I saw Elvis ... saw Nixon too ... Yes I did ... Yes I did

 

Summer 1967

I worked as bellman in Monterey, California. Elvis travelled with an entourage of bodyguard, personal chef , etc.  Took over one complete building, half the bar was closed off and privatized for Elvis.  He looked very bloodshot, he seemed stoned on some "medication."

A year later I was busboy at the Claremont Country Club 

Nixon attended a Oakland Raiders victory dinner.  

A 1895 wooden building served as an employee dormitory.  

With a sink in each room which also served other uses beside handwashing.

When motorcycles were still a luxury item

April 20 1972 Cam Ranh

2007 when I operated a website instead of a blog

Top four Sakon Nakhon Websites a dozen years ago
Sakon Nakhon

Leader of the gang

Scared the hell out of me

I had spent Christmas 1980 in Pacific Grove, California. I continued my trip south on the coastal highway 1 on my honda 70. Early in the trip the roads got quite mountainous and windy. I was heading into Big Sur. My top speed was around 45mph. As the road straightened I noticed a few motorcycles behind me, then more then more. I'd say fifty motorcycles behind me, no one is passing me. Having 'hells angels' on my mind, I was quickly 'scared as hell.' 
Came to this huge empty parking lot. I parked and some fifty bikers lined up next to me.
The elderly biker next to me noted my despair and calmed me down handing me his thermos of hot coffee:"We are all dentists and doctors on holiday, no hells angels"

I was looking for a truck in my photo album

After slide 5 it's all Thailand               use the next button

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

One day in Bangkok

The motorcycle trip to Nawa to attend Mick's funeral on Wednesday left me physically exhausted and a bit in pain.  Thursday I had a Bangkok appointment and did a round trip in one day. 5:30 am to 9 pm. Return flight from Bangkok my mental headcount, counted over half a dozen, possibly ten westerners arriving in Sakon Nakhon on that flight.  The numbers of westerners visiting the area for short and extended visits are way up from what they used to be.  Most noticeably to me, the morning flight to Bangkok via AirAsia there were no services unless you paid extra for them. Not even a bottle of water.  Nok Air did offer a miniature bottle of water. Pictured is a Nok air complimentary water bottle next to a 5 baht bottle.  I had an inflight meal on the way home, and spotted other passengers being served Singha. Keep in mind these amnimineties have to be paid for at time of booking. Had not noticed it as much on my morning Airasia flight, Nok Air no legroom. My knee was pressed against the seat in front of me. Behind me a mother flying with a presumably one year old infant. Lets just say it was a one hour non stop kicking and bouncing trip. Somewhere in Bangkok I received a two Euro coin (valued at 78 baht or US$2.48)  instead of Thai ten Baht. These coins are identical in size and appearance Spent a couple hours in a Bangkok restaurant enjoyed a blt with chicken and egg. "Keep your whiskey out of sight, no problem."

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Hodgepodge

Forecasters seem to be in disagreement especially regarding high feels like temperatures. They are agreeing on somewhat warmer temperatures till next weekend followed by  some more chilly days. Warming to Hot season begins March.
Another disagreement I've spotted on the net is Songkran Holidays. Two of the three days fall on a weekend. Songkran is celebrated on April 13-14-15.  Some calendars add April 16 as a substitution day, others add April 16 and 17.  I suspect it will be a five day holiday
Local football, Sakon Nakhon Muang Thai FC generally starts mid February. No schedule has been made public by the 'men in suits' to date. Some teams are already having pre season friendlies.  I'm waiting for an official announcement  for a possible local friendly  on 10 or 11 February.
Camouflage fashion If you have any questions about Thai politics; ask this guy
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No serious drought this year! Seriously

If you're in the mood to reminiscence the flood of 2017, check out some of the recent uploads by sakonguide. There's also some videoes dating back to the year 2559. Today, the second Saturday of the month, is Children day in Thailand, and of course the second day of the Red Cross Fair.     Attendance to these events for me it's still a maybe or maybe not. I'll probably take a hot pad on my chest and rest some more. Took a short cruise on my motorcycle last evening, just to get out of the house.  Discovered real quick to keep the chill off my chest. I am starting to get accustomed to the cooler temperatures. Things should warm up a bit by midweek.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Let the sun shine in

Been fighting a nasty throat infection, which more recently expanded into my chest. Antibiotics no longer work their magic for me, so I have had to ride it out with some anti inflammation  medication.   Lots of bedrest, tv, movies and a bit of reminiscence through my photo albums January 2011 Cold, colder, coldest.  May be today or tomorrow, depends which weather service you are following. Today real feel  high 76, real feel overnight 49. Continued chilly through Sunday.    Red Cross fair starts today. If I feel energized enough I may visit the fair mid afternoon. For the moment health concerns may limit my travels.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Fourteen days since my last cigarette

