Adventures In Thailand

Lesson

2012-01-31T06:08:00.001-08:00

Hi,

Today we have experienced all three of Chiang Rais seasons in one day. This morning is was cold, this afternoon it was hot, and this evening it stormed. Amazing.

I love 'Easy Monday' because it means I usually get to hear from some friends. That keeps me going. So, here's a little more from the song: "Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song, and I'll try not to sing out of key. Oh, I get by __ __ __ __ __ __ __. Mmm, gonna try __ __ __ __ __ __ __." (my edit) Hint: Really? OK, four guys sang it.

This morning I took Lisa to her massage appointment and went to get gas. As I passed one of the police checkpoints that usually pulls over motorbikes, I was waved over to the side of the road. The officer pointed to my registration paper in the front window. All cars and trucks must display the square paper that displays the year of registration. We had a total communication breakdown, though I understood what he was trying to say. Finally he called a senior officer over, we had a few 'non words', I heard the word 'falang' (foreigner) several times and he waved me off as they all laughed. The immediate feeling was relief, followed by 'why are they laughing at me?', and then relief again. They could have tried to get a fine from me. Later Boot explained that our registration was way overdue. Ooops.

Every day Khun La spends most of the afternoon grooming the yards. She rakes up leaves and flowers, waters and sweeps. The place looks immaculate when she's done. This evening rain came without warning and just dumped on us. It came with a strong wind that soon died down, but the result was dramatic. After it stopped I went out to the front to remove the rocks from the drain pipes. As I rounded the corner of the house toward the front it looked like a landscape from another planet. The wind had blown the giant leaves from the trees across the road into our yard. The lights on our wall created eerie shadows on the lawn from the leaves. Tomorrow morning we will have to explain to La that she doesn't have to clean it up by herself.

I have noticed an interesting contradiction when it comes to patience here. When we go to the markets and retail stores it's not uncommon to see people patiently waiting for a customer. There are often people waiting on the road for someone, or waiting for the right time to do a job. This seems to change when the operation of a vehicle is involved. All of a sudden sitting still is not an option. I have spoken about the 'law of perpetual motion', but there is also an urgency that doesn't always follow logic. On the highway, with a red light clearly visible ahead, there is the need to pass as if points are being given for who reaches the light first. Dangerous passing in order to reach a known traffic area baffles me. Not everyone drives like this of course. There are those who have just entered the age of the wheel and drive in the city like it's a country road, very patiently. Hmm.

Tonight is the last night of the concert series. The rain stopped and then we heard what sounded like thunder. It was fireworks across the river. We haven't been to any of them, and we missed groups like 'Zeal', 'Pancake', and 'Potato', to name a few. I've heard a few tunes from Potato and they're good. The next series I simply must go to and experience Thai rock and roll 'live'.

My little phone saga is almost over. Tomorrow or the next day I should receive my iPhone 4S which is coming from Singapore. It actually costs a bit less from the distribution point than from the retailer. None of it makes a lot of sense, but that's the way it is. Amazing Thailand.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,

Danny

"I think the one lesson I have learned is

that there is no substitute for paying attention."
~Diane Sawyer

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Amazed

2012-01-30T06:31:00.001-08:00

Hi,

Here in Chiang Rai we've moved to cold nights and hot days. We had a mellow weekend with lots of tennis, trips to various markets, and a different concert every night from across the river.

The 'Old School Friday' song was "At Last" as sung by the late Etta James. If you don't know it, you can Google it; there are videos and sound clips. Now it's time for 'Easy Monday', and a song we all know well. "What would you do if I sang out of tune, would you stand up and walk out on me?" Hint: The title is in seven words. Too easy.

Chiang Rai is really busy these days. We're in the midst of 'High Season' so there are visitors coming and going all over the place, plus there are continued New Year celebrations for some, and the 750th Anniversary is also upon us. There are banners above the roads with announcements of various things, but we don't know what they say. It's a very strange feeling to be illiterate. Hmm.

Saturday we stayed on the compound all day. Lisa's been working on a new cast acrylic print for her Chiang Mai exhibit next month. There were more things to take care of for the promotion, and arrangements have been made to ship the art to the gallery when the time comes.

Sunday was a busier day. We went to Central Plaza in the morning to get vegetables for the juice drink and look for white acrylic paint. It's very odd, but there is no pure white available. A trip through the downtown market is always an adventure and this time was no exception. We wandered through aisles we don't usually take and saw things we didn't know about. We passed an old lady sitting in front of a stall selling string. She had rolls in various sizes in a couple of baskets. I guess people need string.

In the afternoon we started watching the men's final of the Australian Open. Then it was time to feed the dogs and go into town for dinner. We knew they'd be playing when we got home but we planned to stop by 'Watch Guy's' place and check on the score. He had closed his shop early and was probably upstairs watching the match without interruption. After dinner we drove up to Makro. As we sat at a light on the highway Lisa noticed a blue glow across the street. It was a late model pick-up truck and we figured they had the lights under the truck. What a surprise we got when he turned the corner and we saw that the lights were in the wheels. It was a dazzling, mind-blowing spectacle of lights and chrome. I'm not sure how it was done, but it was quite unique. Putting LED strips of different colors on vehicles is a big fad here, and everything that rolls is fair game for treatment.

This morning near the end of doggie ball play, the ball bounced around and then rolled into one of the drain pipes in the front lawn. BamBam saw it disappear and began digging in the lawn, determined to retrieve it. She had to be taken away on the leash. Every time she was out in the yard she went back to her digging spot to continue her 'work'.

Later, I went into the field next door with a long piece of bamboo and tried to push it back into the yard. Just when I had given up, it popped out. BamBam is happy and so is the lawn.

Have a Great Week.

Peace,

Danny

"Sometimes, we just need to be amazed by the small things."

~Angela Pacheco

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

www.gratidude.blogspot.com

Friday Funnies

2012-01-27T05:45:00.001-08:00

Hi,

Blue sky and warm temps pretty much describes the current weather pattern in Chiang Rai. It was a perfect day to continue with the errands that got cut short yesterday.

The 'Song of '78' was "Hold The Line" by Toto. Second day clues brought lots of mail. Now it's time for 'Old School Friday', and we go back to 1961. "__ __ my love has come along. My lonely days are over, and life is like a song."

Clue: This song, written in 1941 became an R&B/Pop smash for the singer who told us to 'Tell Mama' and tried to

get Henry to dance with her. The two word title is synonymous with 'finally'.

This morning we started out with an amended list from yesterday. We began our adventure on Bus Station street at the health food store. After interviewing the owner we learned that business has been good with all the tourists in town. Next stop, Big C where they finally have our favorite water back in stock. On the way to the vegetable section I ususally try not to let my eyes wander over into the meat section. Today they wandered and I spotted fresh tentacles. What? There were other things I couldn't even identify, then I quickly turned my head. In the produce section we found the mangos, which are wrapped in a foam sleeve to keep them from being bruised. Nice touch.

Our last errand of the day was a stop at 7-11 to pay our utility bills and put more money on my phone. We passed by Mengrai Square where bamboo umbrellas and benches were being arranged for a future ceremony/celebration. There used to be beautiful flower gardens on two sides of the square, but they have been removed to make room for this special year's events.

This afternoon our neighbor across the street got a visit from one of the big 'Dragon Crews'. A truck containing about 15 young men pulled up and they began beating their drums and cymbals. Then they put on the Dragon and went into his yard to do their thing. A little while later there was a flurry of fire-crackers and it was over. He has them come every year at this time.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd. It's time for the 'Funnies'. Big thanks to my friend Claire for the laugh.

Peace,

Danny

Radio Conversation

This is supposed to be the transcript of an actual radio conversation between a US naval ship and Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October 1995. The Radio conversation was released by the Chief of Naval Operations on Oct. 10, 1995.

A. Please change your direction 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.

B. Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to South to avoid a collision.

A. This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.

B. No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.

A. THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER ENTERPRISE, WE ARE A LARGE WARSHIP OF THE US NAVY. DIVERT YOUR COURSE NOW!

B. This is a lighthouse. Your call.

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Enthusiasm

2012-01-26T06:14:00.000-08:00

Hi,

A warm day followed by a warm night. My kind of weather. I'm not banking on it though, it could change any time. There was a lot of activity in Chiang Rai today as the 750th Anniversary celebrations went into high gear.

It would appear that the 'Song of '78' is not readily available from your memory banks. Here's a little more:

"It's not in the words that you told me, girl. It's not in the way you say you're mine, ooh. It's not in the way that you come back to me. It's not in the way that your love set me free. It's not in the way you look or the things that you say that you'll do. __ __ __, love isn't always on time, love isn't always on time... Whoa whoa whoa." Clue: The title is something you might tell someone when you have to leave the phone for a moment.

This morning we went to Makro for a few things and planned to go to bus station street for more errands. As we drove down the highway towards town, we had just crossed the bridge over the river when we were confronted with a detour. What? A policeman was standing in front of a temporary gate across the road. We followed the other cars into a neighborhood very close to where we lived in the rental house. We approached a bottleneck so I turned deeper into the old hood. What finally happened is, we ended up back on the highway near Big C, past our destination street.

