Courage

Hi,

This was a super hot day.  Right now it’s 8:30pm and the temp is 82°, with the perpetual haze.  I wouldn’t mind so much if it was purple.

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was identified by a handful of readers.  A few even knew the cover artist.  Here’s the rest:

“If your broken heart should need repair, then I’m the man to see.  I whisper sweet things, you tell all your friends, they’ll come runnin’ to me.  Here is the main thing I want to say, I’m busy 24 hours a day.  I fix broken hearts, I know that I truly can.  Come-a, come-a, come-a, yeah, yeah, yeah….”  Clue:  This song was first released in 1960, then again in ’77 and became a major hit the second time in it’s life.  If you know it, you know it.  Guys with this title often fix sinks, doors, windows and lamps.

Today was a repeat of yesterday, trying to deal with JaiDee and his discomfort.  If it wasn’t so self-destructive we wouldn’t spend so much time watching him.  The other part to this is his spontaneous outburst, with the cone possibly causing some damage as it waves around.  Then, just as quickly, he’s lying on his stomach as sweet as can be.  This evening we made a run to the vet’s for another possible remedy.  Here’s hoping it works.  

Cat’s boyfriend Noom works at the Chiang Rai airport.  He posted photos of workers in hazmat style suits, spraying down the interior of the airport with what we can only assume is some kind of disinfectant.  I don’t know if it works, but it looks impressive.  I guess, since there are very few flights coming or going, this is the time to do it.

Today’s photo is from April 1, 2016.  It was taken down the road from our house.  This little waterway remains a mystery to us, we don’t know where the water comes from, but once a year people knew to come and fish.  Lately, it’s been too dry, so nobody comes.  

Natcha told Lisa that she and Nitchanan were looking through some old photos and when she saw one of Daku, she started crying.  She misses him very much, but it’s been difficult for her to understand what happened.  Life.

As bad as the air was today, tonight I actually saw the moon and Venus.  Maintaining hope in Chiang Rai.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                        Peace,

                                  Danny

“To create one’s world in any

 of the arts takes courage.”

~Georgia O'Keeffe

Love

Hi,

The weekend weather was as predicted:  Hot.  The topic of the smoke is getting a lot more milage these days.  Many articles are being written examining the escalation over the years.  It does no good if nothing is done, which is the sentiment on the street.

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “Fever” by Little Willie John, and covered by Peggy Lee.  Time for ‘Easy Monday’:

“Hey girls, gather ‘round, listen to what I’m putting down.  Hey babe, I’m your __ __.  I’m not the kind to use a pencil or rule.  I’m handy with love and I’m no fool.  I fix broken hearts, I know I truly can.”  Hint:  The title refers to a person who, as the lyrics implies, fixes things.  Hands are involved, sometimes (555).

A lot of the weekend was spent ‘babysitting’ JaiDee.  Since he was obsessed with getting to his incision, but couldn’t reach it, his tail became his target.  The cone extension worked sometimes, but it meant we had to constantly monitor him.  A sedative from the vet worked pretty good for a day and a night.  Today the stitches were removed and he is healing properly.  He still has a week more of wearing the cone.  That means a week more of monitoring his behavior.  We had an anti-itch spray for dogs and it seemed to work this afternoon, once.  Exercise is best, but the air is so bad it seems wrong to have him exert himself too much.  The best way to get him to run is with the garden hose.  He loves to chase the stream of water.  I think he enjoys getting a little wet when he ‘catches’ it.  I swear there is a smile on his face.  This could be a great photo op.  I’ll work on it.

There is a tree in our back yard that blooms every year, about this time.  

Speaking of nature, I miss The Wanderer.  Like most restaurants, it’s closed.  It’s been about two weeks since we were last there.  We see photos on Facebook of Mercy and the trees, etc. so not a distant memory.  All I have to do is go through my photos and I’m there.  There is a giant construction project on the road into town that has been a mystery for months.  We finally found out that it will be an agricultural research center, or something like that.  At least it’s not a housing tract.  

One thing about having to stay close to home, not a lot of plans are made that require going outside.  We get dressed to go to the vet, the grocery store and that’s it.  Today we did both, the great adventures of the week.  At Top’s Market at Central Plaza Mall, we got the temp check on entry, and shopped in a lightly populated store.  The traffic to and from the mall was very light and that was also nice.  

Have a Great Week.

                      Peace,

                                Danny

“Love is all we have, the only

way that each can help the other.”

~Euripides

Friday Funnies

Hi,

The weather today was very, very, hot.  It was 98° and the forecast is for 102 tomorrow.  What more to say?  We’ve got a real trifecta going.  There’s the virus, the heat, and the smokey air.  Thank goodness for the air/con and the sense to stay at home.  We can do this!

The ‘Middle Song’ was “I Shot The Sheriff” by Bob Marley and The Wailers.  It was released in 1973, and in 1974 Eric Clapton covered the song.  Needless to say, the Clapton version became a much bigger record and ended up in the Grammy Hall of Fame.  It’s time for another lesson/example of ‘Who gets the bigger hit’.  Remember, back in the day, radio governed what people heard and bought.  ‘Old School Friday’ is next:  “You never know how much I love ya, never know how much I care.  When you put your arms around me, I get a feelin’ that’s so hard to bear.  You give me __.”  Hint:  This oldie came out in 1956 and reached #24 on the Pop Chart and #1 on the R&B chart.  This one word title is a symptom you don’t want these days.  The singer was one of many men whose first name was ‘Little’.  The cover was by a woman.

