Sunday, March 23, 2008

Happy Easter





Saturday, March 22, 2008

Seafood Lunch




I have to admit that I am not much of a seafood fan. I suppose, that is because most of the seafood that I've eaten in my life has come from the freezer or in the form of a McDonald's Filet-o-Fish. I do love fresh shrimp from the Blue Shrimp Restaurant in Puerta Villarta, Mexico. But other than that I can't remember any really good seafood meals. If you asked my wife, she'd tell you my favorite seafood meal is a ribeye steak.

Today was different. We ate at The Crab Shack on the barrier islands. I had fresh crab cakes, hushpuppies, coleslaw, and a baked potato. It was good, but what made it really special was the atmosphere.

We sat at the window overlooking three fishing boats at dock. These were not fancy yachts or other pleasure craft. These were real, working fishing boats. Rusted metal and peeling paint instead of polished metal and smooth, shiny surfaces.

As we ate, and watched, a couple of Cormorants darted back and forth, dove, surfaced and raced off to another spot to dive again. A Pelican watched and waited for the dive. As soon as the Cormorants found a new area to fish, the Pelican would slowly swim over and try to get its share. The Cormorants would fly off to escape the intruder and find a new fishing hole.

The sun was bright in the sky and the water was blue. Bright sky, blue water, good food. Heavenly.

Fort Macon State Park



We went on a road trip today. One of the places we went to was Fort Macon, located on the eastern point of Bogue Banks in Carteret County, North Carolina. It is a remarkably restored fort with a beautiful view of coastal North Carolina. It was located there to guard the entrance to Beaufort Harbor, one of North Carolina's two major seaports.

During its existence, (built from 1826-1834) it has protected the harbor, been a penitentiary, a state park, and a troop barracks for billeting WWII soldiers. It was even a Confederate fort for one year.

Several exhibits of life at Fort Macon for its many different occupants help the visitor to see what it was like to inhabit this historical fort: WWII Barracks, Uniforms 1834-1944, 19th Century Soldier Life, Between the States are a few.
This fort is well taken care of and well worth the time to visit and try to vision what it was like to live in a different time and place.


Friday, March 21, 2008

Name Calling

I don't usually notice how people address me. Here in Jacksonville it is so obvious to me.

To the Marines I am always SIR. It is often uncomfortable because I am not used to that kind of respect.

To the waitresses at the restaurants, I am Honey or Darlin'. I think how much trouble I would be in the first time I called someone back home Honey or Darlin'.

I guess it's all good.

What's the old cliche'? Just as long as they don't call me late for dinner!

Monday, March 17, 2008

Welcome Home Marine





When I think of the stress of my life, it seems minuscule compared to those young men and women fighting in Iraq. So, when a large contingent of Marines came home to Camp Lejuene about the same time we arrived here, it was great to see the reception they received.
Our hotel is booked with Marines, girlfriends, mom and dad, and other family and friends catching up.

But the greatest thing for me to see are the homemade signs hanging on the housing area fences outside the main gate to Camp Lejuene. I'd love to have seen the Marine's faces when they saw them for the first time.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Pelletier House

When we were out and about on Saturday, I took pictures of what I didn't know at the time was Pelletier House and nereby Wantland Spring. Here is the URL and description from the Onslow County visitors web site.

http://www.onslowcountytourism.com/attractions.cfm

"This Greek revival designed home is the oldest standing structure in Jacksonville. The house and surrounding land, called Wantland Spring, are listed on the National Register of Historic
Places."


















Saturday, March 15, 2008

A Visit to Historic? Jacksonville





Question: What do you do on a Saturday morning in Jacksonville, N.C.?
Answer: Not a lot.

We decided to visit the Marine Corp museum in town. The problem was, when we reached downtown where it was located, we were told that it hadn't been built yet. So...plan B.

Downtown Jacksonville is a small "Mayberry-ish" sort of place. The buildings are all very old and worn. The places where the plaster is coming off of the walls reveals their age. Most of the buildings look abandoned but are in the process of revitalization.

