Sunday Funday (err Tuesday) = Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

I'm trying to make up for my lack of blogging, but blogging can be harder than you think. But fear not, I come bearing delicious music that's bound to make you tap your foot, snap your fingers, and dance like a wild monkey. (What? You've never seen a dancing wild monkey?)

So with one of my favs and ipod hogging songs lately, here is Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. I love being able to see them too...aren't they ridiculously fabulous?!

Parent Anxiety

When I think about my mom and dad, I don't like to think of them as my parents...together. I like to think of them as separate entities. It makes the way I view them, the way I feel about them seem better somehow. I don't know if I could ever explain it in a way that makes sense to anyone but myself, so I won't try.

My parents have known each other their entire lives, since they were kids. I'm sure their families were so intertwined that people around the block may have thought they were all brothers and sisters, before they eventually did become brothers and sisters by marriage.  They've known each other for like 40 or 50 years, and that's just crazy sauce.

It seems so strange to me now that I'm grown, now that I come back home for extended periods of time. To me, they seem so fundamentally different, so polar opposite. Perhaps at one time they were very similar, and never even imagined exactly how different they were.

I worry about my parents a lot. I worry about them like they're my kids. I worry they're not happy, with their jobs, with their children, with each other. Sometimes when I look through old photos of them, I see their faces and I wonder what they envisioned their live would be like. I wonder if they felt like I feel right now, making plans, putting things in motion, trying to see what lies ahead without looking too far ahead.  I wonder if they feel disappointed in their path, if they feel cheated in any way. I wonder if they think they're running out of time, or if they are perfectly fine with the pace they're going.

I hope that there are moments in their lives when they have been truly happy, truly in love, and felt that at that exact moment everything was exactly as it was supposed to be. I hope they still believe that can happen now, and in the future. I hope they realized that at this point in their lives, they still have the power to change things. They still have the power of belief, of positivity, of anything. I hope the advice they give me, they still believe for themselves.

Sometimes it gives me anxiety. I think my dad doesn't eat enough, he's too thin. I think when the clock turns midnight and my mom isn't home from work yet, that something has happened.

But I do know that no matter what happens in the next half of my parents lives, they have had one hell of a ride. I do know that at some point they were meant for each other. At one point they both lived their dreams, and out of their moments of happiness came my brother and I. I hope when they see me they see good and are proud. And I hope they don't hate me if they never get grandchildren.

Chuck and Holly (1912)

Birthday Smirthday

So....yesterday was my birthday. Yep. The big 26. Which basically means I'm 30 because anything past 25 might as well be 30. I can tell you one thing, my body, my face, my well being is starting to feel more like a 30 year old. My crows feet, sagging skin, irritability is flying through the roof. I kid I kid, I'm in phenomenal shape, I love botox, and I owe my winning personality to finally getting out of Korea and working on moving to NYC baby!

Okay, all jokes aside, birthdays kinda suck as you get older eh? When I was younger it was like the second best day after Christmas. I would be counting down the day, so excited I could barely sleep. I would wake up and my mom would make her traditional french toast, and we would do whatever I wanted the rest of the day. I could do whatever I wanted because I was "the birthday girl", and nothing trumps the birthday girl.

The absolute best birthday I have ever had was my sweet sixteen. I remember being so bummed out because all day nothing "big" had happened. It seemed innocently enough, like just another day. My high school boyfriend was out of town on a baseball trip, and I didn't have many plans with my friends either. Around 3 or 4 o'clock, I got a call from one of my best friends asking if I wanted to head to the mall to help her look for a dress for an upcoming wedding she was attending. Reluctantly I said yes, it's not like I was doing anything else more interesting besides turning 16.

On the drive home, I received a call from my house. Assuming it was my mom, I picked up. But it was another friend of mine asking if I wanted to come over to her house for a sleepover. I was confused because the caller ID said my house, but it was my friend not my mom. I told her I would be over after I went home to gather some belongings. We pulled up to my house and all the lights were off. I didn't think much of it except for the fact that my mom was standing outside waiting for me. I asked her what the hell was going on, and she told me to come inside for a second. I go inside and the first thing I see is a HUGE like 10 foot long subway sandwich. Right away I knew this was going to be a night to remember. It's no secret, that sandwiches and myself, are quite fond of one another. Anyway, inching my way closer inside I turn the corner of our living room, and I see a sea of people yelling "SURPRISE!". The surprising part aside, my mom had called the local radio station, and got a DJ to come and set up a music/dance floor in the far corner of our living room. It was amazing! I had all my friends there, (some I wasn't even friends with haha), a live DJ, sandwiches, my boyfriend who was "supposedly out of town". It was honestly a great surprise, and I was thrilled with the spectacle.