Before I forget to tell you again, I noticed at Big C, that all of the checkers were wearing latex gloves, face masks, and face shields like one might wear in a wood shop or in surgery.  That’s what I call protecting everybody.  

We were inside all day, so we missed whatever wasn’t going on outside.  Our street has been very quiet compared to Wednesday.  We have a suspicion that the conditions of following the rules may have convinced folks to follow the rules.  Everyone was told that if they couldn’t follow the rules, a curfew could be instituted.  We’ll see.

JaiDee is still struggling with being a patient in recovery.  He does not like his cone.  It’s simple, he wants to do what dogs do and the cone prohibits him from licking himself.  Lisa added an extension to his cone so he can’t bite his tail and it works, but not for the dog.  The stitches come out Monday and hopefully we can dispense with the cone.  For the second day in a row, he took a long nap with us upstairs.  We’re hoping he will make it a new pattern and eventually do all of his sleeping upstairs with us.  

Wherever you are in the world, you are being affected by Covid-19.  The ripples this things creates are amazing.  Just the travel havoc that has been wreaked upon civilization is mind-bending.  Imagine, a person goes to work in a foreign country, then they have to return home for immigration papers but can’t return to work because the border has been closed and they are not a citizen.  Add to that, their partner is in the country of employment and now they can only have video chats.  This happened to a friend.  Oh virus, what have you done?  On the flip side, because everyone was restricted to their homes, the air in Beijing is clear.  The ‘stuff’ that held us all together is still there.  It’s just been given a different focus for a while.  When the smoke clears, we’ll find each other with a new appreciation.

Yesterday I told you about the herbs we were given by Maw Dang’s son in order to help ‘everything’.  Today, Natcha made the Black Chicken soup.  I’m not gonna lie, it’s not the chicken soup that fixed everything when I was a kid.  This stuff was awful.  We added honey, some salt and it was still nasty.  Or maybe it’s an acquired taste (555).  Naw, it’s bad.  We get to have another bowl of it on Sunday.  Actually, I think the bad taste is from the herbs that were cooked inside the bird.  When Lisa mentioned to Natcha that she wouldn’t be here to prepare it since it’s her day off.  Natcha laughed and noted that there was no place to go since they had to stay at home, so she’d fix it.   

Today’s photo is half of the Black Chicken.

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

                        Peace,

                                  Danny

Somebody

Hi,

The heatwave has begun.  It was 96° today and will gradually go higher and peak (maybe) at 103° next week.  Once again the air sucks big time.  

This week’s 'Middle Song’ had a few friends who caught the lyric from the first line.  “Sheriff John Brown always hated me, for what,I don’t know.  Every time I plant a seed, he said kill it before it grow, he said kill them before they grow.  And so:  (__ __ __ __) Oh, Lord, but I swear it was in self-defense.  __ __ __ __, but I swear it was in self-defense…”  Clue:  The singer is confessing to something and being very specific about it.  This song has many interpretations, and many of them political.  Hmm, Caribbean drama.

Today the government released the restrictions and closures for dealing with Covid-19.  They are urging people to stay at home, but there is no curfew.  The rumors that there would be a curfew were numerous.  It’s mostly like in other countries, where restaurants, bars, nightclubs, gyms and places where numerous people congregate, will be closed.  We were out on the street today and the message hasn’t been received as yet.  Small coffee shops and cafes were still open.  It’s interesting that one of the most serious offenses is ‘sharing fake news about Covid-19’.  Within the ‘State of Emergency’ the Prime Minister has the power to call for a 24 hour curfew if rules are not followed.  The other heavy part is the closure of the borders.  The U.S. State Department listed all of the flights leaving the Kingdom and urged expats on temporary status to try to return to the US as soon as possible.  The borders coming in are also closed to foreign travel.  So, it's really down to containing the spread in a very loose environment.  As the number of cases grows, it’s even more important to stay at home. 

Our outside excursions today both had to do with medical issues and would have been ‘legal’ had there been a curfew.  We took JaiDee to the vet this morning to get more ‘pain pills’.  They’re actually an anti-inflamatory.  The doctor changed his bandage and sent us on our way.  This afternoon we met Atom at Maw Dang’s to see about an herb ‘adjustment’ for Lisa.  We ended up with some special herbs that are to be stuffed into a Black Chicken, cooked into soup and consumed over two days.  Black Chicken is also called ‘House Chicken’, meaning the bird is one raised at home, not stuffed with hormones and such.  I’m pretty sure I got that part right.  

I forgot to tell you that yesterday was Mr. August’s 20th birthday.  Some of you will remember the early days as well as The August Chronicles.  He still wants to know how things work and is a cool young man.  We had a long Skype call with him and his brother C-Bass and it was great.

Today’s photo shows JaiDee sitting in front of the TV watching badminton. After that he took a long nap. It’s the first time he’s really relaxed in the upstairs bedroom.  We’re hoping it’s a sign of a change.  

It’s been an exciting, puzzling, interesting day.  We’re ready to have some simple isolated days.  

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                     Peace,

                               Danny

“No matter what accomplishments

you make, somebody helps you.”

