Home Safely!

I'm back in St Louis. We had no problems because of the protests. I apologize t0 those of you who were so worried...we were blissfully ignorant to the severity of the protests and the amount of US coverage of them while we were safe and far from Bangkok relaxing on the beach -- we saw fragmented news on TV in Thai, but apparently you occasionally need more than just pictures to get the whole picture and if I'd known more of the extent of the happenings in Bangkok and US embassy warnings, I would have tried to relieve more fears through an email or two.

Looking over Aaron's pictures for each day I was gone makes me wish he could have come to Thailand with me (for a multitude of reasons), but as I was there and would see amazing lush jungles and old women faces etched with the wrinkles of a lifetime of hard work and stoic temples filled with golden Buddhas and street markets lined with brightly colored produce and spices I would get sad wishing Aaron was there to capture it with his camera. Knowing that my crappy camera and complete lack of creative skills would not begin to convey the beauty and stories of Thailand, I wished he could be there to experience it in person of course, but also to experience things more permanently in the continuously improving way that he can with his camera.

I'll post pictures later and begin to attempt to reflect on and summarize the trip, but it is good to be home and weird to now begin this stage of transitition to leaving St Louis and starting residency.

Come Back to Me

Come Back to Me, originally uploaded by a b franzen.

Day 81

Here is one more picture of spring time in the STL before you are able to see if for yourself. I tried this picture the other night, but the focus didn't work so hot, so I took a cleaning break tonight to go take a new one.

I hope that the flights all go smoothly and that you are able to get out of Thailand without any trouble. I can't wait to have you home again.

Snack 'n Seal

Snack 'n Seal, originally uploaded by a b franzen.

Day 80

Crazy. 80 days now.

Something else that is crazy is this new Oreo cookie package design. Says it seals better to keep the cookies fresh longer. What a joke. Who actually keeps cookies long enough for them not to be fresh?!

Seriously can't wait to see you again. Avoid large, angry crowds.

A Finite Number

A Finite Number, originally uploaded by a b franzen.

Day 79

If you see one of these, you may want to take a mental note. I thinkt that 1) you should leave soon, and 2) you should watch out around you.

Seriously though, I am worried about you. Come home safe.

Stroll in the Sun

Stroll in the Sun, originally uploaded by a b franzen.

Day 78

This is Rick.

I have been thinking about him today. He was asking for food outside of the Basillica yesterday and so we spent about an hour walking around and going to and from the store. He is single and lives by himself and has one son.

His perception of me was pretty far off and I hope mine of him was not.

Except for the Pope maybe in Rome

Except for the Pope maybe in Rome, originally uploaded by a b franzen.

Day 77

So, last night was the first time that I have had to charge my phone since you have left. Kind of funny and sad all at the same time.

4 days.

Framed in the Gray and White

Framed in the Gray and White, originally uploaded by a b franzen.

Day 76

I have thought in the past that a position of ambivalence is good in life. Neither all hot, nor all cold. All happy or sad. All boring or exciting. All up or down. That way it, in a sense, forces continuous growth or at least movement in some way.

It seems that is one of the best ways to describe work right now. I am sad to leave, but really excited to leave it behind. I really like the people, but not all of them. I think they are moving in the right direction, but stuck in many ways. It is constantly the same, but the constant is typically never ending uncertainty. It is nice to be able to fix problems, but severely frustrating when solutions are impossible.

I am done soon, but not nearly soon enough.

700 Club

700 Club, originally uploaded by a b franzen.

Day 75

I had to give up coffee. I am sure it was more than the coffee, but it was making my stomach hurt. 19 days.

6 'til you are back!

Love You O So Well

Love You O So Well, originally uploaded by a b franzen.

Day 74

"I know a girl, she puts the color inside of my world." - John Mayer

Today I have felt it much more than other days since you have been gone.