What I Like

The other day I bought a book about habits. It's called ,"The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg. I have one more chapter to go and I've bee really impressed by what I've read. It turns out that habits can be made without thinking about them, they are very strong but also very fragile, they can keep us on the straight and narrow, or keep us from reaching our dreams. They can have ripple effects in our lives. The quest for one goal can lead to a domino effect that can cause a cascade of change. Awesome! Individuals have habits Companies have habits Societies have habits I would also add that families have habits as do small groups of people. Lately my habits have been gathering dust as I have neglected them, ignored them, and occasionally destroyed them. Of course I'm talking about my good habits. Bad habits can be neglected, and ignored, but they are never really destroyed. (That is very disheartening.) Anyway, I find myself exclaiming, "Argh!!!" very loudly and on a regular basis as I realize how far I am falling. This must not be allowed to continue. One of my problems is that I have too many goals. And some are too lofty. I am impatient and want results NOW! I am lazy. I don't really believe I can do xyz. I fear change. Crap! But it's time to turn all that around. These are my goals. I don't think there are too many (4). I don't think they are too hard. And I do think I can do them because I have before. 1- exercise every day 2- study the scriptures every day 3- make my bed very day 4- do something creative everyday That's it. Somebody please stop me if I start talking about adding to this list. It takes a long time for something to become a habit for me. Therefore, I will give myself six months of working on these things before considering adding any new goals.

Negligee Canada

Well it's been a long time. Yup, a long time. I've done stuff. Super Junior has done a ton of stuff. And the world spins on.

I have been stressed, damaged, and depressed. These topics are not fun to write about and so no blogging for me. By the way I'm still stressed (though I don't know why), and damaged (badly sprained ankle + neglect = an ankle that won't heel after 5 months), and depressed (I blame the ankle and anti-depressants that don't seem to work). But enough about me.

KPOP has been getting noticed in the States these days. And all I have to say is - w00t! w00t!

Korean girl groups seem to be leading the charge. The Wonder Girls had a movie on Teen Nick - check it out (it's pretty cheesy). And Girls' Generation were recently on The David Letterman Show and Live! With Kelly. They did a great job.

They burned up the stage on Letterman -

And then they rocked the house with Kelly (and Howie Mandel) -

I'm not typically a fan, but they were really awesome!

Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am has been working on the upcoming U.S. debut album for 2ne1. Hopefully, it will come out this year. But until then, here is my favorite song (which Dude-Man has mangled the lyrics for) - I Am the Best (Nae Ga Chaeil Challa Ga - or as he likes to say, "Negligee Canada")

Rock on KPOP girls!

Blow Your Mind - It's Mr. Simple

This video came out a few days ago but I've been so wrapped up in its awesomeness that I have neglected to blog about until today.

I am a woman of few words (ha!) and so I will let the video speak for itself -


Uploaded by SMTOWN

I don't really like that there is an intro video to the main music video. But I overlook it because I really, really like Mr. Simple. And they look  sooo gooood!

With the release of a new CD comes a flurry of activity to promote it. Here is the live performance of Mr. Simple on Music Bank from August 5, 2011. Watch it quick, before it is removed -


Uploaded by addynick

I think I like the live performance better than video.

Here is another song from the same show on the same night. It is called "Superman". It is unlike anything I've ever heard by Super Junior and I absolutely  LOVE  it! The rhythm and chanting are haunting -


Uploaded by CrazyKagon

I look forward to the day I can download that one from iTunes. But until then, I will be repeatedly pushing the replay button to hear it again and again.

Rock on Super Junior!

Mr. Simple

Tomorrow Super Junior's new CD comes out! In Korea. So hard to buy it when you are stuck in the good ol' USA. Of course you can buy it online but the shipping is so expensive and it takes a couple of weeks to get here. Bummer!

Fortunately it's available for download on iTunes. Hooray for iTunes! I'm rockin' out to the tunes as I write this. LOVE IT!

Here are few songs for your listening enjoyment -

Mr. Simple, the title track from the CD -





Be My Girl, my second favorite song -




Sunflower, an easy-listening song for old people like me (just kidding, I'm not old, you sillies!)



My sister-in-law recently asked me if it bothered me to listen to songs when I don't understand the words. I actually find it kind of refreshing to listen to music that has no swearing (that I know of) or anything suggestive (that I know of) in the lyrics. I mostly listen when I'm exercising and that tends to drive the words into my brain and I can't get them out of my head. This way I recognize a few words here and there and I don't worry about the words I don't know. Simple.

So, did you like the tunes? I hope you did. And if you did, then please buy them (and the rest of the album, because it's great) on iTunes. Thanks.

This Is SO Much BETTER!!!

I have had some trepidation about about Super Junior's new music video. I mean if they are going to dance in the clothes that they wore for the cover of the CD..... Or anything like those clothes..... I just can't wrap my mind around it.

But I shouldn't have worried. Today the teaser for their new CD came out and it is awesome -



Ooo la la! This is so much better. So much classier. So much more than I expected. I can't wait for August 4th when the actual video is released.

Good going guys!

Erm...

On August 3rd Super Junior is coming out with their 5th album. I am so excited. I think. The problem is their new look. Check it out for yourself -

The colors are WOW! And their clothes are erm..... Different? And why did they forget to dress Siwon? Why is Leeteuk wearing underwear and fishnets with cords wrapped around his chest? How come Ryeowook has feather boas trailing from his hands making him look like a cheerleader with deflated pompoms? Why does Eunhyuk look like Princess Red Riding Hood instead of the Dancing Machine that he is? These are my burning questions. Why? Why? Why?

Could someone PLEASE photoshop some pants for Siwon? My eyes! My eyes!

If At First You Don't Suceed...

Yesterday was belt testing for taekwondo. It was a pretty big day since five members of the family were testing. All of us at once. Exciting!

The general process of testing consists of the whole group reciting our school's motto and showing the basic forms. Then, we do our form, show our kicking techniques, do one-step sparring with a partner, and nun chucks. We take turns answering questions (all answers must be memorized) and, finally, we use different striking techniques to break one inch thick pine boards.

There were a few glitches along the way. Dude-Man was lost in thought when Master Kim told everyone to get into the kicking stance. The Boy forgot his form and had to redo it. When it came time to answer my questions the teacher asked me the wrong questions. Even though I started waving the ends of my belt to try to get him to realize that he was asking me the questions for the wrong color belt it was no use. I stumbled through the answers with him kindly helping me by basically reading the answers to me with me parroting the answers back to him. I looked him in the eye and could see the kindness and compassion oozing from him and I just wanted to shout, "You are asking me the wrong questions!" but I held my tongue and gathered my drifting thoughts and answer the final question perfectly. Go me!

Then it was time for the big finish - the breaking of the boards. Dude-Man neatly broke through his board with one strike using the Hammer Fist (striking the board with the side of his fist). Moli used the same technique and on her third try was successful. The Boy and Giggles used the Up & Down Kick to break their boards. The Boy got it in one try but Giggles had a harder time of it. In the end she was able to break her board.

As for me, I had to break the board using the Palm Strike. Things did not go well for me as you can see for yourself (Giggles is on the far end, I'm the one in the middle, and The Boy is on the near end)-






I hit that board FOURTEEN times! Argh!

And here's what I learned - when faced with a difficult situation you'd better give it your all every time, especially when you feel like giving up. Also, listen to those giving good advice and follow through.  And finally, sometimes you have to take a step back (in this case literally) and take everything you have learned and really go for it.