Julie_Kim's Blog

So I am cooped up, recovering from my tonsillectomy at my in-laws house which has a nice big backyard. Charlie - my doofo chocolate lab loves it out here. Loves running around with wild abandon, not having to dodge cars or tourists, not having to scramble around, looking for a suitable place to go to the bathroom.

The rascal also enjoys running away. Perhaps having a taste of freedom, he's decided he'd like to roam some more. Having chased him with my husband on several occasion into neighboring yards, we decided that we'd get an invisible fence installed so we wouldn't have to worry anymore.

So the fence is installed, the trainer comes to teach us how to teach Charlie.  Basically, there's a pronged collar that we put on him and when he gets to close to the invisible fence, it starts beeping. If Charlie keeps going...he gets tasered! The trainer had Charlie test the boundary first day off. Charlie yelped like he was on fire! Poor guy.

Ok, but then it gets worse. Charlie, hubbie and I are playing in the yard one day and we throw a ball past the white flags which mark the fence. Charlie runs after it full throttle and doesn't hear the beeping in time to stop. He's tasered for a pretty long time. Poor guy.

Now Charlie is really hesitant about going outside. We talked to the trainer and he said we need to play with him and get him comfortable again but it makes me really sad. When I throw a ball on the yard, Charlie will see where it lands and then get it but then he wants to go inside after getting it. Anyone else have experience with invisible fence?

Go ahead. Laugh. Most people had their tonsils out when they were a kid, I get to have mine out at the ripe old age of 31 (if Michelle Williams has no fear about revealing her age, then I can go the distance too!!!)

I get my tonsils out on Friday the 13th. No I do not believe in bad luck, so there! I will be gone for 2-3 weeks but no worries, I will be back. I am kind of worried because I have never gone through any kind of surgical procedure or had anesthesia or anything like that. That freaks me out pretty badly. The doctor warned that recuperating could be hard and painful and that my voice may change. If I came back sounding like a man, you guys would still love me, right?

I've heard that having your tonsils out is like being on a liquid diet. I look forward to the pounds melting off of me with my diet consisting of only soft babyfood like things like scrambled eggs, soup, jello, pudding, ice cream and my famous rice gruel. Yes, I said gruel and it does taste good.

Anyway, I will be back to blog occasionally. I have some books to keep me company.

JT- Check out the new David Sedaris book for a laugh. It sounds like you're reading too many serious things. It'll be a good break and I'll be reading it too.

Well, some days are better than others. I am in Ocean City, hanging out on the boardwalk, working on my heat wave story and having a good time. This is the first time I've ever shown up to work with flip flops. Wow, so much more comfy than the 3 inch heels I wear (to appear taller, not because they feel good :p)

So, here's what I like to do when I'm here in Ocean City. Have a slice of Mack and Manco's, buy Shriver's salt water taffy for people at my station, photographer Jared gets Johnson's popcorn for the peeps. My new fave at the shore is the Shriver's gelato, next to the fudge shop. Creamy Caramel flavor rocks!! Jared was extra bad and got a container of Curly's fries.

What else I like to do when I go to the shore?

And then here are some suggestions from the peeps I met while I was there!

David Sedaris was at a book signing at the Joseph Fox Bookstore on 17th and Sansom Saturday to promote his new book, "When you are Engulfed in Flames."

Check out this video: Waiting for Sedaris

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That sucked pretty bad, especially after standing on the street in the middle of this heat wave for 4 HOURS!!!! yeah. 4, 1-2-3-4!!!! I never do that for just anybody, you know. But I was hell bent on getting a personalized autograph for a close friend of mine, one of the best people on this planet. sigh.

I left the books with the owner of the store and I hope Sedaris signs something funny to my friend. I had to leave because I have a job and had to go to work :p

On the flip side, I did take some video of some cool bands who were performing at the Raven's Lounge next door. I bought a CD for a buck of the band the Great Caesar and Go Getters. They're pretty catchy and I love music that incorporates horns. Then a guy started playing the harmonica and I was like, I need to shell out a buck ,for sure.

Anyhoo, check out my links...and check out the band!

Yes. Really. It happened. About 2 weeks ago, I approached a nice older woman who was waiting on the corner for the ice cream man. She had two pomeranians. I approached her but paid no real attention to the yipping dogs because little dogs yip.

As i was talking to the woman, the black pomeranian went behind me and bit me!!! I thought at first it had scratched me and as I was conducting the interview with the nice woman, I touched the back of my leg and felt blood. I went back and sure enough, little dog drew blood!! After verifying and making sure the dog had all its shots, I went over and made friends with the two pom poms.

I saw them today as well. The little black dog remembered me and didn't bark or bite!

