Wrapping up 2013!

Friday, December 27^th, was my first day back at work after the holidays.  It was frigid in the morning but I ended up running 5 miles in the morning around the outside of post.  The rest of the morning was spent doing paperwork at work.  At lunch I met up with Sam and we went to my BEQ so Sam could start knocking out her SSD3 (online Army learning).  She wanted to get it done before she left Korea… so we figured we’d knock it out over the weekend!  I set her up on my computer, we put in some Big Bang Theory and I cleaned.  At 5 we went to the Navy Club for our usual happy hour.  There were some huge asses at the Navy Club but Sam and I ignored them… unfortunately not everyone ignored them and a fight broke out.  Well, a fight would have broken out… it got very heated and Sam got in between the two testosterone filled males and I, of course, had to follow her!  After that, I dragged us out of the bar and all the band folk there left as well.  We are all too smart to stay where fights are breaking out.  Hopefully those idiots don’t come back to my bar!!  Afterwards, we went back to my place for more SSD.  Jake came and joined us and we alternated with kids movies and Big Bang Theory to keep us from going crazy with online classes!

19822 Steps (8.62 miles)

Saturday, December 28^th, I slept in (because, hey!  It’s the weekend and I don’t have to work!)  Sam came over and we knocked out some more SSD, then we met up with Jake, Brandon and Brian to go bowling on post.  I hadn’t been bowling in probably months so it was a lot of fun (even though I was terrible at it!)  We bowled 4 games and then Sam, Jake, Brandon and I went back to my BEQ to continue working on SSD and watch Big Bang Theory.  Brandon left to catch the bus back to Uijeongbu and Sam, Jake and I met back up with Brian (who is brand new in country) and went out to dinner at one of Sam’s favorite restaurants, Borie.  I had some pretty good fish and chips.  Then we went over to Reilly’s Taphouse which had some pretty fantastic beer on tap!  We wandered over to Woodstock where some of our fellow band members were playing though we didn’t stay long since it was late and we were all tired!  It was a long but really good day!

9995 Steps (4.35 miles)

Sunday, December 29^th, I slept in which was glorious.  When I finally did drag myself out of bed, I went to my hash running group which was really cold but a lot of fun!  I had run enough times that I got my hash name which is based on me being a (former) librarian!  Afterwards, I rushed back to post to meet up with Sam for her last night in Itaewon!  We did a little shopping and then went to eat Bimimbop.  We didn’t realize until after our meal was done that the idiot officers from the other night were at the same restaurant as us…

23051 Steps (10.02 miles)

Monday, December 30^th, I was back at work (but only for one day!).  Sam and I hiked up Seoul Tower for her last PT session and her last day in Seoul.  At work we had a KATUSA Korner and then our new commander’s inbrief.  Then I quickly did a lot of emails and catch up stuff for training and cut out at lunch to meet up with Sam.  We rode the bus to Osan, checked her into her flight and her hotel.  After a quick dinner at Chilis, I rode the bus back to Yongsan.  I’m really bummed Sam has left – she has been a great friend!  I really hope that we get stationed together again at some point! 

18368 Steps (7.99 miles)

Tuesday, December 31^st, I slept in but I eventually got up and went for a run with Jake.  We made it our goal to make it down to Lotte World while running along the river and we almost made it!  We ran for almost 8 miles which, as I told Jake, meant I could eat as much as wanted for the rest of the day because I had already run!  We walked over to the Commissary (stopping by Pat’s on the way) and the Commissary was a crazy mad house!  Luckily we were only picking up a few things, but the line was ridiculous and totally disorganized.  Us military folk got it decently organized and then the civilian manager tried to tell us we were wrong… it did not go over well.  Luckily, Jake and I mostly thought the whole thing was funny.  We ran over to the PX next and then out to DW’s to deliver a few things.  Jake and I started our Firefly marathon and it was punctuated only by Jake making me dinner (which was awesome!), taking extra dinner and cookies to Ed who had to work until midnight and then when the ball dropped at midnight which we met with champagne and gummy bears!  Happy New Year!

28520 Steps (12.40 miles)

Family Time for the Holidays!

Thursday, December 19^th, I had to work though I was fairly distracted all day.  After work I took the express train to the airport to pick up Caroline and Matt.  I got their a little early but I ended up waiting for a long time since there was an issue with the cargo door on their plane and they couldn't get their luggage!  Finally I collected them and we took the express train back to Seoul Station and then cabbed it back to base – I think Matt was a bit horrified with the Korean taxi driver’s weaving ability.  I got them checked into their hotel and got them all tucked in!  Both of them we’re tired!

19371 Steps (4.92 miles)

Friday, December 20th, I woke up early and gallivanted across post to meet up with Caroline and Matt.  We grabbed some coffee and pastries and then exited post so we could catch our bus for the DMZ tour.  I paid for us to go to the JSA but our group was meeting up with a group from Camp Humphreys that was doing both the JSA and the 3^rd tunnel so they wanted us to tag along for both!  Unfortunately there was a bunch of snow so the guys coming up from Camp Humphreys were really late!  Unfortunately this meant that the JSA wouldn't let us in so we went to the 3^rd tunnel first which was very cool – those North Koreans are fairly crazy folks!  We had a Korean lunch and ended up not getting to go to the JSA.  On the way back they did drag us through an amethyst store, trying to get us to buy stuff.   Once back at post, we dropped our stuff off at the hotel and at my room and then headed up to the Navy Club for some beers!  Afterwards we went out to Itaewon for dinner at the Boiling Crab where they take all sorts of seafood, put it in a bag with spices, shake it up and then pour it out on the table in front of you!  Afterwards we went out for more drinks at Seoul Pub and wandered around Itaewon taking in the sights!

