Ten years after

Posted on 12/December/2014 by John McCrarey

Still crazy after all these years…

One long ago winter’s day in Stafford, Virginia I sat down and crafted the first ever post here at Long Time Gone. Looking back from the perspective of half a score of years, I can’t help but cringe a little at the naivete and cluelessness of the person I was back then.

I’m moving to Seoul, Korea. Although the general consensus among family and friends is that I’ve lost my mind (which I don’t necessarily deny), this is something of a calling for me.

I went on and on about duty and honor and serving those who served, which was perhaps the truth on some level, but as is usually the case with me, my motivations were at their core driven by my own selfishness.

I have lived a very comfortable life. Too comfortable perhaps. The chance to live and work overseas in a totally alien culture seems to be an exciting opportunity to get out of my box and experience a new lifestyle.

Now, what I meant to say here is that I hate my fucking white bread suburban life, I’m bored and miserable, and if I don’t find a way to get out of here I’m going to go batshit crazy. Although I guess maybe you can read that between the lines.

I have made a two-year commitment to the Army, and if I am miserable and lost and lonely, well I will deal with it and learn what I can from the experience. Going in, I have a positive attitude and believe that I have the power to determine what I gain and how I grow as I live this new life.

Oh my, but I was full of myself back then, wasn’t I? That two years became six and carried me right up to retirement. I did in fact find myself more than occasionally “miserable, lost and lonely”, as often as not from the sometimes cruel hearts of Korean women. For example, a Korean woman I dated for almost two years broke up with me via email. While we were living together! Still, the good times outweighed the bad and in my ignorance I came to love Korea, even if I didn’t (and don’t) always understand her. It is pretty funny that I actually believed I had the “power” to determine what I gained from the experience. I still feel the pain of the things I lost by being here over the years. What have I gained? Well, I get to be the person I have become. And I like that better than the person I was.

So, this blog will serve as a diary of my life in Korea. It will be a place where I share my thoughts on what I am seeing, doing, and learning.

I guess I got that part right. Mostly.

I’m going to cut that guy from tens years ago a little slack though. He wasn’t happy with his life and so he changed it. There was a price to be paid for that, but I think it was worth it in the end. And ten years later finds that guy back in Korea still pursuing his happiness. Hope springs eternal.

“Though half a score of years are gone,
Spring comes as sharply now as then—
But if we had it all to do
It would be done the same again.

It was a spring that never came;
But we have lived enough to know
That what we never have, remains;
It is the things we have that go.”

–Sara Teasdale

What a long, strange trip it’s been

Posted on 11/December/2014 by John McCrarey

Back in our humble apartment in Gireum-dong. 33 hours door-to-door.

Began the day at 0400 in order to catch my 0700 flight out of Columbia. Arrived in Atlanta at 0800 with 4 hours to kill before my departure to Seoul via Korean Air. Had a sausage, cheese and egg biscuit from McDonalds, then parked myself in the smoking lounge where I enjoyed free airport WiFi, a rare treat in the USofA.

The appointed departure time came and went, and then came the announcement of some unspecified “mechanical problems” with our A-380 aircraft. They estimated the fix time to be three hours, and gave us all a ten dollar lunch voucher. So, I scored me some Arby’s and headed back to the smoking lounge to wait out the delay.

Three hours go by and the repair is still not complete. Then another hour. Then Korean Air rolled out a couple of carts filled with snacks, soft drinks, and water with the promise the problem would be resolved “soon”. We finally boarded at 6:30 and then sat at the gate for the better part of an hour. I set my watch for Seoul time and resolved to not worry about those things I can’t control.

About halfway into the flight, I hear a woman screaming in Korean. I figured maybe a fight had broken out. Shortly thereafter the flight attendant took to the P.A. to ask if there was a doctor on board. After a few more minutes she came back on to ask if there was anyone with medical skills available to help. I asked the flight attendant what was going on and she said, we have to get a sick passenger to the hospital. I said “A hospital, what is it?” She said “it’s a big building paitents, but that’s not important right now!”. Alright, of course that last part didn’t happen, but I couldn’t resist the “Airplane!” reference.

Anyway, they moved the ill person up front and things quieted down I watched three forgettable movies (2 American, 1 Korean) and in between actually managed to sleep a few hours. Which might explain why I’m still up right now.

We landed at Incheon at 0100 local time. As we deplaned, a Korean Air employee gave us each an envelope with seven W10,000 coupons good for future travel with the airline. An unexpected and nice touch. I sailed through immigration and customs, although one of my bags got destroyed somewhere between Columbia and Korea. It was the last bag to come down the carousel. I had packed that sucker jam full and had a hard time getting it zippered up. I knew if TSA or Korean customs attempted to open it they’d never get it closed again. It arrived back in my possession with a burst zipper and haphazardly held together with packing tape. All the contents seemed to be intact however, so I’m grateful for that.

I was happy to see a currency exchange kiosk still open, so I exchanged $200 for Won as I anticipated an expensive taxi ride from Incheon to Gireum. Instead, another Korean Air employee met me as I exited the airport and directed me to a bus that would take me to Seoul City Hall, paid for by the airline. That suited me just fine. I was the only passenger on said bus, and in broken English the driver asked where I was going. I told him Gireum station. He had a suggestion: He would take me to Gimpo Airport where his car was parked, and then he drive me to Gireum himself. I caught on that the guy was ready to get home, and this plan likely would have shaved a couple of hours off his night. I readily agreed, but alas, another passenger arrived and foiled our plan. Still, there was a cab waiting at the City Hall bus stop and he carried me to my destination for W12,000 including tip.

Jee Yeun greeted me at the door with a smile and a kiss and I knew at long last my journey was over. It’s good to be home.

Roomies

Posted on 30/November/2014 by John McCrarey

So a guy moved into my house last night. I haven’t had a roommate (excluding girlfriends) since my older brother and I shared an apartment back in the 1970s. I honestly don’t know much about the guy who moved in other than he’s a decent dart player and he came here from Alabama a few weeks ago. He’s been staying in a hotel since his arrival which as you might expect is a budget buster. So I offered up my guest room which he gladly accepted.

I have a Korean-style mattress in that bedroom and I warned him it was hard. I remember when I first moved into my Korean apartment it had a similar bed. Those first couple of weeks were uncomfortable but I got to where I prefer a hard mattress. When I went shopping for a bedroom set here in the states it took me awhile to find a mattress anywhere near as hard as to what I’d become accustomed. Finally after visiting several stores and describing what I wanted one place offered up a mattress they called the “back breaker”. Still softer than I’d prefer, but it works. Well, I asked my new roommate Brandon how he slept last night and he just grunted and said “it’s gonna take some getting used to”.

