This American Visit - Chicago

Last weekend was the first weekend I’d had off since I started working at the little airport. I knew I had to do something special, and then the idea struck me as I was walking home.

 

We figured out everything just in time to get on an airplane ......

... and enjoy the hottest day of the year they’d seen so far in Chicago.

We followed the crowds.....

.... and stumbled upon the Taste of Chicago at Bryant Park.

Mmmmm, pulled pork sandwiches with lots of bbq sauce mmmmmmM

 

This classy old man stole my heart. He was waving his umbrella up and down trying to hail a cab. I would have jumped in had he asked.

I owe you a bit of an apology though. I didn’t take many pictures of my favourite things. I know that’s strange but I was feeling a little camera shy - I’m a bit out of practice … however I can offer you these little pearls of wisdom; if you order the shrimp and grits at The Southern they will be amazing, shopping around Wicker Park will make your closet prettier, and you should absolutely drink a few too many Moscow Mules in at the Bar Deville and then dance with the locals… you never know what you’ll find behind the curtains.

Standby Bye

What are you up to today?

Not much.

Want to run around Quebec City?

 

Sure.

Of Ladies & Cherry Blossoms

A little over a year ago three very special ladies travelled very far to pay me a visit. I’m not sure why it’s taken me this long to post the photos, but it just so happens that now is a particularly perfect time to share. If you’ve seen me at all over past few weeks I’ve probably tried to drag you out to see the cherry blossoms in High Park. Flowers/plants make me happy and I assume they should do the same for you.

This story really should start the night before we went to biggest cherry blossom festival in Korea. A few of us and the ladies went out for one of those big Korean dinners where they fill your table with a million little delicious dishes. Mme wouldn’t eat anything with meat in it as her children had planted the doubt that Koreans might eat dog the way westerners eat beef.

Despite our best attempts she politely refused to budge. I may be partially to blame. The night they arrived I took 2 of the ladies to a famous Korean restaurant I’d been curious about for a while. None of my friends would ever agree to eat there, and my lack of Korean resulted in us ordering deep fried chicken bums. I love you ladies. 

After dinner we had a few drinks in Seomeyon.
Rhylon picked out the records that made the ladies smile.

Eventually it was time to go home. We had a big day ahead of us and sleep would be the wisest choice. As the cab approached Gwangali I mentioned my friend Dougie’s bar. Mme gave a mischievous smile, and within a few seconds she and I jumped out of the cab, much to the surprise of the other 2 ladies. A new cast of characters quickly assemble.

 
They quickly became big fans of Mme.

And what would a Wednesday night be without a little norebang? 

We snuck back to the hotel around 4 or so in the morning careful not to wake the other sleeping ladies.

The next day we set out bright and early for Jinhea. It was a bit of an adventure.  There are two main bus terminals in Busan. I brought us to the wrong one. Had I done my homework we would have gone to Sasang and sat on a nice comfy bus all the way to Jinhae. Instead we knew we would get as far as Masan and then something was going to happen, we weren’t quite sure what, but from what little English the ticket lady spoke, we gathered something would happen there.

In Masan we walked around the station a little confused ...

... then we walked around outside a little confused.

Eventually someone ordered one of the fierce ajummas who was washing the windows to help us. We followed her down the road from the bus station and waited until the local bus arrived.
Eventually lots and lots of flowers were seen.

This year I made it out to High Park just in time to catch the blossoms. It's no Jinhea, and they ladies weren't there, but they still managed to make me smile.

Cross Your Fingers

I didn’t vote in the last two Canadian elections. It wasn’t intentional it’s just that I wasn’t around when they pulled out the ballot boxes. Ironically enough I missed the last one because I was travelling across the states following the Obama campaign. I heard the not so happy news that Stephen Harper was Prime Minister while in the back of a cab somewhere around the outskirts of Austin at 5am. This time around I was determined to vote.

And vote I did. So did they.

Considering my sins from elections past I figured I ought to get a big healthy dose of politics on election night, and where best to do that than at the biggest party for the biggest surprise of the election.

My once housemate Jimmy has always been an NDP man. He’s moved up the ranks a bit recently, and judging from the this election’s results I’d say it was well earned.

Let's not talk about that whole majority government thing.
Just cross your fingers and hope 4 years passes quickly.

X Marks My Heart

Hi.

What a nice day it was ....

 

.... to VOTE.

You Know What Peanut? I Missed You Too.

I am on day 25 of home life without the internet.
At first it was quite easy. When you’re too sick to do much aside from sleep, eat oranges, and watch endless re-runs of Pushing Daisies you don’t worry much about the outside world.

 

Eventually the vitamins and Buckley’s kicked in and I was ready to crawl out of my colourful basement.  My first night out I followed Meghan to the famed El Mo to see a band I‘d never heard of. Meghan is extremely trustworthy in such matters, and did not disappoint. It seems that the best bands these days only need two people.



I’m still a new kid at work, which translates to a terrible work schedule. I work strange and silly hours and call Monday/Tuesdays my Saturday/Sundays. The only way you get your friends out on Monday/Tuesdays is to make them food.

Some are a little better with their chopsticks than others, which is quite entertaining.

There was also that night I went to my first work party.  I’d heard rumours of parties past that involved broken doors and other stories that should probably remain secret. I knew what to expect, and yet, there is something about seeing your boss drunk that never gets old. I enjoyed all the blushing and shy smiles around the airport the next morning when everyone seemed to be avoiding memories of the night before.

And in keeping with one of my favourite traditions I returned to the Hotel Mogelonsky to enjoy my gentile status at the Passover dinner. Obama was so kind as to keep us entertained during traffic. I knew I was making the right decision when I brought him back from Hawaii.

There are so many pretty things at the Hotel Mogelonsky, lucky me, I got to play with the shoes.

 

Chocolate matzah never tasted so good.