Adding Pictures

It is 2:30am and I just woke up. This has got to stop. My last post ended with me going to bed Monday night in Korea. I woke up Tuesday morning at 6:30am. I figured my sleep schedule was now on track for the local time zone. Michele was up at about the same time, so we talked and got on our computers. I had a mountain of e-mail to wade through. At one point I walked into the kitchen to find that no recyclables were harmed (or taken out) since I left. The garbage smelled, and there were dirty dishes in the sink and on the counter. The good news was that the dust bunnies were large enough to be assigned chores.
We took out the recyclables and made a commissary run. Then I worked on my mountain of e-mail. It was hot and we had to run the AC. We did not go out after that. I had no lunch but cleaned up a few leftovers for supper. Then Michele and I had an 'S' word contest. I don't know why, we just did. I kept falling asleep during it. So I started walking around, patting my cheek, whatever to stay awake until bedtime. Finally at 9 I gave up and went to bed. But then I woke up at 2:30 am. Figuring that I could repeat the previous night by doing something for an hour then go back to bed, I processed some more e-mail. Then I went back to bed to listen to my meditation CD which puts me to sleep. But it didn't. I don't know how long I lay awake, but finally got up at 8. I took a shower and had breakfast. Then Michele and I got on the subway at Sebinggo station and went to Dongdaemun to buy beads and yarn. Then train was very crowded until Seoul Station, then there were plenty of seats. I get a little uncomfortable when there are plenty of seats because it reminds me of the time we were the only ones left on the train.
So we got off in Dongdaemun and went to the 5th floor of "A" building. Michele had never been before and I think she enjoyed looking at all the selections. Then we walked down to the basement and she got $50 worth of yarn. IT must be the good stuff because in the states acrylic yarn would not cost so much. Then she was hungry even though it wasn't 11 am yet. So we walked around, bought her a corn dog. Then we found a little place in a tent to sit and we got a seaweed rice roll. It came with kimchi (which is what I really wanted) and a soup (broth and a few big noodles). So I finally had my kimchi fix. Then we took the subway to Yongsan, Gate 19, and got on the bus for our walk-in gate. I was going to stay on the bus and go Chris' office to check the mail, but wanted to change my shoes. However, once we got back, and turned on the AC, we couldn't face going out again. I worked on e-mail again, until about 3, then decided I needed a power nap. So I laid down and slept until 9. I got up and ate a little but didn't feel right. So I tried to read. Then I took the book to bed where the light was better. I read a little and slept a little, read a little and slept a little. Finally I finished the book and slept until 2:30 am. Now I am wide awake and feel fine. Darn.
So I am posting and adding pictures to previous posts. Check them out.

