FOOD

Had dinner with some friends at Yamato, a sushi restaurant in Westwood. It's located in this huge cathedral-like building, and I expected good things from the fancy-schmancy outside. First thing I'm introduced with: A huge statue of Darth Maul elevated 10 ft above the ground behind the hostess table. ...Okay.  Huge mirrors everywhere and huge bottles of alcohol stacked on glass shelves that reach the ceiling. Kinda cool, kinda tacky. Lots of different levels and seating arrangements throughout the ginormous area. Finally get the menu, and... everything is marked half-off already. I mean, the prices are supposed to be half-off for Happy Hour, which is from 5pm to closing, but like, on the menu, you see the original price crossed out with the new price next to it. How tacky is that?? Eh, but I can live with that if the food is good. My rolls? So disappointing. TINY piece of salmon layered on top of terrible quality spicy tuna rolls, with spicy mayo drizzled across to disguise the lack of quality. Blegh. Not even worth the half-off price, and def. not worth the drive to Westwood.
Made up for it, though, by going to Diddy Riese a few blocks down. Bought a dozen cookies. Promptly shoved 3 down with the aid of some milk. :).

Came home and decided to bake some cheese corn! I've been wanting to do this forever! Anyway, it was good, but I was so full I could only eat a few bites. It's definitely a food to eat while drinking / drunk. It's really heavy on the mayo.... seeing how much mayo goes into it was kinda sickening. ughh.
The cheese makes up for it, though. ^___^ <3 (cheese + susie 4eva!)

Oh, and working at Boba Bear has inspired me to try making crepes better! I bought some flour and nutella earlier today and now have the crepe batter settling in the fridge as I write! Totally did some research on crepes and even watched the Good Eats episode on them. Of course, any excuse to watch the lovable Alton Brown getting down with his nerdy food self is fine by me~! =)
Will report back on the progress later.

송재림

AHA! I've found you at last, mystery actor who caught my attention with your douchebaggery hotness in 2ne1's Go Away mv.



(btw, I do not condone his actions! this guy should have his balls stepped on with 6-inch stilettos!!)

And of course, he happens to be a model-turned-actor...

Seriously, if I had to name a "type" I found consistently hot (based on physical appearance alone), it would have to be the model-esque Asian man with a disheveled looking ponytail. Something about the immaculately cut yet messy hairstyle on a lean, well-dressed man with sharp facial features just does it for me. Of course, I've never had the opportunity to get to know one of these kinds of people on a personal level (and as a matter of fact, I think the only time I ever saw a guy who actually matched this level of hotness in person was a man I passed by while walking around Hongdae my first night out in Seoul. Only time I've ever done the stop + gawk. :P ), and I refuse to believe anyone so good looking + put together can also have a winning personality. ^__~. Anyway, here he is:

Good starting pic, eh? 

Suit + a ponytail!! Deadly Combination of sexpoints!

 Kinda has a Hong Tae-sung vibe goin on. ;)

Is it weird I think this is more masculine than feminine?

Men should have sexy bed-head, too! 

What a good little Moddle (oops, been reading too much Jezebel). (Although I do believe LOLcat speak should be acknowledged as an official dialect  in the English language.)

 딱 내 스타일! ^_^

oh except for one thing. His name 재림 (Jae-rim) means "second coming" and it refers to the second coming of Christ. Apparently his very devout Christian mother named him. Also, he has a tattoo on his right arm of praying hands with "Philippus 4:13" under it (Philippians in Romanized Korean), which is the popular verse, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Actually, this doesn't affect his hotness... Kinda makes him more interesting... if you get my drift... :P (and it's quite alright if you don't). 

extra goody:

With Park Shin-hye for the Lacoste spread  in the March 2010 issue of Instyle Korea. 

Isn't he sooo pretty? Ugh, that hair and that nose and that smile and those eyes! I love. 

I can't tell if I want to BE him or DO him. 

...I just really appreciate beauty, guys. 

Yeah, that sounds like the right answer. 

내 여자친구는 구미호 - 11화

대웅: 미호야, 가지마. 나한테서 떨어저 나가지마. 딱 붙어 있어줘. (Miho, don't go. Don't leave me. Stick close to me.)


