Michelle's Birthday

We went out in Hongdae to this bar

on Friday night. Strange mix of tatooed men, shirtless women, and a DJ in a Hersey's kiss-inspired booth that looked like something from Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. We stayed out much too late, had a rip-roaring good time. Here's a few snapshots of what happened...



Group shot...

Much too close-up shot...

Yours Truly and the Texans: loving life...

The inside of this bar (poppies?):



Michelle assaulting me on the staircase. Note we were all shoeless. We had to remove our shoes and place them in plastic bags that were provided. Best way to prevent Bar Sludge on the bottom of your pants: take off the shoes, Korean styles.

Tongue out? Really? So classy.

Kara. Me. Great time.

Street Kebab after the mayhem (and before the second bar)...



And the last shot of the night. After the, "I'm sorry I'm not poor" comment.

Entirely inappropriate video to follow soon.

Hope your weekend was fabulous.

Friday Night Post (that I forgot to post)

she’ll loan you her toothbrush;

she’ll bartend your party

~KOL

That's one good girl ;)

We're heading out to Hongdae tonight for Michelle's birthday. I'll be sure to take and post a few pictures to show you the celebration. Nothing beats wine, tunes, and girls to get ready with on a Friday night.

I still fondly look back at the nights when Leanne and I would parade around the apartment, trying on just about everything we owned before heading out.

Found this...a classic moment during that time. The black bra and the white shirt? Awesome. The bright blonde hair? Even more awesome.

Remarkably, the passage of time affects us all, doesn't it?

Hope you had a great weekend!

My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean

My father used to know this woman (let's keep this vague). When they first met, I was 11 and we got along like oil and water. She was a little less than pleased with my manners, and corrected three very, very important things. You better believe that at the time, I fought her tooth and nail, because I was sure I was a good-mannered child. After all, my mother had already taught me the fail-safe rule that would prove that I was polite: never call somebody's house before 8 am or after 9 pm. I still adhere to this policy and only in extreme cases will call at 9:30 at night. There's just something about the jangling of a phone when you are winding down for the night that makes sleep thereafter a little less than peaceful. I digress.

I learned three things from this woman that I will never forget. As I spend time in this alternate universe...oops..I mean alternate CULTURE, I have found that these are classics and will serve me until I can teach My Little Ones to do the same. Speaking of which, here's a picture of us kids that Nathan found and posted. Many thanks, Friend.

So thank you, Woman, for this...

Lesson #1: May I speak with Soandso? When someone other than who you called answers the phone, it's impolite to simply ask if Soandso is home. Who cares if they are home. I learned to say hello, introduce myself, then ask if i may speak with Soandso. Not "can I"...no one doubts the ability to speak: you're on the phone afterall. The question is rooted in requesting permission.

Lesson #2: Pass the salt and pepper together. While seated at a table (any table), if you are asked for the salt or the pepper, pass the two of them together. They come as a set. And you never know...they might want both once they have them. This avoids the unnecessary, "Oh, now can you pass the other one?" awkward question.

Lesson #3: Buy quality.

This goes for beauty products, shoes, clothes, books, and dinner parties. You have to ensure you can afford the good stuff. Bar soap, cheap flip flops, paperback novels, and plastic serving trays (or anything else you can obtain at the local drugstore, for that matter) just won't cut it.

• Clinique works. In fact, it's the best (for Yours Truly). Why settle? I won't anymore: I've learned this lesson.
  
• Shoes go on your feet. Why buy cheap ones and get blisters? Do you know what these feet do? They carry me everywhere. I refuse to buy bad shoes.
  
• When doing the weekend crossword puzzle, you will always make mistakes. Do it in pencil, accept that you can erase previously-recorded answers, and feel free to use a good dictionary to help you out. If you have a low-quality dictionary, good luck: you won't finish.
  
• Make sure you have a serving dish for every single foodstuff you serve at your dinner party. No, you can't serve it in a plastic bowl. If you don't have the dish, don't make the food. Simpler is better anyway.

Be frugal, spend wisely (I've added to this rule with those two caveats), buy quality (but that's all her!).

