razor55red

Das sollte man immer und immer wieder wiederholen, Kollege.

Fed some deer apples and carrots in our nature park. Gotta be careful with the full-grown bucks; when the food runs out they start shaking their head. Been knocked the shite out of twice the last couple months. Now I usually just find the does with fawns and feed them. They're a blast to have around and will eat out of your hand, but don't take kindly to petting. One stepped on my foot yesterday, hurt like hell.

I've gained a new respect for deer since I started doing this. Even the smaller ones are just muscles, hooves, and - in the bucks' case - horns. I would not want to have to engage in combat with one, even with a knife.

Anyone who plays or appreciates music in any way should read "The Music Lesson" by Victor Wooten. Also, "How Music Works" by David Byrne.

I tend to agree with you on the options. I've been shocked over the years at the increasing size of the population over there. I've never seen an electro-scooter at Oktoberfest!

I think it's a complicated issue that men need to think more about before committing themselves, whether they plan to stay in whatever country abroad or bring the woman "back home". I've remained abroad for 36 years, been married to my (wonderful) wife for over 25 years, so it wouldn't be a problem to return (but she wouldn't do it permanently).

What I have seen, over and over, in SE Asia, are guys who go there to live and find a local wife. They (for the most part, there are exceptions) don't speak the local language, don't understand/appreciate the culture, and end up living in a place with other ex-pats as their only friends, experiencing their own culture vicariously. This has been made far easier with the advent of the internet; when I came here in 1988, there was one English language newspaper, books in English were expensive, and the only media was AFN (if you could pick it up on your radio). But even with this connection, they are still in a foreign country where many if not most look upon you as a source of money. It can be done, but I think it takes a special kind of person to pull it off. I hope you're one of them!

Wait, you worked with a blind woman who drove people to work every day?

When in Bangkok we always stay in/near Banglamphu, directly on the river. I wasn't feeling well, had an irregular heartbeat, no energy, etc. I asked the hotel staff where I could go get it checked and they sent me to a hospital that sounds like what you describe; supposedly the royal family used this place. We crossed the river on a river taxi and it was about a 10 minute walk further. They took my info, made me a plastic card, like a credit/ID card, and I waited about 45 minutes before I was seen. Blood pressure and temp were taken, and the nice lady doctor asked me some questions. Everything was okay. When I returned to reception to pay the guy just said, "No charge." It had to have been a public hospital because there were rows of people in hospital beds lined up in this big open area and they looked to be pretty poor. Families were there with them, etc. Another time I took my wife to another hospital in Konchanaburi to get a wound treated and we got great service there with little wait; cost around 7 euros.

God bless you, brother.

A couple of these have been briefly mentioned, but here are my tips:

1) During the evening drink a hot drink consisting of 1-2 tsp. turmeric (kurkuma), 1/2 tsp. black pepper, 1 tsp. olive oil, a healthy portion of honey, hot water, and milk. Not only is it super healthy, but it helps with falling asleep/sleeping through the night. I've noticed a considerable improvement since I started this regimen.

2) Excercise before going to bed. Whether it's push-ups, etc., light yoga, whatever, move your body.

3) Before falling asleep, try meditation/prayer. Concentrate on your breath and let intruding thoughts fall away. This is very effective and doesn't require any kind of religious belief. Pray for someone; positive thoughts are more powerful than you think and help yourself as well as those around you.

I'm a recovering alcoholic and know all about sleepless nights. The whole "dark night of the soul" thing. I try to avoid as many pharma products as humanly possible and have found that the above really works (at least for me). Good luck and sleep well!

Class of '78. Definitely a 10. Blessed to witness all the classic bands/musicians of the era in all genres. So much going on then, the advent of FM radio, Clyde Clifford getting his freak on with Bleaker Street on KAAY (AM, yeah, but what the hell), listening to black preachers on Sunday mornings. Man, there was so much going on back then. We were truly lucky in so many ways to grow up then (great rock concerts for $5, a lid of dope for $15, and on and on). Best time to be a teenager.