Others

Hi,

The weather seems to think we like the afternoon storms.  We had another one today and it was welcome.  The power was off and the heat was up.  Read on.

The ‘Easy Monday’ tune has many friends.  Here is the last verse, just in case you’ve heard the whole song.

“Everybody knows, especially you girls.  Love can be sad, but I have a love that's twice as bad.  Now all you chicks agree that this ain’t the way it’s supposed to be, let me hear you, let me hear you say yeah, yeah….__ __ __ __ __?”.  Hint: The singer of this song once asked the musical question: ‘What’s Going On?’  

Last week we received a flyer in our mailbox telling us that the power agency was going to be working in our area today.  We forgot that this was the day and at 9am, everything just turned off.  We were right in the middle of watching some Olympic track and field on Thai TV, which is rare.  We have learned how to adapt in cases like this.  Lisa had a Skype call scheduled with her dad Joe.  Just as they were resigned to talk on the phone, I remembered that she had Skype on her phone.  Problem solved.  

With no power, we have no water, no internet, no air/con, and no electric gate.  Oh my.  We spent part of the morning at immigration for Blue’s routine check-in.  We learned that the government has a new form.  Really?  We’ll have to fill it out when we renew our visas.  It asks a lot of questions that delve more deeply into the lives of the ‘foreigner’.  

By the time we finished at immigration it was time for lunch.  We went to our usual spot since it was cool in the ‘woods’.  The Wanderer crew is getting used to our orders and they’re learning our ways (555).  We hung out a bit after we finished our meal and then headed back to The Big Brown House.  

Our afternoon nap began a little later than usual, but the heat of the day was building and it slowed us down.  Normally, I get up after the nap and take Daku out and then make coffee.  Well, no power, no coffee.  There was no escaping the lack of air/con so we just dealt with it.  The power was due back on at 4pm.  We could last until then.  The only problem was, the power didn’t come back.  When it got closer to dinner time we decided to stay in and have a light dinner that could be made without cooking.  

After dinner we collected candles and portable lights just in case we had to camp out.  The power returned at 6:15 and there was rejoicing in the hood.  As Blue put it, ‘it’s so easy to take electricity for granted’.  We spent a day ‘off the grid’ and we don’t like it much.  Once again, the need for a portable generator for back-up power is on my mind.

Today’s photo shows a big loom in the mall display.  As you can see, it’s a very involved process to complete a length of yardage.  

Have a Happy Tuesday.

              Peace,

                        Danny

“Questioner: How are we to treat others?

Ramana Maharshi: There are no others”

Forgive

Hi,

After a pleasant but drippy weekend, the big one arrived today.  We had two giant, daytime downpours that darkened the sky and made it look like evening.  Very eerie.  More rain on the way this week.

By now, many of you have seen news about bombings in Thailand.  Let me put your minds at ease and let you know that none of them were anywhere near us.  They were mostly in the south, and part of a long-time issue.  

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “I Only Have Eyes For You” by The Flamingos.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_1892616559&feature=iv&src_vid=63nlhoda2MY&v=Pn8SFdyOA_M

Oh my, it’s ‘Easy Monday’ time already.  Do you know this one?  “Listen everybody, especially you girls.  Is it right to be left alone while the one you love is never home?  I love too hard, my friends sometimes say, but I believe, I believe that a woman should be treated that way.  But it hurts me so inside to see her treat me so unkind.  Somebody, somewhere tell her, it’s unfair.  __ __ __ __ __?  Hint: The singer needs someone to testify on his behalf.  Easy.

The weather has been a rather dominant player in our lives recently.  It hasn’t caused any damage but the yards are at a point where they are soggy even after a light rain.  Saturday was cloudy all day, but cleared a bit for the Walking Street crowd.  Sunday afternoon and evening we had a steady, light rain that eventually flooded most of the back yard.  When Daku and I went out at 9pm, I stepped on the grass and sank into about two inches of water.  It’s not much, but when you don’t expect it, it’s a shock.  The other thing about this rain is the temperature.  It’s cool.  The weather has been cooler and so has the water from the sky.  

Sunday morning while I was at my meeting, Lisa met with Sutheera to work on the Thai wording for the latest art exhibit poster.  Not only does the translation have to convey the same thought, the correct type fonts must be used.  Getting the fonts from one computer to another and having them work, is no easy task but they were successful.

The restaurant at Art Bridge has been under renovation and recently reopened.  We decided to check it out for our Sunday lunch.  There is a brand new menu of mostly Thai food, divided by regions.  There were, of course, lots of Northern Thai dishes.  We don’t eat these dishes because they are very spicy.  Blue and I had what was labeled as spaghetti with chicken.  It was very good, even though it was pasta instead.  We visited the current exhibit, cruised the gift shop and got home before the rain.  In the evening we went to The Wanderer again.  We can’t seem to stay away.