Since the museum was nonexistent, we asked for directions to the New River Waterfront Park and took off on foot toward the river. It just wasn't going to be our day. The park consisted of a couple piers, a very short boardwalk, some picnic tables, and a sign warning us not to feed the birds and ducks. "Aren't ducks birds?" my travelling companion asked.

Small remnants of a Confederate past revealed themselves during our walk. We came across a monument to Confederate soldiers in front of the local courthouse and a couple of grave headstones of Confederate soldiers laid to rest in a small graveyard of four lonely headstones (two of which were broken in two with the names of the occupants missing).

Even though the morning walk was uneventful, it was very peaceful. The architecture and small town atmosphere provoked whisperings in my mind; I swore I could hear the voices of southern belles sitting on the porch swings sipping mint juleps and darning socks between bits of gossip.

Do you think Augustus Duggins is turning over in his grave with that American flag flying overhead?

Thursday, March 13, 2008

True Confessions



OK, I have another confession. While I was in Korea, I bought one of those cheesy jackets with Korea and a dragon embroidered on it.

You've seen them; usually on young GIs fresh from a tour to Japan, Korea, or the Philippines. Proudly they wear them, shouting out to the whole world that they have been there. They are veterans of an Asian tour of duty.

I used to see them all the time on Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, and Airmen. I secretly coveted one of my own, but I didn't get to go to Asia until I was well into my 40's.

I don't know where I'd ever wear it. It is kinda bold and really clashes with anything in my wardrobe. But it's all MINE.

Jealous? Hah! Good. You'll just have to go overseas and get your own.

Oh, did I mention I had my name sewed into it too? :)

Leaving Korea



As we drove the three hours from Waegwan to Seoul to fly out of Korea, we passed quite a few familiar names on buildings. The one photo only has a symbol, but I think you can tell who it is.



The flight from Incheon Airport to San Francisco, although rather long, was very nice. Korean Airlines 747s are much nicer than the ones I've flown in from Delta Airlines.

To punish me, Delta Airlines put me in a CRJ regional commuter jet from LA to SLC. That was no fun at all. To make matters worse, the plane was filthy and we were late getting out of LA. It wasn't as if we weren't tired enough of travelling but it was not nice of Delta Airlines to make sure the trip was in the worst conditions.

We waited at the baggage claim as everyone else snatched their luggage from the rotating baggage dispenser. "There it is" was heard from everyone around me. But, unfortunately, not from me.

So as the conveyor belt stopped, I made one desperate turn around the motionless belt to see if I overlooked my luggage: you know, the two large suitcases with bright orange canvas identifiers hanging off the handles. Maybe I just misidentified them...

With that horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach, I dragged my worn out torso over to the missing baggage office. "Here's a message on it now," the smiling gentleman behind the counter reported as he pointed at the computer monitor in front of him. "They put it on the next airplane and it arrives in 45 minutes."

None of his explanations for why they chose to put my luggage on the next airplane and put my travelling companion's on this plane would suffice, so my wife and I sat down and waited.

An hour later, we were finally on our way home with the luggage.

Four days at home and I'm off again. This time Delta put me on a nice big 767 from SLC to Atlanta and then into the CRJ again from Atlanta to Jacksonville, NC. They have it in for me. I know they do.





Home Again Home Again...almost

Well, I returned home. Then I left again.

My wireless card has been acting strange, so I bought a new one, now the old works and the new is acting crazy. Go figure.

Between the sleepless jet lagged nights and the anxiety of hitting the road again I have been bereft (whatever that means) of writing in the blog. I hope to rectify that situation now that I am on the road again. But, only if my laptop cooperates.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Last night I was lamenting our restaurant choices. It was getting to be routine to go outside the gate for fried rice or ramen--not the ramen like we'd get in Japan. The ramen here comes out of the package like you can buy in the grocery stores back home; then they add some cheese to it and meat, or egg, or kim chee. Not very special.

