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 |   A terminal for all blogs coming in or going out. A view into my life. |
Started July 1st 2019 for contests, etc. as other blogs are filling up and have other purposes.  I'm starting a new blog because
I'll be linking to
I've started an appendix (I no longer have one personally) to keep track of my Space Cadet journals for Space Blog. It's a work constantly under construction. Mind the mess.
I needed to start a folder for contests as there are so many deadlines and details to remember.
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| Confessions of a Cowardly Cryptid I was happy, truly happy — once. The jars of humanity snapping shut as I barely escaped cured me of that. The love of my life? Not so lucky. I heard that she survived her captivity for — awhile, pining away at last. A quick painful death would've been kinder. But... humans... humans aren't kind. I was drawn into the light. Fireflies aglow? Fairies in the snow? The cold did not daunt me. I'm nt haunted; nor do I haunt. I hide. And the woods on a Robert-Frosty evening enticed me. This is where she had died. I came to face my fate, to free myself of the shame and blame, to freeze if necessary. The cold enveloped me with its warmth. My home world had been colder, much colder. The wind began to sing. It spoke of Spring, that mythical season of the distant past, the unseen future. The trees stood silent. When would they wake up? Surely not tonight that night that lasted years of my existence. My experience was alien to this world. I was a mayfly in a world of eternal rocks. They were not as heartless as humans though. Humans. They knew so much about the world surrounding them, little of the other worlds, nothing of where I came from. I needn't be too careful I reminded myself. They only would see me if they looked. They weren't curious enough to consider that the shimmer was sentient, could move, could feel, knew things that for them did not exist. My mistake last time was trying to connect. My love and I became visible to speak to them. We soon saw their fear and I winked out; but... my love was not fast enough. They caged her as I fled. There was nothing else I could do. And here I was, walking among tall trees, cold rocks, a landscape glistening, beckoning, like the sweetest poison I had ever touched.
 SS <2000words "The Solstice Poetry Contest"  The longest night lasts for two months in this Land of Twilight. It feels cold, the damp cold that enters the bones and won't leave until the sun returns for 5 minutes on Soldag. "Merit Badge Magic" The Mole Ron was happy to be a Hufflepuff. His flaming hair matched Hermione's carpet. Unfortunate that. Gryffindors were always a bit of a clash. He was totally out-matched but besotted. I became the Resident Mole when Old Meagre lost a fight with a Mandrake. I was considered a wimp. Better to not let them know that I can smell danger better than they-all can see. And Hermione was dangerous. Believe me. A love potion had solved Tom's riddle in that other time-line; but Her Majesty Hermione had crossed over into ours and What-ever-is-his-name had followed. I feel no pain for HMH ... she was bored with Ron. At least her replacement was exciting. Danger usually is. "The Prompt Me Contest" December: No more than two sentences per weekly prompt! Please don't post ahead of time. Click on the above image for details.  Week 1: Dec 3 - 9 *Crayons2* crayons Purple Mountain Majesty watched Sapphire and Ruby fight over the last white spot on the page. She sat with her friend Goldenrod under the pink-penciled banner "Can't We All Get Along" while the other Crayons sharpened their points and took sides. Week 2: Dec 10 - 16 *Motorcycle* motorcycle What goes around comes around. Every spoke in the wheel knew this except Avery, who hung out with the Heaven's Devils.  Week 3: Dec 17 - 23 *Cart* grocery cart It's what's in the cart that counts, he murmured, when the shelves are as empty as my pocketbook. Lyle loaded the '85 Oldsmobile and hoped it had enough gas to get to the pumps. It's what's in the cart that counts, Lyle muttered, when the shelves are as empty as my pocketbook. He loaded the '85 Olds Cutlass and hoped it had enough gas in the tank to get to the pumps. Week 4: Dec 24 - 30 *Blockr* chimney Santa was too fat for the chimney. Aunt Glennys got off her high horse, hefted her corn-sack, and decided to sneak in the back door instead. Aunt Glennys was too fat for the chimney. So, Santa got off her high horse, hefted her corn-sack, and decided to sneak in the back door instead. Western genre? Dialogue? 1/teens-poverty 2/horror-romance 3/food-starvation 4/disaster-history "Invalid Item" The prompts for the following dates:- 12/01/2023- 'encouraging' 12/02/2023-'sweet' 12/03/2023-'melody' Encourage me to sing. Applaud the sweetness of my voice. Provide the harmony as you sing along. The melody rambles through the years of life lived fully. Join this session, skipping over the depths of depression. 12/04/2023- 'Allure' You drew me in. Deep voice resonating in my bones, eyes beckoning me to dive in and swim. You stood on firm ground, soared through clouds, washed away my anxiety and fears. You smelled of the storm... and the regrowth to follow. 41 12/05/2023-'blood' It turned everything black. Stickier than tar it clung to their past, present and future. Thicker than water it defined their ingrown insanity. The spilled blood of generations had spoiled the land. Kindness could not grow there. 37 12/06/2023-'wave' Smile and think kind thoughts. Show me your hand, now move it back and forth. Let the ripples of air go forth to enter the thoughts of others. The soothing caress calms their nerves. Never underestimate the power of a wave. 40 12/07/2023-'expectation' 12/08/2023-'corner' Canceled. I sat in the corner contemplating my options. Quitting never entered my mind but the way forward was blocked by my soon-to-be-missing brother. 26 12/09/2023-'accuracy' It's like lobbing granades. Throw in the general direction and duck back down in the trench. Accuracy mattered less than an ill-timed surprise. 12/10/2023-'Orthodox' Kipp rode a horse to work and told everyone he was an Orthodox Cowboy. Folks weren't sure whether he was joking; but, his concealed weapon didn't suffer fools. He'd left Brooklyn behind years ago. 12/11/2023-'incredible' 12/12/2023-'popular' 23:23... the poplar tree sang a lullaby with the flutter of its leaves. They were turning yellow and dropping. Too dry to sing in the key of green. Nighttime, almost midnight, a popular hour for shenanigans. For me? I listen to the lullaby and hope to sleep. 12/13/2023-'speculation' Watching the bees be — pleased me. Finding my lost keys pleased me more. The sparrows mating in the trees reminded me that I'm alone today. I could speculate "why them, why not me". I Better to focus on my exercise. 12/14/2023-'Aura' She shone like Venus unoccluded, undiminished. Mars was jealous when she Walked-in-Beauty. She always veiled herself in beauty, kept her heart open yet pure. We named her Aura, Her Radiance Aura. 12/15/2023-'outstanding' He stood out. A broad rugby player in a glittering gown usually does. Brad didn't care. His sister had cancer and he wore this for her. Pink ribbons and bows earned him an award, "outstanding". 12/16/2023-'old' Auld Liam ""Auld Liam" D16 #12 40w 'old'" 12/17/2023-'truth' "TM stands for Truth Matters." Maybelle was convinced of that as she said it. The classmates shook their heads. "Trademark" someone shouted. Maybelle scowled. "And what good is a trademark if you're selling lies? What you sell must be true — or it doesn't matter." 12/18/2023-' carrying' You should set it down. Now. Set it down. And stand up straight. You been carryin' that load for fifty years. Let it go. It ain't yours to carry. Truth is... It never was. So stand up. Set your eyes towards tomorrow. Now. Let's go. 12/19/2023-'still' She wasn't finished, wouldn't be finished on time; but, at age 93, she no longer cared. They called her the doll-lady, didn't even know her name. She wondered whether any of them would show up at her wake. This doll. This doll would be buried with her. 12/20/2023-'tremendous ' 12/21/2023-'beaker' A pint would do if you don't have a quart. You don't... do you have a cup to spare? Thank you. I left the beaker in the lab. Sorry. I'm just making do. I'll bring you a pancake later and the beaker tomorrow. 12/22/2023-'poverty' What did not go up in smoke was lost to air, earth and water. None-the-less, he kept breathing, eating, and even sleeping — when exhausted. Homelessness was a label beyond poor. It was poverty on steroids. 12/23/2023-demonstrate' I could show you how. The directions aren't easy to follow for a lefty. Learn by doing, my father always said. Hold it like this... see? But he was right-handed. Only a lefty can demonstrate properly to another. 12/24/2023-'brave' "Nazare" We brave the wind and rains because we must. Our families depend on us. No fish, no food. Every year some of us don't return; but, the widows in black can attest that we did our best and our children will remember a full belly. 12/25/2023-superstitious' 12/26/2023-mechanical Tin soldiers marched to and fro. Their wind-up hearts would last an hour or two. Long enough for the mechanical morons to distract the Boss from what was really important. This place would explode in 20 minutes. Even the dolls knew it was Doomsday. 12/27/2023-sensessensus' 12/28/2023-'different' 12/29/2023- 'Assistant' 12/30/2023- 'resultant'bles throu 12/31/2023-'numerous' |
