Need

Hi,

The forecast was for rain and we got it.  Yea.  Today’s water from the sky was a real storm.  It lasted about an hour and created a river in our front yard and a big lake next door, behind the coffee shop.  

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “Blowin’ In The Wind” by Bob Dylan.  My brother reminded me about Stevie Wonder’s version of the song.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8q1I9f1l4U  Time for another ‘Zany Day’ song:

“Once upon a time you dressed so fine, you threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?  People’d call, say, ‘Beware doll, you’re bound to fall’, you thought they were all kiddin’ you.  You used to laugh about everybody that was hangin’ out.  Now you don’t talk so loud, now you don’t seem so proud about having to be scrounging for your next meal.  How does it feel?  How does it feel to be without a home, like a complete unknown __ __ __ __?  Hint:  It is said that a key word in the title gathers no moss.

This morning we set out into the world with a list and a sequence that made sense.  At our first stop, Khun Orn the seamstress was not in her shop.  Her neighbor said she was eating.  Second stop, Supalak was not in.  Third stop was Work@Home for coffee.  We had hoped to see Katai but she was at yoga.  The coffee was in, so we relaxed.  Across from the coffee shop there was a big event going on.  I think it had to do with first-aid, first responders and volunteers.  That’s something that I find very interesting here in Thailand.  There are ‘clubs’ made up of young men and women who operate vans and pick-up trucks and race to situations where people need help.  They are all trained, and some do it part-time after their jobs at hospitals.  Some of the trucks have been modified for speed, and handling.  One night I saw several clubs taking group photos and that’s when it hit me that they are a bit like car clubs, with a focus on giving aid.  Very cool.  

When we were in Taipei I noticed an interesting decor above the entrance to an electronics store.  At first I couldn’t figure it out.  Then it hit me, it was circuit boards and various things to either move or mute electricity.  It almost looks like a city.  Note: This is a close-up.

We had a conversation with the dog ‘brokers’ today and learned more about what they do.  After more research, we are feeling very confident about their role.  After 35 days we’ll get to see photos and a video of the two male puppies who are available and we can choose one.  They will look more like dogs by that time (555).  You can be sure I’ll keep you posted.  

Hang on for a Wacky Wednesday.

                     Peace,

                               Danny

“You have succeeded in life

when all you really want is

only what you really need.”

~Vernon Howard

Freedom

Hi,

Our rain forecast was a day early.  It wasn’t the steady light rain like last Friday, but came in bursts.  Starting at 12:45pm, it came, it went, and came back again.  Now this is what I call the rainy season.

The ‘Easy Monday’ song began as a poem set to music and became an anthem.  It is still a meaningful work:

“Yes, and how many years can a mountain exist, before it’s washed to the sea?  Yes, and how many years can some people exist, before they’re allowed to be free?  Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?  The answer my friend, is __ __ __ __.  The answer is __ __ __ __.”  Clue:  What do you do to put out birthday candles?  It’s a key word.

It was a Big C day today, with good timing.  The traffic in the store was light, possibly due to the fact that yesterday was a holiday.  We’ve been taking our own insulated bags when we shop there and doing our part.  The way they would bag items, we’d leave with a big bunch of plastic bags.  The only place we don’t have to take bags is Makro, because they don’t use anything.  You leave the store with your cart looking just like it did when you entered check-out.  They have a person who checks your receipt and looks in your cart before you leave.  We’ve been told that they are making sure you didn’t miss a "promotional gift", but I have my doubts.  

We stopped by Starbuck’s for coffee and then home.  Lisa had a lunch date with our friend Sutheera and I ate at home.  I’m way behind on some of ‘my shows’, mostly Marvel Sci-Fi TV stuff, so dining alone is not so bad.

This afternoon we returned to the mall for some art supplies, but first, an iced coffee.  We debated the wisdom of this decision and, since Mr. Lag is still present, we chose to rebel and go for it.  In the process, we discovered that the Doi Chaang Coffee spot was gone.  It was a cool spot on the second level, with couches and soft chairs.  A perfect spot to people-watch and enjoy a break from the mall walk.  You leave for two weeks and things change.

Even though we found a puppy, we can’t get him until September, but it has taken a bit of the edge off.  There is still the matter of the memories of routines, patterns, objects seen and not seen, and how unprepared we were for all of this.  There are still things that make us smile and we are very grateful.  Nitchanan has a way of entertaining us before and after dinner, that always brings a new mood.  Tonight, before dinner, she put the red plastic bowl on her head.  Then she discovered that if she spoke into it, it changed her voice.  Oh, what joy to have such a big voice.  After dinner, it was a big piece of dough under the table that captured her imagination.  

Today’s photos are from the kennel where our puppy was born.  His name will be ‘Jai Dee’, which means Good Heart or Kind.   We requested photos of his parents.  Here are Mom, dad, and the litter.  

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                      Peace,

                                Danny

“Freedom is never given;

it is won.”

~A. Philip Randolph

People

Hi,

The weekend weather in Chiang Rai seemed to be a mixed bag, depending on where you were.  We had all day rain on Friday. There was rain everywhere, all day.  The rest of the weekend was sunny and warm.  