Tonight we were invited to a local restaurant that serves Sum Gay Tong soup (I assume that is how you spell it). In essence, they cook a whole small chicken, stuffed with rice, herbs, a chestnut, and a few other goodies, in a broth with onions. It is fabulous. And of course you get all the side dishes of kim chee and pickled vegetables.

The only drawback to the meal was our big fat American legs kept going to sleep sitting on the floor with them tucked under those two foot high (if that) tables. But our reward afterwards ws to visit the local Dunkin' Donuts for an after dinner snack.

One good thing that has happened in my three weeks in Korea...I've finally gotten used to using metal chopsticks; which isn't as easy as it sounds.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

I've Done It Again


It is time for a confession. I have a problem. When I travel, I buy way too many gifts to take home. I buy so many gifts, that I have to find alternate ways to get them all home since my suitcase can only weigh 50 pounds or the airline will charge me lots of cash for the extra weight.

I am not a shopaholic. I just see things that I think people will like and buy them. Or, I think, I just have to bring something home to so and so, and then, before you know it, I am over the weight limit on my suitcase.

I had the habit under control while traveling to and from Japan. I bought a little duffel type bag to put my dirty laundry in and then would put the gifts in the space that the laundry vacated in my suitcase. That worked...for a while.

I encountered a major dilemma on this trip when I found that the gifts I’d purchased would not fit in the duffel. In fact, they won’t fit in three duffels. So I had to go out and buy a new suitcase—just for gifts.

Does that sound eccentric?

Now to make sure I could maximize my purchase, I borrowed a scale from a coworker to weigh the fully loaded suitcase. Bingo! It only weighs 46 pounds—packed full.

I'm wondering. Do you think I will have to charter a private jet for my next trip just to ensure I can get all the gifts home?

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Tired...

I have run out of things to say today. Only three more working days til I can return home.


All is well.

Monday, March 03, 2008

Yellow Sand Day

Although it sounds like a holiday, it's not.

Yellow Sand - Asian Dust (HwangSa) are fine inhalable sand particles that originate from dry, desert regions of China and Mongolia and blow into other parts of Asia including Japan and Korea.

Yesterday the dust was very noticeable. It looked like a yellow tinted fog covered the sky. When we woke up this morning a fine layer of dust was on our vehicle and on the ground. We were informed that an "Orange" alert status was in effect. This mean't that we could only go outside for short periods of time with any activity. Luckily our training was indoors for most of the morning and by afternoon we returned to normal "Green" levels.

The levels are:

Green : Normal
Amber: Moderate. Consider reducing prolonged and heavy exertion.
Blue "WATCH": Unhealthy. Reduce prolonged and heavy exertion
Orange "ADVISORY": Very Unhealthy. Do not conduct outdoor physical training; Cancel prolonged and heavy exertion outdoor activities
Purple "WARNING": Hazardous. Remain indoors and keep activity levels low

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Illiterate?





Ever wonder what it would be like to be illiterate? I was thinking about it on our way back from Church today. Everywhere I looked I could see signs, but could not read them, or at least most of them. Some key English words or pictures helped, but for the most part I was illiterate.

I am grateful to have been able to learn to read and write. Check out these signs and tell me if you are illiterate too!

Saturday, March 01, 2008

Market Day More Photos















Market Day Continued

I am always amazed at how some cultures are able to eat fresher than us Americans. You don't see the big stores, you see many, many small shops. People get to know who they buy from. I am told that Koreans bargain shop and will dicker on price. Not knowing any Korean and not having any Koreans to take along, we haven't been bargain hunting this trip.

Waegwan Saturday Morning Market

I woke up early this morning and walked my way through Waegwan. It was market day and everyone was out with their goods. Fish, fruit, seeds, seaweed, poultry, beef, kim chee, peppers (fresh and dried). This was only a small sample of the offerings. It was wonderful to cruise through the many narrow streets and watch the vendors and customers interact with one another.