So, I’m pounding out a piece, and I’m fast approaching a thousand words. It’s a rant. It’s controversial. But in my mind, it’s entirely true and warranted.
And of course — and this is something I’m growing to regret about my commitment to writing every day — it is yet again something to which a lot more thought and care than a few hours banging away at a keyboard can give. I think my computer needs a folder just for these kinds of projects. Great ideas and thoughts, but in need of a lot more than a day’s worth of work and research. A problem with that though is that some of that writing is “in-the-moment” stuff — I’m really on a roll and hitting on all cylinders. Then I pick it up a day or two later and it’s just not there anymore.
Oh well. It’s not like people are hanging on my every word. None of this will see much light of day beyond my dear and faithful reader (and a few others who check in on occasion). But maybe…just maybe…there’ll be something of more substance later. Just not here. Here is the place where I sharpen myself and get my thoughts together. Where I develop a style and a discipline to do something daily.
Who knows? Maybe those unpublished works will be my posthumous magnum opus — a kind of Confederacy of Dunces, but without the suicide.
Gave the pup her spring haircut today. I tell you, those $17 clippers have more than paid for themselves. And, as much as she hates it, I can imagine not having to go through the stress of a stranger manhandling her is a bonus she doesn’t know to appreciate. She stresses out enough when I do it. As a matter of fact, she already went to bed, so I know she’s not very happy right now. She never goes to bed without one of us in the room with her…except when I give her a haircut…
I love market days around here. I may have mentioned them before. There are rotating area markets that run every 5 days at various locations. I’m fortunate enough to live within walking distance of the 4-9 market (it runs on any day that ends in 4 or 9). Micha was born in a house practically in the 3-8 market in Osan. And just south of us, we have the Seojeong-ri 2-7 market.
I’d describe these markets as “farmer’s markets on steroids.” While most of the farmer’s markets I’ve been to in the states are quaint and charming, these are bustling, loud, packed, and colorful. People are in there buying (and haggling if they’re like my wife), and it’s just frenetic at times. I’d even go far as to call it “legit.” These markets have been going on forever, and people get a lot of their daily food from them. The timing is beautiful to tell you the truth — buy enough fresh food to last you five days, then go back and buy another five days’s worth. Quite resourceful and perhaps expected for a country that lacked decent refrigeration just a half-century ago. Still great for just plain living these days.
Finally, I realize Kimchi is considered the national food of Korea, but really, it’s just a side dish. An excellent one, and one from which you can derive an entire meal with rice, but still, just a side.
I was thinking tonight over some excellent 한우 (the best Korean beef), that the real dish that I would pick to sum up Korea would be 된장찌개 (Doenjang-jjigae) — Soybean Paste Stew. It’s not necessarily my favorite Korean food — that would probably be a good 김치찌개 with a bottle of 막거리 — but 된장찌개 just nails it. It’s got a sharp flavor that captures Korea beautifully. You probably have to see the actual bean paste and how it’s made to get all of what I’m saying.
Just thinking about it makes me happy. And happy for Korea too.
And of course, as I like to do with my randoms, a haiku to finish it off…
Travel a long road Find peace in the food you eat The comfort of home
When I first saw the picture mid-clip, before I read the caption, I thought “Well that’s an edgy hair style!”