Monday, January 31, 2011

Rules

Hi,

We had a cloudy day here in Chiang Rai. There were times when it looked like it might even rain, then the sun would appear. Oh well. It was a fairly mellow weekend around here. Lots of music across the river, with a few fireworks for good measure.

The 'Old School Friday' song was "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis. Now it's time for 'Easy Monday' and I'm guessing you know this one. "I don't like you, but I love you. Seems that I'm always thinking of you. Oh, oh, oh, you treat me badly, I love you madly __ __ __ __ __ __ __." Hint: Yes, it's a title with seven words, it would be a miracle if you didn't know this one. Someone has a grip on someone. Hmm.

Saturday we went to the downtown market. There is nothing quite like being in the market on a Saturday morning. The place is a combination of chaos and flow, a feast of sights, sounds and smells. There we were, in the thick of it and feeling comfortable. After finally finding parking we made our way past the sidewalk vendors and their fresh produce. It's a good thing we've memorized some landmarks inside the maze so we don't get lost like we used to. We got the fabric we went for and actually passed on buying 'treats'. The diversity of costumes and faces was enough for one visit.

Sunday we went to Big C for a bit of light shopping - mostly essentials. I think it was more crowded than usual due to the build up to the holidays coming. It turns out that the new year is on February 3rd, and the celebration will last for 15 days. I have no idea what that actually means when it comes to the festival grounds, but they started partying on Sunday morning around 9am and it lasted until the evening. Tonight (Monday) it's quiet.

Today we stayed home all day. Lisa finished up the last part of the process on the final piece. It will be a gift for the governor for being the presenter. The catalogues are to be delivered tomorrow, along with posters designed by our friend Rachel. We have a photo shoot for the last group of cast acrylic prints, then we take them to the framer. Then we have to get inserts with the Thai translations printed for the catalogue. The art is done but the work continues. The excitement is definitely building. Now, what will I wear? (Ha)

Have a Great Week.

Peace,
Danny

"There are no rules here. We're trying to accomplish something."
~Thomas Edison

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

Friday, January 28, 2011

Friday Funnies

Hi,

Once more, a beautiful day in Chiang Rai. The major events of the day included a new printer, and the email version of the gallery invitation to Lisa's exhibit. And the music plays on, and on...

The 'Summer of Love' song was "I Was Made To Love Her" by Stevie Wonder. He dropped the 'Little' around '64. Time now for a trip down the real memory lane, to 'Old School Friday'. Who could forget this classic from the 50s?
"You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain, too much love drives a man insane. You broke my will, oh what a thrill. Goodness gracious __ __ __ __." Clue: There's a lot of heat in the title. The singer reportedly took family affair to great heights. He could really rock the house.

The life expectancy of certain devices is about 3 or 4 years. When things start to go bad, you are left with little recourse but to buy the next generation. So it was with our printer. It would actually cost more to have it cleaned and aligned, than to buy a new one. The weird part is, the new one uses ink that costs less than half the price of the old one. Hmm. I finally got the thing working and it's faster and simpler. The real test will be how it prints the galaxies as seen by the Hubble camera. Our artist in residence will put it to the test.

I went by Bliss photo studio to pick up some prints that Chalit made for Lisa. His mom was there and gave me one of her miniature flower arrangements to give to Lisa. It's those little things that keep us smiling.

This afternoon we got the email invite from 9 Art Gallery. There are pictures of some of Lisa's work plus Thai and English translations of the show concept. We'll take the final pieces to the framer next week, and he'll deliver all the work to the gallery on the day before the show. If you'd like to see the invitation, just drop me a line.

We found out that all the celebrations that are happening around town are warm-ups to the Chinese New Year on February 5th. I'm wondering what will happen on that day.

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

Peace,
Danny

Poker Face

A man walked by a table in a hotel and noticed three men and a dog
playing cards. The dog was playing with extraordinary performance.

"That is a very smart dog," the man commented.

"Not so smart, he has a tell," said one of the players. "Every time he
gets a good hand he wags his tail."

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

Friday Funnies

Hi,

Once more, a beautiful day in Chiang Rai. The major events of the day included a new printer, and the email version of the gallery invitation to Lisa's exhibit. And the music plays on, and on...

The 'Summer of Love' song was "I Was Made To Love Her" by Stevie Wonder. He dropped the 'Little' around '64. Time now for a trip down the real memory lane, to 'Old School Friday'. Who could forget this classic from the 50s?
"You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain, too much love drives a man insane. You broke my will, oh what a thrill. Goodness gracious __ __ __ __." Clue: There's a lot of heat in the title. The singer reportedly took family affair to great heights. He could really rock the house.

The life expectancy of certain devices is about 3 or 4 years. When things start to go bad, you are left with little recourse but to buy the next generation. So it was with our printer. It would actually cost more to have it cleaned and aligned, than to buy a new one. The weird part is, the new one uses ink that costs less than half the price of the old one. Hmm. I finally got the thing working and it's faster and simpler. The real test will be how it prints the galaxies as seen by the Hubble camera. Our artist in residence will put it to the test.

I went by Bliss photo studio to pick up some prints that Chalit made for Lisa. His mom was there and gave me one of her miniature flower arrangements to give to Lisa. It's those little things that keep us smiling.

This afternoon we got the email invite from 9 Art Gallery. There are pictures of some of Lisa's work plus Thai and English translations of the show concept. We'll take the final pieces to the framer next week, and he'll deliver all the work to the gallery on the day before the show. If you'd like to see the invitation, just drop me a line.

We found out that all the celebrations that are happening around town are warm-ups to the Chinese New Year on February 5th. I'm wondering what will happen on that day.

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

Peace,
Danny

Poker Face

A man walked by a table in a hotel and noticed three men and a dog
playing cards. The dog was playing with extraordinary performance.

"That is a very smart dog," the man commented.

"Not so smart, he has a tell," said one of the players. "Every time he
gets a good hand he wags his tail."

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

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Do

Hi,

Today in Chiang Rai found us caught up in tennis, art business, and finding ways to beat the rush hour traffic. I also retrieved my alterations. The town is having celebrations that must be about the coming new year but I'm not sure.

Well, I got a few responses on this one. Maybe these lines will bring it to the front of your mind. Read the hints.
"You know my papa disapproved it, my mama boohooed it, but I told them time and time again, 'Don't you know __ __ __ __ __ __, built my world all around her' Yah! Hey, hey, hey." Hints: We used to call him 'Little', it's a wonder you don't know who it is. For extra 'Cool Points' tell when he stopped being 'Little'.

