The View Up Here

A few things of note over the last few months: End of May/Beginning of June:  Got food poisoning. Badly.  Was hospitalized for four days and nights. Still paying back the loan I took from my boss to pay for that bad boy. I was told the offending bacteria was campylobacter, usually associated with chicken. Funny thing is, I hadn't had chicken at all for several days. I think the culprit came from a food cart at which I'd eaten some kimbap earlier that week. Never. Again.  No more street food.  End of July:  The Great Kitten Drama  Nearby my apartment building is a completely empty entire city block wrapped in green tarp fencing, into which people throw their trash. Inside, stray cats have made their home.  One night coming home from work I heard the plaintive and unmistakable mewings of a tiny kitten. Long story short, the mama cat deposited one of her two kittens outside my building's steps. I took the kitten in for a few hours and let her cool of...

The summer in Korea is no joke. I mean really. Temps above 100F/37C for the last three months.  A little relief at Jin Ha Beach It's been a bear of a summer, and even though we're now in September, after the end of "hot summer" according to the traditional Korean calendar, we are still sweltering.  But on the upside, there is a slight breeze with a tinge of cool air, and the sun isn't quite as high as it was. I can feel the difference, but still can't stand having anything against my skin. Unfortunately the reality has been that I have not been outside nearly as much as I would've liked. I'm feeling a little like I do at the end of winter in Western New York: antsy to get back outside and start enjoying nature. Funny how that works, from one extreme to another. Air Con is My Friend  The upside of being inside in the air conditioning so much is that I've been working on my short story project more diligently. The current story, temporarily named ...

Since my last post, I've been able to upgrade my digs with some things I needed, thanks to my downstairs neighbor as she was moving out.  I'm sorry I didn't know her before she left, as she is my age and is an artist and art teacher. We traded contacts, so hopefully we will be able to connect again. She gave me several things from her studio downstairs, including a floor fan and a desk fan, some lovely coffee/tea cups (you know, I have a collection boxed up back home), a handheld steam cleaner, and a few other bits and pieces.  Just that very morning, I was thinking, gosh it would be nice to have a steam cleaner since I don't have a dryer or an ironing board, to get the wrinkles out of my cotton blouses.    As my apartment reaches completeness (I still need a proper desk lamp), I'm shifting my attention from "stuff I need" to "how to live."   Azaleas at the bus stop near my academy My schedule here is backwards from what it was in Rochester. I go...

Remnants of the previous occupant's life are still present in this apartment, despite the makeover. The artifacts of his journey of self-development are still kicking around:  his Korean language books (now on my shelf, for which I am grateful) and a stack of emergency first response and CPR books still on the floor of my office.  In the entrance way cabinet, a drawerful of cords, tools, tape, even a soldering gun. Many power strips that he must have used for his gaming set-up. He also left a monitor here, which I'm using at this moment. In fact, that monitor has made it possible for me to replicate, more or less, my office set up from my last home. I just needed speakers and a desk fan to outfit my desk for writing and working (and watching videos). I bagged up several handfuls of redundant flatware and cooking utensils. I found some pillar candles, which I have put to good use.  I wonder sometimes how he is (I met him for one day to help me learn the ropes at the academ...

I have been trying to post something for over a month, now. I start typing, then I need to finish later, and then a week goes by. So I have re-written this three times, now. Today, I'm posting it no matter what! In my last post, I wrote about living in a transient space, a hotel room, for twelve days. I moved into my apartment on February 22, so I've been in here for about 5 weeks, now. The academy directors had re-wallpapered every room (wallpaper is used on walls and ceilings, whereas Americans would use paint), replaced the appliances, and added just a couple pieces of new furniture. Since then, I have brought in a Korean-style low table, several accessories for my desk and the shelves in my bedroom, and of course, I've started my apartment garden. The place is starting to feel like home.   Quicksilver days The teaching continues to go well. I'm amazed how fast the day goes with shorter class periods. At first, seven classes seemed daunting, but I've found the d...

Fairport, NY I have long held a fascination with liminal spaces. I know it was a trending thing online with clipping videos and creepy pictures of empty offices, but my interest goes far back to my childhood, probably fueled by The Twilight Zone's "The After Hours"  episode.  The mall at closing when there are hardly any shoppers, the gates are down on many stores, and the music echoes in empty spaces. Or train tracks at night with ghostly lights waiting for the next train. Storage facilities with security lights showing you the place you aren't allowed to enter. School hallways during summer vacation.  You know, that kind of thing. Temporary digs  However, living in a liminal space isn't as cool, nor does it promote some vague, quasi-nostalgic, pleasant-yet-edgy response.  Such is my current living situation, albeit temporarily. "But Elena, you're in Korea!" Yes, I'm in Korea, but I'm also staying in a hotel for another week until the apartm...

not an ad for Delta Today is my first full day in Ulsan, my new home. And by "new" I mean the 2nd time around. I lived here from 2002-2003 and visited twice more. Then in 2024, I made a pilgrimage to the sites of the Korean Catholic martyrs  which included a week in Ulsan. It was then that I realized I could easily call this place home. (You can read about my Korea Dreambus film screening here!) The process of getting ready to apply for a visa began months before I even had a job offer. The job search was also months long, and the position I accepted came out of the blue. I'd applied for several teaching positions at a variety of institutions and programs, and even interviewed for two university jobs. None of that worked. But the job I took was exactly where I want to be, and although it's teaching in a hagwan (private after-school academy), the conditions are exemplary and the couple that owns the academy are solid. So here's a bit of a rundown on the last 48 h...

