Just wanted to say hi and let you know that I am still alive. Is it just me or is blogging going out of style??

Anyway, I am still working and as always busy with all of my clients and all the paperwork that comes from the job.

School. . . well let's just say most of the time I feel like I am one of the worst graduate students there ever was because I barely keep up with everything. And let's just say I am lucky to get all if any of the reading done at times. One of my classes is really good though, but challenging. The professor is really challenging us to think outside of our bubbles and really get the most out of graduate school and think about where we want to be after we finish. I am hoping to be able to finish my Masters in English with an emphasis in TESOL next Fall. (If you didn't know that.) But really I just feel like I can't devote enough time to it and I really should.

On top of being a husband and a father, which keeps you busy even if you didn't have anything else going on. I am looking forward to the day when we can move again to someplace where we want to be and doing what we want to do! But keep trying to look for the positive and make the most out of things why we are here!

Still Blogging. . .

Our daugher and mommy and daddy all survived the first year birthday party and celebrations. However, our daughter was lucky enough to be able to take a nap in the middle of the party. . . mommy and daddy had to wait till bed time. It was really fun though. . . if you know me on facebook look for pictures there.

In other news, school has started again and it has made me start thinking what will I do with a M.A. in English with an emphasis on TESOL. Do I want to go on still after this with Linguistics?? Is that even realistic for me?? Do I seriously want to be somewhere and people have to call me DR. . . ?? (not really to tell you the truth), but my mind has been wondering. That is if I can even think of a research topic for this semester's papers. haha

Ready for this hot weather to be over. . . I wouldn't mind it getting cooler again, crisp Fall weather!

Well, getting ready to move again after being here for about 21 months, almost 2 years. This is the longest I've been in one place since I was 18 when I left for college and that has been about 8 years now. Who knows how long we will stay at this next time probably at least a year maybe if we'll lucky we'll stay for 2!

Moving is always such a big deal and pain. I remember moving out of the first apartment in Seoul before I came back to the US for a couple of months with all my stuff and that was an ordeal. I will never forget that and getting everything done in like a 24 hour period because I was so busy! I also remember the first year that I moved into a house off of campus my sophomore year into this basement of a very old house and then helping my roomate move in when he came and going to breakfast with his parents the next morning. Anyway. . . not important. . .

Enjoy the summer.

A couple of books to share that I read over the past month or so. . .

The Devil's Whisper by Miyuki Miyabe was first published in Japan in 1989. She has also wrote All that she's worth and Shadow Family that I liked better. This book was a little bit on the weird side for me and didn't really feel too much closure at the end of it with the main characters. Basically, a man used a very high form hypnosis to kill women who used men to gain money, and the way he did it made it look like they were all suicide except for the last one. This woman was hit by this boy's uncle who was a taxi driver and then is about the boy basically figuring everything out and learning what really happened to his father years ago. I don't know, I didn't speed through this read or particularly enjoy it or get much from it.

However, The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks well that was a different story. I guess I am a bit of a romantic or something, but this might be my favorite book that I have ready by Mr. Sparks so far. The love story was very intense and I am not just talking about the steamier places in the book with pure passion out of love, but how much the man loved his wife even when she didn't know who he was and was dying of Alzheimer's disease. I believe that this book and how it made me feel and think will stay with me for a while, but most of his books do that. It was a beautiful story!

Do I really want to work on a Sunday?? Do I really want to see a client on a Sunday??

Well, yep that is what I will be doing. . . going to my "special" client's house at about 5, which is a 30 minute drive each way to make sure he takes some medication to make sure he doesn't have a reaction, so we can start giving him medications through injections. This client has been a little bit of a thorn in my side. . . he is infamous in my agency and I have had to attend meetings with the vice-president and other supervisors about this client and why he is so off the lines of sanity. I have been in an hour long appointment with my supervisor, his psychiatrist, and him where yelling is involved.

I hope what we are doing really starts to work soon! (Not sure how much more I could take if it doesn't.)

"That people's memories are maybe the fuel they burn to stay alive." This was my favorite line from this book I think from the same Japanese author who has wrote The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles and Kafka on the Shore. After Dark is a very short and fast read, but is another book that takes you into a very different reality than yours. In this story one is very real and the other one is also very real too, but in a different sense. It mainly follows the main character, who is a 19 year old Japanese girl who stays out all night in a neighborhood where she doesn't really fit into, but is there for a different reason than you might think. This book introduces us to many characters that all lead different lives during the night and some of it is very freaky and shady, others very real and personal. I liked this story and if you like this author I would suggest reading this book.

Without getting too personal. . . I am just so frustrated with insurance companies in particular companies that should be bending over backwards to take care of me since they are liable for the accident I had. Just so frustrated that they wouldn't extend my rental car even when I don't have a car yet, a check from them for my car, and need to work.



