Month: September 2024

No Refunds – 20th September 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 1 Comment

Bread and water are all that’s served
At the Epicurean diner
300 dollars for the wisdom observed
But no wine for the whiner!

Inspired (possibly ripped off) by Existential Comics 552

Today I’m feeling:

Dizzy and tired still, though a little better mentally.

I think I’m understanding a little more about why I’m feeling the way I am mentally.

My routine involves teaching and writing and those both keep me in the now. Whenever I’m not doing those things, I have been updating my blog or watching things relevant to my past ie. nostalgic.

Due to the flooding and school being closed, my routine has been upended and I haven’t been doing things that have kept me rooted in the now and way too much thinking about the past.

This has got me contemplating too much about things outside my control. Perhaps it was sitting for hours (in the now) at the hospital yesterday that has brought all this into focus.

So, now aware of this, I can think about how to improve my thoughts and situation.

I slept ok until some point in the night I had indigestion and then remembered that I had drunk two bottles of soda water in the evening, something I know will get my guts rumbling when I’m lying down to sleep. I’m a slow learner.

Health:

Physical: 6
Mental: 6

Today I’m grateful for:

To the student in the shop who read the staff with my shopping list (see below).

The best thing about today was:

Sydney beating Port to make another grand final. I managed to listen on the radio, which is certainly not exciting at all and really difficult to follow but at least I was able to keep up with the game.

I’ll watch the mini-match tomorrow and enjoy that.

I’ll probably listen to the Geelong/Brisbane game too and hope that they belt the shit out of each other to make it tougher next week for whoever is the winner.

Something I learned today?

Amy asked me to pick some stuff up at the auntie’s store at Fah Tai market and sent me a list written in Thai. When I showed it to the boy working at the shop, he apologised and told me that he couldn’t read. I guess he just gets by ok on speaking.

Cave And Ferry – 19th September 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 21 Comments

Wet with privilege, a subtle sorrow
No more songs will come
A tuneful whistle on a country drive
All that’s left of the genius one

There is always something
And always nothing too
With little air in between
The difference is the work to do

A satisfied melancholy
A poetic drama ends
Left to wander the grounds
Bumping into friends

Inspired and pilfered from The Red Hand Files #286
12th Dec 2025 – Shared with Poets and Storytellers United #207 – in between

oday I’m feeling:

Really dizzy and out of sorts. I went straight to the hospital but still hadn’t seen a doctor by midday. When I asked, they said that I had to wait for a ‘special’ doctor who only arrives at 1 pm!

My head is also not in a good place right now, either. Wild thoughts of quitting and moving or just sleeping.

Health:

Physical: 5
Mental: 5

Today I’m grateful for:

All the staff who helped me at the hospital. Despite it being frustrating, I don’t think it was anyone’s fault in particular.

The best thing about today was:

Not much I must admit. I did start to feel a little more positive by the evening, so that is something at least.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

I don’t know why things took so long at the hospital today. I got there at nine and finally left at 2.45 pm. I saw a doctor for less than two minutes and was told to come back to see an ENT specialist on Saturday.

Something I learned today?

I should follow up with the staff at the hospital a little quicker. It may only be a coincidence but things only started happening once I asked what was going on.

I Don’t Want To Go Home – 18th September 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 4 Comments

A smooth glossy stone
In the palm of my hand
Face reflected on the surface
Curious to understand

Who I have become
Where I have been
Slow motion, underwater
Ripples along the stream

A soft peaceful memory
The curtain closed the stage
Coming up for breath
Living a new age

I don’t want to go home
The glitter and gold
That got me here
Is only half the story told

Inspired and paraphrased from this post at Spinning Visions
14th Feb 2025 – Shared with No Theme Thursday and the picture above.

Today I’m feeling:

Really tired and a little low. I slept well enough and got up feeling reasonable but after coffee I just felt zapped.

This morning, Tigger had sprayed near the bin and it was dark and bloodied. Not looking forward to going to school, I readily agreed when Amy asked if we should take him to the vet.

I figured that I would go back to school again later but as my energy drained, Amy thought it best that I stay home and by 11 am, I was back in bed and sleeping for an hour or so.

Tomorrow I will go back to the hospital and get myself checked out because something is definitely wrong with my body, it’s just that it doesn’t seem to be identifiable.

