That means cold. As in 12F as I write this. Well, I’m writing this inside where its toasty warm, but I will soon have to venture out and make my way to work. Hope the old hoopdee is up to the task.
Tried to do a little shopping last night, but there was stiff breeze that made the walking around just too damn miserable. Presents may arrive in the states late this year.
Nothing else to say today.
Yes, dear reader(s) this blog turns one year old today. It’s been interesting experience to say the least. LTG has not turned out to be exactly what I expected or hoped for perhaps, but then life is generally like that, isn’t it?
I don’t have any particular insights to offer (which I guess pretty much sums up the last year of posting, eh?), but I do actually enjoy having the moments I spend here with you. I’m not sure I have met my own expectations of what I hoped to accomplish as a blogger, but I am not totally unsatisfied with the result either. There are many political bloggers who express perspectives I share much better than I am capable of doing. There are expat bloggers who are better able to document the “trials, tribulations, and adventures” of living in Korea in ways that entertain and enlighten. And of course, there are people who are actually leading lives that are infinitely more interesting than what I have managed to achieve. Not to mention the fact that my writing skills, while hopefully adequate, do not make LTG a must read.
So for the nearly 22,000 visits I say thank you. An insignificant number compared to many blogs, but more than I expected and appreciated more than you will know. It’s funny that a blog is so much more than an online journal. It is like a mother who makes you feel guility for not writing. Like a friend you don’t want to disappoint. Sometimes like a chore that you wish you could avoid. Once in a while its the bartender you confide your troubles to. Mostly its just there, a familiar place to go for refuge.
What I like best is the feeling of connection to the other travelers in the “blogosphere”. The people I look forward to visiting each day for words of wisdom or just a glimpse into the daily routines that make up a life. And in a weird way these strangers become your friends. Thanks to all of you for your kind words and encouragement through good times and bad these past twelve months. It’s been a long strange trip, but I still can’t wait to see what’s around the next corner. Thanks for joining me on the ride.
If you are interested, here’s a link to that very first post one year ago today.
…is my two front teeth…
Anyone remember that song? Well, my sweet granddaughter Gracyn already has hers. At least her baby ones. Ain’t she a doll?
Last year at this time I was in Istanbul. And while sitting here in Seoul this morning it seems so long ago and far away, it is a still a wonderful memory. Let’s look at some pictures, want to?
The Blue Mosque
The Hagia Sophia
Rumeli Fortress
At the spice market
I didn’t see a Turkish bath, but here’s a Turkish toilet….
The Turks we met were all very friendly, warm and gracious. This shopkeeper at the Arasta Bazaar named Erol was very kind and helpful. Of course, Carol spent a lot of money in his shop. But the apple tea was great!
One of my personal favorites…we saw a show featuring traditional Turkish dancing, including a belly dancer who was gracious enough to pose for this photo.
You can read a little more about the trip here.
I’ve noted this week the words of mad Dr. Dean. Today I share these words from William Shawcross, writing in the The Spectator. Shawcross explains why “the struggle in Iraq really is between the worst of humanity and the best of humanity” and why America and Britain, being on the right side, must persevere”:
US and other coalition troops should and will be withdrawn as soon as the legitimate Iraqi government believes its newly created security forces can defend the country. Those who doubt the importance of the commitment should ponder the consequences for the world, not just Iraq, if al-Qa’eda and the Baathist terrorists should succeed in defeating the United States.
Iraqis will make sure that the new Iraq succeeds. The only thing that could stop it now would be if the US and Britain really did abandon the Iraqi people and withdraw prematurely, thus allowing the few thousand terrorists to destroy the future of 26 million people. The Nobel Peace Prize winner from East Timor, José Ramos-Horta, said recently that he too believes the Iraqis can create a decent society. ‘But they cannot succeed if they are abandoned. And the brave young American soldiers whom we today see cruising the treacherous streets of Iraq, sometimes battling the terrorists, sometimes conversing with ordinary Iraqis, will be remembered as the heroes who made this possible.’
You can read the whole thing over at PowerLine
Ok, I admit that like many Americans I know next to nothing about (aboot?) our large neighbor to the north. I think the Canadian government’s policies concerning the GWOT are short sighted at best. I also take some issue with Canadian criticism of U.S. foreign policy when Canada has grown feeble militarily while living under the protection of the American defense umbrella. I wish Canada had maintained the moxie of her Anglo cousins the Aussies and the Brits (ok, Quebec is French, but you don’t want to get me started on the French). To be honest, I guess I just don’t see the relevance of Canada in the grand scheme of things.
