Thursday, December 29, 2011

Friday Funnies

Hi,

Thursday in SoCal was spent in the street. We had breakfast with friends, Lisa lunched in the Marina, and I had dinner with a friend. We also made a 'book run' and got discouraged by a few long lines. The evening was foggy. Hmm.

That 'Song of '75' was "Lady Marmalade" by Labelle. For the weekend we go back to '59 and 'Old School Friday'.
"Many a tear has to fall, but __ __ __ __ __. All in the wonderful game that we know as love. You have words with him, and your future's looking dim, but these things your hearts can rise above." Hint: This smooth ballad was a big radio hit all about love.

We saw a man pulling a small cart behind a bicycle and it reminded us of Chiang Rai. There the carts are a lot bigger, and usually filled with something. I would love to see the looks on people's faces if they saw two police officers riding double on a motorcycle.

Our day started with breakfast at Dinah's with our friends Pam and Steve. They told us about their Italian vacation and we compared notes on long distance flying. We also learned about some of the changes that have taken place in Los Angeles, like no more street cleaning. Hmm, I guess the city could use some of the long brooms used in Chiang Rai. Yeah, that'll happen.

Lisa had a lunch date in Marina Del Rey and I took that time to return to the house and relax a bit. Later in the day we went back to the Marina so she could find a book. It appears that bookstores are slowly disappearing from the landscape.

Mr. August went to the Apple store with his dad to take a seminar on iMovie. As a result, August has a short 'trailer' that he filmed with his new computer, complete with a title screen, music and end credits. I see a bright future for our resident artist.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd. Happy New Year. And now, the 'Funnies'.

Peace,
Danny

A Few Quotes from Gary Larson

Great moments in science: Einstein discovers that time is actually money.

By the time they had diminished from 50 to 8, the other dwarves began to suspect 'Hungry'.

It is a known fact that the sheep that give us steel wool have no natural enemies.

Future

Hi,

Our Wednesday was a day of running errands, and getting supplies. 'Quick food' for lunch and another home-cooked dinner are making this stay feel a bit like home.

Several of you knew this 'Song of '75' right away. The next lyrics should clear up any doubts if you were close:
"Now he's back home doing 9 to 5, living his grey flannel life. But when he turned off to sleep, old memories meet, more, more, more.... Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir? Voulez-vous coucher avec moi. (Repeat Voulez-vous twice)" Hint: Be careful with that French. You could get a slap in the face.

While I enjoy seeing the expanse of the supermarkets and the abundance of possibilities, it becomes a little more overwhelming with each trip. We find what we need, but it seems like there's a lot of travel down many aisles to get there. Hmm. By next week I may have this thing down. (555)

We had what I'd consider 'quick food' for lunch. Non-gourmet Japanese food that was good, but not special. Even though it's hard sometimes, to find the perfect restaurant, the closest thing to suit my eating requirements is still Thai food. It doesn't mean I don't get brave and eat other stuff, but I know what I like and I know what likes me.

Part of our afternoon was spent setting up more meals and meetings with friends. There's still more to do in that area, but staying a few days ahead helps. We started watching some World Cup skiing, but the Nap Monster interrupted and we crashed.

We spent the evening with Herb and Lenore. Lisa used to work for Herb at the institute before she retired. We really enjoyed the whole evening, which started with a tour of his African art collection. We had a delicious, home-cooked dinner, and conversation about Thailand, art, and culture. We learned a lot, shared a lot, and connected on many levels.

Thursday morning starts at Dinah's, then Nicole's, and then to parts unknown. One thing's for sure, things aren't dull.

Have a Thrilling Thursday,

Peace,
Danny
"Forgiveness does not change the past,
but it does enlarge the future."
~Paul Boese

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Door

Hi,

Tuesday was another beautiful day here in Culver City. We went to a mall, shopped for wet suits, lunched at one of our favorite places, and had a home-cooked meal with Jeff and The Boys.

