| I just remembered that today was the shortest day of the year. Wish there was more of a cosmic feeling to it. Instead, it passed by almost ignored, except that all evening we kept saying to each other, "Man, it feels later than it really is." |
Haven’t had much to say lately. I’ve been thinking that I’m slacking on entries, but I figure there’s no reason to write if I’m not feeling like I have much to say. I’m writing anyway because part of my purpose in all of this is the exercise of it. Just like jogging - so Dave says, since I can never commit to it: Sometimes you can go on and on and other times every step is like lifting a ton of bricks.
I’m excited for the two weeks ahead that bring my favorite holidays of the year. This year seems more like X-mas than last, I think solely because of the little tree doing a mini-Las Vegas out in the living room. We stacked the accumulated presents under it and the effect is that of a normal Christmas. Yesterday we decorated with lights and ornaments my G-ma sent this year and last. Good stuff.
Yesterday, too, we rode the bus up to the Grand Hyatt, just after lunch, and ate dessert in the non-smoking section of the lounge. I had a slice of black forest cake, which didn’t seem chocolatey enough, and Dave had chocolate mousse, which had weird nutty noodles all over the top. I don’t know what else to call that nutty tasting stuff except noodles. It actually looked like a mess of worms, but "noodles" is less disgusting. They were pushed aside to reach the rich mousse underneath. Smoke infiltrated despite the little plastic pleading signs.
Today was Insa-dong. I needed to get another gift for Dave so I sent him into one store while I ducked into an alley to seek his gift. Later we ended up spending a lot on ourselves, together, most of which we decided to place under the tree. Seemed wrong to have a mini-X-mas just days before the real one.
And what is it with the chocolate in this country? Stopped by Burger King for fries and chocolate shakes, only the shakes tasted more like vanilla. The staff assured us they were chocolate, but they totally weren’t. It’s like the same thing wherever I go here: never enough chocolate! I mean, if chocolate isn’t culturally accepted in the appropriate levels, then don’t offer it! Offer something else, but don’t mess with the dosage! So frustrating. Can hardly get a decent milkshake in this country.
At BK they had these cute little Coke polar bears. Dave tried to buy one for me but they wouldn’t let him have it unless he bought a Whopper Meal too. He asked why they couldn’t sell it to him for the price of the Meal without actually having to prepare food he wasn’t going to eat - he’s vegetarian - but the little mindless drones behind the counter couldn’t comprehend independent thought.
Strolled from Insa-dong to Kwangwhamun through the entirety of P’imulgot, an alleyway running behind the main street. In the old dynastic days, noble people would pass by on the main road and any commoner there would have to stop and bow. There were so many nobles that the commoners were constantly bowing and couldn’t get to where they were going, so they constructed a walkway behind the first row of buildings where folks could walk without being bothered to kiss the dirt. Odd that the alley is always empty while the main road is almost impassable because of the hoards of young people.
Anyway, I bought nearly $30 worth of paper from Kyobo Bookstore. A lot of paper, bulky and heavy. I’m trying to make a photo album (from scratch).
It’s water day tomorrow - don’t let me forget.
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