Happy Birthday Weekend!

Oi yoi I'm tired.

This past week has been hectic to the extreme and yet also really, really great. Chris' birthday was Saturday so we decided to throw a burger party! Ashley came over early to help out with food (and colour my hair) and then Chris, Dan, Jessie, Justin, Meaghan and Kevin all came over bringing MORE food and we hung out. It was pretty great. After that we went to my first ever professional soccer game -8,000 won a ticket (c.$8.00)! It was great, although it rained a bit and there was no score, it was still a fun time to be there with everyone and watch the game (and have fun). Then we headed back to my place (Dan and Ash had to go home) and had a bit 'o cheesecake, though by this point I was pretty tired and full of (bean)burgers.

Yesterday Jessie and Justin came by to extend the birthday fun and Jessie and I went to the spa... essentially a room of hot-tubs, showers, shower/vanity stations (where you sit on a little seat with a shower and basin) and LOTS of naked Korean women. It was a fun time, though a bit crowded. From there we came back and watched a movie: 10,000BC. It was interesting and, in my opinion, pretty good.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!

So... now I'm sleepy and ready for a nap. Which I think I'm going to do right now.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

"Kickin' it in Geumchon"

This is the funniest thing I've seen in a long time! Anyone who has lived (or even visited) in South Korea will LOVE this video... and those who haven't will probably still find it completely hilarious...




Intro:
This song goes out to all the waygooks lookin’ for the place to be

Chorus:
Kickin’ it in Geumchon, Oh, Oh
Komsomnida, Annyong Haseyo
Kickin’ it in Geumchon, Oh, Oh,
Komsomnida, Annyong Haseyo
Kickin’ It, Where? In Geumchon Where?
In Geumchon. Where? In Geumchon Where?
Kickin’ it in Geumchon, Oh, Oh

Verse 1:
South Korea’s got Jeju, South Korea’s got Seoul
Busan and Ilsan if that’s how you roll
But when you work at EV, and live in Paju
Then the town to get down is 15 minutes from you, How do I get there?
Hop on the 900 bus
I use my T-money card so there’s never no fuss
Jump off at the station, or shall I say “yuk”
Are you fluent in Korean? No I got a phrasebook
Pang Pang, now we’re off to the races
To the backstreet market checkin’ out pig faces
Octupus on sale, squid 2 for 1
Let’s hit the waterpark for fun in the sun, I got my swimcap!
Baskin Robbins and Pizza Hut
Knock Domino’s down then slam Dunkin’ Donuts
Geumchon rocks, then it rocks some more
The street meat is sweet and corndogs galore

Chorus:
Kickin’ it in Gumcheon, Oh, Oh
Komsomnida, Annyong Haseyo
Kickin’ it in Gumcheon, Oh, Oh,
Komsomnida, Annyong Haseyo
Kickin’ It, Where? In Gumcheon Where?
In Gumcheon. Where? In Gumcheon Where?
Kickin’ it in Gumcheon, Oh, Oh

Verse 2:
Sometimes it’s spelled with a G, I’ve seen it spelled with a K
Sometimes it’s spelled with an E, I’ve seen the E go away
But regardless of spelling, pronunciation’s the same
The town’s so explosive, Boomchon could be it’s name
The movie theater keeps it real with no subtitles
But we never go cuz there’s no subtitles
But birthday party time it’s so simple to rally
We alls grab our balls at the bowling alley
Then to the Sky Golf hittin’ nothin’ but net
The locals wanna wager but it’s illegal to bet
If your mouth is dry, or if your throat’s got a tickle
Part for the Family Mart, to lick a popsicle
Hungry for bibim bop? The choices never stop
The spice is so nice could make a tear drop
We dedicate the bridge, but not in haste
To the cabbage that we ravage with the chili paste taste

Bridge:
Kimchi, Kimchi, it is good for you and me
Kimchi, Kimchi, it is good for you and me
Kimchi, Kimchi, it is good for you and me
Kimchi, Kimchi, it is good for you and me

