Floating Market

I have shopped at both Costco and Walmart., I have been to the "wet" market in Hong Kong and to the MBK mall and the Chatuchak Weekend Market. I have to say that last week when we drove to visit the floating market, it was a wonderful adventure in shopping as well as "people" watching.

It was a "COLORFUL experience.

Grateful for the Small and Simple Things

Lately I have been pondering about all the things that I am grateful for, there are so many and it seems impossible to number them.  Last Saturday, on one of our adventures, we drove to visit the famous floating markets.  We arrived early at the first market and decided to take a river ride.  Laura hadn’t been on a boat on one of the canals so this was her opportunity.  As we traveled on the water we could see the filth of the water, sometimes the smell permeated the air.  As we entered one of the side canals we noticed homes and village people preparing for the day.  At that moment I became fully aware of how grateful I am for simple things, like clean water.  I have a water cooler in my home, as do most people in Bangkok to hold purified water for drinking and cooking.  The water is not really safe for drinking, it is okay to brush your teeth and for hygiene but they recommend bottled water for all other uses.  That morning I got up and showered in warm clean water in the privacy of my bathroom.  So when we witnessed the daily preparations done in the filth of that river in the open, my heart was saddened for the extreme poverty of some of the people here.  Yet, at the same time my heart was full of gratitude for just clean water.  We take so many things for granted, clean water, a house that is not in a constant state of collapsing, and privacy to take care of physical hygiene.  In this world of selfish men and women who are arguing over political issues, there are people who are happy with their quality of life, mainly because they know no difference, and are grateful for what they have even if that is dirty water.



Makes one grateful for the simple things in life, like

CLEAN WATER



My Running World

Welcome to my blog, where my mouth (words) run faster then I do..

According to Webster the definition of run is “to move swiftly on foot so that both feet leave the ground during each stride.”

I am not sure that is what I actually do when I run, but after looking at 40 pages and 12,916 words that defined, described or “thesaurused” the word run and it variations I decided that the first one listed sounded the best!

I want you all to know that I do not yet have one of the 50 plus iPhone applications dedicated to running, like trailguru or cando26.2. Although I think I might check out the one called www.mapmyrun.com!

And just for the record I run in a K SWISS K-ONA, yes that is right a K SWISS – and I love them. I have two pairs and I alternate wearing them each day.  They have to last me for over a year!

I think my kids would disown me if they caught me running in the “Vibram FiveFingers”…

I am WICKED but not that CRAZY!

My running “Trail” in Thailand…

It is almost like running in heaven, well except for the temperature and humidity!

WICKED

Now that I am over 50, I am exactly 50 years 1 month and 1 day; I have determined that I am going to be physically fit so as to defy gravity. “WICKED” huh...

“Something has changed within me

Something is not the same

I'm through with playing by

The rules of someone else's game

Too late for second-guessing

Too late to go back to sleep

It's time to trust my instincts

Close my eyes and leap...”

Or in my case run, hike, swim and maybe even ZUMBA!

I am having so much fun being physically fit at FIFTY! For me, it is merely not just exercise for the physical carcass (I think I have some dead weight somewhere) that needs the movement but it is my psyche. It is a proven fact: A 50 year old who exercises 3X a week has a 38% less of a chance of developing Alzheimer’s. (Really do you want me forgetting who you are and making up stories about you – I have a very creative side, that’s right I think not.) It has been demonstrated that women, (sorry men) who exercise regularly have increased blood flow to the brain – that is additional oxygen that is used to help with keeping our memory! (That is why fit women never forget!) The extra oxygen is a bonus; my real reason for running these days is what it does for my soul. When I am running, especially with the SUN and alone, I get into “MY” zone. I don’t have to think, my body just puts one foot in front of the other. My music carries me away to another time and place, I can feel my breathing starting to get louder, my heart starts beating like a young teenager in LOVE – and I disappear. When I have completed the 45 minutes of soul changing bliss – my mind returns alive and clear, my breathing and heart beat slow to a normal pace and the sweat beads are shaken off and discarded with my problems and concerns. I have come back home a new creature ready to take on the day! So I say I am going to defy gravity by continuing to run…with the SUN

“I'm through accepting limits

Cuz someone says they're so

Some things I cannot change

But till I try I'll never know…

It's time to try

Defying gravity

I think I'll try

Defying gravity

And you can't pull me down!

Just call me “WICKED”!!

Sunshine Boy

Twenty four years ago today, I found myself holding my second child, David.

David was a most unusual child so I had to learn to adapt to his unusual behavior.  Over the past twenty four years it has been David's goal to make me smile!  At a very early age I nicked name him "SUNSHINE BOY" and to this day it is an endearment that both of us still use.  I was looking at old pictures of David over the years and just found my self smiling all over again... 

Lets see if he makes you smile too!

Happy Birthday Sunshine Boy

Mommy Loves YOU!!

Thanks for being a constant source of... humor and light in my life!

The Golden Mount

One of the excursions that Laura and I went on this past week, was a walking tour though a part of Bangkok.  I instructed Sayan, our driver, to drop off us at the Golden Mount and told him to pick us up at Pak Klong flower market, about 4K south of the mount.  Neither of us speak Thai and I am sure that our driver was a little nervous just dropping two "Farang" (Slang Thai for lighter skinned people) in the middle of one of the busiest cities in Asia.  Laura and I got out of our van armed with two cell phones, a Bangkok guide book, camera, city street map and my iPad with a wonderful map application!  We were ready, the first thing we had to do is find the entrance to the Golden Mount.  That took a couple of tries but finally we decided to follow the "golden arrows" - hey that is what you get with two independent blonds. 

The construction of the Golden Mount and Wat (Temple) Saket began in 1865.  The Golden Mount Chedi houses some of Buddha's Relics given to the King by Indian Government in 1899.  The Golden Mount is a very sacred sit for the Thai people.

After our visit to the mount, we made out way back down all the stairs and back onto the streets of Bangkok.  We must have looked pretty touristy, Laura had the guide book and map while I was watching the moving dot, which was us, move down the street. Man do I love technology!  We past several temples and wound out way into a little alley called Monk's Bowl.  This is one of three alleys where the families that live here make the bowls that the Monks use to ask for offerings.  It was very interesting and so far removed from the factory made objects.

We then made our way to a 7-11, Oh thank Heaven, for some refreshment for our dry throats.  The temperature was only about 93 with humidity high as a afternoon thunderstorm was rolling in.  I will never understand why we always decided to explore when it is so hot and muggy, but we do.  The sights and sounds that you get from walking the streets is so much more fascinating then driving by in a car.  Like Hong Kong, Bangkok has some petty nasty smells...and it is dirty! Hand sanitizer is a must on this trips, Bath and Body works never smelled so good.  After three hours of exploring the city streets we called the driver and he was right across the street. The iPad got us to our pick up place, and we hopped in the cool air conditioned car thankful for all we had seen and for all the wonderful things that make our life better.

Ten Day Blog Hiatus is OVER

I went on a ten day blog hiatus not because I wanted to but because I was just lazy.  At least I am truthful.  Laura and I have been doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that the past ten days.  Hope the photos speak for themselves.  If not then I am going to have to type a thousand words for each photo, that would be 24,000 words and I am sure that I am not capable of writing that many, speaking that many is a different matter altogether!!

Shopping Extravaganza



Historical and Religious Excursions

Looking to buy our Second CAR!!

Now that is a Little Bit of this and a Little bit of that.  Laura and I do try to keep ourselves busy!!