Friday, February 28, 2020

Friday Funnies

Hi,

I know it’s getting monotonous, but the weather is in a rut.  The air is also staying in the same ‘zone’, meaning unhealthy.  

The ‘Zany Day’ song was “Mickey” by Toni Basil.  Here’s an ‘Old School Friday’ that will take you back:  “__-__-__, oh, that’s how elementary it’s gonna be.  C’mon, let’s fall in love, it’s easy (it’s so easy), like takin’ candy (like takin’ candy) from a baby.  A-B-C (A-B-C) fallin’ in love with you was easy for me (easy for me) and you can do it, too, it’s easy….”  Hint:  It’s all about the numbers.  

A few years ago it was a rare thing to hear a helicopter flying by.  Usually, it was a military chopper going from the army base near us on a run to the border at Mae Sai.  Now it seems like it’s an every day thing.  Also, they fly very low, which is a little creepy.  There aren’t many tall buildings in Chiang Rai so it’s understandable that they would stay low, especially if they were looking for someone.  

This morning I stayed home while Lisa went to Big C.  It’s not a place to go if walking causes discomfort, which is what I was going through.  It got better, but still waiting for the acupuncture to take effect.

This afternoon we had ‘coffee’ with our friends Brenda and Eric.  We’ve known them for almost 7 years.  Eric found ‘Blue’s Tree’ that lives in our front yard.  It has been months since we’d seen them, so it was good to catch up and fill in the blanks, so to speak.  We hung out for about 90 minutes at The Wanderer, a nice way to spend the afternoon. 

When we returned, there was a package waiting for me.  It was a semi-belated birthday present from the little family.  Natcha had gotten me a phone case but it was for a different model.  Today I got the real deal and I love it.  Taken sometime in the late 70’s.


The weekend is looking busy.  Saturday evening we’re going to an ArtBridge opening for a friend. We’ve known him and his wife for about 11 years.  He will be showing in the main, downstairs gallery.  Not an easy feat for an expat.  Sunday we’re having lunch with another artist and his wife at The Wanderer.  It feels like a weekend of reconnecting with old friends.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.          Time for the ‘Funnies’.

                          Peace,
                                    Danny


Thursday, February 27, 2020

Allow


Hi,

These days, the early mornings look very cloudy, but it’s mostly the haze.  In Los Angeles it would be called a ‘Smog Alert’.  The exodus has begun.  Many friends from Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai are heading for the beach areas.  

This week’s ‘Zany Day’ song had a lot of responses.  I’m impressed by your knowledge of the obscure (555).
“Oh __, what a pity you don’t understand.  You take me by the heart when you take me by the hand.  Oh __, you’re so pretty, can’t you understand.  It’s guys like you __, ooh, what you do __, do __, don’t break my heart __.”  Clue:  The song was written and recorded by a choreographer/dancer with a zany sense of things.  The artist is somehow related to an herb.

This morning we went to The Wanderer without the kid.  We had a quiet cup of coffee, some roti, and a visit from Mercy.  She came to the table, gave me a quiet salutation (howled a bit) and curled up next to my chair.  A few minutes later her mom (Kwan) came over and told us that all three dogs had run away from her as she prepared to give them their weekly shower.  Mercy would rather jump in the river and call it a bath.  Yesterday she took two Chihuahua puppies for a swim.  

Our mango tree has a bunch of tiny little mangos and some of them are dropping off.  We learned that the tree needs nourishment at this time so we went to the nursery and found some tree food.  On the way home, we finally stopped at the relocated Farmer’s Market.  It’s very nice inside, an open air affair with permanent stands for fruits and vegetables.  The one vendor that was open this morning was a little pricey, probably because it’s supposed to be organic.  I guess it won’t be a regular stop for us.  Below, is a partial shot of this morning’s offerings.


This afternoon we went to Maw Dang’s for acupuncture.  When we arrived, there were no other patients.  It looks like Thursday at 3:30pm is the best time to go.  His son did the treatment and we were out of there in about 30 minutes.  We’ll return on Sunday.  

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                     Peace,
                               Danny

“I shall allow no man to
belittle my soul by making
me hate him.”
~Booker T. Washington

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Flyer


Hi,

The air quality became a real issue today.  We could tell in the morning that it was going to be a rough day.  The high was in the 90’s and that didn’t help.  We spent most of the day inside with the air/con and the filters going.

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “Brandy” by Looking Glass.  Yeah, you knew it.  Time for a ‘Zany Day’ song.  It’s another song with a name as the title.  “Oh __, you’re so fine, you’re so fine you blow my mind.  Hey __, hey __ (sung 3X)  Hey, __ you’ve been around all night and that’s a little long.  You think you’ve got the right, but I think you’ve got it wrong.  Why can’t we say goodnight?  So you can take me home __.  Cuz when you say you will, it always means you won’t.  You’re givin’ me the chills, baby please baby don’t.  Ev’ry night you still leave me all alone.”  Hint:  Not the behavior we would expect from a Disney namesake.

This morning JaiDee's social lessons continued at Work@Home.  Our friends Towan and Katai are out of town, but it was still good for him to be out and among people.  As he gets bigger, and he seems to be growing every day, it will be important that he has some ‘manners’.  

