I've been utilising the holidays to pick up where I left off with "It Started With A Kiss 2" 惡作劇2吻, an excellent idol-drama that is of such high quality in terms of main cast and storyline that it should really be in a league of its own. My opinion, of course. Watch it to prove me wrong.

While watching the 3rd last episode yesterday, something suddenly clicked in me. I realised that although I knew there would never be such a great guy or such a wonderful romance (even though one of the strengths of this storyline is that it's not as perfect and relatively smooth-going as the others usually are, but being an idol drama it still has to fulfill a few fantasies), it didn't take out any of my enjoyment or adoration for it.

Maybe we watch idol dramas because we know it's not going to happen in real life, and that's why we want to gratify ourselves by watching it play out on the screen? That's one of the media theories we learnt, so this is an informed observation :p . Ok, maybe we were all once (and some of us still are) at the stage when we think we really might encounter such a guy/romance one day, but I highly doubt it, given the meticulously fabricated and staged situations that occur in the shows. It's still feel-good even though you know it's not going to happen to you.

The epiphany made me realise that some viewers of idol dramas, like the shows themselves, are not as shallow as they seem. (Of course, you have to watch the right dramas ;p.) Sure, we have people ranging from primary school kids to aunties watching these shows, but in the end, I guess we continue to watch them because we take away something from them. Something that magically appears when cute guys, hot girls and romantic fantasies are added and stirred.

I, for example, have learnt a few things from watching idol dramas. I have theorised about relationships, improved on my theories, trashed them, pondered about why they are applied in people's fantasies...even the trashy and mcsame storylines offer me a nugget or two of wisdom, and much food for thought. Or just some good ol' entertainment (thankfully mindless at the right times).

Of course, if you are one of those who frown upon this genre, my post would hardly make you change your mind. But I do hope it gives you a different perspective. We are not all stupid and gaga girls fawning over hot guys. Some of us drool with our brains attached, processing the nuances in the script and useful information, morals that can be uncovered in the weak storyline. For it is undeniable that some effort went into all these productions, and I believe that when effort is put in, some benefit (however small) can be gained.

Sometimes I positively adore being a media student =).

Randomly chanced upon this part in Meteor Garden II...*sigh* =)

In other news!

I now know why people are so mad about online shopping! Just the bubble wrap alone can keep you happy for hours, not to mention the product itself! =D

Be glad that I'm sparing you from the pictures I took before unboxing it...teeheehee. Happy! ^_^

And now, over to you, Muggersville...-_-

We think http://www.morphus.blogspot.com/ is written by a woman (70%).

-From genderanalyzer.com

Further proof for all you horrible people out there who still have doubts. May Santa "forget" to brake the reindeer and whiz past your chimney this Christmas, haha. ;p

Got this from Max (my cousin)'s blog:

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?"

There was quite a long list, but I decided to take out 3 to share with you all.

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."
Bobby - age 7

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."
Lauren - age 4

Hahahahaha she's been cheated by her sis!

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
Mary Ann - age 4

The last one made me think of Nemo! He is Becky's dog, and I went to her house to spend some time (ok, a lot of time) with him on Tuesday.

Becky took some pictures of me and Nemo with my new digicam, a Sony T70. It's gorgeous and I'm v happy with it =) . The only gripe I have about it is that the optical zoom is only a lousy 3x.


Meet Nemo!



I'm unsure what breed he is, but he is not a golden retriever for sure. His fur is short. In any case, he is an extremely adorable, friendly and well-behaved dog. Ever since he arrived at Becks' house about a month ago, he has only barked a few times. And throughout the whole 15 hours I was with him, he never once barked.

So Becky brought him to meet me at the bus stop near her house, at about 6 pm on Tuesday. Nemo loves people, especially kids, so he just chiong-ed up to me and started sniffing me. When he was satisfied, he remained very close to me and waited for me to pat him, with this huge doggy grin on his face. I wonder if dogs mean to smile, or if they just happen to stretch their mouth muscles. But they definitely aren't smiling all the time. Not Nemo, anyway.



At first, I was a bit scared of him (like how I'm scared of strangers), maybe also because he is quite huge. But we soon got well-acquainted, and as soon as we got home he picked up his favourite toy, a smelly and torn towel, and brought it to me. Becky said that meant he wanted me to play tug with him. So I tried, with disappointing consequences because I was unaccustomed to running around like a chicken with its head cut off, all the while tugging hard at the towel in Nemo's mouth, like how Becky had demonstrated.



And also, the towel really is quite dirty and smelly. Hahaha. Sorry Nemo! At least I tried.



We took him out for another walk later in the evening. I just held the leash and tried not to imagine the choking feeling that Nemo must have felt whenever I tugged at it. Of course, I made Becky do all the dirty work (i.e. collecting shit) muhaha.

On the way home from the short walk, we met this middle-aged woman who took an immediate liking to Nemo and just rushed up to him to pat him. And Nemo was just overjoyed to be stroked by her. Haha. What an affectionate, unassuming boy.



I discovered that Nemo is, to paraphrase the Chinese proverb, like a dragon outside of the house but like a worm at home. Once we reached home he laid on the floor and bit his towel. Occasionally he would reach the peak of his boredom for that half an hour or so, then bring the towel to one of us. Only to be rejected. Haha.

As I sat on the floor, watching TV with Becks and stroking Nemo (who unabashedly came closer and closer to me), I commented: "你不覺得很幸福嗎？邊看電視邊摸狗." She didn't feel the same way. Maybe because "摸" wasn't quite the right word to use. Hahaha. So I happily continued stroking the dog and watching TV.



At some point Nemo started to put his chin on my thigh. Becky was a little shocked and jealous because he had never done that to her. I was, of course, in seventh heaven.

Nemo also looked very interested in the TV when we switched to a channel that was showing 101 Dalmatians, and Becky wondered whether he was actually watching tv. I wouldn't be surprised.

Haha I think that's about all for my exciting day with Nemo. Thanks a million, Becky, for letting me play with him! Cheered me up plenty. ^_^

Until next time, my dear readers! Sorry if you aren't crazy about dogs and I bored you to death with all the details in this post. Hehehe.