Our 'Easy Monday' song was "The Boxer" by Simon & Garfunkel. The 'Song of '75' will also be easy. You know this:
"He met __ down in Old New Orleans, struttin' her stuff on the street. She said 'Hello, hey Joe, you wanna give it a go? oh Gitchi, Gitchi Ya Ya Ta Ta, Gitchi Gitchi Ya Ya here. Mocha choca lata Ya Ya, Creole __ __." Hint: Song about a Southern Belle by a group who used the last name of the lead singer.

Since we had received gift cards to a department store for Christmas, the only logical thing to do was to go shopping. We went to what we still call the Fox Hills Mall (you know how I love malls) and Lisa redeemed the cards. I stopped at T-Mobile to insure that my phone number would not go away, and we bought a few gifts to take back to Thailand.

We had lunch at Thai Boom, which is one of our old favorites. When Lisa asked if the owners, Woody and Suni, were there (in Thai) the waitress beamed, wai'd and told us they were out. Near the end of our lunch they arrived and we had a great little reunion with them. They visited us in Thailand a few years ago.

Our next adventure was the search for wet suits for swimming in our sometimes cold pool. We went to three shops and the third was the charm. I ended up getting a full length model and the guy in the shop made sure the fit was correct. Now it's just a matter of me taking a deep breath and walking into the water. (555)

After the obligatory nap it was time to prepare for dinner. Lisa made spaghetti with chicken and we dined with Jeff, C-Bass and August. The meal was great and it felt nice to hang out over light conversation.

I spent the evening with a bunch of old friends that I haven't seen in six months. That's always a good thing.

Lisa got an email from Boot letting us know that the dogs are fine and are running every day. Very sweet.

Today the adventure continues.

It's time for Wacky Wednesday

Peace,
Danny

"If opportunity doesn't knock,
build a door."
~Unknown

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

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Keep

Hi,

Monday warmed up sooner than expected, but was still a little chilly for our 'Thai blood'. I suppose by the end of the trip we will be used to it and then Thailand will feel extra warm. Such wishful thinking. We visited the 'old neighborhood', lunched with cousins, and had dinner in a unique eatery.

Our 'Easy Monday' song actually does use the title in the lyrics. Here is the last verse, which may be all the clues you need. Some readers nailed it on the first day. "In the clearing stands a __ and a fighter by his trade, and he carries the reminders of ev'ry glove that layed him down or cut him till he cried out in his anger and his shame..."

In the morning we went to the post office only to find it closed. We found out later that it was a holiday thing. From there we visited our old street. The woman who bought our house had invited us to see the changes she has made. She wasn't home but our friend Grace was home and we had a lovely time visiting with her. She filled us in on all the recent happenings on the little block-long street. We met her new neighbors who are leaving for two weeks in Thailand and we talked to them for a bit. Grace showed us her garden and a plant that Lisa had given her years ago. It was a great reunion.

We had lunch at East Wind Thai restaurant with some of the Valley Cousins. Nowell and Jennifer, plus Sam and Emma, who stayed with us in Chiang Rai, and the youngest son Chaz. We spent lots of time catching up, discussing current events both here and in Thailand. We'll be seeing them again during our stay.

The size of the westside and all it's little communities is huge when compared to Chiang Rai. So many things to see, so many people moving about puts our 'home town' in perspective. The choices and diversity of places to eat is enough to boggle the mind. We went on a dinner adventure with Jeff and Anna in the evening. Driving up to Century City, through the neighborhoods brought back memories of getting lost in the Beverwil district. There is a restaurant in the Century Plaza Mall called 'The Counter'. Basically, it's a place where you get to 'build' your own hamburger. They give you a check list and you decide what kind of meat, toppings and sauce you want. I made a simple turkey burger with lettuce and tomato. The food was great and we had fun conversations. While we waited for our table Jeff and I went to the Sony store and I saw myself on a 3D TV. I look pretty good in 3D. (Ha) Jeff told me that August was in heaven at this mall since there's an Apple store, a Sony store, and a Microsoft store; more gadgets and devices than his little brain could absorb, but he had a ball.

