Nice vicosity. Deep rich purple color. Nose has hints of black licorice, currants, and soft leather. I know that sounds odd, but it's a nice bouquet.
Wonderful mouth feel...silky with a bit of pepper.
I'm getting coffee...like tanzania peaberry- it's a bit earthy. I'm tasting some licorice, tart strawberry, and semi-sweet nestle chocolate chips.
Wow...the taste lingers and lingers. I'm getting a bit of mint and rosemary. It's herbacious! I like it. I'm going to score it a 91.
Dan
I'm selling off a bunch of stuff that I don't need anymore. Here's the pics. If anyone is interested then e-mail me dnlgray@gmail.com. I'm near Nambu Terminal.
Dan
Analyze your dreams!
I am teaching symbolic analysis this term at my hagwon. Here's a list of different symbols that could be related to dreams. I feel that if I can teach kids the concept of symbols then they'll be able to make their own connections.
I'm also going to be showing Cool Hand Luke and analyze the symbols in that movie.
Dan
1. Animals represent habits.
Animals function from instinct, reacting to pleasure or pain. Having differing degrees of memory and the ability for attention, animals lack the evolutionary development including sufficient brain capacity needed for imagination. Most animals in a dream will represent the dreamer's habits.
1. Baby is a new idea.
A child is the result of uniting of a male and female. In the language of mind this represents the cooperative use of the aggressive and receptive principles to create something new.
3. Clothes signify how the dreamer is expressing Self.
Clothes indicate the part of the Self others view. Many cultures describe the three-fold nature of Self as: the person we show to others, the person we believe ourselves to be, and the person we truly are. Clothes signify what we allow others to see.
4. Death symbolizes change.
Death in a dream is frightening to most dreamers because they lack understanding of the nature of physical life and death. For the aware thinker, the physical life is known as a temporary existence for the soul. The French philosopher Voltaire said centuries ago "It is no more surprising to be born twice than once, everything in nature is resurrection." In the Universal Language of Mind, death signifies a change from one state of being to another.
5, Examination signifies the mental action of discerning the truth.
An examination in a dream symbolizes a time for reflection and evaluation. The subject of the test will give further insight into the theme for reflection. For example, a medical exam will indicate the need to identify attitudes producing wholeness or dis-ease.
6. Falling symbolizes the action of returning to awake consciousness.
There is an old wive's tale which says if you dream you are falling and you hit the bottom you will die. This is not true. Falling symbolizes the mental action of returning to awake consciousness therefore at the time the dreamer would "hit bottom" he/she usually wakes and the dream images are no longer present.
7. Food represents knowledge.
Physically food nourishes the body. Mentally knowledge nourishes the mind, thus the old adage of "food for thought". In the Universal Language of Mind food represents knowledge.
8. Games represent the perspective of life held by the dreamer.
Individual games such as solitaire, indicate the dreamer's tendency for self-direction where excelling or enjoyment is a significant motive. Interactive games, like chess, indicate the dreamer's tendency toward challenge where competition is a significant motive. In either case, the dream is highlighting the dreamer's mental dexterity.
9. Hair symbolizes conscious thoughts.
How hair appears in the dream indicates the quality of thoughts giving the dreamer insight into the way he/she thinks and what alterations can be made to enhance thinking. For instance, if hair is being cut, this will symbolize the dreamer's current tendency to reorganize thoughts.
10. Hands indicate purpose.
Purpose is the ability to conceive an intention for actions. Intention is important because it sets into motion karma, an indebtedness to Self for learning. When hands are outstanding in a dream it will usually indicate the dreamer's need to give attention to the intentions behind the actions.
11. House represent the dreamer's mind.
The mind is comprised of three major divisions; conscious, subconscious and superconscious. Within these divisions are a total of seven levels of consciousness. A house symbolizes the mind. The floors of the house represent different parts of the mind, the activity signifies how the dreamer is using this structure for thinking.
12. Killing indicates the changes occurring within the dreamer.
Death in a dream represents change. Killing, as part of the dream action indicates a change occurring in the dreamer and his/her life. The type of change is signified by who or what is killed in the dream. For instance, the dreamer killing a tiger represents changing a habit.
13. Marriage symbolizes a commitment between the conscious mind and the subconscious mind for the fulfillment of desires.
Marriage is the union of a male and female. In the Universal Language of Mind, marriage represents the commitment between the conscious and subconscious minds. in order for this commitment to occur there mist be a conscious willingness for cooperation with the inner Self. This type of dream indicates the initiation of a new awareness for the dreamer.
14. Money represents exchange of value.
How the money is being used in the dream will indicate what is being valued. For instance, if money is being used to buy a house this will symbolize the value the dreamer places upon his own mind; if it is being invested for future use it will indicate the wealth derived from experiences which is permanent understanding.
15. Mountain represents a challenge or obstacle in the dreamer's life.
Which one will depend upon the dreamer's own attitude. If the dreamer is using his or her mind and abilities to move forward in life the mountain will signify a challenge to be met and understood. If the dreamer is unaware and unenlightened concerning his own thinking capacities the mountain will indicate an obstacle to overcome.
16. Naked symbolizes openness and honesty.
Honesty is the result of the alignment of the thinker's thoughts and words or actions. When someone appears nude in a dream this will represent an aspect of the Self that is being expressed openly; the ideas manifest in their true form without alteration or limitation.
17. People represent aspects of Self.
An aspect is a particular way of thinking and expressing. An easy way to recognize aspects of Self is to acknowledge the roles the thinker plays in life- the devoted spouse, loving parent, reliable employee, the good friend. Shakespeare said, "All the world's a stage, and we are merely the players." Aspects reflect characteristics of the dreamer- the comic, the shy one, the ambitious one, the generous one. Whatever quality the dreamer attaches to that person is the quality of Self being addressed in the dream message.
18. Radio symbolizes a means for receiving mind-to-mind communication.
Telepathy is the sending and receiving of thoughts from one person to another. The radio symbolizes the means to receive thoughts from another whereas a broadcasting station symbolizes the means to project or send thoughts.
19. Roads symbolize the dreamer's direction in life.
In the Universal Language of Mind a road represents the direction of the dreamer's life. The direction in life is determined by the goals and ideals the thinker makes his own. These can be imaged, created from the thinker's desire for a better life, or remembered, an imitation of what the thinker has seen others accomplish.
20. School symbolizes a place for learning.
Mankind exists in the physical level of consciousness for the purpose of learning and growing in understanding that will feed the soul. In the language of mind, a school signifies the dreamer's awareness of this purpose.
