Looking back over my time in Korea…

Duke

Tom and Yuli

Those Canadians, Scott, Craig, Colin and Unknown

Nolan at the DMZ

Jin

Mario

World famous Dolce Vita blowjobs.  The shots, not the dudes.

Who says you can’t get injured playing darts.  Tom and Tae Shin.

Walt and Miseon.  I sold his former car today.

Simon and Jay

Matt

So Young.

And now I’m so tired.

Trying to knock out the final items on my out-processing checklist.  Today’s objective was getting the car inspected in preparation for selling it.

So, it’s always a bit of pain in the ass to get over to Camp Kim from Yongsan Garrison via Camp Coiner.  But I navigated it. 

Got to the AAFES CarCare Center and I was the only customer.  Paid my 20 bucks and walked across the lot to the vehicle registration center to pick up the forms required to process the sale of my car (to a co-worker which was in fact easy).  I was a little surprised to see that the registration office will be closed both Thursday and Friday this week and next.  Which basically leaves me almost no margin for error in dealing with the USFK bureaucracy.  So, I figured I’d get things done today and not have to worry about it.

No dice.  My car failed inspection.  Seems the CV joint boot is torn.  So, with my rejection slip in hand I drove over to the other side of Yongsan to Kim’s Garage (AAFES does not do vehicle repairs).  I look around the shop and call “Yogio!” but the place seems deserted.  I note a Volvo station wagon out front with the engine running and the drive fast asleep at the wheel.  After spending a couple more minutes in a fruitless search for a mechanic I take another gander at the Volvo.  It has the USFK ID sticker in the windshield and the sleeping driver is a Korean–in a mechanics uniform!  Putting 2+2 together, I knock on the window and ask the guy if he fixes cars (as opposed to just sleeping in them, which I didn’t say but I hope was implied by my tone of voice).

Anyway, he does and will and I’m promised that my car will be ready at 1300.  We’ll see.  If things go as planned, I will take the new owner of the car to the insurance place where he will buy and I will cancel.  Then back to Camp Kim for the vehicle transaction. 

Wish me luck.

Or both?

ROKDrop has the scoop on the dupe.

Not pretty.

We (USFK) actually practice evacuating non-essentials twice a year.  It works pretty well on paper. I’m no expert but I also know the real world scenario would likely mean nothing going as planned.

I would definitely be more inclined to “shelter in place” than attempt to flee.  I’m guessing my designated evacuation point is already on the list on North Korean artillery targets.  And as the linked article notes, all roads south would be gridlocked anyway (hell, they get that way on major holidays).  And I seriously doubt the Korean bus drivers will be showing up to transport miguks when their own family members are at risk.

So, there ain’t much point in worrying about it, is there?

A little like this I suppose.

In addition to what’s thought to be a rudimentary nuclear arsenal of perhaps a dozen bombs, the North Koreans have a million-man army, with half deployed near the demilitarized zone abutting South Korea, and hundreds of long-range artillery tubes within range of Seoul. That means a sudden strike could potentially kill the roughly 30,000 American civilians living among the millions of South Koreans, as well as the roughly 25,000 U.S. servicemen and women assigned to protect South Korea.

In turn, U.S. and South Korean firepower can destroy the North Korean leadership and military

Some random photos from my Korea life:

Itaewon, January 2005.

3 Alley Pub, December 2006.

Corine is honored by LTG Valcourt with a Distinguished Civilian Service Award.

My coworkers…

Yongsan Garrison cherry blossoms..

Haeundae Beach Busan.

Traditional Palace Guard

Dart mentors Petro, Tom and Duke.  They’ve all preceded me in returning to the USA.

Bad ass gatekeeper protecting DMZ visitors.

“Dorothy” from the Korean version of the Wizard of Oz.

I figure 10 pictures at a time is enough.  More to come though…

But I’m leaving a big part of me here in Korea.

This is my last month in the land of the morning calm.  I’m retiring on 31 December and moving on, at least for awhile.

They say nothing ever goes as planned.  And they would be right about that.

