Tuesday, January 30, 2007: Cold

The weather has turned oddly cool. Cool being 25 degrees C instead of the usual 32 degrees C. For Sandy however these temperatures are bone chilling cold. I don’t mind them so much as it can be a break from the humidity but tonight’s swim was like 25 minutes in the North Atlantic to say the least. The upside of that is that I do have the pool to myself as Only a Canuck would be crazy enough to swim in it.

Sunday, January 28, 2007: Lazy Sunday

Another lazy day. Sandy went out to the Weekend Market at around 5:00 pm and I opted to stay home and transfer some of my recent AN200 struggles over on to the yet unfinished track I began in December when I got the XioSynth. This required going through some lesser manual searching to figure out how to get the AN200 to switch off it’s internal MIDI clock and take orders from the Zoom MRS8. Once I’d sync’d the two boxes I ran the AN200 through my Electro Harmonix LBP2ube Preamp and into the Zoom box. I decided to skip the usual Sherman Filter Bank treatment as the track is sonically cluttered already with all the XioSynth maddess and stumbling bass and guitar bits. I rendered down a rough mix of the result but further tweakatude will be required.

Saturday, January 27, 2007: King Naresuan

Today was a pretty lazy day until around 5:30 pm when Sandy and I walked over to Siam Paragon. There was a question as to whether we were going to see a movie or eat something but in the end we went to see the Thai movie “King Naresuan” that has just been released. It is by Chatrichalerm Yukol the same director who made “Suriyothai” the Thai epic from 2001. “King Naresaun” continues the history lesson fifteen years after Queen Suriyothai’s death and deals with the boy Prince Naresuan’s captivity in Burma and his training as warrior and a King by the Burmese King’s Siamese Monk.

King Naresuan is considered a great Thai hero for restoring the Kingdom of Siam and uniting the various little fiefdoms under on banner to drive out the Thai’s favorite enemies, the Burmese. King Naresuan also is credited for being the founder of Muay Thai kick boxing. If it weren’t for the movies three hour length and some of the violence though I would have thought I was watching a kid’s movie (I don't mean that in a bad way either) with the main characters being the boy Prince, an orphan he who he saves from being beaten for stealing food, and an orphan girl who lives at the temple who’s secretly a princess who was saved from execution.

It is a little hard for a foreigner such as myself to keep track of all the little kingdoms that are squabbling with each other as they all seem to have names that contain 26 letters and not knowing the history its confusing to picture where on the map these places are. The movie itself has been a huge success here, as was Suriyothai. It contains all the elements that Thai’s love, palace intrigue, epic battles with elephants and thousands of extras sword fighting, and of course a heroic King.

The movie does ends sort of abruptly when Prince Naresuan leaves captivity and heads back to the former Thai capital with 300 loyal followers but Sandy informed me that part 2 is due out in February with the final installment to be released in December. I am looking forward to seeing the rest as I really enjoyed “Suriyothai” and This was excellent as well.

We got out of the theater at 9:30 pm which ruled out getting food at any proper restaurant in the Paragon. Instead we got some Subway to go and walked back to the New Apartment. I went for a swim then ate afterwards.

Thursday, January 25, 2007: Dentist & AN200

This morning I went to see my dentist today for a cleaning. I had just gone in December before Christmas but I think after six weeks of shortbread and other Yule tide sweets it might be good to get a scrape and scrub. Besides its only 700 baht. Sandy met me afterwards and we went over to the MK near Siam BTS and had lunch together.

Last night after I had a swim I battled it out with the AN200. The machine is great - actually using it for a drum box alone is easy and effective. The problem with the AN200 is the diabolical manual which is written in a non-traditional way as to appeal to the hip youth of today who failed to buy this box back when it was released a few years ago. Yamaha's failed marketing is my discount gear extravaganza; all I have to do is navigate through the annoying and confusing manual.

Chapters? What are they? The AN200 manual has "Tips" which of course are not arranged in any logical order. As I've mentioned before the manual is also littered with hip lingo of the imaginary DJ youth culture which I believe only exists in the drug-damaged minds of advertising agency reps. Such "youth culture lingo" dates faster than partly skimmed milk in the tropics and ultimately sounds stupid. They may as well have had Greg Brady as "Johnny Bravo" write it.

No I don't want to know how to "take my AN200 to the max" or "mess up the beats on the fly" or how to "create major chaos", dude. I think I can handle that on my own. What I wanted to know last night was how to clear one of their patterns and that simple function required an Indiana Jones style journey through the manual.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007: Rain and Rendering

The strange wet weather continues. It rained more on yesterday and last night when I woke up at 3am and looked down on the city it was actually foggy!

