This is another sample of the beautiful flowering trees in Chiang Mai. I don’t know what it is, but the vibrant color of the blossoms that had fallen took my breath away. I had to stop and take a picture.
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I talked to my good friend, Carla a couple of days ago. She had the really difficult job of telling me that Jet (aka Monster Cat) whom she adopted when we were moving to Thailand, had died. I’m sad, of course, but more filled with gratitude and love for Carla, who provided a wonderful home with lots of care and love for Jet, although Jet made it difficult at first. What greater gift could a friend give than to take the worry of finding a good home for her cat out of the picture? Jet won the lottery on family and home with Carla. RIP Jet.
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My latest painted sketch. I also drew 4 thank you cards for my housekeeper, Khun Nong, and will start painting them today.
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I’m closed up in my condo today, due to air pollution index in the ‘unhealthy’ range and my air filters already showing elevated readings. I also had a loud PING!!!! alert on my phone, alerting me to the PM2.5 status of the air quality. I’m am so happy that I have good windows that seal well now, good air filters, and my a/c is working. HOORAAAAAY!
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I will enjoy writing blog posts, working on my jigsaw puzzle, painting, and whatever else occurs to me to dive into today. I hope your day has been a stellar one, too!
I did my mile at the gym, ate breakfast with Brian, put my wash out on the drying rack on my balcony, and have been at the computer, catching up on email and doing a bit of research.
It’s hazy this morning, so my windows are closed and air filters on, but it’s light enough to flood my little condo with light and lift my spirits. I plan to at least start painting one of my sketches today and work on my puzzle. (I’m finally making more progress.)
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Shout outs to Cathy and Nora today. They are both in tough situations. I’m sending my thoughts and prayers.
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I can’t tell you what a thrill it is to be able to walk into a store, be able to choose clothes you HOPE might be big enough, find they ARE – some even TOO big – and walk out of the store with some new clothes.
I’m grateful to Walmart for allowing me to cover my lard for several years, always having things that I KNEW would cover me. I’m even MORE grateful, now that I have lost 93 pounds, not to have to buy my clothes there now. I’m still “covering up” – though in much smaller sizes – but now because a Shar Pei dog looks like my sibling now.
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In my current status as ‘much-pampered-lady,’ I will enjoy the mocha that my son, Brian, orders for me when we’re home, rather than out for the day, and I will sip that with a smile as I start painting a sketch…
“Yes, a chair. A wonderful, beautiful, fat, soft, armchair. We will get one covered in velvet with roses all over it. We are going to get the best chair in the whole world.” – Anonymous
Walmart
“Oh, Peter, to think we’ve got a magic chair- a wishing-chair!”– Anonymous
We visited my husband this morning. Most of the time he didn’t make any sense. We just each held a hand and listened, responding the best way we could. At the end of the visit, he wanted some French fries, so Brian arranged for some to be delivered. While I was kissing him goodbye, he said, “I spend half my days remembering how good our time together has been.” I lost it. Harvey’s nurse kindly sent us a video we saw on our way home, showing him eating the fries and saying they were ‘good.’
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LOSING THE LARD PROGRESS REPORT for March –
Giphy
I am 5’4″ tall (and shrinking). As of this morning, I have lost 93 pounds (down from 205 to 112) and 87.7 inches. I am 2 pounds away from my maintenance weight goal, after over two years of trying.
Kudos go to our son, who has been my gym buddy and who has helped me cut my portions on food intake and who has been my supporter since we moved to Chiang Mai last April. He has taken me to doctor appointments to establish a baseline and helped me with supplements to improve my health. And, with all this, he still manages to treat me to mochas or chocolate drinks in the afternoons to reward my efforts and keep me motivated.
I’m between 19 and 20 on the dreaded BMI chart finally, in the ‘healthy’ range. When I started two years ago, I was in the 35-36 area. ‘obese.’
I’m almost to my weight maintenance goal now. I’m concentrating on continuing to eat right, but not worrying about every morsel that goes into my mouth.
I’m adding to my exercise regimen every time it seems reasonable, trying to add things that will help my efforts to improve my balance issues, increase my strength, stamina and flexibility, and promote relaxation.
Hopefully, by the end of April, I’ll be able to report that my weight loss goal has been met!
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I hope that you are having a stellar day and evening.
I had a wonderful massage this morning. My regular therapist was still gone, but will be back tomorrow, according to Khun Sulee, the therapist who has been taking Khun Weaw’s place the past 3 weeks. I made sure she knew how happy I was that she agreed to do my massage this morning and did such a great job.
