Vision

Hi,

We're still having cold weather here in Chiang Rai.  By cold I mean high 40s to low 50s at night and mid 70s in the daytime.  I think this cold stuff is following us.  I'm ready for some warm weather.

Our 'Old School Friday' song was "Silhouettes" by The Rays.  Time for some 'Easy Monday' and a song I know you'll remember:  "If there's anything that you want, if there's anything that you need.  Just call on me and I'll send it along with love __ __ __ __."  Hint:  An early one from those four lads from across the pond.  Title is full of pronouns and prepositions.  (555)

Friday night I picked up Cat and a friend after the concert.  They talked at a rapid pace all the way home.  I couldn't understand a word of it, but the energy was amazing.  After we dropped her friend off, Cat told me this was her first time going to a real concert.  She was very excited about it and wants to see more.  I got to hear a few songs as I waited for them.  What I do know is that it was loud.  I was across the street with the windows up and I could still hear everything.  

Sunday morning we were to meet our friends Stephan and Claire at Chivit Tamma Da for breakfast.  When we arrived there was no parking to be found and we ended up at Doi Chaang Coffee.  Later we found out that there was a wedding reception at Chivit.  A morning reception is a new one on me.   I can understand wanting to have it at such a beautiful spot.  The ambience is very romantic.  

We finally got to see the flower show on Sunday afternoon.  It's a smaller version of the one we missed, but still beautiful.  It's in a park in the center of town and they transform the grounds to be a giant garden.  It's across the street from Cat's school so she acted as tour guide.  We strolled around and took in the colors and smells.  There were lots of families doing the same thing, and lots of photos being taken.  Cat told us she sometimes buys her lunch and eats in the garden.  That's what I call relaxing.  I have lots of photos to share and we'll start with some color contrasts.

Chiang Rai is full of visitors these days.  There were very large crowds over the holidays and it seems like they're still here.  When we went to dinner last night at the Night Bazaar, our favorite restaurant only had a few small tables that weren't booked.  They had four large tours coming in and I saw them turning customers away.  We were going to walk around after dinner but it was just too cold.  Imagine that, too cold to cruise the Night Bazaar.  On the way home we saw the lighted decorations on Clock Tower Street, where New Years Eve had been a giant spectacle.  Friends told us the street was blocked off and there were thousands of people celebrating.  

Have a Great Week.

              Peace,

                        Danny 

"Your vision will become clear
only when you look into your heart.
Who looks outside, dreams.
Who looks inside, awakens."
~Carl Jung

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Friday Funnies

Hi,

The morning fog over Chiang Rai was heavier than yesterday.  Mr. Lag is still around, but we're putting up a good fight.  Day two with no nap and we're hanging tough.  

This week's 'Zany Day' song was "The Weight" by The Band.  Now it's time for 'Old School Friday'.

"Took a walk and passed your house, late last night.  All the shades were pulled and drawn, way down tight.  From within a dim light cast two __ on the shade.  Oh, what a lovely couple they made..."  Hint:  Hmm, kinda easy.  

We're gradually getting back into our regular schedule.  This morning while we got the van washed, we had coffee and conversation at Work@Home.  Khun Katai, the owner, sat with us and we had a long talk about dogs and whether she would get another dog after the passing of Jonathan.  We told her about our trip and she told us about local happenings.  Before we picked up the van we went to Doi Chaang for a bag of coffee.  We saw our friends Rachel and Tawee, from The Sold Project.  That sense of community is back full-force.

This afternoon we sold the Vios.  The car is gone.  It was a great little car and it served us well.  The cool thing about the new van is that it's not much wider than the car, which means it's not uncomfortable trying to squeeze through traffic.  Today we saw two giant tour buses and realized how narrow they are.  Most buses in the US are shorter and wider, providing more interior seating space.  I'd be curious to see inside one of these giants some day.  

This afternoon Cat called to remind us that she was going to a concert tonight in the park across from her school.  She told us about it a few days ago.  It's a band that she called 'Superstars', which means they're really good and very popular.  It reminded me of Chuck Berry's song 'Sweet Little Sixteen', about a girl wanting to go to a concert.  Do you remember those days?

The photo for today is one of the elephants in the parade yesterday.  You can see the Clock Tower and the traffic back-up.  We could see 'visitors' scrambling to get photos as the parade turned the corner.  What a treat if you're from out of town.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.    Stay tuned for a laugh.

               Peace,

                         Danny

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Character

Hi,

Chiang Rai had fog this morning.  It was gone in a few hours, but it was weird to wake up and not see the fields or the big trees.  Another day, another parade, just to let me know I'm not in Kansas anymore.

