My Favorite Present

So... I had to show off my birthday present from Paul. It's currently filling my house with a delicious stew smell.



Let's hope that it tastes as delicious as it smells! ^_^

He's so sweet! I had a conversation with my roommate about how I wanted to get a crock pot, and she ended up passing along the information to him and helping him pick it out. I had completely forgotten about mentioning it to her until I opened it.


Sorry! Just had to throw in a picture of me thanking him! ^_^

Dodge-A-Cop

I just typed this up for Drewface so I figured I'd share it with you guys. :)

So Sunday I was headed to my grandma's memorial service. Really not important, but it's the reason I was out. ANYWAY, you know that light at Vernon & Towanda? You probably don't, but there's a light there and it's only ONE set of lights for 3 lanes of traffic. In other words the left turn only lane shares the same light as the other two lanes. Lame.

So I'm sitting at this light and I'm on the phone with Dawn when I realize that there's a cop directly behind me. Mind you none of those lame cell phone rules yet apply to our booming metropolis but I tell her I'll call her back when there's no cop behind me because it's the last day of the month and we all know how desperate that makes them.

Well after I get off the phone I see the light turn green, so naturally I go, being the first car in line. Meanwhile this car in front of me is trying to turn left and gives me this ridiculous facial expression with matching gestures. I'm thinking they're crazy because I clearly have the right of way at which point I check my rearview mirror and realize the ONLY car following me from the lanes I thought had green lights was the cop. Crap.

My temporary destination was Quick-N-EZ so I turned left into their lot as planned. The cop got stuck for a little while due to oncoming traffic since he hadn't turned his lights on. So I park in a spot that has another one next to it and wait for him planning out my sad story of how my grandma died and I was on my way to her memorial service which is why I was so distracted. Honestly it was really just the sanguine in me and I actually WAS paying attention so I'm really not sure what happened.

Anyway he doesn't pull up next to me so eventually I just go inside because I wanted caffeine anyway and I was basically out of XS for the month. So I grab a rootbeer and get in the checkout line at which point I see him walk in from the other side and head over to get a fountain drink. I'm thinking "Great, I'll just duck out while he's paying for his drink!"

Apparently cops don't have to pay for their drinks??? As soon as I finished paying, I headed to the door which he was already holding open for me. So I politely and respectfully thanked him as if I was the perfect model citizen. I mean seriously for all practical purposes cops don't need to concern themselves with me anyway, right?! He acknowledged my gratitude and we headed in our separate ways to our cars.

At this point I remember I was actually stopping there predominately because I needed gas. As I started to backup so I could relocate my car to a pump, I saw him "inconspicuously" backup as well. Well then I pulled up to the pump which I think really confused him because he just sat there partially backed out of his space watching me.

I pull out my card and swipe it to pre-authorize it for my gas but the machine tells me to go see the cashier. So I walk back into the station to find out what's up at which point the cashier informs me she just didn't hit the button fast enough and that my card was declined because there wasn't enough on it for pre-pay.

Back out at my car I start digging through my pile of artifacts for another card to use and then swipe the new card and start replenishing my thirsty car's fuel tank. I'm not really sure at which point the cop decided I was a completely lost cause, but by the time I was done and back in my car, he was long gone.

And THAT is how you play Dodge-A-Cop.

My Nose...

Thought I would entertain you all with a picture of my nose. It's looking a lot better since I went to the doctor. (Even though he told me what I already knew... my nose wasn't broken.)



Got a pretty detailed post on my blog... ugh, now that this is over, I just need to get over the cold I caught...

Fun Cultural Experience

So, I had a fun little Asian cultural experience on Saturday night.

Remember how obsessed some of us were with "Ouran Host Club"? Well, I kind of went to one on Saturday night and yea, it was interesting. It's a bit too long to write about here, but here is the link to my blogger with a detailed description of the evening...


Emma's Blog about Host Bars

All in God's hands

*sigh*

The last several weeks have been nothing short of freakin busy.

My friend Amanda from St. Louis FINALLY came to visit me up here in Chicago and we bounced around the city and got to enjoy the U2/Snow Patrol concert at Soldier Field. Please find the pics posted to my facebook account and a few more to come and some videos too. Then work has just been out of control with Christmas stuff landing, staffing changes and corporate visits that have left me exhausted and stressed out... :(

Then my mom decided to enjoy a week in Cancun with her girl friend to celebrate both of them turning 60 and 61 respectively....yes my mama is 61 but sure doesn't look it! :)

And that is when the s*** hits the fan.....

My sister and father are incapable of getting along without my mom there to be the ref....so to skip all the gory and absurd details of the last, oh week of my life, the short of it is that my parents are probably getting a divorce. For real this time....

And I am ok with that....I am totally not worrying about this because I know God's will will prevail in the end so I am just sitting back and letting it all play out. I have said what I need to say and well I am done wasting my energy when it obviously isn't helping anyone or anything. Sooo please keep them in your prayers as they hash out what this is all gonna look like in the next few weeks...

In other, more cheerful news, I am traveling with the Sherrie friend to Kansas City this weekend for a much needed break from the BS of life and the Mary friend is visiting for Thanksgiving!!! :D

Confidence

I took my bike out on the trail today.

By myself.

Booyah.

I understand that doesn't sound like a big deal, but for me it kinda is. My sanguine self is always lacking somewhat in confidence when it comes to doing anything alone.

Not to say that I'm not independent, because I definitely am.

Please don't ask me how that works; I couldn't tell ya.

Anyway, I discovered that the armband for iPod wraps around the handlebars and then once around the iPod exactly as if it was meant for it. I also discovered that next time I should disable the random when shaken mode that Apple decided was a good feature for the Nano.

Not that I'm calling Apple retarded, but I wasn't really in the mood for "Drummer Boy" by Jars of Clay on this gorgeous fall day. Even though it thought I was. Twice. Or was it three times?

As I rode through the trail I couldn't help, amidst the gnats cementing themselves to my body, that the trail looked picturesque today. With a light layer of tan leaves strewn across the path yet surrounded by trees still full of beautiful green.

With the wind in my face I sped on through singing along with "I'm Alive" and anything else that inspired me on my random playlist.

...

In other news, I'm training for a 5k.

I've completed two weeks.

This is a major accomplishment for me and far surpasses any previous attempts at running endeavors.

The first day I thought I might die a little. Surprisingly though, the whole experience has been far easier than my expectations allowed me to believe.

I might even end up liking running.

Did I say that outloud?