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As I told you yesterday, Brian and I have a very busy day today. Once we leave, we won’t be back until dinner time.
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I am trying a supplement and thought I would share it with you. It’s called Beet Root Powder. I may be the last one to the party on this, but I read information on it not long ago and wanted to add it.
Sunshine Market
“Beetroot powder is a nutrient-dense, vibrant red superfood made from dehydrated beets, often used to improve athletic performance, boost circulation, and lower blood pressure. Rich in nitrates, it offers a mild, sweet flavor suitable for smoothies, juices, sauces, and natural food coloring. It is commonly used as a pre-workout supplement or to add nutritional value to meals.”
Key Health Benefits
Boosts Exercise Performance: High nitrate levels can improve oxygen usage, enhancing athletic endurance.
Lowers Blood Pressure: Known to support cardiovascular health and increase blood flow.
Nutrient-Dense: Contains essential micronutrients that support heart and gut health.
Cognitive Support: May aid in increasing blood flow to the brain, improving cognitive performance.
What are the top 10 health benefits of beetroot?
Rich in protective antioxidants. …
May have anti-cancer properties. …
May have anti-inflammatory properties. …
May lower blood pressure. …
May improve exercise performance and support energy levels. …
May improve digestive health. …
May protect the gut.
AND – “MAY” make me look like Julia Roberts!!!!!! 😜
(It didn’t actually SAY that, but with all the OTHER stuff it may do, I’m willing to believe it’s possible…)
I couldn’t find any downside unless you take more than the recommended dosage, so I started it last night.
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This is my latest painted sketch.
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I hope your day and evening is great. Pass the smiles around!
“If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams, and you will always look lovely.” —Roald Dahl
I’ve been getting ready for my housekeeper to come tomorrow – changing the sheets on my bed, gathering trash, getting out fresh towels…
Do you realize what i just said? “Getting ready for my housekeeper to come tomorrow.” What a joy this is. I’ll never even really get USED to it, much less take it for granted. I’ve never been able to afford to have help. All I have to do in my sweet condo now is keep things picked up. “My housekeeper” handles everything else, and she is quite thorough. I’m absolutely thrilled. 🤗
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Lingokids
I’ve been doing a bit of sketching, but I haven’t had a chance to paint any of the sketches yet. I’m hoping to make some time this afternoon.
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I am FINALLY beginning to make a bit of progress on my puzzle! You might notice a small detail – I haven’t even BEGUN to put the big turtle together who lives in the middle of this. He is hiding in a gazillion pieces and I’ll have to work my way to the center before he emerges…
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Tomorrow will be a very busy day.
We go to the gym first thing as usual
Shower and share breakfast
I go for a massage (Ahhhh!)
We go to the big mall to the immigration place to finish renewing Brian’s passport
We may do a bit of shopping at a clothing store we both like after
We will come home – but to Brian’s place – where I have stashed my stuff so we won’t bother Khun Non who will be cleaning my place
We will gather our things to go to the cafe to wait the rest of the time while Khun Nong finishes creating her miracle.
I will sketch, read, hopefully getting my favorite seat where I can watch the traffic
We will go back to Brian’s to share dinner
I will come home. (WHEW!)
I say this because I MAY be able to write a post tomorrow or may not, depending on timing.
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“There comes a day when you’re gonna look around and realize happiness is where you are.” ―Chief Tui, Moana
We are just back from going to see Khun Nan, the lady at the agency who helps us get our visas and handles our 90-day-reporting required in Thailand. Brian said when he first got here, he and his friends had more challenge than they wanted trying to be sure they were legal. The Thai government is really serious about making sure that everyone is here legally. You carry your passport everywhere, having to show it at the doctor’s office, for example, and for other services. Since you never know when it will be required, you carry it all the time.
Brian needs to renew his, and the 3 of us needed to file our 90-day reporting, so Nan busily shuffled papers, made copies, had Brian sign all the paperwork, etc. He paid for everything and we go to the 2nd floor of the big mall this coming Friday afternoon to finish the process. A person from the office will meet us there and get us through whatever is needed.
Brian has some kind of “VIP” visa. I have a “retirement” visa, and Harvey has a “medical” visa. The requirements for each are different. We have to be careful to note when to contact Nan again for an appointment to do whatever comes next. We think she is worth her weight in gold.
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I’m planning to work on my jigsaw puzzle
and do some sketching this afternoon,
One Green Planet
and today is yoga stretches,
plus my Qigong video.
