Silence

Hi,

Today we experienced two ‘small rains’ in one day.  In some parts of town it was blazing hot, in others, overcast with eventual showers.  Things got wet, the van needs a bath, and the pool is a little cooler.  Season change?

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “A Hard Days Night” by The Beatles.  For this week’s ‘Zany Day’ song, I’m giving you the chorus first, just to whet your appetite.  “Oh yeah, in the daytime I’m Mr. Natural, just as healthy as I can be, but at night I’m a __ __ __, good Lord have pity on me.”  Hint:  There is a kind of food involved.

We managed to hit all three of our major food shopping venues before lunch.  It helps to get an early start, although it’s not like we beat any crowds at Makro.  Since it is a supply depot for lots of mom and pop stores, people show up very early so they can stock their little stores.  Around this time every year there seems to be a shortage of celery.  This might not seem like a big deal, but it’s an ingredient in the ‘Five Juice Drink’ that Blue and Lisa have every morning.  Today we scored some healthy stalks at Big C.  It seems that we can never get everything we need at one store, hence the tour.  The Health Market was the final stop for fruit and more veggies.  

Coconut flour bread has been a regular menu item here at The Big Brown House for quite a few months now and we all enjoy it.  It is different than baking with a grain flour and Lisa and Natcha had it down to a science.  When we received a recent supply they discovered that it behaved differently.  The flour is finer than earlier batches and experimentation has begun to find that perfect blend of ingredients.  The adventure continues.

This afternoon in the pool, we talked about what to eat on the airplane when we come to the states.  For me, there is no choice but to munch on things from home.  My 27 hour menu will consist of coconut flour bread and brownies, occasional raw nuts, and possibly some pear sauce.  It will certainly beat some of the concoctions that the airline serves.  

The big artistic news is that Lisa has begun a wall painting above our bed.  Hanging a painting above a bed is never a good idea, especially where there is the possibility of earthquakes.  You will see it when it’s finished.  Based on the early work, it will be like sleeping under a beautiful tree.

When Blue and I went to the plastic store next to Healthy Market, we encountered a pair of parrots getting some sun.  One of them looked up at me and seemed to pose.  His owner told us he’s too young to talk.  We’ll be waiting (555).

It feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                Peace,

                          Danny

“A sage thing is timely silence,

and better than any speech.”

~Plutarch

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style 

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www.lisamosesgallery.com

Danger

Hi,

Today we had another cool morning, probably because of the light rain last night.  This afternoon the predicted rain came early, at around 3:30pm and produced a steady medium downpour.  No swim today.

It looks like the ‘Easy Monday’ tune is a hit.  Just in case you’re still unsure, here’s the second verse:

“You know I work all day to get you money to buy you things.  And it’s worth it just to hear you say, you’re going to give me everything.  So why on earth should I moan, ‘cause when I get you alone, you know I feel OK.  When I’m home, everything seems to be right.  When I’m home, feeling you holding me tight, tight, yeah…”  Hint:  Something about the time of day, or night? 

This morning I took the van to Suzuki for a check-up.  These visits have become routine, even though I don’t understand most of what is said to me.  I know, from the diagrams, what was done to the vehicle, but that’s it.  There is also the drama of the bill.  First I am presented with two papers.  They are both invoices.  One required two signatures, the other only one.  Then the various copies and carbons are taken apart and it’s all taken to the cashier.  This visit, the cashier came to me with a need for two more signatures.  Eventually, I left with one piece of paper, and Suzuki has about 15.  Hmm.

The last time we were at the Healthy Market, the first thing I spotted when we arrived was the subject of today’s photo.  Either this vendor worked very hard that morning, or had a long ‘night before’.  

Word-of-mouth is a very important tool for us here in Chiang Rai.  Considering that there are no ‘yellow pages’ and we don’t read Thai, if we want to find something or someone, we have to ask somebody.  Recently, Lisa asked Noot and Kwan if they knew a good masseuse in the area.  They told us about a woman they’ve known for years named Nok.  Today Lisa had an appointment with Khun Nok, who has a little place in the big nursery on the highway.  When I dropped her off, it was almost like a fairy tale.  There, set back among a group of trees, was the small structure that was her massage studio.  I didn’t see the interior, but it was described as ‘funky and kinda cool’.  There was the sound of a small waterfall in the background.  Lisa said she experienced one of the best, mellow massages yet.  I guess I’ll have to try it next.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

            Peace,

                      Danny

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance
and conscientious stupidity."
~Martin Luther King Jr.