Anyway, I’ve gotten to where I prefer my solitude but hopefully this arrangement will only be for a couple of weeks. I plan to get out of Dodge as quickly as circumstances permit. When I leave Brandon is going to rent my house. He’s basically taking it “as is” which means I don’t have to deal with the hassle and expense of storing my furniture and other worldly possessions. That works for him as well because all he brought with him from Alabama was a couple of suitcases. The rent income will also help defray the expense of finding a place close to the Army base. My goal is to be close enough to walk to work.

Speaking of work, my potential employer advises that things are “looking good”. The hiring package is with USFK awaiting approval. He thinks I’ll have an answer Monday. The last thing I need to provide is my university transcript which should arrive early next week. I’ve got to pay my own way to Korea so I’m guessing I’ll be screwed on airfare with a short notice purchase. Maybe I’ve accumulated enough frequent flier miles to get a free or at least a discounted ticket. We’ll see.

If things go as I hope I’d like to arrive in Korea on or around December 12. A lot to get done between now and then, but I’ve got nothing but time on my hands I suppose. Now that I’ve completed this post I can re-cross my fingers.

What is and never was

Posted on 07/November/2014 by John McCrarey

Thirty-nine years ago this month I married my first wife. Six years and two children later that union ended in divorce. There is no animosity between us and we occasionally interact at family gatherings. Still, I was somewhat taken aback when I received a letter from the Catholic Diocese in Charleston in yesterday’s mail. That correspondence informs that the ex “has petitioned to this Tribunal declaring that her marriage to you should not be recognized by the Catholic Church…” In other words, she wants an annulment.

The letter includes a two-page questionnaire that I have been requested to complete. The questions are all pretty straightforward, basically seeking confirmation that I am not a Catholic and that we were not married in the Catholic church. The last question asks me to explain in my own words why the marriage failed. I’m tempted to channel Hillary Clinton and respond “at this point, what difference does it make?” but what’s the fun in that?

My ex was 17 when I knocked her up. I was 19. I’m not sure now why we didn’t go the abortion route. It was either her Catholicism or maybe she was too far along in the pregnancy when she realized she was with child. Anyway, we mutually decided to have the baby and give it up for adoption. So we moved in together and made the best of those few months, despite being dirt poor. The county adoption bureau paid for the medical care and the government provided food stamps, and we otherwise got by on my meager minimum wage salary.

On September 7, 1975 my daughter was born. On the day the adoption was to take place I was working thirty miles away in Pasadena, CA. And that morning something happened inside of me that I cannot explain, but I somehow knew letting go of my little girl was the wrong thing to do. So, I left work and barreled down the freeway arriving in the hospital room at the exact moment the adoption person was handing the ex the papers to sign giving away our child. I shouted “stop, wait, I want to talk to her about this”. And so I proposed that we get married and keep the baby. She agreed.

It was not a popular decision with her parents (the father threatened to have me arrested for statutory rape). We certainly were not prepared to raise a child (Renee’s first night at home she slept in a dresser drawer as we had no crib). But it was absolutely the right decision. I cannot fathom what my life would have been like if I had abandoned my sweet baby girl.

Two years later my son was born and shortly thereafter we moved to Prescott, AZ to raise our family in a more child friendly environment. I was working as a letter carrier for the Postal Service and the ex was a waitress at a one of Prescott’s finest dining establishments. We bought a small house. We had our struggles, but I recall those years as mostly happy.

So, what happened? I’m sure the ex might have a different perspective, but in looking back I see it as it all just being too much for a young mother to bear. The ex started running with the restaurant crowd and coming home after work at 3 or 4 in the morning. And I think at some point she decided that life in the fast lane was more fun than being stuck at home with the kids. And to be fair, I was feeling neglected and wound up having an affair. So we divorced and she gave me custody of the kids. I subsequently took a job in Arkansas and my mother helped me raise the children. And that’s pretty much where our story ended.

So, if the Catholic church wants to pretend the marriage never happened, I’m okay with that. History is what it is, and I have two fantastic kids (and three wonderful grandchildren) to show from our non-sanctioned union. That is something that can never be annulled.

Nada y nada

Posted on 04/October/2014 by John McCrarey

Not much posting going on here at LTG of late, but the fact of the matter is there just isn’t much happening in my life worthy of note. Of course, that’s never stopped me from writing about nothing before. Truth is, I’m in a bit of a funk. It goes beyond mere boredom. I was often bored in Korea as well, but at least I wasn’t so damn lonely. Yes, I miss my wife.

I’m one of those types who just doesn’t seem to fare well on his own. I tend to sink into an abyss of unmotivated laziness. Jee Yeun would shame me out of my worst behaviors, like sitting around in my underwear all day smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo. Well, the television is better quality that the Statler Brothers enjoyed but you get my meaning. I’ve also been playing Civilization marathons which fills the hours but leaves me feeling unsatisfied and a little depressed. I’m just wasting time, however comfortably and well. And at my age, the last thing I should be doing is wasting whatever time I might have left. I reckon I ought to put a boot up my ass and break out of this cycle of despair. Just not sure where to start and I’m feeling trapped. Fuck it. I’ll think of something.

If it weren’t for darts I might not ever leave the house. I’ve taken road trips to play in Charlotte and Aiken, and tomorrow I’m going to head up to Greenville for the afternoon to shoot in a regional qualifier. I’ve been a little disappointed with the degradation of the dart scene here in Columbia. Some personality conflicts have created a situation where darts are no longer played at my favorite pub. I did my best to mend those fences but to no avail. So I’m breaking out on my own and starting a new tournament that I’m calling #TDT (throw darts Thursday). Not sure I can bring people back but I’ll give it a shot.

And that’s about it. I haven’t heard from Jee Yeun for a few days. I’m guessing they don’t have internet in the countryside or something. Last time we talked (messaged) she said she’d be coming home to me as soon as she can get moved out of her apartment. I’m hoping that means sometime this month.

“It’s like I told you, only the lonely can play…”

BACtrack

Posted on 15/September/2014 by John McCrarey

As most of my reader(s) know I enjoy drinking beer in social settings (although rarely at home). While I don’t have much of a social life, I do play darts two or three times per week and I’ve found beer to be a useful tool in that endeavor. In fact, beer is commonly referred to in the sport as “aiming fluid”.