JaiDee at home is quite a story.  He is developing more of his personality.  Now, when he sits by the pool with Lisa, he sits on one of her legs.  It’s about the closest he can get to sitting on her lap.  He likes to be close and that’s nice.  He did a similar thing with me this afternoon.  He’s learning that there is a place for everyone on the bed and that we’d prefer that he be in the middle or on the end.  It will take time for him to learn that it’s not his bed.

Chiang Rai likes it’s decorations.  This morning we noticed the ‘holiday’ lights going up by the bridge near us.  The next big thing is Songkran, which is in April, so we’re wondering about the lights.  Meanwhile, on Clocktower Street, the lights are still up from New Years celebrations.  Here’s how they looked at 6pm.


In art news, Lisa’s artwork is in Bangkok and the gallery is picking it up.  Everything is where it should be and that’s a relief.  

Feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                         Peace,
                                   Danny

“When someone hands you a flyer,
it’s like they’re saying ‘Here, you throw 
this away.”
~Mitch Hedberg

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Teacher


Hi,

This morning there were some clouds in the sky.  There had been a heavy dew and there was a glimmer of hope.  It all burned off and it was the usual hotness.  Oh well, we’ll try again tomorrow.

“Brandy wears a braided chain made of finest silver from the North of Spain.  A locket that bears the name of the man that __ loves.  He came on a summer’s day, bringing gifts from far away, but he made it clear, he could not stay.  No harbor was his home.  The sailor said, ‘__, you’re a fine girl, what a good wife you would be.  But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea.”  Clue:  The name in the title often involves a snifter.  Hmm.  The group name is something a sailor might use to see across the sea.

This morning the ‘spray men’ came early, so we took JaiDee to the Wanderer for our usual order.  He hadn’t been there for a long time and he was very happy when Kwan gave him lots of attention.  Other staff members came by and greeted him.  The gentle leader made a difference in his behavior.  He seems mellower with it on, even though he’d take it off if he could.  Kwan told us that Sally (the little black dog) is quite an actress.  She runs into Joey and then falls over, pretending that he did that to her.  Kwan is on to her tricks and just laughs.

Lisa spent the better part of the afternoon trying to get details about the shipping of her artwork to Bangkok.  We know it was packed up and shipped, but we don’t know the address of the destination and the gallery needs to know so they can pick it up.  It all seems simple when stated like that, but when you mix in the language barrier, it gets a little difficult.  

This evening Cat and Noom came over and went to the walking place with us.  They took JaiDee out on the path, but about 10 minutes later we saw them slowly making their way back to the van.  We’re not sure why, but he didn’t want to walk.  Lisa took the leash, knelt down and said something to him, and they continued the walk, with Lisa.  Afterwards, we figured it out.  JaiDee wanted Lisa to be on the walk with him.  That’s all it took.

Nitchanan was the only one brave enough to go into the cold pool at last Saturday’s family party. 


Have a Happy Tuesday.

                       Peace,
                                 Danny

“A teacher affects eternity;
he can never tell where his
influence stops.”
~Henry Adams

Monday, February 24, 2020

Walls


Hi,

Even though we’re not in the hot season, the daytime temps can get pretty ‘warm’.  The reason it’s not the ‘Hot’ season is the overnight temps.  They are still about 30 degrees (F) cooler than the daytime.  It’s when the air is hot day and night that the season gets a new name (555).  

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “Who Wrote The Book Of Love” by The Monotones.  ‘Easy Monday’ has been around on our play list for years.  Hope you remember this:  “There’s a port on the western bay and it serves a hundred ships a day.  Lonely sailors, pass the time away, and talk about their homes.  And there’s a girl in this harbor town, and she works layin’ whisky down.  They say ‘__ fetch another round’.  She serves them whiskey and wine.  The sailors say, ‘__, you’re a fine girl, what a good wife you would be.  Yeah, your eyes could steal a sailor from the sea.”  Hint:  The title is the name of a person and that name is also the name of a beverage she probably serves.  Hmm.  Easy?

We had a great weekend in Chiang Mai.  Saturday night we had dinner at a big restaurant by the river with a few hundred like-minded people.  The food was good, desserts were great, and the company was a lot of old and new friends.  We didn’t stay for the whole show, so we missed the fire dancer.  We did come home with memories.


Meanwhile, back at the ranch (555), JaiDee was partying with Natcha and Gong and their extended family.  She and Gong had exercised JaiDee before the party so he was not too crazy at the party.  Natcha’s sister and brother and their families, Gong’s sisters' families, etc. made for a full patio of happy people.  JaiDee ran around with the kids and had a good time.  

We got home on Sunday in time to relax before going to see Maw Dang for our acupuncture.  Our friend Atom went with us and it was lucky she met us at the house.  When I backed out of the carport, Gong noticed that we had a flat tire so Atom drove us.  Today we got it fixed and discovered there had been a huge nail in it.  It took 15 minutes and cost about $4.80.  