I should have a car by Saturday though. . . .



So frustrating!!!

Garden Update on the 4th of July



So, it is about the halfway point in the summer already (not technically), but still time for an update.



I am glad everything is mostly in pots, since we are getting ready to move possibly pretty soon. Anyway, the pea plants have seen to hit their second wind even though they look pretty raggedy on the bottom and almost dead. Not to mention that they are leaning on each other almost horizontal, but I have probably 10 new flowers with more coming so that means pea pods. So, far I don't have enough peas to really make anything, so I am keeping them in the freezer till I can have enough for a cold summer soup. I hope that when I put them in the freezer they keep their sweetness! ~

I have two lettuce plants in a pot and the leaves don't seem to be getting that big. Not much of a success on that one. . . and when the leaves aren't big enough they taste pretty bitter. Anyone have any advice on how to grow good lettuce in pots for next year??

The tomato plants having good success with the cherry ones. I have mastered the art of pruning I think because I am getting some nice size ones. The other ones just got some new good soil that should provide some nutrition, so hopefully they will start growing like rockets. I hope that they start getting some flowers on them soon. The rest of the flowers in pots are doing pretty well. . . my marigolds under the oak tree are nothing spectacular. The soil isn't the best, but I hope maybe they start to spread some including the tomato plant that got mixed up in the mix under the tree. I am praying and hoping for some good tomatoes!

In the middle of this hot summer heat and getting sick, car accidents, working and everything plus trying to find a place to move into before school starts again. These all are for another day and email though, but I want to talk about lighter subjects.

1. My Garden - lettuce well I am still holding out hope for 2 of them, but I don't know. It is soo hot for them and I don't know how big the leaves will get. I have had fair success with peas, and probably would've had more luck if I used some liquid seaweed or some kind of organic feed. I think they are almost finishied and the peas have been kind of small to about the average size of a pea. I am freezing them in a bag, but probably won't have enough to make a cold pea soup :(.
Cherry tomatoes are growing well and I am getting some big ones after some pruning and good care. The other tomato plants by the time they get big enough for flowers it might be September unless I try to feed them with something.
I feel like I am getting better each year though, so hopefully next year wherever we are we will have enough to actually supply meals!

2. The Wind-up Bird Chronicle not to far into it yet, but it is providing some relaxation in the kind of surreal like world that the book creates, but at the same time is based in reality. I don't believe any of the philosophies or way of thinking, but it is kind of a nice distraction from everything. It is so bizaire that it places you in a surreal place. I don't know really how else to explain it. Basically, it is about a man who is married and their cat disappears and the wife asks him to look for the cat and then before you know it his wife also disappears and all the strange occurences that happen as a result of all this.

Books

I finished The Calligrapher's Daughter last Monday and once I got into it, it was a fast read! It was a beautiful story of a Korean woman like I have talked about before that was born pretty much at the start of the Japanese occupation of Korea. Her father was a very stict and traditionalist and was opposed to a lot of what was happening in his country. The Japanese did a lot of horrible things while they occupied the country, but at the same time brought a turn to more modern thinking and ways, which is very ironic.

Anyway, this woman ends up finding love and the day after she is married is denied to go to America with her husband who is studying to be a minister. She ends up living with her in-laws in a very poor and harsh conditions away from her family, who were of the upper class which was very hard for her. But in Korean culture once a woman gets married she is supposed to take care of the husband's parents.

Finally, she gets back to her family and they lose everything because the Japanese took it over and even spent 90 days in jail in horrible conditions and hearing people being tortured. They accused her of being married to an American spy and all that went along with that. They moved to Seoul and in 1945 after Japan lost the war her husband comes back working for the US army after being seperated for 11 years.

It was a beautiful story of love and gives a slight glimpse of what maybe Korea was like during this time period and the feelings that people held about their counry. And the incredible sadness that many people felt at the loss of themselves during this time when everyone was forced to be Japanese, but still held on to their traditions and language.

Next. . . I think I am going to re-read The Wind-up Bird Chronicle again by Haruki Murakami. I actually read this book in 2007 when I was in Japan and then after it read another one by this author called, Kafka on the Shore. They told me that Kafka on the Shore is very popular and famous in Japan, but I personally like The Wind-up Bird Chronicle better. I'll probably re-read both of them. They are very surreal reads kind of this feeling of jumping from one reality to another but at the same time this big overall story is taking place. But it does it in a quiet almost errie way at times almost like how I felt in Japan at times, like a dream world that you wonder if it is really real or not? Interesting. . . and I think shows how unique Japanese society and thought patters are as a collective whole.

If you are looking for a good summer read, this might be it!!


(Once again - these books are fiction - I am just kind of talking about general feelings and thoughts not actual events or people.)

