Friday, April 25, 2008

Danny Boy

I had a very fortunate upbringing in that my parents and I would religiously watch the muppets every week. That's how I wooed my current girlfriend, by being able to sing every word and note of the muppet theme song. Ours is a strange and musical courtship.

Kat and I were looking up muppet clips on the net (another rousing Friday night) and came across this. This clip has three of the most iconic muppet figures. It's like muppets 101. Bookmark and watch this when you're feeling blue and you want to hear a sad Irish balad. It'll do the trick.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Before


Before
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
Pre-surgery in my sexy outfit. Notice the nervous smile? Just a word of caution, some semi-gross pics follow.

After


After
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
This was right after the surgery when my butt and legs were still numb from the anesthesia.

Painkillers


Painkillers
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
Kat took this picture while I wasn't expecting it, but still, if I was expecting it I don't think I could have done much better. Each morning and night the nurse would give me a shot in the butt. Kat and I were laughing because the nurse would do those little slaps around the injection area before giving me the shot, so in essence I got spanked by a Korean nurse while Kat looked on. I can cross fantasy #37 off the list.

Whatever they injected me with did the trick. Sometimes Kat would ask me a question like, are you hungry? I was so doped up that I would hear a voice, wonder who was talking, and then realize it was me. It was kind of like that echo you get over the phone when you can hear yourself talking in the headset.

Frankenstein Foot


Frankenstein Foot
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
So here's the damage. This is four days after the surgery. Normally my foot doesn't looked like a stitched ham, that's the swelling.

Frankenstein


Frankenstein
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
Ankle detail.

Sunday, April 20, 2008


32 Going on 80

2008 is turning out to be a rough year so far. First I broke my arm and now I'm in the hospital for ankle surgery. A few years ago this spontaneous ankle swelling started to happen. The ankle would stay swollen and tight for a few days and then return to normal. I ignored it the best I could but this year the swelling became larger and more frequent so I returned to the doctor to see what could be done.

I had gone to doctors in the past for things like this. The last one I went to drained a bunch of fluid out of the ankle (that was so cool) and then tested me for gout (that was not cool). Who gets the gout in one leg? It just kind of amazed me that no one could tell me what was going on, or even recommend getting an MRI. Most of the doctors just recommended waiting. Waiting for what? Until it's really screwed up?

So I bit the bullet last Wednesday and got an MRI on the ankle. My right knee has been bothering me also so I figured why not get that checked out also. I thought maybe I could get a two for one deal. No dice, they don't even accept coupons. Scanning both areas costs a lot. I fell asleep during the scans and it was the most expensive nap I've ever had.

The results were I have no anterior taliofibular ligament. It's funny because I don't recall having lost it, but I guess it's gone all the same. Damage to this area is usually a result of trauma in sports; however, I don't recall having done anything too crazy to the ankle.

So yesterday I had the reconstructive surgery. In the states they administer a general anesthetic which knocks a person completely out. Here they use a spinal anesthetic, which is exactly what it sounds like-- a couple of shots in the spine and my legs went numb. I was actually awake for part of the operation but wasn't able to see anything.

So now I'm in a hospital room with three other ajushies (old Korean guys). Their past time seems to be snoring a farting quite loudly in their sleep. Actually, everyone here has been really nice and accommodating, I'm just ready to home where I'm the only one who snores and farts in his sleep. There's no way I can keep up with these guys.

The funny thing is when I broke my arm three months ago I said how happy I was that I didn't break my leg. Now I'm on crutches for four weeks. Then, when the ankle heals, I get surgery done on my right knee. It's going to be a long spring/summer.

The reason I have these compounded problems is two fold, genetics and lifestyle. I tend not to keep cartilage very well, that's the genetics and I like sports that are harsh on my body. Those of you who know me well know what an extreme guy I am. Extreme! My idea of a good time is biffing it in the half pipe. Actually that's not my idea of good time but that's what tends to happen anyway. It's a tough decision to make, do I slow down and compromise or do I keep going at it. Riding my bike, snowboarding and playing sports are things that make life worth living so what is the true price of compromise. Funny though, I can tell you exactly how much the price of not compromising is. I have the medical bills to prove it.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Leaves


Leaves
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
Pic taken late at night at a park close to my pad.