As we begin week four, we’re starting to miss certain things.  Actually, there’s probably a lot of things, we just can’t remember.  Salad would be nice.  It was interesting, eating in restaurants over the weekend and trying to stay close to the diet.  We stayed close to the recommended foods, but a few times hunger won.  

Have a Great Week.

                        Peace,
                                  Danny

“We build too many walls
and not enough bridges.”
~Isaac Newton

Friday, February 21, 2020

Friday Funnies

Hi,

The weather is the same as it ever was, hot and smokey.  From Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai there was a constant haze.  Someday soon there’s gonna be a showdown.  My prediction.  

The ‘Zany Day’ song was “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry.  A lot of readers knew this one.  For ‘Old School Friday’ try this one:  “I wonder, wonder who, oouu who, __ __ __ __ __ __?  Tell me, tell me, tell me, oh __ __ __ __ __ __?  I’ve got to know the answer, was it someone from above?  I wonder, wonder who, be-do-do who, __ __ __ __ __ __?  Hint:  R&B tune asking the musical question about the author of the guide to a successful romance.

This morning we drove to Chiang Mai.  We made the usual stop for breakfast and pie.  The construction zone is still there and the road is still horrible, but it’s just a small segment of the drive.  Before we went to the convention hotel we stopped at Rimping Market for some snacks.  It’s hard shopping for munchie stuff on our diet, but we found a few things.  

Today’s photo was taken at Rimping, at a special exhibit of large fruit from Japan.  I’m standing with the biggest apples I’ve ever seen.  They also had giant strawberries and melons.


Once we got settled at the hotel it was a giant meet and greet for most of the afternoon.  I saw lots of friends I haven’t seen in a few years, and met some new ‘friends’ that I only knew from Facebook.  It was nice to support two of my friends who spoke this afternoon and evening.  I have been asked to share tomorrow afternoon at the main meeting.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.       Time for the ‘Funnies’.

                        Peace,
                                  Danny


Thursday, February 20, 2020

Mind


Hi,

Tomorrow we go to Chiang Mai, where the high will be 93°F, 5 degrees warmer than Chiang Rai.  The farther south you go in Thailand, the hotter it gets.  Fortunately, we’ll be inside a hotel for most of the time.

This week’s ‘Zany Day’ song is about a singer who changes genres and becomes much more fulfilled.  
“Now first it wasn’t easy, changing rock-and-rolling minds.  And things were gettin’ shaky, I thought I’d have to leave it behind.  Oh, but now it’s so much better (it’s so much better), I'm funking out in every way, but I’ll never lose that feelin’ (you know I won’t) of how I learned my lesson that day… Somebody turned around and shouted, ‘__ __ __ __, white boy.  __ __ __ __ right.  __ __ __ __, white boy.  Lay down that boogie and __ __ __ __ ’til you die.” Clue:  There is a hint as to what kind of music he’s singing.  No, it’s not country or blues or latin.  What would James Brown sing? 

Our morning adventures today began with a trip to Big C.  One of the things on our list was more masks.  The air quality calls for real filter masks, not the kind that contain a cough, etc.  Big C was out.  What?  Later we went to a big pharmacy and they were also out.  Between the virus and the smog, there has been a run on masks.  We have a few, but they need to be replaced periodically.  Back to the morning.  Our next stop was The Wanderer for coffee and roti with Chalit, our photographer friend.  We always have very stimulating conversations about everything from art to politics to life’s mysteries.  

Every year at this time, there are a group of trees down the road that bloom with beautiful red flowers.  The flowers drop from the trees while they're still in full bloom and it begins a ritual that is a part of Thai life.  People stop their motorbikes, cars, trucks and pick up the flowers.  We see them searching behind bushes, wandering by the side of the road for the bright red blossoms.  The stamen of the flower is crushed, dried and used in a soup that is apparently a delicacy.  One of these days we’ll taste this soup.

This afternoon we delivered Lisa’s artwork to the local branch of the framer, which meant we didn’t have to drive out to the country.  Khun Todd will take care of everything and ship the work to Bangkok.  What a relief to have that done, sort of.  Now it’s a matter of getting that phone call telling us the package has been shipped.

Today’s photo is from 2017.  This morning glory appears to be glowing in the morning light.


Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                    Peace,
                              Danny

“What the mind doesn’t understand,
it worships or fears.”
~Alice Walker

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Dancer


Hi,

We had another hot, hazy day in Chiang Rai.  

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “All Right Now” by Free.  For our ‘Zany Day’ song we’ll go dancing at the club:
“Hey, once I was a boogie singer, playin’ in a rock-and-roll band.  I never had no problems burnin’ down the one-night stands.  And everything around me got to start to feelin’ so low. And I decided quickly, yes I did, to disco down and check out the show.  Yeah, they were dancin’ and singin’ and movin’ and groovin’, and just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted: ‘__ __ __ __, white boy.  __ __ __ __ right.  __ __ __ __, white boy.  Lay down that boogie and __ __ __ __ ’til you die.”  Hint:  Singer is being urged to perform a certain kind of music.  Should be easy.  It’s from 1976.

