Dear Heidi

Dear Heidi,

Tomorrow you will wake up and be "over the HILL"  that's right young one you are now entering what some might call OLD Age.  But don't fret you will still feel like your are 25, even if your body is telling you something different.  I would like to give you some advice as you go through this morphing process, be nicer to your self - you deserve it!  Some one recently call you an amazing woman, inside and out - that is not a bad compliment for someone ....your age.  So, here is to many more birthdays - You sassy MUM you!

Your constant companion,  Heidi Marie

A "Grand Palace"

Laura and I went on our first real Thailand adventure today.  The Grand Palace..

If there is one must-see sight that no visit to Bangkok would be complete without, it's the dazzling, spectacular Grand Palace, undoubtedly the city's most famous landmark. Built in 1782 - and for 150 years the home of the Thai King, the Royal court and the administrative seat of government - the Grand Palace of Bangkok is a grand old dame indeed, that continues to have visitors in awe with its beautiful architecture and intricate detail, all of which is a proud salute to the creativity and craftsmanship of Thai people. Within its walls were also the Thai war ministry, state departments, and even the mint. Today, the complex remains the spiritual heart of the Thai Kingdom.  Within the palace complex are several impressive buildings including Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which contains the small, very famous and greatly revered Emerald Buddha that dates back to the 14th century. Thai Kings stopped living in the palace around the turn of the twentieth century, but the palace complex is still used to mark all kinds of other ceremonial and auspicious happenings.

  It was a GRAND day to be at the PLACE

Laura Needs a Friend/Pet

Laura has been bugging me about getting a puppy!  I have held my ground and repeated the letters  N O.  Don't get me wrong I love puppies and dogs.  In fact because I love my "Ginger", a mini dachshund, I felt it necessary for Gingers health to leave her in the states with my parents.  (The two of them are spoiling here and she is the queen of the castle!)  But, since we are on the go so much and back and forth to the states, it is easier not to have a pet.  Laura keeps it up and so I finally gave in to one of her requests for a friend.  A PLANT for her bedroom.  Sayan, our driver, took us to a nursery and Laura was in Friend Heaven...

Laura in Hot House Heaven

What the heck are these - Strangely Beautiful

Orchid Anyone?

Some Like it HOT - and I mean the Peppers!!

Laura on the Hunt for a Friend

These need a nice tall Diet Coke (LIMES)

Starfruit - don't like the taste of the fruit and think the plant is not that attractive either!

In the end Laura found two bonsai trees to go into here mini black elephant pots and a nice tree/bush of some sort to be her friend.  Se hasn't named it but researched on google that those people who care for plants are much smarter then those that don't!  Maybe she is trying to tell me something - I sometimes have a hard time keeping plastic plants  looking good!

Audrey and Austin

Happy Three Months dear little grandson, you are a charmer just like your mother. 

Love, Nana

Sunday Surprise

It was a typical Sunday, well no Sundays is typical, but it was typically normal for us here in Thailand. We arrived home from church, everyone darted into the kitchen to get some food and then it was NAP time- well at least it was for me!  I was dreaming of sitting with the SUN warming my back after a nice hike when my alarm went off - DANG time to cook dinner.  So I lazily get up and rub the sleepiness out of my eyes and make my way to the kitchen.  I have it all planned...

Chicken Tikka

Indian lentils (spicy)

Rice

Asparagus (grilled)

I am one of those cooks who cleans up the kitchen as she cooks, I like to keep my kitchen neat and tidy.  I had the chicken marinating in the yogurt and spices overnight so it would be tender and tasty.  The rice was in the cooker and the lentils were soaking waiting to be cooked. The asparagus was cleaned, olived oil and seasoned ready to grill.  Things were shapping up, then I had a little Sunday surprise... and John and Laura helped me with it...

Normally I am used to bugs, I am the spider killing momma around here and have been known to catch a fly in midair with my hands - but I have to admit when I went to wash the dishes I left in the sink and a nice little gecko jumped out of the sink and on to the counter ,well I yelled for JOHN.  He was pleased to come to the aide of his mother, he knew what we were having for dinner and wanted nothing to keep me from cooking!  All ended well,  my little Sunday Surprise visitor Mr.Gecko was captured, removed and let go outside our back door and the dinner was "heavenly".    

Change

Victor Frankl once said, "When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves."

I am learning to change myself, at times it is a painful process but "no pain no gain"!  I am learning to recreate myself and I think I am going to like the finished project.  As with any project I start, it will be a slow changing process. I also know that in the end I usually find myself heading in the right direction! 

So, bring on the next 30 years!!

FISHBALLS

Dear Thailand,

I feel the need to write you a letter.  I have a few comments and a concern that I would like to write to yu about...

First, I want to apologize for not being able to speak your language.  You must realize that I will be 50 years old in a few short days and my mind just isn't what it was, say a month ago, and well your language is just plain HARD!  I want to let you know that I appreciate your willingness to try to understand my English and my PSL (Pointing Sign Language).

Second, I have to admit that although the traffic lines on the the streets are mere designs for drivers, you are the most courteous drivers I have ever seen!  rarely do I hear a horn honk or see fists in the air, there is no screaming and cussing - just polite drivers.   American and Hong Kong drivers could take a lesson from you on merging!  So a big high five to all the drivers in Thailand, thank you!

Okay, here is something I don't understand...

What is your obsession with FISHBALLS?   I went into a little eatery outside the market today and wanted some hot and spicy noodles and soup - and I pointed to the picture (because I am an American, remember) and said NO to the fishballs.  When I got my soup there were no noodles and lots of fishballs, what is up with that!! I didn't complain - it would have been too exhausting so I just ate the soup and left all the fishballs.  (It was a wonderful soup broth - hot and spicy,the way I like things)  What are fishballs anyway?  It reminds me of like a hotdog ball made out of fish.  That texture is not fish it is just plain - yuk.  I prefer my fish to look like fish meat and not some kind of ball!!  I am sorry but I will never get used to the idea of looking a a menu and seeing the word FISHBALLS on almost every page.  It almost makes me want to puke, but out of appreciation for the above mentioned comments I will refrain.  Let me once and for all let you know that I -  do not, nor never will like FISHBALLS - so when I say NO FISHBALLS that is what I mean  NO FISHBALLS!  Thank you for honoring my request!

Regards,

Heidi in Thailand