In Thailand: One Day More

Words cannot express how glad I am that today is over. But rather than dwell on the rough spots, I’ll focus on and remember the good.

Vanessa, our knowledgeable, eager and kind Project Coordinator over here treated us to lunch at the most terrifying restaurant today. When I say “restaurant,” I mean it in the loosest sense of the word. It was basically a garage with folding tables and chairs, which were surrounded by stacks of empty soda bottles, gas cans, motorbikes, piles of old rags, etc. When we walked in, the woman cooking the food had just thrown a handful of rice noodles in a wire basket, which she then dunked in two plastic buckets on the floor, filled with some kind of liquid. I can’t even begin to share the thoughts flooding through my mind at that moment, but they all revolved around the various illnesses I was sure I’d contract from walking in this place, let alone eating there. But Vanessa assured me that she’d eaten there a zillion times and had never gotten sick. Plus, I saw several other people from the institute eating lunch there. So, I tried to relax by thinking about the vaccinations I received prior to the trip and let Vanessa order for me: rice noodles with pork and vegetables. And believe it or not, it was absolutely delicious. The freshest veggies and tender pork in a flavorful broth with tons of noodles…yum! And the price? 30 Baht (which is less than $1) for all that and a soda. Unbelievable.

After work, I sat in the hotel lobby for a bit, listening to the piano-clarinet-string bass trio play hits from the 70s and 80s, while sipping a peppermint iced tea. The very friendly, very handsome hotel manager stopped on his way by and we chatted a while – about Bangkok, living in the Washington D.C. area, his Australian accent, and a few other things.

Then, I did a little shopping and found a stunningly beautiful hand-painted bone china tea cup and saucer with a Thai silk box to display it. I haggled with the shopkeeper and got him down to 1950 Baht (about $50), so I couldn’t pass it up. Now, if I can just get it home without it breaking, I’ll be thrilled.

Tomorrow will be my last day here. My flight departs at 1:30 AM Saturday morning, which will have me landing in D.C. exactly 48 hours from now. What am I looking forward to most?

Sleeping in my own bed.
Eating a simple, home-cooked meal.
Seeing Ernie’s wagging tail and dance of joy at my return.

In Thailand: Happy Feet

Today showed definite signs of improvement. I had a conversation with my boss first thing this morning and explained the situation here in detail. Fortunately, he is supportive of everything I'm doing here and knows what I can and can't accomplish - not because of my ability or knowledge, but because of my position. (Trying to make an Army Colonel do something when you're a government contractor is like trying to make a moose tap dance.) Anyway, I'll continue with my work as planned and try not to fret about the rest.

After work was over for the day, Jeff and I went shopping and I finally got a "same same, but different" T-shirt. See, Thai people say this when they are trying to explain that something is very similar, but a bit different. Same same, but different...understand? Yeah, me neither.

Next, we stopped off for a Thai foot massage. Sixty minutes of pure podiatric pain and pleasure. If I lived here, I would do this every day.

Now, after a delicious Thai dinner, I'm ready to take a nice, long bath and hit the hay for a good night's sleep. Ahhh....

In Thailand: And The Hits Just Keep On Comin'

It's 12:30 AM here and I'm wide awake and hungry. I guess that's what happens when you fall asleep at 6:00 PM without having dinner. And it doesn't help when someone in the States calls at 11:00 PM,waking you from a sound sleep, but at least the call had some good news: Someone back in my office was able to pull a few strings and get authorization for me to bypass the log on rules that require the use of my forgotten I.D. card. Yes, I'm on my laptop. Woohoo!

Now for the bad news: We got some very unexpected information during our in-briefing with the institute Commander yesterday, which has resulted in the scheduling of a conference call with our office first thing tomorrow morning. I have a good guess about the cause of the problem and I don't think I'm going to like the outcome of this call. (Vague, I know. There's just way too much detail involved.) I'm just hoping things get ironed out for good, one way or another.

And speaking of ironing, I burned my arm on the iron this evening. All I can say is thank goodness for the delicious pomegranate tea I got earlier today and am enjoying now.

In Thailand: A Rough Start

The good news: The trip to Bangkok was rather uneventful and my luggage and I made it here in one piece. (I've been having nightmares about my luggage getting lost.) The bad news: I realized upon arrival at my hotel room early this morning that I forgot my I.D. card, which is required to log on to my laptop. In other words, I can’t use my computer. I called our IT help desk back in the States to find out if there is some way around this, only to be informed that such action is possible, but not authorized. My tearful pleas didn't even faze those heartless bastards, so I'm forced to share a laptop with Jeff, the co-worker I'm here with.

Then, after getting only two and a half hours of sleep last night, I discovered that I had no hot water in my bathroom. Not a great way to start the day.

Things can only get better, right?

Melissa's Wedding Day

Just returned from Melissa's wedding. As planned, it was a very casual affair, with burgers and potato salad, friends and family relaxing in the yard, and a lovely ceremony.

Best wishes, Josh and Melissa!

The Curtain Comes Down

The Light in the Piazza is closing on Broadway on July 2nd...and I haven't seen it! Sniff, sniff.

There are quite a few songs in the show that are truly amazing, like "Love to Me." Upon first listen, it could be glossed over as a simple, easy love song. In actuality, it is precisely that simplicity and ease that perfectly and beautifully convey Fabrizio’s inevitable love for Clara.

The orchestration is flawless. The use of harp throughout, the single violin in counterpoint with the voice in the second verse, the five-note descending cello line that ends the song.... Perfection.

The day we meet,
The way you lean against the wind,
And do not know that you are beautiful,
Or that anyone is watching you,
This is what I see.

And I notice how you hunger for surprise,
And do not think that you are tall enough,
Like you’re standing on a mountainside alone,
This is what I see.

Ohhh...
You’re not alone.

Now I see as I have never seen before.
Since that moment in the square,
When your hat is carried in the air,
Just so you can chase it,
Just so I can be there,
This is how I know,
This is what I see,
This is love to me.

Between Now and Sunday

This upcoming business trip is weighing heavily on my mind, and things outside of work seem to be keeping me busy. A little too busy.

Tomorrow after work, I'll come home, feed and walk the pup, then dash off to Rockville for dinner at Il Pizzico. Wednesday, Lee will arrive from Rochester, so I'm counting on him to take my mind off things and keep me entertained at the piano. (Note to self: Dig out the Mozart works for piano four hands and brush up on the Sontatas in D and B-flat, so you can keep up with him.) Thursday, I have a softball game. Saturday is Melissa's wedding, so before then, I have to learn the alto part of "Set Me as a Seal" and bake two cakes. (Instead of traditional wedding cake, she and Josh have asked close friends to contribute cakes to the BBQ-style reception. I have yet to decide what I'll make, but they have to be travel-friendly so as to make it from here to PA. I suppose a box of Twinkies would be inappropriate.) Sunday morning, I'll depart for Bangkok.

Whew! I'll be glad when June is over.

The Mind of KB

While talking to KB tonight, I opened a nice bottle of organic black forest berry Honest Tea. Under the cap, there was a quote by Henry James:

Three things in human life are important.
The first is to be kind.
The second is to be kind.
And the third is to be kind.

KB’s response when I read this to her? “That’s stupid. I want to kick that tea from here to Mars. THAT’S how kind I am!”

Ah, my friends. Gotta love 'em.

X-Men, Dinner with the Family, Thailand

I went to see X-Men: The Last Stand last night with Conrad and Ann. Very enjoyable. (If you haven't seen it yet, make sure you stay through the closing credits. There's a scene at the very end that's worth hanging around for.) We also saw previews for Monster House, Superman Returns, Ghost Rider (all must-sees) and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (a must-miss). How there have been three of those fast/furious movies is beyond me. Then again, fast cars, cool guys and scantily-clad women aren't my thing.

Today, I'm cleaning up the apartment and doing load after load of laundry. Later, I'll take Ernie to the park, go grocery shopping for the dinner I'm cooking for my family tomorrow, and start packing for Thailand.

Hard to believe six weeks have past since I returned from my last Thailand trip. This trip will only put me in Bangkok for four days. Then, I'll come home for three weeks before heading back again for a week. After that, I should be done traveling for work, at least for a while.

That September vacation to South Padre Island is looking better and better each day.

What's My Problem?

I’ve been questioning many aspects of my life lately, so I had a talk with Lee. His objectivity and honesty in these situations is just what I was looking for.

According to Lee, who’s usually right on the money and whose opinion I value greatly, I tend to focus on the possibility or potential, instead of the reality of the situation. My response to this was, “Oh my gosh. Am I an optimist?” He confirmed that I'm still a realist, but pointed out that I’m always looking toward the future, which is good, but I also have to take the present into account.