Before Natcha worked for us, she worked for a family that we knew here in Chiang Rai.  They went back to America and that left her available.  Today her friend and former employee came to the house to visit.  Natcha baked some of her delicious coconut cake, and some cookies for the reunion.  There were five guests plus us and we had a little dessert party.  It was great visiting and meeting new people that we’ll never see again, but that’s how it goes.  We had to leave early to meet Atom for a previous tea date.  Notice I didn’t say coffee date.  Coffee is off the menu for me in the afternoons, so we all had a honey-lemon tea at The Wanderer.

There is a device called a gentle leader that is used to get dogs to respond to commands when walking.  We brought one back from the States, but JaiDee didn’t like it so we loaned it to Kwan to try on Joey.  Apparently she had success with it.  Today we borrowed it back.  His behavior last night earned him another round with the device.  It’s similar to what is used on horses and is not painful in anyway, just annoying.  Tonight, after some practice tries this afternoon, Lisa and JaiDee went for their walk using the gentle leader and it worked like a charm.  JaiDee was a little gentleman and didn’t give Lisa a hard time at all.  


Living in Northern Thailand, we hear stories of those affected by travel restrictions as well as the business fall-out from the Corona virus.  I have a friend whose wife was not allowed to leave Viet Nam to come to Thailand for several weeks.  The travel restrictions have been lifted and he’s very happy.  Our convention this weekend has had many cancellations due to flights that had stopovers in various Chinese airports.  This has left people with no way to get here.  

Feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                      Peace,
                                Danny

“I would imagine that if you could
understand Morse code, a tap dancer
would drive you crazy.”
~Mitch Hedberg

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Bloom

Hi,

Another hot, dirty air day in Chiang Rai.  We keep seeing crazy forecasts calling for showers.  It takes rain clouds to make showers and the sky is clear, except for the smoke.

“(Let me tell you now)  I took her home, to my place, watchin’ every move on her face.  She said, ‘Look, what’s your game?  Are you tryin’ to put me to shame?’  I said, ‘Slow, don’t go so fast, don’t you think that love can last?’  She said, ‘Love, Lord above, now you’re tryin’ to trick me in love.’  __ __ __, baby it’s __ __ __.  __ __ __, baby, it’s __ __ __.”  Clue:  When something costs nothing, it is __.  That’s the name of the group.  Title is three words basically saying ‘Everything is cool’.

In some ways, this week feels physically, like the first week on the herbal drink.  Yesterday was a little odd, today felt kinda jet laggy, if there is such a term.  We stayed inside until time to take JaiDee for his evening walk.

All of the preparations have been checked on the list for the exhibition in Bangkok next month.  Yesterday we made contact through our friend Chalit, with Khun Todd, who will make the crate that will carry the work to the gallery.  We have to take the artwork to him next week and leave final instructions.  There are so many little things to remember to deal with when traveling to another city, even for a short time.  This weekend we go to Chiang Mai on Friday for the Thailand Regional Convention with my Recovery family.  Time to start digging into the wardrobe for a couple of casual chic outfits (555) for the evening events.  

Today’s photo is our boy JaiDee, looking all cute and innocent with a coconut from one of our trees.  


It was a difficult day for the humans in JaiDee World.  They had trouble maintaining order several times, and the evening was a challenge.  In the yard, he has decided that it’s OK to tear leaves and branches from the small trees. It is also permissible to eat dirt and pull roots.  On the walk, he has become obsessed with the football game that goes on every evening.  The sound of the ball being kicked sets him off and the tugging begins.  If someone says ‘Hi’, he considers them a friend who needs to be greeted properly.  More tugging on the leash.  Sometimes he just takes off, leash still attached to Lisa.  Not OK.  Back at the house, as we began the front yard running, he spotted a little cat just as Lisa was sending it away.  JaiDee tore off after the cat, disappearing into the darkness.  After the running, he did another leash lunge and was set free temporarily.  The boy was out of control.  Back to the top and start again.  

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                      Peace,
                                Danny

“A flower does not think of
competing with the flower
next to it.  It just blooms.”
~Unknown

Monday, February 17, 2020

Motive

Hi,

The weather in Chiang Rai has been hot.  Today it was 90°F at the hottest point, going down to 63 tonight.  It would be great to be outside except for the foul air.  We’re staying in as much as possible and this evening we wore masks.

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “Get A Job” by The Silhouettes, 1957.  The group Sha Na Na got their name from the background lyrics in that song.  It’s time for a One Hit Wonder ‘Easy Monday’ tune.  This time it’s a rock song.
“Whoa-oh-oh-oh-woha.  There she stood in the street, smilin’ from her head to her feet.  I said, ‘Hey, what is this? Now maybe, baby, maybe she’s in need of a kiss.’  I said, ‘Hey, what’s your name?  Maybe we can see things the same. Now don’t you wait, or hesitate.  Let’s move before they raise the parking rate.  __ __ __, baby, it’s a __ __ __.  __ __ __, baby it’s __ __ __.”  Hint:  It could also be a blues tune.  When something is presently OK.  Hmm.

Saturday morning we went to the outer edge of the Talat.  There is a ‘notions’ store that has tons of interesting stuff and a perfect place to find various kinds of ribbon.  As we were leaving, I noticed a familiar ‘face’ on a group of products.  On closer inspection I had to smile and take a photo.


