Tag Archives: ugly American

September 22, 2026 · 8:56 pm

Wednesday 9-23-2026

This was posted a bit late, but it IS the official beginning of fall, and I love it so much I wanted to share it.

Lady Caroline – @a lady’s substack

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Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird – Chiang Mai – Instagram

Brian and I were on our way home from the gym yesterday and saw what looked like a hummingbird drinking nectar from a whole row of long red blossomed flowers. We stopped and admired him for a minute or two. I had read before that Thailand doesn’t have hummingbirds, as such, but have Sunbirds and a moth that imitates the hovering of a hummingbird.

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Speaking of the gym, we saw Ugly American jogging ahead of us as we walked. I thought, ‘Oh, no.’ but he didn’t come into the gym today. Later Brian told me he had his phone out and that he seemed to be watching a movie where a lady was screaming. (One reason to be happy I don’t wear my hearing aids to the gym!) I can’t believe the stupidity of a guy running in public down a street with the sounds of someone screaming coming from him.

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I have a normal, wonderful day today. Rain chances are low today. The sun is shining brightly now and it is already feeling quite warm. I’m enjoying my J.D. Robb, “Fury in Death” book, but I’m limiting myself to one chapter a day in order to get other things done. 📖

As I told you, the puzzle is coming along extremely slowly, but I AM making a bit of progress. Meanwhile, this colorful guy is brightening up one side of my living area with his gorgeous body.

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I’m looking forward to going to the cafe this afternoon. I have one sketch in process, and a couple I would like to get started. I’m having such a good time with this!

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Marieke Luiten

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September 22, 2026 · 4:37 am

Tuesday 9-22-2026

Pamela Schifano – @pammypoo on Substack – The Daily Inspo

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Today’s visit with Harvey was like we were on a roller coaster emotion-wise. On the good side, his blood oxygen was good, so they removed the oxygen nasal tube for the first time in several weeks. He had asked his nurse to help him send a video to Brian, asking for a pizza. While he was asking him, he also told Brian he loved him. His nurse sent a video later of Harvey actually eating a slice of pizza without help and without choking. He was totally confused about time today. When we went in, he was complaining because he couldn’t get his watch to say “December.” We discovered that for some reason, he really thought that was the date. I showed him my watch and Brian showed him his, and Harvey finally calmed down. He didn’t know what year it was, thought he was 90, and that his birthday was in December. He actually knew who I was today and told me he loved me. He went on and on, though, about inappropriate, actually pornographic stuff. SO – some good, some not so good. He was comfortable. He was glad to see us.

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I had a good time at the cafe this afternoon. I had found a photo on the net provided by Arthur David Spota – @adaspota.bsky.social – of an abandoned movie theater in Dresden, Germany. It really struck me, so I tried to draw it.

I was finishing up the details when a couple came up to me. They were very complimentary about my efforts, and I told them they made my day.

Here’s the painted sketch –

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I slept well last night and went to the gym this morning. Just at the end of my walk on the treadmill, the Ugly American came in. I was sitting on the bench waiting for Brian to finish. The man came in, tripped on the door sill, causing me to smile (inside.) He didn’t fall. He passed me and said, “Good morning.” It’s in my upbringing to be civil, so I said it back, gritting my teeth. And so it goes.

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We had one of my favorite dinners last night. It’s a burrito with chicken, salad, nuts, and cranberries, plus some kind of dressing. It’s absolutely delicious. It’s really too large, though, for a meal, and Brian really doesn’t like leftovers, so we won’t have it often.

It’s official – I’m down 100 pounds and a little over 94 inches now. I’m officially into maintenance now, just trying to keep my good eating habits, but allowing myself to branch out a bit, and concentrating on building strength, flexibility and stamina.

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A lady on Substack thinks I should write a book about my impressions of Thailand and include my sketches. I’m just going to concentrate on writing articles for Substack at this point and see what the reaction is.

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I have met another lady on Substack lately who just left Chiang Mai to go home to her native Australia. Apparently, she loves Chiang Mai, has been here several times and knows a whole lot more about than I do. She plans to come back in April and maybe we can arrange to meet!

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www.bykateeelford.com – C.K. Tice

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September 8, 2026 · 11:35 pm

Wednesday 9-9-2026

Nanea Hoffman – Sweatpants and Coffee

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I’m having a happy morning. The street crew did something quieter last night, so I had a good night’s sleep. The Ugly American didn’t show up at the gym – though his ghost was there, making me work out mentally what I might say to him if he DID show up – like “Are you visiting? How long is your stay?” – I actually had a good session, feeling stronger than I have been. Brian and I had a beautiful breakfast together. I got confirmation from our insurance that they ARE covering the last hospital stay for Harvey, reimbursing Brian for his payments.