Tabula Rasa

I originally latched on to the phrase "Tabula Rasa" during my psychology class my junior year. It stuck with me even moreso after it was an episode title for LOST. Now it brings even more meaning as I strongly believe everyone has a chance for a clean slate.

Don't get me wrong, the slates you've already beautifully scrawled across will stay in the corner of your mind - some covered in dust and cobwebs while others lovingly framed on your wall - but your present and future are yours to do what you will with.

...

A few days ago I was riding through the town with my friend Kelli ... on my bike of course.

I forget how sheltered I am.

On an hourly basis.

Completely forget.

I know I grew up shielded from pretty much everything, until I started working at McWorld, but every once in awhile reality slaps me in the face with a giant fish (ever seen the Veggie Tales Jonah?) to remind me that I have it so good and am so protected that I really have no idea what a true life problem is.

As we rode through the streets, I saw a child tear by who was probably about 12. This boy had a look on his face that I can't even begin to describe. He was so angry that I'm pretty sure murder was reflected in his eyes. I'm pretty sure it had nothing to do with something as simple as losing a soccer game or having his best friend tell his deepest secret.

A little further down I noticed a woman holding her shoulder with one hand and a beer in the other while screaming as if crying out for help. The shadow of a man who did not care about her plight, and most likely caused it, looming in the doorway.

Who knew common place misery took place in my basically small town cornfield existence of bliss.

Shame on me for losing myself in my comfort zone.

...

I just got back from my second to last session of training at Gold's Gym.

Crazy how it's been sixteen months since the first time Drew walked up to me and informed me the machine I was using was doing the opposite of my expectations. It amuses me how that's so true in so many aspects of my world - tools meant for good used for their unintended purpose and become a hazard rather than moving me forward. One would think I would learn.

I have mixed emotions about my training coming to an end.

It's definitely been a good thing for me. Drew completely transformed my life habits and I am much healthier (And dare I say irresistible? You know I'm halfway kidding.) because of it.

My credit card has taken all it can of the expense; however, and now that my health is back on track it's time to get my finances back on track.

In other news, Melface and I are training for a 5k.

See Sherrie Run.

This ought to be good.

...

My life, as I now know it, rocks my socks off.

In case you had any doubts, those are Adidas socks.

:)

reboot

Hello all!

So after a year or two of confusion, I’m still trying to figure out my life. But I think I’m starting to get back on the right track.

The one I never should have left in the first place.

When you decide on something that you feel totally, totally certain of… don’t push it aside for a boy. Ever.

While I was in Japan I felt like that was where I was supposed to be, where I was supposed to come back to. The way everything worked with that trip, the way I connected with people, picked up the language, everything…

When I came back to the States I was determined to get through senior year as smoothly as possible, graduate, & get back to Japan as soon as I could.

Silly me.

My first warning sign should have been that he didn’t seem interested in going back to Japan himself (long term, anyway) but also didn’t really seem to have anything in particular that he wanted to do with his life. And like a ridiculous flake, I said “sayonara” to the place that I adored from the bottom of my heart & convinced myself that I’d be happy “as long as I’m with him.” Oh. My. Gosh. Idiot.

Over the past several months I’ve been really working to reassess my life. I’ve been applying all over the States for positions related to radio & video to no avail. I’ve been applying to local places with the “a job, any job” mentality, also with little results. The occasional temp job here and there, but… yeah.

It’s been a growing conviction to return to Japan, but only recently did it particularly strike me. There is nothing holding me here.

Yes, my friends and family are (mostly) in the States. This is true. However, as things already are my friends are scattered to the winds so it’s not like I see them that often anyway. My family are dear to me, but I’m not a super-homebody, I’d always figured I’d live some distance from them once I set out on my own. (I mean, look at my parents, they live 18 hours from their hometown after living in several other different states while dad was in the Navy).

I also know that my family will visit me if I move to Japan. They’ve said so previously and meant it. I hope that my friends will come and visit me, but even if they don’t at least there are means of communication. I also know that I can make new ones overseas. Maybe even more easily, since my mannerisms tend to match better over there than here. One thing I know is that I couldn’t feel any more lonely there than I do here.

I miss Japan. I fought and suppressed it for a long time, but now that I’ve been admitting it to myself I can’t stop berating myself for behaving the way I did.

I’m still trying to get myself refocused on this. I don’t know what steps I need to take, but it’s something I will figure out.

I could use a lot of prayer right now.

(haha, this one amused me so I tossed it in... I've been told I have the "Japanese person on the train" expression perfect)

In other news:

I’m working to start a missions group at my church (yeah… we don’t have one….)

I’m also considering doing another music video of the local marching band using their field show. This year the show involves martial arts in a very hard-core kind of way (think flags vs percussion, heck yeah). Some of the kids were telling me about it, I’m pumped. Just need to go talk to the band director. (I try to do video projects, both because I enjoy them and because it's good to keep at least somewhat in practice, ya know?)

I’ve been posting more to my livejournal again lately. It’s fun.

My brother is in his first year at JBU, hehe.

*I’m not really sure how blogspot works, so I’m not sure if this’ll work quite right… but I’m going to attempt to toss in some of my photos from Japan and a good vid I found on youtube, to try and share a glimpse of the world that I’m missing:

Hola from Chicago!

So I read Emma's post on Sunday while waiting for the Sherrie to pick me up in Joliet so here ya go!

Well life in the windy city is good I guess. I am trying to get started up with my own business through LTD and Amway Global. I am beginning to feel the pinch of my pay cut because the money I had saved up went to trips this summer and I need to supplement my lost income or the credit cards and loans will be the end of me. *sigh* other than that, I have been hanging out with people from the group up here in Chicago and it has been fun. We had dinner last night in Schaumburg and got to meet a couple that pretty much is the reason a lot of the people I met are in this business. So that was fun and then went to a house and played some apples to apples and then went home. Now I am waiting for the Sherrie to come pick me up in Joliet to go to a leadership conference for this business group. And then more work.....

***That was written while I was sitting in the car. This is a picture later that day***

*The above pic was taken with Sherrie's camera at the Ladies Leadership Conference. From Left: Michelle Fox, me, Dawn, and Sherrie*

This week has been a very busy and stressful one because we are completely reseting the floor for the most part and I had an associate quit on me so that has left me completely swamped and really feeling crapped on because either no one wants to work the department or are really slow or want to make more work for everyone.... so trying to stay positive and not have a nervous break down. I really appreciate my store manager being so understanding about the situation, but its still a frustrating place to be.....