The second, and close runner up was my 21st. Which involved shots starting at 10am, champagne and debauchery throughout the day, and a classy finish of 'Sexy Alligators' (which I'm fairly certain had Jagger in them, and they did not make me feel nor look sexy). It was amazing. And the term coined by my roommates at the time 'Katipalooza' will live on forever in good memories.

However, yesterday, was just yesterday. I suppose I can't expect every birthday to live up to those standards, but when you've had them it's hard not to compare. But it was nice as it could be for # 26. And the last year was just what I needed and just what I wanted for my 25th year in life. I saw things I never thought I'd see. I met people and did things I never though I would. And I made some great goals and decisions professionally and personally.

One thing that is so amazing about my life, is that each year it is drastically different than before. And I like it like that. Last year I was in Korea, the year before that Boston, and this year NYC. I like moving around, and I like doing different things. This year is all about friends, family, and being fabulous!

Here's to another crazy year! #26! Cheers!

Sunday Funday = Bob Dylan

I love Bob Dylan. Plain and simple. I could sit all day, any day, listening to Bob Dylan. My favorite Bob Dylan song, hands down, is 'Don't Think Twice, It's Alright'. It has so many different meanings for me, and has helped me through so much, especially in the past two years with a certain turn of events. ;)

I apologize for the shitty video, but it was really hard to find out there! Anyway, the lyrics are perfect, his voice is perfect, and it's just a great song. Enjoy

Korea vs. America

I've been home for a few weeks now, although it seems like a lot longer! I have been so busy since being home, it seems as though I was never even in Asia! It's a weird feeling. But I do miss SOME things (emphasis on SOME because I ain't gonna lie...it's good to be back baby!) about Korea. And now I will tell the two people that actually read my blog what they are. :)

Things I miss about Korea :

1. The mandu lady...or at least the lady that cooks the yummy, delicious, mandu that I ate literally 4 times a week when I lived there. It was so cheap, so good, and so quick. The lady was always very nice, even when we went in a highly compromised state at 4am, and asked for mandu to go, then proceeded to sit down at a table and eat it.

2. Living alone. I don't know if I'll ever live alone again. Honestly! I think I'm too scared to live alone in America! It's more than hard staying with my parents right now, when I move to NYC (cross your fingers!) I'll have a wonderful roommate, and then in the future with my beard sportin', plaid shirt wearin', guitar playin', delicious food makin', smokin' hot babe of a hubby.

3. Glee nights. Yes I know I can have Glee nights here in America, but still, that was a highlight of the week. And I don't care who ya are, if you don't like Glee, you simply don't like to laugh and smile, and have a good time.

4. Trains, planes, and automobiles. It is true, getting around in America is much harder than in other countries and cities. I miss the ease of the subway and buses. And also the insane people who sell the most random shit in the subways, always a good time.

5. Being oblivious. I was clueless all the time in Korea. I could tune out everything around me, and be perfectly content. I couldn't understand the people around me, nor did I care. It seems very loud here because I can understand everything everyone says. And eavesdropping isn't what it used to be!

6. A job (although stressful at times) that I could go to in the morning, leave at 5pm, and not think about it another minute.

7. Occasionally I miss one or two (I repeat, ONE or TWO) of my kids. Mostly I miss Daniel and his adorable obsession with Michael Jackson.

8. I miss random nights, that go on for all hours of the night, long into the wee hours of the morning. Only the best of things, and the worst of things happened on those nights out.

9.  Fruit stands. So much delicious, in season fruit all the time. SO GOOD.

10. Tea days, tea nights, tea everything. Just getting together with the girls over tea, and gossiping through the night.

Things I love about America:

1. Coffee with cream in the mornings. You can't get cream in Korea, and I missed it like NO other while I was there.

2. The calm, quiet, mornings. Who ever said 'Land of the Morning Calm' was a LIAR. Because it is never quiet in Korea. Never. I love waking up with my window open, or taking a walk late a night, and having it be so calm and wonderful.

