Friday, February 23
Feb. 24th, 2024 12:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gottawonderToday I am grateful for:
Almost ridiculously beautiful weather today.
A quick phone conversation with my Mom. I didn't talk with her for long as she sounded pretty focused on supper being served in half an hour. It's nice that she still enjoys her food, and seems to have no food restrictions or problems digesting.
I talked with Sister S for a while (the one who retired from her tax/bookkeeping business this year). She sounded okay, but I think now that she's home a lot, she's looking around at all the stuff they've collected over the years, and trying to address it. Kind of the same for everyone I know these days.
I did some research again into fabric recycling, and saw a different place that I kind of like better, as it was clear that they were not just a place to dump fabric and ship it overseas (the first place I was considering didn't say anything about their recycling process other than "it went somewhere").
This place says they do not export the fabric, but are committed to local reuse. They sell clothes bulk by size if it's still wearable, sell not-wearable clothes by the pound to crafters, have quilting and rug classes, and take all kinds of sewing/craft materials like yarn, ribbon, thread, and patterns.
I want to look at them a bit more, but I'm thinking there is a LOT of stuff I would be willing to let go of, that I've been hanging onto because it's not in good enough shape for a thrift store, but still usable for a quilter or crafter. I thought that quilter/crafter might be me, but I have to start being realistic about HOW MUCH OLD FABRIC I really need to "be responsible" for.
This place gives me better vibes than the other place, which I'm pretty sure just shipped it all to India or Africa, which really isn't solving anything.
I went to see River, and he was REALLY sleepy at first, and I had to do a lot of energetic work to wake him up a bit. He did okay on the pattern work, and doing a little jump both at Liberty and then ridden with just the neck rope.
R was really chatty today, and excited about a new saddle she ordered. She hasn't had a new saddle in a very long time, and felt a little guilty about spending the money, but she works so hard she deserves something nice, I think.
Then I worked with Quidley during the other girl's lesson, and he was relaxed and in a good mood. That's nice, because the last couple of times I worked with him he was a little crusty/anxious. Today he was very nice to work with, and not anxious at all. I wonder what was going on with him the last couple of times for him to be so edgy.
Anyhow, it was a good session.
Then I came home and my Sweetie was also home from work/climbing and we caught up on each other's day.
Then we watched "Darkest Hour", the film about Churchill right before it got very serious between Germany and England in WW II. It was very good, and Gary Oldman was fantastic as Churchill.
Thailand (formerly Siam) is right beside the other countries I've been discussing.
It was a monarchy right up until the first World war, and was one of the only countries in Southeast Asia to avoid being a colony, but did have to make a lot of unequal trade deals and treaties.
It sided with the Allies in WWI, but was an ally to Japan during WWII. Then after WWII became an ally with the U.S. against communism.
"Apart from a brief period of parliamentary democracy in the mid-1970s, Thailand has periodically alternated between democracy and military rule. Since the 2000s, the country has been caught in continual bitter political conflict between supporters and opponents of Thaksin Shinawatra, which resulted in two coups (in 2006 and 2014), along with the establishment of its current constitution, a nominally democratic government after the 2019 Thai general election, and large pro-democracy protests in 2020–2021, which included unprecedented demands to reform the monarchy. Since 2019, it has been nominally a parliamentary constitutional monarchy; in practice, however, structural advantages in the constitution have ensured the military's continued influence in politics.[13]"
It is mainly Buddhist.
"National parks in Thailand are defined as an area that contains natural resources of ecological importance or unique beauty, or flora and fauna of special importance. Thailand's protected areas include 156 national parks, 58 wildlife sanctuaries, 67 non-hunting areas, and 120 forest parks. They cover almost 31 per cent of the kingdom's territory."
The number of elephants, a national symbol, are dwindling as they are often killed by poachers, as is also the case with animals like tigers, and many other species. Logging at least, has been banned in the parks.
Though Thailand as a whole is doing fairly well economically (much better than Laos and Cambodia), there is great disparity between the most wealthy and least wealthy, though there is an emerging middle class.
It exports a lot of manufactured goods such as cars, electronics, textiles and footwear, rice, and jewelry.
Thailand has a lot of tourism too. A lot of people come here for "medical tourism", and sex reassignment surgery being what it is known for. Likely because it is not illegal, where it would be illegal in many surrounding countries (or simply unavailable).
"Prostitution in Thailand and sex tourism also form a de facto part of the economy. Campaigns promote Thailand as exotic to attract tourists.[211] One estimate published in 2003 placed the trade at US$4.3 billion per year or about 3% of the Thai economy.[212] It is believed that at least 10% of tourist dollars are spent on the sex trade.[213]"
So, with all the sex reassignment surgeries and a booming sex industry, there are a LOT of "lady boys" in Thailand.
Metric is commonly used as a unit of measurement, but there are still blended use of traditional units of measurement for land, as well as the Imperial system. Years are measured from B.E. (Buddhist Era), though for business purposes the standard year (i.e. 2024) is used.
This is a really good video about how Thailand avoided being colonized while everything around them was full of either the British or the French.
https://youtu.be/8kkr4lOL3lE?si=IVw73GvENGhW1Ws8
Their national/traditional sport is Muay Thai, a form of boxing/martial arts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand
Almost ridiculously beautiful weather today.
A quick phone conversation with my Mom. I didn't talk with her for long as she sounded pretty focused on supper being served in half an hour. It's nice that she still enjoys her food, and seems to have no food restrictions or problems digesting.