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “School Days” by Chuck Berry.  On to ‘Easy Monday’ and another solo artist.

“How many roads must a man walk down, before you can call him a man?  How many seas must a white dove sail before she sleeps in the sand?  Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly before they’re forever banned?

The answer, my friend is __ __ __ __.  The answer is __ __ __ __.”  Hint:  Moving air is sometimes called this (as in the title).  In his early career, the artist proclaimed himself a writer, not a singer.  Yep.

Saturday morning we went to The Wanderer for coffee/tea and Roti.  Even though it had only been two weeks away, it felt like a different place.  I suppose things do grow when it rains for two weeks (555).  We had nice visits with Kwan and her mom, Noot.  We took them some healthy dog treats, a vegetable blend that Natcha makes.  Joey, the little rescue dog was a ball of energy and finally calmed down and went to work when he got one of the healthy bone chews.  When we told them about our plan for burying Daku’s ashes, they said they would find the right plant for us to put over them. 

Our next destination was the one we’d been avoiding since before our return.  Going to Dr. Arnon’s clinic to get the ashes was as tough as we suspected.  We took all of the unused medication, and returned them to Dr. Arnon.  He said he would give them to families that didn’t have much money.  That made us feel good.  Then it was time to leave and they gave us the ashes. We left as quickly as we could.  We held on until we were in the van.  

Saturday afternoon we went to Little C on our way home from trying to hunt down a Golden Retriever kennel we read about.  It seems that they have been out of business, even though everyone in the area knew who they were.  

At Little C we discovered that it’s the place to be on a Saturday afternoon.  Young people streaming into the multiples theater, families strolling, eating, shopping in the ‘north of the river’ version of the mall.  It was very cool to see.

Sunday, after my meeting, we went back to The Wanderer for lunch with our friend Edwin.  It was another fun informative time.  We gave our impressions of the ‘Old Country’ and considered the things that would not happen in Chiang Rai.  The thing that sparked the new thread was when I told him about the parking meters wanting credit cards.  The 4 Baht crew would be out of work if meters came to town.  We didn’t know that you can park all day for 10 Baht.  We’ve never been inclined to want to stay downtown all day, but it’s good to know.  

Sometimes, being a consumer can be a difficult thing.  Imagine my confusion as I read about this product.

This week began with tea at The Wanderer with Atom and Cat.  The four of us had a great time.  It was still a little cool from the night before and everything seemed alive.  Today was a holiday, celebrating the birthday of The King.  The actual day was yesterday, but that means a Monday off.  By the time we were leaving, the place was getting crowded with lunch parties.  

Our plan to get another puppy is in place.  We finally found one in Chiang Mai, through a place that protects breeders by not subjecting the dogs to lots of visitors.  They take care of all of the early tests and make sure the pups are healthy, have a GPS chip, and all of their shots.  We have to wait until he’s 8 weeks old, so we have 6 weeks of torture before we can bring him home.  He’ll start life with us on the road trip from Chiang Mai.  

Have a Great Week.

                   Peace,

                             Danny

“How sad it is that we give up on

people who are just like us.”

~Fred Rogers

Friday Funnies

Hi,

Had I checked the calendar I would have seen that this was ‘rain all day’ day.  A slow, steady drip from the sky.  The hardest it got was a shower, the lightest was a drip.

The ‘Middle Song’ was “You Never Can Tell” by Chuck Berry.  For the last song of ‘Chuck Berry Week’ the year was 1957 and this is a hit from his first album titled “After School Session”.  See if you know this ‘Old School Friday’ song: “Up in the mornin’ and out to school, the teacher is teachin’ the Golden Rule.  American history and practical math, you study’em hard and hopin’ to pass.  Workin’ your fingers right down to the bone, the guy behind you won’t leave you alone.”  Hint:  The title is not in the song, but you can figure out what it is when I tell you it’s two words.  Mr. Berry paints a colorful picture of a day in the life of a student.

The day was darker that usual due to the rain.  That did not help motivate us in any way as far as going out into the world.  We stayed in until the afternoon.  While we were getting ready to go to Immigration, Lisa realized that Natcha would have to pick up Nitchanan from school in the rain.  Since Gong was at work we offered to take her to get the little one.  The whole thing was uneventful.  Natcha had a conversation with Nitchanan about going to Swenson’s tomorrow and that cancelled a potential meltdown when we passed 7-11.  Natcha has had her off sugar for two days.  A trip to the ice-cream store cancels it out, but now she knows it’s possible.

The Immigration check-in was smooth.  The office is always quieter in the afternoon, and the light rain probably helped also.  As we were leaving, our favorite officer asked us if we knew the officer who retired to Fang.  We finally figured out who he meant.  He came to the Womens' Exhibit in Nan last year, because his relative owns the gallery.  Then there was talk about what Lisa painted and she showed him a piece about the late King.  He had gone to an exhibit at ArtBridge and tried to find a photo in his phone.  It was another bonding experience, with art right in the middle.  These kinds of encounters make things pleasanter when we have to go through the visa renewal process.

