THE LOST LIFE TWEETS FROM SANDBAR ISLAND—Almost a week off social media I compiled random thoughts, reflections and concerns….an impulse compendium.

Only in Thailand could you be in a 500 a night hotel villa and lunch at the resort is eleven dollars! Off campus it’s six bucks!! Upside down pineapple ..(or coconut) economy !

Nutella and Peanut Butter crepes. Geez I’ve died and gone to Stent inducing Island …

Simple bliss: merely imagining my sister Katie (the sibling I’ve had the longest)… reacting to bugs and insects and the public health conditions of kitchens and restaurants of rural Thailand has had me giggling for days.

Bieber or Bloom I am not…but I have not worn a shirt nor shoe in three days! 92 with matching humidity

A gorgeous charismatic young Aussie man challenged me to down a shot of Jack Daniels …”it’s not going to have an impact on your life” …little does he know …and I realize the gift Phillip Seymour Hoffman left behind …not one drink!! I said no…thank G d.

Having been away from Thailand for a few years …I am fascinated by the women (and men) wearing heavy duty whitening makeup —it’s crazy. I’m not gonna be the one to let them know they look light purple like a frickin walking zombie! Or something from AHS or shall I say THS

Dying to know how the oatmeal on the beach is so much better than my five star hotels…so I ask and the answer : “sweet milk”. Made in condensed milk. No wonder. “but we only add a little sugar”. Thanks, lol.

In Thailand there is such dire need for BID s. (Business Improvement Districts) Seriously. Dilapidation surrounded by the most beautiful natural landscape. But eyesore. In stunning tourist locales the garbage piles and broken old signage are equally stunning …seriously with such a huge tourist economy. Shantytown bizarreness.

Koh Phangan is like Doggie Paradise…..happy dogs lolling….grazing…well fed, friendly..never beg for food. Unreal…

Truly amazing that Pringles are in minibars three hours south of Marrakesh and on Koh Samuis little brother Phan Gan island. Give that marketing department employee a raise who came up with that strategy. Probably an intern.

Blown away by how Quinnipiac University has firmly replaced the Marist College poll. Period. Over and out. Game Over. Leahy quite the leader. As a Marist alum not thrilled …but very impressed.

The blessing of being alone: that no one who knows me witnessed me falling off my paddleboard. Or climb…um…clamber onto a long tail boat!

“Get high on life, Brian” was what my mother Bernadette would tell me when I was a teen. She was amazing.

I was so depressed by weather forecast of 80 to 90 percent heavy rain for every day I was to be on Koh PhanGan! Who knew that my mother is the patron saint of barometric pressure….among other things. (!). Not a drop of rain!

Being a sober person on Full Moon Party Island is cool. Luckily the real party side is the West side (of course). I was in northeast corner.

Does anyone else get physically sick over these police killings happening on a daily basis. Where in our society have we gone wrong!!?? The Hatch, New Mexico father of two.

Three days into my social media blackout and only 32 notifications on Facebook? I happened to see by accident. I’ll get over it. I hope.

Vacationing around backpackers from around the world is awesome …kids who definitely feel the Bern….so energized by their SMILES! and their carefree beauty and independence.

I see all these platinum haired young Norwegian families and I can’t help remember the so many lost when Diane and I covered the tsunami in Kao Lok. On other side of the mainland …So many families devestated on holiday.

Ever notice how facial beauty can take your breath away?? Ever been to Costa Rica? I call Lisbon Ground Zero for facial beauty..Brazil was germinated over there. Should have cardiologists on every corner. And Norway,too, evidently.

Dogs on Sandbar island …fed. Happy like Briarwood Runyon Canyon dogs. Spoiled!! Never heard one bark!!

A week in Thailand and not one person asked me about Trump. Not even the Danes or Norwegians. In Paris…every ten minutes.

Happy Birthday to all my nephews and nieces…who are mostly born in August! And I always forget one or two of the dates. August which means …um …something goin on around Christmas. If I had a kid Id have him or her arrive just before Christmas…a nice one two punch for gifts. I would love being a father I think.

Seems like all the “no see ums” from the Gulf Coast post Katrina have all ended up in my Thai Villa hotel room Yet still invisible …mofos!

Missing my baby brother on Insty. He and my cuz Shannon are practically the only ones who comment on Insty. Likes. Are. Not. Enough….people!

Remote island Thailand …here on Sand Bar Island….I heard ONE American voice (other than my own) in SIX DAYS. Paris? Every thirty seconds. I even went to an AA meeting where they only spoke English …tho not American English. Oy!

I’m really missing the Berthillon Islands of Paris! No Jeni’s Ice Cream in Thailand…no Mochi either. And the crepes are truly disgusting. Trust me I know my food.

I haven’t watched ONE second of The Olympics. Evidently I’m not alone.
Day five of The Social Media Blackout and I see I got only 43 notifications. Ugh. How will I survive this? Lol.

Before the SB (Social Blackout) I noticed that Not one person LIKED my Instagram about Google and data and how they own us. Not one. What —-is everyone now working for The Circle? …drank the Dragonfruit Kool Aid did ya?

Do not waste your time on Ko Samui. It’s Bangkok on The Hudson. (Yes I said Hudson!)

I love my Berthillon Islands reference. I really should do standup.

Tom Kha Gai coconut soup may very well be a controlled substance! I get the same high on it just like the first time I tried Valium! (With a painkiller chase) Seriously it was after my arm surgery and a precursor to my disaster.

My whole body relaxes and blood pressure drops when my international upgrade to First comes through. I am a freak. I have to admit.

I’m obsessed with Amazon Kindle! My newest addiction.

There’s. nothing between me and Vietnam except the sea

We all know what the,Rock meant by “candy ass” holy moly…even lady boys here in rural Thailand got the reference What ever happened to the Guess Who Don’t Sue boys?!
He’ll hath no fury… than the Rock lava! He’s a very nice guy so he tustve been super pissed!

The Gulf of Thailand water is sooooooo hot….you can poach eggs. I bet someone does! So hot. Too hot to swim in!!

The best for last:
I love my siblings so much. I think of them every single day and they each make me laugh. We went through so much together with Moms challenges and her passing at 58.. Then almost three years ago they pulled me out of my disaster at the intervention or as I like to call it …The Miracle on Boxing Day 2013. You realize this gratitude when you are completely alone on an island!