Three Thoughts for Free

Drive-by posting with two.....no, three random thoughts.

1. Is it totally conceited of me that whenever I see anyone's wedding pictures, I always think, "My wedding dress was SO much prettier!"? Because it totally was.....

2. Related to weddings, we saw The Proposal tonight and quite enjoyed it. It made me really want to visit Alaska and gave me a little crush on Ryan Reynolds.
2a: I really like seeing movies on base because 1) they are free and 2) they always play the national anthem before the previews. It always makes me a little teary-eyed.
2b: My wedding dress was so much prettier than Sandra Bullock's in this movie. Just saying.....

3. I ate a 누룽지 (nurungi) flavored Korean hard candy the other day. According to our Korean dictionary, 누룽 지 is the "the crust of overcooked rice; the scorched bottom layer of boiled rice." It's like eating a Bernie Botts Every Flavor Bean and not one of the good kinds. I'd put it up there with earwax and vomit. But Koreans apparently like it. So much so that they have a word for the burnt layer of rice at the bottom of a pot. Go figure....

I lied. I have a fourth thought.

4. Koreans make me laugh.

The end.

Seoul Tower

On Wednesday, David and I decided to take a walk up to N Seoul Tower. We live right at the base of the mountain on which the tower sits and it's a big landmark in the city. I always know how to get home once I see the tower, which is very convenient for me.

We began our hike a little after 6pm, once it had cooled down. I did not realize just how big the mountain is until we started climbing it. But it was a beautiful walk. There is a large pedestrian path up the mountain which winds through lots of trees and bushes. I'd forgotten what it felt like to be around pure, untouched nature. You don't find a lot of it in Seoul. (One downside is that I did meet with a lot of mosquitoes along the way. And I'm like candy to mosquitoes.) The path is great for exercising (in fact, most people walking up and down the path were obviously doing it for exercise) and there's even an outdoor gym of sorts near the top.

We finally reached the top before it grew too dark. The tower boasts several shops (including a Coldstones! I must return and get some), a teddy bear museum, restaurants, and observatory. You have to pay to get to the top of the tower (there's a restaurant at top that even rotates one revolution every hour) but David and I opted not to go up. Though it was a pretty day, I'd rather pay the 7,000 won on a clearer day. Besides, we still had a pretty amazing view from the base of the tower.

This is looking at the southern tip of Seoul that is to the north of the Han river. (Did that make any sense?) You can barely make out the Han River and all the traffic as people leave downtown Seoul to head into the outskirts. If you notice on the left hand side of this picture, where there are actually trees, vegetation, and it doesn't look like a massive crowd of buildings, that's the base. And you can also probably tell by its prime location in Seoul why the Koreans would like to have that space back. Most of the troops in Seoul will be re-located farther south, near Osan and Camp Humphreys, in the next several years.

The railing around the base of the tower are full of these locks, most with love notes written on them. At least, that's what David told me. There were some in English, but obviously, the majority were in Korean. It was actually pretty neat. And the "love benches" up there are designed to slope inward so that you have to sit near each other.

One lone lock and note and the view of Seoul.

We stayed up there for about 45 minutes, enjoying the breeze and the view. By the time we left, it was pretty much dark. But I snapped one last shot of the tower before we headed home.

On the weekends, they shine different colored lights on the white shaft of the tower which is pretty neat to see. We'll definitely have to come back up another night to go to the top and eat some Coldstones. It's always nice to have a little flavor of home in a foreign country.

Life as I know it....so far

You know, I generally want to update my blog regularly, but....well.....there's just not a whole lot to say most days. I've taken to staying indoors recently because even though jangma (monsoon) season is over and it rains infrequently, it has become unbearably hot. I don't do well in the hot, hot heat of the burning Asian sun. I swear that Asians don't sweat. They still wear layers of clothes and skinny jeans and look perfectly composed while I try to wear as little clothing as possible and sweat like a pig. The hour-long trip to church (walking/subway) simply exhausts me. I'm always ready for a nap by the time we make it to our building. I can't wait to get a car but I have no idea when that will happen.

