Narnia

I went to see "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" today with Craig, Jenifer, Jiab, Rose and Nong. It was good and the Thais enjoyed it too. Here's me and my boy, C, kickin' it before the flick.


Almost as entertaning was this sweet rap about the film. Check it, as SNL drops it! Chronic (what!) icles of Narnia!

"I Left My Heart in San Francisco", Georgia Tech left it's pride there and it's game in Atlanta

Ramblin' Wreck-ed!

Tech suffered it's worse loss ever in a bowl game when Utah embarrassed Georgia Tech 38-10.

These excerpts from the Atlanta Journal-Consitution sum up the highlights... or low-lights.

Travis LaTendresse, who began his college career in Division III, ended it with 16 catches for 214 yards and four touchdowns against Tech.

Brett Ratliff, the supposedly green quarterback, turned out to be just Emerald. In his second collegiate start, Ratliff ripped the Yellow Jackets for 381 yards on 30 of 41 passing.

Imagine what it would have been like if Utah had had its top quarterback and leading receiver, both of whom were out with injuries.

Tech and Utah both finished 7-5, but the team that tied for fourth in the Mountain West Conference left SBC Park much happier than the team that tied for the third-best record in the ACC.

"They really quit on themselves," LaTendresse said. "They came out talking and jumping up and down, and slowly but surely, we put that knife in there and they gave up. That first quarter they had a lot of fight. The corners were talking, the d-linemen were talking, but slowly that talk diminished and their heads started to go down."

"I don't think our guys ever quit," Tech coach Chan Gailey said when told of LaTendresse's comment. "I think they feel like they're not going to be able to pull the game out. 'Quit' is a pretty strong word. I wouldn't want him to walk in our locker room and tell them they quit."

Gailey can play semantics, but apparently he needs to worry more about getting his team to play football. Tech had boasted one of the top defenses in the nation, but Utah's offense confused and outplayed Tech's defense.


Let's hope the Dogs, don't let WVa sneak up on them and smack them down.

Shingo Mama No Oha! (and other Asian madness)

Almost each day presents new quirks. Depending on how you look at them, they can either be sources of great frustration, a learning experience or a really good laugh (or sometimes all three).
Recently, my apartment complex installed a little box next to all the doors in the building. (It's the grey and purple rectangle with the red circle next to the door. That's the doorbell below it.)
I'm assuming their mini-mailboxes, but I'm not sure since they've never been used for that. As you can see the apartment staff still places my bills in the crack of the door.
I'm guessing that they didn't measure the mailboxes, because everything I get is too big to put in the slot. It was a nice gesture, but now it's just a waste since proper prep work wasn't done.

I also recently found a link to this music video: Shingo Mama No Oha! on LLR. It beautifully (and horrifically) captures the oddities and differences of Asian cultures. It doesn't look Thai (even if the singer would fit right in here), but I'm not sure where it's from... Japan? Singapore? Georgia Tech?

Enjoy (well, not really enjoy... hmm...)
Observe.

Thai of the Week: Wee

Name: Tawee "Wee" Donehai
Occupation: Student
Religion: Christian
Family Members: 6 (2 grandmothers, uncle, aunt, nephew, brother)
Favorite Food: Kang Nor Mai (Bamboo Curry) & Sticky Rice
Favorite Bands: U2, Boyd Kosiyaphong, Jaral Manophech, Suuntree Wechanont, Robbie Williams
Favorite Movies: Spiderman, Kill Bill 1&2, Lord of the Rings, Love Actually, A Walk to Remember
Favorite Book or Magazine: Discovery, The Trips
Favorite Sport: Muay Thai Boxing, Tennis
What do you like to do in your free time? spend time with my 2 grandmothers, internet, watch the Discovery Channel, take photographs of the country side, learn to make handmade notebooks, hiking, drink coffee with good book or friends, watch movies
Favorite thing about Chiang Mai: I live 15 minutes from the country side and 10 minutes from the city. You have both nature and a big city. I also like the Chiang Mai lifestyle, culture, art, Lanna language and smiling faces.
American you would most like to meet: Renee Zellweger
What would you most like to know about America? Updates about biochemical technology, stem cell research, biotechnology. I would also like to know what most Americans think about the President (not the election, but about his decisions).

