Friday Funnies

Hi,

Mr. Freeze is on his way.  It won’t get that cold, but to those of us who live here all year, it’s starting to feel possible.  Everyone is waiting for Sunday night, when it will be the coldest in a very long time.  A temperature of 45°F when you’re used to lows in the 70’s can feel very cold.

The ‘Zany Day’ song was “Hit The Road Jack” by Ray Charles.  ‘Old School Friday’ is next, from his first album:

“It brings a tear, into my eyes, when I begin, to realize, I’ve cried so much since you’ve been gone.  I guess I’ll __ __ __ __ __.  I sit and cry, just like a child.  My pouring tears are running wild.  If you don’t think you’ll be home soon, I guess I’ll __ __ __ __ __.”  Hint:  Crying is involved.  Should be easy.  Note:  Back in the late 60’s I was part of a budding band.  We got an audition to record a demo at R.P.M. Studios in L.A., which was owned by Ray Charles.  I remember the producers talking about how Mr. Charles, as he was called, being able to tell who was walking down the hall by the cadence and rhythm of their footsteps.  

As Fridays go, this was a slow one.  Not much happened, besides the cold.  On the road to town there were a bunch of people selling clothes.  They had racks of warm sweaters and jackets along with lots of jeans.  I’ve always wondered where these clothes come from.  They are clearly used, so it’s not like a warehouse overflow.  There were rumors, years ago, that some of them were donations from other places that somehow got into the hands of enterprising individuals.  That’s all I’m saying on that subject.  Many local groups have fundraisers to buy blankets to take to the mountains for the people who are not prepared for extreme weather.  

I received an email letting me know that plans were underway for the 60th reunion of my high school graduating class.  Now don’t that make one feel a bit old.  Not really, it just seems like such a long time ago, and just yesterday.  Time is a funny thing.  It can make you laugh, or bring tears, sweet memories or nightmares.  I'm choosing the sweet memories these days.  I suppose that’s what gives me so much joy in the old songs.

Today’s photo is a real throwback.  It was taken on the day JaiDee came into our lives.  In a park in Chiang Mai, he’s trying to climb a tree.  What?  Hey, you’re a dog.

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

                           Peace,

                                     Danny

Who

Hi,

Every day is just a little bit colder.  We just make it to 45° on Sunday night.  Those who ride motorbikes are really feeling the bite of this cold snap.  Oh, and just a reminder, most cars here don’t have heaters.

The ‘Zany Day’ song this week is another one of Mr. Charles’ hits.  It’s based on a well used phrase.

“Now baby, listen baby, don’t ya treat me this-a way, ‘cause I’ll be back on my feet some day.  (Don’t care if you do ‘cause it’s understood, you ain’t got no money you just ain’t no good).  Well, I guess if you say so, I’d have to pack my things and go (That’s right).  (__ __ __ __, and don’t you come back no more, no more, no more, no more.  __ __ __ __ and don’t you come back no more.”  Clue:  This one is also from 1960.  Hmm, got no money, just no good, so she threw him out.  Given his traveling papers.

This morning JaiDee slept until 5:30am, which was a big improvement for this week.  After the usual early morning routine with it’s after-breakfast nap, Lisa and I went into town to see Khun Orn.  Yesterday we dropped off a new halter for JaiDee and had her add a ring in the front.  It’s supposed to be easier to control dogs who like to wander off when going for a walk.  On our way to Orn, we had coffee at Work@Home.  We thought we’d be alone in the place but Towan came into the shop and we had a nice ‘puppy talk’.  He and Katai haven’t see JaiDee in over a month so he enjoyed the phone photos.  They have been very busy with the tractor business these days.  We’re hoping to get together before we go to the States.

Our friend Atom has a new puppy that goes to work with her, so we stopped by to meet the pup.  It’s a tiny little mix that looks like a tiny toy.  It weighs about 2.5 lbs and is too cute.  He’s still very young and cautious of new people, but we understood.  Listening to the tales of other puppy owners, we don’t feel so alone.  The things they do are totally normal.

