In Korea, today is Children’s Day. In other parts of the world, it’s Cinco de Mayo. Oh, how I would love a bowl of guacamole and a margarita right now.
After my jaunt to Seoul on Saturday for pre-Buddha’s birthday celebrations, I debated going again on Sunday because the weather looked like crap. I’m a huge fan of festivals, but not when it includes being cold in the rain. As the sun started setting, the weather didn’t look any better and I opted to stay home instead.
One reason for staying home was to work on my blog. As you can see, there’s a new template. First, I upgraded to Wordpress 2.5.1, and it looks really snazzy. (Trust me, you’ll have to take my word for it.) It wasn’t as easy as people on the internet made it out to be, but I eventually got through it.
Afterwards, I started working on the blog theme. This took some time too, because all I know about CSS and PHP is what pops up when I google how to do specific tasks. As you can see, when it comes down to it, I’m a 3 column kind of girl. There’s just more real estate to play with.
On the right-hand side, you can also see my Twitter widget. I’ve been Twittering for a short time now, and you can “follow” me at http://twitter.com/laoocean. “Tweets” are basically like the “John Doe is _______” feature of Facebook, but more frequently. I can also update what I’m doing by sending a text message from my cell phone to my account. It’s up to the minute blogging! Do you want to know what I think of Iron Man before I even leave the theater?!? Well, now you will!
Through tweets, I discovered two good Flickr related sites:
- Flickr Leech - You can see my photostream (or anyone else’s) in a larger page view than on the normal flickr site. Check my stream out.
- Flickriver - Check out interesting Flickr photos, 500 at a time! There’s so much inspiration there.
Overall, I’m happy with the new look, but will be customizing different aspects of the site in the future.
\\ tags: wordpress
May 5th, 2008 at May 5, 2008 - 8:50 pm
It’s odd, that in the country where the Cinco de Mayo (1862) battle took place, it isn’t really celebrated anywhere except in the Puebla where the battle occurred.
It seems that the French ended up winning the war and Maximilian I became the French Emperor of Mexico. However, his, and Empress Carlota’s, reign were short lived thanks to U.S. involvement after the end of the Civil War (Monroe Doctrine) and Napoleon III’s attentions being diverted towards Germany and away from Mexico as he pulled out most of the French troops back to protect the homeland. The French were ultimately removed in 1867 and the Emperor was executed. With his wife seeking help in Europe for Maximilian I at the time, she escaped the same fate.
Mexico’s Independence day is September 16th, their most important national holiday.
I’m celebrating my Mexican heritage with some guacamole (avocados from Costco–too bad they don’t have limes) on my homemade corn tortilla chips. Later on, I have some fajitas set to go once I make some fresh flower tortillas. How mi abuela (grandmother) would beam if she could see me cooking now, and then how she would shake her head when she would realize that three of her four grandsons can make corn and flour tortillas from scratch but not a one of her three granddaughters can. Damn, it’s hard to find ingredients for Mexican food here in South Korea.
May 5th, 2008 at May 5, 2008 - 9:05 pm
@ John from Daejeon:
That food sounds delicious! I’ve told myself that once I get back to the States where avocados are cheaper, I’m going to master making guacamole. One day, it will be one of my signature dishes.
You probably don’t come to Seoul too often, but if you’re ever in Itaewon, the supermarket next to Gecko’s has limes!
May 5th, 2008 at May 5, 2008 - 11:53 pm
There was a brief time a few months ago where avocados were cheap enough at E-Mart to make ample guacamole. This low price only lasted a few weeks. I check all the time now to see if some “exotic” product is available, plentiful and briefly affordable.
May 6th, 2008 at May 6, 2008 - 8:45 am
Nice theme. Me like.
May 6th, 2008 at May 6, 2008 - 11:06 am
My wife Linda makes the best Guacamole anywhere hands down… I think her special ingredient, being that she’s Lao too is lots and lots of garlic. I haven’t found anyone that could cook like her, anywhere.
I’m so happy she’s coming home from Afghanistan 18 days. I’m tired of trying to feed myself.
May 6th, 2008 at May 6, 2008 - 12:47 pm
A little (or a lot) of garlic is always good.
I wish I could cook like your wife. Instead, my guy has to cook for me! I was kind of hungry the last 3 days he was gone.
May 7th, 2008 at May 7, 2008 - 12:09 am
Well, when you get the craving for Tam ah houn, Ban xiao, Ban Quoan, Pho, Larb Moo, khao thiew kai (chicken noodle soup) or anything else I’ll email you her number to call her up and yak at her who you are and that I said to make whatever you like, because by default I’ll eat it too….
May 7th, 2008 at May 7, 2008 - 12:11 am
And by God, I love eating that stuff.