My mom does not understand why I have a fascination with all things Korean. (She does not read my blog and I'm OK with that.) She thinks that if I'm going to learn another language then it should be what my family in India speaks. She believes that I am some how being disloyal to my heritage by having such a fondness for Korean things. But Korea is CUTE! While India is fascinating and deeply moving. Korea is CLEAN and India is not. Korea has Super Junior and India does not. She really, really doesn't get why I prefer Super Junior to any popular singers in India. But maybe you will get it.
I've done a bit of looking around on youtube to see what I could find of great Indian music videos. I looked for the best singer -
I really didn't like that at all. In fact I could only watch/listen for about 30 seconds before I had to make it stop. Then in the spirit of giving it a fair chance, I watched the whole thing and it wasn't too bad. One thing that seems to be common among all Indian singing is that it's kind of twangy and I'm not into twangy.
Then I thought I'd look for the top hits. This is what I found and it is the best of the best -
For sheer pageantry it is really good and it's a great song. However, most Indian music videos come from their movies and while this is not a bad thing it does mean that the people that you see singing are not the real singers. It makes it hard to follow the artist if you never see his or her face. One would have to believe that in India you can either sing or act but you can't do both.
This is the most viewed Indian music video on youtube -
What a catchy tune! If you watched the entire video I will bet it is deeply embedded into your brain. And those dance moves? I can so do that! But I'm not sure I want to (well, maybe if I'm home alone). In fact this is such a catchy tune that Super Junior took notice and incorporated part of it in a performance. Here is the practice video but you have to wait for the end to hear part of Tunak Tunak Tun -
That was awesome! I especially love Sungmin's little pony tail on the top of his head. It's cute. He's cute. They are all cute. And the slow-mo cartwheel? Nice!
Here is one of Super Junior's less viewed videos -
All of them singing. All of them dancing. All of them awesome. How could I not like this?
Finally, this is Super Junior's most watched video (which has not has as many views as Tunak Tunak Tun, go figure) -
How could I not get swept away by that? The music is so good. The dancing is so awesome. Everything about it makes me want to get up and move. And it's the getting up and moving that has really changed my life for the better. And since my life has been changed for the better, then I must always feel grateful for the zest they have given to my life. Thanks guys! You are THE BEST!!!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Eat Some Kimchi and Call Me in the Morning
I have been battling a nasty cold for the last several days. By nasty cold I mean that my nose has become a snot spigot with my sinuses groaning in pain from the mucus over load and having sweating spells every two hours. And by battling this cold I mean that I have been prostate in my bed, smearing vick's menthol rub under my nose, blowing though a large box of Puff's Plus in 48 hours, and watching one and a half seasons of Psych.
Early in this battle I realized that I actually felt better when the snot could flow freely. And so to that end, I had some weird ideas of what would ease my symptoms -
1 Inhaling chopped onions. I did this as I put dinner into the crockpot before I allowed the cold to win. Several
healthy whiffs of the onions cleared out my sinuses for a good five minutes.
2 Participating in my tae kwon do class. Working up a really good sweat made me feel like a new person for
the duration of class. The buzz lasted until I drove out of the parking lot.
3 Putting Korean red pepper flakes in my hot chocolate. I was really onto something with this one. The
steaminess of the beverage coupled with the fieriness of the red pepper flakes made me feel better for at
least an hour. Note to self - use at least half a teaspoon of the red pepper to get the desired result.
4 Chicken tortilla soup from Rubios. This was a really good idea, better than plain old chicken noodle soup.
There was enough spice in the soup that it kept my sinuses from clogging up, it was nice and steamy, and
the chicken almost melted in my mouth (which is nice when your face feels like it has a drum beating
inside of it).
5 Drink plenty of fluids. At first, my fluid of choice was orange juice, but then I started to crave something
fizzy. Orange juice mixed with Perrier was OK but even better was lemonade, orange juice and Perrier
mixed together. I look forward to my next cold to enjoy that happy blend of tastiness.