미호: 내가 너랑 달라도... 괜찮은거야? (Even though I'm different from you... Is it okay?)


대웅: 안괜찮아. 말도 안되고, 어이도 없고, 미쳤다고 생각 될 만큼 안 괜찮은데, 너를 좋아해. 괜찮아서 좋아하는게 아니야. 좋아하니까 다 괜찮은거야. (No, it's not okay. It's absurd, it's ridiculous, and it's not okay to the point where I think I've gone crazy- but I like you. I don't like you because it's okay to like you. It's that because I like you, everything is okay.)


...


대웅: 너 인간이 되려고 나 이용한거야? 내가 필요해서 날 좋아했던거야? (Did you use me to become human? Did you like me because you needed me?)


미호: (*shakes head*) 아무 사람이어도 상관 없었는대, 니가 좋아서, 널 필요로 한거야. 필요해서 좋아한게 아니야. 니가 좋아서 필요한거야. (It could have been anybody, but because I liked you, I picked you. I didn't like you because I needed you. I need you because I like you.) 


대웅: (*dramatic walk towards 미호*) 필요하면 이용해. 다 갖다 써. 대신... 나 책임져. (If you need me, use me. Use all of me. But in exchange, take responsibility for me.)


!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 


I don't think the world is large enough to contain the cute.  

Power of the Couple Ring

So, what was I doing for the past few hours ?

makin some videos! yeeeah that's not embarrassing. Haha I was driven to make these because I couldn't find any on youtube! I realized I had to stop relying on other sources and do it myself! and share the wealth!! :).

Seriously, this scene made me cry because I was laughing so hard.


(sorry, I made the subtitles too small. they're easier to read if you enlarge it.)

like, wtf is she doing, scratching the wall or some shit? hahhahahaaa dear god.... and Hyunjoong's WTF face is so good. esp in this 2nd one:


(the subtitles are litttle better here, but still tiny. haha, I'm learning...)

HAhA. His startled reaction is priceless (I totally credit the director for getting such good timing from HJ. and on that note, I totally blame the director of BBF for being such a shithead :P). I think the best part is that every time I saw her zipped up in the rooster hoodie, it freaked me out, too. so when HJ bugs out, it feels like we're sharing the experience. But then you also feel like you're sharing Hani's embarrassment, too.
In the hands of another actress, it would probably be a lot more awkward or just kinda weird. Jung So Min MAKES IT HAPPEN. She manages to incorporate weird, cute, and comical all into one earnest, endearing performance. I think she may actually be an anime character come to life.

exhibit a:


How freakin adorable was that?!

She is so aware of her body movements and facial expressions that she executes everything perfectly on cue. Love her.

Best scene ever

Chan-su

"Men always want to be a woman's first love; women have a more subtle instinct: what they like is to be a man's last romance." -Oscar Wilde


I'm watching the first episode of Proposal Daisakusen (which is where I got that quote from). I forgot how ridiculous Japanese dramas could be. Hahhahaa. "Hallelujah, Chance!" umm yeah XD. I've always wanted to watch this drama because I love Yamapi + his spastic zaniness, but never got to it. Anyway, the drama's main premise is about a boy who gets an opportunity to go back in time to get another chance at love, an idea that I hate, but Yamapi makes anything hella cute, so... here I am... watching it. :P
(oh btw this is a compilation of his "hallelujah, chance" moments. HAHA okay, watching the rest of them makes me want to watch the rest of the drama. I love the fake-out one where he expects to be transported back and he's just yelling by himself...! Oh, my dear Yamapiiii! so cute.)

(ignore the "wedding cake" parts)


I'm just skipping around watching an episode or two of different dramas right now. I started watching the middle of It Started With A Kiss because Jso made me watch a scene from it to compare to the Korean version (Playful Kiss) and it just sucked me in! Haha. I didn't like some of the stuff in the drama (like the family + the girl) but I also really like the main male character. He has a great on-screen presence, so even when he's not speaking, he draws you in and keeps your attention. His eyes just have this intensity that is missing in lesser actors... like Kim Hyunjoong. 


