Tag: casino

The Alien – 19th November 2023

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Came along in a shiny craft
Took one look and loudly laughed
Said ‘These things are sadly daft!’

Abilities deeply bereft
Nothing even worthy of theft
Closed the hatch and quickly left

Left no trace of any sort
Radioed home and did report
The value of this place is naught

Today I’m feeling:

A little worse again as all the phlegm gathered in my chest has decided it wished to evacuate, during the night. In an effort to stop constantly coughing, I shoved an extra pillow under my head and tried to raise my top end up so that the green slime stayed down in my chest until the morning. This tactic only had minimal effect though and it seems I have a constant supply of rising mucus now as I sit coughing into my coffee.

Today I’m grateful for:

Bruno’s high-pressure hose again, as I got back after coffee and with a burst of energy cleaned up the paths and area outside the kitchen and they are now gleaming white. They should stay like that for a year or so.

The best thing about today was:

The mango sticky-rice flavoured ice cream that didn’t really taste like mango sticky-rice but was delicious in its own way. 

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

When using the high-pressure hose at the back door I knew the muddy water was going to spray under the door and into the kitchen a little (because nothing fits properly in Thailand!) and sure enough, it did.

After I finished Amy asked me why I didn’t close the door when I was hosing. I did!

I was hoping she would clean up but she asked me to and in the end, it was pretty quick and easy. No big deal.

Something I learned today?

I watched an interesting video of an American guy who was in Laos and trying to visit the casino area in the Golden Triangle. Casinos are already sketchy places in my eyes and I was totally put off them after visiting Macau.

This guy found a few sketchy things too but where there’s money, there are workers (willing or not) and as this area of the world is so poor people are easily lured there.

Commenters were worried about his safety and it made me consider some of the sketchy situations I found myself in some places before too. I think I just figure most people have good intentions and those that don’t don’t generally fuck with you if you don’t fuck with them.

What are three words to describe how I feel right now?

Satisfied, content and (is there a single word that describes a sore neck?)

I took this picture because I dropped off some lanterns at Daytripper and the reflections on the waterlogged paddy fields were enticing. I enjoyed a nice early afternoon coffee there too.

Who Wears The Crown? – 23rd October 2023

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Where the waters glisten night and day
With all the pearls of wisdom on display
There’s a bridge over untroubled waves
That draws the diamonds a gambler craves

Awash with stories, a rain with dice
There are twenty floors of a winner’s advice
A promise of the life richly deserved
Park your dreams in the spot reserved

Pearly smiles are this devil’s greeting
The chase of the highs is forever fleeting
One more roll, one more spin or turn
The future is no longer of concern
From the shore or dreams, ships depart
Into the mists of the broken heart

Today I’m feeling:

A little anxious about all the things that need to be done when we get back home but also thankful that home is there waiting for me.

(Later) Amy was straight into cleaning mode so I dashed out for coffee revival at Utopia. Once back home though I got sucked into the whirlwind.

Today I’m grateful for:

The hotel staff who helped us in the morning, the taxi driver who told us about his BYD electric car, the Thai Smile check-in staff who was very helpful with our bags, the airport staff we interacted with, the pilots for flying us home, the cabin crew who gave us a snack and water, Aing for picking us up at the airport on time, Now for washing the car (badly but I appreciate the effort), Art for a great first coffee home, the seller for his fish for our dinner. All the people in and out of my space that didn’t kill me today.

The best thing about today was:

Feeling positive and content despite all our running around. Getting back to our home was a little strange for a moment but when I jumped on the bike to go to Utopia I suddenly felt free again. 

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

Aing and Now had two friends staying over and asked if they could stay for a couple more days. For me, it doesn’t really matter as we are still busy running around and Amy didn’t have any problem either except when we met them they didn’t say anything except hello. Amy was upset about that and I tried to rationalise it away. It’s pretty Thai style but still…

Also, despite us just getting back we had to drive into the city for dinner at Amy’s parents as her brother was here for the weekend and flies back early in the morning. It was literally, drive there, eat and drive back!

Something I learned today?

I caught up with all my Substack reading over the last couple of days so lots of stuff went into my eyes and possibly made it to my brain. I think I read one article twice without even realising it. Anyway, one thing that I do recall is a breakthrough in quantum computing. I don’t understand exactly what the machine was doing but the computation took one-millionth of a second whereas it was estimated it would take our current fastest supercomputer ten billion years to complete! That’s outrageous! But will it be useful? Time will tell.

What’s my earliest childhood memory?

I’ve answered this before and I’m a little curious if I would say the same thing now. It must be something from living in Bransty, Whitehaven. I have quite a few memories from there but can’t quite put them in order. The most important memory is from when I was 4 years old (and I even wonder now if that’s right but I’ve made it that age over the times I’ve recalled it) and crying because I didn’t want to die. I assume this may have been triggered by talking to my mum about why I didn’t have a father like other kids. Learning about death is pretty traumatic for a four-year-old.

