Events As of Late

Oh the joys of activities due to the warmer weather! I guess it's a good thing that I've been too busy to post. We've been socializing a lot more and just getting out and doing things. Taking walks, going to our new favorite bakery, taking Missy for rides in the car... It's been really great.

Over the long weekend we had over the Beckers. There is a new brewery that opened up about a block from our house and we decided to try it out. The service left something to be desired but the micro brew was fabulous! As of late I'm not big into drinking... Tyler says, "Your just grew up, that's all." But I did try Tyler's beer's he ordered and found them delicious! We all had a really good time.
That same weekend we had over Lucas Deem for dinner. The kid loves my cooking and comes over pretty regular to partake! Lucas has the best stories, so while we dine he regales us with his tales. I fixed oven fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, twice baked potatoes, deviled eggs and peas. Lucas now says he needs to go to Missouri to find a wife! I told him I had a sister :)
For our last visit of the weekend we went over to see how our friend Cassandra was doing since she had her lasik eye surgery. (Something I'm really wanting to do!) We brought her a card and a tart. I looked really hard for a braille card at the PX but sadly, no luck! She was doing really well and before I knew it, it was close to 10! We always have such a good time with the Aldarondo's that time just seems to fly by.

We also have been getting care packages in the mail from my family. To people in the Army, mail is a very important thing. Despite all the technology, nothing beats a letter or getting a package. This time my mom sent us some homemade jalapenos (Tyler's fave!), some makeup I ordered, and pictures! The latter being my favorite. It was so great to be able to look at my parents, sister, brother and sister in law! I miss them more than you can imagine and cannot wait to make our international move back to America! I know there are those people who move a state or two away and say, "I miss my family. I haven't seen them in months!" but all that pales in comparison to being ocean's, time zones and days away. Count your blessing that you live on the same continent!

We have another 3 day weekend coming up and came to realize we only have 105 days left in the blessed country! I've started packing some of the valuables as I said in previous posts. It makes me feel that much closer to being home. Each day I mark off the calendar is a small joy and victory!

I am excited for the local markets to open up. They sell just about anything and everything you could imagine and even some things you can't! This means camera fun for me! As I've said before, it's so hard to make this place look pretty through pictures. I am going to try though! I know it's getting close to that time when you hear the men in their tiny Korean trucks with the beds full of produce, on their loud speakers announcing what they are selling! Tyler always jokes about this and does his awesome Asian voice "Rary good radish! I sell world best clemintine! You try!" I laugh every time. It never gets old!

Finally, I saved the best for last on this post. I have been seriously looking around at schools for when we are stateside and have applied for the MyCAA program that awards spouses of active duty military money to return to school... I was accepted and now have $4,000 to put toward my education! WooHoo! I was beyond elated when I read the email. It's just so inspiring when you pray hard for something to go your way and it shows itself! God has really blessed me and I cannot wait to finish what I started and become a college student again! For those of you wondering what my major is, it's Health Information Technology. Basically, I will handle the clerical side of health care. I eventually hope to help develop new technology and programs for health care settings like hospitals and physicians offices.

Well it's lunch time and I know I will have a hungry soldier walking through the door at any moment. Better get to it!

"Almost" Spring Cleaning and Looking Forward

Today I began "Spring" cleaning and realized several things about our home and where we are going in life. Some bad but mostly very, very good!

I think I will start with my house first by saying, I hate the hardwood floors throughout our whole apartment! I know everyone else on the planet will disagree with me but I don't think most of you people realize how great carpet is until you are without it for a year and 9 months! My top 2 complains about the hardwood are: 1. It is the hardest thing in the world to keep clean. 2. It hurts my feet and back from standing on it. I love the look of it when it's clean and polished but getting 1500 square of feet of it to look and stay that way is a huge undertaking. Even for housewives like myself. I never realized how much dust accumulates in a home over the course of just a few days. I hate the feel of dirt under my feet and how my white socks become brown. So needless to say, at our next duty station, we will be on the look out for "carpet throughout."

Keeping with the home realizations, Tyler and I both agree we strongly dislike apartment living in general. Our main reason is the noise level. I don't really like knowing what my neighbors are watching on tv or hearing their children run and scream through the house. When we first moved in, we became acquainted with a young couple and their baby. I agreed to watch their baby one day while the mom went to the gym. After that, she began coming to our house everyday wanting to me to be her free child care! People seriously amaze me. It's not that I wouldn't be more than willing to help her but I am certainly not a door mat for you to use when you feel like it.

Okay... I'm off my soapbox now and on to the "where our life is going" section:

Over the last several months, Tyler has been in the process of putting in his "application" for a very important job. More like, a once in a life time opportunity, job. I am not allowed to reveal where or what this job is just yet because we are not 100% sure of it's certainty just yet. All we know is if this happens for us, we will be in the states again! And if Tyler really likes the job, it could be the place we call home for a very long while. That's right friends: a permanent duty station! The city we would be in will hold lots of things of things to do, see and experience for the first time. It's near the ocean, which is somewhere I've only dreamed of living. While I do realize that it takes more than just where you are living to make your life complete, we can fly to see our family for just $250 and that is something to be very, very grateful for. I am probably jumping the gun quite a bit but I've been doing lots of research on the city, it's public transit, shopping and dining area's, crime rates, housing, parks, and much more! My friend Cassandra used to live there and has helped me so much! So far, from what I know and what our friends have told us, we love it already. We've been praying so hard for this great opportunity and it's looking like it's in our favor but as I said before, we aren't 100% sure.

