I really need to get better about updating this more often. In fact I am going to have to make sure that my entire Web site is up-to-date because we are going to send out a newsletter to our friends and family encouraging them to come visit. I don't want people to leave disappointed.

It is Christmas Eve. I can't believe that the month and the year have gone by so quickly. It seems like just yesterday we were moving out here from Utah. Now we are settled, have friends and have each been through one job (I am on my second, Mia is taking a break). We are started to feel at home out here in Boston. That is quite amazing since most of the people out here have lived here their whole lives, it seems like we should still be outsiders.

I will post again after Christmas so I can describe all the loot I got, but on the eve of all the wanton gift-giving and getting I still have time to reflect.

Reflection in my case means considering how fortunate I am to have a loving family, both my parents and siblings, as well as my wife. I remember a time when I couldn't accept the idea of people loving me. It just didn't seem possible. Now, I know that they do and I live a much richer life because of it.

I reflect on my goals. Professionally I am in a place that wants me to succeed. I can tell already that they consider me an asset and want to give me opportunities to grow with them. I would like that.
Personally, I am able to support my wife and I, which is an important part of being able to plan for a family. I feel that as a person I have matured enough to guide someone else along. This isn't to say that I don't have more growing to do, but I could at least keep one step ahead for a while.
Spiritually I am committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It strengthens my relationship with my wife, my family, my friends, and everyone that I meet. My calling at Church allows me to extend a helping hand to people. I feel very humbled and grateful that I have such opportunities constantly.

This has been quite a year. I can only imagine what the next year will bring. I am confident that together Mia and I will make it a good year.

Well, I suppose that winter has finally arrived. We are caught between two storm systems, each determined to drop snow all over the region. I think they are trying to out-do each other.
Interestingly, the city commissioner didn't think that things would be too bad. And so the snow plows were not mobilized on Friday when the snow really started coming down. After about an hour every road in the area was covered with at least 4 inches of snow, and it just got worse from there.

The snow hasn't let up today, and it makes me a bit nervous about how much shovelling I am going to have to do to free our cars from the snowbanks that the plows place right at the edge of our driveway. That is one bad thing about living on a road that gets plowed. But we don't have anywhere to go (even Church got cancelled for tomorrow), so we are content to sip hot chocolate and relax.

Our house has been pretty good to us during this storm. We were getting a little crazy staying inside all day so we went into our small backyard and made snow angels. We were going to do a snowman, but the snow isn't packing well yet. But if we have to live in our house for a while we could do it. There is some food storage in the basement, candles for light and heat, water in case we need it. And bookcase full of books. Books are great because they work even when the power is out. We could do pretty well here.

My wife keeps saying she wants Tuna Melts for dinner, so I think we are going to brave the snow, walk to the corner store and buy some. What a time to crave tuna. Sheesh.

So, it has been a while since I posted. I suppose that I should say that Thanksgiving was good. We went out to my in-laws, which is always an experience.

I didn't eat so much this year. I sampled a bit of everything, but forwent tackling an entire turkey drumstick and pot of mashed potatoes. The food was good, and I ate just the right amount to be satisfied.

Of course, that is putting the positive spin on Thanksgiving. The rest of the story is that we spent the first five hours of the day hauling pine branches from two of the three large felled trees in the backyard. There was a pile at least 6 feet high and about 20 wide of all the branches we moved to the side of the road. But these were trees that needed to come down, so I didn't mind chipping in.

As for the rest of it, well things have been pretty quiet around here. I have been working long hours, which I am hoping to stop doing soon, and my wife has been not working. It makes both of our days feel longer, but we get by.

I, and I would venture to say we, have become so accustomed to multiple stimulus that it took conscious control for me tonight to relax in silence. Well, not complete silence. I was watching television, but also recording the show for my wife to watch later. During the commercials rather than flipping away, stimulating myself, I sat with the set muted and waited.

