Birthdays and Palaces

Monday, August 19th - Happy Birthday to me!  I started my morning by having to do barracks inspections... ie, looking for dead hookers and too much booze.  Then I went to work - it was a paperwork morning followed by concert band in the afternoon.  After work a met up with a few coworkers and we found this food market to have strange Korean food.  Afterwards we got a red bean ice thing for dessert.  Not a bad birthday, all things considered.

17093 steps (7.43 miles)

Tuesday, August 20th, was not an exciting day.  Did my inspections in the morning and then we had a quick woodwind quintet rehearsal.  We got in our mini van and headed to our job site but our GPS wasn't working and we got pretty lost.  We eventually figured ourselves out and got to where we were going (another military post to play during lunch at their cafeteria.)  We played, we ate and then we headed back.  I got car sick and felt pretty miserable.

9124 steps (3.97 miles)

Wednesday, August 21st - inspections, playing music and paperwork.  There is a definite clique in my unit and I am definitely not part of the cool kids.  Some days I don't care, but some days it really sucks.  On a good note, an old friend came into Korea and I got to see him which was super cool!  First thing, I gave him my phone so he could call his wife and let her know he made it safely.  :-)  Isn't that the first thing everyone wants to do when they get to a strange new place?

12742 steps (5.54 miles)

Thursday, August 22nd, was a stressful day.  We met in the morning, had a bit of chaos, but eventually got on the road headed towards Camp Humphrey.  We played during lunch in the food court which was slightly weird but people seemed happy to hear us.  We ate lunch and headed back.  I got hugely motion sick both ways of the trip (mini vans will be the death of me.)  So all in all, it was a fairly miserable day for me.  I came back, read a bit and went to bed early.

12412 steps (5.40 miles)

Friday, August 23rd, started with a giant thunderstorm!  The day was a fairly normal day after that - security checks, formation, paperwork, woodwind quintet rehearsal.  Then we drove over to the Dragon, set up in the lobby and played for about an hour and half.  I was amazed how many people stopped to listen - it was nice :-)  We grabbed some food and then went back to work.  I finished up some paperwork and was done for the day.  I was suppose to go pick Aubrey up from the airport but his flight got cancelled and then delayed :-(  Instead, I went and found party hats and then went bowling with Carter (he trounced me!)

18135 steps (7.89 miles)

Saturday, August 24th, I was suppose to get up early and go on the DMZ tour, but since Aubrey's flight was screwed up, I slept, read, and did laundry instead.  Around 1ish, I left to take the subway to the airport.  Luckily I have this awesome subway app that tells me which line to take and where to transfer and such.   Thank goodness for smart phones!  I made it to the airport and waited with a huge crowd of folk who gathered around the door the international flights came in.  Aubrey said he spotted me right away since I was heads above everyone else...  Anyway, we caught the subway back to post (I got him his own Tmoney card).  Aubrey, having been flying for days at this point, showered right away and then we met up with some friends and went to Rainbow Golbi for dinner where Aubrey had his first kimchee.  We called it an early fairly night though due to jetlag.

25789 steps (11.21 miles)

Sunday, August 25th, was a super long but fun day!  Aubrey and I got moving and out the door by 8am.  We did my security checks, picked up donuts and coffee and then made our way to the subway.  Again, my handy app that told me how to get to the correct subway stop (in this case, City Hall stop).  Our first stop for the day was the Deoksugung Palace.  There are multiple royal palaces in Seoul... and I mean right in the middle of Seoul!  You see these older-than-our-own-country buildings surrounded by giant skyscrapers.  Anyway, we walked around Deoksungung palace and then went to the Seoul Metropolitan Library (which may or may not have been our original destination... ;) ) The Library was in the old Seoul City Hall and it was giant and amazing and I totally geeked out.  Yes, their general collection is in Dewey Decimal.  Also, they have a surprising amount of Barrack Obama books in their "United States" section.  After we drooled over the huge and impressive library, we caught the metro (stopping for banana milk.. yes, its really good!) and went to the Anuk station.  From there we wandered around until we found another palace - Gyeongbokgung or "The Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven." This palace wasn't like one building and a couple gates... it went on forever!!!  Behind each building was another building and more and more!  Everything was gorgeous and incredibly ornate with cool statues of dragons and weird looking fat cats.  Afterwards, we grabbed an ice cream and then we worked our way back towards post where some of the people from my band were having a kids style birthday party since three of us had a birthday under general order number 1.  We had all kids food, we watched a kids movie, played pin the tail on the donkey and had a pinata.  We ended with Cards against Humanity (not really a kids theme... but still fun!)  Afterwards we wandered a bit in Itaewon.  Then more security checked and then in for the evening.