Yesterday I showed you a photo taken from the plane.  Today, we’re on the ground, in the airport at the baggage belt.  

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.     Hang on for the ‘Funnies’.   Formula 1 this weekend, from Germany.  Zoom.

                          Peace,

                                    Danny

Defenseless

Hi,

The sky in Chiang Rai looked like it was about to rain, all day.  I don’t mean plain old clouds, but big, dark, heavy-with-rain clouds.  Maybe tonight.

“They furnished off an apartment with a 2-room Roebuck sale.  The coolerator was crammed with TV dinners and ginger ale, but when Pierre found work the little money worked out well.  ‘C’est la vie’, say the old folks, ‘it goes to show __ __ __ __.”  Clue:  It was 1964 and Sears-Roebuck was still alive (5).  This song was featured in a film.  Just goes to show __ __ __ __.  The vibe of the song is in the French Quarter.

Yesterday, as we approached Chiang Rai from the air, I tried to take some photos from the middle seat.  I noticed a cloud in the distance, on the ground.  This meant it was raining there.  As you know, this happens a lot, where there is rain and then it just stops.  My first experience with this was in Hawaii and I crossed the street and the rain was gone.  I thought it was a special occurance until locals told me it happened all the time.  When we left the airport, it was raining hard.  Half-way home the streets were dry.  Here is the rain in one part of town.

This morning plans changed.  Instead of going to immigration, we went to Bangkok Hospital so Lisa could get her sore throat checked out.  When you enter a country with symptoms, you are advised to see a medical professional.  Since there are a couple of heavy viruses going around, we don’t take chances with stuff like this.  She going to be fine in a few days.  We met a new doctor, for us, who is an internist.  The last doctor was a surgeon and doesn’t deal with things like this.  While we were waiting to see her, we saw our friend Aom, who, with her husband, owns Chivit Tamma Da.  We are definitely back home.

Makro was our next stop, for a few things and then it was home.  It felt as if gravity had been increased just a little bit and our bodies were heavier than we remembered.  Hmm, that’s funny because mine is 3 pounds heavier than my normal weight. When we got home, Natcha ask me if I had been enjoying the yummy food in America.  I laughed because it was true.  It’s diet time.  Actually, if I eat like I used to, the weight will drop.  No more large portions that taste too good to stop.

Let me just say that being here, in The Big Brown House, is difficult.  There are just so many little things that seem off, until we remember why.  Tears.  Grateful for the chance to have such wonderful memories of the past 10 years.  I suppose it’s part of the adventure of life.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                       Peace,

                                 Danny

“We are never so defenseless 

against suffering as when we love."

~Sigmund Freud

Silence

Hi,

I have no idea what the weather is like outside.  We’re in the airport lounge in Taipei.  It looked like a nice day, the sun was just coming up when we landed.  We’re expecting mid 80’s in Chiang Rai with the ever present possibility of rain.  

The Easy Monday song was “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry.  He changed the lyrics so he could get it played on the radio.  “It was a teenage wedding, and the old folks wished them well.  You could see that Pierre did truly love the mademoiselle.  And now the young monsieur and madame have rung the chapel bell.  ‘C’est la vie’, say the old folks, ‘it goes to show __ __ __ __.”  Hint:  The title is a common phrase.

That pesky International Dateline always makes it hard to figure when to send mail.  Will it be today or yesterday?

I was going to take a chance and say ‘Hi’ from Bangkok.  We had a brief stop before flying up to Chiang Rai.  Actually, we had a tiny break in Bangkok, then realized that if I wrote you from home, the timing would work out right.

When we got to the line to go through the ‘’x-ray, conveyor belt madness", we saw a couple we know from Chiang Rai who were also returning home.  We had just talked about how we spent 2 weeks in America and saw no friends while we were out and about.  It used to happen all the time.  Our flight had to circle our home airport due to the volume of planes doing this and that (555).  As we were walking down the entry hall, finally, I saw a friend from my meetings on her way home to Canada.  Such a small world after all.

When we arrived at the house, Natcha and Nitchanan were just returning from school.  Nitchanan was very excited to see us and she told Lisa that she misses Daku and that he’s in the hospital.  She still doesn’t know.  I don’t know why, beside the fact that it would be difficult to convey the concept.  She is excited about the prospect of a puppy, so maybe there’s a connection.  More will be revealed.  Let me just say that it’s a difficult concept for all of us to absorb.  

Tomorrow we have to go to Immigration for our 90 day check-in.  We’ll have to do it before Mr. Lag does his check-in.  

I’ll leave you with a memory of the Taipei airport.  One of the newer installations that looks like it’s in progress was this large glass rabbit.

Feels like a Wacky Wednesday for sure.

                        Peace,

                                  Danny

“If you don’t understand

my silence, you will never

understand my words.”

~Unknown

Love

Hi,

Our last day in the States was a little cooler.  It was also dry, which will not be the case when we get back to Thailand.  It’s been raining and looks like that’s the plan for the rest of the week.

The ‘Easy Monday’ song appears to be just that.  So many responses, and there’s still time for more.  