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style 

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www.lisamosesgallery.com

Improvement

Hi,

It’s still hot in Chiang Rai.  It’s still hot everywhere in Thailand.  We had brief rain at night, so things are getting watered.  Today started out cooler due to a light rain last night, but the sun broke through and the heat was back.  Pool time was on time.

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “Roll Over Beethoven” by Chuck Berry.  It’s time for an ‘Easy Monday’ song.

“It’s been __ __ __ __, and I’d been working like a dog.  It’s been __ __ __ __, I should be sleeping like a log.  But when I get home to you, I find the things that you do, will make me feel alright.”  Hint:  Title has a play on words relating to evening employment.  It was the title of this groups first film.

There has been a lot of activity on our bridge.  While all of the traffic is going over the new section, workers are busy building a matching concrete rail for the original side.  This weekend, machines began putting down asphalt on a section of the road leading to the bridge.  It looks like we’re going to get a resurfaced section of the road leading to the bridge, and a layer of asphalt on the bridge itself.  We were worried that the bumpy concrete was going to be the final surface.  The new side also got new lights.  They are very tall poles with fancy gold ornaments at the top.  Photo coming soon.  Oh yes, and chicken guy has left his BBQ with the little girl tucked in a corner by the side of the road.  Maybe he will return when it’s finished.

Sunday morning, on our way to Big C, I hit the lever for the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal.  I laughed and said I was practicing for our trip to America.  Blue and Lisa got it right away, but Cat didn’t have any way of knowing why we were laughing.  Lisa explained the ‘lever layout’ in American cars and she immediately got the joke.  It doesn’t mean that I won’t be turning on the wipers when we get there (555). 

This morning Blue and I went to the Post Office.  In the parking lot we saw today’s photo.  Not only was she selling reading glasses, but giving eye exams right there on the spot.  We’ve seen this before.  Maybe it’s so people can read their mail (555). 

It’s getting to be the time for lists.  I need a list of things for the ‘Tech bag’, and things for the plane.  Traveling for 26 hours requires things to watch on various devices, just in case the movie menu is lacking.  There’s also the supply of supplements needed to keep the physical me comfortable (55).  Oh, and how many pairs of socks, etc.   It all seems boring until you get there and realize you forgot something.

Have a Great Week.

               Peace,

                         Danny 

“Continuous improvement is better than

delayed perfection.”

~Mark Twain

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style 

www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics

www.lisamosesgallery.com

Friday Funnies

Hi,

Chiang Rai had one of those post-card days today.  Beautiful blue sky with scattered clouds.  Of course, it was hot and humid, but you can’t feel that on the card (555).  We just returned from the Night Bazaar, where the joint was jumping.

The ‘Zany Day’ song was “Dang Me”, by Roger Miller, 1964.  ‘Old School Friday’ comes to you from 1956.

“I’m gonna write a little letter, gonna mail it to my local DJ.  It’s a rockin’ rhythm record, I want my jockey to play.  __ __ __, I gotta hear it again today.  You know, my temperature’s risin’ and the jukebox blows a fuse.  My heart’s beatin’ rhythm and my soul keeps on singin’ the blues.  __ __ __, and tell Tchaikovsky the news.”  Hint:  This is early R&R with a classical twist in the title.  It’s by a pioneer of the genre.  Hmm, if it walks like a duck, doesn’t mean it’s a duck.

The first thing we did today was drop by ‘The Wanderer’, which will be the name for the project being built by Khun Noot and her daughters.  Since it’s a tribute to her husband, Khun Witcha, they felt it was a fitting name since he was a wanderer, traveling all around the world.  A friend of ours brought us another South African Jacaranda tree and we passed it on to the project.  They were delighted, since they only had one.

