Origins

Note:  Time is running out.  March 10 is just a day away (Thai time)  If you want to keep receiving this slice of adventure, let me know.  

Hi,

The weather highlight of the day was the wind.  It came out of nowhere and whipped around like something from the Sahara, or the dunes of Namib.  Those warm winds that drive people crazy all over the world.  That’s what we had all day.  The biggest complaint was headaches.  It died down around sunset and then someone lit a very smelly fire.  Life in the almost-country is never dull.

I must say, I was delightfully surprised to see how many of you remembered this week’s ‘Zany Day’ song.  And on day one at that.  Here’s the second verse of this tune by one of the zaniest men in showbiz:  “You said you love me but you can’t come in.  (repeat 2 x)  Come back tomorrow night and try it again.  __ __-__ but you can’t come in….”  Hint:  There’s a ‘Wooo’ in there, if that helps.  Some of the singer’s friends have names like Molly, Sally, Jenny and Fanny.  

For the first time in a long time we went to Macro.  Not much has changed in the big supply store.  We stopped at Art Bridge on the way and picked up a painting Lisa had on exhibit.  The center is hosting another Kid’s Art Camp next week.  It’s gratifying to see how much time the local artists are devoting to the next generation by exposing them to different media and methods of expression.  

Our next stop was to see our attorney.  We haven’t seen him in about 3 years and he’d moved.  As we were leaving I noticed his ‘Coffee Table’ in the lobby, and it is one of today’s photos.

The pool crew continues to make good progress.  The old pool used a system that involved a ‘surge tank’.  It’s basically a big hole where excess pool water goes, blah blah.  The new system will not use this tank, so today a little dump truck delivered two loads of gravel to pour into the big hole.  There’s more to it than that, but right now there is a big pile of gravel, and another of sand, waiting to go into the hole.  

The second photo today is the lettuce that Khun Jin brought yesterday.  We had some with lunch and it was very good.  

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                  Peace,

                            Danny

“All our knowledge has it’s

origins in our perceptions.”

~Leonardo da Vinci

See

Hi,

The weather in Chiang Rai is doing it’s repetitive thing these days.  I really don’t mind.  It helps to dry the concrete.  

It always amazes me how day 2 of a song will bring lots of answers.  That’s how it was with “Knock On Wood” by Eddie Floyd.  Congrats to all those dynamic memories.  This week’s ‘Zany Day’ song will be a true test of your ability to retain crazy:  “__ __-__ but you can’t come in. (repeat two times) Come back tomorrow night and try it again.”  Clue:  That was half the lyrics.  A key word in the title was in the last title.  Oh yeah, it’s old.

The pool crew said they were ready for the tile, glue, and grout so we moved up the deliveries.  Our little van went beyond the call of duty this morning and brought home ten bags of tile glue, five bags of special additive, and four big tubs of grout.  The tile store delivered all of the tiles in the afternoon.  Now it looks like Friday will be the day they will begin installation.  They are working much quicker than estimated and are telling us that they may be done by the 20 of this month.  We’re giving it a cushion and expecting 25.  Either way, it’s way ahead of the original time given.  Time for me to get to work on my solar project.

With the van loaded down with supplies, there was time for coffee so we took the easy route and went to The Wanderer.  It was fairly empty when we arrived, so we got to visit with Khun Noot and her grandson, who is four months old.  What a special time, now that we’ve just experienced this age with Neetchanon.  Just imagine, going to the woods to visit grandmother.  He’s going to have a great time when he’s a little older.  Mercy was there too, howling/talking to us about something important.  

Today’s photo was taken at The Wanderer.  The tall tree is called a ‘Giraffe Tree’ and it became infested with worms and died.  They are taking it down, bit by bit.  

This afternoon we each had our first massage with Khun Jin.  She came to the house bearing gifts.  We did not expect anything but a good massage, but she brought a box of lettuce plants and two tomato plants.  She was able to explain why somethings were responding the way they were, and how some pain was connected to another spot that was also congested.  It will be good to get back to a rhythm with massages.  

It’s Time for Wacky Wednesday.

                     Peace,

                               Danny

“It’s not what you look at that matters,

it’s what you see.”

~Henry David Thoreau

Celebrate

Note:  If you haven’t written to stay on the list, remember, you have until March 10, and then it’s bye-bye or get heckled a bit (555).

Hi,

The hot days are truly here, and the nights and mornings are cold.  I’m look for slightly cooler days and much warmer nights.  All in the interest of keeping our new pool warmer.