“He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack, go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track.  Oh, the engineer would see him sittin’ in the shade, strummin’ with the rhythm that the drivers made.  The people passing by, they would stop and say, ‘Oh my, but that little country boy could play’.  Go go, go __ go.  Go go, go __ go…__ __ __”.  Clue:  The title is a play on words.

We’re sitting in the Star Alliance Lounge at LAX, waiting for our flight.  It’s almost 11:15pm, we leave at 12:50am.  We had enough miles to upgrade to Business Class for the long flight over the ocean.  The ticket person also gave us ‘Pre-Check’ status, which meant we had no long line, got to keep our shoes on, and didn’t have to take out the computers.  It’s a lot of work doing all those things (555).  

Earlier in the day we went to Emerald Thai and had a bite to eat, but mostly visited with our friend Nid.  The place was empty, so he could relax and chat.  He gave us a sense of how it is in the area as it relates to small businesses.  We did manage to have some laughs.  Nid taught us our first Thai words back in 2001, when we told him we were going to his homeland.  At one point, Lisa ask him if there was a temple he went to and he said no.  The nearest was in North Hollywood.  Then he explained that they had a Buddha at the house and that is where they prayed.  He told us that Buddha is in the heart so it doesn’t matter where one is.  

We were ready to go way before time.  Bags were packed, etc. so we had lots of time to hang out with The Boys.  August has an app on his phone that lets you take a photo of yourself, then change your age, gender, hair color, etc. We played around with that, found it a little unsettling and moved on, but what a thing to have when looking to waste some time (555).  

I’ll leave you with a photo from Jerry’s Deli.  Yes, it’s cake.  Some of the tallest slices of cake I’ve seen in years.  The cake we usually see isn’t that tall.  No, I didn’t have any.

Don’t know what day it will be when you get your next message.  It might work out that Taipei will be at the right time.  Too much to think about right now.  

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                        Peace,

                                  Danny

“Love is composed of a single soul

inhabiting two bodies.”

~Aristotle

Imagination

Hi,

The weekend weather was warm.  Some might call it hot.  It was hot in the sun, and the air temp was warm, to me.  Natcha said it rained in Chiang Rai.  That’s a good thing.

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “Hang On To Your Love” by Sade.  This week’s ‘Easy Monday’ tune is one I’m sure you’ll remember:  “Deep down in Louisiana, close to New Orleans, way back up in the woods among the evergreens, there stood a log cabin made of earth and wood, where lived a country boy named __ __ __.  He never ever learned to read or write so well but he could play a guitar just like a-ringing a bell.  Go, go, go __ go!…__ __ __.”  Hint:  The song paints a picture of a true guitar hero.  It’s an autobiography of the artist. 

Just so you know, this will be our last full day in America.  Yes, we’re leaving on a jet plane, but we know when we’ll be back again.  The Winter Trip will be the usual 3 weeks starting just before Santa lands.   

Friday afternoon we braved the I-405 freeway, which is an interstate highway that is a major thoroughfare in Southern California.  It’s ‘famous’ for it’s long lines of traffic during rush hours.  We had no trouble driving out to the Valley Cousins.  When we arrived, we were greeted by Tina and Lucy, the chocolate lab and Shih Tsu  that live there.  They followed us around and made us feel at home.  A little later, the humans came home (555).  Nowell, Jennifer, Ellen and Gerry all arrived and the stage was set for a relaxing evening.  It was like being on vacation.  We stayed up late and slept in on Saturday morning.  There were lots of stimulating conversations, as well as family history and discussions about art.  Later in the morning more family arrived.  Sam came down from Ventura, Martha from Calabasas, and Chaz and Ashley introduced us to the latest member of the family, Lalo.  He became the center of attention for the rest of the afternoon, with the exception of Nowell’s smoked chicken and salmon.  Lalo is 6 months old and totally adorable.  

Coming home on the 405, we got to experience some of the slow traffic.  For a Saturday I guess it was moving pretty good.  I’m just glad it wasn’t Friday afternoon.  

Sunday was a busy day.  After my morning meeting we drove out to Pasadena for lunch with our friends Frank and Linda.  We met at Saladang Thai Restaurant and had a wonderful time.  After we finished eating, Linda called Ming, Blue’s son, who lives in New York City.  She used Facetime and we surprised him with the call.  We passed the phone around the table with greetings and then got to hear about a special art weekend coming up in September.  Ming has been working on his art while writing code for a magazine.  It was good for all of us and we’re hoping to see him next time we visit the States.

After lunch we drove to Alhambra for a visit with Debby, a childhood friend of Lisa’s.  We visit her every time we come to town.  Debby gave us an update on her grandchildren and told us about a trip she’s taking to San Francisco.  She will be traveling on what’s call the Megabus.  It goes from L.A. to S.F in 7 hours, with a stop for lunch.  We looked at photos from the past and Lisa and Deb shared memories.  