Every year the Christmas enthusiasm grows.  Years ago I asked a good friend of ours how it was that there were so many lights and decorations, since this is a mostly Buddhist country.  His reply was:  ‘It’s fun’.  Keeping that in mind, we see lots of variations.  Today’s photo was taken at Big C.  They are promoting the same gift baskets that are given for various Thai holidays as well as making merit at the temples.  It’s the banner on the bottom that gives it a seasonal flavor.  Hmm, clever.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                     Peace,

                               Danny

“You can’t fall into other

people’s understanding

of who you are.”

~Lama Rod Owens

Early

Hi,

The weather is gradually getting colder and colder.  Last night we put a light blanket on the bed.  Before we know it we’ll be wearing sweaters and socks.  What?

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “Georgia On My Mind” by Ray Charles.  This tune was written by Willie Nelson.  Time for a ‘Zany Day’ tune that we’ve looked at before:  “Woah woman, oh woman, don’t treat me so mean.  You’re the meanest old woman that I’ve ever seen.  I guess if you said so, I’d have to pack my bags and go (That’s right).  (__ __ __ __, and don’t you come back no more, no more, no more, no more.  __ __ __ __ and don’t you come back no more.)  What you say?”  Hint:  Now that you know the artist, this should be a snap.  Oh, he’s being kicked out.

It just occurred to me that the reason JaiDee is getting up earlier has to do with his agenda.  He’s been making plans that we don’t know about, yet.  I mean, why else would a 5 month old puppy start getting up an hour early.  He’s got things to do.  What he has is more toys to play with, more treats to eat, and more friends to meet and greet if we would only take him with us.  He hasn’t been out to visit in about a week.  That will change soon.  He’s been a little on the wild side.  The training is going well and an updated harness will make life smoother for all concerned.  He is being very affectionate and that’s a plus.  How do you convince a Golden puppy that he’s not a watch dog?  We keep saying, ‘be the mellow, cuddly puppy’ and he just barks (555).

This morning we went to Browney’s for treats and harness ideas.  We have a drawer full of wrong sizes and weird designs.  The selections are not very wide here, so we’re looking to bring back some winners from the States.  

Our friend Lisa went to Singapore over the weekend to celebrate her birthday by going to a U2 concert.  I found that rather interesting.  It’s so easy to forget that there are concerts going on all around the world and many people travel to see them.  She had a ball and that’s what mattered.

Today’s massages were all big hits.  Jin worked on Natcha, Lisa and me and we all feel better for it.  Next time, she wants to work on me for 2 hours, to really loosen up some tight muscles.  That’s fine with me.  It would be good to be nice and loose before we cross the ocean for the Winter Visit.

At Farm Fest this year there was a band with a name we just love:  “Silly Fools”.  I mean, why not?  Today’s photo is a daytime shot giving you an idea of the expanse of the event.  The flowers cover a huge hillside.  

It feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                       Peace,

                                 Danny

“No man goes before his time,

unless the boss leaves early.”

~Groucho Marx

Home

Hi,

We haven’t found the source yet, but there is cold air coming from someplace and it will be getting colder by the day.  This is looking like a very cold ‘winter’ for Chiang Rai and the rest of Northern Thailand.  We have the means to stay warm, but there are many people who don’t have warm enough clothes for extreme temps.  Sunday’s low could be 45°F.  That’s crazy.

‘Easy Monday’ was easy for a lot of you.  Here are more lyrics, just in case:  “Other arms reach out to me, other eyes smile tenderly.  Still in peaceful dreams I see, the road leads back to you.  I said __, __, no peace I find.  Just an old sweet song keeps __ __ __ __.”  Clue:  A ‘state’ of mind.  The title is actually four words.

Our little alarm clock woke up at 4:20am today.  Lisa tried to get him to go back to sleep, but he only went along with it until 5ish.  Puppy management is being a full-time job.  JaiDee has so much energy and is so smart that he knows all our tricks.  He has, unfortunately, discovered the power of the bark.  Now, if we could only get him to use this power for good (555).  As it is, he’s playing it both ways.  "I bark because I want more treats, I bark because I have to go outside to relieve myself, I bark because I want to sit by the pool", etc.  Need to teach him to talk.  

