tape measure, I told them what I needed. The owner speaks a tiny bit of English, and with my tiny bit of Thai, we arrived at a piece of plywood that was very close to what we asked for. Then I began negotiations for delivery. At first there was that 'we don't do that' look on his face. I knew they had to deliver since people come to them and by things like doors, and fences. Hey, I've been to Home Depot. (555) Anyway, I gave him a map, explained exactly where we were, and he said it would come today or tomorrow. It came today, I sanded the surface, and put it in place. More work area, leg room, and it's a consistent surface. Lisa loves her new 'table'.
After a couple of phone calls, the 'labor' arrived, and started back to banging, drilling, and pounding. Now that all the support hardware is in place, it will be a fairly quiet job. When they finish their job they have some repairs to make on the house. Some chunks of concrete are missing where there should be chunks. They will have to make it right. The final shape and look of this thing is visible now, and we like it. We lose a little of our view of the pool from the bedroom, but it's worth it for a dry patio. Now if it would just rain so we can see all this new stuff work.
The dogs have been most patient through all the work on the house. When they do get to go outside, it's on a leash. How inhibiting. How can they eat rocks, chase birds, or dig for bugs when tethered to a human who frowns on such behavior. I tried to explain to Daku that the workers are afraid of him but he didn't seem to care. Maybe next week they'll get to roam free. They still have early mornings, and evenings to act like dogs.
Have a Wonderful WeekEnd. Now it's time for the 'Funnies'.
Peace,
Danny
The Clever Reporter
A car was involved in an accident in a street. As expected a large crowd gathered. A newspaper reporter, anxious to get his story could not get near the car.
Being a clever sort, he started shouting loudly, "Let me through! Let me through! I am the son of the victim."
The crowd made way for him.
Lying in front of the car was a donkey.
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
On a hot, sunny day in Chiang Rai, The Handyman rode into town. The canopy is taking shape, another piece of art is finished, and the dogs want their yard back.
I won't hold it against you if you didn't know the last song. "The Crunge" by Led Zeppelin is one of those special songs. It was written as a tribute to James Brown. If you read the lyrics carefully, you'll see some of Mr. Brown's direct influence. The bit about the bridge refers to the way Brown would change the arrangements on the fly, calling out to the band where he wanted to go next. Now you know. Oh, if you know what the title means, please tell me.
Now it's time for 'Old School Friday'. The intro may give it away: "(Dom dom dom dom dom, doobee doobee (repeat 2x), whoa whoa whoa whoa) Love, love me darlin' __ __ __ __ __. Please don't send me, 'way beyond the sea; I need you darlin', so __ __ __ __." Hint: The title is actually four words. It's a request, no, a plea. The group is sort of named after some guys who sailed with horns on their heads. Think 1957.
Wednesday was the two year anniversary of our moving into The Big Brown House. My, how time flies. For most of those two years, Lisa has been working on a surface comprised of two wooden tables put together. It has not been an ideal situation, but she's produced some incredible work anyway. We have been talking about either getting a bigger table with a solid top, or converting what we have. Enter The Handyman. This morning, feeling inspired, and creative, I went to the lumber place on the highway. With dimensions in hand, along with a metric tape measure, I told them what I needed. The owner speaks a tiny bit of English, and with my tiny bit of Thai, we arrived at a piece of plywood that was very close to what we asked for. Then I began negotiations for delivery. At first there was that 'we don't do that' look on his face. I knew they had to deliver since people come to them and by things like doors, and fences. Hey, I've been to Home Depot. (555) Anyway, I gave him a map, explained exactly where we were, and he said it would come today or tomorrow. It came today, I sanded the surface, and put it in place. More work area, leg room, and it's a consistent surface. Lisa loves her new 'table'.
