Out with the old and in with the new, Chiang Mai style

Sending off these big candle floats is a traditio al northern thai way to send off the past year and welcome in the new year

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The Flu?

So we have all taken turns getting sick the past couple of months. Last month the school called and asked us to come and get Mali. She looked like road kill, and volunteered to go to the doctor without arguing. She was admitted right away as a possible H1N1 case and later confirmed this with the lab. I went to the states with a cold and it got worse, lost my voice (made a lot of people happy with that) and came back more tired than when I left. Doug went in last week with acute breathing problems and Mom's stomach is not a happy camper. The cold season is arriving so the sniffles will be going around soon also, but today is the first day in a long time that everybody is running at 100% steam.

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Cast of Characters

Moe is dog #2 and came from the local shelter. I was at a street fair with the kids one weekend and we passed by a lady with a dog on a leash. The dog stopped to smell the kids and the kids played with him for a while. He was friendly and clean. The lady said, "bye the way, I am from the shelter and this dog is looking for a nice home." The next day Moe moved in to our house. Phom Phuey (dog #1 - see earlier posts) was not pleased but she got over it. Moe is a mutt and he is maybe 1.5 yrs. old.

Mom got Beethoven (dog #3) as a young pup from a friend. She wanted more burgler proofing while I am traveling.  Beethoven is one of 2 or 3 standard types of "Thai" dogs. He has something that is almost like a lion's main. The hair on his back stands up and his lips curl all the way back to show all his teeth and gums when he growls. He doesn't like strangers which suits us fine. He fights Phuey and Moe for thier food, but so far, they can still kick his ass. He is only about 5 months now.

Believe it or not, we are thinking about getting dog #4 soon.

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Yikes!

OK, so it has been over a year since we have posted anything. No time, no time. Now I have a Phone That Can Do Everything, so this will all change once I can figure out how to Do Everything.