No cokes January - Week 4

This was the last week and it was victorious - if only for that flipping orange Fanta last week I would have been golden. Sigh. I will say that I no longer want cokes and tomorrow I plan to buy a pack of Diet Coke so I don't try to revert  back to my old ways. 'Diet is bad for you." Hush up, fools. Drinking a pack of regular cokes a week is bad for you. Diet might not be much better but it is an improvement. And that is all. One resolution complete!

Snow Patrol - The Lightning Strike

I just recently came across this song and I LOVE IT. The piano melody really gets stuck in your head!! Enjoy.

What if this storm ends?
And I don't see you
As you are now
Ever again

The perfect halo
Of gold hair and lightning
Sets you off against
The planet's last dance

Just for a minute
The silver forked sky
Lit you up like a star
That I will follow

Now it's found us
Like I have found you
I don't want to run
Just overwhelm me

What if this storm ends?
And leaves us nothing
Except a memory
A distant echo

I want pinned down
I want unsettled
Rattle cage after cage
Until my blood boils

I want to see you
As you are now
Every single day
That I am living

Painted in flames
All peeling thunder
Be the lightning in me
That strikes relentless

Read more: SNOW PATROL - THE LIGHTNING STRIKE LYRICS http://www.metrolyrics.com/the-lightning-strikei-lyrics-snow-patrol.html#ixzz1mBe5jZPt
Copied from MetroLyrics.com

2 Stories a Day

This video, which I found on LiveLeak.com shows the construction of a pre-fab, 30 story building in the Chinese province of Hunan being constructed in 15 days. That's right - half a month. For 30 stories. As a member of the construction world, of course it is intriguing, but! How is that possible? What's the catch?

After watching the video and reading a few articles (like this and this), it's pretty clear that there is no 'catch:' the structure itself took 15 days to construct. Sitework, foundation, and pre-fabrication (which probably took FOREVER) are not in this timespan. It's still pretty neat to see though. I am interested in knowing the manpower that was able to complete this on time...

No cokes January - Week 3

Big Fail. I went to Family Dollar today and say this fantastic glass orange soda bottle that looked curiously like a lava lamp and had to have it - it was all about the bottle. After I opened it and took a swig in my truck, I knew I had taken a bite of the forbidden fruit....instant deflate. (Good?) news was it tasted like a mouthful of sugar and I no longer wanted or drank after that first gulp. So only small fail.

Quote 28: Roosevelt

“The single most important ingredient to success is the ability to deal with people.”

-Theodore Roosevelt

No cokes January - Week 2

Once again, no problems. I drink a bunch of tea now though....I've never really liked water so I've traded tea and tried to stick with unsweet for good measure. I will say, every once in a while I get a pang - "I really want a Dr. Pepper..." Mainly though, it hasn't been bad at all, only somewhat inconvenient. God forbid I think about what I eat and drink ;)

Manga: Annarasumanara

Alternative Name:안나라수마나라 (Korean)

Genre(s):Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, School Life

Author(s):Ha Il Kwon

Summary:

A rumor goes around school about an abandoned amusement park and a magician who lives there that can make someone disappear for good. Yoon Ai, a very smart girl in her class, struggles to feed herself and her sister everyday. She just wants to become an adult faster so that she c...

A rumor goes around school about an abandoned amusement park and a magician who lives there that can make someone disappear for good. Yoon Ai, a very smart girl in her class, struggles to feed herself and her sister everyday. She just wants to become an adult faster so that she can escape from the poverty and the reality of her current situation. One day, her life changes as she meets a childish magician.

Review:

Why am I so drawn to stories like this - stories that at first glace (and second glance for that matter) are terribly dismal? It took quite a ways into this manga to understand where the author was trying to steer the reader. It was a great journey nonetheless. I especially like the graphics - everything is so sharp and intense! The artist has the ability in this medium to express emotion like music: soft and loud emotions, tragic and uplifting moments. Although I am not completely content with the ending, I LOVE the theme and overall message: the uniqueness of self and being true to that regardless of the pressures the world might pose upon us. I highly recommend this manga. Art and content are top notch.

It breaks my heart that even after three years Ai was not able to see the magician again! I like to think that he has been receiving all of her letters and will one day show up. She admits that she is now living as a 'boring' adult but she continues to practice magic at one of her part-time jobs. She has not fully given up on following her own path. I think this is the case for many of us as well; we have desires and dreams but we have no idea how we can incorporate them into the world we live in. Are we not all the same?

Favorite line:

"How must you live to say you're living well?"

Rating: 5/5

"Liar, liar" by A Fine Frenzy

 

Liar, liar
You're such a great big liar
With the tallest tales that I have ever heard
Fire, fire
You set my soul on fire
Laughing in the corner as it burns
Right between the ribs is sinking in

Oh, the sirens sing so sweet and watched the sailors go down
Oh, oh, you talk to me in siren song
Yeah, anyone would drown
Anyone would drown

Sick and tired of this mad desire
Fluttering aside me like a hawk
Wire wire
Got my hands on wires
Will heaven help you when I get them out?

Right between the ribs
You'll feel it then

The sirens sang so sweet and watched the sailors go down
Oh, oh, you talk to me in siren song
Yeah, anyone would drown
Anyone would drown

All the ships go down
Following the sound
All the ships go down

Oh oh the siren sang so sweet and watched the sailors go down
Oh oh oh, you talk to me in siren song
Yeah, anyone would drown

No cokes January - Week 1

I did excellent this week!! Not even a glimmer of wavering from my 30 day goal of no cokes - btw, in Texas, all carbonated drinks can be denoted as 'coke.' Really. Wish me luck the rest of the month!

Personal Preference (Korean Drama)

Also known as 개인의 취향 / Kaeinui Chwihyang / Gae In's Taste / Personal Taste / Gaeinui Chwihyang / 个人趣向

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Category: Korean Drama

Film Date: March, 2010

Episodes: 16

Synopsis

Jeon Jin Ho is pretending to be gay in order to gain access to a mysterious mansion that was built by a famous architect Mr.Park. His daughter, Park Kae In would never accept him as a renter so he pretended to be gay.His hobbies include organization and ironing, and he’s known for his stoic poker face. He’s a stickler for cleanliness, but he also has a talent for figuring out women’s feelings. Kae In is very trusting even though she has a habit of being betrayed. However that doesn't stop her from giving people the benefit of doubt and Jin Ho is no different. How will Kae In react when she finds out that her gay roommate is not actually gay at all and that he has fallen for her?


Review
This is my first Korean drama, and I think I picked a winner. I'm pretty clueless when it comes to Korean culture, etc., but I found this series refreshing. The characters are also really dynamic and the story line is entertaining. Gae In is an interesting lead role, and although I don't really like that type of personality usually, it went well with this plot. Reminds me a little of Nodame Cantible anime. I also loved the house that Gae In's father built...I would love to live in a place that amazing - especially the table at floor level. You just have to see it.

 Rating: 4/5

 

Quote 27: Frost