I might be back be to Korea one day.  Probably best not to plan on it though.  Wouldn’t want “they” to mess with me again.

Had a very fine Thanksgiving day feast at Dolce Vita.  As is our tradition, we followed up with a nice little darts tourney.  Caught a cab on the way home and much to my surprise the cabbie began playing a miniature guitar (ukulele size, but with the deep rich tones of a full size guitar).  The tune was hauntingly familiar and then he began to sing the Neil Young classic “Heart of Gold”.

Being as how I’m a big Neil Young fan, and since it was so twilight zone-esque to hear a Korean taxi driver perform the tune live in the front seat, it seemed appropriate for me to sing along.  Oh yeah, I was pretty drunk as well.  It was a short ride home, but I tipped large and thanked him for the experience.  He said something about finding ways to enjoy your life whatever it is you may be doing and he went on his way.

I’d actually been a bit melancholy as I reflected on my last Thanksgiving in Korea.  So being reminded that real happiness is found within, not where you are, was a timely gift.

Hearing from family and friends wondering if there is cause for concern about my safety here in Korea.  No more than normal I’d say.  Just another day in paradise with some crazy people living next door.  Although it would be ironic if war were to break out just as I’m fixin’ to retire.  Of course, as with any provocation that is a chance that things will escalate.  I’m not thinking that’s likely though.

Great info on the situation at ROKDrop and the Marmot’s place.

Courtesy of ROKDrop is a map showing the current hot spot.

Again, I’m hearing nothing that leads me to believe that this is anything more than an extreme version of business as usual.

Taking a little holiday weekend road trip.  A drive through the mountains (Seroksan) and on to the beach (Naksan).  Later gator.

Seroksan

Naksan

This is a little porridge restaurant in Itaewon.  Haven’t been there yet, but I will try it when I *ahem* have the time.

Headin’ out for a little Labor Day road trip to the Sea of Japan East Sea.

Speaking of driving, how are y’all enjoying watching the Dems drive the economy straight into the toilet.  Summer Recovery my ass!  Michael Rameriz nails it…

equals Typhoon.

For the first time in nearly six years that I’ve been here, they shut down the garrison here in Seoul.  Which means no work today for moi.

Let it Blow! Let it Blow! Let it Blow!

(which it has been.  some strong gust woke me up around 0600.  it is calmer now though and not much rain).  So, this ain’t no Hugo, that’s for sure.

See I had every intention of getting back into a daily posting routine.  And wouldn’t you know it, yesterday my internet goes out and stays out all the day long.

So, instead of posting here, I finished season 2 of The Wire.  A great show by the way.  I also went to E-Mart (sorta a Korean Wal-Mart superstore kinda thing).  And since I was near the electronics market I picked up some DVDs for future enjoyment.

But hey, let me offer up something meaningful here for your consideration:

Words elude me, but this picture is just wrong.  In so many ways.

…but not today.

I don’t really have the Summertime Blues.  More the blahs.  Plus nothing much to say.

Did have a nice little dinner party Sunday.  And I’m enjoying darts again.

And it seems August is going to be a month of reunions.  Petro is in town tonight, Dave New flew in yesterday apparently, and Duke is expected this weekend.

Life is quiet, but good.

Fascinating first hand account from General James Van Fleet of how Washington, DC policymakers undermined victory in Korea.

So, I’m walking down the street in Itaewon tonight and I happen to notice a young Korean man wearing a T-shirt that says “an American classic” with a picture of a Jeep FC-170.  In fact, I think it was this very picture:

So, I mean this particular Jeep is kind of a rarity even in the USA.  It was not ever that popular and not many were made.  I guess that makes it a collectible.

Truth be told, I happen to own one myself:

Ok, so my version is rather small.  But still.

Anyway, the significance (for me) is that this was my father’s vehicle of choice when I was a small child.  Lot’s of memories of desert camping outings and Kern River adventures.

I’m guessing y’all might have figured out that the cab over configuration and the Jeep grille gave the vehicle our affectionate nickname of “Bullfrog”.

The brothers McCrarey and the Bullfrog….