Saskatchewan Skies

You can't put the look of a prairie sky into words...

My Brother

Someone in Regina asked me, “Who out of all the people that you have visited, changed the most?”

Well, my parents are still pretty much just doing the same old things they were doing when I left, most of my friends have secured provincial government jobs now, but really haven't changed much. Oh, Chris and Joe bought a nice house, and, of course, the Gooses tied the metaphorical knot, but still they are basically the same people, doing the same characteristic things they usually do.

There was one person who I thought changed the most (if you can't figure out who by the title and pictures you deserve to be shot in the head), my brother, Garret.

Yeah, he still takes ridiculous amounts of supplemental vitamins and drives his big, rusty Toyota truck, but he has changed in a big way.

He used to frequent the place he called, his 'Batcave' AKA our parents basement. Now, he lives in a cool flat-roofed rented house close to the U of S.

He once used to go on dates with only Selinger and Kovatch, now he goes on heterosexual dates with his cute nursing-student girlfriend, Kristine.

His main duty in the mornings used to be, making sure the basement couch in our parents' basement retained the worked-in form of his body, now he's up at 5:00AM working nursing practicum shifts before finishing assignments late into the night.

I must say, I feel like the lazy one now, as I sip tea and type this entry late into the morning after browsing travel guides of countries I am sure to visit soon. Either way, I am proud of the studious, yet still fun-loving person he has become. The time we spent with him and Kristine in Saskatoon were some of the best times we had on our trip home.

Ladies and Gentlemen... Mr. And Mrs. Goose!!!

Honk, Honk, Honk...
Some pics from the wedding.

Going Home

Pillowing cumulus clouds below
Pinks splice oranges, reds and blues
Staring out the airplane window
I'm on top of the world.

Dogs Like Korean Medicine Too!!!

Khan, the dog we looked after and almost killed in January, is alive and well (see this link). In fact, we took him to the 350th Daegu Traditional Medicine Festival that was held a few weeks ago. We were surprised at the amount of attention a cute little puppy gets at a public event like this. For once, we felt as though the Koreans were not staring us, they were staring at the dog.

The smells of the oldest medicine market in Korea are indescribable as we slurped down a myriad of medicinal concoctions, gocked at displays of giant herbs, and relaxed our feet in a herb medicine foot bath surrounded by fountains, engulfed in a herb garden.

Just as we confirmed to ourselves that Khan is a celebrity, we found that a picture of Alissa and me participating in last years Daegu Traditional Medicine Festival had made the promotional pamphlet for this years 350th anniversary celebrations (see last years post).

The Cherry Marathon at Kyoungju on April 5th: A Pictorial Retelling

This is the start/ finish line. Note the newly completed Kyoungju Expo Building in the background.

It's me running to the finish line. No, not him. I'm behind that other dude. Note the ancient tomb mounds in the background.

The magnolias were in full bloom.

Alissa and I swear that we took the same photo last year but this scene is so crazy, we couldn't resist this year.

The cherry trees were also in full bloom.

Fresh dried roasted squid and spicy cup of noodles... the Korean beach bum lunch of choice.

A boy throwing rocks mindlessly at the waves.

Chill.

Happy Birthday Alissa!!!

Alissa thought it wise to celebrate her birthday this year in both the Korean and Canadian time zones. How brilliant- a two day birthday!

Friday (her Korean time zone birthday) involved a surprise cake at work.

Look those drooling ladies with chopsticks in hand. After work we were off to an amazin' homemade dinner at our friends Scott and Gale's house.

Saturday (her Canadian time zone birthday) was when the big party took place.

16 of our closest friends in Korea.
8 cakes of brie cheese.
21 empty bottles of red and white wine.
And one surprise Baskin Robins cherry cheesecake ice cream cake.

Needless to say we all had a good time!
Happy Birthday Alissa!

This Old Abandon School Makes Koreans Contemplate

This rural school in a once busy traditional farming town was once filled with the sound of Korean children playing rock, paper, scissors, and of teachers sternly lecturing. Now there is only eerie silence. It is a popular tourist attraction among Koreans. It forces them to come to grips with the implications of rapid industrialization in their country.

As I approach the abandon building an old Korean man outside weeps.

Kickin' It Ol' School!!!

Cool Things I Saw Near Namhae City After Running My Marathon

Cool eh?

Supper Prep!!!

This was a famous resturant just off the southern cost of Korea. They catch'em the old traditional way from the sea to your plate in minutes, I'm sure. Could a meal be any better after running a 21 kilometer marathon???

Look At Those Eels Twitch

It is rumored that these creatures will give men more stamina- virility, virility, virility!!

What the Shit is This?!?

Walking home from work one day I passed this on the sidewalk. Actually, at that time it didn't look at all like this. It was covered in a thick layer of dirt that didn't wipe away when rubbed. You could hardly make out what it was behind the dirt, grease, and advertising stickers that coated it. It was just put out by a labourer that was completely gutting an old worn down building that was to be demolished days later. The sky was a heavy grey- soon it will rain. The labourers didn't much care that I toke it home with me, to them it was no different from the old drywall and bricks they slowly lugged out.

After hours of restoration it sits in the corner of our tea drinking and mediation room.

What does it say? Its all in Chinese.

My Korean friend that knows Chinese translated it as this...

One should not give in to ones greed or desires if one wishes to live true to themselves.

Quickly run to the door of desire, but don't go in.

A typical Confucius lesson. A far cry from the liberation of ones mind- an act so common in our little room.

Still it holds some beauty and offers us something to ponder, so it will stay.

The First Signs of Spring in Daegu

an inclement winter day

the sky is blue overhead

children play nearby

Spring is here?