(exercise) = Exor. (observations) = obsv. (s***,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. (National Blog Post Month) NBPM. Groan  3 desember - 3 ธันวาคม (ธค) My computer is acting up. Until it settles down... calm cloudy morning. Pan came home around 10 am. I really do not feel well. blog. "Trauma and ramblings" exor. 200/200/200/300 = 900. Not well. 77 degrees. obsv. Swarm of hundreds of bees by work-out stations. I put cones to block the path. ss&s. chat. Rick and John. walk. foto. วิดีโอ. 2 desember - 2 ธันวาคม (ธค) exor. 300/300/300/300 = 1200. rent. Paid for six months. ss&s.1 desember - 1 ธันวาคม (ธค) I switched my blog to "Hoarfrosts from Hell" as basically no one was reading or commenting on this blog... for years. I continue it for random thoughts and my blah blah list of my boring life and daily goals.Pan came home this morning with his luggage and made breakfast and did the wash. I was too busy to help.   PorP. "Thorns" and "Normality" wash. Pan scores again. ss&s. chat. John, Rick, P'Nan. cash. ATM was nice today. exor. 300/300/300/500 = 1400. 18:52-19:23. 81 degrees. Banged my shin. cook. Chicken, grilled chicken, fish, (PaLo = pork, egg, broth), carrot, greens, shallot. Yummy. Made at 20:00. I wanted something for Pan. 22:30... he's still not home. tv25 & tv31. Last Twilight, Pit Babe, Middleman.30 november - 30 พฤศจิกายน  ytBL. Last Twilight ep.3 วิดีโอ. Saw the dawn on the train. ss&s. chat. Saw P'Nan briefly. walk. rose. red tv25. I'm Tee, me too (finale?) exor. 200/200/200/300 = 900. 21:44-22:00 81 degrees. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8 Pogues: Shane MacGowan dies, age 65. Miserable train trip. "Cold", bright lights, couldn't get comfortable. And then... Pan wasn't home. I was upset. Later, he did cook supper but left again. I'm probably over-reacting. Why do I bother? I was the wounded fox quivering in the dark forest waiting for the fog of oblivion, the seed wedged in a crack in the parched pavement waiting for the rain. And I was the golden child who knew he was fake gold waiting for a hug he never received. So there I was, waiting for the end of winter, hoping I would die come spring. My lips savored the bittersweet chocolate. I wasn't hungry, hadn't been for a long long time; but, the memory of chocolate-past soothed my nerves. I wanted to die quick. This wasting away was tedious and unnecessary. The end was known. Why, oh why, the delay? I watched the icicle drip. It was slowly dying too. In "Normality" 547 words29 november - 29 พฤศจิกายน Malaysia to Thailand chat. Lunch with Tamil, duck rice; he brought my umbrella. Starbucks. Small gift = a gnome? foto. from plane. Goodbyes to Mr. Lim, Boon, Ken, Zul, Pauline. Flight on Air Asia. Seat 6A. Turbulance... not even water. Problem at Immigration. New stamp for 28 December. 3rd class on the train, car 8 (9 may be better). 202 baht. Very little rest. 28 november - 28 พฤศจิกายน Georgetown, Malaysia Chat. Pauline, Will, Zul Iskandar... went out to dinner; liked oyster omelette. Foto. Pauline showed me her treasure... and gave me some old money. 27 november - 27 พฤศจิกายน Georgetown, Malaysia  exor. cash. Managed to change 1.000 baht = 130 renggit chat. Coffee w/ Boon; drive w/ Ken. foto. วิดีโอ. call to prayer.Adjusting. Managed to eat chicken rice 7.5RM. Too distracted to be sad over missing Loy Kratong in Thailand. 8809 |
| (exercise) = Exor. (observations) = obsv. (s***,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. (National Blog Post Month) NBPM. Groan 26 november - 26 พฤศจิกายน  exor. walk. chat. Faiz at Color Port. Ate fish satay. foto. Gtown at night.25 november - 25 พฤศจิกายน  exor. walk. obsv. I didn't write everything down, but puddled green fields, rain, getting wet, limestone butte, green mountains, smooth train/rails. chat. Zul, Ken, Lim; Tamil, Bop; woman on train; man on ferry 2RM; man at restaurant; man/woman who gave me map. trip. Train Hat Yai to Pedang Besar; train to Butterworth, ferry to Georgetown; CAT (free bus).24 november - 24 พฤศจิกายน Flight at 16:00. UTH - HDY. Will stay at Cat House in Hat Yai tonight. exor. 300/200/300/300 = 1100. obsv. flags waving, refracted light, furtive fallen leaves scurry then lie there still in wait. ss&s. trip. 2 hour flight. Taxi... At Cat House. chat. Tamil. Woman from Warsaw. Owner. Sang karaoke. walk. Night stalls with Tamil. Saw cats. Sang karaoke. Polish lady, owner, Tamil who is Tamil. 23 november - 23 พฤศจิกายน exor. 300/300/300/300 = 1200. 64 degrees. 08:17-08:44. flags, scent of a pink rose, 08:30 alarm, jet, the train already gone south. ss&s. skipped. I was fragrant before I took a shower to go to bed. trip. Flights and hostels booked. Computer was ditsy like me and I didn't finish until 3 a.m.22 november - 22 พฤศจิกายน  exor. 200/200/300/300 = 1000 ss&s. chat. At Lumphini... may have straightened out rent. P'Nan. Rick, Joe. David is moving. bogs. JoeyC/Beholden/JohnnyO walk. Bought banana cupcakes. trip. Working on traveling. To huser:stevengepp in "20231122 NaNo XXV" I concur. When I did a booklet of poems I had 4 readers rate them. They chose the best. I was 'too close'. A beta reader seems special. An analogy: because I don't speak Thai I use google translate... a lot. The two languages do not translate well back and forth. Thai to English is especially problematic (no tense, no articles). I'm constantly stating that I don't understand. 3 hours of miscommunication today... exhausting. 30 minutes with someone who is fluent in both languages and cultures cleared it up. If the reader doesn't understand something then clarification is essential and a good beta reader will point that out. To huser:neuron in "Remembrance" "We forget. WW1 is forgotten. WW2 is almost forgotten. Numerous wars in the US lead to a numbness with every death. And once numbed we forget. We barely embrace our fellow humans. We wage war on all other life-forms. In the end... inhumane humanity will be forgotten. Not all creation-stories have happy endings." To huser:beholden in "On the Tip of my Tongue" "If I don't write it down it's gone with the wind. I just put it out there if I remember and edit if I remember and ________ (if I remember). If a story doesn't come I might just write a poem. Since story-telling isn't my strength I just accept that. Regardless, those flashes of brilliance are to be cherished." To huser:iamjoeyc in ""The Question of the Day" was a good one for me" "I looked forward to Thanksgiving growing up. Unfortunately, I grew up in the Great Lakes with a snow-belt between me and my cousins... and it always snowed in November. I planned to see my uncle Thanksgiving 2000 but a storm hit and he died that Sunday. I got to the funeral. Usually Aunt Alice would visit on Thanksgiving. We were her only close relatives nearby. Other holidays like July 4th (my uncle's birthday) were spent with the other side of the family. Good memories if I could just remember. I served smoked turkey once in Kansas; but, unbeknownst to me, my guests were vegetarians." To Kevin&Cindy at YCC: I trust that there are climate cycles. But like bi-polar disorder if the cycles are too rapid, too extreme, too frequent... an intervention may be advisable. Not all life forms are flexible and adaptive. Humans can be both but massive movements of humans test the limits of a peaceful society. 21 november - 21 พฤศจิกายน  exor. 400/300/350/500 = 1550 08:46-09:17 68 degrees, pleasant. obsv. The child running, counting numbers; 3 youth on the playground; sun-sear and shade; jet roar; one yellow trumpet in bloom. ss&s. mess. Cleaned and defrosted the refrigerator. Pan and I worked well together. chat. with Hoon and friends at Mill Place. Popcorn! bogs. Sesheta/Robert/SandyI suggested to Pan that we eat out rather than cook tonight. He didn't complain. Cleaning the kitchen was a bit of work. No TV... still on the fritz. 65 degrees at midnight.  I need to check on flights before going to bed. So tired...  To Sue Clemenger (FB): “All values in this world are more or less questionable, but the most important thing in life is human kindness.” ― Yevgeny Yevtushenko. Thanks for introducing me to this poet. To sesheta in "Not Just a Word Dump." I think I have to thank May, Michigan and Keith. T'was 1999 and I became a poet. My Muse broke out of its chains. Come to think of it... it was a crossroads. I don't market. Could I? Should I... *shudder*. I'm fortunate to get out of bed everyday. There were times in the past when that wasn't guaranteed. 80k is impressive. I have focused on blogs this November but even that's just 14k. I think you're right about creating and sharing. Focusing on the process will get results... in time. To cathartes02 in "Revisited: "On Merit"" No, I'm questioning the idea that people get rewarded in accordance to their contribution to society. Because they obviously don't.This.  