We breezed through the Healthy Market, then went to the car wash.  No rain is forecast until next week so it won’t get dirty until then (5).  We hung out at Work@Home, where we basically had the place to ourselves.  When we’re out and about, we spend a lot of time laughing about this and that.  Today, Blue came up with an idea for a website that had us in stitches.  Can’t tell you yet, but when it happens, you will know.  When the car was done, rather than park it in the shade, they left it in the sun.  It just meant that it took longer to cool the inside once we got rolling.  At the Friday Farmer’s Market we got fresh bok choy and cabbage.  

When we return to the states, we usually come with things from Thailand.  There are little people in our lives that we like to shop for, as well as a few big kids.  The Night Bazaar is the perfect place to shop.   This evening we picked up Cat from ‘The Kid’ dance studio, along with her new friend, Nesta.  The girls went to the food court while we took care of business.  Technically, it’s not ‘High Season’ for tourists, but you wouldn’t know it by the abundance of ‘visitors’ in the aisles of the bazaar.  It might be due to the heavy rain and flooding in Bangkok.  It’s happened before.  If they buy things, it’s great for the local vendors.  Nesta lives in Payao, which is a long way from Chiang Rai.  She comes to town to study dance on the weekends and stays in a hotel near the studio.  After we dropped her off we passed the fairgrounds and it was packed with people.  Cat had heard that this was a new thing every Friday night.  I can hear that familiar ‘thump thump thump’ in the distance.

After telling you about the dog outfits at Browney’s, it’s only fair to show you an example.  What you are seeing are doggie sandals and goggles.  Just what a doggie biker needs.

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

                   Peace,

                             Danny

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style 

www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics

www.lisamosesgallery.com

Become

Hi,

Chiang Rai experienced slightly cooler temps today.  We had a brief shower this afternoon which ended in time for a cooling swim.  

The ‘Zany Day’ song seems to be a bit of a stumper.  It’s by what might be called a ‘country novelty song singer/songwriter’.  I’m sure there is a better way to describe him, but that’s what comes to mind.  Verse three: 

“They say roses are red, and violets are purple.  Sugar is sweet, and so is maple surple.  Well, I’m the seventh out of seventy sons.  My pappy was a pistol, I’m a son of a gun.  __ __, __ __, they ought to take a rope and hang me.  High from the highest tree.  Woman would you weep for me.”  Hint:  The key word here is a polite word for another four letter word also beginning with a ‘D’.  Hmm.

This morning, after exercising Daku, we planted two lemon grass plants that were given to us by Khun Noot.  The smell is almost intoxicating.  She uses the plants to repel mosquitos and other insects.  Hmm, we may have to get more of these and put them all around the yard before the rainy season really kicks in.  

One of the most commonly heard phrases around here is ‘Mai me’, which means ‘no have’.  Today, at Makro, we heard that phrase while enquiring about Kimchi, a Korean side dish.  We were a little surprised that the staff didn’t know what we were talking about.  We’ll just have to do a more specialized search around town.  

We had better luck finding things at Browney’s Pet World.  Lisa bought a bunch of treats for Daku.  While she was gathering some of his favorites, Blue and I browsed the costume department again.  Did you know that there are Disney character clothes for dogs?  I did not know this.  Tiny little doggie princess dresses just made me shake my head.  It’s always fun to see what’s at Browney’s.

In our daily travels, we usually use the main road that leads to our house when leaving the downtown area.  There is a drink truck that parks in the same spot every day and it is our photo for the day.  It’s custom built to sell things from the side.  Trucks like this are popping up in Chiang Rai and are probably even more prevalent in Chiang Mai and Bangkok.  The age of the mini food truck has arrived.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

              Peace,

                        Danny

“The important thing is this:

to be able, at any moment,

to sacrifice what we are for 

what we could become.”

~Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style 

www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics

www.lisamosesgallery.com

Laughter

Hi,

A daily weather pattern has evolved.  The mornings are sunny with light clouds, the afternoons have dark clouds that look like rain, and the night is when the water falls from the sky.  At least it’s been like that for three days.  Maybe the rainy season is really here.

This week’s ‘Easy Monday’ song was “Every Breath You Take” by The Police.  It’s ‘Zany Day’ time with a country twist.  “Well, I sit here gettin’ ideas, ain’t nothing but a fool would live like this.  Out all night and runnin’ wild,  woman sittin’ home with a month old child.  __ __, __ __, they ought to take a rope and hang me.  High from the highest tree, woman would you weep for me.”  Hint:  First word of the title rhymes with a word in the verse.  (5), of course it does. 

