Rain, rain, go away
come again another day
I want to go out and play,
and have a yarn crawl tomorrow.

to be perfectly honest, I'm surprised that I'm not napping right now.  I felt tired enough for it - today was a long day.  Today was field trip day. 

It almost wasn't - the idea was that if it was raining when we came to school, we would cancel the field trip to the camp and just have classes.  Well, the morning was gray and hazy (and so was the afternoon...) but it didn't start until we were on our way.  It drizzled on and off the whole day, and wasn't really pouring until we got back.  Now it's very loud, occasionally thundering and flashing outside my window, so I have both my glass doors closed.

It's not really a camp - we went to a place called Kanghwado, an island out near Gimpo.  We ended up at this place called Oktokki Space Center, and it was cute.  It's a huge building with a large garden out back that had statues of dinosaurs, and inside it's an astronomy and rocketry museum.  It was really interesting, and I'd like to go back there sometime.  I had an idea - I'd like to do a bike trip that way.  You can get there via bus, but if I was on a bus, I couldn't stop to take pictures and explore like I want to... It was beautiful, in it's own way - there were muddy tidal flats like at home, next to rice fields that extended back to the mountains that were obscured by fog, and the same skyscraper apartments that define Korea stuck in the middle.  There were even the same white egrets as home, poking about in the paddies for bugs and such.  Whenever I travel, I'm always struck by how different so many places are from each other, but mostly by how much the same everything is.  The trees here look like the ones at home - we passed a field surrounded by a wall of trees covered with kudzu that almost made me laugh.  The tide was out, as were the shallow boats. 

I've been struck a lot recently with the desire to learn more Korean - to be able to communicate with the people here, moreso than the broken fragments of preschool commands, and perhaps be less alone.  That's not accurate, I suppose.   I tell myself that it was my choice to be alone, and it's true; but it's also true that I am in a place where it is very easy for me to be alone, where I am alone by default, and it's not a choice at all.  I feel like there is a difference in nuance there, but I am not sure how to describe it.

I took pictures at the space center, and I want to edit them before I put them up - I'd like to get some of that done during my break.  I think the ones that I want to edit, but don't have the skills for yet, I will put in an Endnote notebook with my thoughts for fixing them, and go back to them later. 

American Gods

Neil Gaiman

When I came home, I finished reading a book I've been working on for a while, Neil Gaiman's American Gods.  Robin gave it to me a bit ago - it's the first of Gaiman's novels that I've ever read, though I have read some of his short stories.  It was wonderful and tricky and full of the kinds of allusions to other things that I love.  When I first started it, I wasn't sure that I was going to like it, but I got sucked into it.  I definitely need to read more of his work now.  He's an author that I have always been interested in, but had only just gotten around to reading. 

An amazing book is one you know that you will *have* to reread again, before you have finished it through once.  This is an amazing book.

I learned some new words today, too, at the museum. 

taeyang = Sun.  The sun is also called hae-nim, which is interesting. I'm not sure exactly what the nuance of the first part is - I think the common word for the sun, as opposed to taeyang, the scientific word.  But the -nim ending is what you use when you are referring to a person, kind of like the japanese -san.  I guess it's kind of like saying "Mr. Sun" in English. 

eoknyeon = light year.  I learned this from reading an exhibit about how far away things were from us. 
chigu = Earth.
uju = space, as in, outer space.
sajajari = Leo, the constellation, or the zodiac sign.  there was an activity the kids did where they made necklaces with each of their signs, and I got one.  You got a little picture with a diagram of your constellation on it, and put dots of glow-in-the-dark glue on the dots marking the stars, and then put it in a little plastic case on a string.  They let us teachers do it too.

Now, to get ready for the yarn crawl tomorrow, and also do some emails and budgeting and cleaning up.  Oh, and figuring out what I am giving to my swap partner.  I have a list of ideas, and a $25 budget.

Seriously. You can make pretty much anything in a rice cooker.  Rice, obviously.  But, also, cake. Pasta. Risotto (does that count as rice?).  Soup.  Just google it.  So, it stands to reason that you could make rice wine, as well.  Or other alcoholic beverages, since I think they need cooking.  How is this relevant? Well...

