OK, so it's been forever since I have been on here and I know that my blog has been totally neglected. In my defense, the last few months have been pretty crazy. Hubby came home from Korea at then end of June just in time for our anniversary. I was very excited to have him home again but then things started to get very busy. We spent the 4th of July visiting my family and then the rest of July and August were spent frantically trying to figure out what we would do come the end of August when Hubby ETSed from the active duty army.
We were hoping that that Hubby would be offered a job outside of the military before the end of August but this was not to be so, we went for plan B - move in with my parents for a few months while Hubby continues the job search. We had to be out of our house on post on Hubby's exact ETS date and housing was less than flexible in helping us coordinate the move so it was a bit of a frantic month trying to make all of the arrangements.
Two days before Hubby's ETS, the Jonas Brothers came to pack up our house and prepare all of our things for storage. No, I am not kidding, that was the name of the moving company. The Irony was not lost on me and May agreed that it was a bit humorous. Thank God for little moments like that or I might have lost my mind. On a side note in case you were wondering, the army provides us 6 months of storage while we are "in transition." We continue to pray that Hubby finds a job before then. So anyway.... it took two days for the movers to pack up and then empty our house. It was quite the experience since half of the information that we had been told prior to moving day turned out to be wrong. For example. the moving company had told us that we needed to purchase our own washer bolts which we frantically ordered online with rush delivery to get them in time only to discover that the army had paid the moving company to provide them for us. AWESOME... NOT. This was just one of a laundry list of things that we were misinformed about. The movers made a complete mess of the house and one of the female packers even left used feminine products on my bathroom sink... yeah thanks for that. Can you say gross? I mean yeah I understand that she needed to use the bathroom but she could have picked up after herself. Whatever happened to common courtesy?
Needless to say we survived and after the truck left we packed all of the remaining items into our already pretty loaded down car. Choosing what to take with us for an indefinite amount of time and what to send to storage was not an easy task and we could only hope that we had chosen well. After living out of our suitcases for the last couple months I can say that we did OK but its hard not being able to have all of our things. After packing up the car we spent the night scrubbing the house down from the movers mess. I had cleaned the whole house prior to their arrival but after they left you could barely tell. Thank goodness for May who let me borrow her vacuum.
So that pretty much brings us up to the present. We have been living at my parents while Hubby job searches and I have been working as a substitute again. Hubby has become a "weekend warrior" with the reserves so he won't be completely done with the army for another few years. We are crossing our fingers and praying that a job comes along for him soon but we are trying very hard to be patient.... not always an easy feat. I am taking things week by week and at times day by day. I will try to update here more often but no promises. I miss all of you (friends who are reading this) so drop me a line and let me know how you are!
Monday, October 22, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Quilting and Cross Stitch
I can't remember if I mentioned this in a previous post but after I finished making my aprons back in September, I began a quilting project. I wanted to do something with Hubby's old uniforms that he had wanted to throw way because they were worn out or too stained to wear anymore. I stopped him from taking them to the trash and he was more than glad to give them to me for "craft purposes" lol. After surfing the net I found a couple of cool ideas including quilts and purses. I made the purse first awhile back and posted a photo here on my blog. The quilt has taken me a lot longer to complete partly because I often get frustrated with projects that are not "instant gratification." I got bored or frustrated and put it aside for months at a time. However, I finally have it finished! I know it isn't perfect but in some ways I think that just adds character to it and this IS my very first quilt so cut me some slack? I think this will be a cool keepsake since the uniforms that I used to make it were the ones that Hubby wore while he was in Iraq. I think it turned out pretty cool. The photo isn't the best... sorry!
Awhile back, I also completed and then framed a cross stitch project but I never posted it here so I thought I would now. I hadn't done cross stitch since middle school when I had done one project but this turned out great! I think the framing really compliments it too. Sorry for the glare from the glass on the photo...
Awhile back, I also completed and then framed a cross stitch project but I never posted it here so I thought I would now. I hadn't done cross stitch since middle school when I had done one project but this turned out great! I think the framing really compliments it too. Sorry for the glare from the glass on the photo...
