Summer Days, drifting away...

"uh-oh, into summer nights" sing a post summer-fling Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson. Whilst the masses enjoy the last days of their summer flings, I sit in front of my computer, summer-fling-less. In that light, I present to you, a list of Summer Obsessions, which have kept me entertained through this romantic summer of 09:

Summer Obessions: a.k.a. things that are NOT my girlfriend.

1. 결혼 못하는 남자 (He Who Cant Marry)

A hysterical (in my humble opinion) Korean Drama about an OCD architect who hates the institution that is marriage. Imagine... Adrian Monk's OCD meets Gregory House's smart ass-ery and genuine "I don't care" mentality in a romantic comedy set in Seoul. The first Korean Drama I've enjoyed in years, the character of Cho Jae-Hee (the protagonist) is one of the freshest (I would like to use the term original... but this Drama is based off of a Japanese Drama of the same title) characters I have seen on TV in a while. Pokes fun at the ridiculous obession that Koreans have with relationships/marriage. Full of the "will they, wont they sexual tension" that defined Jim and Pam's relationship from the first two seasons of The Office, this may be the funniest Korean Drama I have ever seen.

2. Pleasure Reading

Reading for fun really hits the backburner during the academic year. Currently plowing through two books, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and The Plot Against America by Phillip Roth. I do wish I had more time to read things that are not scientific articles. Also, I do want to read Guillermo Del Toro's The Strain, which apprently sets vampires in their place... blood suckers... and not teenage hearthrobs.

3. 2NE1/Teddy

2NE1, the newest girl group from YG (the people that brought you Big Bang) is quickly paving a way into my heart. They're more talented than any of the other girl groups in Korea now (although, to be completely honest, some of those SNSD girls are drop dead beautiful... they dont have the talent of these 4 girls though). Teddy is the guy that's produced all of their songs on the album, and he's doing right by me. To give him further credit, their first single, Fire, is the only song that I enjoy that employs the insufferable, dumbdiculously mind-numbing regaeton beat. Refer to earlier entry "Lady Gangsters" for more.

4. Sleep.

I've gotten to the point, where if I dont get 8 hours of sleep, I really cannot function very well the next day... to the point of having a headache the entire day. Maybe I'm just getting old. That being the case, an intense change of lifestyle habits have taken over my life. Sobriety over the entire stay in Korea, sleeping earlier, eating better to get better rest, etc. I am addicted to sleep. What can I say? I need my beauty sleep.

When not completely ingulfed with those previously mentioned interests, I have been working out arrangements of old K-pop songs for a potential a capella group. We'll see where this leads, but its been great having my piano and guitar with me. I'll miss my babies.

I do think it's time to get out of this country though. The couple T-shirts, while still disturbing, dont make me want to puke when I see them any more.

Though I walk through the Valley of the Glory of Rock

I think I may be suffering from Post JisanValleyRockFestival Stress Disorder (Refer to the left). The music is never loud enough, I cringe from the thought of being sweat on when someone comes within arms length, and whenever I say Oasis, I cant help but pronounce it "Oh-Ah-Shiss." Finding myself 1 body away from the stage, I also now understand what it feels like to have the world on one's shoulders (or at least the weight of 20,000 people pushing towards the stage). The unbearable stench did not help with the crushing weight. It wasnt just sweat. A fair amount of these people had been there for 3 days, and thus, smelled like 8 types of B.O. rolled into one... times 20,000. Oh and the smell of garlic and spices all up the wazoo too.

It was still Epic. Forever, I will remember singing "Dont Look Back in Anger" with Noel Gallagher and 20,000 people in the valley.

However, amidst having the experience of nearly being crushed to death, drinking alcohol out of capri sun packages hanging from my neck, and meeting the self-proclaimed 5th member of The Beatles (her name was Bingo), I must say that the most unexpected (and surely the delightful-est) event was meeting (the delightful) Priscilla Ahn.

