Comments Posted By Kevin Kim
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Here’s hoping the rain stops soon. So you can get back to the regular oppressive heat.
My back rubbers and lady drink imbibers at Cheap Charlies.
You still getting back rubs? Hmmm.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 16/July/2023 @ 5:54 pm
I’m glad that Swan is training you in what a real relationship is like. It’s not a headlong plunge into sex and superficiality where everything happens at breakneck speed. And as you’re aware, she’s dealing with internal issues as well. She may be feeling a certain level of guilt after having been so loving and loyal to her previous guy. Is she betraying his memory by being with you, or would her guy have wanted to see her happy? That’s not for you to say to her, but it’s for her to figure out. As you like to say, just enjoy the moment as it comes. Things will happen of themselves. Sometimes, the best way to reach a certain goal is not to strive for it.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 15/July/2023 @ 4:07 pm
However, she volunteered to join me once a week, provided it was only the two of us and there were no mountains to climb. So, the Thursday morning hike is now our day. I wanted to get her off the streets so she could enjoy the beauty of the local countryside, and I figured the My Bitch trail would accomplish that objective.
So the My Bitch trail has no mountains? I thought it at least had some uphill parts.
She engaged these two in some conversation as they were lugging those water jugs from the creek back to their squatter village.
At least it’s both a strength and cardio workout.
After some discussion, we devised a plan that I would take the drug in lower dosages for three weeks and then take a three-week break.
I hope that works, although in the end, you’re going to need the surgery, I think. It’s just a matter of where to get it. Here in Korea? In the States?
Wind and rain all night and all day so far.
It’s jangma/monsoon season in Korea as well; this’ll go on through July and part of August. Enjoy the precip where you are.
Nice pics of the terrain and the food.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 14/July/2023 @ 9:52 pm
re: “Yummy, yummy, yummy…”
Of the song lyrics I hate most, those lyrics must be at or near the top. Like fingernails on a chalkboard, garlic to a vampire, or lava poured on my scrote. Worse even than most country music, and that’s saying something.
I’m not complaining[;] I feel blessed to have her in my life, and I’m looking forward to the time when she’ll be the last thing I see at night and my first vision in the morning.
What exactly are her virtues? What originally got you so focused on her, out of the plethora of women in your small town? What makes her stand out?
I’m doing a consult this afternoon with Dr. Jo on the wisdom of refilling the prescription I got during my Thailand visit. It worked like a charm clearing my blocked sinuses, but now that I’m out of meds, I can feel the clogging coming back. The Thai doc said the medication was a short-term fix, but I want to know why the drugs are worse than the symptoms they relieve.
I’m not sure I understand. The meds worked like a charm… but they’re worse than the symptoms they relieved? I feel as if I missed something here.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 13/July/2023 @ 5:25 pm
You seem to be checking all the right boxes, so I’ll simply wish you good luck.
re: sushi joke
Oh, noes! Another joke that relies on mispronouncing foreign words! It’s just a reminder that, as much as Asians mangle English and turn it into Engrish, we English-speakers do the same thing right back.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 12/July/2023 @ 9:07 pm
Laharny’z
In French, le harnais means “harness.” Is that name related to the French word?
I do get the “Chico and the Man” reference. Vague memories from childhood.
With that cloud cover, I hope your walk wasn’t as hot as usual.
Nice pics of the beaches. Even the filthy areas acquire a certain charm when they get folded into a narrative.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 11/July/2023 @ 7:31 pm
That really is a beautiful rooftop view. Come October, I’ll be envying you plenty. But the one thing you won’t have in October is Korea’s gorgeous October weather.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 10/July/2023 @ 4:51 pm
I’ll need to ingest some beers and consider what happens next.
Maybe try considering while you’re sober. Beer doesn’t help with rational decision-making.
I’ll cautiously wish you good luck, but there’s a definite “Brace for impact” feeling about all this. All I can do is sigh, sit back, and watch the mess unfold from afar. If she’s still signing on to be some sort of helper (is she?), then your being in a relationship with an employee is going to complicate things.
I’m excited[,] but I also need to be cautious about avoiding the mistakes I’ve made in the past.