Artsy-Smartsy

I tried some different shots with my camera and this is what I came up with. Of course I added the letterbox framing to the one above. Below is Craig's love, Jenifer. She's much prettier than this picture gives her credit, but I liked the distortion and the light play from the glass.

Celebrating Christmas

Here are some pictures from 2 different Christmas parties.

He's not really a bandit, but he sure took a lot of peoples gifts (of course, that was after they took his first) Seriously, had to be careful with faces.

This was a Christmas party later last night. It was put on by Thai believers and it was a new experience, but fun!

I tried some new stuff with my camera: using the nighttime feature and the slow shutter. Some of the pics are more blurry, but check out the cool effect with the little boy dancing (on the left side of the band).

Finally, kids in my apartment building in the Christmas spirit. I call it "A sort of Mary Christmas" (Mary is the girl with the Santa hat).

Leaw lung lae na

Philippians 2 tells us that Jesus left Heaven and eternal glory, took the form of a common man and dwelt with mankind here on earth. He humbled Himself to be with us, to love us. He became a servant and a sacrifice.
Now is the time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. To think that One Who could walk on water, would become a helpless baby, unable to walk or even crawl is remarkable. The Bread of Life depended on a young virgin to feed Him. It's amazing to think of the frailty of Christ as a child and to think that this was God's purpose- to pin our hopes and salvation on such a implausible plan. It echoes of Isaiah's words, "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; and his understanding no one can fathom."

Maybe with a touch of audacity, I can say that I am grateful to know that I share a likeness with My Savior in this situation. Read with grace and mercy and allow me to ramble on...

It was this time last year when I left my home and much of what I knew. I live in a place that is not my home, not my destination. And the fact that I am here rings with implausibilty (if that's a word). I never planned on serving overseas for 2 years. I never planned on being in Thailand, maybe Trinidad or South America, but never Thailand. I never planned on eating millet, morning glory or panang curry. But God had planned it.
I don't know if I humbled myself; I think He's done a better job of humbling me, than I have ever done myself.

But that was last year and the events building up to it...

A year that started with new friends in a place like no other.

A year that included my first real "film" shoot.

A year that included meeting a man that almost lost his family, but has now found Jesus.

A year with students hungry for English... and hopefully for Jesus.

A year that at times felt like I was traveling through a desert, and times I actually was traveling through a desert.

A year when I could look out and see the divide between two great lands and hoped that the chasm that separated the locals from the Lord would be bridged by the Cross.

A year of meeting ones that were captives, but now are free.

A year of new heights.

I remind you of these moments not to say, "look what I've done; look where I've been", but rather to show you that Our LORD works throughout the world. He will not be confined to a building, a country or a continent. He is at work throughout this world.

One thing I have learned is that it's a small world (unless you're on a plane for 13 hours), it just seems really big. But when you pray the world is a much smaller place.

What does 2006 hold? I don't know. I hope trips to Italy, Central Asia, China amd more. I hope it means seeing people I've met become brothers and sisters. But I'm not going to venture a guess, because I would have never guessed 2005 would be like it was.

Thank you for your prayers, support and love. Thank you for caring about the people of the world. Thank you for taking this journey with me.

Much love to you, Jason.

(A little something special for the first person to tell me what the Title of this entry means)

Something I read today

Yaho-oops!

Maybe not the best picture for an ad in light of the News listings.

GIVING IS BETTER THAN RECEIVING!!!

