News-News

So... I thought I'd just casually mention that it's been almost 3 weeks (tomorrow!) since I've found out that I got accepted into vet school. Y'know, nothing to brag about=P But yeah, still desperate to know how I'll fund this whole investing in my future business, otherwise I'm quite content. So you know, I was super ecstatic when I found out, like skipping-down-the-street-smiling-at-random-strangers-with-tears-of-joy happy. Now that the notion has settled, I'm getting into the groove of being excited for a new chapter of my life. Cliche, I know. Yet that's exactly what it is, though I'm having an inkling that it'll be more like a whole new volume of my life than just a chapter. The knowledge and the experiences that are just waiting for me to cross the threshold of.

Many people have since asked whether I'm excited about it, and being the suave fellow that I am, have given quite the nonchalant answer. Poker face, 'tis my middlename. It's just the same principle that I apply to dramas: keeping expectations low and in check help break the fall if (or when) the letdown happens. I'm petrified of living away from home. I know I sometimes secretly wish to have a place of my own if only to have multiple pets, but this is living away-away from home. Shameful to admit this, but I'm friggin useless for matters pertaining to household management. I can barely feed and keep up the hygiene when I'm left to my own devices. And without other likeminded people to talk to or to joke with, I get so miserable. OMG, just thinking about it makes me cringe in fear. And yet, I'm so excited to be doing vet school. Like finally getting to learn the stuff because by golly-gee I've always wanted to learn this stuff and doing such sparse volunteer/clinic stuff the knowledge rarely sticks and I always feel slightly stupid for forgetting things... So you see, I'm really on both sides of the coin for vet school at the present situation. Of course I want to do it!! But at the same time I'm so prone to homesickness and whatnot that I'm just a ball of nerves.

Did I also mention my stark surrender of drama watching for the next 4 years? Yes, I am committed to no drama watching for 4 long years..... Deserted from any dramas, not even specials, not even holidays, no siree.... (though I'm going to at least read about it... I mean, only if and when I'm done studying/need a break. Movies, I'm going to allow as a treat...I need to survive somehow...) So in this short summer that remains, I've selected my last dramas:
-Sunao ni Narenakute
-Hyena
-Hotaru no Hikari
-Alone in Love
-and whatever else I need to attempt to wrap up on, though we all know they're pretty much lost causes...

Currently Watching

I have a lot to get through this summer. Having pent up my drama watching obsession throughout most of the school year has driven me near insane. To be withheld from gushing alongside others while the latest trendies air has been very difficult, especially considering my spoiler phobia. As well as 2011 turning out to be an awesome year of offering. At this moment I'm caught up on the following along with short thoughts, in order of preference:

1) 49 Days (Kdrama)- Argh, I'm late on the bandwagon, but this drama is picking it up and burning on fiiiyah! I was ready to drop it after the first episode if it weren't for the blogospheres gushings and drama frenzy. Now that I'm at ep 12, I really can't wait to see how the fantasy-mystery-revenge plot will unfold.

2) Drunken to Love You (TWdrama)- It's been slowing down as of late. OTP is awesome, but the others aren't so much. Avril and the wooden acting that is Ricki are eating too much OTP time. More cute, less angst!!

3) Best Love (Kdrama)- Ah, I haven't watched a currently airing kdrama in so long. Matter of fact, since You're Beautiful, so yeah it's another Hong Sisters drama. Unfortunately, this one and I just don't connect. I like Ae Jung just fine, but Dokko Jin is so annoying and deranged. I am trying to really see the appeal but I'm drawing a blank. My laughs per episode ratio is also very low as compared to other Hong Sisters dramas, hmmmm... watching it for the sake of watching it at the moment.

4) Tokyo Dogs (Jdorama)- Yeah, I'm only watching this because of Oguri Shun. He's certified as the best looking man in a suit EVER. So perfect *drools* And that ending credit showcase of him, clean-cut in a suit, posing in the rain, yeah huh I totally watch and rewind that in its entirety.