• Commit to being devoted only to her. That means no more happy endings from any of your usual sources. I’d also say no more lady drinks leading to back rubs from women who fake-laugh at your jokes. And no more flirtatious behavior around other women—no more of anything that confirms your “player” status to those around you.
• Strive for a partnership, i.e., no talk of how you see her as “taking care of” you as if she were just a servant. This is a two-way street. You take care of each other.
• Avoid being so petty that you see an honest mistake as a deliberate slight. Communication is key. And yes, I realize Asians themselves have a lot to learn in the communication department. Also, I concede that if the same “honest mistake” happens several times in a row, then it might be more than an honest mistake.
• Make her the center of your existence even if that means having to leave your comfort zone every once in a while. Love is risk.
• Avoid texting angrily while drunk. I’d say the best solution for this is simply to avoid ever getting drunk. Can you swing that?Good luck.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 09/July/2023 @ 7:42 pm
Knowing the rules of language is the best way to defeat the “it looked better” demon, along with the demon’s various cousins: “It just sounds awkward that way,” “It feels right,” and “It flows better this way.” These are the demons that fill the mind with faulty intuitions. They occupy that space that ought to be occupied by solid grammar knowledge.
Vocative comma: no exceptions for titles!
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 09/July/2023 @ 7:15 pm
Goodbye Mary
Gotta remember that vocative comma!
Typically, she did the “Filipina time” thing and didn’t arrive as scheduled. I have a very low tolerance for that kind of flat-out rude behavior.
At least she’s consistent. Hopefully, her upcoming time at the factory will teach her punctuality.
I was glad to close the Mary door
It’s not so much that you closed the Mary door as that it was closed for you. I can imagine you picking up where you left off if/when Mary returns.
That was yesterday, and yesterday’s gone.
I’m surprised you didn’t go with a Neil Diamond song.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 08/July/2023 @ 5:43 pm
Yeah, I’d normally expect my enchiladas to some with some sort of sauce on top. The four main options are (1) creamy (crema), (2) cheesy (queso), (3) green sauce (salsa verde), or enchilada sauce (salsa enchilada).
I’d probably have to scrape those onions off. Then again, I’ve been known to tolerate finely diced onions. Like on Big Macs.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 08/July/2023 @ 6:49 am
When I saw Myleen’s menu, I was happy to see so much variety on a single page, but I could also see that the portions were going to be stingy: “one taco” this and “one enchilada” that. I would’ve gotten the beef burrito or the chimichanga plus the pair of birria tacos since I’ve never had birria before (it’s trendy these days). That said, it’s an interesting menu, and I hope one day to see other parts of it.
Enchiladas should be served in threes.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 07/July/2023 @ 6:56 pm
Good to have normal, uneventful days now and again. Of course, I’m now all curious about what the problem was (“unfounded criticisms”). But I get that you want to protect the person’s privacy.
And now I have 235 runs.
300 seems like a good milestone to celebrate.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 06/July/2023 @ 8:41 pm
maybe a little embarrassed that I was witness to the poverty in which she lived
You hadn’t seen her place up to now? Eeeeenteresting. I think Mary’s been trying to, uh, curate her public image.
but I’ll give her credit for having the courage to take the actions required to build a better life for her and her child.
Fair enough.
and yes, those are mashed potatoes.
Did you make those yourself? I hope so. Mashed potatoes aren’t hard to make.
I couldn’t help but think of the “brand new plan” I developed in 2017 when I hired Loraine as my caregiver.
Yeah, this looks to be a potential minefield if you can’t get rid of any unresolved feelings.
So, I won’t be going down that road with Swan. What road lies ahead for us is unknown, but I’m not nearly as optimistic as I was before yesterday.
I think you’ll be OK as long as you resolutely remember that life is not a porn movie, so you can’t go around randomly fucking the help while they’re trying to do your laundry.
after being on the lamb
I’ve heard of being “on the lam” before, but being “on the lamb” sounds like fun. I’ve never rolled and smoked a lamb, but I’ll try anything once. This gets back to those “eggcorns.”
When you think about it, you can’t be serious about Swan, anyway, as long as you’re getting “favors” from other women—a happy ending here, a roll in the hay with an 18-year-old there. Swan would undoubtedly want commitment. How would she react if she knew the sordid details of your life?
