Monday, November 8, 2010

internal thoughts....sleepy pig*!~

     Mondays...beginning of the week, confirmation that the past weekend did in fact come to a close...I wish I could have stayed in bed all day yesterday....(O;
     Today was similar to others..but a wonderful person left my work today, will miss you!!
  The usual hour by hour classes, routines and...today went by quickly but I just feel a bit off balance. Not negatively, just a bit of a teeter totter. At the moment I'm coloring big pictures of animals for an open class tomorrow, I'm more anxious about it than excited...nervous because I want to do a great job but...can't wait for it to be over. This week is going to be a bit of a tough one. I have to move into a new apartment on Thursday, and will be working all day until 7pm so can't really do anything until after 7. Stephanie and some coworkers (awesome awesome Seouls) will be helping me, but I haven't really started packing up my stuff because I've been working and stressing over other things...family, money, work..etc etc etc.
     And I still find myself in my head, in that space of negativity sometimes...I never sit in it for too long, I feel that it itself feels unwelcome in Seoul...like I've brought all my emotions and parts with me on a trip and it was the only one without an invitation....like the kid in class that was the only one to not get a Valentine card. Pretend to be proud and unaffected, but more than upset...fighting back tears, behind an angry scowling expression.
     Anyways, I can feel it leaking in, overhearing conversations, trying to wheedle itself into my life and thoughts...desperate desire for influence. I've worked too hard, done too much in my life to easily allow it to have such a hold and so much power on me...

Been doing a lot of dissociating, along with a lot of work...thinking as always, something I do too much of....

Happier notes....Hamlet was sleepy today and chirping away...head shots*!~
sleepy pig
photo taken by VeganBeats



Mom day, weekend...where did you go?

     This weekend FLEW by, before it started, it was over...
   So I'm realizing that MOFO is vegan month of food...and I'm kind of negelecting that, and have been for a bit...eeep*!~ ㅎㅎ
     This week I made some mmuk salad...there's an actual dish, (the one wls and I had) that I tried to make...lettuce, cabbage, onion, hot pepper and cucumber...yumm!! For some extra zap, I added some kimchi juice to it*!~
mmuk!!!
photo by VeganBeats
    This Saturday was Mom day!!
My mom is visiting Korea for a couple weeks and on top of my schedule and hers we were finally able to spend a day together...we met in the am at Anguk station and wandered a lot...taking pictures and sipping coffee, not to mention the day was GORGEOUS*!~
more pretty restaraunt area
photo taken by VeganBeats


more
photo taken by VeganBeats
Mom insisted we get a photo of me...lady in black*!~
dressed as dark as possible...I wish I wore some color in front of this area, it's so cute
photo taken by VeganBeats
   We stumbled into a cute bakery..nothing was vegan but everything looked so yummy! The smell was amazing, fresh baked sweet tarts and pies mixed with the salty yeasty breads, I don't like carbs but...if I did and wasn't living this lifestyle, I would have splurged!
close-up of the breads...I wish I could post the smell!
photo taken by VeganBeats
      And the cakes!! These were gorgeous, they all looked so delicate and...just cute!
photo taken by VeganBeats
    We wandered around and found the library...this is what's in front of the library!! Gorgeous! I would read here all day, and sleep under the trees, hear the water...my body hurts from how cute and tranquil this all looks!
photo taken by VeganBeats
also in front of the library
photo taken by VeganBeats
more in front of the library
photo taken by VeganBeats
 After a while we wandered through the more tourist-y part, as always tons of people wandering around, pushing, shoving, shopping...
I think that's a GIANT sugary ddoek!
photo taken by VeganBeats

