Giants

 Hi,

The weather was hot today.  We kept thinking it was going to be cold but it started out warmish and this afternoon the air/con was back in action.  Now we’re told that next week will be the cold week.  (5), I laugh at your forecast.

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “Ticket to Ride” by The Beatles.  And now, a taste of ‘Jazzy Wednesday’, and a song first sung in 1946 by one of the first ladies of the Jazz/Blues genre.  “__ __ __, you old gloomy sight.  __ __ __, thought we said goodbye last night.  I turned and tossed until it seemed you had gone, but here you are with the dawn.”  Hint:  A feeling has been personified and is still in the house.

This was the day we got stuff done.  We started by disappointing JaiDee.  He gave us a really sad face when he got that he wasn’t going with us.  After we left, he was still on the landing, looking down with sad eyes.  Natcha took this photo not long after we left, and sent it to Lisa’s phone.

Our first stop was Chivit Thamma Da.  There was only one car in the lot, so it was pretty quiet.  We’ve been very conscious of spacing lately, since there have been covid sightings in Chiang Mai and one in Chiang Rai.  Nothing like an airy porch with empty tables all around to maintain confidence.  After Chivit we went into town to pick up some sewing and visit the flower market.  The mother of a friend passed and we wanted to take a wreath to the temple.  We were going to try and go to one of the services, but thought better of the idea of being in a crowd of people.  Our friend Towan is a mutual friend of the family and was there this morning.  We hadn’t seen him or Katai in weeks, so it was a treat.  After delivering the wreath and posing for the obligatory photos, Towan took us through the temple complex to meet a Golden Retriever that lives there.  We don’t know how old he is, but he was a handsome dog with very large feet.  He came down the steps from his house and let us pet him, and then returned to his mid-day nap.  

The last stop, on our way home, was at the service center for the new printer.  We were supposed to go back this afternoon and pick it up, but the afternoon heat and the needed nap changed the pick-up until tomorrow (555).

Thailand is making arrangements for several vaccines to be available, but it will take a few months.  There were more closures in Bangkok under the direction of the Health Minister.  A very long list of businesses will now be shut down for about three weeks.  There are checkpoints at each of the major roads leaving Bangkok and people are getting the basic check to see if they have any symptoms.  It seems like they are gradually moving back to the same measures that were taken the first time around.  That would be the right thing to do.  It worked in several other countries.  

Today’s photo was taken at the Flower Market, which is a collection of about 10 or 12 shops.  This orchid arrangement caught our eye.  There are 4 kinds of orchids in this pot.

It feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                            Peace,

                                      Danny

“If I have seen further than others,

it is by standing upon the shoulders 

of giants."

~Isaac Newton

Beast

Hi,

Well, another day of weather roulette.  When I woke up, the wheel was spinning and the ball was hovering over a cold day.  A few hours later it landed on a hot one.  The afternoon spin bounced until it fell into the summer night.  One never know, do one?

The ‘Easy Monday’ song has many friends.  Here’s the second verse:  “She said that living with me is bringing her down, yeah.  For she would never be free when I was around.  She’s got a __ __ __ (repeat 2x), but she don’t care.”

Clue:  This 1965 hit was the group's first record longer than 3 minutes.  There is an item in the title that gets punched.  What?

This was that ‘At home’ day.  We did the morning porch thing with the dogs and then talked to Lisa’s Dad for over an hour.  It was great, so much to say.  Today was the day we hooked up Lisa’s new printer.  Test runs were not promising.  More will hopefully be revealed.  There is a clarity that is missing and maybe it’s a matter of calibration. I know nothing about these things, just have lots of hope.

Yesterday we had a visit from the director of the shelter where we got TongTong.  She was interested in seeing how she was doing and wanted to tell us about some changes they have made.  It seems that Tong was found at a place where a man was hoarding animals. She was thin and fearful, but now she’s thriving.  Their program is now reaching out to educate the community about the care and treatment of their pets.  Many people don’t know that they need to wash their pets and keep them healthy.  

The mind is a bit distracted today with all of the greetings from friends around the world.  Also, as I type, Cat and Noom are sitting upstairs with us and there are conversations that sometimes include me (555).  Lisa just saved me from a heavy one about why I don’t go into my studio.  The artistic dilemma was discussed for a while.  

So now, it’s time for more from the Flower Show.

Unusual Calla Lilys

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                           Peace,

                                     Danny

“A man without ethics is a wild beast

loosed upon this world.”

~Albert Camus 

Rich

 Hi,

The local weather just went through a little overnight cold snap, but seems to be recovering just fine.  This evening is warm.  It may be cold in the morning, we never know.  

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “At Last” by Etta James.  ‘Easy Monday’ may be easy for some:  “I think I’m gonna be sad, I think it’s today, yeah.  The girl that’s driving me mad is going away.  She got a __ __ __, she’s got a __ __ __, she’s got a __ __ __, but she don’t care.”  Hint:  It’s by those four lads from across the pond.  Someone received passage to somewhere.  Hmm.

