We don’t need another poem Out of the holidays, out of the seasons Don’t make the same mistake again Rolling seas and moonlight are not reasons To write another one the same And I wonder when are we ever gonna change A prompt repeated ’til nothing else remains
We don’t need another poem We don’t need the same old metaphors All we want is life beyond Another simile that simply bores
I know it’s something we can rely on But there’s got to be better out there Love and nature, their day is done Just another castle built in the air And I wonder when we are ever gonna change A prompt repeated ’til nothing else remains
We don’t need another poem We don’t need the same old similes All we want is life beyond Another metaphor to simply please
So what do we do with our lives? We leave only a mark Will our poem shine like a light Or end in the dark? Give it all or nothing
We don’t need another poem About autumn, Christmas or Halloween All we want is life beyond Another set of rhymes already seen
To the tune of We Don’t Need Another Hero. After following a number of poetry prompt blogs for more than 12 months now I found it a little amusing that the same seasonal themes return again.
It’s more an observation than a criticism as I rarely bother to write about seasons specifically, or holidays (especially if they are not relevant to my location). Folks can write about whatever makes them happy. It’s easy to not read something! But I do like to be challenged by the writer to perhaps come at the prompt from a new angle for a change.
Good today, less pain in my shoulder and energetic after a good little workout this morning, skipping push-ups when asked by the app.
First two classes were fun but I’ll be glad when the last one is finished, though I still have to go to the hospital after getting home.
Health:
Physical: 8 Mental: 8
Today I’m grateful for:
The doctor who had the pleasure of fingering my prostate and the nurse who smushed in some kind of gel after he finished. What a job! Easy for me, I just had to lie there.
My prostate is fine, though just enlarged due to my age.
The best thing about today was:
A cheap Chinese guitar pedal that has good reviews finally arrived today and got me excited. However, due to being at the hospital for about 3 hours, I’ve run out of time to try it.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
The doctor recommended a cystoscopy (sp?), which doesn’t sound like fun. Sticking a camera down my peehole to see if there is any obstruction.
I’m quite curious about it, to be honest, but the downside of the procedure is that it will cost 10,000 baht. I made an appointment for next month but not sure if I will do it yet.
Something I learned today?
Metal Storm gun fires 450,000 rounds per minute from five barrels and intercepts hypersonic missiles. The US Phalanx system fires 4,500 rpm.
Ok again. Perhaps a little tired. I woke up before my alarm and the sleep app seems to be telling me that I usually only sleep for 7.5 hours.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
Going to the city to try Bear Grill pizza for a change.
The best thing about today was:
Playing guitar and diving back into reading Stray Bullets again. Awesome.
Something I learned today?
Looking through RedNote today, I decided to search for punk and found a stack of USAsians asking about Chinese punk bands and so I realised that I need to make some posts about all the stuff I have in the tenzenmen catalogue.
I took this picture because this is hands down the best pizza that I’ve had in Chiang Rai.
In the autumnal airs, crinkled brown A leaf falling is looking for a place to live That big old house where we melted cheese Time told us not to get old, to forgive
Pushing and pulling at different doors What did the squirrels squeak watching in? At 4am a split second of thought Was a sadness that solved everything
Better rested, though my sleep app tells me I still didn’t make it to 8 hours of actual sleep. My shoulder is still waking me up at times during the night and I’d like to get a massage this weekend if possible. The trouble is finding a decent massage shop.
Riding back from coffee, I felt quite inspired and energetic, thinking perhaps to go with Amy for a little bike ride or to the sourdough shop in the city and perhaps finding a massage shop.
Amy was still in her pyjamas, though and didn’t seem particularly thrilled to go out today as we will go into the city tomorrow afternoon for pizza. So I decided on some reading and video watching until lunchtime.
Amy made a killer potato bake with carrots covered in cheese and as I started eating, a wave of tiredness overcame me. I managed to let lunch digest for a while before heading to bed for some comic reading and an afternoon nap, which I fell into deeply and felt quite refreshed on waking up again, so I headed out to my room to play guitar.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 8
Today I’m grateful for:
Seeing a hoopoe in the garden this morning. I only know its name because I had to look it up. I’ve never seen a bird like it here before.
The best thing about today was:
Nothing in particular. It’s been a good, relaxing day all round. No highs, no lows. I’m glad to have a day off from exercise, to help my shoulder recover and also because my legs were feeling it after yesterday too.
Something I learned today?
The looming ban on TikTok in the USA has seen USAsians flocking to a Chinese app called RedNote and it has opened many eyes to the reality of China. It’s the exact opposite of what the ban intended.
I took this picture because Piti was chilling this morning.