Today will bring new adventures for sure. Stay tuned.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

"Keep what is worth keeping -
and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away."
~Dinah Muloch Craik

Monday, December 26, 2011

Ice Cream

Hi,

The weather here in Southern California is an exercise in contrast. Warm days and really cold nights. We're slowly getting over our visit from Mr. Lag. The Family Dinner was great, as was Christmas morning with 'The Boys'.

The 'Old School Friday' song was "Please Come Home for Christmas" by Charles Brown. 'Easy Monday' is next:
"I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told. I have squandered my resistance for a pocket full of mumbles such are promises, all lies and jests. Still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest." Hint: The title is not is the lyrics of this song by a duo that took us to the zoo, the fair, and a bridge. They also introduced us to the sound of silence.

Saturday we went to Pasadena for dinner with my family. After a great dinner we all went to my Mom's house for our traditional gift exchange. Blue and Ming had made some prints of a calendar that Blue created using photos of Hill Tribe women and it was beautiful. My brother Denny showed us a slide show of his '34 Ford Hot Rod and passed out a print of three pelicans in flight. We also got to see plans for their new house. Our cousin Conley sent packages of our family tree for everyone. There was lots of laughter and it felt good to all be together for the evening.

This morning there was a knock at the door. It was Mr. August telling us that our Culver City family was ready to open gifts. More good times as we watched C-Bass and August open their packages. It was a very big day for August because he finally got an Apple laptop. He's been wanting one for years and Santa finally came through. A bit later we had breakfast on the patio, which would not have been possible a few hours earlier. The air was crisp, but not cold and the new sweaters from Aunt Sara kept us nice and warm.

In the afternoon we had a visit from Mr. Jet Lag and took the required nap. A day or two more and I think I'll be on California time. There are many things that we are appreciating about our visit. I noticed that there are lots of green lawns as we ride through the neighborhoods. We don't see many lawns in Chiang Rai. I'm also enjoying the courteous driving here. No one turns in front of me or pulls out into traffic abruptly. When crossing the street it feels so nice to have cars stop and let us proceed. We do miss the motorbikes that are ever-present on the streets of Chiang Rai. It's also funny to see pick-up trucks without people riding in the back.

We now enter the phase of the trip when lunches and dinners with friends become the events of the day.

Have a Great Week.

Peace,
Danny

"My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither,
but just to enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate."
~Thornton Wilder

Friday, December 23, 2011

Friday Funnies

Hi,

We are now in Culver City, California. First impression is that it's cold. Of course, those of you who live here already knew that. Fortunately, we have warm clothes here so we'll be OK.

Our local phone numbers are as follows: Lisa (310) 227-2351 and Danny (310) 494-1179.

The 'Song of '75' was "Fame" by David Bowie. For 'Old School Friday' we go back to 1960 for a holiday favorite:
"Bells will be ringing the glad, glad news. Oh, what a Christmas to have the blues. My baby's gone, I have no friends to wish me greetings once again... __ __ __ __ __, __ __ __ __ __. If not by Christmas, then New Year's night."
Clue: This bluesy number is a plea by the singer, hoping his girl will arrive for the holidays.

Thursday morning, Thailand time, we had breakfast at the hotel and then a comfortable ride to the airport. When we went to check in, there was no one at the counters for EVA Airlines. We were too early. There was time to hang out and watch all the travelers from around the world. After we checked in it was time to stand in line at passport control. Right behind us in the line was a group of vacationers going back to Russia. They were having a fun time, chattering away and we had no idea what it was all about.

Our plane sat on the runway for quite awhile before take off. That meant that when we got to Taipai, we had to go straight to the gate for our flight to America. The timing was perfect and the final leg of the journey was under way.
All the announcements are given in Mandarin, Thai and English. It's interesting to listen to the languages and notice the difference in length. We're recognizing more of the Thai these days, but it still goes by fast.

The lines at LAX immigration and customs were much better than the last time we entered the country. There were lots of agents working and it was a breeze.

When we arrived at our Culver City 'home', August was there to greet us, along with the dogs, Peaches and Lola. As we unpacked our bags August told us all about how he had made his laptop look like an Apple by downloading images for his screen. His wonderful sense of humor helped warm us up.

Saturday evening we'll be going to Pasadena for a Family Dinner and then hanging out at my Mom's house in Altadena.

