Never forget all the currently active circumstance modifiers.
This goes double if you're the GM.
After my haircut on Saturday I ventured down to the downtown Gwanghwamun Square for the FIS Snowboard World Cup Big Air competition.
There was a lot of controversy about the competition because although the same event has taken place in cities like London, Stockholm, and Moscow, Seoul was the first to host the event in all of Asia. Although he denied the accusations, rumors flared that the mayor wanted the event as a way to ensure his upcoming re-election. The event cost w700-million (about $600,000) and required 500 tons of ice. It is said that 310,000 people visited the square during the 3-day event.
Gwanghwamun Square. The snowboarding competition is behind the big statue.
Looking behind towards the metro station and the city.
There was a lot of controversy about the competition because although the same event has taken place in cities like London, Stockholm, and Moscow, Seoul was the first to host the event in all of Asia. Although he denied the accusations, rumors flared that the mayor wanted the event as a way to ensure his upcoming re-election. The event cost w700-million (about $600,000) and required 500 tons of ice. It is said that 310,000 people visited the square during the 3-day event.
The ramp here is 20m high.
Photo credit to "The Chosun Ilbo"
There really were a LOT of people at the event! I could hardly see over all the people but thankfully there were at least half a dozen JumboTron big screens in the area. Slowly but surely I made my way up through the crowd and was able to take a decent picture of the ramp.
Gwanghwamun Square. The snowboarding competition is behind the big statue. 
Looking behind towards the metro station and the city. I was too far away to get a good action shot, but ooh look, it's a JumboTron photo!
After a late dinner at a Vietnamese Pho restaurant nearby, I attempted and failed once again to correctly take the bus back from Seoul. Although I could have sworn that you could take a bus from Yangjae to Yeongtong somehow I wound up at Suwon Bus Terminal, which although not terrible, did require me taking yet another bus for 20 minutes back home. Time and time again, I totally fail at bus navigation..
On Saturday December 12th I got a straight perm (or Magic Straight). My hair is officially straight. And short. It's the first time my hair has been straight and short for a long period of time in my life.
I picked the hair salon somewhat randomly off the internet. I had asked my co-teacher where I should get my haircut in Seoul and she suggested Ewha Womans University because you can get it cut pretty cheaply there. So then I searched on Google for a salon in the area. The second entry in Google is for a place called Eunha Hair Salon (for the website click here) The one That I picked had two locations: one around Ewha and another around Gangnam.
When I called the Ewha location no one answered the phone. So then I called the Gangnam location and they picked up and transfered me to someone who spoke English, the manager, Charlie. I booked an appointment for 2pm Saturday.
I accidentally got to my appointment 30 mins late due to a bus mix-up (I got on the wrong bus yet again.. shocker, huh?) but it didn't seem to matter. My hair stylist was a petite woman who spoke English fluently. I showed her the picture that I wanted (I printed out a photo from the internet earlier that day) and she said ok.
It was about 3pm by the time we were settled in and ready to go.
The entire process took about 4 hours to complete!! By the time I walked out of the salon it was 6:30 and dark outside.
Here is why:
1. Wash hair.
3. Blow dry hair
4. Apply magic straight.
6. Wash hair.
7. Blow dry hair.
8. Flat iron hair. Curl ends to "give body"
9. Insert curlers to "give more body."
11. Sit and wait. Read the newspaper in English.
12. Wash hair for a third time.
13. Blow dry.
14. Flat iron.
15. Cut any more hair that is out of place.
16. Style. Done!
I picked the hair salon somewhat randomly off the internet. I had asked my co-teacher where I should get my haircut in Seoul and she suggested Ewha Womans University because you can get it cut pretty cheaply there. So then I searched on Google for a salon in the area. The second entry in Google is for a place called Eunha Hair Salon (for the website click here) The one That I picked had two locations: one around Ewha and another around Gangnam.
When I called the Ewha location no one answered the phone. So then I called the Gangnam location and they picked up and transfered me to someone who spoke English, the manager, Charlie. I booked an appointment for 2pm Saturday.
I accidentally got to my appointment 30 mins late due to a bus mix-up (I got on the wrong bus yet again.. shocker, huh?) but it didn't seem to matter. My hair stylist was a petite woman who spoke English fluently. I showed her the picture that I wanted (I printed out a photo from the internet earlier that day) and she said ok.
