Monday, November 4, 2013

You're Beautiful (Spoiler Alert)

Since I was looking through the latest Avon beauty selections for the upcoming holiday season, I thought that it would be the right time to do a review of the K-drama,You're Beautiful.
Synopsis: The management company of the idol group A.N.JELL decides to add a new singer to the group. However,the new member, Mi Nam, had to go to the States to repair a botched eye job just before signing the contract. His agent came up with the idea of having his twin sister, Mi Nyu,to stand in for him and pretend that she was her brother. The two of them grew up in an orphanage and Mi Nyu, who was all set to become a nun, agreed to this charade as she didn't want to spoil her brother's chance of fame which would make it easier to look for their mother.
Reason enough to watch this drama, the cast: Park Shin-hye as Go Mi Nyu/Gemma(Female) & Go Mi Nam(Male) Jang Geun Suk as Hwang Tae Kyung (Lead vocal & guitarist of A*N.JELL) Jung Yong-hwa as Kang Shin Woo(Bassist of A*N.JELL) Lee Hongki as Jeremy (Rapper & drummer of A*N.JELL)
plus a great supporting cast! UEE as Yoo He Yi Bae Geu Rin as Sa Yu Ri (Fan club president) Kim In Kwon as Ma Hoon Yi (Mi Nam's manager) Choi Ran as Choi Mi Ja (Mi Nam & Mi Nyu's aunt) Kim Sung Ryung as Mo Hwa Ran (Tae Kyung's Mother) Jung Chan as President Ahn Choi Soo Eun as Wang Kko Di (Coordinator Wang) Yoo Seung Ho (cameo, ep9) At first I found Tae Kyung's character to be too arrogant and cold to match as the "love" interest of the innocent Go Mi Nyu and was wishing that the writers would surprise us all by allowing the shy but protective Kang Shi Woo to win the girl. All the characters were so good that by the end of the drama I felt myself falling for Kang Shin Woo and Jeremy as well.
The various parodies throughout the drama were pure genius My favorite would probably be the parody of Girls' Generation's Tell Me Your Wish; seeing the guys dressed up in wigs in heels was enough to keep me laughing for the rest of the day.I found myself being drawn into the series wanting more when an episode was about to end. Character Portrayal: Jang Geun Suk as Hwang Tae Kyung I could not imagine any other actor as Hwang Tae Kyung other than Jang Geun Suk, it's a perfect cast! His expressions are hilarious. Not to mention, this guy can sing! He has such a lovely, heart warming voice and I have the songs sang by him on the soundtrack on repeat. The guy is multi-talented – he can act, sing, model, MC and look good at the same time. The numerous hairstyles he sported throughout the drama would have probably looked ridiculous on any other actor, yet he still managed to pull off each one.Performance rating: 10/10
Park Shin Hye as Go Mi Nam (Male)/Go Mi Nyu (Female) Park Shin Hye plays an extremely cute and lovable character. She is sweet natured, selfless but at the same time something misfortune always seems to happen to her.Performance rating: 10/10 Lee Hong Ki as Jeremy/Kang On Yu Lee Hong Ki portrayed the playful Jeremy and out of the actors his performance shocked me the most, it was his first main role in a series and it was not what I was expecting. He did extremely well for a newcomer in the acting scene, his scenes always made me laugh, especially in the parts where he was worried about falling for Go Mi Nam as a guy, it reminded me a lot of Gong Yoo's character in Coffee Prince. Lee Hong Ki's haircuts in the first half of the series looked really good on him but I could not say the same for his haircut later on the series. I am sure I don't need to mention about Lee Hong Ki's singing because any fan of Kpop would know it's ridiculously good! Performance rating: 8/10
Jung Yong Hwa as Kang Shin Woo Another newcomer. I liked Yong Hwa's character, a mature, romantic and charming guy and I pitied him whenever he attempted to reveal his feelings for Mi Nam and was rejected each time. Although I liked his character, I felt the chemistry with Shin Woo and Mi Nam lacked, it was pretty much a one-sided love as Mi Nam had never fallen for Shin Woo, albeit, thankful for his support. Seeing as it was his first time acting, Yong Hwa's performance wasn't too shabby, but I did find his expressions a bit emotionless at times. Performance rating: 6/10 UEE as Yoo He Yi I am sure most people who watched this series hated UEE's character. She plays a bitchy, jealous and childish actress who tries to ruin Mi Nam's career and relationship with the other A.N.JELL members. UEE needs to work on her expressions more, her face was stony most of the time but her performance was still decent. Performance rating: 7/10
Favorite Scenes (I have a lot): - 'Toilet scene' in first episode when Mi Nam was trying to hide away from Tae Kyung. Tae Kyung's reaction was hilarious; - 'Shower scene' in episode two where Mi Nam had escape from the guys' changing rooms; - 'Sexy scene' with Mi Nam and Jeremy in the third episode when Jeremy starts hallucinating; - Fourth episode when Jeremy asks Tae Kyung what sort of person he likes if he doesn't like Yoo He Yi but Tae Kyung is distracted by how Mi Nam is eating; - Fifth episode, first time Tae Kyung sees Mi Nam dressed up as a girl and he keeps looking at her up and down; - 'The imaginary bed scenes'; watch the NGs and the behind the scenes and you will understand why; - 'Fearless auntie' grabbing onto Tae Kyung's butt no once, but TWICE! Poor Tae Kyung, scarred for life; - 'Window scene' when He Yi tried to write something on the glass to get Tae Kyung's attention but makes a spelling error; - The second time Tae Kyung sees Mi Nam as a girl and gets angry because he thinks she's leaving the group for good and the expression on his face after he realizes he's mistaken; - Tae Kyung throwing Yoo He Yi's shoe in the river; - Tell Me Your Wish parody at the end of episode six; - The infamous 'pig chase scene' – just watch it, you won't regret it; - Mi Nam singing 'Without Saying' thinking about Tae Kyung; - 'Leaves scene' when Tae Kyung and Mi Nam are acting for Mi Nam's music video; - Tae Kyung's crying scene at the end of episode eight; - Mi Nam trying to comfort Tae Kyung by hugging him; - The entrance of pig-rabbit!; - The scene when Tae Kyung demands to know Mi Nam's favorite co lour; - Tae Kyung's expressions when eating the limes; - The aftermath of Tae Kyung and Mi Nam's second kiss in episode thirteen; - When Tae Kyung realizes the significance of the piggy nose and who it's for; - Mi Nam giving Tae Kyung a 100 for how much she likes him and his reaction; - Tae Kyung finally telling Mi Nam he likes her and Mi Nam's reactions later on; and - Tae Kyung and Mi Nam's third kiss when she thought he was about to punch her. Summary This is one of the best Korean dramas I have watched in 2009, I'm having trouble picking my favorite out of this, Boys Over Flowers and Queen Seon Duk. A well written script with well portrayed characters, hilarious scenes and lovable characters, it's a must watch! I would definitely recommend this series.

YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL CUTE & FUNNY SCENES PART 1

http://www.youtube.com/v/JC0C9fXFRMI?version=3&autohide=1&feature=share&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=_x_s2hE0KmtrRCknpRa0tw&showinfo=1&autohide=1

you're beautiful Korean Drama

http://www.youtube.com/v/NJ5XTcsru_Y?autohide=1&version=3&feature=share&autohide=1&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=8Wfz5Nv703UcStV1HTwLuw&autoplay=1
Get ready for the holidays! Free shipping on $10 order!
http://jackio46.avonrepresentative.com/

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Make-up History - 1940's to 1970's

http://www.youtube.com/v/QBbAqfIxUNM?version=3&autohide=1&autohide=1&autoplay=1&showinfo=1&feature=share&attribution_tag=srKm2OxcOs1P5JPuBXxfIg

Monday, October 28, 2013

Friday, October 4, 2013

Friday, September 27, 2013

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Arang and the Magistrate




Arang and the Magistrate is a 2012 South Korean television drama, starring Lee Joon-gi, Shin Min-ah and Yeon Woo-jin. The period horror-romance is based on the folklore of Arang, who died unjustly and returns as a ghost in order to reveal the circumstances surrounding her death.It aired from August 15 to October 18, 2012 for 20 episodes. A nobleman named Kim Eun-oh (Lee Joon-gi) comes to town searching for his mother after hearing a rumor that she is staying at the village of Miryang. He has the special ability to see spirits, but pretends he doesn't because he gets annoyed when spirits come up to him asking for a favor. Arang (Shin Min-ah) has lost all her memories when she became a ghost and is unable to rest in peace until she finds out how she ended up dead. However, after appearing to three magistrates, none of them survive the fright of seeing her. When she finds out that Eun-oh is able to see her, she begs for his help.


