LOST

The word that will best describe how I will feel come January once my girls have left me. But let's not talk about that.

What I really want to talk about are wonderful memories of the good times we've shared, most of which are already mentioned here, but one major event is missing:

LOST - Season 5

Many of us came over as crazy Lost fans, so naturally we began a weekly viewing party. We gathered in my apartment every Thursday night with wine and chocolate and a strict no talking rule. I will miss the bitching and gossiping about work over spilled wine and taking 3 hours to watch one episode because we constantly stopped to discus all the deep symbolism and meaning of every little thing on the screen.

This photo is a prefect representation of the time we spent together. Thank you ladies.

Life is like a box of chocolate...

Funny things about Saturday night:

1. Ordering a large pop at Papa John's and receiving an entire 1.5 liter bottle.

2. Standing in a freezing cold concert venue thinking we were going to see a jazz concert and ending up seeing what we thought might be a South African Christian rock group. Turns out D'Sound is a Norwegian pop band. I guess you never know what your gonna get.

Olympic (Park) Style Skating

Speed skating is a big thing amongst the youth around here. Alex Kim runs off to speed skating practice ever Thursday after school and then comes back the next day to show me how he does his turns. We've got elementary kids who show up in full spandex suits on their way to practice. Skating and soccer seem to be their big sports.

Just like at home, the winter season brings on the holiday decor and outdoor skating rinks. We hit one up this past week in Olympic Park. You can rent skates for a dollar and then they make you wear a helmet. It's sweet.

Home Again? Home Again?

I've been ripped through space and time and back again in the past two weeks and finally feeling like I have recovered.

Going home for Thanksgiving was certainly a special treat. I was given two weeks and a day to fly home, drive to Minnesota and fly back again. I like to think I made the most of it. I played Wii with mom, rode on the back of dad's motorcycle down Lake Shore Drive, cuddled with George, had a sleep over with the little girl cousins, bought shoes, bought jeans, bought presents, had quality Madge time and Skyped Carley at the same time, went downtown three times, ate steak, ate Chipotle, ate pizza, ate 43 lbs. of turkey and 20 lbs. of potatoes (OK, I may have had some help with that one), ate lots of stuff, saw some modern art, saw the preview of The Adam's Family Musical with Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth, went to The Burwood to see lots of old friends, went on an 8 hour car ride with all 5 Chicago Johnsons (that hasn't happened in a long time), went to my first Johnson baby shower for Baby Bot, hung out with my bros, hung out with the family and basically soaked up the U.S.A air. I felt like I was home from school on break. No major culture shock, just a little jet lag. It was wonderful being home and oddly enough I felt more home sick while I was there then I have since I've been in Korea. It was hard to say good bye.

I'm back in SoKo and again it fells like I never left. Gearing up for Christmas, the Drama Show and saying good-bye to my two favorite co-workers. December is going to go way too fast.....