    We eventually decided to walk to Dongdaemon market...we walked by the water and there was a lantern festival going on, I didn't take any pics of the lanterns...but this is my mom and I!
    Met up with my emo and Stephanie at Dongdaemon and bought some more stuff!!!ㅎㅎ I got a new jacket...punky cute and...Ahh I love it and a tank and new boots!!!
The crew and I had plans to go to Hongdae aand my plan was to go home change then meet up and wander to Hongdae, but it was getting late so...bought a new outfit at Dongdaemon (lame..yes, practical, yes.) I got two new jeans and a tank top...Stephanie and I parted ways with my mom and myemo, they had a sister date! And Stephanie and I went back to her place and got ready. I hadn't been home since 9 am!!!
     Anyways, another weekend in Hongdae! I really do love kicking it there...lots of things to do, lots of people, lots of bars, lots of clubs...I've never been a clubber or a bar person, but with a good crew, good Seouls, always fun and always a blast!
Stephanie and I bumped into Caroline and Liam, then went to Bau house...but it was closed )O:
     Bau house is a cafe with TONS of puppies and dogs just chillen. The owner has a bunch of dogs and they just wander int his cafe, you can buy treats and play with them...ahhh next time!
     We then wandered around just chillen and grabbed a coffee and talked.
I can't say it enough how much I LOVE girlfriends, the grounding and Seoul sisterhood...Stephanie, my heart sends more love than you imagine!
     Met up with Jaxs and Diane and met the rest of the crew at HO bar 2, different bar for a change....ehhh
     Then went to a club and listened to a cover band!! LOVED it, the band did some train and I listened to some Foo Fighters!!! I had a bit to drink and...well it doesn't matter, I LOVE the Foo Fighters...and since Ho bar I was pumped, and ready to dance!!
Stephanie and I went to papa Gorilla and as always, a wonderful evening! I love the crew there, it was great to kick it with them and it's such a fun environment. I mean I could definately do without the creepers but I love my friends there. (O:
     ~~The Gorilla crew works so much, I wish they didn't have to work weekends )O:
Anyways...in the morning I wandered to Veggie Holic (found out about it because of Alien's Day Out!!!
And this is the bounty I came home with
photo taken by VeganBeats
sweet potatoe bread
photo taken by VeganBeats
sweet roll
photo taken by VeganBeats
sweet pea filled cake (?)
photo taken by VeganBeats
An INSANE pastry..it was like a red bean filled and sweet pea filled jelly sandwich!
photo taken by VeganBeats
rasberry pastry!
photo taken by VeganBeats
another sweet pea pastry
photo taken by VeganBeats
Two different breads! The one on the left is black rasberry bread and on the right is sweet pumpkin!
photo taken by VeganBeats
     Not a bread girl, or dessert girl, but vegan baked goods, c'mon, and I was in Hongdae already, just got paid...ei ei ei

Anyways, just got home, took a hot shower....another week begins...

weekend, where did you go?

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Not so silent parts finding my Seoul...internal battles and growth, a brief altercation

     ㅎㅎwork has been...a lot along with everything else...everything else being the old parts of me resurfacing after I foolishly thought they were gone.
     Across the world I figured and foolishly assumed that the insecurities, manipulations, atrocious fears would also be left behind, the fears that prevent me from moving forward, from functioning, from being a full person...another concept I can't swallow. The parts of me that continuously cut myself short, tell (remind) me that I am (may not be) worth it (whatever it is), that I am less than or an excess of something...were quiet and silent for so long, especially since my arrival here in Seoul. I was feeling confident, ~~~good...grounded, then one small instance spurred about this chain of events that brought these old parts screaming and storming. I felt like a sledgehammer was swung into the sides of my knees, shattering them and causing me to crumble before I even acknowledged what just happened....was happening-
      This is a very brief jotting and generalization of what was going on this week...then there is work, the pressure from that, the expectations that not only I put on myself but that I feel others place on me, and then the ones that are actually on me...no sleep, emotionally and mentally drained...I went from place to place searching for...dissociation, another extremely comfortable and uncomfortable zone all at the same time, like under your bed, it's dusty, it's dirty...but safe and hidden.

     It's Friday, and I'm finally taking it easy...well I won't lie, I had a WONDERFUL Thursday night. I got my presentation all sorted out, Jaxs thank you*!~
     Did my work on the subway, drawing pictures of bunnies and foxes, lots of Korean beng thrown my way...need to learn more )O:
     Anyways, didn't get out of work until 8 or so (I think) came home, stressed too much about this presentation, finally showered and wandered towards 홍대!! I was meeting with Jaxs and Stephanie, and ...ahh I love girlfriends**!~
     Didn't get into 홍대 until around 11 or so and we just walked around, got coffee, chatted, caught up...so needed.
     Feeling so lost and floating...not actually floating, not so, free and light...I felt like I was inches off the ground this whole week in a fuzzy thick haze...just, lost. Being with girlfriends is...truly wonderful, I felt like I was wearing glasses or contacts and could see through the fog...if not forever at least for a bit.
I really do love Hongdae, there's just...curiosity everywhere. Giant questions marks everywhere, what's on that street, what does that bar serve, who works there, what's the smell...just a lot of option for discovery.
     I still have yet to check out the vegan cafes in 홍대, Alien's Day Out, another vegan blogger in Seoul,  has mentioned  a bunch, so the next time I'll be there..I'll have to make  a mission out of it.
     I'll be there Saturday night...
~~Anyways, Jaxs, Steph, and I met up with another crew...(O:
and well...I feel better. I had a wonderful evening....and even though didn't get much sleep ^^*, I was the most rested I have been in a while...
dork

Ahhh and my buddy Eli was supposed to come visit Thursday through Sunday from China...and someone stole all of his belongings...)O:
I was looking forward to se ehim, haven't seen him in literally a year...)O:

Anyways...I'll get to the MOFO stuff in a bit
Tomorrow will be fun, I hope, I think...I'm worried. Day with the mom, cross them fingers.

