Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Understand

Hi,

Monday in Palo Alto was sunny and cold.  Not a cloud in the sky, but still required warm clothes.  

The ‘Easy Monday’ song slid right past everyone.  Maybe today someone will remember this comedic number:
“I told her that I was a flop with chicks.  I’ve been that way since 1966.  She looked at my palm and she made a magic sign, she said, ‘what you need is __ __ __ __… I didn’t know if it was day or night.  I started kissing everything in sight.  But when I kissed the cop down at Thirty-Fourth and Vine, he broke my little bottle of __ __ __ __.”  Clue:  There is a number involved.  It’s kind of a love song, with a stretch of the imagination.

Our morning began with the cold walk to the front office of the motel for hot coffee.  One needs that in order to pack bags at 6:30 in the morning.  We seem to be traveling lighter and lighter on the Palo Alto adventure, since we rarely wear everything we take.  

We did breakfast at Stacks again with Joe, and the waiter was great with our ‘special’ orders.  He got everything right.  I always enjoy the  ‘culture’ of places like Stacks, where there is a family vibe among the staff and the regulars.  During our meal we talked about kids and language, and creativity.  We always have stimulating conversations and it’s easy to spend the day bouncing around to different topics.

Joe wanted to spend some time in his studio and we wanted to do a little shopping so ventured out.  There is a Target near his house, so that was our first stop.  After looking around a bit, checking the place out, I realized it was like an ‘outpost’ store.  Not quite the full deal.  The departments were all smaller than usual.  Hmm, interesting.  

The photo for the day was taken at the Palo Alto Art Center.  The bear you see is made of wood, and various fabrics.  The artist had an encounter with a bear once, in the woods and the experience moved him.  It’s about 6’ tall.


I don’t know how we ever managed negotiating around places like Palo Alto without the Google Maps Lady.  As frustrating as she can sometimes be, she gets us where we want to go.  Sometimes she needs help too.  Like when we were looking for the GNC store that was supposed to be within walking distance of where we were.  In frustration I asked a UPS driver who was making a delivery and he sent us straight to it.  

Where the Target store had been small, the Big 5 we found was gigantic.  I have never seen such a big ‘5’.  They had stuff I didn’t know I needed.  Lisa said that’s the time to run.  

The rest of the day was about finding a late lunch, and enjoying the subtle gallery that is Joe’s house.  There is something to see at every turn of the head.  It might be a tiny drawing, or a gift from someone that has been on the wall for years.  

When we got to the San Jose Airport, the first thing that struck us was the number of young people wearing Cal jerseys and other items.  The California State University at Berkley Band was my final conclusion.  Then I deduced that they were flying down to march in the Rose Parade.  Then a guy on the P.A. congratulated them.  I looked it up and their football team beat Illinois in a bowl game.  The downside of all this airport joy was the messy check-in that resulted in our not getting our TSA pre-check, which meant we had to stand in extra long lines, unpack bags, blah, blah.  

We got home at 11pm but I must say, today was a good day.  

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                   Peace,
                             Danny

“Seek first to understand, then to be
understood.”
~Stephen Covey

Monday, December 30, 2019

Wisdom

Hi,

Here in Northern California we had a cold and rainy Sunday.  Don’t know what the weather will bring today.  On the other side of the world, it rained in Chiang Rai, finally.  There were hail storms north of Chiang Rai. 
 
The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “Money” by Barrett Strong.  This week’s ‘Easy Monday’ tune is from a group I’m sure you’re familiar with.  They’ve been the topic of many a ‘Zany Day’.  “I took my troubles down to Madame Ruth, you know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth.  She’s got a storefront down at Thirty-Fourth and Vine, selling little bottles of __ __ __ __.”  Hint:  This group is famous for their novelty tunes.  A liquid is involved.

So, Saturday morning we flew to San Jose International Airport, picked up our rental car and drove to San Leandro.   We had our final ‘Cousin’s Lunch’.  Cousin Trudye is moving to Baja Mexico, but will be visiting the L.A. area, so we’ll be relocating the lunch in the future.  I guess we’ll be having a new version soon.  We had a wonderful time with longtime friends Skip and Keith.  

It’s an hour drive from the airport to San Leandro, and about an hour from the lunch site to Palo Alto, our final destination.  By the time we had checked in at our motel, there wasn’t quite time for a nap, so we had to defy Mr. Lag and pretend to doze.  Next thing we knew, it was time to drive to dinner.  We met Lisa’s dad Joe and Karen Jo, Lisa’s step-sister, along with her son-in-law Naeem and Joe’s friend Marie-Louise.  There we were, a table for six in Joe’s favorite Italian restaurant, once again.  Lots of catching up, pet talk, weather talk (so cold), and some health stuff too.  

Trying to stay awake with Brotha Lag hanging around is hopeless.  About 8:15pm he started poking us.  ‘Aren’t you getting sleepy yet?’  By 9:30 we were in bed in the midst of crashing.  Around 11:00 I woke up and the night was a wreck after that.  Sleep was an on again, off again thing.  I’m sure there were moments of rest, just can’t remember.  I just remember tossing and turning and looking at the clock, only to see that 10 minutes had passed.  

Sunday morning we started the day with coffee from our motel’s courtesy kitchen.  They have cereals, bagels, coffee and other breakfast items for the traveler.  The big plus is, the coffee is good.  Part of our routine when we come up north, is to take Joe to breakfast at his favorite morning spot, Stacks.  It’s a pancake house, but has good regular meals.  

