Today's song is: Sweet but Psycho  ... Ava Max

It has been a great week so far. Yesterday one of my longest and best friends and his wife came to visit us. I have known Kerry since great 5 and Janet since grade 10. They are wonderful people despite having left Canada for the USA and grand kids prevent them from coming back. They do, however, have a cottage on Bob lake that they visit every summer so Thavorn, Jaidan and I are hoping to reconnect every summer. It was fascinating to get caught up as I had not seen Kerry and Janet for about 7 years. They had not changed much, except for being gray haired now. I have decided to nickname Kerry, the 'Silver Fox'  :-)

On another note, Jaidan turns 5 tomorrow and we have bought him a few things for his birthday. The big gift is a bicycle as we plan on using August to get him off training wheels do e can ride as a family next summer.

The next necessary gift was a life jacket that he will wear in August as we plan on teaching him how to swim. It was the first I have found that fits him well,. He doesn't seem to mind that 'girl' colors.

The other toys, Jaidan got to choose himself at ToysRus. Typical boy toys, cop car, remote controlled python, and 4 pull back cars. He is enjoying them immensely.

Meanwhile Thavorn is enjoying buying her favorite sports clothing, Adidas and preen for the camera.

I am drinking a mug of ice-chilled beer and simply enjoying life.  It does not get much better, except, perhaps, out with my buddies in the Big mango.

TTYL

What's Worse?

Today's song is: I Don't Care  .. Sheeran and Bieber

I can only remember one time when Thavorn got ticked off at me. She said, 'Mai sun yai' which translated into, 'I don't care'. That's the only time in 6 years. I can't even remember what we were discussing  :-) Hence the today's song.

What is worse, a leftist politician in government or a red neck with a pit bull? As I sit on my balcony I marvel at the City add bicycle lanes and more trafficking calming to the street below. The street already has speed bumps and a solar powered speed alert sign that flashes your speed at you as you drive by. The latest trafficking calming is to install 5 foot pylons that get nailed down in the middle of the street between double yellow lines that were just painted on.  Of course these pylons need to be removed before the snow falls and inserted once again when spring arrives.

One may wonder why I disagree with all of the above? First off, I have been here 5 months and no one speeds along the street, at least in my observation. Secondly, hardly anyone uses the bike lanes in Ottawa. Most bicyclists use the bike paths that are all over the city. Thirdly, the streets are falling apart, with way too many potholes that don't look like they will be repaired before winter arrives again. Riding the city but results in your teeth being jarred by the bumpy ride.

You won't find too many groups that are so passionate about their 'thing' other than bicyclists and dog owners. To each their own.

Meanwhile, back at home, Thavorn is reveling in the fact that she is loosing almost all of the weight she gained in Jaidan's pregnancy. Speaking of Jaidan he turns 5 this Wednesday on the 31st. I think we will buy him a bicycle for his birthday.

38 days until we land in the LOS. It is good to get away and it is good to get back  :-)

Some pics of Thavorn reveling:

Thavorn waking up and checking with family and friends back in Thailand

Jaidan, turning 5 years old, watching morning cartoons

My new smart watch

After waiting 3 years for smart watches to evolve to where I would actually buy one  . it happened and I bought a Hua Wei Watch GT and I am very happy with it. Why I like it:

• 2 week battery life, so you can actually track your sleep unlike the Apple watch that needs charging nightly.
• It actually looks like a watch, again, unlike Apple.
• It is thin enough that it doesn't catch on things and fits under a long sleeve shirt.
• It was affordable at $247 Canadian through Amazon.com (Global)
• It pairs perfectly with my Hua Wei phone.
• Hua Wei updates the OS regularly, adding new features.

Highly recommended!

TTYL

50 days and Counting

Today's song is: Leaving on a Jet Plane  .. John Denver

It is 50 days until we are back in Thailand. We leave Ottawa on August 30th and spend that night and August 31st in Vancouver and then we fly out to Bangkok on September 1st, arriving on September 3rd (lost a day crossing the international dateline).  I am looking forward to it as both countries have their own unique qualities, but a mix is just better.

A big plus is we live much cheaper in Bangkok, $590 a month for apartment in Bangkok vs $1800 for an apartment in Ottawa. Living expenses are also a bit cheaper in Bangkok, but I tend to spend more on entertainment in the Big mango. That is to say, I have more fun in Bangkok. My usual saying is, "If you can't have fun in Bangkok, then there is something seriously wrong with you!'. Among other things, playing pool is one of my favorite things.

I also tend to spend more time working out in a gym in Bangkok, so I tend to be better fit. That is a trade off to more alcohol and air pollution  :-)

Some pics:

Jaidan and his buddy Spidey

Thavorn and her buddy Fon at my sister's lake

At the Thai festival at Landsdown Park

Just another selfie moment

TTYL

Omega Park

Today's song is: Take Care  .. Drake

We joined John and Fon for a trip to explore North American wildlife at Omega Park near Chateau Montebello. It was a warm 32 degrees today and we finished off with a couple of jugs of beer before returning home.

Some pics:

 

TTYL