From Alhambra, we dropped down to San Gabriel where we met with our friend Diane at the Golden Deli, a Vietnamese spot that serves award-winning dishes.  We got there just before the dinner rush.  While we were eating, people began lining up outside.  I had a chicken sandwich, and Lisa and Diane had traditional Poh noodle soup.  Diane had heard about how Thailand is promoting Chiang Rai as a tourist destination.  We told her that for now, we’re not in the path of the ‘rush’.  She told us about some places in Hawaii that have been overrun by tourism.  It's sad, what greed can do.  We ended on a happy note with the planting of the seed for a visit to The Land of Smiles.

Have a Great Week.

                    Peace,

                              Danny

“Imagination… its limits are only those

of the mind itself.”

~Rod Serling

Friday Funnies

Hi,

It looks like the Culver City weather is in the same type of loop we get in Chiang Rai, except that there’s a 20 degree difference in the highs.  

The ‘Middle Song’ was “Sweetest Taboo” by Sade.  Here’s a wonderful live performance of the song.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqo2DxUBb-o&frags=pl,wn   For ‘Old School Friday’, here’s a tune from her first album in ’84.  “In heaven’s name why are you walking away?  __ __ __ __ __.  In heaven’s name why do you play these games?  __ __ __ __ __.  Take time if you’re down on luck, it’s so easy to walk out on love.  Take your time if the going gets tough, it’s so precious.  Hint: Don’t throw away something that’s very special.

 Thursday was a busy day for us.  It began with the moving of the car to avoid getting a ticket in the construction zone.  Lisa drove out to Marina del Rey for a breakfast with a friend.  

Mid morning I drove Lisa back to a different location in the marina where she had coffee with a long-time friend.  While she was drinking coffee and talking, I was looking for a product that was a request from Atom.  I ended up having coffee just like Lisa and Jeanine.  We searched high and low and ended up ordering it from Amazon.  There are things you can't find in Thailand, and it’s good to know that they have such an extensive catalogue.  

After the coffee date we moved on to our lunch date with Melissa, a good friend and Lisa’s former associate.  It’s always fun catching up with news and the changing scene of the city.    

For the next chapter, we drove the 91 freeway to the (get this) Fox Hills Mall.  That, in itself, is a brutal place.  All that walking and people and stuff.  It was fun for a minute and then the need for better footwear became very obvious.  Once the feet were in operating mode, it was time to continue.  We found some of what we were looking for, the rest might be in another store.  Left the mall and made more stops until we reached another destination of note.

This trip, I decided to get a real haircut from a barber.  I went to a shop that used to be in the mall and had my hair shaped and evened up.  It’s a scary thing to sit with one’s back to the mirrors and hear the sound of the clippers for the first time.  It’s been years since I’ve had a barber cut.  There were a few things I didn’t tell him and at one point I felt the clippers near my ear.  Then it was too late and he had cut the hair away from around my right ear.  That meant he was going to do the same thing on the left.  I took a deep breath, told myself to calm down, that it would grow back, and surrendered.  In the end, once I got home and washed and combed it, it’s not so bad.  I didn’t recognize myself and it’s still a bit of a shock, but I’ll survive.  

In the early evening I had coffee with my friend Dan, and Lisa and The Boys had Japanese food.  It’s become a little tradition that they go to Mitsui  and have dinner.  

This morning we will have breakfast with our friends Pam and Steve, at Dinah’s of course.  

In the early afternoon we will drive ‘over the hill’ for a sleepover with The Valley Cousins at the home of Nowell and Jennifer.  This photo was taken in Palo Alto after Joe’s party.  The crew in the back row: Martha, Ellen, Jennifer & Nowell. In the front row: Sophia, Lisa, Me, and Laurel.  The photo was taken by Gerry.  It should be a fun weekend.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.          Here come the ‘Funnies’.

                      Peace,

                                Danny

Friends

Hi,

Just another day in L.A., except maybe a touch cooler.  The forecast for today is 78°F in Culver City and 96° in Chiang Rai.  Hmm, liking it here right now.

The ‘Middle Song’ is a Sade song that fans quickly recognized.  The lyrics work better when heard with the music.

“There’s a quiet storm and it never felt like this before.  There’s a quiet storm, that is you.  There’s a quiet storm and it never felt like this before, giving me something that’s taboo (Sometimes I think you’re just too good for me). You give me the __ __, that’s why I’m in love with you….”  Clue:  Part of the title is in the lyric.  

It looks like Dinah’s will be getting it’s usual patronage from us this trip.  I had breakfast there yesterday with my friend Michael.  We missed seeing each other on our last visit so it was good to catch up on many things in our lives.  

I had the good fortune to get a chiropractic appointment with our old friend Franco Columbu.  This trip, he did some ‘muscle work’, relaxing a group of very tight muscles so my structure could stay in place.  He went right to a spot that never hurt, until he touched it.  Since I trust him, I let him continue and something released.  We also got new information about food and stress and what not to do.  The last thing we learned was about something called ‘Hz’ therapy.  There are tons of tracks on Youtube that are tuned to various Hz frequencies for different purposes.  We tried a meditation one in the afternoon and it was refreshing.  There are some for concentration, others for healing, sleep and so forth.  Just start with a Google search: Hz therapy and take it from there.  

