It was looking as if I was going to have a late evening of it last night, for my younger brother was home by about 8:20 p.m. from the bar he had been drinking at. However, after tuning in the very first episode of a T.V. show that we follow (I was operating our T9 Android 8.1 TV Box), within 10 minutes he was unconscious ─ for the second time, as I had noticed him droop just prior, but he snapped out of it in a bit of shock (i.e., he looked askance furtively, perhaps alarmed that I might have noticed).
Well, I was having none of it. I proceeded to shut down the episode and switch the T.V. over to basic cable.
By then he had again pulled himself out of his oblivion, claiming that he hadn't fallen asleep, but I shot that claim to pieces. I even had his own words to attack him with ─ the immediate question that he had projected when he had come back into consciousness: "Is it over?"
It was nearer 8:30 p.m. than it was 9:00 p.m. at this point, so I came upstairs here to my computer and killed some time. It is very possible that I was into bed by 9:00 p.m., but I cannot now recall.
The usual succession of short naps that comprises sleep for me ensued. I checked the time once before it was yet 11:30 p.m., but I knew that my brother would not yet have gone to bed ─ I wanted to get to work on the post I have nearly finished at one of my six hosted websites.
I next checked the time during the latter half of the midnight hour, and knew then that it was probably safe for me to rise. And it was ─ the house was in darkness.
I got some work done on the post, and I even had myself a 5½-minute plank for some exercise. One might think that I would have been anxious to get to bed again, but I had no trouble putting it off. I finally had to put a stop to the prevarication; and it was probably nigh 5:00 a.m. by the time I was tucked in once more.
Yet ere 8:00 a.m. I was out of bed once more, ready to commence my morning. My brother rose soon thereafter; and after his shower, he went downstairs to watch T.V. and drink coffee. I held off on joining him in the living room until around 10:00 a.m., and soon had our Android TV Box in operation.
My brother has no experience operating the device, so that role is mine alone.
We were to watch our shows until shortly after 1:00 p.m., and then he went back to his bedroom for some rest, for I had heard him arranging on his cellphone to hook up with a couple of his drinking buddies somewhere in the afternoon.
I had some exercise out in the backyard toolshed even though I am feeling overworked (i.e., over-exercised), and then I had my day's first meal. I was also desirous of a nap, but I was still up when my brother emerged from his room and soon enough left to catch his bus for his rendezvous somewhere.
The day was remarkably sunny ─ our second consecutive such day. But of course, I cannot countenance the tumultuous, busy world without, so I am effectively housebound. I am also virtually broke, so I have no shopping that I am able to do, and thus no purpose to be going out.
I do not drive, so I would have to walk ─ which I love to do. But I just cannot bear being smothered with people everywhere ─ it is too stressful and disturbing. I find no peace out there ─ it is quite the contrary.
It must have been after 3:30 p.m. before I finally sought some more sleep. I managed some, and then after about an hour after first lying down I became aware that someone seemed to have entered the bedroom surreptitiously (I was wearing a bandanna blindfold and earplugs).
When I checked, I found myself alone. But suspecting that my wife had come home, I rose, and I could then hear her downstairs talking to her youngest son who had been home all this while. I don't think he has to return to work until late next week.
I went downstairs to fix myself an instant coffee, and found my wife busy cooking. She thought to invite me along when she and her two sons go out this coming Friday around 5:00 p.m. for a meal ─ she suggested that it would probably be to a sushi restaurant in Whalley.
I do not usually learn of these outings until they are set to occur, and by then I have no hunger nor interest. I need to be well forewarned, for I actually eat rather little. If I have had my usual early afternoon meal, then I have no desire whatsoever to be going out for a meal.
Now that I am sufficiently alerted to the event, I will ensure that I am in a state fit to enjoy such an outing. It will afford an opportunity to take some photos ─ especially since my wife's birthday is on Saturday, and she will not likely be around (she tends to spend her weekends somewhere in Vancouver ─ such is my marriage).
Right now it is 6:10 p.m., and she retired to our bedroom maybe a half hour ago. I have no idea if she is spending the night, but I feel it best not to prolong this post too much longer just in case she does plan on remaining home the evening.
If my brother is not home from the bar ahead of 9:00 p.m., I will not sit up even if my wife is here at home.
Anyway, I have some of her photos that were taken seven years ago (2013) when she returned to her Thailand family home to visit her mother and other family members, as well as old friends.
Google Photos notified me today that it had created a collage from five of the photos:
I happen to know that some of those original photos were taken at Talay Bua Daeng (ทะเลบัวแดง), which is more familiarly known in the English-speaking world as the Red Lotus Lake in Udon Thani.
That is my wife in the top photo of the first column, embracing her sister Lumpoon (right) and another lass. My wife is also in the bottom photo of that same column with her mother. I don't know the name of the temple, however.
Incidentally, the sister is also the smiling woman given the close-up in the top right photo. And the only other person I can identify is the young man making the hand signal in the middle photo of the first column ─ he is the son of my wife's only surviving brother, Santi. She had two other brothers who both died independently of one another as adults.
Here are all of the original photos, beginning with the first column:
Before closing, I want to mention that my youngest stepson has just asked me if I wanted him to buy me some beer.
And so I pointed out one of the two brands I try to keep in stock that are 8% alcohol, and he has gone on his way in his older brother's car.
That takes some of the pressure off me ─ financially and otherwise.
I still have quite a few cans ─ a few dozen, in fact. However, the nearest provincial government liquor store I have to buy them at is two miles from here, so it's quite the walk ─ especially the return haul if I'm packing a couple of dozen as I generally am when I stock up!
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