Tag: No Theme Thursday

The Big One – 10th October 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 2 Comments

After one too many casting couch sessions
Marilyn turned in her grave to send these lessons
Let fire, thunder and earthquake run free
And watch Hollywood sink into the sea

Shared with Kevin’s No Theme Thursday and this picture prompt

Today I’m feeling:

Good, this morning, waking up before my alarm again for some reason. I heard some heavy rain and thunder briefly in the early hours and the air was clean, fresh and cool when I went to do some exercise and stretching.

After clocking in, I went straight to the cafe (Couple Cups) to write and maybe do some lesson planning. I have been thinking about it at least!

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

This neck massager that I received from Temu in China today. It’s not that great but it was also cheap, so I didn’t have high expectations.

The best thing about today was:

Amy’s quick dinner with fake pork belly. Delicious. I don’t usually want to put food-related things as the best thing of the day but today hasn’t been filled with too much of anything besides coffee, reading and writing, sleeping and eating!

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

The after-effects from last night’s gummy hit me once I got home around lunch time and I ended up sleeping for a couple of hours and even now feel as if I could go straight back to sleep again and it’s only 7.30.

I really don’t like wasting my time sleeping! But I do enjoy sleeping.

I also spilt coffee on my brand new white shirt whilst I was at the cafe. I soaked it as soon as I got home and hope that it doesn’t stain.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

Anchan is stuck again and feeling down. I’m trying to perk her up but her situation is fairly desperate. She has been in the hospital again because of low immunity, probably from not eating enough. I’m going to try and take some food to her tomorrow.

I took this picture because Garfield has been hanging around at the office most mornings.

What Wisdom – 29th September 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 12 Comments

Nothing now will change the mind
Of what’s decided by mankind
For all the proofs and arguments made
The highest price is always paid

A spear for heads, a sword for hearts
In search of union, the pulled-aparts
Secrets buried for manipulation
Histories bound for exploitation

The past once written on papyrus page
Wisdom to be lent to a future age
New evidence brings into dispute
The wisest moral substitute

And one true path could be agreed
By humanity unburdened, freed
Yet as decided by mankind
Nothing now will change their mind

Submitted to No Theme Thursday (picture prompt) and Poets and Storytellers United – substitution – a meditation on the stupidity of mankind when presented with the tools for wisdom and peace.

Today I’m feeling:

Pretty good again with a little clarity. I think that is coming from the skipping of Tramadol but the other effect of that is feeling less inspired and ponderous.

So after cleaning the entertainment area and stretching out my back this morning, I took one and will see how I feel later today.

This morning feels like a winter morning with nice, clean and clear cool air and it reminds me to look forward to this time of year and think about doing some bike rides again, which I haven’t been on since last winter.

I’m surprised my body isn’t more stiff this morning, as I spent about 17 hours in bed yesterday, either sleeping or reading. I read a great Paul Jenkins story called Revelations and, despite being tired, read the whole six issues. A great Vatican murder conspiracy with awesome artwork.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Chatting with Matt a little yesterday about maybe jamming some music together soon. To be honest, I’m a little scared as I really am hopeless at playing guitar and haven’t been excited enough to practice much recently.

I do also recognise, though, that doing something creative would give me more reason to practice and improve myself. I’m talking myself into doing it.

The best thing about today was:

Organising more things on my computer, in my room and on my blog. My old MacBook has finally given up, so I’m trying to get my music altogether on my old iMac, which is still going pretty well these days.

I was glad to spend a fair few hours in there today instead of succumbing to any afternoon snoozing.

Jet took this picture because she was messing around with my phone. One of my favourite students, Fah, and that’s Anchan working in the background.

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.

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

Thinker’s Tableau – 7th September 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 16 Comments

An audience quiet
Digests careful words
Rapt in attention
Honesty demands
A thoughtful response
Worthy of the room

To conjure reply
And beg discussion
Once contemplated
Wind blows back and forth
To bend and not break
Careful and controlled

To think and wonder
Share our differences
Arrive at conclusions
Agreed to or not
Left to meditate
Played well for pleasure

Shared with No Theme Thursday (attached picture prompt) and dVerse MTB – tableau
16th Dec 2024 – Shared with Ragtag Daily Prompt – meditate

Today I’m feeling:

Quite well rested, waking up at nine this morning, though I think I may have slept after midnight as I was into reading comics.