I'm sure you noticed that yesterday's message was a little late. Just as I finished writing it, the internet crashed. Usually it comes back after a few minutes, but last night it didn't. I woke up at 1am and noticed that the lights were all blinking on the modem so I got out of bed and sent the mail.

Lisa is still dealing with minor tweaks of the translations for the show. There seem to be differences of opinion when it comes to how to say certain things, especially when high level politicians are involved. This afternoon we went over to 9 Art Gallery to edit and correct some of the wording for the invitation that they will send out. It's all quite an adventure.

Getting from our house to the gallery was also an adventure. There is a major intersection by the police station, that is signalized. For some reason they have set the lights to allow for 'free' turns. On it's own, this is a good idea. The problem is, they set the time so each sequence is close to two minutes long. This results in a line of traffic that is over a quarter of a mile long when going from our place to the highway. Today I took Clock Tower street across town and it was smooth as silk. On the way we stopped at 7-11 and paid the water bill. Now we know how to beat the monster intersection.

Earlier in the day I went back to Gahn's to get my pants. Everything came out perfect and when I asked how much, I was surprised. It came to a bit over $3.00. That was for shortening two pairs of jeans and replacing the velcro on my waist bag. Amazing Thailand.

Last night, at the Dusit, we were talking to Arno (not sure how to spell it), the manager. He told us that the Dusit chain has gone 'Green' and explained all the things he's instituted. All of the water is filtered and recycled for watering the gardens and lawns. There are solar panels on the roof, vegetable gardens for all departments, and they use plastic made from plant by-products. We found the whole thing fascinating and it made us feel like we're not doing enough. Hmm.

Across the river there is live music this week. Not sure why, but I can hear the bass every night. Tonight there's something going on at the school in the village. More music and lots of bright lights. Chiang Rai knows how to party.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

Peace,
Danny

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
~Unknown

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

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Breath

Hi,

It was one of those days, when something was in the air. The sky was clear, so it wasn't that. Hmm, oh yeah, drama was in the air. I'll fill you in, plus we'll celebrate Australia Day.

Your 'Easy' song was "Make It With You" by Bread. Always read the clues. Time for a trip back to the 'Summer of Love'. "I was born in Lil' Rock, had a childhood sweetheart, we were always hand in hand. I was hightop shoes and shirt tails, Suzy was in pigtails, I know I loved her even then...." Hint: The title is in six words that the singer couldn't see. You gotta know this one.

The last puzzle piece we've been needing for the art exhibit was a presenter. This is someone who introduces the artist. It is usually someone of civic/social prominence who hopefully, has a following or is a center of influence. We got a call today that the Governor of the Province agreed to do it. Then we found out that a letter had to be written, as a formality, requesting his presence. Later we were told that the letter had to be in Thai. That opened up a whole new set of 'stuff'. Our friend who was translating informed us that the letter we'd sent to her was not the proper way to address a politician. Changes were made, emails exchanged, phone calls exchanged until it finally got resolved. It took most of the day.

We've been following a lot of the Australian Open since we've become tennis fans. It's hard to believe that a few years ago we didn't know how to keep score and now we know the players and follow the Grand Slam tour, among others. Anyway, it's been an exciting trip so far. Today there were lots of fireworks as part of the Australian Day celebration. Little did they know that we were also about to celebrate here in Thailand.

The Dusit Island Resort is the first hotel we stayed in here in Chiang Rai on our first visit back in 2001. We still have many memories of that 3 day stay. This evening we met our friend Jaffee and went around to the back lawn of the hotel. There was a row of buffet tables set up with different food types on each table. There was a small stage with an Australian flag set up on one end. We had a table by the river, and could view the whole set up. The food was very good. Nice assortment, and more important, food we could eat. A solo musician who plays in the hotel pub, performed a long acoustic set of classics from several eras, all in English. We had a long conversation with the manager, who is a friend of Jaffee's. I'll fill you in on that conversation tomorrow.

Feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the
moments that take our breath away."
~Unknown

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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www.lisamosesgallery.com

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Rich

Hi,

Another one of those picture post-card days here in Chiang Rai. It was a quiet day on the compound. Lisa did a lot of art business, I ran a few errands, and we got invitations to events.

It would appear that 'Easy Monday' wasn't so easy. At least not based on the opening lines of the song. Maybe this will ring a bell: "Dreams, they're for those who sleep, life is for us to keep. And if you're wond'ring what this song is leading to, I want to __ __ __ __." Hint: Like I said, the title is four words and I just about gave it away. The group name is what might be served with water in a harsh prison setting. I hope to hear from you.

Daku wanted me to let you know that yesterday was his birthday. He's two years old and we think he filled out a bit while we were away. He got a little chubby, but he's also more muscular. No, he didn't get a cake, but Lisa sang 'Happy Birthday' to him.

The amount of background work involved in putting on an art exhibit is not for the faint of heart. It's huge. The thing that compounds the effort is the fact that we're dealing with two languages, the quality printing we need is not local, and things always take longer than you think. Other than that, it's not so bad. (Ha) There's the catalogue that's being printed in Bangkok, a poster that will also come from there, inserts for the catalogue, someone to 'present' the artist, getting the rest of the work to the framer, making sure all the work gets to the gallery on the scheduled day, and figuring out what to wear for the opening. Whew. Lisa was on the phone a lot today, now she's in her studio working on a new piece. It's been a long day.

This morning I went out to the west end of Chiang Rai to see Gahn about fixing my jeans. The mid morning ride was nice in the country. It came to me that the mantra of motorbike riders must be "No Fear". That seems to be the way most of them ride, regardless of age or gender. When I rode bikes, over 30 years ago, cars and trucks were something to be feared. They were the monsters. When I'm on the road here, it's almost like I'm something of little concern. This will continue to fascinate me for a long time.

Tuesday's are usually the day Lisa teaches ballet to Napa and sometimes Nia. The classes are on hold for awhile because Napa was chosen by her teacher to go to Malaysia to make a presentation in English about Chiang Rai. She is working with an English tutor preparing for the trip. It works out fine considering all we have to do in the next few weeks.

This afternoon I went to 7-11 to pay the power bill and put more money on Lisa's phone. The cell phone system here is very interesting. All the phones are unlocked, meaning there is no carrier that gets a monthly bill. You simply buy a SIM card and pay as you go. The amount you chose to put on your phone is up to you. When it gets down to a certain level, you can 'top up' and continue. Even if you run out of money on the phone, you can still receive calls. It's brilliant.