Saturday was massage day at The Big Brown House.  Lisa, Natcha and I all got treatments from Jin.  This time I went for 2 hours.  It used to be that I would cringe at the thought and 1.5 was my limit.  Saturday I welcomed the attention and slept really good that night.  More please.

Sunday we took JaiDee to The Wanderer and had a nice coffee and ice thing.  He met a family and they took a ton of photos of him.  After his ‘photo shoot’ we went to Browney Pet World where he got more love from his buddies.  

Tomorrow I will be celebrating 31 years in Recovery.  It feels different this year, since we’re usually in So. California and there is a ‘build up’ to the day.  We will be traveling north to Mae Chan on Sunday to celebrate with the group up there.  

It usually happens that I get some kind of birthday present on this occasion and this year is no exception.  As you know, we’ve been using these little smart ‘watch bands’ that keep track of one’s walking, sleeping etc.  The only problem is, the results are so tiny that it becomes an exercise in frustration.  I started yearning for a big screen (555), so today after our Big C run, we went to Central Plaza and I came out with a Huawei GT2 hot rod watch.  I am very happy with this little machine on my wrist.  This evening my wrist buzzed and I looked down to see an animated figure doing some stretches and words telling me it was time to move.  Earlier, it buzzed and it was a phone call from Lisa.  She was upstairs and I didn’t realize that by putting her in my contact list, I would get calls from her.  Look out Dick Tracy!

Time for more flowers.

This last plant is carnivorous.  Insects follow a scent and fall into the bulb.

Have a Great Week.     Stay Safe in the new year.

                              Peace,

                                        Danny

“There is a gigantic difference between

earning a great deal of money and being rich.”

~Marlene Dietrich

Friday Funnies

 Hi,

Sometimes a few degrees either way makes no difference at all.  What we read as a warmer temp felt like it in one spot, but then felt colder somewhere else.  I say we vote for consistent temperatures.  What?

The ‘Jazzy Wednesday’ tune was “Red Top” as recorded by King Pleasure, among others.  His recording was made in 1947.  The tune was written by Lionel Hampton and Ben Kynard  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97HiqNJJl_4

Now we’ll get back in the groove of ‘Old School Friday’ again with this gem:  “__ __, my love has come along.  My lonely days are over, and life is like a song.  __ __, the skies above are blue, my heart was wrapped in clover the night I looked at you.”  Hint:  One singer ‘made’ this song.  The word ‘finally’ comes to mind as a hint.  

New Years Eve in Chiang Rai was interesting.  We stayed at home and got a fireworks show from several directions. We went out at midnight, with plans to meet with Natcha and Gong in the front yard.  Natcha came out with Nitchanan, who got to witness the first of many big display type fireworks.  She was beyond thrilled.  There was a variety of things from across the river, various sizes and colors, but all beautiful.  Then the new neighborhood behind us started exploding smaller ‘flowers’.  Not long after that we started seeing the paper lanterns moving on the wind.  Nitchanan began counting them, running around, caught up in the newness of it all.  

The dogs let us sleep in a tiny bit, and it felt like a Sunday morning.  Natcha and Gong had the day off so we did feel like we were on our own, like Sunday.  We had our normal little breakfast and then decided to go to The Wanderer for an early lunch.  JaiDee had been campaigning for a trip to anywhere since he hadn’t been out in a couple of days.  We got our usual table in an empty room, which was fine with us.  We had apple cinnamon French toast, and JaiDee had his favorite rawhide bone.  It was great.  When we got home, it felt like New Years day, napping through a football game, even though it was pro and not college.  I really did miss the parade though.

Here are more pics from the Flower Show.

Tonight we’re hearing music from a distance, which is nice compared to the explosions that were going off earlier.  Life in the village is definitely festive over the New Year.  

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.   See you next year.   Time for the ‘Funnies’.

                               Peace,

                                         Danny

Natural

Hi,

We began with a cloudy sky that looked like rain.  By mid-day it was sunny and warm.  Tomorrow will be cooler, in the mid 70’s.  I know, it’s probably colder where you are, but I feel what I feel (555).

No one has identified the ‘Jazzy Wednesday’ tune yet.  There’s still a chance you could be the one (555).

“So __ __, you just go right on spinning.  You go ‘round and ‘round and don’t ever stop.  Remember that is you don’t go ‘round we are sure gonna stop, gonna stop, gonna stop.  My sweet little flower you win.  I’m spinnin’ and I promise I will love you forever.  I know that there is no one who can thrill me, no one can kill me baby, like you do.”  Clue:  There’s a child’s toy involved, and of course, love.

The ‘Mighty Three’ (Danny, Lisa and Cat) set out early this morning and got to Big C right after opening.  We’ve been going shopping early to avoid crowds, armed with our masks and gel.  From there we went to Starbuck’s for a decadent snack and into the mall.  We had a mission, and Lisa kept us on course.  Cat and I were, in Lisa’s words, like two kids in our distractions.  Nothing like a little ‘fantasy shopping’ to help one lose sight of the goal.  We went there to look for a new color, laser printer.  We found one and Cat’s help translating critical questions made it possible.  A few items from Top’s Market were also on our agenda.  They have installed self-checkout, which may be the first in Chiang Rai.  It was pretty slick and they had a staff person there to guide us.  