~Wilma Rudolph

Talk

Hi,

There were times during the day when it looked like the sky was cloudy.  Never mind, it’s only the smog.  

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “Rockin’ Robin” by Bobby Day, back in 1956.  It was covered by The Jacksons in the 70’s.  For this week’s ‘Middle Song’, a song we all know:  “__ __ __ __, but I did not shoot no deputy, oh no! Oh!

__ __ __ __, but I didn’t shoot no deputy, ooh, ooh, oo-ooh.  Yeah, all around in my home town, they’re tryin’ to track me down; they say they want to bring me in guilty for the killing of a deputy, for the life of a deputy.”

Hint:  This song was originally released in 1973 by a very colorful artist and his band.  It’s a rather unusual topic for what became a popular song.  The cover came a year later and it’s success surpassed the original, don’t get me started.

There have been rumors about lots of things during this whole Covid-19 era.  One of the more credible ones is that Thailand will follow many other countries and institute a ‘lockdown’ to try and contain the virus.  With that in mind, we went to Big C this morning and picked up a few more things we might need.  Things like extra food for JaiDee that we can freeze, some canned goods and more whole-wheat pasta.  Tomorrow there will be a big speech about it.  At any rate, we’re ready and already complying.  I guess all over the world the question will be what is essential and what isn’t?  

There are some random things I keep meaning to tell you, and then forget.  Our television provider, the main one for Thailand, posts public service announcements regarding sunspots which occur this time of year, only they call them ‘sun outages’.  Hmm, I don’t think they thought that one through.  The virus is referred to as ‘cowid’, and I think you know why by now.  

JaiDee had a rough day today.  When he’s not sleeping, he’s trying to get at the source of his discomfort.  The cone he came home with was a tiny bit too small and he was pulling hair out of his tail.  Such a pretty tail, we had to do something so we pulled out an old cone that is bigger and it solved that problem.  He is still very stressed, needing lots of attention.  Petting and treats are all he craves, like that’s not normal.  It’s supposed to be better tomorrow.  

Hmm, how long will that take?  (555)

Today’s photo was taken in the coffee shop at the new art gallery.  It spoke to me.

This afternoon we talked to Lisa's brother Dan, in New Zealand and they are on a lockdown.  Their’s is a serious thing. You are not permitted to leave your house if you are over 65.  I’d imagine there are circumstances, but it’s not a casual thing of, ‘we think you should stay home’.  Slowly, the world is getting serious.

We all made it half way through another week.  Just think, it could have been worse, whatever it was.  Yeah, that’s what I’m gonna tell myself every Wednesday.

Feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                     Peace,

                               Danny

“The telephone is a great way to 

talk to people without having to 

offer them a drink.”

~Fran Lebowitz

Friends

Hi,

Tuesdays have been designated ‘carbon copy day’.  I must say though, it was a bit cool this morning - the part of the morning right after the sun comes up.  Then it was hot again (555).  The air is still the same.  The idea of going to a place with fresh air is now out of the question.  One cannot leave home.

So the ‘Easy Monday’ song is easy for some.  Maybe if I tell you that the cover was done by a family group it will help.  “Every little swallow, every chick-a-dee, every little bird in the tall oak tree.  The wise old owl, the big black crow, flappin’ their wings singing go bird go.  __ __ (tweet x 3) __ __….”  Clue:  There is a bird involved, often with ‘red’ in it’s name.

This morning we got to sleep in just a little bit.  No one was waiting for us downstairs.  We did have a schedule to keep so we acted like adults.  We had a lively video call with Lisa’s dad, Joe.  He’s being very careful about his isolation.  

After our conversation with Joe, we went to the vet’s to get JaiDee.  Everything went fine, but the dog is miserable.  He has a cone, which doesn’t help, and he’s a little out of it.  We’ll take him back on Friday and then a final appointment on Tuesday.  In the meantime, we’ll give him his meds and pamper him as much as he will tolerate.  

Today’s photo was taken this evening after dinner.  

The number of COVID-19 cases in Thailand is slowly rising.  On Thursday there will be a major announcement by the government as to what will be the next level of ‘containment’ as far as the virus is concerned.  In light of the problems at several borders with migrant workers trying to go to their home countries, my guess is there will be some very strict measures taken.  Some countries in the region have closed their borders.  Hmm, it could happen here.  It wouldn’t affect us, but for those whose families are in neighboring countries it would be very sad.  

This evening we had to have a difficult talk with Cat about ‘distance’.  Lisa and I talked about it during the day and the only conclusion was for us to totally isolate ourselves, with the exception of Natcha, Nichanan, and Gong.  Telling Cat that she can’t come over was very hard to do.  She and Noom, her boyfriend, won’t be able to come over and hang out.  We also discussed her teaching and suggested that she end the private lessons during this time.  She agreed, which brought a sigh of relief.

Our ‘Adventures in Thailand’ may not be as adventurous for a while, but things always happen, and so far we’re not confined to our house.  There are many things to explore and pass along.  

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                     Peace,

                               Danny

“The best time to make friends

is before you need them.”

~Ethel Barrymore

Sense

Hi,

Over the weekend we had some thunder, a little rain (but not for us) and more hot, nasty air.  So, nothing out of the ordinary.