Today’s rain was so heavy that it knocked out the TV reception for a while.  Daku bugged me to go outside around 4pm and another big storm cell had just begun to dump.  We stood at the dining room door and looked out.  I think that changed his mind.  He just curled up on his bed in the kitchen.  Daku doesn’t like heavy rain in his face.

Today’s photo is part of a series I’ll call ‘Morning at the Mall’.  First we have a young man who was part of a Hill Tribe exhibit featuring fashions.  He is stitching gold thread into this piece of of silk, and is about to bring the needle up from underneath. 

This evening we had dinner with our friend Stephen at Le Meridien.  This is his last week as manager of the hotel.  He will be relocating to Perth, Australia.  We will see him again in September when we go to Singapore for a weekend of sight-seeing and Formula One.  

Have a Great Week.

                    Peace,

                              Danny

“Today, forgive yourself 

for what you think you did

or didn’t do.”

~Doreen Virtue

Friday Funnies

Hi,

The monsoon we were waiting for turned up this morning in the form of light sprinkles.  It stayed like that for most of the day.  Just enough to use the wipers, but not enough to really wet things down.  There’s always tomorrow.

The ‘Zany Day’ song was “Taking Care of Business” by Bachman-Turner Overdrive.  Congrats to those who remembered.  Time for another episode of ‘Old School Friday’.  “My love must be a kind of blind love, I can’t see anything but you (shoo bop, shoo bop).  Are the stars out tonight, I don’t know if it’s cloudy or bright.  __ __ __ __ __ __ dear.  The moon may be high, but I can’t see a thing in the sky, __ __ __ __ __ __”.  Clue:  It’s from 1959 by a group named after a big pink bird.  Very dreamy, atmospheric production for R&B at that time.

This morning the gongs from the temple reminded me that this was Mother’s Day.  Schools were closed and many offices as well.  We went to Big C and made it just before the crowds arrived.  As we were leaving we could see the traffic lined up down the road to the entrance.  This is a family day in Thailand.  Lots of activities and meals taken together.   

Cat came over this afternoon and went to dinner with us.  We had ‘The Band’ on the road again.  She said it felt different being at The Wanderer and not working, but being served.  After dinner she went and visited with her former co-workers.  She will spend the night and return to school after a ‘braces’ appointment.  We’re going through withdrawal in a way.  We used to visit with Cat every night before she went to bed.  When she stayed at her sister’s, she would call to say goodnight.  Now, if she doesn’t call, it’s hard to know whether we should call her or just wait.  Her life is getting very busy and classes haven’t even started.  This is that thing called ‘letting go’.

 

Before dinner I wandered around The Wanderer and took some photos.  The plant life has really filled in during the rains.

During the course of the day I have had thoughts about my mother.  We used to talk to her about the Thai Mother’s Day and tell her our observations and thoughts.  It also struck me that for the first time, none of us at The Big Brown House has a mom.  It brings a different awareness.  It also brings much gratitude for what was and still remains.

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

              Peace,

                        Danny

Maybe

Hi,

Right now the weather liars are telling me it’s 86 degrees and feels like 96.  Oh, and a thunderstorm will be here in 5 minutes.  Somebody forgot to go outside and feel the air and look at the sky.  It’s cloudy, but 5 minutes?  Come on.  This is day three without rain.  Hmm.  There is a monsoonal trough north of us that’s suppose to wreak havoc through next week.  Stay tuned.

This week’s ‘Zany Day’ song didn’t get by a couple of readers.  I think the end of this verse should tell the tale:

“…And if the train’s on time you can get to work by nine and start your slaving to get your pay.  If you ever get annoyed, look at me, I’m self-employed.  I love to work at nothing all day.  And I’ll be __ __ __ __ every day, __ __ __ __ every way.  I’ve been __ __ __ __, it’s all mine.  __ __ __ __ and working overtime.”  Hint:  Easy, think ‘TCB’ and you’ll have it.  I’ve said too much.

What is it that makes dogs want to eat mud?  After the last big rain the back yard took a few days to completely drain.  As a result, there was a big patch of mud that took some time to dry out.  Daku found a three inch area in the mud irresistible.  We had to take him out on the leash just to keep him from trying to bite the mud.  Once he was in the front yard there were more things to occupy his mind, but in the back, it was all about the mud.  It’s dry now, but he still wants to see if it smells the same, or something.  Dogs.