At Joe’s house we all took a little morning nap.  It didn’t take much coaxing.  Later we spent some time in his studio, looking at the new work he has produced since our last visit.  There was a lot and in different disciplines as well.  The self-portraits were of special interest, along with some new ink works.  Then we went to the Palo Alto Community Art Center to view an exhibit that focused on humans relationships with animals.  Very interesting work. I’ll show photos tomorrow.

Today’s photo fits into the topic of the gallery show, I suppose.  We see JaiDee and Nitchanan hanging out by the side of the pool.


We spent the entire day with Joe, which meant we had to get food.  Our favorite lunch place near his house is closed on Sundays, so we went to a local deli.  Back at the house, we watched some football and then crashed again.  We woke up just in time for the start of the ‘main event’.  Joe is a big San Francisco 49ers fan so we watched the opening plays and then left him for the evening.  We found a burger place in Palo Alto near Stanford, that was ‘build it yourself’ style.  We built our own turkey burgers from a list, telling them each ingredient we wanted.  It was great, and they had TVs all around the room so we could watch the game while we ate.  This was a big game and fans here are very loyal.  

Tomorrow we’ll pick Joe up for breakfast and then, who knows?

Have a Great Week.       

                       Peace,
                                 Danny

“Each of us finds his unique 
vehicle for sharing with others
his bit of wisdom.”
~Ram Dass

Friday, December 27, 2019

Friday Funnies


Hi

The morning after the rain there were some clouds, but no indication that more water would fall from the sky.  It stayed very cold all day, at least by my measurings (555).  Afternoon dark clouds came and went and we had a dry day.

The ‘Zany Day’ song was “All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)” by Spike Jones and His City Slickers.  
Now it’s time for an ‘Old School Friday’ that’s easy:  “The best things in life are free, but you can give them to the birds and bees.  Now give me __, (that’s what I want) That’s what I want (That’s what I want) That’s what I want.  Your love give me such a thrill, but your love don’t pay my bills, I want __, (That’s what I want) That’s what I want…”  Hint:  It’s that stuff that makes the world go ‘round, buys things, is apparently the root of all evil.  See, easy.

The morning of the big test went as planned and I got to the DMV, met my contact, and entered the building 5th in line.  Meanwhile, people were standing out in the cold for a long time, waiting.  Before one takes the written exam, there are other things to be done.  The eye test almost ran me out of the building.  First, I was told to cover my left eye and read the smallest I could see.  Got the second line with no problem.  Then she asked me to cover my right eye and use the left.  That’s when I thought they might send me home.  It was a total blur and I told her.  Finally, she took me to a machine and had me use both eyes.  I managed to do better and she passed me, with an indication that I must wear prescription lenses.  That was already on my original license.  I missed just enough that I still passed the test and right now, that’s what matters.  I’ve got five years to study (555).  Such a relief to walk out of the building and drive home, legally.

Today’s photo was sent to us from Natcha.  JaiDee is looking all grown and stuff, posing for this.  I wonder what he did next?


Out on the road, we tried to pick up a few things, but kept hitting a brick wall.  The stores we went to didn’t have what we needed.  Hmm, maybe it was time to eat.  That almost worked, but the flavor button wasn’t getting pushed. By the time we got back to the house, we had about 20 minutes for a quick snooze, trying to dodge Mr. Lag.  It really wasn’t enough, but we tried.  We had to go for our eye exams and there was no putting it off.  What seemed like a simple back-to-back appointment lasted longer than expected.  The patient before us took a long time.  

For dinner, we took Sebastian and August out for Japanese food at Mitsuwa.  It’s a combination grocery store and restaurant food court.  Each of ‘The Boys’ has he own preferences and they know a bit about the construction of some of the dishes and that makes eating with them interesting.  After dinner we went into the grocery section and they bought desserts.  It reminded me of home in that we couldn’t read the ingredients on any of the packages, but knew that most of them probably contained soy products, which left me out.  

When we got home, it was all I could do to keep my eyes open.  That ‘Man’ who controls my sleeping had control again and my head kept bobbing.  So pitiful.  

We will end the week with coffee with a cousin and supper with a sibling.  

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.           Time for the ‘Funnies’.

                             Peace,
                                       Danny


Thursday, December 26, 2019

Wealth

Hi,

We woke up to a very cold morning.  The morning news told us the rain would begin this evening and that’s exactly what it did.  Oh yes, it’s raining, on the wrong side of the world as far as we’re concerned, but raining none the less.

The ‘Zany Day’ song this week means more when you’re a kid, but I’m sure you have a memory about this.
“It seems so long since I could say, ‘Sister, Suzy sitting on a thistle.  Every time I try to speak huh, all I do is whistle.’  __ __ __ __ __ (__ __ __ __ __), __ __ __ __, __ __ __ __.  Gee if I could only have __ __ __ __ then I could wish you a Merry Christmas.”  Clue:  It’s about a right of passage most children go through.  Think: Gap, read the lyrics (5).

Christmas morning with the family was lots of fun.  Not only were there cinnamon rolls, turkey bacon and eggs, but there was one of the most creative Santas on the planet.  What, you thought there was only one?  Nah!  Anyway, I was reminded of so many morning with my mother, passing out gifts and wondering ‘where does she find this stuff?’.  Anna got me something this year that will go down in the books as a real ‘keeper’.  This T-shirt says it all:


If you don’t know ‘who’ they are, don’t bother asking a kid, ask an older person (555).