Not bad, though I slept very poorly with odd thoughts floating around. I still got up and exercised. The course is getting a little harder each day now, so I’m having to just do what I can.
My first class was rowdy but fun and at the end I followed them downstairs where David was finishing up trying to teach about situational and dramatic irony to the grade 9s. Great challenge but way over most of their skill levels.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
A couple of hours spent at Couple Cups where I caught up on some reading but wasn’t inspired enough for more writing. Not to worry, the words will come when they are ready.
The best thing about today was:
Only 12 students showed up for my last class (grade 11) and it meant that I could talk a little more with each of them and there was a good feeling as the work provoked some thoughts about character, both their own and others.
Something I learned today?
Apparently the director is talking about adding another 1000 students to the school next year! WTF! Where? How? Who is gonna teach them!?
Review your acts, Good and bad.
Pep talks with a couple of students.
I took this picture because Amy is happy to see her little succulent garden doing well.
Great except for my shoulder being more sore after doing some arm exercises yesterday. Today is Teachers’ Day and this year we have a day off, thankfully. No need to attend any kind of ceremony. So, I slept in for a little while before heading out for coffee and getting the car washed (finally) at the gas station.
For lunch, Amy prepared us a delicious mala hot pot, which we ate for more than an hour whilst watching food videos of Chengdu and Osaka.
I can feel some reading and an afternoon nap coming on!
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 8
Today I’m grateful for:
The car cleaning guy at the gas station who explained that they didn’t start work until 9am and I told him that’s fine and that I’ll come for coffee and come back at ten anyway.
When I got back, the car looked great again, inside and out. All for 100 baht.
The best thing about today was:
Probably that afternoon nap, to be honest. I remember nothing; I woke up without any lethargy and went out to my room to play guitar.
Something I learned today?
I was cleaning Tigger’s head this evening; I checked the lump on the back of his neck. He’s had it for a few years now but it never seemed to bother him.
Today I noticed that it looked a lot different to before and when looking closer, I saw that whatever it is inside was coming out when squeezed. And the whole thing just came out, just like that. Seemed to be a buildup of skin oils and maybe ingrowing hair.
It’s weird to stroke him now with the big lump not being there.
Dreams fuelled the fire Sacrifices made to inspire Hard work satisfies desire A ladder to heaven Ascending to the stars Dreams fuelled the fire No stone remains unturned Sacrifices made to inspire A lesson always learned Hard work satisfies desire Reward is duly earned
My new Sleep app alarm didn’t work as expected this morning, so I woke up a few minutes later with my normal alarm and ran behind schedule a little but I forced myself to exercise and I’m glad that I did. I always feel much better after exercise and have to remember that as encouragement.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
The two packs of rice crackers that I bought on Monday and ran out of time to eat and were still in my bag today, just when I needed to snack to keep me going.
The best thing about today was:
Doing some one-on-two interviews with my grade 12s really tested them and quite a few students surprised me with their abilities and with their ideas. It was really nice to experience.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Kru Tongjai seemed to be in a bad mood today and was annoyed that I was using the small teachers’ room to interview students and encourage them to speak in a safe, quiet environment. She told me that I shouldn’t be there and that I should figure out somewhere else to do it.
Champ had already said that it was ok for me to use the room and later said that he thought it was great that I was doing what I was doing to help the students.
Just another day of confusing messages from the staff around me. Never mind.
I seem to end many of these entries with ‘never mind’. Perhaps that’s good.
Something I learned today?
Teacher David is thinking that it is time to move on for him soon. He’s paranoid that he’s being watched closely by other teachers. I don’t see it myself but he has made me more wary of what might be going on.
Another picture after Sarah stole my phone again. Her and KT.
The bow is taut, passion tight Get a shot off! Get a shot off! Where will the passion land? A strategic misdirection
Waiting for sweet release All possibilities in existence A strategic misdirection The essence of a passion tight
Before the shot goes off A strategic misdirection Watch your head! Mind your head! Anticipated release
A strategic misdirection Whilst the bow is taut Get a shot off! Watch it fire! Ready your art for war
Spun out from this quote “When the bow is taut it hasn’t been shot yet but the power is there and you can shoot the bow in many different directions, that is the essence of strategy.” which I probably read at The Stoa newsletter.
Today I’m feeling:
Apart from my voice and a little bit of a sore throat, I feel pretty good. Also, knowing that I only have one class in the morning and then I can finish and come back for my physio appointment at the hospital.
The first class was easy and fun and I sent the same work to my second class to submit, as I won’t be there for them.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 8
Today I’m grateful for:
The physio that I saw at the hospital. She was very nice and helpful, English was good and best of all, she convinced me that buying a fancy ergonomic pillow was a waste of money.
