It's Nothing Personal

%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3E%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-uyPDAnma9p8%2FTahvKH-4nUI%2FAAAAAAAABDc%2FYXe56CME7tY%2Fs1600%2Fsongkran%252Bpai_9138.jpg%22+onblur%3D%22try+%7Bparent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully%28%29%3B%7D+catch%28e%29+%7B%7D%22%3E%3Cimg+style%3D%22cursor%3Apointer%3B+cursor%3Ahand%3Bwidth%3A+400px%3B+height%3A+335px%3B%22+src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-uyPDAnma9p8%2FTahvKH-4nUI%2FAAAAAAAABDc%2FYXe56CME7tY%2Fs400%2Fsongkran%252Bpai_9138.jpg%22+border%3D%220%22+alt%3D%22%22+id%3D%22BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595844756740021570%22+%2F%3E%3C%2Fa%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3EI+was+just+polishing+off+a+hearty+breakfast+of+two+fried+eggs%2C+hash+browns%2C+bacon%2C+tomatoes%2C+mushrooms%2C+extra+bacon%2C+a+croissant+slathered+in+butter+and+strawberry+jam%2C+a+banana+smoothie+and+a+large+cup+of+strong+coffee+with+milk+and+sugar.++At+night%2C+this+restaurant+morphs+into+a+pool+hall%2Fgay+bar+called+%22Thai+1+On%22.++I+don%27t+think+playing+fast+and+loose+with+one%27s+cholesterol+is+what+the+owners+had+in+mind+when+they+chose+that+name.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3EFrom+my+perch+near+the+sidewalk%2C+I+had+a+panoramic+view+of+this+busy+little+intersection+in+Chiang+Mai%2C+Thailand%2C+which+was+just+beginning+to+rub+the+sleep+out+of+its+eyes+and+come+to+life.++%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3EJust+then%2C+a+tourist+rode+by+on+his+bicycle+and+got+completely+soaked+by+a+bucket+of+water+dumped+by+some+kids+on+a+balcony+above+the+restaurant.+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3EHe+was+irate%21+Pulling+over+to+the+side+of+the+road%2C+he+parked+his+bike%2C+stormed+into+the+restaurant+and+began+berating+the+poor+girl+behind+the+counter%2C+who+clearly+had+nothing+to+do+with+the+saturation.++He+was+really+making+a+scene%E2%80%A6spewing+venom+and+vitriol.++Hell+hath+no+fury+like+a+drenched+Frenchman%21%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3EAfter+finishing+his+diatribe%2C+he+rode+off+in+a+huff%2C+leaving+everyone+in+the+restaurant+looking+at+each+other+in+disbelief.++Because+you%E2%80%99d+have+to+have+to+have+landed+in+Chiang+Mai+via+spaceship+with+duct+tape+over+your+eyes+and+ears+not+to+know+that+tomorrow+is+official+the+kick+off+to+%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSongkran%22%3ESongkran%3C%2Fa%3E%2C+the+New+Year+celebration+here+in+Thailand.+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3ESongkran+is+a+water+festival.++And+by+water+festival+I+mean+an+all-out+aquatic+apocalypse.+%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3EAnd+Chiang+Mai+is+the+epicenter.%3C%2Fspan%3E+Three+full+days+of+people+soaking+each+other+silly+with+water+pistols%2C+water+guns%2C+water+hoses%2C+buckets+of+water+and+drive-by+drenchings+with+50+gallon+drums+of+ice+water.+Neptune+himself+couldn%27t+have+come+up+with+a+better+way+to+get+people+enthusiastic+about+H2O.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3ELeave+the+dry+sanctuary+of+your+home+at+your+own+risk%2C+because+%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3Eyou+are+100%25+guaranteed+to+get+soaked+to+the+skin+within+10+minutes.+It%E2%80%99s+inevitable.+You+can+resist+it.++Try+to+avoid+it.++%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3EYou+can+run%2C+but+you+can%27t+hide.+I%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3Et%E2%80%99s+gonna+happen.+And+it%E2%80%99s+gonna+happen+to+you.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3Bfont-family%3Aarial%3B%22+%3E%3Cdiv%3EAnd+here+in+Chiang+Mai%2C+people+tend+to+get+enthusiastic+and+start+the+festivities+a+day+or+two+early.+Why+not+wear+wet+clothes+for+five+days+instead+of+just+three+since+you%27ve+already+bought+the+equipment%3F+%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3ESongkran+completely+levels+the+playing+field...%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3EI%3C%2Fspan%3Et%27s+every+man%2C+woman+and+child+for+themselves.+It%E2%80%99s+all+in+good+fun+and+nobody+gets+upset...except+for+one+poor+guy+who+thought+he+was+the+target+of+a+conspiracy.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3E%3Cdiv+face%3D%22Georgia%2C+serif%22%3E%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3EIt%E2%80%99s+one+thing+to+grasp+the+concept+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fspan%3Eintellectually+%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3Ethat+very+few+people+are+getting+out+of+bed+in+the+morning+plotting+to+screw+up+your+day.+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fspan%3EBut+it%E2%80%99s+another+thing+entirely+when+you%27re+standing+there+in+a+puddle%2C+dripping+with+indignation+and+embarrassment.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3EDon%E2%80%99t+take+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3Ethings+so+p%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3Ee%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3Ers%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3Eonally%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3E.