[JDorama] Gokusen 3

Title: Gokusen 3
Genre: School
Episodes: 11
Air date: April to June 2008
Cast:

Nakama Yukie - as Yamaguchi Kumiko or Yankumi, the tough high school teacher of class 3D.

Summary:

Just like the previous Gokusen drama, this one still revolves around 3D, the worst class in a not so good high school. The drama tells of their stories and how they changed to better individuals.

I watch so many school dramas that I don't think I would still like this one. But I guess old habits are hard to change. I do love happy endings and this time is no different. The story is very common and probably not for the choosy ones. If you're a drama fan that had been watching dramas for years, and looking for interesting new dramas to watch, this is probably not for you. This is for thost who just want to sit back and not think at all. It's simple and straight to the point.

Watch online >> Gokusen 3 w/ English subtitles

Rating: 7/10

[JDorama] Sapuri

Title: Sapuri / Suppli
Genre: Romance
Episodes: 11
Air date: July to September 2006
Cast:

Ito Misaki - as Fuji Minami, the 28 year old successful office executive in an advertising company.

Kamenashi Kazuya - as Ishida Yuya, the part time worker in the same advertising company.

Summary:

Ito Misaki is a career woman. She is very devoted to her work at the expense of her love life. Then came Yuya in her life. He's young, irresponsible and happy go lucky, definitely not for Misaki. But they just seem to be entwined together that their lives cannot be separated inspite of other people interested in them.

I liked this series basically because of it's work place setting. I guess I can say that I can relate. My life had always revolved around the work place after I graduated from college. It also gives hope to career women who devoted their lives to work, that no love seem to come to their lives anymore.

I should be giving better review but I watched this series a few months ago and lots of other series came after it that my memory of this drama is blurry already. I was too busy that I didn't get the time to write a review sooner. But I do specifically remember that I was surprised to have actually enjoyed watching the drama. It was good and entertaining.

Watch online >> Sapuri w/ English subtitles

Rating: 8/10

Mandela's 8 Lessons of Leadership

1. Courage is not the absence of fear - it's inspiring others to move beyond it

2. Lead from the front - but don't leave your base behind

3. Lead from the back - and let others believe they are in front

4. Know your enemy - and learn about his favorite sport

5. Keep your friends close - and your rivals even closer

6. Appearances matter - and remember to smile

7. Nothing is black or white

8. Quitting is leading too

credits: time magazine

My Wish List

Because Christmas is coming very soon, what comes to mind is GIVING! Of course, it's still important to give love and wish for good health and world peace, they will always be top priority in our prayers.

But when it comes to physical manifestations of love, material things are always welcome. lol! XD I'm posting my very own "earthly" wish list not just for the holiday season but it can extend to my birthday and other holidays too!^^ They're under my "wish" list because I've been wanting to get these items for the longest time but just can't get myself to buy them for myself. =S

1. Samsung Omnia i900


I've been a Samsung user for a number of years now and wanting a pocket pc for myself recently, I can't help but get my eyes drawn towards a Samsung Omnia! I love the white one, it's going to be harder to take care of but it's so posh!


2. Dell Inspiron 1525
The first time I saw the laptops of the top rank officers from RHO of my previous job, I fell in love with Dell! I wanted one since then but it had always be just a dream. Would there be a kind heart out there to give me this baby for Christmas? ^^

3. South Korea Ski Tour


It had been my life goal to visit South Korea. With my obsession to Korean Entertainment, that's not a surprise. XD But one thing I really wanted to experience when I go to Korea is the snow and ski! I wish... I wish...

That's it for now... I have a whole bunch of places I wanted to go to but I didn't include them here yet... maybe next time... ^_^

Hairspray - The Musical

I reserved a ticket at once when my friend called me up not knowing about the cast, where it will be or when it will be. I loved the movie and I would love to watch it live on stage.^^ Well, I was not disappointed, it's not the best but it's good. I liked it mainly because of some of the cast that are clearly talented and carried the show.

First is Michael de Mesa. I loved how he played Edna Turnblad, so lovely! I can't particularly pinpoint why because he's role is not extravagant or loud but he just have that something about him that lights up the stage.