21. Sexual intercourse symbolizes the unification of the conscious and subconscious minds for the purpose of creation.
In a dream, the man and woman represent the conscious and subconscious minds. Intercourse symbolizes the unified effort for the purpose of creation. Those familiar with the mechanics of visualization will understand this mental process. Visualization is a science by which consciously imaged desires are subconsciously produced becoming manifested into physical reality.
22. Teacher is a superconscious aspect.
A teacher is one more knowledgeable than the Self. The superconscious mind holds the complete plan for maturity as spirit, and the previous progress made toward that maturity. Dream interaction with a teacher indicates a desire and need for communication and rapport with the deepest part of mind.
23. Teeth represent a means of assimilating knowledge so it can be used.
Teeth are the first instruments of the digestive system. In a dream, teeth symbolize a means of assimilating knowledge. Losing teeth is a common symbol in a dream indicating a change in the way the dreamer assimilates what is learned.
24. Vehicles represent a means for giving and receiving experience.
All vehicles symbolize in the language of mind a means for experience. Small vehicles represent the dreamer's physical body. Large vehicles symbolize the dreamer's choice of vehicles (such as an organization, company, church) for experiencing what physical life affords. The use of the vehicle will give indications of the type of experience being related in the dream message. For instance, an Ambulance will indicate a need for healing in the giving and receiving of experience, a Police Car will signify the need for discipline in experiences.
25. Water represents conscious life experiences.
Physical water is essential to life. In the language of mind, water symbolizes the experience in the physical level of consciousness. These are the everyday, walking interactions, situations, and circumstances that arise bringing opportunities for enrichment.
I am teaching symbolic analysis this term at my hagwon. Here's a list of different symbols that could be related to dreams. I feel that if I can teach kids the concept of symbols then they'll be able to make their own connections.
I'm also going to be showing Cool Hand Luke and analyze the symbols in that movie.
Dan
1. Animals represent habits.
Animals function from instinct, reacting to pleasure or pain. Having differing degrees of memory and the ability for attention, animals lack the evolutionary development including sufficient brain capacity needed for imagination. Most animals in a dream will represent the dreamer's habits.
1. Baby is a new idea.
A child is the result of uniting of a male and female. In the language of mind this represents the cooperative use of the aggressive and receptive principles to create something new.
3. Clothes signify how the dreamer is expressing Self.
Clothes indicate the part of the Self others view. Many cultures describe the three-fold nature of Self as: the person we show to others, the person we believe ourselves to be, and the person we truly are. Clothes signify what we allow others to see.
4. Death symbolizes change.
Death in a dream is frightening to most dreamers because they lack understanding of the nature of physical life and death. For the aware thinker, the physical life is known as a temporary existence for the soul. The French philosopher Voltaire said centuries ago "It is no more surprising to be born twice than once, everything in nature is resurrection." In the Universal Language of Mind, death signifies a change from one state of being to another.
5, Examination signifies the mental action of discerning the truth.
An examination in a dream symbolizes a time for reflection and evaluation. The subject of the test will give further insight into the theme for reflection. For example, a medical exam will indicate the need to identify attitudes producing wholeness or dis-ease.
6. Falling symbolizes the action of returning to awake consciousness.
There is an old wive's tale which says if you dream you are falling and you hit the bottom you will die. This is not true. Falling symbolizes the mental action of returning to awake consciousness therefore at the time the dreamer would "hit bottom" he/she usually wakes and the dream images are no longer present.
7. Food represents knowledge.
Physically food nourishes the body. Mentally knowledge nourishes the mind, thus the old adage of "food for thought". In the Universal Language of Mind food represents knowledge.
8. Games represent the perspective of life held by the dreamer.
Individual games such as solitaire, indicate the dreamer's tendency for self-direction where excelling or enjoyment is a significant motive. Interactive games, like chess, indicate the dreamer's tendency toward challenge where competition is a significant motive. In either case, the dream is highlighting the dreamer's mental dexterity.
9. Hair symbolizes conscious thoughts.
How hair appears in the dream indicates the quality of thoughts giving the dreamer insight into the way he/she thinks and what alterations can be made to enhance thinking. For instance, if hair is being cut, this will symbolize the dreamer's current tendency to reorganize thoughts.
10. Hands indicate purpose.
Purpose is the ability to conceive an intention for actions. Intention is important because it sets into motion karma, an indebtedness to Self for learning. When hands are outstanding in a dream it will usually indicate the dreamer's need to give attention to the intentions behind the actions.
11. House represent the dreamer's mind.
The mind is comprised of three major divisions; conscious, subconscious and superconscious. Within these divisions are a total of seven levels of consciousness. A house symbolizes the mind. The floors of the house represent different parts of the mind, the activity signifies how the dreamer is using this structure for thinking.
12. Killing indicates the changes occurring within the dreamer.
Death in a dream represents change. Killing, as part of the dream action indicates a change occurring in the dreamer and his/her life. The type of change is signified by who or what is killed in the dream. For instance, the dreamer killing a tiger represents changing a habit.
13. Marriage symbolizes a commitment between the conscious mind and the subconscious mind for the fulfillment of desires.
Marriage is the union of a male and female. In the Universal Language of Mind, marriage represents the commitment between the conscious and subconscious minds. in order for this commitment to occur there mist be a conscious willingness for cooperation with the inner Self. This type of dream indicates the initiation of a new awareness for the dreamer.
14. Money represents exchange of value.
How the money is being used in the dream will indicate what is being valued. For instance, if money is being used to buy a house this will symbolize the value the dreamer places upon his own mind; if it is being invested for future use it will indicate the wealth derived from experiences which is permanent understanding.
15. Mountain represents a challenge or obstacle in the dreamer's life.
Which one will depend upon the dreamer's own attitude. If the dreamer is using his or her mind and abilities to move forward in life the mountain will signify a challenge to be met and understood. If the dreamer is unaware and unenlightened concerning his own thinking capacities the mountain will indicate an obstacle to overcome.
16. Naked symbolizes openness and honesty.
Honesty is the result of the alignment of the thinker's thoughts and words or actions. When someone appears nude in a dream this will represent an aspect of the Self that is being expressed openly; the ideas manifest in their true form without alteration or limitation.