But I do tend to like almost all the Canadians I meet, and there are lots of them in Korea. Some of my favorite expat blogs are written by Canadians. I think I can even name most of the provinces (as I was challenged to do one night by some Canadians I was drinking with). I just wanted to be clear in distinguishing my criticism of Canada to my generally positive regard for the people who reside in that beautiful country (I’ve seen pictures).
I actually tried to visit Canada once but they wouldn’t let me in. It was 1974 and me and a friend had hitchiked from our southern California homes to Montana. For the return trip we thought we would enter Canada through Idaho, go west to Vancouver, and back down the coast home. We both had long hair and were looking a little scruffy from our time on the road. And the potato farmers in Idaho weren’t much on giving rides to strangers (at least strangers who looked like us). Which meant we had walked the last 11 miles from Bonners Ferry to the little border crossing of Eastpark (fork?).
The crossing closed at 2100 and we got there around 2050. The Canadian border guards asked us where we were heading, and we explained our objective. They seemed skeptical and were looking at us like the vermin many folks of the time considered long haired hippie freaks to be. Then they asked how much money do you have? I recall we each had 35 or 40 dollars, which in 1974 would have kept us fed for the week we expected to spend hitching home. The guard smirked and said “that’s not enough money to get into Canada”. After the aforementioned 11 mile march I was tired, hungry and in no mood to be dicked with. So I said, how much do I need, I will wire home and get it. The guard got right up in my face and said “son, you will NEVER have enough money to get into Canada.”
Well, I figured I would just wait till the border station closed and sneak in (it’s not exactly a secure border with barbwire fences and landmines like the one just north of Seoul). I guess that border guard was reading my mind because about that time the Bonner’s Ferry Sheriff just happened to arrive. After conversing with the Canadians he says “boys, I’m going to have to take you in and run a records check on you, so just climb into the cruiser over there”. He then drove us back the 11 miles we just walked to the Sheriff’s office. Of course, we had no wants or warrants. He even offered to let us sleep in the jail that night if we wanted. We declined and slept with the mosquitos alongside the Burlington Northern railroad tracks.
Anyway, I haven’t made it back to Canada since then, but when I do go I intend to cross the border from Idaho. It’s a matter of pride.
You may be asking yourself is there a point to this post? As if not having a point has ever stopped me before. But I actually do have a reason for regarding Canada today. I found this post at Assymetrical Information on the political situation in Canada fascinating. Which is saying a lot for me given my general who cares attitude about the Great White North. Give it a read and let me know what you think or even if you care. I would especially enjoy the perspective of my Canadian reader (that would be you Jenn).
Well, the Army has met its recruitment targets for the past couple of months now. I am not sure this video had anything to do with that, but since someone emailed it to me I feel duty bound to share it.
And yeah, even though I’m a big supporter of the GWOT, I still have a sense of humor.
More words of wisdom from the good doctor:
Dean says the Democrat position on the war is ‘coalescing,’ and is likely to include several proposals.
“I think we need a strategic redeployment over a period of two years,” Dean said. “Bring the 80,000 National Guard and Reserve troops home immediately. They don’t belong in a conflict like this anyway.
As Dorkafork at INDC notes:
Dean apparently doesn’t know that the Guard and Reserves contain many of the specialties needed in Iraq:
Civil Affairs soldiers are the field commander’s link to the civil authorities in his area of operation. With specialists in every area of the government, they can assist a host government meet its people’s needs and maintain a stable and viable civil administration.
Civil Affairs soldiers possess unique training, skills and experience. Since the majority of the Civil Affairs forces are in the Reserve component, these soldiers bring to the Army finely honed skills practiced daily in the civilian sector such as judges, physicians, bankers, health inspectors and fire chiefs.
The Democratic National Committee Chairman believes these forces “don’t belong” in this sort of conflict.
My daughter is a Civil Affairs Specialist in the Reserves and has done two deployments to Afghanistan in the past 3 years. These unsung heros are playing a key role in rebuilding infrastructure and establishing civil government in these countries. It sickens me that the leader of the opposition party is so clueless and for purely political purposes advocates a course of action that would almost surely result in unravelling so much of what we have achieved.
I guess I have a low tolerance for ignorance generally. But willful ingnorance to this degree is simply inexcusable. I take solace in the fact that most Americans recognize a fool when they see one. Still, Dr. Dean makes me want to scream “Yeaharrrrrrrrrrrrgh”.
