Self image...

It is strange how we see ourselves. I see myself in the mirror and then see myself in a picture, it is amazing how much the ego distorts what I see. It is also strange when people see something in you that you don't see yourself. Recently I found a friend sees me as a much better person than I perceive myself as, and I find myself not wanting to prove that person wrong. It's not that I see myself as particularly a good or bad person, just never really thought about it. Now I have, ~shrugs~ guess it was bound to happen sooner or later.

Random bouts of introspection, might actually be growing up. There's a scary thought.

A thought.....

Empty your mind of all thoughts.
Let your heart be at peace.
Watch the turmoil of beings,
but contemplate their return.

Each separate being in the universe
returns to the common source.
Returning to the source is serenity.

If you don't realize the source,
you stumble in confusion and sorrow.
When you realize where you come from,
you naturally become tolerant,
disinterested, amused,
kindhearted as a grandmother,
dignified as a king.
Immersed in the wonder of the Tao,
you can deal with whatever life brings you,
and when death comes you are ready. -Tao Te Ching

The week is over...

Well time to bring the work week to a close. Got a dinner for some coworkers, then time to start making Jello shots. I can hear my rum calling, so gonna keep it short. Have a good weekend, hopefully will have some interesting stories and pics to share.

Common Sense

Why is it some people just don't have this trait? For me, if I'm about to do something dangerous and/or stupid a part of my mind kicks in and says "Don't!!". Most of the time I listen, if alcohol or a woman is involved it gets fuzzy. I have met people here that will do things, completely sober with no opposite sex involvement, that would completely blow your mind. In the last 24 hours I have seen:

Numerous people walk blindly into traffic.

People arc welding with no mask, seems that closing their eyes will protect them from hot molten metal.

Folks wanting to work on live electrical equipment, think high discharge capacitors and a direct line to ground. Not a good thing.

A guy talking on his cell phone, typing on a laptop, with a cup of coffee in his lap while driving.

Yes, Darwinism has been proven false.

Clock watching

Tick, tock, tick, tock, watching the seconds pass. It never fails, the morning passes buy in a blur, lunch time comes and things start slowing down. Slower and slower until you are now, the last hour of the day. Feeling like a fly stuck in amber, I watch the clock, waiting for 5:30 to roll around. Random thoughts come unbidden, daydreams that seem to last hours. Drat only seconds have passed. How can the perception of time change so much in the span of eight hours? The weekend is too far away.

one of those days

Today is the type of day it would have been nice to just stay in bed. Nothing bad happening, just felt waayyy too nice under my nice warm blankets. Reality kicked in, gotta go to work, gotta move. Now instead of my nice warm haven, I have the cold glare of a moniter....Reality bites!

The day after, the morning after...

Last night was a bit brutal, we celebrated the birthdays of 3 friends. It started off innocently enough, a nice dinner at a great restaurant (The lamb chops were outstanding). From there it was off to the karaoke where we probably scared the natives. There is something quite scary about a large group of drunk foreigners singing Queen (very badly). Then the increasingly drunk horde headed out dancing. This is where things got very.
Now most people will logically ask "Very what?", but gotta leave it at very. There was drama (one I was expecting, the other six or seven that struck were out of the blue), dancing (actually was taught some of the basics of shaking my groove thing), attempted assisted romance (drunk half-Korean friends trying to set you up with someone who is standing next to their boyfriend is a odd experience), and an incident involving being in a occupied stall of the female restroom with no toilet paper (actually reminded of my Navy days at times). This is the point where the group started to dissipate. Suddenly it's just me, a buddy, and 2 Bonny Scottish lasses (sigh, love that accent) and the club is closing and it's off to an after party. Needless to say 9AM rolls around and I am getting back to the apartment.
13 hours of straight celebrating, ach... I may be getting too old for this stuff (of course I always say that, and I charge straight back into the fray the next time).

The morning after

Why is it that drinking always seems like a good idea? It starts the same way every time "I'll have a few drinks, and keep it mellow." Suddenly it's 5 in the morning and you are seeing a very blurry rendition of the world. A few hours of sleep later it is the morning after. There are two Little dwarfs with hammers in your head. Your mouth tastes like a cat has used it for a litter box (one of these days I'll get that damn cat), and any attempt at being coherent (let alone eloquent) have flown out the window. Guess one of these days common sense will have to kick in.

Random thoughts yet again....

Ever meet anyone you just can't stand, and they don't realize you dislike them?

Watched a Korean basketball game last night. During the game it dawned on me that these guys really can't play.

Mmmmm....Corn Nuts....

