Tag Archives: thoughts

Sunday 9-20-2026

Pamela Schifano – @pammypoo on Substack

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The “good was there” at the gym this morning because Ugly American wasn’t there to distract me. I was able to walk without holding on to the handlebars on the treadmill for the entire 30 minutes. Yea. I’m trying not to hope that he was visiting and has now gone home; because Finagle’s Law of Dynamic Negatives indicates that he will show up again tomorrow and I will discover soon that he is, in fact living here and will just become the bane of my existence.

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I’m going to start writing a new article for Substack – this one about the Thai peoples’ reverence for trees; the reason behind it, how they show it, how they protect the trees, including some of my tree sketches.

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This is my latest painted sketch –

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Brian and I had a really interesting, tasty dinner last night. I asked him what it was called and he said the name, showed me the name on his phone, and I still don’t know. I’m hoping that it will be put in our regular round of dinners, though. It was a really dark brown rice, nutty in flavor, with chunks of pumpkin and chicken. Absolutely delicious comfort food type meal.

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I’m starting to feel better since Brian and I went ahead with my new morning regimen plus the change in dosage on my thyroid medication.

  • I’m alternating between a dosage of 100 mcg and 50 mcg of my levothyroxine, resulting in an average of 75 mcgs daily. According to our research, “perfect” would be 78 – so we’ll see how this goes. I take this first thing when I get up in the morning.
  • I let the thyroid med ‘settle’ while I’m getting ready for the gym. Then I drink electrolytes with a full glass of water. (They are more effective on an empty stomach according to the directions.) I mix chia seeds in a full glass of water just before we leave for the gym, leaving them soaking all the time we are gone. I take my shower, dress again, and then take my spoonful of olive oil and drink my glass of chia seeds before I go up for breakfast.
  • I take the rest of my meds when I come home from breakfast. And that’s it.

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Today I have a quiet day, so I’ll make sure to make time to practice my guitar, work on my jigsaw puzzle, and read more of the “Fury In Death” book I started a couple of days ago. I’ll also base paint my sketch of “Bob” the ugly frog this morning. I’ll take this to the cafe this afternoon to add the details. I’ll also continue trying to draw an old movie theater.

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Leah – Trendy Koncepts

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Monday 7-27-2026

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I just got back from the cafe. I had a good time. I finished another 100-page sketchbook today. I’ll paint the last two sketches in it tomorrow and see if I can finish them to show you. I did one sketch in the new book that is totally abstract. I love the colors and I have no idea if I can do it justice, trying to capture the feel of it.

Here’s the sketch I finished today. I think I told you what a happy sight it was when we were visiting Harvey in ICU at the hospital when I passed a locker room for the staff. It was FILLED with plush toys on keychains. I hope you can get an idea of it here. Even big, brawly-looking guys have plush toys on their backpacks here. I love it!

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Yesterday I met a lady named Heidi who was here visiting. She asked to see my stuff. She sat and we had the best visit. She does collage and had some samples with her. I loved the 3-D-ness of it. She did all kinds of things career-wise and had traveled extensively. She was from the States but described herself as a ‘nomad’ now. She’ll be here for about 9 more days. I hope to see her again before she leaves.

I visited with the owner of the cafe today. She is a small, pretty, bubbly woman who is a joy to know. She was gathering the ingredients to try a new cake today. She said if it turned out well, she would bring me a piece to try. My mouth is watering already for my session there tomorrow… 😋

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http://www.skandyspine.com

I did my walking at the gym this morning and then a session of yoga stretches before I went to the cafe. It feels good to be over my sore throat and feeling mostly back to normal now. I want to start trying to use the stairs this week to go UP – if only one floor of it.

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Sanjay Mahamine

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Friday 7-17-2026

Dee Dee

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Hospital Update – Harvey was awake and watching TV this morning in ICU. Pim, his nurse from the nursing home, said tests would be run today. The hospital wants to keep him another day. They will keep him busy with tests. Other than that, he should sleep while the antibiotics do their work, so we will plan to go see him wherever he is tomorrow.

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I had a really nice massage this morning and Brian and I are hanging out at my place until we move to the cafe to get out of the housekeeper’s way.


http://www.bangkokpost.com

This bird is called the Greater Coucal. I have never seen a bird with the beautiful chestnut colored wings and back. In certain light his tail looks green, and you can see his red eyes here. He makes a whoop-whoop-whoop sound. Today, when I was changing from my massage clothes to my rest-of-the-day clothes, one of these was in the tree outside my bedroom window! Brian tried to get a picture, but it flew off before he could.

I also had a teeny, tiny gecko helping me get my laundry out on my drying rack on my balcony this morning. He is smaller around through the body than the last one I had, but longer and skinny and blazingly fast. I only saw the last one once. I don’t know if I’ll see this one again or not.

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Roos Peeters

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Tuesday 7-7-2026

Enjoy Life – Sandy

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We went to visit Harvey this morning. He has been largely unresponsive the last several times we have visited. He says, “Hi,” or kisses my hand, but that’s basically it. He is calm and content, comfortable, and just wants to look out the window or watch the TV. He lives in his own little world. We are grateful that the quality of his life seems to satisfy him.

