The Natural

Christian's a natural. Look at the eye hand coordination.

What I Ate For Lunch Today

Putting my grill to use...

Yeah that's steak, rice, buttered corn, and potato salad.

My First Grill

Just in time for Christian's birthday party this Saturday I got my first grill. I've always wanted to get a silver one, but I couldn't pass up the deal on this black one. Now I feel complete as a homeowner. Look how shiny.


And of course I had to christen my first grill. I couldn't just throw on any slab of meat, so I did it properly with some NY strip.

Let me just say that it was perfect. You like the nice black grill lines? Next time I'm gonna do criss cross grill lines. My mom was pretty blown away at the cut. Good beef is really hard to come by in Korea. Thank God I live in the good ole US of A where good beef is just a 5 minute drive away to your nearest Costco.

All I know is that I am going to be grilling a lot in the future. On the menu for Christian's birthday party this Saturday...grilled meat.

What I Want for Christmas

Introduce yourself to THE GAMERATOR ... the ULTIMATE gaming machine in the world of home entertainment. Pre-loaded with 187 licensed classic arcade games ... the Gamerator has everything from Tecmo Bowl to Pac Man, Street Fighter II to Galaga, and 180 more games in between. Other Gamerator features include ... * A refrigerated interior capable of holding a keg of domestic beer * A 24 inch flat screen television* Two conveniently-placed cup holders to house your beverage while playing. A video gaming machine and kegerator all in one!!!

What more can a guy ask for really? Where the hell was this when I was in college!?

My Mother

My mom is coming to visit from Korea this Saturday. For those who don't know I met my mom for the first time my sophomore year in college. We were separated when I was 2 or 3 and I came to live with my dad and his new wife in America. Growing up I thought that my stepmother was my real mom, I didn't find out until I was 10 that she wasn't. My dad is weird like that.

It wasn't like those made for tv dramas where I wanted to go out and search for her. Actually I was more upset that my stepmother wan't my real mom. It was a very confusing time. I remember how much I hurt my stepmother when I started calling her by her first name. The first time I did that her face couldn't hide the hurt that I inflicted on her. But inside I was dying too.

Fast forward to my sophmore year in college. I'm not really sure how it all came about, but my uncle in Korea said that my real mother wanted to meet me. So I flew to Korea to my uncle's house and we took the long bus ride from Seoul to Pusan to meet my mother. I will never forget that bus ride. I seriously wanted to die. It was so hot and the bus didn't have air condition. And even though Seoul to Pusan is not that far I think it took like 8 hours to get there.

So we end up meeting at this cafe. I remember when I walked up to her my first thoughts were, this is my mother? She didn't look like the typical woman that my dad would marry. (My dad got married 5 times) She was a giant of a lady 5' 9 " and just real big, not fat, but big. I ended spending two weeks with her and though it was really awkward, we got to know each other well. I don't know how to describe meeting a stranger and being told that she's your birth mom, it's unreal.

She really had a difficult life. It's not easy for a divorced woman back in those days in Korea. She never remarried. She does have a lot of family around her and she gets along with them great. When her, her brother, and sister came to stay with us for our wedding, it was like a party every night in their room. They really have so much fun with each other.

I've gone back to visit her twice and she has come to visit me 3 times. She is an awesome lady and I'm so happy that she got to be a part of my life and that she gets to be a part of Christian's life. Though I have no memories of her as a child, we have formed some pretty good memories in the short time that we have spent together. I still don't feel like she's my mom, and I can't truly say that I love her like that either and the sad thing is, I don't think I ever will.

I think she was so relieved after I got married and had a son. I think she feels that she can die peacefully now. I asked her if she wanted to come and live with us, but she respectfully declined. It would be difficult anyway with Mary's mom living with us too. But I was thinking they could keep each other company.

I'm looking forward to seeing her, though I know it is going to be stressful for Mary. Thanks in advance babe.

Soldier Survives Knife in Skull

Oct. 31, 2007 —Of all the injuries in the war in Iraq, the one Sgt. Dan Powers sustained was among the most unusual. Powers, a member of the Army's 118th MP Company Airborne, was in eastern Baghdad investigating an explosion when suddenly an Iraqi walked up to him and stabbed him in the right side of his head. He didn't know what hit him."It felt like someone kind of clothesline tackled me and a thump on the side of the head, like a bang," he said.

Is that crazy or what? And he's fine, just a little numbness to the side of his face.

Vacation

I think my family needs a vacation. Maybe I'll plan a weekend trip. Any ideas?