17. People represent aspects of Self.
An aspect is a particular way of thinking and expressing. An easy way to recognize aspects of Self is to acknowledge the roles the thinker plays in life- the devoted spouse, loving parent, reliable employee, the good friend. Shakespeare said, "All the world's a stage, and we are merely the players." Aspects reflect characteristics of the dreamer- the comic, the shy one, the ambitious one, the generous one. Whatever quality the dreamer attaches to that person is the quality of Self being addressed in the dream message.
18. Radio symbolizes a means for receiving mind-to-mind communication.
Telepathy is the sending and receiving of thoughts from one person to another. The radio symbolizes the means to receive thoughts from another whereas a broadcasting station symbolizes the means to project or send thoughts.
19. Roads symbolize the dreamer's direction in life.
In the Universal Language of Mind a road represents the direction of the dreamer's life. The direction in life is determined by the goals and ideals the thinker makes his own. These can be imaged, created from the thinker's desire for a better life, or remembered, an imitation of what the thinker has seen others accomplish.
20. School symbolizes a place for learning.
Mankind exists in the physical level of consciousness for the purpose of learning and growing in understanding that will feed the soul. In the language of mind, a school signifies the dreamer's awareness of this purpose.
21. Sexual intercourse symbolizes the unification of the conscious and subconscious minds for the purpose of creation.
In a dream, the man and woman represent the conscious and subconscious minds. Intercourse symbolizes the unified effort for the purpose of creation. Those familiar with the mechanics of visualization will understand this mental process. Visualization is a science by which consciously imaged desires are subconsciously produced becoming manifested into physical reality.
22. Teacher is a superconscious aspect.
A teacher is one more knowledgeable than the Self. The superconscious mind holds the complete plan for maturity as spirit, and the previous progress made toward that maturity. Dream interaction with a teacher indicates a desire and need for communication and rapport with the deepest part of mind.
23. Teeth represent a means of assimilating knowledge so it can be used.
Teeth are the first instruments of the digestive system. In a dream, teeth symbolize a means of assimilating knowledge. Losing teeth is a common symbol in a dream indicating a change in the way the dreamer assimilates what is learned.
24. Vehicles represent a means for giving and receiving experience.
All vehicles symbolize in the language of mind a means for experience. Small vehicles represent the dreamer's physical body. Large vehicles symbolize the dreamer's choice of vehicles (such as an organization, company, church) for experiencing what physical life affords. The use of the vehicle will give indications of the type of experience being related in the dream message. For instance, an Ambulance will indicate a need for healing in the giving and receiving of experience, a Police Car will signify the need for discipline in experiences.
25. Water represents conscious life experiences.
Physical water is essential to life. In the language of mind, water symbolizes the experience in the physical level of consciousness. These are the everyday, walking interactions, situations, and circumstances that arise bringing opportunities for enrichment.
I'm going to be busy as heck for the next 4 weeks so I probably won't be posting as much. Forgive me and wish me luck.
Dan
Dan
In my writing class the students were supposed to brainstorm about disturbing trends in Korea and I said that Black Bean Tea was a disturbing trend. Then I went on to expound on the ghastliness of corn tea (it tastes like soggy popcorn!) and that this will lead Korea to make teas from everything: from flower teas, bundaeggi tea, water tea, book-tea, and even pen-tea. The last one was a mistake. My class exploded with laughter and was left red faced.
I have started the search process to find my birth parents and I have made an appointment to see my adoption file. I feel a bit apprehensive and excited about this. As some of you know, I was adopted when I was five so I have memories of my parents and of the orphanage that I stayed.
Hmmm...yeah.
Dan
Hmmm...yeah.
Dan
This wine won a gold medal in 2005 from the Concours Mondial Bruxelles 2006.
I bought it at Shinsege for 25,000.
It has a sparkling, crisp bouquet like a bit of spearmint vapor and a bright coffee cent. It's very quaint.
In the mouth it is velvety and feels like a high quality darjeeling tea. It is good. Really good. I could just roll it around my mouth.
The taste is blackberry and flat cherry coke but nix the syrup. Its like crisp blackberry Clearly Canadian. With a bit of green...wheatgrass.
I think I'm going to buy a couple extra bottles. Because it will get better.
In
7,777
I just got my 7,777th visit to my blog! Thank you whoever you are!
Dan
Dan
This is my favorite Murakami story. If you have time, have a read. It always brings a smile to my face.
Dan
Haruki Murakami: On seeing the 100% perfect girl one beautiful April morning
One beautiful April morning, on a narrow side street in Tokyo's fashionable Harujuku neighborhood, I walked past the 100% perfect girl.
Tell you the truth, she's not that good-looking. She doesn't stand out in any way. Her clothes are nothing special. The back of her hair is still bent out of shape from sleep. She isn't young, either - must be near thirty, not even close to a "girl," properly speaking. But still, I know from fifty yards away: She's the 100% perfect girl for me. The moment I see her, there's a rumbling in my chest, and my mouth is as dry as a desert.
Maybe you have your own particular favorite type of girl - one with slim ankles, say, or big eyes, or graceful fingers, or you're drawn for no good reason to girls who take their time with every meal. I have my own preferences, of course. Sometimes in a restaurant I'll catch myself staring at the girl at the next table to mine because I like the shape of her nose.
But no one can insist that his 100% perfect girl correspond to some preconceived type. Much as I like noses, I can't recall the shape of hers - or even if she had one. All I can remember for sure is that she was no great beauty. It's weird.
"Yesterday on the street I passed the 100% girl," I tell someone.
"Yeah?" he says. "Good-looking?"
"Not really."
"Your favorite type, then?"
"I don't know. I can't seem to remember anything about her - the shape of her eyes or the size of her breasts."
"Strange."
"Yeah. Strange."
"So anyhow," he says, already bored, "what did you do? Talk to her? Follow her?"
"Nah. Just passed her on the street."
She's walking east to west, and I west to east. It's a really nice April morning.
Wish I could talk to her. Half an hour would be plenty: just ask her about herself, tell her about myself, and - what I'd really like to do - explain to her the complexities of fate that have led to our passing each other on a side street in Harajuku on a beautiful April morning in 1981. This was something sure to be crammed full of warm secrets, like an antique clock build when peace filled the world.
After talking, we'd have lunch somewhere, maybe see a Woody Allen movie, stop by a hotel bar for cocktails. With any kind of luck, we might end up in bed.
Potentiality knocks on the door of my heart.
Now the distance between us has narrowed to fifteen yards.
How can I approach her? What should I say?
"Good morning, miss. Do you think you could spare half an hour for a little conversation?"
Ridiculous. I'd sound like an insurance salesman.
