Attack of the Yellow Sand

Every year in the spring, about this time, China exports a thin layer of dust and sand from the Gobi Desert on eastbound winds. I was oblivious to it last year; Traci and I going for a long walk on possibly the worst day without any precautions. I remember Geumo Mountain shrouded in a yellow haze across the river and merely mentally noting it. I was sick on a pretty much regular basis for three months after that. Today, because of the nasty, nasty yellow dust storm, I actually considered buying a mask. One of those surgical masks you saw plastered all over CNN during the SARS outbreaks. The masks I always considered more psychological than physical in their powers of protection. I didn't. But I did tie a bandanna around my face when I had to spend more than a few minutes outside. I did wash my hands and face as the Korea Times suggested: http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200704/kt2007040118472910440.htm It's evil stuff. My throat hurt after a short walk without the bandanna. Coming home on the bus you could barely see more than bleak outlines of mountains. My bike was covered with a layer thick enough to distort the color.