Given the outstanding public transportation system in Korea I never really had to worry about the amount of beer I consumed during a dart match (other than recognizing that after a certain point inebriation will impact on the quality of my game). Here in the USA there is no getting around driving to the various dart venues, so it is imperative to not drink in excess of the legal limit (currently .08 blood alcohol content in South Carolina) when operating a motor vehicle. I’m actually very paranoid about driving after drinking. I never get “drunk-drunk”, but I’m quite certain I could potentially exceed .08 with no outward signs of impairment.

The rule of thumb is to limit yourself to one drink per hour which I find difficult to do. I’m a big guy and based on the online calculators I’ve looked at, I can probably partake in four beers in an hour without crossing the line. What I normally do is drink five beers during a three hour dart match, then switch to diet Coke at the end of the evening. That’s probably a “safe” amount, but other factors come into play (for example, what you have eaten) and the truth of the matter is you can never be certain. Alcohol impairs judgement, and making the judgement that you are okay to drive after drinking is a fool’s bet.

Being arrested for DUI is an expensive and life altering event. And that’s really the best case scenario. God forbid you do something stupid which causes death or injury to yourself or someone else. I’ve learned that two friends were busted for DUI during the six months I was staying in Korea. I’ve also been told that DUI checkpoints are frequently set up along the route I travel home after a night of darting. Despite my intent to be responsible when it comes to drinking and driving, I really fear inadvertently fucking up.

So, this morning I purchased one of these from a company called BACtrack:

My own personal breathalyzer. A bargain at $129.95 considering what a miscalculation would cost me.

Once it arrives it will be interesting to see how accurate my personal rule-of-thumb has been. But one thing is certain, I will never drive my vehicle anytime I am anywhere near the legal limit. In fact, my plan is to not get behind the wheel at over .05. That’s the standard the federal government wants the states to impose. It’s the right thing to do and you can’t put a price tag on the peace of mind that comes with being a responsible driver.

The last supper

Posted on 10/September/2014 by John McCrarey

A final meal with friends Tom and Yuli at Don Valley

I’m fixin’ to head out to Incheon to catch my flight across the wide Pacific. Sad to be making the trip alone, but Jee Yeun needs to stay and care for her mother. I offered to stay and help but Jee Yeun will be taking her mom to the “countryside” for the next couple of weeks. So, faced with being alone either way, I stuck with the plan and will return to the USA as scheduled.

Goodbye to you Korea!

Getting my KIX

Posted on 31/August/2014 by John McCrarey

Yesterday I pulled a DELTA (didn’t ever leave the airport) at Osaka’s Kansai International Airport (KIX). And now through the miracle of the internet you too can share in the adventure!

The day began with an 0600 wake-up call via my trusty Samsung Galaxy. I frittered around for a bit before making it down to the Airport Limo bus stop near my apartment at 0645. Said bus arrived ten minutes later, I paid my W7000 fare, and was off to historic Gimpo International Airport. Note to travelers: I’ve never seen the Airport Limo full up, but this time we left folks standing at the stop after mine. Plan accordingly.

I arrived at Gimpo without incident at 0730 and waited in a long ass line to check in with Korean Air. My flight was at 0905 so I wasn’t too worried. Sure enough, I had my boarding pass and was through security/immigration by eight. Jee Yeun had directed that I purchase her favorite perfume at the duty free store. My last trip to Kansai I wasn’t able to find it, so with time to kill I went shopping in the Lotte duty free store and found what I (she) was looking for. I was $78 poorer and also burdened with carrying (and not losing) a shopping bag for the entirety of my trip, but hey, the things we do for love!

I paid a little extra to fly Korean Air as opposed to the low-cost carrier Peach Air which I used on my previous trip to Osaka. I figured Korean Air would be a little more comfortable in coach but it was every bit as cramped as Peach. Still, I did have the convenience of flying out of Gimpo (much closer to home than Incheon) and Korean Air served a breakfast snack (cinnamon roll, yogurt, pineapple) and free beverages, all of which I would have paid extra for on Peach. Anyway, we left on time and arrived on time with the wheels down, so no complaints.

They say no main is an island. But when you arrive at KIX you are on an island made by man.

They say that no man is an island. But when you arrive at KIX you are on an island made by man.

Another benefit to Korean Air is that you arrive at the main terminal, avoiding a longish bus ride from the wasteland that is terminal 2. After deplaning I made my way to see the immigration man. Apparently coming to Japan for less than a day raises some red flags. On the arrival form I had listed my destination as my return flight to Korea. Immigration man asked me what I would be doing in the land of the rising sun. I told him I’d be taking the train into downtown Osaka and doing a brief tour of the city. He looked at some flight schedules posted on his desk, so I helpfully showed him my return flight info. “That’s eight hours from now” he said incredulously. “Yes it is” I agreed. He shook his head, stamped my passport, and I was off to customs.

Apparently coming to Japan for less than a day without luggage raises some red flags. I recounted my tale of doing a brief tour of Osaka before returning to Korea. He then checked the stamps in my passport and noticed that I had almost exhausted my second 90 day tourist visa in Korea. He asked when I was going back to the US and I showed him my flight info for September 10. He then wanted to know why I was going back to Korea. I told him I have a Korean wife who wants me to return (hard as that may be to believe). He kinda of laughed and said “oh, a Korean wife”. Then he wanted to know what was in the shopping bag, and I told him it was perfume. Apparently buying shit duty free in one country only to carry it back to that same country raises some red flags. “Who’s the perfume for?” he asked. “My wife” I responded. He gave me a look and asked to see the shopping bag. Finding only the perfume and my spare pack of smokes I figured I was good to go. Nope. He decided to search me. Well, it was more of a pat-down than a search. Not sure if he thought I was a terrorist or a drug mule. But finding no weapons or contraband he finally sent me on way.

Having successfully managed a legal entry into Japan, the only thing I had to kill was time. I wandered around the four floors of the terminal to reacquaint myself with the lay of the land. Then I walked over to the train station to see what was going on there. I guess they were having some kind of festival. There was a line of tents with merchants selling various goods and foods. And some loud ass music and dancing. I saw some wild haired Japanese girl band members posing for photos with their fans, but when Gangnam Style started blaring through the speakers it became all too surreal for this oldster, so I headed back to the airport.

I spent three days in downtown Osaka a couple of years ago and despite my protestations to the immigration and custom authorities I was never seriously planning on making the journey this trip. The only real temptation was the chance to ride on this baby:

Maybe next time.

