"Aretha Coy"

Hmmm...I really hope my tea "Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa" (from Hong Kong) doesn't have any hallucinogenics in it...I would have swore that while stirring my tea, the spoon was making a noise that sounded like someone whispering "Aretha Coy" over and over again. Maybe I'm just tired. Well, there's another character name for my fourthcoming novel.

The Puddle Less Traveled By

My view walking to school this morning. This is one of those puddles you could fall into...Into another world! I love the texture of the street in this shot, and the lonely peice of red garbage that sets the street aflame.

It also reminds me of an Anne of Green Gables quote:

"When I left Queen's my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does. It has a fascination of its own, that bend, Marilla. I wonder how the road beyond it goes--what there is of green glory and soft, checkered light and shadows--what new landscapes--what new beauties--what curves and hills and valleys further on."

Rinsing Cereal

Until recently, it was almost impossible to find a relatively healthy cereal in Gangwon-Do. Sugar coated frosted flakes masquerade as "Well Being" cereal...HA! The flakes are smothered in a shiny shell of high fructose corn syrup, making the cereal almost impallitable. In order to get my daily dose of cereal deliciousness, I have been forced to rinse and strain my cereal before adding milk. Luckily, E-Mart now stocks a good brand of flakes that are sugar free. I've also noticed that a non-sweetened yogurt is being advertised on TV. No wonder Koreans think North Americans are so unhealthy, our healthy alternatives are just arriving here.



One of the culprits: "Almond Flakes" (pronounce in Korean like "Al-mon-duh Pu-lake-suh") is the cereal that I had to wash before eating.

Most Expensive Monday Morning Ever!

So today I went to Chuncheon to update my alien card. The immigration office had moved to a farther location, which cost me $20 in taxi rides to and from the bus terminal. The visa extension itseld was $30, then I stopped off at the doctor, another $40. Then E-mart, another $30. Throw in the bus fares for another $8. I'll round that up to $10. Let's see: I spent $140 before 11am!

Later in the day I surfed craig's list and then amused myself by toggeling between my newest photoshop creation, and the original photograph. I really crack myself up.

Well, at least I'm not alone.

518 million people are thinking the same thing. It would be an interesting anthropological study to see how many people use the internet as a tool for divination.

"Walked out this morning, don't believe what I saw...Hundred billion bottles washed up on the shore...A hundred billion castaways, looking for a home"

Reincarnated Steel

According to the New York Times, the American Navy have just completed a new 684ft assalt ship built with 7.5 tonnes of steel from the World Trade Center, which was destroyed 8 years ago in the infamous September 11th attacks. Rescue workers and families of those killed in the attack gathered on the waterfront today to watch the "USS New York" glide past the Statue of Liberty and down the Hudson River. The ship will be commissioned for duty on November 7. What does this mean? It seems like revenge: reincarnating the victim as a weapon of war. Coupled with the American flags and statue of liberty in the background, I can't help but feel that the American values of freedom are tied up too intricately with violence. The Peace Tower that is supposedly being built at ground 0, is barely above street level. What does this say about American values?

What should I do with my Jack O Lantern after Halloween?

MAKE A PIE!

Equipment:
* A big knife
* A large spoon
* A big pot
* A steamer basket
* A large microwaveable bowl
* 1 round cake pan (about 9” = 23cm across)
* A blender

Ingredients:

For the pie:
* 3 cups (700ml) of cooked, blended & sieved pumpkin
* 1 cup (250ml) of brown sugar
* 1.5 teaspoons (7.5ml) of ground cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon (5ml) of ground cloves
* 1 teaspoon (5ml) of ground allspice
* 1/2 teaspoon (2.5ml) of ground ginger
* 4 large eggs
* 1 tube (500ml) sweetened condensed milk

For the crust:
* 16 Diget cookies
* ½ a cup (100ml) of butter

Optional:
* Whipped Cream
* Vanilla Ice Cream

Instructions:

1) Slay your Jack O’ Lantern
(or, if you are using a whole pumpkin, cut it in half and scoop out all the flesh and seeds…You can keep the seeds to roast later!)

2) Place a steamer basket in a large pot and fill the pot with water until the water level is just below the steamer basket. Place half of the pumpkin face down and cook covered for 30 minutes.
3) You can also cook the other half of your pumpkin/Jack O Lantern in the microwave. Cut it up into quarters and put it face up in a microwavable bowl. Fill the bowl with a couple of inches of water, and microwave on high for 25 minutes.

4) ) While the pumpkin is cooking, crush 16 Diget cookies in a plastic bag. Put the cookie crumbs in the cake pan, and pour in ½ a cup (100ml) of melted butter. Mix, and put in the oven at 180*C for 8 minutes.

5) If the pumpkin is soft enough, you should be able to easily scrape out the flesh. Put it in the blender and blend until smooth.

6) Strain the pumpkin mush for a few minutes to get rid of the excess water.

7) You should have approximately 3 cups (700ml) of cooked pumpkin glop. Stir the pumpkin into all the other ingredients, then blend it.

8) Remove the pie crust from the oven. Don’t worry; it’s not fully cooked yet.

9) Pour the blended ingredients on top of the crust.

10)If you have extra pie mix, you can pour it into a smaller cake pan and make a second, crust-less pumpkin pie.

11) Bake at 210*C for the first 15 minutes, then turn the temperature down to 175*C and bake another 45 to 60 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.