tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138290042024-03-13T07:17:12.006-07:00No Name for a BlogA personal blog concerning me and the stuff I do.karmaking1111http://www.blogger.com/profile/15245747794402955876noreply@blogger.comBlogger1372125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-91713126982964093882016-05-16T20:58:00.001-07:002016-05-16T20:58:55.724-07:00Yucca Shot<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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Yuccas a another type of plant that are notoriously difficult to get a good shot of. I usually get a picture of an over-exposed flower stalk sticking right out of the ground. I think this shot came out just a bit better than my usual attempts. </div>
<br /><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/26862017405/in/datetaken-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Yucca Flowers"><img alt="Yucca Flowers" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7321/26862017405_65ce362324.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Nathan Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12049284412359569469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-59958024393797918492016-05-16T20:54:00.003-07:002016-05-16T20:54:35.886-07:00The Muscle and the Brains Make Their Getaway<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/26828297456/in/datetaken-public/" title="Gavin and Theo Take a Ride"><img alt="Gavin and Theo Take a Ride" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7478/26828297456_d21880ed76.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Nathan Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12049284412359569469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-72952476211847865912016-05-16T20:51:00.003-07:002016-05-16T20:51:52.535-07:00Rocks and Snow<br />
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Even during the winter, you got to get out a little bit. When cabin fever became too much for me and spit me out of the house, I ended up in Kolob Canyon and took this shot. I'd say it was worth it to get out.</div>
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Nathan Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12049284412359569469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-58701299184576176602016-05-16T20:46:00.002-07:002016-05-16T20:46:39.975-07:00<h2>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Brothers </span></h2>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/26256677134/in/datetaken-public/" title="Brothers Reach"><img alt="Brothers Reach" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7406/26256677134_2e57fa664f_n.jpg" width="266" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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Here's Gavin and Theo looking sweet and adorable around Christmas time.Nathan Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12049284412359569469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-26422901067071180592016-05-16T20:39:00.002-07:002016-05-16T20:52:26.292-07:00The Brothers Shampoo Horns<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/26768436042/in/datetaken-public/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Bathtime"><img alt="Bathtime" height="213" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7666/26768436042_b6bc08ffee_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Nathan Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12049284412359569469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-13579556980441741652015-11-05T21:10:00.001-08:002015-11-05T21:10:39.251-08:00Thanks for the ComplimentThe other day my boss asked me if I had completed all the necessary scheduling for an upcoming conference and I replied, "Yeah, who wants to know?" See, we've got this tongue-in-cheek, antagonistic relationship where we are constantly trying one up each other with dry, witty comments. The problem is I'm not very good at this, so I often say something that just insulting minus the witty part. I had been okay until recently when I noticed the boss man didn't banter with me so much. I wonder if I had crossed the line with one of my ill-timed comments.<br />
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The other day, Mr. Boss-Man wandered into my office and said, "What's up loser?" It was then that I knew that I was still in his good graces, for this mildly-insulting greeting that could only be offered to someone in his inner circle. Office politics and the communication therein is a weird thing.Nathan Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12049284412359569469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-89847439072080976822015-06-16T21:00:00.002-07:002015-06-16T21:00:49.633-07:00Gavin's First Picture....That He TookGavin asked to see my camera and snapped off this shot of Theo. I think it's pretty good. The pic is in focus; I believe it captures the essence of Theo. We'll just have to work on getting a bit closer to the subject.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="213" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/16851229004/in/datetaken/player/" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="320"></iframe>Nathan Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12049284412359569469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-12555911235848610272015-06-16T20:53:00.000-07:002015-06-16T20:53:00.718-07:00Desert FlowersAnother shot that I think turned out alright by darkening the background.<br />