So, a bit ago - a few weeks, not sure exactly; it's probably best not to know - I was going to make some rice for dinner.  Or something with rice.  As it turned out, I ended up eating out for dinner, or perhaps not eating dinner.  I don't remember the details - but both options are equally probably.  Anyway - I washed the rice and put it in the cooker with some water.  Soaking rice is fine, after all.  And then, like I said, ended up going out, so I figured I'd just make it the next night. 

So, a bit ago - last week sometime - I was going to make some rice for dinner.  I think I was going to make chicken and rice, actually.  Had my chicken all thawed, and figured I better cook the rice first, cause you know, it takes longer.  So I opened my rice cooker up and found this:

Rice Cooker Surprise!

3 comments

Obviously, I had forgotten to cook the rice the next night.  Oops.  Perhaps you can't see this from the picture, but there's at least 4 different textures in there.  It definitely smelled like it was alcoholic, tho I can't imagine what sort of hallucinations you would have gotten from it (or what sort you would have had to been seeing to eat that).  I was so delighted that I bounded down the hall to show Donald, who was, let's say, not as excited as I was - I think he referred to it as 'rank'.  And neechan, I know you always yell at me for stuff like this, but this was as cool as that time my arm did that exploding thing... I wonder if that video is still on my phone...

Anywho - I guess we won't be doing that again. 

In other news - I've been busy this month.  I may have mentioned Wrestlemania, the knitting competition I'm participating in.  I'm happy to say I have finished two of the projects I started for that - a lacy mohair cowl and the dismantlement of (the gloves formerly known as) my Plum Pudding Gauntlets.  Really, even considering my usual disregard for things like 'gauge' and 'recommended yarn', those were just... bad.  I've grown so much as a knitter since then, so I decided they needed to die, and be reincarnated as dishclothes or something. 

The second thing I finished is this - my Ice Queen.  (link goes to the pattern from Knitty)  I'm actually really happy with this - for one thing, the yarn is SPARKLY.  for another, it's MOHAIR.  I luvs me some mohair.  Also, despite that I have done lace before, this was my first time doing a feather and fan pattern, which is like, the most beginningest lace pattern evar.   And I had to learn 3 or so new techniques for this - so I'm really glad the way it turned out. Now, to figure out what to do with it... I might keep it, or might give it to someone deserving. 

July 2009 - Ice Queen

Learned a few new words last week, among other things.  Post about those later, I think. 

hama = hippo

kirin = giraffe 

(this one I actually already knew, and it has some interesting etymology behind it.  Apparently there were giraffes at the Imperial Zoo in China a long time ago, and they were identified with the kirin, a peaceful Buddhist (?) creature.  Giraffes apparently have similar characteristics - not harming things, not crushing grass when they walk, scales...)  Kirin are usually referred to as the Asian unicorn, because they only have one horn, but they are certainly not the same thing.  For one, the kirin breathe fire at wrong-doers.

And then i really need to be knitting for the rest of the evening.  Christmas is a week away, and i have a scarf to finish.  I'm listening to Twilight as I knit, since I have to pay attention to the stitches, so i cant watch tv at the same time.  I'm realizing more than when i read it that Meyer REALLY needed a good editor.  When I'm reading, I can kinda skim through the meaningless description without much trouble, but having to listen to all of it is hilarious and frustrating at times.  Also, I'm realizing how ridiculous it is all over again.  -sigh- it's going to be great.  I wonder how much scarf it will take me to get through the book, or vice versa. 

Also, I read a funny article the other day, and thought I would share.  All you Twilight fans who realize how bad the books are will enjoy this, I imagine...

If Twilight was 10 times shorter and 100 times more honest...

Well, after I put together my Starry Night puzzle.  It took me about 5 hours, for 300 pieces.  But then, it's a hard painting to put together. Still, I feel like it shouldn't have taken me that long, though I haven't done a puzzle in forever.  I was going to get a frame for it, still might.  Strangely enough, it actually came with glue to hold it together once it was finished.  I though that was pretty cool.  I have one other one still that I bought when I went to COEX, but there are a few more there that I was looking at that I liked - three of them were from Night of the Milky Way Railway, which I thought was pretty fricking awesome. 

