Category: 2020

We got that attitude! – 25th March 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful for our clean terrace this morning.

You do not have to lead an interesting life in order to understand how atoms move, but perhaps you do need it to understand what moves humans.

Branko Milanovic

To-do list

  • Record and plan more TCRAH
  • Sort some CDs
  • Write one lesson plan
  • Get back to squats and meditation ½

A lazy beery day. I’m still not really enjoying alcohol much these days – it interferes with my ability to read, write and watch (and follow) TV. I should just drink at social occasions but of course, there are none of those currently. So, anyway, I didn’t get much of anything done today.

We got that attitude! – 24th March 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful to be motivated to help Amy this morning. We did an hour cleaning the terrace and it was fun.

24th Mar 2023 – A disadvantage of having a relatively big house and garden is the time to maintain and clean it. When I moved to Australia and started doing more adult things (!), Bronwyn and I lived first in an apartment before relocating for work to a house with a garden. We thought that would be great – so much space to do with what we wanted. I soon discovered that that space did what it wanted with us.
As we were renting there was no real connection with space that made me what to spend too much time keeping it together.
Even now I would rather pay someone to do our garden work. I wonder how much of a step it would be for me to hire a cleaner for indoors? Somehow I just can’t imagine that unless I was incapacitated. Even considering this kind of thing is a privilege I am thankful for.

You are a human-in-training and that making mistakes and having slips of integrity and mediocre moments are a part of life, not unforgivable sins.

Dan Millman

To-do list

  • Record new TCRAH first thing ✅
  • Sort some CDs
  • Write one lesson ✅

Spent some time actually doing things today. The days go quickly either way. A few weeks ago I was motivating myself with challenges and now I feel, with more time on my hands, less challenged and therefore less motivated.

I like this feeling because I may get less done but what does it really matter? I had less time before because I was working so it was important to allocate time to getting other things done. Work can be rewarding but starting to feel unnecessary. Luckily, I’m in a position financially where it’s not a big issue.

27th Jun 2024 – I don’t know exactly how I was feeling when I wrote this because I feel almost the opposite now. I don’t enjoy not having anything in particular to do. I’m good at filling my time but feel much more motivated when time is limited.

We got that attitude! – 23rd March 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful for our month of supplies so we don’t have to go out too much. I love being at home though I would prefer to have the option to go out anytime.

The most beautiful part about love was that you could savour the memory forever.

To-do list

  • Record new TCRAH
  • Call Hayden
  • Write some lessons

Didn’t make it to my room today. Enjoyed lots of reading and watching TV.

We got that attitude! – 22nd March 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful that Uncle’s repair shop is open so we can get our flat tyre fixed.

22nd Mar 2023 – Happily, old leathery uncle is still there.

We’re typically much better at planning a project at a job we hate than planning a life to create a job we love.

Brian Johnson on 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

To-do list

  • Find more lessons
  • Finish TCRAH upload and record more ½
  • Finish watching Westworld ✅

Easy day again. Took the opportunity to plant a bush and tree in the garden – just hope they can survive.

The Chiang Rai Alternative Hour #30 – 21st March 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Music from Unknown Gender, Chaser, Vibrators, Soul Junk, They Might Be Giants, Pfaff, Bob Drake, The Dils, Y.U.P., King Crimson, The Monkees, Universal Totem Orchestra, Meat Puppets, The Who, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Great Plains, The Wipers and Etron Fou Leloublan.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful that our house is a paradise that I can stay there all day, every day.

To-do list

  • Find more topics and lessons
  • Cancel anniversary booking ✅

Lazy and happy day again – but I have a weird feeling of dread and panic – not overpowering – I guess it is just the uncertainty of the current pandemic situation. In fact, if I did get sick it is unlikely to be a critical problem for me personally. It’s just the general hysteria around and I think it’s slowly seeping into me. It’s making me think twice about even working again next semester. That could just be my holiday mood and lack of motivation though.

We got that attitude! – 20th March 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful that we are financially stable and don’t have to worry about money so much.

A conversation between Col. Harvey G. Summers and a North Vietnamese colonel after the Vietnam war. Summers pointed out that the US was never beaten on the battlefield. The colonel replied “That is true. It is also irrelevant.”

To-do list

  • Continue planning outlines ½
  • Online refunds
  • Picture for Fern and Art

Didn’t even make it out to my room today. Used my laptop a little bit on the lounge – apart from that, a lazy, lazy day.

We got that attitude! – 19th March 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful for the fantastic books I’m reading.

The haunting fear that other people are having a wonderful time.

