…which technically began Monday night.

As regular readers know I spend my Monday nights engaged in throwing pointed projectiles in the Seoul International Dart League.  Last night was no exception as we ventured out to play the Tailors at a new bar in Itaewon called Fabrik.

It’s a smallish place, although I guess it has more than one floor. I confined myself to the area where the dart boards were located however. It’s not the type of place I would go to if I weren’t playing darts though. No real bar to belly up to and frankly, the service was somewhere between slow and non-existent.

Anyway, I’m ranked #15 in the “A” division and I faced off with the #2 player in the first round of Cricket singles. I was accordingly quite pleased to walk away with 2-1 victory in that match.  I swept the next round of singles, and then went 3-3 in doubles.  Going into the last leg of doubles our team had managed to win 19 legs (20 wins the match) and I scored a bullseye with my last dart to secure the victory for the Dillinger’s team.  I admit to telling myself as I stood at the oche (throw line) “hit this fuckin’ bull so you can go home.”  I did and then I did.  Even after the match point has been decided, there are still 3 team legs to play, regardless of their meaninglessness.  I know the guys get irked when I bail early and leave them shorthanded in the team match, but damn, I’m 60 years old and need my sleep!

It was 11:00 p.m. when I left the bar which got me home at 11:45 and into bed at midnight. Five and half-hours later I was up and preparing for my day at the office.  And that just ain’t enough for me anymore.  I was dragging ass all day.

I did have an interesting experience on the subway ride home.  I caught line number 4 at Samgakji and was happy to have found a seat.  In fact, the car was surprisingly empty.  I noticed the girls across from me covering their faces with scarves before I noticed the smell.  And then I saw that someone had taken a dump on the floor in front of the old folk’s seats.  Damn, that was a first for me.  I was far enough away that I could tolerate the odor, but it was pretty gross to see.  Finally around Myeong-dong someone got the courage to enter the shit-zone and report the problem on the emergency phone.  When the train paused at Dongdaemun a cleaning woman boarded and scooped the shit into a dustpan, and then hopped off again leaving a big brown smear across the floor.  And you thought there was no excitement in my life?

This morning after making the reverse journey to Samgakji I exited the station and observed a pigeon happily pecking away at a big ole pile of vomit someone had left on the sidewalk (a street pizza if you will).  I thought to myself now there’s a perfect bookend. And then proceeded on with my day in the land of the morning regurgitation calm.

…except when it’s not.

Sunday started out with an ass reaming in Singles League play.

And he didn’t even bring lube…

Well, Daw Jon “Storm” is one of the top Korean dart players, we even saw him on the video screen of Phoenix soft tip darts machine (he’s sponsored by Phoenix, which I suppose makes him a pro).  I didn’t have any serious expectation that I’d beat him, but there were three additional legs in play (I had first shot at the out) but I couldn’t execute.  Truth is, I’ve lost a lot of my passion for darts lately.  This manifests itself in a lack of motivation to practice.  And my game show it.  Ah well.

After darts I met up with nephews Justin and Joshua at Shenanigans.  Jee Yeun even came out and joined us which was a special treat.  She hasn’t come out for a night on the town in Itaewon in well over a year.  It seemed like old times.  After some cigars and beverages we moseyed down the street for a fine meal at one of my favorite Korean restaurants, Don Valley.  Hell, I’ve been dining there for 10 years now, even the waitresses all know us.  We ordered up a smorgasbord of Korean delicacies, including galbi (pork and beef), bulgogi, and samgaetang.  And more adult beverages of course.

Then it was off to the norebang where we all sang our hearts out until it was time for me to head back to Gireum-dong.  That 0530 alarm is a real bitch.

Monday night was dart league and my game didn’t show much improvement from Sunday’s effort.  My poor play in fact cost us a close match against Bull and Barrel.  Adding to my unpleasant experience was running out at 11:15 to catch the subway home, which put me in bed at midnight.  Too late for this old body to recover sufficiently for my early rising and work day.  Tuesdays really suck for me.  By the afternoon I’m so damn tired I can’t focus on being productive.  Early to be bed tonight so I can work twice as hard tomorrow to make up for it.  Next season I’m either quitting Monday darts are finding a team that will let me leave after the singles matches.

Jee Yeun took our visiting family out shopping in Myeong-dong Monday afternoon.

After lunch coffee at Cafe Coin. Everyone was impressed with Jee Yeun’s ability to negotiate discounts from the vendors. Me? I was working.

Josh and Bree are now en route back to the states.  It was nice spending some time with them.

During my non-productive time today I came across this graphic that I found hilarious:

Suck it fat man!

What else?  Well, barring some misfortune I’ll be turning 60 on Thursday.  This has been a tough one for me, I admit.  I’m equally torn between regretting the past and dreading the future. A future that I reckon *might* provide me ten “good” years.  If I’m lucky.  Well, being 60 beats the alternative, that’s for sure.  And I have way to many friends and acquaintances that weren’t fortunate enough to celebrate 60 years here on Earth.  I came across this article on Instapundit this morning (told you I was not productive) which provided a modicum of perspective on being 60.  I’ll just have to suck it up and embrace old age I suppose.

