We are flat out at the moment. The week has been very, very busy as we rush to move into the new (98% complete) house during the four day vacation I have from tomorrow. I spent Christmas day waiting for delivery trucks. When they came three hours late, they didn’t have everything they were supposed to have so we had to wait for trucks the next day, too. So pretty much, I hated Christmas again, but in a different way this year.
My experiment living and raising a family overseas is off to a great start. When I can finally stop sinking money into curtains, screen doors, appliances, fixtures, repairs, tweaks, and all the trim needed by this new house, I am going to buy myself a water buffalo. Just for the hell of it. It can feed and water itself around my house, and I shall finally l have my Herd of Buffalo (although Herd of Cow sounds much cooler).
Although I will barely notice it coming and going, I wish you all a very happy new year.
Category: Chillin’
kanebo
We took a trip to Khon Kaen today to hit HomePro (the local mega home center) for various items and made a stop by our favorite mall, Fairy Plaza, on the way back for some double cheeseburger eats, and for Nam to buy some foundation. The girls at the counter insisted on doing Nam’s make up since she’s a card-carrying Kanebo loyalist. It was amazing; just like a car being painted. They stripped off the existing layers of pigment, laid down a solid primer coat followed by 2 main coats and sealant – it was even metallic pearl, yo.
As I sat and watched, I wondered how to say, “Stop painting on my pregnant wife! Only cheap harlots paint their faces with ground fish scales!”, in Thai, but I guess that level of nuance is still a few years off.
Old friends
Dave and Michiko came to visit us from Japan for a couple days. We did a lot in a short time, and in fact, I still have monkey paw prints on my Cefiro.
Thanks, guys.
Several dreams came true
… and I will let you know all about them when I get a minute to write a real post. In the meantime, let me show you what happens when someone suggests I design my own window bars (security bars made of wrought iron/stainless steel):
Designed for opposing shutter-type windows by J. Yoshida, Esq.
katsu kare night
I totally made a huge pot of Japanese curry and deep fried some fresh tonkatsu as well. The occasion? Today is the midpoint between Nam’s birthday (Nov. 9) and her little sister Noon’s (Nov. 6), so we celebrated them together as they have done since they were little. The food was so good, none of the nine people at the table spoke much until the meal was done. I was very proud of stuffing everyone full of so much garlic and curry goodness, and forgot to take photos.
For some reason, I never actually made tonkatsu myself before tonight, but it was easy and turned out very well.
Impending guerilla blogging
I’m back, I’m busy, and I have many things to post here…
I saw the remnants of a government chopper shot down by commies and possibly also the Ma Deuce used to do so. Don’t mess with the fifty cal, yo.
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To be continued, soon.
Tomorrow we are signing a home loan
Hurray!
I think.
I will be posting the first real building report for our house as soon as I have some time. Things have come together very nicely, and it only took a few months from start to finish for the actual building stage.
Korean Hostage Crisis as Seen by Overseas Korean Volunteers
Yesterday, I asked a group of four young Koreans who have come to teach our students computer skills the following questions:
- Were the Koreans who were taken hostage missionaries, or what? Is it important to make the distinction between missionaries and volunteer workers?
- Are average people in Korea blaming the US for what happened?
- Are you hopeful about a diplomatic solution?
Their answers were:
- Yes, and YES(!).
- No.
- ….
So there you go. The news says that progress is being made and the Taliban is promising release today or tomorrow. That would be nice. The Taliban ain’t exactly nice guys, though. I hope everything works out, but let me say this: If you aren’t prepared to sacrifice for your beliefs, why hold to them at all?