I have realized why I could never be a lawyer:
1. I have a soul.
2. I hate bursting into flames when exposed to sunlight.
3. I like garlic.
4. I don't suck "(I leave it up to you to decide what lawyers suck, be creative)"

There are few things better on a cold morning then staying in bed, wrapped up in the nice warm covers.

In, twist, and up!! -from an old marine drill sergeant (best not to try visualizing what it is from, no good can come of it )

As always, I really want an nemesis and/or a sidekick (and a cape).

Doing another Fondue party soon, can't wait.

Fighting

A large part of who I am revolves around fighting. I'm not talking about brawling or fisticuffs (as the more cultured would put it), I'm talking about overcoming a challenge. That's just who I am, show me something where I have any chance of succeeding and I will fight tooth and nail until I accomplish it or die trying (he types rubbing the bruises from snowboarding). Tell me I should quit, and it makes me go that much harder. It is never about winning or losing, it is about the fight. It's about feeling the passion, and fire that comes from the struggle.
Facing a situation now that I honestly think I have no chance of succeding, and for the life of me I don't know how to handle it. It is a matter of the heart so I can fight all I want, but if the other person dosen't feel the same it is useless. Part of me says to walk away, but when I try a glimmer of hope is shown and I go charging right back in (like an idiot). Figgure it is time for a talk, if this fight is hopeless, it is time to move on.

Just wrong

Found this here in Korea, just something seems so wrong about it...

Owwwww.......

Recovering from my first attempt at snowboarding, I have many aches (many in places that I can not discuss in a polite post) at the moment. Coming from a part of the U.S. that doesn't get snow, this is not a natural thing to do. Snow should be soft and fluffy, not painful. I will be going back (yep, I'm an idiot)in about a month for more fun pain.

And the wheel turns...

What goes around comes around, it's funny how often this is true. The wiccan say that what ever you do, good or bad, comes back to you three fold. Then you have the whole karma/dogma aspect. It does a heart good to see these principles in real life, brings a big ol' smile to my face.

Horrible movies

Some movies should just not be made. Last night I was flipping through channels and landed on one of these.
Dracula 3000, yes it is as bad as it sounds. The stars of this little gem were Casper Van Diem (starship troopers), Ericka Eleniak (Under Siege), Coolio (rapper), and Tommy "Tiny" Lister (Friday), yep star studded. This movie actually sucked my will to live so much I was unable to move my thumb to change the channel.

On my alltime worst movie list it ranks a number 2 right behind Dungeons and Dragons the movie.

If movies were crimes these would deserve the death penalty:
1. Dungeons and Dragons the movie
2. Dracula 3000
3. Street Fighter the movie
4. Timecop
5. Syriana
6. Bloodrayne (well, any Uwe Boll movie)

Free will

Ever see something bad coming and not be able to prevent it? It's kinda tough, especially if you see it happening to someone you care about. What interesting beasts we are, gleefully choosing things we know will only lead to sorrow. Guess that is the burden of free will.

The white knight...

"I'm not the perfect little angel you think I am." Her emerald eyes meeting mine. A soft smile crosses my lips "I know darlin, trust me I see exactly what is there. I wish you could." Uncertainty flashes across her face "You always do that, I don't think you see the dark side of me.". I lay my hand on her shoulder "We all have our dark sides, and compared to what I have seen and have been you don't rate." I feel her trying to decide which way to go. I smirk "What do you see when you see me? Time for the brutal truth love, be honest." Her eyes break contact and then meet mine again "I see someone who is wonderful, I have not yet seen a bad side to you. Some of the best times I can think of are with you.". It takes me a moment to recover from this "You know when it comes to you I am a bit stupid? It's like staring down a train, you see it coming and know you should get out of the way, but can't. Your path is yours to choose, as much as I wish I could choose it for you it is not my place. Let me know when you make up your mind." I kiss her on the cheek and walk out....

Decided to try my hand at a little fiction. I think it came off a bit too melodramatic, but I can blame that on too much film noir and goth.

Photos...

Well decided to start a photo blog, only have one post at the moment but will be adding more as time and willingness to do anything permits.

The dawn of a new year...

Well the new year is here, and it was rung in with style at my place (and much drinking). Yesterday was spent recovering, and cleaning (it's amazing how much mess can be generated by drunk people). The party was held for a couple reasons, firstly it's New Year's eve. It was also to say farewell to a couple friends who are leaving Korea (and will be missed), and to say welcome to some who are just arriving (a drunken celebration, always makes the best first impressions :p).

Not really gonna go for the resolutions this year. Instead of saying what I'm going to do and not do it, I'm just going to do it. This seems to be a better way of doing it. I hope that everyone has a great New Year.