Wander

Hi,

We had the hot weather that was predicted, and a fair amount of rain.  You know the air is hot when the pool stays warm even after rain every evening.  The afternoon cool-downs in the pool make it all bearable.

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “Maybe” by The Chantels.  ‘Easy Monday’ is a tribute to one of the earliest pioneers of Rock & Roll who recently passed.  “Gonna tell Aunt Mary ‘bout Uncle John, he claims he got the misery but he has a lot of fun.  Oh baby, yes baby, wooh baby, havin’ me some fun tonight, yeah.  Hint:  By another singer with the first name ‘Little’.  There is a woman’s name in the three word title.  

Saturday morning we took JaiDee to Work@Home again.  He had a great time, getting loads of attention from Katai.  He really enjoys riding in the van.  When we’re sitting still he gets restless.  When we start rolling again he is a happy dog.  Sunday morning we went back to Chivit Thamma Da.  This time Nam Kok (pronounced Coke), the house Golden, was there and they got to spend some time together.  ‘Kok’ as he’s called, was rescued from the Kok river about 4 years ago by Joakim, the owner of Chivit.  He thinks Kok is about 8 years old.  When JaiDee wanted to  play, Kok just brushed him off.  They did walk around a little and JaiDee learned a few lessons.  Today we went for a walk across the river, where they have the fairs on holidays.  We walked through branches and plant life, which gave his nose a real delight.  From there we went to a little art gallery coffee shop.  We sat outside and enjoyed our coffee while JaiDee had his ice.  This pattern has become the new normal for us.  There was still time to take him home and go to HomePro for light bulbs and a clock.  

Today’s photo shows JaiDee in his ‘Let’s Play’ pose.

Even though people are going into the streets, and more businesses are opening, there is still an air of caution being exercised.  The ‘entry ritual’ is still in place when entering most businesses.  The taking of the temperature, gel on the hands, and a sticker marking you as ‘screened’.  I saw an interesting comment about the low virus count in Thailand.  It was noted that as a ‘Wai’ culture there is not a lot of hugging and kissing when greeting.  We keep a distance on a regular basis.  Hmm.  I should also mention the we have not had a new case of the virus in Chiang Rai  for 40 days.  

Have a Great Week.   Believe the hype, wear a mask.

                          Peace,

                                    Danny

“You wander from room to room

hunting for the diamond necklace

that is already around your neck.”

~Rumi

Friday Funnies

Hi,

Today was another stifling hot day.  It felt like those days people refer to when they talk about frying an egg on the sidewalk.

The ‘Zany Day’ song was “Politician” by Cream.  From 1958 here’s one you may remember:  “__, if I pray every night you’ll come back to me.  __, If I cry every day, you’ll come back to stay.  Oh, __.”  Hint:  It’s by a girl group, and it’s kind of a ‘What if’ song.  

This morning we had to go to Big C, so we started thinking about somewhere ‘new’ to get coffee.  We were on our way to a repeat at Work@Home when I missed the turn.  It put us right in front of a little shop that supports a new art gallery space.  We got our iced-coffee and sat in the garden area listening to cool music.  It was perfect.

Big C was the busiest we’ve seen it in a long time.  We got there before 11am, which meant they weren’t selling liquor yet.  The lines in front of the bank branches were quite long since they’re still observing social distancing.  Since you can’t get into the store building without a mask, it was comforting to know we were protected.  Not that long ago it was hard to locate face masks, now there are many choices around the check-out stands.  Now we have a little selection at home.  What fun!

Have you noticed, every time you put your mask on and go out in public, someplace on your face starts to tickle?

It seems like no matter what time JaiDee goes to sleep, he seems to wake up at 6:15am.  I guess that's how it’s going to be.  

Today’s photo shows JaiDee standing on his hind legs at the kitchen sink with Natcha, bidding us goodbye.  It’s a little blotchy through the screen.