Poor David is absolutely swamped with work and school these days. He works 4 days and then has 4 days off. The first two days, he works a 12 hour shift in the morning (7am-7pm) and then on the third day, he switches and works two 12 hour night shifts (7pm-7am). Add in the two hour roundtrip commute to his office, and you have one long day. The fifth day he usually spends sleeping and then the next 3 "off" days are usually filled with pointless military things and homework. We barely see each other on the days he works and don't have time to do anything else the days he does classwork. I try to be as supportive as I possibly can because I know how stressed out David is and want to make life as easy as possible for him but it's hard to find things to occupy my endless free time while he's so busy. One of these days, I'll venture out on my own, but I often get overwhelmed by the fact that I can't communicate with people even though most Koreans speak some English. I have no problem riding the subway and getting to where I want to go, but I don't know what to do once I get there.

I've applied to several more jobs; one in particular at the U.S. Embassy that sounds absolutely perfect for me. (I actually meet all of their qualifications, and while I'm slightly over-qualified, I'm not so over-qualified that they wouldn't give me the job. Believe me, it's happened to me before.) I'm trying not to be too overly optimistic about my chances for the position, but I haven't been very successful with that. I think I've got a really good shot of at least getting an interview. In the meantime, I'm going to continue looking into teaching English or possibly subbing at the American schools on base, at least until I can find something more permanent.

Church, on the other hand, should keep me pretty busy. For those who care or know what I'm talking about, I have two callings and I'm pretty excited (and slightly apprehensive) about both of them. First, David and I were called to be the co-activities chairpeople. It's the perfect calling for us to do as a couple. David is very much the spokesperson/MC type, while I'm the quiet planner/organizer. It helps that we can do it together, especially since David has such a random schedule that doesn't allow him to attend church on a regular basis. At least we can plan activities on the days he doesn't have to work. Our first big activity is scheduled for next month. It's just a back-to-school/fall BBQ event, but I'm trying to make it as exciting as I can with games, contests, and prizes. I loathe ward activities where you eat and then just stand around and mingle. I'm trying to come up with activities for everyone.

A few weeks after calling me to be the activities chairperson, they also called me to be the Sunbeam teacher in Primary. I sat in on the class yesterday and will take over next Sunday. I have 5 students (2 boys, 3 girls). I'm excited to be teaching, even if it is 4 year olds, but I'm also not quite sure how I feel about being in Primary. I expected to be called to Primary eventually, but I find the thought of not attending Sunday School or Relief Society to be a bit unsettling since it's what I've been doing for the last 8 years. I expect it will be good practice for when I have my own children and teach me some much needed patience. I hope I won't get lost in primary like so many other women (meaning that you never know anyone who doesn't also work in primary or have children that age). But, my other calling should take care of that. And if I can get a job soon, I can start to feel like a productive person again. I tell you, I function so much better when I have too much to do and not too little. If I have too much free time, I become a lazy slob and I'd really like to snap out of that as soon as possible.

Ode to an iPod

My trusty old iPod died this week. Poor thing has been on the fritz for awhile but I think she's officially dead now. I bought my iPod (a 20G third generation, way before the video/color iPods or the tiny nanos) for my 22nd birthday. I had just returned to the States after a life-changing semester abroad and my interest in music had been revitalized by my fellow study abroad friends Jasie, Sage, Danny and Margaret. They changed what I listened to and how I listened to it. That last year at BYU, I went to the more concerts than ever before, downloaded a ton of music, and kept up-to-date on all the new emerging indie bands. I haven't always kept up with what's going on in the music world, but I can never forget the music I poured onto my iPod that first year.

So in honor of my iPod's death and the music that's changed who I am, here's a look at my top ten songs (chosen from the top 25 playlist) that have been over-played by my iPod over the last four and a half years. Some of these songs have been there since the beginning, others are new additions that I've played on repeat (I do that a lot.....David can attest to that) but here's ten of the songs (and bands) that have changed my life. (Note: several bands have multiple entries in the top 25, but I only picked one song per band.)

1. The number one spot goes to "Funeral" by Band of Horses, from their debut album Everything is Illuminated. It's one of my absolute favorite albums, a rare instance when the entire album is worth listening to all the way through. (In fact, 4 songs off this album are in my top 25 playlist. I listen to them.....a lot.) This song....well, I can't really discuss why each of these songs means so much to me without this quickly devolving into a session of therapy so I'll just say that this song saw me through some tough times and leave it at that.