Today after church, I went to my regular Sunday lunch spot. I was talking with the waitress, Mickey. She asked if I was getting ready for Christmas. I said, "yes" and we talked a little bit about what Christmas is about and how different people celebrate it. She knew it was about Jesus' birth.
She had a friend there, Jern, who I have met before and seen several times before. I didn't know if Jern knew about the real meaning about Christmas, so I asked Mickey and Jern if I could tell them about Christmas (Jern doesn't speak English as well and I don't speak Thai well, so I would have to use Mickey to interpret). As it turned out, Jern is a Christian and her parents are leaders of a church in northern Thailand. I told her that I am a Christian too.
There was another girl there, Jane, the chef's assistant. I asked her if she would like to hear about Christmas (through Mickey). She said, "yes." So I proceeded to tell the Christmas story from Luke 2 to Mickey, Jern and Jane. Mickey interpreted and when she didn't understand some of the words, Jern could usually fill in the blanks since she was familiar with the story.
I think it went really well and Jane said she understood, as did Mickey.

It was one of the highlights of my time here in Chiang Mai. Thank God for this opportunity. Please pray that Jesus' story would be told to people all over the world this Christmas season.

Thai of the Week: Mickey

Name: Sangduean "Mickey" Chaipoke (also "Lukeaod")
Occupation: Waitress
Religion: Buddhism
Family Members: 5 (mom, step-father, granddad and sister)
Favorite Food: Green curry with fish balls, Papaya Salad (Tom Yum)
Favorite Bands: the Eagles, Shakira, Michael Learns to Rock
Favorite Movie: Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings
Favorite Sport/Team/Player: Football (soccer), Chelsea, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Roger Federer
Favorite Magazine: Student Weekly, cartoon books (comics)
What do you like to do in your free time? Listen to music, write in my diary, dance, sing, swim, shop
Favorite thing about Chiang Mai and Thailand: The temples, Chiang Mai Zoo, friendly people, many interesting places, going to the beach
American you'd most like to meet: Tiger Woods
What would you like to know about America? "I would like to know why George W. Bush loves war, why he killed lots of Iraqi people, because I don't like war."

Some last minute Christmas shopping ideas

2 things you might not have considered getting for that special someone:

The ever-popular "Craig '06 Calendar" (supplies limited. Proceeds go to LMCO).

And who knew a leopard skin toilet seat cover could be so entertaining? (don't ask).

Bowled over

Everyone wants to tell you who is going to win bowls or what the great matchups are. I want to clean up the picture, get rid of some pointless bowls and more than that, get rid of some teams that shouldn't even be playing this late in the year.

The ground rules:
1. minimum of 6 wins (I-AA doesn't count)
2. all bowl names revert back to more classic style names and not the NASDAQ ticker
3. I will try to abide by conference ties as much as possible, but not sacrifice a better game or team

So without further ado, my bowl calendar:

New Orleans Bowl - cancelled
Fort Worth Bowl - cancelled
Motor City Bowl - cancelled

Meineke Car Care Bowl - cancelled

Poinsettia Bowl - Colorado St. (6-5) vs. Arizona St. (6-5)

Humanitarian Bowl (MPC) - Utah (6-5) vs. Virginia (6-5)
(2 marginal teams get to freeze for bowl game)

Independence Bowl - Akron (7-5) vs. Missouri (6-5)

Insight Bowl - Navy (7-4) vs. Rutgers (7-4)

Sun Bowl - Iowa St. (7-4) vs. Northwestern (7-4)

Tangerine Bowl (Champs Sports) - Clemson (7-4) vs. Colorado (7-5)

Houston Bowl - Oklahoma (7-4) vs. Iowa (7-4)

Alamo Bowl - Michigan (7-4) vs. Nebraska (7-4)

Emerald Bowl - Georgia Tech (7-4) vs. Cal (7-4)

(Geek Bowl)

Music City Bowl - Minnesota (7-4) vs. South Carolina (7-4)

GMAC - UTEP (8-3) vs. Toledo (8-3)

Las Vegas Bowl - Boise St. (9-3) vs. Boston College (8-3)
(moved to Vegas since these were good team and shouldn't play on frozen turf, also BSU would be playing a home game)

Aloha Bowl (Hawaii) - Nevada (8-3) vs. UCF (8-4)

