At the market with Jane

We slept in after the alarm. Chris got up first. I did some stretching then got up, too. I drank lots of water, and took my vitamin C. Chris left for church as I was starting my exercises. I was achy and did not feel like exercising, but felt the range of motion parts would be helpful. I took a shower ending with a cold rinse. I got dressed and walked to church. Chris and Jane were talking just outside the door. I told her I needed to change after church so we could go to the five-day market. Chris went home, and Jane and I went to church. I got to talk to Kathy, giving her the message that Amy texted me this morning. The service followed the usual order. But instead of a sermon, the chaplain did a slide show on the chapel renovation's progress. After church, Jane and I walked to my place. She got an envelop and stamp from Chris to mail something. I changed my dress to slacks. Then we walked to the main gate. We were going to have lunch at the Korean church, but someone passed us and said there was no lunch today. So we went to the bus stop and caught a bus to the five-day market. It was right across from Home Plus. I wanted to check it for Christmas cards, but it wasn't open. It closes two Sundays a month so people will support the local market. We walked through the market with Jane explaining baskets of things to us. Apparently Koreans will make tea out of just about anything. We saw a woman gutting eels. Jane inquired about the price of a live octopus. It was $50! She bought food items here and there. I got some unsweetened cranberries, sesame oil and sesame seeds. She took us to a hole-in-the-wall restaurant for lunch. We shared 4 rolls of kimbap. It came with fish broth and kimchi. The kimchi was so good that we ordered another roll just so we could finish the little dish of kimchi. Then the owner gave me a small bag of kimchi to take home. On the way back out, we passed a man selling plants and bought a small pointsettia. Then we parted ways to catch different buses. When we got back to the base, it was uphill all the way home. I read e-mail and finished a video on cancer treatment and prevention. Chris laid down for a nap. I put laundry in the dryer. I read e-mail for awhile, then took the fabric out and left the rest to dry some more. I ironed the fabric dry, though it was mostly dry already. The video interview with Wim Hof that I had playing ended. I made up a new batch of supplements for the week. I investigated Wim Hof's breathing method online. His method combines hyperventilation with cold water immersion to beef up the immune system and bring on a feeling of wellbeing. Since Chris wasn't feeling well, I concentrated on videos on the immune system. One recommended oregano oil, so I put a few drops in a glass of water and drank it. I also put hydrogen peroxide in my ears. When Chris got up to have something to eat, I offered him some oil, too. He also wanted peppermint essential oil. I worked on making a bag like Jane's. Chris had measured it before I gave it back to her. I used the measurements to come up with a plan. I did not have a big ruler or cutting mat, so folded the fabric and cut on the fold. It worked better than I thought it would. But when it came time to sew, the machine gave me trouble. When I stepped on the pedal, it groaned and made stitches ending in a thread ball. I found I could sew one stitch at a time using the hand wheel and backing up each time it skipped a stitch. But that just wasn't feasible. I gave up after doing the first seam. I wrote to my blog and went to bed.
* These are mushrooms that Jane bought. *