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Korean Adventure Part 11: Heading Home - The Final Chapter
All too soon it was time for me to head back home to the States. The morning I left Hubby helped me repack my suitcase and I went with him to get his hair cut before it was time to head to the airport.
It took a taxi and a bus ride to get to the airport but we made it with time to spare. The airport had a touch screen map/FAQ kiosk just like the mall. I thought it was pretty cool. The airport there is huge! We had to use the map just to figure out where to check in. After checking in, Hubby took me to lunch at the airport Bennigan's. I thought it would be a safe place to go since they have Bennigan's in the US but the menu was in Korean so we had to ask the waitress lots of questions about what everything was and she only spoke a little English so it was a challenge. Hubby told me that he will be a lot more patient with people who don't speak English when he gets back to the US because he knows what it is like not to speak the language.
Saying goodbye was difficult but Hubby assured me that the next few months would go by quickly. A baby cried the entire way from Korea to San Francisco. It was a long flight but ironically it was actually two hours shorter than the flight going to Korea because of the way the wind blows.
I finally arrived back in San Francisco but was thankful that I had a long layover because I got stuck in the customs line for over an hour... even though I was towards the very front of the line. The system went down and the line was at a standstill for over 45 minutes. Couple that with tired and slightly annoyed passengers and you can imagine what standing in line was like.
Thanks to San Fran's poor signage, as I mentioned on the way there, I got a bit lost trying to figure out how to get to my connecting gate but eventually I found it and picked up some food while I was waiting to board. My flight was overbooked and I could have gotten a free travel voucher to give up my seat but at that point I just wanted to get home.
May was kind enough to pick me up when I finally arrived back home and she had already dropped off Bubbles, my fish, at my house. She is so thoughtful! I was glad to be back home but ironically just hours after I got back two tornadoes ripped through the town that I live in. Thank God they didn't get close enough to post to affect me but still.. nice welcome home gift from mother nature. LOL it figures. At least it happened AFTER I got home and not while I was trying to fly here.
I miss Hubby but hopefully he will be on his way home before I know it and then he will be getting out of the army so we will not have to deal with a year long separation again. I can't wait to see him again. Thanks for showing me Korea Baby! I had fun and I hope you did too :)
It took a taxi and a bus ride to get to the airport but we made it with time to spare. The airport had a touch screen map/FAQ kiosk just like the mall. I thought it was pretty cool. The airport there is huge! We had to use the map just to figure out where to check in. After checking in, Hubby took me to lunch at the airport Bennigan's. I thought it would be a safe place to go since they have Bennigan's in the US but the menu was in Korean so we had to ask the waitress lots of questions about what everything was and she only spoke a little English so it was a challenge. Hubby told me that he will be a lot more patient with people who don't speak English when he gets back to the US because he knows what it is like not to speak the language.
Saying goodbye was difficult but Hubby assured me that the next few months would go by quickly. A baby cried the entire way from Korea to San Francisco. It was a long flight but ironically it was actually two hours shorter than the flight going to Korea because of the way the wind blows.
I finally arrived back in San Francisco but was thankful that I had a long layover because I got stuck in the customs line for over an hour... even though I was towards the very front of the line. The system went down and the line was at a standstill for over 45 minutes. Couple that with tired and slightly annoyed passengers and you can imagine what standing in line was like.
Thanks to San Fran's poor signage, as I mentioned on the way there, I got a bit lost trying to figure out how to get to my connecting gate but eventually I found it and picked up some food while I was waiting to board. My flight was overbooked and I could have gotten a free travel voucher to give up my seat but at that point I just wanted to get home.
May was kind enough to pick me up when I finally arrived back home and she had already dropped off Bubbles, my fish, at my house. She is so thoughtful! I was glad to be back home but ironically just hours after I got back two tornadoes ripped through the town that I live in. Thank God they didn't get close enough to post to affect me but still.. nice welcome home gift from mother nature. LOL it figures. At least it happened AFTER I got home and not while I was trying to fly here.
I miss Hubby but hopefully he will be on his way home before I know it and then he will be getting out of the army so we will not have to deal with a year long separation again. I can't wait to see him again. Thanks for showing me Korea Baby! I had fun and I hope you did too :)
Korean Adventure Part 10: Other Activities and Attending the Movies in Korea.