Nyoy is a surprise! When I heard that he's part of the musical, I thought he probably got in because he's one good singer. But he's role here is a dancer! I'm glad that with the few dance steps that he obviously practiced so hard for, he did with flying colors. He's one of the reason I'm so glad they got a real singer in this musical.

Dulce is also one character that i liked. I'm not sure if she did other musicals before but I see her role here as a total 360 turn for her. I've known her to sing tagalog ballads that can leave you out of breath just watching her sing, but here, she's fun, loud, energetic and more!

Another character that I loved is Penny! (sorry I forgot the name of the actress =S) I love her! She's so funny and upfront. No holding back and all out acting is what I saw, and I just love her!

Other actors are okay, there are some that are less than impressive but I'd rather not talk about them. There's definitely one cast that is so out of the leads league that I had the urge to cover my ears everytime he sings. =X

The show is quite long, more than two hours I think so you can't help but have some scenes that are a bit boring. The costumes are cute. One thing I noticed though is that they didn't change much in the first half and started to change one after the other in the 2nd half. I remember asking my friend through the 1st half of the show why they're not changing their costumes.

Over all, it's a good musical worthy of the money I paid for. ^_^

Beginning Today

Beginning Today
Author Unknown

Beginning today I will no longer worry about yesterday. It is in the past
and the past will never change. Only I can change by choosing to do so.

Beginning today I will no longer worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will always
be there, waiting for me to make the most of it. But I cannot make the most
of tomorrow without first making the most of today.

Beginning today I will look in the mirror and I will see a person worthy of
my respect and admiration. This capable person looking back at me is someone
I enjoy spending time with and someone I would like to get to know better.

Beginning today I will cherish each moment of my life. I value the gift
bestowed upon me in this world and I will unselfishly share this gift with
others.

Beginning today I will take a moment to step off the beaten path and to
revel in the mysteries I encounter. I will face challenges with courage and
determination. I will overcome what barriers there may be which hinder my
quest for growth and self- improvement.

Beginning today I will take life one day at a time, one step at a time.
Discouragement will not be allowed to taint my positive self-image, my
desire to succeed or my capacity to love.

Beginning today I walk with renewed faith in human kindness. Regardless of
what has gone before. I believe there is hope for a brighter and better
future.

Beginning today I will open my mind and my heart. I will welcome new
experiences. I will meet new people. I will not expect perfection from
myself nor anyone else: perfection does not exist in an imperfect world. But
I will applaud the attempt to overcome human foibles.

Beginning today I am responsible for my own happiness and I will do things
that make me happy... admire the beautiful wonders of nature, listen to my
favorite music, pet a kitten or a puppy, soak in a bubble bath... Pleasure
can be found in the most simple of gestures.

Beginning today I will learn something new; I will try something different;
I will savor all the various flavors life has to offer. I will change what I
can and the rest I will let go. I will strive to become the best me I can
possibly be.

Beginning Today, And Everyday.

credits: funnyfunpages.com

Make A Difference

A man was walking down the beach at sunset. As, he walked along, he saw another man in the distance. He noticed this man kept leaning down, picking up something and throwing it out into the water, again and again. As, he approached even closer, he noticed that the man was picking up starfish that had been washed up on the beach. He was throwing them back into the water, one by one.

Puzzled, he approached the man and said,
"Good Evening. I was wondering what you are doing."

"I'm throwing these starfish back into the ocean. You see, it's low tide and all these starfish have been washed up onto the shore. If, I don't throw them back into the ocean, they'll die up here from lack of oxygen."

"But, there must be thousands of starfish on this beach. You can't possible get to all of them. And, don't you realize this is probably happening on hundreds of beaches all up and down this coast. Can't you see that you can't possibly make a difference?"

The man bent down and picked up yet another starfish, and threw it back into the ocean. With a smile he replied, "Made a difference to that one !!!"

Just remember, no matter how small the deed
it really does makes a difference.
Make a difference today.
Do something nice for someone else,
even if it's just sending this card to a friend and
letting them know somebody cares about them.

credits: funnies.com

7 Reasons Not To Mess With Children

got this from a forwarded email from a dear friend... too cute not to share! ^^


*****
A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.

The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to
swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal
its throat was very small.

The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.

Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow
a human; it was physically impossible.