We spent the morning at The Big Brown House.  We talked to Lisa’s dad, Joe, and made arrangements to see an orthopedist in the afternoon.  About a week and a half ago I dropped a shower gel bottle on my foot.  It was heavy and it hurt.  It appeared to be getting better, but a mild pain persisted.  Of course, it doesn’t help when your favorite dog likes to sit/stand on your foot.  We met with the doctor, who told us to call him Dr. Monk because his Thai name is complicated.  He had x-rays taken and discussed them with us.  There was no fracture, but a combination sprain/bruise.  Naturally, the treatment is the frustrating type: keep it elevated, try not to walk too much, and take an anti-inflammatory for pain.  Well, that sounds like fun.  Dr. Monk said it should get better in a couple of weeks.  

When we got home from the hospital, JaiDee and Natcha were sitting by the pool.  Lisa took this candid photo.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                    Peace,

                              Danny

“The ache of home lives in all of us,

the safe place where we can go as 

we are, and not be questioned.”

~Maya Angelou

Secret

Hi,

I can tell you this, at 5am it’s so cold I need to wear my hoodie when I take the dog out.  At 4am, well, brrr.  The daytime temps are still warm, so by mid-morning everything is fine.  We’re supposed to get a ‘snap’ soon.

Last week’s ‘Old School Friday’ song was “Reelin’ In The Years” by Steely Dan.  This week’s ‘Easy Monday’ should be pretty clear:  “__, __, the whole day through.  Just an old sweet song keeps __ __ __ __.  I said __, __, a song of you (a song of you), comes as sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines.”  Hint:  The key word is a name.  Hmm, could be a person or a place.

This was a busy weekend in Chiang Rai if you like to go to events.  There was 'Farm Fest on the Hill’ at Singha Park, The Light Festival at Wat Rong Khun, a Carnival across the river from us, and another carnival at Big C.  We didn’t go to any of them, but we did get swallowed by the parking lot at Big C on Saturday night.  They had some rides for kids and a big stage that apparently presented a very popular singer.  We left without finding a place to park.  By the time we got home, it was too late to take JaiDee for his exercise, but Natcha and Gong ran him a bunch in the yard, so he got a workout.

Sunday, Cat came over for a visit and lunch.  She’s in her last semester of classroom work and it’s getting harder.  She still has another year before her graduation.  When this semester is done, there will be a year of practice teaching at a school in the area.  She’s handling it all in a responsible manner.  

In an effort to get our shopping done, we headed to The Wanderer for morning coffee.  What a nice surprise to see a ‘remodeled’ waterfall in the main dining room.  Below, is a photo of the whole effect, plus a close-up of the flowers.

After we left The Wanderer, we thought it would be a simple drive down the highway to Big C.  After we crossed the middle bridge into town, the traffic came to a halt.  Way up ahead we could see the reason: A parade.  What better way to start the week than a parade.  We finally made a U-turn (along with a bunch of other vehicles) and took an alternate route.  

This evening we went to Sabroso for dinner and then, after a short break, walked the dog for about 30 minutes.  We all came home tired, especially after he ran back and forth across the front yard.  With all of that, he still proceeded to ‘zoom’ around the kitchen.  Then he was ready for a nap.  Whew.

It’s been a full day.  Wednesday afternoon we all get massages.  Jin will come to the house and Natcha and I will each get one hour and Lisa gets two.  Can’t wait.

Have a Great Week.

                       Peace,

                                 Danny

“The secret of getting ahead

is getting started.”

~Mark Twain

Friday Funnies

Hi,

The weather forecasters are predicting cooler and cooler temps next week.  We’re actually going to see some daytime numbers in the 70’s.  Oh my, break out the hooded parkas (555).

The ‘Middle Song’ this week was “Hey Nineteen” by Steely Dan, of course.  Their ‘Old School Friday’ song was released in 1972.  “Your everlasting summer, you can see it fading fast, so you grab a piece of something that you think is gonna last.  You wouldn’t know a diamond if you held it in your hand.  The things you think are precious, I can’t understand.  (Chorus)  Are you __ __ __ __, stowin’ away the time?  Are you gatherin’ up the tears, have you had enough of mine?  Are you __ __ __ __, stowin’ away the time?  Are you gatherin’ up the tears, have you had enough of mine?  Hint:  A conversation at a reunion?  Note: I was going to give you links to this week’s songs but Youtube is acting up.  Look for them next week, or look them up yourself.  There’s a concept.