But even if they did it still wouldn't reflect their true value. A Math teacher can be both brilliant and a serial killer. A brute of a football player with scrambled brains... can be a great father. Assigning a social credit value sounds a tad like what China has experimented with (we already do that in the USA... as you noted). I'm sure each individual contributes in their own way (even if I don't understand).My value system has little to do with money. But that's me. To nannamom in "Almost Winter" "Growing up I liked November. I was a gloomy kid. However, December was just cold rain. The snows of January/February were much brighter and therefore better. Here in Thailand... it's 'winter' when the lows go below 23C degrees. It's midnight as I type and 18 and dropping ever-so-slowly. November here is bright, crisp, breezy and hopeful. The sun doesn't seem to burn and certain trees and orchids begin to flower. It's mostly a lovely time of year. And December and January are nice. Western holidays are marketed here in Thailand. Thais are good at marketing... but there isn't the food and shopping frenzy I grew up with. Neither seasons nor days-of-the-week are marked here like in Northern Euro-American climes. 20 november - 20 พฤศจิกายน exor. 300/300/300/300 = 1200. 68-ish obsv. foto. I took some but Pan took photos of me after he did a 'make-over'. tv25. snowy screen... rent? stay? go? Went to Kangaroo and Aek Udon with Pan. Still no resolution. To {huser:elusive4lyn in "Nov. 19th toilet fun and quotes" I liked the food mentioned. Different foods here. I do add squash, carrots, potatoes and green papaya to my rice. I like sweets but my go-to is anything chocolate. I have a couple rubber duckies but no yellow-ducky stories. I grew up using an outhouse every August; but, again, no stories. Pan just got out of the shower and "attacked" me while I was writing this comment; but, nothing to share (wish I did  ). To {huser:4provinces in "Mini Review of The Crown and Gilded Age (Spoilers)" Not all seasons/episodes/chapters/books are equal. I really like Harry Potter Book 4 but the movie was a disaster, imho. I detested Book 5 but the movie was much better. Staunton may have been better cast as Umbridge than Queen Elizabeth. Casting and writing can make it or break it. The ghost device in a docudrama would bother me. I don't have Netflick/HBO/Max/etc. so I probably will never see either. To {huser:jim-d in "Los Angeles, Sixth Time This Year!" I know that flexibility is a 'virtue'... I'm trying to practice that but it's hard when I'm on my own dime. Must straighten out lodging for December/January should I decide to stay here in Udon Thani. To renew my visa I may have to go to Cambodia or Malaysia... bad timing. Too bad we can't meet in LA. Staying put is an option but it may come with a one-year lease... not what I want. Having a home to come to is nice. My health is iffy but no surgery in sight. I'd like to keep it that way. Neuropathy, blood pressure and liver need to be checked. I don't want meds either, but may have to face that choice. Carpal tunnel would limit my writing... some folks would rejoice in that! Of course... there are voice programs.  To Silent Majority (YCC): "These land-canes and hybrid storms and who-knows-what storms need to be tracked and garner serious warnings. Too much focus on hurricanes allows the not-so-sexy storms to get away with murder. Naming them might help because that's what people expect. Plus... the debate on what to call a storm doesn't make it any less lethal." |
| 35th seven day period of the Year 180 (exercise) = Exor. (observations) = obsv. (s***,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. (National Blog Post Month) NBPM. Groan 20 november - 20 พฤศจิกายน exor. 300/300/300/300 = 1200. 68-ish obsv. foto. I took some but Pan took photos of me after he did a 'make-over'. tv25. snowy screen... rent? stay? go? Went to Kangaroo and Aek Udon with Pan. Still no resolution. To {huser:4provinces in "Mini Review of The Crown and Gilded Age (Spoilers)" Not all seasons/episodes/chapters/books are equal. I really like Harry Potter Book 4 but the movie was a disaster, imho. I detested Book 5 but the movie was much better. Staunton may have been better cast as Umbridge than Queen Elizabeth. Casting and writing can make it or break it. The ghost device in a docudrama would bother me. I don't have Netflick/HBO/Max/etc. so I probably will never see either. To {huser:jim-d in "Los Angeles, Sixth Time This Year!" I know that flexibility is a 'virtue'... I'm trying to practice that but it's hard when I'm on my own dime. Must straighten out lodging for December/January should I decide to stay here in Udon Thani. To renew my visa I may have to go to Cambodia or Malaysia... bad timing. Too bad we can't meet in LA. Staying put is an option but it may come with a one-year lease... not what I want. Having a home to come to is nice. My health is iffy but no surgery in sight. I'd like to keep it that way. Neuropathy, blood pressure and liver need to be checked. I don't want meds either, but may have to face that choice. Carpal tunnel would limit my writing... some folks would rejoice in that! Of course... there are voice programs. To Silent Majority (YCC): "These land-canes and hybrid storms and who-knows-what storms need to be tracked and garner serious warnings. Too much focus on hurricanes allows the not-so-sexy storms to get away with murder. Naming them might help because that's what people expect. Plus... the debate on what to call a storm doesn't make it any less lethal." 19 november - 19 พฤศจิกายน exor. 500/300/300/500+ = 1500+. I get distracted and lose count. 72 degrees. 09:57-10:32. Good time (for the next two months) as I was able to work in the shadows of the towers. obsv. cool shade, a three-year old on a bike with training wheels (very respectful), breeze and leaf scurry. agua. 9 liters = 9 baht. I didn't use much when Pan was gone for a week. ss&s. broken shower-head is annoying but we cope. gnus. #1 Nicaragua = Raul is ecstatic. #2 Thailand = Pan is disappointed. เที่ยง. 77 degrees foto. I took a couple of Pan with make-up on. He needs to make a portfolio... My phone and the poor lighting and his reluctance make it difficult. shop. local market for eggs, pork, and a few other things. chat. David+ bogs. Rhychus/Whirls/Harlow MBPM. "NaBloPoMo#19" To anon: "When I first joined I felt connected here; but that was 2005 (before bookface), and society has changed since then. Much more divided, unwilling to engage, less civil. WDC isn't immune. There are many societal taboos I no longer let silence me. I'm highly opinionated (not always right) and have been blocked by a few people, but I don't think I've blocked anyone. However, on FB I put a few people on pause during US election time. I've given a few 2.5 reviews... and many years ago received a hate-rate in return. Some writing isn't salvageable. I'm not a freebie-five reviewer. I rarely give reviews and rarely respond. Blogs are my preference. Hope that this can be resolved to your satisfaction." To {huser:tgifisher77 in "Playing Cards" "Impossible hands... I have watched pinochle and lots of bridge at the Senior Center. I won't play. I do like mahjong and love versions of rummy.I have seen younger people playing cards but smart phones have blunted any need to connect to people face-to-face. It's quite sad. I haven't played anything in a long time." To Sarah Aswell on boozface: Thank you for reminding me that there was a football game. In Kansas we always said, "Win or lose we will booze." I forget because I'm in Thailand with a 10 hour difference. That said, Miss Universe was important here today with Miss Thailand as #2 (some disappointment) while my Nicaraguan friend Raul is ecstatic. To {huser:vafann on fb re fibromyalgia groups: "Hmm... the stoic Swede? Practical, seeking info, sharing details. Americans? Drama kings and queens. Is this a common stereotype or just me?" To Togldeblox (YCC): "I've never heard of the QOP; but, if the shoe pinches the toes... Yeah, but there always are those who are greedy and still try to screw the poor at every opportunity. Not always the QOP... but it does feel that way most of the time this past century." To huser:wofgang in "none came" "Pan makes sure that I smell sweet before I go out. When I live alone in a dry-cold climate like Montana I don't care so much. But here in hot sweaty Thailand it's essential to take more than one shower every day. I don't just sit in public though like I should. I could. It's great to just sit and observe. There are stories everywhere (most of them hidden from public view). Ah. That man in the gabardine suit..." embed:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFAoWwUwknc 18 november - 18 พฤศจิกายน Moved into Lumphini with Pannya one year ago. exor. 400/300/300/500 = 1500. 62-70 degrees. 08:21-0:8-54. obsv. Orchid by the work-out stations starts to bloom. 8:20 train; 8:30 jet; hoot of the herons; human chatter above. ss&s. NBPM. "NaBloPoMo#17 Adding rainbows to dreary days."  