Noraebang Karaoke...

Now I know what the young Captains from the clinic do on the weekends. Discovery: Asians have SOUL!

In Korea, karaoke is done in private rooms or noraebang (노래방). It literally means "song room" and it's a place for friends to gather and have a good time in private. And depending on your skill level it's best kept in private!

Summation: I'm feeling like Bill Murray from that scene in Lost in Translation. A bit of a push but innocent fun... no Roxy Music here though.

FYI In Japan, noraebangs are called "karaoke box" or "kbox."

Annual Dental Check-up...

Today was my check-up! We dentists love these and are very proud of our personal dental care. Mine was fun and the results were nice. I had the classic dental radiographs (x-rays) done digitally by Mr. Sin--pan, four bitewings, and one PA film (periapical at #15). Colonel Clouse, my doc, reported no cavities, no failing restorations, no gum problems... all good.

In fact my PSR scores were zeroes with a tiny bit of calculus on the lower anteriors. I'm set for a cleaning with my hygenist, Ms. Yun on November 24th... life is good.

FYI My fractured #15 is stable... which is a big relief. Remember my grief last summer at OAC?!

Fall FTX at Daegu...

The 618th gathered at Camp Carroll for its semi-annual "Field Training Exercise" on October 19-22. The ride to Daegu was about 4 hours by bus from Camp Casey/Dongducheon. The sleeping arrangements were in fixed facilities with hot showers and meals... miss those tents!

The theme of "Safety, Fun, and Mission-Essential Training" was highlighted. All four Areas on the Peninsula competed various events... rifle/pistol range, drill and ceremony, and flag football. My locale, Area I or the Northern Platoon, did very well:

Two officers and two enlisted soldiers were selected from each Area to compete on the 9 mm range and M16 range respectively. Area I won the "composite score competition" with both M16 shooters tying for second (SPC Jemison and PFC Will) and Captain Celeste Kim and I holding our own in the M9.

Then Area I and Area II went head-to-head in a flag football final on Day #2. Area I prevailed, 36-12. All Command APFT 290 and higher were recognized with certificates and leave passes. Again, Area I did well with six of the 12 representatives. Afterwards we enjoyed an American-style barbecue.

Camp Carroll was a great place--wonderful facilities and nice, clean post. It looks like the Command will return the FTX to Carroll next year.

Tale of Two Cities...

The armistice of 1953 gave stipulation that the 4km wide DMZ would allow just two cities to remain inside its border: Kijong on the North and Taeseong on the South. Both towns are 1.8 km apart (1.1 miles).

Kijong, known as Peace Village (평화촌) by the North Koreans, and "Propaganda Village" by the rest of the free world, is situated on the North side of the DMZ. According to Pyeongyang, the village consists of an elite collective farm system, a childcare center, schools and a hospital. However, observation by the South suggests that the town is actually uninhabited.

The buildings are concrete shells lacking window glass or interior rooms. The lights for the entire complex are turned on and off at set times and the empty sidewalks and streets are maintained by a small crew of caretakers. They also raise and lower the 600 pound North Korean flag on the world's tallest flag tower, 525 feet.

Until 2004, loudspeakers in Kijong broadcasted North Korean propaganda and patriotic music 20 hours a day.

Casey Enclave 5k...

A couple of behavior med docs at the TMC told me about today's 5k fun run... and braving the fresh, overnight snow many of us from the surrounding bases ran anyway. It was good running weather actually--skies cleared up and not much wind.

The run was great: Staff, pre-/post-race food, aid stations, volunteers and the typical road run hardware--all for FREE! Such a deal.

We had a cool MP escort at the front and even had a medical escort and tent. There was a decent crowd running so that made it really fun. I ran with another major (finished 2nd) and stayed on his pace, I ran 3rd overall and 1st for my age, time = 19:43. Ten seconds separated the 2nd, 3rd, 4th places... we were having fun and then a final kick created the distance!

This is my first official run since the 1978 cross country season at San Carlos High. It was fun!

North of the Border...