3. Sandwiches. I love sandwiches more than I love anything. You can't beat the sandwiches here...anywhere in the states. You just can't.

4. BBQin' outside on a gorgeous Spring/Summer day.

5. Bathtubs.

6. The Today Show. Okay okay, I know I can watch it online from anywhere. But I miss my morning routine of coffee and the Today Show on the tube.

7. Cute white boys.

8. Target. Who doesn't love Target?

9. Paula Deen. Who doesn't love butter?

10. The music. The music scene, the artists, the way it makes me feel. All of it. Especially some good ass bluegrass, folk, banjo music. And listening to a good ol' southern band called Old Crow Medicine Show, is one of my favorite things to do. It just makes me so damn happy! I saw them once in Tennessee, and I'll never forget it.

Home is where...my bed is.

It has been a few days since being back in good ol' America. It has been a trip that's for sure. The trip itself was hell, but now that I'm on the other side it's not so bad. On the trip back I flew to Japan first, and then to Portland Oregon before coming back to my house in AZ. I have never felt so tired in my entire life, and getting off the plane my dad was no where to be found seeing as he went to the wrong terminal.

The last few days in Korea were definitely strange, packing up my entire life for the year. I ended up throwing away half of my stuff in order to make it all fit into my back pack. But it's just stuff right? On my last night, I went to dinner with a few of my close friends and coffee afterwards. On the way from the restaurant to the coffee shop, my friend managed to lose her wallet somewhere. We all searched the streets, asked the street vendors, and racked our brains as to where it could be. So we spent the rest of the night trying to figure out what to do, since my friend had all of her cards and cash in her wallet, and no cell phone. We ended up going back to my apartment and calling her mom to wire money over, and the rest of us pooled together our spare cash to give until the money was wired.

One of the things I'll miss most about Korea is the sheer generosity of the people when it comes to certain things. While we were all frantically trying to figure out how my friend was going to survive the next month with no money, there was a knock at my apartment door. Our upstairs friend was on the other side, saying she was on the phone with a clothing store that had found the wallet! It turns out the wallet had a business card of our recruiter inside, and the woman who found the wallet contacted our recruiter, who contacted our friend, who found us worrying in my apartment.

I have heard of many stories like these before in Korea. People who lose their ipods in cabs, purses in clubs, only to go back a day later and they are still there. It amazes me how things just show up in Korea, eventually somewhere down the line, that thing you thought you lost manages to show up again.

I have come down with a nasty cold since being home as well, and there is nothing better than being home while having a cold. I can stretch out on the couch, and ask my mom for hot tea and water. It really is kind of a treat to be sick at home, rather than on the road.

This summer brings many little trips through out the U.S, while I get my passport renewed. And we'll see what happens next! I will keep you guys updated!

Cheers!

Sunday Funday = Vince Vaccaro

I am about to leave Korea in about 2 days, and it has been a whirlwind. It feels weird to be moving on and packing again. But I've been in this place many, many times before, in many different states and countries, with many different feelings about leaving a place.

But one thing that always sets me right when I'm packing is some good tunes. This one comes from a Canadian named Vince Vaccaro, who brings me back full circle to where I vision my life in the near future. If I could take all the places that I have lived and traveled in the world, and pack them into one place where I could live and wallow in forever, I would. This music in a strange way kind of does that for me. It reminds me of the laid back vibe in Hawaii, the nature vibe in Colorado and Tennessee, the hippie vibe of Humboldt, the friendships of Spain and Boston, the craziness of Korea.

It reminds me of that simple life that is so good.

Vince Vaccaro - Catch A Fire - Peak Performance Project 2010 from Vince Vaccaro on Vimeo.

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday

I have to write about my time here in Korea now, even though I don't leave for another week. I'm afraid if I leave and write about it when I am at home, I won't be able to convey the types of emotions I am feeling at this particular time. 

I can honestly say that I couldn't be happier how things are ending here in Korea. For awhile, things were a struggle here. In the beginning I had a blast, and then the 'new-ness' wore off, and I began to struggle. I struggled with meeting people, with work, with the culture, with the daily life of being a foreigner in a different country. I have always traveled, and always loved being a foreigner, but here I felt embarrassed to be a foreigner. I felt like everyone hated me, stared at me, pointed at me, pushed me on the subway, got angry because I didn't speak any Korean. 

