A smart-mouthed bad crazy-drunk Forgotten night of manic adventure Black-eyed slurred self-pity Another slug of ‘no surrender’
The door opened by the bottle Ushers safety within its cage Discard the day of tired dreams Darkness enlightens the stage
The truest friend ever found Til the comfort became a curse A body weighted in dilemma On a mission to submerse
Down, down under the table Joined by the rats and the finks Afraid of love, the amber’s pull Further into the ether sinks
Another sniff to calm the edges Eyes hidden from the light Til Jesus was doing cartwheels Across the lawn one night…
Submitted to AllPoetry.com competition of Walter Mosley’s Easy Rawlins quotes. Quote as prompt (and paraphrased):“Jesus was doing cartwheels across the lawn in the porch light.”
Pretty good despite a slightly disrupted sleep, which I’m thinking may be down to the two double-shot coffees I have on the weekends. I only have one on weekdays, so perhaps I need to switch back to the double-ris on weekends.
Apart from that, I’m still in a good mood and my classes have kept me busy and entertained all day.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
Feeling energised and on top of things in my classes and doing all the things I needed during my 50-minute break.
The best thing about today was:
Feeling like an actual English teacher for a moment!
It’s weird to say but working more with some of the older students, who are more interested in actually learning and improving, has focused me a little more on teaching the language, more than just helping the students practice using language (by just reading and writing).
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I still have a problem with no classroom available to teach my afternoon grade 11s and today ended up in the canteen, which wasn’t exactly ideal but everyone got on with it as best they could and I wrapped up pretty quickly, giving the students work to send me before the weekend.
Something I learned today?
Ipswich won their first game of the season yesterday! Hooray! They beat Spurs away from home two-one. Amazing!
I took this picture because ‘our’ little cow was resting here in the morning when I was about to leave for work. Left us a lot of useful poop too.
A little brighter today and trying to fight laziness. Must push hard as I spend a lot of my free time lying down and reading. I love reading but need to move my body more. What to do?
(Later) I avoided the dreaded nap today by playing guitar badly for more than an hour in my room and messing around sorting files on my computer for music and comics. Both things get me so excited, along with reading books too.
And before I know it, it’s dark outside, early evening as the winter slowly creeps nearer, yet I feel full of energy.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
The lady who served me at Tanapiraya, who remained fairly calm as there were many customers at the time and then she had to figure out what the free items were that the store was giving away and deal with the technology of the till software, which wasn’t doing what she wanted.
The best thing about today was:
Playing guitar was enjoyable, though the cheap strings that I bought are making me appreciate the more expensive ones that I will buy again in the future. As I’m pretty much just bashing away, it doesn’t matter too much but even I can tell that it should sound better!
I also just finished writing a poem connected with Native American mythology and compassion. I really enjoyed composing it and testing my brain with ideas.
Something I learned today?
Psephology is the scientific study of elections. I learned this from a poem I read today! ‘Psephos’ means pebble in Greek and ‘psephomancy’ is divination by pebbles. Pebbles were used by ancient Greeks in voting.
I took this picture because I was surprised by his sudden appearance as I was working near the window this afternoon. He’s getting bigger. This evening he’s still around, having a little relax near our water tank where I gave him some chin-rubs and affection.
the priest cried prophecy I understood after I died
My first go at an erasure poem. Original text ‘The Other Language’ by Khalil Gibran. The picture is not as pretty as I would like but I do like the poem that came out of it.
Today I’m feeling:
Vague and blurred at the edges. My brain isn’t kicking into gear due to the hangover of the gummies from yesterday. I really don’t enjoy feeling like this, as I want a clear and motivated brain to inspire action within myself.
After an afternoon nap where I only managed many lucid dreams, I actually felt much better and ended up in my room playing guitar for an hour.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 6
Today I’m grateful for:
Mee dropping me to his house to wait as everyone else still wanted to chat more. It was 22 degrees and I was feeling cold
The best thing about today was:
A pleasant evening meal with Baew and Mee. Though I didn’t join their conversation much, I was just absorbing the nice atmosphere of the restaurant and enjoyed the fish with young mango salad. Until the air temperature got too cold anyway.
Art took this picture of me and Piti hanging out this morning.