27443 steps (11.93 miles)

    

 

Hot August Nights... in Korea...

Monday, August 12, was a comp day for me due to all the late night WWQ gigs we've been having.  I stayed up late on Sunday, so I spent the day sleeping and reading and feeling a tiny bit guilty about not going to work.

9146 steps (3.98 miles)

Tuesday, August 13, work, work, work.

7707 steps (3.35 miles)

Wednesday, August 14th, work, work, work.  Did I mention that I work?  For PT in the morning, we went down to the "track" to do a practice 2 mile run for the APFT.  I did mine in a hair under 17 minutes which is not bad, though I'd love to get it down to 16 minutes at some point.  In the morning we had concert band which was fun - we are getting ready for our big concerts in September.  It was nice to get to play with my good bocals!  It was a day of packages for me as well - definitely feeling the birthday love!  Though, I wish I could be home...

6349 steps (2.76 miles)

Thursday, August 15th, I got the morning off from PT (due to my APFT the next day).  We went over basic training in the morning and then drill band - I somehow ended up marching in the front row which is not my usual place!  Luckily for an actual ceremony I won't ever have to do that!

9434 steps (4.10 miles)

Friday, August 16th, started with an APFT.  I was extremely nervous since I hadn't been working on my pushups as much as I really should have been... but I ended up with a 251.  Not a perfect 300, but better than my last test and definitely better than I was expecting!  In the morning, I did paperwork for training then did some cleaning for details since most of my squad was gone for the day.  In the afternoon, I went with some coworkers to return training gear and get the mail.  That night, I met up with Carter and another band member to get a beer at the Navy Club, but we called it an early night.

9149 steps (3.98 miles)

Saturday, August 17th, I rolled out of bed early for a Saturday and trotted down to Collier Field House where the "Hot Summer Day" 10k was suppose to start.  Due to road construction/potholes/sinkholes/I have no idea, the 10k got turned into a 5k.  Online the last post run, there was only one other "band" person who came and ran with me - one of my SSG's husband.  I took it pretty easy for a 5k since my hipflexors were sore from the day before and I ended with a time of 28:15.  Only 4 minutes behind the fastest female and 10 minutes behind the fastest male.  Got a t-shirt and some popcorn out of the deal.  Afterwards, I lazed about for a bit, reading and napping, then I went and got a lesson in playing pool at the navy club.  Then I went and saw "We're the Millers" at the post theater - I laughed so hard at some points!  Then I read more... can you see the pattern?  I got to skype with a friend before bed which was a great way to go to bed smiling.

25085 steps (10.91 miles)

Sunday, August 18th, was another lazy day.  I woke up, read for a bit, skyped with Aubrey, then went to the commisary for groceries.  It wasn't terribly crowded like it normally is on Sundays and there were multiple cabs waiting outside when I got done - a first!!!  Then I putzed around for the day - reading and doing laundry.   Skyped with friends and family for a few hours then made myself a delicious pre-birthday dinner - steak with a onion, cream and blue cheese sauce, baked sweet potato and garlic bread, plus a beer.  Not bad if I do say so myself!

4174 steps (1.82 miles)

Drama, drama, running!