Still reading the novel, The Calligrapher's Daughter and I am about half way through at this point. I find it very interesting and a good story about Korea and the time in its history when Japan thought that Korea was part of their territory. I am not racist or anything, I've been to Japan and have Japanese friends, but more and more think that Japan needs to acknowledge and apologize for some things that happened in history. Good thing my blog isn't widely read by more than 2 or 3 people because that is a pretty strong statement. The book does a good job of really showing the history while the story is going on because what was happening in Korea at this time really influences how the story goes. The book started in 1915 and goes all the way to 1945 in America I think. . . very interesting read, look for it!

I'll let you know how I liked it as a whole after I finish!

I am not finished with this book yet, but I am really getting into it like most books that I like and read. This one takes place in Korea. . . which is cool and starts in 1915 and goes till 1945 during the Japenese takeover of the country. It is a book of fiction, but is based on historical facts and could easily see how the feelings and emotions must've been the same as during this time. The main character is about a girl who was born just shortly after the Japense moved in on Korea and her father didn't give her a name due to all the changes and wanted to keep Korea's ways. This book really shows a lot of the Korean traditions and ways of thinking that I still think make up Korea today at least from what I saw. I would recommend this book to anyone so far because it is very interesting and pretty captivating read too. You can also learn more about Korea's history in the process. It is finally nice to be able to read a book I want to read again after finishing school for the semester and not taking summer school!

In other news, the garden on the deck is growing well. . . the spinach and lettuce are starting to grow more. I might have some cherry tomatoes next week, cna you believe it!?

Garden Update

I have two cherry tomato plants that are doing wonderful! I picked up 6 more baby tomato plants over the weekend in St. Louis. I will have to find at least 5 more pots and soil. . . I might have one heirloom tomato plant which could be exciting! I think I should try to grow more heirloom plants.

I have lettuce, spinach, and peas sprouting too and their respected containers and pots. Hopefully, it will all grow well. I should've got some pansies and a big enough pot and put them in with the lettuce. Did you know pansies are an edible flower that you can use in salads??

I also planted some more flowers today under the tree by the marigolds, we will see, but the marigolds are doing wonderful of course!

I'll take pictures later and post them!

I am so happy that Spring has sprung recently! I would love to have a huge garden in my backyard somewhere full of every known flower, vegetable and fruit that you could grow. A garden full of marigolds, pansies, sunflowers, etc. Vegetables and fruits that would include of course tomatoes of all varieties, peas, potatoes, corn, lettuce, spinach, okra, squash, pumpkins, watermelon, canteloupe, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber and whatever else. It would be a green and bright happy place full of life!!

Unfortunately, I don't have that right now. I have two cherry tomato plants on the deck in pots, some marigolds planted under the oak tree in the front yard, and some more marigolds planted on the deck in a pot. I went back to Lowe's today and bought some seeds; peas, lettuce, spinach, and cosmos (a flower). I am going to try to plant some peas in a pot and also try the spinach and lettuces in a pot. I heard the lettuce in particular could be challening in a pot and the pot needs to be big enough of course.

I am super excited! Some people in my family aren't because they act like we could move very fast and I am wasting money. I disagree, the plants could go anywehre except for the marigolds under the tree because they are in pots. Plus, I am growing things to feed my family and save money, minded it is not much at all.

I know this is odd for a 26 year old male to be this into gardening and growing things. But I have this dream to be completely green and for everyone to do this the world will be a better place. People growing as much of thier own food as possible and sharing with others when needed, canning stuff to reduce our dependence on others and grocery stores, etc. I am all in favor of people using and taking their own reusable bags to the grocery stores and stopping the production of plastic and paper bags all together. For everyone to recycle and recycle everything that is possible to reduce our trash and for recycling companies to do what they say. To RECYCLE!

I'M ALL ABOUT GOING GREEN!

I know people love the big cities including me, but I think people in big cities can do a lot too. I am all about commuity gardening, rooftop gardening, having enough park spaces, trees, etc. to encourage everyone to be healthier and for cleaner air. I am all about looking and discovering alternative energy sources and wide use of public transportation that is clean, efficient, and comfortable.

Don't get me wrong, I like modern day conveniences and I am not looking to start my own hippie commune, but I think if everyone did thier part and we made time for ourselves and the earth we will all be happier.

I think Heaven is probably greener than we imagine. At least I hope it is~!

Yeah, so I don't really have anything to say I don't think.

So, I was thinking my family and I were going to head up to KU to see some friends in March. . . I don't know if that is going to be possible anymore. I was really wanting to go, I would like to get up there this spring but who knows when we will be able to do it. Kind of a bummer, at least I don't think we can go.