It’s your karma, I guess. Good luck working out its kinks.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 05/July/2023 @ 8:47 pm
Happy Fourth, indeed!
May 4th is my mother’s birthday.
Looks to have been a nice trail despite the heat. Hope you enjoyed the Turkey Trot.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 04/July/2023 @ 4:27 pm
First intersection
Shenandoah and Mt. Rainier? So a meeting of east and west, then.
It has a pool and is bigger than I need, though.
You’re probably better off not moving into that house because pools require a lot of maintenance. It’d be a pain in the ass for you to have to constantly maintain the pool, or it’d be a pain in the ass to pay someone to come over routinely.
I’ll be happy with the upsize in my affordable 38,000 pesos soon-to-be home.
I do hope you can live in the new place for at least a decade. Moving is a stressful experience at the best of times, and you’ve already moved, what, at least twice in the space of a few years?
But the view from the back is why I want to live there.
Is that a view from the back of the new house, up the hill to another house? Or is that a view up the hill to your new house?
Chicken fingers for me, although I shared them
All the food looks good.
Down Joy’s hatch
Flashin’ those teeth again.
…and she was also surprised to learn that she was now unemployed.
So it’s a bit like in Korea, where important things are left uncommunicated. I didn’t find out an uncle of mine was dying of liver cancer until he was in the last stages of the disease. No one bothered to tell me. When I worked at Sookmyung Women’s University, a coworker of mine suddenly announced she was getting married—a week before the wedding. She’d given no hint, before that, that she was even dating anyone. Or maybe the problem is that we Americans overshare, and we expect others to do the same.
I’ve been breathing better and feeling better physically, so hopefully, I’ll enjoy today’s trail.
Well, that’s good. May the road rise to meet you. And not because you’re pitching forward and falling face-first into it.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 03/July/2023 @ 3:25 pm
If the rooftop of the new place has the room for it, I’d set up my grill up there.
You’re saying you spend more than $5000 a month? Yikes. Eating out, drinking, and lady drinks are the most likely culprits, with “charity” not far behind. Good luck figuring out where to cut back. Most obvious, to me, is eating out: cook your own meals, and you’ll save a good chunk of money. I’d say cut the drinking by half, too, but I doubt you’re willing to do that. Any way to cut back on the lady drinks?
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 02/July/2023 @ 5:58 pm
Nerissa “greeted” me by saying she had seen me with “my date” at Central Park on Thursday and that was my last straw. I lit into her saying I wasn’t with a date, I was comforting a friend who had lost someone dear to her.
As Joe Biden would say, “Come on, man!” You’ve already admitted you’re smitten when it comes to Swan, and you’re hoping things might eventually break your way. Sure, you’re giving her space to decide things for herself, but you know perfectly well what your motives are in this context. There’s no point in getting mad at Nerissa for seeing the obvious. Rationalize all you want by refusing to use the label “date,” but you’ve been pretty clear that you’re hoping this is the lead-up to a relationship, so call it a “pre-date” if you will. I don’t think Nerissa deserved your ire. I assume you agree since you ended up apologizing.
At least the rest of the day went a little bit better.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 01/July/2023 @ 6:49 pm
If you keep several gallons of water next to your toilet, you can at least solve the flushing problem by manually filling your toilet tank. As for showering… I’ve been in no-running-water situations, and the answer, if you’re desperate for a cleanup, is to take a good ol’ sponge bath. I know: your own preference is to give money to the hotel industry when the water stops a-flowin’. Yeah… I guess that’s a solution, too.
Tentative congrats on at least voicing an interest in learning Tagalog. I hope to see more and more Tagalog words and phrases creep into your future posts.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 01/July/2023 @ 4:16 pm
No electricity means no water pump, resulting in the inability to shower (or flush the toilet).
Hm. Since when do toilets run on electricity? Is your toilet some weird design with a pump and a motor or something?
OK, one site says this about toilets and power outages:
“Can you flush your toilet during a power outage?
