Tag: sleep in

Dull Drone – 25th November 2023

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Imagination once so bright
Turned toys into tigers
Battered to death with culture
That no longer inspires us

Today I’m feeling:

Tired and needing that Saturday morning sleep-in catch-up. Still stuck with this dry cough. My weight this morning is down to 78.45kg because of not eating much yesterday and no doubt contributing to my tiredness.

Today I’m grateful for:

Noey at Utopia changing my water to be room temperature instead of with ice after she noticed I was coughing a lot.

The best thing about today was:

A little evening ride around to check out new advancements in our little municipality.

Lots of new things going on and we ended up checking out a shop that we have been past many times where there are just a bunch of bean bags on a lawn with no cover. It stands out a little because the shop will have to close whenever it rains.

They serve some really simple food and speciality sodas. It’s a nice environment to chill out and is pretty popular now that things are back to normal after Covid.

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

Much of the day felt out of my control today but none of it was in a way that bothered me. Some days are easy to accept.

Tomorrow though there are things I want to do and I will push the time in that direction.

Something I learned today?

Hayden’s girlfriend Vashti will move in with him soon. They will have separate rooms so that they can get away from each other somewhat if necessary, which I don’t think is a bad idea. 

I realise that it was at the age that he is at now when I moved to Australia.

Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10

As usual I let Noey make my coffee at Utopia and despite it not being quite hot enough, it still tasted fine. I’m happy to let her improve her skills and be her taste tester.

After an afternoon snooze I was looking forward to going out to my room and playing guitar. Amy said ‘lets go for a ride’. Ok, I thought. It won’t be long before the sun goes down so there’s still plenty of time.

As we were riding around though Amy was looking for places to eat dinner. So even though it was now apparent that I wouldn’t be home soon, I happily rode us from here to there until finding a place to eat.

How do I practice patience and perseverance?

Well, as a quote-unquote ‘teacher’ this is an easy question to answer. I was fairly well practiced in patience before but even I have noticed that I have become far more patient these days.

As to perseverance I do remember as a child and teenager giving up way too easily whenever I found things too difficult. Somehow, possibly aligned with starting work, that changed. I started to enjoy working hard and to see a job completed, even if not always well done.

I believe I learned these traits from my mother who was always working and trying things. I’m grateful for that. Thanks mum.

I took this picture because this was the view from my beanbag at the restaurant this evening.

With Open Arms – 6th July 2023

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

The immigrant children complain of immigration
They think they own the land
Never taught their history, or easily forgotten
They offer no helping hand

The suburbs are full of lawnmowers and cars
This happy life must not be disturbed
New arrivals collect glasses in the downtown bars
Where lines of demarcation become blurred

A drink to our new friends here to find a way
To live a long-forgotten dream once told
To all who struggled in an effort to stay
To seek the world their movies sold

20th Nov 2024 – Shared with Word of the Day Challenge – downtown

Today I’m feeling:

I had to talk myself into exercising this morning but I pushed through with my mini ab workout. I’m glad I did because it got me awake and settled into a reasonable mood. I know I’m tired but also not craving rest. My left eye is aching still and whilst meditating this morning wondered if I’d had a stroke. I looked in the mirror and there were no obvious changes to my face. I should perhaps go to the local optometrist and get them to have a closer look inside.

Today I’m grateful for:

Our crazy school schedule that means I only have one class tomorrow afternoon at 2.30 so I’ve made the decision to sleep in and not sign in tomorrow and head to school around 1.30. Great!

The best thing about today was:

Watching some reluctant students stand up and speak in English and overcome some of their fears and hesitations. I made sure to commend them after class to lift their confidence further.

Before my last class of the day, I was playing volleyball and saw some of my students heading to class that included the three ‘bad’ boys, including the porn kid from yesterday. I roped them in to come and play and we bonded a little further. Enough so that we had a comfortable lesson without incident. I was happy with that result.

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

Things are humming along smoothly as of now.

Something I learned today?

Some folks in the West are railing against the Taliban because they have once again made opium production illegal and reduced it by 80% just as they did before the US invaded twenty years ago, when they made it legal again. Somehow drug production is okay in other countries but not in their own. The West is doomsaying all the negative outcomes that will arise from a country’s government implementing their own law. Hmmm… Hypocritical much?

How am I different than I was a year ago?

Differences year to year feel more slight than in my youth. If there’s anything that I can really feel it’s just a general improvement in well-being and contentment. My health has also improved though I can also feel my age as more time passes.

I took this picture because this simple little plant is growing in the parking space at the back of House and as I was walking by the sunlight was hitting at an angle that made the leaf shapes jump out at me.

A Half Head – 5th October 2022

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

There’s a pink and a black
Could this be the game’s end?
Snookered by lust unsatisfied
Does the old man need a new friend?

A foot in two rivers
And maybe the sea will never be found
A head in two halves
A vehicle in which to be drowned

…at the last we shall not know which was the dream – the years of plenty or the barren years that descended like a storm in the night and swept our youth away.