It was about 3pm by the time we were settled in and ready to go.
Before.
The entire process took about 4 hours to complete!! By the time I walked out of the salon it was 6:30 and dark outside.
Here is why:
1. Wash hair.
The chair that I sat in for my hair washing was a massage chair. I thought it was genius. I mean, we get to sit in massage chairs when we get pedicures, why not also when we get our hair cut? It was sheer joy. (hah, pun not intended but still great: sheer/shear joy, gettit?)2. Cut hair
3. Blow dry hair
4. Apply magic straight.
I should note that I honestly didn't know what that straight perm process was going to be like. I thought it was going to be some kind of magic flat iron, but it actually reminded me more of when you dye your hair and they paint on the hair chemicals and let it sit.5. Sit and wait. Read English magazine about Seoul.
6. Wash hair.
7. Blow dry hair.
8. Flat iron hair. Curl ends to "give body"
9. Insert curlers to "give more body."
At this point I was kind of freaking out. Why was she curling my hair? I thought it was supposed to be straight. I tried not to say anything but the anxiety was killing me. Finally I burst out and asked "why are you doing this? Is it still going to be straight!?" That's when she explained the whole "give it body" concept. Frankly, I'm not sure it even worked. My hair is as flat as a brick. And I love it.10. Apply magic straight part 2
11. Sit and wait. Read the newspaper in English.
12. Wash hair for a third time.
13. Blow dry.
14. Flat iron.
15. Cut any more hair that is out of place.
16. Style. Done!
After (the next day)
My hair will now be permanently straight -- for 6 months to a year.
After photo taken the day of haircut using my dirty mirror at home.
The cut doesn't look exactly like the photo I gave her as I'm pretty sure that the actress from the internet photo didn't have two layers of hair like I do now but I guess it's still ok. Mostly because I can't see the back of my head. Otherwise, I might be upset.
The cut ended up costing me w250,000 (which is about $212 by today's exchange rate) which is a lot more than I was expecting considering that other people told me they got it done for only w80,000 but I was satisfied both with my cut and my service. Still, styling like this in the United States is said to cost around $500 so I'm still considering it 1/2 off.
A week later and my hair is still straight as a wire. It's wonderful! I've gotten only positive feedback from everyone around me. Both the students and the teachers, however, told me that I look younger now. My co-teacher said that I look like I'm 18 years old. I guess it is a good thing to look almost 10 years younger than you actually are, but I'm still unconvinced.
Straight Hair Happiness.
On Wednesday December 9th the students partook in an all-day talent show. My school doesn't have an auditorium, nor does it have a cafeteria so there is no indoor gathering place for all the students at one time. Thus, the shows were conducted in the students' classrooms. They used to invite the parents to the shows, but I guess it got to be too much and so they don't do that anymore.
As the English teacher my job was to go around to the different classes and take pictures. As much as I wanted to see the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders do their performances I knew I couldn't. I was already so much of a distraction in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classrooms that I teach, I knew that going to visit the little 1st graders would cause near hysteria amongst them.
Fifth graders hanging out before the talent show
Most of the girls did some kind of dance act...
...while most of the boys did Taekwondo
And all the kids sat with their eyes glued on their classmates...
...mostly
This boy was awesome at the nunchucks
He is doing Taekwondo. He is "jumping and kicking."
(5th grade textbook joke)
The teachers were not as awesome at Taekwondo.
Check out the kids' faces!
I actually was able to kick the plywood in half on the first try. It's not as hard as it looks :)
Some kids played musical instruments, some kids sang songs, while others did magic shows and plays.
And some dressed up as animals.
All in all, it was a great day!
Grade 5, Class 4 (I think)
Almost a foot of snow. Am stuck in apartment, but with food and movies. Is not so bad.
Nicest thing said to me in awhile:
"I know we suffer from differences of opinions, beliefs, interests, and just about everything under the sun besides vampires but remember if you asked me to, I'd help you bury someone's body."
*yawn* Today is love. I is sleepy.
Nicest thing said to me in awhile:
"I know we suffer from differences of opinions, beliefs, interests, and just about everything under the sun besides vampires but remember if you asked me to, I'd help you bury someone's body."
*yawn* Today is love. I is sleepy.