This afternoon we were getting ready to swim, hoping to beat the rain that was lurking.  Nitchanan was more than ready to join us, and we assured Natcha that it was OK.  With her ‘water wings’ in place, our resident mermaid slipped into the water and demonstrated everything she’s learned this week from Gong.  She can now hold her breath without holding her nose, and she can put her face in the water, kick her feet (like a frog) and move about 4 feet per breath.  She did the length of the pool, with a little help from Lisa and a paddle board.  Lisa asked her if she could use her arms and her quick answer was, ‘No’.  The thunder came and we had to go, but she didn’t fuss about it. Later, she and Gong returned to the water for a longer session.

A few minutes ago there was a volley of fireworks close by and it really freaked JaiDee out.  Maybe that’s not the right term, it was an intrusion on his serenity and he barked used his 'big dog voice’.  We get these fireworks outbursts when there’s a funeral in the neighborhood.

As life begins the attempt at a new normal, remember to act as if it’s still in outbreak mode.

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

                             Peace,

                                       Danny

Rainbow

Hi,

The weather was HOT.  This afternoon it was 102° in the shade.  We dealt with it gracefully, slipping into the water.

This week’s ‘Zany Day’ song doesn’t have the title in the lyrics.  If you really think about what he’s saying you will identify what he is.  “I support the left, tho’ I’m leanin’, leanin’ to the right.  I support the left, tho’ I’m leanin’ to the right.  But I’m just not there when it’s coming to a fight.  Hey now baby, get into my big black car….”  Clue:

There have been a ton of clues for this easy conclusion, even if you don’t know the song.

This morning we continued JaiDee’s tour of the coffee spots with a visit to Chivit Thamma Da.  We invited Cat to join us and this was an extra thrill for JaiDee.  After we went through the entry ritual we were able to sit at one of our favorite tables.  The staff gave JaiDee a warm welcome when we went in the front door.  It was a little like ‘Cheers’.  He got lots of petting throughout the whole visit.  The place has done a really good job of making customers feel safe.  Drinking glasses are wrapped, the menus are in plastic sleeves, and the staff all wear face shields.  When they brought the bill it was on a clipboard with a plastic bag for cash if that’s how you paid.  There was a minimum of touching.  

Cat was very excited to meet us at Chivit.  She hadn’t been anywhere except 7-11 for weeks.  She has been very conscientious about sticking to the protocols surrounding the virus.  She has begun teaching privately on a very limited basis.  After many discussions with the parents, she is going to their home for one-on-one tutoring.  She said it’s harder because of the need to keep everything clean.  It’s also hard to hold a youngsters attention when there has been no supervised learning for weeks.  When we asked about teaching him online she said there is no control.  Cat’s university is offering free online courses on how to teach online.  It covers the various software tools as well as how to manage older students.   

When we were at Work@Home yesterday, I asked about a tractor that was parked in the driveway.  Katai and Towan have a tractor franchise and this particular vehicle is very special.  It was designed by a Japanese designer who used to work in Europe.  One of the companies he worked for was Ferrari and when he returned to Japan, he put his ‘touch’ on this Yanmar tractor.

Thailand has had to cancel many holidays during this period of isolation.  Rather than having people flocking to temples in the usual manner, the monks are chanting on the internet, so worshipers can be a part of the ceremonies without leaving home.  Some holidays are more physical, like Songkran, which will be celebrated at a later date.  One just can’t throw water at the computer (555).

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                         Peace,

                                   Danny

“Try to be a rainbow 

in someone’s cloud.”

~Maya Angelou

Flyer

Hi,

Most of today was very beautiful and very hot.  It required a swim in the afternoon to cool off.  After dinner the sky got cloudy and then the thunder began.  That was soon followed by a big lightning show, more thunder and then a short rain.  All in all, a well rounded weather day (555).

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “Somebody To Love” by Jefferson Airplane.  The ‘Zany Day’ song is next.  It still works.

“Hey now baby, get into my big black car.  Hey now baby, get into my big black car.  I wanna just show you what my politics are.  I’m a political man, and I practice what I preach.  I’m a political man, and I practice what I preach.  So don’t deny me baby, not while you're in my reach.”  Hint:  The group name is from a milk product that some people put in coffee.  The one-word title is the designation of the person in the song.

