June 4th - Friday is Friday everywhere...

Friday! I feel here, about Friday, how I felt after a long work week
in the states. It seems that the Friday sentiment crosses
international borders. My head was a little hazy this morning. I
celebrated over many Singhas and Changs last night.. Why you ask?
Because I found a pizza place that actually served pretty good pizza
with real tangy tomato sauce, real cheese and many styles!! The bread
it was on was more of a toasted tortilla but it was good. It marked
the first meal that I didnt have rice or noodles since I left the
States! Of course I did pay for it! Usually I spend 50 to 100 Baht
($1.50 to $3.00) on a meal. Last nights? 500 ($15usd) baht and worth
every little penny.. or baht. CHAI!!! (Yes!!!!)

Thailand... Land of smiles. I take a slight pleasure in hearing all
the girls laugh so femininely and proper in little high toned whispers
as they cover their mouths and smile or put their hands on their
cheeks. They seem so old world in their office dress attire. Very
fashionable skirts to just below the knee and a blouse that although
hugs their tiny frame still is very work appropriate. It makes me
think of the American 50 with a modern twist and a class that I have
only seen in Asians. I must admit it is quite an attractive package. I
think a lot about Grandpa in the Philippines. I imagine it as somewhat
similar of an experience. A tall American amongst a bunch of pretty
little Filippinas who would all love to come to the States.
Unfortunately, I have a hard time being interested in a girl with the
shape of a small boy....(Dig that american curve) Not only this but
Thai courtship is way beyond my comprehension. I barely see couples
here hold hands. Any public affection here in Thailand is seen as
inappropriate. How do people know that someone likes you? How do you
decipher friends and romance? hahah I'll never know! A song comes to
mind...

Oh yeah, all right.. take it easy baby, make it last all night.. she
was.. a AMERICAN GIRL!

For those who dont know the song...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akiBVlrRvEQ

What is is about American women? I miss them dearly. Seduction is such
a different and much more tactful game it seems in America. They are
all so beautiful and yet so different is so many ways. Here in Krung
Thep (Bangkok but I am trying to live as a local and they don't like
that word) although I am sure there are many different personalities..
the styles and the attitudes are all so similar looking and dressing
and thoughts. Score once more for America and their vast variety of
women of many colors, backgrounds, educations, lifestyles, likes,
wants and dreams.

The subway on teh way to work today was so full. There were lines of
many thai people just waiting to get on the train. Lunch was equally
crowded. We went out with a rather large group of coworkers and had
papaya salad with fermented fish, papaya salad with crab, papaya salad
with salted eggs, pork throat, ground pork, and chopped pork, all in a
variety of sauces. It seems that Fridays is when the streets of Krung
Thep come alive starting at 6am on Fridays. This is the first weekend
that the curfew will be lifted so I assume that it will be a wild
weekend.

For me, I plan on getting out of the city and heading to the beach
area called Pataya.. I guess to the people here it is known as "Sin
City" We will have our Thai friends with us to guide us to all the
sinful attractions. Ill update you maybe monday... If I survive.

Doing all this daily reporting makes me want to maybe start a blog
about my daily life, obviously starting here and continuing into the
states. I think it is interesting enough to maybe hold some readers.
MY only reservations are that I would want to speak completely openly
and honestly and I am sure that this would definitely hurt some
peoples feelings. Not because of me having an opinion about them
specifically but that my daily truths and actions are not always what
other people had planned or had thought for me. Its the good ole'
multiple selves situation.. with my family I am this way, with my
spouse I am this way, at work I am this way, in public I am this way,
in private I am this way. Wouldnt it be easier to always be one way?
Not many really ever do that. In some cases it might be wise to have a
few selves. Either way I think that in life you have to do what makes
you happy and not care about the approval or thoughts of others
because in being honest with yourself and doing what makes you happy
you will find fulfillment. Not to mention, the people that love you,
if they really love you, will love you for who you are.

In the words of Stephen R Covey...
“There are certain things that are fundamental to human fulfillment.
The essence of these needs is captured in the phrase ‘to live, to
love, to learn, to leave a legacy’. The need to live is our physical
need for such things as food, clothing, shelter, economical
well-being, health. The need to love is our social need to relate to
other people, to belong, to love and to be loved. The need to learn is
our mental need to develop and to grow. And the need to leave a legacy
is our spiritual need to have a sense of meaning, purpose, personal
congruence, and contribution”

Anyhow, that's my thoughts for today. If you no longer want to hear
them then let me know and I will un-insultedly (yes I made up that
word but I feel that is appropriate for the context) remove you from
the mail list.

Long days and pleasant nights.

The wordsmith,
R