K-dramas

I almost feel as though I should be blogging about my K-dramas. You see, I really have no one to discuss them with around me. There are a couple of people who are on Facebook but they don't really watch them like I do. I no longer watch American TV shows. So, my evening TV shows are either sports, music, or K-dramas. I usually watch the weekly shows - ones where I have to wait for the next episode but sometimes I don't have a show for that night so I go back and find completed episodes that could easily be binge-watched if I was totally alone (like I was in C'ville).  DramaFever collapsing was a huge blow - not only was it a storage of shows watched and to be watched but it was an accounting of what I had enjoyed. There are some dramas that just aren't available other legitimate places (not going to the malware sites) so I do have a couple of dramas that are on DVD that I could never watch in other outlets. I still need to connect my DVD player in this place. It's not the best - or the smoothest - but it allows me to watch shows that are not formatted for the U.S.

Favorite actors? Hyun Bin will always be at the top of my list but I enjoy many others in their works. Ones who never fail to deliver: Park Shi Hoo, Lee Min Ho, Lee Joon Gi, Lee Sang Yoon, So Ji Sub, Lee Jong Suk, Song Seung Heon, Song Joong Ki, Park Yoochun, Lee Seung Gi, Kim Soo Hyun, and Ji Chang Wook (just to name a few). And then there are music idols who are extremely talented in their acting like Kim Jaejoong, Jung Yong Hwa, Kang Minhyuk, Lee Jonghyun, Lee Jungshin, Ok Taecyeon, Yoon Doojoon, Lee Junho, Lee Joon, etc. Looks like Lee Jong Suk has a new one on Netflix - only three episodes listed for the series so far. Thankfully, Netflix has picked up some quality shows: Mr. Sunshine, Memories of the Alhambra, Black, etc., and dubbed them as Netflix originals. I'm glad that they are seeing the value of Korean dramas and movies now.

Hopefully, I am picking up a lot of Korean phrases as I watch. Once upon a lifetime ago, I wanted to be a Russian translator. I used to have a knack for languages but only seriously studied Spanish and Russian. I have been waitlisted for a Korean language class here but I need to also set aside daily time just to read, write, and study the language. I'm still unpacking, organizing, deciding what to hang on my walls, and now am in full holiday mode: worrying about presents, projects, and Christmas baking. I'm going to try to enlist Little Man #1 in baking some Christmas cookies sometime this next week. We've signed up for my apartment complex's movie theater for next Sunday to enjoy some Christmas movies with the family - hoping to enjoy our own "Christmas Party!".

Coming soon - a list of recommended K-dramas for the beginner! Ones to get you hooked!

Getting settled

Honestly, I've accomplished a lot since I've moved down here (thanks to my daughters and sons-in-law!) but there is still much to do!

I now have all of the furniture that I think that I will need. For once, I don't have books in any boxes - they are all on shelves! (or in my Kindle) That's a rather nice feeling. But what do I do with all of the family photos that I kept? Many are framed but I don't have enough space to display them all. Currently, I have two trunks and several totes full...

I have a small bookcase for the kiddos with games, books, and stuffed animals. My trains are kept in a box in the LR and I am creating a space for Little Miss #3 (which I think Little Miss #4 will be able to enjoy also). In addition to learning Korean, I'm learning how best to help Little Miss #3 and assist with helping her improve her vision (she has a diagnosis of CVI - cognitive visual impairment). I've placed a black mat for her on the floor and have ordered a black flannel board for the wall next to her.

In one of the low kitchen cabinets, I have children's cups, plates and utensils so that the littles can pick out their own items. There are also special place mats for them to use. I found a children's baking set to assist me in the kitchen (after all, sugar cookies are most fun to make with others!) with a smaller kid-sized rolling pin and we have accumulated over two dozen cookie cutters over the past few years! Eventually, we'll get aprons!

Thinking about it, my Grammie did one thing that I really appreciated when we were young: she took each of her grandbabies to the store and let us pick out our own toy to leave in a bin at her house. That way we would each have something special to play with while we were visiting. The rule was that we could also enjoy our cousins' toys when they weren't there but that we had to ask permission to share if they were there with us. This is something that I am considering doing but I know that there is currently something that each of the older kiddos enjoy playing with among my things so it isn't an immediate need.

My bedding set for the daybed is supposed to arrive today! I have a partial vision of what I would like to do with my office/guest room. First, I need to get my desk organized - then I need to find space for all of the photo albums and empty or move the trunks (they are too bulky in that room). I've been working on framing my K-pop posters so that I can decide what is going in there and what is going in my room.  I like having the bookcase in the closet.  It's large enough that there is still space for guests to hang their clothes.

This weekend I will start decorating for Christmas since we will be celebrating the first Sunday of Advent. (I still have never purchased an Advent wreath to my liking after all of these years - they were always too expensive). I found a very inexpensive small Christmas tree - I'll spend more for a train set if I find one that I like! I kept just a few ornaments but I imagine that they will be enough to fill the tree. I think that my stockings can be hung off the end of my counter - or on the sideboard.

Time to get cleaned up for the day! AMDG!

Another Grand Adventure

Another Grand Adventure

     Every time we moved when the girls were little, I always told them that we were off on a new adventure. It was easy to fit into a new community when you have children in school. That automatically plugs you into the schools, church, library, etc.  Moving by oneself is a much more difficult task. I have the DAR, PEO, and church community but I am no longer plugged into anything. I don't have to be brave for someone else and it has always been difficult for me to be brave on my own. 