Sadly, the treatment they gave me wasn’t particularly special and I could probably do the same at home with a wheat bag. I felt that it was comparatively expensive but will give it one more try at the end of the month.
The best thing about today was:
Being able to leave school by 10.30, enjoy a relaxing coffee whilst reading and writing, pick up some yoghurt on the way, mosey on up to the hospital, then back home into bed for an afternoon comic reading session followed by thirty minutes of eyes closed calm before getting up and out to play guitar.
Like a skimming stone searching for the shore Scared of immersion, drowning in life’s maw Turn and face it, walk towards this escape Where magic is revealed ready to take shape
Attention paid to break the challenge’s grip Unveils the awe-inspiring depth of this trip Suffering settles deeper in a comfy bed Yet rising shapes the world wonderful instead
Based on a quote by psychiatrist and author, Anna Lembke, on facing life’s challenges head-on.
Today I’m feeling:
Cold but not too bad otherwise. Today seems to be the coldest morning of the winter and from here it looks like it’s just going to get warmer.
I woke up with my new alarm from the sleep app, though I should say Tigger heard it first from the other room and it was him that woke me up!
Despite my phlegm-filled throat, I did some exercise, though my energy is still a little depleted or perhaps I couldn’t get enough oxygen into my lungs. I persevered though and just hope that I don’t fall off due to exhaustion but can just sleep well again tonight.
By the end of my first class, my voice was disappearing again and so in my second class I told the kids that I couldn’t speak and then pretended to cheer. They were pretty good, considering.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
Nong Gam and her friend Cha Cha. I don’t teach either of them – Gam is a friend of my old student Noey, but they appeared as I was about to leave and so I chatted with them for a while. As they speak very little English, I found myself talking to them in Thai as much as I could.
I’m not sure why they suddenly appeared or if they were on their way somewhere else but I was glad to be able to practice some Thai with them anyway.
The best thing about today was:
My voice (kinda) making it through the six hours of classes today and still having enough energy to play some guitar.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I didn’t get a chance to stop to read or write today, as all the TLC teachers had to attend a meeting to cosy up with the director and take photos as if we are one big happy family. Never mind.
Review your acts, Good and bad.
AngPao had a picture on Instagram that showed that she had been cutting her arm. I asked her about it this morning and she told me that she has depression. She was a little shocked when I told her ‘me too’. I told her that she can talk to me anytime she wants.
My grade 11 student Chompoo was in a bad mood today and when I talked with her quietly later she told me that something had happened that made her feel sad. I showed her that I understood and sent her a message in the evening to see if she was ok.
Miyor was sick after my class and looked very sad for herself when I passed her by at the end of the day. I gave her a hug and hoped she would get well soon.
Sarah took this picture because she stole my phone again! Not bad for an old bastard.
With the brightest smiles and feined sincerity that serves you so well As the bee flits from candied purple to butterfly blue You’re on your way keeping all that honey as stored ammunition
It’s Me
The facade crumbled the honey on my lips enlightened by my taste Poison to my senses the comfort of your nest no longer warms I’m on my way I’ll make space for the next fool you find
Ok again. My throat seems a little clearer but I’m still croaky. Otherwise, I slept well, though only 7 hours.
It’s a cold, sunny Sunday and I will pick up Amy and Baew and we’ll go to In Am’s Kitchen for brunch.
It doesn’t look that special but getting into some sourdough after not having had it for a long while was great. There is a new bread shop that opened in the city too but sadly it was closed today.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
Baew and Mee for bringing Amy home this evening, as she decided to stay on and continue drinking and eating today!
Every day is a holiday for my little Amy!
The best thing about today was:
Listening to lots of music, though only brief listens to new bands that I wanted to check out. One day I have to stop this endless search for new music – there is so much good music being made. I need to enjoy what I already have! Same goes for comics too (and books!)
I’m also halfway through finishing the Barber Dead interview for Suspect Device and enjoyed listening to their EP again. Already good to begin with; it has really got its hooks into me.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I haven’t been motivated to play guitar for a few days now and it is mostly due to the time factor, as I enjoy other things instead.
Something I learned today?
Don’t buy coffee at In Am’s kitchen. Whilst the food was great and reasonably priced, I’m fussy when it comes to coffee.
Review your acts, Good and bad.
I’ve been chatting with Baipad through TikTok where we seem to be sending each other videos of cute animals. I feel a little as if she is my part-time daughter.
I took this picture because mother and daughter have been reunited and both keep getting off their ties and coming to chill in our garden again.
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