Lee Joon-gi just won the Best Actor award at the Seoul International Drama Awards and I think it was well deserved. I have been a fan of his work for some time and this drama did not disappoint and the casting was excellent. This was not your typical K-drama and had me looking forward to each new episode. I would recommend this as a much watch for fans of Korean dramas. 





Sunday, August 25, 2013

Bridal Mask (English title) Gaksital

This program features smart actions of a nameless Korean hero during the Japanese colonial rule in the 1930s, who punished the villains ruthlessly, giving hope and consolation to the Koreans. The story follows a man named Lee Kang-to, a Korean police officer commissioned by the Japanese Police to betray his own country and aid the Japanese in the annihilation of the Korean rebellion. During his mission, he encounters a notorious masked man who dons a traditional Korean bridal mask to fight for Korea's independence by assassinating Japanese key officers. As the detective's hunt for "Gaksital" ("Bridal Mask") unravels, his eyes are slowly opened to the treacherous deeds he has committed towards his own countrymen.

His father was a nobleman, possessing power and wealth, but he devoted himself and his fortune to the independence movement. His father was then killed. After the death of Lee Kang-To's father, Lee Kang-To and his mother supported his older brother Lee Kang-San, who was smart enough to enter the top university. Lee Kang-San also took part in the independence movement. He was then arrested and became an invalid to due severe beatings. Lee Kang-To, sick of the independence movement, now wants to become successful no matter what. He then becomes a detective. The drama ran from  May 30, 2012 - September 6, 2012 for 28 episodes.
2012 KBS Drama Awards - December 31, 2012
Excellent Actor (drama) (Joo Won)
Popularity Actor Award (Joo Won)
Best New Actress (Jin Se-Yeon)

Best Supporting Actor (Park Gi-Woong)
Well written, wonderful casting..each episode kept me riveted. When a period piece is done so well that it has me researching more about that period of history then I rate it high. Bridal Mask did not fail to send me checking out various historical figures mentioned in the drama as well as reading more about the period of Korean/Japanese history.



The cast is just perfect, I couldn't imagine anyone else but Park Ki-Woong for Shunji's role as I couldn't imagine anyone else but Joo Won to play Kang-To. How do I rate this drama? BINGO! This drama is now in my top ten with 5 stars.

Bridal Mask Teaser


Joo Won Singing in club scene

KBS Awards Opening



Sunday, August 11, 2013

Full House (2004-Jul-14 to 2004-Sept-02)

Male lead is Rain.What more could you ask for?

Han Ji Eun is a naive writer who got swindled out of everything she owned including her house by her best friends. Stranded in China, She managed to borrow money from an actor Lee Young Jae to return to Korea. On her return, she found out that her house was bought by Lee Young Jae. In an attempt to get her possessions back, she entered in a contract marriage with Young Jae for one year. In spite of losing all, Ji Eun manages to be cheerful and takes things in strike and the business relationship between the two becomes personal as they start to rely and care for each other. Based on a popular manhwa of the same title. Cast:
 Rain/Bi as Lee Young Jae
Song Hye Kyo as Han Ji Eun
Han Eun Jung as Kang Hye Won
Kim Sung Soo as Yoo Min Hyuk


This fun-romantic miniseries shows us the difficulties that occur while living together, as well as the funny side of life. The story line will constantly have you laughing or tearing up. Or maybe even yelling at the screen, whichever way you choose at the end you will be saying "Aja Aja Hwaiting!" or singing the Three Bears song along with the infamous dance.


The chemistry between the two main characters is delightful.  His character's method for showing affection is primarily shouting and insulting, but he looked so sweet and confused while doing so that I challenge any heterosexual woman not to be won over and feel an unalterable urge to step into the screen and pat his head until he feels better, or do something else... wink! And you can't help but to fall for his smile.



It is definitely worth watching a dozen times. Everyone acts superb and it's no wonder why this is known to be a favorite. My rating is 5 Stars.