Khun Lag grabbed us by the collar in the early afternoon and just like that, two hours of the day were gone.  It’s not like we don’t take naps at home, but this lag thing feels so helpless.  It’s almost 10pm and it’s about to happen again.  We struggle to stay awake, trying to avoid the ‘early morning call’.  Lisa got the call around 3:15am yesterday, mine came a little later.  Speaking of waking up, JaiDee has been waking up at 6am and that’s great news.  Natcha has been keeping track of the time and it’s being pretty consistent.  She’s been sending us photos and he looks happy.  

In the evening we went out into the world.  With the destination of a giant grocery store, we found some missing kitchen ingredients and a few vitamins we didn’t bring.  The streets were quite empty and it seemed like the middle of the night, but it was only 6:30pm.  We drove down some streets with big light displays of Santas, and other holiday themes and then decided to see if Del Taco was open.  They were and we did (555).

This morning I’m going to the DMV to get a new Driver License.  I was due to get it the last time we were here, but with my back issues and the very long lines, and no appointments, I had to skip the renewal.  This time I found a company that will sit in line for you, so you get in early and take care of business.  My evening was spent filling out the online application and being double verified, identified and scrutinized.  This morning I will meet my ‘connection’ before 7:45am, wait for the opening, present a number and begin the process.  Now ask me if I’m looking forward to any of it.  

Last night we were talking about weather, and how cold it’s been at 45°F in Chiang Rai and Culver City.  Then August casually mentioned that he’s been living in 20°F in Hartford, Connecticut, where he’s going to college.  He even showed us photos of the snow on the campus.  Brrr.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                          Peace,
                                    Danny

“The only wealth which you
will keep forever is the wealth
you have already given away.”
~Marcus Aurelius

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Madness

Hi,

By my calculations, or lack thereof, I missed sending you a Tuesday morning message.  Alterations will be made (555).

What I have calculated are our new phone numbers:  Danny= (310) 980-7434 and Lisa= (310) 980-6896.

There was supposed to be rain in Culver City on Tuesday, but thankfully, that didn’t happen.  It was cool and sunny. The rain will come sometime today (Wednesday).  

Right now you’ve had the ‘Easy Monday’ song for one day and those who know, remember it was another Charles Brown song:  “Merry Christmas, Baby”.  I’m going to move on to a ‘Zany Day’, holiday tune, just to keep me in the right ‘rhythm’ for the rest of the week.  “’Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.  Suddenly I heard a strange noise down below, so, in my flannel pajamas I went tippy-toe.  I could see old Saint Nick from the spot where I stood, so I slid down the banister just as fast as I could.  __ __ __ __ __ (__ __ __ __ __), __ __ __ __, see, __ __ __ __.  Gee, if I could only have __ __ __ __ then I could wish you Merry Christmas.”  Hint:  This is from 1948, by a novelty song band leader.  No apples for this kid.

We arrived in Los Angeles at 6:15am on Tuesday morning.  It took 1.5 hours to go through the process of Border Patrol clearance and baggage retrieval and then customs.  Those last two parts were really a snap.  Whenever several international flights arrive at LAX at the same time, there are very long lines to stand in before reaching the machines that check passports.  Then there is a person who stamps said passports.  That’s what takes time.  

By the time we got our car at Hertz, and sat down at Dinah’s for coffee and a light breakfast, a morning message was the last thing on my mind.  We knew Senior Lag was right behind us and we still had a few stops to make.  He finally tackled us after a light lunch and kept us in a headlock for several hours.

We had a delicious multiple-fish dinner with Jeff, Anna, Sebastian and August.  Anna and August did most of the cooking and it was one of those meals that called for second helpings.  In addition to the fabulous meal, the apartment had some cute, new holiday decorations that made us smile and feel welcome.  

Today’s photo is the dinner table.  


Mr. Lag is back upon us and beckoning.  Time to submit to the bliss.

Feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                      Peace,
                                Danny

“You’re only given a little spark
of madness.  You mustn’t lose it.”
~Robin Williams

Monday, December 23, 2019

Anger

Hi,

So, here we are, about to embark on this long trek once again.  The timing of our flights makes it impossible to estimate exactly when I’ll send this, but hopefully it will be during your morning if you’re on the West Coast of the U.S.  The weather here is more friendly than what is waiting for us in L.A.  They tell us it will be raining.  Oh fine, be like that.  

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “The Christmas Song”, first recorded in 1946, and then re-recorded several times by Nat Cole and his Trio until he was happy with it.  The 1961 version is apparently the favorite by listeners.  Now it’s time for an ‘Easy Monday’ song.  It’s by a singer from last week.  The title is what many people will be saying on December 25th.  “__ __, __, you sure did treat me nice.  __ __, __, you sure did treat me nice.  Gave me a diamond ring for Christmas, now I’m living in paradise.  Well, I’m feelin' mighty fine, got good music on my radio.  Well, I'm feelin’ mighty fine, got good music on my radio.  Well, I wanna kiss you, baby, while you’re standing beneath the mistletoe.”  Hint:  This same artist begged her to "Please Come Home….”, so I guess she did.

Fast forward to 12:30am, our plane from Chiang Rai was late so we just got settled in the EVA lounge.  It would have been much later, but we got to go through a Passport Control room that was empty.  At my ‘age’ standing in very long lines is not OK, so they send us to the special place.  