Liberty Bowl - Tulsa (8-4) vs. Fresno St. (8-4)

Outback - UCLA (9-2) vs. Florida (8-3)

Peach Bowl - LSU (10-2) vs. Miami (9-2)

Cotton Bowl - Alabama (9-2) vs. Texas Tech (9-2)

Gator Bowl - Louisville (9-2) vs. Virginia Tech (10-2)

Citrus Bowl (Capital One) - Wisconsin (9-3) vs. Auburn (9-2)

Holiday Bowl - Oregon (10-1) vs. TCU (10-1)
(Jilted Teams Bowl)

Sugar Bowl - UGA (10-2) vs. West Virginia (10-1)

Orange - Penn St. (10-1) vs. FSU (8-4)
(I would probably put Auburn here instead of FSU and put FSU in the Citrus Bowl)

Fiesta Bowl - Ohio St. (9-2) vs. Notre Dame (9-2)
(still unsure about ND here, but well let it stay)

Rose Bowl - Texas (12-0) vs. USC (12-0)

... and the newly created...
Toilet Bowl - New Mexico St (0-12) vs. Temple (0-11)
(The winner automatically starts out with a win for the following season on their record, the loser has to wear pink uniforms the following year)

Feeling colorful

I'm reading: Genesis & Psalms, "Knowing God" and Batman comics
I'm listening to: Endorphine (Thai band) among others
I'm eating: Khaw Soi Gai & Satay (mmm, if you can find it at a Thai restaurant, try it!)
I'm wearing: a long sleeve shirt (for the first time in Thailand, it was a brisk 58 degrees this morning)
I'm: happy, thankful, busy

Early Christmas present!!!

This is my new 2nd cousin! Ella Elizabeth (or "Double E" as I like to call her). Congratulations to Tricia and Jon!
Suay mak, chai mai?

OU or pee-yew!?

Well, it's been an interesting year. I've never been around so many Sooners in my life... and you don't go through a year with OU fans without having some residual effects. So I listened all year to some belly-aching, bashing and "but at least"s. So here's: OU the Real Story (actually, it should really be called "the Norman/Lubbock Paradigm").

The facts:
OU finished 7-4 overall, 6-2 in the Big 12 and 3rd place in the Big 12 South.
The will be facing a top 10 team from the Pac-10 in a bowl game... just not USC in the Rose Bowl.

But can you complain with a shot at a 10-1 Oregon team in the Holiday Bowl? I mean aside from FSU, is there another 4 loss team in such a good bowl?

Sure, Oklahoma has been a powerhouse over the past few years... Championships, title games, Big 12 Championships, Red River Routs, Heismans, a bunch of NFL players and even more wins. In fact, over the Stoops era OU is 74-16 (82.2%). Oh, to wear the Crimson and Cream for the past few years or so!

Hey, remember when FSU was really good? What about Nebraska? Notre Dame? (not just this year, but back B.P.- Before Powlus) Football is cyclical, just ask Solomon.
To think that any team, OU included could maintain a top 5, or even top 10 profile for a long period of time without a hiccup is to not think rationally.

But was OU bad this year? That's the question I'll look at.

First the bad:
1. 4 losses (the worst since Stoops first year '99: 7-5)
2. Unranked at the end of the regular season (AP & USA Today)
3. Whipped by Texas (33 points)
4. Beat soundly by UCLA
5. 1-2 in Non-conference play
6. Rhett Bomar

Now the good:
1. #4 run defense in the country
2. #16 overall defense in the country
3. Stomped Oklahoma State
4. Beat Nebraska
5. You aren't Colorado

