Bridge

Hi,

Last night we had another ‘Storm of the Century’ (555).  Seriously, it rain so hard we had the usual lakes and a lot of soggy ground.  By mid-morning it was basically gone, but it returned in the afternoon for an encore performance.

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “It’s Not Unusual” by Tom Jones.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yca2BCwAnBQ

It’s time to put on your ‘Zany Day’ hats and tell me what this is:  “I was born in a crossfire hurricane.  And I howled at my ma in the driving rain.  But it’s all right now, in fact it’s a gas.  But it’s all right, I’m __ __ __, it’s a gas, gas, gas.”  

Today was one of the busier days we’ve had lately.  After the morning routine and a great call with Lisa’s dad Joe, we gathered all our paperwork and went to immigration.  When we got there it was totally crowded so we went with plan ‘B’ and headed for the mall.  Lunch and a little shopping took just enough time to return to immigration at 1pm.  The office crew showed up late from their lunch, but in a very happy mood.  This was good for us.  When our number was finally called we got all of our business taken care of and it only took an hour and a half.  

This afternoon DHL delivered the tickets for the Formula One event in Singapore.  I was expecting a small envelope with two paper tickets.  Shows you how much I know.  When I opened the package there was a whole presentation.  In addition to the two passes there was a card for a free month of the F1 app, which will allow us to follow the cars around the track and see the order of the drivers throughout the race.  Pretty snazzy for a car race.

When we were at the mall this morning, we got coffee.  On the receipt they printed the WiFi password.  I thought this was a great idea.  You pay for coffee, you get the password.  Or, to put it another way, you want password, buy something (555).

After dinner we went to Big C for things we needed.  We were expecting the place to be empty but it was jumping.   Driving through town after the rain, we encountered various puddles.  On one stretch of road it was obvious that more work needs to be done on the drainage system.  It makes it rough for the motorbikes when the puddles are too deep.  

Feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                    Peace,

                              Danny

“Love is the bridge between

you and everything.”

~Rumi

Wisdom

Hi,

It tried to rain today.  In fact, for a brief time it looked like it might drizzle all day, but that ended and it was back to hot and muggy.  Maybe tomorrow.

A few of you remembered the ‘Easy Monday’ song.  Here’s another verse to jar your memory:  “__ __ __ to go out at any time.  But when I see you out and about it’s such a crime, if you should ever want to be loved by anyone, __ __ __, it happens every day.  No matter what you say, you find it happens all the time… __ __ __ to find out that I’m in love with you, whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh.”  Clue:  It came from across the water around 1965, but it wasn’t R&R.

This morning we began taking the steps necessary to renew our retirement visas.  One of the steps needed was a trip to the bank.  We have to show that we have had a certain amount of money in a Thai bank for several months.  This is a routine thing for us now, it just has to be documented by the bank.  The big change this year is a form that asks for information never required before.  Most of it seems unnecessary until we see the numbers of foreigners who remain in Thailand for years without reporting their whereabouts to immigration.  Thankfully, we don’t fit into that group, so we’ll comply with their requests.  Tomorrow we’ll go to immigration and apply for our renewal.  

There are a couple of trees that grow inside the restaurant at The Wanderer.  By design, they go up to the second floor through an opening in the ceiling.  Quite an impressive sight.

As we drive around on our side of the river, we’ve been noticing how most of the plots of land that were cleared for sale have now completely grown over due to the rains.  What looked like a vacant lot a few months ago is now a jungle.  Some of the corn that was planted across the road from us is almost as high as, well, you know the song.  It looks like it should be harvested if it’s for human consumption.  If it’s for animals, they may just let it dry out and then pick it.  Hmm, maybe they wouldn’t miss a few ears (555).  Living so close to farms and open space reminds us where we are, in a poetic sense.  As soon as we cross the river we’re in a city.  On this side, it’s still the country.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

 

                 Peace,

                           Danny

“True wisdom comes to each of us when 

we realize how little we understand about

life, ourselves, and the world around us.”

