long overdue updates

Well, I realize I'm been lax in attending to this space. My apologies. A few brief updates:

- My house -
I love it! I'm finally having a chance to do a bit of settling in. I have finally bought a bit of furniture, am still seeking a table, and a few things, but it is becoming a very nice space. I bought a bunch of plants at the nursery last weekend, and now have orchids, hibiscus, and other assorted greens hanging on my porch, as well as lanterns. I've strung my hammock, and worked on cleaning up the yard. I bought a beautiful gold leaf woodcarving of Buddha that I've hung, and am eager to get a poster of the king (the heart and soul of all Thais!) to add, making my Thai house seem even more Thai... It turns out that one of my neighbors was in the Burmese class in CM, and I've gotten to know him well. I've also had a house guest for the past few days, a French doctoral student I met in Chiang Mai, and who is waiting in Mae Sot until the airport opens and he can travel on to study in Rangoon. Puts a little more life in the house to have another body in it, rather than just me rolling around. I really do plan to add photos soon...

- Situation in BKK -
Well, the fomenting unrest finally spilled over into the general spectre, as I'm sure you are all by now aware. Many of my friends and colleagues have had difficulty getting in/out of BKK, but no one has been put in any danger. As regretful as all casualties are, they have all been amongst those individuals engaged in the confrontation, and thus, neither I nor my colleagues are at any risk. Still, it has caused great headache to many to have the airport shut down... The PAD began rolling out today, so the airport is beginning the process of reopening. Probably not fully operational until the 15th, but some flight commence tomorrow. My own travel plans should not be affected. We are still not sure what the effect on gov't will be, despite the court order, no one seems to be moving very quickly. Most Thais are embarrassed for their country. It will be interesting to see how it all finally fall out.

- My bicycle....-
Yesterday my bike was stolen :( I have been told before to make sure and lock my bike, but Mae Sot fuels such a sense of security that some time back, I stopped taking as much precaution as I should. I generally lock if I will leave it for a while, or at night, but on this particular day I was eating breakfast at 8:30 am at a cafe with no front (i.e., can see my bike, and am very close to it), at a cafe across the street from the police station. Yet someone, it was lifted. I am extremely disappointed. I didn't pay that much for the bike, but it was unusually tall compared to the standard Asian sized bikes around town, and it will be very difficult to find a tall replacement bike for my relatively tall frame. I have also been looking into buying a mountain bike, so perhaps this the time....

- Random assorted other -
- Have begun Thai lessons. I'm worried this is a mistake since I'm still trying to get a handle on Burmese, but I find myself wanting/needing it around town, so have decided to see how it goes.
- Won trivia last week, and tied for first yesterday. It had been months since I last played, so very glad I haven't lost the touch!
- I'm working very hard to time our work summit such that I will be able to attend either Jeannie or Laurita's wedding. It looks good for a least one of them.
- I have discovered that I am strongly affected by MSG, which is in a great many dishes here (in large quantities). I have increased my well being and my eating selections by learning how to ask that MSG be excluded from my orders.
- I still love my new mac :)