Feels like a Hooky

Ah. Columbus Day. A holiday where everyone else you know outside of government is hard at work.  Usually, Brandon would be off work today too, but Mr. Crazy Pants over there had scheduled a 2-day training course for today and tomorrow. Here in my home office at 9:30 a.m. on Monday with a mug of tea.  It feels like I’m playing hooky. It has been a very short and exhausting weekend so I’m grateful for today.  As you know, Saturday early afternoon was all zombie stuff.  Later that evening, we were at the Orange County Police Canine Association benefit show. ...
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Happy Busy

Seriously. Friday was a combination of hard work and fun. Nhien and I managed not to hurt ourselves while moving all sorts of boxes of our printed matter around the office and worked up a pretty good appetite. We grabbed Celeste and Pat and headed to Sushi Go 55 and the rest is over there. We came back just in time for me to throw the office birthday party. With yummy stuff from Delilah Bakery, everyone had a happy afternoon, all hopped up on sugar! I mean, all 6′ 5″ of Canadian Greg scooted over to us on this thing...
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Ibuprofen, wherefore art thou?

If physical pain makes you feel like you’re alive, I am VERY alive today. I’m all sore from working out and dancing about. My voice a little raspy from singing. My allergies, thank you Tylenol Allergy Sinus, was killing me earlier. Sitting down and getting up has been some very ALIVE moments. I haven’t even tried going all up the stairs yet. Coming up from ground floor was already interesting enough. There is no such thing as Ibuprofen in this household. I didn’t even think about that. I seriously am punishing myself without even thinking about it. Ah…nothing brought out...
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Earthly Possession

“Okay, when I get home, I’m going through all of my own stuff,” exclaimed Aunty Sida. “My poor kids! If I don’t start now, they’ll be doing the same thing we are doing right now after I’m dead!” Folks, the aunties and me had been going through mom’s stuff for about 6 hours today, including lunch break. Pueng had brought down most of mom’s clothes to the living room. We all spot her favorite outfits and marveled at all the other pieces she had collected–some of them haven’t even been worn yet! The piles threaten to drown us a few...
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Finding laughter

First of all, some of the pictures are up on my Flickr set. Yep. There are some humor there too. More are coming as soon as I get around to upload the rest. It’s odd how during this very sad time for me and for my mom’s friends, we managed to find some humor along the way. Well, most of the funnies came from Team Khun Noi’s #1 Clown, Aunty Ray. Aunty Ray, one of my mom’s best friends, had a stroke several years ago but recovered beautifully. Her Donald Duck level temper and sharp wits are still intact. (Okay,...
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The Eulogy

Aunty Sida wrote a beautiful eulogy for my mom. We were all in tears yesterday, proof reading the thing. I’m not sure if I can do justice translating, but I’ll try. Khun Noi was born on November 29, 1941. She was the third of four daughters of Mr. Suvit and Mrs. Lamiad in Surat Thani Province [in the south of Thailand]. Noi received her elementary education in Baan Poang district in Ratchaburi province, then to St. Joseph Convent School and Amporn Paisarn School in Bangkok. After graduating from high school, she continued her studies in the UK. With an associates...
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