No Thankyou, I'll walk

Happy Fathers Day

Doorbell rang early this morning.  Usually don't receive visitors before noon.

Some of my adopted Thai family brought me breakfast.
They do that quite often.  Bless their hearts.
It's really delicious.

Most Thai breakfasts consist of soup

This was a different occasion "Happy Father's day."  It makes me feel really great to have such friends.

The nights have been getting cooler. I'm not complaining.
Some of you folk may think it's T-shirt weather compared to the snow and ice you are encountering. 
But when your day temperatures are 97F (36C) and your night temperatures drop as low as 55F (13C), it's time to grab a blanket.

Fat Boy sleeps on a rug during the cooler nights

Watched Football (soccer) last night. 

Ho Hum, another draw

Thailand had previously (Dec 1) played against Laos. That game also ended in a tie 2 - 2

Visited the Welcome bar last week

The bar is now Thai owned and operated.  It's mostly a late night bar.
If you see their shutters partially open, you are welcome to visit.  They keep the shutters partially down to keep the hot sun out.

Folks looking for books to read may wish to stop off there.  The Welcome Bar is continuing their book exchange.

Poor Sportsmanship

England canceled a friendly match in Thailand planned early next year.
Thailand execs didn't support British hopes for the 2018 FIFA world cup.
If you don't want to play my game, I'm going home and taking my marbles with me!

Local Beef costs inching up

Mama does my weekly beef purchases every Saturday morning.  Recently prices have crept higher on a weekly basis. 
My freezer is almost empty.  Plenty of room.  Within the next few days I'll head to the slaughterhouse and purchase a six month supply.  The slaughterhouse sells to the general public after 8:30 PM, every day except Mondays.

See this on December 11

Avoid this on Dec 11 (don't stand too close)

It's a strange world out there

Keystone Cops Alive and Well

Detectives spent eight hours investigating the grizzliest murder scene in 35 year before realizing it was a movie set.   Read about at  Mail Online

Molesting for Dummies by TSA

TSA recommends using sexual predator tactics to calm kids at checkpoints

They should make him an Ambassador
Immune from petty prosecution

Willie Nelson charged with misdemeanor, rather than felony pot possession

Wikileaks

No new revelations. Confirms what we already knew and gossiped about.

Food costs UP, tourism DOWN

Thai Rice Price Rise to 9 month high  Bloomberg

Worst flooding in almost 50 years in Thailand, I suspect prices of many agriculture products will rise
Flooding to continue in the south The Nation

Tourism Down
10 percent, 20 percent... do we have any higher bids??

Tourism to see drop of 10-15   The Nation
High Season Tourist Arrivals Disappointing   Thai-ASEAN News

Much of the media blames the political unrest earlier this year.
Doubt it had a great effect. There have been such unrest's before. As soon as calm was restored tourists returned.

Worst flooding in decades is also blamed.
Again I doubt that it has significant impact. I visited Ayutthaya after flooding in the 90's. The bus stopped on the road and we paid 20 baht to be ferried to the temple.

 

To take a river trip in Bangkok we walked on planks laid atop submerged restaurant tables to get to the boat ramp.

The real culprit causing such a drastic downturn in tourism is MONEY.
World finances are in disaster and the Thai Baht is too strong.
That's just my opinion.

That's what I call INTENSE political opinion

Parade... Parade.. Parade

Can I borrow your Beamer?

A tenant from the apartment house across the street is moving 100 yards away to a different apartment.
He came to ask me to borrow my Beamer. 
I was somewhat puzzled, since I don't own a BMW.
He pointed...  It was time for a short English lesson:  "Wheelbarrow" 

 

Televised this evening

Football Thailand vs Lao, starts at 5 PM

Saturday Dec 4
Monthly SakonNakhon Cultural Fair

Starts at sunset, downtown

Sunday, Dec 5 
Parade

Celebrating the birthday of HRH the King, starts at 4 PM

Friday, Dec 10 

Constitution day

Saturday, Dec 11
Dragon Festival 

December 11.  Parade departs the temple at 6 AM.  Don't miss the main show at about mid morning, and evening celebration at the temple.  If you visit the temple the night before you can see practices and makeup application