เที่ยง. 26°C 79°F breezy, pleasant. wash. Pan washed clothes. bogs. Sonali/Jack/Seven/Lilli walk. white rose (from blind guy) and food. tv25. Gear&Gown.Stressful day figuring out what to do next. Not resolved but at least I know Pan's schedule. We celebrated our anniversary with shabu at Nan's place nearby. Pan seemed happy. That's important. I was tired after our miscommunication. I'm not hungry, not happy and not healthy. But I'm glad we ate out. 19°C 67°F at midnight. Coooool. To sonali in "Freedom" "Is "DEWDROP" the new/old name for the "House of Hufflepuff" in Bengaluru? Or is that "Dewdrop Inn" or "Do drop in". Inquiring minds want to know.  In all seriousness... it'll take time to adjust. My mom died in 2022 at age 99. That made me an "orphan" with hair and teeth falling out. I talked to a friend my age who had a similar experience. It's a bit of a shock at first. "Walk don't run" is my only advice." To {huser:lilli_in_fl in QotD "QOTD: Friday, 11/17" "I prefer board games like Clue and Scrabble, card games like rummy or canasta... and mahjong. I played D&D in the 70s. I won't play Monopoly or Risk. I don't care for on-line games." To {huser:missbusta07 in "better, but tired." "To understand this post I started to read the last post "a darkness" ... heavy. I'll comment there after I've digested it.I've felt totally adrift this past fortnight. Makes my anxiety go up. Glad you've "seen the light" if only a glimmer." To {huser:hammer48}: My energy level ebbs and flows. I have time but it's in a leaky hourglass. A long confusing discussion today sapped me like a maple in March. To Susan Anderson (YCC): "The "side" of Compassion has ofttimes been derided as weak by those who believe one must choose a side and fight to the finish. Those of us who say 'no' and walk away from the game just shake our heads as neither side listens to us." To Shira (YCC): "Has anyone mentioned that they should have closed I55 except for the fast and local trains? No? Why? "Because there aren't any trains" is a silly answer to a silly question. So... why aren't there trains?" 17 november - 17 พฤศจิกายน exor. 300/300/300/400 = 1300. 72 degrees at 9-ish. 78 at 10:00. obsv. "cold", windy, leaves blowing around, dead worms/slugs. PorP. เที่ยง. 27°C 80°F   mess. Cleaned before Pan comes home. bogs. Tracker/Jeff/Neva shop. We are out of food. tv25. Last Twilight 68 degrees at midnight. Pannya did not come home. 5 things I see. 4 voices I hear. 3 scents to smell. 2 tastes to savor life. 1 touch to bind them all on my way to hell. Something you desired for me. Nothing I wanted to be. Suicide could be the call, would end it all. As leaves fall in November's rain, the ground absorbs all pain. [180.153] I'm not doing well. Ant Wars So many children hatch in vain; 8 they're never trained before the war. 8 Do they know how they will die? 7 Does it matter? 4 They flee as if they could escape, 8 scurry then bite me one by one. 8 In the end they die in vain, 7 squished and shattered. 4 [180.154] 8/8/7/4 To nfdarbe in entry:1059578 Travelers learn tolerance... or stop traveling. It's more than patience. The language and cultural differences can be surprising. Book-learning ill prepares one for the journey. It's the face-to-face attempts to connect, the kindness of strangers, and understanding that barriers can be overcome. It needn't be done abroad. Most communities have outcasts. That's a good place to start. It requires leaving one's comfort zone. It can also mean 'letting go'." To jeff in entry:1059620 A short driving distance I laugh because I don't have a car. But there's a Swensen's, McD, BK, and KFC all within walking distance. Central Udon Thani is very livable in that way. We are supposed to go out someplace special tomorrow. We'll see. It won't be American fast food! Possibly Shabu-shabu (ชาบู ชาบู), other Japanese or Korean. Pannya will choose. I'm just as happy with basic fried rice with pork, duck or chicken. I do like Wendy's (been awhile) and Subway is fine at the Seattle airport; but, I'd rather eat at a local mom-and-pop place in Montana or elsewhere. Udon Thani has a great Swiss-run pizza place (Da Sofia) and Koala has an incredible Philly cheese-steak. I've met the owners. I have eaten at the local McD's because they are open 24/7 and have good a/c. Mostly I just eat at the street markets (dumplings, roti, chicken-liver...). To tracker48 in entry:1059623 I've submitted 'great' poems and... nothing. Not a peep; not even a review. But, I've won a few contests as well. I have a fistful of Second Places  . I've read other writers' laments over contests. It does come down to what the judges like. You could write a poem worthy of the New Yorker and still get snubbed here and elsewhere. I try to read 3 blogs/day. More than that is exhausting for some reason. 16 november - 16 พฤศจิกายน Ant War News: I think I won yesterday's skirmish... they attacked my peanuts. Pan texted that he will come home tomorrow; but, will the ants hold the mangoes hostage and take off with the bed? exor. 400/300/300/500 = 1500 08:35-09:09 73~79 degrees. PorP. ss&s. cook. Just rice but added an egg and used weak ginger tea. เที่ยง. 30C degrees walk. Got baht (4th attempt). Ate at Koala. ytBL. IFYLITA... with Tita Josie. tv25. I'm Tee. Me too. bogs. Sara/Sonali/Evelyn/Tina NBPM. "NaBloPoMo#16" aloft cloudlets gather gossip about the gods and their futile quests — they laugh then cry below, tethered, a green spider hangs by silk threads threatens the world by brandishing its swords aloof I exorcise my nightdreams and nightmares banish them with groans, grunts, banter and sweat [152] Huge, massive, aloof from the world, their temples and tombs and ruins remain. —Furnishing the Home of Good Taste A Brief… by Lucy Abbot Throop THiNKiNG of using this as a prompt... a villanelle? tour guides, in passing, repeat the refrain 10 egos — huge, massive, aloof from the world, 10+ (could remove emdash or 'huge' or add 'crushed egos' and remove both) their temples and tombs and ruins remain. 10 15 november - 15 พฤศจิกายน A question I need to answer. Margaret Adamski: From your travels so far, what is one place you would recommend to retire and stay there longer term? 1. Age and health. Dreams vs reality. 2. Climate. 3. Transportation. 4. Finances. Puts limitations. 5. Safety and happiness. exor. 300/200/300/400 = 1200. obsv. fresh mown grass, dappled shade test. Entered Shadow & Light... barely on time. Almost 20 entries. cook. Rice. I can survive on rice until Pan makes his plans clear. เที่ยง. 85°F 29°C pleasant. chat. P'Nan tv25. I'm Tee...Grey towers descend from the heavens, kiss scorched ground, leaving wet dimples that will dry before nightfall — but the dirt will remember, frogs will sing of it, parched roots will rejoice, and a bird will spread its wings in joy — tomorrow, one yellow trumpet will admonish the sun — I too have survived. -- 13 oktober 2023 11 lines Edited and posted in "I too have survived" 14 november - 14 พฤศจิกายน exor. 300/300/300/500 = 1400. 75 degrees. Finished 09:18. Saw Tom. Misplaced key. เที่ยง. 29 degrees and clear. ss&s. walk. shop. I have to renew, find a new place or leave. I went to Aek Udon and Kangaroo. chat. Nik (Nichole, Nikorn) at Kangaroo. Hoon at Surada. P'Nan.I was very tired last night and lay down at midnight. Pan is still at his mother's. I tried sleeping with the windows open but a tad too warm. I may try again later this week as night temperatures will drop. I made a slight mistake cooking. Used a packet that had some chili in it. Hopefully I eat it small portion at a time. I don't waste food. Pan isn't back and that creates other problems for me. I need to find a place to move to and I need to get truthful advice regarding my visa. I'm stressed out and there are few people who would understand my options if I explained to them. Thailand has quirky visa rules that change with little notice. And lodging (friend warned about electric bills), personal relationships, cultural expectations, et cetera... would take too much of my precious time to explain to willing-to-listen but utterly-ignorant friends in Montana or on-line on bookspace or writingdotcom. You-all just don't know! So, I have to figure this out by myself. Good intentions don't matter in a crisis. I have 14 days to figure this out... or else. It's after midnight and I'm overwrought. Too much on my mind and the War of the Ants isn't going well. At least it's in the low 70s. My responses to social media comments: Joseph Tramelli: Not everyone is from your culture... and that goes for everyone who comments on social media. I've traveled the world and I've been in Thailand for one year. Masculinity isn't defined in the same way as White Euro-American Christians. And even here... attitudes and customs change. Taylor Swan: Or from a different culture. Gender is defined differently in Thailand; and amazingly, most people just accept other people as they are without faux-outraged angst. Tiffiny Lawrie: Star Trek ruined a generation because they included an interracial kiss and lovable aliens. These were not acceptable in segregated Amerikkka during a war on the non-humans of Viet Nam. *sarcasm* ... dripping. I'm in my 70s. Carly Kay: It may mean that you are a tolerant decent human being (of any age). One of the lessons of a Buddhist culture like Thailand is learning to 'let go'. I struggle with that here in Udon Thani. 13 november - 13 พฤศจิกายน เที่ยง. 33 degrees and cloudy with some sprinkles at 1 p.m. bogs. TJ/Pete/Eric/Brian MBPM. "NaBloPoMo#13 " ss&s. chat. Rick (beware of electric bill). Pear and Korean visitor at Surada. walk. shop. bread. tvBL. Maybe not BL. Wednesday Club. Young people acting out.  exor. 300/200/300/300 = 1100. 79 degrees 20:35-20:59 Didn't get much done and now too tired. 77 degrees at midnight. Temperature will drop a bit by morning. Breezy cleared out the heat and ennui. |