After a couple of phone calls, the 'labor' arrived, and started back to banging, drilling, and pounding. Now that all the support hardware is in place, it will be a fairly quiet job. When they finish their job they have some repairs to make on the house. Some chunks of concrete are missing where there should be chunks. They will have to make it right. The final shape and look of this thing is visible now, and we like it. We lose a little of our view of the pool from the bedroom, but it's worth it for a dry patio. Now if it would just rain so we can see all this new stuff work.
The dogs have been most patient through all the work on the house. When they do get to go outside, it's on a leash. How inhibiting. How can they eat rocks, chase birds, or dig for bugs when tethered to a human who frowns on such behavior. I tried to explain to Daku that the workers are afraid of him but he didn't seem to care. Maybe next week they'll get to roam free. They still have early mornings, and evenings to act like dogs.
Have a Wonderful WeekEnd. Now it's time for the 'Funnies'.
Peace,
Danny
The Clever Reporter
A car was involved in an accident in a street. As expected a large crowd gathered. A newspaper reporter, anxious to get his story could not get near the car.
Being a clever sort, he started shouting loudly, "Let me through! Let me through! I am the son of the victim."
The crowd made way for him.
Lying in front of the car was a donkey.
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Vision
Hi,
It was a scorcher today in Chiang Rai. Work began on the canopy, we went into town, and this evening we got some rain.
So far, only my friend Barry has known the song. I'm sure more of you know this one. Too busy with Facebook? (Ha)
"Excuse me. Oh will you excuse me. I'm just tryin' to find the bridge...Has anybody seen the bridge? I'm just tryin' to find the bridge. I ain't seen the bridge! (Where's that confounded bridge?)" Clue: The group had a black dog, and visited Kashmir.
A crew of two showed up this morning to start building the frame, and supports for our canopy. They erected a scaffold out of steel tubing, which I mention because they're usually made with bamboo. There was lots of loud drilling sounds since they were working on the balcony right outside our bedroom. They should be done tomorrow.
We took a break from the noise and went downtown to the pharmacy warehouse, and Boot's Drug Store. In the afternoon we were actually able to snooze through some of the work.
I've mentioned how the police set up road blocks to ticket motorbike riders without helmets. Well, in Viet Nam they have a law that if you don't have your helmet on they can confiscate your bike. That's heavy duty. As a result, helmets are big business, and have become a bit of a fashion statement. They're cheap enough that some people match them with their outfits, others with their bikes. It would be interesting to know just how many helmets some riders own. Hmm.
A few of you have written with location suggestions for the picnic. Thank you for your input. Now, who's willing to do a little foot work? Keep those cards and letters coming in. (555)
Have a Fantastic Thursday.
Peace,
Danny
"The only limits are, as always, those of vision."
~James Broughton
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
It was a scorcher today in Chiang Rai. Work began on the canopy, we went into town, and this evening we got some rain.
So far, only my friend Barry has known the song. I'm sure more of you know this one. Too busy with Facebook? (Ha)
"Excuse me. Oh will you excuse me. I'm just tryin' to find the bridge...Has anybody seen the bridge? I'm just tryin' to find the bridge. I ain't seen the bridge! (Where's that confounded bridge?)" Clue: The group had a black dog, and visited Kashmir.
A crew of two showed up this morning to start building the frame, and supports for our canopy. They erected a scaffold out of steel tubing, which I mention because they're usually made with bamboo. There was lots of loud drilling sounds since they were working on the balcony right outside our bedroom. They should be done tomorrow.
We took a break from the noise and went downtown to the pharmacy warehouse, and Boot's Drug Store. In the afternoon we were actually able to snooze through some of the work.
I've mentioned how the police set up road blocks to ticket motorbike riders without helmets. Well, in Viet Nam they have a law that if you don't have your helmet on they can confiscate your bike. That's heavy duty. As a result, helmets are big business, and have become a bit of a fashion statement. They're cheap enough that some people match them with their outfits, others with their bikes. It would be interesting to know just how many helmets some riders own. Hmm.
A few of you have written with location suggestions for the picnic. Thank you for your input. Now, who's willing to do a little foot work? Keep those cards and letters coming in. (555)
Have a Fantastic Thursday.