Bear Song

Full House Opening






Saturday, July 20, 2013

My Little Bride

My Little Bride..full movies with Eng. Subs

Boeun is an ordinary 15-year-old high school girl who worries about grades and has a crush on her school's baseball team ace. One day, her grandfather orders her to marry Sangmin because of a pact he made with Sangmin's grandfather during the Korean War. Despite the grandchildren's opposition, they are forced to marry because of Boeun's grandfather's strong influence. Boeun pretends that she is not married when at school but things get a little complicated when her new husband is assigned to the school as a student teacher.

Even though you have a good guess as to the outcome of the story, it is fun to watch it arrive at that climax. The four actors; Moon Geun-Young as Boeun,Kim Rae-won as Sangmin,Park Jin Woo as Lee Jeong Woo, and Ahn Sun Young as Teacher Kim are perfect in their roles. 

I watched this movie because of Kim Rae-won but soon became a fan of the other actors listed above. MGY has been in many of my favorites, many of which will be reviewed here also. My rating on this would be  four stars.





Sunday, July 14, 2013

Protect the Boss

Cha Ji-heon (Ji Sung) is an incredibly immature young man who is useless at his job as a director at DN Group, where the chairman is his father (Park Yeong-gyu). Ji-heon has a longstanding rivalry in work and love with cousin Cha Mu-won (Kim Jaejoong), as Mu-won is a mature, hardworking, and seemingly perfect executive, and the two both have a romantic history with Seo Na-yoon (Wang Ji-hye). Spunky and tough Noh Eun-seol (Choi Kang-hee) is struggling to find full-time work because of her juvenile delinquent record and poor academic background. After giving the hiring directors a piece of her mind during a job interview at DN Group, she is surprised to find herself hired by Mu-won (who was captivated by her interview) to be the secretary to Ji-heon.

2011 SBS Drama Awards
Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama Special - Choi Kang-hee
Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special - Ji Sung
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Special - Park Yeong-gyu
Netizen Popularity Award, Actress - Choi Kang-hee
Best Couple Award - Ji Sung and Choi Kang-hee
Lifetime Achievement Award - Kim Young-ok
Top 10 Stars - Choi Kang-hee
Top 10 Stars - Ji Sung
New Star Award - Wang Ji-hye
New Star Award - Kim Jaejoong

What can I say? This was one of my favorites, funny story, with great acting by three of my favorites! The romance story line is one that perhaps has been overused but in this case there was enough twists to make the romance story fun to watch as it unfolded. The physical comedy was superb and the production brought together a great supporting cast.

OST I'll Protect You sung by Jaejoong

[Eng Sub] Protect the Boss long trailer

Friday, June 14, 2013

My Princess Kiss Scene English Text (Spoiler Alert)

My Princess Trailer.wmv

My Princess (Korean TV Series) ***

My Princess is a 2011 South Korean romantic comedy television series, starring Kim Tae-hee, Song Seung-hun, Park Ye-jin and Ryu Soo-young. This was one of the first K-dramas that I watched and I was introduced to the cultural etiquette of Korea and some of the drama "cliches" that I would find in many other K-dramas.  It was funny and the cast did well in portraying their characters. It was hard not to like Lee Seol and Hae Young and so easy to dislike Oh Yoon Joo. My rating would be 3.5 Stars.

 An ordinary college student, Lee Seol, finds out she's a princess. The grandson of Daehan Group, Park Hae Young, is put in charge of educating Seol on proper etiquette. However, Hae Young is put in a precarious situation when he finds himself drawn to Seol, the girl who will take away his inheritance if the monarchy is restored.





Best New Actor (mini series) (Lee Gi-Kwang) - 2011 MBC Drama Awards - December 30, 2011

My Princess Korean Drama Trailer (Kim Tae Hee, Song Seung Hun)

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Pouring Rain - Lie to Me korean drama OST

Yoon Eun Hye 윤은혜 & Kang Ji Hwan-Practicing Lie To Me 'Lovin Ice Cream' K...

【Lie To Me】Cola Kiss behind the scene (Part 2) [from Kangstar.jp]

Lie to Me (Korean Drama) ****

A woman(Kong Ah-Jung) in her late 20's is always asked "when are you going to get married?" On a whim, the woman then lies that she did get married.

This romantic comedy stars two of my favorites,Yoon Eun-Hye & Kang Ji-Hwan. It also has a talented supporting cast and the supporting cast is not left as backdrops but also have stories to tell. Sung Joon as younger brother Hyun Sang-Hee made me want to see him finding love as well.

