Even then, we wouldn't believe it.

Orly has several experts who should be able to determine that the photos have been Photoshopped.

Welcome home!!

I haz also returned from my super-sekrit Obot mission.

It was great.

We took away stuff others handed out.

We feel we made a difference.

Any. Day. Now.

Just returned from a week in Vermont.
Apple cider doughnuts.
Maple pork chops.
Apple cider doughnuts.
Leaves.
Cows. (Not Caos.)

And did I mention the apple cider doughnuts??

Apple cider. Donuts. Separately they're perfect. Together they must be sublime.

Good you missed the Maple Cream Pie. Maple syrup with sweetened condensed milk, with maple whipped cream, topped with some maple sugar, maple syrup, and maple candied walnuts. Makes you a diabetic just by reading the recipe. (Was pretty awful, cloyingly sweet.)

I never even saw that anywhere, but I doubt I would have tried it. Just reading that made my teeth hurt ...

Holiday progress report:

Left The Island of KohChang already last Fryday. Was then dumped on the shores ob Rayong province all on my own while my good friend and Tour guide whisked off To Bangkok for a couple of days to attend on her business.

Mae Phim closes down at 18:00 for the night with tourist season still a some weeks ahead and rainy season still likes to drop the heavens on us.

Expect me to be picked up in a couple of hours for the next step on my voyage. A couple of days in Sin City, aka Pattaya.

At least you should have good Internet access

Have fun!

BB and I missed RC Radio tonight, but we had delightful dinner and conversation at Cochon. A lovely NOLA Fogbowsers meetup!

Bye Bye!

Not tothe folks at TFB but toThailand thisFriday evening. Next postings will aginbe fromhome.

Transfered from Jomtien(Pattaya) to Bangkok last Monday to prepare the visa application for my dear friend and "tour guide" and car driver. She is looking forward visit me once again after ten years, but this time to experience a Swiss winter.

Yesterday had experienced part of the hard side of Thai life "under water". We intended to travel to the mountain area dividing the Big Plane from eastern Isaan. But rather than choosing a more southerly road my dear driver headed directly north into flooded areas being inundated from heavy seasonal rain in the north of Thailand. We drove many kilometers in foot high waters on the motorway, even waded ashort section of tigh high water with her truck. We ended up turning around back home.

The flooding is catastrophic in it's extreme size, while generally not very deep. Estimated water levels seen between two to three feet above street level. For most local small businesses this means of course they are under water too, as business life in Thailand happens essentially at street level. But this means about five feet above normal for the river and spilling into the countryside, my guess is at 60kilometer squared at least.

Been following this pretty closely. It's causing a lot of havok with some of the industries here that are reliant on parts from Thailand (Seagate and Western Digital, for example). A friend of mine who owns a distribution company said that ~25% of his receivables are literally "underwater."

Good luck flying out today. From everything I can see Suvarnabhumi is operating normally, if a bit crowded with domestic travel.

Safe travels!

The fried alligator was delicious and the homemade Moon Pie with Dr. Pepper ice cream was out of this world. After that we peeked into the windows of the art galleries and I snapped a pic of some, um, interesting wall art that shall not be posted here. Let's just say it depicts one of RacerJim's extracurricular activities.

The same offer to dine is extended to any Fogbowser visiting New Orleans. Just let me know when you will be in town. After you've had your fill of the French Quarter we'll sample the Cajun comfort food (with a modern twist) in the Warehouse/Arts District.

On Monday Nov. 21, I may go into radio silence mode for about a week. I am visiting a friend in a place on the Oregon coast where there are seals, elk, cougars, bears, sometimes orcas and pods of whales, and up to 600 year-round residents. AT&T does not claim to have coverage there, which would seriously inconvenience my iPad and iPhone. Even across the Coast Range in the Willamette Valley, users claim poor and spotty reception. If I am very lucky, the hotel will have WiFi for this visit, or I may be able to find a Starbuck's in the direction of the metropolis of Newport (population ~ 10,000). There are no tall volcanoes nearby, so that option is out.

On the upside, my room opens onto the ocean. Her house sits on a hill and has an unobstructed view of the ocean, in which whales can often be spotted in the right season. In addition, the best canned tuna in America is available at a little shack where a fishing captain sells tuna caught by hook from his boat and canned on the boat. This year the tuna catch is way down. The river for which the town is named has excellent cultivated oyster beds, so I know what I will eat at least once. Maybe I can find a Hangtown Fry for breakfast.

Newport has one of the nation's best aquariums. It was the aquarium that rescued the orca Keiko after his captivity in unsuitable conditions in Mexico, and it was from Newport that Keiko was taken to Icelandic waters by a U.S. Air Force C-17 in 1998. Keiko did not make it, dying in 2002 with those who had tried to train and care for him. Back in Newport, the $7.3 million rehabilitation facility built for Keiko is being put to other amazing uses, and the aquarium became one of the first aquaria to successfully breed a number of species of ethereal jellyfish.

You'll be seeing Oregon in stormy season, Toll. Hopefully you'll get some sun breaks.

Yes, and there was a snowstorm in the Coast Range a couple of days ago. I may be delayed a bit in crossing the mountains.

Sounds like a wonderful trip. Post us a picture of the view if you get chance.
Have fun!

In Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island, Cebu for a couple more days. It's one of their annual festivals, and my SO decided this would be a good to introduce me to her family and vice-versa. Intermittent Internet access sucks, but the Cebu lechon makes up for it

Have a wonderful trip, Toll.

Tollie, you can always swing by FEMA Camp 17 before you return. Some of the inmates need a good sociologist.

LM K and I need to do that together for those inmates. Particularly if LCDR Fitzfundfilcher is in residence. As for this trip, I am rushing back to classes that begin on the 28th. Where did I ever get the idea that professors lead lives with lots of spare time?

I think you watched Goodbye, Mr. Chips.

I f you ever have the opportunity to ride Qatar Airways, take it!

I just rode them in Business class from Frankfurt to Doha, then continued on to Shanghai. First plane was an Airbus A-300, second was a Boeing 777.

The service was phenomenal, the lounge in the New Doha International Airport is beyond belief. Not as ostentatious as Dubai, but lots and lots of staff wandering around with iPads, they can take care of any concern you may have without you having to go queue up at a service desk. They have a completely separate terminal for First and Business class.

And I'm really liking my new set of complimentary pajamas.