2

I said that I would blog as often as I washed my dishes, but I have to make an exception this week because I really don't feel like washing them.

The first thing on my mind is "this" (pulls out a cigarette pack called "this"). Joel bought a pack of smokes called THIS about three weeks ago and a new running joke is using the word "this" as often as possible and then pausing and pulling out an invisible (or visible) pack of cigarettes. This brings me to my next point. This. In an attempt to stop smoking half a pack a day (only on weekends) I have decided to no longer buy packs of cigs. Joel is supporting me by betting me that I can't do it. What a guy.

My second thought has to do with something much more serious. My plans for February 7th have been shattered. The weekend was going to be legendary, but now, who knows. We were going to go to Seoul for the weekend, use the bars as hostels and see what has been called by many to be one of the best live shows. But, due to "unforeseen circumstances," whatever that means, the Killers have canceled their Asian tour. I'm not a huge Killers fan but the live music here sucks and I was really looking forward to seeing a killer show and spending the weekend in Seoul. Oh well. The new game plan will involve a four day weekend, the weekend after the canceled concert. It's the Lunar New Year and with four days off, I can only imagine what will ensue.

Quick update of things I might have forgot to mention earlier: I'm trying to learn how to play the guitar. I don't have a teacher, but it's fun to just play some chords. I'm glad I brought my soccer cleats, it makes playing so much more fun. I joined a gym last week but still haven't gone yet. After soccer today I am going to start conditioning. I have been nurturing a bit of a beer belly, so my new plan is to drink less beer and more mixed drinks on top of the conditioning and sit ups in preparation for the summer. There is only one week of intensives left, so only one more week of waking up early to an alarm; I'm excited. I'm also excited to have a beard. I went one week without shaving, and so I decided to continue that laziness and grow a beard. It's actually not bad. Final thought: I love playing with my Wii.


One Auspicious Thing: I'm going to keep this one a bit more more personal than something that a lot of people can experience, like a beach. This week, the showcase is my showerroom. Normally they are called bathrooms, or washrooms, or restrooms. Washroom is the most appropriate of those. My bathroom is one giant shower. Imagine your normal bathroom, now adjust the walls and door, turn it into a square. Put the toilet in one corner, the shower in the opposite, and the door and sink in the remaining two corners, the door being across from the toilet. Once you have that imagined, shrink the room so that it is 6 feet long (the direction of the shower) by 3.5 feet wide with a seven foot ceiling and that is my showerroom. It is the easiest thing to clean because it has an extendable shower head, so i can pull it off the wall and spray water everywhere. I've always wanted a whole room devoted to the shower, and now i have one; cross that off my list.

One Inauspicious Thing: I already talked about beer, so I'll try to pick something that doesn't relate to drinking or eating; although the lack of good Mexican food and hamburgers is on my list. Instead, I'll pick something that is related to an earlier topic: Live Music. It sucks in Busan, some of the foreign (not foreign to you) musicians can play good music, but as soon as they open their mouth it's game over. Out of at least 5-10 live bands I've seen all but one sucked; there is a bit of an assumption there, but based on the accounts of the people who were with me I have drawn my conclusion. I've only seen one good live band, and they were awesome, great music, good voice, excellent stage presence. We were walking along Gwangali beach, which is awesome, and we heard some loud music. This Korean rock band was playing some killer tunes, we stayed until the end of the set, but never found out the name of the band. Whoever they are they are the best band I've heard live in Korea, which isn't really saying much.

Random Note: The best way to cure athlete's foot is to simply not wear shoes and socks when you don't have to. Athlete's foot is a fungus that grows when your feet are both warm and moist. Alone, shoes and socks are not warm or moist, but when you add a foot of a living person you are adding heat to an enclosed area. As soon as it is warm, your foot will start to sweat thus making it moist and the ideal environment to breed athlete's foot. However, if you just take off your shoes and socks when you are at home and have no need to wear either your feet will not be bathing in heat and moisture. This will lead to a decrease and ultimately the end of your athlete's foot. I am currently employing this tactic and it is only winter here; my feet will each be one giant fungus ridden piece of meat once summer rolls around. Enjoy your food.

Till next week, hopefully my dishes will be clean by then.