The rub:
1. Serious props for playing a tough non-conference schedule. OU's first 3 opponents (TCU, Tulsa, UCLA) had a record of 27-7 compared to Texas Tech who played 2 I-AA teams (one of which was 0-11!) and Division 1 newcomer Florida International. The Red Raiders opponents were 8-24. A quick look at the Big 12 shows that OU and Texas were the only teams willing to take on legitimate opponents outside the Big 12. Tulsa won the Conference USA title, TCU won the Mountain West and UCLA finished 3rd in the Pac-10.
2. OU lost, but they lost to good teams. The four teams that beat OU were 40-5, that's pretty darn good. And all of them were ranked in the top 25. At least OU didn't slip up and lose to OSU like Texas Tech. The Texas Tech and TCU were close games.
3. Rhett Bomar bested Drew Weatherford for the worst QB leading a major program this year. He was okay at times, but bad more often. He didn't get a lot of help from the offensive line and Peterson was dinged up at times. But he was young and with time could get better.

Conclusion:
Oklahoma was a far cry from the dominant standard they set over the past 5 years, but not as bad as they were in the 10 years proceeding that span. In a "rebuilding year" Oklahoma came up short too many times. They beat the teams less talented teams and lost to quality teams. If Oklahoma scheduled a powder-puff schedule like Texas Tech, we'd be looking at a 11-1 or 10-2 Sooner squad (that probably wasn't as good as their record).
A win against the "posterboys for whining this year", Oregon, would go a long way in legitimizing this team as a good, but not very good team (it would also take the legs from under the Pac 10, which I believe is overrated).
So does that make this year's team "bad"? I don't know that I'd say bad, just poorly timed.

boomer sooner.

Gator bait

I just read where Florida's backup QB, Josh Portis, has decided to transfer before the bowl game. He cited lack of playing time as the reason for leaving.
Okay, I can sympathize with a kid wanting to be on the field, but I really have to question Portis' "smarts" and attitude.
First, Portis came to a school where Chris Leak had been a promising QB from his freshman year; he looked like a star in the making. Obviously, Portis should have realized that and figured he be #2 until his turn came around (or until he outshined Leak, which apparently he couldn't do).
Second, it gives a "ME team" philosophy instead of "TEAM me". I have to cite Gator rivals, UGA with the whole Greene-Shockley debate. Sometimes, patience and humility win out on the grid iron (but more importantly, the win out in God's eyes).

More from the field

This is from an interview with a former Muslim in Niger, West Africa:

"It just by this very [man]. He came up to me once, said I should teach him Tamashek. I do. We work on this sometimes. Later, he give me Bible. Then I read the Bible, sometimes I have questions. I would go to his place and answer my questions in the Bible. I’m always looking for in the Bible where to find anything like fault or where to say, 'ahh this'- whatever to condemn in the Bible. I do all I can do to condemn whatever I can find in the Bible, but no way. I couldn’t find it. When I said, “this is bad,” let me go, I would go ask him. Oh, say, 'this is how it is, this, this…' I find it good. So, finally I give up. I became a Christian. So, without missionaries everyone will still remain in the dark among the Tuaregs, but if we have [people] coming, doing exactly as they come to do I think they will reach Tuareg."

a Good Book, indeed.

Thai of the Week: O

Name: Theeraphong Kawin "O"
Occupation: Teacher
Religion: Buddhism
Family Members: 4 (Dad, mom, older brother)
Favorite Food: Tom Yam Koung (spicy soup with shrimp)
Favorite Bands: Blue, Simple Plan, Bodyslam, Peacemaker
Favorite Magazine: Nation Junior, Bangkok Post
Favorite Sport: Swimming
What do you like to do in your free time? Listen to the radio, read books in English
Favorite thing about Chiang Mai or Thailand: the many places I've never seen before
What would you like to know about America? Is it true that they say America has had contact with aliens?

"Do they know it's Christmas time at all?"

Beautiful kids from Sri Lanka... and victims of the tsunami. Thankfully, your generosity is helping them rebuild their homes and their lives. Now they can have true hope because the Gospel is being shared with them.
Please remember the victims of the tsunami, the workers and the new believers there.


(Title courtesy of Band Aid; you and I both, are showing our age.)

Smooth as silk

No, it's not lunch or even a challenge on Fear Factor; they're silkworms.