Favorite lyrics: "At every occasion I'll be ready for a funeral."

If you like this song, also check out: Monsters, Our Swords, Part One, No One's Gonna Love You, Is There's a Ghost



2. Coming in at a close #2 is Ted Leo and the Pharmacist's "The Gold Finch and the Red Oak Tree." Such a sweet little song, so full of hope and beauty. I put this song on every playlist I make. A day just doesn't feel complete unless I've listened to it at least once.

Fave lyrics: "Golden finch, your song is your love...Golden finch, alight in your loft,Where you have learned and, oh, you have taught. The red oak tree will carry your loss, when you alone can't carry that cross."

Also check out: Biomusicology, Parallel or Together, Under the Hedge, and his cover of Since U Been Gone


(Not the official video)

3. "The Lengths" by the Black Keys. Like Ted Leo and "The Gold Finch," this song by the Black Keys is a departure from their typically more upbeat stuff. (What can I say? I like sad songs.) I loved this song so much, I wanted to dance to it at my wedding. I didn't. It's not the most wedding appropriate song but I love it a big whole bunch.

Fave lyrics: "Tell me what you were thinkin', To treat somebody so, The care he took, The lengths to which he'd go, The coals are hot, To walk across, Without your shoes, But in the end, know that you've got nothing to lose."

Also check out: When the Lights Go Out



4. "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver. This is a relatively new addition to my repeat playlist, within the last year or so. Bon Iver has a really folksy sound which I've come to really enjoy lately from musicians like Sufjan Stevens and Iron and Wine. What I love so much about all these bands/singers is the emotional intensity in their voices.

Favorite lyrics: "I told you to be patient, I told you to be fine, I told you to be balanced, I told you to be kind, In the morning I'll be with you, but it will be a different "kind", I'll be holding all the tickets and you'll be owning all the fines"

Also see: Blood Bank, Creature Fear



5. "Cause of Rockslide" by Badly Drawn Boy. There are some songs that whenever you hear them, they take you right back to a very specific place or time in your life. This song, to me, is Monterey, with the fog rolling in, the sea breeze blowing its salty air along the bay and my windows rolled down in my green pickup truck. This song is David and the beginning of our relationship. (The main song is the first 3 minutes. After some weird stuff, another cute little song comes on at 5:13.) If you listen close enough, you might be able to smell the ocean, just like I do whenever I hear this song.

Favorite lyrics: "Your sweetness, would cause a rockslide, if only before the summertime, this could be our last goodbye, please darling, please don't cry..."

Check out: Everybody's Stalking, Another Pearl, Magic in the Air



6. "Red Right Ankle" by The Decemberists. So my friend Jasie is a big fan of The Decemberists and she gave me 2 or 3 of their albums to listen to but I never really got into any of them. I liked one song ("California One") which I used in a paper I wrote about wine and food culture in the Bay Area for my San Fran history class at BYU. (Great class, by the way.) So when The Decemberists came to Salt Lake on tour, Jasie insisted I go. Though I was hesistant, I went and I'll be forever grateful that I did because The Decemberists were meant to be listened to live. There are few bands, in my opinion, who put on really good live shows (and sound better in person than in recordings) and The Decemberists are one of them. Plus Colin Meloy is a poetical genius.

Favorite lyrics: "This is the story of your red right ankle and how it came to meet your leg and how the muscle, bone, and sinews tangled and how the skin was softly shed...This is the story of the boys who loved you who love you now and loved you then...some had crawled their way into your heart to rend your ventricles apart..."

Check out: July! July!, California One, Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect, On the Bus Mall, Grace Cathedral Hall, From My Own True Love


(Again, not an official video.)

7. Arcade Fire. Oh, Arcade Fire. The first time I heard Funeral (another awesome CD that should be listened to in its entirety) it was like a revelation to me. As Jasie told me, it was the kind of music she'd always wanted to listen to but never knew existed. Seeing Arcade Fire live (with Jasie, who came to D.C. for the sole purpose of attending this concert.....and seeing me, I hope) ranks up there as one of my top concert experiences ever. So you have to understand that it's very difficult for me to pick between my two favorite Arcade Fire songs. "Wake Up" is very representative of Arcade Fire's music and, I've heard it called, a bit of an anthem for indie rock fans and our generation. I have to agree with that. It's the kind of song that makes you want to stand up and pump your fist and do something. "Neighborhood 4 (7 Kettles)" is a much different song. It's very subtle, very slow. It haunts me a little. And it's the song that made me fall in love with Arcade Fire. So for that reason, I'll pick "7 Kettles."