The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".

The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"

The little girl replied, "Then you ask him ".

-------

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children
while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to
see each child's work.

As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she
asked what the drawing was.

The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."

The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks
like."

Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl
replied, "They will in a minute."

-------

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with
her five and six year olds.

After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy
Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how
to treat our brothers and sisters?"

Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family)
answered, "Thou shall not kill."

-------

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the
dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her
mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in
contrast on her brunette head.

She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some
of your hairs white, Mom?"

Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something
wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."

The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and
then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"

-------

The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was
trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.

"Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all
grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's
Michael, He's a doctor.'

A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the
teacher, she's dead."

-------

A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood.
Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I
stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and
I would turn red in the face."

"Yes," the class said.

"Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary
position the blood doesn't run into my feet?"

A little fellow shouted,
"Cause your feet ain't empty."

-------

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic
elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a
large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the
apple tray:

"Take only ONE. God is watching."

Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the
table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.

A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching
the apples.

credits: MountainWings.com

God's Coffee

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some
expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:

"If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live.

Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us."

God brews the coffee, not the cups.......... Enjoy your coffee!

"The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything."


Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

Author unknown

I Believe

another email from a dear friend... sorry i can't go there to see you... T_T



I believe-
That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I believe-
That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a
while and, you must forgive them for that.

I believe-
That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I believe-
That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I believe-
That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I believe-
That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them

I believe-
That you can keep going long after you can't.

I believe-
That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I believe-
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I believe-
That regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there
had better be something else to take its place.

I believe-
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences.

I believe-
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe-
That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time!

I believe-
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I believe-
That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I believe-
That just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I believe-
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've
learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.


I believe-
That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I believe-
That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I believe-
That our background and circumstances may have influenced
who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe-
That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other, And just
because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I believe-
That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I believe-
That two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I believe-
That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I believe-
That even when you think you have no more to give, when a
friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I believe-
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I believe-
That the people you care about most in life are the essence of life.
Tell them today how much you love them and what they mean to you.

Star Olympics - Unipak Team!

Our company sponsored a team in this year's Star Olympics "One Last Shot for Daboy". Our team - Unipak! I wasn't in there to watch the games though so the pictures I'll be posting are from my officemate. To thank him, I'm promoting his shop, Image Creator, a digital photo shop. ^^

Before this blog entry turns into a shameless promotion post, here's the pics! XD


Btw, there's one more reason I didn't watch the games. I fear the wrath of some of my friends, LOL! XD They might cast me out when they saw that somebody is part of our team. Just to make things clear, we don't have a say as to who will be in our team so don't blame me okay?! If I can decide, I would never ever want that "chicken" there!


Some of the guests that aren't players:

The Battle Inside

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between 2 wolves.

"One is Evil. It is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.

The other is God. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

credits: positivethoughts.com

*****
a very good piece to think about... and so true too! it's what we entertain that shows... it's what we sow that grows... looking at the positive side of things will give us positive out come too... ^^

[JDorama] Taiyo No Kisetsu

Title: Taiyo No Kisetsu a.k.a. Season of the Sun
Genre: Drama/Romance
Episodes: 11
Aired: July - September 2002
Cast:

Takizawa Hideaki - as Tsugawa Tatsuya, a troubled college student who lives a double life. He grew up with revenge as his goal for his father's death. Driven by the wrong goal, he walked the darker path in life and end up being more miserable.

I'll have to get this out first, Takki is hot in this drama! And I mean HOT!!! He's only 20 when the drama was made but his body is so defined and not of a boy anymore. Okay, enough fangirling, LOL! XD I think he did really well in this drama. The emotions were conveyed quite well and the role of a sad and lonely young man fits him well because I think he's one of those that look really good not smiling. The serious look on his face made him more handsome. (He reminds me so much of Jaejoong of Tohoshinki, who is also going to do a Korea-Japan collab drama "Postman from Heaven")

Ikewaki Chizuru - as Izumi Eiko, a talented pianist that got into an accident when she was young which caused her to have a limp. She was overly protected by her pianist mother that she only felt life when Tatsuya came into her life.

I have to admit, I expected somebody prettier to be the leading lady but she's not so bad. I guess they went for the fragile girl type for the role instead of the pretty face.