For a solid three or four months I became a hermit, I hibernated in my tiny apartment and did things on my own. I explored on my own, went to art galleries, restaurants, and coffee shops alone. All I wanted to do was be comfortable in Korea, but I didn't want to give up my independence, I didn't want to accept that my attitude had something to do with my outcome. 

But something started to change right before Christmas. I felt like I was beginning to get back to the person I used to be, the independent, strong, open-minded person I've always been. And I began to really like myself, really like being alone, and just became happier. In turn this made me happier at work, happier with my friends here, happier and more willing to say "yes" instead of "no". So I promised myself after Christmas I was going to go out with a bang. 

So the ending of Korea has been a blast, just like the beginning was. I have met people from all over the world here, and am leaving Korea with a smile on my face. I think this was the best decision I could have made at the time, and I don't regret it. I have struggled with regret in the past, but I truly think that the experience here and what I have gone through personally, will forever affect the person I am once I leave this country. 

It is really nice when things come to an end, and everyone seems to just come together because it's the right thing to do. People are nicer, people are happier, people say things to one another they probably should have said a long time ago. But I don't think it would have been the same if things didn't happen the way they did here in Korea. It's just how it was supposed to happen. It was like the universe was testing me, asking me if I could take it, testing my ability to react to things. 

Hey universe, I see your test, and I raise you a lifetime of being able to take it. 

Cheers. 

Final Days at School

The last few days at work have been really great to say the least. It really has been a very good ending to a wild ride in Korea. I couldn't ask for a better send off. I will miss the kids and the people I worked with dearly. 

Minji (my co-teacher's daughter) and Chloe.

My girls! Stacey, Olivia, and Celine.

My director Sunny.

Dustin, he is cutting a rice cake which I will miss immensely in the states! Yum!

Hajun. The most annoying child ever, but look at that face. Hard to be mad long. 

Stacey and Dustin laughing. Too cute. 

Last day teaching. We did a little photo shoot of 'emotions'. This was supposed to be 'funny'.

Both of these little gems fit in my belt. Sad, sad, day. 

The love-birds of my class. Andy and Olivia. 

Love is in the air!

They're seriously going to get married. 

Rachel and me on our final good-bye.

Stacey and me. 

Here is the devil child himself, Nathan. It may look like I'm choking him, I swear I'm not. Just holding his head still for the camera. ;)

My co-teacher Monica! I will miss her a lot!

Here is a little video of Nathan, the devil child. Although he has extreme behavior and social problems, he is extremely smart. Go figure, eh? We were doing a worksheet on the letter 'H' and identifying the pictures that start with 'H'. It was actually pretty cute because he was saying 'hangaber' instead of 'hamburger', and my mom used to say 'hangaber's' when we were little. He also said 'hippopie' instead of 'hippopotamus'. It's extremely loud, so I apologize for the sound quality, but it is a typical day in the Fish Class. We even have some rock, paper, scissors going on in the background.

Sunday Funday = A Little Kanye

Because I like all types of music, I'm gonna give it up for Kanye West for this Sunday's Funday. Although he is always causing some type of controversy, especially when he was all up on my future husband Matt Lauer on the Today Show. Still, he's doing something right....right?

Teacher Monica

I have mentioned my co-teacher a few times in earlier posts, but now I think it's time to dedicate an entire blog post about her. She is truly, one of a kind.

First of all, she's Chinese. She speaks English okay, and she speaks Korean okay. But the point is, she's CHINESE. In a typical day in my class, the kids have no idea what I'm saying in English, Monica has no idea what the kids are saying in Korean, and nobody in the entire school has any idea what Monica is saying in her half English, half Korean, half Chinese abilities. (Three halves make a whole right???)

Even though nobody can understand her, she is extremely prepared when it comes to teaching materials. However, she hoards paper even worse than my dad. I'll come into the copy room to see her standing there with a giant stack of paper to her left, a giant stack to her right, and look down at the copier machine only to see it says '499 copies to go'. It's ridiculous. I think she just like to copies things to copy. Half of the time it has nothing to do with our kids, or what we are talking about in class that month. But her excessive copying does pay off. At the end of the day I'll be planning for the next day, and ponder aloud "I wonder what we should do for our science plant theme tomorrow?". And BOOM. There it is. She'll pull out five different worksheets on plants for me to chose from.