Wednesday, 7 August, was a dramatic day and I hate drama filled days.  I absolutely hate rumor mills, and the army in general and the bands in particular seem to thrive on having a gossip train.  I was the latest victim and I did learn a valuable lesson about the fact that my coworkers are not my friends.  Sometimes, it sucks to be a female soldier.  I also am being yanked around by my branch manager which is yet another mess I have to figure out while being polite.

On a lighter note, that night we played at the General's house again for dinner which is surprising fun.  I hope the new General and his wife like WWQ as well!

13062 steps (5.68 miles)

Thursday, 8 August - we did strength training in the morning and my wing muscles were incredibly sore!  Hopefully I stretched them out with the 70 burpees I did!  In the morning we had OPSEC and ASAP training and then Drill Band (I was the only sax player out there, surprisingly!)  For lunch I went to change uniforms because I was drenched in sweat.  After lunch we had concert band - our director is taking Overture to Candide incredibly fast so I will have to practice to get the runs up to his speed!

17057 steps (7.42 miles)

Friday, 9 August, wasn't a busy day, thankfully!  Went running for PT in the morning (was shown MP hill which is insane... I need to start adding it into my hill workouts..)  Afterwards, I worked on training paperwork all morning including the silly new BN slides.  I also got myself and 8 other bandsmen signed up for either the 5k, 10k or half marathon at the end of september (I'm doing the half)  After lunch I got to watch people for a drug test, then guard the CQ desk.  Eventually I got cut loose and then I met up with Carter for a quiet night of talking and beer at the Navy Club.

11408 steps (4.96 miles)

Saturday, 10 August, I didn't sleep in as much as a should have, but I did spend the whole day reading, which was delightful.  That evening, I went to a band going away party at the Copacabana - a Brazilian Barbecue place for a dinner of all meat.  The group went to go have a beer at the Rainbow bar above a church.  I stayed for one beer and then headed back to post.

7140 steps (3.11 miles)

Sunday, 11 August was the quinticential lazy day - I read and watched Masterchef.  I did go for a 5 mile run, but mostly just relaxed.  It was also skype central day - Kate and Andy in the morning, Mom and Matt in the evening. :-)

14437 steps (6.28 miles)

I know, I know... I'm late with my posting!

Monday, July 29th, was a pretty normal day until Ops told me that the General (of the 4 star variety) wanted the Woodwind Quintet (WWQ) to play for his dinner at the Dragon on the following day.  Eek!  We got together a rehearsal and while my clarinet player was on CQ, she would get to sleep all day Tuesday to recover... eek!

11364 Steps (4.94 miles)

Tuesday, July 30th, was another fairly normal day until the evening.  The WWQ had a quick, make sure we have our shit together rehearsal, and then drove over to the Dragon and set up.  On the way, my bassoon strap got caught on my ribbon rack and I managed to lose one of my ribbons... ugh!  But we made it work and got me presentable.  The General had his dinner inside the ballroom and then we were the surprise after dinner entertainment.  We played 4 pieces, then introduced ourselves and then two of our vocalists and a guitar player sang/played We Go Together which I think is incredibly moving (though everyone says that I will be sick and tired of it after a year here).  Both our 4 Star General and the Korean 4 Star gave us their coins (the Korean's is both a bottle opener and a magnet! Talk about practical!)

11068 Steps (4.81 miles)

Wednesday, July 31st, I didn't have to go to PT in the morning, but I still had to get up early to go to the last recording studio session.  There were just a few of us there to record the really random parts.  In my case, second bassoon on a bunch of marches.  They put me in a room, put headphones on me, played the recording we had already done as a group and had me play along with the 2nd parts.  It was a very strange experience.  Makes you very aware of every single chip and crack possible!  After work, since it was the last day of the month, I went over to the Class 6 to buy my rations of alcohol since I hadn't bought anything all month.  Still haven't drank anything I bought, but at least I feel like I utilized my rations!

5872 Steps (2.55 miles)

Thursday, August 1st, found out that the General's wife loves WWQs and loved us the other night.  She put in requests for us to play at the General's house twice in the next week.  It's nice to feel wanted!