"Pardon me, but would you happen to know if there is an all-night cleaners in the neighborhood?"
No, this is just as ridiculous. I'm not carrying any laundry, for one thing. Who's going to buy a line like that?
Maybe the simple truth would do. "Good morning. You are the 100% perfect girl for me."
No, she wouldn't believe it. Or even if she did, she might not want to talk to me. Sorry, she could say, I might be the 100% perfect girl for you, but you're not the 100% boy for me. It could happen. And if I found myself in that situation, I'd probably go to pieces. I'd never recover from the shock. I'm thirty-two, and that's what growing older is all about.
We pass in front of a flower shop. A small, warm air mass touches my skin. The asphalt is damp, and I catch the scent of roses. I can't bring myself to speak to her. She wears a white sweater, and in her right hand she holds a crisp white envelope lacking only a stamp. So: She's written somebody a letter, maybe spent the whole night writing, to judge from the sleepy look in her eyes. The envelope could contain every secret she's ever had.
I take a few more strides and turn: She's lost in the crowd.
Now, of course, I know exactly what I should have said to her. It would have been a long speech, though, far too long for me to have delivered it properly. The ideas I come up with are never very practical.
Oh, well. It would have started "Once upon a time" and ended "A sad story, don't you think?"
Once upon a time, there lived a boy and a girl. The boy was eighteen and the girl sixteen. He was not unusually handsome, and she was not especially beautiful. They were just an ordinary lonely boy and an ordinary lonely girl, like all the others. But they believed with their whole hearts that somewhere in the world there lived the 100% perfect boy and the 100% perfect girl for them. Yes, they believed in a miracle. And that miracle actually happened.
One day the two came upon each other on the corner of a street.
"This is amazing," he said. "I've been looking for you all my life. You may not believe this, but you're the 100% perfect girl for me."
"And you," she said to him, "are the 100% perfect boy for me, exactly as I'd pictured you in every detail. It's like a dream."
They sat on a park bench, held hands, and told each other their stories hour after hour. They were not lonely anymore. They had found and been found by their 100% perfect other. What a wonderful thing it is to find and be found by your 100% perfect other. It's a miracle, a cosmic miracle.
As they sat and talked, however, a tiny, tiny sliver of doubt took root in their hearts: Was it really all right for one's dreams to come true so easily?
And so, when there came a momentary lull in their conversation, the boy said to the girl, "Let's test ourselves - just once. If we really are each other's 100% perfect lovers, then sometime, somewhere, we will meet again without fail. And when that happens, and we know that we are the 100% perfect ones, we'll marry then and there. What do you think?"
"Yes," she said, "that is exactly what we should do."
And so they parted, she to the east, and he to the west.
The test they had agreed upon, however, was utterly unnecessary. They should never have undertaken it, because they really and truly were each other's 100% perfect lovers, and it was a miracle that they had ever met. But it was impossible for them to know this, young as they were. The cold, indifferent waves of fate proceeded to toss them unmercifully.
One winter, both the boy and the girl came down with the season's terrible inluenza, and after drifting for weeks between life and death they lost all memory of their earlier years. When they awoke, their heads were as empty as the young D. H. Lawrence's piggy bank.
They were two bright, determined young people, however, and through their unremitting efforts they were able to acquire once again the knowledge and feeling that qualified them to return as full-fledged members of society. Heaven be praised, they became truly upstanding citizens who knew how to transfer from one subway line to another, who were fully capable of sending a special-delivery letter at the post office. Indeed, they even experienced love again, sometimes as much as 75% or even 85% love.
Time passed with shocking swiftness, and soon the boy was thirty-two, the girl thirty.
One beautiful April morning, in search of a cup of coffee to start the day, the boy was walking from west to east, while the girl, intending to send a special-delivery letter, was walking from east to west, but along the same narrow street in the Harajuku neighborhood of Tokyo. They passed each other in the very center of the street. The faintest gleam of their lost memories glimmered for the briefest moment in their hearts. Each felt a rumbling in their chest. And they knew:
She is the 100% perfect girl for me.
He is the 100% perfect boy for me.
But the glow of their memories was far too weak, and their thoughts no longer had the clarity of fouteen years earlier. Without a word, they passed each other, disappearing into the crowd. Forever.
A sad story, don't you think?
Yes, that's it, that is what I should have said to her.
Dan
Haruki Murakami: On seeing the 100% perfect girl one beautiful April morning
One beautiful April morning, on a narrow side street in Tokyo's fashionable Harujuku neighborhood, I walked past the 100% perfect girl.
Tell you the truth, she's not that good-looking. She doesn't stand out in any way. Her clothes are nothing special. The back of her hair is still bent out of shape from sleep. She isn't young, either - must be near thirty, not even close to a "girl," properly speaking. But still, I know from fifty yards away: She's the 100% perfect girl for me. The moment I see her, there's a rumbling in my chest, and my mouth is as dry as a desert.
Maybe you have your own particular favorite type of girl - one with slim ankles, say, or big eyes, or graceful fingers, or you're drawn for no good reason to girls who take their time with every meal. I have my own preferences, of course. Sometimes in a restaurant I'll catch myself staring at the girl at the next table to mine because I like the shape of her nose.
But no one can insist that his 100% perfect girl correspond to some preconceived type. Much as I like noses, I can't recall the shape of hers - or even if she had one. All I can remember for sure is that she was no great beauty. It's weird.
"Yesterday on the street I passed the 100% girl," I tell someone.
"Yeah?" he says. "Good-looking?"
"Not really."
"Your favorite type, then?"
"I don't know. I can't seem to remember anything about her - the shape of her eyes or the size of her breasts."
"Strange."
"Yeah. Strange."
"So anyhow," he says, already bored, "what did you do? Talk to her? Follow her?"
"Nah. Just passed her on the street."
She's walking east to west, and I west to east. It's a really nice April morning.
Wish I could talk to her. Half an hour would be plenty: just ask her about herself, tell her about myself, and - what I'd really like to do - explain to her the complexities of fate that have led to our passing each other on a side street in Harajuku on a beautiful April morning in 1981. This was something sure to be crammed full of warm secrets, like an antique clock build when peace filled the world.
After talking, we'd have lunch somewhere, maybe see a Woody Allen movie, stop by a hotel bar for cocktails. With any kind of luck, we might end up in bed.
Potentiality knocks on the door of my heart.
Now the distance between us has narrowed to fifteen yards.
How can I approach her? What should I say?
"Good morning, miss. Do you think you could spare half an hour for a little conversation?"