Kind Koreans

I got a bit of a late start because I did not get up when the alarm went off. Because we intended to leave by 10, I scrunched my morning routine a little. Instead of my usual exercises, I walked up the 60+ steps behind our quarters. Three times. I also took a bit of a side trip but came back with seed pods stuck all over my legs. I pulled them out before I came in the house. Cecily and Alfred called. Mostly they talked to Chris. I guess they could not hear me. Then we washed up and got dressed for the party. On the way to the front gate, we stopped at the ATM for cash. Then we went to the CU to put more money on our bus cards. Walked towards the bus stop, we saw the bus pull away. We waited a bit for the next one, then hailed a passing taxi. He took us to the bus depot. There we got tickets to Busan and that bus left fairly soon. It took over an hour to get there because it made so many stops along the way. We got off at Hadan, and took the subway to Bumil. From there we walked to Busanjin Market. This was the place that the MWR bus had taken us to buy fabric weeks ago. With Chris following me, I attempted to walk down every aisle and get a good idea of what was there and where the important things were. The building was not rectangular so I was not as successful as I hoped. We investigated the second floor and then the first. And the basement, and then around the perimeter outside. In the process, I gained fabric and webbing for a bag, and ribbon for baby gifts. Then we walked back to the subway. We passed a woman selling eels on a rope; all woven together like garlic. Sadly I did not get a picture. We transferred from the orange line to the green line and rode to Dongbaek. From there we tried to find the Admiral's apartment. It was not near the station and we walked out of our way. My feel and ankles hurt from all the walking. If I had known, I would not have walked up the steps this morning. Anyway, we did find the party, an hour after it started, on the 37th floor. He and his wife had a spread on a table with quite a view. There were drinks in the kitchen and a video of a fireplace on TV. Chris introduced me to several people. The admiral's wife and I got on well. She pointed out from the window how to get to a closer subway station. I found a few things to eat that did not involve sugar. Then we made our farewells. We walked to the subway with no trouble finding the way. I walked slowly because I was exhausted (and hungry). Once we got on the train going west, my back had had enough. We were standing in a crowded car. I sank to my knees to rest my back. A Korean couple jumped up from their seats and insisted that we sit down. I was so embarrassed and yet grateful. We had a long ride, and then another transfer. We found the platform for the orange line, and there was a seat open on the bench. I sank into it and the older lady next to me moved over and indicated that Chris should sit with me. When the train came, it was even more crowded than the last. I wanted a taxi, but we got on the train. The older lady made someone give up their seat and pointed me to it. I was grateful to her, too. It was another long ride to Hadan. By the time we arrived, the train car was almost empty. We walked up to the top, and I sat while Chris bought bus tickets to Jhinhae. The line was really long, but that turned out to be for another bus. When the Jinhae bus arrived, fewer people got on, but still we had to sit separately. But along the way, two seats cleared out and we then sat together. The trip back was shorter for some reason. It was dark when we got off. We were headed to a bus stop when Chris spotted a taxi. We took it back to the base. Then we had to walk uphill to our quarters. I was crying with exhaustion and aches. But when we got in, Chris fixed me some supper. I felt better after eating chicken and kimchi. Then he made me a salad. After checking e-mail and listening to some Cancer Summit audios, we watched an episode of Sharpe's Rifles. Then Chris went to bed while I stayed up to recreate my day through my blog.
* This is the 40+ story building we were in *

Christmas Party

I woke up hearing Chris talking online during the 6am conference call. He came back afteward... then took a shower and went to work. I got up, drank a quart of water, listened to some cancer summit audios while swishing and exercising. I prepared part of breakfast. I called Myra and found out she was sick. She attributed it to the paint and carpet fumes of the duplex that she prepared yesterday for the family that moved in last night. She was worried about their little baby breathing the fumes. Then I called Chris and he said he would check to see if the father signed in this morning. I called Nela and she agreed to go walking. I did some tapping for Myra as I waited. Nela came over and then went next door to drop off some items for teacher gifts. I put on my shoes and went over there. Not many parents had donated items. Then we went walking up the mountain and around. Then we parted and I came back here. I finished making breakfast and ate it. Chris came by for lunch but did not stay long. I listened to another audio. Then I bundled up again. I walked out to the CU store to put money on my bus card. I looked for pocket packs of tissues but did not see anything obvious. Some packages might have been tissues or might have been feminine products. I stopped at the World Store, but had the same problem. So I went to the Px. I found some Christmas cards but they were American ones. No tissues or pocket-sized hand sanitizer. As I was walking up the steps to the commissary, I met the chief medical officer of the Farragut (?). He seemed surprised to see me since he had just seen me come through the front gate. Then I went to the commissary but still did not find the pocket-sized items. The clerk suggested Office Depot, but I did not feel like walking that far on a cold rainy afternoon. I stopped by Housing. There is a list for apartments for rent, but they the name, number and address. I made a mental note to get that info from So Yong on Sunday. When I got home, I jotted notes for my blog. I took a shower, then sprayed myself with the probiotic body spray. I made and ate a large salad. I read e-mail. Nela called to offer us a ride. Chris came home and changed his clothes, I got dressed, several ways, deciding what to wear. I called Nela to tell her we accepted her offer. When they pulled up, we threw on our coats and went out to meet them. We went to Turtle Cove. We were shown our table. Then I followed Chris into the bar area. He introduced me to two young men. Then he went to get a beer while I tried to make conversation. Then Chris handed me his beer and left to get
hors d'oeuvres. I could not think of anything else to say, so I excused myself and followed Chris. We met the couple who were to be seated at our table, and had a nice conversation. Then Chris said we should go sit. So we went into the dining room. But we just sat. Nothing happened. Eventually our seatmates came. They were from Busan and we had a good time talking to them. Dinner was announced. We chatted until it was our table's turn to enter the buffet line. I skipped the pasta, but had the salmon, the chicken, the beef and the peppers. It used to be peppers and broccoli, but the broccoli was gone. And a salad that was 90% lettuce. As we ate, Chris regaled them with stories. I even heard a few new ones. (After 25 years of marriage, that is unusual.) I watched the room empty and the staff pack up the chairs. Finally our tablemates left. Then Chris went over to the Chaplain's table. Three couples sat there. We joined them. I saw the Christmas tree get dragged away. But the group did not break up until the staff turned off the heat and the ladies got cold. I went to the bathroom while Chris went to pay his tab. When I came back, he had joined another table in the bar. He introduced me and the stories started all over. One of the ladies was the director of CYP, the place that was babysitting all the kids. It closed at 10:30, so we walked out. Chris grabbed a green cupcake on the way out, getting green all over his lips, teeth and tongue. I told him I hoped he did not run into anyone important looking like that. He said he was the senior person so it didn't matter. I said if you're so important, how about getting us a ride back? We walked all the way back to our quarters. Then we checked e-mail. I posted to my blog and went to bed.
* The fallen leaves outside our quarters are so pretty *