Have a Wonderfilled WeekEnd. Have a Happy Whatever you celebrate. Now it's time for the 'Funnies'.

Peace,
Danny

A Few Laws of Golf

Your best round of golf will be followed immediately by your worst round ever. The probability of the latter increases with the number of people you tell about the former.

Brand new golf balls are water-magnetic. Though this cannot be proven in the lab, it is a known fact that the more expensive the golf ball, the greater it's attraction to water.

Golf balls never bounce off of trees back into play. If one does, the tree is breaking the law of the universe and should be cut down.

Golf carts always run out of juice at the farthest point from the clubhouse.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Warmth

Hi,

This morning Daku sensed that something was different. Suitcases on the floor, lots of running around, and signs he's seen before. "Yes Daku, we're going on a trip."

That 'Easy Monday' song was "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin. On to another Wednesday 'year' as chosen by Seth. Anything after 1974 means 1975 to me. (555) Our first 'Song of '75' was written by a couple of musical giants who knew what they were talking about in this tune: "__, (__) makes a man think things over. __, (__) let's him loose, hard to swallow. __, (__) puts you there where things are hollow, __ (__)."

We left the house right on time. At the airport there was a question about one of our bags. The x-ray tech saw something she wasn't sure of, and it looked like a circle. What? We had to open the bag and look for the circle. No circle could be found so they x-rayed it again. This time I looked over her shoulder and I did see a circular image in one corner of the bag. They let it go and we checked in. It turns out that the circle was the margarine we had in an insulated bag. Hmm.

The flight from Chiang Rai to Bangkok was almost full. Our seats were behind the wing and we had an open seat. That's always nice. We managed to get in a little snooze on the way to BKK. After all, it was nap time. A smooth landing and a standing bus ride to the terminal was all it took to be wide awake. Once our bags were collected we went to door five in the main entry to look for the rep from our hotel. It was nice to be driven into town in something other than a taxi. Our car was the biggest Toyota in town and very comfy.

Our friend Jaffee booked the hotel for us since he's stayed there numerous times. I'm writing to you from the 22nd floor. They call it the 'Executive Floor' and it comes with a few perks. Of course we don't need a 'Happy Hour', but the cup of fresh coffee in the 24th floor lounge was a nice touch.

One of our missions on this layover was to shop for wetsuits. We took the SkyTrain during rush-hour to the Siam exit, where there are three department stores right next door to each other. We found the shop that sold the suits, but they didn't have what we wanted, so we'll buy them in The States. The next stop was iStudio, better known as the Apple Store. I finally got a straight answer about the iPhone 4S. It won't be released in Thailand until Friday of this week. As a consolation, I got a device that snaps onto my iPad and has a little horn to amplify the sounds from the speaker. Just what I needed, and it needs no batteries.

Before we left Chiang Rai I had called our friend Pete, who is lives in Bangkok. We spent a day with him and his girlfriend Jaeb back in May. They offered to meet us at Siam Paragon, and our visit changed the whole tone of the evening. Pete has a great sense of humor and is very quick. After dinner Lisa and I each had a Krispy Kreme donut and they had ice cream. Pete has a pre-release iPhone and told us tales of his relationship with the program 'Siri'. You can talk to it and it will reply. When Pete asked 'her' if she would marry him her response was: "Marry you, I hardly know you."

Tomorrow morning we actually get to sleep past 6:30. Not much later though, since we have to leave the hotel by 8:45 to reach the airport at the right time for international check-in. It's all quite simple, and yet so complicated. This will be the last post until we reach America. Oh boy, fast internet.

It's Time for Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

"The consciousness of loving and being loved
brings a warmth and richness to life
that nothing else can bring."
~Oscar Wilde

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Love

Hi,

Today we woke up to the coldest morning yet. By some standards, it's not cold yet, but you couldn't convince anyone here in Chiang Rai. Tomorrow we go to Bangkok, where the low is the high for Chiang Rai. Hmm.

