Tired but ok. It was a struggle to get up but not too bad once done.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 6
Today I’m grateful for:
Plenty of parking spaces at the airport this evening. I even managed to park next to the other car here tonight for the family.
The best thing about today was:
In my second class I played along with my naughty students instead of getting upset with them. We were just doing quizzes, so it was quite fun. I wasn’t in the mood for serious work either.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
After a fun first class, I was sitting in the cafe and saw a message from Amy saying that she tried calling two times but the phone hung up on her. I never heard anything so I called her back and she seemed annoyed and distracted with her parents buzzing around in the background.
She asked me questions and then didn’t listen to my answers and so she asked them again.
Anyway, I will meet them at the airport in the early evening.
Then I got messages from Nut asking about Namsai’s phone, which I had taken from her in class and she swore badly at me. Nut’s messages were rude and direct (though I can forgive her, as it may just be her poor English).
These two things together, along with a sudden feeling of exhaustion, put me in a bad mood, though. I’m trying to think myself out of it now.
I got out of it by the time of my second class but when I got home, the tiredness overwhelmed me a little more and then problems with playing guitar made me grumpy again.
Now I just want to sleep and then hope to wake up tomorrow in a better state of mind.
Review your acts, Good and bad.
I messaged Baipad last night about painting rocks and giving them away and this morning we looked around for some and she took three with her. A little later, she sent me photos of her painted rocks and who she gave them to.
I took this picture of my naughty students lazily doing my quizzes because I was going to use it to threaten them that I would show their homeroom teacher. BB, Namfon, Tulip and Baibua behind the chair. Khawhom jumped out of the way when she saw what I was doing. Ironically, they all blame me for being in trouble because their SchoolBright scores are so low but they have no answer when I ask them why I’m always reducing their scores! They do crack me up most of the time, though.
Grim-grey, red-crusted eyes shuck open A dim day where dirty sheets beckon to stay A vice-like grip holds firm the thoughts Let slip to stay trapped in false reports
Thick treacled repetition day by day Unequalled headache, a pacifier Deep inside, uncoughable gunk sits Wait and hide for uncontrollable fits
Thick wet air sinks from dark dead sky To hang there; infect pock-marked lungs Ventilate oxygen relief, breathe deep to keep Concentrate belief to dream continued sleep
Written about my struggles with the remnants of a recent second infection of Covid 19.
Halfway good. I got up feeling ok and exercise was invigorating but once at school, I felt my energy quickly dwindle. I’m hoping for a good coffee kickstart.
(Later) As I went through the day, I felt pretty good though perhaps having the feeling that my tank was empty. My last classes with the grade 8s were fun if a little chaotic.
I was in a fairly positive mood when I got home but as soon as I got out of the car and into the humid air, I realised that I was running on fumes.
Straight to eat but that didn’t pick me up and I’m showered and ready for bed at 7.30 pm. I still have a lingering headache and cough. I got medicine yesterday for the cough, which seemed to be helping but today the phlegm has just risen up into my throat and made me croaky and squeaky, which had some students laughing at me.
Health:
Physical: 5 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
The lady at Banana who helped me with sorting a refund on the USB-C adaptor that I bought last week, which I didn’t end up needing. It may take a month to get back into my account but that’s fine.
The best thing about today was:
Many students hugging me. I’m not sure why they felt the need but there are a few girls who come and hug me.
It isn’t a sexual thing in any way, as most of them are openly gay. It feels like a comfort for them and some form of affection that they are not receiving at home.
I’m sure I will likely get in trouble at some point, as Thai adults also seem to see the worst in any form of affection and David was warned about it recently, too.
Something I learned today?
Pavel Durov, the owner of Telegram, a generally uncensored social media messaging platform, has been arrested in France and may face charges leading to up to 20 years in prison.
I took this picture because Nomsen and Namsai insisted, as they were making TikTok videos. They had completed their work and were at least fairly quiet for most of the class.
Ready to go, ready to do, ready to be. Struggled through the new abs exercises but didn’t feel quite as much aching around the sides this time. Back to some arm work tomorrow even though my shoulder isn’t quite yet 100 percent.
Today I’m grateful for:
The dental clinic because I had to change my appointment since I’m now teaching an extra class on Thursday.
The best thing about today was:
Watching my second lot of grade 8s making well-wishing cards and Poppy going out into the playground and giving the card to her crush.
Then after that, Nicha and Tonkla gave each other cards in what could finally see them become closer. Nicha has been crushing on Tonkla for a couple of months already.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Creme brought two kittens in to school today. They are just two days old and their mum has disappeared. She has to feed them goats milk every two hours.
Is that good for them? I don’t know. I don’t know if they will make it.
Too many cats here and not enough responsible owners. Everyone loves cats but they don’t want to or can’t afford to pay for them properly.
Something I learned today?
Arsenal are out of the FA Cup, Manchester City beat Huddersfield 5-0 and Israel has already spent 60 billion dollars on its genocide of Palestinians.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I sent messages to Nicha and Poppy telling them I was proud of their bravery today.
I encouraged and supported Nut and Namsai when I could see them understanding the work I gave them today.
Are these good deeds? They feel like just the deeds of a teacher. It’s good to note them for myself I guess so that I am reminded of them in the future.
Write about a time when you laughed uncontrollably.
There is a joke, a basic form of which is below, that I used to love to tell when I was maybe 13 or 14 years old. You can see from the text that the joke is not very long but with a bit of practice you can make it last as long as you like.
I don’t know where I originally heard the joke but it got a good laugh when I first told it and then, when others had joined, I was asked to tell it again and soon it became a request and even though everyone knew the punchline, which is hilarious because it isn’t even that funny, the laughter was in the telling.
At some point in one telling of the joke it took so long to tell because everyone was rolling around the room in tears of laughter, including myself. I reckon it took about an hour. I felt that that was the ultimate telling and haven’t thought about that joke for a long time.
As I didn’t remember where I’d heard the joke I wondered if it was even a joke that might be popular and searchable online but sure enough I found it.
I doubt it will draw much laughter now, unless you are 13 or 14 years old perhaps.
Three scientists were one day discussing what would happen if they rammed a cork up an elephant’s backside and force fed it for 2 weeks. But because the experiment had never been documented and the idea was hard to comprehend they decided to have a go. A week after the experiment had started they began to realize WHY the idea had never been tried, they were stuck for someone to pull the cork out.
One of the scientists came up with the bright idea of training a monkey to do the job, so they spent the next week training it to pull out corks once a buzzer had rung, then push it back in for another go. The big day arrived, they set up all the monitoring equipment and set out to a safe distance.
The first scientist went 1 mile away, the second went 2 miles away and the third went 3 miles. When they were all ready the first scientist pushed the button to sound the buzzer.
BBBAAANNNGGG!
The third scientist (3 miles away) was up to his ankles in shit, the second (2 miles away) was up to his knees and the first (1 mile away) was up to his waist. When the others joined the scientist who was 1 mile away they noticed that he was in fits of laughter.
“What the %$*& is so funny?” asked one of the scientists.
“You should have seen the monkey’s face trying to get the cork back in!!!”
I took this picture because Earn was happy and dancing today. Her happiness often depends on the interest of boys and she confided something I didn’t quite follow but included the sentence ‘he’s come back’. I’m trying to encourage her to love herself more.
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