Mason Marley

June 21, 2026

I love Korea’s mountains in the summer and that’s where we headed for the weekend.

We slept and Sadongrhee and I was lucky to get to the sauna before we took off. JH drove a full van, 8 souls altogether and 3 golf bags.

This rental (pension) was quite cool, nice little pool, separated game room, full bar on the roof with a nice collection of vinyl (whiter shade of pale).

So of course, we spent hours in the pool, the others also enjoyed the hot tub and then I manned the gas grill for steaks and pork chops and received compliments. Dinner was dominated by my father-in-law’s stories, which we enjoyed, followed by karaoke and drinks on the rooftop bar.

The next morning our foursome hit a nearby course for a very early tee time (6:34). I did play pretty well on the front and not as well on the back. The course was PRISTINE. Caddy said I shot a 94 but not sure I believe that whopper.

Before we drove back home we stopped for grilled fish for lunch and some mackoli. A nice little trip.

June 13, 2026

I have a vague memory of having a small snoopy fishing pole and maybe casting it into a pond a few times but the details aren’t clear.

Mason had been asking me to go fishing, so I finally did some research and found King Kong fishing that leaves from a port in Incheon, I also convinced Marco and his kids to join us.

We took a cab to the French village in Seoul and meet at a café for an espresso. It was great to hear all of Marco’s stories there as he is a true Roman.

We did have a little trouble parking and were a little late for the boat so we had to split up when we were fishing. Luckily, the old man next to Mason was a seasoned fisherman and took it upon himself to teach Mason how to fish and even helped him catch a fish. I caught nothing and Marco had two.

So what to do with our 3 fish was the dilemma but when we headed back to the French Village, they found a home with Mama Kiki. And after a bottle a wine we went for a fanatic beef bbq.

The next morning we did almost the same thing except thing except headed with Marco the last rugby session of the year at a beach in Incheon again. Mason has 2 tries in his first game, but I think he most liked playing in the ocean and his new electric water gun.

We had a seafood bbq for dinner and then headed back home. I made pasta, not basta, at home for dinner for me and Mason.

May 23, 2026

We left around 6 on Friday night and made record time. Less than 2.5 hours. We decided to have pizza and watch baseball in our motel for night one, it was a great time.

On Saturday, followed standard routine, woke up and drove to the beach for coffee, breakfast and some swinging. Headed back to motel, where we played Mason’s favorite new board game and then headed to the beach to meet the rugby crew. Adults drank, kids played, pork bbq for dinner and then fireworks, darts and more pizza.

The next morning we thought we were late to the rugby tourney, but turns out we were early, start time was 10 not 9. They mixed all ages and some parents, including me played. Mason had a try (that’s a touchdown in rugby). And I tried for a try, Josh Allen style but ending up diving out of bounds.

Of course we hit that little beach we like and Disco Burger in the afternoon, plus our favorite salt water sauna. Long drive back unfortunately, over 4 hours, but I had good company.

I like this holiday. It’s a day to focus on your kid, kind of like a “yes day.”

We had a slow morning and Mason spent some time at the playground, but then we hit a restaurant for lunch, some pasta, a hot dog, beer, and then raw beef bimbimbab, so an eclectic mix.

After lunch it was time for Kids Zania, which is basically like a theme park where kids can experience a variety of different jobs. Mason’s favorite was Hyundai Steel where he was designing cars and his least favorite was the pilot experience. I think the pictures tell the story. Then we hit Toys R Us (yes still operating here in Seoul) where Mason picked out a Mario Nintendo chip for his switch.

Bikes were our transportation for the day, HK on Mason’s, and Mason and me on the Giant. On the way home, after a shopping bag malfunction, HK decided to walk. Mason and I swerved through hordes of tourists as we headed back home, Seoul must be becoming an even more popular destination. A kid’s day to remember.

April 25, 2026

We met Ji Hu and his dad, Chan, in the basement parkign lot of our apartment at 8am. Their white Santa Fe was filled to the brim with camping gear. And, to Mason’s liking they had made some marshmallow and Oreo cookies the day before to nibble on during our ride down south.

After about a 2 hour we made it to Chungju-si where we stopped for an early lunch at Burger King. After that, we hit the Hanaro Mart, to buy some snacks and other bbq odds and ends. I ran across the street to the pharmacy and bought two “pre-drinking hang over prevention concoctions” for the adults since we had planned to have some traditional soju with dinner.

We made it to the Workasan National Park about a half hour later. We started at a small nature park that had a zip line where Chan and I unofficially became the pushers of our two zip liners. Also, played some football, which became a big hit over the weekend.

Once we got to our camping plot, the work began and I learned for the first time how to set up a proper campsite. Our campsite sat right on the stream, so of course, we went down to check it out. Mason led the posse down the stream and was the first to fall in the water, which I think was his plan from the start.

We played football for hours afterwards. Mason and I had to take a couple of walks to discuss some temporary grumpiness, but that’s to be expected for a second grader. We started the fire for outdoor bbq around 5. HK had sent me with a couple of nice steaks, so we started with those. Chan and I enjoyed some drinks, while the kids had s’mores and watched a movie in the tent.

March 29, 2026

Judo tourney time! We woke up a little late, but had no problem getting to the stadium on time since its less than a five minute bike ride away.

