objects of my obsession

"Boys Before Flowers" aka "Boys Over Flowers"



Visual of the day:
Photo found on the web of the cast from the super popular Korean drama aired in early 2009. I selected this particular picture because it combined two photos of the group in a tasteful romantic, antique like way.

Reflection of the day:
Even though I jumped onto the bandwagon a little late, in November of this year, I still thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the eye candies I've heard much about. You may want to learn more about the story and cast via Wikipedia.

I don't think the ending was great and like most Korean drama, there's a lot of back of forth struggles with who gets the girl/guy. The acting is pretty decent to get your heart throbbing for the characters: Jun Pyo (curly hair), Ji Hoo (baby face), and Yi Jeong (golden hair).

This has sparked my revival for K-drama and since I couldn't get enough, I've created a playlist for myself on YouTube below. 

side note: I'm glad Annie, at work, pushed me to watch it and I feel bad for influencing Viv, Ada and Kimberly to join in for sleepless nights. A big hug to my BB for his patience when I take over his laptop to watch it.

Enjoy!

BBF/BOF OST #1

BBF/BOF OST #2

got heart?

Anthony Santella

Visual of the day:

A wooden figure of a man with his chest carved out so you can see his heart. The physical figure is very smooth and detailed. Besides the natural wood on the sculpture, his heart is painted in a dark crimson red and Santella added a pair of glasses....does that add smart?

Reflection of the day:

I really like Santella thought of how his art and other arts create a platform for people to relate and have a story. This is how most of my entries have come about; the mood and feelings surfacing from these images.

He is a very diverse artist and this piece in particular really resonated with me at the moment. The sculpture's head is down as a sign of feeling defeated or disappointed and arms crossed like he is not comfortable or insecure. But his chest is carved out and open for all to see his heart. People can be read or interpreted often from their appearance but it takes much more time to discover their heart, feelings or true intentions.

We live in a world where nothings is perfect besides God,...see how He has worked miraculously in me?....so it can be difficult to trust others when you've learned how evil and dark people can be. One can decide to play along to the "game" and respond in the same way to act out as revenge, but I've learned that this will give you temporary relief of justice because at the end, no one truly wins, so why put yourself in the guilt? Just be a bigger person to dismiss and ignore the wrongdoings.

Probably wondering where this leads to or where it stemmed from. I am a bit nervous about a event this weekend that will bring together people I don't want to see. Funny how small the city is and how friends can be connected to people in your past you want kept there. I'm not as naive and stupid like I was 10+ years ago so I really want to put it behind me but I'm not sure what the outcome will be when being face to face with this person....*palm is sweating from thought.

I remind myself that none of that matters because in the bigger picture, I'm confident of who I am now and what I want and don't care for. I'm not afraid for others to see my heart and unlike the above sculpture, I will keep my head up proud to know I'm a good person and have nothing to fear.

On the brighter side, I want to send out another THANK YOU to all those who supported me for the "Relay for Life" 24 hours walk taking place this weekend. I've raised almost $1,800 to date and so grateful I have so many supportive friends and family around me.

beautiful w/o water

St. Jude's Creations

Visual of the day:
Beautiful paper flowers made by hand. I love the variety of colors mother nature doesn't usually create. The detail and materials used are so unique it look almost real, right?

Reflection of the day:
I stumbled onto this while looking for images of dahlia and frech tulip (two of my other favorite flowers beside peony). I've always enjoyed being crafty. I recall being young and studying the lines and colors or coming up with methods on how to re-create the same piece of art.

In the past, I've done a few fun projects just for friends and realized I'm pretty good, without any formal studies or lessons, in making things. I've created floral bouquets a few times and also made feather masks and considered turning the talent into a real business but it is hard to be serious about something like that without capital and a real business plan.

Who knows.....this has inspired me to be curious and learn more about paper flowers. Maybe I too can make a business out of it and work from home. ;)

happy one year, BB!

Poster of The Equation of Love and Death

SFIAAFF '09 Showing: Camera Cinema, 3/21/09 @ 2 pm

photo credit to Steve Rhodes

Visual of the day:

This movie was one of the six movies Tony and I picked out from last year's SFIAAFF selection. Zhou Xun (also in The Message we saw this year) has a unique beauty along with a tough tomboy edge that I really like. In this movie, she was a cab driver constantly in thoughts about a long lost boyfriend she is determined to find. There are suspenseful scenes when she was kidnapped by two frantic, lost passengers in trouble. At the end, she has an epiphany about her purpose in life.

Reflection of the day:

Some of you have been unfortunate enough to have experienced my death grip while I'm watching a suspenseful and scary movie. This movie had a bit of it, and since my company was this sweet gentle guy willing to cater to my every need, he rested his arm close by for my convenience. *wonder where he picked this up from?

Perhaps it was also due to the plot of this movie that motivated me to stop searching and take a hold of him. The defining moment Tony likes to tell others of how I came onto him. =P
I'm comforted to know that the action I took that day has never allowed me look back with regret because I'm as happy as can be.

To commemorate the joyous occasion, we decided to catch a few more movies from this year's SFIAAFF at Camera Cinema in San Jose. One South Indian movie we both enjoyed that brought us back to our love of food is Cooking with Stella. Too bad the festival has ended but we're looking forward to continuing the tradition next year.