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The pollution index changed fast this morning. I opened my windows when we returned from the gym. When I went up for breakfast, Brian was cautioning me that the index was bad this morning, since his air filters were “complaining” a bit. I came down, closed everything up and turned the filters back on. They shot up to the high 50s. That’s the highest I have seen them. It’s already 93 outside now, so I guess we’re officially into the ‘hot and hazy’ season now. I’m grateful that I have good air filters and an a/c that works now.
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“Remember, you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine.” ―Snow White, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
Each of these is special to me because I am transported to a different place, having an emotional reaction to the photo. These are not simply awe-inspiring – they are breathtaking.
“Random Funny Memes” – BoredPanda.com – Adelaide May Ross, Mantas Kacerauskas, and Rugile Maityte
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Complete Wellbeing.com
We visited Harvey at the nursing home today. It was the best visit we have had in a long time. He remembered that Brian had arranged for French fries to be delivered to him yesterday. He said he shared them with his nurse. He was telling us that they ‘came in through the window,’ but that was minor compared to the pleasure he experienced. He also told us our visits were the high point of his day. We were really happy that we could brighten his day a bit.
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This is my latest painted sketch. When I finish with my blog posts for the day, I plan to try to do some sketching.
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I decided to bring my family into my condo more by putting their pictures up around the mirror in my bedroom. The pictures had been in an envelope in a drawer, and I decided that this was a quality of life thing for me, something that would make me smile every day. It’s not ‘pretty,’ and “House Beautiful” would probably not approve of the decoration idea, but it’s MY condo and I love it! 😁
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Brian will bring dinner to my place this evening. After we eat, we’ll back up the data on my phone and my computer and then chat – the best part of my day.
Today at the chocolate place I broke Brian up by sneakily giving him back an empty gum packet after we finished our chocolate. I don’t manage to fool him very often, but this is an ongoing thing between us. Today I was successful, and snorted when I saw the look on his face. He threw the little gum packet at me in disgust while I simply lost it. The ladies at the counter had no idea what was going on, but were smiling just because I was laughing so hard.
Today while we were walking, Brian teased me unmercifully about ‘falling over things that weren’t there’ on the sidewalks. I told him huffily that they had a conspiracy going on to trip me on the only spots on the sidewalk that were smooth…
This is the stuff that makes me rich. The fact that Brian and I can enjoy each other every day now is a gift beyond price.
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“Now, think of the happiest things. It’s the same as having wings.” ―Peter Pan, Peter Pan
When hard things happen to us in life, it’s understandable to feel as if there will never be an end to the difficulty, problem, pain, depression, snow-balling effects and more. We want to crawl away somewhere, cover up our heads and simply hide to protect ourselves.
Jesica’s words here are profound. You might not be ready to read or hear them in the middle of what is happening, but her words are true. What you’re going through is awful, it hurts – maybe more than anything ever has before – but you WILL come out on the other side. There will be reasons to smile and even laugh again. You will find beautiful things that help, wonderful people, new hope for the future. IT. WILL. COME.
My personal example is that we had our daughter, Jade, after trying to have children for a LONG time. I had two miscarriages, then we had our son, Brian, and then another miscarriage, and finally our beautiful Jade when our Brian was two years old.
To make a long story shorter, while I out taking a community class and my husband, Harvey was babysitting, our Sweet Jade died. It was concluded by the coroner that Jade died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Our pain was so great we both seriously considered suicide. Seriously. Neither of us could handle the intense loss, the huge hole in our family, our son’s understandable upset.
Finally, we realized that the reason we had to go on was to help each other deal with the loss. We had a wonderful son to raise. We needed each other.
The thing we learned is that even when a cannonball has gone through you at point blank range, there is SOMETHING way down deep inside that gives you the strength to go on. It’s a step by step, very gradual process, but it is there and it will show itself.
In our case, the pain remains. The mystery as to what kind of a young woman Jade would have become, what she would have wanted to do with her life, remain, never to be answered. I think of her often, but more as to a lost opportunity to have known and loved her as she grew, rather than only my personal loss.
We had new chapters open up as the time passed, culminating in our move to Thailand to be close to our son. Being apart from him, even though he’s a really good communicator, was a big part of my life. Being able to get to know him as an adult now on a day to day basis is one of the best gifts I have ever had. It’s so much fun being with him. He makes me laugh until my stomach hurts and I have to beg him to stop. We’ve begun to tease each other unmercifully, an act of friends, not mother and son. He gives the best hugs on the planet and I now get them several times a day. We help each other with the emotions of trying to help my husband in the nursing home the best way we can. We are stronger together as a team.
Life is chapters in a book, according to Jesica. I think it’s helpful to look at it that way. Some chapters will be hard, will make us cry, will make us redefine what our priorities are, but the following chapters will give us new reasons to enjoy all that we have.