Then I ate the rest of my burrito and watched Human Nature/Family of Blood.  I really liked that episode.  For one thing, Thomas Sangster is so adorable.  (He was the kid in Love Actually, Sam, whose mom died.)  And he's only two years older than my sister, which makes me feel kinda weird, but oh well. I'm sure everyone has their child molestation urges every now and then.  Though he is 18.... as of May. 

I was annoyed with the Doctor for the way he treated Joan, but she was a bit snitty at the end too, though I can sympathize.  I mean, he has Martha - and he'd just heard her say she loved him! And then goes to ask Joan if she wants to come along. -sigh-  Watching this made me realize how amazing David Tennant is, how much I am going to miss him, and think that perhaps I should watch his new show.  Looking it up on Imdb, it doesn't look too amazing, but still... But then, I have a ton of other things to watch.  Psych, Torchwood (when it omg FINALLY AIRS), etc.  Legend of the Seeker, the Sword of Truth miniseries is finally out, and while I kind of cringe, I also want to see it.  And people keep talking about Merlin. 

Ack. Just got lost on IMDB for 30 minutes reading randomness.  Interestingly, they are remaking one of my fave shows from when I was younger, Cupid.  No Jeremy Piven, but alas.  Although, Fantasy Island wasn't as good as I remembered it being when I rewatched it, but it was still pretty damn sweet.  I never did review it, though I meant to.  Oh well. So much to do, so little time.  Did I mention I was thinking of taking up watercolors again?

And lastly, cause I need to go to bed - I saw this and it made me laugh.  Look at it, really. 

'Torchwood' Writing Provides Absolute Confidence

It all changes in 2009 and fans of "Torchwood" have got to be ready.

One thing that won’t change, though, is the high standards and quality of writing the series has displayed from the first season.

I choked when I read that second sentence.... -laughs-

Korean word of the day from Daisy teacher:

grandfather = haramboji

(In case you're wondering, grandmother = halmoni)

This is it, plus this weekend.

So, if someone had emailed me back *coughazizamcough* I might be able to present you with a specific term for this, but as it is, maybe those of you out there in the tubes can help me out.  What's the term for a word that isn't new, but acquires a new meaning separate from its previous one?

This is relevant, I promise. 

I am proposing a new meaning for the word minion.  For one, because it's such a cool word, and unless you're hanging with a lot of D&D geeks, it doesn't get tossed around in normal conversation nearly as much as it should.  Also, because I have recently acquired a minion of my own, and wish to stretch the definition to fit an entire genre.  Thus, I propose that the word 'minion' is henceforth a synonym for 'small appliance.'  It sounds cooler - and it's easier to say.

Here is my minion.  It is yellow and blows smoke in a menacing fashion, as all minions should. 

The Minion's Box

Minion in person

As an added benefit, this minion is also approved by physicians to assist those of us who suffer from chronic allergies to smog.  It also doubles as an entertaining kitten toy, though I haven't gotten pictures of this yet.

I have other minions as well, and since pictures have been requested, here they be.  My small purple oven and my small green rice cooker.  They are adorabibble, as minions should also be. 

This week dragged like crazy.  Being sick didn't help. I didn't get to go for my waffle date on Friday (sad) but I was also not really in any condition to go out, since I was coughing every 5 seconds and such.  But Saturday was much better.  I woke up around 10, tried to sleep, and then decided to clean up my apartment.  It's been cold lately, but it was bright and sunny, so I swept and generally did all the cleaning I have been putting off while I was sick.  I always feel better in a clean apartment anyway.   

Then I went into town and hung out with Tim in Caribou while he worked on a paper and I played Fire Red.  I thought I remembered Brock being vaguely challenging, but I beat him with my Mankey and that was that.  Got the Magikarp and did my first round through Mt. Moon before we left to have dinner with Holly and Shin for her birthday.  Then I headed to the Dragon Hill Spa to meet up with my SnB girls.  Since I was late, I didn't find everyone else till after I had had my bath and soaked a bit.  Three of us spent the night there, and it was fun, despite the lack of comfortable sleeping places.  I spent half the night on the floor and half in a massage chair (which is not as comfortable as it would sound).  Highlights included the outdoor bath, which required not slipping on the ice (yes, ice) as you got out.  It was absolutely delicious. 

