Now what?

     This placid life in the OFH doesn't generate much adventuresome material for a daily blog. Perhaps some stories from past travels may have some interest. 

    Travel once took me from Bangkok, Thailand, to Singapore. The first leg of the trip was by train down the southern reaches of Thailand. At one point Thailand is only six miles wide. The train ended at the border of Malaysia. Penang is the first city after crossing the border. What year? I don't remember but it was just at the time hotel reservations could be made online. Previously during my travels I found a hotel or guesthouse upon arrival. Taking the service offered for pre-booking I booked a hotel in Penang. The hotel offered two choices. A room was $10, or, if you wanted single occupancy it was $20. Being. a big spender I opted to pay $20.

    Being the tropics torrential rain was frequent and happened while in Penang. One restaurant was busily service customers even though it was flooded. Wearing shorts and sandals ankle deep water wasn't a problem as I ate my dinner. Malaysian food has much to recommend it.

   After Penang I bused to the Cameron Highlands, Melaka and on to Singapore. 

Takk for alt,

Al

Malaysia has an interesting colonial history. It was first colonized by Portugal, then the Dutch took over, and they were supplanted by the English. Evidence of all three European countries is visible in Melaka. Malaysia achieved independence in 1957. Melaka is on the Straight of Melaka across which lies Indonesia. Navigation in the country is made a bit easier because the Roman alphabet is used, unlike Thai which is a derivative of Sanskrit. 

It's not fair!

     My day begins with reading the Minneapolis/Star Tribune online. Today the sports page was filled with print about the Vikings. Even the University of Minnesota men's basketball team got significant coverage, after getting blown out by Purdue.  The University Women's team, who won last night, not even the score was in the paper.

   Sunday, the women played Maryland who are ranked #7, nationally. Minnesota took this ranked team to two overtimes, eventually losing 99-100. Minnesota was up by 9 points in the second overtime before losing by a point. All the press dwells on is that Minnesota lost after leading by 9. Totally ignored is the outstanding performance of an unranked team taking #7, to overtimes. That's a major accomplishment and indication of a bright future for the Minnesota Women.

Takk for alt,

Al

Contrast this picture of Mt. Fuji with the one posted yesterday. Taken at dawn, the tents of our camp are barely visible in the foreground.

Pretty much my life...except 18+ years since I retired.

 

        Yesterday it was a real snow.  The southish part of the cities where I live got 5"? More fell to the north. Not fluffy and light this was wet and heavy making me even more grateful that I don't have to shovel. One of the earlier promos for this OFH proclaimed, "If you live in Lexington Landing you will never need a ladder."  Now they should do one that says, "If you live in Lexington Landing you will never need to shovel." 😀 Yes, I'm grateful. The 4th anniversary of coming to the OFH is three weeks away. 

Takk for alt,

Al

Yes, that's Mt. Fuji in the background from our tent camp at cold weather training. This was the first view of Fuji and it has a tiny snow cap. It helps to explain how I have 200 pictures of Fuji. During the six weeks we were there it's look kept changing, thus another picture and another, etc.

"...drift by the window..."

 "The falling leaves drift by the window

The autumn leaves of red and gold

I see your lips, the summer kisses

The sun-burned hands I used to hold"  Nat King Cole

   While living in the 15th floor condo downtown, I was fond of posting on Facebook  "snow is pretty from the 15th floor." That post would irritate Barb, who lived in one story, town house. Now she lives on the 9th floor of her iteration of an OFH. Sunday she was keen to tell me, " Snow is pretty from the 9th floor!" 😀 

    Snow is also pretty from the 4th floor, my current home. It's been drifting by my window all afternoon. That made me think of Nat King Cole's song about 'falling leaves'. No shoveling nor driving necessary. Only trips outside are with Kaia, who keeps me moving.

   Christmas mail is arriving. That makes me glad. No Christmas mailing from me. If any want to know about me I direct them to this blog. The result is two followers.

Takk for alt,

Al

This sunset picture across the Mekong from Laos toward Thailand was taken on the 2nd ill fated trip to Takhek, Laos,

Tis the season!

      It's a clue that it's an Old Folks Home! Residents of the 4th floor, of whom I am one, had their annual Christmas party tonight. The clue is that the event was scheduled from 5-7 😉If that isn't funny enough the party was pretty much over by 6:00 😊

    It was a nice event with a potluck providing good food. There was even lefse and rosettes!  Sitting  and visiting with neighbors, some of whom I see but with whom I seldom have the opportunity for conversation, was enjoyable. A good time was had by all and that included Al.

   Once again it's snowing. It's more than a skiff again but sans wind nothing like a storm. These frequent snow falls are contributions to a significant accumulation without drifts. A memory from childhood was awe at New England pictures of snow piling on fence posts. South Dakota snow always came sideways. The weather provides reinforcement for choosing to reside in the OFH.

Takk for alt,

Al

I do miss my bulldozer, which was sold to a man in McAllen, Texas. When a track came off and the struggle to replace convinced me it was time to sell. Most of the projects for which it was purchased were complete.

Remembering!

      This is another day minus original thoughts. With that in mind I'll recount a past adventure from my travels in SE Asia.