Who, by the way, I am loving in PK!! Even though he's still lacking, he has improved so much! I love his character much more than I expected to. Initially, I was just thankful that he wasn't massacring the role, but he's actually portraying character development, too! I mean, he's not amazing, but you don't notice any bad acting either, which is a miracle in itself. His character is an interesting take on the "perfect cold prince," too. He's pettier than he lets on, and has this weird sorrow about his own inept heart. It's also the first time I can remember a Korean drama explicitly questioning the importance of cultural norms and expectations in regards to education, especially when there is no passion involved.  It's not that they're saying that schooling isn't important, but that it isn't the be all and end all. 


Ooh, and Jung So-min, who plays Oh Hani, is the cutest thing ever. She has so many different expressions and is so natural about it! I hated her character in Bad Guy but loved her acting, and it's a relief to see she can do sweet, comical, animated roles, too! 


Sungkyunkwan Scandal is my next drug. Besides the obvious eye candy, the plot is actually quite interesting! It manages to incorporate Korean history + politics without being heavy-handed or needlessly winded. Also, with each passing episode, the characters show more and more depth, which is always welcome. I like that it isn't predictable, either, and that when something is surprising, it isn't thrown in our faces for dramatic purposes. The drama just lays it out and it's up to us to take it in and evaluate it. Basically, it doesn't look down on its audience and assume everything has to be SUPER DRAMATIC for people to get the point. The camera work is gorgeous, too. Beautiful, artistic shots with a great soundtrack, intriguing plot and pretty people who can actually act ? Yes, please! 


The crazy thing is that I never expected to like either of these two dramas, and they have rapidly progressed to being my favorites right now! :) Surprise, surprise! 


Oh yeah, btw, on a personal note... I'm going to start working at this new boba cafe/ crepe house/ hookah lounge that opened up in ktown. I'm only doing night shifts because I'm keeping my options open for a daytime job, but the place stays open very lateeee, so I think I will be very tired once I find something else. Anyway, I'm just excited to finally start working again and meet new people. I've been going a bit insane, to be honest, so I really needed this for my mental health. Here's to hoping everything goes well! *clink* 

Hey There, Good Lookin'

Go Soo for his new movie, Psychic (초능력자).

*rude awakening*

"...there’s no real difference between a fortune teller or a fortune cookie and any of the organized religions. They’re all equally valid or invalid, really. And equally helpful.”


Haha, I usually don't pay much attention to what Woody Allen has to say, but this excerpt from this interview totally caught my eye because it was almost exactly what I had been thinking about a few days ago. 

Q. The ideas of psychic powers and past lives, or at least people who believe in them, are central to your latest film. What got you interested in writing about them?

A. I was interested in the concept of faith in something. This sounds so bleak when I say it, but we need some delusions to keep us going. And the people who successfully delude themselves seem happier than the people who can’t. I’ve known people who have put their faith in religion and in fortune tellers. So it occurred to me that that was a good character for a movie: a woman who everything had failed for her, and all of a sudden, it turned out that a woman telling her fortune was helping her. The problem is, eventually, she’s in for a rude awakening.


and for something a bit more fun...


I'm not really a Vera Wang girl, but I love these two pieces from her new Spring collection! 

I love that distressed biker ballerina rock princess thing going on in this look. the bouffant is definitely the winning touch. 

8 splendid hours of exchanging words

I love great conversations over good food. Today was full of that. I feel so thankful.

It's so rare that I meet people who can really keep up with, understand, or challenge my way of thinking, that when I do, I know it's something to truly treasure. It gives me reassurance that my standards are there for a reason, and that I should not lower them for anyone.  

There are definitely people who meet these often assumed ridiculous expectations, and I need to focus my efforts and energy towards fostering relationships with them, because they are the people who will help me grow into a greater person. They will teach me to learn from my mistakes as well well as theirs. They will encourage me keep my pride intact because they see the importance, function, and necessity of its existence.
They will also let me know when the time is right to put away that pride, because in addition to everything, they really comprehend the beauty of sacrifice.

2NE1- 사랑은 아야야

This is one of my favorite songs from 2NE1's new album!



사랑은 아야야 from mmmpop on Vimeo.

