Monday, November 15, 2004

Still life


Golf took this pretty still life photo. He had bought these gorgeous miniature roses the day before and they opened up just beautifully!

Happy Couple


The happy couple back at Reflections restaurant, where we had our wedding dinner party.

Wishing


Wishing this beer was mine! Like the new maternity dress?

A Toast


Here's to our first date! Golf gets the beer. I get the lemon slushy. Mmmm so good. Anna knows lemon slushies, she had them in Thailand too. Like the pretty orchid? :)

Favorite dish


Our favorite dish. It's shitake mushrooms with a shrimp ball on top with an oyster sauce gravy type thing and Chinese broccoli. It's a real original and SOOO delicious!

Monday Madness

It's time for Monday Madness!
Either or...
1. bar soap or shower gel In the States, shower gel, but here they have lovely hand made soaps and some that smell really good!
2. cd's or cassettes CDs
3. television movies or documentaries Documentaries
4. wall calendar or desk calendar In the States, a wall calendar. In Thailand a desk calendar because all the walls are concrete and you can't hang up ANYTHING!
5. dsl, cable, or dial-up Anything high speed is OK by me.
6. summer or winter In Thailand, the so-called winter. Between late November and mid-February, it's just the season where you don't sweat as much.
7. city or country City for living, country for getting away.
8. camping or stay in a hotel Depends upon the intention of the getaway.
9. gold or silver Without question, silver.
10. fiction or non-fiction books How about something in between: Historical fiction! Based on fact with a good fictional story intertwined. My favorite is
The Journeyer, by Gary Jennings, the fictionalized account of Marco Polo's travels.
11. mashed potatoes or baked potatoes Hmmm this is difficult because I love both. Sorry, I can't decide on this one.
12. ranch, italian, or catalina dressing I usually prefer Italian.
13. solid or spray deodorant Solid

Romantic night

Last night Golf and I celebrated our one year anniversary of meeting each other for the first time. It was very romantic at the restaurant where we had our wedding dinner party. I will see if I can post pictures here after I get off work later on. We're both so happy!

Today, one of my favorite colleagues is back from the US. She's British and she had to leave Thailand so she could get her citizenship and was 2 weeks late coming back to teach. I miss her company and with me being more hormonal, we can have some quality gripe sessions together. :) I'm feeling especially touchy today, but she brought back some chocolate bars from the States, so that's making a big difference! LOL!

Sunday, November 14, 2004

Some random thoughts

Well, the other night, Golf and I didn't get to see our movie. It was showing right at the time we arrived and we hadn't had a chance to eat dinner or buy my fabric and the next show wasn't until 10:00 PM, which, even for a Friday, was too late for this person (me!) who falls fast asleep between 9 or 9:30.

Yesterday we didn't do much. Now that I'm pregnant and it's SOOOOOO hot outside, I don't feel like going out and doing anything. I just want to lounge around the apartment and Golf is fine with that too. Speaking of hot, Thailand is currently experiencing a severe drought. It's been months since the last rain and it seems to be getting hotter every day. It's normally supposed to start getting cooler this time of year, but the opposite seems to be happening. We went walking last night at the fitness center, since we were so sedentary during the day and when we left, I looked at my hands which were swollen like sausages. I get like that when it gets hot. I was careful and kept drinking water, but really, I can't walk more than once or twice a week until it cools down some. Our electricity bill is also expensive this month because of the constant use of the A/C.

I saw on SFGate that they found Scott Peterson guilty. Glad that justice has been served, but I am also listening to the Gene Burns program online from KGO and he said it was like a Roman circus outside the courtroom with a reporter even asking Peterson's mother if she was 'proud of her son'. What sort of moronic question is that?!?!

I'm disappointed of our society's lack of respect and tact toward one another. Americans treat each other rather badly with hardly politeness any longer, and it's quite sad. If you discover your neighbor has a different political viewpoint, for example, you end up treating each other like enemies. It's really depressing. This is the one part of moving back to the States that I'm not looking forward to, BUT I plan to bring happiness and make people smile. My husband has a knack for doing that here and it kind of reminds me of my own father. Golf will see a sour looking person and his goal is to make that person smile by the end of our encounter (for example a scowling waitress). It's just the best attitude! :)

OH! I'll end this posting on a happy and joyous note. Today is our 1 year anniversary of meeting one another! Yes, on November 14, 2003, Golf and I had our first date at Starbuck's coffee and then for a beer and some food at the World Trade Center beer garden. I wish it was cool enough for beer gardens now! Tonight we plan to go to Reflections restaurant for dinner, which is where we had our wedding reception. We've come so far in a short period of time.