In a comment to my earlier post equating Korea with Iraq, Carol noted that an OpEd by Anne Applebaum in today’s Washington Post made a similar point, although she reached a more ambiguous conclusion. Thought provoking and worth the read.
For me, if 50 years from now Iraq looks anything like the Republic of Korea I’ll call it a win. No, it is not a perfect situation here, but when one considers the alternative of a unified Korean peninsula under the boot of Kim, Jung Il it is hard to dispute that our sacrafice in blood and treasure for the freedom of our Korean brothers and sisters* was worth it.
*I actually mean that literally. I see so many similarities between the physical features of the Korean people and Native Americans that I am convinced it was ancient Koreans who migrated across the land bridge during the ice age to populate North America.
Ed Morrissey at Captain’s Quarters posts today on the subject of the Democrats call for retreat in Iraq. He recalls that the Democrats took a similar position in 1864 when the party platform called for a negotiated peace with the Confederate States of America and a withdrawal of U.S. troops from the South. It’s standard bearer was General George McClellan, who used his military credibility to make the case that the war could not be won.
Not even during the Vietnam War did a major American party position itself to support abject retreat as a wartime political platform. For that, one has to go back to the Civil War, when the Democrats demanded a negotiated peace with the Confederate States of America and a withdrawal from the South. Celebrating the popularity of former General George McClellan, who had come from the battlefield to represent a party whose platform demanded a negotiated settlement (which McClellan later disavowed), the Confederates assumed that the war could be over within days of McClellan’s presumed victory over the controversial and hated Abraham Lincoln. Even some Republicans began to question whether Lincoln should stand for reelection–until Sherman took Atlanta and exposed McClellan as a defeatist and an incompetent of the first order.
Murtha’s demand for a pullout gave the party’s leadership a chance to openly embrace defeatism, much as McClellan did for Northern Democrats in 1864, using McClellan’s field experience for the credibility to argue that the American Army could not hope to defeat the enemy it faced.
History is a funny thing, isn’t it?
Howard Dean is the standard bearer for the Democratic Party. Unfortunately, that standard is now a white flag.
Interesting post by David Price over at Dean’s World concerning the loss of life during the Korean war. Today the Republic of Korea is an amazing success story, but was the cost too high? Since naysayers like Howard Dean contend we are in an “unwinable” war in Iraq, that we should attribute the 2100 American lives to Bush’s folly and simply leave the Iraqis to whatever the fates dictate, it appears that for many the value of freedom in the 21st century has is no longer worth the effort. Mr. Price notes:
Given that those opposing the war believe the much smaller price paid so far in Iraq is already too high, it’s reasonable to assume they certainly don’t believe Iraqi freedom and democracy is worth 53,000 American casualties and 3 million lives overall. So, assuming they don’t think Iraqis somehow deserve freedom less than Koreans, do they think (all else being equal) we should have allowed S Korea to fall to the North, and saved the vast majority of those lives lost in the war to keep the South free? It’s hard to logically reconcile any other position, esp. given the prevailing view that the subsequent Vietnam War was a terrible mistake, as opposed to a noble cause similar to the Korean War that was tragically left unfinished.
Obviously the state of war itself is never a good thing for anyone involved. But wars are always a contest between different camps that have different reasons for violently resisting the other camp’s right to rule a group of people and different plans for how to conduct post-victory rule of those people, some of which reasons and plans are terribly immoral and oppressive of those people and some of which are not. It seems to me that history has shown going to war against repressive regimes for the purpose of defending or advancing freedom is rarely wrong.
I think he’s right on the mark. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I recently heard Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and the 8th Army commander, Lt. General Campbell, draw comparisons between what we did for Korea over 50 years ago and what we are attempting in Iraq. I certainly think that is a more apt comparison than Howard Dean’s attempt to paint Iraq as another Vietnam.
Like most Americans, I never thought much about Korea one way or the other until I moved here. South Korea is an amazing place and an incredible success story. The people are thriving in a free society. And compared to the living hell that is North Korea, it is an abject lesson in the value of democracy. So, I would love to hear someone explain that the lives expended in defense of the Korean people were not worth the achievement. And while you are at it, tell me why the Iraqis are unworthy of the chance to live as a free people.
find the cost of freedom
buried in the ground
mother earth will swallow you
lay your body down…
—David Crosby
Oh yeah, a commenter at Dean’s World talked about the rampant anti-Americanism in South Korea. Said soldiers can’t walk the street without fear of getting jumped. Bullshit. Yeah, there are some people here who want us gone, but they are a small minority. I have been made to feel very welcome in this country and in 11 months have only had one incident with a Korean telling me to go home. At least that’s what I assumed he was saying, but my Korean is poor and he was drunk. I will note again that the pro-U.S. rallies draw far more people than the anti-America groups can muster.