The weather was sensational and the cherry blossom trees were in full swing today. Mason got off to a great start and won his first match in 10 seconds. Ippon! It was a decisive victory.

In his second match, he went to war, but came up on the losing side. I am so proud of him. All of Mason’s friends lost their first match, but we had to stick around for another 3.5 hours so Mason could get his Bronze medal. I was able to sneak out to the park for some calisthenics during our wait.

Mason went to McDonalds and to play with his friends after he got his medal, giving me just enough time to write this blog.

February 22, 2026

Well I was not the best blogger this winter. But, I have caught my breath and am attempting my first-multiple-event-update-post.

In January, the LLL’s Father’s Club took a trip to Seoul Children’s Grand Park. We all met at our neighborhood subway station to ride together, altogether about a 30 minute ride. I believe a hat decided it didn’t want to get off at the stop with us, so it kept traveling. Mason had sore thumb after a weight lifting incident at his Mother’s crossfit box, so we put on and took off gloves gingerly throughout the day. They had a little kids hill and a big boy’s hill and let me tell this big boy made record time to the bottom. The kids played for hours and the dad’s killed a few beers too. Tae Young was nice enough to take us home in his van. A really good day with a really good kid.

Inspired by the Dad’s sledding trip, the next weekend, I found another “sled resort” about a ten minute drive from Mason’s grandparents house. So, I alone, in tow with three rug rats, set out to make another winter memory. I believe we each paid 17,000 for entrance and the place had the same slope set up the previous week, one big (and icy) and one small. Son Woo was too scared for the big hill so she stayed on my shoulders as we watched Mason and Yunwoo book down the very slippery slope. Probably the best part for all of us was roasting marshmallows, a fan favorite with my crew.

Now onto February, where the LLL’s Father’s took another trip to the Korean Folk Village together. This time we chartered a bus and I sat next to SunWoo’s Dad and chatted real estate together on the way there. The guide was great and so was the pottery class. Apparently the makoli we had late in the day was exceptional, but its all the same to me, if I’m being honest. The biggest hit for Mason was the tiny connected amusement park, that had a Viking Ship which Mason has grown to love after I convinced him to ride one at Lotte World with me and his Mom earlier this winter. I slept on the bus trip back. Well deserved I would argue.

December 29, 2025

Well today I did not make the journey to Kyongju. I did in fact wake up to watch the bills/Eagles game at 6:30 and was joined by Mason 30 minutes later. It was a rainy game to ended with the Bills going for a 2 point conversion to win. No such luck. We had dwinjonjigae for breakfast, build and battled robots, and clean and fed Mr. White (Mason’s snail).

I took Mason to his school as it was the first day of his winter vacation program at his school. First stop his school library where kids, well, apparently read books. Then a soccer class at his school. I got 2 hours in the office and made it home for Mason arrival at 4pm. We rode bikes to his Korean book club Hagwon and then after that we rode to Judo where I dropped him off – had a green tea latte ­– and picked him up.

At home, of course we watched Bills highlights and Mason ate kimbap while I had a sandwich. A little spelling and grammar and then read Nate the Great together in Mason’s bed until he passed out.

December 25, 2025

Our Christmas Eve started with HK’s filet mignon and a glass a wine. Mason went to soccer practice which the field for, coincidentally, was right next door to the tents housing Cirque du Soleil. They have been coming for years and this year we thought it would be a great chance to see them on the night before Christmas. I locked up Mason’s and my bike by the soccer field and we weaved our way through the crowd into the main tent.

I think we might have bought too much food, carmel popcorn, nachos, regular popcorn, beers, and a hot dog. We did not have the best seats in the house but it was definitely a good show. Mason’s favorite was the dog, mine was the tight rope walkers and HK like the chair stacking/balancing guy. After the show Mason and I rode back home and HK went to the store. On the way, I got a lot of Santa questions – like has he already started delivering presents? Once home we put out milk, cookies, carrots, and Masson wrote a note to Santa – then we went straight to bed.

Mason literally woke me up at 3am, 4am, 5am, and 6am. We eventually settled on 7:30am. HK got wine. I got some green shots and after shave, while Mason got (his favorite gift) a Kincaid Bills jersey along with some Legos and a Minecraft Dungeons Nintendo chip. Oddly enough, HK made Philly Cheesesteaks for us for breakfast. The rest of the day was a lazy one, eating, napping and playing.

October 18, 2025

A fall Saturday. Normally, my mother-in-law watches Mason and his cousins early on Saturdays. But Dunkin is short on part-timers, so it was a good chance for me to spend some the time with the wrecking crew.

We started by attempting to walk the dog but did not make it very far. I had to put Yunwoo on my shoulders, as she’s petrified of Dori. Apparently, Dori loves to eat Mason’s pants. When my back was turned, Dori took a slow motion flying leap at Mason and put a single hole in his sweats. He was in tears instantly.

Once I put out that fire, we rolled around in the truck a bit until we ended up getting a cheese pizza and some spaghetti for lunch from Dominoes. Then we headed to this small museum in Eecheon – they loved it. I also took them to Lotte Mart, so Mason could buy a birthday gift for his friend, whose house we went to the next day (also named Yunwoo). We bought him a Ninjago Lego set. I let my three goblins load up on 1,000 won toys from Daiso.