Friday, November 12, 2004

Oh it's FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY!!

Golf and I are going out to a nearby mall tonight to get one more piece of fabric for one more dress for work. Same style, just a different pattern but no liner this time -- just too hot! So I will have 3 dresses to wear for work per week, which is enough.

While we're at the mall, we plan to go see a funny movie: Dodgeball with Ben Stiller. We both like that guy, he's so silly! Just some light entertainment. We'll probably eat at the Food Cellar, which is like a food court. I'll get my Italian food fix and Golf can still eat his usual Asian delights and we'll both be quite happy!

OH MY GOD, IN EXACTLY ONE MONTH I WILL BE 35 YEARS OLD!!!!!

Thursday, November 11, 2004

There's no place like home!

So after reading all this below from today, I just have to keep repeating my mantra, "less than one year, less than one year." I will try and get back to the good ole USA as soon as I possibly can. And of course, this is all compounded by the sensitive hormones of carrying a baby!!!!! For all you back home, don't worry. These are all depressing news stories, it's nothing that affects me and my husband directly. It's just something that disgusts us to the core of our humanity, especially now that we have the welfare of a new little person that we will be bringing into the world. I'm grateful that we have the CHOICE to move back home to the States. There's no experience like living abroad that makes you appreciate how good you've got it in your own home country.

Justice the Thai way :(

My husband posted on that forum I linked you to on my previous post. Since that is a public forum, I don't think he'd mind if I quote his post here:

Not surprise at all!Thai police are notorious for their behaviors. It's wrong from the start. They are allowed to have absolute power. The original idea of Thai police is "to serve and protect the so-called hisocity, not the citizen". I am Thai and I have seen this kind of events over and over again. It's been like this since the Thai police Department was established 100 years ago. Last night I watched the talk show called "Tung Lok Tuk Kon (Hardball)". One of the Pol. Generals said, "We must continue the beat-up method, otherwise we can't do our job". He also said that police in ALL countries are doing the same thing. It's sad to hear things like this, but I am not surprised at all. Their metalities are twisted, distorted, and crooked making them like killing machines. Do whatever they can to close the cases as quickly as possible. Thai laws are based on accusation, not investigation. So the suspects are the wrongdoers from the beginning. If they are not confess, they deserve "special treatments". Electical shocking, brutally beat-up, hitting with the clubs or sticks, kidnaping the accused person's family members to get his confession, or simply murdering the accused person to end the cases are wildly exercised by Thai police. There are many more of this uncivilized, unhuman methods, but I don't want to discuss about it anymore. It makes me sick.

No matter where, it's not easy

My husband has been following major news stories in Thailand and gives me the updates about them and 2 days ago, he gave me the latest shocker: Earlier this year, a policeman in Kanchanaburi brutally murdered two young British backpackers in cold blood. No matter what the conflict was about, there's no justification of murder! The man went on the run for a month before authorities talked him into turning himself in. Yesterday, we found out that he is now a free man on 1 million baht bail. People here, especially expats, are outraged and sickened as Thais thumb their noses against civilization.

There are stories here also of police torturning -- one man who was suspected of a crime had his genitals electricuted until he confessed to the crime, which he very well may not have done! Another young married couple were held without formal charges brought against them for over 100 days. They had to re-arrest them so they could continue holding them. The 17 year old wife was heavily pregnant and gave birth WITH NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WHATSOEVER!!!!!! What kind of freaking brutal country is this?!?!

So now there is a lot of attention on the police, who have ultimate power and authority here. They do not serve to protect, they protect their own and do away with citizens who might say anything bad about the police department or who could point fingers at the vast corruption going on. With stories like this, I feel like being sick every single day. The US has problems, but when I see what is going on here in Thailand, I cannot WAIT to come back to a more civilized country. Neither can Golf.

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

It's CRAZY hot outside!!!

I keep waiting for the so-called cool season to begin here in Thailand. I mean, it's nearly mid-November already and I thought it was about near time to start. But for the last two weeks it's been hotter n hell!! Last night I went walking with Golf and we could only manage 1/2 hour around the track because even at 6:30 PM we were dying! Not only is it hotter than ever today, but there is much humidity as well. Today is also my lucky day (dripping in sarcasm) because it's my duty day, which means I get to school at 7:00 AM and sit around, read my new Yoga Journal magazine and greet students as they come to school. I have to do this again from 3-4 PM and announce when their parents arrive on the microphone. I have to be careful about overheating, since a pregnant woman's body temperature is a little higher as it is. If I get much too hot, I'm gonna say SORRY, can't do it. My baby is more important than even my job. But Thais should be understanding about it. I leave early in the morning so I can eat my breakfast. Y'all in the States: send me some cooler weather!!!! :)

Monday, November 08, 2004

OK Monday Madness now!

Just finished Sunday Brunch, now it's time for Monday Madness!

Name 3 (or more, or less!) things...
1. ...you cannot live without. Food, Air, Clothing, Water, Shelter
2. ...you CAN live without, but cannot seem to part with. Internet, Books, Diet Coke
3. ...you wish to accomplish this COMING week. Write next week's lesson plan, Do my yoga, Call some friends I haven't talked to in awhile, Write some emails I need to catch up on.
4. ...you have accomplished this PAST week. Went to doctor's appointment, Did my yoga, Got through the first week back at school
5. ...on your holiday (or non-holiday) 'wish list.' Step by Step Yoga DVDs for after the baby's born, and the rest will have to wait til we move back to the States, like a new bed, an apartment, a car, stuff for baby -- we are going to be starting all over again, but we have the support of a great family!
6. ...you would like to change about yourself. Become focused on what I want to do with my life and then actually DO it. I've been mentally scattered for years, but there have been a few things I focused on and these were successful endeavors.
7. ...you like about yourself. I'll usually try something once if it's not too dangerous or illegal, I don't waste too much money (only a little bit!), I believe in moderation in everything.
8. ...you should be doing right now instead of what you ARE doing. Preparing for a better math lesson, (I will as soon as I'm done with this!) Working on my art work, Reading something constructive.
9. ...in your life that could use a little more organization. Hmm.. at the moment I'm pretty organized. Ask me again after I become a mother in May!

Sunday Brunch on Monday

Time for Sunday Brunch!


1) What is your favorite vegetable and your favorite fruit? Well, it’s considered technically a fruit, but I love tomatoes the best, so versatile! And for fruit, I love papaya the best. I love almost all tropical fruit.


2) How many servings of fruits and vegetables do you eat a day? Oh, maybe I total 5 servings of both. I love the fruits here and I eat salad often.


3) Did your parents force you to eat vegetables when you were younger? No, but we lived in the country and had a garden and a fruit orchard, so I loved my fruit and veggies. My parents just forced me to weed the garden and water the trees.


4) What vegetable can you absolutely just not get down, no matter what you are bribed with? This sort of bitter melon type green vegetable. It’s soft and just not tasty at all. For fruit it would be the durian -- terribly stinky!!!

5) What is your favorite way to eat fruit? RAW, sometimes cut up.

Sunday, November 07, 2004

A fantastic Saturday

Yesterday, Golf and I had our second pre-natal doctor's appointment. Rather than repost it here, please go to my pregnancy journal to read the exciting news!

Before our appointment, I got my Subway sandwich, which I think could be a monthly ritual before going to the hospital. :) I ate an entire footlong, but I was SOOO hungry by that time. I didn't even feel too full afterward. My god, a pregnant woman can sure pack away the food!

After our appointment, we went to a nearby mall that is our favorite to go to because it has far less people than the others. We went to the best bakery I have yet to find in Bangkok, because the breads there are to die for and inexpensive. I got a good supply of delicious bread with kalamata olives in them and some rye. I miss rye bread. Then we went on to the bookstore and I'm just going to have to wait to study Spanish once I return to the States because there are no language books for it here. Just a few dictionaries and beginning phrases. I want real lessons. So no Spanish books, but I did get a Yoga Journal magazine with some very good articles on limiting food portions (what a read after eating Subway, but I'm eating for two at the moment and not too fat!) and bettering your posture (a lifelong trouble-spot for me). It also came with a free sample DVD, and I plan to watch it today.