~Socrates

Choices

Hi,

We actually had a weekend without rain.  There may have been a few sprinkles, but nothing to shout about.  It was just hot and humid.  

The ‘Old School Friday’ tune was “With A Little Help From My Friends” by The Beatles, and later, Joe Cocker.  It’s time to get busy with our ‘Easy Monday’ song.  Let’s see who remembers this oldie:  “__ __ __ to be loved by anyone.  __ __ __ to have fun with anyone.  But when I see you hanging about with anyone, __ __ __ to see me cry, oh, I wanna die.”  Hint: 

Saturday we had a great time at the ‘Going away party’ for the twins.  We met some new ‘grown ups’ and had very interesting conversations and made new friends.  The kids found things to do on the big lawn, like playing with kickballs, and putting plant-life in their hair.  When a big fan was placed in our area to create a breeze, the kids discovered that if you yell into it, it distorts your voice.  I had to join them and check it out and it’s pretty crazy.

As a result of several conversations over the weekend, I realized that I have learned a few things in the nine years we’ve been here.  I will pass some of these things along to you during the next few weeks.  When we first arrived, a new friend of mine who emigrated from Canada explained to me that it’s not better or worse, it’s just different.  I have held on to that thought.  There are many cultural observations that cause me to think.  Coming from a culture where ’striving’ is part of the way of life, it’s refreshing to realize that many people are happy with ‘enough’.  If they have a roof over their heads, and food to eat it is enough.  If they have family around them, it is enough.  They work hard and get enough to feed themselves and those around them and it is enough.  Hmm.

Sunday we went to The Wanderer for lunch.  I took some time after we’d finished and just strolled around.  While walking toward the river I heard the sound of the geese.  They are like guard-dogs.  As soon as I was on the path away from the normal area they began ‘honking’.  They’re in a make-shift enclosure so they don’t try to get out, but they were pretty clear about their intention.  Some of their honking was at me, but there were also two large birds walking around their enclosure and they were also warning them off.  

Sunday evenings in the Night Bazaar things start a little later than usual.  Partly because of ‘Happy Street’, which draws some of the vendors and some of the local crowd away.  As a result, when we got to Sawadee, the place was empty. After our meal we walked around a little, saying hello to some of our vendor friends.  Then home to watch Formula One while Lisa worked in her studio.

It was a mellow Monday on this side of the world.  We bought some vegetables and fruit at Healthy Market, stopped by ‘The Bread Lady’, and then had another fun visit with Katai at Work@Home.  This morning we got to look at some of her drawings and small paintings she does in a diary type book.  She is a wonderful artist who does it for herself.  Today’s quote is from a page in her little book.

Have a Great Week.

                       Peace,

                                 Danny

“Every morning you have two choices:

continue to sleep with your dreams,

or wake up and chase them.

~Unknown

Friday Funnies

Hi,

We had a forecast for a thunder storm at 12:30pm today.  As we sat finishing lunch, we looked out and it was nowhere close to raining.  There was no thunder booming in the distance, and it was 5 minutes to showtime.  It still hasn’t rained.  Why do we bother reading these things?  (555)

The ‘Zany Day’ song was “Alley Oop”, originally recorded by The Hollywood Argyles.  I’ll bet you all remember this next tune.  For the weekend I guess it's time for an easy one.  "What would you do if I sang out of tune, would you stand up and walk out on me?"  Clue: This song had two hit versions.  Of course I'm looking for the original but you can mention the other one.  We've done it before but this week cries for help. 

Gong has expressed an interest in learning more about art from Lisa.  We’ve seen some of his drawings and he definitely has talent.  Today he told Lisa he wanted to make a cast acrylic print and the lessons began.  Gop, Natcha’s nephew, was spending the afternoon with them and he joined Gong in the studio.  It was quite a scene.  Gop on the floor drawing, Gong at the table drawing on a polyethylene plate with a marking pen, and Lisa working on her latest acrylic on canvas piece.  Stay tuned for more on this story.