Okada Yoshinori - as Kawano Kohei, Tatsuya's childhood friend. He considers Tatsuya as his own brother which made him come to Tokyo to be able to fulfill his dream of running with him. He's a good man that truly cares for Tatsuya.

Matsumoto Rio - as Komiyama Yuki, the daughter of a rich family and the finace of Shinji. She fell in love with Tatsuya not knowing that he had a hidden agenda.

Takaoka Sousuke - as Sahara Shinji, the son of a rich banker that Tatsuya wanted to have his revenge on. He likes Tatsuya and did his best to be his friend. A very sincere young man that loves his fiance fully until the end.

Summary:

Tatsuya lost his father to suicide when he was young. Because of this, he vowed to find revenge and worked hard to get to that position. He befriended the rich son of the bank owner that caused his father's death and aimed to take everything from him, even the most precious person to him, his girlfriend. In the midst of his plans, he met Eiko and unwillingly fell in love with her. He feel at peace when he's with Eiko which together with his childhood bestfriend Kohei, brought him back to the light.

The story is well written and it has this very deep meaning that will make you think. It's not your ordinary teen idol movie but a real drama with depth. It shows you how nasty life can be but still gave us hope.

The things that a person can do to reach a goal even if the goal is not good, and the forces that drives you to do things to get what you want. It's a dark world that some of us are victims of, but only if we let it. For the victims, it's probably more difficult but it's always our choice to stay in the dark or turn around and face the light.

I'm happy that they've shown hope in the drama. As long as there's people willing to show us love, we will always be able to face a new day. The love Tatsuya received from his mother, Kohei and Eiko is enough to fight to live again.

I just hate hate hate the ending! I don't know why we can't have a totally happy ending? Are there no happy endings in real life? I don't think so... I think it's very much possible to have a happy ending. I think the writers just feel it's too rare and have to make it more realistic since despair and unhappiness is more common. Well, not for me... I still believe that life is always worth living, because there's always light at the end of the tunnel...^^

Rating: 8/10

How To Succeed

How To Succeed

Life is a strange mix of success and failures.
Those who succeed more than others have a
habit of ignoring the failures and
remembering the success. It is like you select
good fruit from a basket. Do you remember
the bad ones that you throw away?

But strangely most of us keep our failures in
our memory and forget our success!

Just reverse it and see the miracle!


credits: newfunpages.com

The Incredible Hulk

I watched The Incredible Hulk right after I watched The Dark Knight so I can't help but compare the two. They're both comics characters after all.

I'd have to say, there's not much comparison there. The Dark Knight is a bigger production and definitely better. With Hulk, I got a headache watching the computer graphic fight scenes and I don't understand much of what's happening in the climax battle between Hulk and Abomination. I think it's too violent for my taste.

But I like the story about Bruce Banner fighting to cure himself so that what he had in him will not be used by the military as weapon, which is really dangerous since the power is uncontrollable.

Another good thing is that Edward Norton has a nice body, now that's some good eye candy.^^

Rating: 7/10

The Dark Knight

I've finally got to watch this movie in DVD after all the chaos and talk about this film, I still didn't get the chance to watch it on big screen, and I'm regretting that now. But anyways, it's still good that I did get the chance to watch it and I like it just fine.^^

It's sad that Heath Ledger is gone now, he did a great job for this movie! Awesome performance and even if he's the villain, no offense to Christian Bale who played Batman and did quite well too, but Joker is the main man in this film. It's all him and it's amazing how Heath Ledger with his good looks can become the scary joker and made it so believable!

I love that they put more depth in this movie not just the ordinary super hero movie that we usually get. It's a twist of a sort because this time, batman becomes the bad guy in the eyes of the people while doing something good. He's the dark knight because of his sacrificial nature and working behind the lime light. The last scene is what I loved most, when Gordon called Batman the silent guardian, the Dark Knight.

Rating: 10/10

I Wish You Enough

I found this really nice... I wish all the people I love to always have enough...



credits: IWishYouEnough@youtube

The poem taken from the original story written by Bob Perks first published in 2001 then in "Chicken Soup for the Greiving Soul." It includes the "Seven Wishes."