6 Kimchi hot pot. This is absolutely better than all the above remedies. Steamy and spicy. Lots of flavor and
vitamins from the kimchi, a good dose of protein from the pork and the tofu, and the goodness of garlic
mellowed by slow simmering. Just smelling the stuff made me feel better -
So here's a big thank you to my family who has taken good care of me and especially to The Crafty One who accompanied me on my excursion to the Asian market to buy a bucket of kimchi and who ultimately made the delicious soup that has eased my pain.
Early in this battle I realized that I actually felt better when the snot could flow freely. And so to that end, I had some weird ideas of what would ease my symptoms -
1 Inhaling chopped onions. I did this as I put dinner into the crockpot before I allowed the cold to win. Several
healthy whiffs of the onions cleared out my sinuses for a good five minutes.
2 Participating in my tae kwon do class. Working up a really good sweat made me feel like a new person for
the duration of class. The buzz lasted until I drove out of the parking lot.
3 Putting Korean red pepper flakes in my hot chocolate. I was really onto something with this one. The
steaminess of the beverage coupled with the fieriness of the red pepper flakes made me feel better for at
least an hour. Note to self - use at least half a teaspoon of the red pepper to get the desired result.
4 Chicken tortilla soup from Rubios. This was a really good idea, better than plain old chicken noodle soup.
There was enough spice in the soup that it kept my sinuses from clogging up, it was nice and steamy, and
the chicken almost melted in my mouth (which is nice when your face feels like it has a drum beating
inside of it).
5 Drink plenty of fluids. At first, my fluid of choice was orange juice, but then I started to crave something
fizzy. Orange juice mixed with Perrier was OK but even better was lemonade, orange juice and Perrier
mixed together. I look forward to my next cold to enjoy that happy blend of tastiness.
6 Kimchi hot pot. This is absolutely better than all the above remedies. Steamy and spicy. Lots of flavor and
vitamins from the kimchi, a good dose of protein from the pork and the tofu, and the goodness of garlic
mellowed by slow simmering. Just smelling the stuff made me feel better -
So here's a big thank you to my family who has taken good care of me and especially to The Crafty One who accompanied me on my excursion to the Asian market to buy a bucket of kimchi and who ultimately made the delicious soup that has eased my pain.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Perfection Again
Today this video of my beloved boys finally showed up on YouTube. I've seen pictures for it but now that it's out I'm just lovin' these guys even more. It's Eunhyuk, Donghae, and Kyuhyun giving us a dance tutorial for Perfection. In just seven minutes they have taught me something, made me laugh, and revealed their cute personalities. Nice!
Uploaded by RaiBaka
And now that you have enjoyed their instruction, here's the music video. Ah, sweetness!
They so rock my world!
Uploaded by RaiBaka
And now that you have enjoyed their instruction, here's the music video. Ah, sweetness!
They so rock my world!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Mother's Day
Ah, Mother's Day. Did you have a good one? Was it all that you hoped for? Did you get nice gifts? Did you feel loved , honored, and cherished by those you love? Or maybe you felt guilty for not being all that you think you should be? Did it bring up feelings of conflict with the mother figures in your life? Maybe you are sad because your mother is no longer with you or because you have never been a mother yourself. How lucky we women are to have a day devoted to us that can make us feel so loved and crappy all at the same time. Thanks what's-her-name (Anna Jarvis - by the way, she later became a protester of what the day had become and she said that she, "...wished she would have never started the day because it became so out of control ...".)
In case you can't tell, I'm not a big fan of Mother's Day. And I think that's OK.
I noticed a really strange phenomenon this year. As I made purchases this weekend the checker would wish me happy Mother's Day. What the what? I don't know any of these people. What is the point of this kind of salutation? It's a sad day when it's only in a public setting that motherhood is acknowledged. On TV there are ads and shows that evoke maudlin emotions. Stores are filled with books and cards full of tender stories and
over-emotional sentiments. Gag me with a spoon!!!