The sun is shining. I had my windows open and the breezes blowing for a while until it felt too warm. I have my wash out on the balcony and it should be dry before I leave my place this afternoon.

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I’m base painting my sketches from yesterday so I can work on the details when I go to the cafe this afternoon. I have two of the three ready to go so far. I have some ideas for new sketches I’m excited to try.

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Paula Siegert

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August 25, 2026 · 4:16 am

Tuesday 8-25-2026

Mind Shift Musings on Substack

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We went to see Harvey at the nursing home this morning. He was ‘with us’ part of the time, following things we were telling or asking him. The important thing was that he was calm, comfortable, and was NOT upset about the physical therapy session yesterday. The therapist is just moving his arms and legs, trying to prevent them from freezing up from being immobile in bed. We were afraid Harvey would strongly object, but he hasn’t, and said the man is NOT hurting him. Big relief. He DID tell us he opened the window, paid someone to come and get the suction machine and throw it out the window and burn it.😜. He said he worried all day yesterday because we didn’t come. I told him I was sorry, but that today was Tuesday and we were here now.

When we got home I had a text from Heidi, my new friend who made the butterfly collage for me, saying she was at the cafe. I immediately went to join her and we enjoyed coffees and some good conversation. I will miss her when she has to leave soon.

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These are my latest sketches.

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I’ve told you we’ve had some challenges from the card reader that gives us access to the gym. One day a Thai man was checking in before us and used a facial recognition feature to get the door to open. He then let us in. We saw him again today. He went in, and then Brian used the QR code to get us in. The man was waiting for us with some Rambutan that he gave to Brian.

Credit: Getty / Karl Tapales

Rambutan is a fruit aka “Cow’s or Dragon’s Eyes” a really sweet fruit that’s delicious. We enjoyed some with our breakfast today.

Contrast this with an American who got there after we did yesterday. I was on the treadmill and Brian had finished his and was doing other exercises. The man rang the doorbell repeatedly until Brian stopped his exercises and let him in. (This is a big “no-no” in gym etiquette. If you can’t get in, you go do something else. You don’t bother people in the middle of their workouts. He didn’t even bother to thank Brian for letting him in. Brian went back to his exercises and the man proceeded to walk the length of the gym talking loudly on his phone – another no-no and highly distracting. I had to grab my handlebars as he kept going back and forth and I couldn’t keep my concentration. This is the example of why we are called “Ugly Americans” in so much of the world. An attitude that the rules don’t apply to you, that common courtesy is not important, and that you’re the only one that matters. It’s embarrassing. I thought about biting him in the leg and then telling him I hadn’t had my rabies shot…

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Ellen Buesgen

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June 28, 2025 · 12:30 am

Bull in a China Shop

cookie_studio – Freepik

Yesterday was Friday, so I went for my massage with Wey-o. Mostly, it was the exquisite massage I’m getting used to – but NEVER taking for granted.

About 2/3 of the time in, a man came in the door of the small, quiet shop, asking in a loud voice if he could get a massage. No, he didn’t want an appointment. He wanted it NOW. A foot massage.

How did I know all this? Wey-o and I were in the cubicle at the far corner of the shop, but there are only curtains between the cubicles and it is assumed people entering will be quiet and respectful. This man obviously didn’t care about anyone but himself. He had to be asked to take his shoes off, when there is a sign and a rack of slippers right at the front of the shop.

The masseuse told him the cost and he started grousing. “The man he had talked to last week had told him 50 baht. She had told him 70. ‘Wellllllll, allllll right!!!!!!!'”

The other lady in the shop agreed to do his foot massage ‘now.’ As it started and continued, he kept up a running commentary on the massage, why he needed it, the fact that he was going for a pedicure across the street when she finished. When she didn’t reply, he said it again, louder, 4 times! He asked if the shop was open every day…

At this point, Wey-o was turning me over on my back. I pointed out to where he was, mimicked a duck quacking with my hand in front of my mouth, put my hands to my ears and shut my eyes. We grinned at each other. She doesn’t speak English and I don’t speak Thai, but no translation is needed when someone is being the epitome of the “Ugly American.”

He got on his phone in the middle of the massage, talking to someone named Mark!

I came out when I had dressed from my massage. I drank my tea and turned to bow and thank Wey-o for a beautiful massage (only managing a probably badly accented, “cawp coon kah!” (thank you.) The other lady stopped the massage, stuck her head out of the curtain and we repeated the thank you and bow and the confirmation for next Friday.

This man embarrassed me. I thought about confronting him, but decided it was probably a waste of breath. If he was boorish enough to ACT that way, my quiet words would have no effect. I’m sorry that he makes it worse for all other Americans or other foreigners, making Thai people cringe at “having to put up with rude foreigners” in order to make a living.

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