Each Day

Fish and Shrimp Dinner at Savana Restaurant, Chiang Rai. (Last Thursday)

Hi,

It's hotter than hot in Chiang Rai. Songkran is over and the streets are dry. We had a great weekend, mostly hanging out. We went out for dinner with friends on Saturday, and have been in the pool on a regular basis.

Well, it looks like everybody got stumped on the 'Old School Friday' song. It was "Transfusion" by Nervous Norvous. Now it's time for 'Easy Monday' and I just know you're happy it's here. This should be easy for most of you:

"Sometimes I'm right, then I can be wrong. My own beliefs are in my songs. A butcher, a banker, a drummer and then, makes no difference what group I'm in. I am __ __." Hint: It's by a 'family band' and it speaks to our similarities, and salutes the common man. There are some pretty sly lyrics in this one.

Saturday we watched the qualifying for the Chinese Gran Prix from Shanghai. Then our friends Chalit and Amber came over for a swim. We had a lot of fun hanging out in the cool water and talking.

After our swim it was time to get dressed for dinner. We were to meet our good friends Sutheera and Nukoon at Fuji Restaurant at Central Plaza. It took longer to get there than expected due to the craziness of Songkran. The streets were jammed with people throwing water. At one point there was a real traffic jam by one of the 'filling stations' when two pick-up trucks decided to do battle. Buckets of water were being tossed back and forth between the trucks. Anyone who passed got soaked. We finally got to the mall and all was calm.

We'd never been to Central Plaza on a Saturday evening and we were surprised to see so many people. We had a very nice dinner with our friends. We talked about the various traditions related to Songkran and then the conversation turned to our pets. They have five dogs and two cats. Two of the dogs are babies and that always leads to stories. After dinner we showed them a coffee stand we like and then we went shopping.

Sunday I watched the Formula One race while Lisa and Sutheera worked on a paper that Sutheera is writing for her doctoral project. She brought us chicken and mangos so we stayed in and had dinner at home. It was a very pleasant day.

This morning I got a call from our friend Pete, who is in town from Bangkok visiting his family. He and his mom were coming over. They were visiting family and friends that they wanted to pay their respects to, and we were on the list. His mother owns the art supply store where Lisa gets many of her supplies. She is also a 'patron' of the arts and has three of Lisa's cast acrylic prints in her collection. We had a great time talking about everything from food to dogs. Lisa brought BamBam out to meet them and Supaluck, Pete's mom, and BamBam became fast friends. They wanted to know about everything we eat, which was kind of interesting. As they were leaving Pete told us that the next time we come to Bangkok he wants to take us to Hua Hin, a beach resort town south of Bangkok.

It's been a very social weekend filled with many fond memories.

Have a Great Week.

Peace,

Danny

"Finish each day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities have crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day;
you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit
to be encumbered with your old nonsense."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

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Friday

Hi,

We woke up to a beautiful 'looking' morning. The air outside had that familiar smell of burning. It cleared and the day was great. We went to the vegetable market this morning. Car got wet, we didn't.

The 'Bad Ass Bass' tune was "Boogie On Reggae Woman" by Stevie Wonder. This week's 'Old School Friday' song will be dedicated to all the Old Timers out there. (555) "I jump in my rod about a quarter to nine, I gotta make a date with that chick of mine. I cross the center line, man you gotta make time. (Scrreech-Bang-Tinkle) __ __ Oh, man, I got the cotton pickin' convolutions. Never, never,never gonna speed again. Shoot the juice to me, Bruce." Hint: This song was a major hit in 1956. The two words are the same.

We needed one of the ingredients for our daily juice drink so we opted to go to the 'Healthy Market' as the sign says over the entrance to the vegetable market in the center of town. Lisa bought a bunch of green vegetables and we also got some fruit. On our way to the market we passed many little groups of kids doing their thing. On the road into town we got hit a few times. Some of the little ones can barely swing a bucket but they're out there in the middle of it with huge smiles on their faces.

We spent the remainder of the day behind the walls at the Big Brown House. It was hot, but not as hot as yesterday. After our nap we hit the pool and had a relaxing swim. We seem to be out of the rain pattern so the pool will be part of every day's agenda for some time.

