KPop to the rescue!

Posting a few KPop music videos because they make me happy...

f(x) - Electric Shock

Big Bang - Monster

Kara - Mr.

Enjoy! [Again, I know these are older songs. Still a noob, but I'm learning more!]

Grumpy Pants...

Me today. Everywhere.

Have you ever had one of those days where you just knew that you shouldn't be around other people?

I've been having one of those days...

I feel like I should do the people around me a huge favor and wear a sign saying "WARNING: DOES NOT PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS." You know, just to give them a heads up.

/Ponders

I wonder if maybe I'm getting sick....I don't really have any good reasons to be this cranky around people.

Maybe I need a nap? Maybe a vacation? Coffee?

I don't know.../sigh

If You Can't Say Something Nice...

So, the subject of today's post is going to be tolerance...

In my opinion, there is hardly anything that is a more unattractive quality in a person than intolerance. I mean, how arrogant! To be intolerant of a person, or group of people, simply because they don't conform with your individual set of ideals does not give you any right at all to consider yourself above said individual...what a narcissistic manner of thinking!!

I'm truly baffled as to how people come to think this way. In my mind, it must, at least in part, come back to the environment that people are raised in...I suppose, if you grow up hearing others talk down on people [or certain groups of people] or if you see/hear that this sort of attitude is acceptable [or even encouraged], then maybe you wouldn't know any better...but I don't think that's exactly true either...

Once a person gets a certain age [or maturity level], they can no longer blame their upbringing for their social shortcomings. Unless it's some sort of seriously atypical situation, a person simply cannot make it to functional adulthood without having to think for themselves! Now that you're thinking for yourself, how is it possible that you let words of spite and hatred spill from your lips without giving any thought to how your words will effect other people?! And what makes you think that your opinion is so much more important than anyone else's? So much more important, that you have the right to spew your venomous opinion all over the 'offending' individual and those in your wake?!

It is a very small, self-centered mentality that allows this sort of garbage to carry on.

To the kids that grow up in environments filled with this sort of emotional filth: I, for one, am truly sorry that you have to be exposed to hate. I know that children do not have the ability/luxury of choosing their families, neighborhoods, or social cohorts and it is unfortunate that they have to learn to live and thrive in such toxicity. However, please do not forget that the most important thing that any person can learn is to be kind. Kindness extends to all of the people around you...family, friends, and strangers, too. Unleashing judgement on those around you is not kindness...even if you, personally, do not agree with or like an aspect of another person...keep your unsolicited thoughts to yourself. Just because you had to grow-up around closed-minded, hateful people definitely does not mean that you have to grow to be one as well.

To the adults that perpetuate this unacceptable behavior: what the hell is the matter with you!? Take notes from one of your kid's movies...remember the scene in Bambi when Thumper, the rabbit, started to comment on Bambi's lack of coordination [he was just born, after all] when his mother promptly stopped him. Instead, she asked Thumper to remember what his father had told him earlier that morning [See the picture to the right]. Just because you're 'grown,' does not make you immune to this very basic social rule! And for the sake of future humanity, do not pass this hateful way of thinking and behaving on to your children.

As I'm sure you've already deduced, this is a topic that strikes a very deep, very personal nerve for me...but, I do feel better now that I've typed out some of my frustrations and put them out into the blogosphere for everyone [or no one] to see...here's to hoping that the next post is much more light-hearted!

Chips & Dip, Puppies, and Narrowly Avoided Global Destruction!!

Busy day at the office today...

However, I didn't want to miss a post, so I'm going to make this one quick...

Today [March 23] is:

- National Chip and Dip Day
- National Melba Toast Day
- National Organize Your Home Office Day
- National Puppy Day
- Near Miss Day
- OK Day
- World Meteorological Day

Quite a bit happening today in the realm of random  holidays!

Near Miss Day is actually quite interesting...I suggest a quick Googling of it if you've got a few spare minutes.