Rainy day

I ignored the alarm and slept in. I remember Chris kissing me before he left for work. But when I got up, it was 9am. I swished with both herbal tooth powder and then coconut oil. And I drank a quart of water. I read e-mail and listened to some cancer-themed audios. I did my exercises. I got dressed and walked up to the trail the back way. It was raining so I did not want to walk on the steep parts of the trail. I walked south until the way became slippery and then I walked north. The rain picked up so I walked home. I made breakfast. I had just finished when Chris came home for lunch. I read e-mail. I tried to listen to the audio on cancer prevention, but for some reason it would not play, not in either browser. I cut the corners off of my fabric and threw it in the wash. I read other e-mail and then came back to the video. The first few minutes would play and then it would stop. So aggravating. I finished the green star ball. I did today's Sudoku puzzle. I took the fabric from the dryer and started ironing it. I tried the audio again and this time it played. I took a break to make and eat a salad. I continued ironing. At 5 I washed the dishes so Chris would have some for supper. I was ironing when he got home, but I finished soon after. He made himself the usual burrito and a cabbage salad. I cleared out some e-mail. I cut a piece of tinfoil into tinsel with my scissors to sharpen them. We watched an episode of Sharpe's Rifles. Chris went to bed early in order to get up for a 6am call. I stayed up to post to my blog.