To transcend the ordinary And master what it means To live – this spiritual journey Is it all that it seems?
Rising high above the mundane Seek a life-fulfilling To give – and not to have to explain A reason to be willing
Submitted to an AllPoetry contest about Jonathan Livingston Seagull – a book which I’m not familiar with (yet) and had to look up online.
Today I’m feeling:
Not too bad, though I struggled to wake up after a bit of a disrupted sleep just from my body being a little uncomfortable in whatever position I was lying.
At about 11.30 pm last night, I was just drifting off with some wild lucid dreams when a weird feeling came over me and I woke up to a slight shaking in the room and Amy gave a little yelp. A 4.2 earthquake centred somewhere in Myanmar coming to say hello. It was very strange as it disrupted that crucial time of approaching deeper sleep. I soon got back to it but, quite appropriately, I felt a little shaken.
School is a bit more subdued today, as there was a lot of rain last night that has dampened everyone’s enthusiasm for the Open House. But still the show must go on.
I enjoyed talking and playing with my students again but will probably slip off again at around midday.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
Being able to come home before midday again. In many ways, and I think I’ve written this before, I don’t enjoy being at school if I’m not actually in the classroom with the students and knowing what I’m supposed to be doing.
The best thing about today was:
My interactions with students around the school again, especially with Nong Fah and Jet and their group of friends (which now often includes Anchan, too, I’m happy to say).
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I had a CBD gummy in the afternoon hoping it would inspire me to push through lethargy but ultimately my Friday feeling wouldn’t shake and I napped for an hour before heading to my room where I got fully involved in figuring out how to combine digital comics into single files to read (and subsequently didn’t spend much time playing guitar as was my original intention).
When I came back inside, I found Amy dancing away as she happily told me she had a THC gummy and was dancing as she was washing up. Suitably inspired, I had one too but it just made me lazy and led me to overthinking to the point of annoyance and we both ended up in bed by 9 pm, though I did manage to read some comics whilst struggling to remember what exactly was going on in them.
I didn’t end up doing any writing here or watching any videos that I thought I might enjoy and ultimately came to the conclusion that I don’t really enjoy the effects of THC these days. Perhaps this is connected with the dose and I can try less next time. Otherwise, I think it’s time to just switch to the more suitable effects of the CBD, which may be so subtle that it’s not even worth taking.
All these pacts we make A pinky shake decided Forever our love Sung to the mountains and skies Across the valleys beyond
Whispered words that shine Pledged to never breach or break Future in our hands Temptation will not lead us Not this time, never again
Obligations shared For us to build castle walls Our words are at stake We know it won’t be easy That’s when the tough get going
We brokered this deal To shape a nest of relief Sometimes days are dull For the warmth, we must maintain A flexible foundation
Let us bend in sync The winds of change will blow through We’ll not break this bond Pick you up when you stumble Fend off discontent and pain
All these pacts we make Pledge to never breach or break Our words are at stake For the warmth, we must maintain Fend off discontent and pain
A garland tanka shared with Tanka Tuesday using synonyms for promise and comfort
Today I’m feeling:
Tired. I slept well, but only from around 1.30 am until 6 am, as before that, I first woke to pee and then later again, the food for dinner decided it needed a quick exit and my guts were complaining for a while as I sat on the toilet, suddenly almost wide awake.
I skipped exercise but did some hanging and at school, there was a great atmosphere for the first day of the Open House. I talked with many students about what they wish to do in their futures.
I went to the cafe and cleared emails and did a bit of reading, but I was starting to fade, so I didn’t do any writing.
I left at lunchtime, grabbed another coffee and came home feeling flat but happy to be able to unwind.
Health:
Physical: 6 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
Rista and Praew escorting me (separately) around the Open House booths and bringing me good energy with their enthusiasm. Rista in particular wanted to show me the Sports Science Program that she will join next year and introduce me to her Kabaddi team and coach.
The best thing about today was:
The grade 9 students that I used to teach were all interested in telling me what programs or schools they wished to pursue next year. Or perhaps they were just happy not to be studying for these two days. Either way, it made me happy to see them all positive.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I was happy to drift for a catch-up nap this afternoon and the midday coffee brought some crazy dreams but I woke up kinda lethargic and unmotivated, which is one of the reasons I’m trying to avoid napping. I had hoped that, as I was home early, I would play some more guitar, but I just didn’t feel up for it in the end.