Having completely changed our plans for the morning, we headed home. As we passed the Fan Guy's shop we saw a big Dragon and a drum crew doing their thing. We called our friend Chalit to see if he knew what the detour was all about. There was a big ceremony at Mengrai Monument marking the beginning of the year-long celebration of the 750th Anniversary of Chiang Rai Province. This evening there is another big event at Rai Maefarluang for dignitaries and it turns out we don't get to go see the exhibit again. Oh well, it will be up for the whole year.

The whole city was buzzing with activity tonight. There is a park near the center of town where an old prison used to be. It was the focus of what looked like community based celebrations, similar to the Saturday night Walking Street. Traffic was thick and streets were blocked. I wish we had an English-language newspaper in town so we could keep up with all of this. I guess we'll have to get one of our friends to keep us in the loop.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

Peace,

Danny

"Enthusiasm is contagious. Be a carrier."

~Susan Rabin

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Toll

2012-01-25T06:09:00.001-08:00

Hi,

Today was another one of those wonderful weather days in Chiang Rai. The fireworks continued with no particular pattern or time frame, and music has been in the distance every night.

Day two of 'Easy Monday' brought a few more responses to "Mr. Postman" by The Marvelettes. Cousin Rikki sent me a list of songs dealing with the mail and I realized that last Friday's song was also about mail. Hmm, means nothing of course. Since no one requested a year for the Wednesday song, I'm picking a 'Song of '78' for no particular reason. Here's what I remember: "It's not in the way that you hold me. It's not in the way you say you care. It's not in the way you've been treating my friends... __ __ __, love isn't always on time, whoa whoa whoa (repeat)." Clue: This tune is by a group that blended many genres into their sound. Note that they were not named for a dog from Kansas. The song seems to be about maintaining the status quo, I think. Now you'll have to write me and tell me what you think it means.

This turned out to be a 'stay at home' day. Yesterday, when we went to the main market we passed a stall that sells many things. I noticed that they had the paper clothes that are burned during the New Year celebrations. There were boxes with a shirt and tie, looking like they were real clothes only made of thin cardboard. There was also a derby hat. I didn't take the time to look, but I'm guessing there was a car in there too. The woman who owned the stall gave me a big smile as I left. I think she was amused that I was amused.

We have been watching the Australian Open with semi-focused attention this year. Some matches mean more than others. There's also the fact that almost all the commentary is in Thai this year so we have the sound turned down. This tends to allow the mind to wander to other things, like the dogs or the computer. It's getting down to the end and the excitement is starting to build. Oh yeah, it's just a game.

Chiang Rai is in the middle of the 'High Season' and it appears to be a good one this time. There are 'visitors' everywhere and tour busses and vans roll up and down the major streets. Many events in other parts of the country have hampered previous seasons so we're hoping this one will be good for the local merchants.

Tomorrow will no doubt be an errand day and then an evening of art talk at Chalit's photo exhibit. I'm looking forward to observing the reactions as people view his work.

Time for a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,

Danny

"If you cross a bridge before you come to it,

you have to pay the toll twice."

~Benjamin Franklin

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Strength

2012-01-24T05:47:00.000-08:00

Hi,

I won't bore you with the weather. I'll just tell you that this morning when we left the house I dressed appropriately, and an hour later it was inappropriate.

Two people have let me know that they remember this Golden Oldie. Now's your chance to make history (555). Here are some memorable lyrics from the song: "Oh, you better wait a minute (wait, wait a minute __ __) (Repeat several times.) Please check it and see, just one more time for me... Deliver the letter, the sooner the better..." Hint: Well, maybe just a tiny one: It was be marvelous if you got this 'Easy Monday' song.

This morning we went up the highway to Makro. Our mission was the veggies for our drink, and chicken for the dogs. Each time we go, there is the necessary walk-through of the store to see what might have returned. Today we discovered that our favorite drinking water is back in stock. We also learned that there are Curry Prawn, Hot Chili Squid, Chili Prawn Cracker, and Jack Pea Extrude flavors of potato chips. Simply amazing.

Our drive down the highway to Bliss Studios was easy since the morning traffic had just thinned out. We picked up Chalit and began the real adventure of the day. As we drove across town he told us about the opening night of his exhibit, and some of the feedback he's received. He was excited to show us the exhibit and be able to explain each photo. We were excited about seeing this body of work that we'd heard about for 8 months as it was unfolding. To see it with the artist's commentary would be a real treat.

The setting at Rai Maefarluang is like driving into a forest preserve. Tall, old trees covered with vines stand watch over gardens bathed in slivers of sunlight. In the distance is a lake surrounded by green lawns. The first photo we saw was a portrait of 'the artist' taken by his brother. It was outside the gallery hall and made quite an impression. Inside, we started at the beginning and Chalit described who each person was and what it was like to shoot them. It was a wonderful way to 'meet' the 32 faces on the walls. The exhibit will be up for the entire year of the 750 celebration. He's hoping to make a book of the photos after that. Thursday we've been invited to go to another VIP showing, as guests of the artist. One of his next assignments will be taking portraits of each player on the Chiang Rai United football team. Things are definitely looking up for our favorite photographer.

After dropping Chalit off we headed home. On the way, we stopped by 'Fan Guy' to see about the vacuum cleaner because we hadn't heard from him. They couldn't fix it and we figured something out: They call if they've fixed it and want to get paid. If they can't fix it, they don't bother calling. Hmm. Now we know.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,

Danny

"Our greatest strength lies not in how much we differ from each other

but in how much - how very much - we are the same."
~Eknath Easwaran

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Dismiss

2012-01-23T06:40:00.000-08:00

Hi,

The weather here in Chiang Rai has been more of the same, with a slight lean to warmer. Our weekend was busy with various social events.

The 'Old School Friday' song was "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter", by Billy Williams. You should know this song. Oh well, it's time for 'Easy Monday' and a song from 1962, by a 'Girl Group'. Sing along...

"There must be some word today, from my boyfriend so far away. Please __ __, look and see. Is there a letter, a letter for me?" Hint: The rates are up, and the person this song is being sung to has a lighter bag these days, thanks to the internet. So Easy.

Saturday morning we met our friend Atom for coffee at Doi Chaang. During our visit we learned about some of the things that happen during Chinese New Year. There are visits to the temple, special meals, and the burning of play money, model cars, and clothes, in memory of the ancestors. Some of this might not seem unusual, but the temple visit is at midnight, and some of the other parts begin a 6am. We also learned that used cars in good condition are bringing a good price on the market because of the flooding in the Bangkok area and the south. So many cars were ruined that it's becoming a sellers market.

In the afternoon we had a visit from Sutheera and Nukoon. We always have fun visits with them and this was no different. More impromptu lessons on the culture, talk about dogs, and the growth going on in Chiang Rai.

Saturday night we went to a house-warming party at the new home of our friends Caty and Mee. Fortunately, it was a warm evening so the yard party was comfortable. Caty is co-owner/founder of Prataap Jai, which has become a cultural melting pot in the neighborhood. We saw lots of friends and made more new ones. One of the special attractions was their six-week old puppy. He was the life of the party, believing that his sole job was to play with everyone and anything within reach. After a couple of hours he wandered over to someone's scarf that was on the ground, curled up and went to sleep.

Sunday morning we heard fireworks announcing the New Year. I'm just glad they didn't set them off at 6am. We are now in the year of the Dragon. In the evening we went to Jaffee's house for the double celebration of the New Year and Lisa's birthday. There were some traditional Chinese dishes served, along with some home-cooked Thai food. For awhile we knew all of the guests, and then another wave arrived that we didn't know. As the party grew we had more interesting conversations. I hung out with the manager of the Hill Tribe Museum and learned more about some of the villages in the region. We were talking about how progress moves in on old tradition and he showed me a photo he took of a large mesh satellite dish with chili being dried on the mesh. Not quite what it was meant for, but it worked.

Tomorrow we're going to Rai Maefarluang Gardens to see the special photo exhibition by our friend Chalit. I'll tell you all about it.

Have a Great Week.

Peace,

Danny

"Re-examine all you have been told . . .

Dismiss what insults your Soul."
~Walt Whitman

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Friday Funnies

2012-01-20T06:26:00.000-08:00

Hi,

We had another sunny, warm day here in Chiang Rai. The evening is very pleasant, which may mean that we're out of the really cold nights. I put in a lot of miles today and we got a lot accomplished. On to the weekend.

Well, only one person told me the 'Song of '86'. Lisa knew it was "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On", as sung by Robert Palmer. What a shame. You miss out on a special prize of a round trip ticket to Thailand. Maybe next time. (555)

It's time for 'Old School Friday' and this song has one of the longest titles ever, with 10 words. Remember this:

"__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __, and make believe it came from you. I'm gonna write words oh so sweet, they're gonna knock me off my feet. A lotta kisses on the bottom, I'll be glad I got'em. I'm gonna smile and say I hope you're feeling better. I'll close with love the way you do. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __, and make believe it came from you." Clue: This wonderfully crafted tune has the singer pretending that he got a letter from someone.