The day was the usual serious packing day.  We did take some time in the morning for a ‘goodbye’ cup of coffee at The Wanderer.  Mercy greeted us, but with no JaiDee, she tired of us quickly.  The photo below was taken with my new iPhone and its amazing camera.


Natcha fed us two giant meals in preparation for our long journey.  It was all good stuff; she’s really working on helping with the cholesterol thing.  She baked a big batch of the cacao cookies, and a big bag of cookies for Joe.

Kong (he spells it with a ‘K’, but sounds like ‘G’) and Nitchanan took us to the airport this evening.  On the way, she sang us the Alphabet song and a song in Chinese.  It was quite charming.  When we got to the airport, Cat’s boyfriend Noom helped us with our bags and Cat met us while we were in line.  We later hung out with her and talked about her exams and also the two weeks she’ll be waking up with JaiDee in the mornings.  She’ll be staying at the house while she does some student teaching at a private school nearby.  She’ll get the early shift and Natcha will watch him the rest of the time.  He’s one lucky puppy.

We have an hour before we board the flight for Taipei.  Three and a half hours in the air and then four on the ground, then off to the wild blue yonder and the U.S.  

Have a Great Week.

                       Peace,
                                 Danny

“You will not be punished for your
anger, you will be punished by your
anger.”
~Buddha

Friday, December 20, 2019

Friday Funnies

Hi,

There was a 10% chance of rain overnight, which means it didn’t (555).  We did get morning clouds and the look of a ‘maybe it could rain’, but they burned off by mid-day.  It’s supposed to get cold again next week, but we won’t worry about that.  We’ll have our own dose of 'Chiang Rai Cold' in  Culver City and surrounding areas once we arrive on Tuesday. 

The ‘Middle Song’ was “Please Come Home For Christmas”, originally by Charles Brown (1960) and then The Eagles (1978).  There were minor lyric changes in the cover, but it’s basically the same song.  Time for a holiday ‘Old School Friday’:  “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose.  Yuletide carols being sung by a choir, and folks dressed up like Eskimos…”  Hint:  Really?  This could have been an ‘Easy’ song.  The title is very simple and to the point.  There are actually many recordings by the original artist.

This morning Cat came over to go to brunch with us.  She brought along some holiday gifts.  Nothing like opening stuff early, like eager little kids.  At The Wanderer we met up with John and his niece Haley, who is visiting from the States.  It was a semi-brunch in that not everybody had a meal.  We had breakfast at 5am with JaiDee and didn’t want to spoil our lunch, so we had coffee and roti.  Haley and Cat had meals and John had a latte.  It was an interesting mix of morning food.  We all laughed so much, it’s a wonder we ate what was in front of us.  Haley is studying ‘Gaming Art’, which we found to be interesting.  We saw her latest character that was part of an assignment and it was awesome.  There is a mythical Thai character that is part monkey and part demon.  Her’s looked very realistic.  Digital art is quite a big thing these days.  After we laughed and ate and drank, we came to our house so Haley could see some of Lisa’s recent works and meet JaiDee.  

Today’s photo shows JaiDee standing at the ‘barista counter’ waiting for orders.


After some of Natcha’s outrageous spaghetti, there was a brief rest period and then we hit the road for Mae Chan.
We arrived a little early, so as to be first in line, and there was no waiting.  Dr. Mark spent over an hour with us, discussing the nature of the pain in my back, the condition of the original injury, and deciding where to treat the pain.  I told him about my toe and he examined it and gave me an injection to help reduce the swelling and make it a more useable appendage.  As a result, walking is much more comfortable.  Still not ready for any road racing, but I’m ready for the airports.  

On our trip to Mae Chan we saw a group of monks and nuns from one of the orders that doesn’t use modern transportation.  They were walking up the highway, in a long line that may have started together, but was all spread out.  Cat’s boyfriend, Noom, is going into an order for 15 days to gain merit for his parents.  He is joining the ‘Forest Monks’, who live a very austere life in the mountains, and follow a very basic structure.  

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.   Stay tuned for the ‘Funnies’.

                          Peace,
                                    Danny

PS  I’ll write the Monday message to you from TaiPae.


Thursday, December 19, 2019

Happier

Hi,

Ask me about the weather and you’ll get a big smile.  It’s a little after 9pm, the window is open and I’m warm.

The ‘Middle Song’ this week was originally recorded in 1960 by a blues singer, then again in 1978 by a rock band.
“So won’t you tell me, you’ll never roam, Christmas and New Years will find you home.  There’ll be no more sorrow, no grief and pain, and I’ll be happy, Christmas once again.  __ __ __ __ __, __ __ __ __ __….”  Clue: Wanting a return for the holiday.

This morning JaiDee returned to his 5:20am rising.  After our morning routine we were in the kitchen preparing to go out for coffee.  JaiDee went to the back door, as if to say, ‘I’m ready, let’s go’.  Unfortunately, he wasn’t going with us and he didn’t like that.  We went to Chivit Thamma Da for a quiet coffee by the river before going to Big C.  

After our shopping, we returned to the house and picked up The Little Prince for an outing at the doctor’s office.  he doesn’t mind going, at least not yet, because he has a couple of friends on the staff that give him lots of attention.  While we were waiting, one of his buddies came out and they had a regular love fest.  It’s so beautiful to see this great big guy kneeling down petting, tickling and mumbling to the puppy.  

Here is JaiDee at 5 months and 20 kilos (44lbs).  