Health:

Physical: 5
Mental: 6

Today I’m grateful for:

Dr Arnon saying that he didn’t want to go out anywhere in the city because seeing all the mess and destruction is depressing. It confirmed for me that it is not just me feeling this way.

The best thing about today was:

More and more reading, less video watching. I’m not motivated for much else right now and haven’t done any writing for the past three days either.

No Life Ordinary – 17th September 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

In love with trash trucks and bar signs
Dirty sidewalks and chaotic lines
Stepped on dead rats riding the rail
Soothing sirens announce a bloodied trail

A desperate reach to grab the air
The rambling mind, a heart laid bare
Spilt milk and the ding, ding, ding!
A date with disaster or a song to sing?

In love with bar signs and trash trucks
The struggle to enjoy a couple more bucks
A bustled hustle each patron employs
The sound of a memory, a beautiful noise

Shouts from the wet streets are rising
Up the five floors exercising
A cozy space amongst the debris
Dreamt by dreams, it’s no life ordinary

Inspired and phrases borrowed from this post at Spinning Visions.

Today I’m feeling:

Ok after a while but I slept badly during the night, for no apparent reason.

I thought maybe I was a little anxious about going to school today to help with cleaning up. I haven’t had this anxiety about a small, minor thing like this for a few years now and surprised to be feeling this way.

Health:

Physical: 6
Mental: 6

Today I’m grateful for:

Our local shops and the tax-free shadow economy. We can get everything we need for ourselves within walking distance.

Extra items we can order online and even shop for bigger or bulk items, we can get delivered from stores in the area too.

The best thing about today was:

I finished reading another book this morning as I was drinking my coffee before heading to school. I haven’t been reading as much this year but slowly turning away from the lure of videos and back to books.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

My feeling was weird today. After starting off anxious, as I was driving to school, I felt ok again but on arrival and seeing the mess and mud, I just felt off.

I can’t quite put my finger on why. It’s like the whole situation is depressing and I just want things to be the way they were, laughing and playing with my students.

I know this is unreasonable and against everything that I’ve been studying over the last couple of years.

It manifested after lunch in extreme exhaustion. I watched people chaotically working hard with little organisation and direction. After all, we are teachers, not a flood clean-up crew. But everyone wants to feel and be seen as contributing; it’s understandable.

Feeling dizzy and dejected, I came home and I was only a little revived after eating some dinner. I hope that I can sleep better tonight.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I don’t feel good about not really helping to clean up the school much today.

Baibua took this picture of me because I stole her hat whilst I was chatting with her, Air and Toey as they were taking a break from cleaning.

Legend Tree – 16th September 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 8 Comments

Is it safe to sit on old memories?
The musty heat binds spells
The hint of all possibilities
Returned to through dusted smells

The tales all began right here
The crossroads of the village meeting
Cherished moments soon disappear
Disruptions thankfully fleeting

Why did these histories not repeat?
They were where legends made
One or two remain on this street
But nothing else has stayed

Who now will push the swing,
Laugh at the falling from the tree?
To sit in the light the moon will bring
And who will remember me?

Submitted to the above picture at this week’s No Theme Thursday which brought to mind Polvo’s Light of the Moon (hence the penultimate line). The picture makes me nostalgic for my childhood village life, where legends were absolutely made, yet not repeated by the following generations.

Today I’m feeling:

OK, though a little on edge. I guess I feel a little bad for not going to school. I don’t know why but I don’t feel like helping with cleaning up there like others are doing.

Having said that, though, I will go tomorrow and see what there is that I can help with that hopefully doesn’t involve getting dirty and I’ll go work somewhere if I can. I need to find a new quiet place to work for a while, somewhere that still has a decent coffee, though!

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

There being no real damage to Amy’s ribs, which are still hurting after she slipped while cleaning last week.

Hospital gave her the all clear and some medicine, though advised that this kind of injury, bruised ribs, can take a long time to heal

The best thing about today was:

Reading a few more chapters of Childhood’s End. Awesome thought-provoking stuff and in some ways makes me think of the possible peace China is promoting around the world, at least in comparison with the West.

Could humans pick themselves up and find a Utopian ideal by themselves? Could we submit to a power that provides for all? Could we accept internal Overlords without the necessity of an external alien threat?

