November 2017

The way I perceive holidays is the only way I know how to perceive them, but I wonder how different things would have been had I been white-American or had any kind of religious background or really just been anything besides me.

For me, the major national holidays are just days I don't have to go to work or school, and I get to drink and play with friends.

We never had Christmas trees or Christmas presents. Halloween was a sign of discounted candy to come, and Easter was incomprehensible-- in what world does a rabbit care about eggs, particularly dyed ones? 

In more recent years, my family started making American-style Thanksgiving dinners with a ham or turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy and brussels sprouts, but really I think it's just because we sometimes want to pretend we're white-American. Like how Americans sometimes talk in exaggerated British accents while lifting their pinkie fingers from their cups-- a caricature painted just for funsies. It's a feeling of, ah, maybe this is what it's like. 

Lacking real sentimental meaning, these holidays have, over the years, become infused with memories with friends. 

Standing in line at Fry's Electronics for Black Friday starting at 10pm Thanksgiving night while we munch on turkey leftovers. Shouting at strangers on the other end of Xbox Live during Halo matches on Christmas Eve. Decorating ugly sweaters at Friendsgiving in true hipster-Millennial fashion. 

In this way, we've filled the holidays with our own meaning and our own customs. 

In this way, we have fun and are grateful. 

In my mind, things are so simple.

Do good things and good things will happen.

But in reality, there are politics and people's feelings and coffers and many other moving pieces.

I'm so proud of and inspired by the countless staff members, parents and even students who have rallied for change in their time outside of work and school. 

I'm constantly in awe of how much love and energy people put into the things they believe in. 

The world is good and every day it becomes better. 

A few days of Red Rock to wrap up November with a few good friends!

I left Korea in 2013 and here I am, still kickin' it with the same people an ocean away. 

The only thing that's changed is that these cool cats have gotten even stronger over the years! 

How did we get more addicted to climbing?

I also got to finally put down Epinephrine, the ultra-classic Red Rock multi-pitch. Have I ever told you I love chimneys??? The best! And no one told me about the endless field of patina flakes-- amazing! I came into Epinephrine expecting it to be mostly hype, but it really is a grand adventure!

Climbing is fun and I hope I get to keep doing it for years to come. 

Our friend got married.

I bought him a copy of A Different Pond, a children's book by one of my favorite spoken word artists, for when he ever decides to have children. 

I also bought him this wonderful cat apron.

I have no regrets.

This is 누릉지 (noo-reung-ji)-- it's the rice that has burnt at the bottom of the pot. But you can also just buy rice that has been intentionally cooked like this. You can eat it as a super hard cracker or add it to boiling water to make a burnt rice porridge.

I love it. 

We also made delicious cuppy cakes. By 'we', I mean not me. I helped, but mostly in eating them. 

I was pretty successful if I do say so myself!

And I do say so.

There isn't much better than video games and cuppy cakes and plum wine!

EXCEPT VIDEO GAMES AND CUPPY CAKES AND PLUM WINE AND DOGGO. 

Zoey is a very good girl with a tail that will slap the shit out of you if you're in the way. 

It's a little painful but worth it because Zoey is wonderful and just look at that face!