*Below picture is of Wayne on the left and Lynn next to him at the Halloween party last year at my Aunt and Uncle's*

I got to hang out with my Aunt's sister. Her name is Lynn and her husband is Wayne and they are the sweetest couple you will ever meet. They invited me out to dinner up at this awesome restaurant in Wisconsin and then we just hung out and talked when we got back. They have four Cockatils, a parakeet, and a parrot. They had a parrot named George that they were really attached to, but the poor little guy died while the vet was grooming him. So that left both of them pretty heart broken for a while and then they found Billy. He is the same as George just a different personality. He actually stepped on to my arm and then preceded to bite me... ^^; Little bugger was testing me I guess...but the next day I find out he is a little camera ham! Here are some for your viewing pleasure....

This was taken on his cage. He has a lot of things to play on to keep him active and stimulated.

I think he liked the noise my phone was making when I took a picture.

We also went to the Chicago Botanical Garden which was really pretty. So I guess that is all for now. My friend Amanda is coming into town next Wednesday so that will be fun playing tour guide. So good bye for now!

Hello from South Korea!

Hello everyone!
Felt like it was time for a bit of an update from me... even though there isn't anything really new going on. (Other than the former South Korean president dying and causing my super fun concert to be cancelled. Bleh...state funerals and their 6-days of mourning...)

Anywho, the job is still going well. Plus I start another side job tomorrow. And my website gave me permission to write about the underground Korean rock scene, which makes me incredibly happy. I get to write about my friends. I'm still trying to get tickets for the ASF concert next month, but it's still not looking too good...

Um, let's see... looking for a roommate since my landlady raised my rent by about $100 a month... just so I could keep Issie. But I have to hide her from the neighbors... It's been about two years since I've really had one so I'm kind of nervous... Up to date four with a guy, but the jury is still out on anything long-term. Though at the moment, things are looking favorable... but then again, you know me...

And yea... that's my life as of now in a nutshell... How is everyone else doing?

Getting Back Up

I have fallen to my knees
As I sing a lullaby of pain
I'm feeling broken in my melody
As I sing to help the tears go away

Then I remember the pledge you made to me

I know you're always there
To hear my every prayer inside
I'm clinging to the promise of a lifetime
I hear the words you say
To never walk away from me and leave behind
The promise of a lifetime

Will you help me, I'm falling apart
Pick me up, take me in your arms
Find my way back from the storm
And you show me how to grow
Through the change

I still remember the pledge you made to me

I am holding on to the hope I have inside
With you I will stay through every day
Putting my understanding aside

And I am comforted

—"Promise of a Lifetime" by Kutless

This song randomly came up on my iTunes just now ... I had pretty much forgotten about it but it's extremely calming.

Maybe I've been looking in the wrong place for comfort, not that I didn't already know that.

I actually am pretty much recovered from the betrayal of the last six months of my life. Don't get me wrong, I will always cherish it and if he ever decides he can handle friendship I'd be elated, but I'm confident in who I am and know there is so much more for me to look forward to. Honestly it's not even been on my mind much lately.

My stalker is currently not talking to me, which I find humorous. I mean if he wants to believe a drunk ex-coworker who he never talks to and is notorious for lying over sober me who he talks to all the time and has never lied to him ... it's really not worth the effort to even think about it. In fact, it kind of makes me laugh. Actually it makes me want to roll on the floor laughing. The word "holla" is not even in my vocabulary. If that doesn't make sense to you, feel free to ask me the story.

Spent last weekend in Minneapolis with some new friends in the business group I recently got started with. It was a lot of fun, not to mention refreshing, to hang out with people who are motivated about their future and believe there's something better out there. I'm content with where I am but I'm never content to stay there ... if that makes sense.

Headed up to Chitown this weekend to hang with a buddy of mine and meet some people he thinks I need to hang out with ... should be interesting. Also might be headed out to an upline's ginormous house with the friends from last weekend.

Lately my life has been consumed with web design whether it's at work or in my freetime.

I've been working with my buddy Drew to set up an awesome website for him. Tried super hard to get it done before he left but failed due to its extensiveness. It's going to be pretty sweet when it's done. I hate that he had to go, though. I don't handle goodbyes well, especially not with close friends. We pretty much told each other everything.

I totally got busted for having pics downloaded from his MySpace ... haha. I had done that a year ago when I had a huge crush on him apparently. I totally forgot about it and came across them accidentally when he was over late one night and we were trying to find the right picture for an article on the website.

Luckily he found it as amusing as I did. While I deleted those after finding them, I now have a ridiculous amount of much better pictures anyway that he downloaded from his photo shoot.

I would've flipped out a year ago which is humorous to think about now.

Oh, I moved. I'm in a house now.

My neighbors already probably think I'm psychotic since I always bounce up and down on my exercise ball when I use my computer ... my window faces the street and I have yet to get curtain rods ... so all they see is me bouncing up and down.

I excel at first impressions.

:)

mwah

I have a croissant, vanilla chai, and internet access. Life is good.

I also have a song to recommend. "Fireflies" by Owl City. It was a free download on Itunes a few weeks ago, so if you keep up with that and you haven't listened to it yet, you should. Other songs I've got on repeat are "Starlight" (by Muse) and "F-f-f-falling" (by The Rasmus).

No reason to post aside from spreading some good feeling and music love. Hope y'all are doing well. Peace.

Help!

Hey, guys!
So there is this thing going on here called "A Night of 1000 Plays" and a friend of mine is helping promote it. Anyway, I've been challenged to write and directed a 3-minute play. Sounds easy enough, right? Eh...I need help thinking of ideas for a short-short play. Anything come to mind? Here are a couple of my ideas, but I'm not sure if they are good/humorous/entertaining enough... Also, it doesn't have to be funny, but could be serious as well.

1. First Date: Basically a humorous recollection of my first date with a Korean guy (if you can remember). Basically, he goes on about his school and job trying to impress the girl, and she has no idea about any of it. (Re-read my post about Korean dating if you need a refresher...)

2. How to Be a Star: Could be a monologue with some background acting of a foreigner's advice on how to be a mega-Korean star. (Again, based on a blog post about my dream to be a Korean Star.)

3. A Journalist's Plight: Something short and funny about journalists...if there is anything short and funny about journalists...

So yea...I NEED HELP!

I Like Chocolate Milk

No, really, I do.

I'm picturing that in Cheese's voice though.

Which makes me think of Bre.

Here's my horse.

It's way past my bedtime and I am delirious and heartbroken right now so I'm just going to stop with that.

Ha.

More later.

I'll update!

So I haven't really been up to much...just stayin out trouble. Working a lot but what else is new.