Favorite lyrics: "Say a watched pot won't ever boil. Well, I closed my eyes and nothing changed. Just some water, getting hotter, in the flames."

See also: Everything Arcade Fire has ever done. Okay seriously: Wake Up, Crown of Love, No Cars Go, Keep the Car Running, Power Out, Rebellion



8. "I'll Believe in Anything" by Wolf Parade. I bought their CD, Apologies to the Queen Mary based on good reviews I'd read on Pitchfork. I remember getting the CD and listening to it and listening to it again, and then again. I didn't love it at first. And then around the 20th listen, I got it. And it quickly became my favorite CD for a good long while. (Another product of the Monterey days.) And while I love a good many songs on this CD, there's just something about this song, something that I cannot explain, that I absolutely love. I could listen to this song on repeat for hours. Also, I love this music video. The one for "Modern World" is very cool too.

Fave lyrics: "And I could take another hit for you and I could take away your trips from you, and I could take away the salt from your eyes, and take away the spitting salt in you, and I could give you my apologies by handing over my neologies, and I could take away the shaking knees, and I could give you all the olive trees, oh look at the trees and look at my face and look at a place far away from here"

Check out: You Are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son, Modern World, Ground for Divorce, Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts



9. "Please, please, please let me get what I want" by The Smiths. Another short, but great song. I've heard this song used in a lot of movies (most notably New York Doll, a very touching documentary), but it still rings true everytime. Such heartbreak and earnestness.

Lyrics: "See the luck that I've had could make a good man bad. So for once in my life, let me get what I want. Lord knows it would be the first time."


(I know this is a bad Twilight fan video, but it was the only video I could find that had the Smith's version of this song and not someone doing a cover of it. Apparently, everyone and their mom has done a cover of this song.)

10. I debated what song should take the 10th spot. Should it go to Bloc Party's "This Modern Love"? Or the Yeah Yeah Yeah's "Maps" (my absolute favorite song to sing on Rockband.....though I've loved it for a long, long time) or Okkervil River's "Savannah Smiles"? Or maybe Beirut's "Postcards from Italy," Neko Case's "Star Witness," The Rosebud's "Makeout Song" (as advertised, this is a great song to make out to) or perhaps "It'll Be a Breeze" by the Long Winters. They are all in my top 25. So is Rachmaninov's "Rhaspody on a theme from Paganini" (the song from the movie Somewhere in Time if you've ever seen it), Azure Ray's "Sleep" and Death Cab's "Title and Registration." I love each of these songs for many different reasons. They all have a strong connection to particular times in my life. But the song I had to pick, which means a great deal to me, is Carey Brother's "Blue Eyes." I haven't listened to it much recently, but this is the song that David and I danced to in my apartment in Monterey, in the kitchen of my house in Virginia and in Templar's Hall at our wedding reception. And it'll forever remind me of David.

Favorite lyrics: "'Cause blue eyes, you are all that I need, cause blue eyes, you're the sweet to my mean....I just wanna sing a song with you. I just wanna be the one that's true.....so sublime when the stars are aligned, but you don't know...you don't know the greatness you are."



So, now it's time to get a new iPod. Or just steal David's, which he never uses anyway. But now I ask you, what songs are in your top ten? What else should be included in my top 25? Because chances are....these songs are all going to stay here for a very, very long time. Which isn't so bad, but I'm in the mood for a little new music right about now.

Phineas and Ferb

Another blog drive-by since it gives me something to do while I wait for my cookies to bake. If you haven't ever heard or watched Disney's Phineas and Ferb, I'm here to tell you that you should. My in-laws are big fans, so when David and I spent a week in Georgia, we watched all the episodes that they had saved on their DVR. A lot of episodes. Over time, I came to love the show's quirky humor, hilarious gags, and music.

Below is my favorite Phineas and Ferb episode entitled "Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together!"