Actually it was an interesting experience. At first I noticed my heartbeat and could feel the pulse of it circulating blood through my body. I could hear the VCR humming, and the rattling of the cars passing by outside. The background stimuli that fill up our heads and ears.
But it was interesting because I started to notice what was around me in the room. On the left side of the TV is a hand-painted sushi plate and cross-stiched picture. Two unique items that no one else has in their homes.
On the right side is a 2x3 foot oil painting. It is unique not only because each stroke was placed on the canvas by a human hand, but it depicts a picture of an obscure mountain in the Philippines that no one I show the painting to has seen. In front of it stands a paper lumberjack, a hand-folded piece of art from Korea that is simple and yet stunning. Beside it a picture of my wedding, and on the back wall a Koa-wood framed, signed print of a photograph of a white Hawaiian plumaria relfect on a white surface that makes it look like two flowers.

All of this, each piece so vibrant, each a testament to the artistry of life. Each a witmess to the world that exists, real and physical, more than a digital description of life. And yet with this surrounding me, I sit on my couch watching a show that will come back in re-runs and on DVD, I sit and watch and suffer through the silence during the commercials.

For me there is an amazing catharsis in writing. I am surprised that I don't do it more often. Writing is a great outlet for me, because while I am like talking to people, even large groups of people, I don't feel that I am very engaging as an orator. When I have the time to sit down and deliberate over my words before using them, the effect is much stronger and more clear.

One of the more random thoughts that I had today while listening to the radio is that I wouldn't do well writing about pop culture, or trying to incorporate pop culture into my writing. I just don't know that much about it, and personally, don't miss it all that much. I am surprised by how who are my age or older put so much importance on popular music, movies, clebreties and etc.

To change topics again, work has been pretty crazy for me. But I am enjoying my work now immensly more than I ever did at Schwartz. It is great to have a place where each day is exciting and I know that people respect the work I am doing for them.

Not that I don't still have plenty to learn. I haven't gotten any official training yet, so I have been pieceing together some of the procedures, and I can see where the cracks are. But overall things are going well.

So, here I am in Korea. It has been a couple of days and I could describe the shopping that we have done with my mother, but that wouldn't interest too many people. Though I will say that Koreans sell everything. I had forgetten just how many shops and carts are set up along the streets. Even in districts that aren't known as shopping areas, you will find people selling pants or luggage or food (especially flattened, dried squids) and just about everything else. I am amazed at how they all manage to stay in business.

But, today was what I believe will be the highlight of our trip here. We got to go to the DMZ or DeMilitarized Zone. This is something of an ironic name because while the actual 4 km wide, 250 km long zone is empty of military, the border on both sides is one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world. All South Korean men have to join the army at 18 or 19 for a year. Many of them are posted along this border. Additionally, many of the new US Army recruits are sent to Korea for a year, again along the border. And North Korea as a military state has a large Army, most of which is deployed at the edge of this zone as well.

We toured the small UN area know as Pan-mun-jom or the Joint Security Area. Both North and South have some of their own buildings, as well as UN buildings that facilitate meetings between the two. We got the chance to go into one and were allowed to walk to the North Korean side of the building.
I have been in North Korea. How many people can say that!!!

It was a very interesting tour. We felt very privledged to be able to see where our soldiers were putting themselves in danger to protect the Korean people. I have to say that I have a deep respect for the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting others. Too often we take for granted all the hard work that goes into keeping us safe.

Well, after nearly 19 hours in-flight and almost 24 hours of traveling (which includes driving and airport time) we made it to Korea. One nice thing about the flight over the Pacific was that they had little TVs for every seat and a variety of movies that they constantly replayed. We got to pick a choose a couple of the movies that were interesting to us.

Our first day in Korea we burned through 100,000 Won. That comes out to about $80 and we got a lot for our money, but it is amazing how quick you can spend money over here. On the other hand, that is what we came for, so we are going to keep going.

My parents apartment over here is quite amazing. I want their kitchen and some of the closets they have. The whole apartment makes great use of space. I am really quite jealous.

We are off to see a Korean palace now, I will have to describe some of it later.

Hmmm and I will have to describe the Kimche. Hmmmmm

We are getting ready to leave for Korea. It is crunch time now. I hope we don't forget anything.

I can't believe how behind I am. Palm released a new handheld over a week ago and I am just now finding out about it.

Since I have been thinking of getting a new Palm anyway, I am going to have to keep my eye on this one.

I have been hearing it everywhere!

"This is the Red Sox year"

And this started before they made it to the playoffs...