I along with millions of Koreans live 30 miles from a monster with a 3 million man army who wants nukes. Yeah, our presence here is still worthwhile and thinking Koreans know that.
This is the view on this cold (18F) December morning from my balcony:
I am so inspired I might even put in a Christmas CD and get in the spirit of the season. I need to go out and do some shopping for gifts for the family today. So, it looks like I will be “walking through a winter wonderland”.
Yeah, I know.
First snow of the season is falling tonight in Seoul. When I first went out to make my bar circuit, it was just spitting a little frozen precip, by the time I left Grand Ole Opry is was genuinely snowing. Interesting combination, beer and slick streets. I almost fell on my ass several times in the 6 block walk home. Of course, I was walking up and down hills with about a quarter inch of snow on them in street shoes. Only went down on my hands once though. Good thing I made it an early night or I might be lying unconcious in a dark alley right now…
That’s my story for tonight.
I just wanted to report that at 0730 it is 21 degrees F in Seoul. I’ve not been outside yet, but yesterday evening it was 39 and breezy, so it felt colder. I’ve heard rumors of snow, but the sky looks clear as of now. December, January, February. March will have some good days. April will be glorious. So there are things to look forward to. Actually, I don’t mind winter. It can be a pain in the ass, but it has its moments. I like winter best in front of the fireplace snuggled up with a kindred spirit. Alas, I have neither in Korea.
I didn’t go out and play last night, so nothing to report in that regard. Today is shopping day. I think I will go with a layered look.
I’m just plodding through a routine workweek here. Nothing happening with me worthy of note. I did learn some sad news. The mother of the Tak sisters (who run Sweet Caroline’s) died Tuesday morning. I called to express my condolences and Mi Soon told me she had visited her mom on Monday and as she was leaving her mother held her hand and asked her to stay awhile longer. Mi Soon told her she had to go home and clean house and do laundry. The next morning her sister called and said mom’s had a heart attack. She was dead when Mi Soon got to the hospital.
Well, life is full of sorrow and there are plenty of sad stories among the “night people” I tend to meet in my limited social life. But the Tak sisters have been very kind to me, and I feel more like their friend than a customer. I know this is going to be a difficult time and my heart goes out to them.
I sometimes grow weary of defending what should be obvious. I am kinda at the point of saying either you get it or you don’t. Ben Stein makes the point in The American Spectator that surrender in Iraq (and that’s what the Democrats call for pulling out our troops represents) is not an option:
It is not just a guess, but a certainty that if the U.S. were to abruptly withdraw from Iraq, as the Democrats are urging us to do, there would be a bloodbath in Iraq far worse than what we have seen so far. There would be outright civil war, large scale massacres of civilian populations beyond what we have seen by an order of magnitude, and a Middle East in chaos as Iran, the Kurds, and the Sunnis fought it out for land and oil and power. The word of the United States would be mud. Is this really what the Democrats want? Can they really contemplate with calm equanimity the mass murders that will follow a sudden U.S. withdrawal?
I see a frightening pattern here: the Democrats wanted us out of Vietnam, and never mind the genocide that followed. The Democrats want us out of Iraq and never mind that the Baathists will fill the vacuum and all Iraq will be screaming in pain except the murderers, who will exult — especially Osama bin Laden. Can it be that the Democrats really want to surrender to the same man who killed 3,000 civilians on 9/11 and laughed about it? Are we so weak that in only four years, after a war smaller in casualties than many unknown battles of the Civil War, we are already eager to surrender to the man who murdered women and children and made terrified couples hold hands and leap to their deaths from the World Trade Center? If so, there really is little hope for us as a people. My prayer is that careful reflection will convince the Democrats that while we are all unhappy about the war, war is hell, and surrender is far worse. Maybe the Copperheads in the Democrat party, like those who wanted appeasement of the slave owners one hundred and forty years ago, will be a minority, and those who want to keep up the fight for human decency will prevail even as the Neville Chamberlains speak of peace at any price.