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “Got To Get You Into My Life” by The Beatles.  It was covered by Earth, Wind & Fire.   Time for ‘Easy Monday’.  This song begins with a long intro.  I’ll give you a little bit and then move on.  “(Tweedle-lee-dee-dee-dee, Tweedle-lee-dee-dee x 3) (Tweet x 4)  He rocks in the tree tops all day long, hoppin’ and a-boppin’ and a-singin’ his song.  All the little birds on Jaybird Street, love to hear the __ go tweet, tweet, tweet.  __ __, (tweet x 3) __ __ (tweet, tweedle-lee-dee).  Go __ __ ‘cause we’re really gonna rock tonight."

More cases of the Covid-19 virus have been discovered in the Bangkok area, and it appears to be moving north.  Thousands of people, according to the Bangkok Post, are taking buses in an attempt to flee the big city.  Many are going to home provinces and others are heading to border communities in hopes of leaving the country before the borders are closed.  Chiang Rai doesn’t have a local way of reporting to the public when the virus is found.  This means that we really have no idea what’s going on.  We do know that many shop and business owners are following the lead taken in larger cities and in other countries.  The Wanderer and Chivit Thamma Da are both closed.  Now that tells me things are getting real close to home.  People are starting to get it, that this thing is not going away soon and it’s all over the country.  

This morning we took JaiDee to the vet for the neutering ‘procedure’ and he will come home tomorrow.  There was a lot less traffic this morning.  On our way home, we discovered that the main road by the military base, the ‘storm drain project’, is finally finished.  In that one respect, life is returning to normal.  The detours have been adding a lot of time  to most trips into town.  

The ‘new normal’, being at home all day, is not that new for us.  Except for coffee runs and occasional grocery outings, we mainly stay at home.  Those special occasions that used to have us busy in the streets are now a thing of the past.  The opening at ArtBridge was cancelled, and I’m sure many more things won’t happen.  

Today’s photo was taken from the upstairs window looking out on the back yard of the coffee shop next door.  They have a vegetable garden that is expanding on a weekly basis.  Each section is something new for the meals they serve.  The picture is a little dull due to the bad air.

Lisa and Natcha were talking this evening and Natcha told her that in addition to the suggested safety precautions, they wash their money.  Actually, Gong washes it.  He’s been doing that even before the virus outbreak.  It’s comforting to know that they are being careful too.

A sign of the times:  Watching a sports channel and realizing that it was filmed since the virus.  We’ve watched tennis, snooker and volleyball with no audience present.  Hmm.

Have a Great Week.

                  Peace,

                            Danny

“There is nothing more uncommon

than common sense.”

~Frank Lloyd Wright

Friday Funnies

Hi,

There was a new twist to our weather forecast this morning: “Smoke” was added to the usual things like the temp and the 10% rain possibility.  Somebody finally looked out the window and saw the smoke.  Hooray, this may be declared a holiday (555).  It’s supposed to cool down this weekend, and then heat up again next week.

The ‘Middle Song’ was “Groovy Kind of Love” by The Mindbenders, covered by Phil Collins.  ‘Old School Friday’ is next:  “I was alone, I took a ride, I didn’t know what I would find there.  Another road where maybe I could see another kind of mind there.  Ooh, then I suddenly see you, ooh, did I tell you I need you, every single day of my life…__ __ __ __ __ __ __…”  Hint:  There is clearly a need to have this individual in every aspect of the singer’s existence.  Think: Four lads from across the pond.  The wonderful cover is by a band of elements.  

Yesterday I posted a photo taken at Big C showing containers with colorful fruity looking ingredients in tubs.  Today Atom explained that they are toppings that are put on shaved ice.  They also add syrup and sometimes the whole topping thing is put on sticky rice or ice cream.  You usually get a certain number of toppings, so decide carefully (555).  

We have discovered that if we go to The Wanderer early in the morning, well, kinda early, there’s hardly anybody there.  This means we can keep our ‘social distance’ thing going.  It doesn’t mean we can keep this going all day though.  For instance, we had to go to the bank after The Wanderer.  Things worked out because hardly anybody was in the bank.  Now that I think about it, Big C is the only place that’s been ‘socially close’.  Hmm, early also works there too.  

Today’s photo is an orchid blooming in our ‘Kitchen Garden’.  Gong took a piece of drift wood we had, and attached the orchid to it and it finally bloomed.

This afternoon Atom came over and we rode up to Maw Dang’s to replenish our herb supply.  We saw his son, also a doctor, who took our blood pressure and answered questions.  For now, we’re going to take a deep breath and get back into the lovely blend of yard waste (555).  

This evening Cat and Noom came over and went on the walk with Lisa and JaiDee.  Noom is JaiDee’s best bud.  When we came back to the house, JaiDee let Noom brush him thoroughly.  This is the first time this has ever happened.  Now we know who to call when the dog needs grooming.  

Things are still rather low-key here in Chiang Rai as far as the virus goes.  We don’t have a good way to keep up with local health news, but so far, only two or three cases have been reported.  We’re feeling great, staying vigilant and following directions.  So much fun.

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

                             Peace,

                                       Danny

Worth

Hi,

Today was almost a carbon copy of yesterday.  The air got better for a bit, and then turned on us and went into the ‘Very Unhealthy’ zone in the afternoon.  It’s frustrating, dealing with two crazy things at once, powerless over both.  