Other than the major events that I have already discussed in various posts, Hubby gave me a tour of his base and we watched a bunch of movies that we borrowed from the post library. I got to see him participate in his bowling league twice while I was there and it was fun to meet his friends.
I also learned that there are members of the Korean army who work with the US soldiers and wear our uniforms. Hubby told me that they act as liaisons of sorts and are called Katuses. I thought it sounded like it was pronounced Patuses but when I googled for spelling I found it with a 'K' on wikipedia. They wear the US uniforms but with the Korean flag and have their name tapes in Korean with the American translation underneath in subtext. I thought this was interesting. Military service is mandatory for all males in Korea.
We also attended a movie off post one day which was an interesting experience. In Korea, going to a movie is slightly different than it is here. The movie theater itself was on the 14th and 15th floor of a building and the Koreans do not stand in line for tickets. Rather, you take a number and have a seat on benches until your number is called. When it is your turn, you go up to the counter to get your tickets.
The cashiers do not speak English very well so if you are American you ask to see the "book." Hubby loves movies so he is a pro at the whole "movie theater procedure!" They hand you a binder which basically has movie posters in it shrunk down to 8 1/2in by 11in to fit into the binder. You flip through it to pick out your movie and then point to it when you decide. We decided to see John Carter. They offered quite a few American movies and they are shown in English but they have Korean subtitles.
After choosing the movie you want to see the cashier asks you where you would like to sit and shows you on the computer where the open seats are. You actually have to sit in the seat you choose, like going to a concert. The seats are all the same price but I guess this prevents people from having to rush into the theater before the movie starts to find a good seat?
The theater offers popcorn in butter and caramel flavors as well as ice cream, and a variety of other snacks. There is also an arcade inside the theater and there were even a few stores! The actual theaters were on the second floor of the theater (15th? floor of the building?)
After the movie you have to be very careful about where you throw your trash. The Koreans are very anal about recycling and will yell at you if you don't do it right! I also want to mention that although Korea is in general a very clean country... there are very few public garbage cans. You will not see them on the streets. I have no idea what they do with it!
I also learned that there are members of the Korean army who work with the US soldiers and wear our uniforms. Hubby told me that they act as liaisons of sorts and are called Katuses. I thought it sounded like it was pronounced Patuses but when I googled for spelling I found it with a 'K' on wikipedia. They wear the US uniforms but with the Korean flag and have their name tapes in Korean with the American translation underneath in subtext. I thought this was interesting. Military service is mandatory for all males in Korea.
Attending the Movies
We also attended a movie off post one day which was an interesting experience. In Korea, going to a movie is slightly different than it is here. The movie theater itself was on the 14th and 15th floor of a building and the Koreans do not stand in line for tickets. Rather, you take a number and have a seat on benches until your number is called. When it is your turn, you go up to the counter to get your tickets.
The cashiers do not speak English very well so if you are American you ask to see the "book." Hubby loves movies so he is a pro at the whole "movie theater procedure!" They hand you a binder which basically has movie posters in it shrunk down to 8 1/2in by 11in to fit into the binder. You flip through it to pick out your movie and then point to it when you decide. We decided to see John Carter. They offered quite a few American movies and they are shown in English but they have Korean subtitles.
After choosing the movie you want to see the cashier asks you where you would like to sit and shows you on the computer where the open seats are. You actually have to sit in the seat you choose, like going to a concert. The seats are all the same price but I guess this prevents people from having to rush into the theater before the movie starts to find a good seat?
The theater offers popcorn in butter and caramel flavors as well as ice cream, and a variety of other snacks. There is also an arcade inside the theater and there were even a few stores! The actual theaters were on the second floor of the theater (15th? floor of the building?)
After the movie you have to be very careful about where you throw your trash. The Koreans are very anal about recycling and will yell at you if you don't do it right! I also want to mention that although Korea is in general a very clean country... there are very few public garbage cans. You will not see them on the streets. I have no idea what they do with it!
Korean Adventure Part 9: Gyeongbokgung Palace
Towards the end of my visit to Korea, Hubby took me to visit Gyeongbokgung palace in downtown Seoul. We arrived just in time to see the ceremony marking the changing of the royal guards. The guards were dressed in bright colors and carried weapons such as spears and bow and arrows. It was a very interesting ceremony to watch. They carried brightly colored flags and the royal orchestra played its very unique instruments as they marched along with the guards.