This afternoon we got an invitation to go see a Reggae band with a lead singer named 'Job To Do'. Not up to standing in a crowded bar listening to loud music. We also got invited to attend 'Australia Night' at the Dusit Island Resort tomorrow night. This will be a buffet dinner affair and we'll be attending. Jaffee invited us and told us we'll have a table by the river. Now that's what I call an evening out. Hmm.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

"If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things you have that
money can't buy."
~Unknown

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

Monday, January 24, 2011

Art

Hi,


Today was a beautiful day in Chiang Rai. The weekend was a busy one. There was a birthday, a massage, and a trip to the Night Bazaar.

Our 'Old School Friday' song didn't get past some of you. It was "Ain't That A Shame" by Fats Domino. His real name is Antoine Domino. I think he should have used that, it has a magical ring to it. Now it's time for 'Easy Monday'. "Hey, have you ever tried, really reaching out for the other side? I maybe climbing on rainbows, but baby here goes...." Hint: The title is in four words, by a group named for either something you eat or something you spend. (Ha)

Saturday was Lisa's birthday. She woke up to a present, and then Boot came up with a cake with candles, and a box of pastries. We went to lunch at The Legend Resort, and in the afternoon had a massage. In the evening we went to the Night Bazaar for dinner. While we were waiting for our food, Lisa noticed that the sign for the Fish Spa read: "Happy Feet with Dr. Fish". It was a fun day.

Sunday we did the Big C thing. I did some shopping for new jeans and found a couple of pairs. Why are pants referred to as 'pairs'. One wouldn't buy one leg, would they? Hmm. Anyway, I have to get them shortened but that shouldn't be a problem once we connect with our seamstress friend Ghan. If I had bought them at Edison they would have shortened them right there in the store. How's that for service?

Today we went up the highway to Makro to get baking paper so Lisa can make more of her delicious cookies for me. We ended up finding a few more things that we didn't know we needed (Ha). From there we went back to Big C for cooking oil. We had 'credits' on our receipt that gave us the impression they were worth 400 Baht. When we got to the check-out counter we had to spend a certain amount to get the credit. After it was all done we spent a very small amount for a bunch of stuff. Now I see why we have a Big C card.

We had an 11:30am appointment with Jaffee at Doi Chaang and since we were early, we went by the pet supply store to pick up the dog food we'd ordered. Then, when we got to Doi Chaang, we still had time to kill. We met Kwan's boyfriend from England and had a brief visit with them. Inside, we saw people we know. It seems that many of our expat friends go there during the morning. We sat next to Eddy, from Puerto Rico, and in the course of things discovered that there is another expat who is selling bread at the health food store and it's totally natural. We'll have to give it a try. Jaffee finally arrived and we had our meeting about things dealing with Lisa's upcoming exhibit. Everything is falling into place. We got the 'proof' for the catalogue when we got home and it should be done in time.

After lunch I went to the little market in town and to my surprise, they were playing Eminem. That's a switch from the usual Thai Pop stuff. I love this little store because they give such good service. I bought two packs of drinking water and a young man insisted on carrying them to the car.

The Chinese New Year is coming up on February 5. We saw an article in a Chinese newspaper on the plane about the new year being the year of the Rabbit. To that end, there is "The Taiwan Homeless Bunny Protection Association." I guess they're preparing for all the little bunnies that will be given as gifts and then abandoned. We love the name.

Have a Great Week. A 'thank you' to Christopher for today's quote.

Peace,
Danny

"Hearing is one of the body's five senses. But listening is an art."
~Frank Tyger


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

Friday, January 21, 2011

Friday Funnies

Hi,

I guess you could say this has been a pretty full week. We're definitely back in our Chiang Rai groove. Today we made it official by going to the market downtown. We had visitors this afternoon, and Daku is a sock thief.

The 'Summer of Love' had quite an impact on most of us. The mail flooded in. You told me the song was "Purple Haze" by Jimi Hendrix. Let me see if I can challenge you with 'Old School Friday'. "You made me cry, when you said goodbye __ __ __ __, my tears fell like rain. __ __ __ __, you're the one to blame." Clue: This is from '54, by a piano player who was often called 'The Fat Man'. He also took us up on a hill, walked to The Big O, and had a hard time with Monday. His last name is also a game. I've said too much.

This morning we went to the bank. Our friend Bobby asked us about our New Year and told us that there was a major music show at the Clock Tower that included fireworks and lanterns floating into the sky. Hmm, sounds pretty cool. After the bank we went to the market. It took a trip around the huge block before we found parking. Considering it was mid-morning on a Friday, we got lucky. We went to the treat lady and Lisa got to taste her old favorites. While some of them were cooking I went across the aisle to the sock guy. He has a table with a huge array of socks in every style, color, and function. I just needed something warm for the mornings with Daku.

Daku and socks fit like a glove in the same sentence. When we left for our morning errands, the dogs were upstairs with Boot while she cleaned up. The closet door was open. Daku knows that he's not allowed in the closet, but we weren't there and his curiosity got the best of him. We know he went in because when we came home, a pair of my socks were on the big cushion that the dogs hang out on. Busted. He's done this before. Something about my socks makes him want to take them. He doesn't tear them up, he just likes to 'relocate' them. We'll be closing the closet door from now on.

Right after lunch Boot had company. A young woman and her toddler came over to visit. Daku went to Boot's door, tail wagging like crazy. He wanted to play. The little girl put her hand on the screen door and Daku licked her hand. He has a good heart.

This afternoon we had a visit from Audrey and Pachera. Pachera is a high-school student from a Hill Tribe village way up on a mountain. She lives at a foundation in town, operated by Audrey and her husband. We met her last year when Lisa was involved with a benefit, helping some children draw. Pachera drew a flower that impressed us and Lisa gave her encouragement. When the magazine article came out, Lisa noticed that Pachera's flower could be seen in the background, hanging on her bulletin board. She wanted Pachera to have a copy and that's why they came to the house. Pachera brought some of her recent art work for us to see and it was really good. She and Lisa talked about some technique things, and her goals. We also suggested that she meet some of the women artists in the Thai art community. There's a definite talent there if she wants to pursue it.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd. It's time for the 'Funnies'. Tomorrow we celebrate Lisa's birthday. Yea.

Peace,
Danny

Weather For The Dogs

To tell the weather, go to your back door and look for the dog.

If the dog is at the door and he is wet, it's raining. If the dog is
standing there really soaking wet, it is raining very hard.

If the dog's fur looks like it's been rubbed the wrong way, it's windy.

If the dog has snow on his back, it's probably snowing.