| (exercise) = Exor. (observations) = obsv. (s***,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. (National Blog Post Month) NBPM. 12 november - 12 พฤศจิกายน Took Pan out to dinner at MK one year ago today. Today he was in Khon Kaen. I went to Nong Khai. ss&s. trip. Nong Khai. Saw people I've met before. chat. at Mut Mee. walk. exor. 300/300/300/300 = 1200. 84 degrees. 20:28-20:54. obsv. cockroach, orange bettle, cat, ants, mosquito biting me, new orchids, clang at temple (renovation) cook. pork, carrot, onions and rice. ytBL. Watched Javi's reaction to "Last Twilight".11 november - 11 พฤศจิกายน bogs. Tracker/Mouse/Patricia*cehckv* NBPM. "NaBloPoMo#11 Drowning, gasping for air" cook. fish stew (carrot, onion, garlic, vermicelli) เที่ยง. 90 degrees. chat. David. walk. exor. 300/300/300/300 = 1200. 82 degrees. 20:05-20:29 tv25. เกียร์สีขาวกับกาวน์สีฝุ่น (2020)10 november - 10 พฤศจิกายน Got up late again. Stressed, trying to work things out with Pannya. He goes to Khon Kaen tonight. bogs. Johnny/Sonali/Adherrenium NBPM. "NaBloPoMo#10 What's left behind" ss&s. exor. 300/300/400/500 = 1500 19:50- 20:18 81 degrees. tv25. "Last Twilight"9 november - 9 พฤศจิกายน Today was "Extermination Day" for our tower; so, I left just in case they mistook me for a bug. Didn't get up till 09:44... very late. Pan said he'd come back today... at 6 pm. He arrived around 2. He brought papaya home from Khun Han. I gave 4 to P'Nan as he requested. ss&s. chat. David and Rick. เที่ยง. 90 degrees. walk. shop. rose, merit bouquet, spray, mouthwash, cup (to replace the one I dropped). agua. 10 liters. exor. 300/300/300/300 = 1200. 84-82 degrees. 19:35-20:04. Tired and stiff. obsv. 5 orchid flowers; 2 stars; quiet until the train roared past; swinging beads. bogs. Joy/Harlow/Sara. NBPM. "NaBloPoMo#9 Leaves turn brown..." tv25. I'm Tee, me too.8 november - 8 พฤศจิกายน Look...Loki... it's like this... I got up. I went out. I came back. I lay down. You want what? exor. 400/300/300/500 = 1500. 77 degrees. 07:58-08:27. obsv. finches making a nest; fly; ants; long-legged spider; honey-ginger tea. ss&s. เที่ยง. 90 degrees mess. bogs. Dianne/Robert/Charity/TJ NBPM. "NaBloPoMo#8 Bear with me" shop. Ant-killer! walk. chat. Obi. tv25. "I'm Tee Me Too" (คนละทีเดียวกัน) Fairly good [from 2020; 8.2 rating at mdl]. Obi goes to Laos tomorrow; Pan comes home. Exterminators at 10 a.m. I put 5 kilos of rice into sealed containers. I ate left-over rice. I have little appetite. 7 november - 7 พฤศจิกายน exor. 300/300/300/500 = 1400. 81 degrees. 09:56-09:29. toddler counting to ten to me in English; distractions while working out; green spider; pesky flies; saw a jet roar. Later: petted a calico and another cat. ss&s. bogs. Neva/Eric/SarahRae/Phyllis. NBPM. "NaBloPoMo#7 Short flight" walk. To Big C to buy coffee#2, bread, ginger-honey tea. Bought rice for 145 baht at 7/11. book. mess. Bleaching and cleaning the last two days. A little bit at a time as I don't trust bleach. tv25. Wednesday Club ep.2. not impressed.Dropped and broke my coffee cup. We only have two. Pan sent a lovely photo by the water. ![Merit Badge in Special Appreciation
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Just because. *^*Heart*^*](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/WDC-Special_Appreciation-60_60.gif) Special Appreciation 6 november - 6 พฤศจิกายน exor. 200/200/200/300 = 900. New parameters are 900-1500 with a goal of 1200. 08:52-09:10. 77-81 degrees. 2 women exercising also. obsv. myna hopping; hesitant spider; water splashing; croaking; quiet; spongy playground surface; hard bench. เที่ยง. 90 degrees. cook. Rice with carrot, squash, potato, onion, garlic, greens, bologna. Pan not home. ss&s. With Pan not here it doesn't matter until I go out. I only went to the market. bogs. Amy/Jim/Pumpkin/Lyn tv25. Wednesday Club (middle child angst) NBPM. "NaBloPoMo#6 "I will survive"" 8.690 views |
| November Realities "Welcome To My Reality Forum" Prompts for November 2023: 1. What kind of day are you having, and why? 2. What's your favorite color, place, food, book, song, or movie, and why? Orange, garden, kao pad, "Cry, the Beloved Country", Ombra Mai Fu, "Babette's Feast" 3. What do you like to do? How does it make you feel? 4. Where are you happiest? Describe that place. 5. What's something you're good at? What makes you good at it? Traveling. Preparation and a Plan B. 6. What do you consider to be your culture, and how do you feel about it? Global. It's a bigger box. 7. What would you change about yourself or your life? Is there a way for you to change it? 8. What is your relationship like with various members of your family? Not very close. No problems... just distance. 9. If you have brothers or sisters, how are you similar to them or different from them? What about with your friends? I'm more like my older than my younger sister. My friends are eclectic. 10. What are your views on religion? More inclusive, peaceful, equitable. Like DEI. 11. What keeps you up at night worrying? Are your worries realistic? Is there anything you can do about them? 12. Do you have a philosophy of life? If so, what is it? If not, what is your method for making important decisions? 13. In what areas are you optimistic, and in what areas are you pessimistic? 14. What are your most prized possessions? 15. Who is someone you miss? Gary. Kevin. All the lost loves of my life. 16. What is something someone else has that you envy? Describe it and your feelings about it. 17. What is a book, movie, song, or television program that has influenced you, and how? 18. What is a mistake people often make about you? My name. My gender. 19. What's something you disagree with about the way you were raised? I was smothered and not taught the family secrets and how to handle common situations. 20. What's your favorite: season, color, place, or food? Describe it. Spring and Autumn. Kansas. Journal prompts - daydreams 21. Describe your dream: job, man/woman, house. Whatever your dream is that you wanna share. 22. How would you like your life to be when you're older? I am older. I didn't foresee any of this. 23. What would be the guest list at your dream party? What would the various guests talk about? 24. What magic power would you like to have? How would you use it? What would it feel like? As a child my power was invisibility. 25. If you won the lottery, what would you do? No idea other than to set most aside for a year. At this age? No longer. 26. What's a country you'd like to visit? How do you imagine your time there? Been to 45. Rwanda, Malawi, Senegal, Burkina Faso. Colombia, Cuba. Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan. Timor Leste, Kiribati, Vanuatu. Kentucky... 27. A dream in a tear 28. Under a star near the sea 29. Warped and wrinkled 30. Curly fries and plastic bow ties 31. Attention! Attention! Read all about it… 32. The truth often hurts 33. Blowing kisses in the storm 34. She grew and then he knew 35. Pages of perfection 36. Damp dangling tresses 37. Was it a laugh or a cry? 38. Dull knives and feisty fellas 39. Molten kisses 40. To the moon and back Honeymooners! 41. A tale of turbulence While flying or daily drama? 42. Disappointing disasters 43. Lipstick secrets 44. Grandma’s medicine 45. Something lost, something given 46. Evening hush When the night blooms and the moths gather. 47. Slices of life 48. Voyage views 49. Peculiar happenings 50. Crumpled sheets and tousled hair Morning. 51. Shoved into a closet My childhood dreams. 53. The best part 54. Food stamps fortunes 55. Finding rainbows between the clouds On a soft day. The sun burns in Isan. 56. What does your character do all day? Does he or she have a job or go to school? 57. What type of job does your character have—or what school subject does he or she enjoy most? 58. What is your character’s favorite holiday? Why? 59. What is your character’s favorite type of music? Why? 60. How does your character sound when he or she laughs? 61. Write a story using all the fall colors. 62. Write about doing Halloween when you were a kid. 63. Do you love it when the time falls back? No. I think the clock-time should never change. It's needlessly disruptive. 64. Do you love it when the time springs forward? 65. Are you glad that they are talking about doing away with daylight savings? Yes. 66. What does "one day at a time" mean to you? 67. Share something about you, that no one knows. I keep my secrets close. My family taught me to trust no one. 68. November Rain In the north... yes. Here... I wish. 69. What are the rules you live by? 70. What do you love most about Thanksgiving? 71. When do you start your Thanksgiving gatherings? 72. Do you watch Christmas Movies in November? No. I watch them whenever if at all. 73. Write about what is bothering you sometimes writing it out helps if there is more than one thing you can write all of it out. Don't worry this is a safe space. My journal is over 5 thousand pages. 74. Do you celebrate any holidays where you work? If you are in School do you all celebrate holidays? I tried. Forced to mostly celebrate the holidays of others. 75. Write 20 things that you have completed so far this year. 76. Tell me about your anger. Better to not share. "Welcome To My Reality Forum" |
