What is in your cup?

[dreams]

Fresh coffee and a biscotti on my plate.

[cromag]

Third mug of tea.

The 17 year cicadas have finally emerged in our neighborhood. We had a stretch of chilly, rainy days. Yesterday, it was rainy and we just made 70º F -- today, it's sunny and we're in the mid 80ºs.

BTW, we're solidly in the Brood II territory.

http://www.magicicada.org/about/brood_pages/broods.php

[ProfCrash]

Iced Puerh.

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by cromag

Third mug of tea.

The 17 year cicadas have finally emerged in our neighborhood. We had a stretch of chilly, rainy days. Yesterday, it was rainy and we just made 70º F -- today, it's sunny and we're in the mid 80ºs.

BTW, we're solidly in the Brood II territory.

http://www.magicicada.org/about/brood_pages/broods.php

No sign here yet - but I vividly remember the last emergence here.
Guinness in my thermal glass.

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

No sign here yet - but I vividly remember the last emergence here.
Guinness in my thermal glass.

We have them here now. Seem harmless, also brood II.

[Stitchawl]

I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter
And make believe it came from you
I'm gonna write words oh so sweet
They're gonna knock me off my feet
A lotta kisses on the bottom
I'll be glad I got 'em

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBvAL6zIst0 )

Good morning, everyone! Running fast this morning... Drinking Yorkshire tea, eating Olive tepenade, and getting dressed, all at the same time... Gotta get downtown today and start signing Traveler's Checks.... LOTS of traveler's checks. The largest denomination they have available here in American Express checks is $500. Due to Japan's ridiculous banking regulations, it would take us three weeks to get a simple bank check drawn up. I never thought of this previously. (So much for me being the 'Mastermind Planner!') I've always just gone into the bank, asked for a cashier's check, and walked out with one 10 minutes later. So I left this part of the move until now... and too late. And even for bank-to-bank wire transfers, Japan requires that you show up in person to initiate the transfer! I'd have to go the Thailand, open an account there, then fly back to Japan to begin the wire transfer.... Even though my Japanese bank has a branch in Bangkok, they won't permit any other way to transfer money. So today I have to take a suitcase full of cash and turn it all into traveler's checks! This is one day when I'm very glad to be in a country with such a low rate of personal crime. I don't think I've ever walked around with this much cash before... I feel like a 'bag man' for the mob!

Stitchawl

[CRussel]

That could present its own problems with getting into Thailand, I would think. Most countries have a very strict policy on taking large amounts of cash in or or out of the country.

Glenmorangie in my glass.

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

That sound nice! I love the smell of frangipani. We call it Plumeria, and always have a small tree growing on the veranda when we are in the right climate zone!

(By the way... don't let 'em pile up too far before you get to them....)


Stitchawl

It's very nice, but it's very weak - I usually drink my tea quite strong. It's a good 'end of the day' tea. The weaker flavour really helps one to wind down. If you like the smell of frangipani, you should smell this tea! It's such a treat to all of the senses - the tea itself is even the colour of gold.

Oh, and this afternoon I'm drinking a bottle of orange Powerade. It's been an unhealthy day...

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by CRussel

That could present its own problems with getting into Thailand, I would think. Most countries have a very strict policy on taking large amounts of cash in or or out of the country.

Japan has no restrictions on how much cash it taken out of the country, but you do have to declare it if the amount exceeds a certain limit. Same with the US. As long as you report it, you can take any amount. Both are about $10,000 USD. And you do have to declare cash over $10,000 USD coming into the US, but there are no limits. (At least, as far as I've been able to find out on embassy websites about moving money.) I haven't seen any upper limits stated, however I think that if one were going to move several million US dollars, the IRS, DEA, and even the ASPCA and the DAR would get interested. And there is no restriction about bringing cash INTO Thailand, but there is a strict law about taking Thai Baht OUT of the Kingdom.

This was the first time I've ever walked around all day that that sort of money in my shoulder bag. Actual stacks of bank bundles. In fact, I don't think I've ever even handled that much cash before. Frankly, I was quite happy to reach the American Express office, and convert most of it into traveler's checks and get them signed. Then I exchanged about $2,000 into Thai Baht. Long experience in S.E. Asia has taught me that most tourists get robbed right after changing money at local Money Changers all over Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and the Philippines. (And pick-pocketed right after using ATM's all over the world!) I'd rather have just enough to get us through the first few weeks in-country, get a bank account set up and the money safely put away, before I go anywhere near local money changers.

Home again now, the checks secured in the vault, all my personal weapons put away, and sitting back with a mug of Taylor's of Harrogate's "English Breakfast" tea, and thinking about dinner! It's been a fun day!


Stitchawl

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by elea

Oh, and this afternoon I'm drinking a bottle of orange Powerade. It's been an unhealthy day...

Have some fun with a good practical joke.... (No one get's harmed in any way)

Very carefully wash out a Windex bottle. Wash it several times... Then fill it with blue Powerade or Gatorade, etc. and put the nozzle back on. (Be sure to wash the nozzle several times too... Then sit on a park bench with a good book, and every once in a while, give yourself a good drink through the nozzle (very nonchalantly of course) of the Windex bottle. You might want to have a friend secretly filming the reactions to people seeing you do this.

In the same vein, try filling a large Brand Name mayonnaise jar (after washing it out, of course,) with vanilla pudding, and sitting on the park bench eating it with a spoon...

Life is too short to take it seriously.


Stitchawl

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Same with the US. As long as you report it, you can take any amount. Both are about $10,000 USD. And you do have to declare cash over $10,000 USD coming into the US, but there are no limits.

Beware of having large amounts of cash crossing US borders. Or even inside the US for that matter. It can be confiscated with no compensation, even if you're never charged or convicted. Look up Civil Forfeiture.


Nothing in my cup. I'm off to get some iced water.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Beware of having large amounts of cash crossing US borders. Or even inside the US for that matter. It can be confiscated with no compensation, even if you're never charged or convicted. Look up Civil Forfeiture.

Have you heard of this random confiscation happening anywhere other than along the Mexican border as mentioned in this article?

Frankly, there really is no need to carry much cash around while inside the US. There are enough ATMs everywhere these days that all one really needs is daily walking around money. If you're moving to another state, a wire transfer is simple enough to do too. No need to carry large sums. Besides, with the chances of robbery so high most everywhere in the world these days, it's probably best to avoid carrying big money anywhere unless absolutely necessary. It's only recently that ATMs in Japan have been open on weekends and evenings. When I first arrived here, they were only open 9am-3pm Monday - Friday. Even today, many of them are not available on the weekends or evenings in some areas.

Time to sit back with a Lime/Lemon squash!

Stitchawl

[ProfCrash]

Bancha in my cup. Just finished my yogurt and getting ready for a banana.

Back in the gym this week. It has taken far to long to get back but I am happy to be rebuilding the habit. My abs are a little less thrilled with me right now. Trying to figure out why Lucas can no longer settle himself down after having a bottle during the night. We have beent rying to let him cry it out but 45 minutes of crying is about all we can take at 3 AM.

[pdurrant]

Iced water now in my cup.

[VydorScope]

I hope you were at least using one of them secure bags...