Fast-paced action on the loom, to make silk fabric for clothes, pillow covers, sheets, etc.

Finally, an umbrella artist uses his skills and paints to put a dragon on a boy's pair of jeans and a smile on his face.

This was from my trip to Bo Sang and Sankampaeng.

Just when you thought the season was over...

I know, I know. Some of you are saying, "Jason we need more of your expert opinion on a sport which you can't really watch since you're not in the US." Fear not fans, I got you covered. I recently read this article by Chris Low on ESPN.com. I've read several articles from this Nashville newspaper writer who works freelance for ESPN; he must be a Vandy man, because he seems to have some sense and doesn't possess the normal SEC bias (especially for a guy that lives in Tenn).
I agree with most of what he said, but wanted to add some comments:

"The Tigers (9-2) closed the season with wins over then top-10 clubs Georgia and Alabama, and their only loss after opening the season with a defeat by Georgia Tech was at LSU in overtime when they missed five field goals.
Making just one of those field goals would have put Auburn in the SEC championship game, and maybe we'd be talking about the Tigers being the class of the conference.
Regardless, they're running a close second."
After the Georgia game, I remember all the writers saying that kicker John Vaughn, got redemption for those 5 misses against LSU by making the last second one against the Bulldogs. I wonder if you asked him, "if you could trade one of the misses in the LSU game for the good one against UGA, would you?" what he would say. If Auburn wins the LSU game, they would have played in the SEC championship despite a would-be-loss to the Dogs, with a chance for redemption and a BCS bowl. Hmm...
That would have pitted the top 2 teams in the SEC against each other (and you can slap my wrist for saying so, but I think the Tigers are a shade better than the Dogs).

"For LSU, the fallout from the SEC championship game loss was a painful reminder to everyone in the league of just how warped the bowl process can be.
The Tigers (10-2) went into the game ranked third and thinking they might have an outside shot to play in the Rose Bowl for the national title if they could beat Georgia and either Southern Cal or Texas was upset.
Instead, they tumbled all the way to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl despite having more wins and having beaten all three of the teams selected ahead of them in the league's higher-tier bowls -- Auburn in the Capital One, Alabama in the Cotton and Florida in the Outback.
But then, nobody ever said life in the SEC was fair."
Chris, what is really unfair is the Big Ten and the Pac 10. This statement will hold true 4 out of 5 times for the Big 12, SEC, ACC and some of the mid-majors: "It's better to end up 3rd in your league going into the league championship game, that to leave it as the runner-up." It's just protocol that the #2 bowls tied to all those leagues are going to sign the #3 team, since they are usually a good choice and they didn't just suffer a late season loss. Bowls want to lock up good match ups and start playing the marketing game, waiting for the championship game prolongs that.
So what should happen is the other 2 major leagues should play championship games too, so all the leagues are on equal footing. Because until that happens we will still have stupid scenarios in the Big Ten where the top 2 teams are uncertain because they didn't play each other (that didn't happen this year, but has recently). Did you know that if UCLA would have beaten USC, USC still would have been the Pac 10 champ despite being tied with Oregon and UCLA?

"Most Valuable Player - Georgia's D.J. Shockley
Picking against Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler is difficult. But Shockley wrapped up the honor with his performance in the SEC championship game. He finished the season with 21 touchdown passes and only five interceptions. His ability to improvise and make plays was the difference for the Bulldogs, who looked like a totally different team without him in their loss to Florida. The other thing to consider is just how good Shockley would have been this season had he not been sitting on the bench and watching David Greene the last few years."
First, I will admit, that as the season started, I was a "DJ Doubter", but he proved me horribly wrong (thanks DJ). Second, he value to the team is unquestionable. But finally, I have to take issue with the statement about how good DJ might have been if not for being benched in favor of Greene. Greene wasn't some chump QB, he was great and meant as much to UGA during most of his tenure as DJ did this year. I'm not going to cite the fact that he's the NCAA's winningest QB of all-time, because he had the luxury of a 12 game season, SEC championship games, etc. that many older QBs didn't have the luxury of. But if my memory serves me, DJ got pretty significant playing time over the past few years. I seem to remember fans and writers both questioning Richt's determination to play DJ in every game for at least one possession. And while DJ had some good moments, he also had some very bad moments (GT 2004) and the rotation seemed to kill momentum on more than one occasion. So maybe watching Greene was just the right thing for DJ in order to make him into the player and more importantly, the man he is today.