After the change of the guard, Hubby and I went through the gates of the palace and discovered that there would be a free English speaking tour in five minutes. I picked up a brochure on the palace and began reading it while we waited. It was strange to see the tall buildings of the city looming right outside of the palace walls. Looking the other direction it was cool to see how the palace roof was built to follow the line of the mountain behind it. The early Koreans believed that their architecture should flow with nature.
It was a freezing cold day and it was very windy so I think our tour guide cut the tour slightly short but it was still informative. We learned many interesting facts about the palace, Korea's history, and the kings who had lived/ruled there.
The palace itself was very colorful and elaborate. There were figures that I would call gargoyles everywhere to ward off evil spirits and there were small figures on the eves of every roof top. There were dragons painted onto the ceilings and pottery on display inside the rooms.
The palace had an elaborate chimney system to heat it and seemed very architecturally advanced for the time period. We also were able to see a rounded sundial that was invented under the rule of King Sejong. It is supposedly much more accurate than a flat sundial. Our tour guide read the time for us and it turned out to be about 20 minutes different from the time according to our watches. She told us that the sundial is actually more accurate for the actual time in Korea according to the sun but that Korea conformed to the western time zones and that is where the 20 minutes were lost. King Sejong also invented a water clock so that he could tell time on cloudy days or when it was raining. We didn't get to see it but it seems like he was pretty smart!
The back part of the palace grounds has a beautiful garden but since we were there in the winter everything was brown. Hubby was able to go when the weather was nicer and things were still green. It was still pretty though even in winter. It must be very beautiful in summer. Over the back wall you can see a blue roofed building. We were told that it is the Blue House where the Korean president lives.
After walking around for a bit after our tour and having a quick lunch we went to the museum next door to the palace and walked around learning about Korean culture. It was interesting and it gave us a chance to warm up!
Afterwards we visited a small courtyard outside of the museum that had statues representing the Korean new year. I was born in the year of the tiger. I was excited to find this out because I love tigers. My mom was born in the year of the dog which I find hilarious because she hates dogs! Hubby was born in the year of the ox. When were you born?
When we finished looking at everything, Hubby took me a few blocks away to a market area where we shopped for souvenirs. There was so much to look at and there were a lot of interesting things for sale although some seemed over priced. We walked around and had a good time exploring the shops until we found a couple of things to buy and headed back to the train for the trip back to Hubby's post.
After the change of the guard, Hubby and I went through the gates of the palace and discovered that there would be a free English speaking tour in five minutes. I picked up a brochure on the palace and began reading it while we waited. It was strange to see the tall buildings of the city looming right outside of the palace walls. Looking the other direction it was cool to see how the palace roof was built to follow the line of the mountain behind it. The early Koreans believed that their architecture should flow with nature.
It was a freezing cold day and it was very windy so I think our tour guide cut the tour slightly short but it was still informative. We learned many interesting facts about the palace, Korea's history, and the kings who had lived/ruled there.
The palace itself was very colorful and elaborate. There were figures that I would call gargoyles everywhere to ward off evil spirits and there were small figures on the eves of every roof top. There were dragons painted onto the ceilings and pottery on display inside the rooms.
The palace had an elaborate chimney system to heat it and seemed very architecturally advanced for the time period. We also were able to see a rounded sundial that was invented under the rule of King Sejong. It is supposedly much more accurate than a flat sundial. Our tour guide read the time for us and it turned out to be about 20 minutes different from the time according to our watches. She told us that the sundial is actually more accurate for the actual time in Korea according to the sun but that Korea conformed to the western time zones and that is where the 20 minutes were lost. King Sejong also invented a water clock so that he could tell time on cloudy days or when it was raining. We didn't get to see it but it seems like he was pretty smart!
The back part of the palace grounds has a beautiful garden but since we were there in the winter everything was brown. Hubby was able to go when the weather was nicer and things were still green. It was still pretty though even in winter. It must be very beautiful in summer. Over the back wall you can see a blue roofed building. We were told that it is the Blue House where the Korean president lives.