| (exercise) = Exor. (observations) = obsv. (s***,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. (National Blog Post Month) NBPM. 5 november - 5 พฤศจิกายน exor. 300/300/300/600 = 1500. 81 degrees. 08:25-08:55 obsv. ss&s. เที่ยง. 91°F 33°C Humidity: 59% Wind: 3 mph chat. walk. shop. coffee. PorP. bogs. NormaJean/Jeff/Steven/SpiritWriter NBpM. "NaBloPoMo#5" ytBL. "I feel you linger in the air" ep. 12 finale.It's based on the novel "Violet Rain". https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=0xKba-76atg 4 november - 4 พฤศจิกายน เที่ยง. 90 degrees.Pannya left for SiSaket today to attend to family business. bogs. Evelyn/DLSpirit/Sox PorP. ss&s. chat. P'Rube... went out to eat; ate fish. foto. exor. 200/200/250/400 = 1050. 82 degrees. 20:10-20:32 tv25. เกียร์สีขาวกับกาวน์สีฝุ่น Not impressed so far. HS silliness. NBPM. "NaBloPoMo#4" 3 november - 3 พฤศจิกายน exor. 300/300/300/300 = 1200; zigzagging twixt stations. 81-84 degrees. 09:20-09:50 obsv. haze blocking the horizon; pants falling down; fallen palm frond (not heavy); white (moth?) orchid; Tom in pink with something pink covering her head (hot); new orchid racemes; lichen. ss&s. mess. Pan really cleaned the kitchen. wash. Pan washing 1. clothes and 2. blankets. 87 degrees. Now 91 at 1:11 pm. Hot day. Porp. "Nong Prajak (Yellow ducky)" foto. New image here "Pannya and his yellow ducky." bogs. TJ/Mouse/Elizabeth/Jack chat. P'Rube, and guy from Korea. walk. Kinda. shop. noodles, soap, bananas... NBPM. "NaBloPoMo#3" tv31. Last episode of "I feel you linger in the air"  2 november - 2 พฤศจิกายน exor. 300/50/150/300 = 800. 81 degrees. 10:09-10:29. ss&s. obsv. leaflets, puddle reflection, sun baking my shoulders, man watering, ladder, man working on transformer. Porp. [147] [148] bogs. Sonali/Judith/Dianne/Lani. chat. P'Rube, young Korean, guy from Dijon. walk. also, walking down 8 flights as electricity was off. rose. red. mrkt. bread, pork, greens. NBPM. "NaBloPoMo#2" 1 november - 1 พฤศจิกายน exor. 150/300/300/250 = 1000. 82 degrees, sunny. Late, 09:43-10:09. ss&s. obsv. stiff breeze; blowing leaves; birds on a wire (drongos?); bird carrying long blade (to nest?); sun on my arms. PorP. ""Apples and Walnuts" O31 40w [134] 'combat'" เที่ยง. 88 degrees at 12:34. Pan got up, took meds, back to bed...  walk. ...and then Pan got up and wanted to go to Oshine... so we did. But it's very expensive and I wasn't hungry and he doesn't like it if I sit and don't eat so I left and walked back. Mosque, buns, flowers... Long but very calming walk. chat. with P'Rube. We went out to eat. I had fried fish, 79 baht.  bogs. Mike/Sandra/Richard NBPM. "November ... I'll try to remember. NaBloPoMo#1" To YCC: "It always bothers me that nationalistic maps don't understand that weather doesn't care about human constructs. I grew up in a border town. The other side had the same weather. Plus, most of the weather hit them before it hit us... Myopia isn't a virtue." ![Merit Badge in I Love WdC
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This badge is given for your immense contributions.](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/Kudos-I_Love_WdC.gif) I Love WdC 31 oktober - 31 ตุลาคม exor. 300/300/300/500 = 1400. 75 degrees. Early? 07:49-08:22. obsv. sound of whisk brooms, bird-chirp; puddles; fairly calm... then a breeze. Overcast. ss&s. เที่ยง. 84 degrees, partly cloudy. chat. P'Rube. foto. Chinese center.Commented at YCC: "Unfortunately, this is how White Christian Nationalism is being marketed. And Americans are gullible. Personally, I find nothing funny about mockery. Those of us on the "pest-extermination" check-list need to be concerned." and "He had someone read them to him? En serio... he can read; but, like many Americans, he [DJT] chooses not to. I worry more about his warped view of the world that he sees in a mirror." and "Multi-party works well in Switzerland. In other places it's a constant shuffle of alliances; but, even that is better than the two-party gladiator system Americans are so fondly attached to." 30 oktober - 30 ตุลาคม exor. 200/200/300/300 = 1000. 82 degrees 09:08-09:30 sunny obsv. A flittery of flutterbys dancing in the sunbeams; breeze; loud jet, distant mumbling; loud a/c. ss&s. wash. Pan came home around 8 am. He's not 100% but took the wash down. Unfortunately, not everything got clean. เที่ยง. 12:34 90 degrees. 14:50 rain at a slant. bogs. Flick/Stik/Dave walk. shop. cupcakes, bananas, fish, vegetables at Lotus. 2 croissants at Bellinee. PorP. "The Cleansing" Will need edit and submission. ""Death comes soon enough" O30 [133] 38w 'courage'" ytBL. Feel you linger in the air.Idea ... Liver-stench: Stacy was a blood-sucker — and proud of it! She could latch on to someone; and, if she was careful... they wouldn't even know it! She'd nibble with her fangs and paw with her needle-like claws. Out with the old and in with the new. She loved the sweetness, the saltiness, the umami of it all. The bitterness didn't bother her. She'd just let it flow through her. She'd draw out blood and ichor let her body take what it wanted. What she injected back would be better by far. She smelled her prey a mile away. She stifled the urge to spread her wings and hopped on her Vespa instead, dreadlocks flying. The stench was intoxicating. Whatever was wrong was very very wrong. It reeked this side of three-day-old carrion. Holy Helena, she hoped it wasn't halitosis. She wasn't up to badbreath and liplock today. Oh... she'd been there and done that and didn't want to do it again — even knowing that she could, should and would. She was wearing her red and black checkered frock just in case. She was proud of her profession; she didn't like stains. The laundromat didn't ask questions but they were expensive and pre-soaking and scrubbing by hand was tedious and time-consuming and – she had a party to go to tonight. She sashayed through town and there... There stood a Man. Buff, tan and beautiful. She smiled. Can I buy you lunch? Direct was always best. Give them no chance to think overly much or mis-construe her intentions. Her mouth had earned the title Miss Understood in 10th grade. They sat in conversation. His name was Karloff. Stacy always knew how to draw people out and always wore perfume that calmed. She had nicknamed it "Before the Bite" as a private joke. When she told people that some laughed. Some groaned. Some faked shock ... before she sunk her fangs into them. He opened up about how folks teased him to get a girlfriend. Stacy read the tell-tale signs of the self-imposed closet. Karloff would be tasty. But, he was shy and into guys. Hmm. Not a problem. She offered to give him a hickey in public so the town bullies would back off. A burly guy gave her the come-on eye. She gave him a stink eye. He started to snicker. Stacy just embraced Karloff in a head-lock and chowed down. A waitress laughed. Someone shouted "get a room". Karloff was bug eyed as she guided him to a back table where she could take her time. She would need time. This case was serious and complicated. Hepatitus never tasted good. Type A, type B, type C... never good... Karloff's liver was struggling. She sucked harder as her claws dug deeper into his thigh. Good. He did have nice thighs... She sent his blood into her body, told her liver to do its job, and quick. The waitress had a worried look on her face. Karloff was a special shade of pale. But... better than yellow, Stacy thought. Bad blood removed, good blood transfused, she sighed and gently let Karloff go. The look on his face was serene. He smelled better too. He shyly smiled. Got a brother? Stacy roared. Heads turned their way. But, Stacy didn't care. She'd done her good deed for the day. She'd be able to report this to the Grand Council. In a hundred more years they might even accept her penance. To huser:vivacious (Andra): "Social media has become tribal. I often feel the need to add "in my opinion" to make it clear that what I write is my "opinion" and nothing more. I renewed at WdC but I find folks more prickly than previous. Bunnies and unicorns are still the go-to for many. And on TikTok? Outrage and name-calling without any pause to think." Tried to post to Susan A on YCC: "The American people are divided. Congress is divided. The military has been denied proper reassurance that they matter (Tommy T...). Political games and the naivete and nativism of the last few years... But... this is why people admire autocratic leaders like _____ (five letters). Autocrats act and answer to no one. And the apocalyptic crowd just brings popcorn to the party." |