I hope you guys have a good Monday!

Sorry I Was A Jerk...

Uggggggh.

Does anybody else absolutely hate that sinking feeling that you get when you remember something that you royally made a mess of? 

I was just minding my own business...settling down for the night and debating on whether I should try and find something to watch on Netflix...then, BOOM!

My brain decides to go rogue! 

Brain: Hey! Know who you haven't thought of in a while? Like, seriously, over 18 months?

Me: umm...probably a good bit of people. But, I'll humor you...*ahem* who's that?

Brain: How about that really nice guy that you met at about the same time you met your last ex? Remember him? 

Me: Oh no...

Brain: Yeah! You know who I'm talking about! Super nice and considerate guy...lived one state over, had the same awesomely nerdy tastes as you...artsy-type who made you smile ludicrous amounts whenever you spoke?

Me: Please, kill me now...

Brain: Yeah! See? You remember him! Why is it again that you stopped talking to him? You know, just stopped? Like a rude person?

Me: But...but...

Brian: Yeah, that's right...you certainly acted like a butt. 

Me: But...distance and...

Brain: Yeah, okay. Sure. Say, why don't you get in touch with him? Phone call, email, text...carrier pigeon?

Me: ...do you think I should...

Brain: Haha! Nope! Gah, you just fall for anything, don't ya? Yeah. There isn't really any good point in my bringing him up...he probably thinks you're a terrible person and wouldn't want to talk to you. And who would blame him? I just wanted to see if you remembered him. 

Me: *silently slinks off to hide in a hole*

This concludes this post. Lesson leaned? My brain is a jerk and should not be left unattended.

Hello There, Daydream Boyfriend: Commitment (The Movie)

Last night, I was mindlessly browsing through Netflix and you won't believe what I found...

/Fangirling

It's my daydream boyfriend! On my Netflix! Ridiculous or not, I'm taking this as a sign...we loves me, he just doesn't know it yet! [hahaha okay...that sounds creepy and desperate...it's meant to be read with 99.9% sarcasm...the other .1% is definitely wishful thinking...]

A couple of weeks ago, I watched one of the other Korean movies on Netflix...so now I've got a "Because you watched ______" grouping that brings me all sorts of Korean movies and dramas...

As I was scrolling through them [still very much a noob to the world of Korean entertainment], I remembered reading that T.O.P. did some acting in addition to his swoon-worthy singing. Not knowing how popular his acting works were nor how popular the Korean movies/dramas on Netflix actually are...I wasn't sure if any of his stuff would be available. So, I was delightfully surprised to run across this movie!

*** Potential spoiler alerts ahead!!***

The movie was pretty good...surprisingly good compared to all of the other Korean movies/dramas that I've seen. I had to watch the movie with it's English subtitles, but I didn't find it difficult to keep up with the dialogue. Luckily, I'm a ridiculously fast reader and I love subtitled anime and movies...but I realize that most people do not share my love for subtitled, foreign films. So, please do keep the language difference in mind if you decide to watch this movie.

I thought the overall flow of the movie was very good. There is only one particular spot in the movie that stood out to me as feeling a bit out of place: there's a bit of a rumble involving some good ol' fashioned school bully douchebaggery...immediately following a brief clip of our hero and damsel seemingly removed from the fight scene but without any explanation as to where they have moved to. [No transition, no explanation...and his jacket does a random disappearing act only to reappear a few seconds later] The next scene shows our hero back in his classroom and the rest of the story line flows just fine. It's a very minor point, and I know I'm probably the only non-critic that even noticed it...

Such a cutie!