The nursing home is now under new ownership. We met the doctor and his assistant today. It looks like we are all in good hands, and that we may be partners in Harvey’s care, with us all on the same page. That is comforting.

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These are my latest painted sketches.

I just came home from the cafe. I got my favorite spot and sat happily sketching and making notes this afternoon.

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I finally got the border for the chameleon puzzle finished. I may die of old age before finishing this one. There are few clues as to what you’re working on or even what colors you’re working with. This will be a challenge, and the chamelon is right in the middle…

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I’m practicing the Key of C chord progression on my guitar – C – G – Am – F. These are some basic chords that are used in lots of popular songs. Of course, I’m vastly simplifying things, but it’s a start.

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I saw a church steeple sticking up out of the ‘noise’ of the city and took a picture of it. I’m going to see if I can draw at least part of it. I also took pictures of two different lizards lately, one that had a blue head, and the other that blended right in with the rocks. The server at the cafe told me that some of the lizards can fly! I looked it up and they can kind of GLIDE down, some up to 60 or so feet (1) to get away from a predator! I’m going to try to draw them, as well. I started a sketch of an old woman’s hands (mine). I don’t know if I can get it to come out at all well. We’ll see. I’ve also started a rooster.

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Today is Tuesday. That means water bottle exercises. I’ll do those as soon as I finish my blog posts for the day.

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Pinterest

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Little Things –

Brooke Cagle – Unsplash

When I died twice the night of February 11, 2025, the good people who installed a pacemaker also seem to have installed a different OUTLOOK on life.

I got a booster when our son came and helped us, convincing us to move to Thailand and retire where we could be close to him. My husband’s stroke 2 weeks after we arrived was the final piece to my personal life’s puzzle and I am forever changed.

I.L. Williams’ quote above says it all. What USED to be unremarkable is now everything, seen through a grateful new lens.

  • I wake up grateful to wake up – methodically rising at 4:30 to get ready for our daily session at the gym. My ‘gym buddy’ encourages me to show up and do what will improve my balance that was compromised in my hospital stay, plus my stamina. My determination to start each day with some discipline and routine sets the tone for the rest of my day.
  • This morning was nice, with the pollution index app showing ‘good’ quality air, so I turned off my air filters and opened my windows to enjoy the light and air free flowing into my condo (MY first place by myself EVER.) My son has helped me furnish it with sturdy pieces for my computer area, dining area, TV stand, puzzle table, bedroom stuff, and good chairs.
  • The problems my condo had (leaky windows, a shower head that trickled and leaked, a door that stuck – causing me problems getting in and out for a while, among others) have been fixed now. There are remaining issues, but they can wait forever if need be. I LOVE my place!
  • My husband is in a good, well run and CARING nursing home. His health issues are grim, but he is calm and comfortable, glad when my son and I visit. I will be forever grateful regarding the timing of our move here -crucial to all the rest. We would have been in dire straits if Harvey’s issues had happened at our old home in the States.
  • My health is improving since I finally got the rest of the lard I had been caring around for years OFF. I’ve lost a total of about 95 pounds and about 90 some inches now, and am at a good weight for my height (though I’m shrinking). I am concentrating on eating good food with monitored portions and exercising twice a day (yoga stretches, water bottle exercises, and going down the stairs – and up a little now – plus taking some good supplements and drinking lots more water.
  • I have the freedom to arrange most of my days (when we don’t have appointments or are going to visit my husband) to my liking, cramming each one with as many fun things as I have time and energy to do. That freedom increases the calm I feel. I don’t feel rushed. I can spend as much or as little time on things as I would like. How wonderful is that!!
  • A short list of my ‘joy’ creators are – writing posts for this blog as first and foremost. I have met many beautiful people through it and answering comments is a high point of my day. I spend a lot of time researching to find things I think are wonderful to share. It is a total joy. Trying to teach myself to draw and then painting the sketches brings me concentration, challenge, and a sense of purpose. I love choosing things to sketch, or making them up, doing the best I can at the time to bring them to paper, doing the base painting at home and then taking my supplies to the cafe to add the details and start new sketches while enjoying a latte. Sometimes I get my favorite spot by the front window, but it’s a joy wherever I’m sitting. Working on a jigsaw puzzle and leaving it out so I can work on it whenever the mood strikes. Practicing trying to relearn and play a used guitar and sing with it eventually is my newest challenge. I used to do this to help make money for my college. Now that’s all gone (it’s been at LEAST 50 years) but I’m enjoying the trying. Reading good books, listening to music, sharing meals with my son.
  • New things-listening to birds sing on a regular basis. Finding a cute little gecko sharing my condo with me. Taking a picture of a squirrel in a tree outside my window. Taking pictures of two different lizards that live somewhere around the cafe. Listening to the gazillion frogs that are singing to us as we go to the gym. Gathering fallen flowers and leaves that I’ve never seen before. The joy of watching the Thai people and the tourists walk past the cafe going about their business. Discovering how many hard working Thai people make their living in three-wheeled carts filled to the gills with products or services performed right in the street. Seeing the beautiful women and their sense of style. Goggling at the traffic that continues to amaze me.
  • New challenges – trying to learn more Thai phrases and customs. Learning about the money and making simple transactions. Taking short walks in my neighborhood – going around the block so I don’t have to cross the street – which is a master course in not getting hit or causing anyone problems.
  • New joys – meeting more and more Thai people who have to be some of the kindest people on the planet.

