panda... tsk...tsk... You two are going to give people an impression that you don't get along... haha!

so why would you sit alone gpanda?? many of these people have met you before and know what you are like...

the list of attendees continues to grow daily...nywoman says she probably will be there....lori?... kathie and cheryl...pook el al....ken....

As everyone may have guessed, the solo table is for the POB. That will give him ample opportunity to engage the reataurant manager in a long, extended, tedious conversation and not bore the rest of us. Also, it will make it easier for the waitperson to spit in his food and not confuse it with ours.

It sounds like we have a fine group!

Even better. There has been some background discussion of schedules and grids concerning this trip. With any luck, there may be a clash of wills. Of course, the ever-peaceful panda will not be a participant.

the panda sits back and lets the rest of us do all the work and then spends the rest of the trip complimenting himself on how perfect things were, or complaining about everything...

For an example of the above, I note that I had absolutiely no involvement in the purchase of our BKK tickets whatsoever. I just looked on Orbitz and the lowest fare for our dates in $1477, more than twice what we paid. Bob and Beth did all the work and Karen and I shall reap the rewards. Just as it should be. The universe is properly aligned. For the moment. It was not when I got the parking ticket in NYC.

I may be able to come. How fancy do you folks dress up?

No need to rent a tux, degas. We're all pretty casual.

No Speedo!

So true! Something between a tux and a speedo.

Okay - I'll buy some new gym shorts and white tennis shoes From Target just for this special event.

and a wife beater T shirt....you will be fine...

Let's talk about the no speedo rule. They're stylish and cool. You rarely have to worry about someone wearing the same speedo as you. Basic black is good for evening wear. Sounds perfect.

Ok Gpanda go ahead! Picture this, hot and humid even with the A/C on. Vinyl covered seats at the restaurant - enjoy!

My fur never sticks, even to vinyl. Plus, if you're wearing a speedo there's only a tiny chance you will spill food on your clothes. Think of all the ties and shirts that could have been saved with a little forethought.

So you wear a extra small Speedo?

speedos look good on hunks or guys from 15 to 27 but old men should think twice....

Hanuman-in truth, I usually wear the largest speedo available, except when I'm swimming with Bob. For those occassions I wear the bear minimum (a pun for the panda lovers).

Bob-I used to be between 15 and 27. No longer a hunk, currently a chunk.

So, I as at a 'do' at the royal navy auditorium (good dinner with the lighted Grand Palace as a backdrop to the brightly lit dinner boats on the river, with fireworks over the river for dessert - nice) and it occurred to me that with so many of you here at one time, we might have a quorum of people interested in seeing the Thonburi palace, which is in the headquarters of the royal navy.

The palace has been rather nicely restored, but it's only open by appointment for groups of five or more, so if four of you are interested - and available on the same day - I'd be willing to organize it. Let me know if any of you are interested, with the dates and number of people. Here's a link to my write-up of the palace from my last (and only) visit:

http://thailandforvisitors.com/centr...pal/index.html

On a completely unrelated note, I saw a rather interesting, if slightly creepy, development in Thai puppetry last night. Check out: http://twitpic.com/d4t3t