We have one more ticket to reserve and we'll be done with our reservations for our trip to America in May. The trip is a little earlier than usual because my mom will be celebrating her 90th birthday. That's one of those thing you just don't miss.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd. It's time for the 'Funnies'. Oh yeah, Formula One this weekend.

Peace,

Danny

DIVORCE VS. MURDER
A nice, calm and respectable lady went into the pharmacy, walked up to the pharmacist, looked straight into his eyes, and said, 'I would like to buy some cyanide.'

The pharmacist asked, 'Why in the world do you need cyanide?'
The lady replied, 'I need it to poison my husband.'
The pharmacist's eyes got big and he exclaimed, 'Lord have mercy! I can't give you cyanide to kill your husband. That's against the law! I'll lose my license! They'll throw both of us in jail! All kinds of bad things
will happen. Absolutely not! You CANNOT have any cyanide!'

The lady reached into her purse and pulled out a picture of her husband in bed with the pharmacist's wife.
The pharmacist looked at the picture and replied, 'Well now, that's different. You didn't tell me you had a prescription.'

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

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Stand

The Pool

Hi,

We had another beautiful day here in Chiang Rai. Songkran shifted into high gear a day early as water was being tossed all over town. The pool was a little warmer today, and we just returned from a seafood dinner at a new place near our house.

The 'Bad Ass Bass' tune has baffled some of you. Guess you need a little more of the lyric, and some fat clues:

"I'd like to see both of us fall deeply in love. I'd like to see you under, under the stars above, yes I would. (Repeat)

So __ __ __ __, what is wrong with you? __ __ __ __, what you tryin' to do? Hint: Yesterday's clue contained two of the four words in the title. We featured another bass line from this artist a few weeks ago. I wonder who it is?

This morning I went across town through some of the pre-holiday traffic. Many business have closed and some streets were busy, and some were quiet. Bus station Street was busy around the station, but a block away in the hardware district, all the doors were closed and traffic was light. Children were setting up their 'water stations', preparing to do what must be done. While Lisa and I were driving we noticed that some of the kids will throw water at anything moving, while others are more selective in their targets. I think some of them are out for motorbikes and young people. We also spotted a few pick-up trucks roaming around with drums of water in the back. They target other trucks and the water stations on the roadside.

This afternoon we had another encounter with the pool. The water was two degrees warmer than yesterday. It's still just cool enough that it keeps us moving, which is good. While we swam, Daku hung out in the shade trying to stay cool. When he was younger he used to like to stomp his front paws in a big pan of water to cool off his chest and tummy. Lisa filled the pan today and put it in the pen. She led Daku to the water but he just turned away and went to the front yard. A little later he returned to the pen, looked at the pan and then stepped in and stomped away. I guess he remembered what to do after all.

This evening we were invited to dinner by our friend Caty. Her boyfriend, Gobchai, has recently opened a small restaurant about 3 minutes from our house. We pass it all the time and didn't know it was his. He cooked a special Thai white fish and shrimp prawns. We told them of our dietary restrictions and they found sauces without soy. Both dishes were delicious. We sat on the sidewalk, eating with our fingers, talking and laughing and the time just flew by. While we were there one of our friends stopped for a bite to eat and another just paused to say hello. It was a really nice experience; a sense of community on a different level. We'll probably return to 'Savana' again for more fish and shrimp. The music was very cool as well.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

Peace,

Danny

"In matters of style, swim with the current;
in matters of principle, stand like a rock."
~Thomas Jefferson

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

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Small Things

This woman cooks meals on the beach @ Koh Samet. A moveable feast.

Hi,

The weather was the same as yesterday, I got a massage, we went out into the world, and today we went for our first swim of the season. Whoopee.

The 'Easy Monday' song was "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen. This week's 'Bad Ass Bass' comes from an artist who seems to have a knack for coming up with clever bass lines. This one should be easy, since the title is in plain sight.

"I like to see you boogie right across the floor... I like to reggae but you dance too fast for me..." Clue: There's a dance theme involved. (555)

This morning, after the running of the dogs, I had a massage from Khun Joy. It has been several weeks since my last visit and things were a little tight. That translates to a sometimes painful encounter. When it was over I felt very relaxed.