This morning we took the car into town for a bath. We hung out at Doi Chaang while we waited, browsing through a Bangkok newspaper over coffee. Once we got our car back we stopped at the pet supply for treats for the dogs, swung by Sinthanee to pick up our air/con remote, and then on to Big C. The place was all decorated for the Chinese New Year, with lots of red all over the place. There was a sale on little children's outfits in the traditional Chinese style and people were buying them in quantity. In the median of the driveway there was a big red dragon. It should be a memorable celebration.

This afternoon I went out to New Life Foundation for the Friday session with the clients. As soon as I got back to town I picked up Lisa and we headed west to meet with our friends Martin and Kay for work on the promotional elements for Lisa's Chiang Mai exhibit. With each exhibit there is a printed invitation, an online invitation, a poster, and a catalogue. Martin does the layout for all of these things, and Kay checks to make sure the Thai translations are correct and in the right places. All the work was completed and now it goes to the printer in Chiang Mai. We just got word that the U.S. Consul General in Chiang Mai will be the presenter for the exhibit.

After dinner we went back into town to pick up a few things at the Night Bazaar. We first stopped by 'Watch Guy' to get a battery for my watch and he and his wife were watching the Australian Open. It was near the end of a men's match and they had us sit down and watch it with them. We were all on the edge of our seats until the last point was scored. Even though it was a critical time in the match, he worked on my watch, looking over his shoulder from time to time. It was a fun encounter.

Tomorrow we're going to a house-warming party, and Sunday we'll celebrate Lisa's birthday and Chinese New Year.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.

Peace,

Danny

The English Language

We take English for granted. But if we explore it's paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

In what language do people recite a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? And why is it that a house burns up as it burns down?

More thoughts and questions from Richard Lederer next week.

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Give

2012-01-19T06:04:00.001-08:00

Hi,

Today the weather in Chiang Rai stayed about the same. Cold nights and warm days. Of course, if one lives in the L.A. area it would seem warm at night. This was a day of errands, and napping through tennis.

So was it a New Years resolution not to play 'the game'? I know somebody out there knows this song. Here's more:

"You read me wrong. I wasn't tryin' to lead you on, not like you think. __ __ __ __ __ __ __. I know you expected a one-night-stand, when I refused, I knew you wouldn't understand. I'm sorry baby, __ __ __ __ __ __ __." Clues: This song is a cover of a 1984 recording, but became very popular with this version in '86. The singer is no longer with us, but left a wonderful catalogue of music.

This morning I made a solo run to Makro, our version of Costco. As I was leaving the poultry area I noticed a display that took me by surprise. Bright red, hard-boiled duck eggs in honor of Chinese New Year. Hmm. The actual day is on Monday, but the celebrating will probably go on throughout the weekend. We've heard fireworks already, and tonight I saw six lanterns floating upwards like a string of lights in the night sky.

Boot asked me to take a look at the vacuum cleaner this morning. Actually she said it was 'broke'. She may be right. I started it up and it moaned and groaned and then smoke came out. I took it to the repairman we call 'Fan guy' since that's what we usually take him.

The early rounds of the Australian Open haven't been that exciting, but they're great for watching and dozing after lunch. One more round and the action will heat up. I guess that could be considered a play on words since it's summer there and very hot.

Our plan to see Chalit's photo exhibit got changed to next Tuesday. That way he will be able to go with us and translate the bios for each subject and tell us a little about each shoot. All of the portraits are of people who have been important in Chiang Rai. It's part of the year-long celebration of the 750th anniversary of the province.

Right now, in Chiang Rai, there are tourists from all over the world enjoying the sights, sounds, and weather. During the day we saw people riding bikes, walking, and traveling in vans taking in the Northern aspect of Thailand.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

Peace,

Danny

"You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give."
~Kahlil Gibran

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Victory

2012-01-18T05:22:00.000-08:00

Hi,

We landed in Thailand on Saturday and today was the first day we stayed on the compound all day. The mid-week battery charge will be a good thing since the rest of the week looks to be busy.

The 'Easy Monday' song was "Smooth Operator" by Sade. Oh, now you remember. (Ha) I chose '86 to test you next:

"When I took you out, I knew what you were all about but when I did, __ __ __ __ __ __ __. Now I bring you home, you told me goodnight's not enough for you. I'm sorry baby __ __ __ __ __ __ __." Clue: The singer is apologizing for apparently leading someone on. Little did he know she was addicted to love.

Even though the mind was racing at 4 something this morning, we both held out until 6:30. Daku stirred a bit, but thought we were asleep. Yes, we tricked the dog, but he's a dog. He also likes to get up early. Whenever we go away he stays at Boot's apartment and wakes her up at 5am.

You know it's cold when it makes your eyes water. That's how it's been in the dim light of morning. Oh well, the days are getting longer and soon I'll be taking Daku out in a T-shirt and shorts. (Me, not him) Oh, the joys of weather. At least it's not snowing.

Tomorrow, while Lisa improves her beauty, I'll run errands. In the afternoon we'll go to see Chalit's photo exhibit at Rai Maefarluang.

Before we went to America I had looked for an iPhone 4S. They were released in Thailand the day after we left and the plan was to get one on our return. Guess what? 'No have'. That's the story from the iBeat store at Central Plaza. Every time I contact them I get the same answer: "We have a 32G model and that's all. We should get more tomorrow." Remember what John Lennon said: "Tomorrow never comes." Now I understand.

Time for a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,

Danny

"Victory awaits those who have everything in order.

People call this luck."
~Roald Amundson (polar explorer)

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Love

2012-01-17T07:01:00.001-08:00

Hi,

The nights in Chiang Rai are in the low 50s. It feels colder than that, but I guess it's because the afternoon's are so hot. In spite of weird sleeping times we managed to get a lot accomplished today.

It appears that only a few of you remember the 'Easy Monday' song. It's never as good as the first time, but here's more: "Coast to coast, L.A. to Chicago, Western male. Across the North and South to Key Largo, love for sale... No need to ask, he's a __ __, __ __, __ __." Hint: To give you a real hint would be the sweetest taboo.

One of the things we brought back from America was a digital clock that projects the time on the ceiling. It's in the shape of a rocket ship. Last night we went to bed at 9:30 and we both recall starring at the ceiling around 3 and 4 o'clock. We eventually got up at 5:30am, much to the delight of Daku. When I took him out it was totally dark and very cold. I hope this changes soon.

This morning, while Lisa got a massage, I went into town to the bank. The hustle of downtown felt strange since the street is narrow and parking is scarce. After finding a parking place and paying the 'meter lady', I managed to take care of business. It was so nice to just pay 4 Baht (12 cents) for parking.

We went to Big C right after lunch, figuring that we had a small window of time before Mr. Lag would show up. There are still some items missing from the shelves and that surprised us. The supply chain from Bangkok is still a little shaky. We got what we needed and came home for a nap. The Australian Open has started and that seemed like the perfect thing to send us to dreamland, but it was a restless proposition. It's going to be a slow adjustment back to 'Thai Time'.

We had dinner in the Night Bazaar with Rachel and Shannon from The Sold Project. Shannon is a new volunteer with the project and has been in Thailand for a week. We talked of many things, had a great meal, and made plans to visit Rai Maefarluang on Thursday to see Chalit's photography exhibit of portraits. It's turning out to be a busy, but wonderful week.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,

Danny

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Kindness

2012-01-16T06:05:00.000-08:00

Hi,

We're back in Thailand after a record-long travel time. We got a very warm welcome from Boot and the dogs. It's good to be home. Of course, we had that pesky stow-away, Mr. Jet Lag on the trip and now he's doing his thing.

The last song I gave you was the end of the 'Song of '75' series. It was "Dance With Me" by Orleans.
This 'Easy Monday' song should be just that: "Diamond life, lover boy. He moves in space with minimum waste and maximum joy. City lights and business nights, when you require streetcar desire for higher heights... No need to ask, he's a __ __, __ __, __ __." Hint: It's about a cool 'man about town'. The singer goes by just one name.

We left LAX on Thursday night and arrived in Chiang Rai on Saturday night. The total travel time, door to door was 35 hours. Part of this was 8 hours in the airport in Bangkok, waiting for the flight from BKK to Chiang Rai. There are only so many planes a day going to the north.

The bags are finally unpacked, things are mostly put away, and the eyelids get heavy when we least expect them to droop. A few more days and we should be back to some semblance of normal.

We went to Central Plaza yesterday (Sunday) and walked in on a giant dance recital of the cutest tiny little kids. The place was crawling with children, parents and grand-parents. We went there for a coffee meeting with Jaffee to work on Lisa's Chiang Mai exhibit, but the location of our meeting changed. We then went to Doi Chaang and had delicious coffee, and discussed the business. Our friend Rachel, from The Sold Project, had been upstairs and I ran into her at the front door. She joined us and we had another little meeting. We didn't even know she was still in the country. Funny how things work out. We're having dinner with her tomorrow night.

This morning I had a massage from Khun Joy and it really helped loosen up the travel muscles. She told me, in her Thai/English mix, about the cold, rainy weather here while we were gone. Since we've been back it's been very cold at night and warm by mid-day. Hmm, seem to remember this same pattern last year. Oh well, it will be hot soon and I'll be fussing about how hot it is.