So far, a few of you have remembered this week’s ‘Middle Song’, as well as the cover.  Here’s the second verse:

“Anytime you want to, you can turn me onto anything you want to, anytime at all.  When I kiss your lips, ooh I start to shiver, can’t control the quivering inside.  Wouldn’t you agree, baby you and me, we got a __ __ __ __ __.”  

Clue:  The title features an adjective that was very popular in the mid-60’s.  It was the first hit for a group whose lead singer quit before the giant record happened.

This morning I went to an ‘On-line’ meeting.  It was quite an interesting experience before it started, watching little windows showing people getting ready, or just hanging out at home, waiting.  When it started, they muted everyone’s microphone to limit the potential chaos (555).  There were two speakers, one of them a friend of mine in the States.  This is what happens when facilities close due to a pandemic.  The attendance counter showed 350 members from all over the States and several foreign countries.

There seems to be an abundance of product in the grocery stores.  Even so, there may come a time when it won’t be convenient to go out into the world so we went to Big C again, this time to pick up some things we use a lot, just in case.  At the entrance to the produce section, the table in the photo below was looking yummy, though I have no idea what the treats were.  They are ingredients that go into a dessert type dish, that’s all I know so far.

While on the topic of consumables, Maw Dang is back in town.  We don’t know the details, but Atom reached him and tomorrow we’re going to the ‘office’ and getting more herbs.  We’re not doing any more acupuncture for the time being.  We missed one week of herbs, right at the half-way point.  Who knows what will happen in the next 6 weeks?

This evening Nitchanan was playing with Natcha’s phone.  I noticed her working on the number pad.  Natcha told me she knows how to use the password and open the phone.  Four years, going on fourteen.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                            Peace,

                                      Danny

“One of the secrets of life

is that all that is really worth

the doing, is what we do for others.”

~Lewis Carroll

Irons

Hi,

The weather was hot again today.  The air was a little bit better, and we had some strong afternoon breezes that may have helped.  Over the coming weekend there is a 10% chance of rain.  I figure that if you add up the four days at 10% it may possibly give us a 40% chance (555). 

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “I Say A Little Prayer”, originally by Dionne Warwick, covered by Aretha Franklin.

Now that you see how this works, maybe this ‘Middle Song' will be easier (5).  “When I’m feeling blue, all I have to do is take a look at you, then I’m not so blue.  When you’re close to me, I can feel your heart beat, I can hear you breathing near my ear.  Wouldn’t you agree, baby you and me got a __ __ __ __.”  Hint:  A 1966 hit from across the pond by a singer and his band.  It’s describing a specific type of relationship.

This morning we took JaiDee to The Wanderer.  It was practically empty, which made for a very tranquil setting.  JaiDee got lots of attention from his usual fans and seems to be getting back in the groove of ‘going out for ice’.  We had an interesting conversation with Kwan about the future of the work force as a result of the various closures.  She told us that they have a lot applications from young people who are or will soon be jobless.  She said that many young women are going north, to the Golden Triangle and working across the Mekong in the casinos in Laos.  They get a very large salary and a new iPhone.  We suspect it has to do with taking bets from gamblers outside of the country.  We saw this when we visited years ago.  A complex way to gamble without being there.  Hmm.

We’re spending more time at home.  It’s not like we were out there all the time, but now we’re keeping it to open spaces and essential shopping.  We were told today that there are some infected people here in Chiang Rai.  We haven’t been close, but this thing doesn’t necessarily need close.  So far, cool heads are prevailing and there has been no panic buying.  Today was the last day of school, and now the theaters and night clubs will be shutting down. 

Today’s photos are of Blue’s Tree in the front yard.  The first photo is the full tree and then the blossoms.

It feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                         Peace,

                                   Danny

“Ever notice how irons have a setting

for permanent press?  I don’t get it.”

~Steven Wright

Good

Hi,

Right now it’s 8pm and it’s 84°F.  It's been in the high 90’s so far this week.  The air was a little less dirty today, only ‘unhealthy’ at 150 on the air quality index.  

Only one reader knew the ‘Easy Monday’ song, the original artist, and the cover artist.  Maybe it takes two days to get adjusted to the new format.  “I run for the bus dear, while riding I think of us dear.  __ __ __ __ __ for you.  At work I just take time, and all through my coffee break-time __ __ __ __ __.  Forever, forever, you’ll stay in my heart and I will love you.  Forever, and ever, we never will part, oh how I’ll love you.  Together, together, that’s how it must be, to live without you would only mean heartbreak for me…”  Clue:  We gave her directions to San Jose and she told us our fortune.  It’s ‘Easy Monday’ and that’s all.

This morning we had a little meeting with our friend Tai and her son Tay, to discuss his living with us.  It comes down to several factors, but if the virus escalates in our area, then we’ll call it off, but if things stay the same we’ll take it a week at a time.  They understood our concerns and the need to keep things contained.  

We went to Little C this afternoon for dog and people food.  Between the ‘Cs’ we can get the components for good meals for JaiDee.  As we entered the store we got our temperatures taken.  Strange, but OK.  

On our way home we stopped at Browney Pet World.  I mean, it was right there on the highway, calling to us.  It makes sense to stock up on pet stuff as well as people stuff.  Mr. JaiDee is in a new phase, about to get his name changed to:  "Sir Barks-a-lot”.  He is now a big dog with a big voice and it’s quite loud in the house.  