Our normal time to visit any of the big shopping stores it to go early, before the crowds. This afternoon we went to Makro and remembered why we go early. The place was packed with shoppers getting supplies for the weekend. Not only were families getting things for meals and gatherings, but also things they will take to the temple on Friday to make merit. One of the traditions of Songkran is to take food and supplies to the monks. They might also participate in cleaning the temple. Cleansing is a big part of the Songkran celebration.

As we left Makro we spotted a small group of young men beside the highway, throwing water on cars and motorbikes. It really has begun. On our way through another part of town there were three little girls working on their timing with their little buckets. Timing is everything when throwing water at a moving target. One must throw before the target reaches you. In past years we have been 'hit' by some very diligent little ones who practiced until they had it right.

Wednesday is the day the pool guys come. Today the pool was looking very inviting, especially with the heat. After our travels to town we decided to go in, even though it wasn't at our usual minimum temperature. I guess we've gotten tougher because 80 degrees felt good. We did some easy laps, studied the yard from water level, and realized how much we'd missed swimming.

Time for Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,

Danny

"Sometimes, we just need to be amazed by the small things."

~Angela Pacheco

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

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Silence

Hi,

Chiang Rai is heating up. That means errands in the morning, air/con in the afternoon. It looks like Songkran is going to be a bigger deal than ever. The 'Beach' is already a hub of activity and businesses are starting to close.

If you think you might know the 'Easy Monday' song, this passage should nail it for you: "I see a little silhouetto of a man. Scaramouch, scaramouch will you do the fandango? Thunderbolt and lightning very, very frightening me. Gallileo, Gallileo, Gallileo, Gallileo, Gallileo Figaro, magnifico..." Hint: So easy I got mail about it. (555)

This morning, while Lisa was having a massage, I ran some errands. The traffic seems to be a little heavier in the morning and my guess is that it's because there are more people in town, and with some businesses closing early there's more time to drive around and make preparations. Every year many workers get a long holiday for Songkran. This gives them time to return to their villages or home towns and be with their families. This year the government is urging employers to give at least five days, not counting the weekend. This means that Songkran will run from April 13 to April 17, and beyond. Our friend Shannon said she already got a bucket of water thrown on her. I guess the madness has begun.

The weather forecasters for our area think it's going to move into the 90s sometime this week and just sit there. This is typical for this time of year. That means Daku and BamBam will have early morning workouts and just walks around the house with Boot in the afternoons. When it's cool they love to run, but it's not good for them in the heat. Daku doesn't like to run when it's hot, so it's not really a problem with him. When they hang out with Boot while she waters they usually get splashed and that cools them down.

The music from the river is thumping away. We haven't been over the Pink Bridge during the evening, but I'm interested to see what the crowd is like. Friday night will be a huge night on the shore since it's the first night of Songkran. Roll up the windows and nobody gets wet.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,

Danny

PS: If the picture I sent yesterday came out sideways and distorted, go to my blog site. It looks great there.

"Silence is often misinterpreted,

but never misquoted."

~Unknown

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Courage

Kids Searching for Dinosaur Bones at Central Plaza

Hi,

We're in a pattern of nightly rain here in Chiang Rai. The air is clear and everyone is happy. We had a busy weekend, as you will soon see.

The 'Old School Friday' song was "Fever", originally recorded by Little Willie John in 1958. 'Cool Points' were awarded to my brother Denny. Those who thought it was Peggy Lee were sort of correct. (555) Onward to 'Easy Monday'.
"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 a little high, little low. Any way the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me, to me." Clue: It's a bit of an opera from his majesty of sorts. A tragic story in a rock setting from across the pond. It's really quite easy.

Saturday morning the plan was to go to Central Plaza and get my phone repaired. As we were getting ready we realized it was also the first Saturday of the month and time for our Visa check-in. Thai Immigration has started providing services at Central Plaza on the first Saturday of each month so the timing was perfect. We got to the mall before it opened and started the process of filing out forms and getting copies of pages from our passports. Lisa finished before me and went to check out the iBeat store to see if they could fix my phone. They told her they would have to send it to Singapore overnight, so we went to a stall that does repairs and they could do it in an hour. We chose them and spent time walking around and having coffee. It took them an extra half hour, but it was worth the wait.