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<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/17471702632/in/datetaken/player/" width="500" height="357" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>Nathan Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12049284412359569469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-76868737264028991872015-06-15T21:43:00.000-07:002015-06-15T21:43:26.242-07:00An Actually Okay Photo of a ColumbineI find that good pics of flowers are hard to get. The photos usually look washed out or generic no matter how much I zoom in, or how many different angles I try. Still, there is hope. I took the following pic and then really darkened the background. The Columbine is a very beautiful specimen, and I'm proud to finally do this flora some justice.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="333" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/14517883908/in/photolist-o7TX6f-22UzWc-2aKQ8A-2aKQ2d/player/" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe>Nathan Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12049284412359569469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-2558872419019887042014-08-25T21:24:00.003-07:002014-08-25T21:32:26.781-07:00Bye to the Badger Well, this sucks. There's no other way to put it. Our other cat that we brought back from Korea was hit by a car. We went camping and when we came back I noticed that Badger wasn't around. I walked around the neighborhood hoping that I'd see her bounding through the weeds behind our house, running to me at the sound of my voice, but as hours passed, I this feeling of emptiness got bigger. It's the kind of emptiness where you start to realize that nothing good is going to come of the situation. The emptiness that is the only thing preferable to the panic and desperation that tries to take over.<br />
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The next morning, after dropping Walter off at work, I decided to drive for a bit and look around. I put on my signal to turn left but it shut off. That's nothing big; turning signals just click off at times, but this time I took it as a sign and turned right. That's what eventually lead me to her body.<br />
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When Nallie got hit, we were devastated. I told myself, at least this won't happen to Badger. Badger was our fat dorky cat that liked to stick more to the house. She was the one that was going to be with us awhile.<br />
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I never understood why anyone would want to clone an animal before. Now I get it. There won't be another Badger. She'd lay down and let you give her a vigorous tummy rubbing. Gavin would lay on her without a complaint from the cat. She'd jump on my stomach while I lay in bed, often scaring the crap out of me, begging for some pets.<br />
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It's hard not to be bitter, but it's not enough to say "these things happen" either. We just have to be happy for the time we had with our Korean cats and remember them the best we can. The most honest thing to say about the situation is they are missed.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="213" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/8042363361/player/" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="320"></iframe>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="180" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/6252465328/player/" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="320"></iframe>Nathan Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12049284412359569469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-80681181609440362422014-08-25T21:07:00.000-07:002014-08-25T21:08:04.937-07:00And Now Back to ColorIn the previous post, I talked about how I was taking more black and white pics. That doesn't mean that I don't secretly want to be an HDR master. Here's probably my best HDR to date.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="331" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/14255587274/player/" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe>Nathan Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12049284412359569469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-68189962868294199732014-08-25T21:04:00.003-07:002014-08-25T21:04:48.215-07:00Black and White in Color CountryI was all excited to relocate to southern Utah, partially because of the desert and red rock scenery. It makes for some pretty photos, but here I am posting black and white. Some times the stark contrast of black versus white adds for more drama, the photo comes out as I see it in my mind's eye.
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="500" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/14672039494/player/" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="333"></iframe>Nathan Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12049284412359569469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-1262783982615266612014-01-09T19:03:00.002-08:002014-01-09T19:03:33.324-08:00Homesick?It's odd when this pic makes me a bit homesick.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic taken from 3 Wise Monkeys Post: <a href="http://thethreewisemonkeys.com/2013/06/23/korea-is-one-long-termer-says-farewell/">Long-Timer Says Farewell</a>. He says it very well. </td></tr>
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Nathan Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12049284412359569469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-50766985095260332302013-12-22T20:20:00.000-08:002013-12-23T22:10:40.515-08:00Abrupt Fading (a bit of goodbye)Korea is fading. It goes by bits and pieces. When we first moved back to the states, we brought with us a bunch of Korean products; toiletries like shampoo, toothpaste, and the occasional medicine. While the toothpaste was still Arm and Hammer, it had Korean writing on it-- a reminder of where we had come from. But then the toothpaste tube ran empty and it was time to get a new one. We threw the old tube away and a piece of Korea, a reminder of where we had lived, went away as well. The cultural residue that we were immersed in for 7 years has become less sticky. I'm nostalgic for Korea at times; an emotion that can only come about when escape from a place or a culture has become complete.<br />
