Walking around town

My alarm went off at 7:30, but we stayed in bed. Later I got up to drink water and my back seized briefly. The electricity went off, and then I remembered the paper that said it would go out twice today. I did a modified form of exercise without the benefit of an audio. Then the electricity came back on. I made breakfast, and ate breakfast while reading e-mail. I got dressed, including coat and scarf, and umbrella. We took the map and walked down to Admiral Yi circle, passing the market and looking inside to see what they had. It was a fact finding mission. We walked counterclockwise around the circle. We went down the four-lane heading east. We walked down some side streets to Clock circle. It kinda sorta sprinkled. We found the Office Depot and bought hooks, a strainer, and an outdoor thermometer (in Celsius). We wandered into the everyday market with its baskets of produce and fish. Some baskets held seeds or beans, but when we asked for chia and flax, they said no. They did not have turmeric either, in root or powder. On the way back, we passed GS 25 supermarket. I looked for the little floss picks, but they did not have them. No one did. On from there, we found the now-defunct train station. I took a pic of the street map, thinking it would be more accurate and detailed than the drawing from Chris' internet packet. Continuing on, we saw what looked like a massage business across the street. From there we walked back to the base. We proceeded to the post office and the bathrooms. Then we went to the commissary. There we found flax and chia seeds! We got some groceries and walked home. My back was tired. Chris put the groceries away. I read e-mail. Later I found a few things to eat. Chris did laundry and made onion soup. I opened up the outdoor thermometer and made dots for the Fahrenheit temps. I put it back together and placed it between the back window and the screen (until I can find a better place). I got out the sewing machine that came from Linda. The bobbin winder did not work and I could not see a reason for it without taking it apart, and that did not seem like a good idea. Chris decided to watch a movie. So I sat with him. We watched, stopping periodically to fold laundry or check on supper. We had chicken and sweet potatoes and onion soup. After the movie (something about the Alamo), I worked some non-Sudoku puzzles in a book. Then I bundled up and Chris put on his coat. We huddled under his umbrella while walking to the theater. He bought tickets, and we watched Bridge of Spies starring Tom Hanks. It was a good movie, especially considering that it was inspired by actual events. I hoped the rain would stop, but when we got out, it was still raining hard. We huddled all the way back. At least it wasn't all that cold. Then I posted to my blog and soaked my sprouts, and we went to bed.

Uphill from here

I woke up around 7, but tried to sleep again. Then I got up thinking Chris would be here soon. I swished and got out the vacuum. It was full of flax seeds, so I dumped them in the flower bed and then proceeded to sweep the house. I fired up the laptop and deleted over 100 messages.
Chris arrived about 8:30. I am not supposed to talk about what happened next. After that, he put on his suit which he wears to work. I started making breakfast. Then we walked to the bank. We got my name put on the account so I can access it when he is out of town. Then I asked the ladies at the counter about finding things in Chinhae. Chris left. But I had a great time talking to them and they offered to take me on a walking tour on Monday (because the bank is closed). I learned that when you buy a live octopus in the market, they will cut it up for you and you can bring it home and eat it raw within 3 days.
I walked back to the duplex for breakfast. After eating breakfast, I sat on the couch to meditate. Chris dropped by with the last priority mail box, then left. When the meditation was over, I opened the box and put away what I could. Then I sat down to catch up on Sudoku puzzles. Some man called my cell phone four times, each time speaking Korean. I decided that if that number called again, I would not answer it. I finished the Sudoku puzzle for this weekend. I looked for the translation app that Kathy has. I did not find that one, but another one where you type in the word in English or Korean and it writes out the translation.
Chris came home from work. He changed his clothes and we went walking up the hill. I did not realize how far we were going to go, or how much uphill there was to go. Up and up and up, and then there was a work out station – as if all that walking up hill were not enough. And further up and around, there was a very steep downhill slope. I was afraid to go down because I didn't think I could get back up. But Chris said we did not have to. So we went down and continued around. But, where the path left the trees, it ended at construction. So we had to climb around some fenced in building. And so on, until we finally got back to our duplex. Chris was willing to go further but I'd had enough for one day, anticipating another walk tomorrow.
After we got back, I read some e-mail, and then started looking at funny sayings on Pinterest. Why do they always start out funny and later become sarcastic and use bad language? I made a salad and ate it. I washed the dishes in the sink. Chris and I snuggled on the couch and watched a western with Jimmy Stewart. Then Chris went to bed and I stayed up to post to my blog.
* If you go up high enough, you can see part of the ocean. *

