New Year's Resolutions - 2010

With just under 5 days left of 2009, it's time to look back and plan for tomorrow. Looking back I've come to realize that I didn't do much in the way of personal growth. If I had written a New Year's resolution, I would have failed it miserably, just as I had done the years before. That's why I've come to the conclusion that resolutions are too daunting. When you have something listed and you fail withing the first month, you feel like there's no point going forward anymore. If one's willpower is not strong enough, temptation will lead them from their desired paths.

Does that mean I'm not going to make any resolutions? Not at all. I'm jut not going to let myself be swayed no matter how hard. And if I do manage to stray, I'll put myself back on track!
Here it is, my 2010 New Year's Resolutions!

1. Loose 96lbs. (That's 8lbs/month or 2lbs/week).
2. Write (completely) 1 novel.
3. Finish 12 craft creations (one for each month).
4. Read 50 novels. (I almost did this in 2008).
5. Get B's or better in ALL my classes (there's only 8 of them).
   
6. Pass JLPT 4.
7. Attempt to take 1 nature shot each day.
8. Complete NaNoWriMo
9. Participate in ScriptFrenzy
   

Finals Can't Come Too Soon

It's almost finals week and I'm doing what every reasonable college student is doing: saving all my essays, studying, and panicking for the last possible minute. Ok, not really, but it sure feels like it some times. I have a test tomorrow for Philosophy. I'm hopping for a C grade, though I'm expecting a D. I really don't know why I can't seem to absorb the material--it isn't all that hard. It's like math and I like math. I'm good at math. But... I'm trying to study, honestly, but things just aren't... sticking.

Drama should be a breeze (a B at the lowest only because I couldn't attend a few out-of-class plays). Class was canceled this last week due to a power outage at the campus (We've all decided that it was probably my bad vibes seeing as how the power went off less than 30 seconds after I had entered the building...). I have a final group performance and a test, then I'm all done! One CMST class down, 7 to go.

As for anthropology... So far I have a C and I'm hopping it stays a C. I have a thesis I need to write, this week's posting, a quiz, a test, and the final. If I get a C on each of those, I've passed. Fingers crossed!

And if I don't pass? Well, it just makes me thing of this:

Dance like no one's watching,
Love like you've never been hurt,
Sing like nobody's listening
Work like you don't need money,
Live like it's the last day of your life.

- Father Alfred D. Souza

If I do utterly horrible this semester, I'm not going to let it hold me down. I'll dive right into the new year and kick butt next semester.

The poem, by the way, was used in the last episode of the Korean drama My Lovely Sam Soon ( 내 이름은 김삼순 )--which I finally managed to finish via that beast: Netflix. For those of you who would like to buy a legit version (and I don't see why you wouldn't want too. I know I want a copy!) you can pick it up over at Amazon.

On Christmas eve, Kim Sam Soon (Kim Sun Ah), a pâtissier, finds her boyfriend of 3 years cheating on her. She seeks solace in a bathroom stall unaware that it is the men's bathroom. Here she encounters the cocky and callous Hyun Jin Hun (Hyun Bin). Unfortunately, her pursuit of love and happiness result in the loss of her job and with a name like Sam Soon, she isn't having much luck finding a new one. Jin Hun is looking for a pastry chief for his restaurant, Bon Appetit, and Sam Soon is desperate enough to take the job and the strings attatched.

I'd have to say that this was one of the most hilarious drama's I've seen in quite a while. Kim Sam Soon is a charmingly funny and lovable character, often compared to Renee Zellweger's Bridget Jones. She's mouthy, naive, and a bit over weight (actress Kim Sun Ah gained 15lbs for this role). She's pushing 30 as a single woman which, as many know, is a social no-no in many cultures. But what makes her unique is her spunky no-nonsense attitude in the face of eternal loneliness (ok, it's not that bad, but some times...).

The budding romance between Sam Soon and Jin Hun is filled with laughter and comedy until the arrival of Jin Hun's missing ex, Yoo Hee Jin. From there it's a play of misunderstandings and undecisiveness (peppered, of course, with that very enjoyable laughter and comedy). Jin Hun and Hee Jin's romantic roles are very similar. Both must choose between their old/established love and a budding new romance. American-Korean actor/model Daniel Henney makes his first appearance as Dr. Henry Kim who, I have to admit, annoyed the hell out of me. His acting seemed stilted and fake, especially at the beginning. I'm so glad he improved by the end of the drama.