I've been wrapping up valuables for our PCS in July, because no matter if we get this great job or not, we are going to be moving internationally.... again. I am the real life version of "Army Wives"! While doing the cleaning and organizing I've been throwing out lots of old stuff and things that just seem to accumulate over time and it's felt so great. I'm one of those people who really dislikes clutter so when doing things like this I have a rule: If you don't use it, love it or make money with it, throw it out!

I am so excited to be able to go back to school and finish what I started. You'd think that I would be able to go to college at the same time I was over here... Trust me, it's harder than you think. Either they want to charge you an insane amount per credit hour, don't allow overseas students or they give you completely useless subjects to major in. For me my major is in health care and of course, it requires clinical hours to complete your course work. The one hospital here, does not work with students. So as you can see, I've had a little bit of difficulty. I am determined to finish, it's just taken a bit longer than I had foreseen.

This next PCS (relocation to next duty station) will be so great for us. We really miss America and our family and can't wait to see what is in store for us. I will also be able to take pictures of beautiful things and sites instead of the ugly country of Korea. I will also be able to do more "home projects" like making art and recovering furniture, like I used to do. I can't wait to be able to do my hobbies again!

Here's hoping everything during our last few months here goes smoothly and we are able to transition to our new duty station with ease and a clear focus. Life is so great and should be looked at in a positive light. I hope to continue being able to do this! God has blessed us beyond measure!

Freaky Friday

After dinner last night, Tyler offered to take me to the PX (that's post exchange to you) before work, so I could walk around and do a little shopping. I thought it would be a nice evening to myself so I took him up on the offer.

While I was trying to put back an item from the top shelf, some older man with a Spanish accent asked if he could help me. I said sure and thank you and tried to go on with my night... Not so lucky. He began telling me that he could tell I was a nice person by my beautiful face and asked if my eyes change color... "Nope, just blue, everyday." The guy would not stop talking to me/following me around! After about 5 minutes of this nonsense I shut him down but he still followed me, though at a farther distance. Everywhere I went, even the make-up department the man followed me. I got my mace out of my purse when he followed me to get a cab.

Why are people so darn weird sometimes? Only 4 more months in Korea... I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!

What Kind of Person I am...

In the words of the Jung Typology Test I am an "INFJ". Introverted-Intuitive-Feeling-Judging. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about Google "HumanMetrics" and take your own test. My test was very accurate. It helps you to see what type of job suites you best, your best matches in a partner, people you can easily befriend and so on. It's fun and it's free.

I'm very much a relaxed type of person. One of my favorite quotes is "If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans." If I could have looked ahead on my life 5 years ago, I wouldn't expect any of what happened! I believe this is true for most people. I have dreams, like everyone else but I don't have a rigorous schedule in which they must be attained. I'm a very spur of the moment type of woman! I love to just grab my mom or my sis and go shopping! My test confirmed this :) Some things left unknown are good! If your too rigid with life, your setting yourself up for disappointment... And who wants that?!

I am also very choosy about whom I'm friends with. I don't have very many "good" friends. I tend to not make friends at my work. I see work as just that... work. Too many people knowing the ins and outs of my life is not really my style. I think that's why I tend to gravitate toward male friends. They don't really like drama and neither do I.

As far as tangible things go... I know my husband for one, "loves" his belongings. If he gets a new thing, like his gun, he really does "love" it. Not I. I very much value people and experiences over things. When I take a vacation, I remember the sites, food, laughs, pictures, and so on. For my husband, he's more likely to recall the cost of the trip and how many miles we put on the car. : / I'm working on cracking his shell little by little.

If I am having an "in depth" discussion with someone, I am able to complete the entire conversation in one sitting. Some people need time to "think on the matter" and then get back to you. For me, by the time this person is "ready to talk", I've already moved on with my life and don't feel like exhausting the subject. I'm really very glad I'm the kind of person I am.

Now all this is not to say that I'm some random, never plan anything, do what feels right at the time, type of person. I just try not to get ahead of myself. Take things as they come. For one thing, being in the Army means almost no planning. You get moved a ton, you could get deployed, you hardly ever do the job you were trained to and so on. I am getting a little tired of the whole waiting game. We are supposed to PCS out of Korea in late June, early July. We still do not have orders for our next duty station! We have tried to do lots of things and tried for goals in the Army and none of them have worked out. Very disappointing! We know couples who got involuntarily extended to stay in Korea. This country is really wearing on us... Lets hope we aren't one of those unlucky couples. Those of you in the service know exactly what I'm talking about.

So all in all, I'm very happy with the optimistic person that I am. I see myself as a person who can take a hit and keep coming. I don't let a flat tire ruin my whole road trip. I know who I am and I'm very comfortable with it.

