Musings of the Obsessive Kind

Up through ep 14 of City Hall and it's such total love, honest.



I really don't like dramas (or any sort of long fiction) where the characters stay static and do not learn and I love that CH isn't like that - she teaches him idealism and he teaches her the nitty-gritty of politics. Which is perfect because to be a good politician, you need both. Without his lessons, she'd be an idealist who'd never get anywhere, let alone not be elected. Without her lessons, he'd be successful but soulless, seeking for meaning without knowing it - using success instead of true satisfaction. I think part of the arc of this drama is his finding validation within himself and not needing to substitute for the lack of same by craving love/approval of his absent father* And of course, she teaches him trust and love but he teaches her self-worth. They both had it all there but it needed to be brought out - she needed someone who'd help her believe in herself and he had plenty of belief in himself but he needed to have someone else believe in him, to function properly.

They are so perfect together. I especially love the constantly teasing vibe they have going on. And I love that they are both adult. It's so refreshing. Not to mention he is drawn to her because of her stubborness and her principles and her backbone. LOVE.

Side note: I know his fiancee was as popular in fandom as a case of leprosy but I like her. I would never want to be around her and I can't say she is a good person but (a)I love that the drama never demonizes her and (b) I admire her - she is someone who entered into an engagement that is basically a cold-blooded business arrangement on both sides (when she tells Jo Guk something to the effect of she does not care how and who he fools around with as long it doesn't jeopardize her chances to someday become First Lady, and she means it) and sticks to it - she doesn't fall for her betrothed, and anything she does to bust up his falling in love with Mi Rae has nothing to do with jealousy or evilness or whatever but pure ambition. If she thought he could have a sterling career and marry her (i.e. the fiancee), she wouldn't care if he had a dozen Mi Raes. I sort of admire that. And I admire that the drama never presents her as evil for it.

But I can tell angst is about to hit for our lovers! I can feel it. You can't have both a successful career in politics and emotional entanglement like they are having. Not to mention, they both know that if they ended up on different sides of an issue, and she believed her position was righteous, she would fight even him.

* who should die in a fire, btw. For many reasons, the latest being the little surprise dinner. Duh, of course one should totally invite one's unacknowledged son to lunch and then spring his girlfriend on him there too, and then tell her while the guy has to listen that she should dump the guy because otherwise he is going to make her political life very difficult and telling her to choose between her constituents and her boyfriend. While said boyfriend basically has to sit there and listen to his father try to treat him like a puppet again. WTF? I love Mi Rae's reaction btw - she is so awesome.

( Some ridiculously awesome shippiness from ep 13-14 )

Not related, but look at my yummy lunch:



( Blurry pic of side dishes )

ETA: the scene with Jo Guk and his father in ep 15 OMGOMGOMGOMG. So much YES. And when he tells him he is going to break it off with fiancee and leave his father stranded for political money because "it's in my blood" OMGOMGOMGOMG so much love.

Up through ep 14 of City Hall and it's such total love, honest.



I really don't like dramas (or any sort of long fiction) where the characters stay static and do not learn and I love that CH isn't like that - she teaches him idealism and he teaches her the nitty-gritty of politics. Which is perfect because to be a good politician, you need both. Without his lessons, she'd be an idealist who'd never get anywhere, let alone not be elected. Without her lessons, he'd be successful but soulless, seeking for meaning without knowing it - using success instead of true satisfaction. I think part of the arc of this drama is his finding validation within himself and not needing to substitute for the lack of same by craving love/approval of his absent father* And of course, she teaches him trust and love but he teaches her self-worth. They both had it all there but it needed to be brought out - she needed someone who'd help her believe in herself and he had plenty of belief in himself but he needed to have someone else believe in him, to function properly.

They are so perfect together. I especially love the constantly teasing vibe they have going on. And I love that they are both adult. It's so refreshing. Not to mention he is drawn to her because of her stubborness and her principles and her backbone. LOVE.

Side note: I know his fiancee was as popular in fandom as a case of leprosy but I like her. I would never want to be around her and I can't say she is a good person but (a)I love that the drama never demonizes her and (b) I admire her - she is someone who entered into an engagement that is basically a cold-blooded business arrangement on both sides (when she tells Jo Guk something to the effect of she does not care how and who he fools around with as long it doesn't jeopardize her chances to someday become First Lady, and she means it) and sticks to it - she doesn't fall for her betrothed, and anything she does to bust up his falling in love with Mi Rae has nothing to do with jealousy or evilness or whatever but pure ambition. If she thought he could have a sterling career and marry her (i.e. the fiancee), she wouldn't care if he had a dozen Mi Raes. I sort of admire that. And I admire that the drama never presents her as evil for it.

But I can tell angst is about to hit for our lovers! I can feel it. You can't have both a successful career in politics and emotional entanglement like they are having. Not to mention, they both know that if they ended up on different sides of an issue, and she believed her position was righteous, she would fight even him.

* who should die in a fire, btw. For many reasons, the latest being the little surprise dinner. Duh, of course one should totally invite one's unacknowledged son to lunch and then spring his girlfriend on him there too, and then tell her while the guy has to listen that she should dump the guy because otherwise he is going to make her political life very difficult and telling her to choose between her constituents and her boyfriend. While said boyfriend basically has to sit there and listen to his father try to treat him like a puppet again. WTF? I love Mi Rae's reaction btw - she is so awesome.