5907 Steps (2.57 miles)

Friday, August 2nd, started with a 4 mile company run.  In formation.  With cadence calling.  All NCOs had to call at some point... even me with my high and squeaky yelling voice.  At one point, the battalion commander decided to join our formation and was running next to me... and she wasn't even breaking a sweat!  Afterwards, they gave us Gatorade and bananas and I was a happy camper!  For lunch, we did a Hail and Farewell which is saying hi to the new people and introducing them (including me!) and goodbye to the people about to leave.  Apparently we do a lot of Hail and Farewells here in Korea since there is such a huge turn over.  For dinner, we went out to Chicken and Beer (which yes, is a thing here...).  I came back early since I was tired.

15441 Steps (6.72 miles)

Saturday, August 3rd, got up really early, met up with a group at 6am.  We took 4 different buses and 5.5 hours later we were on the east side of the peninsula where "some of the best rapids are".  We did stop at a rest stop on the way and I had this great fried potato thing that I managed to dump some of it in my lap.  I actually had a good time, though they were very tame rapids.  We wore this big life vests and yellow helmets.  Our rafting guide didn't seem to happy though to have 12 Americans crammed into his raft.  However, the weather was gorgeous and the water was the perfect temperature!  Afterwards, we showered in a group shower situation (separate sex though) and then got a Korean lunch (which was incredibly spicy!!)  Then it was back on the bus for what turned out to be a 6+ hour bus ride since we got stuck in traffic.  Lots of stop and go and stop and go so once we got back into Seoul, at the first stop we all got off.  Some people took the subway back but I joined the group that hopped in a taxi.

2665 Steps (1.16 miles) - phone died halfway through the day so it was actually a bunch more than this!

Sunday, August 4th, was a lazy day for me - thank goodness!  I spent most of the morning reading, then went to the commissary.  Then more reading.  Then skyping!  :-)  Couldn't ask for a lazier day!

8354 Steps (3.63 miles)

Monday, August 5th, was another day off due to a Good Conduct Holiday which basically means that for the last 30 days no one in the band has broken curfew, gotten arrested, gotten a DUI, or tried to get their Itaewon jump wings.  I slept in a bit since I had been up late talking with people, but managed to do laundry, go for a run, get caught up in band drama, and go spend a couple hours at work since there was something wrong with our slides to present to the battalion commander.  Its how things go... I got an awesome package from Michigan that I had to huddle under my rain jacket and umbrella since it started to downpour on my walk back to my BEQ.  Anyway, that evening, my WWQ did another last minute practice and then headed to the General's house.  It was the same arrangement as last time with them having dinner and then we were the "surprise" after.  Though, since we were in their house, the "seats" for us consisted of a plushy couch.  Can't say I've ever played bassoon on a couch before!  Again, we were wildly appreciated.  A couple of the wives thought it was fantastic that all members of the WWQ were female (which, I have to admit, is pretty cool :-))

19610 Steps (8.52 miles)

Tuesday, August 6th, I woke up and went to PT (got beat up my Caroline and the SGM), then had rehearsals in the morning and training paperwork all afternoon.  During lunch the sky got super dark and then a torrential storm let loose!  The water rushed down the street and created a river of our sidewalk.  It was pretty amazing to see.  Mail call was especially exciting for me today - I got 6 packages!!!  Including brownies and goodies from my Aunt and raspberry and chocolate macaroons from Aleks.  I went about feeding my band since it was too good not to share!  After some drama of the day, I really appreciated the packages!  Made me feel extra loved!  After work, I trudged back to my BEQ with all my goodies and then ran across post to the gym to meet up with Caroline and Hutch for Crossfit class.  Holy crap!  We did 5 sets of 5 pull ups (I used assist bands), then 3 sets (21, 15,9) of squats (with weight), pushups, box jumps and then a 400 meter run.  Then the cash out was 500 meter row as fast as you can (1:50 for me!)  I am going to be so sore tomorrow!  However, I need to get in better shape so this is all just part of the plan...

13561 Steps (5.90 miles)

The new river by the band hall...

Macaroons!