This morning we went to the Healthy Market for a few things.  It was still early so we decided to go hang out at Work@Home.  We had a nice visit with Katai and as we were leaving, she showed us a tiny bird’s nest sitting in a tree by the driveway.  It speaks well of the vibe of the place that a bird would build a nest so close to humans, in a fairly busy place.  There was one beautiful egg sitting in the nest.

In the past, when we visited the states, we ordered things we can’t get in Thailand and had them sent to our Culver City address.  Then we would box those items and send them to our Thailand address.  You may recall that the last time we did this, we received a reprimand at Customs and the officer told us not to do it again.  His assistant told us to bring our vitamins in our luggage.  Well, that would be fine if it were a few bottles, but a six-month’s supply is going to take another suitcase.  The plot thickens.  We can barely get two large cases, and carry-ons into a mid-size sedan.  Getting to LAX becomes problematic.  We’re researching a solution to this earth shattering dilemma and I know there’s an answer (555).  

This evening we went to the mall for a phone fix.  H.A.L. struck again and decided that Lisa should use a different email program than the one she chose.  Mr. Google was also in on it, but we got it solved at the shop where she bought the phone.  On the way home I asked Cat the name of one of the civic buildings and she said she didn’t know.  We laughed and told her she’s supposed to know everything.  Her response was classic:

“I am Cat, not Google.”  The van filled with laughter.

It feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                 Peace,

                           Danny

“Laughter is the closest distance

between two people.”

~Victor Borge

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style 

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www.lisamosesgallery.com

Dwell

Hi,

Last night we had one of those quiet, steady rains that watered everything without flooding the yards.  This meant Daku was in doggie heaven this morning.  Another rain teased us all afternoon, but never appeared.

Well, ‘Easy Monday’ is so close you can taste it.  Some got it, some missed it by one word.  Here’s more:

“Every single day, every word you say, every game you play, every night you stay, I’ll be watching you.  Oh can’t you see  you belong to me?  How my poor heart aches, with every step you take…..__ __ __ __, every move you make….”  Clue:  The key word in the title is an essential part of life.  When it’s gone, we’re gone.  Hmm.

Today was a fairly routine Tuesday.  Big C for essentials, and a stop at one of the larger ‘home shops’ for a new door-bell for Gong and Natcha’s apartment.  The last part of our sweep was a stop along the road for fresh pineapple.  I guess we won’t be doing that sort of thing on our visit to the states.  I know there are places where one can get fresh fruit, but it’s usually peeled and carved.  Another thing I will miss on our visit will be the service at the gas stations.  Here, you never pump your own gas.  Every time we visit, I have to check to see which side of the car has the gas tank door, and remember that I have to go and pay first.  What?

This afternoon we went for a swim.  Last night’s rain was much cooler than previous rains, and it left the pool a little on the chilly side.  As long as we were swimming, it wasn’t so bad.  I guess we’re moving into ‘that time of year’ when the pool is a sometime thing.  We did learn that there is a crew in town who can make a ‘sun water heater’ for the pool water.  Year round swimming will be wonderful.

During dinner, Cat told us that tomorrow is ‘Teacher Day’.  That means the students will present their teacher with a special gift.  Her class is making, among other things, a floral arrangement and Cat is bringing some flowers.  

On our trip to the river side property yesterday, one of the special things we saw was the ‘Fern Wall’.  Wire racks hold the pots for each plant so if needed, they can be easily replaced.  The variety of ferns makes for a dense green wall of wonder.

It just started raining, complete with big thunder.  We just got back from the Night Bazaar and our timing couldn’t have been better.  It’s been a long time since we cruised the aisles and it was fun checking out the new stalls and shops.   There are three new T-shirt shops, all run by young people and featuring fresh, creative graphics.  It was nice to see some of our vendor friends too.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

               Peace,

                         Danny

“Those who dwell among the

beauties and mysteries of the earth

are never alone or weary of life.”

~Rachel Carson

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style 

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www.lisamosesgallery.com