This is a page for haphazard sentiments, views and other salmagundi -- mostly about Thailand -- that does not fit elsewhere. Jump back to 2005.

2008

25 July: Rainy season
It has been an excellent rainy season so far in N.E. Thailand.The right amount of rain for the farmers, but not disruptive to the ordinary workings of daily life.

There has, thus far, also been plenty of sunshine to keep the blues away; at least for those who get depressed by lack of sun.

Not always the greatest time of year to visit; that would be the cool season, say, December or January. Cool here, does not mean cool, by the way. It means not quite as hot.

21 May: Life
Well, this isn't anything new to anyone; even young folks probably know it, but the older you get the faster times goes and, generally, the slower your body moves.

In Thai, you get a bit more respect when you are older because, at least in rural Thailand, folks respect their elders. It means a bit more getting waited on, which isn't always good because we need the exercise.

18 February: More of Same
Well, as predicted, so far little has changed in the lives of ordinary folks as a result of the election. Probably won't either.

Hot season is here in spades. Great for those of us who love heat, a burden for those who don't.

Troubles continue to affect southern Thailand and a shame it is. In the rest of the country, there is essentially no difficulty and things are stable.

29 January: What's new?
Well, away we go, already nearly a month into the New Year. Stuggles continue, with periods of happiness. Life itself, I reckon.

Thai elections are over and, as with elections nearly everywhere, the lives of regular ordinary folks will probably remain pretty much unchanged; as will the struggles.

Hope your life has loads of happiness and minimal pain.

2007

20 December: Lack of Entries
This year, more than any other, I have not made many entries here. Not sure why and don't feel particularly badly about it. I am not resolving to do better next year because this part of the site has always been kind of haphazard and spontaneous.

In any case, I do want to take a moment to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you in 08.

28 September: Taken Care of
While my life has been full of ups and downs, it does seem that things work out when they need to. I have been blessed with being given just what I need, just in the nick of time. For this I am very grateful.

Thai people, especially here where I live, are kind and generous and helpful. But then I suspect that is true of most regular folks the world over.

7 August: Floods Now
The drought of earlier quickly faded into floods. The combination has hurt Isaan farmers a lot. What crops (mostly rice) the drought didn't kill, the floods pretty much finished the job -- except for the VERY lucky.

30 July: The Curve Ball
Life throws us some wicked curve ball sometimes. Just when we least expect it and often when we need it the least. Highly true here in Thailand, but, as I have learned, just as likely to happen in the West as well.

When we get the brush back pitch or even the knock down pitch, we have two choices. Stand up and bat again or quit. Have never been tempted to quit, but have sure had some unpleasant experiences.

26 July: Wedding Dresses
Our sister site -- SiameseStyle.com -- specializes in customized Thai style wedding dresses. It took awhile for things to get going and we are still far from being overwhelmed, but we usually have one or two dresses on order at any given time. If you or someone you know is planning a Thai style wedding, please check the site. Click here.

7 July: I Walked Away
I am in the process of revising and updating my book about living in Thailand. Click here to find out more about I Walked Away: An Expatriate's Guide to living in Thailand.

29 March: Our Bookshop
We now have a bookshop where you can securely order books about Thailand through Amazon.com - one of the most trusted names on the internet. Ordering your books through us helps support this website. Our bookshop is here. We also offer many other products from or about Thailand.

22 February: Not Much Shaking
Wish there was some earth shattering good to news to share. Unfortunately, there isn't. On the other hand there is nothing horrible to report either.

My health could be better, but I don't want to talk about that anymore than you want to hear it. Suffice it to say I have taken serious steps to try to get it in order.

Thailand is still Thailand. I expect it always will be. The new government seems to be holding things together. There are still serious problems in the South with not much sign of things changing.

5 January: The Right Year?
Ok, we're off to a reasonably good start personally. Unfortunately, Thailand is off to a rocky, indeed bloody, start with the New Year's bombings in Bangkok.