This morning we took JaiDee to Work@Home, an open air coffee shop, to visit with Katai and Towan.  They hadn’t seen him in a very long time.  Now that things have relaxed a bit, we’re going on tour of our favorite places.  It turns out, they never closed the coffee shop.  Anyway, JaiDee had the time of his life.  They were like the grandparents who let you do anything you want.  JaiDee took full advantage of this and was quite the performer.  Towan took him to their house in the rear of the property.  The next thing we knew, they were waving from the upstairs balcony.  Towan wanted to see if JaiDee could climb the stairs.  Some dogs won’t climb if you can see through the stairs.  While we hung out at the table, the star of the show climbed up on the bench and sat between them.  When he decided to get on the table, they thought it was funny.  The ‘strict’ parents put a stop to that.  Near the end of the visit there was even talk of a sleepover (555).  It was a very fun time and we took lots of photos.  Today’s photo is one of many.

The traffic on the streets today was as if nothing had happened.  People are moving about, even though many businesses are still closed.    

Gong and Nitchanan have been using the pool in the late afternoons.  Yesterday, she called to me and then proceeded to pinch her nose, take a deep breath and go underwater for a few seconds.  When she came up she was so happy.  Today she had a pair of kid goggles and she and Gong were going under together.  It’s great that she’s getting this confidence in the water.  

It feels like a Wacky Wednesday.   Wear your mask and wash your hands.  It ain’t over.

                       Peace,

                                 Danny

“When someone hands you a flyer, 

it’s like they’re saying, ‘Here, you throw

this away.”

~Mitch Hedberg

Sense

Hi,

It looks like the rain has gone on vacation and we’re back in the hot weather cycle.  It was 99° today, going up a few degrees every day until we reach 103° by the end of the week.  I know it’s hot in other places in the world, but there is also more variation in the weather.  What’s really goin’ on?

This week’s ‘Easy Monday’ song was recognized by a few of you.  It’s from an album with ‘Pillow’ in the title.

“When the garden flowers baby, are dead.  Yes, and your mind, your mind is so full of red.  Don’t you want __ __ __?  Don’t you need __ __ __?  Wouldn’t you love __ __ __?  You better find __ __ __.”  Clue:  It was the summer of love, and everybody was singing about it.

What can I say?  Another day at The Big Brown House.  Well, we did make a trip to the pharmacy.  It also served as a road trip for JaiDee.  On very hot days like today, since he can’t run around, it seems that riding around in the van uses some of his pent up energy and calms him down.  We also enjoy hanging out on the front porch, listening to an audio book and occasionally letting him charge the birds in the yard.  This evening was another matter.  It was too hot for the walking path so Lisa walked him around the house.  He decided when he was done so they came inside.  Then the ‘night beast’ emerged and we thought a run across the front yard might help.  Dog boy decided to do some moonlight gardening.  His teeth found numerous plants to attack, not always doing damage, but driving us nuts.  It should be noted that the moon is almost full and this may have contributed to the craziness.  We’ll let that be the reason for now (555).

Today’s photo is from JaiDee’s Sunday outing to Browney World.  He made a few friends for sure.  I think JaiDee wanted to take this guy home.

A big part of the easing of regulations in Thailand had to do with the purchasing of alcohol.  The ban on booze was lifted on Sunday, causing large crowds to overwhelm many vendors.  The government has threatened to close stores that don’t practice social distancing.  The ban itself might be reinstated if things get out of hand.  There have been just three new cases of the virus this month.  Thailand is doing a good job of containing the spread of the virus. Now the hard part: making sure it’s really gone.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                          Peace,

                                    Danny

“Common sense is not so common.”

~Voltaire

Treasures

Hi,

In between beautiful blue skies, we had thunder storms everyday this weekend.  Sometimes the rain was heavy, sometimes just showers, but it was always wonderful.  The wind was pretty fierce on Saturday night, we lost part of a flowering bush, but it really cleared the air.