“Random Funny Memes” – BoredPanda.com – Adelaide May Ross, Mantas Kacerauskas, and Rugile Zemaityte
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My latest painted sketch
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It occurred to me that I hadn’t seen any hummingbirds, and I thought of trying to hang up a feeder on my balcony. I researched and found that hummingbirds are only native to the Americas! There are, however, “Sunbirds” here. One is called an “Olive-Backed Sunbird” and the other is called a “Green-Tailed Sunbird.” They are best seen at high elevations and in local parks. So, my thoughts about a feeder on my deck are not reasonable. 🥲
Olive-Backed Sunbird -BirdGuides
Green-Tailed Sunbird – eBird
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Harvey’s nurse wrote to Brian, saying the French fries were delivered to the nursing home yesterday and that Harvey enjoyed them. We were kind of hoping for a video of him enjoying them, but that didn’t happen. We also don’t know if he connected the fries with the fact he told Brian Saturday he wanted some or thought they had magically fallen out of the sky, but his day was brightened by a kind act by Brian, and that’s priceless.
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ABC Pediatric Therapy
I will try to do some sketching this afternoon. I’m finishing the painting of my last sketch, so I need to get my pencil going. I’m also going to concentrate on trying to make progress on my puzzle. Such a nice afternoon ahead!
“If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.” ―Dolly Parton
I LOVE scrap metal art. It always evokes an emotional response. I want to run my hands over the turtle’s shell. I gawk at the fish. And I grin at the moose. The creativity shown in these amazes me. People ‘see’ an image when one piece or another grabs their interest, and the emerging comes from there. Just fascinating.
This is one of the many things blooming in Chiang Mai now. I would really love to have one of these in my place. I have NO clue whether it could be happy indoors, whether we can find one for sale or not, or anything, but I’m drooling…
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One of my two latest –
Second of my latest –
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I had my windows open this morning and truly enjoyed the nice breezes. Then it seemed to get ‘stuffy,’ so I closed up, turned on my air filters and my a/c. The Air Pollution Index is now in the ‘unhealthy’ range, so I guess my own body is a good indication of when I should close up now. Thankfully, I have two really good quality air filters and my a/c is working beautifully so I’m a happy camper as I type.
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My research shows that Tai people don’t celebrate Easter, as such, here. Of course, most of them are Buddist. There is a small pocket of people who do celebrate, but they are mostly expats. A few places do things like Easter eggs for the kids, but that’s it. The only real holiday coming soon is Songkran, which occurs in mid April, where people mark the beginning of the new year and the end of the ‘hot and hazy’ season with three days of water gun attacks, splashing, buckets of water poured on you, etc. No ‘cards’ are given. No one says, “Happy Songkran,” you just either participate in being hosed down, or try to avoid it and simply watch from inside, as Brian and I do. There seem to be no more “card giving” occasions, other than the “thank you’s” I do for my housekeeper weekly, and my massage ladies from time to time, until Christmas.
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Newport Daily News
Brian wanted to skip the gym this morning, so I slept more like a normal human being, rather than getting up at 4:30, and we shared breakfast as usual. I’m going to finish this post, and then do my water bottle exercises. I’m also planning to do my yoga stretches later, and later still follow those up with my new Qigong video. These and the stairs I’m using, instead of the elevator coming back from Brian’s place, should round out my exercise for the day. \
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123RF
Harvey’s nurse agreed to monitor, and help, if needed, with the celebrational eating of much-missed French fries this afternoon. The last I heard, the fries were on their way out to the nursing home…
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“Happiness is a journey, not a destination.” ―Ben Sweetland
“As the morning sun rises through the nightly mist, breaking slowly into the quiet sky, one wonders who will ever win the ancient battle between light and dark.
Yet each morning the light returns, gentle but certain—reminding us that hope does not need to shout to be powerful. It only needs to rise again. 🌅”
This is just one of MANY trees and bushes blooming right now. I’m not really sure WHY they are blooming, since this is the ‘hot and hazy’ season right now, with little, if any, rain. It just makes me happy to look around and see wonderful splashes of color and lush blooms.
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Women’s Health
Shout-Outs to –
Linda Smith
Sheila Murrey
For introducing me to Qigong, (Chi-gong) an ancient Chinese wellness system combining slow movement, breathing techniques, and focused intention to cultivate and balance “qi” (vital energy). It integrates gentle physical postures, mental meditation, and deep breathing to reduce stress, increase energy, and enhance overall health.
I’m just getting started with this, but I am already feeling some effects of it and plan to add it to my daily schedule.
