Where are D and B?: December 2008

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Nutcracker

There's nothing like sitting in traffic and taking a taxi 45 minutes to a theatre...only to show up to find out that you are at the wrong theatre...same performance "Nutcracker" but wrong place. Whew--well, we were able to buy a few more tickets at a discounted rate to see the Nutcracker! The costumes were beautiful...and the dancing amazing.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

On the Border Mexican Restaurant

Nothing like celebrating 30 twice--We went out to On the Border...and they gave me a yummy chocolate brownie cake--and we all got a free round of margaritas! Now--that's awesome. The birthday you keep on celebrating!

Yeah!

Feliz cumpleanos 24 days later!

Mis amigos!!

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Noryangjin Fish Market

We had always wanted to go tour around the fish market here, but we just hadn't made it there until 12-27-08. Jason wanted to go and get some good fish to make a nice dinner...so off we went ...it was freezing cold out! We walked all around the fish market with smells just undescribable! I think we saw almost every sort of fish...even the tail of a dolphin--now this is just plain wrong. Some of the fish were swimming upside down (not enough oxygen in the tank), and some were just super crammed together. It took us a while to decide what to have for dinner:...we settled on George the 3.8 kg Lobster and Tom the Flounder!

Check out the sting-rays and their smiling faces. They arrive here in big containers all frozen in a single block of ice. Now...that sounds yummy :(

The octupus

Anna and D with hot tea in the market.

Sting-rays!

Check out that fish....We had to breathe through our mouths due to the awful smells!

Sea squirts: AKA Penis fish. I think their Korean term is: meongge.

Check out the lady balancing the tray of food on her head!

Fish Fish Fish!

Fish galore and more and more! Check out the innards--sick:(

Hello Mr. Crab!

The scene at the fish market.

Harry the crab!

Jason and B at the market.

A view from above!

Little pretty fish! One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish...

Snacking on yummy treats: dough filled with cinnamon and nuts then lightly fried.

George our Lobster weighing in at 2.2 kg.

Giant George!

No...not in my hair!!

Steamed George--I felt so bad for the poor thing.

He was a nice treat though and tasted super yummy! B's tummy was super full. heheheh!

Video of live octupus swimming around. The Koreans actually eat live octupus--which is super dangerous, but they seem to like it. Can you imagine if one got stuck in your throat?

Anna and D at the market--Yummy smells!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

A Polish Christmas (2008)

Due to our Thailand trip being cancelled, I was rather bummed for a few days! I had to find a way to get into the Christmas spirit...so I hosted a Cookie Exchange party, and Anna and I made Christmas wreaths for our doors with all fresh berries/greenery from the Flower Market. They turned out awesome...and we had a fun time making them. See the picture below! It was hard not spending our usual Christmas at home with family--we missed everyone--but it was really nice to spend it with friends we met only a few months prior. We know that our friendship with them will only continue to grow and prosper--and we hope to always be in touch! The one positive about moving around so much is that we are granted with the opportunity to meet such great friends!~ Merry Christmas to All!

The Spirit is in the air: A great night of snow in Seoul on Dec. 23rd.

Our Christmas Tree: Victoria gave us her fake one since they were moving...usually we just love the smell of a real tree, but this year...we took the easier alternative!

A Polish Christmas: Christmas Eve--Baumann House

Anna made a fabulous Polish dinner that we all really enjoyed and will always remember!

Anna was dog sitting: Hanna above..and they have a dog named Lucy. Both are Boston Terriers.

D and Anna by her Christmas tree!!

B and Anna in the kitchen!

The table--looks gorgeous with the red beet soup!

Cabbage Stew.

Perogi: We made mushroom/onion and meat perogi! They were super yummy!

Paszteciki: A pastry dough filled with meat stuffing! -Delish!

B and Jason with the grilled salmon.

All of us at the dinner table!

Off to mass... Bernard, a German parishoner at the church, brought Gluewein and shared it with everyone after mass. Anna and I had been craving a good cup of gluewein. Jason and Anna also lived in Wiesbaden, Germany for a few years before moving to Seoul.

We went back to chill out at their house and spend the night!

Playing around!

Christmas Day at City Hall Square in Seoul! It was I think around 18F--super cold outside!

The Cheongye Stream decorated with lots of lights!

B by the stream with a nice hot cup of chai tea! Yes, we support one of the many Starbucks located here in Seoul!

Video of Christmas music played near the stream. The area was filled with people--many groups and families walking along the water to enjoy the chilly Christmas night.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas….From the Other Side of the World!!!

Well, it’s been another one of those years for D and I as we have made yet another move in our almost 5 years of marriage. WOW, 5 years!! Seems like it has flown by and we have so much to be thankful for as we are both very fortunate to have each other, our health and great family that have supported us through four moves in five years. We are saddened by the loss of Denae’s grandmother, Mrs. Yvonne McMurray, in April of this year. A day that we knew would come, but that we would never be ready for. Maw Maw was such a great lady and such a true friend to Denae. We know she has been watching over us though and always will.

This year’s pace has not slowed down in comparison to the past four, and it seems like things just keep getting busier as you check something off the list. We started the year in beautiful L.A. No, not Los Angeles , but Lower Alabama !! That’s right, beautiful Ft. Rucker where the barbecue is great, the towns are few and far between and so are teeth in that neck of the woods. We were re-stationed there so that I could attend the Captain’s Career Course, and we made the best of our time by spending most of it at nearby Destin, FL. on the weekends. I attended survival school at the end of the course and had a small surgery done to correct a deviated septum. After that, Denae and I prepared for our next move to Seoul , South Korea .

Both anxious and excited, we hopped on the plane and landed on the other side of the world, once again! So far, this has been a great assignment. We finally have the opportunities around us that a big city offer and we have met some good friends and neighbors that have kept us great company. Denae has been getting involved with the American’s Women’s society of Seoul , volunteering her time to teach children English, and also holding and nurturing newborns at an orphanage here. It never surprises me that she does so much and still has time to squeeze everything else in. My job has been great and has given me a different perspective than I have been used to.

As we look down the road, we will find ourselves moving again. Where we will end up, we’re not sure, but we know that we have the greatest family and friends to help us along no matter where we end up. Thanks for everything and we wish you a very blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year from the other side of the world!