 I loved how the somewhat up tight Hyun Ki-Joon gets pulled into the lie and then uses it for his own reasons. The chemistry between the two leads is great(the soda kiss! A wonderful OST added to the viewing pleasure . This one has been added to my DVD collection and gets a 4 Star rating.****

Monday, April 8, 2013

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Saturday, January 12, 2013

A New Year..

A new year is a gift, one that should not be viewed as just another year but as a chance to improve not only yourself but the world around you. Take a look back at last year, what mistakes were made, what would you do differently if given the chance? Take a look of your weak points and think about how you could improve upon them. Don't be too hard on yourself but be honest! Make a "bucket" list or if you have one already, review and revise! Put it in writing as studies have shown that writing down a project goal sets the brain up to start working on it.(Your goals should be something that You want to do and not something that someone else wants you to do.) Don't try to make all of the changes at once..a sure way of not keeping your resolutions. "Focus - If you chase two rabbits, both will escape." Set target dates throughout the year. Break big goals down into manageable steps. Want to lose weight..don't think in terms of the big number but set a realistic monthly goal. Writing a book..set a goal of so many pages per day and then don't kick yourself if you fall short but get back to it. Get help from friends who have the same or similar goals. That support will help all of you move toward accomplishing the goals set forth. Make time to work on your goals. Don't fall back on the excuse of "I just don't have the time". Look for the time wasters in your life and eliminate or cutback on them. Give yourself a visual reminder of what you want to accomplish.Find inspiring quotes, motivating pictures, or anything that reminds you of your goal and collage these bits n' pieces together on paper and place it where you can see it! Move outside your comfort zone. You won't make that home run if you fear leaving the comfort of first base! If you fall short on a goal, don't discard it but look at what went wrong, revise, and rework the goal. Record your successes and failures.Reward yourself for goals met but do not punish yourself for those that fell short. Don't let the naysayers prevent you from moving forward. Simply smile and ignore them. Look for small ways that you can get involved in projects that help others. Doing even little things to help others goes a long way toward making you feel better about yourself. "Attitude - Whether you think you can or you think you can't.... you're right."

Friday, December 14, 2012

I slept late today but was awakened by the phone. It was a business related call and the caller was from Connecticut. While we talked I could hear the low tones of a news report playing in the background until the caller closed his office door with an apology. Nothing more was said but when the call had ended and I went online, I discovered what his office mates had been listening to and could not believe that once again such a horiffic tragedy had played out. Here where the idea of more gun control rankles many but cutting aid to those who are in need of help seems at times to be on the top of the politician's To Do List. How often do we pass the person on the street who is talking (sometimes yelling) to him/her self and simply think "crazy"? Do we as a society not have some responsibilty for our fellow man? It is only when something like this happens, when that person reaching a breaking point and commits what to us is an unthinkable act but to them might seem their only way to correct what is wrong in their life..it is only then that we ask, "why didn't someone do something?" "Someone must have noticed that things were not right with him" We say that part of the job of our government is to ensure the safety of the citizens. We pour money into weapons but do little for the physical and mental health of our citizens. The events of today makes the message of Christmas that much more important. It is not about the parties, the decorations, the food, or the gifts. It is about love for all of mankind and Peace on Earth, goodwill to All men.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Happy Holidays!

May the season bring you the music of laughter, the warmth of friendship and love.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Friday, November 16, 2012

Monday, November 5, 2012

Vote!

Tomorrow is election day and every voter has not only the right but the duty to vote, however, one thing that I have noticed with every election and that is the comments that start flooding the social sites right after the election that go somewhat like this, "the election is over now so can we get back to just having fun in here" or "okay no more political discussion until next election." I fear that it is this kind of mindset that is partially responsible for the pre-election crumbling about politician, promising one thing and not delivering on that promise. We tend to put our blinders back on and wait for something big to happen before we start our grumbling again. If there are issues that were important to you during the campaign process, then I suggest that rather than sitting back and hoping that the elected officials will do things the way you want, that you continue to be involved. Call, write, follow what is going on and voice your opinions loud and clear. As Lincoln noted, this is a Government, of the people,by the people, and for the people!

Friday, November 2, 2012

I've Looked At Life....

Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air and feather canyons everywhere, I’ve looked at clouds that way. But now they only block the sun, they rain and snow on everyone. So many things I would have done but clouds got in my way. I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now, from up and down, and still somehow it’s cloud illusions I recall. I really don’t know clouds at all. Moons and Junes and ferris wheels, the dizzy dancing way that you feel as every fairy tale comes real; I’ve looked at love that way. But now it’s just another show. You leave ‘em laughing when you go and if you care, don’t let them know, don’t give yourself away. I’ve looked at love from both sides now, from give and take, and still somehow it’s love’s illusions that I recall. I really don’t know love at all. Tears and fears and feeling proud, to say “I love you” right out loud, dreams and schemes and circus crowds, I’ve looked at life that way. But now old friends are acting strange, they shake their heads, they say I’ve changed. Something’s lost but something’s gained in living every day. I’ve looked at life from both sides now, from win and lose, and still somehow it’s life’s illusions I recall. I really don’t know life at all. “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell from the 1969 album “Clouds”
***************************************** Next week I start a new round of chemo and while I am not looking forward to it I do not have the same sense of dread with which I approached the first phase of treatment.It is amazing what the support of family, friends (some known only via the web) and an amazing medical team can do for ones' outlook on life. I have starting counting the positives that I have encountered during my life rather than recalling the negatives. Hello,Pollyanna!

Friday, October 26, 2012

The Impact of Jang Keun Suk

Long nights have become the norm for me or rather it is the reversal of day and night that has become my life. While I am up during the daylight hours, that time is broken up by short naps and then comes the witching hour and I am wide awake. Thankfully, I have found a great online community with whom I share many interest and there is always someone about when I find myself at a loss for the direction of my writing and I can spend a few minutes chatting about our common love of artiste Jang Keun Suk, the latest Kdrama or just about our lives in general. The humor is warm and sometimes a little on the naughty side but the bond of friendship that is found in this group or pond as it is affectionately called is like no other. It is amazing that one person, and a person that most of us will never meet in person, can have such a profound affect. At times I wonder if even he realizes that through his acting, his music and his open interaction with his fans, he has been a force in bringing together people with diverse ethnic, political,and religious views but who have become in many ways a family. This world needs more of our celebrated ones to generate this feeling among their fans and this world will truly become a world of peace.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Sunday, September 30, 2012

White Rabbit Remembrance

Today was a day for remembering and I read through some of the messages sent to me by a dear friend. This was one of the last that I received. Little did I know that the time remaining would be so short. White Rabbit "You know I love you, right? But you are not the love of my life..at least not this life. You are something deeper than that…I guess you are what they call a soul mate and I think that we have been and will be part of each others lives no matter where or when......."
Seems like to me the stars don't shine so bright, Seems like to me the sun has lost its light, Seems like to me there's nothing going right, Since you went away. Seems like to me the sky ain't half so blue, Seems like to me that everything wants you, Seems like to me I don't know what to do, Since you went away. And everything is wrong, The day is twice as long, And the bird's forgot his song, Seems like to me I just can't help but sigh, Seems like to me my throat keeps getting dry, Seems like to me a tear stays in my eye, Since you went away. Take care my friend until we meet once again.......

Let the rumpus begin!

In the book by Maurice Sendak, Where The Wild Things Are, Max, in his wolf suit, makes mischief until his mother in exasperation calls him a wild thing. "I'll eat you up." Max says and is sent to bed without his supper. There in his dreams, he travels to the "place where the wild things are" and they roar their terrible roars and gnash their terrible teeth and roll their terrible eyes and show their terrible claws" until Max command, "Be still" and tames them with his magic trick of staring into their eyes. All of us have wild things within us, the feeling that we must learn to control. Emotions that can get us into trouble but at the same time are essential to conjuring up the creatures that make life interesting. It is our ability to control with out quashing that makes us optimistic. Optimism is dependent upon our ability to become King of all the wild things. It requires mothers/friends who will send us to bed without our supper, but will keep it warm as well and welcome us back from where the wild things roam. It is from this family that we learn the magic tricks that we need to make us feel like a King. Let the rumpus begin!
(Photo from the book by Maurice Sendak)

