Who (Monday's Message)

Hi,
There must have been something wrong with the international internet this weekend. Only one of you got through with the answer to the song. A 'Cyber High Five' to Christopher for recognizing "Love Is Alive" by Gary Wright. Check your modems and tell me this one: "We'd like to know a little bit about you for our files. We'd like to help you learn to help yourself. Look around you, all you see are sympathetic eyes. Stroll around the grounds until you feel at home" Hint: This song was featured in a film. It's by another music couple that broke up. Roughly about a married woman.
Well, as you can guess, The Place is changing by leaps and bounds on a daily basis. We have to go by every day just to make sure things get done like we want them. It's that critical time when anything that requires changing or correcting needs to be pointed out.
More trees have been planted, glass and screens are filling window frames and tomorrow all the fixtures for the window treatments go up. Whew. One of the keys to the rapid build is: large crews. The contractors bring in ten people who know what they are supposed to do. They do their jobs and it's done. There are a few instances where it takes longer because it's a master craftsmen and he's the only one who can do what he does. The tile guy is one example. I watched him measuring and cutting and fitting tile for the portion of the staircase where the bannister support meets the stair. It's round, and the tile has to fit snug against it. He made it look so easy, but as I thought about it, I would have broken many tiles and it still might not be tight.
We're having several visits from the monks in the coming weeks. On number 29, we will have the blessing of the Spirit House. This is a structure that is found on the property of just about every Thai house and business. It's usually in a front corner and it's for the spirits who live on the land and who may visit. It's a very old belief system that pre-dates the introduction of Buddhism to Thailand. Spirit worship, or Animism may be one of the oldest forms in the world. When the house is done, there will be another ceremony similar to the one before we began building. The monks will come and chant a mantra, and tie a string around the house.
We had a little rain yesterday and a real downpour on Saturday. It didn't last long, but it was impressive. Today (our Monday) was actually cool. It's the first time I've worn a thin, long sleeve shirt in many months. It's supposed to warm up and be dry for the rest of the week.
There are new pics at Flickr. Mostly house updates. I haven't put them in the 'New House' Set, just look at the main page. Have a Wonderfilled Week.

Peace,
Danny

"It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not."
~Unknown

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics