Sawadee Khrap

I just received this letter from my sister in California.  Her daughter, Jessica and Jess’s partner Stephanie are planning on adopting a child and they are seeking a special person (Birthmother) somewhere in the U.S. for help.

This blog is presently getting over 300 visitors a day and hopefully one of them, or someone they may know, is looking to make an adoption plan.  Please read the letter below and if you, or someone you know, can help please contact Stephanie & Jessica directly by email or through the web-sites shown in the letter.

Dear Family & Friends,As many of you know, we are hoping to start a family through adoption, specifically open adoption. Open adoption is an adoption process in which birthparents and adoptive parents select each other, and although the adoptive parents are solely the parents of the child, the birthparents remain a part of the child's life in some capacity. We believe that it is healthy for an adopted child to know who their birthparents are, where they came from, why they look like they do, and other important issues that can come up for the adopted child. Plus, you can never have too many people that love your child.  We are thrilled about adopting and hope to make a connection soon with a young woman or couple who are considering a loving family for the baby they are bringing into the world.We are working with a nationwide adoption agency (www.adoptionhelp.org) specializing in open

...

Sawadee Khrap

Jerry sent me another :  Can’t read the author’s name, the JPG is so pixelated – so I’ll put it up and if they email to remove, I’ll take it down.

 

enjoy:  Nice Photoshop work – or Painter, not sure

 

 

 

 

 

Ciao.

 

Sawadee Khrap

Hey, you guys in Chiang Mai be sure and visit the original Miguel’s on the moat before Thapae Gate (Chaiyaphum Rd.  082–897–6427) and get your free INVITATION to the Grand Opening Party April 25th for the new location at Nong Hoi.  Here’s ours, we will be there for sure  – hope to see you there too.

Great Authentic Mexican Food and Drinks

Mark says that there will be some “sunrises” – I can’t wait to see what that means – I asked him would it be some beautiful boys.

He just laughed and said that it would be hard to beat Nu – thanks Mark for the compliment, I know Nu appreciates it.

I think, Randie, his sister, will be the manager.  We meet both Mark and Randie at the last Expats meeting where they came as a new sponsor for the club.  I hope I have the spelling of her name right. 

SEE YOU ALL THERE !

Ciao.

Sawadee Khrap

Jerry’s done it again – sent me this – Hope you enjoy:

For  all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the  way computers have enhanced our lives, read on.

At a  recent computer expo (COMDEX),Bill Gates reportedly compared  the computer industry with the auto industry and stated,  'If GM had kept up with technology like the computer  industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that get 1,000  miles to the gallon.'

In  response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press  release stating:  (Sorry, I don’t have a link to the copy)

If  GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be  driving cars with the following characteristics (and I just love this part ):

1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash........  Twice  a day.

2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car. 

3.  Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason.  You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would  simply accept this.

4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine. 

5.  Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was

...

Sawadee Khrap

 Wow – I just got these great pictures from our friend Max — He and several of his friends spent the weekend at this great place in Lampang.  On Kew Lom Lake – at the  Wang-Kaew Isle resort.   Approx. 160Km from Chiang Mai past Lampang but before you reach Phayao.

Looks like a very peaceful place to relax and enjoy the company of good friends – he says that they took a bamboo-boat from the resort for a 2 hr round-trip tour of the lake – caves, landscapes,  – then back to the resort’s natural gardens and comfortable rooms with WC/hot showers and a balcony overlooking the lake. Very reasonable – they paid about 1200 Baht ($40 US) person/night for lodging, food, drinks and tours — not bad.

——— SLIDESHOW —-—

P.S.  I just ran across a web-site for “big game” fishing and it shows the Kew Lom lake – Don’t know how they do for the fishing, or how big they are BUT judging from the photos of the boys in Max’s shots, there must be a lot to catch at the resort ().  New and I will have to check it out and let you know – fishing and the resort – ha ha .

Ciao

Sawadee Khrap

Mark Gerard  just sent me this terrific article on the actual thought process that  created this portrait.  He sent it to me as a Word document and I converted it to a web-page to post here.

 —— Painting a Portrait ——

I think I’m going to try some painting too – but not with actual paints but digitally.  Adobe Photoshop has brushes and is capable of producing images that appear like copies of paintings – coupled with special printing paper, very realistic paintings are possible. 

Now, with my studio close to completion and several boys already willing to pose, I should have enough material to start painting – errr, (Is painting the proper word to use, or should I say processing?)

But the “real” painting program is Corel Painter.  This program is “the cat’s meow”. 

Corel says “ultimate digital art studio for anyone ready to expand their definition of creativity. Working with the most advanced digital painting and natural media tools available, you can create the art you’ve always envisioned”.

I had an older version and found it had a very steep learning curve – probably because I have no painting talent.  But now, as I am slower and have the time to learn – not to mention the great material I can “paint” – I think I’ll get the latest version ( 12, I think is out now ) and

...

Sawadee Khrap

Sunday and Monday were filled with picture taking at Wat Suan Dok.  52 young men from very young to their 20’s were ordained as Novice Monks.  I took a lot of shots and New used the video.  He will make a DVD of the event, both for practice and for the Temple.  He’s starting a small business of video and photos so this is a good starting project – hopefully I may be able to post it . – I’ll try

The day begins with the boys getting their head and eyebrows shaved then into the white novice robes for the ordination.  After being ordinated they then put on the traditional orange robes.  The final part of the second day is when they receive their bowels – each morning they will leave the temple to walk the local neighood to receive the offerings from the people – what they receive is what they have to eat.  It is a lesson in dependence and humility – something we in the West I think have lost with our children.  Most will be here for at least the following month.

This is a quick post and so I don’t have a lot of information to add – just the sideshow:

—— SLIDESHOW ——

ciao

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday night  we went to see “Seussical” at the Kad Theater at Kad Suan Kaew Shopping Center – what a delightful evening.

Check out the SLIDESHOW

 

 

 

 

And our friend Jim put his photos in his FaceBook - he's done a much better job of telling the story than I do - I'll have to take more time and have each of my photos captioned - wow a lot of work - we'll see

 

Ciao.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last night, Thursday 19th, we went to see our friend, Mark’s Grand Opening of his presention of over 30 of his original watercolours at the Look At This Art Gallery, Nimmanhaemin Road, (opposite the Amari Rincome Hotel).  In addition there were also four others artists showing their works in acrylic and oils.  

Nice show, great attendance, especially liked Mark’s paintings – check it out, I’m sure you'll find one you want for your home.

 

 

 

 

 

And they have a great staff too –

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ciao

 

 

La Vie en Rose Grand Opening on Monday, March 16, 2009. 20:00 till 22:00.   Fireworks, Lanna Style Hot Air Balloons.   Famous Saxophone Quartet "Four Brothers"   Free Red Wine  Free White Wine Free Beer (Heineken - Chang)   Nimman Kitchen (by Krit) will present a variety of delicious snacks.

 See the SlideShow – this Gay owned and operated bar just opened in Chiang Mai opposite the HillSide4 Condos.  Great crowd, music and food sparked the event.  I was having camera problems and so didn’t get a lot of pictures – but I did get some of the boys that were there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You’ll recognize New and Narin and here is also a shot of the bartenders –  We had a great time and saw a lot of old friends we hadn’t see in a long time – maybe now there will be a place where we can meet.

There are rumors that the area will cater to a gay’er

...

Sawadee Khrap

If you check out my earlier post on David’s Service you will find a comment by Kathy Humphry requesting the names of David’s friends here in Chiang Mai.  She then sent me a beautiful letter of her experiences with David in Scotland.  For all of you who knew David but not in detail, I thought I’d post it here:

“Hi Frank

Thank you so much. Many of us here in Scotland have been reading the web and seeing what you have done in Chiang Mai.

I met David about 31 years ago. I thought he was a school boy (smoking in the corner) until he stepped forward to conduct "The Magic Fir Tree" which he had just composed.I was bowled over and have been a supporter ever since. He then went on to found the Hadley Court Singers and I was an early, though not founder member of that.The next step was the Lasswade Community Orchestra and I was a founder member of that. I am the only original member left sadly. This orchestra moved from Lasswade and became the Open Orchestra which is thriving and will be holding a celebration concert for David on 21st June in the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh. This is a lovely old Church on the Royal Mile which is the Church the Queen uses when in residence in Edinburgh. David held his 50th birthday celebration concert there playing a whole concert of his own compositions. We will also be playing only David's

...

 

Here’s a photo I saw on the Internet – and it reminded me about the story Jerry sent me about the “Brass Monkey” I posted last month.

I bet this guy would have a rough time in that cold weather.

I’d like to find out who took this photo – I bet he has a lot more great shots.  But there is no data included with the JPG I have – If anyone has the original photo or knows who the photographer is please let me know.

In any event – I think it’s cute

HANG IN THERE – as they say

 

Ciao

 

Sawadee Khrap

 C O M O D O

I have been running their Free AntiVirus and Firewall program with great success.

So far it’s the best I’ve found  and gives me all the control I have been looking for.

and it’s FREE

Can’t beat that.

Ciao

Sawadee Khrap

Jerry just sent me this picture – need I say more.

 

No idea who’s picture this is but I hope they don’t mind if I post it here -

If not – please email me and I will remove it.

 

P.S. I would love to give credit to the young (spirit) man in the photo – I hope he writes and lets me know who he is and hopefully I can post more of his philosophy on life.  It would be a great honor to post his comments here.

 

Ciao

Sawadee Khrap

I just started in earnest looking for data to help me prepare my photo studio and get some ideas for interesting shots.  I have to admit that art does not come naturally to me, at least how to make a “Wow” artistic work.  Taking a photo is one thing – making a great photo artistic is something else – at least for me.

I was going through the videos on YouTube and ran across this one, at least this one really caught my eye and I wanted to post it for you to see too.

 

I am starting to set up my studio and hope to have some shots to show, maybe next month – it will be longer before I open the studio web-site – I hope you will stay tuned to see.   Anyway I hope you enjoy this video as much as I do.

I know I did.

Ciao