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

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