Meeting new people

I heard the alarm ring at 7:30. I did not feel like getting up after going to bed so late. I must have been in a good mood because I was thinking about where I could set up my sewing machine when it arrived. I got up before 8, and sat in front of my laptop with a quart of water to drink. I deleted a lot of e-mail that came in over night. I added pics to my blog posts that did not have pics. I realized that I was still signed into skype as Chris. So I signed out and back in as me. Then I saw that Kurt had sent me a video of his new deck. I enjoyed watching it very much. I rinsed my sprouts. I put on a Philosopher's Notes audio and exercised and swished.
Then I made breakfast. Just as I was finishing breakfast, Chris skyped me from Singapore. They had finished early and he was working from the hotel room until it was time to catch a flight back. He asked me to call Jane to see what she wanted when she called him. So after we hung up, I called her and she wanted to take us to see the chrysanthemum festival after church.
Then I got dressed and walked to the post office. I ran into Patricia and we discussed where to buy organic and local foods, and going to E-Mart or LotteMart next Wednesday. Then I went into the post office. The lady checked our mailbox and handed me a card. When I came out, I checked some handouts, but they weren't anything I needed. I decided to take a pic of the recycling and disposal bulletin board. My phone rang and it was Jane, so I got some practice answering the phone. Then I walked home, using the jogging trail. I did not have my camera so I used my phone to take pics along the way, wondering how to get the photos from it.
I checked e-mail and listened to some short audios. I took off my shoes and went outside to trim around the building. When I came in, I got a text that Kathy was on my street and had left some persimmons on my porch. I took my map and phone and went next door to see her. The kids were sliding down the hill on sheets of cardboard. One of the kids asked for another box, so I got one from our place. I talked to the mothers. Kathy marked my map with places we had been. I talked to Linda. She had a sewing machine that needed looked at. So when the other kids had left for archery, she gave me her machine to take home. Was that why I had woken up with the thought of where to set up a machine?
I made a salad with the last of the greens from the commissary. They were on their way out. I washed some of the Korean spinach. I also put in egg and carrots and cucumber. After eating the salad, I cleaned up a bit. I listened to a paraliminal. I finished an audio from earlier and processed more e-mail, getting my unread to under 100. I looked at scrap quilts on Pinterest while listening to brain wave entrainment on making change easy. I sent Kurt his morning edition when my phone alarm rang. Anybody else want one? Dr. Mercola's site sent me a coupon for my birthday so I looked at the products to see what I might want. I fell asleep on the couch doing the Sudoku puzzles for this week.
* Until I can get the pics off of my phone, here is one of lettuce (?) from the market yesterday *