Around the corner, at the gas station, another sign caught my searching eye.  The third rule of conduct is the reason why.


Sunday we returned to Maw Dang’s for another treatment/consultation.  We both got acupuncture and a little better understanding of what’s going on and what to expect.  This whole process is three (3) months long.  That’s a lot of herbs to chug down.  The thing behind the ear was to start changes in internal systems.  The acupuncture is to affect muscular related things.  We are beginning our third week and I can tell some subtle changes are taking place.  Impatient me wants it all to be better (healed) right now.  Oh, what was I thinking?  More will be revealed.

JaiDee is 7 months old and suddenly asserting himself a little more.  We have some established patterns and he is smart enough now to anticipate certain things.  It’s what dogs rely on and we have to be sure to keep the signals straight.  He catches on to training pretty fast and that’s exciting.  It’s when he decides to create his own agenda that things get crazy.  Some of it is playfully annoying, like taking socks when you’re trying to put them on, or running off with a shoe.  Dogs will be dogs (555).

Have a Great Week.

                       Peace,
                                 Danny

“Every action needs to be
prompted by a motive.”
~Leonardo da Vinci

Friday, February 14, 2020

Friday Funnies


Hi,

We had another hot day in Chiang Rai.  Still no rain in sight and things are getting dry.  On the bright side, the burning seems to have stopped.  Maybe some of the measures the government announced have had an effect.  

The ‘Zany Day’ song this week was “What I Am” by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians.  Time for an ‘Old School Friday’ song, this one from 1957:  “Sha na na na, sha na na na na (repeat 3 times).  Dip dip dip dip dip dip dip dip, mum mum mum mum mum mum __ __ __.  Sha na na na, sha na na na na.  Every morning about this time she gets me out of my bed a-crying __ __ __.  After breakfast every day she throws the want ads right my way, and never fails to say, __ __ __”.  Hint:  Someone is being prodded to seek gainful employment.  If that’s not a give-away clue, I don’t know what is.      

At some point in every little boy’s life, sticks become the most treasured thing there is.  Just the right stick can boost the imagination and provide entertainment for hours.  This morning JaiDee discovered ‘The Joy of the Stick’.  He and Lisa were out in the yard for exercise and training time.  He found ‘his’ stick and everything else went out the window.  All the training in the world wasn’t going to get him to give up that stick.  Lisa had to put his leash on him, walk him to the water faucet and spray water in his mouth to get him to release the stick.  

Today we left the confines of The Big Brown House and ventured out into the world.  After coffee, roti and dog talk at The Wanderer, we went to Big C for a few essentials.  On the way, we passed a caravan going in the opposite direction.  There were over 10 full size vans behind an official looking car with flashing red lights.  So, somebody important on a mission.  Hmm.  When we got to the big intersection by Mengrai Square I noticed mist in the air.  Scanning the horizon I saw that they were attached to a very tall light pole.  I’m not sure if they were for cleaning the air or for cooling the folks in the square.  I’m voting for the square, although it was a bad plan since it all blew away.  Hmm, when the air is still it’s a good idea.  That’s today’s photo.


We learned some disturbing news today.  It seems that the market for hand-made paper is shrinking rapidly.  We stopped by Teppawan Art Supply so Lisa could get more Japanese paper and Pete, the manager, told her they were going to run out and there would be no new orders.  There is some Thai paper that might last a little longer, but if there is no demand, things go away.  It’s sad to see because this has been a centuries old tradition.  There will be artisans who will continue to make paper the old fashioned way, but not for commercial consumption in Chiang Rai.  

This Sunday we will return to Maw Dang’s for more herbs for us and acupuncture for me.  

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.             Time for the ‘Funnies’.

                             Peace,
                                       Danny


Thursday, February 13, 2020

Reason


Hi,

I can’t say that the air looked good today, but this evening it was listed as good, and the stars were twinkling.  It was a hot one.  We’re not sure what season this is anymore.

The ‘Zany Day’ song is by a group whose name includes the lead singer.  “Oh, I’m not aware of too many things.  I know what I know, if you know what I mean.  Philosophy is a walk on the slippery rocks, religion is a light in the fog.  I’m not aware of too many things… __ __ __ is __ __ __.  Are you what you are or what?  __ __ __ is __ __ __, are you what you are or what?  Clue:  I know, I’m still trying to figure it out too.  There’s a bit of Popeye in the title, if that helps.

We stayed at home all day.  There was a laid back feeling to it all.  Natcha, Gong and Nitchanan went to Mae Sai this morning, to take care of Chopper’s anti-tick shots and to visit with Gong’s parents.  That meant we spent the day ‘taking care’ of JaiDee.  He was pretty mellow for most of the day.  We have to remember that he’s still a puppy and is subject to bouts of crazy (555).  

Natcha made us lunch before they left, and that was awesome.  She really goes out of her way to make sure we’re alright.  When they came home in the afternoon, she made dinner and boiled the herbs.  Whew.