The other day I had to get rip of some veggies kicking it in my fridge, so I attempted japchae...

I love me some spinach and carrots*!~
photo taken by VeganBeats
    I threw a LOT of stuff into this, there's not much potatoe noodle..I just, don't like noodles...but a whole lot of spinach, mushrooms, carrots, onions, and sweet potatoes!!! I'm not into starchy things (poatoes, yams, etc) but...these guys have a nutty flavor and subtle sweetness, and I don't taste much starch...texture texture texture! Anyways...lengthy process.

     Wednesday night is Woodstock night with the crew...I went, but only for an hour or two, Nowon, you are so far away from everywhere else....)O:
Vodka Cranberry, never did I think that this would be my drink of choice nearly everywhere...
antioxidants.....
photo taken by VeganBeats
     I'm used to Gorilla's drinks, but this drink was really well made. There was just enough vodka to make the cranberry juice taste like cranberry nectar..like pure fresh cranberries...so there was a lot of vodka. They uced an Ocean Spray equivalent (Korea LOVES sugar) so the slight bitterness brought me a smile....

Anyways...until next time*!~

Friday, November 5, 2010

Will update soon*!~

Ahh I'm drastically failing at this MOFO business...I wanted to post every weekday but...work has piled up, I'm stressing often...of course have been spending time with good solid people...loving Seouls...so finding balance, but not sleep wise.

I promise to throw out a post later...just saying, I do have stuff to say and share!

~>there's nothing better in the morning than a warm Seoul and a gentle rest**!~

especially after a week like this*!~

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Sinchon....Loving Hut....wandering

Last night I kicked it in Sinchon, met up with Jaxs, Stephanie, Rachel and George for some Vegan Noms....but didn't get anything, far too nauseous...)O:
We went to Loving Hut.

I got some food pics*!~
Jaxs got the spicey noodle soup...she's always raving about it!! It looks like it has a broth similar to soon dubu....
spicey noodle soup and assorted vegan banchans
photo taken by VeganBeats
Jaxs also got a vegan burger...looked good enough!!
burgerrrrr...Homer frothing
photo taken by VeganBeats
Stephanie got the fried noodle, she said it was delicious!!
fried noodle
photo taken by VeganBeats
After Loving Hut Jaxs and George peaced to do some responsible lesson planning...Rachel, Stephanie and I took advantage of being in Sinchon and were on a quest for coffee and window shopping...we ended up kicking it at a coffee house for a couple hours...
Rachel ended up peacing later and Stephanie and I wandered the streets of Sinchon...stumbled on lots of prize game things and this interesting bar
photo taken by VeganBeats
I definately want to wander around Sinchon again, there's a lot to see....

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Halloween in Hongdae~ and zombies....

Last night was a Halloween celebration in Hongdae*!~
I missed out on the crews Zombie walk, but I got some sick pics of everyone...so the crew dressed up as zombies and scared the Seoul Subway system...I wish I was undead with them....
Dressed their finest, happy loving zombies*!~
photo taken by VeganBeats
zombie love and super hero!!!
photo taken by VeganBeats
Kevin "Do I look like Mr.Bean?"
photo taken by VeganBeats
Philippe
photo taken byVeganBeats
Liam, Kevin, and Philippe...a little man zombie love
photo taken by VeganBeats
I love this picture!!! Kevin
photo taken by VeganBeats
     So my costume was not nearly as obvious or as loud as I would have liked it to have been, but I mentioned it earlier, inspired by the movie Kickass I was a superhero..and hey I was hella sick, so I did what I could with the limited supplies I had...I will scrounge up more pics and videos (hopefully) or zombies scaring Seouls*!~

to everyone
HAPPY HALLOWEEN*!~

Saturday, October 30, 2010

순두부 and a bit sick )O:

ahhh I'm sick )O:

grumble grumble....
I have spent the entire day sleeping, relaxing and taking it more than easy, but hell, it's nearly 9pm, I've been inside all day...not my character...out...again*!~
Also, it's Halloween weekend, it would be more than out of character for I to stay in, to not celebrate the GREATEST holiday ever....tonight I will be a superhero...a pretty laid back one, Halloween isn't popular at all in Korea...)O:
My inspiration, KickAss, if only I could be as badass as the characters..in many other ways I am.

Whoa, I can tell my English is getting a bit sloppy.....
Anyways, today I did some quick cooking to help out with this lame sickness deal...I made soon dubu (spicey tofu stew) 순두부 and for a first time, it turned out pretty yummy! I mean, it was just what this sick woman needed. I haven't been sick in years, so this hit me really hard, ahhh common cold.
순두부 could have been spicier...
photo taken by VeganBeats
My apartment was rather dark, so poor quality photo (how many times will I complain about this until I splurge and spoil myself with a good camera?)
Anyways, it was spicey, comforting, and just what my body needed....

Anyways, will update later, much love*!~