Every time we return to the States there is something new to adapt to or try to understand.  The big thing this time is the growing change to ‘cashless transactions’.  We knew about this from a story on China, where a whole metropolis is cashless, but Culver City?  Oh yes, when we went to dinner with Denny and Sheila there was a sign on the counter at Tender Greens stating that they were a cashless business.  Chiang Rai will catch up, I have no doubt. I have noticed patrons at Starbucks doing the dance, and I’m sure others will follow suit.  It makes sense because I saw it years ago in a SciFi series.  Everything in those eventually comes true (555).  Now if only the parking meters would let you state how much you want to spend without robbing you first.

There is a huge construction surge going on in Culver City as well as other parts of the area.  This photo is the hotel under construction at the Metro train station at Washington and National.  Yes, inside all that, there is a working train station.  Boggles the mind.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

  

                      Peace,

                                Danny

“It is not so much our friends’ help

that helps us, as the confidence of

their help.”

~Epicurus

Silence

Hi,

The Westside L.A. weather was rather typical, I think.  The morning was cool until the overnight moisture burned off, then it became hot.  

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was, of course, “Smooth Operator” by Sade.  The ‘Middle Song’ is from her second album in 1985.  This may not be as easy, but it’s a good one:  “If I tell you, if I tell you now will you keep on, will you keep on loving me?  If I tell you, if I tell you how I feel, will you keep on bringing out the best in me?  You give me, you give me the __ __.  You give me, you’re giving me the __ __.  Too good for me.”  Hint:  The title is really two words that one usually wouldn’t put together.  The second word is considered something that is a no-no in most circles.  Hmm.

Yesterday we started the day with breakfast at Dinah’s.  We forgot to get some basics the night before, so we decided to just start at Dinah’s and then do errands, working our way home.  Since stores like Rite-Aid (Thrifty’s) have become mini department stores, we can do a lot of one-stop shopping.  And guess what?  There was a Ross on the way, so we stopped.  One of our suitcases got damaged on this trip so a replacement was needed.  We found a good one, along with a few more things.  Buying luggage can be tricky, some is good for domestic travel, but not very sturdy for overseas flights and handling.  We’ve gone through a lot of bags in the last 11 years.  We also have a bunch that still work, but stay in storage due to size, etc.  We think we found a winner.

We had lunch at Treehouse Thai, with our friend Alan.  We met Alan in Thailand about 6 years ago and though he left, we have remained friends.  This was the first time we had shared Thai food in the States.  Just one of those funny realizations that came to mind.  

There are times when our minds are so busy with the ‘present tense’ that we don’t think about going home.  Then, as it happened yesterday, when things get quiet it all comes back.  Could not nap due to thinking.  We have decided to bring another furry friend into our lives.  We can pass on what we learned from Daku, and learn some new stuff at the same time.  It will also help our whole family heal.  

Without thinking about it, we chose Emerald Thai as our dinner destination.  We invited C-Bass and August and the four of us had a fun meal.  It was good to see our friend Nid.  We manage to see him every trip, and he keeps track of the months and figures when we should be in town.  We’re going to try and see him again before we leave so we can hang out a bit.

After dinner we got a real education in traffic.  Emerald Thai is on Venice Blvd.  We were headed west and on the eastbound side, the traffic was bumper to bumper for blocks.  At the next intersection it was gridlocked so we continued to go west.  I finally decided to go around the whole area.  It was out of our way, but much more practical than sitting in traffic for another 45 minutes.  Once again, grateful for what we call ‘traffic’ in Chiang Rai.

Today’s photo was taken in Palo Alto.  Left to right: Me, Ryland (our nephew), Joe and Dan (Lisa’s brother).

Feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                 Peace,

                           Danny

“In the end, we will remember not the

words of our enemies, but the silence

of our friends.”

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Empty

Hi,

There were warnings of high temps yesterday, but nothing like what happens in Thailand.  

A few readers recognized the ‘Easy Monday’ song right way.  In case you need to ‘hear’ more, this is verse two:

“Coast to coast, L.A. to Chicago, Western male.  Across the north and south to Key Largo, love for sale.  Face-to-face, each classic case.  We shadow box and double cross, yet need the chase.  A license to love, insurance to hold, melts all your memories and change into gold.  His eyes are like angels but his heart is cold.  No need to ask, he’s a __ __, __ __, __ __, __ __.”  Clue: One might say he’s a slick manipulator, but it doesn’t sing so well (555).

Yesterday morning I went to the eye doc for what should be the last time.  She changed the prescription for one eye, and hopefully, that will be the end of that until we return in the winter. 

After my ‘non appointment’ we traveled  to the office of our acupuncturist, Amir Zagross.  We didn’t have appointments, just a visit and some Chiang Rai items for his office.  We met his older daughter, who is very interested in rockets.  There’s a first, meeting a teen who has a real interest in rockets.  She told us she wants to be a rocket engineer.  Next visit to the States we’re going to sit down and have a meal together.  