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These nights, I often dream that I'm back in Korea. The dreams follow a similar pattern. I'll be glad that I'm back, glad to eat the food that I miss, glad to see the places I long for, and glad to see old friends again. But then the dream will change. I'll question why I ever left. When this happens, someone in the dream usually tries to talk to me in Korean. I'll then reply in a mishmash of English and Korean to which the speaker will look totally confused. I will then repeat the phrase with exaggerated gestures. This part of the dream mirrors my reality in Korea pretty well. It's like the dream is trying to remind me that not everything there was peachy and that there are reasons why I moved back to the states.<br />
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The fading of past people, places, and experiences happens, but unfortunately, that fading sometimes comes abruptly. Walter (my brother-in-law) and I were out shoveling snow from the driveway yesterday when I noticed a snow covered mound off the side of the driveway. As I walked closer I noticed that the mound looked like a cat. I thought to myself that thank goodness it wasn't one of our cats because I had just seen both cats... wait, I couldn't remember when I had seen our smaller cat, Nallie. Relief was replaced by a wave of worry and then instant despair when I looked closer and saw a glimpse of Nallie's purple collar. By what we can tell, she was hit by a car and then struggled to get home. The idea that this couldn't be Nallie, that she was just 4 years old, could not hold up to the heartbreaking reality in front of me. I checked to make sure that there wasn't any life (rigamortis had set in) and then I steeled myself to go inside and break the news to Kat. Our morning was consumed with comforting each other, digging a grave, and getting all ready for her burial.<br />
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She was the first member of our little family. We've snowballed a bit bigger: another cat, a kid, a recently claimed brother in law-- but Nallie was like the first child. In Korea, we moved into a bigger apartment, partly so we could get a cat. Nallie was a rescue; during a typhoon, she was blown into a storm drain and rescued by a kind ex-pat. We responded to a Craigslist post about Nallie, and smuggled her home on a bus in Kat's purse. We spoiled Nallie and that molded her into the grumpiest / sweetest kitty ever. That's the honest truth. She'd bite me when I didn't pet her just right, but she'd also wake me in the night, licking me on the forehead, thinking it was the perfect time for a bath. She'd follow me around the Korean apartment, either for an epic petting session or to attack my feet. She'd often lay at the foot of Gavin's bed, his protector in the night.<br />
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Everything fades. I think I may feel this progression more than some, not because of some heightened sensitivity (I am often one of the most oblivious people I know), but because my life has been so compartmentalized. There were the Salt Lake days; the Flagstaff days; the Central America journey; the boomerang back to Salt Lake; the Suji, Gangnam, Yatap and Seohyun days in Korea. Now there are the Cedar City days. Abrupt changes in location lend to a compartmentalization of my life. I'm split into chapters and the move back to the States is a transition to a different chapter. I had thought that our friend Nallie would weather this transition with us, but unfortunately, she is part of the fading also. That's doesn't mean she will be forgotten. She won't be a part of our day to day lives, but she will fade to memories, and we have a lot of good memories of her. For that, we are thankful.<br />
<br />Nathan Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12049284412359569469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-56633140566005227572013-12-22T20:18:00.001-08:002013-12-22T20:18:41.496-08:00Family Christmas Pic from 2010<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/11507910346/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7442/11507910346_6cb292e9e4_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/11507910346/">Family Christmas Pic from 2010</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/">karmking1111</a>. </span></div>This is the start of the small fam.<br clear="all" />karmaking1111http://www.blogger.com/profile/15245747794402955876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-9863675119603520982013-12-22T20:11:00.003-08:002013-12-22T20:11:58.293-08:00Can I Haz Burthday Foodz?<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/6040190079/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6073/6040190079_092d763557_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/6040190079/">Can I Haz Burthday Foodz?</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/">karmking1111</a>. </span></div>Nallie's first birthday. Did I mention we spoiled her?<br clear="all" />karmaking1111http://www.blogger.com/profile/15245747794402955876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-35229959968022997302013-12-22T20:11:00.001-08:002013-12-23T22:12:01.885-08:00Biting the Biter<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/5649549228/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5263/5649549228_9854477c95_m.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/5649549228/">Biting the Biter</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/">karmking1111</a>. </span></div>
