Mike's 2021 Blog

WELCOME TO MIKE’S 2021 BLOG
YEAR 17 AND MORE TO COME

Tay and Michelle

As a side story, Tay was waiting for an interview at the US Embassy in Bangkok. It seems that international work has dried up for the near term. My 2 past jobs have been here in the USA. This and the past job have no leave schedule as my previous overseas work did so it will be better for her to come and experience America. If she doesn't like it we can always go back to Thailand when this job is over.

So the the fear of the Covid virus is controlling the USA. Mask and vaccine mandates abound. So off I go and signup to get the Covid jab - went for my 2 jabs in March and April. I got the Pfizer version. No real reaction other than feeling a bit slow for a day or 2. Still working from home. Finally it is early May and the company tells us to come back to the office. So back to the office and settle into that routine - working from home was great for a little over a year.

Ohio River

Night Shot of the Plant

Downtown Pittsburgh

At the end of last year Tay was waiting for an interview at the US Embassy in Bangkok for an immigrant visa. She finally got the interview and all went well for her and Michelle. So the planning started to get her and Michelle over here to the USA on their immigrant visas. Tay made a plan and cleared up any personal things in Thailand. I bought 2 tickets and off they went to the airport. This is their first long haul flight. Bangkok-Doha-Chicago which is about 24 hours gate to gate. So it is July 9th and I am off to Chicago to pick them up. They get to Chicago July 10th in the early afternoon and very tired. Into the car and head towards Monaca. Stopped for the night about halfway then onwards to Monaca. We get to the house in the early afternoon. Once Tay got here I scheduled her for the Pfizer. So off we go to for the first jab. It kicks her down for a day or two both times which was a different reaction from mine.

Then onwards to find a suitable car. Looked online and finally decided to get Tay the same as what she drives in Thailand - a Honda CRV. Made contact with a local dealer and went shopping. Opted to get a used 2018 CRV mid-range model. Now the challenge is to see how Tay gets along with doing with driving a left drive car on the right side of the road. In Thailand is is a right drive on the left side as in the UK.

We find a suitable school for Michelle and she is off to the races. Now she is in with English speaking kids her age her English is improving. Tay is also making sure she is fluent in Thai and teaching her the ABC’s of the Thailand language as well as traditional Thai customs. The goal is that Michelle is fluent in Thai and English.

At the playground

Wayne with the kids

Going to dinner - staying warm

So off the store to get various stuff - warmer clothes for a start. Where we live in Thailand is normally 80+ degrees F but her where we are in Pennsylvania it is certainly colder than that. We went to the sports store and bought some bicycles, then some more kitchen stuff. Living alone I am pretty minimalistic.

It is fall here in Pennsylvania comes with that comes lots of leaves. Here are the kids rolling around enjoying themselves.

Yipee!!!

Someone is buried in there.

Full of energy.

Robinson Mall Christmas Tree.

Kids in the nativity scene.

Tay and Michelle waiting for the train.

It is Michelles first Halloween and Christmas here in the USA. She made off with a great candy haul and scored very well in the toy department for Christmas. Thanks to all that sent her gifts.

This is the end of Mike’s 2021 Blog – Thanks for stopping by for a read.

Be safe in your travels and please don’t drink and drive and certainly DON’T text – nothing is worth texting when driving – please pull over if it is that darn important – remember we did very well for years and years without having smart phones. Remember that you are supposed to control the smart phone not visa-versa.

Stay safe and have a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Years.

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