The movie has got a fair bit of action, some heartbreaking espionage, and sheds a little light on the complexity of North/South relations...I'll admit, I know next to nothing about North/South relations outside of what we can see on the news and the news websites that I read [which, I presume, is also mostly America-generated]. I know that all news channels/sites spin each story to some extent, so I'm not naive enough to believe that everything I see, read, or hear is the absolute, 100%, unadulterated truth. And I was too young to have been told the grittier side of things when I lived in Korea...and that was over 20 years ago anyway...I'm sure things have changed since then...but yeah. I'm still a bit confused over some of the dynamics that were portrayed in this movie...I'll be asking my cousin about it later.

All things considered, I definitely recommend this movie. When you find yourself needing something to watch, pick this one!

/Swoon

Still not completely sure you wanna watch this movie?

It's almost two hours of watching my daydream boyfriend...he's a spy, kicks serious tail, and goes to any length to try and protect those close to him. He rides a motorcycle, stands up to bullies, and plays the piano. Did I mention he rides a motorcycle? [/chuckle me likey the motorcycle]

Little Reminders...

You know what's the worst?

Realizing that someone is still disappointed with you for a mistake you made over five years ago. Five years.

You know, I don't need any reminders that I'm a walking disappointment...there isn't a single day that passes that I'm not beating myself up for it.

But, thanks. Now I'll remember that other people are disappointed in me, too.

KPop: Big Bang and f(x)

Re-discovered some of the KPop music that I'd started to fall in love with a few months ago...so, now I'm going to share some with you guys! [Disclaimer: I know that most of these songs are at least a couple years old...I'm a Kpop noob! I'll get around to listening to/posting about newer music soon!]

Fantastic Baby - Big Bang

Okay, I know that the music video has some elements that are quite out there...but the song is undeniably catchy.  

These five gentleman make up Big Bang, which is unofficially my favorite male KPop group! I read that they've been making music together since about 2006...which means that there's a lot of music for me to listen to!


Aaaaand, Big Bang has introduced me to my first ever celebrity crush on a Korean Man [hey, a girl can have daydreams, right?]...guys, I've got it bad for T.O.P.!

Which one is T.O.P? He's the guy that's wearing glasses in the black & white picture above...and he's the one in the music video that's made blue one of my new favorite hair colors...

See?! Definitely a handsome fellow...and from what I've read, he's good to his fans and is always very modest...

Thanks to my INFJ-esque habits of scrambling to find out everything I can about newly discovered likings, I learned a good bit about him in a very short amount of time... [T.O.P. - Read About Him!]

Early in his music career, he was told that he was too heavy for the label/producers that he wanted to work with...but he didn't let that deter him. Instead, he worked his butt off, lost the weight, and was was making music for that very label/producer within a year!

Knowing that, I couldn't help but tear up when I found this...I know that a lot of things on the internet are fabricated, but I really want this to be true! What a sweet thing to say to a person that clearly struggling with some self-esteem issues! Add in the fact that the kind words are coming from a celebrity, and it's that much more touching...or at least it is to me.../sigh I'm getting soft in my old age...


Next is 'Rum Pum Pum Pum'  by f(x)

Admittedly, I didn't read up very much about this girl group [I was too busy reading up on the Big Bang guys!], but I really, really liked this song.

I liked that this girl group seems to be fairly diverse...they're definitely not the Spice Girls, but they do get mental brownie points for the girls appearing to have distinctly different styles. The vast majority of KPop girl groups that I've seen are made up of girls that look like cloned copies of each other...but I digress...that's more to do with Korean beauty standards as a whole and less to do with any individual pop music group.

Unrealistic beauty standards aside, I bet you can guess which girl's look was my favorite...

Yep! Un-naturally bright red hair and green eyes!

KPop stars are the masters of colored contacts for brown eyes...I've already started checking into what brands and colors they're wearing...I'll probably post some pictures of myself with awesomely colored eyes soon!

And one more pic of T.O.P...because, why not!

Treadmill Master!

Really short post today...

Found this video on BuzzFeed and I loved it, thought I'd share the goodness with you guys...

This guy is dancing to "Uptown Funk"...on a treadmill...it's amazing!

