Transformers!

Although it IS a Michael Bay movie (Stealth was a total bust), it is AWESOME!!! None-stop action, almost from the word "GO!" Shia La Beouf was ingenious in his role as Sam Witwiki. The only things that put some stops to my utter stupification was the usual Bay-isms that popped up throughout the movie. Such as stationing a fleet of ships in the Yellow Sea to keep an eye on Qatar, or the fact that people did flee when the final fight started... They were still flitting around OUTSIDE, riding bikes, pushing baby carriages, etc. So, I suggest seeing this movie. You won't be disappointed.

Stupidity

OK, yes, my usually anal tendencies failed me for once. And in the most inopportune of situations. After traveling an hour to the Seoul/Incheon International Airport from the base, finding our ticket counter, standing in line and finally having our turn to check in, I realize ... my orders aren't in my bag with my travel itinerary! OH SHIT! They won't check me in without my orders due to the fact that, even though I asked for a stamp in my passport, I didn't receive one. So, it was either leave the Korean Peninsula with my orders or with having a stamp in my passport. And as I had neither, I was in a sticky situation. Luckily I had my receipt with the Lodge's phone number on it. And after two attempts at sending a bellboy up to the room I had occupied, my orders were finally located right where I remember putting them after I checked into the hotel (on the bureau next to the TV which was then covered with the unread newspapers) and faxed to the airport. We made it to our gate as the final call for boarding was being called.

Now usually I double and triple check to ensure that I have my orders, passport, itinerary... Not this time... but let me tell you, I will now make multiple copies and a softcopy at home.

Some Seoul Searching...

I've been in Seoul, South Korea for a few days now. I did some eating and shopping last night. Myself and two fellow travelers took a taxi to the Itaewon shopping district of Seoul. We spent the first hour or so looking through the shops. Two of us were looking for blankets; nice, heavy blankets you can only find in Korea or Japan.



Nice, eh? Quite warm, too.

Curiosity led us down some back alleys, which led us to some nice surprises. We found a couple of streets with more upscale shops. Shops not containing the usual crap that you found in the more touristy areas, but shops with some really nice antiques. I mean, let me tell you, Seoul could be the antique capital of the world. All those "Antiquers" should grab their passports and book a trip to Seoul!

We also went to a tiny Korean restaurant in the heart of "Little Albania."

We had Kimchee...



Bulgogi, which we cooked ourself at the table...



and some other pickled-fish dish that was also pretty good...



I also took in some sights...

a nice little view from in between two buildings...


The "Welcome to Korea" archway.


Korean McDonald's


Now, I was watching the news, and Fox was reporting on the South Korean hostage situation in Afghanistan, and how it was the ONLY thing on all the stations here. However, walking around town, even though everyone had a TV set up on the street, everyone was glued to the set, it wasn't the news they were watching. It was the Asian Games Soccer Match between Iraq and the South Korean teams. That was the real thing people couldn't stop talking about.

Ooops! She did it again...

DAMN! Not even a week out of rehab, and Lindsay Lohan is once again arrested for Driving Under the Influence and Driving While Intoxicated. Heeped onto this, one FELONY charge of Cocaine Possession, and one FELONY charge of Trafficking of an Illegal Substance. And again, she seeks the refuge of rehab. This time, she also sought medical help...

"LOS ANGELES - Lindsay Lohan was busted for drunk driving and drug possession on Tuesday, just days after completing an alcohol treatment programme following her arrest in May for similar charges, police said. "

You know, I was watching the news as I typed up my report, and I first thought it was discussion on Ms Lohan because she was now out of rehab, had turned herself in for her last offense, etc., etc. Then I realize, HOLY SH!T, AGAIN!!!

Book SEVEN is finally here!

So, Ant got a bug up his ass to go to the BX at 0700 for book seven of Harry Potter. The line was already around the corner...



... and extended back around this corner...



Ant not looking so happy... Wait, wasn't this his idea???



camping out with the others...



And the final product. Book 7 in our hot little hands....



Damn PX advertised for over a week about the 0800 presale... then on the day of, nope, sorry, we can't pre-sell.. have to wait until 0901 as that is 1201 GMT! WHAT, you can't pre-sell? Amazon has been doing that for almost a year! You can't do it an hour early? Whatever! Anywho, half the base was there. AFN included. Ant may have made it onto Around the Services for today or sometime this weekend.!

Let there be STEAK!!!

So, being stuck in the States, I decided to make the most of it. I decided to see a movie. I picked a chick-flick, "Knocked Up." I chose this movie because The others I would have seen, (Die Hard, Harry Potter, Transformers) I would have liked to have seen with my Hubby, who is 6,000 miles away, at the moment.
And, as I had 90 minutes before the movie started, I decided to go to Applebee's. Party of one, I sat at the bar. I looked at the menu and decided, LET THERE BE STEAK! I hadn't had one in a while, and they are super expensive to have one at a restaurant in Japan, so there! It was so delish!
Movie was cute. Had its funny moments and its IsodidnotneedtoseeTHAT moments. But all in all I enjoyed it.

Stuck in Florida, Courtesy of Man-Yi

Well, I made it to the airport with 45 minutes to make it through security and all that... plenty of time. Unfortunately, Typhoon Man-Yi made it to Tokyo with plenty of time to cancel my flights. So, I am stuck in Florida for another two days. Had to rent another car, move back into billeting. SUCKS! But it IS Florida!