They aren’t directly affected when the power goes out, provided water is still flowing and your waste system doesn’t rely on electricity. As long as the water disappears down the drain and the tank refills, there’s no reason not to flush.”Is that your situation? An electric “waste system” (whatever that means)?
Swan taking in the view
Well, she looks gorgeous from the back!
I love the infinity pool
The infinity pool looks as if it’s got a bunch of sea urchins all over its floor.
If you are reading between the lines, yes, I am smitten.
I’m reading between the lines by noticing no pictures of her face (or other body parts), suggesting an unusual level of respect for her privacy. Did she specifically request not to be featured on your blog?
Anyway, the only red flag I see is that she’s the previous tenant of the property you’re going to move into, and she left that place a mess, with lots to be repaired. So yeah, I’d watch out for her potentially slovenly tendencies. Does she have any other red flags, e.g. children, etc.? Does she know about your blog? And does she read the blog’s comments? Am I going to have to start talking in code?
I enjoy having some company occasionally that I don’t have to pay for when I’m out and about.
If she’s really, sincerely about just chilling with you, without making financial requests or demands, and not being the usual financial drain of a typical date, I’d say this is all very good. But time reveals all, so I can’t say anything more until more is revealed over the next few weeks and months.
I like this tree for some reason
I can see right away that it’s big and sturdy and doesn’t take shit from anyone.
Good luck swanning about. (I think “to swan” is a British verb.)
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 30/June/2023 @ 6:36 pm
re: paradise snake
Some footage of the snake “flying” here.
A shelter from the storm. Unless it was a storm that brought big waves.
What, no remarks about the prim little lady standing there?
Overall, this looks to have been a good walk. Too bad about the obstacles in the way of the beach, but I guess people want to stake out their property. I recall there being a ton of fencing along the South Korean east coast, but a lot of that was military-related.
Club Morocco does indeed have a Stephen King vibe. I kinda like it, though—the empty stretches of road in particular.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 29/June/2023 @ 4:36 pm
50% off you say? What a steal at only $2.35! Especially when the regular price is twice that much at $3.35! Oh, wait a minute…
So much for “Asians are good at math.”
The house needs a good bit of renovation work, so my move-in date won’t occur until October 1.
It’s cool that they’ll be doing the renovation before you settle in. One less thing for you to deal with.
This gives the landlord the funds she needs to have the necessary repairs completed. Those include cabinets in the kitchen, aircon in the bedrooms, water heaters for the showers, and some basic furnishings.
What on earth happened with the previous tenant?
You have to be mindful of the flames caused by the dripping juices and move the steaks around. I was successful in that endeavor for the most part yesterday.
It looks to me as if your grilling technique continues to improve. Your steaks have a better and better sear on them.
My mistake has been thinking that she sees me as anything other than a customer.
Minimize the neediness. Not merely because it’s not attractive to women, but also because it’ll preserve your sanity. From where I sit, neediness is a major issue. I have a feeling that female companionship—the sincere kind, not the transactional kind—will come to you when you stop fixating on your craving for it.
I bought Lydell and Rose lady drinks, had a couple of beers, and then decided there were other places I’d rather be.
So you didn’t stick around to DJ? Good.
Just a Tolkien of my esteem
I guess the joke works if you pronounce “Tolkien” the way I heard it while growing up: rhymes with “Ol’ Ken” or “Ol’ Kin.” But in fact, Tolkien pronounced his name “TOLL-keen,” and I didn’t learn this until a couple years ago. I’ve been trying to correct my own pronunciation of his name ever since, but it’s hard to unlearn entrenched bad habits.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 28/June/2023 @ 6:36 pm
And a beef stew lunch at Johansson’s when the work was done.
I’m trying to remember whether I’ve ever seen your own slow-cooked creations paired up with taters—as God intended.
And she was swingin’
I’ve seen enough YouTube “fail” videos to know that the rope always eventually snaps. Careful!
It was good to see 18-Kilo Ass back out after missing a couple of months.
And he’s somehow looking even slimmer.
Movin’ on out
Looks to be a Lord of the Rings adventure. Always good to remember how large and humbling the forest can be.
Time to move on.