After that we went to a different mall nearby because it has an awesome grocery store selling all kinds of western food for me to stock up on for home. Before we went grocery shopping, I found some new maternity bras -- I bought two of them and I now fit comfortably in a size D cup! So now my pretty C's will have to wait til after breastfeeding before I can wear them again, it's gonna be some big ugly bras for awhile now. But it's for a good cause.

At the grocery store I got some beautiful Gouda cheese, just a real small bit to taste and savor. I MISS GOOD CHEESE! I also got some fat-free raspberry vinegarette salad dressing, some more chips n salsa and ready-made beef tamales which are really good! What else, some German-style parsley meat-loaf for sandwiches. I hope it's good. I miss having a wide range of choices of lunch meats. I miss smoked or honey turkey, pastrami, honey ham, roast beef, oven roasted chicken, etc. etc. etc.

Golf bought a new DVD called "Super-Size Me" which is a documentry of the obesidy epidemic in the US brought on mainly by fast food companies. The man does a self experiment by eating McDonalds for breakfast, lunch and dinner for 30 days. It is a VERY interesting movie and I highly recommend it. Interestingly enough, the guy who did this said that when he was a kid, his mother ALWAYS cooked at home and they rarely went out to eat, it was like a treat. Just like my family -- my mother always cooked. I plan to do the same with my family once we return to the States. Nowadays, families eat out 40% of the time, and that's another reason they are fatter. Jeez, pay more money to eat out and get fatter in the process! I think I'll cook from scratch, thank you. I'm sure that my Mother's cooking at home all the time has influenced me now because I RARELY eat fast food. OK, Subway once a month or Pizza Hut even less cause Golf doesn't care for it. But hardly EVER McDonalds. When I want a hamburger, I want a real one. We went to Outback Steakhouse last time I craved a burger and it was MUCH more expensive, but it tasted better and was more satisfying. And it was NOT fast food. YECH. Anyway, thanks Mom! :)




Friday, November 05, 2004

Ready for the weekend!

Tomorrow is our second doctor's appointment, and I'm excited about it because we are supposed to get to hear the baby's heartbeat. It still doesn't feel all that real for me yet, just the miserable BLOATING all the time! It is truly awful because it makes me look much fatter than I actually am.

I've still been doing really good about my yoga, and I feel like I'm making some good progress. I plan to do it until doctor says I shouldn't any more, and will continue after baby is born. Tonight I would like to go walking because the fitness center finally watered their field and it's not so dusty anymore! Plus there's an aerobics lady there T-Th who chooses to blare her music not only on the stereo speakers, but on the loudspeakers as well and it HURTS when I walk by the aerobics area. I see mothers there with their young children on their hips, bouncing them to the music, where I am plugging my ears in pain. Are these mothers already deaf???? I will never bring my baby there if this is the case! So I told Golf that on these days we need to bring a surgical mask for the dust and earplugs for the noise! I hope not to have to deal with that tonight.

Will write more tomorrow after the doc appointment. Oh! I'm also supposed to call my Mom and Dad and I'm really looking forward to speaking with them. :)



Thursday, November 04, 2004

Election results

I would have voted if I were in the States and I would have voted Kerry. So needless to say, I'm very disappointed to see that we have Bush for another 4 years. It took the whole world by surprise. The feeling from Americans and other foreigners abroad (British, Canadian and Australian) was also of disappointment. Those who live in another country tend to have a different perspective of the world we live in and it's not one that is the best having Bush in office. :(

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

Glued to CNN website

Spending Wednesday refreshing the website to see about our next president. I didn't get around to my absentee ballot, because it's a bit of a pain in the butt to do all the paperwork and go out to the American Embassy. But believe me, I would have voted for Kerry and would have stood in long lines to do it. I'm a bit discouraged looking at the numbers now, but it ain't over yet!

Monday, November 01, 2004

First day of school

Yeah, it went alright! Just remembered (after filling out the course outline) that I need to teach 'em cursive handwriting and I found an excellent homeschooling website that has great penmanship practice, so I'm going to make a little booklet for each of them. I'm happy! Other than that, it's pretty much same ole stuff.

It's crazy hot here! When's the cooler season supposed to begin????