(I had to upload it on vimeo cuz YG Entertainment banned all the audio from the album on youtube!!)

[Minzy] 사랑한다면서 왜
날 자꾸 힘들게 해
도대체 뭐가 불만인데
요즘 들어 부쩍 늘어난 간섭
참견이 날 지치게 해

[CL] Hey, 그렇게 또 며칠째 난 네 전화를 피해
I tell you what's going on
나만 행복하게 해주겠다던 네 그 약속, boy
Tell me what's up, what's up 넌 많이 달라졌어

[Dara] 너는 쉽게 넘어 가려 하지만
벌써 시간이 다 됐나 봐
Time to say good bye 못들은 척하지마
우린 이미 예전에 over, 이젠 고개를 돌려
난 이별 노랠 불러 bye my love

[Minzy] 더 높이 날 꺼야 저 멀리
달콤한 유혹에 나 속지는 않아
새로운 시작 이젠 이별의 시간
힘차게 다시 나가는 거야

[Bom] 그러니 너 역시 내게서 영원히
자유로워 지길 바래 지금 이순간
사랑은 언제나 아이야이야 아픔도 있는 거야
이제 널 잊는 거야

[CL] 부쩍 늘어난 다툼에 절로 흘러나오는 한숨
우린 서로에게 잘못 하고 있어 너도 알고 있어 그걸 that I’m better without you
반복되는 서로에게 죄가 되는 그런 싸움에서 우린 서로 이기려 해
이런 내 자신이 싫어 그래서 더 네가 미워 이젠 너를 지우려 해

[Dara] 이별도 사랑이라고 생각해줘
You'd drive me crazy
이러다가 널 미워 할거만 같아
대신 말해줄게 it's over 이젠 고개를 돌려
난 이별 노랠 불러 bye my love

[CL] 더 높이 날 꺼야 저 멀리
달콤한 유혹에 나 속지는 않아
새로운 시작 이젠 이별의 시간
힘차게 다시 나가는 거야

[Bom] 그러니 너 역시 내게서 영원히
자유로워 지길 바래 지금 이순간
사랑은 언제나 아이야이야 아픔도 있는 거야
이제 널 잊는 거야

[CL] 어딜 가든 I will think of you
언제나 늘 곁에 늘 옆에 (All right)
[Bom] 널 위해 기도해줄게 두 손 모아
행복해 영원히 영원히 영원히 함께 한다고

[Dara] 더 높이 날 꺼야 저 멀리
달콤한 유혹에 나 속지는 않아
새로운 시작 이젠 이별의 시간
힘차게 다시 나가는 거야

[Bom] 그러니 너 역시 내게서 영원히
자유로워 지길 바래 지금 이순간
사랑은 언제나 아이야이야 아픔도 있는 거야
이제 널 잊는 거야

[All] Break it down now
It's almost over now

[DARA] 난 잊지 않아 day and night
언제나 너와 함께한 추억
너와 함께한 추억

Murakami speaks

"Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back. That's part of what it means to be alive. But inside our heads - at least that's where I imagine it - there's a little room where we store those memories. A room like the stacks in this library. And to understand the workings of our own heart we have to keep on making new reference cards. We have to dust things off every once in awhile, let in fresh air, change the water in the flower vases. In other words, you'll live forever in your own private library."  (Kafka on the Shore)

grandiosity

why do i have a feeling i'm going to die very sad and unsatisfied?

sometimes i wish i could just embrace religion and brainwash myself back into it just so i could bask in the warmth of delusional comfort, but i have too much pride for that.

logically i feel life at its core is truly unnecessary but due to the nature of social constructs and so forth i have responsibilities to take care of before i leave this world.
and i care too much about the emotional state of my family and friends to do something so hurtful.
but an accidental death...
if that were to happen, i would just hope everyone would not be sad, but rather understand that maybe i am better off that way.
not because i was raised wrong or had such terrible life experiences, but because my mind has become my own worst enemy. when i'm at a stage where i think happiness only lies at the cost of reality, but am not willing to give that up, then basically i'm admitting that i don't think i can truly ever be happy. right?

maybe in the future when my pride has worn down...?

cracked out on kdramas

I started watching Playful Kiss and it's hella cute!