Yesterday I was driving towards downtown when I saw the lights of an ambulance above the roofs of the cars.  I was on a two-lane street with a slight bike lane and there was nowhere for this emergency vehicle to go.  I have wondered about this since we got here.  You know, ‘what would happen if?’.  Well, it happened, and so did an amazing thing.  The traffic parted down the middle and the ambulance was able to move through the traffic.  Fortunately there was no parking on one side, so there was someplace to go.  There was something special about all those drivers working together to make it happen.

This evening we went back to the Night Bazaar for some last-minute gifts.  The place was very busy with ‘visitors’.  They seemed to be buying, which is something we always look for, to see if the local merchants are making any money.  Sometimes there will be lots of people walking through, but just looking, and people have trouble making rent on their stalls, etc.  I guess we can say we did our part (555).

Tomorrow we have a brunch at The Wanderer and a road-trip to Mae Chan.  

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                         Peace,
                                   Danny

“Spread love everywhere you go.
Let no one ever come to you 
without leaving happier.”
~Mother Teresa

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Doctor


Hi,

Today was a little warmer than yesterday.  We are happy about that.  Our friend Frank wrote to tell us not to pack away the warm clothes.  The temps in Southern California are very similar to what we recently experienced here in Chiang Rai.  It’s those lows in the mid-40’s that get me.  Message received and thanks.  

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “Santa Baby” by Eartha Kitt.  This week’s ‘Middle Song’ is a holiday blues:
“Bells will be ringing this sad, sad news.  Oh what a Christmas, to have the blues.  My baby’s gone, I have no friends, to wish me greetings once again.  Choirs will be singing, ‘Silent Night’, Christmas carols by candlelight.  __ __ __ __ __, __ __ __ __ __, If not by Christmas, by New Years night…”  Hint: A holiday plea.  A hit in two different eras.

This morning we went without breakfast, following instructions for our blood tests to check our cholesterol and blood sugar levels.  I also had them check to see if my anemia was still gone.  After they took our blood we were hungry, so we went to The Wanderer for breakfast, and we were actually "breaking our fast."  Lisa had a sane, balanced meal.  I went for dessert, French toast with sliced apples and caramel drizzle.  

Our doctor would not be in until 11:30am so we went visiting at Teppawan Art Supply.  This time we got a parking spot and spent some time visiting.  I had an interesting conversation with Pete, son of the owners, about his 7 year old son.  His son Charles is into computer games, but they are serious learning devices.  One of them has him learning how to build a house, including the supplies needed.  The other game he likes teaches how to do coding to control a robot.  I learned something new today.

Back at the hospital, we got our results and my blood is doing great.  My cholesterol is high.  So, diet changes are in order.  We went through the things we eat and discovered the things that are a part of the cause.  At first I thought I’d have to give up my special cacao cookies that Natcha makes but they are ‘clean’.  We both consume various things derived from the coconut.  The bread I have for breakfast is made with coconut flour, we use coconut oil for some cooking, and a lot of treats we enjoy use coconut flour also.  This fruit that has so many benefits also contributes to higher cholesterol levels.  Note: we will be doing further research on how to lower these levels.  

The rest of the day was a blur.  After lunch we took a short nap, and had our Skype visit with Tasmania, I went to my meeting, had dinner and then took JaiDee for his walk.  

Several readers wanted to know about ‘The Hawk’ reference, so here goes.  I first heard the term used in the 50’s by comedian Dick Gregory.  ‘The Hawk’ is a term used to describe very cold weather, in some cases cold wind.  Gregory told a story of walking down the street in Chicago and, upon reaching the corner of a building, was hit by ‘The Hawk’, who asked:  ‘Where’s your overcoat.’  In conclusion, ‘The Hawk’ is not Thai (555).

Today’s photo is one of the decorations around the mall tree.  I just love this little guy.


It feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                         Peace,
                                   Danny

“My doctor told me I shouldn’t
work out until I’m in better shape.
I told him, ‘All right; don’t send me 
a bill until I pay you.’
~Steven Wright

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Lead

Hi,

If you’re keeping track, it was even warmer today than yesterday.  This is about the time we start looking at California temperatures while deciding on clothes to take on our trip.  Looks like the ‘Winter gear’ for our two days in Palo Alto, and our Chiang Rai clothes for Southern Calif.  

“__ __, a 54 convertible too, light blue.  I’ll wait up for you dear, __ __, so hurry down the chimney tonight.  Think of all the fun I’ve missed, think of all the fellas that I haven’t kissed.  Next year I could be just as good, if you’ll check off my Christmas list.  __ __, I wanna yacht, and really that’s not a lot.  Been singing angels all  year, __ __, so hurry down the chimney tonight.”

This morning, while we were talking to Lisa’s dad Joe, Gong took the van to the DMV and renewed the registration.  After we talked to Joe, we called New Zealand and talked with her brother Dan.  It was a bit of a Skype day.  Everyone is doing great and for a moment, the world seemed a little smaller.  Tomorrow we talk with our friends Stephen and Claire in Tasmania.  

JaiDee has decided on 5:20am as his regular wake-up time.  The interesting thing is, he doesn’t want to go outside, or eat right away, he wants to be petted.  That’s when he’s at his best.  This gentle soul who just wants to be close and feel a hand stroking his head and scratching behind his ears.  But understand, he’s still a puppy and the mood can change at any time.  An interesting thing happened this afternoon:  Somehow, he found the kitchen door ajar and just strolled out into the yard.  Lisa didn’t see him and called for him outside and he came bounding from behind the pool with a happy look on his face.  He was just exploring on his own.  We’re thinking this might be something to let him do in small doses, just to get to know the whole yard.  