The big news of the day came late this afternoon.  Our internet went out and none of the usual remedies brought it back.  I called our provider, who told me a technician would be calling.  A guy called but spoke no English.  I ran down stairs, got Gong who came back upstairs and determined that no one could come today.  Something is broken in the line, if I understood correctly.  There was a time when panic would have taken over.  Back in the day, I would write this message and then drive down to Doi Chaang Coffee and send it using their WiFi.  Now we’re in modern times and I can use my phone as a ‘personal hot spot’ and send it from home.  I love this stuff (555).

Saturday we will attend the ‘Going Away’ party for the twins and their friends (they’re 3.5 years old), and go to an exhibit opening at Art Bridge on Sunday.  Sprinkled in between all that will be the catching up on U.S. Open recordings and Formula One from Monza, Italy.  

Today’s photo was taken on the highway to Chiang Mai.  I think the photo speaks for itself.  

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

                  Peace,

                            Danny 

Kind

Hi,

The weather was great again today.  What made the day special though was that it’s our 9th anniversary of moving to Thailand.  It’s hard to believe that so much time has passed.  

A few of you were in a ‘Zany Day’ state of mind and picked up on the silliness right away.  The end of the song might just be a good clue:  “Thair he goes, look at that cave man go.  He sure is hip ain’t he?  Like, what’s happening?  He’s too much.  Ride, daddy, ride.  Hi-yo dinosawruh.  Ride, daddy, ride.  Get ‘em, man.”  Hint:  Fred Flintstone’s cousin?

This morning we hit the highway again and found the kid store we were looking for.  We found one piece of what we were looking for, and after much discussion without translation, we learned that we have to order what we want.  We’ll return with a Thai speaker just to make sure we get the order right.  We also plan to check the Ikea Thailand website to see what they might have.  They have a big store in Bangkok.

Work has begun on the western bypass road.  The art of moving dirt is a messy one.  Big dump trucks and digging things are working every day near the airport road and it has turned the highway red.  Crews of workers attempt to clean it up during the day, but I think the asphalt is stained.  In a few years it will likely be finished and then there will be two ways to avoid driving through Chiang Rai.  This may mildly lessen the traffic in town, but most of it now is local folks just getting through their day.  

We had lunch with our friend Caty, the mother of the adorable twins.  She and the girls are moving to the States in a couple of weeks, for good.  We shared some memories, discussed the future, and got a few new resources for information and services.  Saturday we’re going to a party for the friends of the twins.  It’s a way to get together with some grown-ups (555).  It should be fun.

Speaking of fun, Lisa spent some time on line today booking our tickets for the Winter Visit.  It’s really not fun when the website is ‘new and improved’ and, well, you’ve probably experienced this yourself.  Why is it that improvements make things more difficult?  That’s not progress.  Rant over.

Today’s photos are from our trip to Chiang Mai.  The coffee shop is called ‘The Rabbit Crew’ and you will soon see why.  The shop was made from a shipping container that was cut and stacked to make an interesting design in the middle of nowhere.  The rabbits speak for themselves.  There were a bunch more in a little pen.  We had to sit outside because rabbits give off the same vibes as cats, which I cannot tolerate.  What a shame.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                Peace,

                          Danny

“You will never regret

being kind.”

~Unknown

Most

Hi,

It was a beautiful day in Chiang Rai.  We started out with lots of clouds, but no sight of rain.  Daku got a much needed bath and then it sprinkled.  That was all the water from the sky.  The rest was warm with patches of blue.  Last night I actually saw stars in the night sky.  

‘Easy Monday’ was  “Norwegian Wood” by The Beatles.  This week’s ‘Zany Day’ song is pretty crazy.  Remember?

“There’s a man in the funny papers we all know (__ __, __, __, __-__).  He lived ‘way back a long time ago.  He don’t eat nothin’ but a-bear cat stew.  Well, this cat’s name is-a __ __….”  Clue:  This one goes way back in time (555).

