And now begins summer break.

School has finally ended. It was a though couple of months; 5 classes is a bit hard to do when they're all on line. Trust me, it is NOT easier than going to an actual class. It's much, much harder! I think I did good in most of my classes so I'm hopping my GPA will jump up enough for me to stay in school (no, I still haven't dealt with those 4 F's. Yes, if they where gone I'd be perfectly fine.) I don't really feel as if I learned anything so I'm keeping my books for a while to go over a bit if time permits over the summer.

But with that, school is out! Time for summer "vacation" and summer reading. I've been neglecting my reading for so long it's going to be a hard getting back into the swing of things. I'd like to knock out 2 or 3 books a week (on top of the 6 mangas/week I want to do, too). Sounds impossible and I really doubt I'll manage, but it's good to have a goal!

Voilà, my reading/reviewing que for the week.

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.

Want to...

"I want someone to want me so much that if I disappear there will be a hole in their heart. If that is the only proof that a person is alive, then truthfully, how many people are alive right now?"

A quote from LOVE SHUFFLE, a Japanese drama, that I found rather moving. Whenever you feel like the world would be better without you, just remember that if you where to die, somebody would miss you (and it may not be whom you expect!)

A charming, funny, and moving little drama; LOVE SHUFFLE ran for only 10 episodes but had a wonderful cast. Karina, Matsuda Shota, and Tamaki Hiroshi to name a few. But what makes this series great is the complexity, the drama, the love. Some times it takes a little shaking-up to find what you're really searching for or what your heart truly craves.

Usami Kei is your typical middle class man. He's frustrated with his job, he's insecure with his love-life, and his fiance is on the verge of leaving him. Utterly dejected, Kei is heading home when a lighting storm knocks out the power to his building and leaves him locked in an elevator with 3 other people: Airu, Ojiro, and Masato. Soon the four form a neighb0rly bond and come up the "game" Love Shuffle in the hopes of straightening out their complicated love lives. The object of the game is to insure that the one they are with is their destiny. The catalyst? Swapping partners amongst each other (not always sexual). Some what slow and practicality at parts, emotional and fun at others; I would recommended this to any one who enjoys a romantic comedy that isn't soaked in drama but has enough to keep you interested.

The sound track was very 80's. Fantasy by Earth, Wind & Fire as the intro and Eternal Flame by The Bangles as an insert.

Rain at a Time Like Now

For the past several weeks the weather has been nice. Warm, sunny, and perhaps a bit summer-like at times. Well, that has all changed. Two days ago it started raining. Sheets of 45° water drenched the upper-north valley, soaking everything in it's path. It's ok, though. The rain cleaned the air of the smoke and smog and gave me the chance to take these shots. I just hope it doesn't get too cold, too soon...