Link to the BuzzFeed Article

Another gem on BuzzFeed is the article "23 Struggles All Clarinet Players Know Too Well.

[Clarinet was my first non-piano instrument! This list is far too accurate...]

Included this GIF because...well, why not.

Enjoy!

Cinderella 2015: A Pleasant Surprise! *Possible Spoilers*

Okay, just a few things to post about...

First: I realize that this is likely going to sound 'girly' and such, but I am so, so excited! I begrudgingly went and did some clothes shopping this weekend [it's been sorely needed...], and I found the most amazing blue jeans! I know that it sounds trivial, but my new jeans have made me feel 1000% better about myself...now that I can leave the house in something other than legging or yoga pants, I feel like I can be an actual, visible member of society again! So...yay!!

Sooooo Pretty!

Secondly: I dragged the kiddo to go see the latest rendition of Cinderella, and I was genuinely
impressed!

Cinderella is a story that most of us are very familiar with...since the original version, the story has been done and re-done, wouldn't you say, at least 100 times? That being said, I really didn't hold out much hope for this one...I thought that, at best, it would be the exact same, tired story but with better graphics. And I was wrong! [Better grab a screenshot of that...these sorts of admissions don't happen very often!]

For me, character development is what set this movie apart from all of its predecessors. In the animated classic, we get pretty much just the gist of the fairy tail...at the end of the movie, do we know all that much about the main characters? Not really...we know that the step-mother and step-sisters are terribly cruel, Cinderella is unfalteringly saccharin-sweet, and the prince is pretty much just a handsome face that happens to be next-in-line for the throne. Maybe that's why I never truly loved the animated movie...I never found the characters to be all that relatable [and everyone knows that The Little Mermaid is my favorite!].

I know that different versions of the movie present their own spins on the classic fairy tale, and I know that those movies come with their versions of back-stories for the main characters...but I really liked that this latest re-make of Cinderella fleshed out these characters while maintaining their classic roots.

***SPOILERS AHEAD!!! If you haven't seen the movie yet, turn back now!!***

I really liked that this movie offered a glimpse into Cinderella's life before the evil step-mother. From the animated movie, we know that Cinderella had a loving, doting father that had passed away before the start of the movie. In this movie, we get to see what life was like for the rags-to-riches princess when she was much younger...we learned that Cinderella's real name is actually "Ella," and she learned to maintain her unwavering kindness from her mother [who unfortunately passes away when Ella is still a young child]. One of the more touching details from Ella's childhood is that her mother often sang 'Lavender's Blue,' This song ends up being a recurring musical theme [the music nerd in my loves this sort of thing!] and lends for some teary-eyed moments later in the movie.

I also liked that this movie offered insight into the behavior of the terrible Lady Tremaine, better known and the wicked step-mother. We see when Ella's father hesitantly tells Ella of his plans to start a new chapter of life with Lady Tremaine and her two daughters...he is very obviously still struggling with the loss of Ella's mother and is longing for any chance at regaining happiness. However, minutes after the Tremaines arrive at Ella's house, it becomes very clear that the two families are very different and that merging the two will not be easy.

This movie also gave us a peak into the newly 'Brady Bunched' family's lives pre-Ella's father's death. As the two families are struggling to assimilate into one, there are several scenes where you see Ella's father likely regretting his decision [especially in instances where there's interactions between he and Ella] and then we see how these moments affect Lady Tremaine. I can't even imagine...knowing that the competition for your husband's heart is his dead first wife? How can you compete with that? Add to that the husband's daughter that looks and acts just like the wife/mother...you've got to deal with knowing that you'll never be first pick for either the father or the daughter...this takes a toll on Lady Tremaine, and you can see flashes of hurt in her eyes several times in the movie. [I think a great deal of this must be attributed to the excellent acting of Cate Blanchett...she played a fantastic Lady Tremaine!] Now, none of this justifies her terrible behavior later on in the story, not at all...but I think it definitely lends to the statement 'evil isn't born, it's made.' [Once Upon a Time gives us this quote...great show...]