Cherry Blossom Crowd


Cherry Blossom Crowd
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
Last year Kat and I went to the Cherry Blossom Festival and it was a good time. Last year we went on a Sunday night-- this year we went on a Saturday night. This year was not nearly as peaceful as last's. It's funny how checking out the cherry blossoms should be a peaceful experience, but you get a few thousand people together, all trying to have a peaceful experience, and the peaceful atmosphere dissipates. It's something about stepping into too many people's photos and getting hit by too many elbows. It wasn't terrible, and a good time was had, but my God, look at that crowd.

Cherry Blosom Festival


Cherry Blosom Festival
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.

The Blosom Keeper


The Blosom Keeper
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
Here I am at the cherry blossom festival being my merry old self-- looking somber and haggered. Despite my expression it was actually a good time.

Poster Child for PMS
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
Poster Child for PMS

He looks too happy to have PMS.

I wonder what PMS actually is in this context.

?


?
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
I wonder how many people go to this hair salon and say this after looking in the mirror.

Inner Flower


Inner Flower
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
Taking the macro setting for a drive.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

I'm Sconed!

Today Kat got hit by a flying scone as we were walking to the coffee shop. It was unclear where the arrant scone was launched from, but my forensic skills approximated that it flew from the third floor of one of the apartment buildings nearby. Kat was surprised but uninjured. It's just kind of crazy what can happen in a day. Would I have guessed what might have happened today, a covert scone attack would be pretty low on the list.

Monday, April 07, 2008

What I Want To Be

I posted before about how many of my third graders call me Mr. Surprise (it's as close as they can get to Mr. Price). The other day I taught them the phrase, "How are you?" followed by, "I am good, I am bad, and I am so so." That "so so" thing threw them for a loop. A few students thought I was saying "sauce". Maybe I should practice my pronunciation of "so so". Around the school, you can tell which students are mine. They are the ones saying, "Mr. Surprise, I am sauce!" Who am I to argue.

Sunday, April 06, 2008

Kickin It In Geumchon

This is the first release for the EV Boyz. Finally we got someone representing for waygooks. Think what you will of it, I hope there's more to follow.

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Crazy Teacher and Mr. Surprise

As I mentioned before, a new school year started at the beginning of March and I modified some of my teaching. One of the things I changed was my name. I know, it's that dorky thing where someone says, "Naw, don't call me Steve anymore. Now I'm Lion." I didn't go so dramatic. I changed from Nathan Teacher to Mr. Price. There were a few reasons for the change. In Korean, the kids typically say the first name of the teacher and then add the title "teacher" at the end. I changed because I didn't want them to think that we run around in the states saying something like John Teacher. Also I noticed that the kids would routinely leave "teacher" out of my title and just call me Nathan. Now I don't really care, but our principal is a stickler for formality and it's best to stay on her good side. Hell hath no fury like a Korean principal.

So the third graders call me Mr. Price which is confusing for some; they think my name is Mr. Surprise. The other foreign teacher, Craig, didn't see any need for the formal name change and just kept his title as Craig Teacher. The forth graders are now calling him Crazy Teacher. Mr. Surprise and Crazy Teacher, we sound like a demented clown show, which, if you catch our teaching on the right days, is somewhat true. Still, there went that hint of professionalism.

The third graders also complimented me on my English the other day. They told one of their homeroom teachers that they were amazed at how good my English was. That's pretty cute. I told them maybe if they practice for 31 years also, they'll be as good as I am.

In a twist, the sixth graders complimented me on my Korean. I spoke one word of Korean and they applauded. It was nice. Still, I think they felt that kind of amusement that they might feel if dog had suddenly hopped up on its hind feet and danced around. It's similar to when I watch Sesame Street over here. When Grover opens his mouth and Korean comes out it's utterly hilarious.

Here's to new school year.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Almost Sequencial 1


Almost Sequencial 1
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
This is the last rock out. It's either a pity to break up something like this or a definite sign it's time to go. Special effects made by holding up pieces of the dismantled painting.

Pontification


Pontification
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
"My finger points."

Modern Art


Modern Art
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
The dismantling of the apartment. The dismantling of the painting in the apartment.