Popcorn

Hi,

The temperatures went even higher today.  It was over 100° and will be the same or higher tomorrow.  Stay inside, run the air/con and try not to think about it (555).

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “Handy Man” by Jimmy Jones, covered by James Taylor.  Our ‘Middle Song’ is also a bit zany :  “What would you think if I sang out of tune, would you stand up and walk out on me?  Lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a song, and I’ll try not to sing out of key.  Oh, I get by __ __ __ __ __ __ __, mm, I get high __ __ __ __ __ __ __, mm, gonna try __ __ __ __ __ __ __.”  Hint:  Most people will recognize this song of support originally given to us by those four lads from across the pond.  Oh, and somebody from their homeland did a wonderful cover.

This was another day with the lovable ‘Hell-dog’ himself.  I know he can’t help it, but sometimes one feels like there is no escaping ‘crazy.  Today JaiDee tried everything he could to get the cone off.  Most of his efforts were trying to remove the extension that keeps him from biting his tail.  By this evening we had used up all of the duct tape in the house and he still managed to undo the thing.  This also involved periods of manic behavior that were kind of scary.  Then he’d snap out of it and get mellow.  We have to deal with this until Monday, when the doctor says we can free him from his torment.  I am confident that once the hoodie is off, our dog will return.

So, with nowhere to go, it means there’s not much to tell you about Chiang Rai, except that it’s been fairly quiet out there on our road.  No music at night, and no illegal late-night parties.  That happened last week, right here in our quiet little city, when police raided a group of 22 people and a load of drugs.  In some parts of Thailand, cities are imposing curfews.  Some range from 11pm to 5am, or 10 to 4, depending on the community.  Not knowing what really goes on at night these days, my guess is that this wouldn’t be a major hardship here.  Some cities have steep fines for breaking curfew.  We don’t have one yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if eventually all of Thailand has a form of curfew.  So much easier to stay in one place.

The hard part about all of this is the isolation from close friends and loved ones.  We talk to Cat every evening and it’s not easy for her living whole days alone.  Even the place where she buys prepared food has taken away the chairs, so it’s just ‘take away’ style.  These days, her companion is Netflix.  Having someone to share the isolation with is a big ‘plus’.  Grateful for the privilege of being ‘alone’ with Lisa and the  family.

Today’s photo is another memory.  This was taken by the Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai.  A yogurt Tuk-Tuk, amazing.

I’ve decided to wait until next week to take photos of JaiDee chasing the water.  It will be much more poetic without the cone/hoodie flailing around his neck.  You’ll see the beauty of his movements, blah, blah, blah.  Stay tuned.

Feel like a Wacky Wednesday.

                         Peace,

                                   Danny

“The laziest man I ever knew put

popcorn in his pancakes so they 

would turn over by themselves."

~W.C. Fields