Last week we went to Little C for a few things and I took a photo of a rack of ‘Sun Products’.  I did so because it showed the range of the relationships with the sun.  From the top there were sun blocking products because if you’re local, you really don’t want a tan.  If you stayed too long in the sun, the next row can help to heal you.  The next row is for the foreigners who, for some strange reason, want to have a tan and then there are more healing ‘remedies’.  On the ends and bottom, there are the ever present whitening agents.  Diversity in the sunshine.


Our balcony has a steel railing that has vertical bars for protection.  When JaiDee was just past being a baby, we’d take him out there and he’d put his head between the bars and rest his chin in a horizontal rail and survey the world.  A few days ago he put his head between the bars and had difficulty pulling it out.  With some help from Lisa, he managed to turn his head just the right way and get free.  We haven’t been on the porch since.  We’ll wait until there is no way for him to get stuck, then take him out there again.

Now that the evenings are warm, the walking track has a lot more ‘walkers’.  That can be problematic with a curious, social butterfly puppy.  So many folks to greet, so many distractions, etc.  Life on the edge of town.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                        Peace,
                                  Danny

“The heart has its reasons 
of which reason knows nothing.”
~Blaise Pascal

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Line

Hi,

Our weather today was pretty close to the same as yesterday.  What’s weird is the cold morning, then it jumps to very hot for the day.  

I forgot to tell you all that today is my birthday.  I am now 77 years old and could be rich if I could find the right lottery ticket (555).  In a land full of superstitions, I’m sure this number has to mean something.  

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “One Night In Bangkok”, by Murray Head.  It’s about a chess tournament.  Time for a ‘Zany Day’ song from 1988:  “I’m not aware of too many things, I know what I know, if you know what I mean.  Philosophy is the talk on a cereal box, religion is the smile on a dog.  I’m not aware of too many things, I know what I know, if you know what I mean, d-doo yeah.  Shove me in the shallow waters before I get too deep.  __ __ __ is __ __ __.  Are you what you are or what?…”  Hint:  The title is a declaration of the essence of the singer.  Hmm.

We began our day with a visit to The Wanderer, taking JaiDee with us.  We met our friend John there and JaiDee was thrilled to see him.  He was beside himself for a few minutes.  JaiDee hadn’t been to The Wanderer in a few weeks and that added to the excitement.  His doggie friends were in their yard and couldn’t come out, so they barked a lot.  How frustrating.  We did our usual thing of covering lots of subjects, filling them with laughter.  At one point, Kwan came towards the table with a piece of chocolate cake with a candle burning on top.  What a surprise.  She sang, I blew out the candle and the three of us devoured the cake.  That’s what I call celebrating.


After the cake, we took JaiDee home and went to Central Plaza Mall for lunch.  They have a dish that’s close to being appropriate for our Maw Dang diet.  We were a bit surprised to see so much activity in the mall on a Wednesday at lunch time, but there it was.  People moving about, lots of traffic on the main floor, and a bunch of school kids cruising back and forth.  I went to the Apple Store to see if there was something of interest.  There was, but not what we had in mind (555).  A new laptop, watch, etc. were all way over budget.  Next stop, the hunt for an extra large suitcase to carry Lisa's artwork to Bangkok next month.  There was nothing at any of the outlets that came close.  We now have to be creative and look for alternate methods.  

We spent the early evening at the Night Bazaar, starting with dinner at Sawadee Restaurant.  We hadn’t seen them in weeks so there were lots of questions.  Were we OK?  Had we been traveling?  It’s touching that they were concerned.  Dinner was excellent and afterwards we browsed, or should I say shopped.  There was a stall selling simple versions of the Japanese Yukata, a casual version of the Kimono.  I ended up with three.  

A few minutes ago we got a visit from Nitchanan and Natcha.  Nitchanan raced into the room and presented me with a folded piece of fabric.  It was a beautiful floral shirt that Gong had picked out.  The perfect end to a perfect day.  

Feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                        Peace,
                                  Danny 

“There’s a fine line between fishing
and just standing on the shore like
an idiot.”
~Steven Wright

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Consent


Hi,

Well, today it was 90°F and it felt like it.  We’re watching the air-qualilty sites with more vigilance these days and noticing that the air is good in some places and unhealthy in others.  Today was a good day.

“Bangkok, Oriental setting, and the city don’t know what the city is getting.  The creme de la creme of the chess world in a show with everything but Yul Brynner.  Time flies, doesn’t seem a minute since the Tirolean Spa had the chess boys in it.  All change, don’t you know that when you play at this level, there’s no ordinary venue… __ __ __ __ and the world’s your oyster.  The bars and temples but the pearls ain’t free…”  Clue:  The first part is spoken, making it a bit like a cynical speech.  There are tons of clues there.

There has been wind in the afternoon for the past two days.  It’s not heavy, or destructive, it’s the kind of wind that humans like to play with.  Last night, as we were arriving at the ‘walking place’, I noticed a pick-up truck with a very large fan in the bed.  I remembered that parasails use this kind of fan for propulsion.  This afternoon I watched as two of them rose above the treetops from the direction of the same place.  It’s probably not a coincidence that the annual balloon festival will start this weekend.  Time to fly with the wind.