She is also extremely terrifying. Only in that 'good teacher, yelling' kinda way. She can silence a room in 2 seconds flag with a loud but effective, "QUIET!". But more than terrifying, she is also  really sweet and has a hard time saying 'no', especially to her daughter who is in the class next to us. I think I've learned a little something about Asian mother's since living here. They simply do not say no, and their child can do no wrong. Minji, who is teacher Monica's daughter, can and will eat whatever she likes at any point in the day. They come to school early to eat breakfast, and I'll come into class coffee in hand, only to find them chowing down on some fried chicken. At 8:30 a.m mind you! If Minji wants coffee, her mom will give her coffee. If Minji wants wine, her mom will give her wine. She's 4! The parents of our children often send donuts or treats for the staff, and you can usually find us all towering over a table of treats in the afternoon discussing the events of the day. On Thursday we had some fancy smancy donuts delivered, and Minji ate THREE of them! Three ooey-gooey, frosting covered, sugar-loaded, saturated fat outta this roof, donuts!

Aaahhhh teacher Monica. I will miss her dearly when I am gone. I will miss her loud roar of a voice from down the hall. I will miss her making coffee in the morning. I will miss her laughing as her 4 year old eats a double quarter-pounder with cheese. I will miss her three language jibberish. I will miss her standing in the middle of the hallway, sweater up around her neck, while she tries to hike her pants back up to her boobs. I will miss so many things about that woman, she's a riot.

But all laughs aside, she has probably been the most honest, truthful, and accepting person I have met in Korea. And I can bet that I will never again meet anyone like her.

Sunday Funday = Take Away Shows

This week flew by, even though I only had to work two days. It was wonderful and relaxing the rest of the week, although I'm already dreading the two work filled weeks ahead. But hey, that's life right?

I'm going to continue my new tradition of posting new and old music that I love, and have the utmost desire to share with you.  I think I will also try to do something with photos soon, maybe called a 'photo walk' where I take photographs along one of my daily (or unexpected) routines here in Korea.

If you haven't heard of the website LA BLOGOTHEQUE, you are being greatly deprived of amazing-ness. It's a website that gets artists from all over the world, stripped down, performing their songs in off the beat kind of ways, appropriately entitled "Take Away Shows".  Great artists perform in all the best cities in the world, in phone booths, elevators, parks, apartments, restaurants, you name it. It is very similar to another website I love called Black Cab Sessions, where the artists perform songs with whatever they can fit into the back of a cab. Very cool stuff here people.

Anyway, long post short, one of my favorite videos thus far from LA BLOGOTHEQUE (however there are SO many to pick from), is Iron and Wine's 'Tree By The River'. In this particular video session, Iron and Wine's, Sam Beam is in France drinking wine, and delivering a wonderful acoustic performance of 'Tree By The River'.

Iron and Wine | Tree by the river | A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Confusing Korea : Apartment Edition

So I live in a tiny, tiny, tiny little studio apartment in Bundang Korea. While living in Korea the past 11 months has caused me to be very confused on many occasions, this is a special post dedicated to the confusion that my tiny, tiny, tiny apartment brings.

                                                     Exhibit A :

This is on the middle of my living/bed/dining room wall. The small black square is actually a video camera, so when the doorbell rings (which is does to the tune of Fur Elise) you can see who is outside your door. However, you have to know exactly which of these buttons to push to get the song and the video to stop. In my case it usually leads to frantic button pushing, accompanied by yelling "Hello! Don't go away! I see you! I'm coming!!!!"

Exhibit B:

This lovely picture is attached to something that opens (I can only assume this because there is a button to push there on the bottom). But alas, it does not open. It seems to be jammed or glued shut. I'm afraid if I try to open it I'll come face to face with the peeping Tom I'm convinced is living next door, so needless to say it stays shut. 

Exhibit C:

Again, assuming that anything remotely makes sense in this country, I would have to guess this big red arrow is probably telling me where the fire extinguisher is....or is supposed to be. 

Exhibit D:

Ahhh....the space saver/kitchen counter top washer combo. Nothing like fryin' eggs while throwin' in my whites. Don't even get me started on the insanity of these buttons. Trial and error is what's gotten me through this year. Although there have been numerous times where I have opened the washer door, to find my clothes soaking wet in two inches of water. And no dryer to boot!