Granted, this is only a brief recap of the conversation, but these are wise words indeed. And something for me to consider from this point forward.

Poetry Tuesday

I'm listening to Benjamin Britten's Hymn to St. Cecilia. This recording is of a boys' choir, which, unfortunately, doesn't quiet achieve the richness of tone the work needs.

Britten began writing this ode to the patron saint of music in the early 1940s, before leaving the U.S. to return to England. As he boarded the ship in the midst of WWII, a U.S. customs official confiscated the unfinished score for fear that it might contain some kind of code. Can you imagine? I would have hurled myself overboard! But Britten re-wrote the completed sections from memory on the voyage home and finished the work in 1942.

I absolutely adore the hymn's poetry by W.H. Auden. Particularly beautiful is this text from the third section:

O dear white children casual as birds,
Playing among the ruined languages,
So small beside their large confusing words,
So gay against the greater silences
Of dreadful things you did: O hang the head,
Impetuous child with the tremendous brain,
O weep, child, weep, O weep away the stain,
Lost innocence who wished your lover dead,
Weep for the lives your wishes never led.

Stunning.

Thai King on Throne for 60 Years

This week marks the 60th anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to Thailand's throne, making him the longest serving monarch in the world. I wish I was there this week for the celebrations, instead of two weeks from now. The rarely performed royal barge procession down the Chao Phraya River must be stunning.

When I was in Thailand last month, I was amazed to see how much the Thai people love their king. There were huge billboard-sized pictures of him along the highways. Every office I visited contained at least one picture of the king, but most had several. "Long Live the King" was everywhere - on bracelets, cars, etc.

Quite differrent from the what we see on many cars here in the U.S.

Busy Sunday

Today ended up being much busier than I had anticipated. Busy, but fun.

KB and I went to the America Sings! concert at Strathmore. We'd never been there before and found it to be an interesting venue.

With stained white birch and bronze metal grillage walls, maple floors, clear maple and aubergine velour seats, and red birch accents, the Concert Hall is visually stunning while feeling warm and inviting at the same time.

Yeah, lots and lots of wood. Plus, there were theater boxes along the walls that reminded me of the Galactic Senate's viewing platforms. As for the concert, parts were rather good, parts were not. But the best thing I got out of it was a purchase at the gift shop: a Mozart action figure. Oh, yeah, he'll be on my desk at work starting tomorrow. And during my lunch break, I'll download the fold-up piano for him.

After the concert, we stopped at Trader Joe's for a few odds and ends (chocolate-covered blueberries, mango tea, an organic vodka sauce, etc.), went to dinner at Woodside Deli, and returned to KB's house.

KB decided to join eHarmony a few days ago, so I took a few pictures for her to post and I helped re-write her profile. (See, I know how great she is, but after reading what she had written, I probably would have closed the match. No offense, KB! You know I love you and I'd date you in a heartbeat...if I was into chicks. Alas, I am not.)

So, now I'm home, writing and half-watching the Tonys. I have one thing to say: The people who decided to make The Wedding Singer into a musical should be shot.

Cards, An Anniversary, Yoga, etc.

I went down to Germantown last night to play cards with KB, Ann, Chris and Conrad. The five of us haven't hung out for a few months, so we had a good time talking (about relationships, parenting, religion and Barry Manilow), drinking margaritas, snacking on all kinds of munchies, and playing Spades and Euchre. (Conrad and I are still undefeated at Euchre. Yeah, we rock.) It was a lot of fun, but I learned that I'm getting too old to stay out until 4:00 AM.

Today is my parents' 39th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, my mom is recovering from a particularly nasty flu, so their celebration consisted of an evening at home, watching War of the Worlds. My day consisted of a long walk with Ernie, a trip to PetSmart for various doggie necessities, and not much else. For some reason, I've been feeling anxious and antsy all day and haven't been able to concentrate on anything. I dug out one of my Yoga videos tonight, thinking that might help, but it didn't. However, it did remind me how much I enjoy Yoga and that I should do it more often.

KB and I had a chat tonight about the vacation we're planning for September. We've been considering a trip to South Padre Island, but lately I've been questioning my desire to go there. Originally, a beach vacation sounded like a good idea for a long weekend, but now that we've decided to extend it to five days, I'm not so sure. I brought up the possibility of Las Vegas. Although I'm not one for gambling, I wouldn't mind relaxing and reading by a pool in the desert, seeing Cirque De Soleil, and making a side trip to the Grand Canyon. Plus, Lee has accepted a teaching position at UNLV and will be moving there in August, so there's the added convenience of having him as a host. After our discussion tonight, I've come to the conclusion that SPI is a good destination after all.

Tomorrow, I'll be going to the America Sings! concert at Strathmore:

This fast-paced, 90-minute concert will feature more than 300 singers in a kaleidoscope of choral music from the Revolutionary War to the present by significant American choral composers. The concert features a variety of ensembles that will perform on stage and throughout the concert hall, drawing talent from some of the most outstanding choruses, chorus leaders, and composers in this country.

A kaleidoscope of choral music? Not sure what that means, but it should be fun. And, hey, the tickets were free.

One-Minute Vacations

I listen to music at work almost constantly. Sometimes, when I get to a song that I particularly love, I'll close my eyes, turn up the volume enough to drown out the sounds outside of my headphones, and pray that I won't be disturbed by an unexpected visitor for the next few minutes.

Today, I came across this. And I love it! Not only can I escape through music, but through a bazillion other sounds.

One-minute vacations are unedited recordings of somewhere, somewhen. Sixty seconds of something else. Sixty seconds to be someone else.

I can’t wait to listen to each one. But rather than plow through them, one right after another, I’m going to savor them and save them for the moments I need that mini vacation most. (At the rate work has been going this week, I'll probably get through all of them by the end of the day tomorrow.)

Family Guy Takes on "Take On Me"

An example of why Family Guy has become my new favorite show. Hysterical! (And that A-HA video is still the best music video EVER.)

Remembering D-Day

Sixty-two years ago today, almost three million troops crossed the English Channel and stormed the beaches of Normandy, beginning the Allied Western efforts to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation.

Check out Euro-American Scum's account from his journey to Europe two years ago on the 60th anniversary of D-Day:

A nation without a sense of itself is not a nation at all. It is a collection of unrelated strangers all acting in their own self-interest, without any sense of community. The men of Normandy knew what their country meant. They were not highly educated, for the most part. But they knew what was at stake. They knew nothing of wealth, opportunity or power. There was hardly a semblance of it during the Depression. But they knew what their country stood for. The children of the Depression were measured by their privation. But they jumped out of airplanes under fire over Normandy. They fought the German juggernaut to a standstill in the frozen Belgian countryside. They assaulted suicidal Japanese garrisons from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. They beat back the assembled barbarian hordes, and they did it again and again. And they did not flinch in the face of the cost in blood. They knew who they were.

Weekend Recap

Friday night, I baked cookies (sugar cookies with mint chips, which turned out so-so), had a nice phone conversation with Brent, and watched X-Men. Gotta get ready to see the third installment, you know.

I ran some errands on Saturday, then drove up to East Petersburg, PA to meet my family for dinner. My brother turned 35 this week, so we got together to celebrate at Haydn Zug's. What a nice restaurant and, oh man, the food! Everything was great.

Today, I cleaned up the apartment and made dinner for Brent and me. We enjoyed lasagna, green beans with garlic and basil, red velvet cake with cream cheese icing, a bottle of Chaucer's Mead (thanks to Brent) and great conversation. He also read my synopsis for the musical Lee and I are writing and was able to offer some useful insight and suggestions. It was a really lovely evening.

Returning to work tomorrow sounds so unappealing. Sigh.

Mmm...Doughnuts

Today is the first Friday in June, so you know what that means, don’t you? It’s National Doughnut Day! No, really. I’m not making this up just because I need an excuse to eat a cruller. If you don’t believe me, go to your local Krispy Kreme (if you’re lucky enough to have a local Krispy Kreme, unlike those of us in Frederick) and see for yourself. They’re giving them away!

Free doughnuts on a Friday. Ain’t life grand?

Writing Again

Lee and I had a long talk last night and have decided to get back into writing a musical together. We spent some time mulling over the original concepts we've come up with over the years. One in particular is pretty darn good, if I do say so myself.

I became so possessed by the idea that I went rummaging through my storage closet while we were on the phone, trying to find some old work I'd done on the concept. Unfortunately, it was getting close to 1:00 AM by that point, so it was long past my bedtime. I had to force myself to give up the hunt for the time being and try to calm my mind enough to sleep.

I’m really looking forward to finding that stuff, seeing where I left off, and working with Lee to bring the idea to life. Fun!