I have a voluminous correspondence with soldiers and Marines in Iraq. To a man and woman, they do not want to walk away and make their comrades’ deaths meaningless. They hate the war. They hate the dying. They grieve. So do their families. But they believe in their mission and they do not want their brothers’ losses to be in vain. Their voices should be listened to.
Speaking of getting it, clearly the majority of the American people do. This poll from the Washington Post warmed my heart:
Democrats fumed last week at Vice President Cheney’s suggestion that criticism of the administration’s war policies was itself becoming a hindrance to the war effort. But a new poll indicates most Americans are sympathetic to Cheney’s point.
Seventy percent of people surveyed said that criticism of the war by Democratic senators hurts troop morale — with 44 percent saying morale is hurt “a lot,” according to a poll taken by RT Strategies. Even self-identified Democrats agree: 55 percent believe criticism hurts morale, while 21 percent say it helps morale.
The results surely will rankle many Democrats, who argue that it is patriotic and supportive of the troops to call attention to what they believe are deep flaws in President Bush’s Iraq strategy. But the survey itself cannot be dismissed as a partisan attack. The RTs in RT Strategies are Thomas Riehle, a Democrat, and Lance Tarrance, a veteran GOP pollster.
Their poll also indicates many Americans are skeptical of Democratic complaints about the war. Just three of 10 adults accept that Democrats are leveling criticism because they believe this will help U.S. efforts in Iraq. A majority believes the motive is really to “gain a partisan political advantage.”
This poll is one of the few pieces of supportive news the administration has had lately on Iraq. Most surveys have shown significant majorities believe it was a mistake to go to war, as well as rising sentiment that Bush misled Americans in making the case for it.
Even so, there is still support for Bush’s policy going forward. A plurality, 49 percent, believe that troops should come home only when the Iraqi government can provide for its own security, while 16 percent support immediate withdrawal, regardless of the circumstances.
Via LGF
Started out at Dolce Vita in Itaewon where I engaged in some pool playing and darts. I played my typical inept pool, and I wasn’t throwing darts up to my capabilities either. But, I ran into some friends, Jeff, Roger, Thomas and Mike. Beer flowed freely. We went to Sweet Carolines for a change of scenery, where we played more darts and I met another guy named Michael. He teaches English and is fluent in Korean. Pretty amazing to see him talk. He’s a big guy and it is just strange to hear him talk just like a Korean. Damn, I wish I could do that. His company just put out a new card game and we played it once then he gave me the set of cards. I’ll have to see if I can remember how to play.
After drinking more beer, we headed up hooker hill to Grand Ole Opry. Mike was pretty lit by then and he flirted with the prostitutes along the way. We had to get a good hold on him and drag him into the relative safety of Grand Ole Opry. The place was packed. Mike fancies himself a country dancer and he found many willing dance partners. Someone bought a round of Jagermeister shots, and that just about finished me off.
A tradition at the Opry is at midnight they play “God bless the USA”, “The Star Spangled Banner” and “Sweet Home Alabama” in succession. Everyone stands and sings along and I think it makes us all feel not so far from home. We left just before 1:00 (soldier curfew). On my way to the house I saw one of the bar girls who I used to play pool with at the Metro Bar. She was working in one of the off limits places, so I assume she must be hooking these days. Made me very sad, because I always thought she was kinda sweet and innocent (well, maybe not innocent, but not your typical juicy girl either). I wished there was something I could do to keep her from the road to ruin she has apparently decided to walk. But there was nothing I could really say and so I just shook my head and kept going.
I woke up on the couch at 6:00 fully dressed with the TV blaring, went to bed and woke up after nine. I actually feel fine though. I didn’t think I was that drunk, but who knows? I had a good time hanging with the guys, and I think I needed that.
Anyway, not much else going on. Going to take it easy today. Tomorrow I am briefing the Chief of Staff on the new DoD National Security Personnel System labor relations provisions. I finalized my slides on Friday and I think I’m ready.
So I’m posting everyday again. I just wish I had something interesting to talk about. Thanks for coming by anyway. And keep checking. You never know, someday I might surprise you with something worth reading.
It’s Christmas time in the city. Or at least on Yongsan. Christmas trees, candy canes, Joseph and Mary. The base is all decked out. Yes, the Salvation Army bell ringers were out too, ringing those silver bells. Even the weather looks wintry. Low, overcast skies almost like it wants to snow. Except it is quite warm today. My weather genie says its 55F, so if we do get precip today its going to be water. And that other holiday tradition–shopping–was also on full display. I went by the PX today to pick up some laundry detergent and the place was as packed as any mall in the States for the after Thanksgiving sale. Well, I wasn’t going to stand in line for soap, so I had some Popeye’s chicken then went to the commissary to do my weekly shopping.