Ridiculous. I'd sound like an insurance salesman.
"Pardon me, but would you happen to know if there is an all-night cleaners in the neighborhood?"
No, this is just as ridiculous. I'm not carrying any laundry, for one thing. Who's going to buy a line like that?
Maybe the simple truth would do. "Good morning. You are the 100% perfect girl for me."
No, she wouldn't believe it. Or even if she did, she might not want to talk to me. Sorry, she could say, I might be the 100% perfect girl for you, but you're not the 100% boy for me. It could happen. And if I found myself in that situation, I'd probably go to pieces. I'd never recover from the shock. I'm thirty-two, and that's what growing older is all about.
We pass in front of a flower shop. A small, warm air mass touches my skin. The asphalt is damp, and I catch the scent of roses. I can't bring myself to speak to her. She wears a white sweater, and in her right hand she holds a crisp white envelope lacking only a stamp. So: She's written somebody a letter, maybe spent the whole night writing, to judge from the sleepy look in her eyes. The envelope could contain every secret she's ever had.
I take a few more strides and turn: She's lost in the crowd.
Now, of course, I know exactly what I should have said to her. It would have been a long speech, though, far too long for me to have delivered it properly. The ideas I come up with are never very practical.
Oh, well. It would have started "Once upon a time" and ended "A sad story, don't you think?"
Once upon a time, there lived a boy and a girl. The boy was eighteen and the girl sixteen. He was not unusually handsome, and she was not especially beautiful. They were just an ordinary lonely boy and an ordinary lonely girl, like all the others. But they believed with their whole hearts that somewhere in the world there lived the 100% perfect boy and the 100% perfect girl for them. Yes, they believed in a miracle. And that miracle actually happened.
One day the two came upon each other on the corner of a street.
"This is amazing," he said. "I've been looking for you all my life. You may not believe this, but you're the 100% perfect girl for me."
"And you," she said to him, "are the 100% perfect boy for me, exactly as I'd pictured you in every detail. It's like a dream."
They sat on a park bench, held hands, and told each other their stories hour after hour. They were not lonely anymore. They had found and been found by their 100% perfect other. What a wonderful thing it is to find and be found by your 100% perfect other. It's a miracle, a cosmic miracle.
As they sat and talked, however, a tiny, tiny sliver of doubt took root in their hearts: Was it really all right for one's dreams to come true so easily?
And so, when there came a momentary lull in their conversation, the boy said to the girl, "Let's test ourselves - just once. If we really are each other's 100% perfect lovers, then sometime, somewhere, we will meet again without fail. And when that happens, and we know that we are the 100% perfect ones, we'll marry then and there. What do you think?"
"Yes," she said, "that is exactly what we should do."
And so they parted, she to the east, and he to the west.
The test they had agreed upon, however, was utterly unnecessary. They should never have undertaken it, because they really and truly were each other's 100% perfect lovers, and it was a miracle that they had ever met. But it was impossible for them to know this, young as they were. The cold, indifferent waves of fate proceeded to toss them unmercifully.
One winter, both the boy and the girl came down with the season's terrible inluenza, and after drifting for weeks between life and death they lost all memory of their earlier years. When they awoke, their heads were as empty as the young D. H. Lawrence's piggy bank.
They were two bright, determined young people, however, and through their unremitting efforts they were able to acquire once again the knowledge and feeling that qualified them to return as full-fledged members of society. Heaven be praised, they became truly upstanding citizens who knew how to transfer from one subway line to another, who were fully capable of sending a special-delivery letter at the post office. Indeed, they even experienced love again, sometimes as much as 75% or even 85% love.
Time passed with shocking swiftness, and soon the boy was thirty-two, the girl thirty.
One beautiful April morning, in search of a cup of coffee to start the day, the boy was walking from west to east, while the girl, intending to send a special-delivery letter, was walking from east to west, but along the same narrow street in the Harajuku neighborhood of Tokyo. They passed each other in the very center of the street. The faintest gleam of their lost memories glimmered for the briefest moment in their hearts. Each felt a rumbling in their chest. And they knew:
She is the 100% perfect girl for me.
He is the 100% perfect boy for me.
But the glow of their memories was far too weak, and their thoughts no longer had the clarity of fouteen years earlier. Without a word, they passed each other, disappearing into the crowd. Forever.
A sad story, don't you think?
Yes, that's it, that is what I should have said to her.
In
korea,
B-Boy Korea
Wow! What a show! It was full of energy, heart, and beautiful people. I would recommend that everyone go see it. I went with Yea-jin and she really liked it (especially when the guys took off their shirts^^).
You can get a coupon from Groove Magazine to get 50% off. We got 2 front row seats for 50,000 won.
Here're some pics.
Dan
In
tidbits of zen,
Hamlet
I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offences at
my beck than I have thoughts to put them in,
imagination to give them shape, or time to act them
in. What should such fellows as I do crawling
between earth and heaven? We are arrant knaves,
all; believe none of us.
my beck than I have thoughts to put them in,
imagination to give them shape, or time to act them
in. What should such fellows as I do crawling
between earth and heaven? We are arrant knaves,
all; believe none of us.
In
school,
Jack Palance
Jack Palance was one of the great movie heavies of the 1950s, when he was often cast as a sinister villain in film noirs, westerns and melodramas. His impressive debut in 1950's Panic in the Streets was followed by Oscar-nominated performances as menacing baddies in Sudden Fear (1952, starring Joan Crawford) and Shane (1953, starring Alan Ladd). He played a has-been boxer in television's Requiem for a Heavyweight (1956) and won an Emmy, but in the 1960s and '70s he made mostly forgettable movies in the U.S. and around the world. His faded career was resurrected in 1989 when he played a mean crime king in Tim Burton's Batman, and his turn as the comically creepy trail boss in City Slickers (1991, co-starring Billy Crystal) earned him an Oscar as best supporting actor. While accepting the prize he showed the crowd his youthful vigor by dropping to the stage to perform one-handed pushups, and the wacky moment became his public signature. He also appeared in the 1994 sequel, City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold.
In
school,
Boll Weevil
boll weevil
n.
1. A small, grayish, long-snouted beetle (Anthonomus grandis) of Mexico and the southern United States, having adults that puncture cotton buds and larvae that hatch in and damage cotton bolls.
2. Informal. A conservative white Southern Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
n.
1. A small, grayish, long-snouted beetle (Anthonomus grandis) of Mexico and the southern United States, having adults that puncture cotton buds and larvae that hatch in and damage cotton bolls.
2. Informal. A conservative white Southern Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
"The people called her Our Lady of Chains. They called that not bcause she wore chains..."
"Not because she wore chains," the Daughters chanted.
"They called her Our Lady of Chains because she broke them."
"Not because she wore chains," the Daughters chanted.
"They called her Our Lady of Chains because she broke them."
Why is May singing Oh-Susanna. It's an awful racist song.
hmmm...
It must have some symbolic significance.
hmmm...
It must have some symbolic significance.
according to Personalitypage.com
The Protector
As an INFJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take things in primarily via intuition. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit with your personal value system.
INFJs are gentle, caring, complex and highly intuitive individuals. Artistic and creative, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities. Only one percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare of all the types.
INFJs place great importance on havings things orderly and systematic in their outer world. They put a lot of energy into identifying the best system for getting things done, and constantly define and re-define the priorities in their lives. On the other hand, INFJs operate within themselves on an intuitive basis which is entirely spontaneous. They know things intuitively, without being able to pinpoint why, and without detailed knowledge of the subject at hand. They are usually right, and they usually know it. Consequently, INFJs put a tremendous amount of faith into their instincts and intuitions. This is something of a conflict between the inner and outer worlds, and may result in the INFJ not being as organized as other Judging types tend to be. Or we may see some signs of disarray in an otherwise orderly tendency, such as a consistently messy desk.
INFJs have uncanny insight into people and situations. They get "feelings" about things and intuitively understand them. As an extreme example, some INFJs report experiences of a psychic nature, such as getting strong feelings about there being a problem with a loved one, and discovering later that they were in a car accident. This is the sort of thing that other types may scorn and scoff at, and the INFJ themself does not really understand their intuition at a level which can be verbalized. Consequently, most INFJs are protective of their inner selves, sharing only what they choose to share when they choose to share it. They are deep, complex individuals, who are quite private and typically difficult to understand. INFJs hold back part of themselves, and can be secretive.
But the INFJ is as genuinely warm as they are complex. INFJs hold a special place in the heart of people who they are close to, who are able to see their special gifts and depth of caring. INFJs are concerned for people's feelings, and try to be gentle to avoid hurting anyone. They are very sensitive to conflict, and cannot tolerate it very well. Situations which are charged with conflict may drive the normally peaceful INFJ into a state of agitation or charged anger. They may tend to internalize conflict into their bodies, and experience health problems when under a lot of stress.
Because the INFJ has such strong intuitive capabilities, they trust their own instincts above all else. This may result in an INFJ stubborness and tendency to ignore other people's opinions. They believe that they're right. On the other hand, INFJ is a perfectionist who doubts that they are living up to their full potential. INFJs are rarely at complete peace with themselves - there's always something else they should be doing to improve themselves and the world around them. They believe in constant growth, and don't often take time to revel in their accomplishments. They have strong value systems, and need to live their lives in accordance with what they feel is right. In deference to the Feeling aspect of their personalities, INFJs are in some ways gentle and easy going. Conversely, they have very high expectations of themselves, and frequently of their families. They don't believe in compromising their ideals.
INFJ is a natural nurturer; patient, devoted and protective. They make loving parents and usually have strong bonds with their offspring. They have high expectations of their children, and push them to be the best that they can be. This can sometimes manifest itself in the INFJ being hard-nosed and stubborn. But generally, children of an INFJ get devoted and sincere parental guidance, combined with deep caring.
In the workplace, the INFJ usually shows up in areas where they can be creative and somewhat independent. They have a natural affinity for art, and many excel in the sciences, where they make use of their intuition. INFJs can also be found in service-oriented professions. They are not good at dealing with minutia or very detailed tasks. The INFJ will either avoid such things, or else go to the other extreme and become enveloped in the details to the extent that they can no longer see the big picture. An INFJ who has gone the route of becoming meticulous about details may be highly critical of other individuals who are not.
The INFJ individual is gifted in ways that other types are not. Life is not necessarily easy for the INFJ, but they are capable of great depth of feeling and personal achievement.
Jungian functional preference ordering:
Dominant: Introverted Intuition
Auxilliary: Extraverted Feeling
Tertiary: Introverted Thinking
Inferior: Extraverted Sensing
Famous INFJs:
Nathan, prophet of Israel
Aristophanes
Chaucer
Goethe
Robert Burns, Scottish poet
U.S. Presidents: Martin Van Buren, James Earl "Jimmy" Carter
Nathaniel Hawthorne, author, poet
Fanny Crosby, (blind) hymnist
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Fred McMurray ("My Three Sons", various movies)
Shirley Temple Black, child actress, ambassador
Martin Luther King, Jr., civil rights leader, martyr
James Reston, newspaper reporter
Shirley McClain, actress ("Sweet Charity", ...)
Piers Anthony, author ("Xanth" series)
Michael Landon, actor ("Highway to Heaven," "Little House on the Prairie")
Tom Selleck, actor ("Magnum, P. I.," "Mr. Baseball")
Oprah Winfrey, talk show host
John Katz, critic, author
Paul Stookey, folk singer (Peter, Paul and Mary)
Angela Lansbury, actress ("Murder, She Wrote")
U. S. Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL)
Richard Gere, actor ("Pretty Woman", "Sommersby")
Billy Crystal, actor, comedian
Carrie Fisher, actress ("Star Wars")
Mohandas Gandhi and Eleanor Roosevelt are examples of the Counselor Idealist (INFJ).
Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury)
Nelson Mandela
Mel Gibson
Nicole Kidman
Jamie Foxx
Sela Ward
Mark Harmon
Gary Dourdan
Marg Helgaberger
Evangeline Lilly
Tori May
What's your type. Take the test.
The Protector
As an INFJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take things in primarily via intuition. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit with your personal value system.
INFJs are gentle, caring, complex and highly intuitive individuals. Artistic and creative, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities. Only one percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare of all the types.
INFJs place great importance on havings things orderly and systematic in their outer world. They put a lot of energy into identifying the best system for getting things done, and constantly define and re-define the priorities in their lives. On the other hand, INFJs operate within themselves on an intuitive basis which is entirely spontaneous. They know things intuitively, without being able to pinpoint why, and without detailed knowledge of the subject at hand. They are usually right, and they usually know it. Consequently, INFJs put a tremendous amount of faith into their instincts and intuitions. This is something of a conflict between the inner and outer worlds, and may result in the INFJ not being as organized as other Judging types tend to be. Or we may see some signs of disarray in an otherwise orderly tendency, such as a consistently messy desk.
