Peace

Hi,

There’s some kind of trickery going on with the weather.  Two days in a row we’ve gone from the usual smokey skies to smokey with clouds, and no rain.  We demand our share of rain.  Now, that sounds real crazy doesn’t it?

The ‘Zany Day’ song seems to be a ‘stumper’.  Here’s a little more from one of the oldest working bands in R&R:  “But if you leave me baby, girl, if you put me down.  I’m gonna make it to the nearest river, child, and jump overboard and drown.  __ __, __ __, baby.  __ __, __ __ on me.”  Clue:  The key word is something that is commonly granted by courts, clergy, and girlfriends (555), not necessarily in that order.

This morning we decided to give the coffee at Chivit Tamma Da another try.  They had switched roasters, or something like that, and the result was not a pleasing taste.  This morning, when my coffee was brought to the table, the server told me to taste it and if I didn’t like it, she would replace it.  They obviously have had other complaints.  I drank the coffee, after doctoring it with honey and hot water.  It wasn’t ‘bad’, but it wasn’t the smooth coffee that I had enjoyed in the past.  When we paid our bill, I explained all that and she told us she would inform the owner.  

Today’s photo was taken this morning in our yard.  ‘Blue’s Tree’ has begun to bloom.  There are strings of buds all over the tree.  The second photo is a close up of an opening flower.

This evening we went to the Night Bazaar for dinner and light shopping.  Normally, the ‘Season’ ends in February, but if tonight is any indication, it’s still going strong.  Visitors from around the world are still enjoying Chiang Rai.  

As we were leaving, we passed the ‘Scarf Lady’ and paused to say hello.  She came out to greet us with a big smile on her face and announced that next month she’s going to New York and Colorado to visit friends.

Yesterday, Gong ‘planted’ some lotus flowers in a tub of water.  Today he put some small gold fish in the water and this totally fascinated Nitchanan.  The trick is going to be to keep the food high enough out of reach that our resident climber can’t reach it and over feed the fish.  Tiny fish are standard equipment in standing water, they eat the mosquito larva.  

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                        Peace,

                                  Danny

“Those who are at war with

others, are not at peace with 

themselves.”

~William Hazlitt

More

Hi,

This morning the weather surprised us with warm air early.  From there it was just a matter of getting hotter than before.  In the afternoon there were banks of clouds in the west.  Could it be that we might get some rain?  ‘Silly man’, the clouds said.

The ‘Easy Monday’ song had a lot of responses.  “Imagine” by John Lennon was on everyone’s mind.  Now let’s see how you do with this ‘Zany Day’ tune:  “__ __, __ __, baby.  __ __, __ __ on me.  Well I went to see the gypsy, to have my fortune read.  She said, ‘Man, your baby gonna leave you, her bags are packed up under the bed’, that’s right.  __ __, __ __, baby.  __ __, __ __ one me.”  Hint:  Blues tune by a band that was part of the invasion of the 60s.  Singer is pleading for compassion.

While we were walking Daku this morning, Natcha and Nitchanan came out to wait for Fone, Natcha’s sister.  They were all going to ride up to Mae Sai together.  I think Nitchanan was excited about traveling with her cousins. 

When we arrived at The Wanderer this morning, we were the only patrons in the woods.  As we sipped our tea/coffee and enjoyed the quiet, the place came alive.  We had a warm greeting from Mercy and then we left to run errands.  The Post Office for our zip code is on the Super Highway across from Cat’s university.  It was a quick drive this morning.  Part of the package we were retrieving was a jar of black strap molasses, part of my blood building recipe.  There is an outfit in Phuket (in the south) that is a mail order health food provider with excellent service.  

We had chicken tacos for lunch at Sabroso Mexican Restaurant.  We managed to keep our entire morning on our side of the river, avoiding the ‘city’ traffic.  

Daku is at the end of his second day on antihistamines and he sleeps a lot.  There are still times when he wants to scratch his face, so we keep the ‘hoodie’ on most of the time.  Right now he’s with Lisa in her studio and he gets a break from the cone.  All three of us are recovering from something, so we’re all being sympathetic on some level.