I took this picture because I’m back home and our giant asparagus plant thing is about to do something. I don’t recall there being amazing flowers but it’s obviously part of its reproduction cycle. The other one that grew before hasn’t flowered again since it did back three or four years ago.

*Sunshine – 20th August 1998

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Email with TLJ

S: Sweetheart. Sorry I couldn’t talk earlier – too many people around. I’m real tired too. Gotta clean out my car tonight – first time for everything. I feel good for not drinking you know! Still feel like a Gin and Tonic though. Miss you – love ya baby.
Shauny

T: i’m in at uni already – i should work more on the report, but i’m not really sure what they want. Anyway, about my dream. I think we were at sean’s place with lisa and craig and this other couple and one more guy.
Anyway, we were just sitting around talking but i think i had to go somewhere. You kept kissing me and i felt a bit uncomfortable about that. Anway, when i came back i invited everyone to your place for your birthday and said we could have cheese rolls and salad – and whatever else you vegetarians eat! but i’m not really sure if your friends wanted to come, so i was a bit embarassed after that. what do you think it means?

S: This simply means you love me and want my children – which is understandable of course. You always get some food into your dreams, don’t you?

T: on my wallpaper now, i have a beautiful picture of jeff buckley. It says
“Jeff Buckley – A heart full of Music A soul filled with Grace. We will miss you”. A bit corny maybe, but a beautiful sentiment.

S: What – no picture of me? I have some scanned pictures of me – should I send them to you – you can view jpegs right? I can’t find my photos of us together – I wanna get a picture of you and play with it! Bring me some photos will you (oh, I just remembered where they are!)

T: Anyway, i don’t know if our data systems design is right – i found some mistakes last night but was too tired to think. Anyway, may get back to it.

S: You’re one smart cookie – hope you can fix it up. How are the other groups going?

T :Are you still going for a massage? tell me about your day – hope it’s good.

S: Really want a massage so I’m gonna hafta borrow some cash off my mum and pqay it back when I get paid. the day’s OK – but my wrists are sore and my neck is sore and my feet smell. If you wanna meet me at the physio tonight I can drop you home. Otherwise I’ll call you later tonight – don’t forget South Park. Hope your day is good too sweety. Man the summer sun sure is inspiring.

T: Love you babe, tlj

S: You too angel
“If you found everyone responsible, and hung them from the highest trees – would you have enough trees?”

T: would love to meet you at the physio now i know where it is. anyway, don’t think i’d like you “playing” with photos of me, so no – i won’t show you any.

S: Yeah, but now I remember where the photos are that I have already – expect a physically altered tracca soon! I could make you look beautiful! (how could you be more beautiful..?)

T: If it’s going to be too hard to meet me, don’t bother.

S: It’s easy for me cos I’ll be laid down getting treatment – it’s only if it’s easy for you.

T: Otherwise, give me a time and a place.

S: Right here – right now baby!

T: went to john colville to get a reference from comp prac, but i never see him around and it’s so late in the semester.

S: Keep hassling – mail him – do whatever…

T: mail me please.

S: I’ll think about it.

T: 5:45 – 6pm at the physio? meet you there – that ok with you?

S: Yes – meet me there.

T: getting a bit of a headache.

S: Want me to rub yr temples?

T: dad gave me $50 to get the rest of my textbooks, but i gave it back cause i didn’t want to carry it around. now i’m afraid he’ll gamble it all.

S: Bye bye fifty dollars…

T: anyway, we’re not celebrating dad’s birthday this friday or wednesday, or ever i suppose, because he wants to go the casino on Friday with his friends and relos etc. anyway, what are you planning?

S: Seeing you of course!!

T: maybe i could see you if we’re both free.

S: Yeah sure – we have to do something that doesn’t cost too much though – sorry – I gotta look after the pennies for a little while. so we can have a big summer together!)

T: was speaking to caroline and mel about the project. caroline’s boyfriend only gets to see her on the weekend just about, so he’s pretty sick of her working on the weekends. I told them i wanted to go to the art gallery with my friend because he wanted to see the japanese art exhibition. i’ll see if i can get out next weekend, but i might be having a violin lesson (i didn’t have one saturday, since he was bogged down in ballarat) and i think it’s father’s day on sunday – i’m not sure though. but maybe you should go if I’m busy.

S: No no – we go together!!!

T: how are you celebrating father’s day baby?

S: With you?

T: thanks for going shopping with me yesterday. You made me feel good about buying the dress.

S: It was fun. You looked beautiful in the dress – let me tell you.

T: see ya maybe this afternoon? tlj

S: Absorutery, Shaun