The 'Easy Monday' song was a snap for many. It appears to be a favorite across several generations. Last verse:
"And if you listen very hard, the tune will come to you at last. When all are one and one is all, yeah, to be a rock and not to roll... And she's buying a __ __ __." Hint: Ha, it's Easy Monday. Did you forget?

I spent the morning driving around town getting this and doing that and generally following a list. After lunch we went to Central Plaza to meet with Jaffee and go over logistics for Lisa's February exhibit in Chiang Mai. Many things will have to be set in motion while we are gone. Right now, all of the art is in our guest room. It was delivered yesterday in three wooden crates.

The current display in the main area of Central Plaza is a giant dinosaur exhibit. In addition to the skeletal giant and a smaller sidekick, there is a large sandbox that kids can enter and see if they can dig up some bones. There's a souvenir counter with lots of 'dino dolls' and models. It appears to be a run by a company that contracts to large facilities like the mall. It's a great idea and draws lots of attention.

We have everything we need to proceed with our trip. This time we thought about the things we didn't have enough of and made sure to pack extras. Our friend Tye will take us to the airport for our flight to Bangkok. We'll stay there overnight and fly to the U.S. by way of Taipai. We leave on 22 and arrive on 22. The mystery continues and always makes us laugh. The next communication will come from somewhere in Bangkok, at the Rembrandt Hotel.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

"The foundation of all spiritual practice is love."
~The Dalai Lama

Monday, December 19, 2011

Home

Hi,

The weather has been the same as before: cold nights and warm days. We had a mellow weekend, got the yard groomed, and final preparations are being made for the trip to America.

The 'Old School Friday' song was recognized by a few readers. It was "Santa Baby" by Eartha Kitt. Now it's time for 'Easy Monday'. "There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold, and she's buying a __ __ __. When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed, with a word she can get what she came for. Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a __ __ __." Clue: It's a guitar heavy ballad from an English band that conjures up images of a blimp. The song is a bit of a Rock suite. Hmm.

Saturday we had the party for the young people who are connected with The Sold Project. We sat outside around our new table and the 12 of us fit perfectly. The dinner was great and the conversation was light and fun. We're quite impressed with the way most of our friends have traveled so far, many of them on their own, to teach and explore. During the course of the evening I was asked if I had a Thai nickname yet. I didn't and so Tawee quickly gave me the name 'Denai' which means 'heart' (in a literary sense). That was pretty cool. He has a twin brother who agreed. There are several of our guests who will not be here when we return so it was great to spend time with them.

Sunday morning we had coffee with Atom and her sister Ting, who goes to university in New Zealand. We met at Doi Chaang and heard stories about Ting's recent vacation in China. Atom is studying Mandarin Chinese in preparation for her studies in Beijing in February.

In the late afternoon we went out to Martin and Kay's house for work on Lisa's catalogue. It turned into a trip back into town with the four of us dining at Sawadee and cruising the Night Bazaar. It was the first time we'd been out with them and we had fun.

There have been some interesting sights around town lately. At Big C this morning there was an employee on rollerblades who keeps an eye on the checkout stations and rolls up and down directing customers to the ones that are open. As we were checking out, one of the vegetables didn't have a price so he took it and skated over to the produce department for the price. What made it even more of a sight was the Santa hat on his head.

While sitting at a light we noticed a policeman waving his hand at someone. It was a young woman on a motorbike, without a helmet. Before she reached him she turned her bike around and sped off in the other direction. The policeman got on his bike, like he was going to give chase, but decided she was too far away so he just sat there. Hmm.

The day ended in the kitchen, hanging out with our friend Chalit, while Lisa made cookies for our trip. He brought us some traditional Thai desserts that his grandmother made, and we talked about lots of different things.

Have a Great Week.

Peace,
Danny

"Never make your home in a place.
Make a home for yourself inside your own head.
You'll find what you need to furnish it -
memory, friends you can trust, love of learning, and other such things.
That way it will go with you wherever you journey."
~Tad Williams

Friday, December 16, 2011

Friday Funnies

Hi,

Winter in Chiang Rai is about 10 degrees warmer than winter in So. California. What we call a cold night is the daytime temp currently in L.A. Is there any way you folks could warm it up a bit for visitors?