I talked with Sister S for a while (the one who retired from her tax/bookkeeping business this year). She sounded okay, but I think now that she's home a lot, she's looking around at all the stuff they've collected over the years, and trying to address it. Kind of the same for everyone I know these days.
I did some research again into fabric recycling, and saw a different place that I kind of like better, as it was clear that they were not just a place to dump fabric and ship it overseas (the first place I was considering didn't say anything about their recycling process other than "it went somewhere").
This place says they do not export the fabric, but are committed to local reuse. They sell clothes bulk by size if it's still wearable, sell not-wearable clothes by the pound to crafters, have quilting and rug classes, and take all kinds of sewing/craft materials like yarn, ribbon, thread, and patterns.
I want to look at them a bit more, but I'm thinking there is a LOT of stuff I would be willing to let go of, that I've been hanging onto because it's not in good enough shape for a thrift store, but still usable for a quilter or crafter. I thought that quilter/crafter might be me, but I have to start being realistic about HOW MUCH OLD FABRIC I really need to "be responsible" for.
This place gives me better vibes than the other place, which I'm pretty sure just shipped it all to India or Africa, which really isn't solving anything.
I went to see River, and he was REALLY sleepy at first, and I had to do a lot of energetic work to wake him up a bit. He did okay on the pattern work, and doing a little jump both at Liberty and then ridden with just the neck rope.
R was really chatty today, and excited about a new saddle she ordered. She hasn't had a new saddle in a very long time, and felt a little guilty about spending the money, but she works so hard she deserves something nice, I think.
Then I worked with Quidley during the other girl's lesson, and he was relaxed and in a good mood. That's nice, because the last couple of times I worked with him he was a little crusty/anxious. Today he was very nice to work with, and not anxious at all. I wonder what was going on with him the last couple of times for him to be so edgy.
Anyhow, it was a good session.
Then I came home and my Sweetie was also home from work/climbing and we caught up on each other's day.
Then we watched "Darkest Hour", the film about Churchill right before it got very serious between Germany and England in WW II. It was very good, and Gary Oldman was fantastic as Churchill.
Thailand (formerly Siam) is right beside the other countries I've been discussing.
It was a monarchy right up until the first World war, and was one of the only countries in Southeast Asia to avoid being a colony, but did have to make a lot of unequal trade deals and treaties.
It sided with the Allies in WWI, but was an ally to Japan during WWII. Then after WWII became an ally with the U.S. against communism.
"Apart from a brief period of parliamentary democracy in the mid-1970s, Thailand has periodically alternated between democracy and military rule. Since the 2000s, the country has been caught in continual bitter political conflict between supporters and opponents of Thaksin Shinawatra, which resulted in two coups (in 2006 and 2014), along with the establishment of its current constitution, a nominally democratic government after the 2019 Thai general election, and large pro-democracy protests in 2020–2021, which included unprecedented demands to reform the monarchy. Since 2019, it has been nominally a parliamentary constitutional monarchy; in practice, however, structural advantages in the constitution have ensured the military's continued influence in politics.[13]"
It is mainly Buddhist.
"National parks in Thailand are defined as an area that contains natural resources of ecological importance or unique beauty, or flora and fauna of special importance. Thailand's protected areas include 156 national parks, 58 wildlife sanctuaries, 67 non-hunting areas, and 120 forest parks. They cover almost 31 per cent of the kingdom's territory."
The number of elephants, a national symbol, are dwindling as they are often killed by poachers, as is also the case with animals like tigers, and many other species. Logging at least, has been banned in the parks.
Though Thailand as a whole is doing fairly well economically (much better than Laos and Cambodia), there is great disparity between the most wealthy and least wealthy, though there is an emerging middle class.
It exports a lot of manufactured goods such as cars, electronics, textiles and footwear, rice, and jewelry.
Thailand has a lot of tourism too. A lot of people come here for "medical tourism", and sex reassignment surgery being what it is known for. Likely because it is not illegal, where it would be illegal in many surrounding countries (or simply unavailable).
"Prostitution in Thailand and sex tourism also form a de facto part of the economy. Campaigns promote Thailand as exotic to attract tourists.[211] One estimate published in 2003 placed the trade at US$4.3 billion per year or about 3% of the Thai economy.[212] It is believed that at least 10% of tourist dollars are spent on the sex trade.[213]"
So, with all the sex reassignment surgeries and a booming sex industry, there are a LOT of "lady boys" in Thailand.
Metric is commonly used as a unit of measurement, but there are still blended use of traditional units of measurement for land, as well as the Imperial system. Years are measured from B.E. (Buddhist Era), though for business purposes the standard year (i.e. 2024) is used.
This is a really good video about how Thailand avoided being colonized while everything around them was full of either the British or the French.
https://youtu.be/8kkr4lOL3lE?si=IVw73GvENGhW1Ws8
Their national/traditional sport is Muay Thai, a form of boxing/martial arts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand
no subject
Date: 2024-02-25 05:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-02-25 07:56 am (UTC)My Mom is unable to help with the preparation, but always seems exuberant about the food. For probably close to 15 years of living in town by herself, I know she barely cooked for herself. At first it was that she couldn't be bothered, then it was that she was unable to do so. Her meals were pretty awful.
My family during that time did bring her restaurant chicken (and still do) sometimes, but rarely had time to sit down with her for a real meal.
I think she probably enjoys the ritual of everyone sitting down together to eat a proper meal at a regular time again, and eating a hot meal that has actual food in it, and a dessert even.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-26 01:15 am (UTC)Older people do like their rituals. It's good that your mother enjoys her dinnertime.