If this were twitter, I could just leave you with the title of this post and your imagination. If you don't get why eliminating the middle man in this equation would make things more efficient, then give up now.
1.) Create Will Ferrell
2.) Create Kristen Wiig
3.) Force Will Ferrel and Kristen Wiig to procreate.
4.) ?????
5.) ANTI-CHRIST!!!
6.) ?????
7.) PROFIT.
2.) Create Kristen Wiig
3.) Force Will Ferrel and Kristen Wiig to procreate.
4.) ?????
5.) ANTI-CHRIST!!!
6.) ?????
7.) PROFIT.
Mythbusters takes on Star Trek Gorn cannon! On December 28th (2100 on Discovery Channel), Mythbusters will dress up in (semi) authentic costumes and attempt to build a Gorn-Bashing cannon!
Far out! Link to story below, with a cool preview video.
http://scifiwire.com/2009/12/mythbuster
Far out! Link to story below, with a cool preview video.
http://scifiwire.com/2009/12/mythbuster
I'm so happy tonight. It's exquisite.
1
STOLEN POST!
( Well I guess what you say is true I could never be the right kind of girl for you )
1
STOLEN POST!
( Well I guess what you say is true I could never be the right kind of girl for you )
- Mood:
bouncy - Music:White Town - Your Woman
Is now up
after a small hassle with getting files moved around! Enjoy!
Tiiiired. Sitting here listening to Pocahaunted and chugging coffee in order to stay lucid enough to do a GRAVEL phone conference set for 1.30am. This week’s been utterly buggered — you may have noticed the silence here — by a member of the family being rushed into hospital early in the week, which has turned everything into bubbling chaos and is necessitating runs to the hospital, rescheduling, etc. And then the snow hit, turned into two inches of white stuff sitting on three inches of ice, and Britain shut down because it is now a country of weaklings and jabbering genetic wreckage who shit themselves when the sky moves.
GRAVEL phone conference with my producers is to set the storyline. I’ve spent what little time I’ve had this week putting all my notes in order. Which is how I ended up writing the line "Bill, you’re kind of persona non fucker around here."
Also, at the top of the week, I wrapped the last few pages of ULTIMATE COMICS IRON MAN ARMOR WARS #4, which is one of the more ridiculous titles that I haven’t invented myself. Sadly, the Marvel office chose to ignore the alternate titles I wrote at the top of each script. I liked IRON MAN: HUMAN SEX JEEP the best.
Had a conversation with David Bogart at Marvel about the future of the NEWUNIVERSAL: STORMFRONT project there that got stalled when my computer and backups were destroyed. Should be sorted in a few months. I think Dave’s official title at Marvel is Grand Inquisitor or Witchfinder General or something, but I’ve known him pretty much since he started out in the business, and, frankly, it’s always nice to know that there’s a guy in that office who will never try to screw me over. Dave will look after me.
Or, of course, I will have him killed. I know lots of people in New York. I mean, trust is good, but insurance is better, right?
If I can just get a few more pages on other things out over the next two days, then from Monday I am done with 2009, and anyone who doesn’t like it can bite my muckpump.
More coffee.
(Automatically crossposted from warrenellis.com. Feel free to comment here or at my internet church at Whitechapel. If anything in this post looks weird, it's because LJ is run on steampipes and rubber bands -- please click through to the main site.)posted by Neil
How the hell did it get to be December the 18th? Ohhh. All the links I meant to post. Arghh.For a start, I want to repost this little true thing I wrote, from last year's Independent: it's about being an eight year old Jewish kid who really wanted a Christmas tree...
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entert
I wanted to tell you that you can still get the signed prints of "Before You Read This" I did with Todd Klein -- it's a poem I wrote that Todd lettered -- at Todd's website (along with Todd's other unique signed prints -- collaborations with Alex Ross, Alan Moore and J.H. Williams). http://kleinletters.com/Blog/?p=6525. (If you're hesitating, order: they're really cheap, and the second printing will be gone soon.)
Also, for signed things and rare stuff, you can Do Good while last minute shopping by heading over to the CBLDF shop website. Here's the page with stuff related to me on it.)
I just got my author's copies of "A Hundred Words To Talk of Death", the poem I wrote that Jim Lee illustrated and Todd Klein lettered. (Someone wrote to me on Twitter pointing out that it is two syllables short, and unable to figure out why. I will leave that as a problem for you to solve.) It's beautiful -- the same size and quality as the print of "The Day The Saucers Came". It's glorious. (Thinks: I can take a photo to show people.)