Then I have my list of to finish from Christmas. I'm just not feeling a lot of them so they are in the backburner. I may just end up watching more Shun dramas...
-I'm Sorry, I Love You
-What's Up Fox?
-Secret Garden
-Joseon X Files
-Last Scandal of My Life
-Nobuta wo Produce

Boys Over Flowers

Lately I've been having this urge to watch Boys Over Flowers again. I know, I suspect this to be one of the first signs of the apocalypse too. I'm going to blame it on the serious drama withdrawal I'm going through. To be honest though, I wouldn't mind re-watching BOF... but only the parts with LMH in it. Plus I do love the original story despite its anti-feministic core. Ahhh... must...need....drama...crack.... *breaks into a cold sweat*

Curious dreams

I had one of those dreams where I try my darn hardest to keep it going. No, I'm not refering to that darn film Inception. I'd fruitlessly burrow my head into my blanket despite knowing that my efforts would only end up my being late for school. But it was one of those dreams that bubbles with hope for a deeper meaning behind it, that at the end of the dream there will be nirvana, a pot of gold, that if I can only keep dreaming I'll have it all figured out and everything will fall into its place...... Yep, I dreamed about Yoo Ah-in and Song Joong Ki. It's this drama addict's equivalent to nirvana.

Watched Dramas

Dramas Watched Since 2008

• Coffee Prince (Korea) This is The One
• My Name is Kim Sam Soon (Korea) Honestly, I did not get the hype. I later learn to love Kim Sun Ah, but probably due to my incessant watching of Bridget Jones this was just a filler.
• Goong (Korea) Loved it til the ending, which induced a lot of head scratching.
• Boys Over Flowers (Korea) Cracktastic! But also only fun to watch when the whole internet world is watching with you.
• 9 Ends 2 Outs (Korea) I loved Nan Hee but I loved her even more when she was interacting with Hyung Tae.
• Rosy Business (Hong Kong) This drama rekindled my faith in TVB.
• Flowers For My Life (Korea) One of my all-time favourites.
• A Bride for the Ride (Hong Kong) Typical TVB shenanigans.
• My Girl (Korea) Hmmm.... the ending.... but the chemistry was off the charts.
• You're Beautiful (Korea) Soooooo addictive.
• Full House (Korea) Such a BIG waste of time. Thank goodness for the invention of the fast-forward button.
• Bad Family (Korea) Soooooo precious. Where's my righteous gangster uncle?
• City Hall (Korea) The OTP dance segment during the pageant had so much spark flying I thought my computer monitor would catch fire.
• Soulmate (Korea) This was deliciously perfect. And the soundtrack, though I felt sometimes repetitive was awesomesauce.
• The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry (Korea) Dajung, Shinyoung and Buki had such an enviable fantastical friendship.
• Black and White (Taiwan) More, please?
• GTO (Japan) Excuse me while I fill out my teacher's ed application.
• Nodame Cantabile (Japan) Another moving effort from Jdorama-land.
• Dal Ja's Spring (Korea) Kang Tae Bong! Be still my heart. Dal Ja is also my favourite female character ever.... well, tied with Bridget Jones.
• My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (Korea) Too cute to be real or mythical.
• Hana Kimi (Taiwan) If Full House was a BIG waste of time, this was an EPIC vortex to oblivion of no return for my precious viewing time.
• Sungkyunkwan Scandal (Korea) Everything was fine until the ending. But since I watched this following Hana Kimi's blood-spitting non-ending, this ending didn't seem that bad in comparison. Also the first drama in which I experienced heart-wrenching symptoms of second-lead syndrome. Why so moony Moon Jae Shin?
• Hana Yori Dango (Japan) Oguri Shun embodies tall, dark, handsome, mysterious, broody, smexy, and what fantasies are made of. For once in my history with the HYD story I was a Rui-Tsukushi shipper because Oguri Shun was sooooo believable as the better man... or was I simply projecting?
• I'm Sorry I Love You (Korea) Meh... it's alright.
• 49 Days (Korea) This one kept me on my toes from second episode to finishe (the 1st episode bored me to tears...) I also love the ending. Perhaps one of a handful of dramas to not mess up the ending. It didn't feel particularly rush yet it was able to tie up everything in a nice bow. Very good.
• Vampire Prosecutor (Korea) Smexy, smart, slick, with a heaping spoonful of fun and brilliance. Seriously, this is the stuff. Also, my vote for best drama of 2011.