After walking around for a bit after our tour and having a quick lunch we went to the museum next door to the palace and walked around learning about Korean culture. It was interesting and it gave us a chance to warm up!
Afterwards we visited a small courtyard outside of the museum that had statues representing the Korean new year. I was born in the year of the tiger. I was excited to find this out because I love tigers. My mom was born in the year of the dog which I find hilarious because she hates dogs! Hubby was born in the year of the ox. When were you born?
When we finished looking at everything, Hubby took me a few blocks away to a market area where we shopped for souvenirs. There was so much to look at and there were a lot of interesting things for sale although some seemed over priced. We walked around and had a good time exploring the shops until we found a couple of things to buy and headed back to the train for the trip back to Hubby's post.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Korean Adventure Part 8: Celebrating Saint Patrick's Day
Koreans don't celebrate St. Patrick's Day but soldiers do! Hubby and his buddies wanted to go out to celebrate on St. Patrick's Day. We started off the celebration by going out for dinner. We left the post around 4:45 and took a taxi to downtown Uijeongbu. Once downtown we walked to a Korean pizza place called Mr. Pizza. Yeah, I know, really original name. It was around the corner from Mr. Doughnut.
One pizza is about $30 in Korea which is crazy but again I think all American food is higher priced. They had a bunch of specialty pizzas but Hubby had to explain to the waitress that I only like cheese on my pizza and nothing else. I know, I am boring. Hubby's buddies ordered a pizza with a bunch of different toppings but were surprised to find corn on the pizza when it was delivered. Who knew corn could be put on pizza? Hubby said he thought the pizza was made with goat cheese but I couldn't tell and I am very picky. Two interesting things to note about eating out in Korea are 1) you don't tip the waitress and 2) she won't come over every five minutes to see if you need anything. Instead, there is a button on the table that you press when you want service.
After dinner we walked around downtown Uijeongbu a bit. They have all sorts of statues and art in the plazas and all of the store fronts were colorful and lit up with neon signs. There was so much to look at I was a bit overwhelmed. I didn't know where to look first! I almost tripped over an uneven sidewalk because I was trying to look at everything and wasn't watching where I was walking.
We went to a flea market area and looked around for awhile. There were vendors selling everything from shoes to food and everything in between. One of Hubby's buddies wasn't wearing green and we kept giving him grief so he decided to buy a green Yankees hat. He didn't realize until after he had paid for it that the back said "New Yuck" in stead of New York. Ha ha... the Yankees suck anyway.
The boys wanted to start drinking but most of the bars were still closed. Eventually they found one and we trekked up to the second floor where it was. In Korea, they cannot build out so they build up instead. Each floor of a building can be a different store, restaurant, etc. We sat at a table by the window and people watched as people walked by below.
Hubby pointed out a barbershop that we could see from the window that had two barber poles out front. Apparently in Korea, two barber poles means that they offer haircuts with a happy ending. Who knew? Hubby said that they were told this info when they were in processed so that they would not get themselves in trouble.
Eventually we ended up at a bar called Radio Clock where we spent the remainder of the evening. The Korean bar tenders were very friendly and the soldier's explained to them that it was St. Patrick's Day. They took song requests all night and would look up any song that you asked for. I heard a Korean version of a Rhianna song and a J Lo song which was interesting. Hubby played darts and we had a good time until we decided it was time to head home.
One pizza is about $30 in Korea which is crazy but again I think all American food is higher priced. They had a bunch of specialty pizzas but Hubby had to explain to the waitress that I only like cheese on my pizza and nothing else. I know, I am boring. Hubby's buddies ordered a pizza with a bunch of different toppings but were surprised to find corn on the pizza when it was delivered. Who knew corn could be put on pizza? Hubby said he thought the pizza was made with goat cheese but I couldn't tell and I am very picky. Two interesting things to note about eating out in Korea are 1) you don't tip the waitress and 2) she won't come over every five minutes to see if you need anything. Instead, there is a button on the table that you press when you want service.
After dinner we walked around downtown Uijeongbu a bit. They have all sorts of statues and art in the plazas and all of the store fronts were colorful and lit up with neon signs. There was so much to look at I was a bit overwhelmed. I didn't know where to look first! I almost tripped over an uneven sidewalk because I was trying to look at everything and wasn't watching where I was walking.