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Mary Stayed Out All Night

Wi Mae Ri (Moon Geun Young) is the cheerful, pragmatic daughter of a failed businessman who had grown used to being constantly on the move to escape from debtors. She meets the free-spirited indie singer Kang Moo Kyul (Jang Geun Suk) when she nearly runs him over in a car. Meanwhile, her father Wi Dae Han is saved from his debtors by his old friend, Jung Suk, who had just returned from considerable success in the Japanese entertainment industry. Jung Suk, who had harbored a secret love for Mae Ri's mother, sets up a deal with Dae Han to have Mae Ri marry his son, Jung In (Kim Jae Wook). In her desperate to escape this predicament, Mae Ri begs Moo Kyul to pose as her husband, and finds herself in even more trouble than before when her father registers her “marriage” to Jung In and then proposes a 100-day period in which she has to divide her time equally between Moo Kyul and Jung In, after which she has to decide who to marry.* Mary Stayed Out All Night is a 2010 South Korean romantic comedy television series based on an internet comic Maerineun Uibakjoong by Won Su-Yeon. At first I was set to dismiss this show based on the premise but the three lead actors made this a comedy delight, each playing their character to perfection. I would recommend this drama to any new viewers of Korean drama.

Friday, September 28, 2012

“I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we desire contentment. In my own limited experience I have found that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacle we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.” – The Dalai Lama Recent events, both in my life and in those of friends, got me thinking about things that prevent me from being happy for a greater portion of my life. Sure there will be things that are out of my control that will cause me to be sad but that does not mean that I should let those emotions control me or cause depression. Time to quietly reflect on those events and to determine how I can use them to move forward in a more postive way will be my goal.I decided that I was going to try and practice looking on the bright side of life,not exactly Pollyanna, but taking a cue from both her and the Dalai Lama, I shall move forward with my own version of The Glad Game.

Ain't No Sunshine (When He's Gone)

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Friday, September 21, 2012

St Steven's Children's Orphanage Choir

Even as AIDS has left its mark on them, these children can sing with a joy of hope for the future. We could all learn a lesson from them.
Can you hear the prayer of the children? On bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room Empty eyes with no more tears to cry Turning heavenward toward the light Crying Jesus, help me To see the morning light-of one more day But if I should die before I wake, I pray my soul to take Can you feel the hearts of the children? Aching for home, for something of their very own Reaching hands, with nothing to hold on to, But hope for a better day a better day Crying Jesus, help me To feel the love again in my own land But if unknown roads lead away from home, Give me loving arms, away from harm Can you hear the voice of the children? Softly pleading for silence in a shattered world? Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate, Blood of the innocent on their hands Crying Jesus, help me To feel the sun again upon my face, For when darkness clears I know you're near, Bringing peace again

Monday, September 17, 2012

The Kiss

“Lord! I wonder what fool it was that first invented kissing. “ Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) Irish author and clergyman
Consider the kiss. What an odd, intriguing, and absurd concept, this pressing of lobes, this mating of faces. Ah, the kiss. Obscene and brutal? Or magnificent, erotic? A tribute? An insult? Whatever the form, it does span mouths and hearts and time. There are too many kinds to count, this mirror of emotion, purveyor of desire: The Judas kiss, low as a snake and deadly as sin. The obligatory kiss to Aunt Jane, whose breath is stale with age and cigarettes smoked. The perfunctionary peck upon the cheek, a greeting here, perhaps sincere but perhaps not. A parent’s worried lips to the child’s fevered brow. And what of the kiss of comfort, the one that absorbs even a little of the grief while a loved one sleeps in a silk-lined box? Kisses sweet, brief, given without thought or considered at length. An apology even, when words are too hard to say. The lover’s kiss: prelude to passion each mortal strives to perfect with varying degrees of success. Mustn’t be too sloppy or too dry; the timing is crucial, too; when to begin as important as knowing the moment it is meant to be over. Is it tentative or hungry? Is it reciprocated, or rejected with the turn of the cheek, mauling the ego more deftly than any two-fisted blow? The cheek will not do, not when lips are destined to meet and seek a fit as intimate as hip to hip. A tracing of the lips with the tip of the tongue, dip, taste of the tender, fleshy lobes, around, under, and finally between. The tongue is taken into the dark, moist chamber. Textures there, be it raw silk or rough as the kitten’s tiny bumps coated with cream. Can you hear the accelerated breathing; maybe it is ragged, harsh, and a little raw? Breaths mingle, exchanging flavors, longing. Teeth close, claiming a tongue, a bite, just a tiny pressure, a groan, a sigh. Reverse the exploration. And then eyes peek open, affirming that this feeling is mutual and unfeigned. Now the deepening of it, the slanting of lips, the tongue thrusts, the increasing wetness and carnivorous nibbles as they devour each other.. It is delicious. Absolutely divine. His lips skim down to her chin, he sips and the delicate jut. Unwilling to relinquish and yet feeling the natural course playing to the end. Their eyes open and meet and no words are needed. If it is good, it is the best part of heaven; if not, they part knowing the kiss was fatal and this is good-bye. Consider the kiss. A concept worthy of thought, though one better pondered with nimble lips rather than words.