Gong, Natcha and Nitchanan had to return late this afternoon.  Nitchanan has some kind of bug. She had a fever and cold symptoms.  They took her to the doctor this evening.  Two months off of school may give her a chance to get over all the little things that kids pick up in class.  

As the overnight air temps rise, the pool temp will rise.  Now all we have to do is get the air clear and it will be swim time.  Hmm, maybe a warm rain would do it.

It feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                      Peace,

                                Danny

“Correction does much, but

encouragement does more.”

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Music

Hi,

A big thank you to everyone who hit the reply button.  It looks like things may have settled down with all groups reporting at least a few replies.  

It was hot again in Chiang Rai.  It was dry again in Chiang Rai.  You can fill in the rest of the little sentences.  The weather is kinda boring.

The ‘Easy Monday’ song seems to be a good one, based on the responses.  “__ no possessions, I wonder if you can.  No need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man.  __ all the people, sharing all the world… You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.  I hope someday you’ll join us.  And the world will live as one.  Clue:  Singer was one of the Fab Four, song offers something to think about if we use our __ (another form of the word).

Last night Daku started scratching his face, at times with a strange persistence.  Rinsing it didn’t help, and we finally decided it must have been something he ate in the yard.  It was a definite allergic reaction.  This morning it wasn’t much better so we took him to the vet.  Of course, when we got to the clinic, he acted like everything was fine.  We came away with some medicine to relieve his symptoms and keep him calm.  I have a suspicion as to what he ate, now the yard will need a good cleaning under a certain tree pictured below.  It drops long seed pods that make for a crunchy snack.    

The next two months are going to be very interesting around here.  Nitchanan’s preschool is on a break, like many other schools.  This evening she had a meltdown because she wanted to go to 7-11, again.  Natcha said they’d already been twice.  Oh, these modern children.  On the ‘cute’ side, the school gave her a package of some of her artwork and number assignments.  Nitchanan really has a thing for colors and art.  Her teacher told Natcha that she’s very smart.  She knows all of the colors in Thai and English.  

Tomorrow the little family will go north to Mae Sai.  Gong’s grandmother is ill and the whole family is gathering for a prayer ceremony.  They will return on Thursday, but Natcha has assured us that she will leave us plenty of food.  Amazing.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                       Peace,

                                 Danny

“After silence, that which

comes nearest to expressing

the inexpressible is music.”

~Aldous Huxley

Guru

Note:  If you receive this message, please be so kind as to click the reply button so I know you got it.  No need to comment, unless you’d like to, or you know the song.  I just need to verify that the mail is going ‘out’ and not falling off into space.

Hi,

Our weather has not changed in days.  We could use a little of that rain that’s falling in Southern California.  Just a little, and no tornados please.  We don’t even have clouds to seed.  Hmm.

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “Louie, Louie” by Richard Berry & The Pharaohs.  It’s time for ‘Easy Monday’, and a song we’ve come to love to hum:  “__ there’s no heaven, it’s easy if you try.  No hell below us, above us only sky.  __ all the people living for today….Ah ah…”  Hint:  Remember, this is ‘Easy Monday’, but the title is like a picture in the mind.

The big buzz around our house is the initial success of “Little Girl Bakery”, Natcha’s cookie enterprise.  The coffee shop on the corner has sold out twice.  The packaging and label are now defined and it looks like a dream is taking shape.  So far, there are chocolate chip and coconut flavors, with cinnamon to follow.   Each container has 5 cookies and costs 25Baht ($.75).  On Sunday, a sale was made at the house and the ‘Little Girl’ (Nitchanan) collected the money and it seems to have disappeared (555).

Sunday evening we went to Central Plaza Mall for dinner.  We parked on what turned out to be the ‘lower level’ and entered after a very short walk.  We had never parked on this level, and got a big surprise when we entered the mall.  A whole new section has been opened, complete with snack stands, clothing shops and a permanent ArtBridge section designed to hold art projects for kids and promote the artists of the collective. 