It would appear that the 'Zany Day' song is firmly embedded in your minds.  Here's another verse:

"Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog.  He said,'I will fix your rags, if you'll take Jack, my dog.'  I said, 'Wait a minute, Chester, you know I'm a peaceful man.'  He said, 'That's okay boy, won't you feed him when you can."  Clue:  The band recorded this song in a very colorful house.  The title is not in the lyrics.

The big news from the Big Brown House is that we may have sold our car.  In other house news, there was a funeral at a house on the other side of the field, according to Boot, and two of the lantern/balloons landed in our pool, and one in our tree.  There are more of them in the field next door.  What goes up must come down.  So strange to see these gray shapes on the bottom of the pool, like monsters.  Fortunately, the pool guy came yesterday and took them out.

On my way to get the first month service on the van, I followed a caravan of pick-up trucks filled with young women holding signs.  It turned out not to be political but commercial.  They were all holding signs advertising products, but I don't know what they were selling.  First I thought it was an odd sight, but then it hit me that it was a case of shrewd marketing.  A truck filled with pretty young women will get attention, then you read the signs.  The servicing took about 30 minutes and on my way home I saw the trucks in another part of town.  What a way to spend a morning. 

This afternoon, as we drove to the bank, we made a detour when we spotted a political caravan up ahead.  In addition to the 'parades', there were numerous 'sound trucks' with large speakers blaring commercials into the public space.

Today's photo was taken at Central Plaza during an outing with Cat.  As you can see, it's a giant mobile of umbrellas.

It struck me today that driving in Chiang Rai is much slower than in Southern California.  Not only are the streets smaller, there seems to be a slower 'cultural pace'.  

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                Peace,

                          Danny

"The farther behind I leave the past,
the closer I am to forging my own character."
~Isabelle Eberhardt

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Act

Hi,

Mr. Lag is a little angry with us.  We slept all night and stayed awake all day.  It's 8pm and my lids are heavy, but I'm not giving in to his madness this time.  (555)  Who am I kidding?  I'm ready to crash.

The 'Easy Monday' song was "Love The One You're With" by Stephen Stills.  It should be noted that the Isley Brothers had a hit with the song one year after Still's release, in 1971.  And now, on to the 'Zany Day' song:

"I pulled into Nazareth, I was feelin' 'bout half past dead; I just need some place where I can lay my head.  'Hey mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?'  He just grinned at me and 'No', was all he said.  Take a load off Annie, take a load for free.  Take a load off Annie, and (and, and) you can put the load right on me."

Clue:  Find another word for 'load' and your close to the title of this song.

On our first day back in Thailand we charged ahead like Mr. Lag didn't exist.  I managed to stay on the right side of the street, which is the left side.  I only used the wipers a couple of times and adjusted to 'Thai style' driving pretty easily.   I knew I was back in the Land of Smiles when I spotted a man leaving the store with six large bags of live 'Top Tim' fish.  He probably has a restaurant or fish market.  He was proud to have their photo taken in the parking lot.

This afternoon, while doing errands, we stopped at the mall and had coffee.  On our way home we encountered a parade.  What?  A parade on a Wednesday afternoon that wasn't a holiday?  It was mostly students from a large high school near us, but what made it unusual were the two elephants bringing up the rear.  They were decorated, and their Mahoots were in traditional costume.  We don't know why there were elephants, and we may never find out.  It's just another one of those things you don't see every day.  Hmm.

During dinner we were discussing Cat's weekend plans and she told us that Saturday her school class is going to take food and clothing to children in a village next to her village.  She told us they have no parents and often don't have warm clothes.  It was one of those moving moments, hearing the compassion of this sixteen year old who has no parents of her own.  

OK, about to surrender to His Majesty Mr. Jet Lag.  Time to turn on the Australian Open and nod off to dreamland.  

Time for Wacky Wednesday.

              Peace,

                        Danny

"However many holy words you read,
However many you speak,
What good will they do you
If you do not act upon them?"
~Buddha

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Measure

Hi,

We're back in Chiang Rai.  We got a wild greeting from the dogs, Boot was happy that we were home, and when Cat came home from school she gave us a 'Welcome to Chiang Rai' post card with a sweet message on the back.  While it's good to be home, we will miss The Boys back in Culver City.  We had some good times. 

