Mescalito

My own sensei (aikido), while dedicated to that particular martial art, also acquired training in traditional "western" boxing, jui-jitsu and grappling, among other things, in the 40+ years he's been studying & teaching martial arts. He includes grappling in his instruction with all of his students, from the newest beginners to his black belts. While his primary focus was on aikido, he also recognized that in the real world, opponents have an annoying habit of not doing what they're supposed to do, hence the instruction in other areas.

Yes! And some of the information we'll share might actually be useful! In all seriousness, welcome to the board and to the adventures that lay ahead. Take full advantage of the "Search" function on the site, since there probably isn't a question or topic that hasn't already been covered somewhere. Throw a keyword or two into the search field and let it do the work for you; you're bound to find that most of the questions typical of a newcomer have already been answered. And for those questions that haven't, ask away!

Actually, you have 90 days from her date of entry into the US, not 30, to get married or she has to leave the US. Flying her here will be the easy part; getting her a visa will be the challenge. In the application you are swearing, as I recall, that it is your intent to get married, so any intentions other than that constitute a federal offense that will, at best, make it almost impossible for her to get any kind of visa to enter the US for years to come. Her social/economic status in Thailand can have an impact on the chances of getting her a tourist visa, if you want to try going that route. If she owns a home, and it's in her name, has children or other family, or other obligations indicating a definite need to return to Thailand you may stand a better chance of getting a tourist visa approved. The feds are getting very particular about visas for single women coming from certain countries, so you really need to play this one according to Hoyle. My suggestion is that you plop down a few bucks for a consultation with a competent immigration attorney before you do anything. It would probably be money well spent. I have a good friend in California who's an immigration attorney, and he may be able to to refer me to someone in Chicago that I can pass along to you.

Bruce has finally comes to grips with the fact that he is gay, and decides that the first person he must come out to is his mother. He sits her down at her kitchen table and tells her. She says nothing for a moment, then says, "So Bruce, you're telling me that you're a homosexual?" "Yes, mom. I am", he replies. She's silent for a moment. "Then you're telling me that you have sex with other men, right?" she asks. "Ummm, yes Mom; that's what I mean". She's silent again for a moment. "And Bruce, that means sometimes you put another man's penis in your mouth, right?" she asks. A bit uncomfortably, her son admits to this, too. His mother sits silently for a while, and then, wagging her finger at him, she yells, "Then I better never again hear you complain about my cooking!!"

Things we wish we could say out loud at work : I can see your point, but I still think you're full of shit. I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce. How about never? Is never good for you? I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public. I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to see it my way. I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter. I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message. I don't work here. I'm a consultant. It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying. Ahhh..... I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again.... I like you. You remind me of when I was young and stupid. You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers. I have plenty of talent and vision; I just don't give a damn. I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth. I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about you. Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view. The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist. Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental. I'm not being rude. You're just insignificant. And your crybaby whiny-assed opinion would be.....? Do I look like a people person? This isn't an office. It's Hell with fluorescent lighting. I started out with nothing & still have most of it left. Sarcasm is just one more service we offer. If I throw a stick, will you leave? I'm trying to imagine you with a personality. A cubicle is just a padded cell without a door. Chaos, panic & disorder- my work here is done. How do I set a laser printer to stun?

Also, there is probably more advice from other golfers as to how to "fix" whatever is wrong with another golfer's swing than there is in every other sport combined. The problem is, most of that advice is probably wrong! Take lessons from a real pro, focus on the fundamentals, and as was already stated, work on putting and chipping; that's where you save the most strokes. Most importantly, relax, have fun, and don't take it too seriously. It's a game for a lifetime.

WOW! What an opportunity! Instead of just one person having about a 1-in-56 million chance of hitting it big, a whole group of us could pool the money we'd normally spend on sure things like beer and BF'd girls and actually share in those 1-in-56 million odds! Some spams are so patently ridiculous as to be funny. This one might qualify.

Before I made my first trip, I got a tetanus shot (my last one had been 20 years ago) and went through the Hep A & B series. It's a 3-step process: 1 shot, then another 30 days later, and the 3rd and final shot in another 90 days (I think it was 90, anyway).

The ball will definitely travel farther in warmer weather. When I play in Palm Springs, California or Phoenix, Arizona, both desert areas, I'll get about an additional 5% distance with my irons. I'll get about the same increase off the tee with my driver, but since the fairways are usually drier and more firm I'll also get additional roll. However I think in Thailand the high humidity counters this effect, as I have never seen appreciable change in my distances whenever I've played there.

A older married couple makes their first visit to Thailand and decide to spend some time in Pattaya. While the wife is off shopping one evening, the husband takes a break at a beer bar, where -- of course -- he meets up with a young lady who tells him "1000 baht short-time, 2000 long time". He tells her, "But I only have 50Baht left!" "Sorry", she tells him. "Goodbye", and she walks off in search of a real customer. The next day he and his wife are walking through town and, lo and behold, the same beer bar girl is standing near-by. She calls out to him: "See? That's what you get for 50 baht!"

Yes, another one has been lost to the Dark Side of the Force. Give up all hope of any kind of normal life now, because once you've been to Pattaya nothing about you will ever be the same. You're screwed. Ain't it great!