You never know what you’ll see as you roll down the highway.  Sitting at a light on the Super Highway, a guy pulled up next to us.  This is what we saw.  When the tires have to be there today and no trucks are around, send the kid with the bike.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                        Peace,

                                  Danny

“The chief enemy of creativity 

is ‘good’ sense.”

~Pablo Picasso

Create

Hi,

It goes without saying that it was hot over the weekend.  What needs saying is that the air quality numbers went up higher than we’ve ever seen, into the 300s. This was up at least 100 points a couple of days ago.  Today our area was the worst in Thailand.  Ouch. 

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “Rhythm of the Rain” by The Cascades.  It was said that this song made them famous for 50 years.  In the mid 60’s I lived in San Diego, where the group was from.  Every time it rained this song flooded the radio.  Now it’s time for a new song adventure.  It’s still ‘Easy Monday’, but after you name the title and original artist, tell me who sang the hit cover recording.  “The moment I wake up, before I put on my makeup, __ __ __ __ __ for you.  While combing my hair now, and wonder what dress to wear now, __ __ __ __ __ for you.”  Hint:  There is devotion involved.

Saturday morning we had a visit from our friends Bruce and Raymond.  They are leaving the country in April and wanted to see more of Lisa's artwork, so we invited them for coffee and a tour.  It was nice to hear some intelligent observations of the work we have loved for years.  Bruce has been developing a large area of land in Chiang Rai as a forest.  He has planted a variety of trees with the sole purpose of providing beauty.  Next week we’re going to the ‘farm’, as he calls it.  I’ll take photos for sure.

We went to the mall for some artistic supplies as well as specialty foods.  There were not as many people there as we had imagined.  Most of the shoppers were wearing masks, even though not really necessary.  I think that sometimes it’s a way of feeling like you're doing something to help yourself.  

Sunday morning I stayed at home, basically staying out of harms way.  The reality of the virus became much clearer after listening to an expert discuss the ways these things move and circulate.  We had lunch at The Wanderer, a nice open space with plenty of room between us and the next humans.  Today’s photo is me in a mask to protect me from the polluted air.

Cat got her grades for the last (4th) year of classroom work.  She has a 3.55 GPS for the year.  There is still a year of ‘practice teaching’ to be done before she will actually graduate, but we’re very proud of what she has accomplished.  

Today we had a busy morning.  It started with coffee at The Wanderer and a conversation with Kwan about dogs.

Our next stop was Makro.  As you enter the store there is a guard with a thermometer waiting to take your temperature.  He scans your head, shows you the readout and invites you to use some hand sanitizer on a table at the door.  Cat told us the same thing is being done at ‘Little C’.  I think it’s great that they’re doing this.  Adds a bit of comfort to the shopping experience, knowing that at least for the moment, nobody is walking around with a fever.

After taking the groceries home, we took JaiDee to Work@Home to see one of his biggest fans, Katai.  She has just finished a self-quarantine for two weeks, after returning from Europe.  She and JaiDee had a cute reunion.  They even took some photos together.  

The latest here in Thailand is the official cancelation of the Songkran Festival.  The government has taken the dates off the calendar (those days are still there 555), but will not be observed as holidays.  It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the villages, on the street where the water is thrown.  I’ll bet they still do it.

Have a Great Week.

                        Peace,

                                  Danny

“You cannot create

experience.  You must

undergo it.”

~Albert Camus

Friday Funnies

Hi,

Today we had a high temp of 99°F, and it’s going to go even higher in the next few days.  As for the air, the powers that be have sent army troops into the jungles to put out fires.  As in years past, Burma and Laos are also said to be sources of the smoke.  Hmm.

The ‘Zany Day’ song was “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” (“In A Garden of Life”) by Iron Butterfly.  Find it on Youtube and turn up the volume (555).  That leaves us with the last ‘One Hit Wonder’ for a little while, and it's an ‘Old School Friday’ tune.  “Listen to the __ __ __ __ __, telling me just what a fool I’ve been.  I wish that it would go and let me cry in vain, and let me be alone again.”  Hint:  It has to do with water falling from the sky and the drumming sound it makes.  There’s an extra word in there that isn’t in the title, but I’m not telling.

Our first stop this morning was The Wanderer.  As we walked in I noticed Mercy and Joey looking down at us from the landing to their apartment (555).  Actually, it’s Kwan’s apartment but I’m sure they run the place.  After we ordered we saw Kwan and she told us that she knew we were there because Mercy did her special howl while we were still in the parking lot.  So nice to be noticed.  We also saw her mom, Khun Noot, who was busy working with a botanist and an engineer figuring out how to get water from the river onto the property to water the trees.  There are lots of minerals in the river water that would be beneficial to ‘the woods’.

As we were leaving our table, Lisa spotted this cute childrens' wicker patio set by the fish pond.  Oh look, there’s a little kid sitting there.

After coffee we went to Big C for supplies, and in the process, discovered that they still don’t have any masks.  Later in the morning we returned to the pharmacy where I bought some on Sunday and stocked up.  From Big C we went to our bank.  We walked in thinking it wouldn’t take long.  There were only a few people waiting, how long could it take?  A long time, when all of the transactions were involved with lots of signing, counting and copying.  We finally got our favorite teller and when Lisa asked her about her kids, she pulled out her phone and showed us a photo her older boy had made for her.  Yep, still getting that old school service.