Our DMZ tour at the Joint Services Area included going inside UN Command Military Armistice Commission Conference Building (the blue buildings from last Saturday's blog entry). That's the room where the "North" and "South" meet on occasion--each side entering and sitting at separate ends, the border runs across the middle of the building.

So in the photo I'm standing on North Korean territory, the JSA Korean guard (standing at the taekwondo "ready" position) is on the Military Demarcation Line and the lady (our USO guide) is standing on the South Korean side.

Odd note South Korean nationals are not allowed to tour the JSA only US military personnel and staff.

Major Hugh B. Casey...

Camp Casey's namesake... a WWII and Korean War veteran who was killed in action. Major Casey's service record includes the Philippine campaigns of Leyte and Luzon and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism at Hungnam Beachhead in Korea. He died in a plane crash in the Dongducheon area.

The crash site is marked by a large, white cross and is located above the 2nd Infantry Division headquarters on a small hill in the northwest side of base. Note: The hill behind the cross is the base of Soyosan (소요산).

Kevin and I hiked to the site (which is normally used for training) via a gap in the perimeter fencing by the 1/38th motorpool. The cross is visible from Schoonover Bowl where we did our PT last week.

Two Countries, One People...

Today was a beautiful fall day and the Casey docs went on a USO tour of the Korean Demilitarized Zone at Panmunjeom (판문점). The tour included a visit to Camp Bonifas and the UN's Joint Security Area, a trip inside the North Korean 3rd Tunnel and chance to see the North Korean towns of Kijong (Propaganda Village) and Gaeseong from the Mt. Dora Observation Post.

Despite North Korea's hostilities toward the South, South Koreans still favor reunification. South Korean maps still include the territory of northward in pre-war fashion. In 2006, a rail line was opened by South Korea's Korail to allow trade and travel from Seoul to the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. Last month the South Korean Red Cross hosted their 17th reunion of families separated by the border divide. The first beginning only nine years ago.

Still, since 1953's armistice was never finalized the two Korean governments are still "considered" at war. Because of this border tension is high and soldiers on both sides seem pretty serious!

FYI I lived only a few kilometers away at Warrior Base last May while participating in the EFMB competition.

Viral Exanthem... ??

I don't think it's streptococcus... and not an allergic reaction. Post benadryl and Pen VK and the rash hasn't cleared... I'm feeling much better now. But all the dots are connecting and I'm looking rather pink from my neck to my waist and onto my back and arms. My thought is that it's something else. A simple virus... a nice, benign, simple one!

Who knows. But I go back for my lab results after the holiday.

BTW - My rash is... smooth, red and blanches on touch like a sunburn, doesn't itch too much. The erythema makes it feel "warm."

Missed It By This Much...

I woke up this morning feeling lousy and had my classic chest rash (I seem to get with a sore throat). Owing to a scarlet fever episode in my health history, I ran to the TMC for a check up. Two cultures, shots of prednisone, benadryl and penicillin and a couple prescriptions and I was out the door. On to PT.

So I did my PT and... I got a 297. Oh well, time to start a new dynasty!

FYI - An APFT score of 290+ will get you a Command-signed certificate and a three day pass. A 300 will get the same certificate and a four day pass!

Five in a Row...

Our AFPT will be run tomorrow at 0550... more fun at Schoonover Bowl. Nice track with artificial infield surface. I'm coming down with a cold but will suck it up and get 'er done!

My new goal for PT is to qualify at the max in each catagory. I'll need to step up 30 seconds on the run and get 7 more sit-ups. Push-ups are not an issue... but I'd like to top 100. But not tomorrow... my goal tomorrow is to survive.

This will be my 5th 300+ PT in a row so I DO NOT want to break the streak!

End Of An Era...

From Fort Lewis and MEPS, to OBLC at Fort Sam Houston, to Korea and a year at Camp Casey... Captain Brendon Ewers and I have been almost like Mutt 'n Jeff.

His upcoming PCS and "sweetheart reunion" to Fort Hood and Maria is truly a "dream" assignment for Bren. And mine to the 502d at Hood as well... might open a dream for me too.