Since we moved to Thailand a few traditions have evolved.  One of them is the mandatory breakfast/lunch/dinner with certain people.  It seems that ‘Family’ can get you to do things like that.  Today we had one of those meals with our friends Paul, Joy and Leilani.  We ate at a place in Culver City called KayNDave’s, where they serve Mexican food and it’s good.  Our patio table was perfect for the lunchtime vibe.  I think we’ll add this place to our list.

My brother Denny and his wife Sheila live in Colorado, but they visit Southern California like we do.  This evening we had dinner and as always, it was special.  We really need more than one brief meal to catch up on the happenings in our lives.  

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                         Peace,

                                   Danny

                                                                                       

“Empty pockets never held

anyone back.  Only empty

heads and empty hearts can 

do that.”

~Norman Vincent 

History

Hi,

The weekend weather in Palo Alto was perfect.  We carried sweaters but rarely put them on, enjoying the mild temperatures.  In the back of my mind I was thinking:  ‘Wait ’til you get home, where it’s so hot.'

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “Anyone Who Had A Heart” by Dionne Warwick.  The singer of this ‘Easy Monday’ song had many mellow hits:  “(intro) He’s laughing with another girl and playing with another heart, placing high stakes, making hearts ache.  He’s loved in seven languages.  Jukebox life, diamond nights and ruby lights, high in the sky.  Heaven help him, when he falls… Diamond life, lover boy, he moves in space with minimum waste and maximum joy.  City lights, business nights when you require streetcar desire for higher heights.  No place for beginners or sensitive hearts.  When sentiment is left to chance.  No place to be ending, but somewhere to start.  No need to ask, he’s a __ __, __ __, __ __, __ __.”  Hint:  Oh, this is just so easy.  

Friday morning we flew to San Jose, got our car and drove to San Leandro for lunch with Cousin Trudye and our long-time friend Skip.  This was our first Oakland Cousins Lunch without Eunice.  We held it together and had a really good visit.  Trudye called Cousin Wendy in L.A. and we all sang Happy Birthday to her, which surprised her.

We drove down to Palo Alto, got settled in our motel and met with Lisa’s dad Joe, her brother Dan, and his son Ryland for a little reunion dinner at Trellis Restaurant.   It was also the site of Saturday’s birthday party for Joe.

We hadn’t seen Ryland since 2008 when we visited New Zealand, where they live.  He is currently doing research at Notre Dame in the field of crystallography (organic chemistry).  Heavy stuff over dinner (555).

Saturday was the big day, Joe’s 95th Birthday celebration.  When we arrived at Trellis, we were taken to the downstairs dining room to be interviewed for a documentary that is being filmed about Joe’s life.  After that we went to the rooftop dining area where there were tables set up under umbrellas.  There were about 60 guests consisting of family and friends.  Joe has a big family and an even bigger extended family.  There were former students who studied art with Joe and went on to become noted artists, as well as people from his everyday life.  After lunch there were lots of tributes to Joe and some very moving moments where we got to hear how this very special man has nurtured so many.  There was also a group of Valley and New Hampshire Cousins.  The whole thing was a little over three hours.  A lot of the guests, like us, had heard of many of the guests but never met them.  It was a day to remember.  After it was over, we hung out with the Cousins at their hotel.   

I can’t remember how many times we drove up and down El Camino Real, the main highway in Palo Alto, but it was a bunch.  It was our big connector with everywhere we went.  Sunday morning we met with Joe, Dan and Ryland at Joe’s favorite breakfast spot and I think a few of us over ate (5).  The place is called Stacks, as in pancakes and I sampled the blueberry.  Yum.  We then went to Joe’s house for come collective work on his computer, setting up a fan and getting him started on a Kindle that someone gave him.  It was a very cool day.  Lisa and I got to go into the studio with Joe and see his latest creations.  He and Lisa discussed some technical stuff and we took the traditional photos.  Today was a good day.

Here are two photos from Joe’s birthday.  The first is a partial view of the setting, and the second is Joe and Lisa listening to guests speaking about Joe.

Have a Great Week.

                     Peace,

                               Danny

"People are trapped in history

and history is trapped in them."

~James Baldwin

Friday Funnies

Hi,

There was rain in Chiang Rai, and sunshine in L.A., a return trip to the eye doc, and dinner in a deli.  

The ‘Middle Song’ was “Do You Know the Way To San Jose?”.  Yeah, you knew it.  The ‘Old School Friday’ song should be easy.  “Anyone who ever loved, could look at me, and know that I love you.  Anyone who ever dreamed, could look at me, and know I dream of you.  Knowing I love you so, __ __ __ __ __ would take me in his arms and love me too…"

Hint:  The first word of the song is the first word of the title.  

Things are a little better, on the emotional front.  Except when we talk about it, get a condolence message, see a photo, or think about going home.  Basically, nothing’s changed.  Distractions seem to be the best medicine.  Haven’t had time to do any ‘binge watching’ of favorite shows, but we have been semi-busy with a couple of visits and some retail therapy.  In the afternoon we met with Cousins Wendy and Linda for coffee/tea at Dinah’s.  There was the usual ‘catching up’, family talk, and then on to politics and the state of the world.  It was quite enjoyable.

