Buyers remorse

I hung out with Truchen and Gill in Seomyeon last night after work, and while we had an awesome time and even got home close to midnight, I'm having some remorse about some decisions I made. 

#1: I regret buying and drinking an entire LARGE mocha ice blended drink filled to the brim with whipped cream!

#2: I regret ordering, and singlehandedly devouring, an entire slice of New York Cheesecake along with my 600+ calorie drink!

#3: I regret deciding to go to dinner, after our coffee date, and agreeing to stir fry covered in cheese!

#4: But my biggest regret wasn't about what I bought and ate, but rather what I didn't buy and take home with me last night...  As we were walking through the streets of Seomyeon, Gill spotted a woman on the sidewalk selling kittens, puppies, ducks, and baby chickens out of boxes!  In one of the boxes was the most heavenly, cuddly, all white kitten, with piercing bright blue eyes!

I'd never seen anything like it before... I was mesmerized!  Unfortunately, the lady was trying to rip me off and I wasn't willing to pay the outrageous price she was insisting on!  

Can a person have buyer's remorse over something they didn't purchase, but wish they did?!  If so, than I have buyers remorse over a kitten today!  I'm seriously tempted to go back tonight and see if she's still there, in her little box, waiting, with her piercing blue eyes, for a mommy to adopt her!  I'm not crazy, am I?!

Heart attack in a bag!

Talk about a heart attack in a bag!  

This morning, as I was walking into my classroom, one of my favorite 6th grade boys came running over and handed me this bag and said, "This is for you Alexis!  Try it!"

My initial reaction was "Uuuggghhhhhh???"  But then, I knew his mom was an awesome cook and that she had probably made them for me, and that it would be rude not to take at least 1 bite to show my appreciation, so, I did... and as it turns out, it was really delicious, (I mean really?... what oil-filled, fried pastry isn't?!)   

 I love when students bring me gifts...

I just wish they wouldn't bring me heart attacks in a bag so often!

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Bringing Kenya to Korea!

Last Sunday night, Aaron and I went to our friend Emily's place for dinner!  Emily used to live with the Choi's (Aaron's old student's family).  You probably remember her from past blog posts about hanging at their place!

Anyway, She recently got her own place - the 2nd story of an old Korean couple's home.  It's filled with character!  To get to the bathroom, you have to walk out the front door, through the front entry area, and into the outside bathroom!  There's a small door, off the kitchen, that leads out to a small balcony (with no railing) where I'm sure Korean's, for the past 50 years, have grown vegetables of all sorts during the summer!  Emily's other friends think she's crazy for living there because it's old, kinda dirty, there's no air conditioner, lots of different shades and patterns of wallpaper and flooring, green painted screens on the windows, and a gate of sorts covering the front door!  But, in my opinion, the place has more character than I've ever seen in this country, and I want it!! Yes, I'm a bit jealous! ... and yes, I will be searching for a home like this for next year!  No more modern apartment for me!  :)

Anyhow, back to bringing Kenya to Korea!  Emily is from Kenya, so for dinner, she went above and beyond and prepared one of her favorite Kenyan meals for us!!  

Chicken with secret Kenyan spices...

... and while these aren't called tortillas in Kenya, they sure looked and tasted like them!  And unfortunately, the moment after I snapped this picture, my camera battery died, so I don't get to show the other stuff she made!  Just take my word for it, it was awesome and made me wanna put Kenya on my list of future travel destinations! 

This weekend, I'm having her, her boyfriend, and Aaron over for dinner at my place!  I'm thinking of ordering pizza!  :)

He proposed!

No, no, not Aaron!  Although, be patient, that day will probably come as well!  But this post is in celebration of my BEST FRIEND Sarah and her new fiance, Caleb!

Sarah was the first person I met at Vanguard University, at orientation actually!  She was one of my very best friends all through college and someone I cherish, admire, and love!  In the past 11 years of our friendship we have shopped and crafted, knitted and watched movies, painted and decorated, stolen clothes from each other, cooked and feasted, worked out and lounged, prayed and worshipped, loved and lost, laughed and cried, traveled, and lived... TOGETHER!  She is someone who deserves the best life partner that God could possibly provide!  And I think he did her well with Caleb! :)

Introducing my best friend, her fiance, and her stunning new ring!  

The future Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Thatcher!

coming August 13th, 2010

In Sarah's own words:

"Once again, God proves to be a God who fulfills his promises, provides, and restores all things in my life.... and this time, he truly out-did himself!  It's official, I am the future, Mrs. Caleb Thatcher!" 

Congratulations you two! 

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Pumpkin Searching!

Gooodbye to the days of hay rides through pumpkin patches, and hello to the days of hanging onto the back of a parked Hyundai work truck filled with the overgrown squash!! Yes, this how we do it in Korea!! Sure takes some of the fun out of picking out a pumpkin, eh??!!

As far as pumpkins go though, Aaron and I thought this one was nice... 

But how were we to carve a face into such a short and smooshed pumpkin?!  And so, with a sigh of dissapointment and a realization that a pumpkin would not be carved this halloween afternoon, Aaron and I scooted over to McDonalds to raise our spirits! 

Happy Halloween!

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