Back to Daegu

The first alarm went off at 7:15. Chris got out of bed to have breakfast. I stayed in bed to wake up and mentally program myself for the day. When the 7:30 alarm went off, I got up to drink some water and have breakfast. Jane called to ask me to meet her a little early. So I rushed a bit to get ready and I forgot my market list. I rushed to the front gate but did not see her. So I called, and she said to meet her at the bus stop nearby. When I got there, the bus pulled up and she leaned off of it to tell me to get on. The timing was perfect. We rode the bus 'till it went around a traffic circle and then got off at the stop. We walked to the bus station. We waited for So Yong and then bought three tickets to Daegu. When the bus arrived, we boarded and, in an hour and 45 minutes, we were in Daegu. We took the escalator up to the gates to the monorail. We used our bus passes to get through. The attendant said I could not add money to my bus card there. Then we went up even higher and boarded the train for Seomun market. Neither Jane nor So Yong had been to the market before. We walked through, looking at all the goods and foods. I spotted a lace shop and went in. The ladies came too, but then decided to order pumpkin soup and red bean soup from a vendor while I shopped. It was a beautiful place. I got some flat lace and a lace insert for a neckline. So Yong bought something too, after they ate. Then we wandered around and finally found the building with fabric. I had a strip of the Carle dots, looking for a green and a yellow to match. We ran into the man selling for $2/yard, and bought some green. I got a few other pieces too, including a waterproof one for making a bag. We found a few others, but they did not have a yellow to match. I bought a yard of fleece/minki. Then we went to the fourth floor. We found a booth where the lady had just started a sale on flat folds - $1.50/yard. I got a few more selects. She had a yellow to match but somehow I suspected it wasn't bright enough. For the price, however, I settled. Then we went to the basement for lunch. We sat at the same place as last week and the waiter remembered me. We shared a kimbap and another dumpling dish. Then the ladies wandered around, looking at clothes. I had no interest, but tried to keep up when they were moving, and keep out of the way when they were shopping. The aisles were crowded and it was hard to get through. Jane bought a coat after much haggling and leaving and coming back. We rode the monorail back to the bus station. We bought tickets for the 4:40 bus, but it did not show up until 5. Then, it ran into so much traffic, that the ride home took over 2 hours. The bus was hot and I had to take off my coat and shoes. But So Yong was delightful to talk to. She promised to show us how to make eel soup. And lots of other stuff that I can't remember now. It was dark when we got to Jinhae. As Jane used the restroom, So Yong and I shared a baggie of cashews I found in my bag. God bless her, she had carried a bag for me all through the market. Jane led us to a bus stop where each of us could catch a bus. So Yong got hers first. Then Jane and I sat. I called Chris to ask him to meet me at the front gate. When the bus arrived, we both got on. But Jane did not get off when I did. As I walked toward the base, Chris was walking out. He carried my bags (all stuffed into a large bag that Jane had brought) up to our quarters. I was thirsty and drank a tub of water, then had some chicken and some acorn aspic for supper. I read some e-mail and listened to an audio on cancer prevention. Chris told me our household goods would be delivered next week. Then we watched another episode of Sharpe's Rifles. I laid out all the fabric and lace I bought today. Chris went to bed and I had a lot of writing to do to catch up on my blog.
* The lace shop *

Market Day

I heard my alarm go off at 7:30 but did not feel like getting out of my warm bed. Chris was already up. When he came back to get showered, I got up and dressed. He left and I prepared to exercise. I got on my laptop to find the latest Philosopher's Notes video which is usually just the right length. But when I found it, it sounded like a repeat. So I went looking for another one. I got caught up in reading e-mail and before I knew it, they were here. I saw their reflection in the french doors. So I opened the front door. Maybe they were surprised since they hadn't rung the bell yet. The Korean men from housing came in and got to work replacing some parts, just like they did for Myra yesterday. I cleaned in the kitchen. Then I sat to sew the hole in Chris' sock. He had given me a shirt that wore out at the collar and I was going to use it to patch his laundry bag. But I have already patched it several times and thought it might be better just to make another bag. Or line it. I jotted notes for my blog, waiting for them to finish. I did today's Sudoku puzzle and would have been finished before they were, but I made a mistake and had to work it over again. I looked for something to play while I exercised and got caught up again reading e-mail. MaryAnn skyped me and we talked for an hour I think. She said the command channel advertises the events that MWR puts on. So after she hung up, I turned on the TV, thinking I could listen to that while I exercised. But I was unable to find any channels. So much for that. I found an audio and played while I exercised, but it ended early. While I was looking for another one, MaryAnn skyped me back. But the call did not last long. So I finished my exercises and started making breakfast. I made two since I have to be ready early tomorrow. I had to refill some of the containers. Then I sat in front of my laptop to eat. By then it was noon. Chris came home for lunch while I was eating. After I finished eating, I put turmeric in a bowl and filled empty capsules with it. After Chris left, I rubbed iodine on my arms and took a shower. I used hot and cold water. I got dressed and grabbed my coat and sling purse. I wanted to bring my rolling cart to see how much trouble it would be on the bus, but I did not want to be rolling it into HomePlus. I walked toward the school to meet Nela, but Myra flagged me down. I waited for her and we walked together. We met Nela and Sue (who is Korean), and walked to the bus stop. We caught 305 and rode to Home Plus. Across from it was the five-day market. All I wanted was some fresh pressed sesame oil, which we found right off. But, as we made our way through the stands, with Sue to read the signs and question the sellers, I bought things I would not have known about otherwise. I bought Korean honey from the maker. I could taste the floral undertones. The seller gave me a dried lotus blossom to make tea with and some other dried buds. I bought a slab of acorn jelly, and a bag of dried sweet potato curls. They tasted like candy but I was assured that no sugar was involved. We all bought bowls of some wild weed that tasted like chickweed. I got some normal stuff too, like spinach, sprouts, cashews, and mushrooms. I was fully loaded by then and then someone offered us a taste of toasted seaweed. So I got some of that, too. We got on the bus back to post. At one point, a large group of schoolboys boarded the bus. I was afraid I would not be able to tell when we arrived at our stop, or to get over to the other side to disembark. But it worked out. Walking up the hill toward our quarters, Sue told me how to prepare acorns. She said she would show me how to make the jelly once the acorns were suitably soaked. Inside, I put away the foods that needed refrigeration. I ate some of the toasted buckwheat (did I mention that?). I tried mixing it in a small bowl with sesame oil, garlic, and salt. It was pretty good. Then I washed and cut up half of the mushrooms. I fried them in sesame oil and butter, and added some diced chicken. I ate that while reading e-mail. When Chris got home, he said it smelled really good. (He hates mushrooms) He made his own supper. I worked on the green star ball. That goes slowly because the glue has to dry in between adding pieces. Reading e-mail, we got an alert of suspicious activity on our credit card account. We had to call Bank of America and cancel the card. I felt like pouting because I had memorized the number which makes ordering online convenient. Then we watched another episode of Sharpe's Rifles. Chris went to bed and I stayed up long enough to post to my blog and set my alarm early for tomorrow.
* These are live slugs for sale. I did not buy any. *