| (exercise) = Exor. (observations) = obsv. (s***,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. 29 oktober - 29 ตุลาคม exor. 200/200/250/300 = 950. 3 young women chatting on a bench; wispy clouds; after-taste of chicken liver; white butterfly; distant noise. cook. had to use up squid, chicken, daikon, onion, green-papaya. ss&s. เที่ยง. 88 degrees. Partly sunny. bogs. Rhychus/Stik/Hooves/NormaJean chat. pôod. P'Noy. walk. 2 wats... Nong Bua... lots of noisy firecrackers.  foto. wat วิดีโอ. moon reflected in water; prayers at wat. PorP. ""With the same sigh" O28 [132 ] 36w 'disposable' " Gnus: "‘This Is Not My Time:’ Mike Pence Suspends 2024 Presidential Bid" Re Speaker Johnson: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-christian-nationalism-of-speaker-mike-john... 28 oktober - 28 ตุลาคม To Nikola: "A lovely cold front is moving in and a stronger one on the way this weekend! I'm ready to party. This year's theme is "Just Desserts" Sally is carving pumpkins, watermelons and rutabagas. Betty Lou makes a lovely mousse with dead-bird's custard and Buck will be stirring in the stew. Whoever finds an eyeball wins a price! Our neighbors have already entered their dens for the winter, too bad as they are a furball of fun, so they will come for the Spring event. I did make everyone sign a form stating no bullets. Even got them notarized. Notorious Buck used to do that... but alack, he had to be replaced. At least Michelle has better hygiene. A bit mousy but, except for Betty Lou, we all adore her. They'll be 13 of us in all, including Buck, but there will only be 12 at the end! Sally may propose to you-know-who, but my lips are zipped. She's proven to be deadly when crossed. No one is as stupid as Buck was... nevermore." Pan got very sick... disappeared for 2 hours. Helped him take meds. He was hot and cold all night, barely stirring. I kept checking on him. No sleep for me. exor. 200/100/250/250 = 800. Overcast. 09:44-10:03. Then napped. ss&s. chat. P'Nan. walk. shop. Coffee Blue#2 (89 baht for 27), strawberry Fanta (23 baht). agua. 10 liters. tv25. "Only Friends"27 oktober - 27 ตุลาคม ss&s. visa. New date... November 28th. Do I go to India, Cambodia, Malaysia, Kazakhstan? foto. yeller duckies. bogs. Steven/ chat. Rube and P'Nan. walk. Yes, Bellinee has croissants from the basic butter for 35 baht to fancier ones for 65 baht. exor. 300/100/150/300 = 850. After dark due to visa run. 79 degrees 19:42-20:01. tv31. Watch Dangerous on 25... but "Feel you Linger in the Air" is much more intriguing. To Steven: #2 "Gatekeeping... class, race, religion... able-ism... Aggravates me to no end. Here at WdC it's the E crowd that refuses to engage anything that offends them. Quite a few... but I mostly ignore them now as they have blocked me in the past." #1. "Just because some stupid kids at high schools think Bloody Mary is real does not make it a true belief; they also think Justin Beiber is talented. 555 = Ha Ha Ha  Very good answer. 1. you have a book 2. you know you can do another... (fiction/demons/???) Christianity either wiped out belief systems that didn't accept their exclusionary patriarchy or subsumed them and redefined them (Easter bunnies, Christmas trees, yada yada yada). Modern day Christians still have this belief that it's "Our Way or the Highway (to Hell)". But that's a different rant.  "26 oktober - 26 ตุลาคม exor. 300/200/200/300 = 1000. 11:20, very late. 88 degrees. Hot but it was overcast so not miserable. obsv. PorP. [143] chat. Rube and P'Nan. Bee at Lumphini. Rick and Joe. walk. rose. Pink-and-white. shop. day-old. bogs. Richard/Dragon/Sorji tv25. Kinda but bored. Will watch something else. Time is broken up by seasons, festivals, arbitrary segments that vary by region based on religion, customs, history... When moving to another 'world' do we long for the time we have lost or celebrate the time we have found? To Richard: "We eat rice almost every day. It's a staple in Thailand. Sri Racha is a beach town south-east of Bangkok. I'll visit some day. No shortage of hot chilies here. Pan loves suicide spice. I can't get near it. Oil... I don't use much in neither Montana nor Thailand. Olive oil shortage is real though. Neither of us drink alcohol. In Montana it makes sense to buy stuff on sale and have enough on hand for two weeks; but fresh food is cheap and readily available in Udon Thani. Markets everywhere and I go most every day." To Dragon: "May I assume that it's risky to post anything re students on social media? Americans have been fired over social posts that have nothing to do with work. 12 years old? If so... not as offensive as they can get!" To Sara (Sorji): "My writing slogs on. I've been stressed over my visa and our rent agreement ending Nov. 30. Made progress on both today. Pan may start a new job. If so... it impacts my purpose in staying here. I'm so easily overwhelmed. Neither of us own much here as the apartment was furnished. I have no plans to join NaNoWriMo... again. November is still one of the worst months for me to focus." "Speaker of a Broken House", "Angriest Otter", "We Never Knew of Darkness" 25 oktober - 25 ตุลาคม exor. 300/200/300/500 = 1300. 0839-09:12. 81 degrees. obsv. fragrant freshly cut grass; 3 boys chatting; jet roar; Tom stretching; neighbor walking; two small orchids. ss&s. เที่ยง. 88 degrees. pôod. with Pan. chat. Rube. Trip to Phnom Penh (fastest, easiest by Air Asia 3.000 baht) agua. 9 liters. walk. shop. chicken, squid, coffee, banana muffins.Death warmed over in the morning. Had to take a nap. I'm stressed over my visa renewal. To... "The rhymes seem forced. The a/a/b/b rhyme scheme doesn't work for me. The subject matter is 'preachy' and abstract. The rhythm doesn't work for me either. Abstract words like endeavor, necessary, gratefulness... are overly long and although they can be used they don't seem to fit well here. I can't hear how they add anything to the piece poetically. People will like it because it's a bit like a Hallmark Greeting Card. The "E" crowd here will give it a 5. Me? 2.5. I don't think it says anything new that we haven't heard a hundred times before. The title? Uninspiring. Can it be fixed? Perhaps not. One thing you can do is take your mind to a particular Thanksgiving or a meal of giving thanks, "Thanksgiving in May". Add specific details and actions that bring us into that space. "The Day After Thanksgiving, 1999"... or any year or place. "Caught in a storm Thanksgiving 2000" I remember that snowstorm where I lived. I wanted to visit my cousins and uncle. He died that Sunday. The Last Thanksgiving Dinner with Grover (the cat, the dog, the parakeet... make them real, not JUST a pet... add quirky details). "Broccoli for a Day of Thanks" or in my case in 1972... crackers (and sardines?). "Thanksgiving in Lonesome Creek" (home or not home or maybe that's the name of the outpost on Mars your great-granddaughter moved to...). Dream, create, spit it out in free verse. Rhyming forms don't work for everyone nor for every poem and they are NOT a higher art-form. A free verse with some rhythm, rhyme, alliteration and NO tortured verse is far superior. Good luck, K." 24 oktober - 24 ตุลาคม exor. 200/100/150/150 = 600. Late... 10:31... too late. 82 degrees but hot when the haze lifted. obsv. too worn out to care; b/w butterfly (no foto, flew); stiff breeze; haze or thin cloud cover; ennui; hose-watering; distant chatter. ss&s. PorP. ""The apple tree" O23 [130] 40w 'offer'" ""A glass too full" O24 [131] 39w 'crystal' " Started writing "Swinger" [142] เที่ยง. 86 degrees. pôod. Isan. Continued with yesterday's post chat. P'Nan. Rube from Israel. walk. Well written: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/jerry-zezima-how-do-you-like-them-appl... To Steven on the Newsfeed: "Friends are helpful for me. Even staying in a shelter helped me with depression when I was homeless; however... the anxiety and how my body handled all that exacerbated my traumas. We have senior housing in Montana that includes a meal. Forcing people out of their room works for some folks. I'm very isolated here in Thailand (not as bad as Montana during covid). A cafe culture like in Viet Nam would help. There's a belly-to-the-bar culture among expats here... but I don't drink and find most drinkers tedious at best. If I am to stay here I better come up with solutions. There's more to life than being unhappy." On FB on Veronica's post: "Leyla Miler: Well... we respond to what we understand. I stand by my understanding of what was posted. I don't know about individual circumstances. I refuse to argue other people's truths. In many countries, Thailand included, family = family regardless. By definition, orphans have no family. Orphans have a rough time here. I'm in Thailand by-the-way... "Problems" affect the entire family and community. It's not seen as an individual's issue. Families do say "no", but seek solutions first. This Buddhist culture isn't as cold-hearted and me-first as found in many other places." 23 oktober - 23 ตุลาคม Chulalongkorn Day [Rama V] (Thai: จุฬาลงกรณ์, 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) - National holiday. exor. 200/150/250/500 = 1.100 77-82 degrees. 08:56-09:21. 25 minutes seems to be sustainable. obsv. Hoot of the Heron. Tom's soft music. Cool hard bench. My butt. Dry mouth. Lower back ache. Soiled scarlet shirt. Yawn. Tired. Calm---ish. Fly. ss&s. Isan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teck0d6Z8sw เที่ยง. 88°F 31°C sunny, pleasant (not too humid). bogs. Grace/ shop. Pan and I went to market and bought some pig-meat, eggs and vegetables. agua. 8 liters. walk. foto. To Thomas: "I am fortunate to do daily exercise... even when I really don't have any oomph to get out of bed. Use it or lose it. At my advanced age I cannot afford to lose more. My legs are doing better than last year and I'm maintaining a lower weight. My lungs however..." To Grace: "Living alone with depression and anxiety created all kind of problems for me over time in Montana. Here in Thailand I share a place. Pannya often cooks and cleans (I do too, but not as a chore). We need to do a deep clean soon. You can imagine what I found under the bed! There be  monsters..." |