We have already noticed some interesting things since we've been back. A Thai cellphone with an Italian opera ringtone, a giant light display on the highway to celebrate the completion of a temple complex, and more lights on Clock Tower street celebrating the New Year.

Sunday will be the celebration of Chinese New Years and Jaffee is having a party which will also celebrate Lisa's birthday. It will be, as they say here, "A very auspicious day".

As if someone is waving a watch in front of me, "I am getting very sleepy".

Have a Great Week.

Peace,
Danny

"Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love."
~Lao-Tzu

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

Ripples

2012-01-11T22:59:00.000-08:00

Hi,

Here we are, at the end of the proverbial road. All the gifts have been given, most of the visits completed, and sadly, a few friends left to see that won't be seen. It's been a good trip, but it's time to go.

Well, no one has written me with the correct answer to the 'Song of '75', so here's a bit more. Use your dictionary.

"Let it lift you off the ground. Starry eyes and love is all around. I can take you where you want to go. __ __ __, I want to be your partner, can't you see the music is just starting?...." Clue: He's asking her to join him in a terpsichorean exercise. Hmm.

We spent our last full day doing those odds and ends things. We had a wonderful lunch with our dear friend Seth and his wife China. We missed them on our last time over so we had a lot of catching up to do. Some of you will remember Seth from the 'Godfadda Workout'. He told us that the show has finally been put to rest. It was a great run while it lasted. As groupies of the show, it will always hold a place in our hearts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCuMW_jTzmo

A stop by the 99 Cent Store left us wondering what we would buy that we can't get at home. We laughed at the idea that most of it probably came from there. We left with nothing. (555)

We have a friend named Joe who works at Emerald Thai. He just returned from Thailand so we went by to see him. He's still in the midst of jet lag, but he told us about the flower festival in Chiang Mai. He sends us email from time to time to see how we're doing. He and Khun Nid were very concerned when they heard about the recent flooding. It was nice to hear from them and we had a nice visit with them this evening.

Meanwhile, back at the house, we had a nice Thai dinner with Anna. This morning we'll be getting August ready for school and then I'll take him. It will be like 'the old days'.

It has been a joy to see so many friends. The sharing of meals, coffee, and hugs will be fond memories that will last until the next time we visit.

Have a Thrilling Thursday. I'll try to write from Taipei during our layover.

Peace,

Danny

"Like a stone dropped into a lake,

our acts of kindness can create a ripple effect.
The long-term effects may be unknown to us,
but the ripples of one wave creating another and another,
to forever impact - that is a definite fact."
~Susan Fahncke

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Guide

2012-01-10T23:51:00.000-08:00

Hi,

We traveled back to Altadena yesterday to have a final visit with my Mom, managed to take a nap, and had a fun family dinner with Jeff, Anna and August. It was what I'd call an easy day.

The 'Easy Monday' song was "I Feel Fine" by The Beatles. See, it really was easy. It's time to take a look at another 'Song of '75'. "__ __ __, I want to be your partner. Can't you see the music is just starting? Night is falling, and I am calling, __ __ __." Hint: It's by a group named after the older version of a city in the south. The song is an invitation.

We had to say goodbye to C-Bass early in the morning because he left for a 'Senior Camp' with his classmates and won't be back 'til after we've gone. We'll miss him, but there will be communication through Skype.

We hit the freeway right after the morning rush, but ran into heavy traffic on the way to my Mom's house. Seems that the morning rush lasts longer than I remembered. I cleared up a few things on her computer and helped her upgrade some software. Lisa showed her our email messages from Boot and she got a kick out of them. We recapped the trip and told her about some of our adventures.

Our list is getting smaller since we managed to find what resembles 'fly paper' at a hardware store in Pasadena. It's something we couldn't find in Thailand, at least not in Chiang Rai, and we needed something to deal with tiny little gnats that find their way to our house.

The evening meal was a delicious chicken dinner that Anna cooked. While we were eating Anna told us about a comedian that they really enjoyed. Later we watched the show and I haven't laughed that hard in days.

One more night in Culver City and then it's off to Thailand on Thursday evening. We realized today that we will have to get back in shape for the stairs at our house. We've been living on one level for three weeks. It happens every trip, but this time we thought about it.

The news from home is that Lisa will be having an art exhibit in Chiang Mai that may be opening on February 25. This is exciting since it will be the first 'road trip' for her cast acrylic prints.

I suppose our next adventure will be the packing of the bags. If we start today and pace ourselves it should be pretty easy. (laughs to self)

Feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,

Danny

"When they think that they know the answers,

people are difficult to guide.
When they know that they don't know,
People can find their own way."
~Tao Te Ching

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Learn

2012-01-09T22:34:00.000-08:00

Hi,

Monday we pulled out the list and did some of the shopping. We lunched with friends, and had two more visits later in the day.

Nice to know a few of you remembered the 'Easy Monday' song. My brother even remembered the other side.

"I'm so glad that she's my little girl. She's so glad, she's telling all the world that her baby buys her things you know. He buys her diamond rings you know, she said so. She's in love with me and __ __ __." Hint: Really?

The pet supply store is a place we always go when we're in town. After all, we have to take something home for the dogs. This trip they're both getting new collars and more things to chew. We've been missing them and they've been missing us. Boot told us that Daku went upstairs looking for us and came back down with one of Lisa's socks.

We had lunch in the Marina with our friends Claire and David. It's always nice to connect with them. We heard about their vacation in Florida, and we talked about everything from wetsuits to birds, to the world of dance.

In the afternoon we went to Santa Monica and had a visit with our friend Kerrina while she gave Lisa some physical therapy.

Every trip I seem to comment on the different motor vehicles that I see on the road. This time is no exception. I've been surprised to see so many new cars as we ride around. There are lots of cool cars and vans these days. There also seem to be more motor-scooters on the streets of L.A. Could this be a trend? Maybe some day in the future you will experience what we encounter on a daily basis. (Ha) I doubt it, but it's a funny speculation.

Lisa had dinner with her friend Lisa, who lives in Nevada. They had a fun time and ended up at Fox Hills Mall. I had a quiet dinner and met with some dear friends. I also got in a little time with The Boys.

We've been getting email from some of our friends in Thailand. It's warm again and that sounds good to me.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,

Danny

"Man can learn nothing except by
going from the known to the unknown."
~Claude Bernard

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Develop

2012-01-08T22:42:00.000-08:00

Hi,

We just spent our last weekend in America for awhile. There were lunches, visits, and travel around the freeway system.

I'm a little surprised that only two people knew the 'Old School Friday' song. It was "You Don't Own Me" by Lesley Gore. Here's your 'Easy Monday' chance: "Baby's good to me you know, she's happy as can be you know, she said so. I'm in love with her and __ __ __." Hint: The singer, one of four, is quite pleased with his relationship. You really should let me know that you know this one. (555)

Friday I had lunch with my friend Frankie at a cool place called The French Quarter on Santa Monica Blvd. We talked about the creative process, and the business that comes with it, and laughed of course. A unique menu item that we both liked was 'half a sandwich'. Nice idea.

Saturday we traveled to North Hollywood for a lunch with the Valley Cousins. It's so nice to eat home-cooked meals. Nowell and Jennifer hosted lunch for eight and it was outstanding. A lighting contractor had come by to pick up a light and they invited him to join us. It was such a cool gesture. After lunch their son Chaz and I went through some of the music apps on my iPad. More fun.

In the evening I celebrated my birthday with some good friends and Lisa went out to dinner with McKinley, a friend from her childhood.

Sunday we lunched with my Mom at Thai Boom. We came home and relaxed a bit and then went over to Alhambra to visit our friend Debby, another childhood friend of Lisa's.

In between the meals and traveling around we've been able to spend some time with August and C-Bass. August taught me how to play 'Crazy 8s' and we played the longest game ever. I've had some nice visits with C-Bass, while he played video games and enjoyed listening to his drumming (it's unavoidable). August played one of the piano pieces he's working on and let me film it. This week they will both be back in school so we'll have limited time with them before we leave.

Today we have another lunch date with a good friend and then we start rounding up the things we have to take back to Thailand.

Have a Great Week.

Peace,

Danny

"The way to develop the best that is in a person
is by appreciation and encouragement."
~Charles Schwab

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Friday Funnies

2012-01-06T00:28:00.000-08:00

Hi,

As we enter the last week of our Winter Trip, things are heating up with the weather and the schedule. Thursday we went on a little adventure in nature and today there will be more activity.

The 'Song of '75' was "Love Will Keep Us Together" by The Captain & Tennille. It's time for 'Old School Friday'. See if you know this one: "__ __ __ __, I'm not just one of your many toys. __ __ __ __, don't say I can't go with other boys. And don't tell me what to do, and don't tell me what to say and please, when I go out with you, don't put me on display, 'cause __ __ __ __...." Hint: This singer was really standing up for herself. An independent spirit. It's from 1964.