Is it too early for congratulations? Looks as though you’ll be back in a legitimate house. Awesome. The breathing room! And I hope that this new area is already so developed that there’s no chance of there being a new house to block your nice views.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 27/June/2023 @ 5:52 pm
That Korean sign says 투엔투, a phonetic rendering of “two n’ two.”
Looks to have been a good walk. So you did part of that walk while lugging some bottles of Coke Zero with you? Ugh. I hate distance walking while carrying things unless I have a backpack. Even then, carrying things can be a pain. Carrying soda is a particular pain because it always bounces too much inside a backpack.
I appreciated the 1.6-km-interval shots. Very nice as usual. Later on, that food looked good.
Don’t you Hares mark the trail a day or so in advance of the actual walk?
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 26/June/2023 @ 12:14 pm
when my time comes, I want to be cremated and spread on the Bitch trail during a Hash run
Nice to see that Hashing means that much to you.
The front
Ah, that tee design. I’m guessing that, without the asterisks, that’s “Poke Her Cunt Ass,” a take on “Pocahontas,” given the (historically accurate?) image on the other side of the tee. Aside from that, though, the English is incomprehensible and probably some sort of inside joke:
“Poke Her Cunt Ass Entrusts Mr. Whippy”
—no fuckin’ clue what that meansI *think* this is referring to a change in Hash leadership that took place at the end of the circle.
Okay, well, maybe that solves the mystery.
this is an exclusively male group, no women allowed
So: a sausage party, then. Why no gash?
Good luck with the potentially new place. Looks nice, and with the improvements you mentioned, it could be perfect. How would it change your access to the local bars? Could a trike get you up the hill? Any word on the neighbors?
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 25/June/2023 @ 6:09 pm
You’re rationalizing it by saying it’s one person, but it’s one person repeatedly.
So the real question is: who’s sucking whose soul?
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 25/June/2023 @ 8:37 am
Nice walk even if it didn’t end where you had hoped.
I think Swan had a point when she laughed about the idea of the SOB as “culture.” I hope she proves to have the charm to wean you off your diet of 18-year-olds.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 24/June/2023 @ 4:17 pm
Looks to be roughly 15-25-minute intervals with those drinks. And from about 4:15 to 7 o’clock. Good God, how many trips to the toilet is that?
I’d be happy to try the pot roast, but you can hold the sex.
The story of your misadventure sounds promising.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 23/June/2023 @ 6:31 pm
I am what I am, and that’s all that I am
I forgot to add these thoughts:
re: Father’s Day card
I think your daughter knows you like terrible puns and farts. A fart is basically your intestines’ version of a terrible pun.
fatherless and motherless,
born without sin,
spoke when it came into the world
and never spoke againSome say the answer is “thunder.” I say… the answer comes from within.
re: every problem has a solution
That scenario is reminiscent of a Zen story.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 22/June/2023 @ 10:32 pm
«« Back To Stats Pagere: Titanic re-disaster-in-the-making
So the CEO of the diving company is not only on that craft but is also its pilot, and it turns out his wife is a descendant of a couple that was on the Titanic (portrayed in James Cameron’s movie as the old couple holding hands in bed as the ship sank). The male half of that couple was the founder of Macy’s. What a weird karmic connection in this whole affair.
A day ago, they were saying that the sub had maybe 70-80 hours’ worth of air left in it, assuming it didn’t suddenly implode because of a design flaw. I also heard rumors that sounds of people banging against a wall got picked up by listening devices. The whole thing is scary and sad. But what is life without risk, right?
re: Joy’s mani-pedi kit
I’m glad she’s happy with her gift. She does seem awfully sweet. What do you have against raising someone else’s kids? Surely not the age gap: Al Pacino is a father again: he’s 83; his girlfriend Noor Alfallah is 29, and they just had a kid with his old, wrinkly sperm. You could always just relate to Joy’s kids (how old are they?) as a friend or a crazy uncle while making it clear to Joy that that’s as far as you’ll go. Joy might be kind enough to understand that.
For all the Mountain Mamas in your life: be sure to wear your special tee shirt. I’ve ordered another pair of shirts for you: no design on the back this time so that you can wear your backpack without worry. Expect those to be heading your way soon.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 22/June/2023 @ 6:20 pm