Back in the airport I decided to find me some lunch. Lots of places to choose from, almost all of them catering to the Japanese palate. And truth be told, I’m not real keen on the cuisine of Nippon. I’m almost embarrassed to admit that after quite a bit of indecisive meandering through restaurant row, I finally settled on…McDonald’s. Yeah, I’m that guy. At least I was yesterday. I ordered me the Big Mac set and whipped out the plastic only to be told they only take cash. So, I had a yen to eat but no Yen to eat with. I was kind of astounded because everyone uses plastic money (or e-money from the smart phone) in Korea. So, it was off to find an ATM.

I found one in short order, but it wouldn’t accept foreign cards (in an international airport for crissakes!). I had a brief moment of panic as I contemplated spending the day without the basic necessities of life (beer). Although I did have W50,000 or so I could have exchanged if I got desperate. I walked around until I found another ATM and this one worked, so I filled my wallet with one Y10,000 note ($96). Flush with cash it was back to McD’s. After dining I checked my watch and saw that I had managed to whittle a whopping 1.5 hours off my 8 hour layover. The day was proving to be almost as long as this post!

I went upstairs to the Korean Air counter to see if I could score an earlier flight home. No dice. They said I couldn’t even check in for my flight until 3:30. What to do? With Yen to spend and nowhere else to go, I opted for the KIX Airport Lounge. They charge Y410 for 30 minutes, and Y120 every 10 minutes thereafter. But I bought the 6 hour package for Y3090 ($30) which provided me a cozy booth equipped with a computer, reclining chair, and free soft drinks (beers were Y210 each, and I had several).

My home away from home. Although the chair here is much more comfortable than anything at home. Considering the alternative, it was the best $30 I’ve spent in awhile.

The “booth” is basically a small cubicle, with walls about 4 feet tall. Cozy I guess you could call it. But from here I was able to explore the nooks and crannies of the internet in relative comfort. I got sleepy around 1:30 or so and reclined that chair full back and tried to catch a nap. Unfortunately, the folks in the common area were being a bit on the noisy side. So I pulled up YouTube on the computer, found a Neil Young album that I favor, put on the headphones, and enjoyed the soothing rhythms of the 1970s. I fell asleep somewhere during the last song on the album (Words Between the Lines of Age). I haven’t napped in a recliner for many a year and I had forgotten just how pleasant an experience that can be. I awoke at 3:30 feeling relaxed, refreshed, and almost perky. And with four more hours left until my flight.

The lounge came with a largish library. Everything was in Japanese, but it was still quite impressive.

This is but one shelf of several of Japanese books. Comic books!

I didn’t even bother trying to make sense of those. But there was also a large magazine rack. Also all in Japanese. But I figured at least I could look at the pictures.

Yikes! Scantily clad Japanese school girls.

Now, I’ve been around for awhile (shuddup!) but seriously, I was pretty shocked. The girls in the magazine I picked couldn’t have been a day over 16. Now, there was nothing overtly lewd (no more than you’d see at the beach really), but something about it just made me feel icky. I quickly returned the mag to the rack hoping no one would see me and think I’m a pervert. So, it was back to YouTube and mind numbing American television (World’s Dumbest) for me. And soon enough my time in the KIX Airport Lounge reached it’s conclusion and it was time to begin the process of my return journey to Korea.

Check-in, customs, and security went off without incident (I was a little worried I might get hassled over the perfume). Reached my gate with 45 minutes to spare and a pocket full of Japanese coins. Interestingly, the Y1000 note is the smallest unit of paper money in Japan, so the coins multiply like drunken rabbits (I added drunken so as not to be cliche. Regular readers will attest that I avoid trite phrases like the plague). I found a vending machine that sold cans of Asahi beer so I bought me a tall can and enjoyed it with tobacco in the smoking lounge. I noted that I had one 500 denominated coin left so I went to the convenience store and picked up a Coke Zero and a bag of pretzels. Handed the coin to the clerk and she said “that’s Korean money”. D’oh! So, I gave her a Y1000 note and wound up with more change.

The remains of the day.

Flight back was uneventful (the way I like it!). As we approached Gimpo I noticed the highways were jam packed and made a mental note to take the subway instead of the Airport Limo home. Korean immigration didn’t seem to mind my less than a day out of country and awarded me another 90 days (I only needed one). Customs didn’t care about the perfume either. I exchanged my remaining yen (except for the coins of course) for Won and then hoofed it to the subway (a pretty fair piece, especially at the end of a long day).

Only problem was I wasn’t sure about the subway route. I rarely venture out to the Gimpo side of town so none of the stations were familiar. There were two lines (5 and 9) and I didn’t know if either connected with line 4 that takes me home. I went to the information counter and despite lacking a common language was able to convey that I was going to Gireum and learn that line 5 did in fact intersect with line 4 at Dongdaemun History and Culture Park. It was a long haul but I made it safely home by 11:30.

And there you have it. I guess the only question new visitors to LTG may be asking is “why?” The short answer is because I’m stupid. When I did my visa run back in June I miscounted the days. My tourist visa expires on the 9th and my flight to the USA is on the 10th. The events described above were actually the lesser of the pains in the ass available to me to rectify my unfortunate inability to count.

Another milestone

Posted on 27/August/2014 by John McCrarey

White line fever, a sickness born
Down deep within my soul
White line fever, the years keep flyin’ by
Like the highline poles

The wrinkles in my forehead
Show the miles I’ve put behind me
They continue to remind how fast I’m growin’ old
Guess I’ll die with this fever in my soul –Merle Haggard

Today marks the anniversary of the commencement of my first journey around the sun of which I have now completed 59 circuits. Man am I tired!

I’ve gotten older but I can’t say I’m all that much wiser. No great insights as I enter the last year of my fifties. Truth is, I’m feeling a little melancholy. It’s not just that with each passing year mortality looms ever larger, it’s more that what once were limitless possibilities and opportunities have been reduced to an uncomfortable understanding that this is what I’ve become and it is all that I will ever be. It has been said that a dreamer lives forever, but I’ll be damned if I can think of a dream that fits me now. Well, other than dreaming of my lost youth which is a fool’s game for sure.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not feeling sorry for myself. Life has bestowed upon me many blessings, including a wife who loves me against all reason. I have healthy children and grandchildren. I’m living comfortably on a generous pension (thanks Uncle Sam!). And despite living a decidedly unhealthy lifestyle I’m in generally good health. Well, the aches and pains that come with age are a constant companion these days, but I’m still climbing the stairs up to the bars on dart nights (and stumbling back down). I see folks all around me who can’t do the things I still do and enjoy, so yeah, I’ve been lucky. And if that’s all there is, by god, I’m gonna keep on doing it for as long as I can.