Sorry Jenn, they had some big thick pork chops on sale and I couldn’t help but think of you. Don’t take that the wrong way….
Well, back to CIVIII for me. I’m trying to take out the Aztecs (I’m the Dutch this time) before they win the space race….
(yeah, I know my life is a thrill a minute. Don’t envy me, I was just born lucky)
UPDATE: Those bastards. The Aztecs hit me with ICBMs. Wiped out 5 cities. I surrendered.
As a public service to my readers I pass along these “learning moments” that a friend sent via email”
Corporate Lesson 1:
A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower,when the doorbell rings.
The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs. When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next door neighbor. Before she says a word, Bob says, “I’ll give you $800 to drop that towel,”
After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob.
After a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 dollars and leaves.
The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs.
When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, “Who was that?”
“It was Bob the next door neighbor,” she replies.
“Great!” the husband says, “did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?”
Moral of the story: If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders in time, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.
Corporate Lesson 2:
A priest offered a lift to a Nun.
She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg.
The priest nearly had an accident. After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg.
The nun said, “Father, remember Psalm 129?”
The priest removed his hand.
But, changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again.
The nun once again said, “Father, remember Psalm 129?”
The priest apologized “Sorry sister but the flesh is weak.”
Arriving at the convent, the nun went on her way.
On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129.
It said, “Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory.”
Moral of the story: If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.
Corporate Lesson 3:
A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp.
They rub it and a Genie comes out.
The Genie says, “I’ll give each of you just one wish.”
“Me first! Me first!” says the admin. clerk.
“I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, without a care in the world” Poof! She’s gone.
“Me next! Me next!” says the sales rep. “I want to be in Hawaii, relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.” Poof! He’s gone.
“OK, you’re up,” the Genie says to the manager.
The manager says, “I want those two back in the office after lunch.”
Moral of the story: Always let your boss have the first say.
Corporate Lesson 4:
A crow was sitting on a tree, doing nothing all day.
A rabbit asked him, “Can I also sit like you and do nothing all day long?”
The crow answered: “Sure, why not.”
So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the crow, and rested.
A fox jumped on the rabbit and ate it.
Moral of the story: To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very high up.
Corporate Lesson 5:
A turkey was chatting with a bull.
“I would love to be able to Get to the top of that tree,” sighed the turkey,but I haven’t got the energy.”
“Well, why don’t you nibble on my droppings?” replied the bull. “They’re packed with nutrients.”
The turkey pecked at a lump of dung and found that it gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree.
The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch.
Finally after a fourth night, there he was proudly perched at the top of the tree
Soon he was spotted by a farmer, who shot the turkey out of the tree.
Moral of the story: Bullshìt might get you to the top, but it won’t keep you there.
And my fruit salad and pumpkin pie were a hit. Ok, the pumpkin pie was frozen and if you ever had the pleasure of Carol’s homemade pie, well you would know what a joke complimenting mine is.
There were 25 guests at Corine’s TG party, ten of whom were Korean college students from Corine’s language exchange program. They were all very nice. The girls were very impressed that I actually could prepare food. They called me “pumpkin pie man”. One of the young Korean men insisted on my fruit salad recipe so he could make it for his mother. Ain’t that sweet? So, from now on I’m changing the name of my recipe from “Aunt Pat’s Fruit Salad” to “Aunt Pat’s WORLD FAMOUS Fruit Salad”.
Anyway, a good time was had and it did feel like a real Thanksgiving gathering. I enjoyed meeting the other guests and several of the students insisted that I join their program, which I gather involves getting together on Saturday’s and partaking in some Korean cultural activity. I said I would and I might, but my Korean is embarassingly minimal and this group is somewhat advanced. They certainly speak good English. Hell, I have been here for 10 months now, I should be much further along in acquiring the native tongue. One guy asked me if I spoke Korean (in Korean). Well, I recognized what he was asking but I could not respond in Korean. Duh. I guess my absorbtion method of watching Korean dramas on TV until I fall asleep is not working. So, on to plan B.
Corine sent me home with some leftovers so I will get my turkey fix on tomorrow. Too bad I have to work. Oh well, I’m sure it will be a very quiet day.
That’s my report. Goodnight all.