We've been training partners from the get go--cycling, running and weight training. My roll of 4 consecutive 300+ scores at PT is a testament to that partnership.

Global War on Terror...

Since a trip to the 31st CSH in Afghanistan is eminent I thought I'd bulk up on my Muslim/Islamic knowledge. The Casey and Hovey libraries are stacked with Middle East documentaries:

Iraq in Fragment - A beautiful film made by Seattle-ite, James Longley; breaks Iraq into its three factions: Sunni, Shia, and Kurds.

The Al Qaeda Files - An extensive, 7-piece documentary dating 9/11 forward; done by PBS' Frontline crew.

Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against The West - Eye opening; parallels radical Islamism and the Nazi Party of WWII.

Baghdad ER - Heartwrenching "life and times" of the 86th CSH in Baghdad's Green Zone.

Soyosan, Seoul and Steak...

Since it's Chuseok (추석), Brendon and I decided to run Soyosan and have a steak in Seoul. Trail running is always fun and it took us under 20 minutes to run to the top of Soyosan (소요산) and just over an hour and a half to cover all 5 peaks and make it off the mountain. That's a rise/fall of 2,000 feet over 6.5 miles.

Knowing Ipanema was closed, we headed to Yongsan's Black Angus in the US Embassy Shopping Center. It was actually fun to eat red meat for a change!

(Nice shot of UO's Chapa and Salazar from 1979)

High On A Mountain Top...

This weekend Bren, me, Yong, Kevin, and Col Clouse (Casey Docs) hiked Soyosan. Nice trip but not everyone was prepared for the first mile! 12% grade!! Afterwards the colonel pitched in for chicken tocino in the Ville... Nice going!

Well it all starts with potential energy and ends in kinetic!

Fly The Friendly Skies...

My trip back on Korean Air Flight 36 from Atlanta... 12 hours and 53 minutes to Incheon. Seats situated aft of 747-400 bulkheads are a common spot for families with babies and mounting "in-flight" cribs--old hat for any Everett payloads engineer at Boeing.

My "47C" seat is across the aisle from a rear bulkhead... three families with three young infants! Ugh... 13 hours! Honestly, they were nice families.

Citius, Altius, Fortius...

With Brenden, Kevin and Jason PCS'ing next month, life is a whirlwind in the evenings and weekends. Just trying to cram in as many activities as possible.

Last weekend was a trip down Line #2 to Gangnam/Jamsil area in Seoul--Lotte World, Olympic Park, COEX Mall. Lots of walking.

Cool to check the track were Flo-Jo, Carl Lewis, and Ben Johnson made history 21 years ago. Saw the diving arena where Greg Louganis smacked his head and pool where Matt Biondi took 5 golds. Afterwards in true Olympic fashion, we had dinner at Todai and gorged ourselves!

Olympic Creed: "The most important thing is not to win but to take part... not to have conquered but to have fought well." -Pierre de Coubertin-

Running the Extensions...

A favorite run of mine is the north and south extensions of the Riverwalk in San Antonio. Great scenery, very few crowds (bypassing the popular downtown Riverwalk loop) and totally automobile-free for 6.5 miles. I'd jump on at the Josephine Street bridge and loop back at the Johnson Street footbridge.

It passes the San Antonio Art Museum, King William District, Pearl Brewery, Majestic Theater, old AT&T Headquarters and HEB corporate offices. Gonna miss my run!

AMEDD School Graduation...

Two months of instruction, briefs, tests, staff rides, PT... it's over! This looks to be it at Fort Sam Houston and the fun dinners at General Czerw's house. Next is ILE at Leavenworth and Staff College at Carlisle Barracks.

So goodbye to the Riverwalk, Mex-Tex, the Alamo, the Mission Trail, King William District, Hill Country, the Texas sun... and most of all the AMEDD Center and School.

Labor Day at Silverwood...

Had a great time with the fam during Labor Day weekend... including a trip to Spokane, overnighting in Coeur d'Alene and going to Silverwood.

