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Creative. Social. Nerd.

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  • biOAKraphy
    Back in 1976, a baby girl named Oh was born into the family of somewhat famous architect/respected professor and his wife. That spunky little thing managed to grow up unharmed despite running around with two older brothers.  (Thank GOD for a wonderful nanny!)  She attended Jurairat Kindergarten and proceeded to Mater Dei Institute (back then was Mater Dei School) for excellent education. At 12, Oh was selected as a part of a delegation of 2 boys, 2 girls and one 21-year-old chaperon to represent Thailand at Children International Summer Village (CISV) Hands Around the World in Melbourne, Australia.  For one glorious month, she learned about peace and friendship with children from all over the world.  That was a beginning of the rest of her life as a “cultural representative” wherever she goes. When Oh’s parents considered her “old enough” to venture out on her own at the age of 14, she was sent to one English-speaking country each summer break (March-April for Thai students) for a language immersion program.  First was a month in New Zealand with a group of Thai students.  Then it was 7 weeks in Bournemouth, England, with her cousin and one of the friends of the…
    • biOAKraphy
      Back in 1976, a baby girl named Oh was born into the family of somewhat famous architect/respected professor and his wife. That spunky little thing managed to grow up unharmed despite running around with two older brothers.  (Thank GOD for a wonderful nanny!)  She attended Jurairat Kindergarten and proceeded to Mater Dei Institute (back then was Mater Dei School) for excellent education. At 12, Oh was selected as a part of a delegation of 2 boys, 2 girls and one 21-year-old chaperon to represent Thailand at Children International Summer Village (CISV) Hands Around the World in Melbourne, Australia.  For one glorious month, she learned about peace and friendship with children from all over the world.  That was a beginning of the rest of her life as a “cultural representative” wherever she goes. When Oh’s parents considered her “old enough” to venture out on her own at the age of 14, she was sent to one English-speaking country each summer break (March-April for Thai students) for a language immersion program.  First was a month in New Zealand with a group of Thai students.  Then it was 7 weeks in Bournemouth, England, with her cousin and one of the friends of the…
    • Becoming Oakley
      Given name The moment I was born, I was named my nickname, “Oh” (Oh+ ). In Thai language, this “Oh” can be pronounced with 5 different sounds and they mean different things. My “Oh” means to console a crying baby. (Kind of like “Awwwww” in English. ) I was the baby girl with 2 older brothers. My dad always wanted to have a daughter. He said that he would have kept having babies until he had a daughter. (And I think he would have done it too!) So, my birth name which eventually becomes my Thai nickname, “Oh”, fits perfectly with how I was treated–spoiled rotten baby girl! Then of course, the baby must have a full name. A friend (or was it a relative) of my Princess Grandmother’s gave me my long and elaborate uncommon full name. As far as I know, I AM the only one with my full name. The V. in V. Oakley Boren. Search for an English name I have the ability to distinguish someone calling my name from a generic English “Oh!”. So as I grew up meeting my dad’s English speaking friends and colleagues and eventually making my own friends as I traveled…
    • The King and I
      I first wrote about my tie to the Thai royal family on my very first website. Then I re-wrote it for Thai-Blogs.com with all the explanations of the cultures and traditions involved. So, here it is again for your reading pleasure. If you throw a shoe into a gathering crowd in Bangkok’s upper-middle to high class social circle, you’re bound to hit one person who is a descendant from the current Thai royal dynasty. In that case, thanks for throwing a flip-flop instead of a steel-toed Caterpillar. I really don’t need a concussion. Surprise! Yours truly has royal DNA! Really I do. I am the great, great grand daughter of King Mongkut of Siam (King Rama IV). That’s Chow Yun Fat or Yul Brynner depending on which movies you saw. (And by the way, both are inaccurate. But of course, that’s another beef for another day.) Really, I am. There are some twenty-seven royal lines of descent (Rajasakul) from King Mongkut. Twenty-eight if you also count the line that became King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). And I’m a part of this lineage. Weirder yet, I found at least 2 friends of mine to actually be my relatives. We all share the…
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  • In Loving Memory
    Noi, my mother, passed away peacefully on Monday August 20, 2007 (Pacific time) / Tuesday August 21 (Bangkok time) of complications from metastasized lung cancer. Donation All the way through November 30, please support my attempt to write 50,000 words in 30 days for National Novel Writing Month AND raise money for a scholarship fund set up in my late mother’s honor for teacher’s training program. $1 for 100 words ($5 for about 1 page) of the draft memoir based on the folder full of notes from my mom’s visits to fortune tellers which hold the key to my family’s past, present, and future. In Memory of Khun Noi Promote Your Page Too Pictures Pictures from her funeral can be found here. Posts Say hi to grandma for me Say hi to Grandma for me II Inside but outside The Eulogy Finding laughter Adjustments Earthly Possession Ibuprofen, wherefore art thou? Cabin Fever On my way Time Travel Dream a little dream Does yours do this? Eulogy Written by my mom’s best friend Aunty Sida: 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…
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    LinkedIn worthy, professional related posts
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      Recap of a 1987 Thai novel, “The Sheikh.”
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      Reading 12 books a year may not be a challenge to you but it is to me!
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OakMonster - Oakley Boren - Nerd rock
About Me

Creative. Social. Nerd. * Fangirl & Cosplayer * Married to @Jokerlorian * Mom to @BastandIsis and a bunch of plants * Cofounder of @TheAsianAunties

Not as active on here as I should be, but you can come hang out on my social media channels.
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Tag: cats

O Hai

I have official joined the LOL Cats madness. Blame it on Brandon’s brainwashing us the other day at Justin & Olaina’s.

funny pictures
moar funny pictures

Posted on March 4, 2008March 21, 2009Categories I heart Brandon, Picture PerfectTags brandon, cats, photos, quirks, yey!Leave a comment on O Hai

Christmas is gone

Christmas passed away a few weeks ago. What we heard last was that her kidneys had shut down and she refused to eat. Brandon’s mom failed to update us later that they put her down soon after that report. She was 16 years old.

RIP Christmas. You will forever be Brandon’s favorite kitten.

christmasbrandon

Posted on February 28, 2008March 21, 2009Categories I heart Brandon, Picture PerfectTags brandon, cats, D'oh!, family, Life, photosLeave a comment on Christmas is gone

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