I wanted to tell you that you can still get the signed prints of "Before You Read This" I did with Todd Klein -- it's a poem I wrote that Todd lettered -- at Todd's website (along with Todd's other unique signed prints -- collaborations with Alex Ross, Alan Moore and J.H. Williams). http://kleinletters.com/Blog/?p=6525. (If you're hesitating, order: they're really cheap, and the second printing will be gone soon.)
Also, for signed things and rare stuff, you can Do Good while last minute shopping by heading over to the CBLDF shop website. Here's the page with stuff related to me on it.)
I just got my author's copies of "A Hundred Words To Talk of Death", the poem I wrote that Jim Lee illustrated and Todd Klein lettered. (Someone wrote to me on Twitter pointing out that it is two syllables short, and unable to figure out why. I will leave that as a problem for you to solve.) It's beautiful -- the same size and quality as the print of "The Day The Saucers Came". It's glorious. (Thinks: I can take a photo to show people.)
I didn't used to think of Jim Lee as a glorious and subtle pencil artist, but he really is, and this is wonderful. (You can order them from here, and read about Kitty's adventures in shipping them out over at http://kittysneverwear.blogspot.com/, with bonus pictures right now of my Very Late Guy Fawkes Part of last month.)
Here is a photo of an author who needs a shave holding a print of "One Hundred Words" poem.
Kitty herself is heading off on tour with Lady Gaga early next year, and Maddy is going to see them in Chicago (where, about eight years ago, I first met Kitty, on the road with Tori) (Who will be interviewed tonight on ABC -- Tori that is, not Kitty or Maddy).
Amanda and I have been having something that isn't quite an argument about Lady Gaga for a few weeks. We have really rubbish arguments, because they normally resolve into the discovery that we weren't arguing at all, just saying the same thing from two different points of view. Amanda posted a ukulele video-song-blog she'd written late last night from her Boston flat when she was probably meant to be practising her New Year's Eve Tchaikovsky, and I discovered that our latest argument wasn't an argument and we were talking about the same things again. It's art. You make it.
I don't think I will ever write songs and post them on YouTube instead of blogging. I'm in awe of someone who can. It's a good song, too, not just a funny and wise end-of-an-argument, even if she has to stop and scroll down at the last verse.
Also, she said "aluminium".
And finally, in keeping with the not-exactly-Christmassy-but-sort-of theme of this blog...
Also, she said "aluminium".
Now that I am working again I’m not having any trouble with my weight. Just the extra walking involved in a working day has caused me to reach 142 after months of trying to get below 145. Ideally I’d be 140 if I could lose 2 more exclusively from my tummy area. But realistically, I’ll try to stick with 142.
I should do a new body nude (clothed-to-nude sequence) photo to update my last one. I think I skipped last year but it’s about time to do another.
I don’t have a good camera. Yet.
Back from Cancun, and leaving for Boston in the morning!
Saturday night, just a few hours before leaving for the airport to go to Mexico, Andrew and I booked our flight and hotel to go to Boston this weekend. His best friend's sister is getting married at the Four Seasons, right on Boston Common. We leave at 5 am tomorrow.
It's so fun, but I have no idea what to wear! No time to prepare, either! I'm hardly recovered from Mexico, and my finances are (hopefully temporarily) in a dire situation. No time to shop even if I had the cash. I'm working all day today.
Anyway, this is a very formal Islamic wedding. Even though we are just staying one night, we are leaving very early tomorrow and coming home relatively late on Sunday. I wish I had more time to research what to do (and more importantly, where to eat). Even though this will be my fourth stop in Boston since I began law school, I'm not really sure what to do. Since I can't spend much, I'm at the whim of Andrew and would like to look for cheap or free fun. Oh well, I'm sure we'll figure it out.
Though my life in Akron seems to be in disarray (and not getting better any time soon, since I'll barely be here to take care of things), it is exciting to be traveling a little bit. Getting away from some of the mess here is really good for me right now. Good thing I've been pretty productive at work today. Bossman was in a good mood.