Of course, to be able to tell the weather like this, you have to leave
the dog outside all the time, especially if you expect bad weather.

Sincerely,
THE CAT

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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www.lisamosesgallery.com

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Within

Hi,

Today we had a warm day here in Chiang Rai. Early this morning I watch an orange moon set in the west as the sun rose in the east. Freaky. We spent a quiet day around the house. I sampled some street life in the afternoon.

There was a big response to the 'Summer of Love' tune this week. If you didn't get it, check out this classic line:
"'Scuse me while I kiss the sky." Clue: If you really need one, it's by a left-handed guitarist whose career was way too short. At Monterey there was fire involved. Hmm.

We decided to see if we could stretch Daku's wake up time to 6:30am, rather than 6:15am. It worked. He stayed quiet until the alarm went off. It may have been because he went to 'bed' late. We'll see in the morning.

Lisa finished another beautiful piece for her show. Now she's focused on another piece that is starting to take shape.

Boot wasn't feeling well today so Lisa made lunch. She conjured up a delicious chicken soup with noodles. After what seemed like a long nap, our friend Tye came over. She and Lisa had a visit and then she looked in on Boot. Normally Boot takes the dogs out while she waters the yard. I took them out instead and they wandered around checking things out. This time of year there's something in the lawn that makes them want to bite and dig. I don't know what it is, and I'm not sure I even want to know. (Ha)

I went into town this afternoon to get printer ink and check on our fan. While walking toward the shop where I get ink I heard the sound of '40s big band music coming out of one of the shops. You just never know what you're going to hear when it comes to music. When I got to the fan guy's shop I saw our fan standing 'headless' near the entrance. Fan guy greeted me holding part of the motor. I couldn't understand him, but I knew he was telling me that he had to re-wind the coils. He was holding a maze of copper wires. I'll pick it up tomorrow. The guy is amazing. He could have just told me that it was 'done'. Instead, he's fixing it. Another reason why I love this place.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

Peace,
Danny

"What lies behind us and what lies before us
are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
~Unknown

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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www.lisamosesgallery.com

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Gratitude

Hi,

Today we had beautiful weather here in Chiang Rai. There was a car wash, a lunch on the green, and a dinner at the house.

The 'Easy' song proved to be just that. The emails came flooding in naming "Come Together" by the Beatles. Now we're off to the 'Summer of Love' and a song that needs no introduction. Today and tomorrow I'll give you a line from this song that has become iconic in it's own right. "Is it tomorrow, or just the end of time?" Hint: The title is in two words. Oh yeah, there's a color involved.

This morning we left the house with a list. It was determined that the first order of business should be the car wash. We were told it would be an hour so we stopped for coffee. While there we saw two people we knew, and met Khun Newt's son, who has been away at college. After our coffee we went down to the pharmacy warehouse, and the electronics shop. That second stop is full of mixers, speakers, wires, and the thing we needed: a step down. This is a device that allows us to plug a 110 volt appliance into the 220 volt system used in Thailand. Stepping down from 220 to 110.

Today's lunch location was World Class Hamburgers. Lunch with Atom was really fun. We had some laughs, some deep conversations, and, after some mix ups, some good food. We had a table in a sala just a few yards from a putting green. A little past that is the old airport which was covered by giant tent-like structures for the trade show. It's there through the 22nd and might be something to see.

After a stop at the small market for fruit and veggies we made our way home for a nap. Our friend Mr. Lag is still around and mid afternoon he makes his presence known.

This evening we had dinner with Kevin and Rachel here at the house. Boot made some of her 'famous' spaghetti sauce and some greens on the side. Lisa made garlic bread. It was delicious. An evening of conversation on everything from Thai culture to dog training, and back to more Thai culture. There was much more to it than that, you're getting the capsule version. We had a great time this evening. They are now living in the Resource Center in the village where the kids live. It's a unique opportunity to live life Thai-style without the amenities of the city. We're going to visit them soon and take a tour of their surroundings and get to know some of the kids.

Feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

"Gratitude is one of the sweet shortcuts
to finding peace of mind and happiness inside.
No matter what's going on outside of us,
there's always something we could be grateful for."
~Barry Neil Kaufman

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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www.lisamosesgallery.com

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Lesson

Hi,

Today was a quiet day on the compound. Lisa worked on her art, I went outside the walls for a bit, and the dogs are enjoying a new toy we brought them. Chiang Rai weather is in sort of a winter/spring thing. Cold nights, pleasant days.

There's still time to remember (Ha) the 'Easy' song. Here's the last verse. Can't say it makes more sense than the first, but we love it anyway: "He roller-coaster he got early warning, he got muddy water he one mojo filter. He say 'One and one and one is three'. Got to be good looking 'cause he's so hard to see. __ __ right now, over me." Hint: The title is actually something that Dr. King encouraged. Hmm.

This morning I went into town to have Khun Gope do a little work on my head. (sounds funny huh?) She has been my 'colorist' for most of the time we've been here. I changed part of my hair style, and I needed her to help complete the look. I still have lots of hair, just real short on the sides. There seems to be a pattern of 18 months, and then a timer goes off and I need a change. Hmm. Variety is the spice...

Chiang Rai in the morning is beautiful. Even the rush hour traffic has a certain charm. I guess because it isn't really a rush. There are those who choose to rush, but most folks seem to take their time. I noticed how slow some of the motorbikes go, and it put the whole thing in a different perspective. They just wanted to get from one place to the other, in a simple manner. You actually see more of your surroundings when riding slow. It also helps when there's a passenger and you want to talk. Go slow and you can both hear. What a concept. I keep going back to my 'horses in the early days' theory.

Our friend Jaffee called from Bangkok to confirm that the printer will complete the catalogue for Lisa's exhibit on time. There was a small format change, but we trust Jaffee's judgement on these things since he's a publisher.
Things are coming together for the February 12 opening. In the meantime, the artist is still hard at work in her studio, creating more 'visual wonder'.

One of the things we brought back from the states was a toy made out of fire hose material. Lisa gave it to Daku and he was instantly in love. It has little squeakers inside which add to the joy of biting. One of them is already out, removed for his own safety. Today BamBam discovered it and also fell in love. Now they race to see who's going to get the hose. This morning BamBam was coming upstairs and Daku went to greet her, but remembered the toy. He paused, turned around and ran into the bedroom to claim his prize. There has also been some tug-o-war over the thing. It seems to be as tough as they claim. If it lasts two days with these two dogs, it's a winner.