Sherrie and I went to Chris Baran's wedding in Broken Arrow, OK. It was fun to see him and finally meet his wife and see some other JBU alums. We messed around at Amber Fried's house and visited with the McCulloughs (my accounting prof and the current division chair)and Dr. Walenciak before he flew back to Guatemala. Now I am getting ready to head to St. Louis to hang with the fam and celebrate my sister turning 21. I can't believe she is 21. Its so weird! So I have two days left to work and then I have six days off. Who knows what we will do. My sister refuses to go anywhere where she can't take Missy, her dog. She is quite attached to the spoiled rotten mutt, but she is so gosh darn cute.

And I am also trying to get myself motivated to start working out and being more active so I can loose some weight. Its hard when I run around all day at work and want to just collapse on my bed when I get home. Because other than that, I really don't have an excuse for not working out because I can do it for free here since we have a little gym by the pool. So I just need motivation and to get over being self conscience about going there......

Um....other than that, my friend Amanda is coming in September to hang out and see the sights of Chicago cuz she has never been here and to top it off, U2 on that Sunday. Woot! I can't wait to see them in concert!

And the new Star Trek movie turned me into a Treky. Never thought in a million years I would get hooked on it. If you haven't seen that movie....I very highly recommend it.

Well I can't think of anything else that is going on sooooo adios for now!

Where is everyone?

I guess everyone has been too busy to blog on this lately...

Thus why I am writing this. Though, I don't really have much to say, other than I'm settling into my new job and I should get my visa in a few weeks, though I can't go on my visa run until September because of money issues. Bleh...

Um...yea, I guess that's it in the way of an update... sorry, this is a bit boring...

Oh, how I miss the days of the giant, ugly couch and watching Carly play KH2...

...

Blah.

Hiatus

I've realized I don't have enough coherant thoughts to blog when I'm emotionally unstable. I also just don't know how to handle it in general. I'm so used to being a stable support system in nearly every circle of my friends, I simply don't know how to be on the other side of that.

I apologize for all the times I've said "It's going to be okay." I now understand that's the last thing in the world you want to hear and that you don't want to hear anything really, you just want someone to listen to you.

Never in my life have I felt so emotionally unstable and spiraling out of control the way I did the last couple weeks.

I literally wanted to die.

I literally made my room as dark as possible and just layed there drifting in and out of consciousness because I was physically, emotionally and mentally incapable of doing anything else.

I literally hyperventilated.

I literally threw up 3 times within 24 hours even though I hadn't eaten anything to throw up.

I made it through it, but I don't know how.

My boss, by the total grace of God, let me keep my job and I found a new place to live that should be a grand new adventure.

There is one last missing piece that goes without saying, but I sincerely hope that that will work out as well.

I seriously seriously seriously screwed up.

I'm human.

For Everyone Who's Lost Someone They've Loved

She's going out to forget they were together
All that time he was taking her for granted
She wants to see if there's more
than he gave she's looking for

He calls her up
He's trippin on the phone now
He doesn't want her out there
And alone now
He knows she's movin it
Knows she's using it
Now he's losing it
She don't care

Everybody put up your hands
Say I don't wanna be in love
I don't wanna be in love
Feel the beat now
If you've got nothing left
Say I don't wanna be in love
I don't wanna be in love
Back it up now
You've got a reason to live
Say I don't wanna be in love
I don't wanna be in love
Feelin' good now
Don't be afraid to get down
Say I don't wanna be in love
I don't wanna be in love

He was always giving her attention
Looking hard to find the things she mentioned
He was dedicated
But most suckers hate it
That girl was fine
But she didn't appreciate him

She calls him up
She's tripping on the phone now
He had to get up
And he ain't comin home now
He's tryin to forget her
That's how we come with him
When he first met her
When they first got together

Everybody put up your hands
Say I don't wanna be in love
I don't wanna be in love
Feel the beat now

If you got nothing left
Say I don't wanna be in love
I don't wanna be in love
Back it up now
You got a reason to live
Say I don't wanna be in love
I don't wanna be in love
Feelin' good now
Don't be afraid to get down
Say I don't wanna be in love
I don't wanna be in love

To the beat (x3)
You got nothing to lose
Don't be afraid to get down

We break up
It's something that we do now
Everyone has got to do it sometime
It's okay, let it go
Get out there and find someone

It's too late to be trippin' on the phone here
Get off the wire
You know everything is good here
Stop what you're doin'
You don't wanna ruin
The chance that you got to
find a new one

Everybody put up your hands
Say I don't wanna be in love
I don't wanna be in love
Feel the beat now
If you got nothing left
Say I don't wanna be in love
I don't wanna be in love
Back it up now
You got a reason to live
Say I don't wanna be in love
I don't wanna be in love
Feelin' good now
Don't be afraid to get down
Say I don't wanna be in love
I don't wanna be in love

Nooo... Noooo

Now you know what to do, so come on feelin' good

—"I Don't Wanna Be in Love," Good Charlotte

Why I'm Staying in Illinois

There's a lot of false speculation as to why I'm staying. Here are the real reasons:

1. I can't afford to move. When the idea first came up it looked like it was going to be about $600. Now it's going to be about 3x that which will completely wipe out my savings and leave me with nothing to pay bills or the first rent or deposit there. I don't currently have a job and even if I did it would take at least 2 weeks to get paid.
2. I don't have a job there. I don't have one here either but I was talking to my smart adult unbiased friend Angela who's mom lives out there and she was telling me her mom couldn't even find a summer job the economy there is so bad. I didn't know anything about the economy there until I made the decision to move. David couldn't find a job there. Dillard's is even closing there it's so bad.
3. I don't want to leave my network of friends.
4. I wanted to move for a change, I can do that here.
5. I hate it when everything is brown. It makes no sense for me to move to a desert.
6. My smart friend Angela told me it always sounded like I was convincing myself it was a good ida.
7. The only reason I wouldn't move at this point is because I feel bad about ditching Katie.
8. I love living between St Louis and Chicago because I have favorite things to do in both places.

Believe me. If I could afford to go on adventure right now, I would. For once I'm choosing to be financially responsible instead. I don't understand why that should be held against me.

Love

One of my friends had this as her status on Facebook:

“The wise are wise only because they love. The fool are fools only because they think they can understand love."

Thoughts?

Finally had an interview...