You're thoughts?

Coming soon... the OU the Real Story.

Thoughts from the field

This is from an interview I did with a 68-year-old lady that works in the bush of Niger:

"West Africa is not an easy place to live, but they have got some of the most gracious people of any place on Earth. And they’re just as lost as they can be, and you can see it in their face, in their eyes. It’s just like there is nothing there. And if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have got nothing. And they need Jesus. People need to come over here and have a heart for the people. Not just a storybook knowledge. They need to come and get involved with people, because it will change their lives as well as the Songhai or the Zarma or the Hausa or any of them. We get in our own little ivory tower in America, and we think we have done so much good for God. And we haven’t done anything. He did it all when His Son died on the cross."

Thai of the Week: Rama IX

In honor of the King's birthday this week...

Name: His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great or "Rama IX" or "Nai Luang" or "Phra Chao Yu Hua"
Occupation: King of Thailand
Religion: Buddhism
Family Members: wife, Queen Sirikit, 3 daughters and 1 son
Favorite Music: Jazz
Favorite Sport: Boating and Yatching (he acutally won a gold medal in the 1967 SE Asia Games!)
Favorite Book: The Story of Thong Daeng
What do you like to do in your free time? develop agriculture projects, water conservation, land use strategies and skill training; play and compose jazz music; paint; photography; write and translate books
Favorite thing about Thailand: helping the people
American you would most like to meet: Jason Cancel

Tag, I'm it

List 10 things that you don't think people would normally know about you. They can be the most random things as long as someone learns something new about you. After you list these things, you must tag at least 5-10 people so that they can list 10 things about themselves and tag others. So if I tagged you, copy these rules, post your own list of 10 things you don't think people know about you, and then tag at least 5 more people. Have fun!

1. My first job was doing inventory at Macy's.
2. I have never worked in the food industry.
3. I actually saw the movie Mortal Combat.
4. I went as Tony Dorsett one Halloween.
5. I ran cross country for 2 years in high school.
6. I drove Terrell Davis to Orlando for the Citrus Bowl.
7. I didn't eat baked or mashed potatoes until after I finished college.
8. I took ballroom, swing and latin dance for almost 2 years.
9. I prefer black ink to blue.
10. I skipped class (at UGA) to get Cindy Crawford's autograph in Atlanta.

Day of Prayer

I spent most of Friday seeking the LORD and in prayer for you all. This is one of the things that the LORD brought to my mind:

December 2, 2005

Today, after about an hour of prayer walking around Chiang Mai, I tried to quiet myself so I might hear the LORD speak to me. I had spoken to him for an hour, but I knew it was important to hear from Him (actually more important). I’ve always had a problem doing that… just listening for God; my mind tends to wander and I struggle to take my focus off distractions, but then I can’t focus on nothing either.
Finally, I got something.
I thought about the 2 wise men going to see the Baby Jesus- “wait”, you say, “there were 3 wise men.” But in my mind there were 2 wise men from the East. And the star was above them leading them to The Christ.
But why were there only 2 Magi?
I sensed the words, “will you go with them to see The Christ?” And the you was me. And it was you. And it was all the you’s in the world. It was especially all the you’s in Thailand.
Now we know from Biblical and historical studies that the Magi probably weren’t from Thailand- more than likely it was Persia or even India, but Thailand is east of Bethlehem. In my heart there was a desire to see Thais and all peoples take a journey to see The Christ- to seek Him out; to take Him the best that they have and lay it down before Him; to see Who He is.
God’s Spirit will lead us all to Him, like the star. We just have to make the journey.
I read this verse the other morning and then again last night and it has been in my head:
“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” – Psalm 34:8
That’s what the other 2 wise men are going to do- “taste and see that the LORD is good.” You can go with them. You can know the joy upon arrival at the destination (not the final destination, but the destination of the first true encounter with Christ). And when you see The Christ, you will know that He is “good”; you will know He is worthy of praise and worship. And all the things you treasure you can lay down before Him, knowing that He is worth more and they are in good hands with Him.