The School of Life

To-do list

  • Finish topics overview for Champ
  • AirAsia and Agoda refunds
  • Picture for Fern ½
  • Talk with Bruce about cutting back
  • Finish more Pocket articles

Feeling a little unmotivated at the moment. I think may be due to the uncertainty of the future because of the virus.

The air quality is also putting me off from even going to work in my room – just want to sit in the one room with the air purifier and watch TV or read books. So tired and lazy, I fell asleep at around 10pm. I should be doing the things listed above but I don’t feel the urgency.

Amy is also talking more about her inability to live in Thailand anymore so our longer-term plans may involved a big move back to Australia. I feel a little disappointed with this but don’t want to keep Amy here if she can’t be happy. Her positive attitude has been slowly dissolved by her experience here over the last two years – not just with society in general but also with her parents and family.

As I’m feeling older and less inclined to be working, Thailand, despite its faults, feels like a better option to me. Amy is younger and still has the energy to work hard but our finances will be back to survival levels in Australia. I can live anywhere though so it’s not as important for me.

Has the world gone mad or is it me? – 18th March 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful that I can remain calm today despite the stupidity surrounding me. I have been asked to control myself emotionally and not get too worked up.

For everyone is pained by the thought of disappearing, unheard and unseen, into an indifferent universe, and because of that everyone wants, while there is still time, to turn himself into a universe of words.

Milan Kundera, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting

To-do list

  • Pictures for Fern and Chinese teacher
  • AirAsia refunds and Agoda
  • Fill out topic overview for Champ
  • Read some Pocket articles ✅
  • Just Dance!

What an interesting and fun day today was in the end. So, after thinking I had completed everything yesterday I went to school to clock in and Amy and I went around the city doing some shopping. At about 10 am I started getting messages that I am supposed to be at school even though there is nothing to do. So I head back and apparently, there were things that needed to be fixed in the grading files – even though I had followed all their instructions and they OK’d it the day before.

So, while I’m helping them fix these I get a message from TLC saying I won’t be getting paid. I was quite proud of my fairly calm reaction and luckily kept my mouth shut long enough, and to talk with Amy. We thought it best to offer TLC that I finish with the school and forget about the money. I found the whole stupid situation quite amusing and a sad reflection on these poor people.

I helped Kru Noon and did everything she asked of me. I like her – she has been very sympathetic and she lamented and apologised for what she knows is a terrible school. She’s stuck there so I consider myself quite lucky. I came home and forgot about my tasks and challenges today as I felt like I had lost my focus due to these events. Not to worry. I’ll get back onto it tomorrow, though do feel like I am on holiday now.

You relapse unconscious, you don’t remember – 17th March 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for the help my co-workers give me.

17th Mar 2023 – Fuck me, Shaun! What was this help!? Sometimes I just have to pretend that I am good with words. Still, at least I got something down for the day! Perhaps there’s more information hidden away in another book somewhere.

The paradox of the internet has always been that the thing that’s connecting us all also seems to be driving us apart.

Mark Manson

To-do list

  • Shut your mouth! I know you want to speak – but DON’T!!! ✅
  • Pictures for Fern and Chinese teacher
  • Figure out 6 daily life topics ✅
  • AirAsia refunds
  • Stay calm and stay chill – sabai sabai ✅

I stayed calm and clear today and believe that I successfully did what was asked of me, without complaint.

I rewarded myself by coming home early and relaxing with TV – almost forgetting about having to teach Bruce. That was a bit of a shock to the system but again, I dealt with it quite well.

Tomorrow I need to start planning for next semester – working for my new masters!

We got that attitude! – 16th March 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful to have a car so I can get places without having to suffer so much from the polluted air.

There is no great difference between novels and banana bread. They are both just something to do

Mark Manson

To-do list

  • Finish off AirAsia refunds
  • See if the Office downloads can work ✅
  • Enjoy your day, your work, your interactions ✅
  • Drawings for Fern and Chinese teacher
  • Go to book shop, drug store and buy Vitamins ✅

Well, today went well until the rabbits (the idiots) raised their paws and decided that things were not well with my grading. Rather than actually tell me what the problem was they deferred and advised me to ask someone else tomorrow.

The problem, I already know – because I graded accordingly – so many students did not pass. What is the point of grading if our grades are not permitted? It’s a waste of everyone’s time. Why even teach?

Anyway, it’s an easy fix – it just involves lying and deceit. Is this right? Is this moral? Of course not. It perpetuates the lie that everything is ok. It hurts to be part of this. Fight it or forget it? Of course, the best answer is to forget it but then nothing changes. I hate this time of year.

Tomorrow, no doubt, to pass the time quickly I will adjust the grades so that everyone will pass. And….hmmm….everyone will be happy….?