They are particularly troubling because this is the first time terrorism has hit the capital. Let's hope and pray it doesn't continue.

2006

December 26: Assorted Thoughts
I hope you had a great Christmas and wish you the best for the New Year. Here's hoping my New Year is better than 2006, which wasn't exactly the best of my life.

I wish peace to the angry, love to the lonely and contentment to the dissatisfied.

December 6: Expat Encyclopedia
I have began work on an "expat encyclopedia." Actually, it is more a a glossary. You may want to check it out. I welcome suggestions, comments andquestions.

December 4: Happy Father's Day
Today is Thai national Father's Day in our of the King - a wonderful, kind and intelligent monarch who cares deeply for the people of Thailand.

2 December: Coming Up
Well, we are coming up to Christmas and the end of the year. Christmas itself is a regular working day in Thailand, but the New Year is celebrated and people often give gifts.

24 November: Thanksgiving in Thailand
As with most places on earth, Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Thailand. That doesn't doesn't mean, of course, that we are not grateful for our blessing.

I have many things to be thankful for, including my woderful family.

The nearest thing, at least in my view, to Thanksgiving that Thailand has is a lovely festival call Loy Kratong. You might want to Google it.

26 October: Life after the Coup
Well, life after the coup here is pretty much like life before the coup. I have noticed zero change.

I am working on a new page for the website. It is an Ex-pat Encyclopedia. Actually, I should call it a glossary I think. As of this writing, it is in its infancy, but you might want to have a look here.

21 September: The Coup
I tend to avoid deep discussions about Thai politics -- especially when there is some kind of issue. The recent coup is, of course, an issue.

I will say this, however. Generally speaking, things like this have very little impact on the lives of regular folks. Things in Si Saket province are essentially the same as they were before the coup. The only thing that happened here is that the banks, post office and schools were closed for a couple of days. Now it is back to normal.

The best news is that there was no bloodshed.

23 August: Move Postponed
Well there are been a number of developments in my life and my reloaction to the States has been postponed.

Several teaching and business opportunities have presented themselves and I am taking just a bit of time to persue them.

25 July: Decision Made
I have decided to return to the States. My son Matthew will be going with me. We will give it a shot for at least nine months.

This is done with the permission of Matthew's mother. I promised her he would come back every summer and I will live up to that promise.

The first step will be getting a job. I will be in N. California. While I am not particularly employable in many ways, I have years of experience in a couple of areas. If you are in the education field, website work or editing, you might want to look at my resume.

3 July: Big Decision
Sometime soon, I must make a decision as to whether to return to America. It will be one of the biggest decisions of my life. The main reason, of course, is what that means to my son Matthew. Secondary considerations, but significant ones, involve finances, readjusting to America after over 14 years living here, and closing things out in Thailand. Wish me luck. If you're the spiritual type, a prayer would be appreciated too.

22 June: Rough Around the Edges
Sometimes life throws us a curve ball. Occasionally, we get hit by a bean ball. Last September I got beaned. I'm still not over it, but was getting there. When I was finally able to get back up to plate, I got the brush back pitch. Scares me a bit.

18 June: 60
I turned the big six O two days ago. Didn't bother me a bit. The only big O that has bothered me was 50 and I got over it.

It appears that I will be spending the duration here in Thailand. I would have a devil of a time adjusting to the States again even if I could figure out a way to keep body and soul together.

19 May: Rainy Season
Well, it appears that the rainy season has arrived - a tad early by my reckoning, but there you have it.

It isn't my favorite season -- chilly, damp and gray a lot. But, of course, we must remind ourselves that we need the water and be grateful for it.

4 May: Police
Over my years in Thailand I have had occasion to meet and talk with police. Sometimes it was because they were doing their job, other times is was a friendly chat.

I have been fortunate enough to make friends with several local policemen. This is as the result of them being students in my English class at the university I teach at.

I have found Thai police to be friendly, helpful, intelligent and motivated. There are exceptions, but they are rare.