INFJs have uncanny insight into people and situations. They get "feelings" about things and intuitively understand them. As an extreme example, some INFJs report experiences of a psychic nature, such as getting strong feelings about there being a problem with a loved one, and discovering later that they were in a car accident. This is the sort of thing that other types may scorn and scoff at, and the INFJ themself does not really understand their intuition at a level which can be verbalized. Consequently, most INFJs are protective of their inner selves, sharing only what they choose to share when they choose to share it. They are deep, complex individuals, who are quite private and typically difficult to understand. INFJs hold back part of themselves, and can be secretive.
But the INFJ is as genuinely warm as they are complex. INFJs hold a special place in the heart of people who they are close to, who are able to see their special gifts and depth of caring. INFJs are concerned for people's feelings, and try to be gentle to avoid hurting anyone. They are very sensitive to conflict, and cannot tolerate it very well. Situations which are charged with conflict may drive the normally peaceful INFJ into a state of agitation or charged anger. They may tend to internalize conflict into their bodies, and experience health problems when under a lot of stress.
Because the INFJ has such strong intuitive capabilities, they trust their own instincts above all else. This may result in an INFJ stubborness and tendency to ignore other people's opinions. They believe that they're right. On the other hand, INFJ is a perfectionist who doubts that they are living up to their full potential. INFJs are rarely at complete peace with themselves - there's always something else they should be doing to improve themselves and the world around them. They believe in constant growth, and don't often take time to revel in their accomplishments. They have strong value systems, and need to live their lives in accordance with what they feel is right. In deference to the Feeling aspect of their personalities, INFJs are in some ways gentle and easy going. Conversely, they have very high expectations of themselves, and frequently of their families. They don't believe in compromising their ideals.
INFJ is a natural nurturer; patient, devoted and protective. They make loving parents and usually have strong bonds with their offspring. They have high expectations of their children, and push them to be the best that they can be. This can sometimes manifest itself in the INFJ being hard-nosed and stubborn. But generally, children of an INFJ get devoted and sincere parental guidance, combined with deep caring.
In the workplace, the INFJ usually shows up in areas where they can be creative and somewhat independent. They have a natural affinity for art, and many excel in the sciences, where they make use of their intuition. INFJs can also be found in service-oriented professions. They are not good at dealing with minutia or very detailed tasks. The INFJ will either avoid such things, or else go to the other extreme and become enveloped in the details to the extent that they can no longer see the big picture. An INFJ who has gone the route of becoming meticulous about details may be highly critical of other individuals who are not.
The INFJ individual is gifted in ways that other types are not. Life is not necessarily easy for the INFJ, but they are capable of great depth of feeling and personal achievement.
Jungian functional preference ordering:
Dominant: Introverted Intuition
Auxilliary: Extraverted Feeling
Tertiary: Introverted Thinking
Inferior: Extraverted Sensing
Famous INFJs:
Nathan, prophet of Israel
Aristophanes
Chaucer
Goethe
Robert Burns, Scottish poet
U.S. Presidents: Martin Van Buren, James Earl "Jimmy" Carter
Nathaniel Hawthorne, author, poet
Fanny Crosby, (blind) hymnist
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Fred McMurray ("My Three Sons", various movies)
Shirley Temple Black, child actress, ambassador
Martin Luther King, Jr., civil rights leader, martyr
James Reston, newspaper reporter
Shirley McClain, actress ("Sweet Charity", ...)
Piers Anthony, author ("Xanth" series)
Michael Landon, actor ("Highway to Heaven," "Little House on the Prairie")
Tom Selleck, actor ("Magnum, P. I.," "Mr. Baseball")
Oprah Winfrey, talk show host
John Katz, critic, author
Paul Stookey, folk singer (Peter, Paul and Mary)
Angela Lansbury, actress ("Murder, She Wrote")
U. S. Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL)
Richard Gere, actor ("Pretty Woman", "Sommersby")
Billy Crystal, actor, comedian
Carrie Fisher, actress ("Star Wars")
Mohandas Gandhi and Eleanor Roosevelt are examples of the Counselor Idealist (INFJ).
Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury)
Nelson Mandela
Mel Gibson
Nicole Kidman
Jamie Foxx
Sela Ward
Mark Harmon
Gary Dourdan
Marg Helgaberger
Evangeline Lilly
Tori May
What's your type. Take the test.
I picked this bottle up from my local wine store near Nambu Terminal for 19,000.
First of all, it is a dark, dark wine. It's almost black. As I swirl it, it shows nice vicosity.
It has a rich smell- I can smell some oak, dark chocolate and...hints of blackberry. The smell lingers in the nose. I could smell this all day.
The taste is a bit unexpected. I thought it would be dry, but it's actually a bit sweet. Not Mogen David sweet, but a hint of blueberry jam sweet. It actually tastes like blueberry! And if you didn't know this, blueberry is my favorite fruit!
I'm also getting a hint of plum. It's not oakey in the mouth, but has a bit of oak on the finish.
The wine might be a bit young, but it's a good light cabernet sauvignon. I'm going to score this a 90.
I'm going to get a couple extra bottles and put them away for a couple of months and at 19,000 it's a steal.
Hehe...it's so easy to be demoniacal. Comic Life and a Wacom is all you need. Zoom in!
In
Food,
wine
Sorry Vinapena
I shouldn't have done a tasting of Vinapena. It's just a table wine so it really needs to breath. Once it has some air, it's smooth and sweet. Not Mogen David sweet, but with a slight saccharine feel in the mouth. It's still not my favorite, but it can be dealt with. There is still a slight bitterness on the finish and it's a bitterness that itches the throat.
I'm going to change my score. I'll give it a 70.
Dan
I'm going to change my score. I'll give it a 70.
Dan
I'm going for the cheap stuff today, because I'd like to find a cheap bottle of sipping wine for thin days. I bought this at a wineshop around Nambu Terminal below Gyo Dae for 9000 won.
This wine is called Vinapena and it's from Castilla. There is no year. The color is a bit pale- not the richest of reds...it's more dimeatap purple.
The nose is...acrid. It smells like woodchips and Mogen David that's been outside in the sun for a couple hours. It has a hint of burnt tire. It smells dry on my nose. I'm not looking forward to this at all.
It tastes like moonshine mixed with gasoline. I'm not getting any fruit, just a burn. It tastes like cotton with a hint of lavendar?