Perhaps what makes me feel my age the most is that I’m pretty much the oldest guy I know. Meaning almost all the people I spend time with are young enough to be my kids. Or younger. Of course, in my mind (especially after a few beers) I still think I’m thirty. I fear that when I act that way I must be perceived as the stereotypical “creepy old guy” hanging out with the young crowd. But what are you gonna do? I’ve never wanted to live a vanilla life and I’m not about to go “gentle into that dark goodnight“.

I wonder just what makes a man keep pushing on
What makes me keep on hummin’ this old highway song
I’ve been from coast to coast a hundred times before
I ain’t found one single place where I ain’t been before

White line fever, a sickness born
Down deep within my soul
White line fever, the years keep flyin’ by
Like the highline poles

Anyway, happy birthday to me. I have no idea where the road of life will take me next, but I sure as hell ain’t looking for an exit!

Jee Yeun asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I didn’t have the heart to tell her “to be 30”.

I always preferred Graham Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers version of the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU0WcW2k2tc

Regarding religion

Posted on 01/August/2014 by John McCrarey

So, I’ve found myself thinking about religion of late. Not in terms of getting me some, just in general. Which is to say I’m not exactly sure where these thoughts are taking me, but bear with me and we’ll muddle through together, okay?

Now, I was pretty much raised in the protestant tradition, at least to the extent that my grandmother dutifully took us to Sunday school every week. I even played steel guitar in a little church band that toured the western states when I was 12. At around 15 or 16 though I entered my rebellious phase and pretty much came to the conclusion that organized religion was all bullshit. I certainly want no part of the Old Testament vengeful and jealous God, nor do I believe the stories of the virgin birth and resurrection. Which I guess means that I ain’t much of a Christian.

Having said that, I do try very hard to be respectful of the religious beliefs of others. I have a couple of Facebook “friends” (meaning people I’ve never actually met in real life) who constantly mock people of faith (usually Christians since they don’t have the balls to publicly criticize Muslims). They are as strident in their atheist beliefs as any other religious zealot I have encountered. In fact, I find their rants every bit as irritating as a knock on the door from a Jehovah’s Witness.

My second ex-wife was a Baptist (the other two ex’s were Catholic and the current wife is Buddhist) and I didn’t object to her taking my young children to church every Sunday. For awhile I attended with them, but damn, I rarely left church feeling uplifted. The sermons tended to piss me off as much as anything. The final straw for me was the Sunday school session where we talked about “free will”. Which was immediately followed by an entreaty to join in a planned march on the state house in favor of anti-abortion legislation. I asked the Sunday school teacher how it could be that God gave mankind free will, but the Baptist church wanted to pass laws restricting choice? I got the old standard reply that it was “a matter of faith”. Whatever the hell that means. The epilog to that incident came when the leader of the anti-abortion contingent got pregnant and was told the fetus did not a brain stem. Yep, she aborted.

So, if I have a problem with religion it’s with the hypocrisy of the adherents. The stuff people do in the name of God makes me want no part of the God they profess to believe in. Oddly enough though, I don’t think of myself as an atheist. I can accept the concept of some intelligence or power manifested in nature and the universe. It’s just not the God you read about in earthly religious texts. The closest I ever felt to this “God” was the night I had an epiphany after making love to my Mormon girlfriend. “God is love” is what I felt in that blessed moment of understanding. The very next day this woman whom I loved like I’ve loved no other broke up with me. Which proves I guess that my God has a whacky sense of humor. Still, I will confess that in times of crisis throughout my life I have found some comfort in prayer. If that makes me a hypocrite too, so be it.

What prompted me to write about religion now I guess is current events. Jews killing Palestinians in retaliation of Palestinians killing Jews. Muslims killing Christians and everyone else who doesn’t adhere to the dogma of that particular sect. All in the name of the same God of course. But that is where any moral equivalence ends. Israel has the right to defend herself. If Hamas doesn’t like civilian casualties, they should stop trying to kill Israeli civilians. And what ISIS is currently doing in Iraq (and the Taliban in Afghanistan) is an affront to all humanity. So, when my liberal friends lament the “war on women” as evidenced by Hobby Lobby not wanting to pay for birth control on religious grounds, I share this photo:

“We have established the brigade to raise awareness of our religion among women, and to punish women who do not abide by the law” –ISIS commander

Now, I want to accept as fact that of the billion or so Muslims in the world, only a relatively small percentage are of the radical Islamist variety that engages in head chopping, stoning, honor killing, and flying passenger planes into buildings. But here’s the thing–I never see protests or outrage from these “moderates” regarding the atrocities being done in the name of Allah. In fact, what I have witnessed is quite the opposite.

I have a couple of Pakistani Muslim friends in Itaewon. Both are smart, kind, and generous. They own a bar I regularly frequent. Both drink, smoke, and have married outside the faith. I guess it doesn’t get any more moderate than that, right? Except they have gone ballistic (no pun intended) over the current conflict in Gaza. I finally had to block one of them on Facebook because I grew weary of the anti-Israel and anti-American (like it’s our fault!) rants. I could match ten photos of some outrageous act being perpetuated in Pakistan for every Israeli impropriety. And at least Israel is acting in self-defense, not out of some misguided belief in religious justification (what, she was raped? We must stone her for being a whore!).

Anyway, I posted the picture above on my Facebook in the context of American politics (the so-called war on women). And my Muslim friend responded that it was “anti-Muslim propaganda”. One of the commenters asked if he was denying the existence of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS) and the murderous acts in which they are currently engaged. He responded:

yes ISIS exist and they have broken Syria and Iraq in to parts. They are trying to create a divide in Sunni’s and Shiites. Rumor has it that the leader of ISIS Abu Bakr Baghdadi was trained by CIA and mosad to create chaos in middle east so that the idea of greater Israel can be achieved. I came across a world map issued by the US think tanks in which they have shown 5 middle eastern countries dividing into 15 smaller countries. If u Google it you can find it and then you search for greater Israel map and you will know a secret.

So much for moderate Islam, eh? Suffice to say, I no longer feel comfortable patronizing their bar these days. I have taken an oath to avoid drama in Itaewon and I fear that drinking there may lead me to say some things that will lead to dramatic consequences. And to what end? Clearly, no minds will be changed.

Of course, America’s feckless foreign policy has played a part in what is taking place in the Middle East. Can’t blame God for that, although I can and do blame Obama.

Sorry for the rant. I’m just thinking things are gonna get a whole lot worse before they get any better.

God help us all.

About last night

Posted on 19/July/2014 by John McCrarey

So, I had my typical Friday night of darts at Dolce Vita although somewhat atypically I managed a first place finish. My nephew Justin came by the bar for a couple of beers and then we headed out to the samgyapsal joint I favor.