• Flower Boy Ramyun Shop (Korea) This one was burning hot for the start, but then it kind of lulled in the middle, and then came back full throttle. The finale is probably one of the best I've ever seen. So neat and not overly saccharine, nor over-packaged, but just right. Plunger princess FTW!
• Dream High (Korea) This is the worst, the worst stuff to get involved with. It's drama crack, very potent stuff. It gets you addicted, it gets you dehydrated with all the angst, it gets you all cheery and active while trying to mimic the dance moves and giddy throughout your daily life. In essence, you end up binging on junk food while trying to marathon the thing because shits about to get real at school, but this is crack and you're madly addicted to it, so rather than choosing to sensibly revisit the drama at another more convenient time you've holed yourself up in your cell and cry your heart out for these characters (well...mostly for Song Sam Dong).... it's the worst. And Kim Soo Hyun is the best <3
• Shut Up Flower Boy Band (Korea): Probably my favourite drama of 2012....hard to say for sure, but it was definitely jjang! Portrayed growing pains very well.
• Hero (Korea): Okay, scratch that comment above.... this may be my favourite drama of 2012....I think.... the only thing I didn't like about Shut Up was the main actress...but when there's bromance who cares about romance, haha. If The Dark Knight was a drama, this would be it. 
• Queen In-Hyun's Man (Korea): Okay... so 2012 is probably MY drama year. Another stellar drama. Seriously most likely the most romantic thing ever. The One True Pairing to end all OTP. Though I must say the male counterpart contributed more to make this relationship go further than the usual bickering couple. Yoo In-na brought the cute, but Ji Hyun-woo brought perfection to the table like nobody's business. Though Kang Tae-bong will forever be the awesomest awesome loverboy in my heart, Kim Boong-do will hold a special place in my heart as the natural-born player who had the most game =)
• Sunao Ni Narenakute (Japan): Everybody loves Nakaji, and I'm no exception =) Eita+Juri couple are forever enshrined as one of my favourite pairing. They were so natural and made me want them to be a real couple. 
• Answer Me 1997 (Korea): All the best parts were in 1997. That confession scene broke my heart. Shi-won is like my inner fangirl.
• Vampire Prosecutor 2 (Korea): A palpable lack of our Tae-yeon in this second instalment made  me feel detached from the episodes, which were good but could have been great if our prosecutor was more involved. In addition to that, WHY DID JUNG-IN & TAE-YEON'S LOVELINE JUMP OFF THE RADAR FOR MOST OF THE SHOW? Even if Jung-in's acting sometimes annoyed me, this lack of chemistry is not acceptable. All in all, not as good as the first one, but a fine entry in itself. Will probably stick around for the 3rd season just because there's so many loose ends that need to be tied and I still like this Scooby Gang to bits. 
• White Christmas (Korea): Hmmmmm.... never a dull moment this one. Definitely had me on pins and needles from the get-go. An excellent drama.
• Nice Guy (Korea): So satisfying and addictive. Initially I was scared about the melodrama-ness, but it never became too overbearing. Am so in love with Song Joong-ki. 
• School 2013 (Korea): Bromance 4evaaaaa!
• Inbound Troubles (Hong Kong): Best TVB drama in a long time. For once it's not entirely focused on the money or the girl but straight up bromance and friendship.
• I Can Hear Your Voice (Korea): Current 1st place for best drama of 2013. Also #1 mum in all of kdramaland EVER. Seriously, my heart breaks just thinking about her. For once we don't have a Candy heroine, but someone who could exist in real life and bare grudges but remain human. I have So Much love for this drama and the message it sends.
• Buzzer Beat (Japan): That opening sequence....and basically every other episode is a fangirl service bar come true. Really summery & enjoyable.
• Two Weeks (Korea): After I Can Hear Your Voice I totally wasn't ready for more thriller but at the same time I was kind of on a thriller junkie chase (pun not intended). And boy was this one helluva ride. 
• Master's Sun (Korea): This one took a bit to warm up to, but the OTP was there from the get go. Lost a bit of momentum near the end, but still enjoyable. I was on 2nd lead ship from day 1....or maybe I just have a ton of love for Seo In-guk still from his previous awesome 1997 role. 
• Heirs (Korea): Giant snooze fest.... Only for Woobie <3

Swearing off TWdramas for a long while....

