How is it so; in youthful care with all the fucks we used to share, suddenly there’s none left to give, tired of all this time to live?
Be careful of any fucks a-spilling; That bag of fucks will need refilling The means by which the fucks are granted is the movement of energy now transplanted;
There’s no more to be created A blind eye may be demonstrated; But open arms may still receive a fuck to share and to believe
So to grow a new collection Cast your fucks in the right direction Give a last fuck without a doubt The bag feels like it’s running out
Inspired by this article by Mandy Brown about caring less as you age but still being able to be motivated by others.
Shaping one’s trajectory Commits to long-term memory The person to become Life is no more than the sum of the attention paid and thus a character made The mind is the portal To the soul of the mortal The rule that never fails The devil’s in the details
Kim Deal – Not for me. Don’t know why she’s playing a guitar in the video when it is barely audible! Smash some barre chords Kim Deal!
00Genesis – It’s OK. About 20 years ago I would’ve used tracks like this as links between more punk/hardcore songs on mix CDs.
Robustom – Cool concept, fine enough execution, I’m just not connected to it.
Shock Therapy – The singing cracks me up as it is so serious yet the lyrics from what I can make it, so absurd. I’d enjoy this live. Hopefully the dress up as lobsters, right?
Damaged Bug – I actually have a bunch of DB downloaded already and enjoyed having a listen through again with this reminder. Not mind-blowingly but has that little bit of enjoyable oddity.
I got tired of cynicism Though it was fun when done well My downfall, the criticism From those who couldn’t tell
Well beyond the sceptical The game no longer inspiring Now to hide from all spectacle That my ego was requiring
Once I’d met my match I saw what I might become Reset to start from scratch Before I’d further succumb
So now just slightly twisted My outlook is a little skewed The way I have persisted Was the better way pursued
Today I’m feeling:
Like everything is ok except my cold. Sore throat has turned into a runny nose and cough now. Slept deep and long, no exercise again this morning. I’m looking forward to getting home again this evening.
Health:
Physical: 6 Mental: 8
Today I’m grateful for:
The box of tissues in the teacher’s room that allowed me to empty my head at regular intervals throughout the day.
The best thing about today was:
My last class of the day with grade 11 HAP and J-Biz students which was a lot of fun and generated a lot of discussions as I asked them to answer the question ‘how can you make your life happier ?’ I challenged many of their answers as they sometimes only considered short-term happiness. It was interesting and fun.
Something I learned today?
I found out that the primary students stop coming to school on Feb 28th! With other things going on in Feb too it pretty much means that we’re done already!
Review your acts, Good and bad.
When I found out that it had been Em’s birthday on Wednesday I quickly sent her a belated Happy Birthday.
Not too bad after another long sleep. Throat still sore and not quite at full brain capacity but at least I’m not feeling grim. I double dosed my anti inflammatory medicine this morning hoping that I can kill off whatever it is I have.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
Amy and the sun. Both combined to get our clothes washed and dried today after a build-up over the past ten days of either being too busy or too cloudy.
The best thing about today was:
Nothing that stands out in particular. Just another good day all round and a slight improvement of my sore throat by the time I got home from work.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
With two hours left after my last class before I could go home, I went to TLC to pick up the paperwork for my visa application and then spent a little while doing my grading files and then chatting with some students before finally being able to clock out and head home.
Something I learned today?
I learned the things that Amy told me yesterday again, as she forgot that she had drunkenly told me them already! Haha.
Baipad had this picture taken as I asked for a picture of her in her traditional village clothes as she is there for Chinese New Year for a couple of days. I joked with her about how thrilled and excited she looks in this. She, like myself in the past, doesn’t particularly like having her picture taken and never does selfies as about 90% of kids do theses days.
Like I have the start of a cold again. The big changes in temperatures are getting everyone sick it seems. I skipped exercise this morning as i felt exhausted last night and couldn’t even read much before sleeping. I also woke up many times last night with aching shoulders again. Ugh.
By the end of the day my sore throat is worsening and my tinnitus more annoying so I’m guessing my sinuses are inflamed with germs, viruses and smoke. Ugh.