***
Cancun was great, by the way. We stayed at an all-inclusive resort. I've only stayed at one such place before, and in comparison this one was very nice. It was a great value-- with all flights, transportation to and from airport, food, lodging, and many activities included in our total price. We took advantage of it-- I've never eaten so much in so few days (not that five days is a "few" but there was no rest for the ol' tum). We mostly laid out like bloated seals. Andrew worked on his tan and I worked on not getting burned.
The first night we got there, we experienced some kind of astronomical event. The sky was so clear, millions of stars. We just sat on the beach by the crashing waves and counted probably more than 15 "shooting" stars in the half-hour or so we were there. I still have to lookup whether something special was going on, but it must have been something special because we didn't see anything like it the rest of the time we were there.
Anyway, it was relaxing. Nothing too crazy to report. No problems, no hangups. Perfect :-)
Saturday night, just a few hours before leaving for the airport to go to Mexico, Andrew and I booked our flight and hotel to go to Boston this weekend. His best friend's sister is getting married at the Four Seasons, right on Boston Common. We leave at 5 am tomorrow.
It's so fun, but I have no idea what to wear! No time to prepare, either! I'm hardly recovered from Mexico, and my finances are (hopefully temporarily) in a dire situation. No time to shop even if I had the cash. I'm working all day today.
Anyway, this is a very formal Islamic wedding. Even though we are just staying one night, we are leaving very early tomorrow and coming home relatively late on Sunday. I wish I had more time to research what to do (and more importantly, where to eat). Even though this will be my fourth stop in Boston since I began law school, I'm not really sure what to do. Since I can't spend much, I'm at the whim of Andrew and would like to look for cheap or free fun. Oh well, I'm sure we'll figure it out.
Though my life in Akron seems to be in disarray (and not getting better any time soon, since I'll barely be here to take care of things), it is exciting to be traveling a little bit. Getting away from some of the mess here is really good for me right now. Good thing I've been pretty productive at work today. Bossman was in a good mood.
***
Cancun was great, by the way. We stayed at an all-inclusive resort. I've only stayed at one such place before, and in comparison this one was very nice. It was a great value-- with all flights, transportation to and from airport, food, lodging, and many activities included in our total price. We took advantage of it-- I've never eaten so much in so few days (not that five days is a "few" but there was no rest for the ol' tum). We mostly laid out like bloated seals. Andrew worked on his tan and I worked on not getting burned.
The first night we got there, we experienced some kind of astronomical event. The sky was so clear, millions of stars. We just sat on the beach by the crashing waves and counted probably more than 15 "shooting" stars in the half-hour or so we were there. I still have to lookup whether something special was going on, but it must have been something special because we didn't see anything like it the rest of the time we were there.
Anyway, it was relaxing. Nothing too crazy to report. No problems, no hangups. Perfect :-)
God, this WBT really IS just like a breakup. I couldn't bear to throw away the things that Audra and Dylan have given me so I put them in a drawer, including my Twilight poetry kit.
I'm fucking pathetic.
I'm fucking pathetic.
- Mood:chagrined
Page Summary
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darthsanddroids : Episode 351: PC on Conveyor 12 Struggles Against Inevitable Doom [+0] - tonguetied_yt : Big Air [+0]
- tonguetied_yt : Magic Straight [+0]
- tonguetied_yt : Talent Show [+0]
- willbueche : Me and a Smile Car [+0]
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izzzyy : Ah, [+2] ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif)
metaquotes :: kittikattie : Bother this weather. [+8] - wholesomedick : IDEA: Combine ATMs with Video Poker and Slot Machines [+0]
- wholesomedick : How to produce the Anti-Christ [+0]
- beyondelsewhere :: txcajun : Diamonds in the Rough, err ..., Gorn [+0]
- kiwikat : It has been far too long. [+25]
- punch_an_pie :: aeire : Comic for 12/18/09 [+29]
- warren_ellis : In The Bleak Early Winter [+4]
- officialgaiman : Xmas Roundup With Some Good Links and a photo of an author in it [+30]
- willbueche : Tum tum tummy [+0]
- metaquotes :: chelonianmobile : (no subject) [+14]
- nymphydia : Jet-setting! [+0]
- pennyarcaderss : Comic: An Actual, Real Film [+45]
- izzzyy : (no subject) [+0]
- metaquotes :: nebroadwe : Cymru am Byth [+7]