My lucky day

I woke up before 6 probably. When I got up it was little after 6:30 so I stayed up. I got dressed and put out the recyclables. I read e-mail. I swished and exercised. I made breakfast and ate it while reading more e-mail. I got it down to 100 unread e-mails. My friend texted me to say we would drive instead of walk to the market. Oprah is doing another 21 days of meditation so I listened to the second one. I looked through my purse for a postal slip with a tracking number for my sewing machine. Then I got ready for the trip. I put on my coat and sling purse. I stood outside to wait. I brought in the recycling container. I went back for my sunglasses. I waited some more and she pulled up. I got in her van and waved to her little blond girl. First she drove us to the ROK navy base. I saw their little gallery of stores and fast food places. Then we stopped at a little road side stand. I got dried squid and tomatoes. She got oranges and apples. Then we walked to an office type store. I got some suction hooks and a roll of sparkly net that could be decoration for Christmas. Then we paid the parking attendant and went to the internet place where she paid her bill. Then we drove to the market district. Some were storefronts, but most were in the alleys. Some people sat on the ground and others perched inside with their wares displayed outside. There were all sorts of fresh unknown plants, roots, vegetables, live seafood, meats, etc. We went in a few stores. I got kimchi at one stand. Then we drove to a kimbap place. She ordered two rolls and gave me one. Then we came back to the base. I showed my ID but the guard said I wasn't in the system. So I showed my driver's license, and he let me in. (How can I not be in the system but they gave me a ration card? Turns out I gave him my ID from Yongsan) She dropped me off at my place and I picked up all my bags of purchases. We had decided to split the basket of tomatoes and one of spinach but she was out of time so promised to come back later. I cut up the kimchi and ate it with the kimbap, poking out the little radish pieces because they have food coloring. It was soooooooo good. Then I took notes for my blog. When I finished lunch, I walked to the library. There was no one there so I waited. Finally a man came in. I returned my book and checked out another. He had me fill out a form for a library card. Then I went to the phone store. The lady gave me the plastic protector sheet. I asked how to use it, and she offered to do it. I watched her use rolled up pieces of tape to get it exactly where it needed to be on the front of the phone. It wasn't quick, but she did a perfect job. Then I went to the post office. There was no mail and no boxes. I asked how to find the sewing machine if I did not have the tracking number. She said to contact the post office it was mailed from, that they would keep a copy for 30 days. Yikes. I think it's been longer than that. I walked back to the duplex. I tried to contact the post office in Huntsville. I found a link where I could e-mail the post office system to explain my problem. I composed a message but it needed the date I mailed the machine. I figured it would be on my blog, but I scoured it and found no traces of when I mailed it. And then, all of a sudden, it was there, on Saturday October 3rd. So I entered all the info. The system would not accept AP for the state field, so I put Alabama. When I hit enter, I was told my request did not go through and to try again later. AAAARRRGGGHHH! So I started over. I tried to find an e-mail address for the specific post office, but had no luck at all. Phone numbers, yes, but how do I call from here? And it would have to be at 11:30 pm. I went through the FAQ's. All kinds of help, IF you have the tracking number. But I didn't. I tried their e-mail system again, making different choices in the drop down menu. Finally I was able to submit the problem. But will it reach someone in time? I listened to a paraliminal, twice, because it was so relaxing. I read e-mail. I ate some dried squid. Kathy came over with some tomatoes and spinach. But she couldn't stay. I got a response from USPS. The link asked me to make an account, which I did, but then there was nothing helpful there. I tried the link again, and this time it directed me to enter a tracking number. So I responded that I did not have it, and who could help me. I watched a video about Star Trek Renegades. Then I looked up Big Bang Theory vids on Youtube. My alarm rang, indicating that it was time to send Kurt the 'morning edition' of my blog so he has something to read while he eats breakfast. After sending it, I went back to BBT videos. Then Chris skyped me. He said things were going so well that he was coming home a day early. His skype account can make phone calls, so I asked him to call the International Inquiry Center (for the post office). But all he got was an automated message that one has to call during business hours. I went through my purse and wallet again, looking for the receipt. It was hard to believe that everything rests on a piece of paper. Without the receipt, there is no way to find the tracking number (unless I bought the label online – which I did not). And they have no other way of tracking it. Chris gave me his skype account info before he signed off. Then I did some tapping. I watched BBT clips on Youtube until 11pm. Then I signed into Skype as Chris and called the post office in Huntsville. The man who answered said it was probably stuck in customs. Amazingly, he also said it might be possible to find the tracking number. He took my information and I gave him my e-mail address. After the call, I thanked God. I still have hope of getting my machine back (and all the sewing things I packed with it). Praise the lord and pass the sewing notions! I posted to my blog and went to bed.
* Live crabs *