This picture details our antagonistic relationship. We often competed against each other to see who could be the most cantankerous. We bonded over our ability and predisposition to be grumpy.karmaking1111http://www.blogger.com/profile/15245747794402955876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-18538420634742385742013-12-22T20:07:00.001-08:002013-12-22T20:07:36.736-08:00Snoozing<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/6252465328/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6216/6252465328_4212bbf3ec_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/6252465328/">Snoozing</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/">karmking1111</a>. </span></div>Nallie was a great older sister.<br clear="all" />karmaking1111http://www.blogger.com/profile/15245747794402955876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-50444872385896577152013-12-22T20:06:00.001-08:002013-12-22T20:06:37.221-08:00Introducing Nallie<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="375" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=137818" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=b87e030eac&photo_id=5059408599&flickr_show_info_box=true"></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=137818"></param> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=137818" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=b87e030eac&photo_id=5059408599&flickr_show_info_box=true" height="375" width="500"></embed></object><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/5059408599/">Introducing Nallie</a> a video by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/">karmking1111</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Here's Nallie as a kitten. Warning, this is something you should not do with a kitten least you want to raise a cat that won't stop biting your hand.</p>karmaking1111http://www.blogger.com/profile/15245747794402955876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-4256108465669315062013-08-18T19:58:00.001-07:002013-08-18T19:58:23.411-07:00The Force is Strong With This One<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/9398969985/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3665/9398969985_1d2a341986_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/9398969985/">The Force is Strong With This One</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/">karmking1111</a>. </span></div>Don't mess with Gavin. He's been practicing his light saber skills. See that look on his face? That is pure, stern concentration.<br clear="all" />karmaking1111http://www.blogger.com/profile/15245747794402955876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-11969944987907334302013-08-18T18:58:00.000-07:002013-08-18T18:58:02.853-07:00Straddling and LeaningIn the past I've been able to straddle the two cultures of Korea and and America. When we boomeranged back to the states to visit during vacations, it was easy to dismiss anything we didn't like, remarking, "Well, I actually live in Korea." In Korea it was the same way. When there was any cultural difference, we could always say, "I'm glad I'm American."<br />
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Before we could dismiss all and subscribe to none. Now we've moved back to the states and we've committed totally to this experience. That's okay; it's what we've signed up for, but there have been a few surprises.<br />
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Right now we're living in southern Utah, at my parent's place until we procure housing of our own. The other day I left the front door open as I was getting Gavin ready for a walk when I heard Kat yell from the hallway, "Nate, there's a snake in the house!" This is something you definitely don't hear in Korea. It's also one of those folksy saying you imagine that the homesteaders must have said frequently like, "Dagnabbit, the cow's loose again," or, "Grandma fell down the well again." But this was true; there was a snake in the house-- a small black and red banded garter snake. After some gawking and general amazement, I was able to scoop the reptile in a dustpan, plunk it in a bucket, and release it away from the house. Once again, this a truly south-western American experience; something that never happens in Korea.<br />
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We've also been looking on-line for deals, things to help us furnish the house. The first thing we saw on the Cedar City Buy and Sell Facebook Page was a tripod mount for an AK 47. I've always questioned American's need for semi-automatic assault rifles, but then again, how are you going to dispatch the snakes in your house without an AK? Definitely something you don't see in Korea.<br />
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Last, Kat and I have been house shopping. The first day of looking at houses was disappointing. We were realizing that we would have up our price consideration, when we looked at the last house. The layout was nice, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, stone fireplace, walk-in closets-- oh, and it tested positive for methamphetamine (I did not realize a house could test positive for methamphetamine). Apparently the last tenants had been meth users and left the place in a bit of a mess. You know those pictures of the people before and after meth use? Imagine that applied to a house. Still it was the best place that we saw. I started doing my homework, to find out how to decontaminate a house that tests positive for methamphetamine; however, someone swooped in, made a bid, and stole our meth castle from underneath us. It's alright. We found a different meth free house.<br />
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So the above experiences makes it sound as though our time back hasn't been too great-- with the snakes, and the guns, and the meth-- but the opposite is true. We have been having a great time. We've met a lot of great people, we've taken Gavin out a lot, and basically we've started our new lives.<br />
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Korea was wonderful. That land and its people helped me gain a profession, a wife, a child, and many amazing experiences. Do I miss Korea? Not at all. I miss the people there, but 7 years was more than enough. It came as a realization a year or two ago that we were pining for the familiar, the stuff we grew up with, the meat and potatoes of our existence. It was a slow dawning that it was time to stop straddling, that it was time to come back home-- home to all the good, the bad, and the in-between.Nathan Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12049284412359569469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-737843515198580662013-08-18T18:57:00.001-07:002013-08-18T18:57:37.170-07:00Sonora Semiannulata<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/9393357470/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5447/9393357470_020f3c39ee_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/9393357470/">Sonora Semiannulata</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/">karmking1111</a>. </span></div>Our short-term house guest.