Monday we’re going to visit our friend Katai, who has been on a self-quarantine since returning from Europe two weeks ago.  When asked if she wanted to see JaiDee she replied, “Yes, please”.  

For those who have asked, we haven’t heard any news about the virus having come to town, but the country as a whole seems to be doing pretty well, compared to other places in the region.  The bulk of the tourism comes from China and since they are staying home, I guess it’s helping.  The tourism industry is hurting.  We’re seeing less and less people on the streets in Chiang Rai.  As long as people’s spirits stay positive, things will be alright.

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

                         Peace,

                                   Danny

Humility

Hi,

Our pollution levels dropped a little today.  It was still unhealthy, but not ‘very’ unhealthy.  The heat was not so kind.  I’d say very, very hot would be sufficient.  Oh, and not a speck of moisture to be found for miles.

This week’s ‘Zany Day’ song is proof that you can get a lot of mileage out of a good bass/guitar line and some mystery.  “__ __ __ __ __, honey, don’t you know that I’m lovin’ you.  __ __ __ __ __, baby, don’t you know that I’ll always be true….”  Clue:  You will notice that I gave you the ‘chorus’ again, and no new verse.  That’s because every verse in the song is the same.  That alone makes it a bit zany.  Anyway, bravo to those of you who remember the early metal vibe of this tune.  It was 1968 and, well, not every song was deep, but it had to feel good.  

Today was the big day, JaiDee's trip to the groomers.  Before we went there, we stopped by Chivit Thamma Da for a quick coffee and some tubular ice, which was very cool, but lacked the volume of cubes.  There was a new group of staff members in the area where we sit, so they didn’t know JaiDee.  He now has new fans.  We had to leave after a short stay to make our appointment.

When we arrived at Dr. View’s office, the groomer and her helper were ready for JaiDee.  They took some time getting him comfortable, and then the clippers came out.  At first he was not having it, but they persisted and he settled down.  He struggled a bit, but never growled or snapped at them.  He now has neatly groomed paws with all of his 'traction control' restored.  About 15 minutes and $4.75 later, we were out the door.  He got a small bag of treats as a little reward and he was one happy dog.  Now, this also means that he’ll have a stronger spring from the floor to the bed.  Hmm. 

In keeping with my constant search for examples of language uniqueness, I refer you to the use of ‘Rs’ and ‘Ls’ in Thailand.  Today’s photo is from a pet shampoo bottle.  The last ingredient is actually ‘Aloe Vera’, but as you see, it comes out differently over here.  You may also notice the ingredient: vitamin beet.

On the way home, we stopped off at ArtBridge to drop off Lisa’s submission to the ‘Small Sabai’ exhibition.  That’s the show where every member can submit one piece of art, as long as it’s not larger than 30x40 centimeters (12x16inches).  JaiDee and I stayed in the van for this one.  I don’t think feisty puppies are allowed.

The mystery of Maw Dang and his medical household’s absence continues.  Maybe this is part of the healing process.  How long will we remain patient before we lose it?  (555)

Starting next Monday, we’re going to be playing a new musical ‘game’.  This idea comes from the brain of my brilliant ‘little brother’, Denny.  As usual, I will give you a song to guess, and in addition to the title and artist, you will give me the name of the artist that did an outstanding ‘cover’ of that song.  After all these years, I still don’t have a tangible ‘Cool Points’ award, it’s just knowing that you’re ‘Cool’ should be enough (555).  

Have a Thrilling Thursday.   Go wash your hands!

                      Peace,

                                Danny

“Humility is the solid

foundation of all virtues.”

~Confucius

Best

Hi,

We are in an unfortunate weather rut.  It gets hotter every day, and the air gets thicker every day.  Maybe when the heat peaks, the sky will suddenly rumble and the air will be clear.  Gotta have a fantasy to stay sane.

‘Easy Monday’ was a song titled “Venus”, by Shocking Blue.  It was later covered in 1989, by Bananarama.  Now it’s time for a ‘Zany Day’ song and I think this just may qualify:  “__ __ __ __ __, baby (__ __ __ __ __).  __ __ __ __ __, honey, don’t you know that I’m lovin’ you?  Oh, won’t you come with me and take my hand.  Oh, won’t you come with me and walk this land, please take my hand.”  Hint:  The title was thought to be a made-up language when the record first came out.  Now we know better.  There is a famous musical riff that also made the song memorable.  Band named for a metal insect.

JaiDee was quite a little performer this morning.  He found a stick in the yard and ran around with it, bounding and hopping like a baby deer.  Watching him entertain himself with just a stick was similar to watching a child with a box or stick.  There must have been a thought there that we’ll never know, but it brought him joy.

Later, we went to The Wanderer with Cat.  We were meeting our long-time friend Tai and her son Tay.  Tay has been studying English and is thinking about going to Australia to study and someday become a chef.  It was an interesting conversation, partly a reunion, and partly us getting questions we knew nothing about.  We still had a fun time, working through the little mysteries and possible solutions.  Tay might come and stay with us for a month, speaking English full-time and helping around the house.  We’re going to talk about it more on Tuesday.

Today’s photo was Cat’s beverage today at The Wanderer.  It’s called ‘Berry with Cream’.

We still haven’t made contact with Maw Dang.  There are enough ‘yummy’ herbs to last until Friday.  Not sure what to do, although the sign on the gate said they would not be open this coming weekend, so maybe we'll just eat right and not worry about it.  Hmm.