We left the mall and went to the other side of town to visit with Boot, Rudi and BamBam.  We had mail for Boot and it had been a long time.  She wasn’t home but we had a nice talk with Rudi.  When BamBam figured out Lisa’s voice, she got totally excited and didn’t want to let her stop with the petting.  It was very sweet.    

After dinner this evening, I walked into the kitchen and Nitchanan was on a video call with a relative, I think.  I know she probably didn’t initiate it, but that was the first impression.  Here’s this tiny, smart 3 year old walking around the kitchen talking with a moving face on the screen, having a very adult sounding conversation.  Remember when you were three?

Have a Great Week.

                     Peace,

                               Danny

“When you know how to listen,

everybody is a Guru.”

~Unknown

Friday Funnies

Hi,

This morning the air looked a little bit better.  This afternoon it was a different sky.  Actually, it was the same sky as yesterday afternoon, hazy, smoggy, yucky.

The ‘Zany Day’ song was “I’m a Roadrunner” by Junior Walker and The Allstars.  Sometimes it was spelled road runner, maybe that’s why you didn’t recognize (555).  Anyway, here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSosQRiXiPw&frags=pl,wn  You might notice that his signature sax sound became a trademark for later players on Saturday Night Live.  Here’s an ‘Old School Friday’ song you should all remember, it’s still around after so many years:  “__ __, oh, oh, me gotta go.  __ __, oh, oh, me gotta go.  Fine little girl, she waits for me.  Me catch the ship for cross the sea.  Me sail the ship all alone.  Me never think, me make it home.  __ __ oh, oh, me gotta go….”  Hint:  I know, coulda been an ‘Easy Monday’ song.  It has a notorious cover that wasn’t really a cover, but the original has prevailed.  The title is one word, repeated, and it’s a name.  

We went to Starbuck’s this morning and had iced coffee in the quiet before the mall opened.  We didn’t stay for the opening, but went back into town.  At the bakery on Jet Yod Road (a street filled with bars and travel shops), Lisa met a guy from Hawaii who comes back to Chiang Rai on a regular basis.  There are a lot of people who fall in love with the ‘difference’ in our town.  Some folks don’t like it, they say it’s too boring, but that’s fine with us.  

As we left Jet Yod, Lisa had a great idea.  When the air clears and it’s not rainy, we should venture out on little trips around the northern region and learn about the little hidden spots that we hear people talk about.  Now that there are GPS maps, we might not get lost (555).  There is a lot to see in our province.

Natcha’s cookie factory made it’s first official batch this morning.  We walked into the aroma of chocolate chip cookies, followed by coconut cookies.  Both were delicious and I can’t wait to get my hands on a bag of my own.  She has two coffee shops that are going to sell her cookies, plus a host of friends that want to buy them.  

When I went to the kitchen, late this afternoon, Nitchanan was putting tiny little stickers on the front of the refrigerator.  Now there is a tiny little cluster of almost invisible things like hearts, sunglasses, etc.  After she finished, she headed for the stairs, looking back to make sure I was following her.  Upstairs it was the usual routine.  She’d draw a bit and then get books and climb on the bed.  Today she had her own book and pointed at the pictures and told a story in Thai.  During the few minutes that she drew, she drew a person and then exclaimed, ‘Wow’. 

After dinner we drove through the Friday night traffic to the dentist's office for my replacement bridge.  It took some trimming and messing around but it’s in and fairly comfortable.  Now I need some cookies to test it out.

Today’s photo was taken in 2001, during our first trip to Thailand.  Hmm.

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

                       Peace,

                                 Danny

Lost

Hi,

We’re doing the 30° swing with the thermometer:  mid 90s by day, low 60s by night.  Meanwhile, we’ve lost the view of the distant hill in the haze.  Life goes on.

Well, a couple of readers heard the ‘Zany Day’ song in their heads and remembered the title.  Here’s more:

“__ __ __, baby, can’t stay in one place too long.  __ __ __, baby, mess with me and I’ll be gone.  You can love me if you wanna, but I do declare, when I get restless, I’ve gotta move somewhere.  __ __ __, baby…”  Hint:  Besides a toothbrush, he probably will take his saxophone with him too.  And then there’s the ultimate clue: 'Meep Meep’.

