Cycle 16 – Item 1
Post 5,479
6 (Mon) January 2025
Dweji Galbi
3.0
-Changgok, Sujeong, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea-
with the Family
Honoring the GMTD tradition of kicking off a new cycle with dweji galbi for only the 6th time in the blog’s 16-year history (see most recently 15.001 Dweji Galbi), 3 of which have been at this restaurant (see also 12.001 Dweji Galbi).
As I contemplate the possibility of wrapping GMTD for good at the end of this cycle, I recall comments concerning the demise of GMTD in years past:
- Cycle 5: “For several reasons, I had contemplated shutting it down. But then, the reasons in favor of continuation won out. I suppose that, now, I’ll just have to maintain the blog through Cycle 8” (see 5.001 Galbi Tang).
- Cycle 9: “I’ve always maintained that I would wrap GMTD at the conclusion of a cycle divisible by the number four – four being my favorite number. Now that I’ve launched Cycle 9, I suppose that I’m locked in until Cycle 12” (see 9.001 Spaghetti Florentine).
- Cycle 11: “This is the first post of what I anticipate will be the penultimate cycle of GMTD – including today, just 731 posts left to go” (see 11.001 Tofu Salad)
- Cycle 12: “Previously, I had declared my intent to wrap GMTD at the end of this year. But we’ll see. Anyway, I look forward to at least 364 posts more posts” (see 12.001 Dweji Galbi).
- Cycle 13: “I’m continuing GMTD, indefinitely. It’ll end when it ends – no more teases along the way. Over 12 cycles, I’ve used 33% of my upload limit, so I should have enough capacity through Cycle 36” (see 13.001 Mul Naeng Myeon).
- Cycle 14: “In my current state of mind, I am thinking that Cycle 16 will be the final one. I’ve always hoped to end on a denomination of 4 (my favorite base number). By the end of Cycle 16, DJ will (hopefully) have graduated high school and entered college. That’d be a nice way to wrap. Then again, that would leave IZ hanging in Grade 8. To see him through college, I’d have to keep the blog going through Cycle 21 – not a denomination of 4, but a nice number (black jack!)” (see 14.001 Tong Dak).
- Cycle 15: “As of now, I’m still thinking Cycle 16 will be it. But as history has shown, I am completely unreliable. Upon completing 4 cycles, then 8 cycles, then 12 cycles, I’ve always found justification to keep going. I’d declared at the start of Cycle 13 never to predict when the blog would end, then promptly made a prediction the following year. So we’ll see.” (see 15.001 Dweji Galbi).
Fair warning, I’m already beginning to wonder if GMTD will end with Cycle 16. IZ has voted to keep it going, at least until he goes to college, Cycle 21. Moreover, I’m feeling kinda queasy by the prospect of not keeping a daily log of what I eat, which preserves the memories – not just the food but whatever significant may have happened that day – otherwise, I fear that my experiences, food and all, will fade away as if they’d never happened.
In any event, here we go again.
(See HANSIK)
(See RESTAURANTS IN KOREA)