It was not as bad as expected.  I did not bite anyone's head off. Gained 3 kilo (x2.2 = 6.6 lb).  I'm not considering any diet, no weight reduction. But I will consider more healthy snacks.  There is still an argument whether chocolate is a fruit or vegetable.  Either way it remains on my healthy diet list.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

171230 Happy New Year everyone

Phu Phan cup winner this year is Sakon Nakhon A (Sakon Nakhon City).  The trophy remains within the province for the second year in a yow.  Last year's winner was Sakon Nakhon B (Sawang Daen Din). 17 provinces participated this year.   Unfortunately I could not attend that game due to personal reasons (more on that later).
Once again there's a major weather alert for cold weather.  That is if you consider 11 C  51F cold.  Again TMC stands alone in forecasting such cold temperatures.
Plenty of Thais are on the roads to be home for the New Year Holidays.  An increase of accidents has been reported on the highways through the phu phan mountains (facebook link)
New Years Countdown has been announced to take place at the provincial grounds (across the street from the police station) with food, music and fireworks. I wonder it the rule "no alcohol in public places" will be enforced or set aside for the occasion Personally I prefer to stay within staggering distance of my bed and have invitations for just such an occasion.
It's Saturday.   One week ago today 10 am I had my last cigarette.  To make things even worse I also went cold turkey on a shitload of medications. Been measuring my blood pressure, which was a bit high when I started, but since has dropped quite drastically.  Even recorded a 115 yesterday, 125-130 on average.
Of course I had to limit my activities somewhat yesterday due to withdrawal symptoms.  Missed out on watching the ball game yesterday.  Did get a few hundred pictures of a parade early in the morning.  Plenty of likes and new friends on facebook. Click on image to see the album    And then of course I attended an afternoon funeral ceremony.  It was a bit more than usual heartbreaking for me, really dear friends.  The mother had suffered for a long time of breast cancer, with chemo treatments and even recent surgery.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

To my American friends "Happy Thanksgiving."

I'm celebrating the day "Home Alone, eating spring rolls."
I'm quite content though.  Spent the morning at the hospital mental health clinic.

I am in the fifth week of taking Quomem.  According to the brochure it takes six to seven weeks till they become effective and I stop smoking.

One of the side effects has been insomnia.  I'm only getting four hours of sleep per day and that's causing other health problems.

This evening I will start taking medication which should let me sleep for a longer period.  The side effect of this medication may cause drowsiness even during my waking hours.  So I may not be driving anywhere for a few days.

Where have I been all my life

I've had quite a few address changes in my lifetime, especially during the first 30 years of my life. Probably why I quite often get the urge to wander again.

1944 Bad Kissingen
1949 Meppen
1951 Wuerzburg
1954 Meppen
!956 Essen
1957 München
1958 Anchorage, Alaska
1960 Tacoma, Washington
1961 Pacific Grove, California
1962 Anchorage, Alaska
1963 US Army, Karlsruhe,
1964 US Army, Sögel
1966 US Army, Pleiku / Nha Trang
1967 US Army, Fort Campbell, Kentucky 
1968 Pacific Grove, California
1969 US Army, Fort Greely, Alaska
1970 US Army, Fort Lee, Virginia
1971 US Army, Cam Ranh - Quy Nhon
1972 US Army, Fort Lewis, Washington
1973 Seattle, Washington
2003 Sakon Nakhon

These are all residences where I lived for a time, I've been to many other places, many other countries, on vacation

Saturday Sunday open pool day

A couple days a week I open my pool to neighborhood kids. Some days it gets quite crowded.  Most times a parent comes along.  I prefer when parent come along, seems to keep the rowdiness in check with larger crowds

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

I love a light rain, it cleanses the air

A large majority of home cooking is done be charcoal.   Others do it over  a wood fire.    Then there are the many farmers who revitalize their land for a new crop, by burning the field. I love a light rain which limits the smoke blowing up my nose

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Top Ten Visitors

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

I know a few A's, some B's, some O's, and an M or two

Yes I'm really bad when it comes to remembering names. Yes I sometimes refer to my albums or facebook where many names are listed. Proved it again yesterday.  After calling out for "A" a number of times, When someone finally tapped him on his shoulder, my longtime friend turned around: "My name 'O'." 😳 My mind won't let me forget the moment and replays that moment frequently. Embarrassed giggle is my response.  In response my mind replays other embarrassing moments in my lifetime. There've been plenty of them.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Opinion

American Labor Day 15 years ago

Officially retired from work on August 1, 2002, three months before I turned 58, after 23 years as dock worker.  It's an anniversary I easily overlook.  A month later,  on labor day, September 2, 2002, Consolidated Freightways declared bankruptcy.   

That previous friday I had cashed over $4,000 of vacation and severance pay.  If I would have waited to cash the checks, they would have been worthless the following week.

I had written the words Sawasde and Guten Tag on the back of the door. The trailer returned to our terminal from California, one week later with the Thai script added

x

It's a different world out there

One of my 1966 vacations

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon