tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18191378781635473242024-03-13T11:20:52.408+07:00leaking crazymonicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-31607677658206200692010-07-06T19:17:00.003+07:002010-07-06T23:03:28.955+07:00split personalitiesi've returned home. sort of. i've gone back to wordpress. back to <a href="http://transplantingme.com">transplantingme.com</a>. part of it is i like wordpress better, and part of it is there's lots of history at <a href="http://transplantingme.com">transplantingme</a>.<br /><br />but... i'm not totally leaving here. just refocusing. i've still got plenty of crazy to leak.monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-47197092661609106092010-07-05T00:02:00.002+07:002010-07-05T00:03:37.948+07:00potluck - the fourth of july kind<span style="font-family:arial;">it's monday and time once again to join in on holly's potluck.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.junecleavernirvana.com/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCH58U5TCI/AAAAAAAAARI/bnga00rmioA/s400/potluckholly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490037375280696354" border="0" /></a></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCJuBnUCII/AAAAAAAAARQ/CwFx3NeeCi0/s1600/alittlestorybadge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCJuBnUCII/AAAAAAAAARQ/CwFx3NeeCi0/s400/alittlestorybadge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490039369564948610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">yesterday we went to the local vfw 4th of july celebration. our cost of </span><span style="font-family:arial;">admission - 1000฿ or $30 for 3 of us - included all you can eat bbq - real </span><span style="font-family:arial;">beef hot dogs (thai hotdogs are nasty and made out of questionable </span><strike style="font-family: arial;">meat</strike><span style="font-family:arial;"> product), ribs, burgers, potato salad, onion rings, etc... now in order to get our "free" bbq we - and by we i mean me - had to stand in a really, really long line.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCNW6Np2wI/AAAAAAAAARo/rxEYP9kytzw/s1600/IMG_3790.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCNW6Np2wI/AAAAAAAAARo/rxEYP9kytzw/s400/IMG_3790.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490043370487798530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCNXKGgwbI/AAAAAAAAARw/00VqUqRN8Mk/s1600/IMG_3789.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCNXKGgwbI/AAAAAAAAARw/00VqUqRN8Mk/s400/IMG_3789.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490043374752809394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">they came up with a way to fix the waiting in an unbearably long line problem. and it involved making four separate lines. and those of us who'd made it to the very, very front and had plate in hand and even had managed to get a hotdog on that plate were sent shuffling. and ended up at the tail end of one of those four separate lines. where we got to wait 2 more hours for 1 rib. 1 single rib. the end. except, when i went to get in the new and improved rib line #3 ate the hot dog.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCQVCYEHQI/AAAAAAAAAR4/i9BbL_Bwuv0/s1600/stethoscope.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 155px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCQVCYEHQI/AAAAAAAAAR4/i9BbL_Bwuv0/s400/stethoscope.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490046636854091010" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div>chronic fatigue syndrome. when i entered the symptoms sore feet and sweating dr. google diagnosed me with chronic fatigue syndrome. and, after today, this one seems close. but i think leaving off the chronic and the syndrome part would be a more accurate diagnosis.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCUh2j_iMI/AAAAAAAAASA/lfyLrjrv-Zo/s1600/fruitbowl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 130px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCUh2j_iMI/AAAAAAAAASA/lfyLrjrv-Zo/s400/fruitbowl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490051255067707586" border="0" /></a><br />i'm taking some liberties here... instead of what's in my fruit bowl, i'm gonna tell you about some of the fruity things we saw at our thai-influenced 4th of july celebration.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCVpytAlVI/AAAAAAAAASI/kuDa24hsWus/s1600/IMG_3786.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 217px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCVpytAlVI/AAAAAAAAASI/kuDa24hsWus/s400/IMG_3786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490052490982364498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCVqUTfTAI/AAAAAAAAASQ/cS855sDEAlA/s1600/IMG_3781.JPG"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 148px; height: 217px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCVqUTfTAI/AAAAAAAAASQ/cS855sDEAlA/s400/IMG_3781.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490052500002130946" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCVq5GA__I/AAAAAAAAASY/DROpjIms-D8/s1600/IMG_3769.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 103px; height: 215px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCVq5GA__I/AAAAAAAAASY/DROpjIms-D8/s400/IMG_3769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490052509877731314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCVropD6_I/AAAAAAAAASg/dEZj8KCzMs4/s1600/IMG_3768.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 304px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCVropD6_I/AAAAAAAAASg/dEZj8KCzMs4/s400/IMG_3768.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490052522641189874" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCW4UrK0DI/AAAAAAAAASw/_D3F0NVl7qM/s1600/IMG_3787.JPG"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 308px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCW4UrK0DI/AAAAAAAAASw/_D3F0NVl7qM/s400/IMG_3787.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490053840131248178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCW3s0ipzI/AAAAAAAAASo/avSqWMhlFYs/s1600/tarzanjane.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 377px; height: 336px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TDCW3s0ipzI/AAAAAAAAASo/avSqWMhlFYs/s400/tarzanjane.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490053829433141042" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /></div>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-47117019122661404462010-06-24T13:00:00.003+07:002010-07-02T14:07:48.227+07:00and we're backour internet has been down for what seems like an eternity. and it took twice that long to get someone out to the house to fix it. they're diagnosis - we pay for 8mb speed and only 2mb speed is available in our neighborhood. so we jammed up the line. it took several months for the line to jam up, but finally it happened. and for days i called the adsl hotline. and chose to push 2 for english. because my techno thai isn't all that. and then i was put on hold. <strike>for just a second</strike> until i was disconnected. we did make a few trips out of the house for necessities and the like. and on one of those trips we made our way to the tot office. where they promised our internet would be up in 1 hour and in our 2 1/2 years here we've come to understand that 1 hour means they're not gonna do anything. which is exactly what happened.<br /><br />and then i made a break through. i chose to push 1 for thai. and i listened closely. and managed to get through the thai language gauntlet and talk to a real live person. who spoke no english. but i persevered and got the promise of a technician coming to the house. and when that didn't happen the kids and i visited a different tot office. and i talked to the right person this time. because she told me the adsl hotline secret - for when we have another problem. and she also got me in touch with a technician. who appeared at our house this morning. and fixed our internet. after clearing out the clogged up lines. i guess 6mb of extra speed over several months makes quite the mess.monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-38426918285375428022010-06-16T17:37:00.009+07:002010-06-16T22:36:47.119+07:00synchronized swimming or something like it. maybe.<span style="font-family: arial;">last week we went for a family swim. all five us. which is practically unheard of.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjcft3GM1I/AAAAAAAAAPc/boPOMNvwTYY/s1600/IMG_3569.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjcft3GM1I/AAAAAAAAAPc/boPOMNvwTYY/s400/IMG_3569.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483374983768322898" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">one of us is <strike>a total stick in the mud</strike> totally unimpressed.</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">it's a good time of year to be swimming. because the thai schools are in session - which means we had the pool to ourselves. and when we've got the pool to ourselves we discover our children have a hidden talent. at least the two that aren't </span><strike style="font-family: arial;">a total stick in the mud</strike><span style="font-family: arial;"> totally unimpressed.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjnHeLsyQI/AAAAAAAAAPs/B_h5RkIfnWA/s1600/IMG_3583.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjnHeLsyQI/AAAAAAAAAPs/B_h5RkIfnWA/s400/IMG_3583.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483386661870815490" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">opening with a wai - how very thai of them.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjnGxEm02I/AAAAAAAAAPk/oLmqipP6zoQ/s1600/IMG_3577.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjnGxEm02I/AAAAAAAAAPk/oLmqipP6zoQ/s400/IMG_3577.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483386649761469282" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">peace to all.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjnrreW4hI/AAAAAAAAAQM/8JI-Irox6no/s1600/IMG_3589.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjnrreW4hI/AAAAAAAAAQM/8JI-Irox6no/s400/IMG_3589.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483387283914023442" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">stop. </span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjnIXYBbQI/AAAAAAAAAP8/aGYion4jwno/s1600/IMG_3586.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjnIXYBbQI/AAAAAAAAAP8/aGYion4jwno/s400/IMG_3586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483386677223320834" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">go there.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjnH_kTKgI/AAAAAAAAAP0/xmdguXOB5rQ/s1600/IMG_3584.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjnH_kTKgI/AAAAAAAAAP0/xmdguXOB5rQ/s400/IMG_3584.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483386670832364034" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;">we said stop.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjnsAXHXJI/AAAAAAAAAQU/OwBPaTfH7jQ/s1600/IMG_3590.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjnsAXHXJI/AAAAAAAAAQU/OwBPaTfH7jQ/s400/IMG_3590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483387289520790674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">preparing for the grand finale.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjnsYJlDqI/AAAAAAAAAQc/82jFA_wgBA0/s1600/IMG_3595.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 196px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjnsYJlDqI/AAAAAAAAAQc/82jFA_wgBA0/s400/IMG_3595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483387295906467490" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;">the end. you may now applaud.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">they spent minutes working hard on this. and had to stop and restart about a gajillion times to get it perfect. in the end it was totally worthy of two thumbs up.</span><br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjnshlwtSI/AAAAAAAAAQk/jCd6_eMbPX0/s1600/IMG_3566.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBjnshlwtSI/AAAAAAAAAQk/jCd6_eMbPX0/s400/IMG_3566.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483387298440590626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">turns out #1 does have a special talent after all.</span></span><br /></div>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-57849837103378139652010-06-15T10:05:00.004+07:002010-06-15T10:39:37.040+07:00naked no moresaturday morning i got my braces off. and my mouth felt weird. odd. naked. good.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBbxnpLaaoI/AAAAAAAAAPU/7ukXFw6gPJw/s1600/IMG_3725.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBbxnpLaaoI/AAAAAAAAAPU/7ukXFw6gPJw/s400/IMG_3725.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482835259741072002" border="0" /></a></div><br />i left the orthodontist office with freshly clean teeth and set out in search of sticky candy, popcorn and peanuts. the things i wasn't <span style="font-style: italic;">supposed</span> to eat, but now could. (okay, so i totally ate popcorn and peanuts with the braces on, but always felt a little naughty doing it. now i could do it with a clear conscience.)<br /><br />sunday i had a lovely anniversary dinner with the man. made all the more romantic because i wasn't having to dig food out of my braces and make sucking sounds and all that stuff that's really attractive. and then we saw a movie. killers - i enjoyed it, the man didn't so much. but i had more popcorn. cuz i could.<br /><br />monday i had a great lunch with some great girlfriends (see, i am making progress) and headed home to pick up #2 so i could get to my follow up appointment and #2 could get her braces adjusted. my follow up appointment included getting my retainers. and being the thorough person that i am, i had no idea of what instructions might come with my retainers. like the one that goes wear them 24/7 for 6 months. and after 6 months wear them every night and every other day. and after that. wear them every night for the rest of my life. and i'm fairly certain that the ones made for me are made out of like 7 guage wire. because they are big. i remember making retainers out of paper clips when i was in elementary school - because i thought they were so cool and i had to have me some. turns out, i was wrong.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBbxmQiNN1I/AAAAAAAAAO8/r8UyKoyUqD4/s1600/IMG_3745.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBbxmQiNN1I/AAAAAAAAAO8/r8UyKoyUqD4/s400/IMG_3745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482835235945920338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-74358090713569843732010-06-14T09:54:00.011+07:002010-06-14T11:11:07.405+07:00potluck - making up for lost time<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBWqfl3tYtI/AAAAAAAAAOc/fgo_7bOczok/s1600/potluckholly.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBWqfl3tYtI/AAAAAAAAAOc/fgo_7bOczok/s400/potluckholly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482475581111886546" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />i know, i'd just gotten on board the potluck bandwagon when i got derailed. (do bandwagon's get derailed?) but i'm back. <strike>bigger and better</strike> and more (or less) random than ever. and with fewer buttons. because i'm just that lazy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBWkmNqNMSI/AAAAAAAAAN0/XhvvldFNqzY/s1600/IMG_3737.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 179px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBWkmNqNMSI/AAAAAAAAAN0/XhvvldFNqzY/s400/IMG_3737.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482469097802117410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />so, what's in my fruit bowl? nothing. but it is a brand new fruit bowl that the man brought back from the philippines. i'm still trying to decide just how i feel about it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBWlvp7CdVI/AAAAAAAAAN8/Pqgu-_xD0eY/s1600/IMG_3738.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 252px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBWlvp7CdVI/AAAAAAAAAN8/Pqgu-_xD0eY/s400/IMG_3738.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482470359519360338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />the man and i just celebrated our 18th anniversary. and look what he got me. it's sort of awesome. and i am hang it outside our bathroom.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBWmjNyrBEI/AAAAAAAAAOE/8I__cdBkkiY/s1600/IMG_3739.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 212px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBWmjNyrBEI/AAAAAAAAAOE/8I__cdBkkiY/s400/IMG_3739.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482471245321274434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />this was given to the man. it was a thank you gift for the time he spent teaching in the philippines. i haven't yet figured out where we're gonna build the shrine to the man. so this hasn't found it's permanent home.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBWmjtBYr3I/AAAAAAAAAOM/AauAyWovkP8/s1600/IMG_3735.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 229px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBWmjtBYr3I/AAAAAAAAAOM/AauAyWovkP8/s400/IMG_3735.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482471253704486770" border="0" /></a><br />does she feel as bad as she looks? probably worse. in the past week she's been diagnosed with a displaced patella. she's been spayed. she's been groomed. she's been run over by a motorcy. both wheels. whomp. whomp. right over her torso. we're still not 100% sure of how she's doin'. we think okay. but we're observing her at home for a few more days. and if things don't turn around they'll be observing her at the animal hospital.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBWpATBFuKI/AAAAAAAAAOU/6FUzy6R4vnk/s1600/wordimworking.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TBWpATBFuKI/AAAAAAAAAOU/6FUzy6R4vnk/s400/wordimworking.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482473943963383970" border="0" /></a>since i live in a cross cultural setting i've determined that the word i choose each week (or each week that i choose a word) will be a word not normal to the american venacular. this week it will be....<br /><h2><a href="http://onlineslangdictionary.com/definition+of/gutted">gutted</a></h2> <p><b>adjective</b>: upset, disappointed. British slang. </p><p><br /></p><p>and remember, this is a blog hop. anyone can join.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=31239" type="text/javascript"></script><br /></p>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-20346462297267035612010-06-10T06:00:00.000+07:002010-06-10T06:00:01.268+07:00up and down and up and downthe week before school got out i found a righteous deal on the one thing every adult wishes they'd had as a kid. (<span style="font-style: italic;">i could be projecting what i wanted on to every other adult in the world, but i don't think so.</span>) i bought a <strike>used</strike> new-to-us trampoline! which involved the man making a trip to the american consulate (<span style="font-style: italic;">cuz i bought it from a consulate family</span>) to disassemble it. just so happens the grounds of the consulate are a no picture zone, and since <strike>they took the camera (<span style="font-style: italic;">and his cell phone</span>) away from the man when he entered the compound</strike> we're such great American citizens we've got no before the man put a finger on it pictures.<br /><br />but we do have pictures of the putting back together of the trampoline.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TA_AmXyp56I/AAAAAAAAAM8/ZqDF2grEEZo/s1600/IMG_3435.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TA_AmXyp56I/AAAAAAAAAM8/ZqDF2grEEZo/s400/IMG_3435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480811036987221922" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">the beginning of a man trap - ha, ha. i crack myself up.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TA_AnAwwMpI/AAAAAAAAANE/QkE4lxZeMVs/s1600/IMG_3436.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TA_AnAwwMpI/AAAAAAAAANE/QkE4lxZeMVs/s400/IMG_3436.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480811047985099410" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;">up until now it was easy going. but the actual trampoline part. hard work.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TA_Ao_k3_HI/AAAAAAAAANU/8gdLmwbf4nk/s1600/IMG_3443.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TA_Ao_k3_HI/AAAAAAAAANU/8gdLmwbf4nk/s400/IMG_3443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480811082026581106" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">i'm not exactly sure why i was on the trampoline, but this is a picture of the man and #1<br />encouraging me to dismount the trampoline by doing a forward flip. it didn't work so well.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">this is as forward as my flip got.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TA_AoSlH6tI/AAAAAAAAANM/A_JL0bZhoRU/s1600/IMG_3445.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TA_AoSlH6tI/AAAAAAAAANM/A_JL0bZhoRU/s400/IMG_3445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480811069948029650" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;">the safety net. which, on his very first jump, #1 managed to slightly destroy.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">the kids and a few friends wasted no time at all breaking it in.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TA_C5gYWuRI/AAAAAAAAANc/UeD237QBY1M/s1600/IMG_3449.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 172px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TA_C5gYWuRI/AAAAAAAAANc/UeD237QBY1M/s400/IMG_3449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480813564733602066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TA_C6arpRbI/AAAAAAAAANk/d2zOZJ0Gm9g/s1600/IMG_3463.JPG"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 172px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TA_C6arpRbI/AAAAAAAAANk/d2zOZJ0Gm9g/s400/IMG_3463.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480813580383765938" border="0" /></a></div></div></div>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-62901556797493970672010-06-09T19:06:00.007+07:002010-06-09T23:02:51.840+07:00alive and kicking<span style="font-family: arial;">i am alive and i am well. i'm not taking a personal summer break. the comments and emails asking about me made me feel good. and missed. and that's a really nice feeling. so thank you everyone who inquired. thanks bunches and bunches.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">so, what has been up with me? not much. no good excuse for the absence other than i feel sort of like she looks -</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TA-J_25tuEI/AAAAAAAAAM0/fuXWrrtc1Qo/s1600/IMG_3555.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/TA-J_25tuEI/AAAAAAAAAM0/fuXWrrtc1Qo/s400/IMG_3555.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480751001695533122" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">she's looking miserable because she was spayed today. i don't have any such excuse. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">what's caused me to take this little dip into the summer doldrums? well, i haven't put this into words, because i'm really, really, really trying to be okay with it. but the man and #1 are headed to the states this summer - for a month. the rest of us are staying here. in thailand. the place where we can't buy bras or shoes - both of which i'm in desperate need. (thank God for the internet and the man's willingness to haul my intimate wear back with him.) i've planned a beach vacay for the rest of us - where i'm sure we'll have a great time, but this little get away doesn't happen until the very last week that the men are in the states. so it's still a long haul between now and then. thankfully, the man is in town until they leave. he'll be doing some work for the thai office, but he'll be home every night and weekend (all 2 of them - which is better than none.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">and it seems the rainy season is trying really hard to become official. we've had several days of rain and some lovely cool nights. (75 degrees - that's frigid!) i've actually been sleeping with a blanket. it's very possible that a few nights of not going to bed in wet pajamas will make me a much happier camper.</span>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-2744368352544242132010-05-27T20:22:00.006+07:002010-05-27T21:10:21.718+07:00school's out for summer... wait, no it's not<span style="font-family:arial;">there are three and one-half days of school left. but, as we all know, they are fake days. days that have to happen because the school year has to end, but grades have already been turned in so any work that's done isn't gonna be graded. which drives me bonkers. i hate busy work. hate it. with a passion.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">but, to be fair, it is all over for #1. he had his last final today and only needs to return to school to retrieve his final report card. #2 is left with only field trips. 3 days of field trips and one half day of p.a.r.t.y. and it's nice to see that their teachers are not propagating the the-last-week-of-school-is-a-real-week-of-school lie. but for #3, the lie lives. he's got a regular ol' week coming up. with "maybe a few quizzes" (so he says). but, i'm starting to think that maybe #3 has it all figured out.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_52qJwxVWI/AAAAAAAAAMU/UF0lGmxhy3Q/s1600/IMG_3510.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 127px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_52qJwxVWI/AAAAAAAAAMU/UF0lGmxhy3Q/s400/IMG_3510.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475944663476163938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_52pxKjZoI/AAAAAAAAAMM/XqoGIYPPF20/s1600/IMG_3479.JPG"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 127px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_52pxKjZoI/AAAAAAAAAMM/XqoGIYPPF20/s400/IMG_3479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475944656873416322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_52pe4AwmI/AAAAAAAAAME/DwGhcNDM5ys/s1600/IMG_3477.JPG"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 167px; height: 126px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_52pe4AwmI/AAAAAAAAAME/DwGhcNDM5ys/s400/IMG_3477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475944651963810402" border="0" /> </a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_52qZTCdeI/AAAAAAAAAMc/YyTRjYsJ248/s1600/lastdaysortof.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_52qZTCdeI/AAAAAAAAAMc/YyTRjYsJ248/s400/lastdaysortof.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475944667646424546" border="0" /> </a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_52q8CsEBI/AAAAAAAAAMk/mAcmBv00KUs/s1600/marshmallow.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_52q8CsEBI/AAAAAAAAAMk/mAcmBv00KUs/s400/marshmallow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475944676973088786" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >seems they were only looking for some kindlin' to start a good marshmallow roasting fire.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >good cover story, don't ya think?</span><br /></div>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-10631112755080352142010-05-26T12:21:00.007+07:002010-05-26T12:56:19.086+07:00lost my appetite<span style="font-family:arial;">a few weeks ago, for the happiness project, i posted a picture of the koi in our pond. because i liked them. they made me happy. (notice the past tense.) </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_y0btdfayI/AAAAAAAAAL8/g89cOJHlEgM/s1600/IMG_3389.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 374px; height: 336px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_y0btdfayI/AAAAAAAAAL8/g89cOJHlEgM/s400/IMG_3389.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475449635128437538" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">well, on monday, i'd been out gallivanting around and when i came home i discovered our house help's husband had gotten all industrious. he'd decided the pond needed a good cleaning out and maybe a paint job. he had the fish in a big trash can where they seemed to be happy. and i had assumed </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >(yes, assumed. i know. and now i have an answer for when someone asks, "you know what happens when you assume, don't you?" well, yes, yes i do. fish die.)</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> that the water in the trash can was the water from the pond. but turns out it was fresh water straight from the tap. chlorinated water. deadly water. <span style="font-style: italic;">(but that discovery comes later. and isn't made by me</span>.<span style="font-style: italic;">)</span> so p'khao (the husband) asks what color would i like for the pond to be painted - he's leaning towards </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:arial;" >blue</span><span style="font-family:arial;">. how would i feel about </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:arial;" >blue</span><span style="font-family:arial;">?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">i'm not a huge fan of </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:arial;" >blue</span><span style="font-family:arial;">. and this particular shade of </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:arial;" >blue</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> doesn't strike me as pond friendly. so i suggest </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:arial;" >white</span><span style="font-family:arial;">. he asks me several time if i'm sure that i want </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:arial;" >white</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> and every time i say yes, i'm sure. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:arial;" >white </span><span style="font-family:arial;">is what i want. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:arial;" >white</span><span style="font-family:arial;">, </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:arial;" >white</span><span style="font-family:arial;">, </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:arial;" >white</span><span style="font-family:arial;">. only, i wasn't saying </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:arial;" >white</span><span style="font-family:arial;">. (it's an easy mistake, they are close in sound and i was feeling pressured.) so off p'khao went in search of the paint i'd asked for. only he wasn't sure i was right about this color choice, so he made an executive decision. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >(which is something i'm not so sure the hired help should feel so comfortable doing, but in this case, it was a very, very good thing.)</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> and chose a very nice teal-y blue. he got the pond about half way painted on monday. so the fish were left in the trash can for the night.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_y0bYBYBxI/AAAAAAAAAL0/OTjPfZhwyLE/s1600/IMG_3432.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_y0bYBYBxI/AAAAAAAAAL0/OTjPfZhwyLE/s400/IMG_3432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475449629373368082" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">the next morning </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >(yes, this is when the discovery happens) </span><span style="font-family:arial;">#2 and #3 wander out to check on the fish. and they make the discovery that the fish, they are dead. tragic thing to come upon before you've made it out the door to school. i'm not home on tuesday to see p'khao or p'jim, so no discussion about the fish happens. but today there are big apologies. and heart felt don't-worry-about-its all around. i assure them that i hold no ill will. that it really is okay. and it takes me a bit to convince them to not replace the fish. that the kids want to go pick out new ones.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">and so, as they are leaving. they bring me a special lunch. a we-feel-so-bad-we-killed-your-fish-and-we-want-to-do-what-we-can-to-make-it-up-to-you special kind of lunch.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_y0bDpMFJI/AAAAAAAAALs/H9e3enSc1vw/s1600/IMG_3434.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_y0bDpMFJI/AAAAAAAAALs/H9e3enSc1vw/s400/IMG_3434.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475449623903212690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">i haven't been able to eat it. i'm thinking of saving it and serving it to the kids for dinner tonight</span>.<br /></div></div>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-51070494750079954162010-05-26T00:01:00.002+07:002010-05-26T00:18:21.190+07:00lost that lovin' feelin'<span style="font-family:arial;">when we first moved to thailand thailand loved me. big pink puffy heart loved me. and it showed me the love in the most <span style="font-style: italic;">amazing</span> way. not with diamonds nor chocolates nor any of those frivolous things. nope thailand showed me it's love with weightloss. without dieting, without excercise, without even thinking about it. the weight came off. lots of weight. and it was <span style="font-style: italic;">amazing</span>! absolutely <span style="font-style: italic;">amazing</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">but alas.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">it seems the honeymoon is over. thailand no longer loves me like it used to. and </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">apparently</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"> thailand is no longer interested in making the effort. and the weight. well, as they say, what comes down must go up - or something like that. since i've noticed the lack of attention i've been getting from thailand i've turned up the charm. i've done all that i can think of to woo thailand back. (and i have no idea how you woo an entire country, but i've given it my best.) i know that thailand has had some distractions. what with protests and riots and being on the brink of civil war and all. but it's been several days since they broke up the shindig in bangkok, so i've come to the conclusion that this relationship is over. and i'm gonna have to stand on my own two feet and do something myself. (that is if i want something done.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">i'm working on a plan. a plan that i'm certain will involve several steps. the first one is to quit drinking cokes. not too painful. the second one will be to work out. for real. and who knows what steps might follow. we'll see. but please, thailand, can you try to love me just a little. i don't know how much love it will take for</span><br /><ul style="font-family: arial;"><li>give up pretty, fancy coffees</li></ul><span style="font-family:arial;">to not be one of the steps. but for all that is good and right. please. i'm begging. have a little mercy.</span>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-60924447893324051012010-05-25T00:05:00.001+07:002010-05-25T17:21:23.189+07:00the happiness project #5<span style="font-family:arial;">the rule</span><strike style="font-family: arial;">s</strike><span style="font-family:arial;">:</span><br /><ul style="font-family: arial;"><li>simply post a photo of something that makes you wildly happy.</li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_lwFsmiqdI/AAAAAAAAALk/1QsawfWD1O0/s1600/IMG_3421.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 336px; height: 380px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_lwFsmiqdI/AAAAAAAAALk/1QsawfWD1O0/s400/IMG_3421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474530065220020690" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">favorite color - orange. favorite flower - gerbera daisy.<br /><br /><br /></span></span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://leighvslaundry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae172/leighbug_photo/2876650690_005fb39e00-4-2.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span></span><br /><br /><br /></div>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-26729956832430733212010-05-24T01:15:00.002+07:002010-05-24T01:38:31.935+07:00that time of year<span style="font-family: arial;">i know not long ago <a href="http://leakingcrazy.blogspot.com/2010/04/one-is-silver-and-other-gold.html">i posted about my general friend making suckiness</a>, but i've taken steps - or maybe it's better worded to say others have taken steps - to help me make progress in friend making endeavors. and it's good. and i'm in a much better place. but you know how it goes, for every two steps forward you take one step back. over the next few weeks it's gonna begin to feel like i live in a ghost town. and we're part of the skeleton crew that's to be left behind. (which could possibly mean that friend making will go easier. options are limited and my hand waving high in the air while i squeal "pick me, pick me" won't be so easy to ignore.) </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">school break is upon us and it's time for furloughs and home visits. and then the summer will drag. 3 of #3's closest friends are going to be going. one for good, one for 6 months and one for 8 weeks. #2's closest friend will be gone for 8 weeks. i haven't heard what's going on with #1's friends, but seeing as how many of his friends are thai, it's possible he'll have a few more options. the thai schools just started their term, so there are no summer activities to be had. no camps. no summer movie spectaculars. not even vacation bible school this year. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">midway through the break #1 and the man will head to the states for a month. which is good and bad. good because it means we can stock up on a few necessities - like shoes to replace the shoes that one of the dogs has eaten. and bad because there will be the jealous feelings of those of us who aren't headed to the states. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">but for now, we've just got to get through the next 7 1/2 days of school. (there's a holiday thrown in there, because there's no way we could make it to the end without some kind of break.) actually, it's only 7 1/2 school days for #3. for #2 it's 4 days of school and 3 days of field trips. and for #1 it's 4 days of testing and then he's done. </span>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-87889650399199661282010-05-20T21:15:00.004+07:002010-05-20T21:35:26.116+07:00like a two year old<span style="font-family:arial;">so, i'm thinking that yesterday the red shirts were throwing a temper tantrum. because today has been quiet. we're still under curfew, but no bam-bam-bangs to be heard. i can smell something burning nearby and traffic is being diverted through our neighborhood from the main road closest to us. thai schools are closed tomorrow, but our kids' school will be open. i think it's easier to make decisions to close campus when it's the first week of school - which is what it is for the thai kids. finals week is next week for our kids and it's difficult to miss days. #3's class has a field trip tomorrow. i'm not sure how i feel about that. it's probably perfectly safe, but i'm still a little nervous about it. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> i'm trying not to be all worst case scenario and alarmist, but it's hard to not play what if.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> i'm praying that the worst is over, but i've read reports and heard people say that it's only really just begun.<br /><br /></span>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-22480409816349795242010-05-19T23:42:00.010+07:002010-05-20T12:47:53.648+07:00photos from this eveningdon't worry, i didn't actually take any of these. if by take you mean leave my house with my camera. but, if you mean to take what isn't yours - then i definitely took these. but i asked.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_QVjePZUNI/AAAAAAAAAK0/XfXv27aZM9M/s1600/nawaratdukes.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_QVjePZUNI/AAAAAAAAAK0/XfXv27aZM9M/s400/nawaratdukes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473023146319237330" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_QV-LMLzXI/AAAAAAAAALM/Xj-u9Xqmtuo/s1600/nawaratfireintersection.jpg"> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_QV4CLVZAI/AAAAAAAAALE/PcMDW1H6DMs/s1600/nawaratfireclose.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_QVT80XDzI/AAAAAAAAAKk/SV6KiXARfuM/s1600/nawarattyre.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_QVT80XDzI/AAAAAAAAAKk/SV6KiXARfuM/s400/nawarattyre.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473022879649435442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_QV-LMLzXI/AAAAAAAAALM/Xj-u9Xqmtuo/s1600/nawaratfireintersection.jpg"> </a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_QV-LMLzXI/AAAAAAAAALM/Xj-u9Xqmtuo/s1600/nawaratfireintersection.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 98px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_QV-LMLzXI/AAAAAAAAALM/Xj-u9Xqmtuo/s400/nawaratfireintersection.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473023605061963122" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_QVyaGph5I/AAAAAAAAAK8/lkEsBXNptWo/s1600/nawaratfire.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 98px; height: 130px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_QVyaGph5I/AAAAAAAAAK8/lkEsBXNptWo/s400/nawaratfire.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473023402906847122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_QV4CLVZAI/AAAAAAAAALE/PcMDW1H6DMs/s1600/nawaratfireclose.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 98px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_QV4CLVZAI/AAAAAAAAALE/PcMDW1H6DMs/s400/nawaratfireclose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473023499563262978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">all these photos were taken within a mile of our house</span></span><br /><br /></div>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-73803337762544997842010-05-19T17:01:00.008+07:002010-05-19T17:45:14.549+07:00more than just a bit worried<span style="font-family:arial;">as i headed to the school to pick up my kids this afternoon i had several thai ne</span><span style="font-family:arial;">ighbors tell me to "get my kids and get home. those are guns and bombs you hear." </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">there is a situation (i don't know what to really call it, other than scary) happening not far from us - less than a mile away. they've barricaded the bridge and are burning tires. there has been gunfire and bombs, but i don't know any more than that. the red shirt leaders turned themselves in in bangkok and this has led to rioting in bangkok - burning and looting. i believe it's possible that this is also the trigger to whatever is happening in chiang mai. as i type this there is a helicopter circling over head - i don't think their focus is our neighborhood, we're just close enough to the bridge. i don't feel like we are in immediate danger. but i have no idea where this is headed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">the two thai schools closest to our kids's school have already announced they that will be closed the remainder of the week. (our school actually sits in the middle of the campus of one of these.) our househelp's husband came by to tell us to stay in our house. and we have received similar advice from others. it's been strongly suggested we keep our kids home for the next two days.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">we know just enough to be scared.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_O57N2hjUI/AAAAAAAAAKc/dP9io0LBl3w/s1600/cmred.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_O57N2hjUI/AAAAAAAAAKc/dP9io0LBl3w/s400/cmred.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472922399167057218" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">picture taken from chiang mai mail's facebook page</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />*update - school closed for tomorrow due to political unrest.*</span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-89849203404872496902010-05-18T10:22:00.004+07:002010-05-18T10:39:09.496+07:00the happiness project #4<span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >the rule</span><strike style="font-family: arial;">s</strike><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >:</span><br /><ul style="font-family: arial;"><li>simply post a photo of something that makes you wildly happy.</li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_IIIGstu8I/AAAAAAAAAKU/2gvJ-iUlvuw/s1600/IMG_3419.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 336px; height: 354px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_IIIGstu8I/AAAAAAAAAKU/2gvJ-iUlvuw/s400/IMG_3419.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472445432538708930" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">the man.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">true story #1</span> - 15 year old boy asks #2 to prom. (when your graduating class includes only 18 or so folks, the entire high school gets to go to prom) #2 says no. 15 year old boy is in the play godspell. after watching the play, the man walks up on the stage to shake the hand of 15 year old boy and to tell him, "job well done." he then pulls 15 year old boy into the manly handshake-hug (you've seen it done) and whispers in his ear, "stay away from my daughter."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">true story #2 </span>- #1 has a presentation to give in his model united nations class - his topic is the fifth united nation millennium development goal - maternal health. he asks the man to be a "guest speaker". the man breaks the ice with this gem, "hi, i'm #1's dad. obviously i'm where he gets his good looks from. and girls, if you're interested in him, 25 years from now, it's possible he'll look a lot like this." and gestures to himself.<br /><br />i think he might be losing his cool dad rep.<br /></div></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://leighvslaundry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae172/leighbug_photo/2876650690_005fb39e00-4-2.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-41584877615450897772010-05-17T16:27:00.006+07:002010-05-17T17:48:42.181+07:00potluck the second helpingit's monday again and that means i've got plenty to say, but not a lot of content. so, once again, it's a potluck.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_EMjAd5bHI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/WB2Cj4y_Tjs/s1600/hot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 133px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_EMjAd5bHI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/WB2Cj4y_Tjs/s400/hot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472168817792216178" border="0" /></a>today, i'm not so hot. just very, very warm. right now it's 36 celsius. which is the same as almost 97 degrees. so much cooler than last week. but in bangkok, things are hot hot hot. and i'm talking politics. i have no idea when it will settle down or how. and since this is all new to everyone in the entire country, no one else knows, either. but there's more and more talk of it coming our way. two bombs at atms last night and rumor of a bus caught on fire - both here in town.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_ERgEfdK-I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/I9ynP1dwUZc/s1600/stethoscope.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 141px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_ERgEfdK-I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/I9ynP1dwUZc/s400/stethoscope.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472174264891026402" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />this week dr. google has diagnosed me with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acanthocheilonemiasis">acanthocheilonemiasis</a>. i bet that changes when the mosquito bites go away and my skin no longer itches.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_EYk5ubgLI/AAAAAAAAAKE/b6bhx6IGhgI/s1600/fruitbowl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 133px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_EYk5ubgLI/AAAAAAAAAKE/b6bhx6IGhgI/s400/fruitbowl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472182044481781938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />one sad little mangosteen, one gecko (well, he's not there anymore, but he was there just now, when i peeked), red apples and a light box thing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_EYlKClvnI/AAAAAAAAAKM/DU1EOti7OAY/s1600/didntburn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 138px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S_EYlKClvnI/AAAAAAAAAKM/DU1EOti7OAY/s400/didntburn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472182048861306482" border="0" /></a><br />this week i didn't burn<br />moroccan carrots<br />tangy-sweet plum chicken<br />or take out.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />and that's the way to get in a big post of nothingness. well, except the bangkok thing. that one's not nothing.<br /><br />and, just like last week, this is a blog hop. you can join the fun, too.<br /><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=27918" type="text/javascript"></script>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-63498138474593255772010-05-15T00:01:00.000+07:002010-05-15T00:01:00.205+07:00what to wear? what to wear?<span style="font-family:arial;">every morning i look in the closet and can not figure out what to wear. it all looks hot. but, i've heard over and over that a good rule of thumb is to do what the locals do. so today i decided to notice what they wear. i snapped a few pictures, you know to help me remember what i'm looking for while building my wardrobe. i did notice a trend, but i'm not so sure i'm gonna be able to pull off such a fashion forward look when it's 42 degrees (107). and it's been hovering right around that temp for the better part of forever.</span><br /><br /><div face="arial" style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-z4QZnbRsI/AAAAAAAAAI0/k8RaVj09vtA/s1600/IMG_3403.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-z4QZnbRsI/AAAAAAAAAI0/k8RaVj09vtA/s400/IMG_3403.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471020607986157250" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">this seems a tad somber. i tend to like brighter colors.</span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-z4beW_VfI/AAAAAAAAAJk/3dhwl-nRKXU/s1600/IMG_3413.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-z4beW_VfI/AAAAAAAAAJk/3dhwl-nRKXU/s400/IMG_3413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471020798237955570" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">orange? i love orange.</span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-z4RkF4qmI/AAAAAAAAAJU/20YepiOgB_I/s1600/IMG_3406.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-z4RkF4qmI/AAAAAAAAAJU/20YepiOgB_I/s400/IMG_3406.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471020627978136162" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">the flannel is sort of cute. sort of.</span></span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-z4RUQJCAI/AAAAAAAAAJM/SblcFEysgio/s1600/IMG_3408.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-z4RUQJCAI/AAAAAAAAAJM/SblcFEysgio/s400/IMG_3408.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471020623726184450" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">he's got corduroy going on. don't know if i can pull it off.</span></span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-z4ROtq78I/AAAAAAAAAJE/XmRX_Obe2g8/s1600/IMG_3407.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 366px; height: 336px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-z4ROtq78I/AAAAAAAAAJE/XmRX_Obe2g8/s400/IMG_3407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471020622239428546" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-z4Q5D0ezI/AAAAAAAAAI8/DwK7YAiSLYo/s1600/IMG_3404.JPG"> </a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">even with the shorts and flip flops there's something that seems a tad heavy about these outfits.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-z4Q5D0ezI/AAAAAAAAAI8/DwK7YAiSLYo/s1600/IMG_3404.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-z4Q5D0ezI/AAAAAAAAAI8/DwK7YAiSLYo/s400/IMG_3404.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471020616426748722" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">better choices of color.</span></span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-z4aoqGyNI/AAAAAAAAAJc/DFGI53BQl0M/s1600/IMG_3412.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-z4aoqGyNI/AAAAAAAAAJc/DFGI53BQl0M/s400/IMG_3412.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471020783822620882" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">this couple gets my vote for best dressed!</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">looks like it's back to the drawing board. cuz from what i've seen today. the locals are nutz.</span><br /></div></div>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-49897446993702610552010-05-14T13:50:00.003+07:002010-05-14T13:54:19.732+07:00that's a mighty big promise<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-zzDEA-U-I/AAAAAAAAAIc/Fe8dxguuSTY/s1600/IMG_0600.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-zzDEA-U-I/AAAAAAAAAIc/Fe8dxguuSTY/s400/IMG_0600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471014881291293666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-32998138357472343152010-05-14T10:49:00.004+07:002010-05-14T11:03:12.902+07:00state of emergency<span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >yes, a state of emergency has been declared for 15 more provinces in thailand. including chiang mai. and, after a bit of internet searching, i have a definition from </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-04/07/c_13241430.htm">thailand's emergency decree</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> that tells just what that means.</span><br /><blockquote style="font-family: arial;">upon declaring the enforcement of a emergency decree, the prime minister has the power to issue the regulations including:<br /><br /> to prohibit any person from departing from a dwelling place;<br /><br /> to prohibit the assembly or gathering of persons at any place or the commission of any act which may cause unrest;<br /><br />to prohibit the press release, distribution or dissemination of letters, publications or any means of communication containing texts which may instigate fear amongst the people or is intended to distort information;<br /><br /> to prohibit the use of routes or vehicles or prescribe conditions on the use of routes or vehicle;<br /><br /> to prohibit the use of buildings or enter into or stay in any place;<br /><br />to evacuate people out of a designated area for the safety of such people or to prohibit any person from entering a designated area.</blockquote><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >so what does that look like? this morning things are very much the same. kids off to school, breakfast with michael, and now out shopping for a birthday present for a friend of #3.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote style="font-family: arial;"></blockquote>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-90292767862309116032010-05-13T15:25:00.006+07:002010-05-13T16:11:44.453+07:00i need need need someone to make these<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-vAGE_4f8I/AAAAAAAAAH0/TcHyYv2QOaE/s1600/fluffernutter.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-vAGE_4f8I/AAAAAAAAAH0/TcHyYv2QOaE/s400/fluffernutter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470677383025033154" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:78%;" >if you click on the recipe card it gets bigger</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">i saw this recipe today over at </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://picky-palate.com/2010/05/13/fluffernutter-cookies-3-ingredients/">picky palate</a><span style="font-family: arial;">. and it made me sorta mad at my kids. when my parents came to visit they brought with them several jars of marshmallow cream. mmm mmm good. and since they've left, my kids have eaten many, many fluffernutter - that would be marshmallow cream and peanut butter - sandwiches. they've eaten so many of them that the marshmallow cream is completely and totally gone.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">some of you might remember a few years back when i asked someone, anyone to make the </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/02/apple_dumplings/">pioneer woman's apple dumplings</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> because i can't get several of the ingredients here. and some of you did make them. and said they were oh-so-good. well, i'm pretty sure these cookies will be oh-so-gooder.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">so, someone please help a girl out. make them and tell me just how very good they are.</span>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-82316566342414669502010-05-12T21:45:00.004+07:002010-05-12T21:54:57.019+07:00hate to play favoriteswhen you're in thailand - where you can get real, honest to goodness thai food - and you've been invited to dinner and the dinner party includes the following guests<br /><ul><li>1 filipina</li><li>1 indian</li><li>3 thai</li><li>1 ugandan</li><li>2 ethiopian</li><li>2 american</li></ul>what do you eat?<br /><br />chinese, of course.monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-40075713474666247982010-05-11T19:45:00.003+07:002010-05-11T19:52:23.963+07:00happiness project #4<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">the rule</span><strike>s</strike><span style="font-family:arial;">:</span><br /><ul style="font-family: arial;"><li>simply post a photo of something that makes you wildly happy.</li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-lSIUgvxxI/AAAAAAAAAHk/hcm5UPUYYo8/s1600/IMG_3271.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-lSIUgvxxI/AAAAAAAAAHk/hcm5UPUYYo8/s400/IMG_3271.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469993525316667154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">this is what it looks like when we lock up for the night. i'm a big fan of being done at the end of the day and knowing everyone's home and safe.</span><br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="http://leighvslaundry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae172/leighbug_photo/2876650690_005fb39e00-4-2.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819137878163547324.post-50936382689333679532010-05-10T16:28:00.011+07:002010-05-10T22:16:37.484+07:00some mondays might mean potluck<span style="font-family:arial;">i have nothing worthy of an entire post to write about, but </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-family:arial;">i've</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> still got words i </span><strike style="font-family: arial;">am desperate</strike> want to use. so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" style="font-family:arial;">i'm</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> stealing </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.junecleavernirvana.com/">holly's</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> potluck </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" style="font-family:arial;">monday</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> idea. and i might steal it every </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" style="font-family:arial;">monday</span><span style="font-family:arial;">. that's for me to know and you to find out. (</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" style="font-family:arial;">ok</span><span style="font-family:arial;">, really </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" style="font-family:arial;">i've</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> got no idea.) what's a posting potluck? well, you know how when you go to a potluck dinner and everyone brings a dish that is for the most part absolutely unrelated to any other dish there, but it still tastes good? it's sort of like that. but with random thoughts instead of food. and </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" style="font-family:arial;">i'm</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> the only one who contributes.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-fYSycFHKI/AAAAAAAAAHE/xcgMI0u0eS4/s1600/hot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 151px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-fYSycFHKI/AAAAAAAAAHE/xcgMI0u0eS4/s400/hot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469578089753549986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">i sure am. today the temp hit 41, which to my </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" style="font-family:arial;">farenheit</span> temperature telling brain sounds lovely. but they use <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" style="font-family:arial;">celsius</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> here and that that translates to 107 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" style="font-family:arial;">farenheit</span><span style="font-family:arial;">. and we have to sleep without </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" style="font-family:arial;">aircon</span><span style="font-family:arial;">. which means i don't sleep. i just sweat. and that is not at all refreshing.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-fboZZfwVI/AAAAAAAAAHM/RzM9BSLog04/s1600/stethoscope.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 133px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-fboZZfwVI/AAAAAAAAAHM/RzM9BSLog04/s400/stethoscope.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469581759523832146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">this week </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" style="font-family:arial;">dr</span><span style="font-family:arial;">. google thinks i might be menopausal or possible going through </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" style="font-family:arial;">nicotine</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" style="font-family:arial;">withdrawal</span><span style="font-family:arial;">. i'm betting he's wrong on both accounts.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-fmDDUNKPI/AAAAAAAAAHU/5gFtjb-KBRA/s1600/fruitbowl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 136px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-fmDDUNKPI/AAAAAAAAAHU/5gFtjb-KBRA/s400/fruitbowl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469593212568807666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" style="font-family:arial;">mangosteen</span><span style="font-family:arial;">, apples, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" style="font-family:arial;">rambuton</span><span style="font-family:arial;">, onions and a tide to go pen. the tide to go pen is the most valuable.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-gfPezZqRI/AAAAAAAAAHc/lEZsrjnmSvM/s1600/didntburn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 138px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vImgEvPIEYw/S-gfPezZqRI/AAAAAAAAAHc/lEZsrjnmSvM/s400/didntburn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469656098268621074" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" style="font-family:arial;">carnitas</span><span style="font-family:arial;">, spaghetti or boiled eggs. i also didn't burn a souffle. of course, i didn't make a souffle.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">and that's all the random i have to offer.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">oh, and this is a bloghop. i'm not exactly sure what that means or how it works, but i'm doing it. and you can, too.</span><br /><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=27079" type="text/javascript"></script>monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948280114428855762noreply@blogger.com3