Another Singapore Pic

Boyne and Kluver families at one of the Coffee Bean shops near Border's Bookstore on Orchard Road in Singapore.

Rick & Randy in Singapore

We had a DELIGHTFUL (but quick) trip to Singapore. We got to spend some time with two sets of friends; one we haven't seen since 1998 and the other set good friends from college. Randy was a gracious host (as always). We had a fun time with his family, then he and I hit the town. We didn't paint it very red, however, because it was raining to beat the band. But, we managed to kill a couple of hours at one of the many Starbuck's on Orchard Road.

All in all, my impressions of Singapore are:
1) very clean,
2) very expensive,
3) the definition of what happens when lots of paranoid, anal-retentive Asians take control of their own destinies,
4) very beautiful,
5) very expensive.

I am ready to go back when I have more time. In fact, I can't wait to get back to Singapore.

Singapore Bound

Well, I'm hauling the whole family down to CNX to board Tiger Airways to go to Singapore for a couple of days, then back to Phuket (in Southern Thailand) for a few more days. We are looking forward to getting away for a little bit, but looking more to seeing some friends in SG. From here on out, it is going to be a busy year, at least until October. Lots of travel; lots of events.

It sure is hot here in Chiang Mai right now. It is getting up into the upper 90's or low 100's everyday now. The nights cool off a little, but not a whole bunch! Last night was around 80.

Subway Sandwich Survey

I am playing receptionist here at the office since all of our Thai staff are off for a couple days. Someone ordered some subs from Subway. While it is good, it seems awfully expensive, especially by Chiang Mai standards. It was 109 baht or at today's exchange rate (39.11) $2.79 for a 6" BMT, no drinks, no chips, no cookies.

So, lets take a little impromtu informal survey. How much does a 6" Subway sub cost in your neck of the woods? Please respond in the comments with the price in US$ and your location.

RAIN!

Wow! Rain in the dry season! What an unexpected blessing. All day Sunday it looked like it was threatening to rain. Then, sure enough, last night about 6 or 7 pm, it started. It lasted all night last night! It was raining when I drove to the office this morning, but it looks like it might be done, although it is still kind of dark outside.

Last week, the temps were getting to around 101 degrees. Yesterday, it only got up to 89. It got down to 73 this morning, which made last night's slumber very nice indeed.

Death Watch & Landmines

I am wasting Saturday morning by watching the CNN Pope Death Watch. I realize that he is the spiritual leader for millions if not a billion people and I know that many people will be sad at his passing. On Larry King Live, some guy sang "Amazing Grace". People are being interviewed about his life and now, his death. Many of the Pope's beliefs differ from mine. There are many common things we believe and I wish I could have met him.

While watching this unending tribute, the satellite TV system that we use here in Thailand, aired a PSA from the UN against landmines. (The Prime Minister here has outlawed foreign commericials because they don't pay airtime tax into his, I mean, the kingdom's accounts. So, UBC has decided to air some of the most rediculous PSA's I have EVER seen in my life. UNICEF announcements preaching the "rights" of children, eg, to express their own opinion, to be free from abuse, to be protected from this and that. It is not that I disagree with these statements; it is that they are a horrible waste of resources and really poorly made. Well, in the past couple of days, they have switched from these horrible animated shorts to live action portrayals against landmines. One of them is some poor farmer talking about not being able to plant crops because of landmines in his fields. It is well done and a welcomed relief from the cartoons. Today, there is a second one that really caught my attention. It was of an American 6th grade girl's soccer game. It shows the parents being so proud of their daughter as she makes a goal and all the fun that goes with kids' games. Then, as the young girl celebrates the goal she just made, she steps on a landmine in the soccer pitch. The scene is really traumatic as she is killed and many others are injured. The mother is overwhelmed with grief and the father runs to his daughter, and holds her lifeless body. The scenes fade and these words are brought up on the screen: "If there were landmines here, would you stand for them anywhere?" I was really taken back by the violence and impact that it had. It actually gave me chill bumps!