I got back my first test back for my Intense English Grammar class. . . yeah not so hot! It was open book and open note, but that didn't really do much. It was worth 111 points totoal, but the professor made the grade only out of 100, so if you got more than 100 it was bonus! My score. . . not even close to bonus level. . . 86 ~ that is pretty Terrible! I hope I can get at least an A- for this course with two tests left and one paper that is due in April. Yeah, I get to write a 9-10 page paper for this class with original research over some kind of a grammar rule. Can you tell how excited I am about this class sometimes??

The weekends just go by way too fast and I could always use more sleep.

People who kow me very well know that I am not exactly a strong supporter of China or anything to do with that country. However, last night I was happy for China for taking gold and silver last night in the couples' figure skating competition. Shen and Zhao won the gold medal and they are a beautiful couple with a beautiful story. They are a pair that have been to four Olympics and won the bronze medal twice and later this couple got married after the male suffered a severe leg injury. This is what brought them together. Anyway, so they decided to come to these Olympics again with one goal to win the gold. They were living in a dormotory up to this point for training purposes living in separate rooms and eating in the dorm cafeteria. The dedication, really inspiring. . . would that ever happen here in America?? Probably not. . . and they finally got the gold last night, truly I was happy for them. Also, for the Chinese coach too for the incredible sacrifices being away from his family and everything to get China to that point in figure skating. In some ways watching that and the story was kind of sad how much some of these athletes in other countries make all those tough sacrifices for a dream, and then when they reach that goal you can't help but be happy too!

That is the Olympic Spirit!

I am excited about this year's Winter Olympics!! I thought the Opening Ceremony was great! I think I actually might watching the Winter Olympics more than the Summer games, but I like them both.

I am pretty tired right now. . . the wife has been sleeping since 7:15 this morning when I took over with our baby. It is now 11:20 our baby just ate and slept for maybe 10 minutes, now she is happily swinging. Maybe not sleep again anytime soon. . . last night she slept from 3:30 to 9:30 without waking up and then as usual was up from 2 AM on. . . :(

Winter Go Away!! I don't want to see any more snow this year and we probably haven't even seen that much. I will be a little upset if I have to take another snow day from work on Monday if we get six inches of snow. I don't know if I even have that much sick or vacation time yet. . . and I need to see my clients to make sure everyone is doing okay (I have 23 now) and to make billing requirements. Oh well~



I am starting to get more into my classes I think this semester, the grammar class is actually very interesting. I am learning a lot and grammar is actually starting to become a little fascinating! I wish I learned all this stuff in such detail before I tried to learn all that Spanish grammar, it would've helped. For Korean though. . . I don't know if this would've helped since the grammar system is completely different.

I haven't read or reread any books this week. I am thinking about reading one of my books by a Japanese novelist again. One The Wind Up Bird Chronicles that I found very interesting and intriguing. This is by the same author of Kafka on the Shore the one that is most popular and famous in Japan by that author. However, I found that one to be a little stranger and not as intriguing to me. Another book by a different author a more recent one is called All that She's Worth which is a mystery suspense that I really liked. If I read either one of these again I will be sure to post a thorough review.

I am also considering reading Extremely Loud and Incrediably Close by Jonathan Safran Foer if I remember was an extraordinary touching story. It was about a boy who lives in NYC trying to find out what a key belonging to his dead father (who died in 911) goes to and ends up finding out much more!

That's all!

I think the new school feeling has rubbed off. I feel not as excited or motivated for school at all this semester and still haven't been able to get into it. I have not done nearly enough preparation for classes with the readings and stuff. I have started to get a little bit better for my grammar class but the Thursday night one, not at all. I have the first project due next Thursday, we'll see how things go. . .

Hi Everyone. . . what can I say I am quit the reader. You know how I said that I was reading The Wedding again by Nicholas Sparks and I started it on Friday. I do believe I will finish it tonight, I have less than 20 pages left. Obviously, you can tell I like the book. It is a very heart warming story about love and life. Basically about a man who has been married to his wife for thirty years and after he forgot their 29th wedding anniversary realizes this his wife might not love him anymore. The man goes on a year long journey remembering how he fell in love with his wife, becoming a better man, and getting his wife to fall back in love with him again by the special gift he has for her on the 3oth anniversary. It is a sweet story.



Oh, where did the time go my three day weekend is over! I have to go back to work tomorrow, which just doesn't sound fun right now. I mean it isn't that work is boring, it is just with all the paperwork and 22 or 23 clients (I don't know for sure) everyday is interesting and exciting (almost more than I can handle on some days)!! But I have to believe that I am helping to make a difference and that I am serving God with my job even if I am not out there preaching Jesus' name.



The baby is sleeping right now. . . I don't know tonight could be a really good night. She has been sleeping for a pretty long stretch just now. I think church maybe wore her out today, she doesn't ever sleep there. Our baby has to know what is going on and wants to be part of the action at all times in public (at least most of the time).



Facebook has been fun so far! And hiatias is spelled hiatus, not the way that I originally guessed it as.