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3Bfont-family%3Aarial%3B%22+%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3Bfont-family%3Aarial%3B%22+%3E%3Cimg+style%3D%22cursor%3Apointer%3B+cursor%3Ahand%3Bwidth%3A+400px%3B+height%3A+300px%3B%22+src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-MLVY8D4HPK0%2FTaWvE9_ooTI%2FAAAAAAAABCs%2F9FoGVfZq1FM%2Fs400%2Fbuckets_9052.jpg%22+border%3D%220%22+alt%3D%22%22+id%3D%22BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595070611973513522%22+%2F%3E%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3Bfont-family%3Aarial%3B%22+%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3ESpeaking+of+which%2C+when+I+arrived+here+two+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3Eweeks+ago%2C+I+naively+thought+I+could+stay+as+long+as+I+liked.++It+didn%E2%80%99t+occur+to+me+that+people+book+hotel+rooms+for+Songkran+a+year+in+advance.++So+yesterday+the+desk+clerk+informed+me+I%E2%80%99d+need+to+make+other+arrangements.++I+wandered+over+to+the+guest+house+next+door+to+see+if+they+had+rooms+available+for+the+next+three+days%2C+and+to+my+pleasan%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3Et+surprise%2C+they+did.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3Bfont-family%3Aarial%3B%22+%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3Bfont-family%3Aarial%3B%22+%3ESo+when+I+checked+out+this+morning+and+trundled+my+gear+the+few+yards+across+the+parking+lot+to+the+reception+desk+next+door%2C+I+was+dismayed+to+find+that+they+had+no+rooms+available.++I+hadn%27t+made+a+reservation.+How+many+ways+can+you+spell+%22stoopid%22%3F%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3Bfont-family%3Aarial%3B%22+%3E%0D%0A%3k6# o uk" z +~! Le 1,? ^z W.('ont-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3E%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3EI+hadn%27t+had+a+wink+of+sleep+the+night+before.++The+rowdies+downstairs%2C+who+were+drinking+something+besides+water%2C+decided+to+continue+the+festivities+into+the+wee+hours.+Tired%2C+irritable+and+annoyed+with+myself%2C+I+hoisted+my+backpack+onto+my+shoulders+and+began+trudging+down+the+narrow+lane+lined+with+guest+houses.+All+of+them+fully+booked.++%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3ETo+my+growing+dismay+it+occurred+to+me+that+I+was+essenti%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3Eally+looking+for+a+hotel+room+in+New+Orleans+during+Mardi+Gras.+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3Bfont-family%3Aarial%3B%22+%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3Bfont-family%3Aarial%3B%22+%3EIt+started+to+rain.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3EJust+then%2C+a+kid+shot+me+in+the+chest+with+a+water+pistol.++Followed+immediately+by+his+little+sister+who+drenched+me+with+a+tub+of+water.++Just+as+I+rounded+the+corner%2C+a+tourist+blasted+me+with+a+Super+Soaker%C2%AE+and+after+a+couple+more+steps+somebody+doused+me+with+ice+cold+water+from+an+upstairs+window.++I+was+drenched.+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3EWelcome+to+Songkran.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3Bfont-family%3Aarial%3B%22+%3EI+did+eventually+manage+to+find+a+room.+No+AC%2C+no+toilet+paper%2C+and+a+mattress+as+thick+and+cushiony+as+the+sheet+of+plywood+it%27s+resting+on.++But+it+beats+the+hell+out+of+sleeping+on+a+park+bench+in+the+rain+as+cackling+passersby+throw+buckets+of+water+on+you.++It%E2%80%99s+nice+and+quiet+and+the+hum+of+the+fan+combined+with+the+sound+of+the+rain+outside+is++quite+soothing.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3EI+think+I%E2%80%99ll+lie+down+and+collect+my+thoughts+and+remind+myself+not+to+take+all+this+personally.+A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3End+maybe+take+a+nap.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3Bfont-family%3Aarial%3B%22+%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3Bfont-family%3Aarial%3B%22+%3ENope...a+baby+just+started+screaming.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3Bfont-family%3Aarial%3B%22+%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22++style%3D%22font-family%3Aarial%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+class%3D%22Apple-style-span%22+style%3D%22+%3B%22%3E%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cimg+style%3D%22cursor%3Apointer%3B+cursor%3Ahand%3Bwidth%3A+400px%3B+height%3A+300px%3B%22+src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-ZJ0GHmmz_Bs%2FTaWvEljDHcI%2FAAAAAAAABCk%2F1lx72UZHGcs%2Fs400%2Fbucket%252Bof%252Bwater_9072.jpg%22+border%3D%220%22+alt%3D%22%22+id%3D%22BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595070605411163586%22+%2F%3E%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cp+class%3D%22MsoNormal%22%3E%3C%2Fp%3E++%3C%21--EndFragment--%3E+++%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E