As is our normal practice the conversation soon turned to politics. And when I start getting wound up my voice gets somewhat intense. Not shouting really, just kind of aggressive. I was in this mode when the waitress came to our table and shushed me. Now, I was taken aback by this because it was just the two of us at the table surrounded by crowded tables of loud Koreans drinking and laughing and enjoying their grilled pork belly. Which is how it should be. I mean, this was not a fine dining establishment. And to be honest about it, I may have been talking louder than normal if only to be heard above the din of the surrounding crowd. As I looked around the room and noticed just how loud everyone else was being I got pissed off.

At that very moment the waitress who had offended me was serving the largest and loudest table of Koreans in the joint. So I turned around and said (probably shouted) “are you going to tell them to be quiet too, or is it only the miguks who aren’t allowed to make noise?” Of course, I said this in English so I’m sure she didn’t understand most of it, but it did appear from her reaction that she got my point. I turned back to my nephew and said “am I wrong?”. He agreed that we hadn’t been louder than anyone else but he said he was embarrassed by my outburst.

I guess in retrospect I am too. This is not the first time I’ve encountered being singled out for noise when Koreans are notoriously loud when dining (especially when soju is involved) and seem to be ignored. But responding to racism with rudeness is not the solution. I’m sure all I did was perpetuate a negative stereotype when I loudly confronted the waitress. I should have just let it go like I normally do I suppose.

I think it is also true that English voices tend to stand out in the crowd so to speak. I’ve noticed it on the subway myself that foreigners always sound louder when they are speaking together. Upon *ahem* more sober reflection perhaps I sounded louder than I was.

Meanwhile, I was again awakened early this morning by noise from the downstairs park. This time it was two ajummas shouting at each other. And so it goes.

Oh, I also doused my keyboard in diet Coke this morning. I did my best to clean it up quickly, but as I feared some of the keys are now not functioning correctly. Which made typing this post especially challenging. Ain’t life grand?

Little orphan Johnny

Posted on 15/June/2014 by John McCrarey

Well, maybe not so little these days.

Walter Lee McCrarey, aka Dad

Today is the day we celebrate Father’s Day in the USA. All that remains of my father are the memories. To be bluntly honest about it, I spent my childhood mostly in fear of my dad. He had a hot temper and was quick with the hand or belt should I stray from the path of good behavior. In later years we argued loudly about politics and rarely saw eye-to-eye on anything.

But he was a good man. Smart, hardworking, and extremely talented in so many ways. He could do just about anything he set his mind on–woodworking was a special gift of his (sadly, that gene skipped a generation). He also loved gardening, camping, the sea, poetry–and in his own unique way–his children.

It’s strange the things that come to mind unbidden. The other day I recalled how my father served as my personal seatbelt back in those long ago days before vehicles were so equipped. During a hard brake, his arm would reach out to keep me from sliding off the seat and into the cold hard steel of the unpadded dashboard. It looked something like this:

I also remember he’d on occasion sing me a song as we drove along. I remember the lyrics as going something like:

Papa writes to Johnny, but Johnny can’t come home No Johnny can’t home Papa writes to Johnny but Johnny can’t come home ‘Cause he’s been on the chain gang too long

Oddly enough, I have never in my life actually heard this song performed. Until today when I found it on YouTube. Either my dad got the lyrics wrong or I’m thinking of a different tune, but the song was hauntingly beautiful regardless. And somehow fitting for the occasion of this fatherless father’s day.

Inspired

Posted on 04/June/2014 by John McCrarey

Blog buddy Kevin (aka the Big Hominid) posted yesterday about a hamburger he mostly enjoyed at one of the on-campus eateries at the university that employs him. Now, it was not just any hamburger mind you, it was an egg-a-burger!

I’ve been a fan of this particular culinary delight ever since my first purchase from a street vendor one long ago (and drunken) night in Itaewon. And now that I’ve acquired a Korean wife I can enjoy them in the comfort of my own home. Like today for instance. When Jee Yeun asked me if I was hungry I immediately thought of Kevin’s post and responded “egg-a-burger!” Through the miracle of the internet you too can partake in the creation (although sadly not the consumption) of this special treat.

Hamburger patty, melted cheese slice, and a fried egg…

Skillet toasted bread slices fresh from Paris Baguette…

…add some cucumber and onion slices…

…ketchup is my condiment of choice, your mileage may vary…

Top it off with some lettuce…

…and the masterpiece is complete! It tastes even better than it looks!

Thanks for the inspiration Kevin!

Observations regarding a parking lot

Posted on 28/May/2014 by John McCrarey

I occasionally spend time out on the back balcony watching the ~~beautiful women walk past~~ world go by, which may seem like a frivolous waste of time. But you’d be surprised by the cultural insights you can derive when you consider the activities taking place in a small parking lot.

I took the photo above this morning around 0800 which is a quiet time given that most hard working Koreans are already out and about working hard. Throughout the day however, the lot is a beehive of activity as people come and go about their business. And generally there are more cars in the lot than there are available spaces. That this is not a big problem strikes me as little short of remarkable.

Take that small blue car parked in the middle of the lot for instance. Now, by my count he has at least three other cars blocked in their spaces. What you can’t see is that the blue car has been left in the neutral gear. So, when the driver of one of those blocked cars needs to go, he simply rolls the offending car out of the way. And anyone else in the vicinity will give a hand with the push. When the lot is full, I’ve seen several cars repositioned in this fashion. It’s an impressive display of cooperation and no one seems to get angry or annoyed at the inconvenience. I just can’t imagine a similar system working so well in the USA, at least without violence or vandalism.

Another thing I see on a daily basis is young women hiding out in the back corner of the lot to sneak a quick smoke. Women may feel comfortable walking about in micro-miniskirts (bless their hearts!) but a female smoking on the street is just not acceptable in polite Korean society. I’m reminded of the story about a Korean-American woman visiting Seoul who was enjoying a cigarette on a busy street corner. Suddenly a Korean man started yelling at her in a language she could not understand. So she just stood there looking at him. Finally in exasperation, he took the cigarette from her, threw it on the ground, and walked away muttering in disgust.

Less frequently (but twice yesterday) I see young couples seeking out the privacy of the parking lot for a quick little make out session. I’m talking kisses and hugs here, nothing obscene. It’s actually kinda sweet. Although I think I should learn to say “hey, get a room!” in Korean. That would be pretty hilarious and maybe make me feel like less of a voyeur.

The world is an interesting place. Or maybe I’m just easily entertained.