Health:

Physical: 7 Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Selling a couple of items online after a quick post on Bandcamp and Facebook and then getting some more of the HighxVoltage/Speech Odd LPs out to HV and Heaven and Hell in Bangkok. Days like this make me feel more connected.

The best thing about today was:

Finding a couple of cool Thai bands through a random discovery on Facebook, contacting the record label and the guy there saying that he thought tenzenmen was cool. It’s nice to get some positive feedback.

And despite thinking just a couple of days ago I can’t afford to be getting involved with any more releases yet, today I’m wondering if I can be part of these band’s upcoming output. Sigh!

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

I ran out of steam this afternoon as I primarily went to my room to write and play guitar but got stuck into packing up all the orders and requests for merch. By the time I picked up the guitar, I couldn’t stick with it for more than ten minutes and then when I sat down to write, I couldn’t find much inspiration.

That’s fine, though. Tomorrow is another day and I will get some writing done then.

Something I learned today?

The local post office is only open from 9 am until noon but at least it opens those hours on Sunday, too now.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I swept up the leaves in the entertainment area of my own volition.

I cleaned up the rat!

I cleaned up the litter trays at Amy’s request.

Fairlight Falls – 1st September 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 6 Comments

Fairlight falls down
side-poured through silver
trunks dripping gold

Soft feet crinkle steps
along a path hidden
under the crispy cakes

The third of March,
we two are three,
Mother and son

One foot forward,
a thought not repeated
on this path trodden once

Soft, bright and smooth
hands held in safety;
the comfort of a paw

Knowing no place to go
into the autumn stride
compelled towards the light

My first attempt at a triversen (as discussed at dVerse) using the No Theme Thursday picture attached as a prompt

Today I’m feeling:

A little better after coffee but this morning I didn’t want to get up and covered my head with a pillow to block the light and noise from Cap scratching at the door to be fed. I was slow to get up and felt like a zombie trudging around the house.

My eyes still ache and there is a weird feeling at the bottom of my throat. Whenever I tilt my head back, I’m automatically forced to cough. I want to feel normal again!

Health:

Physical: 6
Mental: 6

Today I’m grateful for:

A little five-minute ride around the back of our house on the way back from coffee this morning.

Even though I know the roads well enough, they always look different each time I go there. Stuff grows so quickly and at the same time can be removed quickly too.

The best thing about today was:

A documentary about Rhodesia/Zimbabwe gave me some more information about the history there, after reading about it in the Decline and Fall of the British Empire.

The traveller who made the documentary also followed on into South Africa and it was interesting to note that it seemed to be safer in Zimbabwe, which I was a little surprised by.

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

I slept for three hours after lunch today. This was better than yesterday at least, when I slept for two hours before lunch.

Something I learned today?

Ipswich have their first point of the season after a one-all draw against Fulham yesterday.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

As I was riding around this morning, Amy called me to pick up some tomatoes. I was nowhere near the market by that time but I went back and spent ten baht!

I took this screenshot from a video sent to me on Friday morning, from three students who were off doing something and couldn’t come to class. All they said in the video was ‘We love you, teacher Shaun!’ Aww.   This is Toey and Air.

Living With A Stranger – 27th August 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 9 Comments

*Sometimes I feel like I’m living with a stranger
I’m talking to myself
The branches hang down to the stream
A tilt to somewhere else
That I don’t know

Words are gathered and turned to stone
Scratch and blow to see old bones
I don’t know why

We keep it tethered, our world unfeathered
We’re out of step, so don’t forget
To keep your ear to the ground

Returning home to meet the stranger
She’s talking to herself
From scratch, she bakes such lovely cakes
But words are somewhere else
That I don’t know

We tilt until the room is feathered
Or blow until the stone is gathered
I don’t know why

I can see her avalanches turn into sharpened branches
To break her bones, so don’t forget
To keep your head to the ground

*Lifted from Three’s Swann Street as are the rhymes and rhythms. Submitted to No Theme Thursday (the two pictures) and The Sunday Whirl Wordle #669. This poem partially reflects on the time with my second wife, Kyoko and how, eventually, our cultural backgrounds couldn’t be overcome.