Derby

I picked up my newly fixed computer last night! On my way home, feeling very, very happy, I stopped into a store near Anyang Station. I found these shoes and just had to try them on. Since I'm watching my spending (what else is new?), I resisted the urge to buy them right away. The gal at the store was kind enough to let me take a picture of them.

This is a dreadful picture of the shoes, but you can get an idea of the colour.

This is a far better representation of the little wonders.

For only about $40,
I am certainly bound to return this weekend to pick up a pair.

Herein lies the question: taupe or green?

The Hole

In an effort to fully utilize all my winter clothes before shipping them back to Canada, I pulled out my favourite bell-shaped skirt and paired it with my favourite icy blue blouse. Yeah, I said "blouse".

You might notice a small imperfection around my left knee?

That would be The Hole. I was yanking up my tights yesterday in an effort to spread the warmth around my legs, and I poked my thumb right through these. It's funny too because I was just thinking about posting about these tights. I bought them (yeah, I remember things) four and a half years ago when I started working for the bank. They're Calvin Klein's from Winners. They were SO worth the price I paid for them...slightly more than your average tights. What other garment would withstand 4 years of abusive treatment (poking and prodding with fingers and thumbs, constant washing machine washes, usually dryer dries) and only now kick the bucket? Pretty amazing, I think.

I feel like I'm doing the wave in this picture. I assure you I wasn't ;)

Swoon

I'm listening to Tom Waits' Grapefruit Moon right now. It makes me feel a little sad and a lot romantic all at the same time.

Have a great day

A Nod to the Choir

When I hear a choir sing, I cry. Every. Single. Time. There's just something about them that's so...wholesome. So in sync. I love it.

If you have as much time on your hands as I do, skip to minute 42 and listen to the Glee'ers perform Madonna's Like a Prayer. AWEsome.

Hey Cookie

The Original Cookie ;)

image of SJP from A Vogue Idea courtesy of hbo.com


A teacher gave me a cookie today. Looks disgusting, non?



Tastes even worse (if that's possible). Think a mixture of maple sugar candy, lard, cake, and icing sugar. In my mouth. Ralph.



Thought I should share it.

The Bronx is Up

I must say thank you to 1001 Rules for My Unborn Son for bringing not just this to my attention, from Massimo Vignelli, who uses Helvetica font in his art (image also from helveticafilm.com ... Imagine that: they made a movie about a font and how "type affects our lives". Huh. There's so much I don't know. Isn't life remarkable?), but for also putting a small caption below the image that shed some light on something about which I've been wondering since I was about 10.

Alright, I'll start with this: my mother has been known to tell me, "For a smart girl, you sure do ask some dumb questions." Um, yeah. When I was young, I called Joelle in a panic, asking her what "these holes in the corners of my eyes are". Tear ducts, as it turns out. And the two CD's you get when you order from Timelife? Not one for a friend, shockingly. It's just that all the music takes up two CD's. Oh, and the deck won't need to be trimmed back when the rock grows because rocks don't grow. Thanks for that, Dad.

I had a small epiphany when Jason Barr on the Dean Blundell show said, "All matter is particulate." I knew that, but hearing it from him solidified it for me. I keep my mouth shut now when I smell ghastly odours.

image courtesy of amazon.com

This time around, in a passage in The Babysitter's Club Super Special #6 called "New York, New York", Ann M. Martin brings the girls to the world famous island. Before they arrive, Marianne is soo excited, and keeps singing, "New York, New York, the Bronx is up, the Battery's down." Never have I a) attempted to figure this out nor b) figured this out organically. Until today. What a day.

It's in reference to the subway system there! The Bronx is UP on the subway map! And Battery Park is DOWN. Wow. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. And I wish I was kidding about this. This was a productive day.

Get my computer back tonight. Just think of all the remarkable revelations I can make after I no longer have to borrow Matt's computer. Incredible.

And yes, this gets filed under, "Enlightenment."
What ELSE would you call it?!

Steven Alan

Found this dress. Loved this dress. Don't we all want one?

Look at this BACK! :)

images courtesy of stevenalan.com