Sci-Fi Schizo-Cultured Cheese: a Pre-Nuptial Lark
Monday, 3 March 2008 Clay Burell 
Print This Post
Roll Over Beethoven
[Warning: In this, my last week of bachelor liberty, I'm taking liberties on my blog. The nuptials are March 8, 5 pm GMT+9. Mom and Dad: stay tuned for the Ustream link. It should be a nice wedding. Two of my students are accompanying me on piano and bass, there'll be a bit of dancing, and the Calvinist Korean in-laws will sing Beethoven's "Ode to Joy," churchified - you know, the Wonder Bread version - and in Korean. If any of you have any of Homer Simpson's hot chili peppers, this will make great viewing. Presbyterian Korean Beethoven!]
“If They Can’t Take a Joke, . . . ” Now How Does That Line End?
So if I’m going to spend about a month’s pay – oh jeez, when you factor in the make-up and hairdo, it’s closer to two months – on this wedding photo shoot*, I’m certainly not going to play puppet to tradition the entire time. I had to throw a crowbar in there (tradition deserves all the crowbars we can throw at it, unless there’s some intelligible reason for it).
I leave it up to you to notice in which photo I have some fun. Hint: the Korean ancestral photo – destined for incense on the altars of our grandchildren long after we’ve become food for worms – goes a bit 21st century in one shot. The Korean photographers and my fiancee all protested, but I’d have none of it. Had to have at least one full family portrait.
Warning: High Doses of Cheese
–
*Okay, I confess: It was worth it. Robbery, bad hair, cheese, and all, I’m glad we have these. I sort of get the hype. (I still refused to buy a diamond, though.) Beyond School Trivia: The number one search term that leads to this blog? “French Cheese.”
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
No. 1 — March 3rd, 2008 at 9:43 pm
I spotted it!! Very cheesy, but nice just the same. Enjoy the moment.
Jenny Luca’s last blog post..School Libraries in the digital age.
Reply
No. 2 — March 4th, 2008 at 3:48 am
I don’t know. I think the hair looks great! What was the book on your knee?
Reply
No. 3 — March 4th, 2008 at 7:21 am
The bride is beautiful; you look young and happy. The traditional woman’s dress is charming, but your looks, dare I say it, a bit WIDE (in the classic mode of Carroll’s Tweedle Dee?)
Felicitations!
diane’s last blog post..Guerrilla Teaching
Reply
No. 4 — March 4th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Jenny: Funny how hard it is to spot
Derek (and sorry to be incommunicado these days – necessary until all this is over): Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. We’re reading it in AP Lit, and I had to do my homework at the shoot.
Diane: I do look like Tweedledee, or Dum, or both, now that you mention it. To have bought my own, rather than rent, would have cost USD $5,000. I’ll take the egg-look.
Thanks for playing, all.
Reply
No. 5 — March 5th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Our menfolk rent tuxes, so no surprises there. Just surprised at the size and shape of your ensemble: is that the Korean male body type? Or is it one size fits all?
diane’s last blog post..What Do They Do All Day?
Reply
No. 6 — March 5th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Diane, it’s just a shoddy hanbok. Being a “stupid foreigner” – and this is a role I love for its convenience – I have no idea about the sartorial standards of the garb. Is it supposed to fit so loosely? I dunno. I’m just a stupid foreigner
Clay Burell’s last blog post..“What is Schooliness?” – Overview and Open Thread
Reply
No. 7 — March 6th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Clay,
Congratulations!!! You both look happy and beautiful. God man without the beard you look so damn young! We wish you two the very best!!! I want to see you this summer. We will be in the US in July. I tried to call you on your cell, it was a Friday night about two weeks I will try again tomorrow. Is the number you gave me still correct??
FYI-Jenny & I are doing great. We are both so happy it is disgusting!!
Be well my friend, good luck and please give our best to your lovely bride.
See you this summer,
Michael
Reply
No. 8 — March 6th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Michael!
Good to hear from you and glad you’re well. Less than two days away, and you can guess how frayed the nerves are all around.
Not sure what this summer will bring yet. Let’s cross our fingers and stay in touch.
He we go! (Deep breath.)
Reply
No. 9 — March 6th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Well my friend if you are not heading to the states. I will be spending a month in China. So I’ll see you and the Mrs. (can I get name here?) in the US, or China or yes I go to Korea.
Good luck my friend
Reply
No. 10 — March 6th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Clay, Congratulations to you and your beautiful bride! BTW it’s ok to leave some of the “family” behind when you go on your honeymoon. Everything doesn’t have to be 2.0, you know. Best wishes!
tom’s last blog post..Is anyone doing the math?
Reply