You may have noticed some subtle changes to the look and feel of my blog. After several years keeping things the same, I wanted to freshen things up a bit. Xanga has all these “themes” and different ways to customize your page, but I find them difficult to use. Plus, I have only enough HTML coding knowledge to be dangerous and not much more.
The “christao” logo was designed by my cousin Alexandra, a talented graphic designer and illustrator. Hopefully, you enjoy the new look.
Today is Constitution Day here in Thailand, the day when we celebrate the twenty different constitutions we have had since the start of our on-again, off-again experiment with constitutional monarchy in 1932. The news says that we may be days away from a new government, with the Democrat Party forming a working coalition for the first time since 1995.
Here are some odds and ends:
Thanksgiving leftovers are finally finished, more than week after we celebrated. The extra turkey was immediately frozen in smaller packages but the stuffing, sweet potatoes, peas, cranberry sauce and pecan pie lasted a long time.
I have to share with you, ever since I started Thanksgiving dinner preparations including a trial run of the cornbread stuffing and the pecan pie, I’ve been feeling very bloated. This only cleared up after the leftovers were finished. Could I possibly be allergic to the cornmeal and corn syrup? I’ve never noticed such symptoms before.
Aren’t the little serving dishes cute? I needed something that would fit in the toaster oven as we don’t have a microwave and I don’t want to heat up the big oven to reheat dinner.
Tawn was feeling a little under the weather a few days ago, so I took him to the neighborhood hospital, Samitivej. The lobby areas are so nicely decorated and have so much natural light that I enjoyed sitting there reading a magazine while Tawn saw the doctor. Maybe I should just walk over and use their lobby as my living room. I’m sure they wouldn’t really notice and probably wouldn’t mind.
Left, the windows at Samitivej Hospital.
There are many interesting things in the neighborhood. You just have to get out and find them. The other day we stopped at the local branch of Kasikorn Bank, right at the mouth of Thong Lor Soi 9. To the side is a car park that is shared by several businesses and at the back of the car park is the customary spirit house.
This spirit house, however, was a bit unconventional in its mirrored mosaic tile decorations, below. I like to call it “disco Ganesh”.
Over the weekend, I rode my bicycle to a temple down near Sukhumvit 109. While there, I saw this cat sitting in the sunlight on the temple steps, napping. It seemed wholly unconcerned as the worshipers took off their shoes, stepped over and around it, and went about their religious affairs.
After the post-Thanksgiving bloated feeling, I came to realize that I don’t actually eat as much fiber and as many vegetables as I think I do. I love veggies and I do eat oatmeal for breakfast each morning, but a lot of my lunches and dinners are mostly carbs and meat, even if the food is often Thai or Asian.
That has to change. This week I have made a conscious effort to introduce more veggies into our diet. For Tuesday night dinner, homemade chicken and spinach lasagna. There’s only a single breast’s worth of chicken in this whole lasagna, the balance being made up of spinach, onions, tomatoes and mushrooms.
Accompanying the lasagna was a large salad with mixed greens, bell peppers, tomatoes, fennel, celery, kidney beans, roasted beet root, eggs, and a sprinkling of pecans. Lightly dressed, I think this makes for a pretty healthy meal.
Now, if I can just lose ten pounds before Christmas, I’ll have plenty of room to eat all the holidays dishes I want, right?
christao408 
I like the new look! I know I should redo mine, but I have no idea what to do with it.
I like the logo.
Hooray for new changes! :o) And the logo definitely reflects your very calm and pleasant demeanor. Well, I haven’t met you in person yet but I’m sure you are full of compassion and kindness. :o) And good for you! Riding you bike around the city. I haven’t done that since the fourth grade. Bikes went out of style, and begging the parentals for a car became the rage. Now I wish I had a driver. I don’t like where this is going…The salad looks delicious by the way. I can definitely go on a salad diet, but unfortunately, I think I eat too much of anything and everything that I think I would gain weight on a salad diet. Why is food so sinfully delicious!
Great photos and great new look!
I love the “disco ganesh”! So cute.
Nice overhaul! Geez, I am totally ignorant about Thai holidays. There must be a big universal calendar somewhere that outlines all the world holidays that take place on a particular date. I do know that today is Nobel Prize Day!
Like the new look!! Nice and clean. Have you ever gone to an allergist? Apparently most people are allergic to corn. Hope Tawn is feeling better. đŸ™‚
I noticed the new layout on the last visit. I’m partial to green but this is very clean and neat. Reminds me of those fancy restaurants I see advertized. The logo would look very nice embossed on a classy menu.
I like that spirit house. It’s so decorative! Are they usually in car parks? Why?
Nice logo, Chris. Pix very professional look. Kenpcho, you are right…Chris is compassionate and kind.
Love the new look and I really love the new logo. Nice job Alexandra. She must be a top notch artist.
wow only one chicken breast! good for you!!!
didn’t you feel bloated after eating the bell peppers and the beans?? they are notorious for the gaseous feeling. Do you keep plain club soda at home? that usually does the trick in making you feel more comfortable. Just a little tip from your friendly doctor around the corner. lolbeautiful pictures.
Very professional looking! Alex did a fabulous job with the new logo. I’m assuming that Tawn is okay since nothing else was mentioned about him. Colds are “running” through the house, but hopefully they will be gone before you arrive. Mike should be doing a cleaning the day you arrive.
@Sapphire_Rain – I had the same questions and just kept playing around with it until I had something I liked.
@choyshinglin – Thanks, glad you like it.
@kenpcho – Glad you like the logo. How well it reflects me is a matter of interpretation, I’m sure. Next time we come to the US, maybe Tawn and I can swing through LA since we owe Gary and W a visit. As for the biking, I’m really surprised you don’t cycle down in OC. The streets are so wide and well-paved that it seems like a really good place to ride.
@CareyGLY – Thanks, glad you like them.
@ABloggingHorse – Happy Nobel Prize Day to you, then!
@brooklyn2028 – Tawn is feeling better, thanks.
@murisopsis – A restaurant logo, huh? I’ll have to think about that.
@jandsschultz – Gee, thanks mom.
@stebow – And quite a daughter, too, from what I hear tell.
@TheCheshireGrins – The spirit houses aren’t usually in a car park particularly, but are off to the side of the building wherever space allows. (Or wherever a Brahmin priest says they should be.) In many cases the buildings occupy the whole property so the car park is all that is left.
@yang1815 – Thanks. Part of that “let’s use meat as a little flavoring rather than as the main ingredient” thinking.
@ZSA_MD – Thanks, doc. I was thinking that I should keep some soda water on hand. We do have some powdered medicine that is kind of like alka selzer. Strangely, I don’t have a lot of problems with a vegetable and bean heavy diet.
@oldpartner – Yes, Tawn is better, thanks. Hope you all are on the mend soon but I’ve reconciled myself to the likelihood that I’ll catch cold while in the US. No need to clean up beforehand. I can put Tawn on that task once we arrive.
I need a recipe for pecan pie!
I like the logo. Very zen feeling. Can’t wait to see you two! The meal at our place won’t nearly be as pretty your meals. Ah well.
Like your new look! Kinda Zen and lotus. Hey, do keep your photo eating your noodle…that’s a very nice one!
@swcheng15 – I’m sure it will not only be pretty, but full of good cheer.
@curry69curry – I’ll keep that one handy for the occassional change-out. Casual pic and formal pic.
Gotta keep eating those fruits and veggies. I have to get back to eating oatmeal in the mornings.
nice Logo, I thought it’s either a restaurant or Spa……