19906 Steps (8.66 miles)

Saturday, December 21^st, I woke up early to do the Jingle Bells 5K run which should have been at 9am but didn’t actually run until 10 which made me crunched for time!  Then I threw on my uniform and met up with my WWQ to play for the general’s other holiday reception at the Hartell House.  The food was just as amazing at that one – they had a giant ice sculpture of a ship which was filled with shrimp!  Sam and Dan took Caroline and Matt out to the War Museum.  I meet up with them after I got done with the reception and we went out for Galbi (Korean BBQ).  Then we went to Craftworks to sample the beers and met up with a few more friends who decided that Caroline and Matt needed to have a soju experience so we went to a Makali bar and had both makali and soju!  It was a very nice night J

21929 Steps (8.79 miles)

Sunday, December 22nd, I met up with Caroline and Matt and we went out to the Gyeongbokgung Place just as the changing of the guard was taking place.  We wandered around the place and the Folk Museum and then wandered to try and find an old village though we mostly got lost.  We went and had a great Korean lunch though!  Unfortunately afterwards as we were walking Caroline took a huge tumble scaring the crap out of Matt and myself – I thought she had broken her arm!  Thank goodness she hadn't!  We wandered back to Itaewon and went to Vatos Tacos for dinner – had amazing Galbi tacos and a Makali margarita! 

20209 Steps (8.79 miles)

Monday, December 23rd, I had to go to work in the morning L but luckily it went very quick except for the last safety briefing.  Then I met up with Caroline and Matt who had checked out of the hotel on post and then I took them to their Hilton hotel off post which was right next to Namsam park and had a gorgeous view of the Seoul Tower!  We grabbed a quick lunch out on the economy and then I headed back to post since I had to work that night.  My WWQ got to sneak into The 3 Star General’s house while he was having a dinner party and play for him and his guests afterwards.  When I’ve done this gig for the last general, it was very informal – as in, a few people listened intently while everyone else drank and socialized.  This general, however, made everyone come out and sit down and we gave a pseudo recital.  It was quite interesting!  There was also a Korean gentleman there who the general called Scholar Han – not sure who he was but he must have been important by how the general treated him!

26798 Steps (11.65 miles)

Tuesday, December 24th, I got up and met up with Caroline and Matt at their hotel.  We wandered down to Namdaemun which is one of the big shopping areas in Seoul.  It was crazy!  Seriously… I felt like I had been dropped into a scene from Blade Runner!  We also tried a whole bunch of random food from street vendors – some really good, some really weird…  We also wandered into Shinsegae (a very expensive mall – really high class!) and Myeongdong (another outdoors shopping area but with lots more American brand stores).  The big find of the day was finding a certain type of Japanese scotch that was nearly the only thing that Matt wanted to find!  We had to go into the underground at Namdaemun but we found it!  We went out to Hongdae to my favorite Chicken and Beer place (we also had non-chicken stuff for Caroline!)  It was a great night!

18933 Steps (8.23 miles)

Wednesday, December 25^th, Merry Christmas!  I woke up and cleaned up a bit and skyped with Mom while Kate and Andy were visiting!  Then I went and met Caroline and Matt at the gate to let them on post.  They came over and we cracked open champagne for the mimosas and I put in the cinnamon rolls!  We skyped with Mom, and opened presents.  Sam came over and we ate quiche and played Cards Against Humanity!  We all conked out for a bit but then we got ready to go to a friend’s house for dinner.  We climbed the hill to SFC Miranda’s apartment with beer and wine and got to meet a bunch of people I didn’t know.  He had turkey and all the trimmings and we had a good time!  We brought CAH and had to introduce some of group to the game!  I was so glad to have family with me for the holidays!!!

15231 Steps (6.62 miles)

Thursday, December 26^th, I woke up sadly and met Caroline and Matt at their hotel and we took a cab to Seoul Station and then took the express train to the airport.  (I totally got us lost too…)  We got them checked in and I left them at the security check point.  I bought lots of fat food and took the express train and subway back to post L  I sulked around for a bit but then met up with my friend Ed at work (he runs the AFN radio station on post).  As soon as he was done with work we rolled out onto the economy and wandered for a bit.  We got coffee and a bite to eat and then went and saw Drumcat!  Drumcat is an all-female, Korean percussion group – and awesome!!!  It was like a mix of stomp and blast with skimpy outfits.  I even got dragged on stage (Ed and I were the only white people in the crowd and the Koreans all gasped when I stood up – so tall!) to whistle along with them!  I had an absolute blast – so glad I have great friends here to keep me busy and cheer me up!

5501 Steps (2.39 miles)