When we got home, the dogs were very happy to see us.  They had spent the morning inside.  It takes JaiDee a few minutes to calm down whenever Cat comes over.  He’s got a major crush on her (555).  After lunch it was quiet time.

Tonight we are camped out with the dogs, listening to the fireworks being set off in the neighborhood.  TongTong doesn’t like them, but she isn’t freaked out.  JaiDee seems to be OK.  He ran like crazy on our ‘walk’ and will probably sleep through the midnight noise.

Have a Thrilling Thursday and a HNY.  Please Stay At Home.

                        Peace,

                                  Danny

“Natural ability without education has more

often raised a man to glory and virtue than

education without natural ability.”

~Marcus Aurelius 

Music

Hi,

We knew when we got up that it would be a warmer day.  In the sun, it turned out to be a hot day.  The rest of the week will get progressively cooler, then cold.

Some of you remembered the ‘Easy Monday’ song as “Lola” and you were right.  Hope you’re ready for this week’s ‘Jazzy Wednesday’ tune:  “__ __, my little __ __, see how you got me spinning.  Going ‘round and ‘round and I don’t wanna stop.  You’ve got me so if I don’t go ‘round I am sure gonna drop, gonna drop, gonna drop.” Hint:  This is another tune featuring the vocalese technique.  It began life in 1947 and has been covered through the decades.  

This morning Cat came over at 9:30am and we took off for the flower show.  It was amazing.  Those are the simplest words to describe what we experienced.  We got there before it became crowded and that part worked out great.  Seeing large beds of beautiful flowers was almost overwhelming.  The basic layout of the show is the same each year, as far as where the flowers will be placed.  Because there are paved paths and bridges over streams, it’s a permanent installation to a certain degree.  Everyone wore their masks except for pictures.  So, no more talking.

During our visit to the show, Cat spotted a coffee shop so we took a break and hung out.  By the time we got to the end of the exhibit, it was getting crowded.  It was past our lunch time and we had resisted the ‘goodies’ at the park so we went to Melt In Your Mouth.  We hadn’t been there in a long time and things had changed, menu wise.  After lots of questions and changes, we had a so-so lunch in a wonderful atmosphere by the river.  We then ran those errands I mentioned yesterday and returned to the house for some relaxation.  None of us napped, but it was good to rest.  

This evening we had Mexican food at Sabroso Restaurant.  After dinner we went to The Wanderer for a small, outdoor gathering of friends that will be a once-a-month affair.  There was food (we had dessert) and drink and live music.  Oh, and two of the family dogs, Mercy and Sally.  I recommend the pumpkin pie, yum.  

So that was our day.  Tomorrow we do Big C and the mall when it opens.  Early in, early out beats the crowds.  Tomorrow night we’ll stay at home with the dogs since fireworks are apparently a big deal here.  

Feels like a Wacky Wednesday.       Wear a mask, wash your hands, and listen to the professionals.

                      Peace,

                                Danny

“Music fills the infinite

between two souls.”

~Rabindranath Tagore

Aim

 Hi,

The weather is doing that thing where every day is very close to the last one.  Sometimes it’s deceiving when it changes unexpectedly, but we’ve adjusted to its ways.

The ‘Easy Monday’ song really is easy.  It’s by a group that had a ton of hits and also some cult favorites.

“Well I’m not the worlds most physical guy but when she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine, oh, my __, __-__-__-__ __.  Well I’m not dumb but I can’t understand why she walked like a woman and talked like a man, oh, my __, __-__-__-__ __….”  Clue:  If you’re looking for the title, it rhymes with ‘cola’ as in cherry cola.  So easy.

This was our ‘stay at home’ day.  We usually don’t plan it that way, but there is a day in each week when we just decide that we don’t really have to go anywhere.  Of course, the next day gets filled with things to do outside.  Tomorrow will be one of those days.  

The big adventure for tomorrow will be our visit to the Flower Show with Cat.  We’re going in the morning, when it’s less likely to be crowded.  There are some errands that will need to be checked off of a list and it will be a full day.

Your next message will contain lots of flower photos for sure.  I’m guessing that the rest of the week will be flowers.

Thailand is in the midst of what some might call it’s first wave.  The numbers have the potential to surpass the first weeks of the pandemic back in March.  Between the fishing port in Samut Sakhon and the gambling joints in Rayong, we have a whole new thing happening.  We downloaded an application that will let us know the status of our area.  There is no covid in our province.  “Very Low Risk” is how the app put it.  It also has a photo and our address, as part of a contact tracing protocol.  It’s the first topic of conversation around here.  

Today’s photo was taken at Chivit Thamma Da.  It’s called a smoothie because underneath the beautiful seeds and fruit, is a bowl of yogurt.  I didn’t eat this, just took the photo (555).  Presentation is everything.

Last week we had a new filter pump motor installed for the pool, and it’s whisper quiet.  The tranquility of the setting has been restored.  

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                        Peace,

                                  Danny

“The aim of art is to represent not

the outward appearance of things,

but their inward significance.”

~Aristotle