You can go to the landmine website here and download the video.

Homeward Bound!

Yahoo!!!!! We just got authorization to make a trip to the US for a little vacation in late July! We are working on itineraries now, but the current one we are planning would get us into Tulsa near noon on July 18th. I can see a trip to El Chico's on the way home from the airport!

Someone asked me what I wanted to do, see, and/or buy while I am in the States.
1) hug my mom
2) go fishing with dad
3) see my family & friends
4) go to:
a> El Chico's
b> Daylight Donut => then Krispy Kreme
c> Wal-Mart
d> El Chico's
5) buy:
a> Griffin's Waffle Syrup
b> new under-drawers & socks
c> a hand-held wind-o-meter (would like this one, will settle for this one)
d> OU Sooner paraphernalia
e> I'm too giddy to think about anything else right now...

Wow, I can't wait to see my mom. I'm not looking forward to the 11.5 hour flight from Tokyo to DFW. (13.5 DFW to Tokyo!)

Favorite Quote

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

Jim Elliott

HE IS RISEN!

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Ghandi

I heard something interesting about Mahatma Ghandi that I thought I might post here for your reading pleasure:

It is said that due to his beliefs about poverty, he did not own a car and usually walked everywhere he went, making incredibly thick callouses on his feet.

It is said that due to his beliefs about pacifism, he often used hunger strikes as a way of public protest. This had a horrible effect on his health, especially in old age, leaving him incredibly frail in his last days.

It is said that he did not believe in modern medicine, but relied on ancient folk medicine in the form of herbs and roots. Due to an ongoing internal dysfunction/infection, those near to him said that he had chronically bad breath.


All this being said, it can be summed up like this: Ghandi was a
super-calloused fragile mystic vexed by halitosis.

(say it quickly)

Tropical Flowers in my neighbor's yard.

Happy Birthday, Randy!

Mark Moore, Randy Kluver & Rick Boyne
Celebrating OU National Champs 1985

Today is Randy Kluver's birthday. Randy is one of the very first people that I met when I went to college. He has had a tremendous influence on my life and my walk with God. He is the first peer that I met that was truly sold out for God. He challenged every aspect of my life; my motivations, my daily walk, and my attitudes. We had LOTS of really great times together: the Randy Kluver Total Immersion School of Sailing; trips to both "L.A's" (Los Angeles AND Lincoln Addition); working at Graybar; building the "new" Brady; visiting Hong Kong; and most recently, watching our kids get along very well.

Randy, you have always been a good friend and someone I could always count on. I appreciate you and your dedication to our Lord. Happy Birthday, Brother.

PS: Thanks for sticking in there an not "tubing out" all these years!

Happy Birthday Martin!

Mexico City, 1981

I have known Martin Whipple (in the pic above, on the right; that is me on the left) since kindergarten. For those trying to add that up, that is 35 years or so. In 1981, our Spanish class took a trip to Mexico City and Acapulco. It was our first trip out of the country for both of us. Martin turned 17 years old on that trip. I remember Senora Davis bought him a strawberry birthday cake. We had a really great time on that trip.

Martin, you are a good friend and I love you like a brother. I miss you and I wish we could spend more time together. God bless you for another year of health, joy, and service to Him. Happy Birthday.

PS. You're ugly and your wife dresses you funny!

New Feature

Take a minute and stick a pin in my new guestmap! You'll find the link button on the right side bar at the bottom of the list.

BTW, Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Hypocrisy

Last night on the History Channel or the Discovery Channel (I don't remember which), there was a promo for a show that was purporting using archeology to validate ancient Greek myths. What it actually said was that they were going to use archeological evidence to show that some of the ancient Greek mythological characters and events actually were real; not just myths. I guess when it makes "good TV", they can say what they want. Nevermind the silliness of the subject matter.
Yet, when it comes to things that do matter, they ignore "Truth", present falsities as "TRUTH", when in fact, some aren't even "truth". Does that make sense?

Romans 1:21-23 (NASB)
21For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.