Just the Beginning

We're here, we're here, we're here!

While I was able to sleep most of the way through the flight from Minneapolis to San Fran, I couldn't catch a break but for a 40 minute snooze in all of our 12:25 hr flight to Seoul. Luckily, Korean Air is officially Freaking Awesome. Pashmina-esque blankets, little bags labeled 'for-your-comfort' with socks, sleep mask, toothbrush, and toothpaste, and bottles of water all waiting for us when we got on the plane. Totally respectable airplane food, including a beef-filled sweet bun for breakfast that was surprisingly delicious. And best of all, individual entertainment centers for each seat, with so many movies and music and games that it didn't matter one bit that I couldn't sleep: Adventureland, Sunshine Cleaning, Taken, I Love You, Man, some Stan Getz, a little Thelonius Monk, and (I couldn't get off the plane without watching at least one really really trashy something) He's Just Not That Into You.

Upon arrival, we had a little mix-up with our transportation, but eventually were driven to meet Eric, a really nice, helpful gentlemen in charge of all kinds of things related to getting teachers legally in the country and settled into their lives. He got Todd checked into his co-op (he's staying there til Sunday, and then he'll be moving into an apartment in my building), and then took me to my new digs. Got me set up with a bag full of bedding (need something to make it feel less like I'm sleeping directly on box springs, but at least I have a nice comforter), a bag of kitchenware, and even took me next door to the convenience store to get a few snacks:



Since arrival, I've also received a fridge (important), a tv with cable (for educational purposes only), cable internet (fast and awesome), and a table and chairs (good for grading homework, and for eating, because I've lost my ability to sit cross-legged on the floor for any length of time).

We've only had one day of training out of the time we've been here, at least for my school - we're technically 'quarantined,' and can't go on campus until Monday. So, we've just been exploring, eating things, trying to get around without knowing any Korean. Today we went out in search of converters for our plugs, and ended up in placed eMarket, in a giant complex called iMall, and there found an awesome grocery store (little kids in 'kids-heart-beef' t-shirts in a photo shoot around a giant hamburger, plus pretty much any kind of groceries we might want, including some Western staples), some Baskin Robbins (dude, they are EVERYWHERE here, along with Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, and many pizza chains ... weird), and a sweet food court with examples of all of the food in the front so we knew what we were ordering.

I've met some of the people who live on my floor, all of them teachers for the same school, and they were all incredibly nice and helpful: sharing tips, food (nectarines, anchovies), and maps. They're not actually teaching at the same campus that I will be, so I won't see them at work, but hopefully I'll get a chance to see them around here. Tonight, we'll get a chance to meet even more people at a going-away party for the outgoing teachers from our school.

I'm sorry this isn't a more coherent tale, but alas, not much to be done now. This is, after all, just the beginning.

The view outside my window:

buh-buh-buh-bye....

Travel plans have changed a bit- Minneapolis to San Fransisco, San Fransisco to Seoul - but all four of us leaving on this adventure get to go on the same flights, get to keep each other company over this next long day, over these next many miles.

It's finally here, just hours away.

Dearest dear friends, I miss you already.

And to the friends I've yet to meet - YOU'D BETTER GET READY.

G'night, Minneapolis.

Monday

...woke up ate cheese took a shower dropped off laura gave elliott his accordion picked up bike sold books bought books about korea bought manicure set watched tv picked up laura tried on clothes with no dressing room at the target remainder salvation army bought some teacher clothes ate cheese puffs watched tv talked to sprint guy about korea drank drinks ate cheese saw beautiful faces had great fun said goodbyes boy i'm gonna miss you smelled flowers tried to order pizza but it was too late...

... the countdown begins ...

So, it's for real.

Now that I can take a moment to sit down, after the flurry of activity that has been the last many months... I have a visa, I have a plane ticket, I haven't packed yet.