Today I’m feeling:

Not quite right. Slept early again and woke up a little later, skipping exercise. 

I want to go to the hospital to get checked out and contemplating whether to do it this afternoon or in the morning.

Health:

Physical: 5
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Being able to leave at lunchtime and come home for a nap and a restful evening.

I decided that I would go to the hospital tomorrow and take a day off but then Amy said I should use the health insurance coverage that I get through work, which means going to the hospital in the city. Then Jet messaged me for help with her accent for her play. 

So I guess I’ll clock in in the morning and then see what they say at the hospital and decide then whether to go to school. I’d like to help Jet and I only have an afternoon class, so I could do it if I don’t feel too bad.

The best thing about today was:

Getting to my first class and finding that only half would be there as the others had to attend a meeting. It made for a much more intimate class with only twelve students and was very enjoyable.

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

That half my class was missing today made me wonder how to proceed but I figured the best way was to teach the same lesson to the other half next week and let today’s students have free time, which they weren’t going to complain about.

As I was walking to my second class Iphone told me that their morning meeting was about events next week and that the school was closed! Huh!? Another student, Jee,  confirmed it too.

When Kru Tang went by my class a little later, I asked her and she said that she had only just heard about it from another student as well!

I’m used to this by now. Anyway, Monday to Thursday, we are supposed to be teaching online but we all know that that isn’t going to happen!

Something I learned today?

See above.

A Suitcase Of Memories – 13th August 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 14 Comments

Now my head is empty
Were the memories even mine?
I want to go back…
The comfort ahead is too appealing

I want to go back
I desperately want another go
Damn this one-way track
Damn the compelling glow

The first time I heard the seagull’s sigh…

Submitted to No Theme Thursday (and the attached picture)

Speech Odd:

Vocal : Hiranya Pavanram
Guitar : Watcharapong Rassame
Bass : Pongsakorn Srimuang
Drum : Wiriyapong Seele

Recording Studio : Sixthirty Recording
Mix and master : NP. Nampan
Illustration Artwork :Hiranya Pavanram

High Voltage:

Recording at : Extra.X3
Mixed&Master : Amontep

Vinyl via tenzenmen (Thailand) and ShitResist (Singapore)
Cassettes available here: speechodd.bandcamp.com/album/speech-odd-split-w-highxvoltage

Today I’m feeling:

Super tired as I definitely didn’t catch up on any missed sleep from Sunday night.  Never mind. I’ll have to try tonight.

I was looking forward to sitting down with some coffee and free time when my grade 9 students called me and asked to move their class from the afternoon to this morning again.

As this kinda suits me too, leaving the afternoon free, I rushed back and we went in search of a free room, ending up in the library.

Health:

Physical: 6
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Nong Kratae for helping out Anchan as much as she can. It may not be much and it may not be enough for Anchan but Kratae is offering some hope at least. I will have to think of something that I can do for her as thanks one day. And I will ask Anchan for suggestions and if she can contribute in some way too.

The best thing about today was:

I felt my health improve a little over the day, especially mentally. Somehow, being at school is picking me up mentally, whilst seemingly running me down physically.

I was particularly energised after my grade 8 class finished at 12.30 but I didn’t leave school for another 45 minutes as various groups of students came to distract me, wanting to chat.

Something I learned today?

After much hassling from my students, I installed Instagram and TikTok and have been trying to work out how they work and if they are even remotely useful for me. 

I still don’t quite get them or how they work. At the end of the day, I just want to use this software to stay in contact with my students in the future.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

As I was contemplating being able to finish early and go home, Anchan messaged me asking to go with her to Nong Kratae’s for the first time today this afternoon.

I guess as I wasn’t due to finish until 4.30 pm anyway, then it’s not a big deal and I’m hanging around at House catching up on reading and writing.  Trying to get my brain back into poem-writing mode after a few days away from writing.

Tonkhaw took this picture because….he was happy to see his teacher hard at work, perhaps?

Shatters – 6th August 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 9 Comments

Shatters
Into pieces
A thought multiplying
Mirrored, reflected, refracted
Splinters

Submitted to No Theme Thursday and the attached picture.