And now it’s about time for me to drag this tired old body off to bed.  Sweet dreams.

“A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.”
— actor John Barrymore

“I dream of having no regrets.”
–faker John McCrarey

Last night’s dart action saw us eke (ha!, I can spell it now) out a victory over Friend Bar.  I contributed a 5-1 showing in singles, and a much less impressive 2-4 in doubles.  Made it home by 11:30 and asleep by midnight.  Still, Tuesday’s kick my ass.  I’m thinking next season I’ll look for a team that let’s me play singles and leave or maybe I just won’t play.  I don’t act my age, but damn when 0530 rolls around I feel it.

Looks like I may close the deal on the car tomorrow.  I’m a bit concerned because I can’t register it with USFK until I get the paperwork showing the embassy has de-registered it. The seller has been a little fuzzy on just when those documents may arrive.  I’m loathe to hand over the cash until I get what I need, but we’ll see what we can work out.

And that’s all he wrote.  Today anyway.

Last night we (the Dillinger’s Dartitis Quarantine) kicked off the new season of the Seoul International Dart League with a victory over the Gecko’s Crew.  I contributed a 6-0 record in singles, and another 6-0 performance in doubles.  I do believe that represents my best ever showing in “A” division. Granted, the Crew is not the strongest team we will face, and I didn’t have to play their top player in 9 of those wins, but still.

This morning I took my driver’s license test, missing 3 of 45 questions.  Which 3 I cannot say because they didn’t tell me.  Which strikes me as kind of odd since I’ll be ignorant of whatever I should be knowing when I take to the highways of Korea.  At least 7% ignorant that is.

Yes, I’m probably going to go ahead a purchase a vehicle.  I don’t intend to commute to work from Gireum-dong on a daily basis, but once a week to schlep home the groceries would be nice.  And maybe some weekend journeys to the mountains and the beach would be a good change of pace from drunken nights in Itaewon..

Immediately after completing my driver’s test I hoofed it over to the bus station at the Moyer Center on post.  For a mere W6,200 I purchased a ticket to Osan Air Base, waited twenty minutes for the next bus and arrived one hour and ten minutes later.  Why the trip to Osan you ask?  Well, they have a tiny little immigration office at the airport terminal there.  It’s small but has a reputation for being speedy.  I handed over my passport and paperwork at 11:30 and was back at the Osan bus station at 11:40 with an A-3 SOFA visa good for three years in hand.  I caught the 11:50 bus back to Yongsan and was sitting in my office enjoying a Double Whopper and strawberry shake shortly after 1:00. I usually  check out here if I need the best passport renewal services.

So, I achieved in 2 1/2 hours what would have taken me most of the day to accomplish at the Sejongno Immigration office. Result!

Finally, in today’s mail I received my first Leave and Earnings Statement.  The money was sweet!  And I have every intention of actually starting to earn it one day very soon. Actually, I’m beginning to get more involved and I’m making some contributions, but I can and will do more.  One disappointment was I only earned 4 hours of annual leave (vacation time).  I was pretty sure I was supposed to earn 8 hours of leave each two-week pay period, so I went onto the internets to find some evidence to support that belief.  And sure enough I was correct in my assumption.  So I shot an email over to the folks in the CPAC and got a prompt response.  A “help ticket” has been submitted and I should see my full leave earning potential showing on my pay stub in three or four weeks.  I trust it will be retroactive.

The pay should hit my bank on Thursday or Friday and I do believe I’m going to commence car shopping.  It will no doubt be a hooptie, albeit a high end hooptie ($2000. or less).

Ain’t life grand?

For those of you following the Itaewon dart scene, here’s the latest:

I managed a mirror image of the 16-0 shellacking I suffered in my previous Singles League outing, beating this week’s opponent 16-0.  Is the slump over?  Stay tuned.

In Monday night Pub League action, the Dillinger’s Dartitis Quarintine clenched second place in the Seoul International Dart League.  We beat Sin Bin 25-14 last night to earn that honor.  First place is securely held by our sister team, the Dillinger’s Dill Pickles.  They are just too damn good beat, but at least we won’t have to face them straight away when playoffs commence.

I went 6-0 in singles, and 3-3 in doubles.  I’ll take a 9-3 night anytime.

And that’s how things stand.

Still reeling from Friday’s disappointing news I ventured into Itaewon for my Seoul Sunday Singles League match against league leader Wallace.

Prior to my departure Jee Yeun asks me who will I be playing. I answer “Wallace”. She says, you are Walrus. I say yeah, and I’m playing Wallace. She responds No, you are Walrus! Then I understood. Wallace and Walrus sound exactly the same in Konglish. That conversation turned out to be the highlight of my day.

Wallace was unbeatable, taking the match 16-0.  Well, I had some chances to win a leg here and there but every time I got close I managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.  It was frustrating and frankly embarrassing.