Yesterday we went to Liberty Canyon to spend some time with Blue and Ming. Blue has been living at a horse rescue ranch on the inland side of the Malibu mountains that is owned by a friend of his. Ming will be going back to Stanford today to finish out his senior year. It seems like it was not so long ago that the four of us traveled to Thailand together. That was back in 2001, Ming was 11, and now he's about to graduate from college. We took lunch with us and we all ate on a sun deck that overlooked the corrals. After we ate we looked through photos of our last 6 months so they could see the various exhibits and events as well as a movie clip of the dogs playing ball.

One of the things that I've seen that caught my eye recently was the skate park in Culver City. There must have been a 'clinic' for kids during the winter break. Several times we passed the facility at Jefferson and Duquesne and saw a very large group of tiny little kids, all on scooters. Whoever was supervising the kids is a very brave person.

While driving to our various destinations my perspective on the size of the L.A. area has changed. It's huge when I think about driving in Chiang Rai. There, we live on the north edge of the city and we can drive to the southern part of town in 10 to 15 minutes. The big streets have two lanes in either direction, but there aren't a lot of big streets. Some days it seems like there's a ton of traffic, but after driving down Venice Blvd. during rush-hour I've changed my mind on that as well.

Today I'm having lunch with a friend in Hollywood while Lisa goes to the Santa Monica Pier with August and Anna.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd. And now, the 'Funnies.'

Peace,

Danny

Notes from Home

John has been absent because he had two teeth taken off his face.

Please excuse my son's tardiness. I forgot to wake him up and I did not find him

till I started making the beds.

Please excuse Jimmy for being. It was his father's fault.

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Love

2012-01-04T23:08:00.000-08:00

Hi,

There seems to be a warming trend in the weather here on the Westside. Lots of driving around, playing in the traffic. There were also moments of reflection on the Northern Adventure.

There was mail in the inbox with correct answers to this bouncy 'Song of '75'. You'll notice one less blank today, but it doesn't change the title, which is 5. I believe the following lyrics are the ones that stuck in our heads back then:

"Just stop (stop), 'cause I really love you. Stop (stop), I'll be thinking of you. Look in your heart and let __ __ __ __, what ever." Hint: The artists were a married couple who sang backgrounds for Elton John and Neil Sedaka before breaking out on their own.

The final installment of our mad dash to the north consisted of driving from Oakland to San Jose to have coffee with the Athas family. We started off being turned around with regards to the freeway. To add to the confusion, when we did get on the road we re-discovered just how confusing the highway signs are in the north of the state. Using the sun as a guide, we found ourselves going north when the sign said west. Don't get me started on this odd reality. We finally found the coffee shop and relaxed. We were early, again, and it was a good thing.

Last summer we had a wonderful mini-vacation in Pescadero with Bill, Rachelle, and Coco Athas and Ruffy the dog. Our visit this time was at a Peet's coffee shop in a district of San Jose. Their dog couldn't make the coffee date. Lots of questions about the flooding in Thailand and updates on Lisa's art career kept us all busy. At one point Coco (Cordelia) did some of her homework. She is taking Spanish and has to read for a certain amount of time everyday, in Spanish. We always have a mellow time with them. Near the end of the visit, as the sun set, I went outside to get a few photos of Bill's Audio R8, the car that I got to drive last summer. Zoom

Our arrival at the San Jose Airport went pretty smooth. When we got underway they announced that the flight time would be 37 minutes. When we touched down at LAX things began to change. We were told that due to earlier delays, we'd have to stay on the plane for about 15 minutes. Thirty minutes later we moving towards a gate. Down in the baggage area we waited patiently for our flight to be posted. Half an hour later the bags began to trickle onto the conveyor belt. So, touch down and baggage claim took longer than the flight from SJI to LAX. Who knew?

Wednesday a lot of miles were put on the car, all in town. Trips to and from the Marina, and West L.A. provided lots of views of the city in action. Lisa had coffee visits and lunch with friends from her former job at the institute. I spent some time with Mr. August. Later in the afternoon I took C-Bass to an appointment on the Westside and coming home we compared notes about the best routes to use in rush-hour traffic. Now that he's driving he has a different perspective about getting from point A to point B.

Today is my Recovery Birthday and I'm celebrating 22 years of being clean and serene. Oh yeah.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

Peace,

Danny

"You can't grasp it, but you can't lose it.

It winds its own way.
When you are silent, it speaks.
When you speak, it is dumb.
There are no obstacles.
The great gate of love is wide open."
~Yung-Chia Ta-Shi

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Direction

2012-01-03T23:08:00.000-08:00

Hi,

There is no doubt that the weather in the north of California is cooler than in the south. We were there and it was cold in the morning. Our one day adventure was a success.

The very odd 'Easy Tuesday' tune was "Summer Breeze" by Seals & Crofts. I know, too easy. The 'Song of '75' will also be deemed to easy by some: "Love, __ __ __ __ __, think of me babe whenever, some sweet talking girl comes along singing her song, don't mess around, you gotta be strong just stop (stop), 'cause I really love you..." Clue: this hit was by a duo made up of an officer and a lady.

Getting up at 4am is not my idea of fun. When it's very, very cold it makes it even worse. We got up anyway and made it to the famous Lot C near LAX. We stood in the morning cold for twice as long as it was supposed to take a shuttle to appear so a group of us decided to walk to the depot. We got to the airport, got inspected and boarded the plane.

The flight north, in the emerging morning light, was about an hour. As we descended towards the San Jose airport we were enveloped in fog, and then, with a jolt, we were on the ground. Oh my. It was like we landed on another planet. We picked up our car and headed for Palo Alto. The drive went faster than we anticipated since the traffic was light and there was no fog on the road.

Breakfast with Joe, Lisa's Dad, was as delightful as ever. Lots of art talk and family catching up. After we ate, we went across the street to the art supply store where we browsed and saw lots of great stuff we don't need. The is was on to Joe's studio, which is like visiting a wonderland of amazing images and structures. There were prints made from spider webs, charcoal figure drawings, and paper sculptures covered with the writings of Rumi. He's putting together a show of his early drawings that sounds like it will be very interesting. We discussed how he felt when he saw some of his early work, and whether it will influence his future work. It was a very stimulating morning. Eva joined us and we looked at photos of the workshops Lisa has participated in, as a 'Thai artist'.

Driving to lunch with the Oakland Cousins was full of twists and wrong turns. I missed the turn to the usual route and we ended up getting a brief view of San Francisco. We rarely see the city so it was a treat. Then we crossed the Oakland Bay Bridge. What a long ride. Parts of it looked like we were driving into a wall, but it turned out to be fog that was blown away before we got to it. We finally found our destination and had fun hanging out, talking and laughing.

Tomorrow I'll tell you about the rest of our adventure and the trip home. I've been awake far too long.

Looks like a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,

Danny

"If you do not change direction,
you may end up where you are heading."
~Lao Tse

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Never Too Late

2012-01-02T22:14:00.000-08:00

Hi,

Welcome to 2012. Over the weekend we had dinner, dim sum, and a quiet New Year's eve. This morning we're flying to northern California for visits with family and friends.

The 'Old School Friday' song was "It's All In The Game" by Tommy Edwards. I guess we'll call this next tune

'Easy Tuesday' since Monday didn't happen. Here's the chorus: "__ __ makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine of my mind...." Hint: It's in honor of the recent daytime weather here in SoCal.

Friday evening we had dinner with Paul, Joy and Leilani. We always meet at Thai Boom for a little reunion and it's always fun. Leilani is growing up fast and it was a treat to see her again. Joy designs custom jewelry and gave Lisa a beautiful pendant.

Saturday we went downtown with Jeff, Anna and The Boys for Dim Sum. This is also turning out to be a tradition with each visit. We have finally figured out which items we like so it was easier to negotiate all that is presented. The whole process of all the carts coming to the table is still a little overwhelming in a fun way, but we didn't have to brave it alone.

Sunday afternoon we drove over to Altadena and took my Mom to lunch. We always have so much 'catching up' to do, and there are lots of things to talk about. As we drove back to her house we saw people gathering on the Rose Parade route and she told us how her father used to come to the parade every year. They lived in El Centro, but he'd always find a way to see the parade.

In the evening we stayed in, and had fun hanging out with August. He and I went through the music applications I have on my iPad and he created 'beats' and started a song. We watched the ball drop, blew horns, popped the little noise makers, and then he went to bed.

Monday was a pretty quiet day. We saw part of the parade on TV, and in the afternoon we went to the valley to see Cousin Joel and his family. After meeting their new puppy, who is a tiny little sweetheart, we had a chance to talk with everyone and it was very good visit.

We have a 6:45am flight to San Jose this morning (yawn) and then a whirlwind day. Breakfast with Lisa's Dad in Palo Alto, 'art time' in his studio, and then lunch with the Oakland Cousins. From there we drive south to San Jose for coffee with the Athas family and then fly home.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,

Danny

"It is never too late to be what you might have been."

~George Eliot

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Friday Funnies

2011-12-29T22:58:00.000-08:00

Hi,

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

That 'Song of '75' was "Lady Marmalade" by Labelle. For the weekend we go back to '59 and 'Old School Friday'.

"Many a tear has to fall, but __ __ __ __ __. All in the wonderful game that we know as love. You have words with him, and your future's looking dim, but these things your hearts can rise above." Hint: This smooth ballad was a big radio hit all about love.