Peace,
Danny
"The only limits are, as always, those of vision."
~James Broughton
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Wealth
Hi,
Today was a hot, clear day. It's hard to imagine that we actually wanted clouds, but we did. The swimming party was a splashing success, and the dogs are making great progress in their socialization. Hmm.
Our 'Easy Monday' song was "Smooth Operator" by Sade. See, you knew that. This one may be a challenge for some:
"I wanna tell you 'bout my good thing. I ain't disclosing no names but, he sure is a good friend and! .... Ain't gonna call me Mr. Pitiful, no!... Hint: We've grooved to this before. A nod to The Godfather, the 'Hardest Working Man in Show Business', and the title is not mentioned in the song. In fact, I have no idea what it means. It's by a British outfit.
Today was the day we had our party. I know, it seems odd to have a party in the middle of the afternoon. It wasn't too odd for eight friends to show up and get wet. We munched on melon, chips, and other fruit for a bit, and then hit the water. It's the first time 'Marco Polo' has been played in our pool. It was fun watching adults being drawn back into childhood by the water. It wasn't so much a swimming party as a 'water play' party. There were also great conversations about many different topics, in the water. There will be more of these in the future I'm sure.
Our desire for clouds today is the fact that they mute the sun a bit. When we're in the pool, it's usually around 3 or 4pm and there's a daily procession of clouds that drifts overhead. It would have been perfect for the party. Instead we had blazing sun. It was still a wonderful day.
The dogs got to visit with our friends today, and they were very polite. BamBam didn't bark at them, Daku didn't jump up on anyone, and food thefts were kept to a minimum. They had met most of our guests before, but it was still encouraging to see the progress they've made.
It's time for Wacky Wednesday.
Peace,
Danny
"My greatest wealth is the deep stillness in which I strive, and grow, and win what the world cannot take from me with fire or sword."
~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Today was a hot, clear day. It's hard to imagine that we actually wanted clouds, but we did. The swimming party was a splashing success, and the dogs are making great progress in their socialization. Hmm.
Our 'Easy Monday' song was "Smooth Operator" by Sade. See, you knew that. This one may be a challenge for some:
"I wanna tell you 'bout my good thing. I ain't disclosing no names but, he sure is a good friend and! .... Ain't gonna call me Mr. Pitiful, no!... Hint: We've grooved to this before. A nod to The Godfather, the 'Hardest Working Man in Show Business', and the title is not mentioned in the song. In fact, I have no idea what it means. It's by a British outfit.
Today was the day we had our party. I know, it seems odd to have a party in the middle of the afternoon. It wasn't too odd for eight friends to show up and get wet. We munched on melon, chips, and other fruit for a bit, and then hit the water. It's the first time 'Marco Polo' has been played in our pool. It was fun watching adults being drawn back into childhood by the water. It wasn't so much a swimming party as a 'water play' party. There were also great conversations about many different topics, in the water. There will be more of these in the future I'm sure.
Our desire for clouds today is the fact that they mute the sun a bit. When we're in the pool, it's usually around 3 or 4pm and there's a daily procession of clouds that drifts overhead. It would have been perfect for the party. Instead we had blazing sun. It was still a wonderful day.
The dogs got to visit with our friends today, and they were very polite. BamBam didn't bark at them, Daku didn't jump up on anyone, and food thefts were kept to a minimum. They had met most of our guests before, but it was still encouraging to see the progress they've made.
It's time for Wacky Wednesday.
Peace,
Danny
"My greatest wealth is the deep stillness in which I strive, and grow, and win what the world cannot take from me with fire or sword."
~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Voyage
Hi,
It was a mellow Tuesday here. The workers didn't show, but the wind did. I experienced two distinct weather systems, and a sunset swim rounded out the day.
Based on all the email, this is an 'Easy' one. Here's a bit more: "...A license to love, insurance to hold, melts all your memories, and change into gold. His eyes are like angels, his heart is cold. No need to ask, he's a __ __ (repeat 3x)."