I haven't blogged here at all in the last year because I've been over on my  Korea Dreambus: A Journey of Faith blog . As I stare into the last two hours and twenty minutes of 2025, I'm filled with gratitude and amazement. This past year has brought so many new beginnings and opportunities that I need to mark them down in one place. I am extremely fortunate to have been awarded grant money from the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts for my documentary film on my pilgrimage to the holy sites of the Korean Catholic Martyrs. Korea Dreambus is now just about done with a few minor edits and some sound work to go. I worked with two different editors, which was a challenge but which ultimately enriched the project. My public screening will be held on Jan. 17, 2026 at St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry.   We screened SOULED , my short film, in April of this year in Elmira. It was a great turnout, and I was so excited to finally share it. The film was a se...

When God’s timing doesn’t seem to match our own, it can feel frustrating, maybe even like we’ve been abandoned by God. A good father doesn’t abandon his own, does he? In those moments, we must look to the promises God has made through his Word. Second week of Advent He promised that he is always near to us: “Our God is near us whenever we pray to him” (Deuteronomy 4:7) and “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. (Jn 14:23). Feeling crushed by the weight of circumstances, waiting for the solution to come or the resolution to be made clear, we can sometimes tighten our grip on the situation. However, the exact opposite is called for: to loosen our grip and surrender everything to Christ, trusting that he is with us, as he promised, “to the end of the age.” If we wait for his perfect timing, will will draw closer to him. And his solution is always so much more perfect than anything we could come up with! As ...

Over the last six months, I spent most of my blogging time on the  KoreaDreambus site , rather neglecting The View Up Here, but now we're ready for some updates!  Quit the circulation half of my newspaper job in the first half of the year -- totally liberating! I continued to have problems with my shoulder from the poor work station I had, but it's been on the mend more recently. Spent the summer arranging a pilgrimage trip to Korea and preparing to make a film about the Korean Catholic martyrs.  Bought a camera package (pre-owned) and a new iPhone for the pilgrimage film. I am now in the process of sorting, transferring, and cataloging over 3,000 media clips and photos! I've also been prepping my MacBook Air to do some basic video editing, for which it's not optimal, but it will have to do for now. I got a new external drive to help with media storage.  Re-named "Dreamhouse," my short film shot in October of 2023 to "Souled." IMDb page is up but nee...

Walkway in Fairport, NY I know I haven't been writing here as much.. mostly I'm working on my Korea Dreambus site and my new Patreon page .  I have to admit that the Patreon is new for me, so I'm still trying to figure out how to best utilize it. But the good news is that I have a lot more of my itinerary nailed down, I've made a good connection to help me on the ground in Korea, and I've raised $1,300 to help me with this pilgrimage and film project. Head over to the website to catch up with my updates and musings, and then to my Patreon for a membership to see videos and other content! If you have prayer intentions you'd like me to bring with me to Korea, please contact me with those or leave in the comments. Half way through summer... please, God, let the second half of summer feel as gloriously long as the first half has done!

Today is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and the Strawberry Moon! What a glorious time to be alive. I have a few sweet as strawberries updates for you, my dear reader. And so it begins: summer produce! First -- you should go to my new site that details my upcoming pilgrimage and personal documentary film in Korea! Yes, I'm going! It's happening! https://koreadreambusdocumentary.blogspot.com/ Second -- I ended up leaving the secretarial half of my job, continuing on with the staff writer post. I will also add teaching theology part time this fall - this time to high schoolers. I am very pleased with the combination of writing and teaching. And yes, both jobs have cleared me to be gone for three weeks to go to Korea.  Third -- My short film, renamed "Souled," is now very close to picture lock (final picture edit). I've hired a composer, a sound mixer, and a color correction guy. Post production is in full swing, and boy am I excited to get that pic...

 There is a lot to report on, friends. Let's run down the list! My short film has been renamed "Souled," which fits the theme and style of the film much better than the long-standing working title Dream House. "Souled" is moving right along in postproduction. I'm in the process of hiring a composer, and I've secured a fantastic sound mix man and a color correction guy. The edit is allllmost picture lock... We're very close! Also the poster is well on its way. That will appear here and everywhere else I can post it as soon as it is ready. Another dream is about to become a reality! I'm headed back to Korea this September to make a pilgrimage to my former town of residence and to the holy sites of the Catholic Korean martyrs. And yes, I'm going to make a film about the experience. The project formerly known as "Korea Dreambus" is being resurrected...appropriately as a Catholic pilgrimage film. Much more on that in the coming weeks! Le...