In my mind, this must be possible. Though not in my lifetime. What about in yours, when you are reading this?

Something I learned today?

Anchan didn’t make it in time to apply for the exam for the school she wanted, but I think it’s because she knows that she would likely fail.

I’m still willing to help if I can, but not sure how much effort she is prepared to put in. I also don’t know what else is in her mind and what she has to deal with, with her grandmother.

Fatman report

In Celebration – 15th September 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 17 Comments

*It’s so hard to celebrate
Knowing all the things I know
Seeing all the things I’ve seen
The heartache of being forced to grow

Gone is the laughter
Along with all the pains
Smoothed out all the ups and downs
Only my shell remains

But I’ll pick up the cup again
And force myself to form a smile
Use up a little bit more of the magic
In celebration for a while

Still held in back of mind
A sliver of suspicion to spoil
To temper all the champagne bubbles
Dark whispers ply their toil

Submitted to What’s Going On – balance and for the prompt of ‘celebration’ at completing my first course at AllPoetry.com. Maybe these words seem a little dark but for me they represent a life of fewer ups and downs and a smoother balance in my thoughts and actions.
*First three lines appropriated from Lou Barlow’s ‘It’s So Hard To Fall In Love’.

Today I’m feeling:

Positive and alive. Maybe it’s the sunny start to the day after yesterday’s gloom but I feel switched on this morning.

I have a pain in the middle of my upper back from spending too much time lying down and/or sleeping, though. I’d like to stretch or exercise it out if possible.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 8

Today I’m grateful for:

Making a new friend today as the baby calf came to visit and wasn’t too scared to run away. Once I was able to let her sniff me, she got curious and started licking and biting my hand, followed by my legs, arms and belly. Her tongue was as rough as a cat brush and I was left raw from her attention. I showered all the slobber off after savouring the cute animal’s affection.

The best thing about today was:

Getting a fair bit of poetry reading and blog updating done, along with a good 30-minute bash on guitar. The day disappeared pretty quickly and happily.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

I saw a message asking us to go to school to help clean up but I’m going to ignore it for now and if asked, will say that I missed it and be apologetic.

Besides not really wanting to be at school to clean up I don’t really have any clothes, shoes or boots that I could wear either. I just donated all my old clothes yesterday and when I’m at school, I dress myself up in nice clothes, at home just wearing shorts and little else.

Another teacher just said that they will just go and do more lesson planning and I will actually be doing the same. I just don’t want to have to drive a 32km round trip for something that I can do at home (or more specifically at Utopia).

Something I learned today?

The U.S. government has passed a US$1.6 billion bill that aims to spread anti-China propaganda internationally, earmarking $325 million a year until the year 2027 to quote-unquote “counter the malign influence” of China around the world.

Malign influence!

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I took Amy’s freshly made mini cinnamon scrolls to Utopia and also dropped some in for Baipad, too.

I took this picture because Piti was being all chill and adorable this morning.

A Lull; A Crisis – 14th September 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 19 Comments

A Lull

Lulled into obedience
Cocooned in a routine
Lulling in a language
The soft belly fattened
Lulled back to sleep
A thief’s hand in the pocket
A lull in the fighting
Fresh-faced provincial naivety


A Crisis

Always in need of a crisis
To keep putting up prices
Push the thorn in deeper
Make this pain a keeper
Today was another bad day
Another breath stolen away
A cake built from glitter and guns
Towards the battle runs


A Lull; A Crisis

Lulled into obedience, always in need of a crisis
Cocooned in a routine to keep putting up prices
Lulling in a language, push the thorn in deeper
The soft belly fattened make this pain a keeper
Lulled back to sleep, today was another bad day
A thief’s hand in the pocket, another breath stolen away
A lull in the fighting, a cake built from glitter and guns
Fresh-faced provincial naivety towards the battle runs

6th Jun 2025 – Shared with dVerse OLN #385

Today I’m feeling:

Lazy again. The dark grey sky has returned with a light, constant rain. Even though I woke up and got up at 7 to feed the cats, I went back to bed and, after reading for a while, dozed a little too.

As I was driving out for coffee this morning, I was thinking about how I generally only feel motivated when I have to go to work. When I have some pressure to be doing one thing, then I’m really motivated to do another thing! This feeling is making me concerned about actual retirement. I have to figure out a way to be motivated when there is nothing else to do!

