A Most Excellant Adventure

Laura and I found a little extra time on our hands today so we decided to see what goes on at the Central Plaza Mall in Nonthaburi Thailand.  Here is what we found..


Our first stop was McDonald's...where you can get the

"All American Meal"

 

 



Please someone tell me what is "All American" about a TUNA PIE! (Not to mention it has corn in it, now I have heard of tuna casserole that has peas but not anything remotely like this!)

Laura was so disgusted that I bought one and she nearly lost her "cookies" when I actually broke it in half for a nice camera shot!  Needless to say she didn't find it Crispy or Delicious! 

On the brighter side it did have something that I have never seen anywhere else....

That's right kiddies, A Mini McTheater - showing times are posted!  Wow, they lost me with the Tune Pie but they made up for their loss by having a theater for my viewing and eating pleasure.

What a way to start our "Most Excellent Mall Adventure"  Bill and Ted would be PROUD!

With that under our belt, so to speak, we ventured into a small store in the mall that looked promising...

But then again maybe NOT...



Laura Can't decide which color of  terry cloth TOILET SEAT cover to buy?  I on the other hand wanted to know who was going to take it off and wash it.  STRANGE

Oh here is something to spruce up your household FAN, a nice PINK LACE cover!  Only in ASIA.

At least they have the watering part of the can in a "NORMAL" place, here you can never be to sure!

Now here is something that even I, the QUEEN of KITCHEN Organization can live WITHOUT, A Refrigerator Curtain! Is this to hide all the unmentionables that you have in your fridge?  It begs me to ask the question:  What are you HIDDING?

I did find one thing that I might have to try....Only if PETA doesn't find out about it!



All in all I would have to say that like "Bill and Ted" we had a
"MOST EXCELLENT ADVENTURE"

The Face of Love

On Saturday while we were on our driving back from the memorial we stopped so that Laura could look at some of the pottery stands by the side of the road.  Ron and Laura went looking and I grabbed my camera and started looking around.  I noticed some children that belonged to one of the women running a stall.

 I held up my camera and pointed to the children and she hurried and comb their hair and gathered her little ones together so that I could take a photo. 

These children are beauty in its simplest form.

 

I watched as this little boy was carried by his older sister down the side of the road.  She was carrying him on her back and he was naked, he had just taken a "bath" in the water some where near the stall and she was taking him back to get his clothes on. 

There was a deep connection between brother and sister, she was about only 8 or 9 and he about 3 1/2.  Age didn't matter, love did.   I love how she is holding his head.  Children have a right to be loved and cared for by those around them.

I was shown true love that afternoon.

After I was done clicking a few shots I handed the littlest girl some Thai Baht, equal to about 70 cents.

Her face light up, something so small was so appreciated.

If the world could just stop and look into a the face of a child and see the hope and love that shines in their eyes, the world would be a better place.

"Austinesque"

The hardest part about being in Thailand is that I am so far from my family.  And when I say family I mean, to quote my daughter, " The cutest grand baby EVER!"  (Yes, I miss you too - Audrey, Toren, David and Mandy - but when it comes to the cuteness factor - Austin has you all beat!

In Hong Kong I picked up my little family substitute for my twin nieces, her name is Madison and she is seven years old.  She is still in Hong Kong with her family and I miss our dates. (Don't worry Madison I am coming over to visit in October!)  So it was natural that I for me to find a "Austinesque" like substitute for missing my grandson. 

What do you think....

Although fun and exciting as it was, I miss my Austin, my substitute didn't smell like "Sniff's" and was definitely not as soft.  I am almost positive that they are about as playful.  (Sorry Toren it wasn't a cougar - I could only find a Tiger to snuggle with and feed as a substitute for your SON!)  I think I better find another subsitute!

Memorial

Looking back and remembering September 11, 2001 this morning I wanted to do something that would be a fitting memorial and since we live away from the United States and do not have a US flag that I can fly here in Thailand, we decide to take a two hour drive west to visit the WWII memorial for those POW's that lost their lives building the Japanese Railway through Thailand.  The part that we visited was made famous from the movie "Bridge Over the River Kwai"  although the story is not accurately correct - the main idea is right.  Many POW's from Australia, the British Isles and Holland lost their lives building that bridge. It was a death trap similar to the death march in the Philippines.  Many good men lost their lives. 

War is ugly and brings out the worst in human beings but at the same time it forces the best to come out in people. 

River Kwai

The bridge looking west

Metal Memories

Ties that Bound

I am a AMERICAN and I am proud of those who have fought and died for freedom all over all the world.   There have been some MEN who when they have had a little power have lusted after more and WAR has been the vehicle used for that purpose.  One day there will be PEACE, but I don't think the world is ready for that - just yet!  SO until then we will have WAR and Rumors of Wars all over the this world.

I honor those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 the victims as well as those heroic people who we called to do there jobs: the police, firefighters and medics who's families are missing loved ones who willingly heeded the call to help.  I visited ground zero eight months after the events of Sept 11th - it was a humbling site and it is hallowed ground. 

May we NEVER FORGET.  I know this AMERICAN will not!

Repenting

What is the first step in the repentance process...recognizing that what you are doing is wrong.
So let me give it a try...

I, Heidi, recognize that I have been preoccupied with my new iPad to BLOG! 

Whew that took some courage and I am glad that it is out in the open.

"DARCY"

Recognizing was not the hard part of the repentance process it was actually confessing to myself and willing myself to stop organizing my life with "Darcy", that is the name of my iPad.  To you who are unfamiliar with iPads or Jane Austen can refer to him as Mr. Darcy!!  (I need help in so many ways, who names there electronic devices?)   So I have confessed my mistake but I can't really say that I will not make it again which then makes me ask: am I really sorry for not blogging or am I just trying to ease my conscience for the night.   Just even after a few line on this blog entry I am feeling much better, but then "Darcy" is sitting right next to me begging me to stop and pay attention to him.  No, I must resist and push my way through to the end of this blog and complete an item on my "To Do List" for the day.  When I have pressed the "publish post" key then I can go back to  "Darcy" and check the "To Do List" off!   Talk about an extreme OCD (organizationally Challenged Diva)! 

I must confess I have been missing writing each day.  I find it rewarding and therapeutic to put my mumble jumble of thoughts down into words so that I can see if I can make any sense out of them.  Blogging has been my constant companion these last two years.  At times Heidi's Heartland feels like my only friend; someone who listens to what I am not saying; someone who likes me no matter what kind of day I have had; someone who is always there for me ( I reread my own posts) and someone who thinks that I am funny one day and thoughtful the next - I love that I keep myself guessing!

So this is where I need to make some corrections to my life...

1.  I will keep writing in my blog with my computer, "Elizabeth" - she has a name too!  LOL
2.  "Darcy" will continue to keep me organized just the way I like - he is good at that.
3.  I must remember that electronic devices are not actually real people - and do not need names.
4.  Who cares about number three, I never liked ODD numbers anyway - so "Darcy" meet "Elizabeth"!

Confession time is over and I am feeling so much better, I think if "Elizabeth" and "Darcy" work together my life will be P&P (Practical & Productive)

Seasons Of Life

I was thinking the other day about my upcoming birthday and realised that life has four seasons.



Spring: Birth to 24 - we are developing at such a fast pace, curious about everything and won't listen to anyone. We learn as we progress through school, as we handle family relationships and as we make our way in the world. We think we are invisible, full of energy, and can do it all. We believe in Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny. We have hopes of doing great things in the world and want to accomplish that by doing almost nothing. Spring is a Splendid season.


Summer: 25 to 49 - We have learned from our spring growth that money doesn't grow on trees and that living is expensive. Hopefully we have developed a love for the word: responsibilities, especially those associated with job, family, school, house and TAXES. Because the SUN is at the highest in the summer we sometimes feel as though we are getting burned by the government, inflation, and the cost of living! We speed around town getting from one soccer game to another while we are juggling PTA and BSA positions, the cops seem to always be more active in the summer season.


Autumn: 50 to 74 - This is the season that I am entering. Our bodies changes like the leaves on the trees. In fact I have viewed that some of my male counterparts are deciduous in their head covering, and I think it is permanent. It has been my observation thus far that the female counter parts seem to be the ones that the leaves are changing colors but they have a special way of covering the change up. In reality I am looking forward to this season in my life. The kids are grow, grandchildren are being born and I think it might be good to be an empty nester. This is a season for change. I can learn and experience new things. For me learning to cook Thai food is high on my list, I am interesting in photography and would one day like to do a photo book showing the peaceful side of cemeteries, and then there is learning how to work my new iPad. ( I received one for my birthday - thank heaven for Autumn birthdays!) I am excited for the changes in my life and in the lives of my family and friends - I have been richly blessed. I am sure that the SUN will still shine on me, I just won't feel the burn quite as bad.


Winter: 75 to 100 -For me this season will begin 25 years from today - that is a long way off. I have noticed that like the winter, people in this season have white caps but they still hold a twinkle in there eye like a star on a clear winters night. Some of the best holidays come in the winter months., Thanksgiving - and it appears to me that people in this season are thankful, some are thankful for each new day and for every breath. Christmas is a time of religious birth and family. Most of the great men and women that I know that are in this season of life have developed a clear understanding of who they are, why they are here on earth and where they are going when their last breath is gone. They seek and enjoy the company of family, some of whom are too busy for them and it leaves there days barren of cherished relationships.

My Spring season was fantastic, I learned many things and made many friends. Some of which I just saw at a high school 50th birthday party. We talked and laugh about our school days and I realized that friendships can last through many seasons. I am grateful to them for STAYing around.

As my summer season closes I realised that I did not escape unburned, cancer was part of the scorching process for me when I turned 40, it forever changed how I view life. With the economic crash, Washington Mutual Bank was reduced to ashes I found my self being pulled from my home, family and friends. The summer SUN was still high in the sky and the heat and humidity of Hong Kong was stifling at times. I found a friend in the summer SUN, in the way of peace and solace in hiking the beautiful lush green trails of Hong Kong which allowed me to ponder the beauties of this past summer season.


My new season is here and the crisp clean fall air is not what I feel living in Thailand, however I feel that this is my season to change. I am not sure about what color my foliage will take on, but I will accept the change as it comes, look at the SUN as it is setting a bit farther in the sky with hope for a glorious sunset when winter must come!

A Picture speaks louder then WORDS....

Heidi 1st grade

Heidi 2nd grade

Heidi 4th grade

Heidi 6th grade

This was the beginning of those awkward years and I guess I didn't bring any of those pictures with me.  That is why they call them the awakward years - your awkward!

Heidi Sophomore 1976 FWHS

Heidi FWHS Girls Swim Team - Standing on Left

Heidi FWHS Speech Team - 1st place Expos

Heidi, Jr Class President  1977 FWHS

Heidi Marie, Senior  FWHS  1978

Heidi  Freshman BYU Provo 1979

Heidi and Corbi Mud Fight - East Canyon Utah  1980

Heidi,  December 20, 1980

Heidi, Rexburg Idaho 1981

1982

1983

Heidi and Audrey  SLC 1984

Heidi and David 1987

Heidi, David and Audrey 1987

Laura and Heidi 1991

Heidi and John July 1995

Ron and Heidi, Hawaii  2000

Heidi and John Summer 2000 taken right before I was diagnosed with cancer.

The family summer 2001, I am in the middle of my Chemotherapy treatments

Mt. Rainier Winter 2001

Heidi Diving - thought I would never do this Summer 2005

Audrey, Heidi and Laura Summer 2009

Heidi Hiking Hong Kong - Fall 2009

Heidi's 49th Birthday  2009

Hong Kong Spring 2010

Nana Heidi and Austin June 2010

Seasons come and go, I seemed to have changed with them... Now it is AUTUMN and I am changing like the leaves on the trees.  Here is to FIFTY years of changing!!

2010  Heidi Marie  50 Years and changing