Health:
Physical: 6 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
The lady at the hospital who was as proud as I was of our ability to communicate with each other in our broken second languages to change the date of my peehole examination.
The best thing about today was:
My grade 10 English class today was a lot of fun. We’ve been working through a set of grammar worksheets for the last two weeks and it has got everyone active and talking and helping each other to understand. I have to take their phones each time otherwise they will just use translation and AI to help them. Instead, if I am stuck answering something I use those tools, project on to the screen and can advise them to use the information as a guide and not just copy it.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I drove out to the funeral this morning, (sub-directors mother) mainly because many students in my morning class were off doing something with T. Champ so I could easily cancel it and it then gave me something to do!
The map that I was sent opened an app but my location wasn’t getting picked up but I figured I could find the place anyway.
After about 15 minutes I figured I was on the wrong road and found a side road to head back and start again.
When I got back I opened up Google Maps and saw that I had been on the right road all along so turned around and headed that way again.
It turned out that the side road that I turned around in was exactly where the funeral was!
That’s the way it goes.
I took this picture because my students drew this on the board whilst I was eating rice crackers before class. When I criticised their lack of verb they said that this was how I said it to them and I realised they were right as I often find myself adopting Tinglish to be more easily understood. I have to stop myself from doing that.
Ambivalent to the critics Recreating identities in the forge The master of one’s own image Youth that will live forever
Enthusiasm is common, endurance is rare* Make to break and embrace mistake Public gestures; look upon this fool! The larger-than-life, the clown despite Years of training to teach otherwise
An acrostic formed around a quote from *Angela Duckworth
Today I’m feeling:
Ok though I wasn’t keen on getting up this morning. I did force myself though, got some exercise in and feel a little better for it. It’s still cold this morning too and maybe will remain cold overnight for a week more as daytime temps head back to the more normal thirties.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
Teacher David giving me samples of his chilli dough snacks to taste test. They were weird, though I strangely enjoyed the mustard-flavoured one.
The best thing about today was:
Getting home. My last class, while still fun to teach, had some students that I needed to put back in line and it kinda subdued the vibe for everyone.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
When I went to Gui’s new shop again today (which he will also call House when he gets new signs made) I originally parked out on the road in the parking spaces but a guy came up asking for 30 baht.
I told him not to worry and got back in the car and double-parked in front of the shop instead, where no one bothered to come and tell me to either move or pay.
I took this picture at the art gallery. Again, no new pictures today.
Not bad though still a bit fuzzy. Slept pretty well, skipped exercise. Decided to skip on Monday and Friday as they are busiest teaching days.
The morning zipped by pretty quickly and my last class should be pretty straightforward too.
I look forward to getting home again and maybe playing some guitar.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
My student Chompoo who quite happily discussed her life with me this afternoon. She really wants to improve her speaking and is now trying hard to do that.
Her boyfriend is Cartoon, who I used to teach in grade 7, 8 and 9. Chompoo was even happy to talk about their getting together and even about sex when I broached the subject. She showed herself to be a smart kid.
The best thing about today was:
Playing guitar straight after getting home. I think I ended up playing for around two hours.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
The weather was weird today. It didn’t get higher than 18 degrees all day and it was very windy this morning even with a little rain.
Today was the first day ever in Thailand that I wore a jacket all day, outside of the classroom. It was still quite warm in a room full of crazy kids.
Something I learned today?
There was a message today that the sub-director’s mother has passed away and details will follow about the funeral. I still don’t get why we would attend this.
Review your acts, Good and bad.
I reminded Baipad to go and get her certificate from the art competition though they only ended up having them for the winners and not for all entries.
Although I couldn’t understand what was being said between Baipad and the teachers in the room I got the distinct impression that the teacher was showing a superior attitude. I don’t like it at all.
Anyway, I also went to Primary and talked with Kru Boe about what the deal is with students wanting to join the school next semester as Baipad’s mum would like to move Namhom there too.
Unfortunately there are no places available right now but it’s possible that that might change during the April break and they will contact me if so.
I took this picture at the art gallery. No new pictures today.