John Middleton Murry

Today I’m feeling:
Tired but chilled
Today I’m grateful for:
Having some extra sleep time. I felt a little regretful at wasting my morning but I really enjoyed it.
The best thing about today was:
The uni student with half pink and half black hair. I liked it. It was very striking and I wanted to take a photo but I wasn’t in the mood for talking today.

I took this picture because this was my view from my table at Daytripper at golden hour today.

The Observational – 18th June 2022

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

When there’s nothing to say, don’t say a word
Even in silence, a meaning may be heard
Beaks may be flapping, yet nothing said
Silence all the yapping, shut up instead
A life without drama is much better observed

I guess the only time most people think about injustice is when it happens to them.

Charles Bukowski

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to sleep through my alarm this morning. Out for the count and I think I feel better for it.

We got that attitude! – 3rd December 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful to have a sleep-in this morning. I could have gotten up but the cold and my tiredness drew me back to my dreams. I’m lucky to be able to afford the time to do that.

I enjoyed my sleep so much last night that it kinda scared me. I was so deep and down in my dreams every time I woke up, I wondered if I had died. The pull was compelling.

I didn’t get up with my alarm because of this and because it was damn cold too. Getting up early during the winter is tough. I’ll have to push on through if I want to maintain my exercise routine. Not helped by the fact that next Monday and Friday are holidays.

Two classes this morning and I relaxed a bit with the students in anticipation of their laziness for next week. I can adjust my lessons accordingly. I have to teach Na again for an hour tomorrow and I’m really not sure what to do with her yet. Maybe some preference questions and philosophical style work that require a little more thought. I’ll figure it out in the morning.

I want to get more writing entered to the blog too, change my room again, listen to more music, watch less TV, do some other exercise while it is cooler.

The Chiang Rai Alternative Hour #46 – 6th July 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Music from Joanna Gruesome, D.I., Mighty Baby, Univers Zero, Christian Fitness, Neos, XTC, Chokebore, The Necessaries, Electric Light Orchestra, Owen Grey & His Jets, Unwound, Ilaiyaraaja, Bollywood Funk, The Milkshakes, The Pogues, Fotriafa and Groupe El Azhar.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for a sleep-in this morning and not to be thinking too much so having a break from journalling and reading.

We got that attitude! – 3rd June 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful that I could sleep in this morning. Now I feel well-rested and can get the things done that I want to do.

To-do list

  • Savour something today ½
  • Close some tabs – clear out clutter ✅
  • Do your morning routine – do squats½
  • Smile, compliment, give positive wishes

A nice day today. Slept in until 9 am and went to Utopia for coffee. Cleared some things on the computer, lunch, foot massage, garden shopping, reading, ab workout, watched some YouTube videos. Nothing special or serious.

I did have the opportunity to connect with someone in the morning but missed out. Sometimes I don’t realise these things when they come up. Need to develop my awareness.

I meditated while getting a foot massage and at home. I did feel more focused after doing it.

When I was young I never wanted toys – 22nd December 2019

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Role Model
George
Amy
Henry Rollins
Lachlan
Jochen
Kieran
Chrissie

Anti-role model
Kru Paew
John
Bookshop guy

Ideal qualities
smiling, interested, positive
caring, kind, open-minded
hard-working, focused
thoughtful, open-minded
community-focused, organised
calm, brave, artistic
calm, relaxed, appreciative

Qualities to avoid
gossip, judgemental, unkind
gossip, negative, complainer
judgemental, narrow-minded

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for having the chance to sleep in this morning. Now, for the busy day ahead.

To-do list

  • Compliment as many people as you can.
  • Talk to a stranger.
  • Study more Thai.
  • Enjoy the kids party and and music in the evening.
  • Talk more deeply with Aing, Gus and Nu – think about what to talk.
  • Start booking plane tickets for WDS.
  • Get up early and walk to Utopia?
  • Read three chapters. Finish Countdown.

Did it list

  • Busy day! Great kids’ party.
  • Talked to a stranger.
  • Complimented Utopia staff, Nu, Amy, little kids.
  • Studied more Thai – video series.
  • Enjoyed a long evening with the kids and Amy.
  • Read more Anna Karenina.
  • Encouraged Khawthang and Phuli.
  • Updated plans for the WDS tour.

Very busy today with preparing for our students’ party so I feel like I didn’t get so much done. Took the luxury of sleeping until 9.15 am. Showered and vacuumed as Amy continued preparing for the party. 
Went to Utopia and Art introduced me to his friend whom I spent most of the time talking with. He has lived in Perth but is now a pilot in Bangkok. It was good to start the day talking with talking with a stranger. 
Only managed to squeeze in a quick read as we prepared for the kids’ party. I blew up and tied up about 30 balloons. The party was fun and time flew by. A lot of Amy’s effort went into it – many more hours than the event itself. 
The music in the garden was not really my thing but I still enjoyed being there. 
I rested in the car and had wild dreams.