There are some exceptionally nice venues in Bangkok. Several times I felt a profound deja vu as if I were in Las Vegas. Riding around the BTS is a great way to check out the city. It's very reasonably priced usually taking me about a buck to get from one of the city to another. There terminals are very clean and accessible and even at peak times it's not ridiculous (a la Tokyo or Mumbai). The monuments are beautiful and tasteful, with a sense of pride in evidence at the places of honor. For some reason I didn't find myself taking as many pictures as usual. I guess it was either things I didn't want to take pictures of, or things I didn't feel it was appropriate to snap. The lightning storms at night have been really dramatic. Being on the 17th floor offers a great view of the lightning striking all around the city. I'm hoping the weather is much different in the islands for the next week. Things are coming along well with Pivotal, and I'm almost done crafting up a resume. What a major pain that has been.

It's been more than a year, but I finally got the chance to see these guys in a live show. Turns out they are an incredibly well-produced and it's more clear why they don't have the largest following. Too much diversity in music and ability makes for a slightly schizophrenic show. It was a great show nonetheless and I enjoyed every minute of it. Once again the Seattle pop punk scene didn't let me down. The crowd was the perfect size and very social. Lots of light moshing cranked the energy to the right level and kept it there. Definitely an experience I'll cherish if I don't need to repeat it.

Coming back from Burbank I headed with @thegf to a show at the Paramount. Jack's Mannequin I've seen before and they never disappoint. Especially in a great venue like the Paramount in GA configuration. They played all my favorites and really pulled in the crowd. The Fray had an amazing light display. They used mini-cams, lots of them, projected on an LED strip over the stage. They changed cameras with each song so it was a very intimate connection watching close-up of the drummer and keyboardist for example. Being able to watch the fingering and specific work each artist did for each song was genius. Beyond that, it wad amazing how each artist played multiple instruments. They are a very versatile band and even swapped vocalists for some songs. All together, it was a great show and whoever does their stage production needs a huge bonus because it was magnificent! Easily one of the best I've witnessed. And if you're reading this, you have some idea of how many shows I see. On a side note, one of things I'm enjoying most about having a consistent companion these days is the easy way it is to go out. I guess I learned something about why some couple I know who don't seem to have a reason to stay together, end up staying together. It's just so freaking comfortable and reassuring to be with someone else. More to come on that subject later, I guess.

Sometimes it just hits me. Maybe everyone else is different.

Maybe you are just different.

You ask me, you ask me
How I got to know you
Just by speaking on the phone?

Isn't is crazy
How the thought of my touch
Wakes you up when you're alone?

Don't you believe everything you hear
Darling, focus on the prize
Don't you hear me whisper in your ear
"My darling, don't lose sight of my eyes"

It's not time to let go
This is not how it's supposed to end in my mind my baby
Maybe our intentions were wrong from the start
So answer me so we don't fall apart

(I called 46 times!)
And you answered on the 47th
(I called you 46 times!)
And you answered on the 47th

You tell me, you tell me
You've never fell so hard
For an obvious candidate

You said you hate your last love
And it's soon enough that you will forget

Don't believe everything you hear
Darling, I've never lied before
Don't you hear me whisper in your ear
"Forget him you're what I'm waiting for"

It's not time to let go
This is not how it's supposed to end in my mind my baby
Maybe our intentions were wrong from the start
So answer me so we don't fall apart

You've even said yourself
You're setting yourself up
You've even said yourself
That everyone would turn

And you've even told yourself
That the floodgates would break
So why are you taking so long to answer?

It's not time to let go
This is not how it's supposed to end in my mind my baby
Maybe our intentions were wrong from the start
So answer me so we don't fall apart
So answer me so we don't fall apart
So answer me so we don't fall apart

(I called 46 times!)
And you answered on the 47th
(I called you 46 times!)
And you answered on the 47th

-- 47 by New Found Glory from Not Without A Fight

It's been my experience that those who say they understand miss the mark the most. Or maybe I'm just special. After all, I did ride a special bus to school.