Bizarre.

I started remousing "Tall Ships" last night. A task I've been avoiding. Some of the tracks hadn't been normalized so now that they are I have to reset all the levels and so forth. It's easy to get used to a particular mix of something so when you change it like that it never feels right. I still have further adjustments to make before I will be able to do up "render 5".

My other task is rerecording the bass and guitar on 20061216 as well as adding more drums ( more cowbells, it needs more cowbells) and then remousing the whole thing.

Monday, January 22, 2007: Rainy Monday

I got trapped at location Currahee today. It was rather cloudy when I arrived but as I was about to leave I emerged from the changing zone to find a down pore deserving of September NOT January. Now I'm sure many would blame this sudden heavy rain on "climate change" or "global warming" however I suspect the rain was due to those clouds I saw when I left the apartment this morning. There sure were a lot of them. They looked full too. Really full.

It rained for about an hour which allowed me to sit under the cover of the roofed off section of the pool zone and enjoy nature’s display of wetness. I would have ordered food but I was feeling cheap and don't like to pay first world prices for food in the third world.

In the end I managed to get to Mark's and Spencer’s and pick up some EXTRA STRONG tea. Because it's the little things like that which help me not scratch people’s eyes out.

OMG Update

List price? $2999! Ah NO Thanks. If I have 3 grand to throw around on gear I'll buy me a real Moog. When I saw this box I figured the price would be around a thousand, which would be reasonable. I doubt the market will support that price at all. Too bad.

Saturday, January 20, 2007: New Years Bombing Update

Bangkok bombings the work of JI

THAI intelligence agencies say operatives of the regional terror network Jemaah Islamiah were directly involved in the New Year's Eve bombings in the Thai capital that left three dead and 40wounded.

"From the evidence we have gathered, there is a slim chance that it is related to the southern insurgency," Mr Surayud said in the early hours of New Year's Day soon after the bloodshed.

Friday, January 19, 2007: Back to MK

Tonight Sandy and I went to MK for the first time since I’ve been back. During my absence they’ve made some changes that were clearly thought up in some kind of “focus group”, which is to say they are stupid changes.

Change number one and the change that annoyed me most was a reworking of the menu, specifically the drink menu. The absolutely amazing banana shakes are no longer available. This is unfortunate as they were one of my favorite treats.

The second change was the small glasses of ice tea being replaced with these huge glasses that would have worked better as flower vases. The problem with those is that in a situation where you are eating with chopstick and reaching to and fro from the sukiyaki pot you don’t want giant highly tippable glasses of ice tea in the way. Another bad thing about the new BIG glasses is that because you have a big glass they don’t refill it with the same enthusiasm and frequency as they did the little ones. Before you would never have an empty glass as they would fill you up before you had even got half way through it. Now they seem to ignore you.

The last change was the staff suddenly breaking in to this “Macarena” like dance. This seemed to baffle and embarrass everyone who witnessed it. My reaction was to think “stop dancing and bring me more ice tea”.

All that being said the food was excellent as usual. I would love to bring Will over and show him what roast duck is supposed to taste like.

Thursday, January 18, 2007: OMG

Dear Santa

I swear I will be the best boy ever if you will only bring me (or at least finance) this wonderful toy which I absolutely need dispite all the other wonderful toys currently cluttering up my new apartment. I think that an Arturia Origin Synth would make a great Christmas present. I don't think that a football would make a very good present.

So please deliver the following as I really need it. If not a Moog Little Phatty would be fine.

Thanks
LDT

I am feeling better. I managed to swim last night too which was nice. I was robbed of my swim on Tuesday night because there were a bunch of Asian Teens frolicking about the pool coping attitude and listening to the awful music they call Pop in these parts. Also there was a swaggering fellow in the worlds' tiniest Speedo who interfered with my swim by grossing me out with the tininess of his Speedo.

Anyways I got the Sherman Filter Bank out last night and ran the Korg EA-1 and ER-1 through it to add some more tracks to the piece Chris C and I started at his place. I later moused it (roughly) and rendered it down for posting here. It is tenetively called "Early Early". I will post improvements as they are made.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007: Sickly

Ugh. Woke up last night at about midnight and had to make a mad dash for the bathroom. I've been patting myself on the back for getting out of Oakville without contracting the flu that Alex, Will and Jayne all came up with upon my leaving. So much for patting myself on the back.

It was quite spectacular however I am not 100% sure if it was indeed the flu (no fever) or it was food related. I had some Japanese food last night from a place we'd never eaten before. I don't think I'll be running today.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007: My Sore Bottom

Well I guess yesterday's trip to Currahee was needed as between the run and last night's swim I can barely move! Since there is more of me than when I left for Canada in December I suppose shouldn't complain.