This morning we dropped by Work@Home for coffee.  Our friends Katai and Towan weren’t there so we enjoyed our coffee alone, literally.  The place was empty.  It was still pleasant, but it made me think about how this is happening in a lot of establishments.  Tourism is way down due to the virus and all the ripple effects.  It appears that it will be a major hit to the economy in many sectors, not just tourism.  Hmm.

Sometimes timing is everything.  Take today for instance.  Natcha had just made lunch and the cooking gas ran out.  We normally keep a spare, but somehow they were both empty.  She called ‘Gas tank guy’ and about 20 minutes later he arrived with two fresh canisters on his motorbike sidecar thing.  He replaced the used tank that was connected to the stove, left a spare and that was that.  


JaiDee odds and ends:  Before we went to the States in December, I found some music on Youtube that was supposed to be soothing for dogs.  While we were gone Natcha played one particular lullaby track that JaiDee seemed to like.  Now it’s the go to music when it’s nap time or overnight sleepy time.  It’s great, he curls up and drifts off to the music.  The only problem is, if you walk into the kitchen, you can walk out with it playing in your head.  Sometimes it jumps me when I’m upstairs and won’t go away (555).  Last night he was very thirsty after our play in the front yard, so Lisa gave him some water from the hose.  I didn’t know he liked that, and Lisa pointed out the it was Daku who didn’t like it.  He thought he was a boy.  We’re going to The Wanderer in the morning, JaiDee will be thrilled.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                   Peace,
                             Danny

“No one can make you feel inferior
without your consent.”
~Eleanor Roosevelt

Monday, February 10, 2020

Limits

Hi,

We’re still in the hot phase of things.  To add insult to injury, it’s being smokey again, early in the season.  We are now checking the air quality site more often.  Tonight we wore our masks, but it turns out the air was good.  What?

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “Just One Look” by Doris Troy.  OK, this ‘Easy Monday’ song has been on our list of favorites for years, so you should know it:  “__ __ __ __ makes a hard man humble.  Not much between despair and ecstasy.  __ __ __ __ and the tough guys tumble, can’t be too careful with your company.  I can feel the devil walking next to me.”  Hint:  A capitol city is mentioned in the title.

Over the weekend we found that our energy had returned.  The week of drinking the herbs from Maw Dang had initially made us feel like we had Jet Lag, but it passed and we’re doing stuff again.  JaiDee is happy to hear this because it means he and Lisa can resume their walks in the evening.  I have had to stay behind due to a hip flexor issue.  Last night they encountered lots of new ‘friends’ on the path.  JaiDee had his picture taken and he met a baby.  He was determined to get close enough to check it out.  The mom was very cooperative and JaiDee got to sniff the baby’s tiny little feet.  

Today’s photo is a candid of me and JaiDee hanging out.  This quiet serenity was soon broken by a crazy dog moment.  He is spending almost of his ‘upstairs time’ on the bed, chewing a toy or jockeying for position with the humans.


Sunday we had lunch at The Wanderer with Cat and our friend Sutheera.  As we entered the path to the main building, Cat paused and whispered, ‘She is a Super Star’.  She was referring to a young woman who was moving in the middle of a small entourage of fans and staff.  She is a TV actress and is extremely popular.  There was lots of peaking, looking and positioning among the other patrons.  There was a big running event earlier in the morning and she had participated.  It looked like her fan club was having lunch with her inside.  As they left, she was very gracious in taking photos with whoever wanted a selfie.  It was quite a morning.

Sunday was also the day we were to report back to Maw Dang for more herbs and to have the bandages taken off of our ears.  He wasn’t there, but his son and daughter-in-law handled everything.  I had a round of acupuncture on my hip, we got our bags of herbs and that was it.  Our eating is getting better due to the creative work of Natcha. She has really stepped up and made some dishes that are tasty and healthy.  When we mentioned having to go out of town and missing our herbal drink, the doctor just said, ‘Never mind, start again when you return.’  What good news.  

Have a Great Week.

                        Peace,
                                  Danny

“The limits of tyrants are prescribed
by the endurance of those whom they
oppress.”
~Frederick Douglass

Friday, February 7, 2020

Friday Funnies


Hi,

Today was a scorcher.  They say it was only 89°F but it felt like 92°.  Very, very hot.  Tonight it’s still hot.  Oh well.

The ‘Middle Song’ this week was “For Your Love” by Ed Townsend.  The ‘Old School Friday’ song is from 1963.  See if you remember:  “__ __ __ and I fell so hard, hard, hard in love, with you.  Oh-oh, oh-oh.  I found out, how good it feel, eel, eels, to have you love, oh-oh, 0h-oh…”  Hint:  The woman who sang this song rode the wave across the pond from the success of this hit.  And it only took a ‘glance’, apparently.


We stayed at home all day.  JaiDee hung out with us after breakfast and behaved pretty well.  Lisa worked in her studio and I did some studying.  We’re still trying to figure out how to eat in the street.  We have a lunch date on Sunday and it’s still a bit unclear what we will do.  We’re meeting our friend Sutheera at The Wanderer, but we can’t order our ‘usual’ because it’s a salad and we can’t have lettuce.  So, this may take some negotiation (555).