See what we go through to get a story on tv?!

Ok nerds and geeks unite! The moment we've all been waiting for is here. Season 4 of BSG is on tonight. Gonna tape it on DVR but hopefully watch it in real time cause I feel like watching things on DVR is kind of like watching sporting events after its happened.

 The teasers leading into this season have been dark and very intriguing. Kara Thrace is back but what the frak is she? Has she been fooling us all along? It certainly looks like it although if she is toaster, I might just have to lead a revolt!! The only question I have for the cylons is, if KT is a cylon, why did you make her so emotionally flawed? They nailed human insecurities/ghosts and demons/passion/redemption down pretty good

Who are the other mysterious cylon models?  

All things will be revealed. Although i must admit, in the very short interim, I enjoyed watching starbuck as the "bad" Bionic Woman. She plays crazy flawed psycho individuals very well.

So, it's the Easter weekend and I get to go to the shore!!! So, it's the earliest Easter in about a 100 years. Typically, it's in April...anyhoo!!

Finally got to get my first tub of Johnson's Popcorn from the Ocean City boardwalk. A photographer here named Jared has been talking about this place for over a year. Alas, the only time I really get to the shore is when there's a Noreaster or some kind of snowy weather story and most of the shops including Johnson's is closed. Not this time!!!

I LOVE caramel popcorn, toffee popcorn, etc etc. When I am having a bad day, you could say, here Julie, have some Crunch N' Munch and I will get much happier! Anyway, I bought two glorious tubs of caramel popcorn, one for the newsroom and one for me and charlie and my hubs!!

I also got to eat my first slice of Mack and Manco's Pizza. Who knew that I had been missing out on something special for so long? I had plain and pepperoni. The magic is definitely in the sauce. Gonna have to go back to Sam's Pizza in Wildwood at some point and a taste test because someone told me there's this huge who's got the better slice rivalry going on there.

It's still feels like Winter but things are looking up. What are you guys looking forward to?

Oh yeah, running on the Ben Franklin in nice weather to burn the calories from my Shore Food Fest.

Julie's Book of the Month is Duma Key by Stephen King. It was released on January 22nd but it's taken me awhile to finish reading it.

I think this was a pretty decent book by Stephen King. What I find key in his novels, character development and you certainly get that from Duma Key. He always finds a premise that is pretty fascinating...what if cellphones caused people to become berzerker zombies (Cell), what if a Buick is a portal to a different world (From a Buick 8)  and in Duma Key, what if the pictures you draw, become a kind of twisted reality. Edgar Freemantle's the main character and has lost his limb and hife as he knows it after a terrible construction accident leaves him without an arm and with a damaged brain.

What I found disappointing about Duma Key is the predictability. The ending reminded me of a hodge podge of thriller movies like "The Ring." Overall not a bad read but I'd wait for it to come back on soft cover instead of paying lots for the hardback :p

The New York Philharmonic gave a monumental performance in North Korea Tuesday. The fact that the Communist country opened its gates to roughly 300 musicians and journalists is huge and many are hoping it signifies something more, maybe a bridge to unite families.

During the Korean War conflict, millions of North Koreans fled to the South. You Myung Sook ended up there as a nurse with the North Korean army....The army told her to stay in Pusan, that they'd be back in a week. One week has turned into so long. She is now 80 years old and doesn't know what has happened to her mother, father, grandfather, sisters and brothers. Speaking to her today was emotional for me. I can't imagine living in the dark, yearning for answers, a reunion, a word, a letter from relatives for SIXTY years. It breaks my heart and makes me want to weep.

I am fortunate that all my family were already in the South. As a first generation Korean American, I have always been intrigued by the reunions that started happening around the year 2000. I assumed that many families would get a chance. I was wrong. Korean Americans are generally left out of the diplomacy. Technically, North Korea and America are at war so diplomacy is difficult.

The fact that North Korea allowed so many to come in, with what appears to be very little political propaganda could mean the isolated country is ready to become less isolated. It would mean so much to hundreds of thousands of Korean Americans who are still waiting. Sadly, many of the Koreans who left North Korea are dying. The average age is over 80 years old.

I hope. I hope there is something that happens soon. I hope I can do something as well.

This Sunday, I will be turning (fill in the blank) years old. Ahem. A lady never reveals her age, Dahling! I am sure you can ballpark my age. It's not that I'm ashamed, I think getting older is just a weird time warp kind of thing. I mean, physically, I haven't changed that much, my face is the same, me body....Ok, ok. I confess, I've been giving some of my erm, shrunken clothing to Michelle Williams. I'll blame that on the quitting smoking. yah!! That's it!