Damn you Shortbread! You are a monkey on my back at Christmas!!

Anyways I am still adjusting to being back here. I do have to say that I'm really missing my friends and relatives. I wish I could have everyone closer together - or that someone would invent a teleporter so I could go where I please without suffering an 18 to 20 hour flight in an Airbus.

The weather here is outstanding by the way. Sunny, warm and not too humid. When I was in Canada the news guys kept going on about how this was the warmest winter in Canadian history and how this year there would be no snow...

How's that going for you?

Fierce winter weather blows into Ontario, Quebec

Monday, January 15, 2007: Yala Violence

One beheaded, two killed in Thai Muslim south

YALA, Thailand (Reuters) - Suspected Muslim militants beheaded a Buddhist man and shot dead two civilians in southern Thailand on Sunday as an uprising shows no signs of abating.

Both had been shot and a handwritten note next to the bodies said, "We shall kill all Thai Buddhists," they said

Saturday, January 13, 2007: Termite Day

Sandy got in around midnight last night. I was already asleep. I woke up today at around 6:30 am. I got up and had some tea and toast then watched the “Moog” documentary again.

Sandy got up at around 10:00 am and we got ready for the pest control folk to arrive. The termite situation in the New Apartment has reached new levels and the monthly half-hearted spray the building does wasn’t stopping them from getting into our hardwood floors so the Land Lords (Dave and Keith) sent over the termite experts. Their potion of doom would requir us to be out of the apartment all day so we made arrangements to meet Pooh and go over to Pet’s house.

The Termite Killers arrived at noon and proceeded to drill tiny holes in the floor and other places then fill the holes up with some kind of deadly toxin. They documented each spot by taking a photo and after about an hour and a half they’d sprayed much of the place. I think they come back in four months.

When they were done we went down stairs and met Pooh then took a cab to Pet’s. It was some sort of “children’s day” today in Thailand so the traffic was brutal with families going to various events and celebrations. We eventually got out to Pet’s and the whole crew was there including Mikey. There was also a spread of food there when we arrived which I was happy about.

The day was spent hanging out although my jet-lag started to get me at around 6:00 pm. Sandy, Pet and I walked over to the restaurant by the Khlong and ordered a big spread of food for everyone. We had a long wait as the place was packed with families. Once our order was ready we carted it all back across to the house and everyone ate. It was such a contrast in the food style from all the Christmas related feeding frenzies I’ve been involved in over the past six weeks. Pooh, Sandy and I took a taxi back into the city at around 8:30 pm.

Friday, January 12, 2007: First Day Back

I landed yesterday morning at around 11:00 am Bangkok time. The flight from Hong Kong was good it being on a mostly empty Boeing 747 rather than a packed Airbus. I of course had only 2 pieces of carry on; my laptop bag and my MEC bag so I just walked off the plane and straight to immigration. They seem to have some new procedure regarding Visa on Arrival and I was more than happy to walk by that crowd and confusion. I went through immigration only to notice as I came out that the officer had incorrectly stamped me in for 30 days, not 90 as required by my visa. I met up with Sandy, left her with my bags and went back in and had it corrected. Then I came out and we headed back to the New Apartment.

As Dad would always say… “Home again, home again, jiggity jig…”
Oddly it occurred to me as we drove along towards the apartment that I wasn’t going to the Redoubt…

Sandy got some “gravy noodle” for me and some sort of soup for herself from the corner shop then we went up to the apartment. After staying the space of Oakville Manor the apartment seemed sort of small. We ate then I could stay awake no longer.
We did watch a movie last night, but now for the life of me I can’t remember what it was… I think I fell asleep again before it was over.

Today Sandy went to her friend Nong’s University for his graduation celebrations and later went out for food and drink with their friends and his family. I went down to Ole for some proper Pad Thai then headed over to Siam Exchange and changed what little US I had left from my trip. The Baht was at 35.7 OUCH. I miss the days of 41 to the dollar.

I wandered over to MBK and picked up some groceries we needed then drifted over to Siam Discovery and had some Starbucks. Afterwards I walked back to the New Apartment and crashed out for a bit. Tonight I took my first swim. As it was only 29 degrees today and not so humid the water seemed COLD. But I got used to it quickly enough.

Thursday, January 11, 2007: Nite Flights

I was up early today and had breakfast with Will and Paul. Alexia was ill all night so Jayne wasn’t up after having been up with her while she was sick. After Will went off to school I ended up crashing again until noon.

