Korean Independence...

In 1919, Korea sent a declaration of independence to Governor General Hasegawa Yoshimichi in Seoul and set up a provisional government in Shanghai, China. Uprisings against the Japanese occupation eventually lead to Korean autonomy in 1945.

Samil Undong (삼일 운동) or "March 1st Movement" was celebrated today. Also remembered is 17 year old Yu Gwan-sun, an Ehwa High School student who organized anti-Japanese protests, was arrested and died in Seodaemun Prison.

Love Your Neighbor...

618th dental hygienists learn to give local anesthesia from lectures, assignments, tests...

And hands-on training... on each other!

Each hygienist will undergo a supervised clinical period and then receive certification.

The Wheels on the Bus...

Walking to Gate #19 at 7:45 AM... lots of school buses bound for Seoul American Schools!

Jamba Juice is Korean...

Just down the way from USO and Gate 14 is a family favorite, Jamba Juice...

The store opened in the Incheon Airport last month...

And seems pretty popular...

Forever Blue...

Anticipating Debbie's departure and very sad...

Happy Valentine's Day...

Coming to Seoul...

The Eagles are on the road in 2011 and the teenager wanting Hotel California tour tickets in '77 has realized his dream 34 years later!

Here's the band I knew as a kid: Bernie Leadon, Don Henley, Randy Meisner and Glenn Frey all back-up musicians for Linda Ronstadt...

Bernie Leadon, lead guitarist and vocals on I Wish You Peace & Bitter Creek, left by 1975 after 4 albums. In came Joe Walsh (Pretty Maids All In A Row & In The City) and a little later, Don Felder. Both known for their memorable Hotel California guitar duet...

Randy Meisner (Too Many Hands, Take It To The Limit & Try And Love Again) left just before The Long Run album and in came Timothy B. Schmit (I Can't Tell You Why) from Poco (Meisner's old band) on bass...

Sadly, the band fired Don Felder (One Of These Nights & Heavy Metal) in 2001. Leaving Don, Timothy, Joe, and Glenn to perform for us at the Olympic Gym in Gangnam...

Dig Tsunami Sushi...

The Yongsan Commissary has their own sushi bar...

Tsunami makes pretty tasty sushi. Not quite as good as Fuji but better than E-Mart...

They had some shrimp gyoza, 10 for $3.  So, I bought some and fried/steamed them up...

Taste test: Taylor-made gyoza rocks, no comparison!

Job Shadowing in the Clinic...

Three times a year, 3rd year dental students from Seoul National, Chosun, and Yonsei University dental schools participate in a two week internship with the 618th specialists--Prosthodontics, Endodontics, Pediatrics, Oral Surgery and Periodontics.  This is the class from Yonsei at their graduation luncheon...

COLs Park and Rock took a moment to share comments and pass out graduation certificates. Definitely a handshake and picture time!

Four Yonsei students with MAJ Kim and myself... the student on the right put on a stethoscope (dentists don't keep many of those around) and Kim chose to throw on his surgical cap and button up... the students followed suit. Such posers!

I call this: Five Asians and a White Dude

EFMB Training...

The 121 has an EFMB study group--they're intense, meeting 4 times/week. Saturdays mean an 0800 ruck march! Here I am heading out at 0715 into single digit weather... brrrr!

Nice 5-man, 6 mile litter-carry around Yongsan base... our group finished 1st and just over an hour... hooah! Add a man and substitute a 35-pound ruck for the box and we looked like this...

The aftermath: arm muscles a bit tired, but aerobically ok.  Took off my boot to find...

Curt "Red Sox" Schilling-esque... and the cause? Sharp toe nail... need a pedicure!

Christmas in January...

The 618th popped for new loupes! Measured and ordered in October 2009... late arrival but it's cool...

These Orascoptic HiRes Loupes are $1,295 and America's #1 dental/medical loupe.  Take a look at my dental school loupes... didn't survive an Iraqi deployment!

Paid $695 for them in 1997 from our Academy of LDS Dentists scholarship... and can't bear to part with them... just yet!

Your call... Cut or Rolled?

Quaker Oats (rolled oats) and Bob's Red Mill (cut oats) great meals for breakfast... or anytime.

Especially when "energized" with some yummy add-ins...

Truth be told, Quaker is an easy cook and Bob's is a timely affair. However, my Sanyo rice cooker has a "porridge" setting... and voila! Bon appètit...

MacCulloch to Hall of Honor...

Former Husky Todd MacCulloch joins the Pac-10 Hall of Honor as a 2011 inductee. His all-time Husky stats: scoring - 1,743 (5th), field goal percentage - .664 (1st), rebounds - 985 (5th), blocked shots - 142 (2nd)

After completing his career, MacCulloch was a second round draft choice (47th overall) by the Philadelphia 76ers. He amassed 1,369 career points in a four-year NBA career before injuries forced him to retire early.

MacCulloch holds several UW single-game marks that still stand today, including field goal percentage (10-10 vs. ASU, 2/29/96) and most rebounds in a game with 21 twice.

 Here's Todd and Avery in a shot at HecEd

Record Cold Weather...

The weather in Seoul is colder than normal. Three snow storms and everything sticks...

If this continues, there could be power outages!

Seoul has a latitude of 37°34′8″ with a high of 23°F today.  Lovely Kennewick sits at 46°12′13″ (590 miles north of Seoul) where it's 54°F. The Pacific Ocean takes our cold weather and warms it up for the folks in the PNW... nice, huh!

FTX at Camp Carroll...

The 618th gathered in Area IV for our semi-annual field training exercises...

We had daily formation...

And warrior training like the CS chamber...

During free time, I studied in the library...

And sacked out with 2 majors & 2 lieutenant colonels.  We had some buzz saws!

Jim's Gym...

Winter chill nixes outdoor running! Plan B: Megatrium Fitness Center (MFC) on B1 floor...

Head past the second column and turn right...

$55/month gets use of gym equipment, treadmills, aerobics room, and locker/showers...

With my bum shoulder, I stick to the treadmill and ab crunches for now...

MFC offers laundered towels and gym clothes... like junior high PE class!

Girls get orange and guys get black...