Because of the mental anguish caused by the non-ending that was Hana Kimi (Taiwan). I can forgive illogical story-telling, bad acting, recycled devices, excessive flashbacking and a lot more cringe-inducing things. But a non-ending... you slayed me drama. I was even overlooking the self-righteous gay bashing because you would think you were justifying the hate by having an 'important' gay supporting character to act as typically gay as possible. BUT A NON-ENDING????!!! I thought I was going to spit blood when it became clear that was your grand finale. Not only did you waste so much time to build up the moment of truth where Ella's character was supposed to come clean to Wu Chun's character, you also patted yourself on the back by having Ella spew words of wisdom on how honesty is the best policy, and then two seconds later the non-ending happens. Not only does she not confess, neither does he, the lie continues, more lies are added, misunderstandings continue for other characters, and most importantingly the audience is wronged!!!! I certainly hope this was not some half-ass attempt at making piquing interest for a sequel because there will be blood if that was. And 7 years later there is still no sequel so I will have to come to the conclusion that that was the ending. TWdramas have wronged me for the last time....or at least until Black and White 2 comes out because in the mean time, I'm sticking to Kdramas and Jdoramas.

Confessions of a Fangirl

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!! Confession time. When I was a wee young lass in high school, I was positively hooked onto Parfait Tic! It was the air I breathed, the dreams I dreamt, the thoughts I pondered, Parfait Tic was carved in my heart of hearts. I even doodled the story onto the margin of my class notes. What can I say? I was a lovesick fangirl. Of course, that's all in the past and unfortunately only lasted up to volume 8...after which I was terrorized to bits and pieces by the out of control storyline which just wouldn't freakin' let up. But alas, I had to go on hiatus with the story since the scanlations were not coming out fast enough.... then fast forward four years later and now the complete 22 volumes sit on my shelf. I trudged through the rest of the story with a heavy heart, but I had to know who Fuuko would end up with. Daiya Foreva!!!

Okay, so now that I discovered they are currently airing a TWdrama based on the story called Love Buffet. Well, yours truly's hopes and dreams were simultaneously fulfilled and shattered. Confession Part 2. I had wished and wished that there would be a drama based on the story and I would one day star in said fabulous drama based on the story (up to volume 8 only!) and be in the arms of the wonderful Daiya and we would live happily ever after. A girl can fantasize, right? Right? But now.... a TWdrama...an idol cast.... oh the humanity!!!! I know the story isn't exactly intense drama material, but judging from my current viewing of Hana Kimi (TW), I don't think justice will be done for those precious 8 volumes of mine by this live action drama. Those 8 volumes captured the emotional turmoil of a girl in a one-sided love, her transition and her full recovery so well.... Yeah, that was my heart talking. *Sigh* but the potential was there and so was the love.

Holiday Drama Watching

For me, it seems there is never enough time to watch dramas. SERIOUSLY. It's been 2 weeks into my 4 weeks holiday-- my last long school break holiday ever, that is-- I've only been able to finish 1 drama. I started a whole bunch at the start of my break too, with the assumption that if I watch a whole bunch at once I'll be able to finish that whole bunch. High hopes indeed... Why are the holidays so short? On the other hand, I know I have no right to complain since 4 weeks equals 1 month and that's like 1/12th of a year. I know, I know, I must have been super good this year to get such an awesome Christmas gift. But I wish there were more hours in a day. So does that mean that I'll get even less hours of sleep now that I have to cram my drama watching. Ahhhh...the life of a drama addict is not so simple to manage.

Currently, I'm trying to cram in Hana Kimi (Taiwan) with lots of fast forwarding. Taiwanese dramas aggravate me to no end. The over-acting drives me up the wall and the illogical narration and the reuse of the same stock characters. As of this moment, I too am asking myself why do I even bother? All I ever end up doing while watching is complain and fast forward and be bored to tears. Thank goodness, I usually have the sense to drop and move on with other dramas. I always try to convince myself to keep an open-mind, that's why. The one exception and drama that slightly changed my idea of TWdrama was Black and White. And that's the power of an excellent drama.

It's really too bad there aren't enough action dramas in the TWdrama landscape. Though it's totally understandable from a financial perspective. Action costs more, while romcom is a guaranteed viewership magnet.... but variety is always welcomed TWdrama production companies, just sayin'. Eye candy can only get one so far. Not that I'm complaining about reducing the quantity or anything of the sort. *proudly waves fangirl flag* So in short, in the new year I wish for more time, more quality drama and even more eye candy.