So this is the question before me and you: “will you go with them to see The Christ?”

He promises, once you have tasted Him, there will be no substitute. He promises the trip is worth it. He promises that the way back won’t be the same as the way you came.

DOGS are SEC CHAMPS!

34-14, UGA stomps LSU!

I actually got to hear Larry Munson call this game (thanks Brian) and was the stats on CBS-Sportsline. What a game to catch!!
I am still stunned at how UGA dominated LSU in all phases of the game. To be honest, like most people, I thought this would be a down year- wrong. I thought LSU would probably win- wrong. I am just glad the guys in the silver britches didn't see it that way.
Dogs ace the SEC final exam:
OFFENSE:
Rushing:
A - 138 yards against a team that had only allowed 4 100 yard games and had held it last four opponents (including one of the top SEC RBs) under 100.
Passing:
B+ - UGA really didn't do much in the air aside from the first two lost TDs, but Pope and Massaquoi made timely catches and it didn't seem like there were a lot of drops.

A-

DEFENSE:
Rushing:
A - Held LSU to 74 yards rushing. Their most effective runner was S. Green lining up at QB on the direct snap.
Passing:
A - 2 INTs that both led to TDs, 5 sacks and held LSU to less than 50% completions and 156 yards.

A (one note, I was very ticked that the D played so crappy on LSU's second TD drive. They averaged 9 yards a play!!! That is unacceptable, even late in the game.)

SPECIAL TEAMS:
Kicking:
A+ - with the exception of a recovered fumble on the opening kickoff, UGA did great on kickoffs, good on returns and great on FGs. When you limit Skylar Green to less than 11 yards a return and only allow a 15 yard return for his longest, you've done a great job. Plus, it was LSU making costly mistakes on returns, not UGA.
Punting:
A+ - a blocked punt by Bryan McClendon that set up a TD, plus punt after punt by Gordo that set up other TDs and the one at the end of the half that sat at the goal line, ending any hopes of a quick score by the Tigers. Plus S. Green ended up with no return yards.

A+

OVERALL: A
My MVP: DJ was good, but the Special Teams gets my vote. The blocked punt, was the turnaround in the game and Gordo and Coutu kept LSU backed up all day and put points on the board.
I would put the Defense right behind the Special Teams.
Tonight was a "team" effort.

Other thoughts:
How does VaTech, let FSU beat them?! The Hokies make me feel like a girl that just found out that her boyfriend cheated on her, "I don't even know you anymore!"
Was UCLA using cardboard cutout of their players on defense? Seriously, the should have gotten 2 butt whoopins': the first was by USC's offense, the second should have been by UCLA's offense giving the game to USC. Any team that surrenders 260 yards (in 3 quarters) and 10.8 yard/carry to one player (and 150 & 11 y/c to another), should be banned from an bowl. We know who the Bruins will be voting for on the Heisman.
Apparently, Texas started pulling fans out of the stands to run the ball against the Buffs, because they used 9 players to carry the ball and Colorado still couldn't stop them.

SEC CHAMPS! The Dogs dominate LSU in Hot'lanta!

Good News!

Here's Rose pointing out where Thailand is.

But she's not the only person who has found it... Jeff, a former co-worker, is coming to Thailand this week.

And yesterday, I found out 2 friends from Richmond will also be the 'hood in February!

They say good things come in 3's, so when are you buying your tickets?

Separated at birth?

My friend put this picture of Sen. Zell Miller on her blog.

It reminded me of someone else...