*funny how we didn't take any pictures yesterday, but hope the photographer who captured our "natural" moments at the theater will send to me soon.

photo credit: Jennifer Yin

in another time

One of the treasures from King Tut's tomb - Small Statue Shrine (1322 B.C.) 

Visual of the day:

I had the experience of visiting the De Young Museum a few weeks ago for the Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs special exhibit that ends this month. Most of the 130 displayed artifacts were pretty amazing. It is just very shocking to learn the detail of work that was possible with the type of technology they had three thousand years ago.

This example of the Small Statue Shrine that was found in King Tut's tomb shows the culture, language, style, and story of this young pharoah. The small shrine, no bigger than a tiny shoebox, has movable doors that opens up to a stand for a missing statue that was probably a replica of King Tut. Surrounding this shrine are different images of King Tut with his wife, Ankhesenamun, who is also believed to be his half sister from their father, Akhenaten.

Reflection of the day:

It seems the couple had a good relationship even though they had two stillborn daughters, who were found buried with King Tut. He died before they had any living heir at the tender age of nineteen. I wonder how long they were married and how difficult it was for her to have to marry his successor after his death? Was it possible to have loved her half brother romantically or was it her duty and lack of power to be forced to accept this position?

I'm just glad I don't have to live in those times and we're much more "evolved" and have rights to make our own decisions. We take those basic needs of freedom and rights to speak and act for granted most of the time.

*Many thanks to Tony for keeping me company as we stood in line for 2 hours at 8 am on Saturday for the free tickets that weekend. To Kat for keeping me company during the visit. And Anita for letting me "stand with her" in line.

good enough

Lori Gottlieb

VIDEO 1

VIDEO 2

Visual of the day:

Large, bold, commanding, or questionable words that makes most women stop for a moment to consider while the possibility of the life with this person flashes before their eyes.

From Katie's blog on Friday, 10/24/08 7:39 pm

Relationships are never easy and I am talking about the kind with a special someone. I've had my share of them with: the right person, but wrong time; wrong person, waste of time; good person, tried many times......at the end, nothing has worked out yet.

I've been surrounded with friends recently who are still in search but for the most part, we try not to worry about it and just enjoy life with each other. At this age, we know what we want and there is no need to waste time.....life is short. It is either you are all in or not, simple as that.

I don't believe in just one chance but I do believe that when you know what you want, try to take a hold of it. Take the time to know who you are and what you want before you get involved and lose what you could of had. Think clearly about it but don't take so long that the hesitation can be the mislead answer.

Ever heard that "love is just not enough". There are so many different elements to making a relationship work. All relationships have their ups and downs. If it causes you to change into someone you don't want to be, then it is just not right.

It's never easy separating our heart from our mind. At the end of the day, the experience will make us stronger.


Reflection of the day:
My cousin sent me a link to an article about Lori Gottlieb's book and I totally agree and was excited to share with some girlfriends. Bottom line is -- No one is perfect, including yourself (yes, I'm talking to you).

With the media including movies, TV, magazines, books and online horoscopes (korean dramas for me) telling you what makes a perfect someone for you, it is no wonder why our expectations are so unrealistic. Like Lori said in the videos, it is not to settle for things that are important to you (with age, you know what those are), but to really look beyond minor glitches here and there and see the "diamond in the rough".

My good friend gave me a hilarious analogy: A man is like a pair of shoes you get so happy about when first purchased. When things don't work out, it is like stepping on poo. You try to make it work by cleaning it off but sometimes without success. By then,  it is easier to just throw out the unsalvagable pair of shoes and find a new more fitting pair.

To those in great relationships, make time for each other to fall in love over and over again.
To those looking or happily single, don't pass up on a good catch so go out, enjoy and see what happens....it hits you when you least expect it, right?

not a minority in SF

Jiha Moon

Visual of the day:

The title of the piece is called "Lichtenstein's Peach". I think a few of us would immediately recognize the MSN butterflies incorporated with Roy Lichtenstein's Girl with Ball. The Asian peaches, for longevity, with the curling waves make this very East meets West incorporated with mute, gray blocks in the background.

Reflection of the day:
I get very drawn to pieces that have that mixture of two very different styles from Eastern and Western arts. Being a Chinese-American myself, I can relate very well to the assimilation I have with the diversity from both cultures.

With Chinese New Year right around the corner now, I've done most of the cleaning and just have minor details to put together like: red envelopes, taping up fortune decorations, buying gifts to visit friends and family. There are lots of small customary things and since I was brought up by parents who were very traditional, I've learned to teach Kalissa the same. I hope she continues to teach future generations but it seems difficult already with her obstacle to learn the language.

This is a very important holiday for my family just like Christmas and Thanksgiving is to others. We will feast together, exchange gifts of money and food, and make an effort to see those we don't normally have time to visit.

Mixed into this weekend is Valentine's and Presidents' Day. I don't like to fall into the overrated, commercialized day of love because merchants found a way to hike up prices for flowers and dinners with a push in card, candy and jewelry sales. There are enough occasions like anniversaries, birthdays, and Christmas to shower gifts. Not that it isn't nice to just recognize a special someone in your life but a mere card or dinner another night is sufficient for me. Kudos to the movie industry for making chick flicks during this season, so I can enjoy this with my estrogen filled companions.....girl power....I'm such a feminist.