    On my first trip to Laos I flew to the capital, Vientienne. After a few days there I flew to Luang Prabang, the former Royal Capital. It is 200 miles between cities. Spending some time there I then took a bus back to Vientienne with the intention of continuing to the south tip of Laos. This being 2009 it was before smart phones and tablets. At an over night stop in Takhek, the internet cafe was out of order for two weeks. The men in the cafe told me to cross the Mekong to Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. Returning to Laos, after going to Thailand, I was refused re-admittance because they had stamped my visa "expired."  Thus ended my attempt to travel to southern Laos.

    Back in Thailand in 2012, planning to teach, with some days to use before teaching, I decided to finish the journey begun in 2009. Back in Takhek a local guide offered to take me to the local caves. Entering the second cave, out of which water was flowing, I slipped and fell, gashing my legs. The guide took me to the local hospital where I was stitched up, minus anesthetic, or at best, a light dose. The next day I was infected so went to Bangkok for medical treatment, see the hospital pictures a few blogs ago. Never did I see southern Laos.

Takk for alt,

Al

The view from the first cave.

Lacking!

       Another day lacking an original thought.  "Better to remain quiet and be thought a fool, than speaking up and proving you are one." With that thought it mind this posting will be brief. If I don't post anything you both get nervous about my well being. So then...

Takk for alt,

Al

That's a hundred and twenty pound python I'm holding. It was on my shoulders but it was constantly moving so it slipped down. They also had 200 pound Burmese python but I was too wimpy to carry that. This was on a stop on a boat trip I took in northern Thailand in 2012?. Boarding in Chiang Mai the trip ended in Chaing Rai.

A Skiff of snow!

    The title of this blog is incorrect, it was more than a skiff.  Today's snowfall began at 6am and continued a few hours. It was steady but not hard. The roads were extremely slippery.  Morning traffic was heavy and some drivers follow much too closely for the conditions. 

    Venturing from the comfortable confines of the OFH, I had to make a trip cross town for a medical appointment. Crossing Minneapolis and St. Paul is somewhat different than crossing Sinai. It was a 22 mile trip one way. Surprisingly no accidents or cars in the ditch were observed. Minnesota drivers have adjusted to winter driving. It reminded me of my good fortune in not have a daily commute.

Takk for alt,

Al

skiff of snow, which means a light dusting of snow that is not enough to make roads slippery and still allows the ground underneath to be seen. The term is of Scottish origin and describes a small amount or light flurry of snow, rain, or wind. 

Past snow!

WOW!

    Neighborhood House is a St. Paul multi-service agency. Recently they added an additional service site on Montreal Ave., which is about three blocks from the OFH. Multiple times during the year inmates of the OFH organize benefits for Neighborhood House. Today there was a gathering of Winter Gear; coats, boots, gloves, etc. for them. The announced time was 1:00-3:00. When I dropped a jacket off at 1:00 there was already a truck load of gear donated.

   Sometimes there is a food drive, a gathering of toiletries, etc. for Neighborhood House. The announcement of the OFH, 4th floor, Christmas party potluck, lists the foods to bring. Then there is this sentence, "Cash gifts for Neighborhood House will be received."  It's a worthy cause and well supported by denizens of the OFH.

Takk for alt,

Al

"Neighborhood House on Montreal offers a cost-free food market where people can shop for food for their households. There is also a Family Center where families can get support with services ranging from basic needs to other resources to support them."

No Sheep!

      The OFH is about two miles from the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport. So close that when I would meet arrivals I wouldn't leave my apartment until they texted their landing. Now I've been excused from that duty because the traffic is horrendous. There are no flight patterns over the OFH so there is no noise issue.

   My cell in the OFH faces SE. The building is up at the edge of the Mississippi River Valley so my view is over the Valley to Mendota Heights. Just beyond Mendota is the suburb or Eagan. Eagan lies under a major flight pattern. Those flights are visible from my windows. Once I saw eight planes flying simultaneously. At night, lying in bed, I can count planes so there is no need to count sheep. 

Takk for alt,

Al

This is the plane that we flew on from Thessaloniki, Greece, Athens. No jet wing as you can see, and my knees were jammed against the seat in front of me. We then flew to the island of Crete, about a forty minute flight.

"O for dumb...."

       It all started with a printer out of ink. At least I was smart enough to do an internet search for a office supply stores nearby. There are none. Advised to try Target I found one generally in the location of the Costco Store I was planning to visit.

    The friendly Amelia (so named for the forever lost Amelia Earhart) in my GPS reliably brought me to target. Parking among the mass of cars I trudged into the store. In the store a ways an employee pointed out that the ink cartridges were on the back wall, farther than the back forty. There was an actual employee nearby who looked at the cartridge number, walked to the shelf, and announced, "We don't carry those anymore." 😡 Ya then...

   It was my own stupid fault for being fixated on going to a store. Later, on the OfficeMax website, there were the cartridges I needed. They include same day delivery.😛

Takk for alt,

Al

One time, after Joanne's death, I hosted a dinner party. This is the table I set. Now, in the OFH, I just take guests to the dining room. See Trygvie looking on.

Coming and Going!

    L & C are friends since 1962. In fact, Joanne and I double dated with them before any of us were married. They now reside in downtown Mpls., near where I lived previously. Our schedules don't match. Thursday they leave for a winter in Arizona. Tuesday I returned to the OFH in St. Paul. In the spring I'll return to The Little House. In May they will return to Mpls.

   So tonight we said goodbye before they leave for the winter.

Takk for alt,

Al

This was a snowy scene from our 15th floor condo downtown Minneapolis. The architectural gem in the picture was build for Northwestern National Insurance. Vacant for two years it was recently sold and will be preserved.