So, I went in for an interview and editing test today with Arirang TV. It's the largest English channel in Korea, and I think it's abroad as well. If I get the job, I'll be working with the news team. I was incredibly nervous and the test was really hard. I've been out of the news game for a little over a year now and I've never worked with editing for broadcast, so I was a little rusty (and should have spent last night reviewing and researching broadcast writing...bad decision on my part...). Anyway, they have a few more people taking the test, so I'm worried about not getting the job. But I got the call unexpectedly, which means it must have been a God-thing so all I can do is wait and pray that God wants me to have this job and I'm going to get it. I should know maybe by the end of this week or next week. I'm probably going to be on pins and needles waiting... which means another week of little sleep and anxiety. Bleh... I feel like I could have done better on the test, so let's hope that everyone else does worse. ^_^;

Moving in and other things

I think I am pretty much done with moving in. Just straighting up and hanging some last minute things up. Soo I had an idea. I have a TON of shirts from JBU, High School, and well life in general and thought that it might be fun to have like a shirt of the month or something like that. I am talking about all the screen tees I have accumilated over the years from Orientation, high school activities etc. It might be a fun way to remember old times! :) And along those lines, because of working at AMC for three years I have about fifty some odd posters that I can't put on my wall so I was thinking about a poster of the week and we could review or talk about the movie, fun memories or otherwise associated with the movie... I don't know what do you guys think? I would post a picture of the poster and shirt so you could see it.

P.S.

Pictures are now up for your viewing pleasure on Facebook!

I think it's time for an update...

Though, actually there isn't much to update. I'm still waiting on the newspaper. They contacted me on Monday and said that I'm at the top of their hiring list, but he's still talking to management and they are taking awhile. So, hopefully, I'll have something to hear in a couple days (according to the editor). Here's hoping I'll hear something soon.

In the mean time, I'm looking into some freelance jobs to help tide me over. GetaFreelancer.com is not being so kind to me, but I'm going to keep trying and hopefully I can get something. It just sucks that all the work is around $2.25-$30 an article. The last time I did freelance they paid around $100. I guess the depression has hit freelancers bad...

Eh, so that's about it. No new boyfriends. (Though there is a definite interest...) I'll let you guys know about any new changes. ^_^

i left my milkshake in the yard...

Ah! I get e-mails about this blog all the time but I'm so bad at checking my new e-mail account. Still a little attached to the JBU one. I'm sure that will pass soon...

Thought I'd catch up on the goings-on and update as well. Currently working a temp job, the same one Carly (and her mom) are working, plus it's the same thing I did last summer. Testing satellite phones and whatnot. Won't last too much longer, but at least the pay is very good. Also, during spring break I had sent out about 25 resumes and cover letters to various companies/galleries looking for internships. I got a call back from one within a week, a gallery in Tysons Corner (DC) looking for interns for the summer. Went in for an interview this past Tuesday, and I got the job! This place is SOOOOO amazing and such a good fit for me.

It's a gallery for mostly sculpture and glass works, which I'll admit is not my forte, but I am excited and am planning to soak up all the information I can! As an intern they want me to do all the standard interny things, like looking after the gallery when they can't be there, and since they do all their own promotion, they want to have me help with their leaflets and books, as well as updating their website (www.habatatgalleries.com). Since they cater to collectors and do custom installations as well, they want to work me into the sales arena as well. Also, they're very nice (and interesting) people, and much younger then I expected.

Sherrie and Bre need to come and do this internship with me! Heck, Kristen should come too, she'd probably love this place. LOL

The only unfortunate part is that it's unpaid and an hour and a half commute, for which I'll have to leave an hour or so more ahead of time thanks to the god-awful Washington traffic. Though they said that if after three or four months they liked me and my work, they'd consider giving me a paying job. If so I'd move to DC, if not I'd stay where I am and start looking for something in the area so I can pay off my loans. Unless any of you have suggestions... :D

New Place

So its been a while since I wrote here so here is whats up with my crazy life....

I am moving into a new apartment that is much more affordable than my current residence. It is newly renonvated and I am the first one to live there after the renovation. So everything is new and pretty clean except the toilet. The renovation guys ruined it by dumping their crap down the toilet. Sooo new toilet for me! I am slowly moving my things over there and trying to unpack it as I go so when the parental units come to help move the big stuff, that is all we really have to do. This apartment complex has a pool, gym, hot tub, breakfast three days a week, lots of community activities and it is located next to Benidictine University. Very very nice area.

On the Aunt and Uncle front...I think they officially hate my guts right now. I am not sure if they thought I was joking about the pay cut and unable to afford to live here any more. I haven't talked to them in about a week and not sure if I will for a long time. The drama...............

I hope to see Star Trek next Thursday with my Bible study group. I am stoked to see this movie. I never grew up with Star Trek, but this movie looks awesome!!!!! And then there is Wolverine, Angels and Demons, Terminator, among others that will come out this summer that I wants to see real bad!

Other than the move and well inventory at work, life is good.

Liar, Liar Pants on Fire

Another quality conversation with Drew ... as a little bit of background, we've started hanging out since he got back so he knows about the wonderful recent events of my life (yes you can detect sarcasm as per usual). We're also leaving this quality place about the same time. He's just going a few thousand miles further than I am.

Drew: Hey I was thinking about having you train 3 to 4 times a week till you leave so I don't have to pick up anyone new.
Me: That's cool. I have nothing else to do now, might as well live at the gym.
Drew: The gym is a good place to be, it will never lie to you.
Me: Can't say that about any boys I know.
Drew: I can't really say that about anyone I know.
Me: Haha, fair enough.

A bit of hope

I called the Korea Times today and I should find out about the job on Friday. They are still talking about the position with management so hopefully I'll have some good news. I spent all morning freaking out about it until I talked to the copyeditor coordinator on the phone today. Then I felt bad because I had spent the last hour at a coffee shop and didn't know that he had already emailed me in response to the email I sent this morning.

So this means I just need to email the hiring manager at Berlitz and explain what's going on. I suppose I can still go meet with him this week if he wants. I hoping things will work out soon so I can quit wasting his time. I know he'll try to put me in as soon as he can so I don't want to push his kindness too far.

But yea, I'm finally starting to get answers, hopefully, so the job thing will be cleared up soon. Now I just need to work on the boy thing. Things have gotten a little interesting since this weekend...but I'll report on that later when I have something more to say... ; )

Google Downtime

I use Google about every five minutes at work between Google Analytics for our sites, Google Base for products from one of our sites, searching for various things, and of course Gmail. Did I mention I also use Google Chrome as a browser? Well I do, it's made me a little lazy in typing in URLs since the address bar also serves as a search function so technically I don't have to remember them all.

That said, it took me no time at all to discover that Google went down today. I went to sign a client up for Google Analytics and the form would not load to save its life. Not that a web form has a life, but you know what I mean. At first I thought it was the internet, but I checked several other heavily frequented sites with no problems. That's when I realized: Google was down.