This morning we began our ‘errands’ with a stop at The Wanderer.  Our long-time friend Chalit and his girlfriend Sen were about to have breakfast so we joined them.  We had the best time talking about the seasons, traditions, politics, food and pets.  Sen’s family has a clothing business in Bangkok and we got a peak into the world of seasonal clothing.  During Chinese New Year, red with gold is the dominant combination.  To be fashionable, one should have several combinations of ‘lucky’ colors to insure that the new year starts off right.  The next big holiday is Sonkhran and that also requires special clothes.  Traditionally, floral shirts in bright colors have been the fashion.  This year, Sen is taking the Year of the Pig theme and making it ‘boars’ in honor of the cave kids football team.  She said it worked for Chinese New Year and with some color changes, it should work for Sonkhran.  Very clever indeed.  During the segment on pets, Lisa showed them some photos of Daku and a video clip of him sliding on the lawn.  Sen mentioned that she had buffalo.  We laughed and Chalit nodded his head and said, ‘Yes, she has buffalo’.  She has nine water buffalo that live in the rice fields next to the clothing factory.  The first four were rescues from the slaughter house.  Now they are nine and they are pets.  The younger ones greet her and want to play by butting heads, but she has to side-step that and make another game out of it.  We saw photos and clips of them and it makes sense on a larger scale.  All I can say is, ‘Wow’.

As we were leaving, we saw Khun Noot, who had just returned from a city in the south and a visit to a healer/chiropractor.  She had great results and we’re going to go with her in April to see this amazing man who, in his 80s, is a treasure in many circles.  

Here is an orchid that is blooming right next to the main path at The Wanderer.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                       Peace,

                                 Danny

“I put my heart and soul 

into my work, and have lost

my mind in the process.”

~Vincent Van Gogh

Boundless

Hi,

It was another day like the last day, hot.  The nights may be getting warmer because the mornings are not as cold.  The pool was 77°F, which is nowhere near our swimming temp, but it’s coming up slowly.  

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “Do You Want To Know A Secret” by The Beatles, featuring George on vocals.  Now it comes back to you, right?  Moving on, prepare yourself for the ‘Zany Day’ song.  “Money, who needs it?  Just to live my life free and easy.  Put the toothbrush in my hand, and let me be a travelin’, man, ‘cause __ __ __, baby.”  Hint:  The key word in the title is the name of a bird that likes to keep moving and often foils a dog-like nemesis.  

We left the house after exercising Daku and went to the flower market.  It’s a very busy place in the mornings.  Our quest was a colorful, happy bouquet for a friend and we found one.  It’s so wonderful to find what you’re looking for and if there is a wilted flower, it’s happily replaced, with a smile.  The bouquet and small vase came to $6.

Work@Home was our next stop.  We hadn’t had a visit with Katai and Towan in a long time.  Fortunately, they had some time to sit down and talk about travels, dogs, and stuff.  Katai was nursing three fingers that got affected by the cold, dry weather in Russia where they visited at the end of last year.  She’s doing better, but was surprised that it could even happen.  They’ve been very busy now that they have two tractor store locations, plus a big repair center near Chiang Rai.  At one point in our conversations, I noticed her other hand.  There were animals there.  See the photo below.

After Work@Home, it was a short drive to Teppawan Art Supply to deliver the flowers for our friend Supalak.  As we entered the store I noticed another of Lisa’s works on the wall, from her paper sculpture group.  Supalak is a major supporter and collector of local artists.  Some of the ArtBridge artists started buying supplies at Teppawan when they were kids.  

There is a construction detour on a major road to town that looks like it will last at least another 2 months.  It’s already been about 2 months and it’s getting frustrating.  We can tell they’re not close to being finished because there are 4 huge pipes that are still sitting by the side of the road.  There is a way around it, through the hillside, but we tried that once before and got lost.  I’m keeping it on the flat land until I get proper directions.  At least we have two ways to get to town in the meantime.  

Feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                     Peace,

                               Danny

“The world of reality has its 

limits; the world of imagination

is boundless.”

~Jean-Jacques Rousseau