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

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

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

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

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

Peace,

Danny

A Few Quotes from Gary Larson

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

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

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

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Future

2011-12-29T00:29:00.000-08:00

Hi,

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

Several of you knew this 'Song of '75' right away. The next lyrics should clear up any doubts if you were close:

"Now he's back home doing 9 to 5, living his grey flannel life. But when he turned off to sleep, old memories meet, more, more, more.... Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir? Voulez-vous coucher avec moi. (Repeat Voulez-vous twice)" Hint: Be careful with that French. You could get a slap in the face.

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

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

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

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

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

Have a Thrilling Thursday,

Peace,

Danny

"Forgiveness does not change the past,

but it does enlarge the future."
~Paul Boese

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Door

2011-12-28T00:08:00.000-08:00

Hi,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today the adventure continues.

It's time for Wacky Wednesday

Peace,
Danny

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

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

Keep

2011-12-27T07:59:00.000-08:00

Hi,

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

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

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

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

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

Today will bring new adventures for sure. Stay tuned.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,

Danny

"Keep what is worth keeping -

and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away."
~Dinah Muloch Craik

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Ice Cream

2011-12-26T08:18:00.001-08:00

Hi,

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

The 'Old School Friday' song was "Please Come Home for Christmas" by Charles Brown. 'Easy Monday' is next:

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

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

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

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

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

Have a Great Week.

Peace,

Danny

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

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Friday Funnies

2011-12-23T07:08:00.001-08:00

Hi,

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

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

The 'Song of '75' was "Fame" by David Bowie. For 'Old School Friday' we go back to 1960 for a holiday favorite:

"Bells will be ringing the glad, glad news. Oh, what a Christmas to have the blues. My baby's gone, I have no friends to wish me greetings once again... __ __ __ __ __, __ __ __ __ __. If not by Christmas, then New Year's night."

Clue: This bluesy number is a plea by the singer, hoping his girl will arrive for the holidays.

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

Our plane sat on the runway for quite awhile before take off. That meant that when we got to Taipai, we had to go straight to the gate for our flight to America. The timing was perfect and the final leg of the journey was under way.

All the announcements are given in Mandarin, Thai and English. It's interesting to listen to the languages and notice the difference in length. We're recognizing more of the Thai these days, but it still goes by fast.

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

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

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

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

Peace,

Danny

A Few Laws of Golf

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

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

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

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

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Warmth

2011-12-21T07:19:00.000-08:00

Hi,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It's Time for Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,

Danny

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

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Love

2011-12-20T06:08:00.001-08:00

Hi,

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

The 'Easy Monday' song was a snap for many. It appears to be a favorite across several generations. Last verse:

"And if you listen very hard, the tune will come to you at last. When all are one and one is all, yeah, to be a rock and not to roll... And she's buying a __ __ __." Hint: Ha, it's Easy Monday. Did you forget?

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

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

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

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,

Danny

"The foundation of all spiritual practice is love."

~The Dalai Lama

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Home

2011-12-19T07:43:00.001-08:00

Hi,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a Great Week.

Peace,

Danny

"Never make your home in a place.

Make a home for yourself inside your own head.
You'll find what you need to furnish it -
memory, friends you can trust, love of learning, and other such things.
That way it will go with you wherever you journey."
~Tad Williams

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Friday Funnies

2011-12-16T06:10:00.001-08:00

Hi,

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

I just knew the chorus would set off your memories. The 'Song of '91' was "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M. And now, it's time for 'Old School Friday'. With a certain holiday approaching I thought I'd send something appropriate:

"__ __, just slip a sable under the tree, for me. Been an awful good girl, __ __, so hurry down the chimney tonight."

Hint: It's an 'over the top' wish list from a singer with a very sultry voice.

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

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

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

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

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

Peace,

Danny

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

Calories (noun) Tiny creatures that live in your closet

and sew your clothes a little bit tighter every night.

Teenagers: Tired of being harassed by your stupid parents?

Act Now!! Move out, get a job, pay your bills while you still know

Everything.

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Arrival

2011-12-15T07:03:00.001-08:00

Hi,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

Peace,
Danny

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

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

Hatred

2011-12-14T16:12:00.000-08:00

Hi,

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

The 'Easy Monday' song was "Tell Her No" by The Zombies. Oh, now you get it. Time for the last 'Song of 91':

"Life is bigger, it's bigger than you and you are not me. The lengths that I will go to, the distance in your eyes. Oh no, I've said too much, I set it up." Hint: The title is in three words. It's by a group who used initials that were not from their names. Singer is obsessed with someone.

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

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

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

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

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

Get Ready for Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,

Danny

Hatred does not cease by hatred at any time;

hatred ceases by love.
This is an unalterable law."
~Buddha

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Worry

2011-12-13T06:00:00.001-08:00

Hi,

We woke up to a very foggy morning. In the four years we've been here we've never seen fog like this. It hung around 'til mid-morning and then it was a beautiful day. Lisa did art and I watched Thai TV at Toyota.

Our 'Easy Monday' song seemed to spark creativity in a bunch of you. Responses that let me know you know the song without naming titles or names. Very clever. Here's another verse if you still need help: "If she tells you, 'I love you'. Just remember she said that to me. __ __ __, (followed by a bunch of the last word)" Hint: What? No,no,no.

This morning we drove up to the university for the beginning of the 3-day event. I stayed until they began the opening speeches. There were lots of familiar faces among the artists participating. There was also a delegation of artists from China on hand to contribute to the celebration of The King's birthday and Chiang Rai's 750 Anniversary.

I arrived at Toyota early for my service appointment. It still took two hours, but every inch of the car is inspected. While I waited in their very cool area, I got more acquainted with a few of my music apps on the iPad and watched the Thai version of "The View". They do a lot of location segments and some were interesting, even though I hardly understood them. Then there was a musical show that consisted of three young singers competing for an unknown prize. Finally, there was "Ask a Monk", a popular short show that starts with a comedic, slap-stick scene that always ends in a dispute. Then a monk stops by and everyone tells their side. He chuckles and jokes with them. After the commercial, he offers words of wisdom, they wai, and it's over.

By the looks of the news, things are still very bad for many people in the areas surrounding central Bangkok. Relief efforts continue as the water remains.

In the afternoon I went back to Rajabhat (corrected spelling) University to get Lisa. I walked around and looked at the work in progress. It's amazing what some artists can produce in one day. Lisa had many visitors to her work station during the day. School children were brought to the workshop to watch the artists work. The piece Lisa is working on features the face of The King. Most of the work is done with the piece face down while she draws and paints. When she would turn it over to show the kids, they would react in happy recognition. It was a good day.

Tomorrow I will go back to see Dr. Oy (dentist), then Khun Joy (massage), and then back to the university for the end of the day. Whew.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,

Danny

"Worrying is using your imagination to create something you don't want."
~Abraham

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Win

2011-12-12T06:26:00.000-08:00

Hi,

I know I said I wouldn't write about the cold anymore, but it's really cold here in Chiang Rai. Friday night we had a rain storm and the rest of the weekend looked like it could rain any time. It's so cold that we put the blanket on the bed, and I'm wearing socks and a jacket.

Well, nobody knew the 'Old School Friday' song. The full title is "Come Softly, To Me" by The Fleetwoods. I see you don't know your Cadillacs either. (Ha) Maybe 'Easy Monday' will be kinder to you. It came from across the pond:

"And if she should tell you 'come closer'. And if she tempts you with her charms. __ __ __ (repeat the last word many times). Don't hurt me now for her love belongs to me." Hint: The singer is urging the listener not to give in to someone. The group is named after something that is all the rage these days, or is it a someone.

Saturday we went to the opening of the photo exhibit at Praatap Jai. As the ribbon cutter, I had an opportunity to say a few words about the artists before I officially opened the show. There was a good crowd there and we had a great time visiting with friends, talking about art, and getting more acquainted with people we'd recently met.

Sunday we had a very nice lunch at the house with our friends Justin and Lisa. We got to know their 3-year-old son Jack. They're from Australia and have been living in Chiang Rai for a year. Justin and I discovered that we have many common interests and it was nice to have quiet conversation with him. We usually see each other at events at the hotel he manages or at some function where there are lots of distractions. I showed Jack an art program on my iPad and he took to it right away. He has games on 'his' iPad so he was very familiar with how to navigate and make things happen. He taught me how to do some things I didn't know about. Lisa is a graphic designer and is moving toward doing her own art, which opened the door for lots more conversation. Near the end of the visit we sat outside and Jack enjoyed the waterfall and slowly got comfortable with BamBam, who was very sweet to him.

I have written about seeing cows on the road from time to time. The other day, while I was driving on a long stretch of open highway, I noticed the truck in front of me slowing down. We ended up coming to a complete stop to let a herd of cows cross the road. I might have been annoyed if it there had not been a couple of really cute calves that came bounding off the curb trying to keep up. I've also seen a small herd of goats, which was a big surprise.

Today on our way home from Big C, while sitting at a light on the highway, we heard the rumble of motorcycles that were clearly bigger than what we usually hear. Eight Harley-Davidson's came up between the lanes of traffic. What a thrill.