This morning Blue, Lisa and I went to the Healthy Market for veggies and fruit.  There are several husband/wife teams that sell things and while we were at one table I realized something.  There is a lot of math going on in each transaction.  The sellers have a price per kilogram for each vegetable or fruit item they sell.  Most customers are buying a fraction of a kilo.  They all seem to figure that out in their heads, then put the amount into a calculator and move to the next product.  Some vendors will weigh everything and do it all in their head.  That makes my head hurt thinking about it.  Just one of the many thoughts that goes through my mind while at the market (555).

After our ‘exhausting’ stint at the market, we chilled at Work@Home for a while.  We saw a friend we hadn’t seen in a long time and learned that he’d been teaching a special course at Maefarluang University.  The class was made up of American pre-med students and they learned about medical practices in other cultures.  I hadn’t thought about the fact that there are different cultures and practices within the many Hill Tribes.  

This evening Natcha got a bit enthusiastic with dinner and served us heaping plates of spaghetti with a chicken/spinach sauce.  While it was quite good, none of us could ‘clean our plates’.

The clouds in the night sky will prevent us from seeing a meteor shower.  Somewhere in the world it can be seen.  It’s now 8:45pm and that thunderstorm still hasn’t arrived.  

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                   Peace,

                             Danny

“Maybe the journey isn’t so much

about becoming anything.  

Maybe it’s about unbecoming everything 

that isn’t you so you can be who you were

meant to be in the first place.”

~Unknown

Happiest

Hi,

Today marked the second day without rain.  I can’t begin to consider this a trend, based on the clouds that lurk in the sky all day.  Somewhere it rained today.  This afternoon we got that wind that says it’s about to rain, but the big dark clouds just blew away.

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “Stormy Weather”, first recorded by Ethel Waters in the film “Cotton Club”, 1933.  I’ll bet you can’t wait for another ‘Zany Day’ tune, so here it is:  “You get up every morning from your ‘larm clock’s warning, take the 8:15 into the city.  There a whistle up above and people pushin’, people shovin’ and the girls who try to look pretty….”  Clue:  That’s the first half of the first verse.  It’s from 1973, but still relevant.  All about what it takes to ‘get it done’.  Title in four words.

So, last night our Olympic coverage just failed.  They didn’t show anything.  Fortunately, we had diving to watch, procured through alternate methods.  We’re beginning to think we’ll only see events that feature Thai athletes or sports that are popular here.  We have been able to see archery, weight-lifting, rowing, and beach volleyball (not a favorite).  You can be sure that they will broadcast badminton and table tennis, but the rest is a guess right now.

At the fruit market things are looking a little slim when it comes to some of our usuals.  Luckily, our vendors are honest with us and will tell us if things are not sweet or fresh.  The pineapple lady knows that we like them sweet.  Today she let Lisa know they were not sweet.  Some people like tart fruit so they continue to sell.  Lisa picked out some mangos despite their outward appearance and they were delicious.  

Today’s photo is from Sunday at The Wanderer.  Our new little friend Lee Loot (His mom spelled it: Ruerith.  Ls for Rs and Th is T).  There is still some confusion as to how to pronounce it.  As you can see, he was liking the pie.

Tomorrow Gong will go to Mae Sai and visit his mother until Friday, which is Mother’s Day here in Thailand.  Chiang Rai is beginning to put up special decorations and large photos of The Queen in honor of the day, which is her birthday.  This evening Natcha and Neetchanon brought Lisa a garland of sweet-smelling flowers.

Feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                Peace,

                          Danny

“Those who are happiest

are those who do the most

for others.”

~Booker T. Washington

Waves

Hi,

There was a break in the weather today.  No rain all day and the evening looks promising.  It was a beautiful day, with everything sparkling in the sunlight.  

A few of you recognized the ‘Easy Monday’ tune as a standard sung by many vocalists.  With this one, any singer is fine.  “Life is bare, gloom and mis’ry everywhere, __ __, and I just can’t get my poor self together, I’m weary all the time.  So weary all the time.”  Clue:  Has something to do with intense precipitation.

This morning we had our own little SkypeFest.  At one point Lisa was talking to her dad and I was talking to my cousin John, both in America.  The connections were pretty solid.  It’s nice to know that it’s possible to do that.  

Since there were no shopping runs to be made, our morning was wide open after the calls.  We wandered over to The Wanderer for mid-morning coffee and a big dose of nature.  Even though we were sitting inside, looking out gave us the feeling that we were among the trees.  Our favorite table is a big round, solid piece of wooden furniture and it’s become ‘our table’.  There weren’t many people there and we did some brainstorming on how to promote Lisa and Joe’s upcoming exhibit in Chiang Mai this October.  We agreed that the atmosphere was definitely conducive to creative ideas.  Before we left, Khun Noot came to our table and told us she had made some mango pie and also a taro/coconut pie.  We took a piece of each for after lunch.

