Amanda Coltrane

green

My fiance' went to the hospital yesterday after coughing up blood and they took an xray. All he knows so far is there's something wrong in his lungs. He'll be going in for more tests. I'm headed up there today (3-hour bus ride) since I get a three-day weekend for the King's birthday. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers. Thanks. Amanda Coltrane (aka Amanda of Jamanda)

I noticed that my email version didn't have question 6. 6. Favorite gift received as a child: My cabbage patch doll, Homer. Jam got one too, Suzanne, and our older sister Deb got Rhonda. That was the only year we got the "hot" item, as Mom had a second-cousin who worked at Toys R Us and our grandma had her set the dolls aside when the shipment arrived at the store. I have yet to meet anyone who has a male cabbage patch doll like mine. Homer would be worth something today if I hadn't loved on him so much. Still do actually.

Still never been to India. My fiance's boss had some trouble getting back to Bangkok when the airports closed though. It was 3000 baht (over $75) to fly back (which is very expensive for a Thai) so he wound up taking the train. The couple doing our pre-marital counseling were also trying to fly back to Thailand from the States and were stranded in Tokyo for a while. They finally got back on Saturday. I've been warned by my fiance' and the pastor at the church where I'm staying not to wear red or yellow (the colors of the two opposing political parties) and not to state any political opinions. I'm pretty safe though, simply because I'm white and I can play a dumb tourist if necessary. My Thai language teacher apologized for the country's leaders "acting so childish." Good grief, many Americans didn't like Bush for years, but they didn't sit in any major airports to force him to step down (although America does have more than one). They just waited patiently until they could vote for someone else. That's how democracy is supposed to work. And if a certain group of people don't like one party, that party will try to appeal to that group of people, or to the "undecided." That's how it's supposed to work, but the Thai's haven't quite figured it all out yet.

movies

I'm kinda the same way. I always loved The Monkees, even though it was on in the 60's, because we saw the reruns in the 80's and 90's. Used to have a crush on Davy Jones, even though he's as old as my dad!

I actually got this through email, so I just copied it onto here! 1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Depends on the gift. Wrap it if it's in a box...but use a gift bag if it has a funny shape and is too hard to wrap. 2. Real tree or Artificial? I have a wee artificial tree...but my fiance' wants to plant a real one outside the church. 3. When do you put up the tree? Don't have to put it up...just decorate it. 4. When do you take the tree down? In January. 5. Do you like eggnog? Very much...makes a great coffee creamer. 6. Do you sing Christmas Carols? Yes, although I prefer playing them on the flute. 7. Hardest person to buy for? My Dad 8. Easiest person to buy for? Mom. She tells us right out what she wants. 9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. 10. Mail or email Christmas cards? sorta both...I make a photocard and email it to Mom...who then puts it in her Xmas mailings. 11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A little hairbow that played Jingle Bells when you squeezed it. Terribly annoying. 12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Home Alone 13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? After Thanksgiving. 14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes. I don't like chocolate covered cherries...but my sister found someone who did. 15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cinnamon rolls on Xmas morning. 16. Lights on the tree? Yes. Had to replace them when the girls here discovered that American lights don't use Thai voltage. 17. Favorite Christmas song? Deun flambeu Jeanette Isabella...because I can sing it in French. I also like O Holy Night, but I can't sing that high, so I just play it on the flute. 18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Define home. I live in Thailand, so I'm home, but I'm not with family, so I'm traveling. 19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Of course. 20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star. 21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning. Why get up in the morning if there's no presents? 22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? In Thailand, they celebrate the Christmas season, but not Christmas Day. Everyone goes to work and the kids have school on the 25th. A common question is "When are you doing Christmas?" and the answer is usually a Saturday in December. 23. Favorite ornament theme or color. Ornaments we (my sisters and I) made when we were kids.24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Something that does not include rice or noodles but does include fresh bread. 25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Christian music CDs. 26. Who is most likely to respond to this? I never know. 27. Who is least likely to respond to this? I'll say Zach...cuz last time I did...he responded just to prove me wrong.

Ha ha...I just listened to Snoopy and the Red Baron today! My favorite Christmas memory is Mom playing all her old records (on an acutal record player), so I had her copy all of them onto cassette so I could listen to them here in Thailand (where Christmas carols in English are rather scarce).

Our Christmas traditions sorta changed when I ran off to Thailand. Now when Jamie (who ya'll know as Jamanda) and the family open gifts, they have to parade them in front of the webcam (which is in the next room with the computer) so I can watch on the other end (where it is evening). I get my gifts early in a box and usually don't get to unwrap them since everything is on the customs tag anyway. I'm hoping my box got through before the BKK airports closed though. Mom sent one box anyway. Might get another one if things settle down here. The people of Thailand celebrate the Christmas season in the city, but not Christmas Day. They ask each other "When are you doing Christmas?" and the answer can be any day in Dec., although it's usually sometime over a weekend. Everyone goes to work and school on the 25th. Not all bad though. I get Friday off from my Thai language class, as it is His Majesty the King's birthday (which is also Father's Day). I'm hoping the King has a good political address planned that'll get those people out of the airport. I'll also take advantage of the long weekend to visit my fiance', who lives 3 hours away.

This is Amanda Coltrane, aka Amanda of Jamanda. My sister Jam uses Jamanda now that I've run off to Thailand so I had to make a new name. It's been a while, as for some reason, I was unable to access Hazzardnet for the past two years! But I can now. Jam said I should go by Coltrane, as there are now waaaaay too many Dukes out there. Them Dukes! Them Dukes!