Tomorrow Lisa begins the Thai Artist Workshop at Chiang Rai Rachapat University. The artists will create new pieces over a two-day period. On Wednesday evening there will be a dinner at the Rimkok Resort for all the artists. Thursday there will be the opening of an exhibit of work that they have already donated to the university.

Have a Great Week.

Peace,

Danny

"First they ignore you,

then they laugh at you,

then they fight you,

then you win."

~Gandhi

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Friday Funnies

2011-12-09T06:38:00.001-08:00

Hi,

After receiving news of the weather in parts of the U.S., I will stop complaining about the cold temps here in Chiang Rai.

I hope the 'Song of '91' didn't drive you "Crazy". It was sung by Seal. Now it's time for 'Old School Friday'. We're going back to 1959 and a song with some fun background parts. "Mm dooby do, dahm dahm, dahm do dahm ooby do, (repeat a few times). I want, want you to kno-o-ow. I love, I love you so. Please hold, hold me so tight. All through, all through the night... __ __, darling, __ __, darling. I need, need you so much, wanna feel your wa-arm touch..."

Hint: By a girl group with the same name as a model of Cadillac.

This morning I had one of those 'hurry up and wait' experiences. I had a 10 o'clock appointment to get the car serviced. I was on time, but when I pulled into the lot there was a line of cars checking in. When I finally got to the service consultant he spoke no English. He left me sitting there for about 10 minutes and then came back with a woman who informed me that the car wouldn't be ready until 3pm. It was supposed to take one hour. I left with a new appointment for next week. The number of cars wanting service may have something to do with the fact that Monday is a big holiday. It's Constitution Day in this young democracy. Banks, school, and many businesses with be closed and we will probably be hearing lots of fireworks.

This afternoon, on my way back from New Life Foundation, I stopped by Prataap Jai to pick up Lisa's paintings that had been on exhibit. Tomorrow night they have a new exhibit opening featuring two photographic artists. Our friend Chalit is one of the artists and he asked me to cut the ribbon to open the exhibit. The other artist, Caty, is co-owner of Prataap Jai. We're looking forward to this since it's Chalit's first time showing his work.

Sunday we're having friends over for lunch. Justin and his wife Lisa, plus their young son are coming over. Justin is the general manager of Le Meridien Resort and his wife is an artist. In the evening we'll be going to Jaffee's for another Full Moon Party. Saturday is the actual night for the full moon, but it's supposed to be a total eclipse, not to mention the exhibit opening that we all want to attend. Once again, our weekend will be full of exciting activity.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd and stay warm. Time for some 'Funnies'.

Peace,

Danny

Why isn't phonetic spelled the way it sounds?

Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii?

Why are there flotation devices under the plane seats instead of parachutes?

Why do fat chance and slim chance mean the same thing?

How does the guy who drives the snowplow get to work in the mornings?

If 7-11 is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, why are there locks on the doors?

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Intend

2011-12-08T06:03:00.001-08:00

Hi,

The weather here in Chiang Rai is more of the same, with some clouds for good measure. It was a day of errands, and in interesting adventure in driving.

Looks like the 'Song of '91' is still in the minds of many. This song has been covered, featured, and played a lot.

"But we're never gonna survive unless we get a little __. No we've never gonna survive unless we are a little __."

Hint: It came from across the water, he's a sharp dresser and his wife is a super model. His charisma sealed the deal.

This morning I went to the Toyota dealership to make an appointment for service on our little car. I also went to Big C, and the coffee shop post office. Going out early is the way to do it around here. No lines and lots of staff eager to help. This afternoon we went out to look for a digital clock but didn't find one. I know they're out there.

The big adventure of the day was our trip to the DMV to find out about getting Thai driver licenses. Our friend Tye went as our interpreter since no one there speaks English. She told us that when she got her license it was good for life. They've changed the law and now it's five years. We took all the necessary papers and after the woman at the counter looked through everything she told us what we had to do. First we needed an examination from a doctor, then one hour of training, an eye test, and we would be done. Apparently, since we have valid licenses for another country, we don't have to take a driving test. Tye said she knew the doctor to go to for the physical. We drove into town to a clinic. After giving the receptionist our passports she filled out some forms and we went into the doctor's office one at a time. Lisa came out with a big smile after a minute. When I went in he had me sit in a chair in front of his desk. He asked me to hold out my hands, palms down. Then he had me turn them over. Next I followed his example and touched each finger to the thumb on each hand. I was wondering if this was some sort of sobriety test. It was like Simon Says. Arms up, arms down, look up, and it was over. Both 'exams' cost a little over $3. We left with an official looking piece of paper with his seal on it. Next Thursday we'll go back and do the rest. The adventure continues in Amazing Thailand.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

Peace,

Danny

"I may not have gone where I intended to go,

but I think I have ended up where I intended to be."
~Douglas Adams.

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Peace

2011-12-07T05:24:00.000-08:00

Hi,

The mornings here are getting colder, yet the days continue to be hot. Most of the day was spent on the compound watering lawns, making lists, and setting up the next few weeks.

"I Can't Help Myself" if 'Easy Monday' was easy. The Four Tops made it so. It's Wednesday and I think you know what that means. Time for the third installment of 'Songs of '91'. "In a church, by the face, he talks about the people going under... In a sky full of people, only some of them want to fly. Isn't that __. In a world full of people, only some of them want to fly. Isn't that __, __." Clue: One word that is commonly used for insanity, by an artist with one name. Hmm.

This morning I had another massage. The whole experience was quite pleasant this time. It was more of a total massage than physical therapy. Later in the morning we had a visit from our TV provider. We got a free upgrade on our satellite boxes. We now have the opportunity to see some channels in High Definition. Unfortunately, the channels we watch the most are still in normal mode, but there might be some alternative places we haven't found yet. One drawback to this piece of technological progress is that the numerical readout on the box is tiny. With the old box we could tell what time it was in the middle of the night by looking at the box. We're going to get a digital clock with medium sized numbers that can be read from across the room. The other option would be to buy the clock that projects the time on the ceiling. Yeah, that won't help if you're tying to go to sleep. (555)

Tomorrow we're going to the motor vehicle office with our friend Tye. We are going to try and get our Thai driver license. We've been told that it's not difficult, and if we can get one it eliminates the annual International License that we both have now. It will also serve as identification in many instances.

Every year, about this time, the King pardons prisoners. This year 26,000 prisoners are being released. Others are having their sentences reduced. Very interesting.

Looks like a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,

Danny

"Let us dedicate ourselves to peace within ourselves,

that wherever we go,
we bring peace and we learn to find peace in all things."
~John Morton

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Awareness

2011-12-06T05:31:00.001-08:00

Hi,

It was another beautiful day in Chiang Rai. We went to the mall, saw an old friend, had coffee with another, and continued plans for the Winter Visit to America.

Isn't it nice when 'Easy Monday' is easy? Many right answers to this song. I think you know it. Here's more:

"When you snap your fingers, or wink your eye, I come running to you. I'm tied to you, baby and there's nothing I can do. Ooh, sugar. Sugarpie honeybunch, I'm weaker than a man should be. __ __ __ __, I'm a fool in love you see..."

Hint: The title (4 words) might be spoken as you grab that second piece of whatever tastes so good.

This morning I had an appointment with Dr. Oy for a filling replacement. Yesterday I started having cold symptoms that turned into a mild nasal/throat thing. Not bad, but when I told Dr. Oy she suggested we reschedule. While I was there Dr. Nan, our former dentist, showed me pictures of her baby girl. I hadn't seen her since day 2 of her life. She's over 2 months old now.

A few days ago I dropped a small hard-drive that contains all of our current TV watching. Oh my. It won't run properly so today we set out to see about getting it fixed. The first stop confirmed what I knew, but they didn't know anything about fixing it. That led us to Central Plaza and Banana I.T. where we bought it. Many tests were made, all with the same conclusion. No work. Hmm, I knew that. It appears that we will be taking it with us to the States for repair. As we were leaving the Plaza someone called my name. It was Khun Singh, our Tuk-Tuk buddy. He came over and greeted us in his usual outgoing way. In the meantime, we still have lots of things to entertain us so all is not lost. In addition, I'm keeping a much firmer grip on everything I carry. (555)

This afternoon we met our friend Atom for coffee at Doi Chaang. She brought us early Christmas gifts and told us about her experience last weekend at a meditation retreat. She also told us about taking her small dog to a new groomer. When the time came to pick up her pet she almost didn't recognize him. The had put bows in the fur by his ears. The dog is clearly a boy, but sometimes people can get carried away making things 'cute'. Hmm.

Lisa is making final preparations for the art workshop she will participate in next week. For two days, artists from the area will paint at Chiang Rai Rachapat University. The school supplies everything but brushes. This will be a new experience since Lisa's technique includes many other factors besides painting. She's going to do the final process on one of her prints so they can see how it works, but she's also going to paint on canvas. I'll keep you posted on the progress when it begins.

We will be flying to Bangkok on December 21 for an overnight stay and then heading east the next day. You see, to us America is the Far East. We will be in The States for our usual 3 weeks. Everything is in place with the exception of packing the bags. (Ha) There is still much to do in order for things to run smoothly here while we're gone. It's become pretty routine for us now (he said laughing).