Lots of emails came in on this one.  That tells me it was truly an 'Easy Monday' tune.  Here's the second verse:

"Don't be angry, don't be sad.  Don't sit crying over good times you've had.  Well there's a girl sitting right next to you, and she's just waiting for something to do.  Well there's a rose in a fisted glove.... __ __ __ __ __."  Hint: It was written by an artist who was suite on some eyes.  

We did a lot of sleeping on the first (the longest) part of our journey.  That might be why we're so sleepy now.  Maybe our Jet Lag won't be as bad.  Our second EVA flight was without the overpowering presence of Miss Kitty and it was a relief.  Are flights were on time and our bags arrived safely.  

Rudi picked us up at the airport and drove us home.  Our little van was a welcome sight and I forgot how nice it rides.  

We already have a breakfast booked with friends on Sunday to recap the trip.  So many memories to try to sort out and replay.  

Today's photo is a street corner in downtown Culver City.  The signs are distances to 'Sister Cities'.  Great idea.

Have a Happy Tuesday

             Peace,

                        Danny

"The measure of our life is not whether others know our name,
but whether we have touched the lives of others."
~Unknown

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Think

Hi,

We just got through with the longest segment of our trip.  LA to Taipei, 13 hours and 45 minutes.  It's now 6:45am in Taipei, the lounge is a little chilly but the coffee is hot.  

The 'Old School Friday' tune was "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry.  I guess it's 'Easy Monday' time somewhere in the world.  While the management doesn't necessarily condone the behavior set forth in this song, it's still a great piece of musical 'stuff'.  "If you're down and confused, and you don't remember who you're talking to.  Concentration slips away, because your baby is so far away.  Well there's a rose in a fisted glove, and the eagle flies with the dove.  And if you can't be with the one you love, honey, __ __ __ __ __..."  Hint:  Do we really need to go there?  (555)

Today's message is really just to keep in touch and let you know where we are.  We fly to Bangkok (3 1/2 hours) at 8:10am and our flight to Chiang Rai comes not long after landing.  

The plane from LA was the EVA Airlines 'Hello Kitty Jet'. The little cat was all over the plane.  They even had Hello Kitty toilet tissue.  The plastic utensils were not spared the 'Kitty' treatment.  For your dining pleasure (or not), I call your attention to the second item on the menu below.  Hmm.

Well, that's about it from the lounge.  I'm off to see if I can get a photo op with Miss K.  

Have a Great Week.

               Peace,

                          Danny

"Happiness is something that you are,

and it comes from the way you think."

~Wayne Dyer

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style 

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Friday Funnies

Hi,

With three more nights on the continent, we're getting that feeling.  So much to do, so little time, but soon we'll be home.  Thursday was another exciting day in LA.

Our 'Zany Day' song was "Smokey Joe's Cafe", by The Robbins, who later became The Coasters.  'Old School Friday' is next, with what could be an autobiographical sketch by a man that shaped Rock & Roll.  You must remember this: "Deep down Louisiana close to New Orleans, way back up in the woods among the evergreens... There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood, where lived a country boy name of __ __ __.  He never ever learned to read or write so well, but he could play a guitar like ringing a bell..."  Hint:  It's a name.  Artist Hint: Can you Duck Walk?

Our Thursday schedule was very interesting.  On our way to run errands, we stopped in front of the duplex where we lived for three decades.  The current tenant was in the yard and invited us inside.  He had made some beautiful improvements and it felt warm and homey.  We also got some gardening ideas as well.

Lisa drove for the first time in a long time and loved it.  She had an early breakfast with a friend.  We had lunch at the University Club on the campus of USC with another friend.  We returned to Eastwind for another Thai dinner with more Valley Cousins.  One thing we've noticed from all these visits with friends is that it's becoming hard to remember who said what, when.  The information is there, but it's hard to place the source.  Hmm, sensory overload.

I got feedback on the relativity of 'cold' and I stand by my statement.  Nobody told y'all to go to that cold climate (555).  Our bodies actually change and acclimate to the weather where we live, so it's a real thing.  Now, turn on that heater.  Soon enough, I'll be complaining about how hot it is, maybe.

It seems that 'Chinese Laundry' is a chain of shoe stores.  I did not know this, since I don't wear heels.  As for the other stores, many of you still hold Fedco and Sav-on dear to your hearts and I was told that Rite-Aid ice cream is still in a Thrifty container.  Hmm.  I guess we're not the only ones hanging on to the good old days.

Today's photo was taken on our tour of the duplex on Duquesne.  This desk was made out of discarded pallets.  Very creative.  

I just realized that this is the last message from America.  We leave on Sunday night, but I will post a travel update from Taipei.  

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.  

                Peace,

                          Danny

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style 

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