A few things you should know before watching:
1. Phineas and Ferb are step-brothers. Phineas does most of the talking, while Ferb only speaks up once or twice an episode. Every episode, they devise some impossible scheme like building a rocket to outer space, creating the world's largest rollercoaster, or building a beach in their backyard.
2. Candace, their sister, is constantly trying to bust her brothers. Something inevitably happens to clear up the whole mess and keep them out of trouble.
3. Perry the Platypus is the family pet. He is also a secret agent out to stop the not-so-evil Dr. Duffensmirtz.

Enjoy! And go forth and watch more.

Onions

I don't know if I'm the only one, but writing a blog post takes me a long time, especially if I include a lot of photographs. I've been able to produce a few quick posts, but for the most part, I spend hours or even days putting together a single post. Most of the time, it's a result of getting bored or losing my attention span halfway through or not being able to find the right words or organization for my thoughts. I have several such posts in the works (I always have a lot of post in the works....there's a bunch I've just never finished) but right now I want to post a drive-by posting about onions.

Yes. Onions.

See, I've never been a huge fan of onions. I like the flavor they bring to a lot of foods, but I dislike the texture. I don't mind finely chopped onions in sauces but I would never put a raw onion slice anywhere near my mouth.

Until now.

About two weeks ago, we went out to a Korean restaurant and they gave us raw onions marinated in a slightly milky substance, possibly some sort of vinegar. Out of curiosity (and because I force myself to sample a little bit of everything we receive in a Korean restaurant) I ate one of these onions. I then polished off the whole dish.

Saturday night, we went to a different Korean restaurant and received the same marinated onions. I ate two dishes of them. I don't know what kind of sauce these onions are marinated in, but I'm on the hunt to find it out. It helps to tone down the pungent taste of the onion and make them sweeter.

I checked out 3 Korean cookbooks from the library today. I hope I'll find some clues. Until then, I'm going to be dreaming about marinated onions.

Isn't it weird how your food preferences can change? Next thing you know, I'll be eating everything under the sea....

Well.....maybe not. Sea creatures creep me out.

Happiness

It's been a very long and busy week, even though it's only Thursday. It feels like it should be Friday or Saturday but, then again, my body's internal clock is seriously screwed up right now. I go to bed late (2 or 3 am, last night it was 4) and wake up later and later (11, noon, etc). I blame David and his ridiculous work schedule but really, it's my own night owlish tendencies. I've always been more productive at night and love the quiet stillness of the early morning hours. Anyway, I'm trying to get back on a more regular schedule, but it's been difficult. Especially since my body can't seem to get enough sleep these days.

We've been in Korea for 6 weeks now. I'm almost getting to the point where I feel comfortable in my surroundings though I haven't done as much exploring as I would have liked. It was at this point after moving to Hawaii that I began to feel very, very discouraged and depressed. There were no job opportunities, I was bored, and had little to fill my time with. But surprisingly, I do not feel that way here at all. I've been quite content to just stay at home to clean and organize or run to errands, and I have yet to feel guilty for not having a job. I'd like to have a job because I always function better when I have a more consistent schedule, but I don't feel as useless here as I did in Hawaii. I know part of it is a change in my attitude, but a big part of it is feeling like I have a support network here, which I lacked in Hawaii.

See, when you are stationed overseas, the world becomes a lot smaller. By that I mean, the number of places where you can meet and form acquaintances becomes smaller for any number of reasons: language barriers, culture differences, etc. I love to learn about Korean culture in my daily interactions with Koreans, but ultimately, nothing beats being with fellow Americans who share the same language, cultural understandings, humor, and food. (Though I enjoy Korean food, I need more variety in my diet.) As such, David and I already have a strong network of friends both from church and David's work. We've had more social engagements in the last 6 weeks here than our first 6 months in Hawaii. The ward has been extremely welcoming and friendly and we already feel like we belong. Plus, the wives often get together for girl time at least once a month (Pedicures and lunch....we've done it twice already. My feet are very appreciative.) I never realized how much I missed having girl time since getting married. I love being with David and spending lots of time with him. We talk about everything but there's just something different about getting to be around other women.