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,

Danny

"Let us not look back in anger,

nor forward in fear,

but around us in awareness."

~James Thurber

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Permission

2011-12-05T06:15:00.001-08:00

Hi,

The weekend weather moved more toward the 'cool zone' and wardrobe changes were needed. The days are mild and the nights are getting cold. We had an overnight shower that was not quite enough, and tonight the sky is clear. Today (December 5) is The King's birthday.

The 'Old School Friday' song was "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis. It's time for 'Easy Monday' so get ready. You know this one: "Sugarpie honeybunch, you know that I'm weak for you. __ __ __ __, I love you and nobody else. In and out my life, you come and you go, leaving just your picture behind, and I've kissed it a thousand times..." Clue: Sung by four guys from the Motor City, feeling a bit powerless. Hmm.

Saturday evening we went to 9 Art Gallery for the opening of a new exhibit. It was a group show and there were a wide variety of techniques and styles. The usual cast of characters was there and we had some fun conversations and caught up with 'old friends'.

Chiang Rai has what could be called Christmas lights blinking all year round. This time of year there are even more. It makes the place look quite festive. Big C has two Christmas trees and there are musical commercials, in Thai, to the tune of Jingle Bells and other holiday tunes. The place was really jumping when we arrived, since it was the first Sunday of the month and a holiday weekend. People were buying gift arrangements to take to the temples in honor of the Kings 84th birthday. This is a special birthday because it is the 7th cycle (12 years to a cycle linked to the signs of the zodiac) and 7 is an important number in Thai culture. The King was born under the sign of the rabbit. Now you know.

Sunday evening we had dinner with our new friends Monique and Jose. They are teachers here in Chiang Rai and are from America. We had a fun time at dinner talking about living in Thailand, and learning from each other. After dinner we strolled through the Night Bazaar.

Tonight there was the sound of fireworks in honor of the birthday. There were lanterns in the sky and restaurants were doing a brisk business. During the day we noticed that many businesses were closed. The King has been living in a hospital in Bangkok for over 2 years, but made a public appearance today and gave a speech. The King of Thailand is deeply loved by all Thais and there is a reverence that is quite profound. The streets were lined with crowds of people as his motorcade went from the hospital to the Grand Palace.

Have a Great Week.

Peace,

Danny

"We come equipped with everything we need to experience a

powerful life full of joy, incredible passion, and profound peace.

The difficult part is giving ourselves permission to live it."

~Deborah Rosado Shaw

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Friday Funnies

2011-12-02T05:18:00.001-08:00

Hi,

The weather in Chiang Rai was cold in the morning. By early afternoon it was warming up as the clouds began to clear.

Our 'Song of '91' was "Something to Talk About" by Bonnie Riatt. Congrats to all who knew it. 'Old School Friday':

"The warden threw a party in the county jail. The prison band was there and they began to wail. The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing. You should've heard those knocked out jailbirds sing. Let's rock, everybody, let's rock. Everybody in the whole cell block was dancin' to the __ __." Hint: Today's entry should be called 'Easy Old School'. All the clues are there.

This morning we went into town to take care of a few things. After going by the vet's to pick up stuff for the dogs, and dropping off a faulty fan for the Fan Guy to fix, we went to Doi Chaang for coffee. We had a chance to have a brief chat with our friend Noot, the owner, and get updates on her life. She's a very busy woman these days. She bakes all the 'goodies' that are sold in the coffee shop, and cooks the menu items. Usually, when we go by and ask to see her we're told that she's in the kitchen. The last time we stopped by we asked one of the staff to tell her we said 'Hello'. She told her worker that she really wanted to give Lisa a hug. Now that's a friend.

This afternoon I went out to New Life Foundation and met with the clients. I found a new way to go that takes about 20 minutes off my drive. I still get to ride through the countryside and several villages. There is a lot of building going on throughout the area. Each time I make the drive, I get to see the progress that's been made on various projects. Building goes fast in Thailand.

Yesterday we went to Makro, which is a common occurrence these days, and I forgot to tell you that I couldn't resist cruising by the frozen meat section to take some pics of the unusual items. There were a couple of additions to the list from last week that are worth noting: Crickets and Water Bugs, neatly packaged and frozen for freshness.

Although Thailand is probably out of the news cycle where you live, there are still many people living in and around flood waters in the Bangkok area. School openings have been postponed again, and some neighborhoods are threatening to take matters into their own hands to release water that has held them hostage for weeks.

Tomorrow we'll be going to 9 Art Gallery for an opening and Sunday we're meeting new friends at Sawatdee in the Night Bazaar for dinner.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd. It's time for the 'Funnies'.

Peace,

Danny

Trying To Be Impressive

A young lawyer, starting up his private practice, was very anxious to impress potential clients. When he saw the first visitor to his office come through the door, he immediately picked up his phone and spoke into it, "I'm sorry, but my caseload is so tremendous that I'm not going to be able to look into your problem for at least a month. I'll have to get back to you then." He then turned to the visitor and asked, "Now, what can I do for you?"

"Nothing," replied the man. "I'm here to hook up your phone."

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Things

2011-12-01T05:48:00.001-08:00

Hi,

Today was the closest we've gotten to rain in a long time. The sky got dark and cloudy this afternoon, but no water. I went to Dr. 'Fun', Lisa had a Thai lesson, and we had a substitute housekeeper for the day.

It looks like the regular crew is back. Lots of responses to this tune. If there's still a little doubt, read on:

"I feel so foolish, I've never noticed, you'd act so nervous, could you be falling for me? It took a rumor to make me wonder, now I'm convinced that I'm going under... Let's give them __ __ __ __, a little mystery to figure out, let's give them __ __ __ __, how about love, love, love?" Hint: It's about a reason to gossip, Hmm.

Since this was the first of the month it meant that Boot went to Ban Du to help with the lottery. Her friend La came over early and did some cleaning and helped in the kitchen. Lisa cooked lunch while La watched and helped. She and BamBam get along great and as soon as Daku gets over being too excited around her we'll be able to leave both dogs with her. When we were in the room he behaved like a gentleman.

I was all prepared to wince when it came time for injections from Dr. Oy, but it turned out she could fill the little cavities without any pain killer. I put on my headphones and put my music on shuffle to cut down the noise of the drill. It turned out to be interesting on some songs because it was like another instrument in the mix. I have to go back next week to replace the filling that has 'expired'. The two fillings totaled $30, which makes going to the dentist rather painless. Amazing Thailand.

We've been making some 'dates' to get together with a few new friends before we leave for our Winter Trip to America. It's really a matter of keeping some momentum and not losing touch. Our 'community' is growing weekly and it feels good.

This evening Khru Ploy came over and gave Lisa another Thai lesson. I'm getting a lot out of it because I quiz her on her vocabulary words and it helps me learn. Last night, at the reception for PATA, one of the Thai speakers read a statement in English. He referred to the 'Offician' opening of the chapter. It took me a second to realize he was saying the Thai version of the word 'Official'. Even reading the printed word, some things just can't be changed.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

Peace,

Danny

"Things which matter most must never

be at the mercy of things that matter least."
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Thoughts

2011-11-30T06:59:00.000-08:00

Hi,

Today there were moments when it looked like it might rain. Then the moments passed. I got a massage and we socialized in the evening.

So, I tried to make Monday as easy as possible by giving you "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles, but only Lisa and Ricardo responded. Now you get to remember a 'Song of '91'. This one was a Country hit by the daughter of a famous singer. "People are talking, talking 'bout people. I hear them whisper, you won't believe it. They think we're lovers, kept under cover. I just ignore it, but they keep saying we laugh just a little too loud. We stand just a little too close. We stare just a little too long. Maybe they're seeing something we don't, darlin'. Let's give them __ __ __ __ (repeat 2x)" Hint: This one rates pretty high as a clever love song.

This morning I had my weekly massage. The rest of the day was spent at the house. Lisa worked on a new cast acrylic print and I learned more about some music programs I have on my iPad. Since we've run through the complete volumes of the entire Stargate franchise, we're now watching Star Trek The Next Generation for lunch. Nothing like lunch in another galaxy. Most of the episodes are vaguely familiar, but there are details that make it worth watching. It's also interesting to notice how production values and techniques have changed through the years.

The evening we went to the launch party for the Chiang Rai chapter of PATA, an international organization that promotes travel and tourism. There were many people there that we knew, and more that we didn't know. It was held at Rai Maefarluang in a very nice reception room. Just before we left, we had a conversation with the director of chapter development. She mentioned that tourism benefits everyone in a town like Chiang Rai due to the ripple effect. So many sectors of the community are linked in some way to money from outside the area that it benefits the whole to promote tourism. While the main industry is agriculture, there is a definite dependence on tourist dollars.

Tomorrow I get to go to the dentist. Oh joy. Dr. Oy is going to fill two tiny cavities on two upper front teeth. I always fret about going through these things and it's never as bad as I imagine. So, it will be a piece of cake and I will emerge with my bravery intact. (555) Seriously, how bad could it be?

It's time for Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,

Danny

"We are what we think.

All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make our world."
~The Buddha

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style