The trip home

Sunday morning I got up at 3:45 am because I just couldn't sleep. I took a shower and repacked my suitcase, taking out a few things that made it too heavy to pass the 50 pound test at the airport. Chris offered to take them in his suitcase. We were a little late leaving for the airport, getting there a little after 5. I waited in the checked-luggage line and Chris checked me in at the selfcheck terminal. I didn't even know they existed. Then we walked to the security line. I just couldn't bear to say goodbye to him and I just hate crying in public. So he left. There was a guy on a cell phone behind me. It was very distracting. I was wondering who he could be calling at 5:30 in the morning. Then we went through the line where you have to take off your shoes and put all your stuff in a basket to be x-rayed. I had no problem going through the 'doorway' since I had taken off my watch. But while trying to collect my shoes and stuff, something went wrong some where and all 4 lines shut down. So we stood there, shoeless, wondering what had happened. After a while, an AllClear was given and I got my shoes back. Some people were upset at the delay, but I still had an hour to wait. Once we boarded, we sat on the tarmac listening to the pilot explain that our destination, the Atlanta airport, had been closed for fog and that we would not take off until the airport opened again. I guess we sat there for half an hour. My seatmate was nervous about take-offs and landings. She admitted that she had small bottles of alcohol with her. She disappeared just before take-off and just before landing. I think she was drinking in the restroom. She talked constantly during the trip, even though with my ears popping I couldnt hear half of what she said. We descended through a very heavy fog layer. Since we started late, we arrived late and many people were rushing off the plane with only minutes to catch a connecting flight. I guess they had really short layovers. I thought I had an hour. But when I got to the E terminal and asked, I was told the plane was boarding already. So I walked to the appropriate gate and got in the first line. I checked with the lady ahead of me as to destination and seating. But then she got out of line after the guy ahead of her said 'Business class'. I stayed in line and the ticket agent told me to go ahead anyway. I was seated on the aisle in the center. Beside me was a Korean woman and her son. There was an entertainment screen on the back of the seat in front of me. I watched several movies during the flight, and played a game of Sudoku. I might played more, but was worried that all the screen tapping might be distracting to the person in front of me. I listened to music but the ear phones they handed out were uncomfortable and the headphones I brought became tight over time. So I had to divide my time between movies and reading a book. I tried sleeping, but the seats weren't comfortable and my butt hurt from sitting so long. I was VERY lucky not to have back problems. We were served a meal an hour from take-off and an hour before landing. There was a snack somewhere in the middle. Luckily they served drinks more often. It was a 14 hour flight and I only went to the restroom twice. Probably I was dehydrated. I was also lucky not to have more ear trouble than I did. How do stewardesses handle it?
Moving on, we were given papers to fill out at the beginning of the trip to be turned in when we got off the plane. One was an H1N1 form where you had to swear you didn't have it and weren't exposed to it. When we handed it in, they took our temperature to make sure. The other form was a customs form and had small spaces for entering everything. One block asked for reason for visit. I couldn't get "too stupid to stay in the U.S. where I belong." in there. "Crazy as a loon" would be a tight fit too. "Masochistic" was the right length but I didn't want to have to explain what that meant. Strangely, I had trouble finding the Immigration area. At JFK airport, we were funneled into it, but in Korea I had to find the signs, which I couldn't, so I had to stop and ask. Since everyone on the plane had to go there, you'd think it would be more clearly marked. But I had no trouble getting through. Then there was the inevitable wait for baggage to appear. Finally I got my suitcase and dragged it through the airport looking for the USO counter. Of course it was the very last one. Several taxi drivers offered me rides, but at expensive prices. The DHL bus was several hours away, so I went for the Capital Hotel bus. That was a 20 minute wait, but much cheaper than a taxi. It got to Seoul in less than an hour, but then making its rounds took a long time. The hotel was not its first stop, but it was the closest one to where we live. I should have gotten taxi from the hotel, but I didn't. I just grabbed my suitcase and dragged it all the way home. It was hot and humid. When I got to our apartment, Michele was about to start supper. I was exhausted so I stripped and laid down for a moment. Michele put on the AC and went to the kitchen. When I woke up it was midnight. I wanted to check my e-mail, but the rest of the apartment was too hot. So I unpacked my suitcase, plugged in my cell phone and went back to sleep.

Fri and Sat

I know I didn't post yesterday, but I have to make this really quick because it is late and I have to be up really early to be at the airport by 5am. Friday I stayed at the house to help my mom bake banana bread and date-nut bread. That afternoon I helped my father cut off a rotted section of rafter and put up a piece of trim on the shed. It sounds quick but it wasn't. After supper Chris drove in from Ft. Belvoir. We went to bed early. Sometime in the middle of the night I realized how hot it was in there and retired to the livingroom to cool off. William came in the front door about 7 am, waking me up. I got dressed and we went yardsaling. I got a set of headphones, several yards of silk, a curtain rod, a book and something else. I met a lady that speaks at least 5 languages and has traveled extensively. We had a marvelous discussion. Then William and I went to the new Salvation Army store. It was very nice, but had nothing I wanted. We went home. Mom and Dad were preparing for my brother's birthday party. Kurt and his girlfriend Debbie drove in from Northern Va. And William's girlfriend Karen came by, too. We had grilled chicken quarters, three-bean salad, baked potatoes, and fruit salad. Not to mention cake and ice cream. There was the traditional singing and presents and more than the usual picture-taking. We also sat around trying to answer Trivial Pursuit questions. Then one by one, the couples left. It was sad, but we'd had a good time. Chris and I ducked into the nearest Walmart for a new watch and a tan shirt. It was the fastest shopping I have ever done. (I had bought the shirt in 4 other colors and this WalMart happened to have my size in tan). Arriving at my in-laws house, we weighed my suitcase and found it was too heavy so Chris put some stuff in his suitcase. Then we SKYPED Michele and I really enjoyed talking to her. She seems to be doing just fine on her own. I will fly out of Richmond early tomorrow, fly into Atlanta, and then on to Incheon, arriving Monday afternoon. Then I have the task of finding a way home from the airport, which is an hours bus ride from Seoul. So I may miss a day or two of blogging. Wish me well.