Tomorrow we have lunch with Atom, and dinner with Kevin and Rachel. Sounds like our L.A. schedule. I guess that's just 'how we roll'.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

"The ultimate lesson all of us have is unconditional love,
which includes not only others but ourselves as well."
~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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www.lisamosesgallery.com

Monday, January 17, 2011

Ribbons

Hi,

The weekend was Jet Lag and getting reacquainted with a few things. The most obvious was the proper hand to use for the turn signal. Yes, the wipers went on a few times.

The 'Old School Friday' song was "Daddy's Home" by Shep and The Limelites (an answer song). They were actually the same group that sang "A Thousand Miles Away", but then they were called The Heartbeats. Now you know. Let's see if you know this 'Easy Monday' song: "Here come old flattop he come groovin' up slowly, he got joo-joo eyeball, he one holy roller. He got hair down to his knee, got to be a joker he just do what he please..." Clue: The title is in two words, and it's by a fab group from across the pond. It's from 1970.

Saturday we took our filthy little car down to the car wash but they were too busy for us to wait. We decided to go into Doi Chaang Coffee and just relax and have some coffee. As we entered we saw four guys we met last month at a party. It was a nice 'welcome home' feeling. After we ordered our coffee I spotted our friends Kevin and Rachel, from The Sold Project. We joined them at their table and discovered they'd just returned to Thailand a week ago. They had also been in the states. We shared experiences and feelings about being gone and how it felt to return. We're going to have them over for dinner on Wednesday.

The afternoon found us taking the required nap so we could stay awake for the opening of the art exhibit in the evening. When we arrived at 9 Art Gallery got a warm greeting from all the young artists who always attend the openings. Everyone wanted to know if it was cold in America. The answer was of course, yes. The exhibit was a solo show by a woman who is not from the area. Her work was in oil paint and it was beautiful. Mostly landscapes, but with a surreal aspect that had everyone smiling. We had many interesting conversations with our friends and even though we had to leave early, we were glad we went.

Sunday we went to Big C for some much needed shopping. We had lunch at the Black Canyon coffee shop before we tackled the store. Sundays are always a busy day in the whole complex, with families and groups of teens milling around. When we left we got a chance to see the progress that had been made on the Central Plaza across the highway. It's huge and they've made lots of progress, though it doesn't look like they'll be done by March.

In the evening we went to the Night Bazaar for dinner and got a warm greeting from the owner. Her daughter, who is 6, greeted us with the confidence of a seasoned restauranteur. After dinner we did some strolling around and a little shopping. There are lots of tourists in town, but many merchants were not present. We found out there is a trade show going on at the old airport. We had to get a battery from the watch guy and we saw Atom and her mother. Another nice encounter.

Today we went out to the 'factory' where Lisa's cast acrylic prints are being framed. The work looks absolutely beautiful. We left 25 pieces with Tod before we left and he has done an incredible job. On the way home we stopped at Doi Chaang to pick up some coffee and saw another friend from the states who told us about Chiang Rai back in 1995 when he first arrived. Then Khun Newt, the owner, came out and seemed thrilled to see us. She gave us each one of their new T-shirts, and told us she's planning to open a sandwich shop on the property, complete with turkey as an option. That was wonderful news. (Ha) We also saw her daughter, our friend Kwan.

In the afternoon Sutheera and her husband Nukoon came over and we hung out for a bit. They brought their little dog Charlie. He's a brown Chihuahua and he was a bit shy in the strange surroundings. Daku was ready to play, but also a little over-excited. BamBam was in guard dog mode and they both ended up in the pen. Charlie didn't quite know what to make of these 'big' animals. Sutheera held him for most of the visit.

We've had many warm encounters from all our friends and it's good to be back. Now we have to get our sleep schedules back to normal. It just takes time.

Have a Great Week.

Peace,
Danny

"Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons."
~Ruth Ann Schabaker

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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www.lisamosesgallery.com

Friday, January 14, 2011

Friday Funnies

Hi,

We're back in Thailand. Seemed like we spent most of a day chasing the night. Very sleepy, but determined to send this to you.

The Who was the group that sang "I Can See For Miles" during the 'Summer of Love'. The album was titled 'The Who Sell Out'. For 'Old School Friday' the challenge will be an "answer song" that was very popular. "You're my love, you're my angel, you're the girl of my dreams. I'd like to thank you for waiting patiently. __ __, __ __ to stay."
Hint: Seriously? You think this one needs any hints? If you don't know it, a thousand hints won't help.

We left LAX at 10:45pm on Wednesday night. We arrived in Taipei as the sun was coming up on Friday morning. Somewhere in that 14 hour flight, we lost a day. Hmm. It was so early, the shops in the airport were still closed. When we got to Bangkok, the lines for immigration were so long that we feared we might miss our connection flight to Chiang Rai. Lisa spotted a guy in a uniform and asked if he could help. He was from immigration and he took us aside and ran us through. Then we got to the Thai Airways window and they had no record of our ticket. What? We finally got it settled and had time to sit and wait for boarding.

There are many things that can happen in the course of a day in Thailand that let you know you're in a different part of the world. At the airport, I went into the 'Men's Room'. As I turned to use the sink, I noticed a woman cleaning the mirror. OK. This is not an isolated occurrence. The same thing has happened at Big C. Then, while we were standing in line at the ticket window, the small carry-on of the woman in front of us tipped over and hit our suitcase. She immediately turned, waid, and smiled. Welcome to Thailand.

The last portion of our journey home was in the smallest seats, in the middle section, on a smaller plane. A far cry from the wide recliners of business class. At the same time, we were flying home, and not taking the non-air-conditioned bus that takes 10 hours from Bangkok. So, grateful for the whole experience.

The welcome home was wonderful. The dogs did their little crazy dances, romped excitedly, and knew which bag had the treats. Daku has been waking Boot up at 4am to go out and play. There will be none of that in the morning. It's back to the old routine.

Tomorrow we get a massage in the afternoon, and go to an art exhibit opening at 9 Art gallery in the evening. It's good to be back.

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

Peace,
Danny

That’s Disgusting
A man observed a sign in the window of a restaurant that read “Unique
Breakfast” so he walked in and sat down. The waitress brought him his
coffee and asked him what he wanted.

“What’s your ‘Unique Breakfast?’” he asked.

“Baked tongue of chicken,” she replied.

“Baked tongue of chicken?… Do you have any idea how disgusting that
is? I would never even consider eating anything that came out of a
chicken’s mouth!” he fumed.

Undaunted, the waitress asked, “What would you like then?”

“Just bring me scrambled eggs,” the man replied.

