machikirenai yo beautiful days!

My current reading selection, thanks to the Marina Public Library :)

I've been fully enjoying the freedom that Summer Break 2010 has given me for the past two weeks. Unfortunately, on Wednesday I had a "revision" on my cleft lip surgery which has left me with a swollen, stitched up lip for the past three days (don't click the link if you've a strong aversion to blood/general grossness) - the cause of my inability to eat any real food, go out to meet with friends (or to the XX concert that was in Big Sur on the 3rd, GAH!), or exercise. The worst part is that it hurts to smile! Of course, since I smile constantly (hey, I'm an optimist!) I'm constantly in pain, but I suppose this should only last for a week or two.
On the plus side, it's given me an excuse to lock myself in my room and read lots of books while listening to my selection of KPop, JPop, and Strokes/Arctic Monkeys music on repeat. So far this break I've finished Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Dan Pink's Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, which were both outstanding reads that I highly recommend. Currently I'm working on reading the Spanish Language edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (for practice, okay? I'm a nerd, can't help it~) and Arthur Miller's The Crucible (which is required reading which I detest: this play is so hard to read, and I've a feeling I wouldn't understand at all what was happening had I not seen a production of it earlier this year).

I've also been watching a Korean Drama called IRIS which is made really well. It's sort of reminiscent of the Bourne films, in my mind. After the first 15 or so episodes I started to get bored, and began a new scarf to knit while watching: it's pink and will have yellow and blue pockets and a hood :)
Last night I had an Arashi variety show binge of sorts, which was utterly satisfying. Lately all of the members of Arashi have really been kept busy (so busy, in fact, that two of its members [Nino the 17-year-old-brat and Jun the princess] have been involved in car accidents this year and consequently have made the talent agency ban all members of Arashi from driving at all this year, hahaha)! I'm really looking forward to the release of their new single "To Be Free," the ultimate feel-good song which I was enchanted with from the first listen: frankly, it makes me want to frolick in a magnificent field of daisies and wild horses... or something along those lines. The song is just so happy and empowering, it's simply very Arashi-like and I love it to no end! Also, they're releasing an album in August, which naturally I cannot afford but will support enthusiastically nevertheless.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the rest of summer. It's going to be *amazing.*
-K

PS: Can you believe it?!?! (a) We're already halfway done with the year and (b) this is my 400th post! [throws confetti]