We had dinner at Jerry’s Deli with our friends Ray and Eiko.  Lisa and Ray used to work at the same institute for many years.  

Every time Lisa talks to Natcha, she tells us how lonely it is at the house without Daku.  He was her daytime companion, hanging out in the kitchen, going for walks around the house and being the silent babysitter.  It’s gonna take time.  Here’s a photo of Daku and Natcha and one of Daku and Nitchanan.  

The evening was spent writing to you and packing for our trip to Palo Alto.  There will be a birthday party on Saturday in honor of Joe becoming 95 years old.  Lisa’s brother Dan and his son Ryland will be there from New Zealand, step-sister Karen Jo and her extended family, New Hampshire Cousins, Valley Cousins, and lots of Joe’s local friends.  It’s going to be quite a weekend.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.        Time for the ‘Funnies’.  And don’t forget the Formula 1 Gran Prix from England.

                   Peace,

                             Danny

Steps

Hi,

This is the day we have dreaded for the last month.  This morning we got a text from Dr. Arnon telling us that Daku had passed away.  Needless to say, we are heartbroken.  As Natcha put it, “No Daku, no happy”.  Life will not be the same at The Big Brown House.  There are no words, just sadness.  Lisa and Natcha are on the phone talking about Daku and crying.  Natcha was his best buddy and they spent a lot of time together.  

A few of you found your way to the title of this week’s ‘Middle Song’.  Here’s the first part of the second verse.  

“You can really breathe in __ __, they’ve got a lot of space, there’ll be a place where you can stay.  I was born and raised in __ __, I’m going back to find some peace of mind in __ __…”  Clue:  Northern California, near silicon something.

Today has been a bust.  We were sitting in the waiting area at Lenscrafters when we got the news.  I canceled my appointment and we left.  Back at the house we both managed to compose messages for our Facebook friends and then went out to do things that might distract us.  It’s been very surreal, doing the dance between denial and acceptance.  One minute it couldn’t be true, the next, tears are flowing remembering the joy he brought everyone who knew him.  Natcha told us that this morning, as she prepared to take Nitchanan to school, Nitchanan wanted to see Daku before they left.  I’m not sure how she handled that, but it made her cry just telling us.  She is very, very sad.  It’s going to take a lot of healing for all of us to get through this.  

Baby Daku lying on my feet, about 6 weeks old.

Daku and Lisa looking out on the world.  He really liked it when she would join him at his favorite window.

                 Peace,

                           Danny

"The steps you take don’t need to be big,

they just need to take you in the right direction."

~Unknown, but from Marvel’s Agents of Shield

Sunshine

Hi,

Tuesday morning weather was cool where we are staying.  We actually went out with sweaters on.  At home that would be unheard of right now.  By 10am the sweaters were gone and the sun was blazing.  It still wasn’t that hot out of the sun, just warm.  

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “Walk On By”, by Dionne Warwick.  For her ‘Middle Song’ selection, she’ll ask the musical question:  “__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __?  I’ve been away so long, I may go wrong and lose my way.  __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __?  I’m going back to find some peace of mind in __ __.  L.A. is a great big freeway, put a hundred down and buy a car.  In a week, maybe two they’ll make you a star.  Weeks turn into years, how quick they pass, and all the stars that never were are parking cars and pumping gas…”  Hint:  This one should be pretty obvious, one of Ms. Warwick’s biggest records.  It’s about a place, we’re flying to in a few days.     

Our first full day in town we had a busy morning.  We had coffee at one of our favorite places to get coffee to go: Tanner’s on Sepulveda.  This time we sat and relaxed inside and watched the ‘community’ as it came to life.  It was interesting see it become the meeting place that it is.  From there we did our brave traveler bit for the day.  At Rite Aid, we both got our second vaccination for shingles and another for pneumonia.  By early afternoon both of our arms started hurting and a dull drowsy feeling came over us.  Some of that was courtesy of Mr. Lag, but with a different edge.  I’ll tell you this, the shingles shot hurts worse than the pneumonia.  

Lisa went on a little road trip with Anna and her friend Myra to celebrate Anna’s birthday.  She saw a lot of the Pacific Palisades while I stayed at the apartment and read, made calls and tried to stay awake.  

You know you’re in L.A. when you spot things on the shelf at the upscale community market and they look like this:

We got a call from Natcha, who was very concerned about Daku.  He was back in that listless state, and not very responsive.  Usually, if Lisa calls his name over a video call, he’ll get all excited.  This time there was nothing.  Lisa called the doctor to tell him they were bringing Daku to the office, but he said he’d go to our house.  Natcha called back later and the doctor and staff were taking Daku to the clinic.  Now we wait, again.  

The hardest thing to do right now (Tuesday evening) is to keep our eyes open.  The slightest lowering of the lids can send me into dreamland.  Must stay awake on the off chance that I can manage to sleep past 4am.  It’s becoming a battle of wills.  Oh, so that’s his first name, Will, and ‘Jet’ is just a nickname (555).

It feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                          Peace,

                                    Danny

“Wherever you go, no matter what

the weather, always bring your

own sunshine.”

~Anthony J. D'Angelo