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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www.lisamosesgallery.com

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Rainbow (Thursday Message on Wednesday)

Hi,

Today was a day of reunions and goodbyes. We're sitting in the EVA lounge just hanging out. You can expect the 'Funnies' to be on time.

So, I'm impressed, as usual, with your memory of that magical 'Summer of Love'. I see many of you knew who it was.
"Well, here's a poke at you, you're gonna choke on it too. You're gonna lose that smile, because all the while, __ __ __ __ __ ...." Hint: I keep dropping 'Hints'. It's about long distance vision, from a group that told us they sold out.

Another list was generated overnight, so we set out to get the work done as early as possible. Before we hit the street we started packing the bags. Oh my. We are leaving with much more than we brought with us, but we actually managed to get everything packed. Of course that meant leaving a few items, but it's worth it.

Our final visit to 'Fox Hills Mall' took care of most of what we needed to do. Last minute gift, vitamins, lunch, watch battery, and of course people watching.

We left the mall and went to the home of friends we hadn't seen in years. Paul and Luxey are very dear friends and our reunion was the icing on the cake for this visit. I've known them since the mid 60s and we've had many adventures together. What's interesting is that they had been wondering about us, while we were thinking of them. It was meant to be this time.

After picking up the last items on the list, we went to Tanner's coffee to meet Nate, whom we met in Thailand with the Sold Project. We had the issue of 'Traversing the Orient' with the article about the project. There was no way for them to buy it here so we brought one. We had a nice 'update' visit. We learned that the project is now being operated by local Thais who have been trained to work with the kids and their families. I guess we won't be having any 'Sold Swim Parties' anymore. It's good news though, that local responsibility is being taken.

Our farewell with the family went well this time. The Boys are being very brave. Not really used to it yet, but understanding that we love them and will be back.

Have a Thrilling Thursday. (even though it may be Wednesday).

Peace,
Danny

"The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow
but the rainbow won't wait while you do the work."
~Unknown

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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www.lisamosesgallery.com

Path

Hi,

Today is our last day in the U.S.A. Yesterday was a day for business, and some final goodbyes. We even managed a nap.

'Easy Monday' was brought to you by The Kinks, singing "Tired of Waiting for You". Next up, 'Summer of Love'. I would be delighted if you can tell me who sang this song. "I know you've deceived me, now here's a surprise. I know that you have 'cause there's magic in my eyes. __ __ __ __ __ ....." Hint: This band was a smashing success at Monterey. About something done with the eyes.

Tuesday morning we got an early start that took us across town to take care of some financial arrangements. Every now and then we need a little thing called money to survive. (Ha) We visited with a few friends at the same time.

What would a trip to L.A. be without a stop in Chinatown? We got a taste of rush hour traffic, but it didn't take long. It was so early when we arrived that many of the shops weren't even open yet. There were also very few shoppers. We strolled the aisles and found a few things, went by to see some old friends and got an update on their kids. It's much more fun when the whole thing is wide open, and full of shoppers. Oh well, we'll be back at the Night Bazaar before long.

We met our friend Blue for lunch at Emerald Thai. It would be our last chance to see him until he comes to Thailand in March. The lunch also gave us an opportunity to say goodbye to Nid, who runs the place. He is a very dear friend.

In the evening C-Bass had his last driving lesson. I guess by the time we return in the summer, he'll be an old hand at driving. I watched some soccer with him, and later August worked out on the X-Box Kinect. We're gonna miss The Boys, but we'll stay in touch through Skype.

We fly out at 10:45pm, which means we have to start the leaving process at around 7pm. I'm not sure when you'll receive the next message from me. Trying to figure out the time is driving us crazy. (555) If you don't see a message in the morning, it might arrive in the afternoon some time. I can't wait to get back to the routine of writing from Thailand.

It's been great being here and seeing those of you we visited. If we didn't get to hang out, maybe next time.

It looks like a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

"The path to our destination is not always a straight one.
We go down the wrong road, we get lost, we turn back.
Maybe it doesn't matter which road we embark on.
Maybe what matters is that we embark."
~Barbara Hall

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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www.lisamosesgallery.com

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Thought

Hi,

Monday was all spent in one place. Universal Studios was the place, and we had quite a time. Read all about it. One more night and we fly back to Thailand.

I thought it was 'Easy' but apparently not. Only four responses so far. Maybe today's lyrics will make it clear.
"It's your life, and you can do what you want. Do what you like, but please don't keep-a me waiting, please don't keep-a me waiting 'cause I'm..." Hint: My brother's response is quite clever and may shed some light: "I'm too tired to reply, and if I did it would be kinky." Go for it.

The consensus was that since everyone was back in school, Universal Studios would be lightly populated. As we arrived we found it to be true. There was a very short line at the ticket window so it wasn't long before we were figuring out our strategy for the day. The first show that was about to start was the 'Animal Actors'. That was fun. There were birds doing tricks, really smart dogs, and an orangutan who was pretty funny. Lisa plans to try and teach Daku to lie on his side.

The Shrek show was billed as '4-D', but that was a bit of a stretch. The 4th D was chairs that jerked about in response to the movie, and water that squirted out from the chair in front of us at appropriate moments. The 3-D was cool though. We all had food passes so we could eat at certain places for free (Ha). Lunch was at Mel's Diner, listening to Oldies and sitting in the sun.

One of the things we definitely wanted to do was go on the Studio Tour. That was very interesting. Not only did we get to see the back lot, and the sets of familiar movies and TV shows, we also saw a new King Kong feature that was really something. Using new technology, we watched the giant ape battle dinosaurs all around the tram. At one point Kong jumped up and landed right on top of us. The whole thing was in 3-D and felt incredibly real. August was quite taken with a flood we encountered, and kept talking about the earthquake in the subway, with many questions about everything.

August and Anna went to see the Simpsons show while Lisa and I waited and watched people. Our final adventure was the Special Effects Show. It was like a mini history of movie effects. Not only was it entertaining, but we learned a lot. Mr. August was impressed with that, but seemed more interested in the mechanical effects we saw earlier.

We left the place tired and happy that we'd finally experienced the place. I think we've all seen enough monsters, disasters, and scary things to last us awhile. Oh yes, it was also fun to see various 'characters' in person. I hadn't realized how tall Frankenstein was, or just how tall Marge Simpson's hair is. (Ha) What a day.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

"Both poverty and riches are the offspring of thought."
~Napoleon Hill

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

Monday, January 10, 2011

Never

Hi,

We had a busy weekend. Saturday was a 'travel day', and Sunday was local. Funny how we just can't seem to get away from Thai food. (Ha)

The 'Old School Friday' song was "Love Potion No. 9" by The Clovers. That one's a classic by this group. Many groups covered it, but The Clovers did it best. Now it's time for 'Easy Monday' and I just know you know this one.
"I was a lonely soul, I had nobody 'til I met you. But you keep-a me waiting, all of the time. What can I do? Hint: It's by a group from across the pond, singing about their impatience. The title is five words.