Our morning was spent around the house.  We have an insurance agent that we see around this time each year.  He makes sure that our policies don’t lapse and brings the renewal papers to the house.  We’ve been with him since we built the house.  There is always some time spent visiting about his life and that’s interesting.  He’s moving up in the company and it’s just good to watch someone progress.  

After lunch we went to ‘Little C’ to do some shopping.  Amazon Coffee provided the afternoon lift.  A small iced-coffee is huge in their world.  Made a point not to drink the whole thing.  We found what we needed at ‘C’ and our mission was accomplished.  When we got home JaiDee was a little sleepy, and then wide awake, likely due to some meds he just started taking to deal with the itching.  

I managed to get a few useable shots of JaiDee frolicking on ‘his couch’ this afternoon.  In the first pic he’s watching Lisa leave the room.  In the second, he’s in the classic ‘lets play’ pose.

This is the weekend of the Singha Park Farm Festival.  We’ve been to it in the past, but now it’s a giant affair that doesn’t have the same appeal for us.  That, and the light show at Wat Rong Khun will make it a fun-filled weekend for locals and travelers alike.  We’ll be hangin’ with the puppy. 

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.   Time for the ‘Funnies’.  This is the last race of the Formula 1 season, from  Abu Dhabi.  Zoom.

                      Peace,

                                Danny

Life

Hi,

Today was another day of cool/warm/a little colder.  Some folks call it winter, others call it the cold season.  Either way, it’s a seasonal shift.

This week’s ‘Middle Song’ is not so familiar, apparently.  A few readers got it, so here’s more to ponder:  

“__ __ that’s ‘Retha Franklin.  She don’t remember The Queen of Soul.  It’s hard times befallen The Soul Survivors. She thinks I’m crazy, but I’m just growing old.  __ __, no we got nothing in common.  No we can’t talk at all.  Please take me along when you slide on down.”  Clue:  The last of the teen years.

This morning Lisa and I went on a puppy-less coffee date.  We went to The Wanderer and just sat back and enjoyed the quiet of the morning, looking out at the woods.  A Tracey Chapman CD was playing in the background and the scene was cool.  Kwan came over to our table and in a brief conversation, she told us that she is taking the two village ‘mother’ dogs to the vet and having them spayed.  They are responsible, through no fault of their own, for most of the street dogs in the village.   

JaiDee has been having a terrible time with itching.  We took him back to his vet this morning and discovered that he has a skin infection.  It’s treatable with a special shampoo and some pills.  The real work began when we got home and had to wash everything.  Natcha is a real trouper.  All of his bedding and toys are now squeaky clean.  We also learned that he gained a half a pound since the beginning of the week.  After his shower, Lisa noticed that his feet are bigger.  Oh my.  Below is ‘Baby JaiDee’, for a ‘Throwback Thursday’ memory.

This evening we met Lisa and Jereon at The Hungry Wolf for the big Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet.  When we arrived the place was humming with diners.  There was a booth for 4 that was perfect.  Right next to us were friends of mine so it gave it a warm vibe.  The selection at the buffet was excellent.  There was a delicious dressing, mashed potatoes, and of course turkey.  It was one of those meals where everything tastes so good you just can’t stop eating.  I didn’t pile my plate, but I still got full.  Well, considering there was apple pie (555) it was unavoidable.  

The conversations were lots of fun.  Jereon, who is from the Netherlands, wanted to know the nature of the holiday, things like who celebrates, how many days, etc.  While in the food line, we learned that the owner of The Hungry Wolf was originally from Holland before moving to Australia.  He and Jereon had an exchange about their common knowledge about some food item and roots.

When we got home from dinner, it was time to take JaiDee for his walk.  After relaxing for a few minutes it was determined that wasn’t going to happen.  We were exhausted and the idea of a brisk, 20 minute walk was out of the question.  JaiDee seemed ready for a nap anyway.

Have a Thrilling Thursday and a Happy Thanksgiving.

                       Peace,

                                 Danny 

“There is more to life than 

increasing it’s speed.”

~Mahatma Gandhi