This afternoon I heard giggling out by the pool.  Nitchanan and Gong were by the side and she was contemplating another try at going into the water.  She had been half-way in, and jumped out.  She repeated the process and laughed because it was so cold.  Later she and JaiDee played in the back yard.  Not as much running, but just walking around biting things (JaiDee that is).  This evening, when we returned from exercising (JaiDee with Cat and Noom), Natcha’s sister and her family were at the house preparing a dinner.  It was basically a ‘girl’s night out’.  

Sunday we will return to Maw Dang to have the bandages taken off the backs of our ears, get more herbs (yea), and ask more questions with Cat as our interpreter.  We have two travel events that will make it impossible to do the herbs and we want to know what that will mean.  This simple life can be quite complicated at times.  

Part of JaiDee’s daily rituals involves spending time with his new best friend, Noom.  Noom handles the leash when they walk in the evening, and they have a long ‘cool down’ in the kitchen that is adorable.  You can see the affection they have for each other.  


Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.                Time for the ‘Funnies’.

                          Peace,
                                    Danny


Thursday, February 6, 2020

Ideals


Hi,

The high today was 89°F and it's going down to 58 tonight.  Tomorrow will reach 91°, and that’s what I call a heatwave.  

The ‘Middle Song’ from the One Hit Wonder file has lots of friends.  Here is more, starting with the bridge:  “More foolish I grow with each heart beat.  But we all get foolish, that’s why I repeat.  __ __ __, oh, I would do anything, I would do anything, __ __ __.”  Clue:  He’s offering to do anything in exchange for what?

This morning was the first time we've had coffee since Sunday.  I must say, it made our attack on Little C a lot more bearable.  We went to get one thing and came back with a few more.  The best of our ‘shopping’ was a shoe rack cabinet.  JaiDee likes to grab a shoe and run.  Consequently, we’ve had to move our shoe rack into the dinning room, which is a hassle when trying to leave the house.  Now, when we enter from the carport, we can put our shoes on the rack and close the door.  Our shoes are safe (555).  Another cool thing about the trip was the ‘prize’ we got for something we purchased.  For 1 Baht ($0.3) they gave us a big plastic storage bin.  Not bad for a trip for one thing.

The coffee we had this morning was at The Wanderer.  Today’s photos show their decorations for Valentine’s Day.



This afternoon Nitchanan and JaiDee had a ‘play date’ on the front lawn.  She ran around and he ran with her.  She basically exercised the dog.  Natcha said they had a great time chasing each other, changing directions and just running because they could.  This evening, when Cat and Noom walked him on the track, he only wanted to do one lap.  I guess the little one wore him out.  When we returned to the house, JaiDee and Noom had a mutual appreciation session that was really cute.  JaiDee has a running buddy, and he adores him.  

Today I discovered that there is a radio station that plays a combination of Thai and English music, mostly current artists from a very hip playlist.  What a nice find.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                        Peace,
                                  Danny

“A true and worthy ideal frees
and uplifts a people; a false ideal
imprisons and lowers.”
~W.E.B. Du Bois

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Noises


Hi,

I’ve been neglecting to look at the numbers when it comes to our weather.  We’re in a heatwave, no wonder it’s been so hot (555).  These days my brain gets a little foggy sometimes.  Another side effect of the herbs, no doubt.

This week’s ‘Easy Monday’ wasn’t so easy.  The song was “In The Summertime” by Mungo Jerry.  The ‘Middle Song’ is an R&B Classic from the late 50’s.  “__ __ __, oh I would do anything.  I would do anything, __ __ __.  For your kiss, oh, I would go anywhere.  I would go anywhere __ __ __.”  Hint:  Love is involved.

This morning we had an exchange with our friend Lisa, who did the Maw Dang treatment.  She found out that we can have coffee if it’s one half hour after the herbs, so they don’t clash.  You realize what this means?  We get to have mid-morning coffee, and in the afternoon, some decafe.  Seems weird to celebrate, but if you like coffee, you’ll understand.  The funny thing about today’s revelation is, we found out as we were leaving the mall, where we could have had a cup of Starbuck’s.

A few days ago, JaiDee took some money off of the sink.  It was a 1,000 Baht note (about $33) and he tore it into pieces.  Natcha managed to put it back together, but it was a mess.  Today we stopped by the bank, on the way to the mall and were told to take it to the government bank at Central Plaza (the mall).  They said it was the pink bank.  All of the banks have a distinctive color and are often known by that color.  We now have a procedure for getting credit for the chewed money.  Today’s photo is the waiting area at ‘The Pink Bank’.


This afternoon JaiDee was in the kitchen barking his head off.  We couldn’t figure out what he wanted or needed until we saw Nitchanan riding her bike in the driveway.  A moment later he was outside, happily hanging out with her.  He is forming relationships with everyone in the household.  Life is good.

It feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                          Peace,
                                    Danny

“My friend has a baby.  I’m recording
all the noises he makes so later I can 
ask him what he meant.”
~Steven Wright