On the Indian Ocean

April 18, 2010


We were both up before 7am and the ocean was not spectacular but still the ocean and impressive no matter what it looks like.
Ed went to the gym and I to the library to catch up after a day away. We did lose and gain a few folks at Phuket, mostly speakers.
Witness: Endangered Species of North America
This is a photographic journey by Susan Middleton, who was the photographer in this Emmy winning National Geographic documentary. There is a book of the same name. the struggle to identify and even more challenging, to photograph them for this project, is a fascinating story. The people who have contributed to the preservation of many of these animals are also so interesting in their own right.
Trivia
Only five of us and we were no threat to anyone. We were frankly surprised we did as well as we did. Sonja zipped through it rather quickly and so we were finished before the officer of the watch made his report on the PA at noon. On the laptop, I tried to pull up the phone bill for the FAX line which looks much more expensive than it has been. I was pulling it up to show him but he obviously forgot this part because when I turned back to talk to him, he was off to the Sunday buffet he loves so much. I snuck over to get a Bratwurst with mustard. My rationale was that I’d take more calories at the buffet. You are allowed to roll on the floor laughing at this rationale.
This afternoon there were only four of us and again we posed no threat to anyone or anything. Ha.
China vs. India
I listened to the RAND expert on the TV as I had missed the lecture several days ago. This is the guy whose speech pattern drives me nuts but I can get the content in the background as I write. I’d hate to be a student in one of his classes at Harvard though clearly he is knowledgeable as are the speakers they schedule on board.
Sad news
Lisa writes that her Dad is doing very poorly as his leukemia is fulminating and it doesn’t look like he’ll get out of the hospital this time. Nancy is on her way to see him as well as I write. His living brothers and sisters are around and I wish for him a peaceful and pain free passing. And I received news that a fun cousin of my age has died. She had experienced some increasingly difficult health challenges in recent years and I have fond memories of our rare visits with each other. She took the time to send me a kind note when I sent her a get well note late last year and I’m glad I made that last contact.
Photoshop Elements Beyond Basics
I audited this class and got lucky because there were two other women there who were taking it for the first time. This time, things were faster and more and intuitive for me. I plan to audit three tomorrow that I’ve done before so I won’t be at trivia in the morning. Ed went to take “Create a Multimedia Slideshow with Photoshop” at 2 pm and said it was excellent. I read the handout and it doesn’t look much different than Powerpoint so I’ll use that next time I make one at home. Perhaps I’ll even add narration as I’ve never done that before.
The King and I
Remember this 1956 film with Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr? It (and the more recent one with Jodie Foster are banned in Thailand though not apparently the book) is banned in Thailand. This was just as delightful as it was when I first saw it and the skit where Tuk Tim made a play out of the “House of Mr. Thomas Sawyer” is fantastic. When we get home I’d like to read the book and see both versions on film for comparison.
Dinner: much discussion of locations where people live and various children and their travails. One is just finishing college and there are no job prospects. The mother asked about a law degree in international relations with a minor in Mandarin.
I’m amazed at the complaints of some people about other folks not dressing properly for dinner. Have they looked in the mirror? I know I should dress better (I hate dressing and redressing unlike Ed who loves to change clothes) but I haven’t violated any of the criteria that I’m aware of anyway. Ok, enough of “meow”.
Entertainment
I can use a good belly laugh today and tonite’s entertainment gave me hope when I saw it in the Patter. This fellow from Britain did not disappoint. Lots of belly laughs.