Naturally I opened up the long abandoned (for me) Yahoo website and searched "google down" for anything of interest as well as checked CNN.com out of sheer curiosity (not at all expecting to find anything). I found absolutely nothing useful anywhere about the current outage but found a few articles that amused me, mainly because I hadn't noticed outages in the past. Once was titled "If Google Went Down, What Would You Do?"; this one made me laugh a little as I realized my internal answer was shock as the possibility hadn't occurred to me before. (It reminded me of my days on campus when the internet would go down campus wide and we'd be forced to wander outside our rooms and discover the real world as homework became impossible.) I also came across Google's website that displays whether or not their apps are down: Google Apps Status; but lets be real, that only works when all of Google isn't down.

Around 40 minutes later, after my boss was relieved to find he wasn't the only one that noticed this rare anomaly, Google returned and all was well. It's funny what we become so dependent on.

Growth

“Growth demands a temporary surrender of security.”—Gail Sheehy

How true is this statement? I don’t know that I have ever achieved growth by staying within my comfort zone. It is when I am forced, albeit sometimes kick and screaming, to move past my realm of familiarity and into the unknown that I amaze myself at my capabilities for growth.

This quote seems so appropriate at this moment in my life as I am leaving the 30 mile radius I have lived in my entire non-collegiate life. A friend of mine is moving to Tucson, Arizona, the end of July and wanted a roommate. I have always wanted to move beyond my current location. Granted, my original destination of choice was California—but Arizona will accomplish my goal of finding a new location to explore with an entire realm of outdoor activities at the same time.

My micro goal for growth on this new adventure? Find a job.

Anyone in Tucson need a talented young designer?

The Climb

I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most
Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

—Miley Cyrus, "The Climb"

Now I understand that I just quoted Miley Cyrus. I honestly hate that this song is by her because I love it so incredibly much and it makes me feel like I'm 13 to admit that. But seriously, those words are so incredibly true, and in my defense—she didn't actually write the song.

I understand that as a Christian my ultimate goal is Heaven, but honestly—what matters most is how I live my life in the time that I have here, no matter how long or short that might be. My friend Angela recently pointed out to me and a couple of my other friends that life does not start at a certain point. I am not in a holding place until I find that right guy or that perfect location, my whole life is my life and it is in constant motion—it's the climb.

I know that Brian has the URL to this blog because I gave it to him when things were good—blogging was a shared interest of ours. Brian, I doubt that you're reading this, but if you are—thank you for being part of my climb, even if only for a couple of months and even if you wanted out for half of it without me realizing it. The time that we spent together will always hold a special place in my heart, and I'm not just saying that to be cheesy.

Next on the climb: moving to Arizona with Katie. I was referring to this as starting over, but I don't think you can actually start over in life. I am beginning a new chapter and a new adventure. I honestly believe I was never designed to stay in one location for a significant period of time, especially not here. I do believe that I will find someone that feels the same way and that we will explore the world together. I have no idea who or when that will be.

Until that day, "that that don't kill me can only make me stronger." (Thanks, Kanye.)

Time to climb.

Jobless Update

Since I've got a lot of free time as of late, I thought I would give a small update on my goings on.

Still no job. I'm waiting to hear from The Korea Times. I'm hoping that will be soon. I sent an email on Wednesday so hopefully they'll get in touch. If all else fails, I'll just go back to Berlitz. But I hate the waiting game. More and more I'm wondering if I should go back to Berlitz. The hours aren't bad, the money is good and I'm use to the lifestyle. Korea Times will be a newspaper lifestyle. Long hours, late end time, no holidays, probably low pay, working on Saturdays. But I'm use to that as well. We'll see.

I've been using most of my time with friends to try and keep my mind off things. I'm trying not to spend a lot of money, but that is proving a little difficult. Especially since I'm spending a lot of time at home and I keep seeing little things that I would like to make things more organized. A bookshelf here. A cabinet for the coffee pot, toaster and toaster oven. New light bulb for the bathroom. A hamper. Etc. Doesn't help that I went out with a friend to help her buy sunglasses and ended up with a new pair of sunglasses, a pair of shorts, a new cardigan and a new book... Yea, gotta start working on that. At least my friends and I are being more money-conscience when we go out... Thank goodness Korea is not expensive to live in...

But yea, life is okay and I'm making it. I suppose worse case scenario I can come home and marry Mar. Gramma is all for that, though I think it's because she wants me home in the States, not necessarily because she wants a son-in-law...

The Untouchables

Have you ever had a coworker that just would not get fired no matter what they did? Things you were sure would result in them being terminated, especially since it was the fourth occurrence, as others had received such penance for far less—even these, could not end in such a result. Not only do I have one of these, but we pretty much co-reign the untouchable realm of our office.

I thought our reign was coming to a tragic close last Thursday, but my theory holds fast as he reclaimed his job after just less than an hour long meeting this morning with our employers. One of our coworkers, ever the resident bitch-extraordinaire, was pissed as you can only imagine. (I understand that sentence involved two words not normally in my vocabulary. If you met her, you would understand I had no alternative.)

Long live the untouchables. Which reminds me, I have another story about our reign. I haven't quite decided if it's bloggable yet as I'm not sure all the general public can handle it. Let's just say that after four ridiculous months of unmeasurable sexual tension and our boss repeatedly asking him if we went out yet, we finally hung out Saturday. Why is it that people expect the only two attractive people at our tiny office within the same age range to hook up? He is definitely among the top five hottest guys I have ever met though, hands down.

But I'm still moving to California. Unfortunately I just got a Wii to distract myself from recent events involving unexpected actions I have yet to post about and it is also distracting me from my portfolio site.

Must. Gain. Focus.

I'm coming Bre, honestly I am.

My Secret Dream...

So, I have a dream…

I want to be a famous star in Korea.

Silly, yes, but it could be possible. I’m interesting enough. And foreign. And have already been interviewed for a popular TV show where a bunch of foreign girls sit around talking in Korean. (Of course there was one little, tiny obstacle…the fact that I don’t speak Korean…) Anyway, Stella and I have sat around and planned out my future career in stardom and have come up with a few ways to get me there...

1. Attend a Korean Language School: Casting directors have been known to scout out new foreign talent at some of the bigger language institutes.