SUN AUG 23
MSP to ORD
MINNEAPOLIS ST PL, MN to CHICAGO, IL
depart 8:40am SUN arrive 9:55am SUN
1hr15min

SUN AUG 23
ORD to ICN
CHICAGO, IL to SEOUL INCHEON INT, KOREA REPUBLIC
depart at 12:35am SUN arrive 4:00pm MON
13hr25min

teeth and smoke and wings and things

Dear Toothfairy:

My teeth have been falling out in my dreams again. If I put them under my dream pillow, can I redeem them for things in real life? Like the new Metric, maybe?

This morning, in dream Lawrence, I dream smoked a half a pack of dream cigarettes. I convinced myself that 10 cigarettes in a year still counted as quitting. Considering I likely smoked an average of 4000 cigarettes a year when I did smoke in real life, I don't think that logic is really far off. 10 cigarettes = 1/400th the normal rate of smoking.


Should I start a separate blog about my travels, a la Guatestrad, Kevman's blog of yore? Or should I just write on this here blog o' mine, this blog that will turn 4 years old in September? I just thought I'd offer the question up to the blogoverse before making any rash decisions.

Feeling more myself again, after many days adrift on a sea of salt.

LMOD!

Atonement

Dearest dear,

Let me air my laundry list of indiscretions:

I have gotten behind on all of my bills.
I owe multiple friends money.
I have been taking things too personally.
I have been initiating terse, frustrated conversations.
I have not been answering my phone, nor returning phone calls.
I have not been answering emails, unless they are about the show(s).
I dream of letters, but do not send them.
I dream of hugs, but do not give them.
I can't pay attention to any one thing for more than 5 minutes.
Every time I go into my room to clean it, I fall asleep instead.
All of my white hairs are starting to show again.
I'm so full of pathos it's just absurd.
I don't write on the internet anymore.

Please forgive me for my sins, and I will do my best to get my shit together. At least by the end of the summer in time to fly far, far away.

I adore you.

Love,
Me

He Woke Up In A Strange Place Called Home And Although Looking For Bed He Kept Finding Death Instead

Find out about this.

Better Better Best

1. My last post was, alas, a dream I had the other morning while I was sleeping on the couch in my basement inside of two sleeping bags. So, New York will just have to wait.

2. Conversation at 5AM while weighing jars of spices for inventory:

Me: Taste Adventure Split Pea Soup?
Jamie: Yes, definitely.
Me: No, but ... Taste Adventure?
Jamie: Yes, it's an adventure ... You know the part in Star Wars where they're stuck in the trash compactor? Some people would call that an adventure. It's like that.
Me: So, you're saying it's like a garbage adventure in my mouth?
Jamie: Yes, that's what I'm saying. Reconstituted soup tastes like farts.

3. I have a new phone and it's shiny.

New York City Dreamin'

Somebody has to take a weekend off from ASTRONOME, and I get fitted for their costume just in time for the show to start. Unfortunately, the only thing anyone says to me about what I'm supposed to DO is 'Follow me.'

Luckily, Richard wasn't, for some reason, in attendance at this performance.

I get Brendan to promise to tell me what I'm actually supposed to do before the next night's performance.

I realize I have nowhere to stay while I'm acting in the show. I try desperately to remember how to get to Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Books, and start walking.

Laika's Coffin

If you live in Minneapolis, please go to Toy Theater After Dark at the Open Eye tonight or tomorrow. You will be missing a really important opportunity to see some amazing works. (The good pieces were so good as to happily erase all ill will I might have had towards the not-so-good pieces.)

Check this out, alright?

Tonight!

I will play a song on the guitar in front of people other than the people that live in my house. Whee!

I'm nervous, but I'm wearing cowboy boots, so I feel like everything is going to be alright.

noodles

Lifting boxes and putting things on shelves all day makes me feel like a noodle. Not a wet, soggy noodle, but an al dente noodle that didn't make it all the way into the pot, so it still has some really crunchy spots.