( Some ridiculously awesome shippiness from ep 13-14 )

Not related, but look at my yummy lunch:



( Blurry pic of side dishes )

ETA: the scene with Jo Guk and his father in ep 15 OMGOMGOMGOMG. So much YES. And when he tells him he is going to break it off with fiancee and leave his father stranded for political money because "it's in my blood" OMGOMGOMGOMG so much love.

Because I am a bit hungry and because they are so pretty, I bring you pictures of yummy, super-pretty, and super-delicious Japanese food.

When I booked us into a ryokan in Kyoto, I signed up for their dinner and breakfast service because I thought it would save time and because I thought it sounded interesting to try traditional cuisine, and it would be the easiest way for someone like me or Mr. Mousie, neither of whom is capable of navigating a menu in Japanese.

That was one of the best food decisions I ever made :P

( Behind the cut are incredibly awesome pictures from our first dinner in the ryokan )

( Breakfast food as a bonus :P )

I have reached new highs (or lows, depending on your perspective): I am watching My Name is Kim Sam Soon on TV and Mike and Hebe's Bull-Fighting on laptop, simultaneously.

What next?

Heh.

Ep 5 of KSS is so awesome. There is some angst AND funniness. But I so want to tell Hyun Bin to have a meal or dozen. I am glad to note he's filled out between this and (the awesome, what are you doing not watching it) Snow Queen.

I am also ratger interested that Hyun Bin's and his ex relationship is sort of like the one of the secondary OTP in Coffee Prince only in CP they work it out while of course in KSS HB ends up with Sam Soon. I found CP very very unusual in that regard: where a girl walks out (and for less good reasons than the ex in KSS) and comes back a few years later, wanting to fix the relationship and the story is about how bumpy it is, and how hard it is for her to win the guy's trust (she still has his heart) again and how they work at it, as opposed to she left, and now it's too late and the story is about the guy learning to love another. (I am comparing it to KSS and not My Girl, btw, because both women in the former are lovely, but the My Girl ex is horrific).

Btw, Bull-fighting's credits are sooooo pretty.

P.S.: I need to finish Why Why Love so much. It's just I can't bear the angst, even a little, for the OTP.

Also, I think I completely lost it, foodwise. This weekend, Mr. Mousie and I went to this huge Korean grocery store, which was awesome. I didn't buy the very fresh and cheap fish, because I am a lazy cook (I know how to filet them and all, but don't want to bother) and I didn't get any kimchi because I don't like kimchi (they had half an aile devoted to different kinds, so maybe I should try again!!!!) but I think I bought out the rest of the store, including some really yummy drinks, 17 varieties of steamed buns, gazillion dumplings (I'll try making dumpling soup), fishcake, three varieties of tofu (smoked, steamed etc) two whole large smoked eels (my fave food ever) and a huge tin of masago. Not to mention a billion varieties of noodles and much too much dessert, and insant version of miso soup. We've been eating at home yummily all week :)

I have reached new highs (or lows, depending on your perspective): I am watching My Name is Kim Sam Soon on TV and Mike and Hebe's Bull-Fighting on laptop, simultaneously.

What next?

Heh.

Ep 5 of KSS is so awesome. There is some angst AND funniness. But I so want to tell Hyun Bin to have a meal or dozen. I am glad to note he's filled out between this and (the awesome, what are you doing not watching it) Snow Queen.

I am also ratger interested that Hyun Bin's and his ex relationship is sort of like the one of the secondary OTP in Coffee Prince only in CP they work it out while of course in KSS HB ends up with Sam Soon. I found CP very very unusual in that regard: where a girl walks out (and for less good reasons than the ex in KSS) and comes back a few years later, wanting to fix the relationship and the story is about how bumpy it is, and how hard it is for her to win the guy's trust (she still has his heart) again and how they work at it, as opposed to she left, and now it's too late and the story is about the guy learning to love another. (I am comparing it to KSS and not My Girl, btw, because both women in the former are lovely, but the My Girl ex is horrific).

Btw, Bull-fighting's credits are sooooo pretty.

P.S.: I need to finish Why Why Love so much. It's just I can't bear the angst, even a little, for the OTP.

Also, I think I completely lost it, foodwise. This weekend, Mr. Mousie and I went to this huge Korean grocery store, which was awesome. I didn't buy the very fresh and cheap fish, because I am a lazy cook (I know how to filet them and all, but don't want to bother) and I didn't get any kimchi because I don't like kimchi (they had half an aile devoted to different kinds, so maybe I should try again!!!!) but I think I bought out the rest of the store, including some really yummy drinks, 17 varieties of steamed buns, gazillion dumplings (I'll try making dumpling soup), fishcake, three varieties of tofu (smoked, steamed etc) two whole large smoked eels (my fave food ever) and a huge tin of masago. Not to mention a billion varieties of noodles and much too much dessert, and insant version of miso soup. We've been eating at home yummily all week :)

What is Pocky?



Pocky is a delicious Japanese cookie, crunchy sticks covered with all sorts of yummy toppings. It also owns my soul.

And today?

I have found Pocky Heaven. If you are in the US, you can order a dozen of varieties of Pocky (including my favorite, Black Sesame) on-line.

Eeeee!

Here is the website. I haven't tried them out so no idea if they are reliable but oh boy, I am trying them out.

This place has a whole bunch of other Asian food. Senbei Crackers! Yokan! Gummies! Broiled Eel! Noodles! Shark Fin Soup! EEEE!