Yesterday Nitchanan went swimming with Gong.  I’m guessing the water was warm, I haven’t bothered to try it since the air is too bad to swim.  I don’t think she was in for too long, breathing that air.

This afternoon I parked right in front of a pharmacy, for my meeting.  I had some spare time so I went inside, just to see if they had any masks.  To my surprise they had three varieties.  I got several of two styles.  They were the kind designed to fit around the face and keep ‘particles’ like smoke and dust from entering the nose and mouth.  The one I tried works good, so tomorrow we’ll go back and get more.

This evening we had a beautiful orange sunset, courtesy of the smoke sky.  See, there are benefits to be had from pollution (insert angry face). 

Tomorrow morning we’re going to take JaiDee to Chivit Thamma Da for ‘ice’, before going to the groomer.  It’s been a long time since he’s visited with his buddies there.

Feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                         Peace,

                                   Danny

“Like what you do, and then

you will do your best.”

~Katherine Johnson

Empathy

Hi,

It was very hot today, as we expected.  What we didn’t expect was the horrible pollution.  At 217 on the air quality index, it was rated as ‘very unhealthy’ on the higher end of the scale.  If it weren’t too hard to get a crowd together, it would be the time for a protest.  Letters, yeah, everybody write a letter, or swamp the Facebook page of the appropriate person.  See what happens when you leave a devious mind unsupervised?

The ‘Easy Monday’ song had more friends than I thought.  “Her weapons were her crystal eyes, making every man mad.  Black as the dark night she was, got what no one else had.  She’s got it, yeah baby she’s got it.  Well, I’m your __, I’m your fire, at your desire.  Well, I’m your __, I’m your fire at your desire.”  Clue:  This version we’re discussing was released in 1969.  It was later covered in 1986.  The group name includes a color.  When thinking about the one word title, think ‘love’.

The whole thing with the virus and the bad air presents a major dilemma, how does one filter out the bad air when there are no masks to be found? We have some, but now they’re rare. The real irony is that all of the hoarding of masks to fend off the virus don’t really help in that regard since it’s not air-borne.  We’ll just stay inside and wash our hands.

This morning we went to Ban Du, just north of us, to see Dr. View.  She is our alternate vet and has a nice ‘bed side manner’ with pets.  We got some toothpaste and also made arrangements for JaiDee to see her groomer.  He has fur growing between his toes and he refuses to let us trim it to a reasonable length.  When he steps on the fur, he slides on the floor, especially when he runs or wants to play.  He’s fine on the outside surfaces, but he’s like a skater inside.  Thursday morning we’ll see what happens.

Today’s photo was taken at The Wanderer last Friday.  In the woods there is a table where we had our brunch (to the left of the center tree). 

This afternoon, while Lisa was in her studio, I went downstairs to my room and shocked myself by playing two guitars (not at once) and wandering through a bunch of songs of mine.  Getting reacquainted with old friends is always nice.  

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                     Peace,

                               Danny   

“I think we all have empathy.

We may not have enough courage

to display it.”

~Maya Angelou

New

Hi,

We are officially in a heat wave.  The weekend was hot and it’s going to keep getting hotter until it reaches 100+ by the weekend.  

The ‘Old School Friday’ tune was “Do You Love Me” by The Contours.  Here’s an ‘Easy Monday’ song that should be easy:  “A goddess on a mountain top, was burning like a silver flame.  The summit of beauty and love, and __ was her name.  She’s got it, yeah baby she’s got it.  Well, I’m your __, I’m your fire at your desire…”  Hint:  There’s a whole lot of mythology in there, but the title is a name.  You know this. 

Saturday morning we went to the exhibit opening for our friend Cornelis.  We got there early and had coffee in the little shop in the building.  It was good, if not a little strong, but just the thing for an 11am event.  The time was spent talking with a woman we have known for years through her shop in the Night Bazaar.  We learned more about each other and her history in the area.  After the obligatory speeches, there were flowers and photos and then the cutting of the ribbon.  The ink drawings were amazing.  The detail was as if it had been created with a machine.  The work was well received and priced to sell.  That’s a very smart thing to do when you have an overabundance of unsold art in your house.  We now have several people who we have to contact about having coffee in the near future.  That’s the hard part about these events, you say “We must get together soon” and then nothing happens.  We’re working on it (555).

Sunday we drove up to Maw Dang’s house but the gate was closed.  Atom was with us and after reading the small writing, told us they’d be closed for this weekend and next.  We have herbs to last us for the week and we can still go for acupuncture during the week (oh joy).  

Tonight we have a very large, orange full moon.  The color comes from the smoke in the air.  The air was getting better, but I think it was just to make us look good for the Prime Minister on his visit.  Today it was back to its nasty normal (unhealthy) for this time of year.    

Today’s photo is JaiDee sitting in the ‘little kitchen’.  Notice where the top of his head is, and he’s not sitting up straight.  Things have to be pushed back from the edge, or put on a shelf.  He can grab whatever he wants.  This is one of the ‘Please come and pet me’ poses.  Almost forgot, we went to the vet on Saturday and he now weighs 52 pounds/23.6 kilos, and he’s not quite 8 months old.

Have a Great Week.

                         Peace,

                                   Danny

“With the new day comes

new strength and new thoughts.”

~Eleanor Roosevelt