July 3

Dear Jones,

It feels like I've been too busy to write long journal entries like I used to. I spend a lot of time making your purees and softened veggies by hand. You're getting better at eating them and you like most of what I make. Much to my delight you are getting fatter (despite being incredibly mobile). You like to practice standing up without holding on to anything...totally fearless. Your longest stand was 6 seconds. I think you'll be walking by August.

We spent a couple days with a family in Phitsanulok that dad knows and I didn't have a lot of fun. That's an understatement. I was sort of miserable. Between the heat, the language barrier, sharing a room with you and being asked to eat fish flavored chips about five thousand times, I was not in a pleasant mood. The family was very friendly, but the mom was a bit kooky. While staying in Phitsanulok I came to learn that all 3 meals in a typical Thai household involve approximately 8-10 different dishes of varying icky hues. Greenish-brownish, dark green-brown, chartreusey red, etc. I ventured to try the ones that were "mai bet" (not spicy), but I didn't like most of what I tried. After a meal is served and everyone has eaten, the serving dishes holding the remains of the meal stay on the table until the next meal. I don't know what happens to those leftovers or whether or not anyone gets sick from the rancid food. Is the food thrown away? Recycled into the next meal? Fed to the dog? It's a mystery to me. They always just seemed to disappear right before fresh food was spread onto the table.

I hate to say it, but my foul temper sparked an emotional discussion between dad and me that lasted most of the train ride home. The good thing about your parents is that we say sorry quickly and forget easily. All is well and we are very happy to be back at "base camp".

Our plans have changed and we are heading back to America on July 23rd. Why? Well, we have to go to a lot of trouble to renew our visas on the 27th, all the flights in August are booked, dad is almost done filming and we want to spend more time with family before moving to Wisconsin. Before we leave I am requiring that dad and I (and maybe you) do the following:

1. ride an elephant
2. eat dinner on a river boat at night
3. go to the floating market

Cross your tiny, fat fingers that we can fit these in.


Love,

Mom




Our bed in Phitsanulok.



A frightening pillow case.



A window in our room. Don't ask me about the stuffed animal, I don't have an answer.



Jones' bed hidden in the corner of our room.




Random stuff around the house.
1. Left: fridge handle cover
2. Top middle: fighting chickens on the computer
3. Bottom middle: needlepoint Ferrari (seriously?)
4. Right: Pooh friendship poster in the family room





Playing with the remote control truck (complete with headlights and under carriage ghetto lights)




Some of breakfast. Yikes.



Taew and a jumping Jones.