Our morning ‘street plan’ was to get some coffee and then visit our friends at Teppawan Art Supply.  At Work@Home we had a fun time with Katai, the co-owner, talking mostly about dogs and looking at photos.  It sounds like she and her husband Towan are getting closer to getting a puppy.  

As we approached the art supply store we noticed a pick-up truck with flashing red lights (Police) in front of the shop.  There are signs stating the days of the week and which side of the street you can park.  There must be a new sheriff in town because the side we usually use was empty, except for one motorbike and it was being scrutinized by the pick-up truck.  Around the block there was no parking so we just drove home.  Tomorrow will be the side we like anyway (555).

Natcha and Nitchanan went Christmas caroling tonight with a group from their church.  They’ll go again tomorrow night as well.  Nitchanan will probably really enjoy herself.  

The English teaching school where Cat has been working part-time has closed it’s doors.  When she found out they were going out of business, she filled out some applications and now has a job teaching part-time at the YMCA.  She likes the structure and the management so it should be good for her.  

After the evening walk and the running across the lawn, JaiDee was still full of energy.  The upstairs bedroom is not a good place for a full-of-energy dog of any age.  The toy in this photo worked for a little while.  Here, in the photo below, he’s perched himself on the shelf that Daku used to rest on when he was a tiny puppy.  Hmm.


Have a Happy Tuesday.

                        Peace,
                                  Danny

“To lead people walk behind them.”
~Lao Tzu

Monday, December 16, 2019

Run


Hi,

Happy days are here again (555).  It’s really getting warmer.  As directed by my brother, who lives in Colorado, I will stop complaining about the cold.  As he put it, "The ‘Hawk’ ain’t Thai”.  If you don’t know about The Hawk, we’ll have a lesson soon.

The ‘Old School Friday’ tune was “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?”, by Chicago.  Probably one of the longer song titles in those days.  Time for a change of pace, and some ‘Holiday’ songs.  We’ll kick off ‘Easy Monday’ with a classic:  “__ __, just slip a sable under the tree, for me.  Been an awful good girl, __ __, so hurry down the chimney tonight.”  Hint:  This early ‘novelty’ song became the singer’s most famous hit.  It was written in 1953, for the singer.

Things I forgot to explain:  Friday I mentioned that I would be celebrating a milestone in my Recovery, but didn’t tell you what that meant.  Well, on January 5, I will have been Clean and in Recovery for 30 years. 

Saturday morning we went to the mall for some shopping and walked into a big surprise.  A huge tree filled the entrance part of the lobby.  There were also big decorations all around the walkways.  The first photo shows the ‘tunnel of lights’, and in the second, I’m in there with a polar bear.



Sunday we had lunch at The Wanderer.  It felt a little odd without the puppy, but sometimes the adult humans need time alone.  We were all set to have dinner at Sawadee Restaurant, in the night Bazaar, but they were closed.  We opted to dine at Connect Cafe, a place we’ve known since we moved here.  It’s run by a husband and wife team who lured us in with yummy brownies and cool jazz.  We talked with the husband and asked about their twins (boy and girl).  He told us they are now in grade 4 and doing great.  On our return through the Night Bazaar we saw our friends Susan and Noy and their visiting relatives.  

Today we shopped for food in the morning and had massages from Khun Jin in the afternoon.  I got my first 2 hour massage from Jin and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be.  When it was over I felt very relaxed all over.  A few annoying aches were gone and I’ll probably want another round midway through our visit to the States.  Oh well (555).

Have a Great Week.

                   Peace,
                             Danny

“Let not your mind run on what 
you lack, as much as on what you 
have already.”
~Marcus Aurelius

Friday, December 13, 2019

Friday Funnies

Hi,

The weather in Chiang Rai is on a warming trend.  There’s still a bite in the air in the morning, but it’s ‘leaving’ sooner than before.

The ‘Zany Day’ song was “25 Or 6 To 4”, by Chicago.  A serious case of ‘writer’s block’.  Time for ‘Old School Friday’ from their first LP, when they were Chicago Transit Authority.  Hope it brings back memories.  “As I was walking down the street one day, a man came up to me and asked me what the time was that was on my watch, yeah.  And I said, ‘__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __, I don’t know, does anybody really care?  If so, I can’t imagine why, we’ve all got time enough to cry, oh no, no.”  Hint:  There is a giant hint in there, but it’s about the status of the passage of something.  Hmm.

Today was moving day, but first there was coffee with John at Chivit Thamma Da.  We discussed everything from how our pets have control of the house to the status of health care to a few whispered comments about politics (555).  We have fun sharing experiences as expats, with comparisons to that ‘other life’ when appropriate.  

We have been living in our downstairs guest room for 3 months and it was time to return to the proverbial nest.  About a week after JaiDee came home we realized that he was getting too big to carry up and down the stairs.  He could make the climb himself, but it wasn’t good for his young joints and muscles.  Now that he is a stronger dog, and he doesn’t have to go outside nearly as often, we’re ready for a change.  Cat came over after lunch and helped us carry everything that had accumulated in the guest room to the upstairs room.  There was more than we remembered.  It’s so nice, being back in our real living quarters.  What made the whole thing easier was the fact that JaiDee prefers to sleep in the kitchen for his naps and overnight.  

