Porthole

30th week of the year 180. Past the Solstice...

Past the Solstice... shadows weaken, lengthen, shift.

(exercise) = Exor. (observations) = obsv. (shit,shave,shower) = ss&s. (read something) = read. (comment blogs) = bogs. (BoyLove series on-line) = ytBL. (Thai TV BL series on GMMTV25) = tv25. (write poetry or prose) = PorP. (take a daily walk) = walk. (buy something) = shop. (take a photo) = foto. (video) = วิดีโอ. (speak Thai/Lao) = pôod. (learn Thai) Thai. (go-into-the-water) = pool. (clothes) = wash. (cook something) = cook. (tidy up) = mess. (travel) = trip. (noon) = เที่ยง. (talking to ex-pats/travelers/strangers in European) = chat. (Thai teaching book) = book. (hand written journal) = jour. (contests) = test. (water) = agua.


15 oktober - 15 ตุลาคม

KOTG: "and its god shall turn on them" The idea that nature is abused.

exor. 200/100/300/250 = 850. Very late start... and a sunny 88 degrees = not good
ss&s.
bogs. Brian/Sonali/Mighty/Annipon
เที่ยง. 12:13 86 degrees.
Isan. 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4XIiGf5FHw&t=30s 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ1ytsgvGHo
walk. picked up Birdy Coffee (blue#2) at Big C.
chat. Saw Tiger! Haven't seen him in a long while.
agua. 5 liters.
PorP. ""Xerox" 40w O14 'original "  and ""The Lorax weeps" O15 40w 'crisis'" 

To Brian "Ricki Lee Jones - Horses" : "I actually like this. However, "guards with a your voice" makes no sense grammatically; so, was this intentional, a mistake, a typo? Easily corrected.

The two poems are linked by image and message. I could see a book of these with linked poems staring across the void of a blank space (different pages?)."

To Sonali "Crooks disguised as..." : "brat/babysat ... alliteration and rhyme ...

I think it needs an edit as some phrases are awkward.

The message is grim but it's truly some people's truth. Met folks who regretted having children. A child may be okay if other members of the family or community provide the nurturing each child deserves. "

To Mighty "overseas" : "I should've gotten a credit card years ago; but, bad experiences managing my money meant that I felt safer with a debit card.

This last trip was 34+ hours MSO-DOH-BKK. American is meh. Economy in Qatar was meh. The raves for Qatar are for first class. The poor-people's lounge in Doha was meh. The trip was far too long.

My past experiences with ANA and Aseana were so positive... plenty of legroom (32-34" in Econo-class). I'll consider EVA, Starlux or Thai for the next flight.

I've been to Liverpool (great museums and culture) but not Scotland nor London.

How much time? You'll wear yourself out if you attempt to plan every hour. One day of 'nothing' can be nice, especially if you are gone two weeks.

Glad to read that you are traveling. I wanted to be in Cambodia today. But... I've slowed down tremendously as I age. Just going to Sisaket for 3 days was 19 hours on the bus total. Instead of staying in Khun Han I insisted that we spend 3 nights in a hotel we like in Sisaket and do a day trip to Khun Han. Worked out much better. Pan got to his doctor's appt. and we both bought clothes in the marked-down market."

To Annipon re "World Go 'Round"  "There are other paradigms out there. I could make suggestions as to where to look. Most Americans however won't look at other societies and cultures and Christians tend to look down on everyone else. Thailand isn't Paradise, but it's not as mean and divided like some places I've lived in.

As for the idea... yes, we need not be divided and people, especially the poor are devastated by war. The music doesn't inspire me. Too negative without any suggestions. Bleak describes it."


14 oktober - 14 ตุลาคม

Pan's birthday.

exor. 300/100/200/300 = 900. 81 at 08:57. Worker hosed down the bushes... and the bench where I usually sit.
ss&s.
bogs. Carolyn/Joy/Robert
walk.
shop. bought Pan a car and a ring.

To Carolyn: "There are wet stone walls? I'm not sure what a dry stone wall is. Googled. Got it. Basically no mortar.

Warm here in NE Thailand today. About 31 degrees. I want rain. Lovely day however...

Can get eggplant, tomatoes, basil and chili here. Peas? Beans? Not so common. I haven't seen beans. I have no garden.

July 4th is definitely a High Holy Day according to the American Religion. And yes... Americanism is a religion for many. "

To Joy: "Ah... Lyn without coffee... a scary thought... any day of the year.