Eating at Wolf Creek Lodge and riding Aftershock and Tremors a couple of times was pretty cool. BYU beating the Sooners was nice too.

Johnny Mercer's Lyrics...

Was it in Tahiti?

Were we on the Nile?

Long, long ago,

Say an hour or so

I recall that I saw your smile.

I remember you,

You're the one who made

My dreams come true

A few kisses ago.

I remember you,

You're the one who said,

"I love you, too, I do."

"Didn't you know?"

I remember, too

A distant bell,

And stars that fell like rain

Out of the blue.

When my life is through,

And the angels ask me to recall

The thrill of them all,

Then I shall tell them,

"I remember you."

Happy #27!

Goin' To Luckenbach, Texas...

I ran up to Fredricksburg to see the National Museum of the Pacific War. WWII Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz was born in Fredricksburg. After a dinner of sauerbraten, spaetzle, and blaukraut at Der Lindenbaum, my return trip included a run through Luckenbach and down to Boerne through German Hill Country on Ranch Road 1376. Very beautiful drive.

If I get a chance I'd like to visit the LBJ Ranch in nearby Johnson City.

Friday Night Lights...

On the 20th anniversary of Buzz Bissinger's book I thought I'd test his theory and now I know: High school football is big in Texas. Absolutely!

Friday Night: I went to see Rival's National #41 pick and Texas 5A #4, James Madison play in their newly constructed Heroes Stadium. The game did not disappoint--Madison obliterated unranked O'Connor, 40-0. The event was a sight to behold: Huge, huge crowd, amazing stadium, fans decked in team colors, marching bands... it felt like a college game. Plus Madison Junior TB Aaron Green (3 first half TDs).

Saturday Night: I went to the Texas Football Classic at the Alamodome. Saw the famed 5A #6 ranked, Odessa Permian get schooled by Duncanville, 33-16. Next, saw 4A #3 Cibolo Steele take it to San Antonio's East Central, 35-14. The big show was Steele's RB Malcolm Brown's ground attack (155 yards on 15 carries and 3 TDs).

Hill Country Cookin'...

The world of Mex-Tex cuisine thrives in San Antonio. So many choices, so little time. A couple of my favorites thus far:

Mi Tierra - Located in the Mercado in Downtown San Antonio. Super crowded and they sport una panadería muy deliciosa! Rosario's - A cool, trendy place located along Alamo Street in South Town. Los Barrios - In the north end, by the San Antonio Temple... busy but tasty. Taco Cabana - Ok... it's a fast food joint but it's yummy and cheap with homemade tortillas to boot!

So, I'm hooked on Pollo a la Maria, Gallete de Coco cookies, Chicken Flameante and Enfrijoladas. Just say "adiós" to that barely visible six-pack of mine!

Force Health Schpiel...

After a week of prep work, our "Course of Action" briefs are over! The assignment: Support the medical transition for the "mock" 1-34th Brigade Combat Team in Iraq. You're the brigade surgeon. What would you do?

Next two weeks: A "Combined Arms Battalion" test, one more APFT, some death by PPT in the Blesse Auditorium (caffeine needed), and graduation! Then haul it back to Korea.

Luke 12:27...

With an ongoing drought in South Texas, brown lawns are in vogue. Publically, watering is restricted to one hour a week. Be that as it may San Antonio Botanical Garden volunteers water thirsty flowers, plants and trees daily. That's my new weekend job...

My 4 hour gig involves working in the Garden's entrance: Rose garden, herb garden, formal garden, butterfly garden, Japanese garden and the garden for the blind. (I try to close my eyes when I'm watering there... just kiddin').

This is my second week volunteering and gardening makes me feel close to home... I like that.

¡Aye Chihuahua... !

I'm on a quest for the perfect jalapeño chip and this may be it: The HEB THIN Jalapeño Flavored Potato Chips. Finally a nice departure from the "jaw-breaking" kettle chip genre... poor muscles of mastication!

