Bottle of water after security: 19 cents plus paperwork.

"Passport, please."

"Passport?" (As in, you've got to be kidding me...)

"Yes."

I give the lady my passport. She does something on the computer. Talks to her coworker.

"Boarding pass."

"My boarding pass?" (disbelief)

"Seven baht, please."(As if the transaction is just now starting...)

I gave her a 20 baht note.

She gave me back my 13 baht change.

I walked out with my USD 19-cent bottle of water, happy about the price, but sad about the paperwork required.

To all my computer genius buddies, I am sorry to break it to you, but you have succeeded in f-ing up just about everything in the entire world. Well-done, I guess, at least in an alternate reality where everything that sucks is actually great.

Put me on your No Electronic BS plan.

I beg you to have mercy on me with all your electronic BS. Let me buy an economy class airplane ticket with an aisle seat. After that, I do not want to visit your website or mobile app again. I don't want to find passwords. I don't want your authentication codes via SMS. I don't want any of it.

The frustrating hell you put me through for seat selection and additional charges is evil. Soon, I will go to your ticket counter to check in, already well-enraged.

Should I ever be presented with the opportunity to flood your server rooms, I will do so with gusto. Expedia, American Airlines, Starlux Airlines, all of you all suck elephant balls!!!

Separate hot tub not needed.

You don't need a separate hot tub when the swimming pool itself is a big hot tub. I did not measure the water temperature. But it felt a lot like being in a hot tub. Count me as impressed by the power of the sun.

20240425

It's getting serious now...

I actually skipped riding the bike the other day. It felt too unlucky so close to departure day.

At any rate, Mighty Mite, hidden under a cover, is going to take a long nap.

20240425

I've got a Basketball Jones...

The Lakers and the Nuggets did not let me down on Sunday, April 21st at 07:30 hours. That was an excellent game, and LA came back very close at the end.

If you ever find yourself stuck indoors for months, an NBA League Pass for the entire playoffs is a bit of a treasure. 

20240420

The numbers tell the story.

20240421

Plantar fasciitis and other foot problems: Possibly helpful equipment.

So you've got plantar fasciitis and/or other foot problems. I sympathize. 

If you're new to plantar fasciitis, you'll be doing a lot of research and finding information about arch support, shoes, sandals, and more.

I did all that research. Here's where I'm at with some purchases that might help, along with a bit of info on something that will not help.

Compression socks - Surprisingly helpful

I didn't expect much from a compression sock.

But it helps with both plantar fasciitis and heel pain.

This particular compression sock appears to be the OrthoSleeve FS6 Compression Foot Sleeve.

A pair of Birkenstock sandals for indoor-use-only

Never ever walk around your house with bare feet, especially in a house without carpet. That's what I did during the beginning of Covid, and that's when the problems started. 

Now that you have been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, I sentence you to always wearing your indoor-use-only Birkenstock sandals. 

Note: These sandals should be replaced.
As a member of the Plantar Fasciitis Club, you must regularly replace all your footwear.

Hoka Clifton 9 shoes

This is just one example of a shoe that seems to help. There are others. 

When I first started wearing these, they caused pain around my ankles, at the top part of the shoe. But that appears to have been caused by newness. Within a month or two, they no longer caused pain, and six months later, they are quite comfortable.

The Good Feet Store - AVOID!!! - You have been warned

Let me tell you clearly. Do NOT go to the Good Feet Store.

Just don't. Everything that Good Feet Store can give you for massively inflated prices is available at Walmart for reasonable prices.

In probably the year 2020, I was hit hard by plantar fasciitis. Out of desperation one day, I went into the local Good Feet Store. 

They were waiting for me there. Total loss in 2020 dollars was something around USD 1300 or 1400. 

I remember it as my last incident of being scammed.

I must have fired off one of my nasty grams to the company because as time went on, I was called one day by a customer service representative. We talked, and she asked me: "Do you think you were scammed?" I thought about it for a minute, and I remember telling her: "I think your company scammed me fair and square."

Good Feet Store photos from 2020-2021 purchase.

Grab Rider fuel.

Looks about right to me. BOSS Americano and Red Bull Theoplex-L. I found these two empties above a urinal at the Central Plaza bathroom favored by Grab motorcycle food delivery riders. These delivery riders work their asses off. They're out there riding in 40-degree heat with terrible air quality. 

If you were going to populate a space station on a harsh planet, these would be the folks to recruit. Tough men and women! Salute!

20240412

Good-value electric car for in-town only.

I've posted about little electric cars before. Here's another one for in-town use only. This is the Changan Lumin L. The price: USD 13,685.

Only downside I noticed was the very small cargo area behind the rear seats. You will have to frequently use your back seat for cargo.

Other than that, this is a nice little ride and good for the planet, too. Is it possible for a little car to be any cuter? I salute the designers. If you're going to make a cute car, make a cute car. If it's square-shaped, Jerry will buy it. (Former Honda Element owner.)  

But even as a lover of square-shaped cars, I would not be able to drive this kitty cat car. A puppy dog car, maybe...

USD 13,685

20240412

"House arrest" some other guy called it...

And I liked the term: House arrest. You would love to go outside, but you cannot. Finally, you can't stand it any longer.

I put on the 3M KN95 mask and went out into the yard. I picked up some leaves and had a look at our most recent sprinkler leak. I even felt the sun on my bald head.

Total time outdoors: approximately 10 minutes.

Then I went back indoors. Here I am back in the Eagle's Nest (office window) looking at the beautiful garden (that I can't be in) and watching the birds that happen by. 

Could you live on a submarine? A space station? Not everybody can do it. I assume there's a battery of tests used to determine who can and cannot. I never took those tests. But I am a nature boy. Always have been. 

It turns out that clean air to breathe is critical for nature boys and nature girls. It turns out that in the year 2024, clean air is increasingly hard to find. 

20240411-1711