2. Stalk famous Koreans in Apgujeong: This is known as the most expensive area in Seoul, and thus where all the stars and directors live, hang out, get drunk, etc. If I hang out here enough, I just might get discovered. Or at the least get a famous person to buy me a drink…or just end up spending all my money paying to get into overpriced clubs…

3. “Accidently” get discovered while walking passed a film set: They film for dramas/movies/commercials EVERYWHERE, so perhaps one day as I’m walking by, the director decides he needs a foreign extra. Viola! My foot is in the door. Note: I’ve walked by about 5 sets to date and nothing yet…sixth one is a charm…

4. YouTube video of me singing/speaking/acting in Korean: Koreans LOVE foreigners who do anything in Korean. Some girl from California got instant stardom in Korea when she posted videos of her singing K-Pop songs. They even flew her over here to be on a variety show…that could be me…

5. Go on a reality show: There is a show where the basic jist is that a bunch of people act out different famous scenes from movies. You don’t have to speak Korean…and we all already know how much of a drama queen I am…

6. Take a hip-hop class in Hongdae: This is where one of the top vocal groups in Korea, Big Bang, hangs out and lives. Perhaps they troll local dance studios for fresh back-up dancers…and perhaps they see me and decide they need a foreign back-up dancer…Yea, so they’re all between the ages of 19 and 22, I look like I’m 21…

Along with how to get there, we’ve also discussed some perks…

1. Stella gets to tell everyone that she’s my best friend…thus making her famous by association.
2. I can get back at Young and James for turning me down…haha… (I like this one…)
3. A cool, new apartment for me and Stella to share.
4. A puppy because I’ll be rich enough to hire a maid to help take care of it and Issie. And a big enough apartment that they could co-exist without knowing that the other exists…
5. Pretty clothes…
6. I could have an entourage.
7. I get to kiss hot actors and pose with them for ad campaigns.
8. I will finally have learned Korean.
9. Hot, Korean boyfriends… need I say more?
10. Yes, I do. If I ever get tired of being famous, I can always move back to the U.S. and go back to no one knowing me.

Haha, ah, I think I’m a bit too much of a dreamer…but I figured the blog needed some cheering up. ^_^

Heart Strings

It's weird to me how my heart can feel so strongly that it wants me to fight for something after being wrenched three times in three weeks. Normally I am notorious for my lack of follow through and any sort of emotional pain sends me running as hard as I can in the opposite direction. Instead my stomach is in the same tangle of knots I've felt only once previously in my life while my heart keeps grasping at any hope it can find. Where does my inability to get over broken trust fit into this picture?

I would say I wish life were easy, but if it were—I would only get bored.

For now the pain is worth it. Worth it because my heart is telling me that this is something worth fighting for. Crazy masochistic heart. When will you ever learn?

Oh to live in the country...

Hello all!
I’m back from my refreshing three-day weekend in the countryside of Korea. It was wonderful. The scenery was amazing and my friend Jung Min and I had a lot of fun. We did some sightseeing and spent some time just relaxing. I’ve got a full report on my blog (see link to the right: Overworked and Deliriously Happy) and pictures up on Facebook.

Also, I just wanted to take a moment to mention that today for you (yesterday for me) was the 14th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. I always take some time on April 19 to think about what happened and say a prayer specifically for the people who were directly affected. Also to thank God for protecting my family and I during that time, since both I and my Mom and sister were on our way to downtown Oklahoma City when the bomb went off. I was loading the bus to go listen to the Philharmonic on a school trip and my Mom was about to go to the post office downtown, which was next door to the Murrah Building. We were blessed, but so many others weren’t, including some friends of our family who lost a sister and an aunt that day.

But, anyway, I suppose I’ll end on a happy note. I have a new crush, though sadly he can’t really speak English…sad day, but it still makes for fun times at Bar Ireland, or Ireland as Jung Min and I call it. Besides, I’m learning Korean. ^_^ And he did tell Jung Min he wanted to learn English because of me…

Dodging a bullet

So today I found out that I still have a job! Yay!

I also found out that, because I still have a job, my pay is being cut because I am no longer a Sales Manager Trainee, I am just a supervisor. I don't get a huge cut in pay but enough that I have to defer some loans and switch over to AT&T uverse to save money among other things that I need to consider going forward. I have a month to switch stuff around.

*sigh* I knew this was going to happen. And it really isn't just me, it is the whole company. Some one that lacks the skills to plan or maybe pay attention to what the hell is going on in the economy has left the company with way too many MITs (managers in training) while they are also cleaning house with Sales managers and Assistant Store Managers. So a lot of people are finding themselves in my position....

It sucks coming off of a great visit with the District Manager's boss that couldn't thank me and the other MIT for our hard work in helping turn this place around, but I will take it to getting fired any day of the week.

So I guess a big question mark in my life has just been solved, I know where I will be till further notice, here in Chicago working in Woodridge.

A few hours later.....

And the melancholy sets in. Its hard to not be upset after busting my ass for this store and this is the thanks I get...but I am trying my darndest to not dwell on it because well, I could be unemployed and that would be much worse. *sigh* I am just sorry I had to drop the bomb shell on my uncle about not being able to afford rent any more at its current level. So we will see what he says and how badly my aunt reacts to the news...she is not going to be happy to say the least.

I do get to go to St. Louis next week for an extended stay...but not sure if that will be good either because my mom is ready to kill my dad. *sigh* somethings never change (or some people never change) And my poor Anna is sick. Some liver problems is causing the poor dog to drink a TON of water and then pee every few hours. We finally pulled together the money to get the ultra sound done on her (300 stinkin dollars!) and they don't think she needs surgery to correct the problem. Just medicine that treats Cushings Disease. My poor Anna banana. :(

















Anna with Missy, my sister's dog. This pic was before Missy got cut. My mom loved all her black streaks she had as a young puppy and didn't want Missy to get them cut off, but she needed to be cut. I was about to start calling her Missy the mop.

And in other news....Sherrie and I are planning on heading to Arkansas in May for a very fast road trip to Canda's wedding (barring any unforseen financial complications from pay cut) and Chris' wedding in July. We are staying with the wonderful Mr. and Mrs. McCullough (my former Accounting teacher and second home away from home) so that will be fun! Yay roadtrips!

Notes from the Observation Deck

So actually I'm in an airport.

At a gate.

Still 2 hours early.

I waited in line in the bathroom, found food, changed concourses and still found my gate so early they were still boarding the flight that takes off before mine. Oh and I even made a random impulse stop to buy orange Fanta.

Mmmm. Fanta.

I brought my laptop for times such as these and paid a monthly subscription to airport wireless so I can use it on all my ridiculously long layovers on this flight.

Someone needs to tell the girl across from me that her body is not fit enough to show that much leg or stomach. Seriously.