Yes, Tim's Cascade Style Jalapeño brand is now my 2nd favorite. While Tim's does pack a decent fiery taste, the HEB chip is so light and easy on the palate that its 90% heat is forgivable.

¡Viva El HEB... salud!

The Land of No REI...

Looking for a local hike? REI is a good place to start: Helpful staff, cool equipment to check out, plenty of ideas for things to do outdoors. Is there an REI in San Antonio? Answer: No.

San Antonio, the 12th largest city in America (1.4M) does not have an REI. At any rate, Austin has 3, Houston has 2, San Antonio has zilch. Sounds like a box score.

The Cabanatuan Raid...

We turned in our battle analysis papers today. Owing to a book, Ghost Soldiers, that I read in 2002 I decided to write about the Cabanatuan Raid in WWII's Pacific Theater of operations.

The sortie into enemy territory on January 30, 1945 by elements of the Sixth Ranger Battalion saved the lives of 512 Allied prisoners of war... all doomed to be exterminated by the Japanese. A local Washingtonian, Captain Robert W. Prince, lead the assault and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

The operation was made into a 2005 movie, The Great Raid and has a Rotten Tomatoes rating of "69%" and an imdb.com rating of "6.8 out of 10."

Meu Dente Pobre...

On Friday my slightly "sore-to-bite" molar went "Timber!" A tooth with teenage-era silver filling, converted to a custom porcelain inlay is now missing 3 of 4 cusps. Yikes... !!

On the bright side, I'm not suffering. A fortunate coronal fracture (versus a painful root fracture) and a classic case of "cracked tooth syndrome."

My dental treatment options: 1) Try a "miracle" crown, 2) Elective root canal and post/build-up/crown, 3) Extract and implant, 4) Composite restoration and check options, 5) Do nothing.

Monte, I'm going with door #4...

Downtown Library...

I spent part of Saturday at the downtown San Antonio Library doing some research on my OAC Battle Analysis paper. Huge library... university size almost. Found all I needed and headed out for a self-imposed treat at The Smokehouse: #1 brisket and ribs with rice and beans. Great tasting barbeque... skip the sauce and just savor that glazed and smoky, hand-rubbed flavor... too amazing for words!

The Dale Chihuly piece in the atrium of the library... brings back memories of the Great NW!

Bright Now Dental...

My friend Ben is a managing doctor at BrightNow! Dental office. He mentioned that his new oral surgeon knew me.

As it turned out the new OS did my residency interview last fall. Small world...

Senuti to the Rescue...

A month ago the hard drive on my MacBook crashed... and with it went photos, documents and all my iTunes music... nothing backed up externally. Foolish me!

So with my brand-spanking new hard drive (and external drive) up and running, I spent $18 on Senuti (sounds like "snooty"). Senuti allows digital music owners to upload their playlists from iPod to iTunes. Reverse osmosis: All 2,116 songs are back home again!

Center For The Intrepid...

Our OAC group toured the Center For The Intrepid today. The Center is located next to Brooke Army Medical Center. Built from private donations in 2007, the 65,000 square foot facility was established to provide state-of-the-art care for US servicemen and women.

The average patient age is 22 and the majority came from operations in SW Asia--Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of these young people are amputee or burn victims. Some are both.

Not A Dry Eye...

We watched Taking Chance at Officer Advanced Course. A cinematic witness to the sobering journey home for a fallen Marine and his escort.

Sitting in class, I am surrounded by soldiers who served tours of duty to the Middle East. And as I slowly peeked around me there was not a dry eye in the room.

A Testimony By Any Other Name...

I attended the Olmos Heights Ward in the San Antonio Texas North Stake. The chapel reminded me of the Greenwood building in the Shoreline Stake and was a 15 minute drive from Fort Sam Houston.

Fast and testimony meeting was bilingual (Spanish and English). The opening and sacrament prayers were in Spanish, the hymns were in both languages (both hymn numbers were given), most of the testimonies were in English but one was half and half. The closing prayer was in English.

There was a sister and brother on the stand translating the service in Spanish via microphone and members could listen on headsets.

