At the edge of Paradise

Was out in my garden when I saw someone with a fishing net, in the empty lot next to my yard.
He was collecting a number of bottom fish.
Considering all the trash deposited in the area. How healthy can that be?



The hot dry weather is helping evaporating the water.
Hopefully this mosquito paradise will shut down for the season soon.

A once popular family restaurant has left the city.
During it's heydays it was packed nightly. Anyone remember the name?

Sakon Nakhon Bar ** For Sale **

Mekong Export Festival 2009

In order to stimulate trade, especially along the Lao-Thai border,
Mukdahan will host the Mekong Export Festival 2009.
To be held April 10 through 15, the festival coincides with the Songkran festival
Siam Daily News

Go shopping at SATISFIED REJOICE ROAD

or you can eat at the Bamboo Ball on ROAD ELIMINATE DANGER

Internet translating services have come a long way. 

Some languages are better than others.
Thai translation still needs some fine tuning,   Google Translate is an example.

I checked out the translated page of the Sakon Nakhon Provincial Government website: http://www.sakonnakhon.go.th/

Being able to view Thai websites in your native language his quite helpful, educational, and informative.
That is until you try reading some paragraphs.
It takes a bit of time deciphering and trying to make sense of the translations. But there's plenty of worthwhile information to be gleaned here.

The most dangerous cake recipe in the world

I get plenty of e-mails and I love them.
It means a lot of people are thinking about me.
And I get occasional recipes. Really excellent ones.

The recipe I received today, will most likely become part of my diet on a regular basis.
I do love chocolate. Time to hide the scales.

FIVE MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour 
4 tablespoons sugar 
2 tablespoons cocoa 
1 egg 
3 tablespoons milk 
3 tablespoons oil 
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional) 
A small splash of vanilla extract 
1 large coffee mug (MicroSafe)

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well.  Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..
Add the chocolate chips (I'll be using a Hershey bar) and vanilla extract, and mix again. 
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT ! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).
And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?
Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night! 

Sakon Nakhon FC second game - second win

Dee, a member of the Sakon Nakhon FC team is all smiles today.
After a six hour Bus ride to Surin yesterday, they won the game 3 to 1.
"I made one of the goals'" Dee boasts.

I've made mention of this before, Dee has got great potential. So where are the scouts?

Road trip: visit Eddie and Tony

You have to be ready for anything.
I was barreling down the highway towards Tony's place on my crotch rocket.
Right about that time a cow decided to climb out of a ditch.
To get out of that ditch, the cow had to run. I mean really run
Saw the cow running onto the street just in time. But it was close. Very close.

Tony's place is easier to find, some brush along the highway has disappeared.



The place now has a tack on google maps, which will be updated as soon as Tony gets a decent internet connection



By the time I made it home, my pool was fully occupied and so was the play station.
Took six pizza's to feed the herd. I do have a "buy one get one free card."

High Finances

If you noticed the advertisements on this blog.
Feel free to click on those links. I earn a few pennies every time you do.

Was a bit on edge in regards to finances recently, but now I'm quite content.
Social Security raised my monthly stipend by $66 effective January.

I started to panic when I had not received tax papers from my retirement income.
I asked them to send the information to me, here in Thailand, and while you're at it, change my address.

They made a whole federal case out of this address change. They sent me these federal forms.
Fill these forms out and return them by April 20, or we will increase your tax deduction to 30%.
If you are a U.S. citizen, don't use this form. Mail us and we'll mail you a different form.

That got done in time, my next benefit check was increased by $160.
Panic, am I going to pay more taxes at the end of the year?

No, it's the revised tax code, I get to pay less taxes. Thanks UNCLE SAM.
Oh yes, another tax revision is on it's way. Thanks again UNCLE SAM.

Bad Press: . . .Real Estate

New York Times Real Estate section has an article worth reading.
Pattaya's Russian population, which dominated the area has evaporated.
The first comment to the article is a harsh opinion of Thailand's treatment of foreigners.

Russian buyers have disappeared from Thai Resort