"I love my wife."

 

My thoughts may stray
My eyes may roam
The neighbor's grass may seem much greener
Than the grass right here at home

If pretty girls excite me
Well, that's life
But just in case, you didn't know
I love my wife

My mind at times
May dwell on sex
If someone's rating dreams
Then most of mine I guess are double X

So dimpled knees delight me
Well, that's life
But just in case, you hadn't heard
I love my wife

Like bait that wriggles
And it makes catfish bite
A lady jiggles
And my eyes gotta light
Upon so sweet a sight

And if I shake
Break out in spots
Don't fret, it's not swine fever dear
Your swine has merely got the hots

If rosy lips invite me
Well, that's life
But just in case, you couldn't guess
I love my wife

My mind at times
May dwell on sex
If someone's rating dreams
Then most of mine I guess are double X

If rosy lips invite me
Well, that's life
But just in case, you couldn't guess
Or hadn't heard
Or didn't know
I love my wife
I love my wife
I love my wife
mmm
I love my wife

Winter Survival Tips

As "Blizzard 2011" hits our family and friends in Missouri, I began thinking, "What are they going to do to occupy their time?" They have 20 inches of snow... No one is going any where, any time soon. March 20th can seem like forever away, especially with early sunsets. Being confined to a house can cause serious cabin fever! I have been brainstorming ways to help you all fight this battle and here's what I've come up with...

• Make snow ice cream! It's a great activity for kids and adults. 
• Purchase a new bath robe. Believe me, you will be glad you did.
• Have a spa day in your new robe! :)
• Play board games or put together a puzzle. The latter being my favorite!
• COOK! Winter is the best time for comfort food. The crockpot should be your new best friend.
• Make home improvements or clean out your closet. People are always in need. Help someone else stay warm this winter.
• Read a book. My current read is called, "Packing for Mars." You should check it out!
• Write a letter. Have children write as well or include their art work. Your recipient will love it.
• And finally, rearrange the furniture. A new look will help in big way!

Now onto the necessities of surviving winter... For real!

• Make sure your car has proper tire pressure, anitfreeze levels, oil weight, and gasoline.
• Your cars emergency kit should include: 

 -Jumper cables.
- Inflated spare tire.
- Jack.
- Cotton gloves.
- Extra bottle of windshield wiper fluid.
- Sand or absorbent cat litter for traction.
-Flashlight and fresh batteries.
- Simple first-aid kit.
- Blankets.

• At home keep plenty of batteries ready for radios and flashlights.
• Non-perishable food and a manual can opener.
• Cash.
• Anti-stress items like books or magazines.
• Blankets.
• Toiletries.
• And lastly a lantern.

Hope this little post helped you in more ways than one. Winter can be a very fun season! Get outside and enjoy the snow!

"Beef on a Leaf", The Korean Dining Experience

I was thinking about getting back into the swing of eating Korean food again and realized I've described the food but have never revealed a picture! So here you go!

As you can see, there are tons of dishes/sides. Nearly all of them are pickled or cold. No potatoes or salt and pepper. If you look at the meat on the left, you will notice some scissors and tongs beside each other. This is how Korean people cut their meat... With scissors! As a side note: This is also the way they cut their crab legs.
The way that this traditional meal usually goes is... You sit on the floor after you've taken off your shoes and wait for your server to bring you hot coals to place in the middle of the table top grill. After the grill is set up, you cut the meat into bite size pieces and place it on the grill. You also may place whole, raw garlic in some aluminum muffin tins to roast.
After the meat is done cooking, you don't put it on your plate. You move the cooked meat to the side of the grill to keep it warm. Then you take a piece of lettace, aka "Leaf" and hold it in your hand and fill it with whatever you would like. Similar to a tortilla... Kinda. No one has a "plate" of their own. Double dipping to them is very much okay. You simply take your chop sticks and pick up what you want on your lettuce leaf, along with everyone else. I can only eat this way with my husband. To me, everyone's germs on their chop sticks and their double dipping into every dish is too much for me to handle.
In this particular picture, the vegetable choices that you have are: picked onion, tofu and seaweed, pickled/spicy bean sprouts, whole garlic cloves, kimchi, spicy anchovies, radish and red pepper paste for dipping. Nearly all Korean food is spicy. Many things that you eat at meals like this one are colored red due to the spice they add.
Now, in America, it's considered rude and uncouth to talk with your mouth full or to "stuff" food into your mouth... Not here. This is the way all Korean's eat. Whether it be a burger, ramen soup, or beef on a leaf. They consider it a "compliment to the chef" when you slurp and shove huge bites into your mouth.
I had a very hard time adjusting to this style of dinning to say the least. The "bites" of food they eat are enormous! Picture putting 2 hard boiled eggs in your mouth at once and this is the average bite for a Korean. :|
So if you find yourself in Southeast Asia, in the tiny country of South Korea... You will now know what to expect for a dining experience. I assure you, it's like nothing you've ever seen. Oh and one more tip... Ordered bottled water for obvious reasons.