We went to a flea market area and looked around for awhile. There were vendors selling everything from shoes to food and everything in between. One of Hubby's buddies wasn't wearing green and we kept giving him grief so he decided to buy a green Yankees hat. He didn't realize until after he had paid for it that the back said "New Yuck" in stead of New York. Ha ha... the Yankees suck anyway.
The boys wanted to start drinking but most of the bars were still closed. Eventually they found one and we trekked up to the second floor where it was. In Korea, they cannot build out so they build up instead. Each floor of a building can be a different store, restaurant, etc. We sat at a table by the window and people watched as people walked by below.
Hubby pointed out a barbershop that we could see from the window that had two barber poles out front. Apparently in Korea, two barber poles means that they offer haircuts with a happy ending. Who knew? Hubby said that they were told this info when they were in processed so that they would not get themselves in trouble.
Eventually we ended up at a bar called Radio Clock where we spent the remainder of the evening. The Korean bar tenders were very friendly and the soldier's explained to them that it was St. Patrick's Day. They took song requests all night and would look up any song that you asked for. I heard a Korean version of a Rhianna song and a J Lo song which was interesting. Hubby played darts and we had a good time until we decided it was time to head home.
Korean Adventure Part 7: A Few Words About Restrooms
For this post, I want to pause for a moment to tell you about my experience with bathrooms in Korea. Over the span of my trip I experienced the full range of restrooms from elaborate to well, lets say minimalistic. Of course I encountered many "normal" restrooms while I was there too but these two particular restrooms left a lasting impression on me.
Most Hi-Tech Toilet Ever
When we were at T.G.I.Friday's at the Coex mall I went to use the bathroom and discovered the world's most high tech toilet. Attached to the side of the toilet was a controller with a bunch of buttons on it giving the user several options including, bidet spray, seat temperature control, water sounds, etc. I was a bit intimidated. I just wanted to use it real quick and get out. I mean seriously a warmed toilet seat and a butt wash? No thank you.
Most Hi-Tech Toilet Ever
When we were at T.G.I.Friday's at the Coex mall I went to use the bathroom and discovered the world's most high tech toilet. Attached to the side of the toilet was a controller with a bunch of buttons on it giving the user several options including, bidet spray, seat temperature control, water sounds, etc. I was a bit intimidated. I just wanted to use it real quick and get out. I mean seriously a warmed toilet seat and a butt wash? No thank you.
On the flip side....
Where's The Toilet?
One of the days that we took the train we stopped to use the restroom in one of the train stations. I had used other bathrooms in the train stations without incident so I wasn't expecting anything out of the ordinary. The restroom itself was beautifully decorated with tile and floral art. There was a line but it was moving fairly quickly. Two women before me went in and then it was my turn. I walked into the stall, shut the door, and promptly asked myself "Where's the toilet?" Answer - there wasn't one. Instead, there was what basically amounts to a porcelain coated hole in the floor with a lever next to it to flush. "OK", I thought to myself, "how does this work?" I was not amused but I braved the situation any way and managed not to make a fool of myself. Below is a picture of what this "toilet" looked like. I was too stunned to take my own photo and regretted it later but apparently I was not the only one who was shocked by these bathrooms because I found someone else who blogged about it. I borrowed the photos on this page from them but I will include the link to their blog at the bottom of the page should you want to read about their experience!
The soap was also a bit odd in that it was not liquid soap but a bar that was more or less attached to the wall. I am not sure how sanitary this is but I guess soap is soap. Here is what it looked like.
Most bathrooms also have a call button that you can press for help... I wonder if anyone has ever pressed it.
I discovered later that in bathrooms with these traditional toilets, there is usually at least one stall that has the western toilet symbol meaning that it does have what I would consider a "real" toilet but hey I wanted to experience Korea right? Well I guess using a traditional Korean restroom was just part of that adventure!
If you think this is as odd as I did. Feel free to check out this person's blog on the Korean bathrooms too. I borrowed the photos from them. http://www.shenventure.com/2011/05/21/encounters-with-seouls-public-toilets/
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