I’m happy to report that there were many correct responses to the ‘Easy Monday’ song.  Maybe the second verse will help the rest.  “Well, I’m not superstitious about you, but I can’t take no chance.  You got me spinnin’, baby, baby I’m in a trance.  ‘Cause your love is better, than any love I know.  It’s like thunder, lightning, the way you love me is frightening.  I’d better __, __ __, baby…”  Hint:  Apparently it’s easy (555).

I felt drained when I got up this morning.  Then I remembered we had just done a one-day trip to Chiang Mai.  I’ll probably be back in form by tomorrow.  If not, I have a massage to look forward to and that will help.  

This morning we went out to visit our friend who lives on Buffalo Hill.  There are three Lisa’s in our circle and she is one of them.  Her parents have a huge compound with many homes and she has decided to decorate one of them with some non-Thai art.  She wants to hang some of (artist) Lisa’s work so we went to see the ‘canvas’.  The homes have very large rooms and lots of wall space.  We did a lot of walking up and down hills and stairs.  Whew.  We also spent some time in her parents house, which is spectacular.  It felt like we were in a grand hotel lobby.  There was lots of wood work, artifacts from various periods, and a master suite that was like a home unto itself.  Photos to follow later this week.

The pool crew is ahead of schedule and announced today that they were ready for the tiles.  This afternoon there were 11 people working on the pouring of the cement for the walls.  A cement truck backed into the pool area and dumped cement into large tubs.  From the tubs the workers used buckets to pass the concrete down the line to be dumped into the narrow space that will be the walls of the pool.  Tomorrow we have to pick up the special tile cement and grout.  The tiles will be delivered in the afternoon.  It’s getting exciting.

Today’s photos show the pool crew at work and resting during their lunch break.

In one week we will travel south, to the island of Koh Lanta for a three-day holiday.  A friend has given us vouchers for a beautiful resort.  It takes a bit of doing to get there, two planes and some waiting, but it will be worth it to hang out at the Andaman Sea and do a little adventuring.  Six years ago we celebrated our 40th anniversary on this island and we have fond memories.  

Have a Happy Tuesday. 

                 Peace,

                           Danny

“The more you praise and 

celebrate your life, the more

there is in life to celebrate.”

~Oprah Winfrey

Peace

Note:  If you haven’t written to stay on the list, remember, March 10 is the last day.  That is, unless you want to be heckled a bit (555).  

Hi,

We’re home from our whirlwind trip to Chiang Mai.  It was super hot there as opposed to the hot in Chiang Rai.  Very happy to be back.

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “My Blue Heaven” by Fats Domino.  Nobody wrote me with an answer.  Hmm, I guess that goes in the ‘Stumped’ column.  Let’s hope ‘Easy Monday’ fares better.  “I don’t wanna lose you, this good thing that I got.  ‘Cause if I do I will surely, surely lose a lot.  ‘Cause your love is better than any love I know.  It’s like thunder, lightning, the way you love me is frightening.  I’d better __, __ __, baby…”  Hint:  The title is from a very old superstition.  Classic ‘70s R&B.  

Saturday we managed to take care of ourselves.  I know, amazing, huh?  Sunday morning we packed the bags and the van for our overnight trip.  We had already gassed up, so we tried a new route out of town.  The eastern ‘by-pass road’ has been in operation for a few months but we’d never tried using it to go around the city on a road trip.  We drove east to the road and headed south.  There are three traffic lights from north to south, with pretty fast, light traffic in between.  Considering what it is usually like on Saturday morning in the city, this was a good way to go.  We made our compulsory stop at Charoen Gardens, this time leaving with not only the lemon pie, but a slice of pineapple pie as well.  

When we arrived at the D2 in Chiang Mai, we remembered why it’s our favorite hotel.  It felt like being in an old movie, where the featured couple are greeted with, ‘Welcome home, so good to see you again’, and everyone rushes to take their bags.  When we got to the front desk, the young man behind the counter came out and escorted us to the 7th floor.  There, we checked in and were given a little packet of perks.  Our room on the 7th floor also gave us use of the lounge and a happy hour with snacks.  Oh, just keep spoiling me.  

The main purpose of our trip was to visit our chiropractor, who is only in town once a month.  What we didn’t realize was that Sunday is a busy day for him since many people are off work.  We had a wait, but it was worth it.  