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Amy getting us motivated and out of the house. At about 11.30, she said that we should get some old clothes together and donate them to people who need them at the moment. Lots of people are donating food but so much of it is getting thrown away as it is going off before it can be distributed.

It is a little heartening to see how people are pulling together to help each other and even to watch some folks laughing as they clean up the mud around their houses.

Others are not so happy, though. I dropped by House on the way into the city. Gui wasn’t there – he decided to stay in a hotel – so I talked a little with his mum (as best I could anyway) and she showed me inside the shop, which is a disaster, as is their front room, kitchen and bathroom, the back garden and even the parking area.

His mum couldn’t be sure how long before they could get everything sorted and the shop open again. Maybe even up to three months. I think Gui might just give up. Others who are renting their shops will be facing the same questions.

Tokyo heard me talking to Gui’s mum and barked from the safety of the terrace above the kitchen. She soon ran down and through all the mud to jump up at me as I had a snack waiting for her. She is oblivious to what is going on around her.

The best thing about today was:

Getting up and about and not just lying down at home reading or watching TV. I was also informed that school won’t open again until Thursday at the earliest, though that may change as I heard that clean-up had already started.

After seeing some of the damage in the area today, though, I can understand why it’s not just a matter of the school but also of the affected students, too.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Driving around the city and particularly the area near my school brought home the amount of damage that folks there are dealing with. All the roads are a mess of garbage and mud. Animals are loose, fields are empty and flattened and even some walls were knocked down or foundations for poles and fences so soft that they have keeled over.

We felt very subdued by it all and even though people are pulling together there’s a sort of bewilderment in the air. About 80% of shops are closed, whether they are affected by the water or not. The economy was already struggling and this is another setback to recovery.

Something I learned today?

Brisbane scraped through their final with the Giants and I listened to it live on the radio though as I wasn’t particularly invested in either I was also doing other things until the final ten minutes or so.

That means Brisbane will play Geelong and Sydney will play Port. Could end up being a Sydney Geelong grand final again and it will bring back memories of getting absolutely smashed by them in the grand final two or three years ago, whenever it was.

Well, we have to get there first and I will listen live a little more intently on Friday for sure.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

Donating a lot of clothes and pillows was appreciated by the folks doing the organising of the distribution. I hope that they end up getting to people who really need them. There may be a few villagers who end up with ni-hao! And SpeechOdd t-shirts that were too big for me.

The Least Worst – 13th September 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 3 Comments

Wouldn’t it be great to be the least worst
And given pontificated names
Promoted due to the complete lack of options
The last man standing remains

Qualified without merit or skills
Is it possible to win the hearts and minds
Of those who pay your bills
When the sun from your backside blinds?

Today I’m feeling:

Tired. Apparently, I slept before 10 pm last night and then woke up again this morning just before 9 am.

If being so tired is connected with kratom then it’s an easy fix but if it is related to exercise that will be a bit annoying as I need to keep up my energy levels and keep off the fat.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

It not raining this morning, even though I had tempted fate by riding the bike to Utopia.

The best thing about today was:

Getting into a flow state again, like yesterday. I did a fair bit of catching up with reading poetry but only managed to write one fairly average one myself.

After that, though, I got stuck back into writing more lessons and found that time really enjoyable. I imagine myself in the classroom and how some students will react and be inspired or provoked into doing some work.

It doesn’t often end up that way and I realise that I have to tweak things as I go but it all helps fill me with confidence. I think that is half the trick of being a teacher. Faking confidence!

Something I learned today?

I found that I can listen to the AFL games live on my phone. I was checking in on the Port/Hawks game this evening and though it’s not as good as watching, it is a little better than only getting the 15-minute mini-match highlights.

Port got through by the skin of their teeth and were running tired by the end, which is good news as we will play them next week in Sydney.

Despite getting slaughtered by them 6 or 7 weeks ago, I think we have a good chance of making it through to the grand final again this year. Playing the Hawks would’ve been a tougher prospect.

Pack Yr Bags – 12th September 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 9 Comments

“On yr bike!” she said

But I was already prepared
Bags packed and stacked

Taking all my lovers with me
Contained on the pages
Where there is every poem I’ve ever written

Submitted to WDYS #253 (attached picture prompt) and the form and idea inspired after reading this poem as The Skeptic’s Kaddish.