The Prince is another character who we learn more about in this movie. In the animated classic, next to nothing is known about the prince...he's the prince, he's going to choose his bride at the upcoming ball, aaaaaand...he's the prince. [It's been a long time since I've last seen the animated movie, but I think I'm pretty spot on here...]

In this movie, the Prince actually has a name! His name is Kit and he ends up being quite the endearing fellow!

Contrary to the animated movie, Ella and Kit meet before the ball...in fact, his chance encounter with Ella is what prompts Kit to extend an invitation to the ball to all eligible maidens in the kingdom rather than strictly the nobility and gentry. I like that this movie adds this little detail...I think it makes it more plausible that the prince would want to invite all maidens. Plus, it also makes a little more sense when he's obviously taken with Ella during the ballroom scenes...they'd met before, had crazy chemistry, and mister princey-prince was seriously jonseing for more Ella time...sounds far more believable than the animated movie. In my opinion anyway...



Plus, we can't ignore the fact that Kit is being played by Richard Madden...also known as the late Robb Stark to us Game of Thrones fans....very glad to see him on the screen, he left us far too early in GoT [darn you, red wedding!!!].

All in all, I give the new Cinderella movie an enthusiastic 'two thumbs up'!

Don't forget, the new Frozen mini-feature is played before the Cinderella movie....I know that the mini-feature alone is enough to get some people into the theater...

Finally: I had no intention of going on about the Cinderella movie for so long! More posts later this week!

Longest Wait For Summer Ever...Thanks, Gravity Falls....

Do you guys remember me talking about the show Gravity Falls?

Last year, I decided to go as Dipper for Halloween [I wrote about it here and here]...I'm pretty sure that I haven't written anything about the show since then, but I never stopped being a huge fan.

Because it is an animated show, I know that a good bit of adults will probably write it off as yet another super childish kid's show...and it certainly doesn't help that Gravity Falls is a Disney cartoon. But, hear me out on this one...this show definitely does not deserve to be placed in the same category as Doc McStuffins or Sofia the First....or even Jake and the Neverland Pirates! [I actually like Jake a good bit /shrug]

Often times, I'll sit down to watch a new episode of Gravity Falls with the kiddo, and I'll find myself wondering if the show isn't actually too intense for him to watch! The show covers some pretty heavy topics [without looking at a list of episodes, I remember: abandonment, peer pressure, first loves, familial relationships, trust...actually, trust has been of the main components of the entire story-arc]. I think it's safe to say that it's risky to include such material in a 'kid's cartoon,' but those very risks are what sets Gravity Falls apart from any other 'kid's cartoon' that I've watched.

It was probably about the third time that I watched an episode with the kiddo that I noticed some of the things that were hidden in the show. [I'll admit that I initially thought that it would be a show like Scooby-Doo...] I noticed that the last bit of the ending credit sequences had a code underneath the picture...and then I noticed that this same sort of code was included in every episode...I paused my DVR and immediately wrote down one of the 'codes.' [I didn't expect the code to mean anything...I thought it was going to be some bonus Easter egg, like the jokes that flashed during the ending credits of Tiny Toons...if you missed those, you should check them out...some of them were rather funny!]

Check out that code! It's hilarious when it's decoded, btw...

Like the true skeptic that I am, I sat down with my notebook and started to try and crack the code...the particular one that I had written down wasn't especially difficult, I managed to figure it out in just a few minutes. It was at this point, when I realized that there were actual, decipherable codes used regularly in the show, that I was hooked. Solving that one little code heralded my joining of the Gravity Falls fandom...a fandom that I love being part of! There are so many people that scour each episode, obsessively looking for overlooked clues and hidden meanings, and I love it! [Btw, if you haven't noticed, obsessing is how I 'like' things. I either obsess over things or could care less about them...there's not really much middle ground. At all.]