I couldn't find Cheryl and Lindsay this morning, so I got a quick shower and left to explore.  It was snowing lightly, and I have pictures of the fountains out front, which were covered in snow.  Note the dragon has a long icicle fang...

squirrel = daramji

I also learned the reason the spa had that particular name.  It's in an area in the middle of Seoul called Yongsan.  I don't spend a lot of time in the area; it's more the south-central part of Kangbo (north of the river).  So I was surprised when I glanced up at the characters for the station and realized they mean "Dragon Mountain."  Makes sense.  After that, I headed up to Hyehwa to the SnB meeting.  Yes, I was ridiculously early, but I wanted to work some more on figuring out Tim's scarf, which I started last night.  After I got the new cast-on down, it's going fine, but I still have to get used to the stitch pattern before I can work very quickly.   

As it happened, I spent the time till Jenny got to Cafe T+  re-seaming my gauntlets.  YES I FINALLY FINISHED THEM.  Well, technically I finished them the other night, but I wasn't really happy with them, cause they were so loose.  I'm definitely going to have to adjust that pattern if I use it again.  Anyway, I took them apart and reseamed them so that they fit my hand, and I'm much happier with them after that alteration.  Look aren't they purty? I added the suede bows to tighten them, but left them cause they're still cute, even though not as necessary now.

Plum Pudding Gauntlets

So now I am here working on my computer and attempting to get things back to normal in a more organized fashion than they were. It's a slow process, mostly cause I have to rip all my music from A to D from my ipod again. -sigh- But I have Something Corporate to keep me company, so it's not too bad. Other good news - I get paid this week! And I can plan my Japan trip!! Yay!    

This is not it. 

I would take the pics and stuff that I wanted to post, and it was going to be cute and such, but right now I am too sick to do anything more than sit comforter-wrapped in my chair with my humidifier turned all the way up and wish my fucking heater worked while I type this.  I'm thinking about knitting, but my head is killing me and I keep coughing, and I'm so thirsty.  The meds the doc gave me made my throat go away, but I'm still not completely better.  I tried listening to music, but that makes my head hurt more, so I think I don't need to stare at my computer for too long either.

Today was a normal day, sortof..  I didn't get to go for waffles with Tulip-teacher cause she had to go to her mother's, but I came home and took a nap.  Classes were normal - I brought some stuff home with me to work on my planning of my time unit.  My afternoon class was observed for a few minutes by Debbie and wong jam nim, and of course Clara wasn't paying attention and the others were nervous because they were being watched.  They did much better when no one else was there, and I loosened up, cause I didn't feel awkward about playing with them or letting them get off topic.  I try to discourage it, but as long as they are speaking English, I don't really care too much. 

Which leads me to the point of my post.  I like having long hair but it tends to get in my way, so I usually put it up in my clip.  The way I do it, it usually fans out a little the the side.  Today for some reason a few skeins decided to stand straight up, but I didn't really bother about it. Until I was in English Land, and Jennifer was asking me about my hair, something to the effect of commenting that it wasn't blonde on top anymore.  So in the midst of this discussion about hair, James pipes up,

"Siobhain-teacher hair, 12 o'clock!" 

I was a bit confused for a second, and then I realized what he was saying.  I'd been teaching them time, and while James is not the smartest kid I have, he likes to use English in creative ways and make connections if it will help him express himself. In another instance of this, I was teaching them 'hay house' for the performance of The Three Little Pigs, and since I had recently taught them "Hey!" as a greeting, James immediately started waving and saying, "Hey house!"  Then I had to explain that the two weren't the same, but I was still impressed by that.  And his comment today made me laugh, even though my voice was still a bit shot. 

And lastly, though I have been a bit lax with these lately, Korean word of the day!
Today's word is

sudu = chicken pox

Lately a lot of kids have been absent because of chicken pox, so when I asked the other children, "Where is everybody?" they explained to me that the other kids have sudu.  Debbie had explained to Douglas and I about it earlier, but it was still interesting to learn the word, and to teach them the English, which they thought was funny. 