Regardless of our vocation – married, priesthood, religious, or single – the daily grind and the pressing worries that ever more hound us day and night can wear us down. Even when we love our families, our work, our ministry, our community, we can still become like a well that’s gone dry.  And something must be said about our post-modern obsession with multi-tasking. Is that really how humans were meant to live? I don’t think it would be over the top to say that it is inhuman, even with all the tools we now have which allegedly assist with this frenetic, attention-splitting lifestyle. In fact, it seems with all the conveniences and communication technology available to us, we are multi-tasking and doom scrolling ourselves into states of severe anxiety, depression, and poor health in which we lose sight of faith, hope, and charity.  We lose sight of who we are. We lose sight of Christ. A remedy for this lifestyle, found in ancient Christian tradition and modeled by Jesus, is t...

The film is now in the capable hands of an editor in L.A. The first cut looked good, and we continue to work on honing the vision.  We are still in need of finishing funds, so if you are so inclined, please take a look at our Go Fund Me campaign and give what you can. Any little bit helps! Thank you! Dream House Fundraiser

It's time to round up 2023 and cast a gleaming eye toward 2024.   Quickly, because it's cold, and I have to go find a cup of hot tea in the kitchen to warm up: published my short story "Vinny and Luca" in the June issue of Lake Effect Magazine . This was my first short story publication, and it's one of the stories I've written as part of a collection. shot my short film "Dream House" in October after one postponement and a reschedule. We had an amazing cast and crew, a beautiful location, and a lot of generous help. The footage is now with an editor who hopes to have a rough cut in the next few days. started as a journalist for our diocesan Catholic paper, writing features and briefs on the happenings and people in the county. learned how to create video content for Instagram. learned T'ai Chi Yang style 32-move sword form started with a new spiritual director (who was then reassigned to someplace far away and with a far busier schedule... this ...

You win a prize if you catch the reference in this blog title. Comment or message me and we'll work out what the prize will be! I'm currently at my main digs for writing these days, a place in Fairport called Junction 361.  Coffee house and beer bar all in one. And steps from the Erie Canal. New artist show every month. Barista with a thing for K-dramas. Can it even get any better? I think not. I come here with my writing partner on Monday nights (most weeks), and on a Saturday night, this is where I need to be to get sh*t done.  I'm working on getting an editor for Dream House, and I'm writing a new screenplay that involves... wait for it...  a time travel emergency at a mall in 1973. I know! Trust me, it's going to work. I've been creating video reels for Instagram at work and can say that I'm now feeling pretty comfortable editing on the Instagram app.  Not bad for a Gen-Xer with a Boomer brother and Greatest Generation parents.  Yes, I'm happy and pr...

In recent years, I've approached Advent at a breakneck speed, hyper-aware that I'm supposed to "do Advent" before I "do Christmas." The years I spent teaching and working for parishes were the ones I felt the most disconnected from Advent, ironically, because I was so busy preparing Advent liturgies, crafts, and activities that I missed out on the prayerful, silent, wintry season leading up to Christmas. (And let's not forget the excitement and stress of hurling myself across the NYS Thruway/MASS Pike every December to be home with my family.) The Moon getting ready for Advent (taken over my house this morning) The focus of Advent is to prepare for Christ in his Second Coming as well as commemorating the coming of the Second Person of the Trinity into Earth's history.  The liturgical season of Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas, and this year, it starts on Dec. 3, which means the Fourth Sunday of Advent falls on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. In es...

Moving on to post production now, searching for an editor to work with. It's been an incredible ride, humbling and exhilarating. The cast and crew who came to create a film with me have been rock solid, every one of them a superstar. I couldn't ask for anything more uplifting! It's good to have a creative project that requires me to keep moving forward because we're entering that time of year when I fight seasonal depression in a big way, even more so living where I do with so little sunshine. Something's gotta change there, folks, that's the only way I see it. But until then, full steam ahead.  Makin' a movie! Help me make a movie! "Dream House" in the news

Of course, here in Rochester, we expect our extra winter days in spring, but still things have been greening up rather nicely. Although I had to bring my potted tomato plantlets in because we have a frost warning tonight. Which, if I'm honest, just ticks me off. I mean, really, May 17 frost? Dude. Some good things are afoot, though, including a new job as a staff writer at the Catholic Courier, getting Korea DreamBus into the next phase (only took me 13 years), and a short story being published next month. One might say my late-blooming bloom is starting to, well, bloom. I'm still not sure what's going on with my short film Dream House, as my DP had to back out and I'm still trying to work out equipment for a shoot in June. If it doesn't happen then, I'll have to reschedule.  Tonight I got to see one of my favorite musical acts play again, the tremendous Old Blind Dogs. What a way to celebrate! I love these guys. I also reconnected with an old friend while at th...