Exhibit E:

And this little gem is in my bathroom, directly to the right if you were to be sitting on the toilet. I can't even begin to tell you what this does or what it's for. I only know that it brings me a lot of anxiety when I'm trying to do my business, in fear of hitting the damn thing with my elbow and thus setting off some sort of alarm signaling the fire department to come. 

I have managed to figure everything out in my apartment to successfully live in it for a year. But I'm not gonna lie about how much I miss my dryer at home! 

Sunday Funday = Electronic Faves

I would like to start making Sunday Funday music sharing a regular thing. So I'm here to post a new video that I came upon recently. I like all types of music, and really like things "off the path" so to speak. I came across a cover of Feist's 'Limit To Your Love', and was literally blown away by it. After doing so much research on the lad from London who does the cover, there seems to be a lot of controversy to his music. But all I can say is I dig it, I love it, I think it's brilliant. This cover makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck, the video ain't bad either.

Check out James Blake's take on Limit To Your Love

Who Says?

I was chatting with a friend earlier today at the gym, and couldn't quite describe to her the funk I  am in, in terms of my gym time. For the past two weeks or so, my workouts have been drab, and missing that certain surge of adrenaline. I can't really seem to figure out what it is, if I need to up my weights, change my diet, up my gym time. It has been driving me crazy, and I think it's been affecting other parts of my life right now (or vice versa).

It has been one year exactly since my last surgery, and in roughly one month time I will be leaving Korea and moving on. Isn't it crazy how much can change in a year? I think Asia was and has been the best choice for me for the last year, but I will not be sad to see it go! It has definitely been a struggle culturally and socially. But individually I have learned and grown so much (I know, gag me right?), I wouldn't trade this experience for the world.

I don't think I have ever been as comfortable or confident in the person I am since being in Korea. Korea has showed me the type of person I want to be, the person I am, and the person I have been. It has shown me limits in all kinds of respects, my limits and the limits of others.

This week I only work two days (thank the Lord), and have a five day weekend due to the Lunar New Year. Not only will I be sleeping approximately 22 hours a day, it will give me a break from teaching. I'm not so sure I want to be a teacher after this experience, and that's okay with me. In fact if anything, not liking teaching has showed me exactly what I do want to pursue. I think the challenges I have had getting back into shape, and having my body go through so much change, has re-sparked my interest in fitness. I have always been very interested and mildly obsessed with working out and nutrition. Having gone through so many struggles physically, I think I am more aware of the struggles of every type of person out there.

I think everyone can relate to how hard it can be to get healthy, stay healthy, and be in shape. It is a different journey for everyone, and I'd like to be apart of people's journey. Things happen in life. We travel and it sets our health off a bit. We poison our bodies with junk food, and think there is no way back. We run our bodies in the ground thinking the more we work out the better. We take pills, we have surgery, we do drastic things to change our bodies. If I can help just one person get back to a healthy life-style after whatever they have been through, then I want to be a part of that.

I hope in a few months, in a year from now, I will be re-reading this post and be where I want to be in terms of my goals. I want to travel a lot, I want to do personal training, I want to be in the best shape I can be in, and I want to help others do the same. I want to do it all. I want to take more photographs, I want to go to more art exhibits, I want to do everything on my resolutions list and more. I want to do anything I want, everything I want, all the time.

Who says I can't, right?

Sunday Funday = Soul Sessions

There's nothin' I like better than some Bill Withers on a Sunday afternoon, while it's snowing, and I'm drinking a cappuccino. Thank you Mr. Withers, for being born, and creating such amazing music.

Pics Update

I have finally put pictures under the "Pics" tab! So keep checking, as I will try to update this tab more often. Although I will still be putting pictures within my posts. 


Still having trouble uploading videos, but when I get back to America I will have my brother fix it for me. :)  

Baby It's Cold Outside

It's like -500 billion degrees outside today. Literally. I can't take this weather anymore! I am sitting here in my freezing apartment with a hat, gloves, a sweatshirt, and a blanket while I wait ever so patiently for my apartment to warm up. That will take approximately 4 hours.

When I'm walking to and from work, up hill both ways, I seem to be the only person fazed by the insanity of how cold it is. I think Koreans have a different kind of skin, that allows them to not sweat when it's 1000% humidity outside, or get cold when it feels like Antarctica. They just simply do not get cold. The women are still wearing mini-skirts for Pete’s sake! I don't think I'll ever get over the fashion here in Korea. The women are still sporting the good ol' fashion mini-skirt and some tights. They don't wear hats, they don't wear gloves, and they STILL wear high heels!