Something I learned today?
My first footballing hero, Trevor Whymark, passed away yesterday. I’m not sure why he became your hero but after watching an old game from 1976 where he scored four goals, I can imagine a nine-year-old me watching on in awe.
I took this picture because this is my old student Piano in her chef’s outfit. We’re always playful when we meet.
Tired on waking as I didn’t sleep well. Not sure why, just felt uncomfortable through the night. Still, I got through exercise and hanging and took the time to grab a coffee at Utopia, which has helped get my brain moving.
A random thought that I had last night:
Thai teachers are children pretending to be adults
Foreign teachers are adults pretending to be children.
(When I say ‘Thai teachers’ I am, of course, being facetious and tarring them all with the same brush but it is something I feel at certain times. And when I say ‘foreign teachers,’ I was just talking about myself!)
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
Amy’s family for accepting me into their family and tonight to enjoy a meal together for Dad’s 73rd birthday.
The best thing about today was:
My one 50-minute class for the day, in which I got energetic, berating late students, pushing students to quickly get some notes down, practice the grammar point until I felt like they had got it, all the while having fun and keeping everyone on their toes.
Slow internet connection meant that we ran out of time to play a quiz, so I assigned them to do it later and sent them off to their next class. Fast and furious.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
For some reason, the method that we get paid has changed and now we have to fill out a form to get the remainder of our wages in cash! Dangerous!
Luckily, since I use my phone to pay for things 98% of the time, I usually end up forgetting that I have any cash at all.
I should go to the optometrist and give this cash over as a deposit for new glasses before anything untoward comes of it!
Something I learned today?
The movie “Gravity” was more expensive to produce than the entire Indian Mars mission. That is just stupid! I’m all for art and movies but imagine what we could be doing with that money instead. Knowing the USA, though, it would be killing more brown people.
Review your acts, Good and bad.
Drunk Amy stole my thunder at the restaurant as I was ready to give our waitress a tip at the end of the meal but Amy decided she wanted to tip her when she brought two more beers and to make it worse, she had no cash, so it was me who gave it to Amy to give to her! Oh well!
I was still going to tip the waitress with the money I had ready but she had disappeared when we were leaving.
Sarah took this picture when she grabbed my phone and caught this action shot of Baitoey as she was running around.
There were many that day Was it day? Is it night now? Here, it’s not possible to tell Time has lost all its meaning
We lined up waiting for the interview It has been a long wait But I will review all that came to pass It was obvious, even as I said it It took me a long time to figure it out The master told me that messages were sent But I had been slow to realise
Later, we all gathered round And I wasn’t the only one Most of us facing the review agreed That we all took too long to realise Then we returned to the silo Perhaps one day, we can try again
A time-disoriented play on a life’s review in The Matrix or Heaven.
Today I’m feeling:
Pretty good again, though sadly, I was a little achy again this morning. Never mind, I’m still feeling relaxed and positive. Only a couple of classes today, one tomorrow and then that’s the week done for teaching! What a crazy school!
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
Kru David for inviting me to get involved in a little project idea he has to sell a maths board game. It could be a money maker but for me, I feel that I can’t invest my time in this, especially as it requires effort in marketing it, which I absolutely detest.
The best thing about today was:
Being able to get back to writing poetry with a 3-hour break between classes today and working hard on two pieces. It’s now, when I realise that a lot of my time and effort is going into that writing, as I’m not just churning out the ideas anymore but trying to improve my work.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
The sports boys in my grade 12 class were late to arrive this morning and what I was teaching was far above their capabilities, so I let them be, whilst trying to interact with them whenever I could.
I’m not going to be able to gift those boys with much knowledge beyond convincing them that they should at least give everything a shot.
Something I learned today?
Baby owls often sleep face down because their heads are too heavy.
Review your acts, Good and bad.
I good humouredly let Earn know not to talk to me in a rude way, even if it was just for fun. We were both laughing about it, but she understood what I wanted to convey.
One of my students sent me this today, along with some funny, cheeky comments.
1994ever 