I’m guessing from the slowly dwindling comments and the absence of them entirely on yesterday’s entry that I’ve been less than entertaining in the content department.

I would apologize, but I don’t know that I want things to change.

See, it’s tough to switch modes and write really great stuff when life is all good and boring. And while I have hugged Heather B. Armstrong, her talent unfortunately did not rub off.

Sure there are entertaining moments, like the checkout guy at Capers who insists on hitting on my boyfriend in the most obvious ways - whether I’m there or not. Or the coffee spilling incident of yesterday that was apparently boring. Or the goofy banter between the man and I that I recognize isn’t funny to anyone but us, though at least I’m not torturing you with saccharine schmoop about how we’re all in loooooooove etc. etc. (which we are, but *gag*, I know).

Other than that, these days all I seem to do is eat, sleep and work.

So I’m begging you, gentle readers, to give me some suggestions on things you care for my opinion on. No subject is too big, or small, or risqué for me to deal with. Got a burning question you’d like answered? Have a conundrum you’d like some advice on? Want me to wax poetic on a person, place, product, etc?

Drop a comment and fire away. Not only do you get some custom content, I’ll try to make it as entertaining as possible and share some linky love as thanks for inspiring me creatively during a time when I can’t even be inspired about what to have for dinner.

Me: Dozing between snooze cycles
He: Drinking coffee & checking email in bed.

Me: Still snoozing
**THUDSPLASHTHUD**
Me: Wakes up.
He: Looks bewildered.
Dog: Looks Amused.

Me: Rousted out of coffee-covered sheets
He: Still confused, goes for paper towel.
Me: Figures out that someone let go of his coffee cup mid-air thinking it was on the nightstand.

Me: Enjoys a laugh at his expense.
He: Moves the nightstand closer, sulks at his own stupidity, and goes to have a shower.

Me: Still giggling.

Now that the boy’s done gone and moved himself to an apartment that’s dog-friendly, 3 blocks from the beach, and cuts my daily commute in half, I find I’m spending most nights over there instead of in my own neglected abode.

This is serious people. Not only do I have a toothbrush there, I moved my COFFEE MAKER in. That is a Big Step. And I’m only the teensiest bit neurotic about it (mostly because further progress involves moving more of my self and my stuff, which I loathe to the very core of my being).

Thankfully, the change of venue hasn’t been too painful. He’s got wireless internet and I’ve got my laptop, so I can still get to all of my email, etc. My home phone is set to simulring to my cell as well, so it’s like I’m not actually gone at all. Add to that the bonuses of his insuite laundry, the daily strolls along Kits Beach with the dog and the fact that he still brings me coffee in bed every morning, I’d really start to sound crazy to not be spending as much time there as I am.

So guess what I do miss. If you said my TiVo, you’d be right! For goodness’ sakes people, my man doesn’t even own a TV! (In all fairness, he did until someone broke into his old place and stole it, but that was MONTHS ago!) We honestly don’t spend that much downtime at home, and when we do we read books or watch movies on his laptop - but I find myself absolutely CRAVING television.

Thank god for TiVoToGo - I think it’s time to put some regularly scheduled trips back to the homestead into the ol’ calendar so I can pop in and download shows to bring with me. It’s not quite the same as channel-surfing and pausing live TV, but it’ll do for now.

And yes, I have thought of just moving my TV over to his place, but one thing at a time people! I did just move my coffee maker over there, and there are only so many steps toward shacking up I can handle at any one time.

Him: Oh my god. These guys are just like you, but SO MUCH WORSE!

bob-by

Originally uploaded by peechie.

It just keeps growing and growing… Also note the lovely purple bags under my eyes. That’s after concealer.

PS. After a few fits and starts, I did manage to get in about 9 hours of sleep over 14 hours of trying. Not great, but definitely welcome. And I do feel much better for it.

I have yet to get a decent night’s sleep since before I left for Korea.

I have a lot of work to do as the busy Spelunking season gets fully underway.

I have a very important test to write in just under 3 weeks.

I don’t feel like I’m making progress on any of those fronts.

I feel useless and impotent.

What I really need is some sort of recharge/kickstart.

Any suggestions?

I hate coming home from vacation.

Duh. Doesn’t everyone?

But really, I was totally ready to come home. You know a vacation’s just long enough when at the end of it, you’re really excited to see your home and stuff and sleep in your own bed (FYI: the hotel beds in Korea are HORRIBLE).

Thing is though, now that I’m here, I don’t feel as great as I’d hoped I would. My body doesn’t quite know what time zone to operate in. I feel jittery and anxious and all over “not quite right.”