In Monday night action I started out much better, going 5-1 in singles.  Followed up with an 0-6 performance in doubles which didn’t help my mood.

Onward and upward.

Last night found me at Friend Bar.  Or Club Friend, depending on which signage you believe.  Dark, dank, and dirty; it is my least favorite venue in Itaewon.  I only frequent the joint when our dart team is scheduled to play there. Located halfway up “Hooker Hill” getting there always makes for an interesting walk.  It’s the only street in town where the girls call me “handsome man” and beckon me to come inside.  Although they may have actually been transgenders, who can tell?

The bar does feature some interesting art work:

Top this asshole was my mantra last night as I contributed a 9-3 performance to our team’s 26-13 victory.

Did you hear about the time a Japanese, a Korean, a Canadian, and an American walked into a bar? The called themselves “Dartitis Quarantine” and proceeded to kick some Friend Bar butt.

Everyone threw exceptionally well. It was my best night for marks in a long time. Three of my twelve legs were 501, and all I managed was a ton-80–and lost the leg anyway.

So, 10-2 last week, 9-3 last night, and 14-2 in singles league on Sunday against one of the top dogs.  No idea how long this hot streak will last but I’m enjoying the hell out of the ride!

Oh yeah, it was Friday.  Well, I did my half-day of duty at K-16.  Zero customers, but loneliness is in my job description.  Apparently. I have mastered the fine art of sleeping on the paid bus ride back to Yongsan though, so there’s that.

I then hiked into Itaewon and enjoyed some beers at Shenanigans before moving next door to Dolce Vita for the Friday night darts tournament.  Didn’t have much success during the tourney, but my ticket was drawn for the trip shoot (3 darts at the triple of a randomly drawn number).  I managed to hit two triple 16s, which was good for a sweet W180,000.

Saturday night found me back at Shenanigans for a meet-up with my nephew Justin.

Justin brought along his language exchange partner Yeonwook, who was plenty friendly.

Justin has a birthday this week, so Yeonwook snuck out to Baskin-Robbins and returned with an ice cream birthday cake. Beer and ice cream, better together than you might think.

This coming weekend Justin will be joining the wife and I on a trip down to Busan, or more likely, Haeundae beach.  I reckon I’m about due for a change of scenery.

On Sunday, it was back to Itaewon yet again for some Singles League dart action.

I’ve been on a roll, but admittedly I have yet to play the top players in the league. I’ll get my comeuppance one day soon.

I do believe Monday morning was the coldest day I’ve experienced since my return to Korea.  It was a chilling walk to the subway and then to the bus station on Yongsan. By the afternoon it had warmed up considerably so I figured my afternoon hike would be more pleasant.  But right at quitting time it began to snow.

Actually, the snow was more pleasant than the biting wind had been. Plus, it is kinda pretty.

Monday night was the pub league match against our sister team from Dillinger’s bar.  They are by far the best team in Itaewon which they amply demonstrated by handing us an old fashioned ass kicking.  My 1-8 performance certainly did not help.

In other news, I’m still holding on to some fading hopes that I might substantially improve my employment situation.  Everyone professes to want me back, except the one person who doesn’t know me, who is also the person I’d be working for should I be hired.  I have reason to believe that her reluctance stems from a fear that as the former boss I might not adapt well to being a worker bee.  Although truth be told, that’s exactly what I prefer to be.  Anyway, I gave her a call on Monday and said I’d like the opportunity to sit down with her and address whatever concerns she may have about me.  She agreed to do that, but wasn’t able to say when.  I gave her my phone number and now I will await a call that may or may not come.

Today I have frittered away the hours in the depths of a CIV IV game.

And that’s about it for this iteration of my so-called life.

T

all signs point to yes.

As I noted in this post, last week I walked out on my team over what amounted to nothing more than a misunderstanding (and my being a dick about it).  After stewing on it all week I made the decision to rejoin the team in time for last night’s action at the Friends bar.  I reviewed the joint back in 2009, and let’s just say things have not improved.  In fact, it is the only venue I have seen that still allows smoking inside, a direct contravention of Korean law.  But then, the bartender’s poodle sat on the bar for most of the night which must violate some health law or another.  “Rules?  We don’t need no stinkin’ rules” would be an appropriate motto for this establishment, which not so coincidentally is located smack dab in the middle of Hooker Hill.

Anyway, I’m not complaining.  Much.  I played well enough to go 3-3 in my singles matches, and 3-0 with my doubles partner.  They are a strong all-Korean team so it was gratifying to take home a dominating 27-12 victory.  It was a fun night and everyone got along affirming that my decision to stick by my commitment to this team was the right one.

I rarely venture up “the Hill” these days.  But there was a time when I spent many hours in a tiny little bar called Debut.  I dropped by for a quick beer on my way home.  Nothing stays the same I suppose.  Not even me.

This photo of me on the Debut Wall of Shame Fame circa 2006 is still there. The person I was back then has moved on. (I’m the guy in the suit and tie if you’re wondering).

And the journey continues.  Stay tuned.