There is a lot of discussion in the local news, both Thai and expat, about Sunday’s vote on the ‘referendum’.  Without going into details, it appears that things will remain as they are for at least another year.  We don’t get involved in too much of the ‘conversation’ since we aren’t citizens.  I think that is enough to say.

Yesterday we called a friend, looking for the number of a contractor we had used in the past.  All we had was a name.  We got a number and made arrangements for him to come to the house.  The person who arrived was not the same guy as before.  We showed him the problems and like any good contractor, he told us he could do the job.  Today he arrived and began work.  That’s when doubt began to creep in.  The strip of wood he brought didn’t fit the space under the door.  We may have to continue our search for the original guy.  The adventure continues.

Sometimes a photo opportunity just pops up and I have to respond.  So it was this morning when I saw the front door of the Tesco/Lotus store.  It was almost an illusion, seeing Doraemon standing there.  

Neetchanon has added some new moves to her arsenal of cuteness.  Now she flaps her arms and grins, as if she’s about to take off.  She’s also using her voice more and this evening she got a little bolder with Daku.  He is a good sport, even when she was grabbing his forehead.  After a few times, he politely got up and left.  

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                  Peace,

                            Danny

“You can’t stop the waves,

but you can learn how to surf.”

~Jon Kabat-Zinn

Thoughts

Hi,

The weather has decided that it wants us to know when and how much water it’s providing so it’s scheduled significant storms for the afternoons.  That’s not to say that we don’t get overnight rain anymore.  That still happens, but we get to witness the heavy downpours in daylight.  

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “In The Still of the Night” by The Five Satins.  ‘Easy Monday’ will be easy for some of you.  “Don’t know why, there’s no sun up in the sky, __ __.  Since my man and I ain’t together, keeps rainin’ all the time.”  Hint:  If you read the previous paragraph, this song should be a snap.

After a lot of searching, we found the channel in Thailand where we can watch The Olympics.  The broadcast begins at 11pm and goes until 6 or 7am.  Those of you who have been reading this daily message through the years know that we love the Olympics.  The last time around we learned from Tatt that we could watch many sports on Youtube.  I think we’ll have to do this for sure this time.  We get what is called a ‘Pool’ transmission that comes to Thailand from different providers.  The first day of swimming heats had Australian commentators.  The weight-lifting had Americans.  We never know who is going to tell us about the particular sport.  The nice thing about it is that there isn’t a lot of nationalism involved, just the facts about the events.  

Daku may be back to 100%, but we’re still taking him out on the leash most of the time.  With all this rain, it could be hours before he finished smelling all the new smells everyday.  He seems alright with it.  This week we will introduce a little more exercise and see if he can handle running.

With all the rain we’ve been having, Chiang Rai is getting a bit water-logged in some areas.  Certain streets seem to get their big puddles quicker than usual, and today our giant afternoon storm flooded several roads we were on.  Our yard is also showing signs of water overload.  The tiny lakes appear quickly and drain slowly.  

Cat has basically moved to her new dorm/apartment.  That is not to say that she has completely moved out.  There are still boxes of things in her room and stuffed animals waiting for a new home.  Today, at Makro, it struck me that we didn’t have to get certain food items anymore.  Then The Beatles “She’s Leaving Home” crept into my head.  

Sunday afternoon we went to The Wanderer for coffee and treats with our friends Pay and Boy.  Pay is a head nurse at Overbrook Hospital and is in charge of the treatment room.  She is our inside connection for any dealings at the hospital and helps speed things up for us.  Boy teaches electrical engineering at the technical school.  Their little boy, Lee Loot, is 10 months old and was quite the charmer.  That evening we returned to The Wanderer for dinner. Just in case it rained again we wanted to be closer to home.  

Today’s photo is three giant lemons grown by Khun Noot, of The Wanderer that she gave to Lisa.  Hmm, did somebody say ‘Pie’?

Over the weekend Gong had a small backrest installed on their new scooter.  I will feel slightly better about the three of them going places on the new bike knowing Natcha won’t slide off the back.  Still, I will never be comfortable watching families on two wheels.  Now, we just have to work on the helmet thing. 

If you’re into the Olympics, I would be interested in knowing your favorite events.

Have a Great Week.

 

               Peace,

                         Danny

“Don’t believe everything you think.

Thoughts are just that, thoughts.”

~Allan Lokos