     

     I spent some time checking out apartments in North Carolina and discovered a few communities that I think would suit me. Floor plan is important (I want my furniture to fit!), I truly would like a pool if I am going to be in a complex (although fire pits are the best!), and an exercise room with a treadmill would be something I can see myself doing. And, yes, I am greatly affected by people in the front office/clubhouse. (I ruled out three places by deficiencies in these areas immediately). Of course, my favorites actually take me farther away from the parish that I would like to join so I will have to weigh whether or not that's important. I could just go to the same parish as my family (despite how off-putting I find it to be). It's still nice to be with family, right?

     Thinking ahead to second jobs, checking out online tutoring companies. With a move up-and-coming, that is definitely something that won't be effected by change in location. Working in retail sales for a chain is also a consideration - again, it's possible to retain a position while changing states. Maybe a bit of both? Re-packing some things this week and making use of having my car until it has to be turned in next weekend. Taking care of business and looking forward to the arrival of our new little one next month! 

     I'll try to be brave for my grandbabies. After all, it is another grand adventure! 

One More Time

I'm watching a mini-Kdrama (only 8 episodes) that isn't quite like Groundhog Day (even though it's promoted as such). In addition to the repetition of the same day for one character, we get to see the background/history of both him and his girlfriend and understand why he is repeating the same day. It's all bittersweet. Initially, he leaves her behind but begins to realize how much he loves her.

Will my husband ever have any regrets?
What could I have done to stop him from leaving me? If I could go back, then what could I change? I loved him no matter what - with every cruel thing he said or did, I loved him still. Was I that cruel to him? I've been told by friends and family that I had to have done something to push him away. I'm not the nicest, or talented, or beautiful of people so I guess there wasn't much that I could do to hold on to his love.  I feel so sorry and regretful and I miss him so.

Anniversaries

Some incredibly awful ones are looming up in the days ahead. It is like hearing the pounding of a drumbeat - so surprising that no one else around me can hear it. That's how loud it sounds in my head (and probably in my heart).

I'm going to drown it out - reading, praying, singing, dancing, and watching my shows.  I once had a backyard where I would dance at midnight - under the moonlight - with the dog taking care of his business and/or chasing animals. I felt safe - and sad.

I feel safe here. The nightmares are retreating. Every now and then an ugly one rears up its head but I dream more and more in other languages. And about happier things. I keep trying to give myself things to look forward to - to push me into being brave - to keep me alive.  I guess that I am keeping my guardian angel pretty well occupied 😊

Hairdressers

You know, a good one is so hard to find. My hair is fine but thick - and wavy when left to its own devices. It really does so much better when it is either feather-cut or clipped cut (instead of straight).
And, yes, women will most definitely remain loyal to their stylists who treat them well.

My stylist can schmooze with the best! He listens well, remembers details, and knows how to make someone feel good. Tonight he said that my hair has gotten thicker. He complimented whatever I am eating because my hair feels really healthy. And, here I am, drinking bekseju! This time he even asked me what I am doing to my skin because he said it looks healthier than most 45 year olds that he knows (I'm telling you - he can schmooze!). Anyway, I told him that I have been using Asian products - particularly my snail cream moisturizer (I actually pair that up with some Pure Haven products but I love my snail cream and serum). I also told him that I do have good genes: after all, my 90 year old mother certainly doesn't look or act her age. I would guess her at least 20 years younger if I was just meeting her for the first time.

He loves that I enjoy my K-pop music. He once dated a Korean girl (is still good friends with her brother) so he knows all about K-dramas and enjoys some K-pop himself. He thinks that I am a pretty cool grandma - learning a new language and enjoying a different kind of music (yes, he knows that I can't listen to all the old stuff because of the memories). And, so, he gives me a "student" discount whenever I see him.

He also fills me in on some of the things in his life - actually comes up with prayer requests for me. Yes, it's nice to have an excellent stylist.

Ramblings after a tiring week....

I spent the day sleeping off what I think is just a silent migraine. I mean, I have some post nasal drip and tinnitus (usually a migraine symptom for me), but I haven't had a real fever - so it can't be the flu that everyone else in the household has had but I am extremely stressed and a bit run-down from lack of good sleep this past week.

Got up early this morning to take my temp and ended up crawling back into bed with a dose of Dayquil in my system.

I was locked in nightmares all day regarding my father. I am not going to re-live them here because I have a tendency to re-live nightmares anyway. There are some recurring ones that I have had since I was  a little girl (my brain even seems to tell me, wait for it: here it comes again!).

What I realized after I was finally up today. This is February 4th - my Dad and my Momma's wedding anniversary. Do you know what January 28th was? The day my Dad's divorce from my mom was finalized. Yep, same year, same week. And my baby brother was born the following summer.

And someone else in my family is totally falling off of one of my pedestals. It's destroying me. It's bringing back and dredging up everything.

I even noticed strange red blotches have appeared in random spots on my body tonight. They don't hurt, they don't itch, they don't form a pattern, they are just there. I've had a hot shower, cup of citron tea, Nyquil, and now have a vitamin water on my nightstand. Praying that when sleep finally comes, that the nightmares won't be back.

I can't help thinking that my father's life has cursed us all. His selfishness seems to have bred more selfishness. That good ol' ripple effect.  I prefer to believe in the best of people but I'm getting so cynical. I can't be happy for anyone celebrating a 25 year wedding anniversary because I am waiting for the second shoe to drop. my mom was right: it always comes. (and, with it, something bad).

Even praying is becoming difficult. I have one of my favorite prayers as my cover photo right now just to force me to be able to say that one.

Mani apayo.