I just knew the chorus would set off your memories. The 'Song of '91' was "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M. And now, it's time for 'Old School Friday'. With a certain holiday approaching I thought I'd send something appropriate:
"__ __, just slip a sable under the tree, for me. Been an awful good girl, __ __, so hurry down the chimney tonight."
Hint: It's an 'over the top' wish list from a singer with a very sultry voice.

This morning we went into town. As we were leaving the fruit/vegetable market we realized it's like going to a 'Farmer's market', where everything is fresh and the prices are reasonable. We also made a stop for drinking water. It's interesting that the larger stores are carrying brands of water we've never seen, while the small, family markets have the major brand we're used to drinking. In small ways we're still feeling the effect of the shortages due to the flooding in Bangkok. At Top's Market the clerk let me know in advance that the water I was about to buy was very expensive, even though it lost her a sale.

There were a few things about the film from the Land Transport people that I didn't tell you about. Did you know that it's illegal to drive or park on the sidewalk? It shows a lack of conscience to flick ashes out of the window, as it makes a bad impression on children. It is also not good to get out of your car and hit someone after an accident. The film was made before there were helmet or seatbelt laws so we heard nothing about that. I suppose there is information in Thai that explains all that. There are signs being posted all over town with a picture of a helmet and '100%' under it. Police motorbike checkpoints are also more frequent.

This evening we went to the Night Bazaar after dinner. It was our last pass at shopping before our trip. It will soon be time to bring the suitcases in from storage and begin the fun of packing.

Tomorrow we're hosting a buffet dinner party for our friends who work with The Sold Project. One of the volunteers will be leaving before we return and we wanted to hang out with him. It has turned into a thing and it will be a fun evening.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd. Now it's time for some 'Funnies'. This random laughter is courtesy of my Mom.

Peace,
Danny

If you haven't grown up by age 50, you don't have to.

Calories (noun) Tiny creatures that live in your closet
and sew your clothes a little bit tighter every night.

Teenagers: Tired of being harassed by your stupid parents?
Act Now!! Move out, get a job, pay your bills while you still know
Everything.

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Arrival

Hi,

The fog was back this morning, but had burned off by the time we hit the streets. We revisited the DMV, attended an art exhibit opening, dined out, and shopped at the mall.

So far, no one has offered a title or group name for 'Song of '91', but there's still time. Here's the chorus:
"That's me in the corner. That's me in the spotlight, __ __ __, trying to keep up with you and I don't know if I can do it. Oh no, I've said too much, I haven't said enough."

This morning we went back to the Department of Land Transport, which is the equivalent of the DMV in California. I learned that today during the hour-long training film we had to watch. Not only was it long, it was informative, funny, and almost put me to sleep. Before we watched the film we had to take the eye and reflex tests. The eye test was actually a test to see if we saw red, green and yellow. The tester pointed to dots and we told him what color it was. For the reflex test we sat in a chair with a box on the floor in front of us. The box had gas and brake pedals. Across the room a green light came on when we hit the gas. When the red light came on we hit the brakes. Did you know that it is very impolite to splash water on a pedestrian? If you happen to do this, you should apologize immediately. Hmm, OK. There were many things that a motorist shouldn't do that were not against the law, just not very courteous. It turns out, contrary to popular belief, that pedestrians in a crosswalk do have the right of way. Honking to make someone move over is very impolite. In the end, we both got our licenses that are good for one year. That was a surprise, but it's because our visas are good for one year. Makes sense to me.

This afternoon we went to Chiang Rai Rajabhat University for the workshop closing ceremony and opening of the exhibit which we now understand to be something about Artists of the Mekong River Basin. The gathering was outside across a road from the university gardens. The ceremonies began with some traditional Thai dancing. There were lots of speeches in Thai and Chinese, a Koto solo interlude, speeches, a song by two of the Thai artists, a classical guitar solo, some presentations and then a dramatic opening of the exhibit. On the roof over the entrance to the gallery, there were rose petals that had been spread during the dance portion. A sign flipped up, dumping the roses onto the ground while fireworks shot up into the evening sky. It was quite dramatic.