A number of local schools  have Sports day early in the month.  These include parades and entertainment 

The silly side of U.S. Airport security

 
Your airport screening x-rays may soon be available on Pin-Up Calendars

Loudoun County, Virginia, Board of Supervisors member Eugene Delgaudio claims TSA airport pat downs are part of the homosexual agenda. wusa9



A lesson in Bird Photography

by Photographer: Andrey Goncharov found at pixdaus

Alvin, known to others as Steak Isaan

You did say you want this bookcase demolished?

mhm good!! Imported plywood

Manicure??

I really do prefer trees

Another Dining Option

Blew my cool

I'd been adjusting to doing it the Thai way.  Generally they try to avoid confrontation.
Heated arguments are almost an anomaly.  Years ago my candy dish was emptied by some visiting students.
I accused them of being thieves.
I was informed that I was in the wrong.  Anything left on the table is considered community property.
The most obvious example of this practice is mealtime. Food is placed on the table for everyone in the household and visitors.  Asking to partake is not required.

In one of my classes a group of students ignored the class and began chatting amongst each other.  Their conversation was quite loud and disruptive.  I was surprised that the Thai teacher did not intervene.  She simply ignored the group.  When she started explaining what I had just said, I could not hear her.

I stood in front of the disruptive students and told them to be quiet: "If you wish to continue your private conversation, please leave the room and go to the cafeteria."  It took me a moment to regain my composure.  The students didn't leave, but they were quiet and surprisingly very attentive after that.
One of the students said "thank you."  I accepted that as an apology of sorts

Another restaurant opening today

I've been told that half of the Thais are doing the cooking, while the other half decides where to eat next.
It may be a bit of an exaggeration, but there is some truth to it.  Anywhere in this town there is a restaurant just minutes away.

The new restaurant is named อิ่ม สบาย Pronounced Imm Sabai.  Imm meaning full or gratified (I can't eat another bite).  Sabai comfortable / happy.

The restaurant hopes to attract local football (soccer) fans and is next door to a store selling football paraphernalia.  The restaurant is on the next street east of the MJ Majestic hotel and features draft beer, seafood, steak Lao (spicy), amongst other menu items.

   

Monday Holiday

Just a reminder that Monday is a holiday.  Banks and many businesses will be closed.
In Thailand, when a holiday falls on a weekend, a day before or after is declared a substitution day.
And of course I don't need to remind you that December 5 is HRH the King's Birthday, also designated as Fathers day in Thailand.

The Vikings are coming

Sakon Nakhon will experience a Viking invasion of sorts on Dec 5th.
These Vikings aren't the menacing type, they are a Bangkok based bicycle group on their annual bike ride.
Read more at ScandAsia


Satellite Forum is back

People considering alternate TV resources should visit the Satellite Forum for further information.


Another Thai feel good story

Don't miss this item at the Pattaya Daily




Watch this without smiling, I couldn't

If laughter is the best medicine, then Leslie Nielsen was the pharmacists

Eight years and I still don't know her real name

Family Dinner Party

She's the head of the household and everyone simply calls her "Mama."
It was her birthday yesterday, a time to celebrate with a family dinner.
Plenty of kin attended. I stopped counting after 25. They don't sit still long enough for that. As some left, more arrived.
I guess, being the oldest, I was honored to sit at the head of the table.
A bottle of my favorite Thai rum was placed in front of me.

Did make a slight mistake of mentioning that I really enjoyed the jumbo shrimp.  After that I had more than I could handle.

Jet Lag

We've all experienced it after a long flight.  Takes a while to adjust to the local time zone.
Latest research explains it even more:  Jet Lag May Cause Stupidity.
The findings are authentic. They tested hamsters to come to their conclusion.

You're gonna have to pay royalties for the word 'face'

The word is about to become a trademark

How many times has this happened, 
think they lost count