One of our latest projects is to create a play area for Neetchanon in the back yard.  There is a fenced off area by the back door that used to be used by the dogs.  They didn’t like it much and now it’s just waiting for someone to hang out.  We went out this morning in search of the foam squares that link together for flooring.  We rode up and down the Super Highway without finding the ‘Kid Store’ we’ve seen in the past.  We have another section of road to check.  She isn’t crawling yet, but it’s only a matter of time.  It would be nice for her to be able to be outside and active.  

This time of year it seems that fruit is either in town or it’s not; t least when it comes to mangos.  Yesterday we couldn’t find any good ones, today they were in abundance.  We stopped at Work@Home and had coffee and Katai came down from her office and hung with us.  We had a fun time as usual.  While thumbing through one of the many car magazines in the shop, I discovered that there is a Lamborghini Club of Thailand.  Hmm, I did not know that.

Speaking of Lamborghinis, on our way to Chiang Mai, while winding through the mountains, one came swooping around a curve and both of us said, ‘Oooooo’ at the same time.  It was there and then it was gone.

This afternoon we got to spend a lot of time with the baby.  We think she’s teething and she’s been a bit fussy, but  whenever Daku comes into the room she stops fussing.  He’s like the pacifier dog.  She spent some time in her little circle chair listening to nursery rhymes while Natcha made lunch.  This evening Natcha brought her upstairs to visit.  She was preoccupied with Daku and when Natcha put her close enough to pet him, she grabbed his fur.  Then she did her favorite thing; she put her face into the fur.  He’s becoming more and more tolerant, which is good. 

Today’s photos are basically Neetchanon and Daku.  The first one is the two of them hanging out.  The second is the ‘Face plant’ into the fur.

Feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                Peace,

                          Danny 

"The most valuable possession you can own

is an open heart.

The most powerful weapon you can be 

is an instrument of peace.”

~Carlos Santana

Facts

Hi,

After yesterday’s ‘driving rain’, today’s occasional showers were refreshing.  There is thunder in the distance.  Who knows what it will bring?

So far, three readers know the ‘Easy Monday’ song.  I’m guessing more of you know.  Maybe these words will help:

“She asked me to stay and she told me to sit anywhere.  So I looked around and I noticed there wasn’t a chair.  I sat on the rug, biding my time, drinking her wine.  We talked until two and then she said, ‘It’s time for bed’.  She told me she worked in the morning and started to laugh.  I told her I didn’t and crawled off to sleep in the bath…. isn’t it good __ __?”  Hint:  This tune by those four lads could have been a ‘Zany Day’ song.  Should be easy.

Even though we were only gone for one night, Daku missed us.  He followed us around Monday night as if we’d been gone for weeks.  In the past, when we were gone, he slept in what was Cat’s room.  Now that she’s gone he sleeps in the kitchen.  Probably enjoys the cool tile floor.  I’ll bet if the door had been open to the guest room, he would have stayed in there.  

It’s hard to believe that next week will mark nine years since we moved to Thailand.  That must be why certain changes here seem so pronounced.  Remembering some of the early days as we travel certain roads, some of the changes are bitter sweet.  I keep reminding myself that everything changes.  The things I love the most haven’t changed and that’s important.

 

There are a couple of expat sites devoted to Chiang Rai.  On these pages one can get help, find things in English, and discover places to eat and do business.  Between that and riding around, it’s pretty clear that this place is moving into another level of sophistication.  At least part of it is.  The beauty is that it can only change so much, since the majority culture still has it’s own ways.  I like that aspect, progress with limitations.  There will always be local markets, food stalls, and bamboo ladders (555).

This morning we did Big C, and then lunch at The Wanderer.  The U.S. Open tennis tournament has started so we’ll be torn between that and normal ‘programming’.  

Today’s photos are from Doy Din Dang.  The first pic is a large pot.  The image inside the rim is a reflection of what’s above.  The pot is filled with rain water.  The second pic was taken in the tiny coffee shop where we sit and chat with the owners and look out on a large pond.  Surreal.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                 Peace,

                           Danny

“Facts do not cease to exist

because they are ignored.”

~Aldous Huxley