Best Musicals (this is a work in progress)

1) My Fair Lady & West Side Story 2) Into the Woods 3) The Sound of Music 4) A Chorus Line 5) Fiddler on the Roof 6) Guys and Dolls 7) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street 8) The Music Man 9) Cabaret 10) Chicago 11) The Fantasticks 12) South Pacific 12) Flower Drum Song 13) Show Boat 14) The King and I 15) Rent 16) Sunday in the Park With George 17) Carousel Oklahoma! 18) Little Shop of Horrors 19) How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying 20) Ragtime 21) Kiss Me, Kate 22) 1776 23) Gypsy 24) A Little Night Music 25) A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum 26) Evita 27) Dreamgirls 28) On A Clear Day 29) The Producers 30) Hair 31)Hello, Dolly! 32) Follies 33) La Cage aux Folles 34) 42nd Street 35) Brigadoon 36) Jesus Christ Superstar Joseph 37) Wicked 38) Les Miserables 39) Mame
40) Godspell 41) Company 42) The Pajama Game 43) Man Of La Mancha 44) Pal Joey 45) Hairspray 46) The Phantom of the Opera 47) Damn Yankees 48) Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk 49) Pippin 50) You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown 51) Sweet Charity 52) Camelot 53) Anything Goes 54) The Secret Garden 55) Kiss of the Spider Woman 56) Finian's Rainbow 57) Annie Get Your Gun 58) Annie 59) Beauty and the Beast The Lion King 60) Ain't Misbehavin' 61) Bye Bye Birdie

Stay....Jang Keun Suk

Friday, September 7, 2012

A Girl's Best Friend

Thanks to my friend, Glori, for some of the pictures and to Nora Jones for the song.

Pain Induced Pain

It is often difficult to explain to someone just what it means to suffer from fibromyalgia. Unless you suffer from a condition that they can see/understand your pain can seem to be in your mind...you are a hypochondriac perhaps? When I first starting suffering from it I did not have a name for it but thought that it was perhaps just one of those things that happens to some people as they get older..little did I know until later that there are many sufferers who are just kids. Someone would sit next to me and accidently brush against me and this would send a shooting pain through my body. I finally got a name put to this while undergoing treatments for cancer. A side affect of the cancer treatment was the onset of lymphedema. The treatment for that is manual lymph drainage,a light massage therapy technique in which the skin is moved in certain directions based on the structure of the lymphatic system. This helps the lymph fluid drain through the proper channels.massage. One of the team doctors noticed how I flinched at light touch and started to question me. He reviewed my medical history; migraine sufferer, numerous body traumas, etc and told me that I was the classic FM patient. Many doctors do not even recognize the condition because it is basically one of eliminating all other possible causes for the pain but for some patients the pain is cross-related to other medical conditions and exacerbated by the underlying FM. I hit all 19 of the trigger points. One other bit of trivia is that some cases of lower-limb lymphedema have been associated with the use of tamoxifen. Tamoxifen is often prescribed for women who have had breast cancer and I was one of those women. Tamoxifen can also be a factor in the development of uterine cancer. Just how lucky can a girl get!
http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatisfibromyalgia/a/fibromyalgiapain.htm

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

This is from my files from back when a friend that I had not seen in years asked me to tell something about myself. The recent loss of that friend had me going back through our many messages and thus this surfaced: I am Woman, hear me roar! I am a warrior. I am a peacemaker. I am Tigger. I am Pooh. I am Wise Old Owl. I am gloomy Eyore. I am a shy violet, the bold tiger lily and the questioning daisy, loves me, loves me not. I am a romantic. I am a realist. I am a republicrat. I’m cool. I’m hot! I am the surprise in the box of Cracker Jacks, the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae. I am a fine Boudreaux. I am bubbly Champagne. I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a mother and a grandmother. I am a friend. I am a lover. Anything else is still to be discovered.