Saturday morning I had an acupuncture session and found out what's going on with my thumb. Amir explained what was happening with the joint, and possible remedies. It seems that it may have started with the stiff emergency brake release on the truck that was our first vehicle in Thailand. Thankfully, the Vios brake is much easier to deal with and I can work it without stressing my thumb. Time to heal.

We drove out to Altadena to take my mom some printer ink and help her update the software on her new computer. Part of the process required restarting the computer and when it asked for the password, it didn't want to take it. We called our friend Bill in San Jose to see if he might know what to do. Nothing seemed to work and my mother decided to go to the Apple store on Monday. We had to leave her with her computer shut down. While we were in Alhambra with our good friend Debby, my mom called to say that she got it working. Monday she will join the folks at the Genius Bar. (Ha)

Debby and Lisa have known each other since high school. You might even say that she's 'Family', she's been in our lives for so long. We visit with her every trip and get updates on her family and her life. This trip we went to a restaurant in Alhambra called 'Thai Purple'. We had a fun time chatting about languages, family, her new grandson, and life over an early dinner.

Sunday we had lunch at Emerald Thai with my mother. She watched as Lisa put chili powder on her food, and wanted to try it. A of the little powder, and some soy sauce perked up her rice dish and she had several helpings. We always have a good time when we go on our little adventures with her.

After a short break at the house, we got a call from our friends Kerrina and Michael. They were returning from a weekend in Big Bear and we were going to meet at East Wind for dinner. We hadn't seen them in a year and the kids have really grown. Katja, Kira, and Zane are great kids and we've watched them grow up. Not that they're grown, but you know what I mean. During dinner I asked about 'Stanley', the little paper cut-out guy we took to Thailand as part of a class project for Kira. It turns out that he traveled the farthest of any of the characters. She was quite pleased with the results. Zane made sure I sat next to him so he could tell me all about their skiing adventure. He's seven and really likes cars, and the same shows that August likes. The ones that show how things are made. I've never known a seven year old who reads Motor Trend.

Today we go back to Universal Studios for a look inside the park. I'll let you know what I see.

Have a Great Week.

Peace,
Danny

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

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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www.lisamosesgallery.com

Friday, January 7, 2011

Friday Funnies

Hi,

Well, just five more days in sunny? Southern California. It turns out we'll be flying home to rain. The only difference is, it won't be so cold. Thursday was a pretty mellow day considering our usual pace.

The 'Summer of Love' song was "The Letter" by The Box Tops. Now you see where those clues were going. (Ha)
It's time for a dose of 'Old School Friday'. This one's from 1959. The group name sometimes has four leaves.
"I took my troubles down to Madame Rue. You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth. She's got a pad down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine, sellin' little bottles of __ __ __ __." Hint: This one should be easy. It's sometime to cure matters of the heart.

This morning I drove Lisa out to Marina Del Rey for visits with former work friends and lunch with her former boss. I went back to the mall to try and find a few things we needed. My search was fruitless, but I did have a tasty lunch. I still don't know all of the shops there, and kinda felt like a tourist as I walked around looking at all the 'new' shops.

I returned to the marina to have coffee with Lisa and our friend Richard. He told us that he roasted the green Doi Chaang beans we brought him last time, and the coffee was great. We talked about Lisa art process, his house renovation, and learned some things about printing paper that we didn't know. It's always a pleasure to visit with Richard.

The late afternoon and evening were spent at the house. August showed me his plans for 'Theater Surround Sound' in his bedroom. He had dismantled his old speaker cabinets and was 'testing' his under-the-bed unit. He wants it to vibrate the floor. There will also be speakers in opposite corners as well as two on his desk. If nothing else, he has vision. I'm hoping to experience the result before we leave. I cautioned him about keeping the volume down since it's a small room and he needs to protect his hearing. We had a quiet dinner that Lisa made, and he dashed off to continue his project.

While driving this evening I began wondering how long it would take me to readjust to the other side of the road. The main thought was the steering wheel controls. Would I turn on the wipers instead of the turn signal? If I think about it too much, I may do it backwards while I'm still here. Hmm.

Tomorrow we go back out to the marina for more visits, and Saturday will be a busy day with acupuncture, a visit to my mom in Altadena, and our friend Debby in Alhambra.

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

Peace,
Danny

A man was telling his neighbor, "I just bought a new hearing aid. It
cost me four thousand dollars, but it's state of the art. It's
perfect."
"Really," answered the neighbor. "What kind is it?"
"Twelve thirty."

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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www.lisamosesgallery.com

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Nothing

Hi,

It turned out to be a not so Wacky Wednesday. The sky was blue, the air was crisp, and we didn't have to chase all over town. We did do lunch with an old friend of Lisa's, and we stopped by the mall.

The 'Summer of Love' brought us many different kinds of music. Thanks for sharing your various memories of this one. If you still haven't figured it out, read on: "I don't care how much money I gotta spend, got to get back to my baby again. Lonely days are gone, I'm a-goin' home 'cause my baby just...." Clue: You can tell it's an old song because the item in the title is not a common thing anymore. It's something that has been replaced by email. The title is two words.

It was a luxury to sleep in this morning. We didn't have to be anyplace until lunch time. After a few stops in Culver City we went out to Santa Monica for lunch with our friend McKinley. He and Lisa were childhood friends in Montana. We met him at The Fig in the Fairmont Hotel, and had a very nice lunch looking out on the pool. There was a man who was relaxing by the pool in just his bathing suit. We imagined he must be from a very cold place. (Ha)

After lunch we went to Trader Joe's. Still waiting for them to open a store in Chiang Rai (555). Yeah, that'll happen. From there we made a brief stop at the 'Fox Hills Mall' for some See's candy to take back to Boot. The chocolate in Thailand is nothing like See's. Yum. Just wish I could still eat it.

We had dinner at the house with August. His folks went to a birthday party so we spent the evening with him. He showed us a video of a short play he wrote with the help of a mentor as part of a writing project. After he had written it, twelve actors used his script and acted it out. Mr. August continues to add more talents to his resume. Later I helped him with a school project dealing with the stock market and Lisa worked with him on an essay. It reminded me of the days when each boy spent an evening with us years ago.

Have a Thrilling Thursday. I leave you with one of your favorites from Will.

Peace,
Danny

"Nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so."
~Shakespeare

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www.lisamosesgallery.com

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Understand

Hi,

It's not raining in Los Angeles, but it's still cold at night. Tuesday was just another busy day in the city. Lunch with a little family, errands and shopping for the dogs, an acupuncture session, and dinner with cousins.

The 'Easy Monday' song was "Laughter In The Rain" by Neil Sedaka. Time now to return to the 'Summer of Love', and another song to get stuck in your head. "Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane, ain't got time to take a fast train. Lonely days are gone, I'm a-goin' home, 'cause my baby..." Hint: I couldn't finish the line without giving it away. The group is named after something we used to save for prizes. Hmm, got cereal?

Until I get up the nerve to apply for a Thai drivers license, I have to carry an International Driving Permit. It basically verifies that I'm licensed to drive in California. Some say it doesn't matter, but I'm not taking any chances. Today I renewed mine.

We were back at Thai Boom for lunch with Paul, Joy, and Leilani. Little Leilani is now 17 months old and is walking (running), and talking up a storm. She has quite a vocabulary for her age. We had a nice visit, and as you might guess, Leilani got lots of attention. Seeing her every six months makes her evolution as a person quite apparent. It was a good time.

There are many things we take back to Thailand and the dogs are certainly on the list as shopping subjects. We found what we hope is a long lasting bone for Daku, and we bought more elk antlers for both dogs. Elk shed their antlers so it's a humane 'treat' for the doggies. Then there's the fire hose chew toy that may actually be a challenge for Daku. The boy can destroy almost any simple stuffed animal. We'll see.

Since the acupuncture I received in Thailand didn't really help the problem with my thumb, I decided to go to our old friend Amir for a few treatments. He spent a long time sticking me all over, not just the trouble area. I got what we laughingly refer to as a tune-up. I'll go back on Saturday for a final treatment.

In the evening we met with a Jenny and Nowell of the 'Valley Cousins'. Their son Sam came to visit us this year. As always, it was great to see them and share a meal while talking about our adventures and theirs. They brought us a beautiful piece of metal art from Haiti that is light weight and will travel well. I had to leave early due to a prior commitment, but Lisa got to spend more time with them. There just never seems to be enough time.

We have one more week in California before we head home. Needless to say, it will be full of visits, business, and time with 'The Boys'. C-Bass is now taking driving lessons, which is really bringing back memories. August started back to school on Monday and C-Bass starts today, so we will have to find time to hang out with them during this last week.

It's time for a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

"To understand the heart and mind of a person,
look not at what he has already achieved,
but at what he aspires to."
~Kahlil Gibran

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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www.lisamosesgallery.com

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Giants

Hi,

Monday proved to be a very busy day. We managed to meet with all our 'appointments', and had a great time doing it. We're putting in a lot of time at Thai Boom, one of our favorite hangouts.

I had four responses to the 'Easy' song. I'm sure the chorus will open up your memory if you haven't figured it out.
"Oo, I hear __ __ __ __, walking hand in hand with the one I love. Oo, how I love the rainy days, and the happy way I feel inside." Clue: Looks like we've missed our window to act out the title of this song. The sky is clear.

We started the day with breakfast at Dinah's with our friends Steve and Pam. It's always nice to see them on our visits to L.A. Lots of interesting conversation, and the wonder that is Dinah's.

We did some shopping at Ross, thanks in part to a gift card from Aunt Sara. One of the things I don't wear much in Thailand is socks. What I brought with me were a little to thin for this weather, but I got what I needed today.

Lunchtime and we were back at Thai Boom to spend some time with Seth and China. Some of you know Seth from the "Godfadda Workout." As former groupies of the show, it was great to see him and find out about his adventures. We'd never met China and that was a treat as well.

In the afternoon there was more shopping. Mostly tracking down things we need to take back to Thailand. There are little things we just can't get so we have many lists.

In the evening Lisa had dinner with a friend so I dropped her off and met my friend Dan for dinner at, you guessed it, Thai Boom. Lots of talk about life in the Land of Smiles, and the cultural differences we've encountered.

While driving this evening I saw the Culver City version of a 'Night Crawler'. A man in a pick-up truck going through the recycle bins in a neighborhood. A far cry from the motorbike/trailer combos that cruise Chiang Rai at night.

We've talked to Boot a few times and things are going well at the compound. The dogs are fine, and she admitted that they're a little fat. She promised to feed them less. We'll see when we get back.

Tomorrow looks like a lighter day, but a double dose of Thai Boom again. I'll fill you in tomorrow.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,
Danny

"If I have seen farther than others,
it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants."
~Isaac Newton

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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www.lisamosesgallery.com

Monday, January 3, 2011

Moon

Hi,

Happy New Year to all. Thanks to the cold, rainy weather I spent the evening of the new year, and all of the day in bed with a California cold. The cold's almost gone but the rain is still here. Sunday I emerged for a road trip.

Our 'Old School Friday' song was "Splish Slash" by Bobby Darin. For 'Easy Monday' we have a weather driven theme:
"Strolling along country roads with my baby, it starts to rain, it begins to pour. Without an umbrella we're soaked in the rain, I feel a shiver run up my spine. I feel the warmth of her hand in mine." Hint: The title is four words describing odd behavior in foul weather.

Friday afternoon the whole family plus one of C-Bass' friends piled into the van and went to Chinatown for Dim Sum. Little did we know that it's just a breakfast and lunch meal. The boys were a little disappointed, but we stayed and had dinner. It turned out to be quite good. At least with dinner from the menu I knew what I was getting.

I had been 'fighting' a cold and by Friday night it was clear that I was losing the battle. I stayed in bed, warm and cozy. I missed the eastern feed of the New Year, and managed to get one weak 'toot' out of a celebration horn at midnight. All the next day I lazed around taking cold remedies, watching the parade and football.

Sunday I felt much better. In the afternoon, just as the rain started, Lisa, August and I drove out to the west valley to visit with Joel, Martha, and their daughters. August was Mr. Question as he walked around Joel's studio. He wanted to know how things were connected, what went where, and so on. Joel was a very gracious host and teacher. August and Sophia, the youngest daughter hit it off and played a video game they both have. We had some good visits and drove home in a light rain. It was a fun afternoon and I can't wait to see what August 'creates' after his studio visit. Hmm.

Today we're booked for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The new year is starting off with a bang.

Have a Great Week.

Peace,
Danny

"Shoot for the moon.
Even if you miss it you will land among the stars."
~Les Brown

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