We were walking around some of the tents set up selling things (mostly alcohol), and giving out free stuff (everything but alcohol), and we stumbled upon a tent that said "Artists Autograph Sessions" and lo and behold, Priscilla Ahn was next.

Autograph session?? That barely counts... right? Well... Upon my approach, she greeted me with an accented "ahnnyunghasaeyo" to which I replied with a, "haha, it's alright, I speak english" to which she giggled and said "well... that makes things much easier!" I couldnt believe it. Did that really happen? I made PRISCILLA AHN GIGGLE. Then I took a picture with her (on my cousin's camera... picture soon to come) and mentioned that we're big fans up in Syracuse. That ended our encounter.

A few hours later, the official photographer who we happened to pass by, came up to us and bitched at us for taking too long with Ms. Ahn. I'm sorry I kept stalling and talking to this unbelievably cute woman. In any case, I could not believe that he recognized us and had the audacity to say such things. But then I realized that that was probably the singer's longest interaction with a fan that day. I'd say if it was enough to bother officials, it should be given consideration as an official meeting.

I could honestly say that she was the most upbeat, cheeriest, flowery, adorable-est woman I have ever conversed with in my entire life (yes, all of my thoughts from the 30 second interaction). Thus, she now ranks up high in the (impossible) list of women I would marry without a moment's hesitation. But hey, like I just read in a book the other day

It's the possibility of having a dream realized that makes life interesting.
- Paulo Coelho.

On that note, I dreamt that I was 5'8 last night. I wonder if that dream will ever be realized.

Lady Gangstas.

Before I go ahead, I must say that T-Swizzie is the Ultimate Lady Gangsta in my book.

Earlier today I saw a particular link on a friend's Facebook page that caught me by surprise. I then made a comment about the current state of Korean Music and that there always had to be a catch for 2NE1's music being so catchy.

Then I decided to do some research as to how they were able to make it in the superficial Korean Pop world where everything is at face value, and you can be a singer if you look good but cant sing (Autotune has made pitchy voices sound in tune for many years now. It just happens that T-Pain has created a new use for it.)

I TAKE EVERYTHING BACK. (about 2NE1).

First of all, I dont think I've ever seen a 15 year old dance like this before. But the heart and soul of this group is the fresh, young (18 year old) CL.

For years, Tasha Reid has been the premiere female rapper of Korea (arguably the world). But I think this 18 year old may have it in her to get close. However, this is only if she is lead in the right direction. Take for example G-Dragon. I once thought he may have been the savior korean hip hop needed. Then YG picked him up. Despite his popularity, we all know he is no Korean Tupac.

So, PLEASE YG. Do Not Fuck This Up. You wouldnt have taken Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopez, and have made her perform songs written by Flo Rida, would you?

Damn. Did I really just include Left-Eye and Flo Rida in the same sentence?

What is a FobbyTwinkie?

My short foray into microblogging (read twĭt'ər) has awakened the monster that is presented before you. But before I go any further, a short introduction.

What is a FobbyTwinkie?

There can be two interpretations of the term FobbyTwinkie

1. The Asian who lies in between two cultural extremes.

• FobbyTwinkie is an oxymoron of two distinct descriptors for an Asian. Fob (fresh of the boat, or as I like to joke: fresh off the 비행기) is a reference to the Asian who is more in tune to their motherland. The latter, describes a whitewashed Asian. Thus, Yellow on the outside, white on the inside.

or

2. The Asian equivalent of "One of America's best known and most loved snack cakes"

• This, in my opinion, is the beloved Korean snack Choco-pie.
• To note: I do not think this snack name used as an ethnic descriptor similar to the twinkie will catch on.

In this light, the term FobbyTwinkie may be the best way to decribe who I am. A rare breed of Korean American male who has never lived outside of Korea until College... and yet is not a slave to the current trend of Male Effeminancy sweeping the penninsula.

Thus I figured there might be some people out there who wondered if there was method to the madness that is me. Or it really could be that I'm bored. But in either case, issues will be resolved.

Except for Hunger. You're on your own on that one.