Wow, it is really hard for me to get back into the habit of writing on this often. Still, as long as I finish this entry I'll be able to keep my resolution. Although my resolution had an "every Monday" feel to it...but anyway, here I am.

I had a wonderful week. I read The Great Gatsby and Cat's Cradle, both wonderful, delightful, sad and serious books. Cat's Cradle reminded me of Catch-22, hilarious and silly until the end when you realize that it's a deadly serious and morbid and terrifically sad book. I read Gatsby when I was in high school but didn't remember hardly any of it. If you haven't read it, you should. I was looking for a few short books to read this week before I start Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself by David Lipsky, a biography of sorts of my favorite author David Foster Wallace. For those of you who don't know, DFW's Infinite Jest taught me to read, basically. If you want to know more just ask.

David Foster Wallace suffered from severe depression and hung himself with his belt in 2008. This past year his publishers compiled the notes of a complicated and immensely long book that he had been working on before his death, which was eventually titled The Pale King. Initially I had high hopes for the piece, choosing not to believe my dark suspicion that his publishers had slopped something together to capitalize off DFW's good name. I was wrong, totally wrong. I don't know why reviewers didn't publicly castrate the publishers for putting out something so awful, unfinished, unpolished, basically unfinishable. Perfidy, backstabbery. Reviewers were, across the board, either neutral or eerily cheerful, like they were trying to smile while watching an execution. I was disgusted.

Anyway, great books aside, my week was also great because I organized the first of hopefully many Women's Self-Defense classes. We had about 25 women show up! We learned all kinds of interesting things, and Master Oh was great -- charming, funny, and great at explaining each different technique. The next one will be on December 10th, a Saturday, so I hope we can get a bigger turnout.

Also, Emma is swimming by herself (even in November!), we had dinner with our wonderful Korean friends, and I made some pies. Coconut custard, raspberry custard, and pumpkin. I'm going to start posting on a new blog every time I bake and write up the recipe. Hopefully someone will look at it and through blog magic I'll start to make money.

After a 2 1/2 year hiatus, I'm back in the blog world. I randomly remembered my Xanga site while clearing out my old email inbox. I started this blog in September 2004. I don't think I got on Facebook until 2008. It's so funny seeing my first few posts about getting a day off because of Day of Prayer. "Don't you just love day of prayer? A whole day off to do absoluetly noth-- I mean...to spend in prayer. I made a coffee cake today, and am playing volleyball in 15 minutes. I love my life."

Looking back on a few years' worth of blog entries and photos made me wish I had kept up on it, especially for family's sake. So from now on I'm making it a goal to write one update per week, with pictures -- not a lot compared to some, but for someone famously lousy with resolutions having to do with computer stuff, a great feat of strength. 

Love.

Want to skip winter in America to come work here?

'

Dates: October 15 - May 15
Salary: $2,200/month
Hours: Monday - Friday, 2:35-8:25, 50 minute classes, 10 minute breaks
Terms: Airfare reimbursement, fully furnished apartment, health benefits, 5 days paid vacation
Location: Gorgeous city of Seogwipo, home of the finest swimming holes and beaches (and, of course, Matt and Joy and Emma)

My academy, Oh Sung Sik English Club, is looking for a teacher for 6 or 7 months, starting in October. The couple who was supposed to come ran into visa problems so we are looking for someone to cover until they come in May. Matt is starting on the same day as well, so you'd get to work with Matt and me for a glorious 6 months.

Any takers? Send me an email or leave a message. (Asap.)

All the Joy, Matt, and Emma you can handle, baby!

Miss us? Come visit! We have a huge place and a room just for you with a mountain view.