I'm dumping this whole bottle. STAY AWAY FROM VINAPENA!
Score= 51...remember the worst is Mad Dog because it ain't even a wine. Gross!
It might be good to do shots with...hmmm...
I should say something good right? It has a beautiful cork. It's very well made and fits perfectly in the bottle.
This week's lesson is on Figurative Language, which is one of my favorites to teach. We start out by reading Alice Walker's "Am I Blue?" and I point out all the figurative language in the essay. Afterwards I write:
Taxi Driver
Dentist
A pillow,
Winning a Contest
A clock
Riding a busy subway
And tell them to write either a simile, metaphor, and personification for each one. The one that my students seem to have the most problem with is metaphor. Here are some metaphor examples.
The collision rang through the streets. The taxi driver stepped out of his mangled heap, stamped thrice-his hooves denting the asphalt. Smoke screamed out of his nostrils. He spread his horned fists and charged.
The doctor buzzed, buzzed, buzzed in my ear and then stuck me with his needle and sipped my blood.
Just as the bell rang I slammed my pencil on the paper. The black mark swirled around and around my answer. 2 points!
Taxi Driver
Dentist
A pillow,
Winning a Contest
A clock
Riding a busy subway
And tell them to write either a simile, metaphor, and personification for each one. The one that my students seem to have the most problem with is metaphor. Here are some metaphor examples.
The collision rang through the streets. The taxi driver stepped out of his mangled heap, stamped thrice-his hooves denting the asphalt. Smoke screamed out of his nostrils. He spread his horned fists and charged.
The doctor buzzed, buzzed, buzzed in my ear and then stuck me with his needle and sipped my blood.
Just as the bell rang I slammed my pencil on the paper. The black mark swirled around and around my answer. 2 points!
You wrote a lot and I commend your enthusiasm, but please focus on quality over quantity. Good writing should be direct, easy to grasp for the reader, and insightful. And it's always better to show through examples, figurative language, description, etc rather than by telling me about what you are telling me about.
And remember what Mark Twain said,
"I'm sorry. I didn't have the time to write you a shorter letter."
Am I being too harsh?
And remember what Mark Twain said,
"I'm sorry. I didn't have the time to write you a shorter letter."
Am I being too harsh?
Here are some interesting resources i found
Here's a dictionary on Bokonism
http://cns2.uni.edu/~wallingf/personal/bokonon.html
Here's a dictionary on Bokonism
http://cns2.uni.edu/~wallingf/personal/bokonon.html
I wonder if I could work Arm wrestling into a punishment for not doing homework...hmmm...
I'm researching and developing material for Cat's Cradle and A Secret Life of Bees for my middle school students at my job. It's going to be a lot of fun. I wonder how the students will react to Vonnegut.
Alrighty, back to work.
Dan
Alrighty, back to work.
Dan
Tonight I'm going to taste a bottle I got at the Shinsege Department store at the Express bus terminal. I must admit, the buyer for Shinsege has a nice nose and most of the wines I've gotten there have been pretty top notch. They wines in the 30-70,000 won (34-76 dollar range) have been wonderful. Everything seems well cellared and managed. I don't know about the salesperson knowledge because my Korean is poor. They have a nice range of American, Australian, and French wines.
This wine is a 2001 Chateau de Callac. I bought it for 30,000 won at Shinsege. It won a bronze metal in 2001.
This wine is dark and has a fragrantly bitter bouquet. The smell lingers and wafts between sweet and tangy. It has some legs when I swirl it around. I really like the smell of it. It's like Guatamala Antigua coffee with a bit of lemon zest.
It has a bit of a bite the alcohol is burns a bit, but as it sits out it mellows out. It has a woody, mesquite taste to it and I'm getting hints of cherries, a bit of mountain strawberry- it's got a bit of a tang to it. It definitely has some oak to it, but the tannins are really light so it's very drinkable.
I'm going to give it a 89. It's something that would go great with a coffee crusted steak, asparagus and a light caesar salad.
In retrospect, the wine has a tobacco finish^^
I'm looking for a talented up and coming comic book artist. I am a writer and I work for an entertainment company. Currently, I have one animation in the works. However, this is a very long process, so I want to start another project in the meantime. This time instead of starting with a cartoon pitch to the company, I would like to start out by with a Manga and then later try to develop this into a cartoon.
I have contacts in publishing and this would be a great opportunity for those who've been dying to do something creative in Korea that is unrelated to teaching English.
I am looking for people that have a unique style that can draw freehand and also on Adobe Illustrator or other computer based drawing applications.
If you are interested then message me and then I'll send you an e-mail address where you can send samples of your art.
Oh, and you should live in Seoul, Korea.
Thanks,
Dan
I have contacts in publishing and this would be a great opportunity for those who've been dying to do something creative in Korea that is unrelated to teaching English.
I am looking for people that have a unique style that can draw freehand and also on Adobe Illustrator or other computer based drawing applications.
If you are interested then message me and then I'll send you an e-mail address where you can send samples of your art.
Oh, and you should live in Seoul, Korea.
Thanks,
Dan
These were taken with my camera phone, so I'm sorry about the picture quality.
the last picture is of black rice pudding with icecream. It was pretty good.
I wish I could have gotten a better picture, but this is of two women on a motorcycle at night. The one woman is holding a baby and nobody is wearing a helmet.
the last picture is of black rice pudding with icecream. It was pretty good.
I wish I could have gotten a better picture, but this is of two women on a motorcycle at night. The one woman is holding a baby and nobody is wearing a helmet.
I'm sorry, I didn't tell everyone. Last week I went to Bali to get away from Korea for a couple days.
It was a very restful and productive time. I did some writing and I'm back in Korea with new perspective.
Sometimes you just have to get away from it all.
I stayed in Candidasa, which is a city to the east, at the Candi Beach Cottage. It had two beautiful pools and it was right on the beach. It also had a running trail- it's really nice to run among the palm trees in the morning.
My room was nice, although a bit dark. My TV didn't work well- not that anything was on, but when it rained it would have been nice to watch something other than the geckos gathering around the door.
They had an excellent complementary breakfast. The fruit and the omelets were my favorite. The service was sublime. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. It's a place I'd definitely want to travel to again.
Oh, of note, it's about 2 and a half hours from the airport. And the roads are a bit ...scary it putting it lightly. Most of the roads are two lanes- very narrow lanes and there is the constant flow of motorcyclist. At many parts of the road one side of the road would be closed for construction, so I was worried every second that the taxi would get into an accident.