Hint: There a word in the title that's often used when referring to silk. Oh, I've said too much. (Ha)
This morning we waited around for the men to start work on the canopy. I finally called, and was told that they'd arrive at 1pm. Then I got a call that they'd come tomorrow. Since we're having a party in the afternoon, we put it off until Thursday. We'll see what happens.
I took the Vios for it's 10K check-up this afternoon. The cost was not at all what I expected, so I had to walk up the highway to the pedestrian bridge, and cross over to Big C to use the ATM. It wasn't a long walk, just hot. When I returned to Toyota, I watched a Thai 'soap', and I think I followed some of it. Not that I understood much, but the action was pretty obvious. It was a comedy, and Thai comedy is very exaggerated. Lots of body language, and big facial expressions. The time passed nicely. They called me to say that the car was done, and just as I was paying the bill, a big downpour began. Hey, they just washed the car. Oh well. I called Lisa to tell her it was raining, but it wasn't raining at our house. Just sprinkles. I drove through a major dump, into sunshine in a matter of minutes.
Our trip to The States in July will be for just two weeks. That doesn't give us as much time to visit with all our friends. We have hatched an idea, and we'd like some help. We want to have a 'Bring Your Own' picnic at a park on the Westside. The tentative date would be Sunday, July 18. If a few of you would be willing to help us pick a park, and secure an area it would be really cool. If you'd like to help, drop me an email. It will be a chance for us to see friends, for you to see friends, and maybe we'll all connect with someone we haven't seen in a while.
Today, while I was walking back from Big C I saw a backhoe on a trailer with the name 'Mr. T' on the side. It brought a smile.
Have a Happy Tuesday.
Peace,
Danny
"The only real voyage of discovery consists not
in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes."
~Marcel Proust
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
It was a mellow Tuesday here. The workers didn't show, but the wind did. I experienced two distinct weather systems, and a sunset swim rounded out the day.
Based on all the email, this is an 'Easy' one. Here's a bit more: "...A license to love, insurance to hold, melts all your memories, and change into gold. His eyes are like angels, his heart is cold. No need to ask, he's a __ __ (repeat 3x)."
Hint: There a word in the title that's often used when referring to silk. Oh, I've said too much. (Ha)
This morning we waited around for the men to start work on the canopy. I finally called, and was told that they'd arrive at 1pm. Then I got a call that they'd come tomorrow. Since we're having a party in the afternoon, we put it off until Thursday. We'll see what happens.
I took the Vios for it's 10K check-up this afternoon. The cost was not at all what I expected, so I had to walk up the highway to the pedestrian bridge, and cross over to Big C to use the ATM. It wasn't a long walk, just hot. When I returned to Toyota, I watched a Thai 'soap', and I think I followed some of it. Not that I understood much, but the action was pretty obvious. It was a comedy, and Thai comedy is very exaggerated. Lots of body language, and big facial expressions. The time passed nicely. They called me to say that the car was done, and just as I was paying the bill, a big downpour began. Hey, they just washed the car. Oh well. I called Lisa to tell her it was raining, but it wasn't raining at our house. Just sprinkles. I drove through a major dump, into sunshine in a matter of minutes.
Our trip to The States in July will be for just two weeks. That doesn't give us as much time to visit with all our friends. We have hatched an idea, and we'd like some help. We want to have a 'Bring Your Own' picnic at a park on the Westside. The tentative date would be Sunday, July 18. If a few of you would be willing to help us pick a park, and secure an area it would be really cool. If you'd like to help, drop me an email. It will be a chance for us to see friends, for you to see friends, and maybe we'll all connect with someone we haven't seen in a while.
Today, while I was walking back from Big C I saw a backhoe on a trailer with the name 'Mr. T' on the side. It brought a smile.
Have a Happy Tuesday.
Peace,
Danny
"The only real voyage of discovery consists not
in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes."
~Marcel Proust
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com
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