Oddly, chicken pox is treated very differently here than in the West.  Debbie was worried about Douglas and I, and told us, "Be careful if you haven't gotten the chicken pox shot." 
"Shot? What shot?"  Apparently here people get vaccinated against chicken pox, so she was worried about us catchin it.  We explained to her that at home, doctors encourage children to get chicken pox when they are younger since it's dangerous when you are an adult.   She seemed very surprised by this, and especially by Douglas' description of 'chicken pox parties' (which might be a British thing, but I was by myself when I got it)  where parents invite other parents to bring their children so that they all get the disease at the same time.  Another interesting tidbit of Korean life.

I think I'm going back to bed now. I'm hungry, but too tired to eat.

Well, today wasnt as bad as I thought it might be, considering my sleeping pattern last night.  I got up and was at work on time and everything.  Lunch was good - I always love kimchi nabe.  But the weather - omigosh it was so cold today. Douglas said the weather forecast said possible snow, and it certainly felt like it could, but the only thing blowing in the wind was all the leaves.  I'm going to have to break out my wool coat soon if this keeps up.  Still, I had my little fleece cropped vest that I got in COEX the other night. It's super cute. See?  Even the really hot Korean salesguy said so...

Fleece vest

After work I went to Seoul Station to meet Han's aunt and uncle who are visiting here for a few days. We had dinner at Bennigan's, where I had the strangest sandwich.  It was called a monte cristo - normal ham/turkey/cheese sandwich.  but for some reason the chef decided that this particular sandwich of the ones on the menu wouldn't cause enough of an arterial blockage. SO - they battered and fried it and sprinkled it with powdered sugar. Yeah, like a donut. Or a funnel cake.  I swear, it was so strange, like eating your main course and dessert at the same time.  it didnt really add to the flavor or the sandwich.  And as I was walking out of the restaurant I saw the sign where they advertise that they specialize in healthy fusion food.  Well, it was definitely fusion.  I wish I had had my camera...

They asked if I wanted dessert or anything, and I pointed out that not only was I full, but I felt like I had already eaten dessert.  So we walked around the department store there for a few minutes and then got some coffee at Dunkin Donuts.  I don't like coffee, but they had something that looked intriguing - chrysanthemum tea.  Thus, today's Korean word(s) of the day.

Kukhwa = chrysanthemum
Cha = tea

Technically, I already knew 'tea', cause of my kids.  Sometimes I bring my mug of whatever I happen to have that day, and since the kids know by now that I don't like coffee, they try to guess what I have, cocoa or tea.   Incidentally, the word in for 'coffee' is 'coppi', so the kids think it's really funny when I have to go make copies of a book or paper. 

On the way there I finished my scarf, and also discovered that I can walk and knit at the same time - I was binding off as I was transferring lines, and so I just kept going as I was walking.  I'm not sure if I could do more complicated stitches at the same time.  I even managed to walk up the stairs and everything.  So now it just needs to be blocked, and then it will be finished.  It's supposed to have crocheting on the ends, but I don't know how to crochet, so we'll just leave it as is.  I've also got that stuff that I promised to ball for Kate, and plenty of lessons to plan this week.  Plus, I have a pokemon date with neechan, andI think i want to trade her some of my current ones before i start an entirely new game and get the other starters.  btw, nick - i can play/trade with you too (and I'm sure jessica would love to as well), if you're not too busy with zelda. another thing i need to play. let's not talk about that though. I think I won't worry about starting my next gauntlet/Tim's scarf till the thursday meeting in Gangnam.

Now I've had my shower and I'm tired... I really wanna go to bed.  I guess typing my thursday adventure will have to wait again, as will the superblogpostofdoom. and I have other things- some more progress reports to finish, a bank transfer to do (tomorrow)... blocking the scarf.  ah screw it, those will wait. I'm going to bed.

I'm very happy with the way today went, not the least of which is my being able to type this while sitting in my comfy bed. 

I woke up this morning and could barely breathe, so I knew the weather was kinda crappy.  Also because the sun hadn't woken me up -when I looked outside, sure enough it was hazy as all get out and the sun was just a glowy-looking circle up above. 