I was actually really scared to see Hyunjoong's acting (I was pretty much traumatized by his atrocious take on the Hanazawa Rui role in Boys Before Flowers), but 1. I expected the worst so there were no ugly surprises 2. he learned a few more facial expressions, thank heavens 3. the role fits him a lot better. Also, the actress who plays the female lead Oh Ha-ni (Jung So-min) is sooo much more likable than the Jandi character in BBF and has much better chemistry with KHJ (or rather, actually HAS chemistry with KHJ, haha). She's so expressive and adorable that it plays off his coldness really well. :). Anyway, I've seen the first two episodes and I am pleased with the direction the show is taking~. I was unsure during the first episode but the second episode was much more tightly paced and edited. 

I'm in the middle of several dramas now... Playful Kiss, My Girlfriend is a Nine-tailed Fox, I Am Legend, and Sungkyunkwan Scandal. I'm putting I Am Legend on hold for now and am thinkin of finishing it when the drama's over. It doesn't quite fit in with the other dramas (which are more youthful and fluffy) but I definitely want to finish it. It's very solid. 

My favorite overall one as of now is probably My Girlfriend is a Nine-tailed Fox, but the other two shows just came out last week so we'll see how it goes. 

Anyway , Shin Mina + Lee Seung-gi have great chemistry together! they are way too cute. it gives me the giggles. :)

this scene was hands down my favorite, though:

teeheehee :)

(my current opinion on Sungkyunkwan Scandal is summarized quite succinctly by the previous post. 'nuff said. ^__~)

My Kryptonite: Pretty boy Androgyny w/ Bad Boy Flair

From Sungkyunkwan Scandal...

Song Joong Ki as Goo Yong Ha

I love a good smirk.

adventures in dreamland

fell asleep watching Capitalism: A Love Story with Silvia on my bed

had the vividest dream about being a kick-ass cat-like ninja fighter living in a special school... 

lots of intense albeit cheesy symbolism + motifs. i would love to see it in movie form... ;)

alternate, fantastical universe

naughty teenage delinquency 

burning tree house atop body of water disaster 

epic rescue across wobbly bridge + tearful reunion

inner school drama + romance

infiltration of school in the middle of one angst-driven night by powerful group of women with unknown agenda

fierce bloodless battles with invisible swords that seemingly materialize out of thin air 

shape shifting into animals ... I think I was a cat and the other women were cats, too... so I was kinda like them?? hmmm interesting development... 

it was like X2 with a mystical Asian influence in a Scott Pilgrim-esque game fighting style 

ahahhahaha...


oh and

AHHHH I need someone to watch Scott Pilgrim with me again... someone who will laugh and get it all and make me doubly enjoy it... gaHhHH MANUELA GRACE YIM please come back and watch it with me!!! you were the best movie watching partner for it!! 

fun end of summer song (from Taeyang's new international album)

"I told her... I need you to be my new problem."

x

this song is kickinnnn! love me some hova



So I took my car out so I wouldn't drink last night...

just ended up driving back still tipsy at 5 in the morning.

hahahhahahaa what a fucking fail.

but I did eat some awesome curly fries and watched part of Zoolander at jon's place trying to sober up while he showered! hahahaa

we went to Blink for Andrew's bday and dude... hahahhaa... it was sooo ... how do I put it? hmm too hip and happenin for us? :). It was like... all of ktown's hip hop/underground rap scene performing/ mingling in there... hehe... funny... I felt so out of place but I enjoyed myself! it was fun.
Jennifer got us a table so it was very chill. we owe her big time.

Anyway... I just realized that summer's basically over.

I think this summer was the least... cohesive one ever. I can't really summarize it. It was such a mash-up of so many different people, places and events.

it was definitely not as life-changing or epic as last year... I guess that's what happens when you stay home and just hang around with old friends, huh? I mean, I loved it, but there's a part of me that's thinking... wow I really should have done more. I really should have grown more.
and I really needed more distractions.
I'm leaning much more heavily towards teaching in Korea for a year. I think I need to get away and learn to suffer on my own a bit.