20 April: Stuff
Well, Songkhran (Thai New Year) has come and gone. Not my favorite holiday.

I got some more internet work -- doing business research for a government ministry. Would eventually like to work mostly from home because commuting to Si Saket is not fun and gas is super expensive.

Been rainy for this time of year. Guess it keeps the temps down.

9 April: Bloggin Again
Well, I started a new blog and have promised myself I would try to keep up with it, unlike the last one. It will be a bit more comprehensive than this Instead of a Journal and I will make an effort to do frequent entries. We shall see how it goes this time.

You can find here. [Blog deleted]

4 April: Under the Weather
Been a bit under the weather on an off for the past couple of months. Not a lot of fun. There is good news though. Because I am a permanent resident of Thailand and have maintained my state medical insurance (called social welfare here), I get completely free medical care - including medications. Because I live in the town of Khukhan and have a house registration there, I can go to the Khukhan Hospital, which is far less busy than the government of Thailand hospital.

22 March: Visiting During The Hot Season
The Hot Season is in full swing, although yesterday we had a big downpour that temporarily cooled things off.

For those of you from temperate climates, I must say that the Hot Season in Northeast Thailand IS probably hotter than you have ever experienced. For many, it would not be the best time fo visit Isaan.

19 March: End of the Term
The school year is over but I have the paperwork associated with that - and Lord knows, the Thais do love their paperwork.

I will be teaching one day a week (Sunday) during the summer term. School won't open until June.

14 March: The Hot Season
The Hot Season is here. Temperatures are routinely near 100 degrees with the heat index making it feel even hotter. Lows at night sometimes don't go below 80. It will get hotter.

If you would like to experience some of that heat and see the real Thailand, our Isaan Reality Homestay is now in its Beta phase. You can find out more here.

28 February: Thanks
You know, I am not overwelmed with questions from people asking about Thailand, but I do get some. Most often it is from guys wondering about living here.

Most people are polite and nice, but there are more than you might think who are demanding and, what's worse, never say thank you. I go out of my way - sometimes WAY out of my way - to help folks out and avoid the mistakes I have made. A simple thank you is always apprecaited.

16 February: I Still Love Thailand
Somethings I don't care for about Thailand but have learned to accept or at least tolerate.

1. Endless red tape and bureaucracy with lots and lots of waiting
2. Long lines at ATMs, Banks, the post office.
3. The often rude and sometimes dangerous way people drive
4. The large percentage of people who are late (or don't show up at all) and extremely disorganized.
5. Lack of planning ahead.
6. People asking for money.

15 February: I Love Thailand
I love Thailand and have since the moment I set foot here. That does not mean I am unaware of the problems and difficulties -- but we have those things everywhere.

In the end, life is often not easy here and one must learn patience or face serious burn out.

I lived in Bangkok for many years. I did not complain while there, but I really didn't like it. Traffic, pollution and too many people. But yes, there are positives; especially for westerners.

I live in rural Thailand now. I really like it. There are very few western amenities here but I have no problem with that.

Negative things can be divided into two categories - those things which we must try to understand and accept and those things which we will never accept but must tolerate.

People who come here on holiday and love it, must realize that daily life here is not a holiday.

13 February: Stuff
Well, I have been real bad about making entries so far this year. The year has been great except in one area - my personal life. Since I vowed not to make this page a whine festival, I won't go into details. Besides, I don't feel much like talking about it anyway.

So, on the news front, I am opening a small shop in Khukahn. The focus, of course, will be the English language. I will have internet, write letters and emails for Thais in English and do some teaching. I may add a couple of other things like a shopping service and tours around the area.

January 11: First Entry
This is the first entry for the New Year. Hard to believe it is 2006 and that I will be 60 years old this year.

It has been a good year and thanks to the wonderful people of the area, I have managed to create a life for myself here is Isaan in a fairly short period of time. Bangkok was great for those many years, but I am a country boy at heart and Khukhan here in Si Saket province, suits me much better.

Instead of a Journal Main Page