Cinquain is a short, usually unrhymed poem with twenty-two syllables distributed in five lines: 2, 4, 6, 8, 2.
Line 1 has one word (the title).
Line 2 has two words that describe the title.
Line 3 has three words that tell the action.
Line 4 has four words that express the feeling
Line 5 has one word which recalls the title.

Today I’m feeling:

Not so terrible but I can’t speak clearly because of whatever is going on in my throat.

I felt ok to get up but once I got to school I felt tired again.

Today I’m grateful for:

My grade 10s contacting me whilst I was at the cafe, asking if I could teach them immediately, as they had no other classes today and didn’t want to wait until 2.30. It seemed like a good idea because it meant that I could finish at 12.30 and go home too.

This turned out to be a double-edged sword. The grade 10 was simple enough and the grade 8s immediately afterwards went well enough too and I headed home. However, I was low on energy and motivation and had an hour snooze and after getting up again from that, just felt like wanting to sleep more.

This meant that I didn’t do any reading or writing today and I’m back in bed again now at 7.30 pm

The best thing about today was:

I put my grade 8s into random pairs to practice conversation. Most of them complained and asked to swap partners, to which i just ignored them and asked them to get on with it. 

This showed me who was prepared to just get on with it and do what was asked rather than avoiding it until the very end. None of them got away.

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

Despite my fairly low feeling today I didn’t let anything in particular bother me.

Something I learned today?

I came across this quote that I like: “People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.” – Soren Kierkegaard

Charites – 29th July 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 13 Comments

Joy, belligerent and hypnotic
Cast a shadow of charity
Over the long promontory
A fat man, roly-poly round

Abundance in a city of kindness
A broad island for a little boy
A fungal cloud, a phoenix
A beautiful desiccation

Radiance rose from the river
That molten river of fire
Gratification of vengeance
Narrows victory to defeat

Charity bestowed from wings
Of fury fanning the skies
Attendant to the goddess of love
Love shall burn all

This poem was inspired by the story of Richard Feynman and a phrase taken from his story about three students/assistants that became known as the Three Graces. Researching the Three Graces led me back to Greek Mythology (hence the title and theme of the poem). The image of the phoenix rising is then tied back to the science of the nuclear age and the events of August 1945 in Japan. Nagasaki means long promontory and Hiroshima means broad island and also sometimes city of kindness. The bombs were called little boy and fat man. The phoenix rising highlights the rise of Asia since those events.

Submitted to No Theme Thursday (and the attached picture), Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge – Hypnotic, Weekend Writing Prompt #374 – Belligerent (though a little more than the 68 words specified), Ragtag Daily Prompt – fire, FOWC with Fandango — Narrow and Word of the Day Challenge – gratification.

Today I’m feeling:

Pretty good, getting up at 8 am and soon out for coffee.  Whilst at Utopia, I worked on some poetry which came out pretty well, I think.

Without any other real plans for the day, I got myself into my room in the morning and started adding more old 1998 and 2009 entries to the blog.

Revived with lunch, I got back in there and did more, all the while listening to music I’ve downloaded in the past 12 months or so and deciding to either keep or delete.  Finally, an hour or so of guitar playing too.

Today I’m grateful for:

My former self for being smart enough to keep some of my old emails that remind me of times past.  There is a lot of other stuff that is no longer accessible, though, unfortunately.

The best thing about today was:

Getting a poem highlighted on AllPoetry.com, which was nice to find this morning and generated some extra commenters.  I’ve been happy with what I’ve been writing recently and it’s nice to get some positive feedback.

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

This morning I also watched the mini-match of the Swans game and it was obvious within a couple of minutes that it wasn’t going to be a good day for us.  

Still top of the table but with 4 losses in the last five games, our form is not inspiring confidence as we come towards the difficult end of the season.

Something I learned today?

Part of the problem with Australia’s high-priced housing is that not enough houses are being built for all the people who are either moving there or looking to move out of their family homes.  I was surprised that there were just 170,000 homes built in one year.  The lack of availability pushes up rents and house prices.

The average income required to buy a house now is 250K per year but the actual average income is only 120K.

It’s making me wonder where I might end up.  Australia is still the most appealing place in the Western world, though.  New Zealand may be an option at some point, I suppose.

I took this picture because this new flower in the garden stood out as I walked back into the house this morning.