a vacation (part 1)

My sister and a friend came out to spend the Christmas break with me and we toured the country from one end to the other. After several delayed flights and weather issues and rescheduling half of our itinerary and a ton of headaches we finally met up in Bangkok on the 22nd in the midst of all the political upheaval and protests there.

Our hotel wasn’t far from everything going on but aside from a couple of cab drivers refusing to go that way from the airport we didn’t have any problems at all. We even stumbled on the demonstrations one night and saw truckloads of people making their way there each evening after work. I know they’ve had some violent breakouts and even a few people killed but we were lucky enough to miss all of that.

Instead we spent a huge chunk of our time visiting temples, shopping on Khao San Road and getting massages. We made a stop at the Grand Palace and got our fortunes told (we were all assured that we would be rich, successful and happy and that we should wait to get married, “no worry, no worry!”) We visited the largest reclining Buddha at Wat Pho and braved the madness of a night flower market. (What do they do with all of the leftovers? Soooo many flowers!)

Christmas Day came and went with relatively little fanfare. I’d mentioned before how strange it was to celebrate a Christian holiday in a Buddhist country and while it helped a bit to be in a hotel filled with westerners (the hotel had put up some decorations for us) and to have Kat and Dave here, it just didn’t ever feel like Christmas. My aunt had sent some gifts and a cute felt Christmas tree so we hung up our tree, opened our gifts, listened to some holiday music on my ipod and, in keeping with our family tradition, read a Christmas story together. But, other than the chocolate Santas and Peeps, there were no special meals or anything to set the day apart from any other. It made me a little sad. I can’t wait til next year. I’m going to pull out all the stops and make up for everything I missed this year!

We came back to Bangkok a few more times on our journey. It was our transfer point for buses and airports along the way. But the big city was/is my least favorite place to visit. I much prefer the smaller cities with a little less crush of humanity and a little more space to breathe.

the making of a Buddha

Oh Christmas tree!

protest or party?

on their way to the rally

pick of the bunch

one of many temples

Buddha toes-the longest reclining Buddha

fortune telling

a made up holiday.

Creating ridiculous reasons to celebrate is a wonderful way to spend one's time.  I love recognizing the likes of Penguin Awareness Day, Talk Like a Pirate Day and of course Pi(e) Day. Whoever came up with today's holiday is both a geek and a punster which is a terrific combination in my book.  So, whatever your sci-fi affiliation, "May the Fourth Be With You!"

I plan to unleash my closet geekiness with a viewing of Spaceballs later this evening. A touch blasphemous perhaps but indicative of just how the story/franchise has infiltrated pop culture right from the beginning. It will be fun to see how it is all revived (did it ever die?) with the new Disney/Lucas pairing and the continued films. Grandparents and grandchildren will be able to share memories of their first experiences with the story while going together to see the latest installment in the theaters. I can't think of another franchise that has had that kind of staying power while continually offering new/original material. (You've got remakes of classics up the wazoo but that's not quite the same.)

Oh, and in addition to tomorrow being Cinco De Mayo it is also "Revenge of the Fifth" in case you missed out on your Star Wars action the first time around.

And if you need any more convincing let's close out with these sage words from everyone's favorite diminutive (and green!) wise man.

a silly holiday.

When I was little I loved Valentine's Day. The expectation of a zillion cards (and candy) all crammed into a blinged-out shoe box was enough to send any child into fits of ecstasy. (We won't talk about how much I 'loved' that experience as a teacher!)

As you grow older and your Valentines are handed out as a matter of choice rather than as a matter of classroom equality and fairness it starts to lose a bit of its shine. And unless you are in some sort of relationship it becomes known more familiarly and fondly by the acronym S.A.D (Singles Awareness Day.)

In an effort to stave off the grumpy feelings I tend to harbor on this chocolate infused day of celebration (though who can complain about chocolate?!) I figured I'd share some tunes.  First up, an appropriately titled "Be Mine" by Alabama Shakes.

And, saving the best for last, I'll give you an opportunity to be a bit jealous. Tonight I've actually got a date. With Mr. Marcus Mumford and his musical 'sons'. Like I said, be jealous!

And may your Valentine's Day, with whomever and however you choose to celebrate, be filled with awesomeness! I know mine will be ;)

submitting to a challenge.

I'm going to be taking a sort of hiatus here on the blog for the next month. I've been slowly chipping away at a book I've been writing for a couple of years now and recently it's been weighing on my mind more and more. With November being NaNoWriMo I've decided to focus my writing attention solely on my book and nothing else for those 30 days. I'm not sure how much I'll get done but even if it's just a few chapters it will hopefully be enough to get me out of the slump and on towards actually finishing it.

November is also the gateway to the holidays and as we begin to celebrate the gluttony and excesses of our society by shopping until we drop let us use November to remember all that we have and give thanks for the many blessings that enrich our lives. So, while I'll be verbally silent here for the next few weeks I'm still hoping to post a daily image following (sort of) this photo challenge. One image of gratitude daily throughout the month leading up to and ushering in the holiday season. Hopefully it will help get my heart and my priorities in the right place.

Wish me luck and I'll 'talk' to you all again in December!

a made-up holiday!

Arrrrgh mateys!

Anyone who has ever surfed the web will probably realize that today is Talk Like a Pirate Day!

I'm not sure what the fascination is with pirates though I admit to falling under their spell as well, but their legends have endured since the days of Blackbeard and before. I, personally, have spent vacations wandering old pirate haunts in N and S Carolina and even recently in Newport, RI. Or singing along with the animatronics on Disney's famed ride. (I think that's still probably my favorite ride of all!)

This morning I even watched Pirates: Band of Misfits which amused me greatly.

Here are a few other ways to get in the pirate mood and celebrate the scurvy rats who sail the seven seas!

Read--

Watch--

everyone's favorite pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow

who doesn't have a soft spot for Captain Hook?

the most terrifying pirates in my list

Peter Ustinov at his best!

for the treasure and their looming presence if not an  actual on-screen appearance by One-Eyed Willie

this version with Christian Bale is my favorite!

Listen to---

Yes, I know.  Not actually about pirates but it's really catchy and always a fun listen!  But here's another one that's pure pirate, a take-off from The Veggie Tales re-done by Legos and Relient K...good stuff!

Eat/make/do--
Throw a party!
Eat cookies
Decorate!

This is obviously just a sampling for the possibilities are virtually endless but it's a start for getting your timbers shivered.

Avast ye hearties, get going before I have ye keelhauled and walkin' the plank! Savvy?


**all book and movie images from Amazon, you can purchase any of them there!

Happiness is...a fresh start and a new challenge!

With the start of the new year I'm always looking for things to add to my never-ending list of resolutions and things to accomplish.  My years start not only with the freshness of a blank January 1st slate but with a birthday on the 2nd, today. This year is a significant birthday (don't ask which one, it's not polite!) and with it I've decided to focus my goals on doing things that scare me...hence this blog! Putting my writing out in a public venue, opening a bit of myself up to the masses is a very scary thing.

I've been a blog stalker for a couple of years now admiring the skills and accomplishments of writers, book reviewers, artists, designers, photographers, chefs, crafters, family and friends. I don't feel that I have a strong enough leaning in one particular area to devote an entire blog to it, instead my blog will be a celebration of the many things that make me happy.  Books, art, nature, thoughts and ideas, family, food, travel, music, God, the unexpected, friends, adventures, puppies, rainbows.  I'm sure they'll all be covered here at some point in time. If you are looking for something insightful, smart, or world-changing, this ain't it.  But if you need your day brightened just a bit, a new way of looking at the world or just another way to waste some time at work, then you've come to the right place.

We're just wrapping up the holiday season.  I love that we begin everything in November with the opportunity to focus on what we are thankful for, for all that we've been given.  This grateful mindset is the perfect way to usher in the Christmas season.  It helps us to be more open to giving to our fellow man, makes us aware of the miracles all around us and brings to mind the reasons for the birth of Christ. And with our hearts turning to charity and love we are primed for a new beginning. We can evaluate what is truly important, where we stand and what we need to do to improve, setting appropriate goals and moving forward with thoughts of gratitude and love. These thoughts of gratitude are what lead me to the theme for this blog.  I'm a bit pessimistic by nature and tend to focus on the doom and gloom.  I've tried hard recently to look for the positive, to count my blessings and appreciate all the wonderful things that this world has to offer, the things that are constantly touching my life.  When I look for them, they are easy to find.  And so, this blog will hopefully be a catalyst for my taking more notice of what's around me and celebrating all the little things that make this life worth while.  And if I can add just a touch of happiness to someone else's life, so much the better.

In my mind this new year of 2011 is a success already.  Only two days into it and I can already cross one thing off of my list of goals and resolutions. (Another thing that makes me happy!)  Start a blog. Check! Now I only have a million and a half left to go.  Reader, are you a goal setter, a list maker? What do you have on tap for the coming year? Whatever your year may bring may you find success, accomplishment, love and luck and bushels and bushels of happiness with this fresh start and new set of challenges.  Happy Birthday to me and Happy New Year to all of you!