So I was a little afraid my flight here (the first of four flights for the day) would be terrible because this family with a 5 year old and a 2 year old who had never flown before sat in my row and a 4 month old baby was in the seat right in front of me. Surprisingly all three kids did absolute amazing, and they were all adorable.

There's a middle aged overweight woman to my left who I'm pretty sure is two thirds of the way down her contact list on her cell phone now. It's possible that she's not that far since occasionally people she hasn't made it to yet (but was allegedly going to) interrupt current conversations. Perhaps the most amusing part of her though is that not only does she have a pair of glasses tucked neatly into her shortly cropped blonde hair but she's also wearing a second pair of dark rims held low on her nose with a strand of pearls around her neck. The ensemble would not be complete without her periwinkle velour pants, shirt and jacket accented with baby blue butterfly earrings the size of walnuts that glitter whenever the light catches them.

I decided her conversations weren't all that intriguing, however, and put on my headphones (or is in more accurate since they're earbuds?) to listen to the Metro Station album I downloaded last night before I left. Last night I googled "california lyrics" for fun (don't ask, I was trying to stay up till it was time to leave for my flight) and found their song California so downloaded the whole album. They sound a little like Relient K. I feel like this song is me and Brian.

What do you say we leave for California
If we drive all night we can make it by the morning
And no one has to know if we decide to go
What do you say we leave for California

If we leave our friends then we can be together
We can leave this town if only for the weather
I could drive and you could sleep
While the radio collides to the sound of our heartbeats

Really though, the whole album is pretty good. You should check it out.

Oh yeah, and I almost slept through my first flight this morning. I took what was supposed to be an hour and a half nap but my alarm didn't go off and my roommate (also my ride) had accidentally set hers to 4pm instead of 4am. So she woke me up at 4:45 and was like "Are we going???" I had wanted to leave by 4:30. It's cool though, I made it.

I suppose that's all for now.

Until I find more freaks.

:)

Things that make me laugh: Korea Style

So…Sherrie told me to post. I decided to go with something lighthearted that would hopefully cheer us up as some of us are going through that nasty little thing called the economic downturn…

Things that make me laugh/giggle in Korea:

1. Bi/Rain: For those of you who don’t know, Rain is THE star in Korea. He sings, he acts, he dances (oh boy can he dance…). He does it all. Even speaks English! Though what makes me giggle is the contrast between his Korean voice and his English voice. In Korean, he sounds quite manly…but in English…he sounds quite feminine and gay… Plus, in Korean, his name is pronounced “Pee,” which is the Korean word for rain…hehe…

2. “Phone vs. Porn”: For some reason, A LOT of Koreans have issues with pronouncing “phone.” I don’t know why or how, but it comes out sounding an awful lot like “porn,” mostly because there is no “f” or long “o” sound in Korean. I’ve misunderstood several of my old students and co-workers with this one and started giggling insanely, especially when one student said in class, “I like sex-porn.” (Translation: I like saxophone.) Or when someone talks about their “handu-porn.” (Translation: Handphone = Cell Phone)

3. “The Gay”: For some reason, Koreans are obsessed with homosexuals. They say there are no gay Koreans (I beg to differ.*cough*Homo Hill in Itaewon*), but everyone watches “Sex in the City” so the first thing they often ask Americans is, “Do you have gay friends?” Though this question often comes in various forms, such as “Do you know the gay?”, “Have you met a/the gay?” etc. And yes, they do assume that all American girls have gay friends that they take shopping with them…

4. May I Have this Dance?: In American clubs, guys simply walk up and think they can dance with/on/around you and it’s completely fine. Here, if a Korean guy wants to dance with you, there is a process. First, he and his friends dance near you for about five minutes. Then, he spends another five minutes glancing over at you and then whispering to his friends. He takes another five minutes building up the courage to approach you. Then he taps you on the arm and either asks to dance or makes a face that reads “Do you want to dance?” Priceless process to watch.

5. Ahjummas: These little, old women have the power to make you giggle and also to fear. Don’t let their tightly- permed hair and atrociously garish clothing that doesn’t match fool you. They may not have brought you into this world, but they can certainly take you out…especially if you’re about to sit in their subway seat.

6. Hooters…in Korea?: Unless they import waitresses from the U.S., I don’t quite see the point… We all know why men go there…and it’s not for the buffalo wings…

7. Couple Clothing: Why on earth would anyone want to wear the same, exact outfit as their significant other? I laugh when I see it, because it’s quite ridiculous. They are already practically making out in public, why do they need matching outfits to proclaim that yes, they are indeed a couple.

8. Couple Phones: Following the couple clothing phenomenon, couples will go out and get matching phones. They even have “couple plans.” Imagine signing a 2-year phone contract with your honey and then breaking up two weeks later… I often like to catch two guy friends who happen to have the same phone and shout very loudly “Couple phones!” Hehe, they immediately start proclaiming, “No! I’m not the gay!”

9. The magic word, Oppa: The word that will get you things is not “please” in Korea, it’s “oppa.” At least, if you’re a young girl, that is. “Oppa” means “big brother” and all Korean guys like being called “oppa.” Sometimes I call my Korean guy friends “oppa” just because their reaction is so funny. They immediately grin and I swear I’ve seen some start reaching for their wallets like they are going to pay for everything…

10. Mini TV: A lot of people love to watch TV here…on their cellphones. At any given time, if you look around you on public transportation, about half of the travelers are hunched over their cell phones watching their favorite dramas…it’s crazy…

And those are just a few things that I could think of off the top of my head. I should start carrying a notebook and write these things down. I know there are more things that make me giggle or roll my eyes here…

Painting the Town Purple

I'm going to visit Bre tomorrow! My flight won't get in until 7:42pm her time, which sucks after traveling literally all day, but it will be worth it once I'm there.

We're going to paint the town purple. Why purple? Ask Bre.


Me and Bre at Jr/Sr Banquet in 2007.

I think we need many new pictures. This one doesn't accurately describe our friendship. The closest it gets is our eyes are devilishly red.

One of my favorite moments as roomies:

Bre: Sometimes you just gotta shake your head and ... and ...
Me: Shake your head?
Bre: Yeah.
Me: And smile and nod.
Bre: Smile and nod. And plot to kill them behind their backs.
(pause)
Bre: But only if you really don't like them.

My Taj Mahal

Check out my new tent! It's the REI Taj 3:


I'm very excited! I used to love camping but I haven't been in a very long time. I've definitely never owned my own tent before. This one should be really good even if its windy or rainy ... if you know anything about tents and want to check out the specs, go here.