| (exercise) = Exor. (observations) = obsv. (s***,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. 22 oktober - 22 ตุลาคม 300/200/400/400 = 1.300. 75-81 degrees, 09:13-09:46 Sun coming around earlier every day. obsv. family with a ball; I'm dissociating, distracted; spoke to Rick; yawn; aches; small orchid in bloom; no haze; leaf scurry; breeze in my ear. foto. orchid wash. เที่ยง. 85°F 29°C ss&s. Late, but ate first and got distracted. As long as I'm fresh before I go out it doesn't matter much. agua. 6 liters. walk. shop. Malago, cabbage, greens...In 2023, the Loy Krathong festival will be held on Monday, November 28th. King Bhumibol's Birthday Holiday (Father's Day) Tuesday, December 5th. Sunday 10 Dec - Constitution Day; Monday 11 Dec - Substitute Holiday for Constitution Day Prince Prajak 18 January? Magha Puja วันมาฆบูชา --- Sat, 24 Feb 2024. To Stik: "I've taken thousands of photos. Today I took a picture of an orchid I've been waiting to see bloom. Yesterday, a video of the passing local train. I'll be taking more of the Halloween displays because this city in Thailand does weird things. I'd take more pictures of Pan, but he prefers professional photos. Have a few good ones though. I'm very attuned to color, contrast and composition. I don't have the proper equipment nor the discipline. I only have the urge to capture "something". Stained glass light in Portugal illuminating a child. Painted manhole covers in Beppu, Japan. Garbage in a canal in Paris. I point. I shoot." 21 oktober - 21 ตุลาคม Holly Jahangiri: Change what the skeleton is holding! 💐 💀 / |{🎈}\_/ | =||= I / \ /_ \_ exor. 200/200/200/500 = 1.100 obsv. PorP. ss&s. cook. Pan isn't here... so I'm cooking rice with carrots, onions and garlic. เที่ยง. 87°F 31°C Sunny. Day after boring day. bogs. Stik/Lyn/Pumpkin walk. rose, offering, ice cream. pool. can't hold my breath. tv31. Pan came home. To Pumpkin: "I remove the elastic and cut up into pieces for rags. Most anything can be a rag. The elastic can be tossed or used to tie or bundle other things. Socks can be cut up as well. Depending on fabric... the compost heap might be appropriate. I keep my best underwear/socks/etc. for travel. I tend to use until threadbare. I have 'ancient' shirts. I have pants that are too small or too big. My weight has fluctuated. I usually buy second hand." 20 oktober - 20 ตุลาคม "Tsum tsum" I have a new Disney notepad I'm writing in. Prefer paper for many things... maybe an old habit, but it works for me. It's like my checklists... yes, maybe I don't have to add "ss&s" every day but it helps me stay focused and present. I could sleep in and do nothing some days. I am easily depressed and accomplishing 'something', anything, is a good thing. exor. 200/200/300/400 = 1.100 79 degrees. 0911-09:34. Saw Tom. obsv. PorP. ""Magnolia" O20 [129] 40w 'nice'" and in my notepad. ss&s. dove drinking water, scratching its head; long seed pods yellowing; sweat trickling down my back; stained sweatpants that need to be washed. เที่ยง.89°F 32°C, breeze... sprinkles in the forecast? walk. foto. tv31.Pan didn't come home. 19 oktober - 19 ตุลาคม exor. 300/200/200/300 = 1.000 81 degrees. 09:52 obsv. agua. 10 liters. PorP. ""Tradescantia zebrina" O18 38w [128] 'wander'" ss&s. flutter of small pale wings, haze, pigeons, worker cutting the blooming flowerbed. เที่ยง. 89°F 32°C, jets overhead. Wish it would rain. walk. pôod. Jack and Earth (Nong Khai).Headline: Legendary American Musician Dead At 87 Why isn't her name mentioned (better for lick bait?) in the headline. She was Carla Bley, a jazz musician. This is the poem that Elle Schroeder wrote for Ann Gross February 18, 2016: "A letter from a dear friend" I opened your letter today, and you sat in the armchair beside me, cup of tea in hand, as we gossiped like two old women. Of mutual friends, and Molly, of dreams and fears and life, and all the while, we laughed, and prattled on as only two long standing friends can do. When I reached the letter's end, I was quite surprised to find myself alone, as at the start, only the memory of your smile and your words to remind me of all we had said. Was being a lesbian important to her? Did she have a late-in-life partner. The obit remains silent. 18 oktober - 18 ตุลาคม exor. 350/200/250/400 = 1200. My goal... that I seldom reach. 09:15 79 degrees. ss&s. I shave although there's no one to shave for. PorP. ""It is what it is" O17 [127] 40w 'authentic'" เที่ยง. 88 degrees. chat. P'Nan. Thong is quite ill, went to hospital. Tiger. shop. One wee item... a new notepad as mine are full. walk. Ate at McD's again.17 oktober - 17 ตุลาคม bogs. Evelyn/Grace/Dave exor. 300/150/150/300 = 900. 79 degrees. 09:02-09:24. Didn't push myself today. The sun comes around earlier every day. ss&s. chat. Rick re healthy habits; P'Nan. gnus. Although it almost always puts me on edge. Pan decided to go to Khon Kaen. He tells me at the last minute. He lives his life this way. I cannot plan around him. To Grace: "I had a haircut last week. Didn't like it so I just ignore it. Once upon a time I had long hair; once upon a time I had more hair. I could use a podiatrist. My circulation isn't as good as it once was. And cutting nails? I'm not as flexible and my eyes... I'm just on my way to becoming ancient. "To EvelynCase "labels" : "I was called names... but I had other issues. These days you can call me 'Cory' (or with the proper lilt in Norwegian) or 'Liam' in Thailand. huser:elle I didn't know that you pronounced your name that way (or I knew and forgot)! We were taught French in grade-school so I've always pronounced it as French. huser:daveryan: I was mistakenly called 'Jim' by a parent of a classmate... and that was acceptable. It became a personal name I liked. I avoided most people in school. huser:evelyncase I consider names important. My mother was old-school in that way and I learned well. I have many friends from other countries. I always try to pronounce their name correctly." 16 oktober - 16 ตุลาคม exor. 200/350*/300/400 = 1250. 79-81 degrees 09:35-59. Suns was vicious so I did them out of order ending on the swinging* side-to-side which normally is my least favorite station. ss&s. I list this to remind me how important it is. Need to shower 2-3 times to tell you the truth. mess. Not really a mess but ants got into the rice last time so I've filled up 5 containers this time. เที่ยง. 86 degrees (30c). PorP. ""May we never be forgotten" O16 37w 'specimen' " walk. foto. plant, food. shop. Black/Pink, container for Milo, coffee. pool. bogs. Eric/Patricia/Jimminny To Teresa (ChewyKitty): "I get grumpy when I read certain travel blog posters. Really? If I wanted a toxic giddy faux picture I'm sure I could read a travel brochure. I ask... have you ever been there? IS someone paying you to travel first-class and stay in 5 star hotels? Do you know the pain of cattle-class? Have you ever stayed in a hostel. Did you visit for more than two days? Have you been there for over a month? How many times? Places I know: Norway, Japan, Portugal... not to forget living twice in Costa Rica and now in Thailand. Yes, I know it's not quite the same thing... but I'd request 3 employees chosen from a hat... not just the happy ones." To Eric "Picking Up Blocks" : "There comes a time... At the end of "He's Coming to Me" (Thai TV series) Mes is shocked to find he's still a ghost. The rituals have been performed, the conditions met for him to move on... it's just not time for him to go. At my age, the Veil thins. Death is a given. What I do with my time until then isn't. It's my choice. Yes, I think your grandsons will remember you fondly for all the quality time you have gifted them." |
| 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 "Keep Away (MV)" : "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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