In my other time, I read and watch movies (thankfully the base has a pretty decent library) and spend time baking and cooking. David and I are trying to change our eating habits by eating more fruits and vegetables and I've enjoyed finding and trying out new, healthier recipes. I don't know how much longer this arrangement will keep me content, but for now, I'm quite happy to just be a housewife. (Although, for some reason, I was quite offended that the Korean official listed me as a "home maker" on my visa application.) I'm often surprised to realize how happy I am here (though I wish it weren't so blasted hot and humid) and I figure I should just enjoy it while it lasts.

Lofthouse Cookie Attempt #1

There is nothing I love better in the world of store-bought baked goods than a Lofthouse sugar cookie. They are my addiction and my crack and I have inhaled more boxes of these delectable treats than I care to admit. Little did I know that Lofthouse is a Utah company, based out of Ogden so they predominate on the West Coast, but I was often able to find them in Virginia and occasionally, in Hawaii (especially around holidays). Before we left Georgia, I insisted on buying two boxes of Lofthouse cookies (one I ate there and one I polished off in our first week in Korea) because I feared that I wouldn't see them again for another two years.

However I did see them at the Commissary over the Fourth of the July weekend. They were very patriotic. I rejoiced in seeing them and exercised extreme willpower and did not purchase them. I have come to regret that decision since I have yet to see them there again. They are probably only brought in during certain holidays and so I will have to bide my time until the next cookie worthy holiday arrives......which means I've got a long wait until Halloween.

So I began searching for a Lofthouse cookie recipe. And I found many a recipe claiming to recreate the splendor of the cookie; one even claimed to be the original recipe. I've decided to work my way through the collection of supposed Lofthouse cookie recipes I've amassed to see if I can come close to its cookie awesomeness.

Here's the recipe I chose to make today:

Ingredients:
1 (18.9 oz Pkg.) Pillsbury French Vanilla cake mix
1/3 C vegetable oil (Crisco)
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 375F. Blend, cake mix, eggs, and oil until moistened. Roll into 1" balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten with a glass or cookie stamp. Bake at 375F for 6-8 minutes. Allow to cool 1 minute before removing to cooling rack. While the cookies are still a little warm, spread on some buttercream frosting. Allow the frosting to set up before storing.

Buttercream Frosting
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
6-8 cups confectioners sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla extract

Place butter in a large bowl. Add 4 cups sugar and then milk and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy, approx 3-5 minutes. Gradually add remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time beating well after each time, about 2 minutes, until the icing is thick enough to spread. Add food coloring if you'd like.

I liked the idea of this recipe for several reasons: it had a simple ingredients list, relatively clear directions (some have no directions), and derived from a cake mix. I like the cost effectiveness of using cake mixes. Plus the Lofthouse cookie is a cakey sort of cookie and I thought using a cake mix might be a good step towards recreating that soft flakey cake-cookie hybrid.

I made the dough according to the instructions but added some sour cream (for moistness) and more flour. It was too wet a dough to begin with and so I added maybe 1/2 - 1 cup extra flour but I don't think it was near enough.

I shaped bits of the dough into balls and rolled them in extra flour. Otherwise they were slightly too sticky to work with.

I then used the bottom of my measuring cup to smash them into circles. I popped them in the oven for about 8 minutes.

And here they are fresh out of the oven. I think, in addition to more flour, I should have also cooked them for a little longer but I was afraid of over cooking them since Lofthouse cookies are never golden brown, but rather delicately white.

In the meantime, I whipped up the buttercream frosting. Now, you must understand that frosting is my Achilles Heel when it comes to baking. Aside from my brown butter maple frosting, I have yet to find a frosting recipe that I like and I can never seem to get it to the right consistency. I was wary about this frosting and thought about cutting it in half but I decided to be brave and go for the whole thing. I should have cut it in half. It was no where near thick enough for a Lofthouse cookie and did not have the right taste, texture or flavor. And, of course, I had a TON left over. It's a good thing I was planning on making cupcakes later this week or else I'd be rather perturbed by how much extra frosting this recipe produced.


And here's the finished final product. I thought they looked tasty despite the inadequate frosting and after waiting for them to finish cooling down, I tried one.

I was not impressed.

Oh, don't get me wrong. They're are perfectly acceptable sugar cookies. In fact, they are moist, soft and chewy. But they in no way resemble a Lofthouse cookie. The cookie itself was not cakey (needs more flour) and the frosting was not thick enough (less milk, more butter). So this recipe will get written down as a fail. I'll just have to keep trying. And now I need to find someone to eat these cookies. I can't even look at them without being utterly disappointed. Plus, I really went crazy with the frosting. Hee.