Sunday was the big day. Lots of 'doing and fixing' around the house, a trip to Makro, and by early afternoon things were looking good around the house.

The weather was nice for most of Sunday, although there were forecasts for rain. Guests began arriving around 4:30 and by 5pm it seemed like the bulk of them showed up all at once. We ended up with 22 adults, 4 children, and one 6 month old baby. There was lots of food and drink and conversations on the patio, in the living room, and around the kitchen window. The music room became the children's art room and they were happy to spend time drawing, listening to music, and playing the guitar. Lots of new connections were made and we got a chance to visit with some friends we don't see very often. By 8:30 the guests had left and the clean-up was in full swing. It started raining just as the party was winding down. Today we were tired from all the activity so we just took it easy.

Have a Great Week.

Peace,
Danny

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak;
courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."
~Unknown

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Friday Funnies

Hi,

Today was the most beautiful day in weeks. We had a second rain storm last night and today was really clear. We did our shopping circuit, saw a bike race, and went to the Night Bazaar. I also had some phone drama as well.

The 'Bad Ass Bass' tune was "Strawberry Letter 23" as recorded by The Brothers Johnson. Cousin Rikke sent me the background on the song. It was written by Shuggie Otis (Johnny's son). His girlfriend used to write him letters on strawberry scented paper, hence the title. Now you know. For 'Old School Friday' ponder this: "Never know how much I love you, never know how much I care. When you put your arms around me, I get a __ that's so hard to bear." Hint: It's about something I had earlier in the week. 'Cool Points' if you tell me the original artist from 1956. What?

Our list of errands grew during the week since I was 'down' for a few days. After the pet supply store we paid an overdue visit to Big C. We needed household supplies and party stuff. The crowd hadn't built up too bad so we were able to move about, but they were coming. It was the last Friday before the beginning of Songkran so shoppers were doing their thing. It was interesting to note that there is a shortage of soda water, with a limit of 6 bottles per family. Hmm. There were lots of families out this morning. I enjoy watching them shop. I saw grandparents with grandkids, or three generations strolling the aisles looking for favorite things to eat. There's a lot of eating during Songkran.

This afternoon I went out to The New Life Foundation to meet with some of the residents. As I was leaving I called Lisa and did the dumbest thing ever: I put my phone on the roof of the car. In my excitement, I loaded the car, got in and drove away. When I started down the main road back to town I heard a thumping at the rear of the car. Then I heard a tone in my Bluetooth. Hmm, reached for my phone and my case was empty. After a quick U-turn I sped back up the road where I saw my phone case. I stopped and looked closely, hoping there would be no oncoming traffic. Then I heard the Bluetooth say 'connected', and there was my phone, in the middle of the road. My heart sank as I approached and saw the shattered glass face. Oh my. When I got home Lisa called my phone and it worked. I could move things through the broken glass, but I'm not going to mess with it. We're going to Central Plaza first thing in the morning to get it repaired. Never put phone on car.

This evening we went to the Night Bazaar for dinner. We haven't been in weeks and won't be going on Sunday so it was time. We had a nice talk with the owners and Lisa got to go upstairs to the kitchen to watch the husband cook shrimp. She missed the actual cooking magic, but he explained it and invited her to come up next time and watch the process. We did some shopping, stopped by Aye's Restaurant to say 'Hi' and invited them to the party. On the way to the car we had a brief visit with 'Watch Guy'. It was a good evening. In the background there is music and possibly thunder.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd. Time for the 'Funnies'.

Peace,
Danny

HOW TO INSTALL AN OKLAHOMA HOME SECURITY SYSTEM

1. Go to a secondhand store and buy a pair of men's
used size 14-16 work boots.
2. Place them on your front porch, along with a copy
of Guns & Ammo Magazine.
3. Put a few giant dog dishes next to the boots and
magazines.
4 Leave a note on your door that reads:

Bubba,

Big'un, Duke, Slim, & I went for more ammo and beer.
Back in an hour. Don't mess with the pit bulls - they
attacked the mailman this morning and messed him up
bad. I don't think Killer took part, but it was hard
to tell from all the blood. Anyway, I locked all four
of 'em in the house. Better wait outside.

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