So, you want to ride around Pattaya on a bicycle, eh? Make sure your affairs are in order. Can I have your stereo? Better yet, just leave the keys to your flat with me or one of the other BMs; we'll divvy up everything equitably.

5 Baht? Isn't that what you pay the attendant for toilet paper in the public toilets here? In that case, depending on how long the book is, 5 Baht could be quite a bargain; you'd have enough toilet paper for months!

I'm leaving tomorrow to finish up my trip w/ 2 days in Bangkok before returning to the real world (or as real as California gets, anyway). Don't know when or how yet, arrangements still to be made. Anyone else on their way there tomorrow?

I think this shot has some "caption contest" potential, so here's my entry . . . . . "Honestly, officer, I haven't had a thing to drink tonight!"

Ditto on the great day at the RideHer Cup; definitely one of the most enjoyable rounds I've had anywhere, notwithstanding that I apparently left my tee game at the hotel (couldn't stop snap-hooking my driver to save my life). Definitely hats-off to our European playing partners that day; we had such a good time I can't bring myself to refer to them as opponents. You couldn't ask for two more enjoyable people to have a round with. Is it too early to sign to for next year?

I've been back in Pattaya for 4 days now, and I've had about half a dozen instances of baht bus drivers taking off without giving me my change. Several times I've hopped off, handed them a 20 baht note expected 10 baht change back, only to have them just drive off. This morning, the smallest thing I had was a 50 baht note when I got off at the RG; I got on at the area near the school where the buses start the route towards Jomtien. I handed the driver the 50B note and stood there looking at him expecting to get my change. He just said "thank you!" and drove off. These were not personal solo trips I had arranged, either; these were buses with other passnegers that I had flagged down. Now I do admit that we're talking a difference of at most a dollar US, but I've never seen this happen before. Are they thinking I'm just remarkably generous? Remarkably gullible, perhaps? I don't get it.

Is something going a bit wonky with the system today? It keeps logging me out when I try going to another page or hitting the Back icon on the browser. It's happened at 2 different internet cafes today, both times within an hour of one another.

I have, as the cliche goes, good news and bad news. The good news is that these fears can be overcome. The bad news is that it can take a while. About 10 years ago I had several major anxiety attacks while on a couple of domestic flights in the US; one was so bad they had paramedics and the full squad of emergency vehicles with lights a-flashing waiting for me at the jetway when my plane pulled in. For the next 10 years I wasn't able to get on a plane without a 1mg dose of Xanax at least an hour in advance; getting to LOS from LA required 3 doses over the course of the flights. I saw a couple of therapists who speciaized in treating panic and anxiety disorders, but the failure was mine, not theirs, since I stopped going after a couple of sessions. The irony is that I used to be a therapist myself back in a previous career. Now, however, I can easily fly without tranquilizers, although I still take a couple of hits of Bonine to prevent the Technicolor Yawn (a problem I've had since childhood). My suggestions are 4-fold: first, see a specialist and make sure they are also affiliated with a psychiatrist, as he/she will be an MD and can prescribe an appropriate anti-anxiety agent to see you through while the condition itself is being treated. Second, don't do what I did and bail out of treatment early because it's taking too long; it's a condiiton that is very much treatable with a very high success rate, but patience is required -- it won't happen overnight. Third, permit yourself to believe that this CAN be cured. There is a significant amount of relief in knowing that there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel. Finally, take a good close look at the rest of your life and see if there are more symptoms of unsatisfactory reactions in areas other than flying; the panic attacks may well be indications of a more wide-ranging disorder. In my case, the attacks turned out to be just the more obvious manifestations of what was eventually diagnosed as major depression; I now take 300mg of Wellbutrin every morning, and will no doubt be doing so for the rest of my life. Best of luck. PM me if I can be of any further help.

The dog or the owner?

I'll be more than happy to accommodate them in my room at the RG, and I will charge them far less than 700 baht!

I'd love to join you for a warm-up round, but I don't know if I'll be in PTY on time. I leave BKK on the 6th and plan to getting to the RG about 3pm. If there's an earlier start planned for a practice round, or even just hitting a few balls at the range, I can arrange to get into town earlier in the day.

I knew I shouldn't have watched the video! It made me want to be back there NOW! Not in the 4 weeks it will be before I do get back. NOW dammit! I want to be there NOW!

And I'll provide the Euro/World team with state-of-the-art featheries!

I do like lounging on the beach as well; some mornings that's all I can manage depending on the extent of the previous night's adventures. There is something inherently rewarding about vegging out on a lounge chair, buying the occasional snack or beverage or perhaps a massage from a passing vendor. I'll often have my CD player with me, listening to some classical music over the headphones to drown out any noise from other tourists, the Beach Road traffic, and the powerboats running out to the islands. For me, a very, very relaxing way to while away a few hours. As far as the water goes, I've waded in it waist-deep but I'm reluctant to do anything more than that. Swallowing any of that nasty effluent-tainted stuff is bound to cause trouble, particularly for us poor farang who haven't developed any natural immunity to the strains of bacteria that are bound to be there.