We’re at that point in our prep for the Winter Visit that there are several lists being addressed.  After 12 years of this, leaving home for 3 weeks still feels like a lifetime.  Making sure that Gong and Natcha have what they need to keep things going, that JaiDee will continue to be spoiled, and that we are taking enough warm clothes.  There’s also the list of people and places we want to see.  We know what to do, it’s the ‘thinking about it’ that can trip one up.  There is also the fact that the last week of our trip, I will be celebrating a major milestone, in my eyes, in my Recovery.  So, on the one hand one must plan ahead, and on the other, one must try to stay in the ‘now’.  

Today’s photo was taken in 2016, right down the road from our house in a little inlet of the Kok River.  We don’t know how everyone knew, but the word got out fast.  One day a year this happened, then it stopped.  I guess the fish stopped coming.  


Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.     Time for the ‘Funnies’.

                       Peace,
                                 Danny


Thursday, December 12, 2019

Suffering


Hi,

I’m happy to report that it’s actually getting warmer.  That’s not to say the we have shed the winter wear just yet.  Getting up in the morning is still shocking.  Daytime feels like summer.  This could make one crazy.

The ‘Zany Day’ song has a few fans out there.  It’s not what it appears to be; perhaps a search for inspiration.
“Staring blindly into space, getting up to splash my face.  Wanting just to stay awake, wondering how much I can take.  Should I try to do some more?  __ __ __ __ __….Searching for something to say, waiting for the break of day, __ __ __ __ __.”  Clue:  Time is an element in the title.

This morning JaiDee was raring to go at 5:40am.  So much for theories about sleep patterns and puppies.  Last night he had more sleep than the night before, but woke up earlier.  He did manage to take a nap after breakfast and all of us got up around 8.  Having Natcha back gives us the option of leaving JaiDee at home when we need to run errands.  Today was a day like that.  

After coffee at The Wanderer, we drove up to ArtBridge so Lisa could repair the mounting on a painting that will be in the annual Artists Exhibition later this month.  From there we went to Bangkok Hospital for a check-in with her doctor.  Things are going well and he dismissed us with no charge.  There are little ‘wafer’ style batteries that are used in some newer products, like scales, etc.  We stopped at Mega  to see if they had any, but no.  Down the highway a few minutes and we were at Makro, the Costco of Thailand.  It used to be our main store for quantities, but lately we’ve been buying things from different sources.  Today it was just a few items and even though the place was a zoo, we found an empty check-out lane and got out with our sanity.  This store supplies a lot of mom and pop markets in the surrounding villages and people go to check out with carts piled high with merchandise.

That was enough of a day right there, but there was more.  This afternoon we took JaiDee to the vet.  As soon as we walked in the door the staff were greeting him by name.  They never say ‘Hi’ to us.  It was like ‘Cheers’, if you’re that old.  A sample was taken to see why he is still itching so much.  It is a bacterial infection, apparently a mystery, so we came home with more meds for the puppy.  One of them will help with the itching while the other one kills the infection.  The scales revealed what seemed obvious to us, JaiDee is growing.  He weighs 19.4 kilos, or 42 lbs. and it’s all muscle. 

The moon is full and that’s all you need to know.  It might explain some of the odd behavior we’ve encountered on the road and at home today (555).

Today’s photo was taken at The Wanderer.  


Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                       Peace,
                                 Danny

“Although the world is full of
suffering, it is also full of the
overcoming of it.”
~Helen Keller

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Day


Hi,

The cold is still with us.  The worst time is the overnight ‘shift’.  Daytime temps are in the 70’s, but it’s those mid 40’s, low 50’s that require layers of clothing.  All around town, small fires can be seen right off the street, with people gathered around for warmth.  Many homes in the villages are not built to withstand these low temperatures.  

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “Saturday In The Park” by Chicago.  Here’s a ‘Zany Day’ tune from the band:
“Waiting for the break of day.  Searching for something to say.  Flashing lights against the sky.  Giving up I close my eyes.  Sitting crossed-legged on the floor, __ __ __ __ __.”  Hint: There are a bunch of numbers involved.

We spent the day at the house.  Khun Naa, the pool guy, comes on Wednesday and since we had to let him in and out, we just stayed home.  JaiDee slept all night, until 6:20am.  The little break for food during his evening marathon sleep made all the difference.  He was a pretty good dog until this evening.  He slept all afternoon and woke up ready to terrorize the world.  As we were coming home from his walk we noticed the moon.  Tomorrow is supposed to be the official full night, but this moon was clearly tugging at a certain puppy brain.  

We didn’t notice until late afternoon, but ‘The Little Family’ returned from their trip to Mae Sai.  They knew we were taking our nap so they didn’t disturb us.  Our clue that they were back was Natcha’s singing to JaiDee.  Nitchanan was very excited to tell us that she brought us gifts.  Natcha told us we should open them, since we could use them now.  Later, after the walk, we opened our gifts.  Lisa now has some warm pajamas and I have a pair of very cozy slippers.  The timing couldn’t be better.  

Gong washed all of their shoes after the trip and set them in the sun to dry.  Today’s photo is:  Shoes in the Sun.


Tomorrow is doctor day and Friday is coffee day.  We’ve given them these names because that’s the nature of the days.  JaiDee is still itching, so we’re taking him for consultation.  It will also be nice to know how much he weighs these days.  Lisa’s just going for a check-up.  On Friday we’re having coffee with our friend John in the morning,
and n the afternoon Brenda is coming to the house for coffee.  I guess we could call Friday ‘American Expat Coffee Day’, but we won’t (555).

Feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                      Peace,
                                Danny

“When someone is impatient and 
says, ‘I haven’t got all day,’ I always
wonder, how can that be?  How can you 
not have all day?”
~George Carlin

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

See

Hi,

It’s still cold here in Chiang Rai.  We had a high of 77°F and a low last night of 45.  Now they tell us we’re on a slow climb to more comfortable temps.  It will continue to be ‘cold’ until the end of January, according to the Bangkok Post.  

This ‘Easy Monday’ tune reminds me of the Love Ins of the 60’s, only on the East Coast.  The band is named after a city known for it’s wind.  “Another day __ __ __, I think it was the Fourth of July.  Another day __ __ __, I think it was the Fourth of July.  People talking, really smiling, a man playing guitar (play a song, play a song, play on), singing for us all.  Will you help him change the world?  Can you dig it (yes, I can).  And I’ve been waiting such a long time, for today.”  Clue:  Where is a likely place for a picnic to be held?

Last night Mr. JaiDee went to sleep after all the exercise.  Normally, we wake him up around 9:45pm for a tiny meal and then he might sleep until 5+am.  Last night he didn’t want to wake up so he just slept, until 4:20am.  Should have made him get up.  Tonight we’ll make sure he stays awake before his big crash (555).

This morning we went to The Wanderer for coffee, roti and ice.  When we enter the property, JaiDee routinely turns toward the gate to the apartments where the family lives, looking for Mercy.  Today they were all sitting around the ‘Winter Fire’, as I call it, and when they saw JaiDee a big welcome from everyone surprised him.  Mercy ran over and they started playing before we even had time to order our coffee.  Joey wanted to join in, but he still has to take it easy.  Once inside, Kwan, Kern and their brother Khun joined us and played with JaiDee.  Mercy wasn’t getting enough attention so she came to us and the whole thing was a doggie love fest.  The coffee and roti saved us from the animals (555).

On the first night of ‘The Cold’, Lisa draped a towel over JaiDee while he slept.  He left it there for a long time and then kicked it off, but so cute.


This evening, after dinner, JaiDee was acting like a brat.  In the bedroom he went into The Zoomies and raced around and surprised us by jumping up on the bed.  We thought it was too tall for him, but there he was, up on the edge.  He did it twice, just to prove it wasn’t a fluke.  Now we have that to contend with.  Beds are off limits, no exceptions.  Hmm, there must be a training video that covers this.

In less than two weeks we will start our trek to the States.  There are still plenty of things to do, get, fix, etc.  Oh yes, and decide, as in whether to move back upstairs to our ‘real’ bedroom, or wait until we return.  Meanwhile, the coffee dates are starting to appear on the calendar.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                         Peace,
                                   Danny

“There are three classes of people:
those who see, those who see when they
are shown, and those who do not see.”
~Leonardo da Vinci

Monday, December 9, 2019

Can't


Hi,

The weather in a word: Cold!  We got that low of 45°F that everyone was forecasting.  It did warm up today, to somewhere in the 70s.  So we’re in the 30° swing thing again.  This year it’s a little more extreme.  

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “Drown In My Own Tears” by Ray Charles.  ‘Easy Monday’ should ring a bell:
“__ __ __ __, I think it was the Fourth of July.  __ __ __ __, I think it was the Fourth of July.  People dancing, people laughing, a man selling ice cream singing Italian songs.  ‘Eh cumpari, ci vo sunari’ can yoiui dig it (yes, I can).  And I’ve been waiting such a long time for __.”  Hint:  A day of the week is involved, and a group with a big horn section.

The big news at The Big Brown House is that JaiDee likes to sleep in the kitchen.  It began with putting him in there one day during ‘nap time’.  He barked once and went to sleep.  Then we tried it last night and he crashed and didn’t wake up until 5:20am.  This is wonderful, we don’t have to feel tethered to the puppy and it turns out, he likes it.  Could this mean he’s growing even more?  Oh my.  On another note, since we put the ring in the front of his halter, the walks are much better, with less pulling.  

Natcha, Nitchanan and Gong are in Mae Sai for a few days.  It’s time for Gong to take Chopper for a vet visit.  He has grown up to be a big dog with much better manners than when he lived here.  When I asked Nitchanan how he was she spread her arms and said “Big”.  Natcha made us a bunch of food so we can feed ourselves during her absence.  

Saturday night we were going to go to “Walking Street”, something we haven’t done in years.  "Walking Street” is a weekly event that involves closing off a main street that stretches across town for many blocks.  Vendors from Chiang Rai and all around the province set up booths and sell handmade items as well as commercial goods.  There is a whole section of ethnic food and music, and the crowd travels up one side and down the other, as if caught in a tide.   Our plan was to park nearby, then take a Tuk-Tuk to the actual street, and then get a ride back to the van after we were done.  Just approaching the area was a little intimidating.  The traffic was very heavy.  We decided to check out the Night Bazaar first, and see if many vendors were there.  That turned out to be a good decision, with a lot less stress.  We saw our friends, and did a lot of the shopping we needed to do.  

This morning we went to The Wanderer for coffee and the staff were all wrapped up in warm outfits.  They are basically working outside, so the morning part of their shift is pretty cold.  They had even dressed the cats in sweaters.   Below is one of the cutest pics.


Have a Great Week.

                        Peace,
                                  Danny

“My dear friend, clear your mind
of ‘can’t’”.
~Samuel Johnson