Out on the weekend

Posted on 19/May/2014 by John McCrarey

The weather was warm, the darts were hot, the beer was cold. And I’ve got the pictures to prove it!

Kicked things off Friday night with a first place finish in the Dolce Vita tournament…

Early Saturday afternoon we headed out to Yongsan station to catch a train to Songtan…

The station wasn’t too crowded for a Saturday…

The "express" version of the Line 1 train got us one stop past our destination in about an hour...

The “express” version of the Line 1 train got us to Seojungri station (one stop past our destination) in about an hour…

…a short bus ride took us into Songtan city proper…

…where we arrived hungry and a steaming pot of budaejjigae awaited us at a local eatery.

...and so our group of fellow travelers commenced to satiate that hunger. "Movie Star Midori" insisted that we drink and eat, so we did that too...

…and so our group of fellow travelers commenced to satiate that hunger. “Movie Star Midori” insisted that we drink as well as eat, so we did that too…

With several hours to go before the tourney we wisely switched from beverages containing alcohol to those with caffeine…

…at a nice coffee house where we could sit on the street and make a spectacle of ourselves…

Chock full of coffee we moved to Xenis bar to begin the ever important pre-tourney ritual of contemplation and partaking of “aiming fluid”…

We were joined at Xenis by a gaggle of fellow darters who drove down from Seoul to join in the fun…

After a long hard night of drinking darting, I came away with second place money, no small thanks to a great local darter named Tony. I'm not sure just how many vodka bombs he insisted we drink, but it was a lot!

After a long hard night of ~~drinking~~ darting, I came away with second place money, no small thanks to my partner, a great local darter named Tony. I’m not sure just how many vodka bombs he insisted we drink, but it was a lot!

At this point my phone/camera battery gave up the ghost. The tournament ended at midnight and we then taxied to Pyeongteak to catch a train home. The train didn’t leave until 0230, so we had us some Frypan chicken (and beer) to pass the time. Got to our Gireum apartment around 0400, slept a deep and satisfying sleep, then it was back into Itaewon for the Sunday Singles League match that I had the good fortune to win. The nephew then came by and treated us a nice samgyapsal dinner (with beer and soju) which put a nice exclamation point on a ~~drunken~~ darting weekend!

Life is good. Unless you’re my liver.

Dinner and a show

Posted on 11/May/2014 by John McCrarey

Last night we were On the Border. Not the DMZ, rather the Mexican food eatery in beautiful downtown Itaewon. We were guests of my old friend Dennis McPeters and his companion Julie.

The food was the best Tex-Mex I’ve eaten outside of the USA. Jee Yeun is a little ambivalent about Mexican cuisine, but she loved the “Kimchi Taco” featured in the foreground. I also enjoyed my chicken enchiladas in a sour cream sauce…

Dennis had the foresight to make a reservation, which was good because the place was packed with people lining up to get in. We also scored a table overlooking the street. It was a very pleasant evening weather-wise, so the windows were open and the sounds of the city created a nice urban ambiance for our dining pleasure.

A table with a view and refreshing libations made for a pleasant dining experience.

Amongst those sounds of the city was some guy walking up and down the street screaming fire and brimstone into a megaphone. From our perch on the second floor he could be heard but more or less easily ignored. However, after we had finished our meal we had the misfortune of exiting the building directly behind him. As we were walking in the same direction we got the full impact of his evangelism. Well, it was in Korean but Jee Yeun’s translation was that we were basically all going to hell.

As we progressed up the street I was watching the reactions of the passersby to megaphone-man. And the universal reaction was a combination of contempt, disgust, and anger. I’m thinking to myself “man, this guy is driving people away from salvation with his rude message”. Just as I was completing this observation a Korean man did what we were all wanting to do and loudly confronted the screaming bastard. And what happened next was pretty surprising. The “Christian” man put down the megaphone and started fighting with the citizen who told him to shut up. Well, it was a Korean-style fight–mostly some back and forth bitch slapping, but still. I thought it was pretty funny actually and was shouting encouragement from the sidelines “oh, you are such a good example of Christianity, you douche!” Jee Yeun even joined in by demurely observing “you should not be so loud” (she said it in Korean though). I guess megaphone man realized he had lost the crowd, so he picked up his megaphone again, shouted something angrily, then exited hurriedly down a side street. Man, you just can’t buy that kind of entertainment!

We proceeded to Bull and Barrel for a nightcap without further incident. I made the mistake of signing up for the dart tournament and proceeded to play the worst darts of my “career”. Seriously, the first time I ever picked up a set of darts I played better than I did last night. It was humiliating. Ah well. I’m trying hard to not let this slump get inside my head and exacerbate whatever the hell my problem is.

I guess this is as good a time as any to talk a little about my old friend Dennis. I’ve been knowing him since the 1980s when I recommended him for a job with the USPS in Columbia, SC. Later on after I’d moved to a job in DC, I hired him to work for me there. And still later I brought him over to work on my team in Korea. I’m long gone and he’s still here. But not for long. He’s finally retiring in January.

I frankly envy his post retirement plans. Rather than having himself and all his stuff shipped back to the USA, he’s selling everything he owns and is going to live the life of a nomad. I asked him where he was going to go and he said wherever I want. He mentioned the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Australia and Thailand as a start. If he gets tired of Asia, South and Central America are on the list of options.

I used to fantasize about a lifestyle like that. But the reality is I wouldn’t have the courage to do it right. But I’m brave enough to fly in for a visit whenever I get an answer to the question “where in the world is Dennis?” So there’s that.

Sick on many levels

Posted on 06/May/2014 by John McCrarey

I’ve caught the dreaded springtime cold. Nothing to be done but suffer through and treat the symptoms as best I can. Last night before I went to bed Jee Yeun had me take one of these:

I assume it’s something along the lines of a Contac capsule. It may or may not be related to the medication but I had a very strange dream that featured the Jethro Tull classic rock anthem “Aqualung”. The gist of the dream was that I had become Aqualung. If you are familiar with the song you know how disconcerting that would be. The lyrics begin with:

Sitting on a park bench eying little girls with bad intent Snot was running down his nose, greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes. Hey Aqualung.

I’ll cop to admiring beautiful young women now and again, and yes, I did encounter some runny nose issues yesterday (which is doubly problematic given my Walrus-stache). But I don’t recall any greasy fingers and my shorts and T-shirt, while casual, were not by any means “shabby”.

Anyway, I’d wake up (or dream I had awoken), think to myself that was weird, go back to sleep only to be confronted by the disembodied voice intoning “you are Aqualung”. That happened a few times and then the dream said “you should blog about this”. WTF? Two times now I’ve dreamed dreams that specifically insisted they be blogged.

