Long awaited posting...perhaps?

I'm sitting in my apartment, mid afternoon, lazy, cat curled up on the comforter on my bed. She was whining at me a second ago, but I lay down next to her and petted her head, so now she's calm. I haven't been writing much lately, I know but I haven't felt I had much to write about. Let's see, what have I done lately....

I found a pair of cheap shoes today! Not exactly what I wanted, but precisely what I was looking for, and since they were only a few bucks, I bought them anyway. Also a lovely Audrey Hepburneque white knit, oh what's that papery material, summer hat with an oversized brim. Party tonight, sailor theme. Wearing my red and white floral print summer dress and painted my nails a candy cherry enamel red that came out beautifully.

I've been exploring the spas in Korea. Went to one up by Ocheonjang, where the cable car runs up the mountain. Large pool in the middle, very spacious feeling as compared to others, high ceiling, airy. Outdoor pool (a MUST have in a Korean bathhouse). A little girl swam up to me and asked me questions, in Korean, and I responded in kind to the best of my ability. But then I asked her, again in Korean, if she spoke a little English-- and she responded by answering, "Manni (a lot)." We then talked for a few minutes in English, her English was perfect, and then she went off, presumably to go to her mother.

Shall write more later--sorry, off in a rush!

Magic

There must be something inately in human nature that draws us to the fantastical world, worlds and stories based not on what we see, but what we believe must be true, hence science fiction, religion, fantasy paperbacks, and of course...magicians. Halfway through the show, the emcee called up a little boy to the stage (adorable, he lied and said he was seven when he was nine, so that he could come to the front) and showed him a disappearing handkerchief trick, and of course when the boy opened his hand the napkin was still there, so the emcee told him to put it in his pocket then did an elaborate show in front of the boy while he hid it..but when he turned around and had the boy look at his hand, the little boy actually looked down at his hand, surprised that it was no longer there, so caught up in the magic of it....and, you say, well he was a child, but I don't believe we ever really lose that "childlike" naivity.

But, I am neglecting the show! The Busan International Magic Show. Being so close to Vegas for my formative years, I cannot stay away from the potential of a good magic show. And I was not disappointed. Magicians traveled from Korea, Japan, Germany, Great Britai, Italy, China, and the U.S. The first American had his show translated, but the second communicated entirely in English-- and the crowd went nuts over him, standing ovation and all. His name was Tony Chapman, American, and he did this whole bit around interacting with his "partner" Tony on a TV. Simple, at first, reaching his arm into the screen, but then, a little more complex, dropping a bag of chips into the screen, and then objects started to be thrown back-- and YES I realize this isn't real, but STILL. His timing was impeccable, his charisma charming, and there was plenty of good magic overall. Highly recommend.

Another, so cute, a Japanese kid, he just LOOKED young, whose act revolved around music, CDs to be precise, that he incorporated into his acts. He was advertised as "Gorgeous magician with CDs." Fantastic. He was quite pretty, too.

Another, I believe Japanese magician, charisma felt was lacking, but he did do something unique that I had not seen before. Took a blue balloon and blew it up...and then when it was full of air, "pulled" a blue colored dove as if there were a thin cover across the balloon, which then turned into a white balloon.

A Japanese woman, there are not enough female magicians, act, while simple, contained so much charm I fell in love with her. She had perfect stage presence, every movement clean, precise, carefully chosen as she drew you into a whirlwind, literal dance. Lots of red flowers and birds. Fresh.

I did not like the other American magician as much, but he did do this pretty cool trick where he took a white flower petal and shook it around in a red wine glass and it turned into a real egg-- he even broke it into the glass to show.

I also loved how the other female magician transformed her face, pretty, fresh faced, into a mysterious white and sparkle mask. I don't know how she did it. But of course I didn't.

Tonight I shall return and come back with new tales of the unknown world that is the world of magicians.