I was actually early getting to Jamsil, and then Sohee got there - Cait and her friend were running a lil bit late, so we waited on them... Unfortunately, when we actually got down to the rink they told us that it was going to be closed in a few mins for a half-hour break, so we went up to Pizza Hut to grab some lunch.  Afterwards we came back down and skated for an hour until a show forced us off the rink.  I only fell once, when I was trying to turn like Jen showed me and there was someone in front of me.  I tried to avoid hitting them and landed on my left side.  It wasn't that bad, just I was a bit wet because of it.  I want to go there more often and practice if I can... I would like to be good at ice skating. 

Ooh! Cait taught me a new word. I have heard it used mostly in the context of drinking, but here.

Mul = Water

Then I met Tim and his friend at COEX, this huge underground mall that was completely awesome.  I bought a nice pair of jeans and a cute lil fleece vest (such a hot salesguy. and he told me I was cute!) on sale.  They're guys, but they fit me not too badly, tho i think i might see if i can do something to me them less loose in my hips.  We wandered around for a bit more - there's a huge bookstore there with lots of English stuff.  I was annoyed at the obviously used books they were attempting to sell for full price, but what the hey. can't do much about that.

I found something that looked really interesting called The Black Hole War.  And I also considered getting Foucalt's Pendulum, but Tim wanted to leave, and I have a ton of books to read already.  I haven't touched anymore of The Fountainhead, but I will get around to it eventually.

After a while the other two got tired, so they left, but I wanted to poke around some more.  They have an entire shop full of puzzles, right behind the aquarium.  They also have a kimchi museum, but by all accounts it's not very interesting.  I found a Nintendo store, quite by accident, and got one of those USB connector thingys for cheap. Now I just need to get Matthew to tell me how to set it up so that I can get my friend code for Pokemon.  I attempted it tonight, and managed to connect, but it keeps telling me I haven't yet.  I might try it with my Animal Crossing, which isn't in Japanese, and might be easier to navigate. I also picked up a longer ethernet cable, hence my happiness at typing from my bed as opposed to having to sit in my chair and slump over. 

In addition, I got a puzzle from that shop - it's that artist that neechan likes, alphonse maria marche, who does the women in art nouveau style.  This one is four women representing times of the day.  They have some other beautiful ones - this artist called Kagaya has some fantasy stuff.  She does a zodiac series, and while I'm not particularly in love with the Leo, some of the other ones are beautiful.  There was also - and this surprised the hell out of me - a series of three puzzles entitled "Railway in the Stars," or something like that. ZOMG!! Miyazawa!!  They were pretty, and I might go back and  get them some other time. 

While I was walking back through one of the places after getting a thing for my mom, I saw a floor cleaner with the name "Tennant" on the front of it, and I laughed.  Also noteworthy, though I didn't get a pic of it, was a store that advertised clothes made by Jesus.  And lastly, some pics from the subway station that I found amusing -

They are adverts for a Chinese beer called Tsingtao.  So of course they use pandas to advertise it.  Pandas drink lots of beer, you know.

Well, now that I have gotten rid of all that sadness mess, here's some fun stuff.  I know I've been skimping on the pictures the last few days, so here's two to make up for it, both of them relatively cute.

The first one is from earlier this week. My afternoon classes are studying clothes, and most of them are girls.  So I decided to bring in some clothes to play games with them.  And of course, they love playing dress-up, but one of the girls, Hyou-na, got very attached to my skirts.  Technically her English name is Esther, but there are two Esthers in the same class, so I call this one by her Korean name.  She answers to that more often anyway.  So here's Hyou-na in my black fluffy skirt.  I had to clip it in the back to make it fit her.

November - Hyou-na Skirt

Bear Mittens!

And AnD AND!! I learned lots of new words today.  So many, in fact, that I don't remember how to say all of them.  But some of them I wrote down, so that I could share.  But here goes.

jangmun = window
ouai (like the french word, or alternately 'way') = why
onje = when
mwo = what
ottoge = how
maeil = everyday
Anjoaheyo... = I don't like.  Ex. Bap u anjoaheyo = I don't like rice. 

I also vaguely heard the word for 'purple', but not enough to be able to transcribe it. So there you go - a veritable glut of new words.  Enjoy! Now, I'm off to bed so I can go see Frida Kahlo tomorrow!