When I woke up for real this meaning I said to myself there ain’t no way I’m blogging about Aqualung. Who’s in control here anyway? Me or my subconscious?

The nicest guy I’d never met

Posted on 28/April/2014 by John McCrarey

I reckon I’ve been knowing Kevin Kim (aka the Big Hominid) for going on 10 years now. At least as well as you can know a person by what you read on their blog. He’s a frequent commenter here at LTG as well and we’ve exchanged some emails over the years. He even spent some time in my Korean abode last year, albeit while I was out of the country. But not wanting to rush into anything, we had never actually arranged to meet up in person. Until yesterday.

The setting for this long anticipated gathering in the flesh was the Tabom Brazil steakhouse. Seven meats, all you can eat.

Carved right from skewer and onto your plate via Kevin’s deft handling of the tongs.

I knew Kevin had enjoyed dining at the Copacabana, another nearby Brazilian steakhouse. I’ve always preferred Tabom for its quieter ambiance, street views, and superior food quality. Well, the food yesterday wasn’t quite as good as I’d remembered it. I passed on seconds for at least three of the meat choices (although I had thirds and fourths on the others). The pineapple was outstanding though.

Now, I’ve had the advantage or reading Kevin’s take on our meeting prior to writing my own account. I’d say he gave a fair assessment, although I hope I didn’t come off more as an interrogator than a conversator (I either just made up a word or I don’t know how to spell conversator). Truth be told, Kevin is much more interesting than I am. Once I told him about my passion for darts, websites I visit, and Civilization game play, there wasn’t much else to reveal. I figured I’d save my love of afternoon naps for our next meeting. On the other hand, Kevin is quite the intellectual with a keen interest and grasp of many and varied subjects. It was much more enjoyable for me (selfish bastard that I am) to poke about his brain for interesting tidbits of knowledge.

After reaching our capacity for meat intake, Jee Yeun suggested we retire to a local coffee house. And so we did.

We did engage a bit on some topical issues and current events. Had I been drinking beer instead of coffee I might have become a bit more strident in articulating my positions on the political happenings back home. I think it is fair to say that Kevin and I occupy different points on the political spectrum, although neither of us are in the ~~crazy zone~~ extreme fringe. The give and take with an open minded person who does more than regurgitate trite talking points is something that I quite enjoy. We’ll have to have more of that one day soon!

Anyway, it was a long overdue and a happy (and well-fed) meet-up. After Kevin departed for his train, I retrieved my phone which I had inadvertently abandoned at a nearby watering hole the previous night. Later I played my Seoul Sunday Singles League dart match and won 14-5 which was a fine finish to an outstanding day.

And oh yeah, we took our trash out for recycling today and had no issues whatsoever. Just sayin’.

Sloppy seconds

Posted on 27/April/2014 by John McCrarey

Hell, I must be the Avis of darts. I guess I’ll just have to try harder.

A second place finish is singles to the #1 player in Itaewon is not a bad showing I suppose.

A second place finish in singles to the #1 player in Itaewon is not a bad showing I suppose.

After the tournament we took a short walk down the street to our favorite samgyapsal house where we ate and drank some more.

We were joined by our good friends Koichi and Jiwon along with Jee Yeun’s daughter Sohee…

…and then we made some new friends with the guys who were sitting at the table next to ours. A couple of soldiers and their friend, a former KATUSA.

Jee Yeun especially took a liking to the young soldier coincidentally named John. Henceforth she referred to me as me "old" John...

Jee Yeun especially took a liking to the young soldier coincidentally named John. Henceforth she referred to me as “old” John…

I think the KATUSA took a shine to Sohee but she was being shy. Or coy. Who can tell?

Anyway, it was a great night out in the ‘twon. I have more fun in store this afternoon when we’ll meet up with the famous Big Hominid at the Tabom Brazil steak house. It’s all you can eat so I’m not sure what condition I’ll be in for darts in the Sunday Singles League, but it will be worth it.

Details to follow. Stay tuned!

Requiem for a dream

Posted on 17/April/2014 by John McCrarey

I had a dream last night. And as is the nature of dreams, this one was bizarre and inexplicable. Details fade with wakefulness, but in this dream it was somehow important that I post 7 images of Los Angeles here on the blog. As ridiculous as it might seem, I’m doing as my dream instructed.

The dream as far as I recall did not dictate any particular image to post. But me in LA go way back so it wasn't hard to pick some that were meaningful to me. The first time I visited Los Angeles was here at the Kaiser Foundation hospital on the day that I was born...

The dream as far as I recall did not dictate any particular image to post. But me and LA go way back so it wasn’t hard to pick some that were meaningful to me. The first time I visited Los Angeles was here at the Kaiser Foundation hospital on the day that I was born…

Olvera Street is the oldest street in LA. I have memories of visiting here with the parents as a child and years later taking a gal who attended USC I was dating here for authentic Mexican food…

I was a big baseball fan growing up in southern Cal and of course my favorite team was the Dodgers. My dad took me to my first game for my 10th birthday in 1965. Lots more great times were had over the years in Chavez Ravine…

The LA skyline only looks like this approximately one day a year. Seriously. We the Santa Ana winds blow in from the desert it blows the smog out to sea and you can see the mountains that are otherwise invisible throughout the year.

The LA skyline only looks like this approximately one day a year. Seriously. When the Santa Ana winds blow in from the desert they push the smog out to sea and you can see the mountains that are otherwise invisible throughout the year.

I love old train stations. I’ve been to Union Station in DC and Denver, 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, and Grand Central in NYC, but none are as fantastic as Union Station in LA. Oddly enough, I never took a train to or from there. But sometimes when I was in the neighborhood I’d just drop in to be amazed.

The Port of Los Angeles. My father was a Merchant Marine and when his ship came in so to speak we’d drive over the Vincent Thomas Bridge and pick him up…

What would LA be without Koreatown? Funny thing is when I lived in SoCal I knew nothing of it and cared less. I rectified that a few years ago when I visited and lucked into an outstanding galbi house…

I started with the first time I was in LA and I’ll finish with my last time–LAX. I was making a connection to Seoul after a business trip to Phoenix. The airport sucks.

So here’s hoping this post has satisfied the whims of Morpheus and that tonight I will enjoy a restful and peaceful sleep.

“Though half a score of years are gone, Spring comes as sharply now as then— But if we had it all to do It would be done the same again.

“Though half a score of years are gone,
Spring comes as sharply now as then—
But if we had it all to do
It would be done the same again.