Nice ward and a great way to learn another language. I wonder if stake and ward leaders must be bilingual?

Eureka...

Finally a fat-free cheese is on the shelves! I bet it's always been there but not in Korea... Cooper Brand Swiss. Match 2 slices of Swiss with 2 slices of Oscar Mayer's Oven Roasted Turkey Breast on Orowheat's Double Fiber Whole Grain bread and Porchman's Chicago Fire Tabasco Mustard for a 19 gram protein, 12 gram fiber and 2 gram fat sandwich at only 250 calories. Not bad! Add some skim milk and fresh fruit... voila!

My other fun secrets: Breyer Fat-Free Double Churn ice cream, Dreyer's Sugar-Free Fruit Bars, NatraTaste Gold zero calorie sugar (I just call it "fake" sugar).

Now to just convince the Camp Casey Commissary to pick up Cooper fat-free cheese!

Life at OAC...

It's been a week at Officer Advanced Course in San Antonio and we've done some stuff--completed our record APFT (338), finished the Phase 1 review test (passed), participated at the Leader Reaction Course in Camp Bullis (fun), took two subject review exams (not bad), and completed our first set of class briefings (National Security Strategy)--all within six days of instruction.

I'm tasked with "CrossFit" coordination for our group (14 soldiers) and we'll add some swimming, dodgeball and ultimate frisbee. We have our battle analysis paper (Cabanatuan Raid) due on August 12th. A Combined Arms Warfare exam on August 27th and graduation on September 10th.

Beware of IED Beverages...

At Tempero do Brasil, a purse strap keenly hooked and shattered a bottle of 2007 Bernard & Griffin Fume Blanc. Afterwards, we lifted our water glasses to toast the smelly ooze under our table. "Viva Columbia Valley!"

Today, I went out to retrieve my "prized" cans of cola only find their shiny aluminum skins all puffy and distorted. "Hmmm... how odd," I thought to myself.

As I picked them up 3 of the 4 cans exploded spewing their warm cola contents 360 degrees... over me and the car's interior. The force blew my watch off and left me with a nice crotch-level wet spot. One of the cans got blown so hard that it landed in some bushes 15 feet away. Where was my body armor?!

After setting up a perimeter and searching for insurgents, I cleaned up the caramelized goo--2 hours in the lovely Texas sun. Lesson learned: Purse straps and warm car interiors have a detrimental effect on pressurized liquids!

Gift of Tongues...

Leaving for America almost two weeks ago was a fun experience... first off, I used the Korean bus service, "Airport Limo" (11,000 won = $8) and second I met an Asiana Airlines employee on the ride.

For the past 10 years, Mr. Yoon commutes from his home in East Dongducheon to his office in Osaka, Japan.  I happened to catch him going to work on a Tuesday.  Since I speak no Korean and he spoke little English, we chatted in Japanese and did quite well.

As our bus picked up folks in Yangju and Uijeongbu before hitting the By-Pass Highway to Incheon, Yoon and I "hanashi'ed" about family, sports and work.  Mentioning I was a Boeing guy and Asiana's international routes are flown primarily by Boeing models made us both happy!

A Grand Homecoming...

Elder Stuart Taylor arrived home having served in the Brazil Belo Horizonte Mission. Two years is such a long, LONG time!

Here is a quote from a recent letter sent by his mission president:

"We love Elder Taylor! His gentle love and kindness is so appreciated in the mission. He is a great zone leader who is always caring and always wants to do what is best for the missionaries in his zone. We are grateful for his hard work and dedication and especially his caring nature."

"This week in zone conference Elder Taylor and his companion Elder Santos gave an exceptional training. They are working well together and are both contributing to the success of the mission. Thank you for sharing your son with us."

President and Sister Johnson

Seattle and Pagliacci Pizza...

Nothing says I'm home more than Pags! A nice primo pie with the fam and life is good again. Top it with some Guarana... the high life.

Gee, it's good to be home!!

Reading is Fundamental...

No better time to start studying for an upcoming OMFS residency than now. Fishman's "Medicine 5th Edition" and Peterson's "Principles of OMFS, Vol 2" top the reading list.