Pre-Verse 3:
Kickin’ it
In Boomchon
Kickin’ it
in Boomchon

Verse 3:
When I go to Geumchon, I look at all the hotties
Those ahgashis, they got the hottest bodies
The padded bras, the high heeled shoes
Hey ladies? Can I buy you some brews?
Drinkin’ Cass-uh, drinkin’ Hite-uh
Feelin’ alright-uh, drinkin’ all night-uh
La festa’s no longer the best
Ride your scooter to Guemchon and head over to Zest
The barman’s got flair, flippin’ bottles in the air
Tom Cruise in Cocktail can’t even compare
Upstairs at Posse yogurt soju’s flowin’
Plus Froot Loop balls and the roofdeck’s blowin’
Nature videos while I’m singin’ my song
Number six one three seven at the local Noraebong
Want a night on the town? Wanna spend some won?
Come kick it with us, come kick it in Gumcheon

Chorus:
Kickin’ it in Gumcheon, Oh, Oh
Komsomnida, Annyong Haseyo
Kickin’ it in Gumcheon, Oh, Oh,
Komsomnida, Annyong Haseyo
Kickin’ It, Where? In Gumcheon Where?
In Gumcheon. Where? In Gumcheon Where?
Kickin’ it in Gumcheon, Oh, Oh

(Written by Christian Zonts. The EV Boyz are Christian Zonts, Mike Nance, and Brian Peterson)

http://lofbomm.com/2008/03/14/kickin-it-in-geumchon/

pointless blogging?

How many of you read blogs regularly? Do you read a certain type of blog, like a religious blog? blogs about the environment? World issues? Your friend's blogs? Are you frequent commenters, or do you only comment occasionally (or not at all)? Do you write a blog? If so, how often? Do people usually read your blog (as far as you know)? If so, do you know how many? Do they post comments? I'm just curious about this blog thing. I either write to share things I think are interesting, or to keep friends updated on what's up with me. I read blogs I find interesting, and comment on between 75 and 50% of the posts I read. I like hearing how people are doing and I like commenting so they know I'm interested in what they have to say (as well as to share an opinion). Since I write mostly for other people (I have a journal for my personal writing) I like to get feedback. However, I don't want people to feel like they have to leave comments if they have nothing to say, so I thought I'd just see who is out there reading (if there's anyone), to decide whether I should bother blogging here. I mean, if the only people who read my blog are the people I should just email anyway, then it's superfluous. Right? Right.

"One foot in front of the other: Going through life with the lens cap off"

Living life to its fullest isn't about

checking off thrills from a list;

It's about being fearless in following my dreams,

courageous in accepting

that some will go unfulfilled

and taking the time to savor

something as simple

as a cup

of tea

-Michael

The man who wrote this poem also wrote a blog called "One foot in front of the other: Going through life with the lens cap off". It is a life-changing blog. I came across it accidently late lastish year and have been following it since. In Michael's own words, this is what the blog is about.

This blog was created Nov. 18, 2005.
I want to use it to open a window on my life and my many interests -- chief among them a passion for Japan. I lived there from 1995-98, teaching English in a rural junior high school and immersing myself in the study of Japanese religions and culture. (Visit my Web site, http://www.sliceofjapan.com/)
I also want to share my experience of living with parathyroid cancer, an extremely rare and often incurable disease, and how this constant reminder of my own mortality shapes my life and colors my perspective.

His blog is very interested in Zen buddhism, but also in simply the characteristics of the human spirit.

I have always known

that at last I would take this road, but yesterday

I did not know that it would be today.

--by Ariwara no Norihira

Michael died in January, leaving behind many people who have been touched by his honest search for the meaning of life as his slowly came closer to its end. I was one of them, and I wish to share his blog with you all. It spans from November 2005 to January 2008 and he has written in each of the spanning months.

Some of my favourite blogs thus far, though I have many to read as I am a few years behind in reading them:
Thursday February 28, 2008. "Thinking About My Brother" and "Daiku"
Saturday, November 26, 2005. My Life as a Clock
Tuesday, December 20, 2005. Paving Stones on the Path to Hell

Life pretty much boils down to love, [he] concluded. Love, and compassion.

In short, I highly recommend his blog and, as I read through it, I'm going to share some of his insights as well as make some of my own. I hope you all enjoy them...