The other thing I've noticed lately, is the surveys. You know, you get these online surveys or you register online for a website, you get to that section where it asks you, are you:

a) 18-24 b) 25-30 c) 31-35 d) 36-40 e) 41-45 f) 50-55

That annoys me!! It annoys me because I've reached a new age bracket!!! GAHHHH!!! So, what annoys you about getting older. Hey, no obvious answers, that's a cop out!

Ok, forget what you have read or seen from the critics. Some have given this movie a big fat zero, no apples etc. I thought this movie was entertaining with a capital E!! Sure, it's gory and you spend most of the movie looking at the insides of people, rather than the outside but it is typical Rambo/Sylvester Stallone fare. Not a lot of talking, a whole lot of shooting.

Why does John Rambo have such a bleeding heart when it comes to the ladies? Hasn't he learned yet after First Blood, First Blood 2 and Rambo 3? Ah well, a little lady missionary with a big heart for the oppressed Burmese convinces Rambo to take her and her group upstream to no man's land. They're captured and then Rambo has to take a  group of mercs upriver to rescue them. Despite the incredible amount of violence, the movie does a good job of showing you just HOW bad the bad guys are and so you don't feel too bad.

So there's a new reality series on A&E called Parking Wars about the Philadelphia Parking Authority. I am hooked. I mean, we've all gotten tickets. And if you live and work around here, you have seen the Philadelphia Parking Authority marching, sauntering down the streets, invoking fear and dread among all who cross their path.

There's a nice Philly Parking Authority lady who makes rounds in my neighborhood. I often see her in the coffee shop I like to go to with my dog. She seems very nice and has even petted Charlie a few times but I admit it, she intimidates me! I've seen people get into arguments about their tickets, especially in Philadelphia (not a whole lot of shrinking violets here!!!) .

When things get colorful, don't you go "gee, wish I could be a fly on that parking meter!" Well Parking Wars gives you that opportunity. It's a kind of cruel voyeurism into the woes of our fellow Philadelphians as they break some parking laws and show their displeasure. But before you laugh too loud or too long, you kind of remember that it either has happened to you or will in the future. These people are just THAT good.

"I don't walk slow, I just go with the flow" - Phila Parking Authority. Watching the show, you see some of the "tricks" the Parking Authority employs, trolling neighborhood barber shops, "camouflaging" themselves in parks, etc. So, if i was to show up at your house with a camera crew, what horror/laughfest stories would you share with me about the Philadelphia Parking Authority? Would it make me laugh or cry?

Of my joining the FOX 29 news team! That's on Saturday, January 19. I can't believe I've been here a year already. One year ago this week, I was living out of a suitcase in my newly rented apartment, sleeping on a borrowed mattress - my only furniture. I remember that it was REALLY cold and the heat wasn't reaching my bedroom so I would sleep with my winter coats on top of me through the night. I had just arrived from Orlando Florida and it was a shock to my system.  

Needless to say, I've settled in, everyone.

1 year doesn't mean much I guess but it feels like it zipped by. I remember when I got here, homicides were happening at a rate of 1.5 a day. I got here and I was like, wow, I never had to do so much crime/death/murder. It was hard to get used to. 

I covered my first snow storm (always a dream to a reporter coming from Florida hurricanes), I found my favorite coffee spot, Cafe Ole!!, my dog figured out that it's ok to pee on the sidewalk, I found my favorite boutiques - Charlie's Jeans, Three Sirens, Lost and Found, I found a place to pursue my black and white film photograpy and I made some friends. Oh yeah! I learned how to "blog."

 Not bad in a year's time. Anyway for those who continue to tune in and say hello on the street or cyberspace, thanks for the encouragement and support. As Frank said, It was a very good year.

This movie had a good build up but weak ending. It was a little strange at first because this is a musical so you have Jame Gandolfini (aka Tony Soprano) in one instance, busting out in song, joined by a medley of  dancing construction workers and garbage men AND he's singing about love. Weird? Sure, plenty weird.

Gandolfini plays Nick Murder, a guy who smokes like a chimney and is cheating on his wife (Susan Sarandon) with a prostitute/lingerie salesgirl (Kate Winslet). The wife finds out about the affair and Gandolfini has to choose between his wife or his mistress.

The key line incorporates the title of the movie but by then, it's too late. Gandolfini gets a visit from the "lung fairy." That was a bit sudden, almost so predictable that you kind of think, "nah, can't be going in that direction" but it DOES!!!

Anyway, the highlight was Chris Walken who plays Sarandon's relative. You want to see Walken dance and sing, this is a great flick to see him do so. Classic Walken. I LOVE HIM!!!!