She is an artist

I decided to have a short coffee morning. I exercised and drybrushed. I listened to two audios. I finished early. Swansons was running a special that ended Sunday night in the states, so I placed a quick order. I called Nela and she said they were on the trail. So I walked up the hill behind our place to meet them. We walked and swept all the way to Nela's house. Suzanne invited us all to a cookie swap at her house. I did not know what to say. Nela went home and I went to Myra's house. We decided to go to the gym to talk to the MWR guy. We were told to come back at 1. I went home for breakfast. Chris was just coming home for lunch. Then I walked toward the gym, but Myra met me on the way. Several men came in two trucks to do maintenance. We decided to get them to do her apartment first and then we'd have the afternoon free. She showed me two quilts she had just tied. But the work was taking a while. And Chris called to say someone would be coming by our place to put in an adapter so the shower head filter would fit. So I went home to wait. I played with fabric combinations for a baby quilt since a lady here is having twins. Myra thinks we could each make one with same fabric but different patterns. My doorbell rang. The man said he was here to check the toilet. He flushed it and said it was fine. I showed him how it was hard to flush on the water saver option. He indicated that he would replace it. I showed him the filter shower head and tried to explain that I needed a male to male adapter. He left, taking the shower head with him. I called Chris to say I wasn't sure he was bringing it back. I got on my computer to pull up a picture of what I wanted so he would know. I jotted some notes for my blog. The man did come back, and with the shower filter head and a toilet part. He replaced the flush button. Then another man showed up, one that spoke English. I showed them the picture of the adapter. When I mentioned buying a filter to fit the shower head, then they understood. He put the adapter on and looked at me quizzically because the shower head was now on a hand-held flexible tube. But that was all that was installed, so I nodded. They left. I called Myra and she said Nela was painting her nails. So I took my dot fabric over to Myra's house. Nela had done an amazing job. I took a pic of her nails. The three of us went to the gym to talk to Tony. We told him we were looking to reserve a room for sewing groups and for MWR to plan a trip to Japan for the quilt festival in January. Then we went back to Myra's place. We pulled fabrics out of Myra's collection to coordinate with the Carle dots. Nela had to leave to make supper. Myra and I kept talking, but then I left, too. I went back to our quarters. I ate the last piece of chicken, and read e-mail. I listened to an audio and worked on my green star ball. I wondered how it would be possible to get the last piece woven in. Chris came home and fixed himself a burrito. He made another dish of chicken. I ordered cocoa butter and and a shower filter from Amazon. Then we watched an episode of Sharpe's Rifles. Chris went to bed, and I stayed up to post to my blog.