This crunchy noodle needs to settle into her schedule, take more satisfying naps, get a new set of knees, and feel some spring air on her face. Possibly, this crunchy noodle needs a vacation.

Some Things That Are Good:

Coraline



Thai Kitchen Pad Thai




No One Belongs Here More Than You

Lesson One

Pacific Natural Foods Hazelnut Milk

I drank some of this at room temperature (serving suggestion is chilled). Slightly chalky, but not as chalky as rice milk. Definitely nutty, a little bit sweet, apparently from a brown rice sweetener. Steamed for a latte, not quite as neutral a canvas for the coffee as soy, but my taste buds are pretty used to soy at this point. Made for a nutty cup of joe.




Michael Angelo's Roasted Chicken Bolognese

The pasta was nicely al dente, and the tomatoes were flavorful. The chicken's texture was a little bit lacking. Not bad as far as frozen pasta dishes go, although I need to remember to put frozen meals in a proper dish if I'm to feel like it's a real meal. Oh, and it was on sale. That makes it taste better.

Cultural Revolution

Try their vanilla yogurt. Try it by itself before you go adding anything to it. I mean it. Delish.

I need someone who knows me really well to recommend something new for me to listen to. Specifically, something you can burn for me and send me in the mail? Yeah? I need some fresh tunes in my life.

Food Education

I straightened products in the baking/snack/cereal aisle today, and there are things that I've never, ever noticed, for all of the co-ops I've frequented in my life.

Garbanzo bean flour.
Quinoa flakes.
Hazelnut milk.

I feel like trying everything in every aisle that I've never had before. Even the gross stuff. Just so I know what it's like. So, once I get some money in my wallet, I'm going to enjoy a little food self-educating, and I'll let you know what I try and how I like it.

I think it's going to take me a long time to figure out where everything is, but as far as first days go, this one was pretty good. And I got found a free orange, a free loaf of sunflower bread, a free cookie, and a free Ginger Spice tea bag before I hit the road.

Yum.

Now I know...

...why I once thought to myself, 'Man, I took a shower an hour ago,' and then realized I was just walking past a bratwurst stand.

Men Smell of Cheese and Women of Onions

Puff the Magic Dragon

I'm listening to recordings of my dad playing songs for my friend Megan.

I can hear Megan laugh sometimes, at jokes that I'll never know because I'm not there, and that makes me happy.

I wish we were sitting on my mom's porch, perched on the railing, while my dad plays and I sing along, drinking delicious beverages and feeling glad to know each other, and glad to be alive. You and me and everyone we know who likes that front porch.

***

In other news:

No need to worry, I have another part time job, one that will make sure me and mine are fed full of good foods all the time.

jazz 88

I think that the student DJ on the radio today is playing exactly the same set he played yesterday. Cause I know I heard something by the James Taylor Quartet AND a string version of 'Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead' yesterday when I was working.

Seriously. Not cool, dude.

Some Notes on Life and Living

Notes on Life:

* I've got a brand new pair of *ice* skates, you've got a brand new *?*...

* Astronome at the Ontological looks awesome. Three friends are in it. Who wants to take me to New York on a little vacation to see it?

* I may become a grocery stocker. I may also become counter help at a French bakery that is very far from my house, but I hear makes great French eats. I may, if possible, go on tour doing plays for children.

* My birthday is in one month and one week.

* I still haven't sent out those challenge prizes. Damn that procrastination gene.

* We're making some petite performances. We're thinking to the future. Kevlar, are you thinking about containers? Dawn, remember when we were thinking of eggs and adolescence? I'm about ready to start sitting in cafes that aren't the one I work in, sipping hot drinks and thinking of objects and space.

***

Notes on living:

1. Eat lots of vegetables.
2. Go for walks.
3. Shovel the snow.
4. Clean your bowl right after you eat out of it, even if the dishwasher is full.
5. Plan your garden to dream of spring.
6. Play on the ice to make a dream of winter.
7. Change your socks before you go to bed.