In all the trips to Chiang Mai over the years, we’ve only been to the Walking Street once, a long time ago.  This trip we decided to check it out.  A Tuk-Tuk from our hotel zipped us through the streets to the beginning of this mammoth bazaar.  Compared to the Chiang Rai Walking Street, this thing was on steroids.  The number of vendors was overwhelming.  In many parts of the street there were musicians down the center.  Most of the music had a gentle tone that didn’t conflict with other players or the general tone of the night.  We heard languages from all around the world, and only managed to see about 40% of the ‘Street’ before calling it a night.  Our plan it to return in October and do our holiday shopping in this wonderland of ‘stuff’.  

Today’s photos are from the Chiang Mai Walking Street.  The first photo is a band we’ve seen before.  They play blues and light rock, and they are all sightless.  The second photo is a man playing a Khan (a multi-reed instrument played by inhaling and exhaling while covering tiny holes in the bamboo), while the woman did an improvised Thai dance.

We drove back non-stop today.  That’s right, no pie stop.  Daku acted like we’d been gone a week, Neetchanon had big smiles, and Natcha had dinner waiting.  There’s no place like home.

Have a Great Week.

                   Peace,

                             Danny 

“Peace cannot be kept by force;

it can only be achieved by 

understanding.”

~Albert Einstein

Friday Funnies

Note:  If you want to keep receiving this message, please let me know by March 10 and I’ll keep you on the list.  Once you’ve written to me, there’s nothing left to do.  You’ll be on the list until you beg me to let you go (555).

Hi,

The weather was a bit cooler for our morning road trip.  The afternoon was still the usual hot.  Late last night the moon was orange.  This means there was smoke in the air.  Tonight it’s a lot paler and the air smells better.  Hopeful in Chiang Rai.

This week’s ‘Zany Day’ song was “Bohemian Rhapsody”, by Queen.  Let’s see if ‘Old School Friday’ is more familiar.

“When whippoorwill’s call, and evenin’ is nigh, I’ll hurry to __ __ __.  You turn to the right, you find a little bright light, that leads you to __ __ __.”  Hint:  There is a color in the title.  

The adventure for today was the trip to just south of Mae Sai, for the house blessing for the home of Gong’s grandmother.  I thought it was for his parents but I had that wrong.  Anyway, once we got close (the Toyota dealership) we were supposed to call.  The road we didn’t turn on was the right one.  Natcha and a friend came down to the highway and her friend rode with us to the house.  We drove about one mile through a tobacco plantation and then an orchard.  We could feel a slight change in elevation, and then we went up a hill and into a village that was invisible from the highway and the road.  The new house was beautiful, almost out of place next to some of the other homes.  Everyone was preparing for what was about to happen.  We met the grandmother and had our photo taken with her.  Guests were starting to arrive and it looked like the whole village was there.  We sat outside with our Thai teacher for most of what turned out to be a church service.  Everything was in Akha so we have no idea what was going on, but I love the sound of the language.  Natcha had made a special lunch for us, knowing we couldn’t eat what had been prepared for the villagers.  While the minister was preaching she took us into the kitchen and fed us.  She is so thoughtful that way.  We had to leave and get back to Daku, who had no one to take him out.  We were there for an hour and a half.  It was a wonderful experience.

Today’s photos were taken in the Akha village.  I pose with Gong’s grandmother, dressed in full Akha dress.  The second shows the main road in the village.

This afternoon we finished ordering everything needed for the ‘new pool’.  There was a collective sigh of relief when we were done.  It felt reassuring when Khun Cheurn, the pool builder, approved of the order.  This morning he arrived with more workers.  There are now four women working on the rebar framework.  Today they added another series of steel bars while Cheurn put in some plumbing.  Tomorrow they will tie even more steel into the network.  After that will come the concrete, I think.  

Our friends Martin and Kay took us to dinner at The Wanderer as a late birthday present.  It was a delightful evening of good food and fun conversation.  Martin is an artist and Kay is a real estate broker.  

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.          On to the ‘Funnies’.

                   Peace,

                             Danny

Today

Note:  If you want to keep receiving this message, please let me know by March 10 and I’ll keep you on the list.  If you already wrote back, just know that you’ll stay on the list.

Hi,

We are getting carbon copy weather these days.  The only real change is a growing boldness with the burning.  It’s not as bad as before, but there have been some overnight burns and one big daytime smoke-fest that should have warranted a fine.  Who knows what’s really going on?  

“I see a little silhouetto of a man, Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?  Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightening to me.  (Galileo) Galileo.  (Galileo) Galileo, Galileo Figaro.  Magnifico-o-o-o-o…”

Clue:  Being an opera, it goes on a bit (video link tomorrow).  I know you know this because many have named it before.  Get to typin’.  