NOW … We are just north east of Beijing. It’s 3:35 am Bangkok time. We should be in Hong Kong by 8:00 am which only gives me 40 minutes to navigate to the next gate.

Monday, January 8, 2007: 15 Years Later

Today I had another trip into North York to my Doctor’s. I had to get all the results of the various tests and so forth. Jayne drove me in, dropped me off then she went over to the drugs store in the near by mall. I went up and sat in the waiting room. At some point I looked up and who am I looking at but …

L

Someone I haven’t seen since 1991. (We were together from 1988 until 1991) She was there for an appointment as well and seemed even more shocked by it than I did. Jayne came up and also got a shock. I went in to see the Doctor and got all my results. All my innards seem to be working fine but there was no active malaria in the blood so I don’t get the prize of treatment that I’d hoped for.

After L was through with her appointment we all went to Starbucks for a coffee. In the end I ended up going with L for tea and catching up. She gave me a ride back out to Oakville at around 7:30 pm.

A truly strange day.

Sunday, January 7, 2007: Sunday Brunch

I was up early this morning and caught the 8:30 am GO Train into Toronto. I got to the Grape Fruit Moon for 9:30 am. I had breakfast and tormented the staff. Justin M and Kim came by and had breakfast. Kim left before Justin M then Chris C showed up. We moved over from the counter to a table when Bobo and his family showed up. By this point I was totally wound up on coffee so Sandy Moon “cut me off”.

I stayed until 2:00 pm then after saying all my “goodbyes” I headed out. Chris and I walked over to a used CD shop and I found a copy of Wire’s Manscape as well as a Walker Brothers compilation CD that included all the good tracks off of the Nite Flights album. I headed down to Union Station at 2:30 pm and got the 3:45 pm GO Train back to Oakville.

Tonight after dinner I watched "Ice Age 2" with Jayne, Paul and the kids. Now I begin to get ready for next week and my return home.

Saturday, January 6, 2007: Saturday Brunch Lunch Dinner

I went into Toronto this morning on the GO Train. I got up to the Grapefruit Moon at around 10:30 am which was later than I’d intended. They were just coming off a big rush of people however so it was just as well. I was surprised to see my old DJ’ing boss Rod there eating breakfast. He is in town for the big Bridal Show down at the Metro Convention Centre.

I had breakfast then afterwards got a haircut. This afternoon Bobo stopped by and we were later joined by Stephen and Wendy. Bobo’s family stopped by and his son stayed while his wife and daughter went shopping. Chris C showed up later on when Stephen and Wendy were about to leave. I stayed until 8:30 pm then headed back to Oakville.

Friday, January 5, 2007: Into Toronto

Yesterday afternoon I had to go back up to my Doctor’s in Oakville for an ultrasound on my liver, spleen and gallbladder. That wasn’t over fast enough.

I took the GO Train in and met my friend Jeremy B down near York and Richmond. We had coffee and talked then I walked over to Chris and Robin’s. I hung out with Chris and Robin for a while then headed over to Bathurst St.

Today I had intended to go into Toronto early in the day however I didn’t end up going in until this afternoon. I ended up walking over to the mall with Alexia and Will so they could buy junk at the dollar store. Afterwards we walked back a different route. It was incredibly warm today, with a high of over + 12 degrees.

Tonight I had dinner with Peter and Darlene and their kids Alice, Oliver and Harold. It was an excellent meal and it was great to hang out with them and catch up on things. Afterwards I went over a few streets to Clinton Ave and saw my old friends Wendy, Stephen, Stella and Nathan. They surprised me with a Birthday cake which is possibly the best tasting Birthday cake I’ve ever had.

Wednesday, January 3, 2007: Recording

New Year's Day was pretty relaxed. We had a big fry up for brunch. The rest of the day was pretty sleepy.

Yesterday I had to go to my Doctor in North York so Jayne drove me in. After the appointment we drove back to Oakville, grabbed Will and Alexia and took them for some really good Chinese food.

I went into Toronto this afternoon and headed up to Chris and Robin’s from Union. I brought my MRS8 recorder in with me so Chris and I could make some noise. We hung out with Robin for a bit then we recorded some tracks on the MRS8; I used Robin’s Casio SK-1 sampler then Chris added some Chapman Stick. After he’d put down a second melody string track I recorded more messed up samples.

After we’d done as much as we could Robin, Chris and I walked up to Markham and Bloor and had some pasta at The Panzerotti Village Café and saw Ralf who’s been feeding us since 1987. (I’ve been eating there since 1985)

I had ravioli which was of course outstanding. I’ve been thinking about that meal all year in fact. I took the GO Train back to Oakville at around 9:45 pm.