I'm not superstitious. I do have trauma and a date can trigger bad memories along with the good. Today is the 14th of October. No associations with that day. March 2nd... however...

I'd gladly have a cat. Of any color. Softball and Oda were two of my black cats.

Asian superstitions however... quite a mix here in Udon Thani, mostly Lao, so superstitions vary with culture. This building has floor 12A for instance."

To Robert: "Yes, Amethyst Waltz, boy wonder...

Ah... the could'ves, would'ves, thank-gawd-i-didn't-have-kids.

Actually, I like that name combination. A waltzing man who can drink without getting drunk.

My sister was born in February so amethyst is a word from my childhood."

13 oktober - 13 ตุลาคม

exor. 200/150/300/400 =1050. Note in the mood at first and then pushed it. About 79-81 degrees at 9-ish.
ss&s.
bogs. Steven/Charity/Lyn.
wash. Thankfully I'd bought more hangers. We needed them.
เที่ยง. 89°F 32°C Sunny on a sky-blue day festooned with satin puffs.
PorP. "Clip clop (13.okt.2023)"  "Day 24: Complications" 
agua. 8 liters.

Clip clop

Clip, clop; the unicorn passes them by.
I hang like a fly under the harness.
I have places to go where frightened men
dare not — or can't.

I chant to the beat of the clip-clop cant!
We slow to a canter as we enter the village.
Ten centaurs await us, blocking the way,
braying — you shan't.

(13.oktober.2023)

To Caoimhe: "Very beautifully written. I stand with the Palestinians and Jews who want to live as brothers. There are many. I do not agree with the Israeli government's colonial attitude. I cannot stand with terrorists. I refuse to equate the crimes of governments and mobs with the daily humble lives of humans striving to survive."

To Teresa (ChewyKitty): "I'm not into thongs... Anything that binds or gets caught in the wrong place isn't to my liking. I don't wear banana bikinis. I don't wear boxer briefs because for me... they bind. I wear long sleeve shirts rather than lather SP-5,000 chemicals on my aging flesh. I wear long pants to deter the mosquitoes. Loose is better. I don't wear spaghetti straps either... or the male equivalent. I wear a hat or a cap. Just my preference; but, I don't get sunburnt nor do I need to visit the hospital."

To Steven "20231010 Spreading Writing Wings" : "Fosse is too Norwegian. Just saying... He has good advice about just being oneself.

I used to write more. I'm getting back into writing whatever gives me momentary pleasure as editing can always be put off to later, if ever.

I'm eclectic, so I do understand."

12 oktober - 12 ตุลาคม

exor. 200/100/200/300 = 800. 81 degrees when I finished at 09:48. A blue-sky breeze. The sun was coming around so I didn't do it in my regular order. I need to start at 8.
chat. Tom.
ss&s.
เที่ยง. 90 degrees.
walk. Got haircut.

11 oktober - 11 ตุลาคม

exor. 300/100/200/400 = 1000. 09:01 77 degrees.
wash. Pan washed. I helped hang... a little. Bought 24 more hangers yesterday.
PorP. ""Indigo asters" O10 40w 'wisdom'" 
ss&s.
chat. Nan.

mark. Pork, eggs, greens...
Isan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4XIiGf5FHw
agua. 8 liters.

My NaNoWriMo 2023 title is "The Dimpled Land". Wrote a bit today.

To Elizabeth: "Nope.

Oh... you wanted details/description/drama/disaster/death?

I'm not dead yet. Some drama though. A year in Thailand. It's been difficult/draining/deflating.

I do/do/do seem to be back writing this past week and overall my health has improved; although, I'm still overly tired all the time.

This may be the last stage of my life so my goals have shifted. Instead of 'where do I want to live' it's 'where do I want to die'. It does help focus..."

To TJ: "Lots of introverts in New York. Easy to hide in a crowd when folks are too busy to interact. For extroverts like me... I hope there are cafes.

Montana has mountains, so I get the 'blocks my view'. I prefer the wheaten prairie of autumn in Kansas or green puddled rice fields of Isan after a rain."

10 oktober - 10 ตุลาคม

trip. 7 1/2 hour bus from Sisaket to Udon Thani. Changed busses in Khon Kaen. Arrived stiff.
walk. Walked to market, bought hangers.
Pan left and came home very late. I just need to learn how to let go and not worry.

09 oktober - 09 ตุลาคม

appt. Pan went to clinic/doctor in Khun Han. I went to market. Bought 8 shirts for 365 baht.

Bus takes 1 1/2 hours. There and back again.

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