How to answer the phone

I woke up in what seemed like the middle of the night. But when I actually got up to get some water and go back to bed, it was quarter of 7. It was a pleasant surprise and I stayed up. I listened to an audio on relationships. I read and answered e-mails. Chris skyped me from Singapore. I read the housing manual. Still no clue as to where egg shells go (garbage or food waste). The manual specified the temperature settings in Fahrenheit, but all the controls are in Celsius. Kathy texted me so we are still on for tomorrow. I found a street map of Chinhae and wondered what the scale was. I read my Korean hand outs, but they had only food nouns, no phrases. I swished, exercised and made breakfast. I listened to an audio as I ate and then did some tapping. I tried to skype my dad. Since the tenant manual stipulated that paper and boxes had to be broken down for recycling, I smoothed out and folded all the moving paper. I pulled off all the tape and threw it away. I broke down four of the boxes, keeping three just in case. Two of the broken down boxes went into the bedroom to cover the window. One went in the closet. The other one I taped shut along one edge and put all the folded paper inside. Then it was ready to be recycled. I swept the floor in the living room and dining room. I was looking for places to put the items from the priority mail boxes when my new phone rang. I could tell Kathy was calling. There was a circle with a green phone in it and one with a red phone in it. I tapped on the green phone but nothing happened. I kept tapping until it stopped ringing. I sent her a text saying I did not know how to answer the phone. Then I realized that I did know how to make a call, so I called her. She said she had called by mistake. But she also told me that I have to SWIPE the green phone circle in order to answer a call. I wondered whose great idea that was. But it was very helpful information for next time. Then I took a shower. I moved my computer from the couch to the desk, then to the dining room table and then around the table. I felt like Sheldon looking for the perfect seat. But I needed a place where I could see my laptop screen without glare from a window and have an outlet nearby. I took my sack and went to the commissary. I got some cleaning supplies and some coconut oil since their coconut oil tastes better than what I shipped. I went to the bank to cash a check but they said I needed an account, or I could have a joint account with Chris but he had to be there to authorize it. Then I went to the phone store, but the lady was out. So I went to the post office, thinking I had a cart from the commissary to carry the boxes. There were three more coming and, hopefully, a sewing machine. Well, no boxes today. So I took the cart back to the commissary since I could carry the mop and stuff by myself. I met Burt's wife and two of their kids. She gave me her phone number. Then I walked home. It was such a nice day that I turned off the heat in all rooms and opened the windows. I made myself a salad with a hard boiled egg on top. I read e-mail. Chrissie sent me a pin of a stay-put towel. I looked for a tutorial on it. I took a break from e-mail to water the mint. There was no handle on the faucet. It needed a special tool, and I remembered seeing one in the same pile of stuff that had the tenant handbook. I used it and watered the mint and the strawberries that grow in the front flower bed. I read a few articles on toxins in our food supply. I set some alarms on my new phone. I put on an audio and sat on the couch to finish my book. The noise from the kids outside was quite loud. This was the first time I had heard them. But after awhile, there was quiet. I stopped the audio and put on some music. I finished the book. Then I was falling asleep. I wanted to stay awake in case Chris tried to skype me. I washed the dishes in the sink. I read about recycling again in the Resident's Guide. I had found more plastic bags and I wanted to be sure they would be taken. I opened them one by one and pulled each one over the mop handle. When I was done, I squished them all together and shoved them into the plastic recycling bin. I opened the mail and e-mailed the bills to Chris. I researched food grade hydrogen peroxide to get the funny taste out of my mouth. Chris skyped me and we talked for awhile. Then he hung up. I finished a few open windows. I rinsed the sprouting seeds I started this morning. Did I mention them? Then I finished my blog post and went to bed.
* Here is a pic of the entrance to the park *