This morning Gong and I spent some time figuring out how to install the carseat in the van.    It took some doing but we finally got it togethe,r and we both grinned like we had just put together a bicycle on Christmas eve (555).  Then Gong took Natcha and Neetchanon to the bus station for their trip to Mae Sai.  He returned to the house with a couple of huge stuffed animals for his sister.  Later he left on his motorbike.  We will go up in the morning after Daku’s exercise, taking the stuffed animals.  We also got a little Mango tree to take to Gong’s sister’s house-warming.  The adventures continue.

There is a lot of work that goes into renovations, and I’m not talking about the workers.  We had to go back to the store to choose the tile that will go around the outside of the pool.  Finding non-slip tile that compliments the patio as well as the yard and is not overly expensive can be a task.  With the help of our new friend Pang (pronounced Bang) we managed to get what we wanted.  It will be delivered next Saturday.  The concrete will probably be poured next week.  The crew of four is moving along faster than I thought.  Of course, once the basic shell is made then the tiles have to be installed and all of the plumbing reconstructed.  I have no idea, at this point, what that will look like, but I’m going to take photos and add captions so I won’t feel helpless if something goes wrong.  What could possibly go wrong?

Today’s photo shows the pool with it’s new framework.  The sides will be higher to give us the same depth, but we will lose some of the area.

We saw more vegetable trucks handing out free food today.  I joked that maybe it was the veggie Robin Hood.  We laughed and continued to wonder where these trucks packed with fresh food were coming from.  Today they parked by the Police station.  That’s always a good strategy.  

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                   Peace,

                             Danny 

“There are only two days in the year that

nothing can be done.  One is called Yesterday 

and the other is called Tomorrow.  Today is the

right day to Love, Believe, Do and mostly Live.”

~The Dalai Lama

Change

Note:  If you want to keep receiving this message, please let me know by March 10 and I’ll kee you on the list.  If you already wrote back, just know that you’ll stay on the list.

Hi,

If you want to know the weather in Chiang Rai, never check in the Bangkok Post.  They print the same forecast every day.  What?  It’s currently 77F at 9:15pm.  Tomorrow will be in the mid-80s, going up to mid-90s through the weekend.  This is why there are so many ‘visitors’ from Europe and the eastern U.S. touring around Thailand.

The ‘Easy Monday’ tune was “I’m Only Sleeping” by The Beatles.  That means it’s time for our ‘Zany Day’ song.  I think you know this one:  “Is this the real life?  Is this just fantasy?  Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality.  Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see, I’m just a poor boy, I need no sympathy because I’m easy come, easy go, little high, little low.  Any way the wind blows doesn’t really matter to me, to me."  Hint:  The title is not sung in the song.  One of the early ‘Rock Operettas’ by a band from England.  Oh, the name of the band was not a tribute to their head of state. 

This was a busy day.  Once the work crew arrived and got started on the pool, we began our morning errands.  It was a short list, designed to save our energy for the afternoon (555).  I think we may have dozed through some of the ‘work sounds’ but there is no sleeping with a jackhammer in the yard.  Earlier, we had taken one of the printers to the shop and were told nothing was wrong.  Well, something was wrong and on the afternoon trip we left Lisa’s laptop so they could verify that it wasn’t her files.  Where’s the purple?  They are now investigating the printer with new eyes (555).  

Off to the mall for special printing paper, phone biz, and mechanical pencils.  The pencils have become a necessary item for our Thai lessons.  They give a consistent line and they don’t have to be sharpened.  Plus, Thai letters are little works of art and a thick lead line makes it more difficult to be precise.  Hope you got all that.  

Somewhere in the morning, we stopped at the fruit market.  On the way home we saw two big pick-up trucks with giant loads of lettuce.  They were giving it away.  Cars, trucks and motorbikes were converging on the scene and it looked like mayhem from a distance, but was rather orderly.  When we drove by the location later, it was as if nothing happened.

I went back downtown late this afternoon for a meeting, then back home for dinner.  Then it was back out for a birthday party at The Factory for the owner, Steve.  We knew one couple out of all the people there so we hung out with them for a bit.  It was a nice gathering for those who like beer and pork on a stick.  I don’t think our early departure was missed.  Besides, I had to get home and write to my friends.

Today’s photo was taken on our front lawn this morning.  This butterfly appeared to be drying its wings.   

Tomorrow we will take Natcha, Gong and Neetchanon to the bus station.  They’re traveling to Mae Sai.  On Friday we will drive up there and meet them for the blessing of his sister’s new house.  

It Feels like Wacky Wednesday.

                 Peace,

                           Danny

“The only way to make sense 

out of change is to plunge into it,

move with it, and join the dance.”

~Alan Watts