Patient (Thursday's Message)

Hi,
Well, the weather was kind of mellow today. Not too hot and no rain. The afternoon found us getting a little sleepy. I suppose it was the aftermath of our Bangkok adventure.
So far, we have two members of the Cool Club. Christopher and Ricardo knew the song and both artists. Maybe this will help:
"Ooh, I bet you're wond'rin' how I knew, 'bout your plans to make me blue, with some other guy you knew before. Between the two of us guys you know I love you more..." Clues: The label was based in a city famous for making cars. The song is about a break-up.
One of the things that really got our attention on our trip was the way people on the street related to John in his wheelchair. They smiled at him, in a loving way. It was a very consistent thing, as if they were lending support. All through our 'shopping', people were eager to help when they could. Holding doors, making room in elevators and even picking up the chair, with John in it and carrying him down stairs. On two occasions we went to the taxi station outside Paragon and the person attending the line of waiting passengers would call us up to the front of the line.
There's a company here in Thailand called True. They are a communications giant dealing with T.V. channels, internet and telephones. They have an environment at Paragon that blew us away. When we first entered, it looked like a unique internet cafe, with small tables fitted with big screens at different levels. They were situated in such a way so your screen wasn't in plain view of your neighbor. Some people were doing email, some on the web and others were playing games. Then we noticed these plexiglass cases with various products like headphones, cell phones and accessories. On the other side of the space there were tables for hanging out that featured sockets for plugging in iPods. Over each table was a plastic dome. There were speakers in the dome so you could hear your music without headphones. Brilliant. We could have hung out there for a long time.
We went over to The Place today and the first thing we saw was a crew installing the electric motor for the front gate. Tiles were being set in the pool and a craftsmen was shaping cement for the waterfall. More windows are in place and they have installed giant doors for the bathrooms and the guest room. It's getting real close and our excitement is peaking. Lots of last minute things to attend to before the move. We have to arrange for things like the telephone and internet to be transfered, and we have to get our 'Spirit House' for the corner of the front yard. As we were leaving, four delicate little palm trees arrived. The landscape contractor told us that they are around twenty years old and native to northern Thailand. They'll be on a little hill near the driveway. It just goes on and on. Stay tuned.
The police have been real busy lately, what with two new laws. The helmet law brought out a big group on the road to the house. If they spot a rider or passenger without a helmet they get pulled over. Then a complete inspection begins. If you can't pay, they take the keys until you can. The other law has to do with driving and talking on a cell phone. That one's harder to police since most of the cars here have dark tint on the windows. Not much action here, but in Bangkok the police are buying cameras with their own money to take photos. Apparently that's not working well since many of them don't take such good pictures yet. More will be revealed.
I have a ton of new photos that I need to upload. Check the Flickr site later this evening. Have a Cool Thursday.

Peace,
Danny

"If you are patient in one moment of anger,
you will escape a hundred days of sorrow."
~Chinese Proverb

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics