Hi,
Here in Chiang Rai it's sometimes difficult to determine what's really hot. Looking outside, the day looks cool and gloomy, but once outdoors the heat wraps itself around you. Hmm.
The 'Zany Day' song was right on the tip of a few memories. Here's the last verse and more solutions to the problem. "She said why don't we both just sleep on it tonight, and I believe in the morning you'll begin to see the light. And then she kissed me and I realized she's probably right, there must be __ __ __ __ __ __. Just hop on the bus, Gus, you don't need to discuss much. Just drop off the key, Lee, and set yourself free."
Hint: The first 'word' is a number. It's about ways to make an exit.
Living as an expat, one gets used to the idea of always having a copy of your passport, or the original, on your person at all times. Passports don't last forever, they have to be renewed. Since we have been living in Thailand we both have gone through the renewal process. When U.S. passports are renewed, they have a new number. This is where the drama begins. That number is a big part of our identification and when it changes it means we may not show up in a database, or we have to verify that it's us and sign a bunch of papers. This morning we wanted to get new account passbooks at the bank. When we presented our passport copies it opened a can of worms that took one and a half hours to resolve. Each book required at least six signatures on various forms, plus the book itself. We got it done, but it took our whole morning. The adventure continues.
Cat posted photos of Ling-Ling's induction ceremony into monkhood, and it opened up a new understanding on several levels. The temple where it took place is in the village where he lives and there was a large crowd of family and neighbors present to celebrate. Having one of their own become a monk is a very special thing and we could see the joy on their faces. In some villages the initiate is carried through the village on the back of an elephant while everyone follows. Ling-Ling was carried on the shoulders of a man, while another held an umbrella over his head. In other photos we saw him in his orange robes, carrying an alms bag walking down a line of villagers. This is the way monks get their daily food. Every morning they go out and are greeted by locals who place food in the bag and kneel for a blessing from the monk. It was an auspicious day for the family and the villagers.
This afternoon we had a crew from our TV provider come to the house to move the 'dish box' from the back house to Blue's room. They worked hard in the heat trying to figure out how to do it. I would imagine that climbing into the ceiling crawl-space was very hot. They got it working and now Blue has a lot more choices of things to watch. As the guys were leaving, one of them drank some of the water we gave them, but couldn't finish it so he poured the rest into a potted plant on the porch. Very cool.
Today's photo was taken at dinner. Daku and BamBam settled down and snoozed in a position they haven't been in since they were very young.
Have a Thrilling Thursday.
Peace,
Danny
"Every child is an artist.
The problem is how to remain
an artist once we grow up."
~Pablo Picasso
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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