Portrait of a Friend

I can't give solutions to all of life's problems, doubts,
or fears. But I can listen to you, and together we will
search for answers.

I can't change your past with all it's heartache and pain,
nor the future with its untold stories.
But I can be there now when you need me to care.

I can't keep your feet from stumbling.
I can only offer my hand that you may grasp it and not fall.

Your joys, triumphs, successes, and happiness are not mine;
Yet I can share in your laughter.

Your decisions in life are not mine to make, nor to judge;
I can only support you, encourage you,
and help you when you ask.

I can't prevent you from falling away from friendship,
from your values, from me.
I can only pray for you, talk to you and wait for you.

I can't give you boundaries which I have determined for you,
But I can give you the room to change, room to grow,
room to be yourself.

I can't keep your heart from breaking and hurting,
But I can cry with you and help you pick up the pieces
and put them back in place.

I can't tell you who you are.
I can only love you and be your friend.

I promise to try to do all of these things
and be the best friend I can be from now on!

credits: positivethoughts.com

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

A message every adult should read, because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking."

- author unknown


LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT.

Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle,
teacher or friend) influence the life of a child.
How will you touch the life of someone today?


credits: funnyfunpages.com

Psalm for the employee...

**got this from my email... have a great week ahead everyone! ^_^

Psalm 23
(For the Work Place)

The Lord is my real boss, and I shall not want.
He gives me peace, when chaos is all around me.
He gently reminds me to pray and do all things without
murmuring and complaining.

He reminds me that He is my source and not my job.
He restores my sanity everyday and guides my decisions
that I might honor Him in all that I do

Even though I face absurd amounts of e-mails, system
crashes, unrealistic deadlines, budget cutbacks, gossiping
co-workers, discriminating supervisors and an aging body
that doesn't cooperate every morning, I still will not stop---
for He is with me! His presence, His peace, and His power
will see me through.

He raises me up, even when they fail to promote me.
He claims me as His own, even when the company threatens
to let me go. His Faithfulness and love is better than any bonus cheque

His retirement plan beats any 401k there is!
When it's all said and done, I'll be working for Him a whole lot longer and for that I BLESS HIS NAME!!!!!!

How To Stay Young

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
(keep this In mind if you are one of those grouches;)

3. Keep learning:

Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening,
whatever. Never let the brain get idle.

"An idle mind is the devil's workshop."
And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and Lots of time with HIM/HER.

6. The tears happen: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourself. LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health:
If it is good, preserve it.
If it is unstable, improve it.
If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips.
Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county,
to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

credits: funnyfunpages.com

[JDorama] Unfair

Title: Unfair
Genre: Mystery
Episodes: 11
Aired: Jan - Mar 2006
Cast:

Shinohara Ryoko - Yukihira Natsumi has the best record in the police. She's a cop that only cares about taking out the bad people off the streets. She doesn't care about the police's reputation as long as she does her job the way she thinks right, even killing the criminal on the spot. She became as tough as she is because of the death of her father who was also a police detective. Aside from dealing with criminals, she also had to deal with her divorce and daughter who suffered a trauma from people calling her mother a killer. Shinohara Ryoko did a really great job in this drama. She totally owned the series from start to finish.

Eita - Ando Kazuyuki is the newbie cop that became Yukihira's partner. He's a good cop that fell in love with Natsumi unexpectedly. I loved Ando from the moment he appeared in the drama. I felt so bad with what they did to his character. Eita is a good actor. He's usually funny in his other dramas but he still did well here in a serious but still funny role.

Kagawa Teruyuki - Sato Kazuo is the chief editor of a newspaper company and the ex-husband of Natsumi. He divorced Natsumi due to her too much dedication to work that she neglected her family already.

Summary:

Yukihira Natsumi is so dedicated to her job as a cop that she doesn't care for her reputation and just do things her way. She shot a 17 year old boy that killed some hotel staffs 5 years ago that caused people to complain. Then a series of murder happened that is interconnected making the master mind a serial killer. Different suspects were caught and died one by one but the murders continues. Who could the master mind be?