My co-worker told me that this weekend was supposed to be warmer than usual. Warmer? Warmer than cold as shit? Cold is cold. I don't care what the temperature says, it's COLD. It is actually kind of sad how the novelty of winter and cold weather wears off in a matter of 2.5 days. At first everyone is ecstatic that it's snowing, we get to wear scarves, we get to walk around with hot chocolate mugs in our hands. Then everyone realizes how much it sucks when you're risking your life walking to work on black ice, or freezing your tush off while waiting for the bus. 

The only thing that makes winter a little better here, is my South African friend. Who has seen snow once in her life before coming to Korea. She still gets ubber excited about snow, and tries to convince the rest of us how awesome it is. The response to her excitement is usually met with groans like "yea yea yea, you’ll get it over it come mid February". But I have to admit the other night it started snowing, and we decided to run around our neighborhood trying to catch snowflakes on our tongues. It was fun. It reminded me of how fun winter and snow can be. 

I think about all my friends on the East Coast, and how bad the weather and storms have been this winter. Especially since I'll be moving there next year, it makes me kind of cringe. When I lived in Boston before, I came straight from Honolulu to Boston on January 1st, and it was quite the change. But I loved it. Sometimes you gotta just roll with the punches, get your boots on and go make a snow angel, open your mouth wide and catch some snowflakes. 

....Because baby it's cold outside. 


And because I love Christmas, I love Glee, and I heart my gays...here's a treat. :)

Resolutions....

I have been lacking in the blog department, and I can't really figure out why. I think I get really bored of my blog, and in turn I'm sure my "followers" (a term I use loosely considering they're probably related to me) are bored as well. I'm not very computer or tech savvy, and I think this reflects in my blog. I don't really know much about the blogging world except for the blogs I follow, and then the creation of my own.

Don't get me wrong, I do really love my blog. I just wish it were more functional, and I had more followers. Maybe if my BROTHER would actually stop gallivanting around South America with baby mama's, and help me fix my blog it could be way cooler. It could. Who knows. I think the main thing is I need to post more, the more I write the more people will have to read right?

It's nearly the third week of January and I still haven't talked about  my New Year's resolutions. I think it's because I don't really do resolutions, I just make lists of things I want to do more of in the following year. So here goes, a list of resolutions per say, to make 2011 a kick ass year.

1. Get out of South Korea alive.

2. Read more. I know what you're thinking, how could I possible read more than I already do? Well it can, should, and will be done. Especially with my new Kindle, which I absolutely LOVE.

3. Take more photos. I really need to. I need to take crazy photos, all the time. I need to be that girl who is always taking photos. I need to print these photos out, frame them, post them, hang them up, make a collage of them. One day, when I grow up, I'll finally have an apartment of my own (stop laughing mom), and I'll want to put these photos everywhere.

4. See more old friends.

5. Make more new friends.

6. Send more post cards and cards. Everybody loves getting mail don't they?

7. Stop obsessing over my scars from my past, both physical and mental. Just let it be.

8. See more of the country I'm from. First stop, Grand Canyon.

9. Say "yes" more than "no".

10. Continue to be happy and thankful everyday that I am in charge of my own life and my own decisions. Realize how far I've come, and will continue to go. Thank those who have stood by me through everything, and forget those who have not.

11. See more live music and go to more concerts.

12. Post more frequently and get more followers.

That doesn't sound so hard now does it?! I hope everyone is having a wonderful New Year, and are continuing to better their lives with their own resolutions.

To 2011! The best year ever!

(Adding a song like I always do. Don't look into it too much, I just like it. Adele's rockin' it.)




Thanks Hales :)

And So This Is Christmas

(The Burggraf house from outside as the sun sets)

                                        

(It's like Christmas palooza in here!)

                                      

(It wouldn't be Christmas without a smoke alarm going off.)

(This is how we do it in the Burggraf house. We drink the wine first, then we use it to roll out cookie dough.)

(A Christmas tradition.)

(The shirt says it all.)

(The 'rents. Aren't we cute?) 

As you can see, there are no pictures of my brother. And that's because he's too cool for school. Enough said.