Today I’m feeling:

A little tired still, as I woke up in the night, as Amy was restless and worried about the flooding. Thankfully, all seems ok at her parents’ so far but water levels are still increasing in certain areas.

Her stupid brother booked himself a flight from Bangkok and despite everyone telling him to stay there, he insists on coming. This morning, the airport road is flooded and the flight is delayed and he’s thinking to fly to Chiang Mai! Why!?

Amy asked him why he wants to come when he couldn’t even get to the family home and he just replied that he misses home. Something is not right in his brain!

This is the underpass at the airport. Thankfully, the water isn’t too high on the road but still, the airport soon closed this morning.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

The one pharmacy today that had the Tiger Balm that Amy wanted. The four I tried yesterday all had a different type.

It seems she has gotten herself a bruised rib from slipping over at the weekend when we were cleaning the house. One of those injuries that hurts more after a few days.

She’s taking a bit easy and I am her little slave boy when required.

The best thing about today was:

Getting some flow whilst sitting at Utopia and putting together a couple of lessons. Once I get into that state, I just want to keep going but it was already lunchtime.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I sent a message to all my students asking if they are all doing ok. Most are but some are telling me that they are about to be flooded. It’s weird because at my house it has already stopped raining and the sun is out!

I found this picture on Instagram. This is the road and entrance to my school.

It’s Voodoo, Man – 11th September 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 5 Comments

Enthralled by perceived charisma, you will hear these words oft-repeated
We will provide you what you deserve of which you’ve been cheated
The masks will swap, convincing you that change means not the same
Scapegoating other players is just the way ahead in this game

There’s no escaping the treadmills that you yourself wished created
Signed on to the terms and conditions that we have dictated
Ignorance is a more terrible curse than anything we could invent
So the illusion must be maintained with your monies well spent

I tried some long-line rhyming! The initial inspiration for this was the 7th line, taken from the comic Shadowman – hence the title.

Today I’m feeling:

Super tired. I slept before 10 last night and was in a deep, deep sleep for most of the night and did not want to get up this morning but I did push myself and did a little exercise again.

I was sitting in my room, about to leave, when Amy called me and asked if the school was open because the river had burst its banks and Tessaban 6 school is closed and the bypass is closed too, forcing everyone onto the highway, which usually floods at points too.

I called Kru Tang and she suggested staying home until she got more details. So I could’ve slept even longer if I wanted!

I pushed myself out to Utopia, where I’m sitting now and will do some work.

At 10.30, a message came through that the school will be closed until Monday! Woohoo! One teacher commented that the river is up on the bridge now, which, if I had gone to school, may have meant that I couldn’t get home!

Health:

Physical: 6
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

No more rain today, at least in our area and we are not affected by any flooding here. It was actually worse here for us last week.

Someone shot a video from ThaTon showing the overflowing river rushing through just under the bottom of the bridge, and all that water was heading towards the city.

The best thing about today was:

Probably having Amy warn me about the flooding before leaving home this morning.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Amy is closely following events just in case her parents and/or friends are likely to have any problems overnight. I know she’s very worried about it.

I feel more calm as there is really nothing I can do at the moment.

Something I learned today?

I came across a current documentary about kratom use in the USA. It seems that entrepreneurs there are extracting the active elements from it and boosting up the efficacy and it’s starting to cause health problems, including death.

I was just wondering today if my tiredness is from taking kratom. I hadn’t had any for about six weeks and noticed that I wasn’t sleeping as well as before. I’ve slept very well since taking it again this week, but then I also noticed that I feel exhausted at the end of the day.

However, I’m also wondering if my tiredness is due to the fact that I started exercising again this week, too. Maybe I need to test both of these possibilities out.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I messaged Baipad at lunchtime, and she said that she was at Central, presumably going there after the school closed. I wished her luck to get home, as only one bridge was still open over the river.

After waking up again after an afternoon nap, Amy told me that all the bridges were closed now. I messaged Baipad again, and she told me that she had made it home.

I commiserated with Porpieng and Lin, though, as both their houses were starting to flood.

Gui took this picture of the highway from the top of his house. It soon got worse than this and though he said the cafe was ok at that time, I’m not so sure it stayed that way. Both my school and TLC were flooded by late afternoon.