It was a long weekend, but a good one. Good enough anyway.
Friday evening found me at Sin Bin Sports Pub for a darts tourney. I don’t usually play Sin Bin for a variety of reasons. Primarily that it starts late and if you are winning, finishes late. I made an exception because on old dart buddy, mentor, and former Seoul International Dart League President is in town. He’s big time into darts back in the states, even has earned a pro card.
And Friday night I beat him. He professes to read the blog, so let me say it again. I beat Mike “Petro” Petrocelli. Alright, it was doubles and my partner was probably stronger than his. But still. Took home W30,000 for a second place finish. Stumbled home with my winnings at 0130 feeling no pain.
Except for the pain that comes from sitting on my new Galaxy J7 phone and breaking the screen.
A broke phone to go with a broken heart. Some guys have all the luck…
So, I got up Saturday morning and set about my chores. Popped a chicken in the crockpot but added some melted butter to the recipe. Basting worked much better than rubbing the spices and seasonings on the bird. At least it came out a lot more moist and juicy this time.
It was literally falling off the bone when I pulled it out of the slow cooker 8 hours later…. Tasty!
So, I had my old phone as a backup fortunately. But rather than Namsan, I trekked into the Yongsan Electronics District to score a repair. I was told I could get it done on the 8th floor of the I-Park mall. After climbing the escalators all those flights I was advised that none of the booths with every type of phone and accessory imaginable did Galaxy repairs. I was told I’d have to get it done “on the street.”
Alrighty, to the street I went. I wandered about till I reached an alley that was phone-centric. Where I was informed in broken English that I’d have to go to the Samsung SVC center. I asked for directions and got a series of hand gestures, “Family Mart” and “second floor.” Amazingly enough I somehow managed to find the place. Above a CU store, but still…
After a short wait I was sent to a technician. He asked if I spoke Korean to which I could only respond “anio”. So he advised me the repair would be “very expensive”. And that it couldn’t be completed until Monday at 2:00 p.m. I asked how expensive and he said W55,000. Which was less expensive than I expected.
I left my phone and hoofed it back home along the Han River. I had to hustle because I had big plans for the afternoon. Choonae was celebrating her birthday with a cookout on the back deck of Shenanigans. In her sweetest voice she had asked if I could bring my meat. How could I refuse?
The birthday girl…
Steaks and brats is the meat I brought…Heh, I brought the brats I bought…
…and threw them on the grill just like I knew what I was doing…
I brought along some shrimp as an appetizer as well…
We served every thing cut up in bite size morsels. Made it easier for all concerned…
Brian (Shenanigans owner) and I toasting Choonae in honor of her XX birthday. She’s older than she looks and that’s all I’m saying…
Ain’t she sweet? She said on Facebook I’m her best male friend…gotta love the friend zone…
Some of the happy guests…
Group shot…
I left the party around 7:00 and headed over to Dolce Vita for another darts tourney hosted by Petro. You know, the guy with the pro card I mentioned above. He professes to read my blog so I find it only fair that I mention how I beat him. Again. Now granted, it was doubles and my partner was arguably stronger than his. But still. Took home 3rd Place money.
Finished the night with my nephew Justin at the new Debut bar. It’s an expensive place to visit when you are drunk. Hopefully I’ve learned that lesson by now.
I woke up Sunday morning feeling a little worse for the wear. But I needed to get my weekend Namsan hike out of the way. As I passed through Itaewon, I notice a new restaurant has opened in the former location of a bar called Rock n Roll I used to frequent way back in my early days here…
There’s a new BBQ joint in town. We’ll have to give it a try Kevin Kim. We are a couple of big boys…
I took a new approach this time. These stairs lead up and around the Hyatt Hotel…
The view from the top…
So, I took the path up to the road, and followed the road around to wear it leads to the stairs to the top. I had good intentions of climbing them, but I wimped up. I was just feeling rough and not energetic. Next week for sure! I settled for 20,000 less difficult steps.
Made it an early night last night and woke up feeling much better today. Did some more laundry and popped a pork roast in the crockpot. Left the house a little after 10:00. First stop was paying my gas bill. Not going through having it shut off again! Then I hoofed it to the base and picked up some shorts and t-shirts in the PX. Nothing seems to fit me these days (in a good way).
So, I was bound and determined to figure out where I went wrong when I got lost on last Sunday’s hike. I followed the river from the opposite side and discovered where I had made the wrong turn. I won’t make that mistake again. Since I still had over an hour until I could pick up my phone I just kept on walking.
It’s always nice to see someone has their ducks in a row…
I didn’t see this creature sneaking up behind me until it was too late. Luckily, one taste and he spit me back out…
Spigot or faucet? Either way, I’ve got to hand it to you…
I made it to the National Assembly building intentionally this time…
A better perspective from the bridge on the way back…
By far the farthest bridge I’ve ventured to thus far. Far and away.
The river looks about the same from all the bridges though…
Made it back to the Samsung SVC place at 2:30 and picked up my phone without any hassle. Made it home four and a half hours after I left. Around 31,000 steps all told. (had to add the steps from two different phones).
Lost one pound this week, but I’m motivated to reach my goal!
And tonight we have a dart league playoff match. In fact, I should be in the shower now and getting my ass over to Shenanigans to do some warm-up work.
Hope your weekend was memorable too.