An hour a day...

The Flamboya Tree...

I just finished reading the childhood memories of life inside a Japanese concentration camp. Dutch prisoners in Java--a mother and her three small children--overcame amazing hardships and inconceivable brutality.

As her daughter recounts, this amazing woman kept her family intact and alive by shear will and determination. A testament to the power of maturnal love!

A Trip to Bukchon...

I was determined to find the Brazilian Embassy and the Korea Seoul Mission Home today. Both are located in the same part of town, Bukchon. So off I went after work down Line #3 to Anguk. Using the Embassy website I found the building without a hitch.

Next was the mission home... up the road and around the corner a bit but doable! As I was passing the office a missionary noticed my BYU cap and waved. Upon meeting the office staff, I learned Elder Jensen is a neighbor to my sister in Utah. Small world!

The Banpo from Gangnam...

I'm on temporary duty at the 121 Hospital in Yongsan to learn about oral surgery and lodging at the JW Marriott just south of Post. Nice digs for sure!

Last night I headed out on the streets of Gangnam to explore. About 9:30 pm, I noticed a crowd on the Han River settling under the Banpo Bridge anticipating something.

Then ka-boom... colored water jets synchronized to music... it was the Bellagio turned on its side. Kind of cool... both sides shoot off simultaneously. The world's largest bridge fountain: 380 nozzles spewing 190 tons of water per minute.

Nice until the audio track hit Celine Dion... Eek!

Don't Be Lonely...

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, and whatever is done by only me is your doing) i fear no fate (for you are my fate) i want no world (for you are my world) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart) e e cummings

Mt. Soyo Ascent and Descent...

Captain Ewers and I trekked Soyosan (소요산) two Saturdays ago. Lots of friendly climbers took the 1,000 foot ascent in the first half mile rather seriously decked with backpacks, mountaineering boots and walking poles. A nice view from the top over looking Camp Casey and Dongducheon City plus cool woods to hike through. This trail lead us to four peaks--Uisangdae is the tallest at 1,925 feet (587 meters).

Going down, Cheong waterfall and Chajae Temple are at the bottom of the descent and offer a place to rest and relax. An overall trip of 7 miles and 2.5 hours, including a lunch break at the top was fun.

Historical note: During the opening days of the Korean War the ROK Army’s 7th Division fought against the North Korean 4th Division from the slopes of this mountain. On the way up you see concrete bunkers from which the ROK troops defended this ridgeline.

Seoul Food du Jour...

Bren and I stepped into a small Korean "bu-pay" (buffet... no "f" in Hangul) for dinner in Old Town and ate well. This Korean buffet featured scores of vegetable, meat, seafood, salad and fruit selections--all you can eat for 9,000 won ($6.67).

Collect your food items on plates and carry them back to your tabletop grill. Once cooked you wrap your meat and veggies in lettuce and dip it in sauce. Reminds me of cooking smores at the campfire except it's indoors.

In the pic are some of the choices of beef, chicken, and pork. At the top are some bowls of marinaded meat. On the lower right is a Korean delicacy... dog. Lovely!

Here's a Korean barbecue buffet in Australia

Seoul Food du Jour...

An old timey restaurant in Old Town Dongducheon serves up gom-guk (곰국) or oxtail soup. It's very nutritious, very high in protein. The key to its flavor is its long-term boiling--it can be simmered as long as six hours.

When the soup is served, add green onions, then taste. If the soup is too plain you can add salt or Korean hot pepper sauce.

Most Koreans eat this dish by putting rice into the soup and eating it together. A meal of gom-guk, rice, diakon and kimchi will cost 6,000 won ($4.60).

June 2009...

This is a big month for the fam...

June 2nd is Avery's 11th birthday. June 3rd is Mason's 15th birthday. June 6th is Jordan's high school graduation. June 8th Jordan departs for work in Ketchikan, Alaska. Lastly, Stu arrives from his two-year hiatus in Minas Gerais, Brazil on July 2nd (close enough).