Incheon

I went to Incheon this past weekend to visit some relatives. We went to the China/Japan Town and I saw some traditional and some not-so-traditional Asian goods.

Some cute bird whistles.

Cats... are these meant to be good luck?

We didn't make it up those steps. I only made it up to the third step.

This is Gyuri, my 12th cousin or something like that.

Waiting to flee China/Japan town and free ourselves in Sinchon.

After some beer and snacks we ventured to a trendy bar with cool deco and a dj. We shared unabridged conversation about the last year, filling each other in on every detail that led us to the final day that we were reunited.

Blue Sapphire reminds me of last summer - walking around Sinchon with a cool blue pouch in one hand and Cindy's arm in the other.

March in Bloom!

Carly asked me to make a Mother's Day card for her mum.

I had to put some cheesy Korean stationery words on it though.

On my way home today, I saw a tree glutted by a bountiful amount of divinely extravagant blooms.

They don't look very large here, but in actuality they were huge.

Seeing that flowers are finally blooming, I feel extremely happy.

The night I cooked Korean food...

Recently, I've been cooking more often. I've decided that I am perfectly capable of cooking my own meals and should reduce the number of times I eat out a week. I used to cook all the time in the States. Of course, my menu has completely changed since I am no longer there. I've started to cook Korean food. 

A few nights ago I made Carly and I beef bulgogi 불고기(thinly sliced ribeye with Korean-style marinade), dwenjang jjigae 된장 찌개 (soy bean paste soup), fried zucchini 호박전 (zucchini covered in flour and egg and fried), and fried tofu for dinner.

Bulgogi 불고기

Ingredients I used:

Thinly sliced beef

sugar

minced garlic

minced ginger

soy sauce

sesame oil

sesame seeds

pepper

green onion

onion

enoki mushrooms

I might have used other ingredients, but I can't remember.

Dwenjang Jjigae  된장 찌개

Ingredients I used:

된장 soy bean paste

쌈장 dipping soy bean paste?

zucchini

tofu

potato

onion

water

enoki mushrooms

Fried zucchini and tofu 호박전 & 두부

egg 

flour

zucchini

tofu

Our simple but delicious dinner. 

Carly said the taste of the food was better than restaurant food.

I was very flattered.

Grownups

On the cab ride home last night after having dinner with Carly, I thought about adults.

One day I'm going to be an adult, a grownup, and I'll have many more responsibilities and complications than I have now, unless I'm really really lucky and I never have to worry about money and my children are angels. 

Anyway, in the cab, I thought about the fact that cab drivers must have a life outside of cab-driving and I tried to imagine what my cab driver might do on off-days. He might try to catch up on sleep. Maybe he eats all the foods that he smells but can't dare to ask for a portion of when passengers bring food into his car . Perhaps he has a a wife, girlfriend, daughter, son or someone who he cares about and wants to spend every moment he's not driving with that person. 

While thinking these unnecessary thoughts I asked myself, "why are you thinking these things?" I replied, "Because I can." 

That's exactly it. Now is the time that I even have these unnecessary thoughts because I don't have anything more important or crucial to think about. When I'm an adult, I probably won't have these thoughts anymore. No more random, stupid thoughts. When I grow up, those loose screws that fill my brain with random and humorous ideas will probably become tightly fastened by all of the important responsibilities that I'll have - keeping my job, raising kids, keeping the Mr. happy, paying the bills, and etc. 

Hopefully I'll never grow up and I won't ever take life too seriously. 

These pictures are helping me to not take current life too seriously.

This one reminds me that even when I take things seriously, there will be people who won't take me seriously.

Bagels & Bras

That's what's on my random mind.

I ate a fatty dinner at 12 A.M. A cheddar cheese, egg, and bacon blueberry bagel sandwich. 

Did you know that cheddar cheese is English and it's not naturally orange, but white? I can't be the only one who didn't know that, right?

This actually looks kinda gross. 

Then I ate cookies and milk at 2:30 A.M.

Skinny Piggy

I've bought so many things here in Korea. That's not something I expected, but I guess my passion for shopping can't be halted wherever it is that I am. Well, at least I have a few pretty things to console me when I become upset because of the empty piggy bank.

Pretty roses ring and bow ring sitting pretty atop Bobbi B.

Postcards from the Gustav Klimt exhibition and tiny play doctor kit.

Bangles

Pearls and leaves fairy lights.

Multi-strand turquoise and metal necklace.

Beautiful suede cut-out Zara heels. Couldn't help myself from buying them after oggling over them on Alix's blog and then unexpectedly finding them in Korea.

They're so high though, I don't know how I will walk in them.

Satin bow pumps ~ smelling of cigarettes, I had to air them out for hours after a night out.

Pretty pink dress that has me waiting impatiently for spring, scarf, multi-strand small pearls, and single strand extra-long pearls.

My favorite jacket at the moment is this creamy, faux leather beau.

Although my excessive shopping is burning holes in my wallet and pockets, I can't seem to stop.

Now!

So a lot has happened in the last few months I've been M.I.A. from the blog. One person has disappeared out of my life and one has temporarily left. THANK GOD! However, many more important things have happened. 

Christmas

Carly and I went to Seoul for the holiday and we treated ourselves to a wonderful two days at the Seoul Lotte World Hotel. It was absolutely fabulous! It really felt like Christmas there with all the fancy lights and decorations. The hotel was connected to the Lotte Department Store and Lotte World and a theater that was showing Cats. Carly and I went to Lotte World on Christmas Eve like all the other couples in Korea and had a romantic evening - except for the part when she made me sit in the front on the log ride and I got my beautiful coat wet. Still, Lotte World was wonderful. The roller coasters gave us a thrill and the Christmas Parade made us feel sentimental, warm, and fuzzy. 

Carly really enjoyed making me look like a fool and making me pose for dumb photos. 

 This is me being Japanese

This is my tights falling down and Carly laughing her head off calling me a grandma. 

When we were at Namsan Tower, she made me climb a million stairs by myself and sit in some stupid pagoda thing so she could take a photo. 

Anyway, the whole month of January, Carly and I worked at the Jinju National University of Education doing Death Camp. I really almost died. I had to go to the hospital several times a week and I even had to get IVs. 

At the end of Death Camp, Carly went to Japan with Rhys, her boyfriend, and I went to Muju Ski Resort with some friends, Min, David, and Dorothy. Min's from Dallas, Texas and David was my T.A. for Death Camp (he's very...girly) and Dorothy is my Korean university partner's best friend. Skiing was really fun and our room was amazing. Two bedrooms, two baths, a living room, a large kitchen, a fireplace, and a great view. 

Back in Jinju, I finally met Rhys.

@ Sound Garden

Rhys is a nice guy and really hilarious because he doesn't intend to be. His muscles are his life - eating too.

These photos are from Sound Garden - a nice cocktail bar 

So that's what has happened.