Mark's big 2-9

Last week officially ended the three-month period that Mark can refer to me as the "older woman." Another 9 months of being the same age before it starts up again. I can only imagine how bad it's going to be next year when he can tell me I'm in my 30s and he's still in his 20s...

Anyway, on his birthday, we both had to work in the evening so we planned a fun little day out.

When Kevin & Alicia visited us, Birth Father took us to a total hole-in-the-wall restaurant that had the most amazing grilled beef and kimchi bokembap ever. Actually, that seems to be a common theme I've noticed here in Korea... the places that look like total dumps that you wouldn't take a second look at, seem to have the best food. Anyway, this isn't really a place we can go regularly now that we're back to being broke students, but it was a special occasion so we went for it.

So this restaurant seems really old school, and they start by giving you a cast iron skillet over a flame with a piece of fat in it to grease it.

Since it was Mark's birthday, I assumed the responsibility of cooking so he could focus on stuffing his face.

And here's the birthday boy looking soooo excited to dive in.

The meat is absolutely delicious, but I must say the kimchi bokembop (basically fried rice with kimchi) is my FAVE.

They start by cooking the kimchi, then they add the rice.

Then they mix it up and spread it out so the bottom can get all crispy and brown... mmmmm... Wish I could eat it every day.

As we were finishing our meal, out of nowhere, the blue sky turned gray and it started to absolutely pour. We had no umbrella, so we sat around and waited and waited for it to let up. But it wasn't happening and the subway was at least a 5 minute walk away. When we went to stand at the door to make a dash for it if there was a little break, the ajjumma who owned the restaurant came up and handed us an umbrella. She said to just take it with us. I have to say, that's one of the things that I love most about Korea. Every now and then people will just do the kindest, most unexpected things to help you out.

After we made it to the subway station, we went to a theater to see Predator. (See, I told you the day was all about Mark...)

Then the following night we met up with some friends, and Mark got his party hat and cake.