I first thought that this drama will be a one story per episode type of drama. But it turned out to be one whole story intertwined together. This drama is so good that it keeps you at the edge of your seat from episode 1 to end. I still can't take the ending though... by episode 9, I started having a really bad feeling about the ending and I expected it already. But watching the last episode still made me feel really bad. SPOILER ALERT!!! I love Ando, and I can't, can't accept that it's him! He is a good man and no trace of evil in him can be seen in the whole drama. He truly loved Yukihira and her daughter. I can't imagine him doing all those terrible killings. I understand that they wanted to make a the ultimate twist in the drama but it's just too much for me.

But still, I just have to admit that this is a drama that's truly worth watching!

Watch Online >> Unfair w/ English subtitles

Rating: 9/10

[JDorama] Honey and Clover

Title: Honey and Clover (a.k.a. Hachimitsu to Clover)
Genre: Romance
Episodes: 11
Aired: Jan - Mar 2008
Cast:

Narumi Riko - Hanamoto Hagumi is a gifted artist that possesses pure innocence. She's portraying the talented people that was once unknown but became popular all of a sudden. The hardship she faces because of not being used to the attention given to her. I think the role is quite challenging and I guess Riko came a bit short acting out the role. She came out boring and too ignorant that borders on being kinda dumb.

Ikuta Toma - Takemoto Yuta is the lost soul in the story. I bet most of us were in his shoes at least once in our lives. He went to art school without real interest in art. He went to escape a life he doesn't like. This made his life more difficult because he made a decision based on wrong purpose. I think his character is the most I can relate to. Lost and frustrated. Wanting to do something but always ends up with nothing. He's story is the one I like best. If not for Toma, I wouldn't have watched this series to the end.

Narimiya Hikori - Morita Shinobu is the most talented and popular artist of the school. He's naturally gifted that he was offered to go to New York for his art. But as what the most people see artists are, he's 4th dimensional and has his own way of living life. He does what he wants and doesn't care much what others think. I didn't like his character but I'd have to say that Hikori did a good job playing his role.

Harada Natsuki - Yamada Ayumi is another art student that has talent and was recognized for it. Her specialty is pottery. Hopelessly in love with Mayama Takumi, like every girl who's in love, she's unselfish to the point of looking foolish. Sadly, she doesn't recognize other people who cares for her because she's too focused on the one that doesn't notice her. One of the prettiest faces I've seen in doramas, I think it's pretty cliche that they have to have a pretty girl play a part that's get unnoticed.

Mukai Osamu - Mayama Takumi is the guy that is in love with an older woman. Not just any ordinary older woman but one that was widowed and still can't get over her dead husband. It's one thing to compete with another man, but it's more difficult to compete with a dead man. He shows the stubborn person in us that even knowing that we have good things in our reach, we still want something we can't have.

Summary:

Honey and Clover directly shows us the life of 5 college friends and how they face the life ahead of them. But on the hind side, we know that each of the characters represents us one way or another. I like the thought the writer is trying to show us, it's broad and reaches out to the viewers. Sadly, the drama while watching the drama, I was bored to death and the pacing is kinda slow. I'm not sure if it's the directors fault that it turned out badly but the drama had so much promise that it's sad to see it turn out really bad. The story picked up pace near the end but not much room to save the whole drama any more.

Rating: 6/10

If I Knew...

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd see you fall asleep,
I'd tuck you in more tightly,
And pray your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd see you walk out the door,
I'd hug you and kiss you--and call you
Back for just one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
We'd spare a minute or two,
I'd stop and say "I love you,"
Instead of assuming you know I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd be there to share your day,
I wouldn't wait until tomorrow,
Letting time with you slip away.

For surely there is a tomorrow
To make up for an oversight,
And we'll always get a second chance
To make everything all right.

There will always be another chance
To say our "I love yous,"
And certainly there's another chance
To say our "What I can dos."

But just in case I might be wrong,
And today is all I get,
I'd like to say I love you,
And hope you never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
Young or old alike,
And today might be your last chance
To hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
Why not do it all today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
You will surely regret the day

You didn't take the extra time
For a smile or hug or kiss.
And you surely aren't too busy to grant
What may be their last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
And whisper in their ear;
Tell them how much you love them,
And that you'll always hold them dear.

Take the time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Forgive me," or "It's okay,"
And if tomorrow never comes,
You'll have no regrets about today.

credits: newfunpages.com