Goop-da!

The Korean word of the day is 굽다 (goop-da) which means to bake! I'm actually surprised that the word exists in the Korean language since Koreans (or most Asians, for that matter) do not bake. Most homes do not have ovens or if they do, they are very, very tiny.

This, for example, is my oven. It's located in the utility room next to a sink, the washer and dryer. It's obviously an afterthought added by the landlords for their predominantly American tenants. (For which I heartily thank them.) The top portion is a broiler rack and the bottom is the regular oven. I'm still learning how to manipulate the gas oven because it's difficult to get a set temperature that stays there for any length of time. Plus, I'm doing it in Celsius. Luckily, the previous tenants printed up a big list of conversion from Celsius to Fahrenheit and I bought an oven thermometer which dangles from the rack so that I can get an accurate reading of the real temperature. It's always an adventure cooking in this oven but I'm sure I'll eventually get the hang of it.

Aside from my tiny oven stuck in the laundry room, the rest of the kitchen is spacious, with lots of storage space and countertop room, which is a marked difference from the shoebox kitchen we had in Hawaii. I'm most excited about what I've dubbed my "baking corner."

Here you can see my Kitchenaid and all the workspace underneath my cupboard full of my baking supplies. Conveniently, this is the space closet to the oven as well. I stocked up on cake mixes and brownie mixes. I like to make certain things from scratch but cake mixes often come in handy as a quick base for a lot of different items. And I find it to be more cost effective.

I have my containers of flour, sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, toffee bits (love toffee bits!) and chocolate chips. (I prefer to use real chocolate instead of chips, but I can't find good baking chocolate here, so I'm reduced to using chips again. Oh well.)

And of course I have my baking agents (salt, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa) and a bin full of sprinkles, flavorings (vanilla, rum, maple, lemon extract, etc.) and food coloring. Everything I need to bake within an arm's reach.

Underneath it all is my cabinet full of my essential baking items including Pyrex glass dishes, cookie sheets, muffin pans, wire racks, pizza stone, bowls, cookie cutters (located inside the cake container), round cake pans, pie pans, springform pans, measuring cups, pastry cutter, flour sifter, rolling pins and my ice cream maker.

I'm so excited to do more baking in my new baking corner. I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Martha Stewart cupcake book that I just ordered which, I have on good authority, is pretty awesome. Hopefully soon, I'll be able to share some more recipes and baking successes with you.

I Think I'm Paranoid

Awhile back, I added Google Analytics to my blog. I thought it'd be fun to see how many people actually visit my blog, how long they spend here, and where they come from. In some ways it's really fascinating. In the last month, I've had visitors from all over the United States, Japan and Brazil. (Who the heck do I know in Brazil? Or Japan, for that matter?) The average time spent here is 34 seconds. (Uh....thanks?) And thirty-seven "unique" people have visited my blog. I didn't think I knew that many people. Or rather that that many people knew I had a blog.

Despite these fascinating statistics (the only form of math at which I did not suck at), I don't really like Google Analytics. And I'll tell you why.

It's because I hate the thought that other people have Google Analytics on their site. If my friends check it, then they will know that I have no life and check their blogs at least 2-3 times a day. (Please post more, friends!) But I've also gotten into the habit of reading the blogs of friends of friends. The blogs of complete strangers are either extremely interesting and extremely boring, the latter being the more prevalent form. (Please stop thinking that my blog is boring too.) But if these random strangers check their analytics pages, they too will notice a mysterious visitor from South Korea. And suddenly, I'm no longer an anonymous visitor. People will know. The most annoying thing is those blogs that actually have a counter of where their visitors are coming from. "Visitor arriving from Seoul" with a little Korean flag next to it. Could I be more inconspicuous?

Sheesh.

It's okay. You can think I'm weird and paranoid. Afterall, it's nearly 2am here in Korea and I may have inhaled too many fumes from all the cleaning solutions I've been using. I just hate feeling like I'm being watched....

And so, because I hate that people know that I read their blogs, I will no longer check my Google Analytics. So, you may all rest assured that as far as my blog goes, you are all anonymous here and welcome to remain so.

Just thought you should know.