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Women’s Health
Shout-Outs to –
Cathy
Nora
Michael
Linda B.
Kay
For various reasons, these wonderful people are facing challenges, needing my thoughts, prayers, and love.
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123RF
Brian and I went to see Harvey at the nursing home this morning. This was one of the better visits, even though his nurse had contacted Brian last night, saying he had cut his hand and was having to wear the plastic “air gloves” because he seemed to be trying to pull his nasal feeding tube out. Today he was calm and in good spirits. He wasn’t hurting. He wasn’t wearing the awful gloves, so I guess the nurse had decided he wasn’t intending to pull out the tube anymore. He really wanted a cheeseburger and fries. Brian finally agreed to talk to the people in charge and see if his nurse could help Harvey eat fries tomorrow if Brian called in a delivery of them out there. Though a lot of what he said didn’t make sense, he wasn’t upset, so it was a good visit.
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Custom Embroidered Clothing
I had fun sketching at the cafe yesterday afternoon, even though I didn’t get my favorite seat. It was good I took my sweatshirt because it was like a meat locker in the cafe, so I pulled it on after about half an hour and then was comfortable. I will try to get started painting one of the sketches this afternoon.
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Wiroj Sidhisoradej – Freepik
There is an Asian family of 3 across the building from me, with a father, mother, and little boy of about 5, I think. I don’t know where they are from, but they are very nice. When the little boy looked at me with his beautiful large eyes a week or so ago, I impulsively waved at him. Now we wave enthusiastically whenever we see each other. 👋. Today when I went up for breakfast, the mother and boy rode in the elevator with me. His mom is really pretty and she was wearing a motorcycle helmet with playing cards on both sides. They could have been an ad for anything they looked so nice! We have only said, “Hello,” because language is a barrier, but it’s so pleasant to see them.
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“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” ―Dalai Lama XIV
I love this type of art because my husband and I spent several years creating wall decorations, mailbox decorations, and yard critters from scrap metal. We were finding it harder and harder to find material to use, due to insurance liability laws at scrap yards, junk yards, and used auto parts stores, our main sources of scrap. It was SO much fun to see a piece sitting in a pile, envision that it’s a critter’s head, or would be great as a body, or whatever, take our treasures home and try to put them together.
Alexander Kalifano
These pieces, of course, are way beyond our meager efforts, but the ‘seeing’ or ‘recognizing’ what can be used as a part of the thing you’re trying to create, the time it takes to weld things together and then finish the piece remain the same.
Brian Mock – My Modern Met
I’m in awe of the different textures this artist achieved in this piece. The delicacy of the face, the smoothness of her lips – just beautiful.
Facebook
I love the idea of miniature people and animals created from nuts, bolts, screws, and the like. SO creative!
Today is my “thoroughly-pampered” day of the week.
It started out really nicely because we met the other housekeeping lady for the building as we left for the gym. I was finally able to give her a belated St. Patrick’s Day card. She grinned a HUGE grin and hugged me. She was the last one on my list. I’m not sure if Thai people celebrate Easter or not. I’ll have to find out so I can make some cards for my core people here if they do.
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BC SPCA
I’m just back from a really nice massage. Every week I still miss Lynn Moody, my wonderful massage therapist in Greenwood, Arkansas. Lynn is not only a super good massage therapist, she and I are FRIENDS. Each month we would catch up on what was happening in our lives. I was so lucky to find her.
My regular therapist was not there again this week. With our pantomiming, Khun Sulee told me (I THINK) that my regular therapist, Khun Weaw, had to move from her place, pack THAT DAY last week and move. She apparently has a new place, but is either painting it herself or having it painted before she moves in. I THINK she will be back next week.
I’m really lucky that Khun Sulee was available to do my massage this morning. I feel great now!
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Altenew
I have time now to write posts for the blog and catch up on a few things before we leave for the cafe. My place is ready for Khun Nong to come and scrub my place while I am having a mocha, sketching, reading the book on my Kindle, or hopefully watching the traffic out the front window.
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I tried the 10-minute video of Qigong yesterday afternoon. I found it very interesting. It usually takes me several times before I feel comfortable following a video and relax into it, so I’m planning to do it today after I return from dinner. So far, I’m impressed. I followed the lady’s instructions as best I could and DID feel tingling in my hands and arms, and DID feel more relaxed when I finished! I thank my friend Linda Smith again for letting me know about this, plus I found out my friend Sheila Murrey also does this practice. I feel a bit late to the party, but I’m delighted to add something like this to my day.
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“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” ―Thich Nhat Hanh
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