More shopping and binding

I am no longer waking up at 6am. I think I stayed in bed until 7:30. After a bath and breakfast, I resumed working on the binding for the double wedding ring quilt while my parents got ready to go grocery shopping. I expected Faye to show up shortly thereafter, but it was 11 by the time she came over. We then went to WalMart at Southpark Mall. She was looking for some shirts she'd seen at another Walmart and so was I. We each bought some clothes on sale and then had lunch at Subway. Then we went to Home Depot to look at shelving and PVC. No luck on the PVC, but they had the shelving. Only it won't fit into my suitcase. Hopefully I can order it from their website and have it shipped. Then we hit the nearby WalMart which had some more of those shirts in her size. After that, we visited Goodwill. Finally we returned after 6, tired and ready for supper. She went home. We had a great time shopping together, and I appreciate more than ever how convenient it is to find and buy what you want in the U.S.
After supper with my parents, we studied the last two chapters of Ecclesiastes. The writer says everything under the sun is vanity and is meaningless. But he must have found meaning in writing it.
I spent the rest of the evening working on the binding. I am getting better at sewing the inside corners.

Shopping!

This morning I had breakfast with my parents. Then I worked on binding the double wedding ring quilt while my mother worked on a rag quilt project. Faye came over during lunch and we went to the Thrifty Quaker, a thrift shop. I thought it would be a quick trip, but it seems we are known there as William's sisters, so we had a nice chat with two of the ladies there. I bought some patterns before we left since they are not to be found in Seoul. Then Faye drove us to Jo-anns. What a wonderful place! So much to look at and all the varieties of everything all in one place. I wish we had one in Seoul. I got some fancy paper and a bead board. Well, actually my sister bought them for me as an early birthday present. Then we stopped by the shoe store so I could look for some sandal-like walking shoes. It took a long time, but finally I was able to settle on two pairs. Now I have to get all of this in my suitcase. Faye drove me home from there. It was supper time then and we were having supper when my brother arrived. He took me to Goodwill. We got there just before it closed. Then we tried Salvation Army, but it was closed. So we hit Barnes and Noble. Another wonderful place! I didn't get anything, but it was so nice just to look. When we got back, my father was watching a concert on TV. It was so beautiful. But now it is bedtime, and I am looking forward to spending more time with my sister tomorrow.

No more double wedding rings for me

Monday I did not get a chance to blog. Cecily drove me to my parents house after lunch. We all had a nice chat. Then my parents left for the fitness center. Being alone, I called William. I thought he was coming to visit me, but he never showed up. I did nothing for awhile, but did not make a dent in all the nothing there was to do. So I had to do something. So I swept the deck and ramps, but then again had nothing to do. Finally it was time to start supper. But then the phone rang and it was Kurt. I tried to make supper while holding the phone, and then remembered the speaker phone option. That was easier. But I still was late and when my parents came home, supper was not ready. After our late supper, we talked about the morning. Then I laid down for just a moment and fell asleep. Tuesday my mom and I went to her church to quilt. She let me drive and it was such a treat. I thought it would be scary after not driving for 11 months, but it actually felt good. The quilt in the frame at church is a Lone Star on a blue background. My mom had just started it recently so we did some marking. Then my sister showed up and the three of us quilted for the rest of the morning. Then Mom and I went home for lunch, stopping off at Good Foods Grocery to get some of the health foods I couldn't find in Korea. One was raw cacoa. It is supposed to be a superfood. Tastes like bitter baking chocolate. Must be healthy. Faye stopped by WalMart then joined us for lunch. Afterwards, we discussed how to finish off a double wedding ring quilt. Finally I decided to stop talking about it and just do it. So while one of them held the quilt, I sewed a double fold quilt binding on it. The corners weren't to my satisfaction, but it was in keeping with the character of the rest of the quilt. We ran out of binding, so after supper we went to Hancocks to get some more. Ah, what a wonderful place! So much selection, all the notions, everything you'd want in a fabric and craft store but can't find in Korea. I was going to buy thread, but the lady told us it would be half price on Saturday. When we got back home, we finished sewing on the binding and I started the slipstitching on the back. Still not the perfect edge I am used to doing, but those inner corners are hard to deal with.

Goodbye, Beach. It's been fun.

I did not get a chance at the computer yesterday, but it unfolded pretty much as expected. I got up at 6:15 to watch the sun rise. We packed, turned in the key and were on our way by 9:30. We called Chris at his parents home several times to warn him that we were coming. He had flown from Korea in during the night to pick up his car. He will be attending a month-long course at Ft. Belvoir. We all had lunch together when we arrived. After lunch he had to leave but it was nice to see him again for a little while.
For supper the rest of us went to UNOs. I got a bowl of vegetable soup. The kids had make-your-own pizzas, which meant that they got to smear the tomato sauce on and sprinkle the cheese before the waiter took the pizzas away to bake. I think they ate more because they got to participate in the process. These kids don't eat much so anything that encourages them to eat is a good thing. After supper we watched Westwing episodes and I did Sudoku puzzles. One by one we all went to bed.