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “I Only Have Eyes For You” by The Flamingos.  Here’s a ‘Easy Monday’ tune for you:

“When the truth is found to be lies.  And all the joy within you dies.  Don’t you want __ __ __?  Don’t you need __ __ __?  Wouldn’t you love __ __ __?  You better find __ __ __.”  Hint:  By a group named for something that flies. This one should be easy.  It’s from 1967.

Things are changing almost every day.  With the extension of the government decree, there seems to be more flexibility as well as bending of some basic rules.  Restaurants are opening, some for walk-in trade, others for take-out and other businesses are going back to things as they were.  We are remaining cautious and not diving into the waters just yet.  That need for ‘the way things were’ could lead to premature decisions that could have consequences.  

One of our regular spots, Chivit Thamma Da, is opening on a limited basis.  They produced a video explaining how things will work and one can see that a lot of thought went into trying to keep everybody safe, including their staff.  We’ll be dropping by soon.  

We’ve been giving JaiDee more ‘freedom’ in the yard.  He’s quite the hunter/gatherer of yard waste.  He loves the things that fall from the trees.  He prances around with them in his mouth before settling down to shred them to bits.  Today’s photo shows JaiDee approaching the back door, branch in mouth, thinking he’s going to take it into the house.  That didn’t happen (555).

Natcha got Nitchanan a kit for making jewelry.  She’s been stringing little plastic shapes and making necklaces and bracelets.  Yesterday she presented Lisa with a necklace and she was beaming with pride in her accomplishment.  Today she gave Lisa a bracelet.  It’s great to see her doing productive things in what has to be a strange time for her 4-year-old life.  With no school, no cousins to play with, and no visits to her ‘special’ places, it must be hard.  Now she can make things, a great distraction from Youtube.  Let’s hear it for crafts!

Have a Great Week.  

                     Peace,

                               Danny

“I have just three things to teach:

Simplicity, patience and compassion.

These three are your greatest treasures.”

~Lao Tzu

Friday Funnies

Hi,

The daytime weather was warm.  This evening we had a wind storm followed by rain that it still falling.  One of those nights.

The ‘Zany Day’ song was “Y.M.C.A.” by The Village People.  Time for some ‘Old School Friday’.  “My love must be a kind of blind love.  I can’t see anyone but you.  Are the stars out tonight?  I don’t know if it’s cloudy or bright.  __ __ __ __ __ __, dear…”  Hint:  This ’standard’ took on new life as an R&B ballad in 1959.  It was originally a hit in 1934.  The ‘modern' version is by a group named after a long-legged pink bird. 

For many people here, April 30 was the last day of the ‘Stay at home’ decree, or so they thought.  Had they checked the major papers, they would have known that it was extended.  You couldn’t tell by the crowds in the streets today.  It was as if everything had returned to normal.  There were people wearing masks, but there were also lots not wearing them.  We went to Big C and the first thing we noticed was the larger number of shoppers.  There were long lines at the banks, mainly because they weren’t allowing many people inside at once.  

At Central Plaza Mall, we expected to find a parking space, go inside and handle a few things and leave.  Instead, we had to drive around the whole property, only to discover that the inside parking was still closed and the outside lots were full.  Someone forgot to tell the parking guys that people were coming.  Inside, some restaurants were open, most small shops were still closed, and I suspect there was a big take-away business going on.  We had to walk from one end of the mall to the other (outside) to get to our destination.  The one thing that may save Chiang Rai is the fact that there have not been any new cases in almost a month.  We intend to follow the decree and stay as safe as possible.

This is the time of year when the big orange trees bloom.  It’s also the time for the yellow, pink and red trees to do their thing.  In the front yard our yellow tree is not quite fully mature, but this is a good year as far as flowers goes.  Our pink tree is also flowering like crazy.  In the back we have a plumeria that is covered with white, aromatic flowers.  We’re really enjoying the colors in the yard.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.    Stay tuned for the ‘Funnies’.

                       Peace,

                                 Danny