Closed on Mondays

To stay awake, I kept reading funny Pinterest pins. But my eyes got tired. I checked e-mail and saw that Chris had arrived safely in Singapore. I checked spam and realized that I am no longer getting the message that someone in my area wants to meet me. Was it actually true, then? An actual someone in Huntsville? Anyway, time to go to bed.
I woke up at 3 am. I had to go to the bathroom and figured I could go back to sleep, but sleep did not come easily. I could not turn off the heat in the bedroom to quiet the heater. But I did sleep again because I woke at 6:30. Knowing it was 4:30 pm for my Dad, I got up and tried to skype him. Thinking he might be with Faye, I e-mailed her. I deleted a lot of e-mail and read a few others, then tried skyping again. I supposed he just did not have his computer on. I listened to an audio on toxic sludge. Did you know that manufacturers can dump their waste products into the sewer system, and that that sludge is sprayed on fields and playgrounds, and that the organic potting soil or mulch you buy may very well have these bio solids in it? These bio solids do not have to be labeled, and have industrial waste mixed in. I was shocked. I was listening to another audio when Chris skyped me from Singapore. It was a 20 minute conversation before he had to meet someone for breakfast. I did a few short bursts of sun gazing to reset my internal clock. I read more e-mail, and decided to make it a coffee morning. But I couldn't resist dusting first. I drybrushed and exercised. I listened to a paraliminal on achieving optimal weight. I tried to skype Dad, then tried to skype Kurt to call Dad. I finished the detox, cleaned the coffee utensils, and made breakfast. I perused the Mountain Rose website, and sent a list of items to Kathy who is getting ready to place an order. I got dressed and explored options for carrying boxes back from the post office. I chose a shoulder sack and a long strip of fabric that could wrap around a box as a handle. I walked to the bank but it was closed. So was the commissary next door. I went to the phone store but it was closed until 2:30. I went into the BX. I got some hydrogen peroxide. Then I went to the post office. My plan was to open the mail box and see how many slips there were for boxes. Then I would present one for retrieval and carry that one home. But I had such trouble getting it open (standing tiptoe on a step stool and trying to see the numbers) that one of the clerks got out the contents from behind the wall. There were three boxes and he presented me with all of them. I slipped one into my bag and stared at the other two. Then another clerk offered me a dolly. That was perfect. So I rolled them all up the hill to the duplex, then took the dolly back. I spent a few minutes looking at a wall of handouts and chose a few with helpful Korean phrases. Then I went to the phone store. However, she did not have the plastic cover yet and told me to come back tomorrow. On my way home, I stopped at Housing to see the lending closet and get a list of what needed to be returned. But the man did not know it by that name. He asked my name and when I said “Fern Damour”, he said “Oh, you're Mrs. Damour?” He gave me a sticky note with a phone number to call. When I got back, I opened the boxes. I took out the food items, like tea, and spices and nuts. The cardamom had come open. Something glass had broken. There were coins everywhere. Then I went outside with my kitchen scissors and bare feet. Previously we could have made a case that we were letting the place look abandoned for Halloween. But now it just looked like turkeys lived here. So I trimmed the grass growing in the hedges and around the edges of the house. It looked so much better, but it ruined my scissors. I came in to wash my hands and have a bite to eat. I checked e-mail and did some tapping. I read my library book for awhile. I listened to Oprah and Deepak's latest meditation. I must have fallen asleep. I woke up groggy and made myself post to my blog and go to bed.
* This is my pretty front door, even though it came out dark. I love the sun shining through it. *

Crazy Sunday

I woke up early (like 3am) so I checked e-mail. Chris got up too and got ready for his trip. I asked him to smash all the milk jugs for recycling. I separated my supplements and made up a week's worth. I ordered more of those that ran out. Swansons was running another good sale. When the taxi showed up, Chris kissed me and left. I read a little more e-mail, then laid down to listen to a paraliminal recording. I listened to a second one. By then it was daylight. I got up to get ready for church. But it was slow going, so many decisions to make because things were not organized. My phone made a whistling sound. I checked to see if someone was calling me. It did not seem so and the battery looked low so I searched for the charger. It turned out to be a USB charger so I plugged it in to my laptop. I remember the lady saying it only lasted about a day or so, but not to charge it until it was below 20%. That will be annoying to keep up with. I exercised while listening to an audio. I made breakfast. I ate it, then got dressed. It took me most of an hour to find my razor. Finally I was ready and put on an audio. I looked out the window to watch for a car. Then I waited outside for a while. At 10:15 I started walking. I walked down the hill and to the theatre. But no one was there. A lady in the library/rec center said they were meeting at the church. As I walked out of the building, Kathy walked up. She had knocked on my door and I wasn't there. So she found me at the theatre and drove me to the pavilion. They had decided last week on a sunny day to hold it in the pavilion this week, but it was cold today. Still I was warm enough with my coat on. We sang songs, had communion and the offering, then the choir sang. There was only one male out of 8 people. The chaplain talked for some time about the prodigal son. Then it was over with a few announcements. I talked to the chaplain's wife. I found out the Jane was not there. Anyway, she gave me a ride home. I ate stuff for lunch. I caught up on last week's Sudoku puzzles. I texted my number to Kathy – first text ever! I managed to take selfies until I got a reasonable one on my phone and tied it to my number. I organized the stuff that got delivered – mostly. I got really fed up with having unreachable shelves everywhere. Somebody hates short people! I dealt with most of the recyclables that Chris saved. I washed dishes and counter tops. I looked at quilts on Pinterest and felt like sewing. If my mailed sewing machine doesn't show up, I won't have one for months! That is SEW not fair! I read e-mail and came across tweets on Harry Potter movies – really funny stuff. I decided to post early because I was falling asleep and it was only 7pm. Gotta stay awake!
* This is the little market we shopped at yesterday *