For me, the very worst is at Church. Some years all the talks are about the glories of motherhood. Sometimes the talks are tributes to moms who are the best friends of their children. I am so happy for people who have warm, loving relationships with their mothers. Actually, I envy them. My relationship with my own mother is not close. Or warm. Or... We are always very cordial but we lack any real connection. Mother's Day serves as reminder of what I am missing. And I miss it a lot.
Then there are the talks about super awesome moms. Some do heroic things, others do small things in big ways, and still others are tireless workers, or generous to a fault, etc, etc, etc. I do not measure up. I am a perfectly acceptable, ordinary mom. And I'm OK with that. I see my faults and I try to do better. Except on Mother's Day. Some people lay on the praise so thick that I feel immobilized by it. A voice in my head shouts, "You are not like that! You are the opposite of that. You are a fraud!!!" I really hate that voice.
I wish that there were no talks in church about moms on Mother's Day. And that the Hallmark channel wouldn't have a tear-jerker movie. I wish that it was more personal. And more low key. And I wish my mom wouldn't call me later tonight to ask me what I got for mother's day.
The Boy wrote me a heartfelt poem. Moli gave me a package of Oreos (which I have been craving lately). Dude-Man and the kids gave me the game Just Dance. All of these things were great presents and I was happy to get them. But when Mom calls tonight there will be disappointment in her voice. It kills me every year.
Anyway, I think Mother's Day should be a day when kids try to be nicer to their moms. Maybe they could cook dinner or make breakfast. And mostly they should just tell their moms that they love them. Because all a mom really wants is to know that her family loves and appreciates what she does for them.
Check out Kyuhyun's tender message to his mom last Christmas. For those of you who don't want to watch the whole thing, it starts at about 1:04 give or take a second.
subs byprincekyuteam
What a sweet boy. Almost as sweet as mine.
In case you can't tell, I'm not a big fan of Mother's Day. And I think that's OK.
I noticed a really strange phenomenon this year. As I made purchases this weekend the checker would wish me happy Mother's Day. What the what? I don't know any of these people. What is the point of this kind of salutation? It's a sad day when it's only in a public setting that motherhood is acknowledged. On TV there are ads and shows that evoke maudlin emotions. Stores are filled with books and cards full of tender stories and
over-emotional sentiments. Gag me with a spoon!!!
For me, the very worst is at Church. Some years all the talks are about the glories of motherhood. Sometimes the talks are tributes to moms who are the best friends of their children. I am so happy for people who have warm, loving relationships with their mothers. Actually, I envy them. My relationship with my own mother is not close. Or warm. Or... We are always very cordial but we lack any real connection. Mother's Day serves as reminder of what I am missing. And I miss it a lot.
Then there are the talks about super awesome moms. Some do heroic things, others do small things in big ways, and still others are tireless workers, or generous to a fault, etc, etc, etc. I do not measure up. I am a perfectly acceptable, ordinary mom. And I'm OK with that. I see my faults and I try to do better. Except on Mother's Day. Some people lay on the praise so thick that I feel immobilized by it. A voice in my head shouts, "You are not like that! You are the opposite of that. You are a fraud!!!" I really hate that voice.
I wish that there were no talks in church about moms on Mother's Day. And that the Hallmark channel wouldn't have a tear-jerker movie. I wish that it was more personal. And more low key. And I wish my mom wouldn't call me later tonight to ask me what I got for mother's day.
The Boy wrote me a heartfelt poem. Moli gave me a package of Oreos (which I have been craving lately). Dude-Man and the kids gave me the game Just Dance. All of these things were great presents and I was happy to get them. But when Mom calls tonight there will be disappointment in her voice. It kills me every year.
Anyway, I think Mother's Day should be a day when kids try to be nicer to their moms. Maybe they could cook dinner or make breakfast. And mostly they should just tell their moms that they love them. Because all a mom really wants is to know that her family loves and appreciates what she does for them.
Check out Kyuhyun's tender message to his mom last Christmas. For those of you who don't want to watch the whole thing, it starts at about 1:04 give or take a second.
subs byprincekyuteam
What a sweet boy. Almost as sweet as mine.
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