These “little” things encompass my life now and cause the happiness to simply bubble up inside me and spill over. I’m so grateful for a 2nd chance at life to fully live each day, totally aware of how lucky I am, how much I have now, and a purpose to enjoy every moment.

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“Life is just a lot of everyday adventures.”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn

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Sunday 6-21-2026

@oldandcranky.bsky.social

Isn’t this an amazing photo? I’m going to try to draw it.

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Facebook

I know it is still early to wish you a Happy Father’s Day, but the time difference makes this the best way to reach you before your celebration is over. Good fathers are beyond price and should be celebrated every day of the year.

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These are my latest painted sketches.

Hill Street Grocer

Food Experiment:

“Gaeng Jued Wonton” (a clear, soothing broth with pork-filled wontons and vegetables) – Brian and I ate this last night for dinner. It was good, but the broth, which was supposed to be ‘soothing’ was actually hot – to the point this wuss was breathing fire when I was finishing. It tasted good, though. In the middle of the night, though, I had super intense heartburn that woke me up and had me scurrying for the Thai equivalent of Alka-Seltzer. My throat was sore and irritated, making me cough after I took that, so I ended up sucking on one of the lozenges I got when we were sick with the cough/runny nose/sore throat thing that was going around earlier. That finally made it so I could sleep. I ended up sleeping well the rest of the night and had a good session at the gym this morning and good appetite for breakfast. We agreed that we will try the pork dumplings in another dish, but without soup. (meanwhile, I’ll try to stock up on the Alka-Seltzer type stuff.)

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Sprout

Hope in a bowl.

This is the jackfruit seed (one of the three I kept and tried) that is showing a teeny, tiny sprout. I have no idea if this will continue to grow or not, and I’m not looking to grow an actual fruit. I would just like to enjoy the leaves of the plant, if I’m successful. It’s fun to try.

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Today is a quiet day. I did well at the gym, and later today I’ll do exercises with my water bottles. I’ll practice my guitar chords, too. Brian took pics of the Cats on the Beach finished jigsaw puzzle, but ‘warned’ me to slow my speed on finishing the puzzles. I see no problem, since the next one, “Abstract Cat” is labled ‘difficult to impossible.’ I’ll spend time at the cafe, seeing how I do on some new sketches. I’m also researching the Thai Zodiac, preparing to try to draw a sketch to go with “Year of the Horse” which is THIS year. It’s actually “Year of the Red Horse” – something that happens once every 60 years.

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Monday 6-1-2026

Giphy

I started off the new month here with a bang by reacting to something we ate last night (I guess). I opted out of the gym and am just now feeling pretty good – particularly after taking a lengthy nap. We ate a Thai dish last night, and I must have been reacting to some spice they used. Brian has been really careful to shield me from too spicy food here, but we’re consciously trying to branch out a bit now, since we ARE in Thailand…

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This is the birthday painting I did for a friend yesterday. He was pleased, so I was relieved and happy.

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I will make this a super quiet day today. I’ll probably head over to the cafe in awhile – just for a break in my day – and a delicious iced mocha. I want to finish some sketches I started yesterday.

I wish you a happy month. Hopefully Mother Nature will decide to give everyone a break and give us all some weather we can wrap our arms around.

QuoteFancy

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Tuesday 4-28-2026

Newest painted sketches

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We had a challenging visit with Harvey this morning. He thought I was his mom and that Brian was his dad, even though we tried to correct him. He also announced that the nursing home had served everyone ‘dog’ with mashed potatoes for dinner last night; specifically, ‘your dog’ meaning his parents’ dog, Gypsy. He said he recognized her, but they were getting low on food… We took the reading light, and he seemed to think that would work well. We’ll see if he actually uses it.

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The rest of my day was super wonderful, though. On the way home from the visit with Harvey we stopped and found a used acoustic guitar! The shop owner through in the case, and Brian gave me a capo and a pick.

I feel as if this is Christmas, my birthdays, my anniversary, and National Pickle Week all rolled into one. The neck of this guitar is much wider that the guitar I had so long ago, so I’ll have to completely start over with learning and being able to play the chords, as well as build the calluses I used to have on the tips of my fingers, plus I sound like a sick frog – but I don’t care. I’m ecstatic! I found a Youtube site that shows me the basic chords and I’ll practice those until I know them again. I figured out that it has been over 60 years since I played and sang in college – so to say I’m a bit rusty doesn’t begin to cover it. 🤭 I have the perfect situation for starting over. No pressure. No time limits. No one listening. Just me and the guitar, croaking together. PERFECT!

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I spent a couple of hours at the cafe this afternoon. I did a sketch for our 57th wedding anniversary which I’ll paint and take to Harvey in June. I also did a sketch for Father’s Day, plus two sketches of his favorite cartoon characters.

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