MY 24-INCH GAUGE

One lesson imparted to me by the Craft is to ensure that I allocate equal time for the service to the Great Architect of the Universe and a distressed worthy brother, for my usual vocations, and for refreshment and fun too.

The 24-inch gauge represent our priorities as illustrated by the 24 hours in a day: 8 hours for our spiritual vocation and charity, 8 hours for our profession, and 8-hours for well-being and family.

That is at least my interpretation.

Being an an agnostic, my labors for the Craft (Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite, Order of the Amaranth) represent my spiritual endeavor which in summary is in pursuit of being less of an asshole and more of a better person, with the caveat that my response to a distressed brother is determined by that brother's worthiness.

I take my job seriously and a rare rating of "Outstanding" and annual salary adjustments will speak for itself.

And I have reason to believe that I have provided well for my family, not too much but more than enough to be content and happy, and had been a good husband and father.   

The 24-inch gauge is one whole tool in life and will be useless if taken apart into three pieces.

Eight hours alone can not stand by itself, it must complement and be complemented by the remaining 16 hours, the total of which will indicate where we stand as man and Mason.   

CHAROEN NAKHON ROAD

I went "dogital" in the banks of Chao Praya and went home with the firm belief that "Life Begins at 60" because "Wrinkles are Beautiful". 

A short 3.2 kilometers away are the Michellin Guide-listed legends of Yaowarat but I got stucked at Charoen Nakhon Road with a bowl of amazing rice noodles served by an elderly woman being accosted by an angry younger man, then later with an equally wonderful dry version by another elderly woman who also sell coonut ice cream with sticky rice along the sidewalk.   

Sid and Mamata won't join me for an Indian food dinner but two paisanos came to share a lovely meal of chicken kadai, mutton kebab and vegetable biryani at Indian Food 17 while nearby, crispy oyster pancakes sizzle in the giant frying pan of Hoi Tod Chaw-Lae.

But twice, I have to cross Charoen Nakhon Road for packets of crispy fried pork sold in a stall in front of a 7-11 store which made the trademark Ibis Hotel dull breakfast buffet somewhat edible. 

Dew again booked us a team dinner in a mall which is becoming her trademark but on a positive note, a bar served by transvestites where we spent two nights draining large green bottles of Chang Beer is just on the opposite side.     

Back in Manila, I stayed overnight at Red Planet-Binondo to avoid the Friday armageddon of commuting passengers which I'm sure Neelam will make dutdut despite its being pre-approved but I'll take the ensuing stress from that for a reacquaintance with the pork menu of Chuan Kee and breakfast at Ying Ying Tea House.  

HAI[na]KU 43

New wheels for old routes

Deep green ain't scary red

Beer is not cocktail

HOLLOW-WIN

As a noun, a pantomime is "a dramatic entertainment... in which performers express meaning through gestures accompanied by music" (Google).

As a verb, it means to "express or represent (something) by extravagant and exaggerated mime" (Google again). 

That is what we did in Halloween, serious acting without achieving anything, a farcical mime, unreal, an imitation like the lame noodles served at the hotel buffet --- it looks good but not really.           



This resonates in the fraudelent atmosphere of a made up street food strip in MBK that killed any interest in the gorgeous cuisine on display.

I find the grilled Thai sausage from Siam Paragon and the Asahi Beer swiped from Mabuhay Lounge more authentic and appropriate offerings to the fairies and spirits of Halloween.  

We have a tight space for the moment and Grab won't book our ride to the suburbs of Bangkok but just the same, we went, we spoke and we got heard hopefully.

A pittance but enough for a Cuban Gentleman at Revolucion Cocktail, a glass each of French beer at Le Cafe des Stagiares and Australian Shiraz at Kai, and a shot of premium Japanese Nikka Coffey Grain Whiskey at the Hanakaruta Sake Bar for a night cap.