A pre-flight massage didn’t help. A bubble bath & book last night didn’t help. Sleeping in a familiar bed didn’t help. Breakfast this morning didn’t help. I said last night that “I feel like being really upset about *something* but there’s nothing in my life to actually be upset about.”

I still feel like that.

And I wish it would stop.

With the jet lag and the work catchup etc. etc. I really can’t get to the Sasquatch Music Festival like I’d planned this year.

Because I’m a busy bee these days, call my cell if you (or anyone you know) want it.

Update: GONE!

Eating Live Octopus

Originally uploaded by peechie.

Amazing trip.

Amazing food.

Amazing country.

Amazingly long flight ahead….

Canadian Flag at Base Camp

Originally uploaded by peechie.

Yesterday we took a tour into the DMZ (De-Militarized Zone) and the JSA (Joint Security Area) between North and South Korea.

It was absolutely stunning and amazing to see in person what I’d only before read about (half-heartedly at that) in history books. It’s tough to put into words the emotions that went along with the experience.

So instead, I’ll post a picture of an embarrassing blunder some poor UN Commissioned South Korean soldier made outside the briefing area at Camp Boniface in the DMZ.

As the wind picked up, we noticed that the Canadian Flag had been hung upside-down!

As we’re both reasonably attractive, and blonde Caucasians, we tend to attract a lot of attention in Korea. That day was no exception, and within seconds of pointing, snickering, and taking the picture, the guard (who’d obviously been watching us) strode purposefully over and righted the Maple Leaf.

Saving Face, always presenting a positive image, and basically appearing perfect all the time is a HUGE part of Korean culture, so it was doubly amusing that the soldiers had made such an obvious blunder in a place that exists mostly for the benefit of visitors to their country.

Being the benevolent Canadians that we are, we didn’t kick up a fuss about the flag or anything - we’re just not a terribly sensitive people like that. But I’d really like to see what happened later that day to the doofus who put the flags up that morning!

reverse cameltoe

Originally uploaded by peechie.

So there are a bunch of great pictures up on flickr of the trip so far.

But the one I really feel the need to share here is this.

Will someone please explain to me how camel toe happens in the back? Is it an ethnic thing?

(haha… low blow..)

(hahaha… low….)

on the subway.

Originally uploaded by peechie.

Seoul is an absolute blast so far.

The entire city seems a bit surreal, shrouded in a blanket of haze, a mix of smog and “yellow dust” which is sand particles blowing in from the Mongolian desert.

The people are incredibly friendly. So much so that if you aren’t mixing your bibimbap acceptably, they’ll do it for you!

The subways are the cleanest I’ve ever seen, and play crazy classical tunes when a transfer line is coming up. Makes them easy to navigate even when you’ve had a leeeetle too much soju.

Koreans are also a small people. Everything in our hotel room is tiny (including the very small, very hard bed), and the sink (so I’m told) is low enough to comfortably pee into. The robes are all 3/4 length (though I’m not sure they were intended to be) and the shaving mirror pulls out of the wall, conveniently at chest height.

Everything, everywhere is electronic. Our light switches, do not disturb hotel indicator, transit payment systems, etc. And there’s internet everywhere. Strangely enough though, other than the transit thing, the economy seems to be really strongly cash-based. I have yet to see anyone pay for things via debit or credit cards.

The past couple days have been a flurry of fooding and shopping experiences (why the fascination with designer knock-off socks is beyond me…) and we have museums, cultural tours, and trips to the DMZ, a traditional fishing village, and Penis Park to look forward to.

Not to mention a visit to the Military Officer Academy school, whereupon we will set out to completely embarrass Neil’s sister in front of her students. Seems that sibling rivalry and ribbing translate quite well across cultures.

Flight leaves at noon.

Anything I really shouldn’t miss while I’m there?

I was out shopping with Neil last night, picking up a few things at the local pharmacy.

Since I had Gravol on my list, and had already been tasked with picking out an appropriate bubble bath for his new soaker tub, I asked him to run and grab some for me.

He picks up the Gravol, throws it in the basket, we check out and go home.

So imagine my surprise when I actually looked at the package and saw something was not quite right with the wording. Check out the picture and see if you can figure it out.

His response when I pointed out his error? To laugh maniacally and say “Good luck with that!” of course. Jackass.

At least there wasn’t an urgent need for the medication, and I can return them for something a little more appropriate.

In the meantime, all either one of us has to do is utter the word “Gravol” and we burst out laughing uncontrollably. So those weirdos busting a gut over there about absolutely nothing? That’s us. Nothing to be alarmed about, just carry on with your business.