<br clear="all" />karmaking1111http://www.blogger.com/profile/15245747794402955876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-76310139072443560532013-07-25T10:45:00.003-07:002013-07-25T10:45:55.855-07:00<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBorNjiJzDyUBBX1h4mxB91HIxb3OMpnmF04KoIJmVSUKOqvZwDYQqa4pdNnSVMFwxqgrpNREIrLAK81D4J4oWE8kQBNa_6QPvka9Vx0ZwKnvmkC1onf9GQrwQlOqdckLZYyed/s1600/ScreenHunter_21+Jul.+25+11.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBorNjiJzDyUBBX1h4mxB91HIxb3OMpnmF04KoIJmVSUKOqvZwDYQqa4pdNnSVMFwxqgrpNREIrLAK81D4J4oWE8kQBNa_6QPvka9Vx0ZwKnvmkC1onf9GQrwQlOqdckLZYyed/s320/ScreenHunter_21+Jul.+25+11.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: cedarcityblogshop.com</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-large;">English Teacher <strike>Wanted</strike> Needed</span><div>
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It looks as though Cedar City does have need of my skills as an English teacher and all around writing <strike>editer, edditter, edittor</strike>, editor. </div>
Nathan Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12049284412359569469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-51941635728151095082013-07-12T07:49:00.001-07:002013-07-19T17:20:38.573-07:00Same Words, Different LanguageNo matter how much I practiced my Korean, getting my hair cut was still one of the most stressful things in Korea. I'd go in a hair shop with some pre-planned phrases, spit them out, the stylist wouldn't understand anything I said, and then there would be this awkward moment where we'd both just stare at each other. Often times the stylist would ask something like, "Would you like the sides trimmed short or should I leave them long?" to which I'd reply, "Yes."<br />
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So I was glad when I came back to the states so I could communicate exactly what I wanted in English. The other day I was getting my car worked on and I thought I'd pop into the barber shop across the street. This wasn't a Great Cuts or a Super Cuts or a Super Great Cuts or whatever those shops are called. This was a true, old school barber shop but I was feeling bold and decided to give it a go.<br />
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The older gentleman who ran the establishment instructed me to sit down, asked what I wanted, and then proceeded to do the exact opposite. I said that I'd like the top trimmed down a bit and the guys said, "You know what would look good on you? If I took this down to about a 5." I should explain here that my head and hair is a series of bumps, cowlicks and scars. I have sympathy for anyone who tries to navigate the enigma that is my hair, so I'm not too picky as far as things go.<br />
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I gave the barber the go ahead. It was after the fact that I found out that he was ex-military and was determined to make me a commando. I commented on his hair, a silvery mane that sprouted from his head. He then informed me that it was a hairpiece (uh-oh). He said that he'd been shot in the head during 'Nam, had a steel plate in his head, and no hair. At least I got a barber with stories.<br />
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And tell stories he did. The only problem is this dude got so worked up, that he'd stop cutting my hair while talking, taking what was already a lengthy process and making it longer. Also, he'd get so worked up that he'd start gesturing wildly with the shaver right by my head. I was afraid that I'd walk out of the shop minus an ear or an eye.<br />
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The guy shaved off a sideburn, another alteration I didn't really ask for, then excused himself to go to the bathroom. He came back, got a phone call, argued with the man on the other line for a bit. He then started to clean me up and I had to remind him to shave the other sideburn. At this point I had hair all over my face which the man feebly tried to remove with a ineffective vacuum hose. I just wanted to cut my losses and run.<br />
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I returned to the car service center where they didn't recognize me. When I initially came to service center, I was guy with slightly long, unkempt hair. When I returned, I was a military dude with hair all over my face.<br />
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I guess we have to be careful what we wish for. In Korea, most of the stylists didn't understand half of what I said, but they tried hard and I generally came out of their establishments looking better. In the states I ran into a dude who spoke the same language as I, but we still didn't understand each other. I came out of his place with tufts of hair springing from my head, with one sideburn longer than the other, and with hair stuck to my face. Just for curiosity's sake, I should go back to that barber, speak to him in Korean, and see what happens. Nathan Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12049284412359569469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13829004.post-48395574605787256302013-06-19T22:37:00.001-07:002013-06-19T22:37:11.266-07:00Welcome to the World<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/9087401785/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2807/9087401785_bf0fdcd4ba_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/9087401785/">Welcome to the World</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmaking1111/">karmking1111</a>. </span></div>On a Sunday walk, Kat, Gavin, and I happened up on a small park with tons of butterflies. Upon closer inspection, I saw that there were cocoons peppered on all the trees, lamp posts, and rails in the park. I ran back home and grabbed my camera to get a few shots. Here's one of the best.<br clear="all" />karmaking1111http://www.blogger.com/profile/15245747794402955876noreply@blogger.com0