Credit code...

So...why the seemingly random Gravity Falls post?

It's actually not random at all...

Earlier this week, the 'mid-season finale' episode premiered, and it was fantastic! Seriously, it was that good! [I'd rank it up there with any of the anime that I've seen...and I love me some anime!]

If you were listening really closely on Monday night, you probably heard the collective mind-blowing of the Gravity Falls fandom...the reaction to the episode was so massive that Gravity Falls shot up to the 'most trending' spot on Tumblr! [I admit that I don't really know much about Tumblr, but I feel as if this is a pretty big deal...] The episode had a reveal in it that was so huge, it left a good portion of the fandom literally stunned. Not exaggerating! Look it up on Tumblr, a girl even broke her ankle!

So many feels!

 If you haven't seen this ridiculously awesome show yet, you need to watch it. Like, now! Seriously, now!

If you already watch it, let me know so we can exchange theories and codes while we wait for the next episode!!

That's all I've got for now...trust no one....

What's Your Favorite Collective Noun?

Yet another socially awkward misadventure...brought to you by yours truly...

Yesterday afternoon, the kiddo and I went to go pick up a few groceries and things for the upcoming week. After putting everything that we bought into the trunk of the car, I walked my shopping cart towards the cart corral. As I got closer to the corral, I noticed that some ladies were getting out of the car that was parked nearby...one of the ladies saw that I was going to drop off my shopping cart and then asked if she could have it. Of course, I didn't mind giving her the shopping cart, so I politely said, "Sure!" and started pushing the cart in her direction.

Good Idea!

When I was about halfway there, the lady turned around [back towards her car] and commented to her friend about the loud crows that we hanging out in a nearby tree...now, thanks to my habitual politeness, I thought to myself, "Hey! She's right, the crows are awfully loud, aren't they? When I give her the car, I should comment on her crow comment...if I comment, it will validate her observation and act as a compliment of sorts...yes? It would be a good thing. Definitely a good thing. Okay, that settles it. When I give her the cart, I must comment on her comment."

/chuckle

Well...what actually happened was a little bit different that what I'd thought would happen...

So, I'm walking my cart to the lady and as soon as I get within earshot, I start with my carefully thought out comment.

Ready for this?

I smile at the lady and I say, "You know, you're right! It's quite the noisy murder over there!"

Yep. Those are the words that came out of my brilliant mouth. /Siiiiiigh

I attempt to speak to a stranger, and I use the word 'murder.'

You'd be surprised at how quickly someone can turn around and run from a situation if they feel as if they're in danger...that lady sure could move, though!

Now...here's where I get the chance to explain myself...

"Murder" is the proper collective noun to use when you're referring to a group of crows.

Why I chose that particular sentence to exploit the expanse of random, useless knowledge in my head? I have no idea...just part of the cringe-worthy awkwardness that is my everyday life.

So, there it is...I'm going to look into starting my hermit lifestyle now...

[*This event actually happened last weekend. I started writing this post on Monday, and I've just now finished it...yeah, my blogging commitment is starting to seriously decline...]

Indoor Rain....

Reason No. 5,784 that living in an apartment sucks:

It is very much within the realm of possibility that your jerk wads of upstairs neighbors will one day forget how to properly use indoor plumbing. If/when this happens, it will start to rain inside your apartment. From multiple places. Bonus points if the 'on site' maintenance guy lives 20-30 minutes away.

This. Except for inside your home.

 So, yeah. Avoid apartment living at all costs.

If you must live in an apartment, make sure to get the uppermost unit.

Update: The maintenance guy just left a minute ago. He said that the water was coming from my upstairs neighbors because their toilet over-flowed. Apparently, my neighbors are having a tough time getting adjusted to using a new brand of toilet paper. Adjusting to a new brand of toilet paper?!?!?!?