The gallery is made up of at least five separate rooms. Because there were two themes for the exhibit, the works were divided into sections. One room had landscapes and village life, another had images of The Buddha. There was a room devoted to art with images of The King and one room had sculptures and assemblages. Lisa's piece was in the King's room and drew a lot of interest. Each artist was given a packet with four of the catalogues for the exhibit. This was another very memorable experience here in Thailand.

Instead of eating in a dimly lit area next to the gallery, we decided to go back to town and eat healthy at S&P at Big C. Then we went across the highway to Central Plaza for necessary shopping. We still haven't found a digital clock that we can see in the dark. Tonight we realized we need to ask for an LED clock. We'll probably have to get it in The States. Speaking of which, the countdown has begun. Next Wednesday morning we fly to Bangkok for our Thursday departure to America.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

Peace,
Danny

"You might not know what you lost before it's gone.
On the other hand you might not know what you're missing until it
arrives."
~Unknown

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

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Hatred

Hi,

Today was a beautiful day for running around town. Up and down the highway, in and out of the mall, stretched out on a table, and an evening of merriment.

The 'Easy Monday' song was "Tell Her No" by The Zombies. Oh, now you get it. Time for the last 'Song of 91':
"Life is bigger, it's bigger than you and you are not me. The lengths that I will go to, the distance in your eyes. Oh no, I've said too much, I set it up." Hint: The title is in three words. It's by a group who used initials that were not from their names. Singer is obsessed with someone.

This morning there wasn't the fog, but the cold was still here. I took Lisa up to the university for the second day of the art workshop. I had canceled my dental appointment since my cold is lingering, so I didn't have to rush off. There is an interesting dynamic when the artists come together. It reminds me of a kind of 'summer camp' vibe. Everyone getting together in the dining room to do a project. New friends yesterday were old friends today. Apparently there was some serious partying last night during the dinner on campus.

During the ride to Rajabhat, Lisa brought up the idea of my getting a new iPhone. It would be a Christmas/Birthday present. This of course caused my face to light up with a big grin. Of course, that's a great idea. After I dropped her off I went home and began studying how to transition from my relic, first generation phone to the latest version. You know your phone is old when they don't even sell covers for it anymore. When I got to Central Plaza I went directly to the iBeat Apple Store. They had no iPhones. I tried the NextBeat Apple Store, same answer. The closest answer about delivery was next Wednesday, the day before we start our journey to The States. Breathe deep, you can wait, breathe deep.

The massage appointment was just what I needed to relax me from the morning adventure. An hour and a half later I was on my way back to the university. I was blown away by the beauty that had been created in just two days. Some of the work was so intricate that it looked like it took days to do just one part. I got a chance to watch one of the Chinese artists doing some traditional painting on a long strip of paper. There was a group standing around him, almost mesmerized by the tip of his brush, how it barely touched the paper to make delicate branches and leaves. Lisa was the only woman in the workshop but felt quite at home with her art 'buddies'. The campus staff was ready to please and the experience was definitely worth it.

This evening was the closing dinner for the artists. It was held around the corner from us at the Rimkok Resort. There was the buffet of either things I don't eat or things that are too spicy, but I managed to get a dinner out of it. We sat with our friends Bob and Noni and a Ula, a teacher from Zimbabwe. It was nice to have conversations in English during dinner. After the eating was over it got interesting. The guys from China introduced the Thai crowd to a toast that is like a 'drinking cheer'. With round dinner tables it made it easy to get it going. Everyone stands with raised glasses, one person shouts a word, and then all say: "Soy" six times in a little rhythm then everyone yells something else, cheers and drinks. Whew. They went around from table to table doing this. When they got to us, I think I drank half a glass of water sipping each time. Tons of pictures were taken and I'm sure many will end up on Facebook.

Tomorrow we'll make an attempt at getting our Thai driver's licenses. In the afternoon we'll go back to the university for the opening of the exhibit of works by the artists.

Get Ready for Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

Hatred does not cease by hatred at any time;
hatred ceases by love.
This is an unalterable law."
~Buddha