I'm not lost...

...just drowning in work!

It's been more than a month since I last made a post, and I'm cringing at that because I promised myself I would be diligent and make regular posts. Alas, thesis work, writing blocks, and graduate studies have taken over my life.

If I haven't posted any book reviews is because I haven't read anything since May. I'm already having severe withdrawal symptoms. You know, insomnia, anxiety, and an uncontrollable desire to buy every new book that comes out even though I've got mini pyramids of unread books all over my room.

If I haven't posted any movie reviews is because I haven't gone to the theater since May. *cue sad music* I missed all of the summer movies: After Earth, Man of Steel (I didn't get to see that suit on the big screen and for that I will forever cry), Monster University, World War Z, Despicable Me, Pacific Rim (everyone keeps telling me it was amazeballs and I just whimper because I have to wait for the BluRay), etc. I'm still on time to watch Wolverine, Percy Jackson 2, and Elysium, but I just Don't. Have. Time. Or more like, I fear if I get a taste of the outside world I won't want to come back and work. I'll be like a wilde beast set free to stretch its limbs who will then put up a fight when it's time to go back in the cage...And the example got away from me. *apologizes profusely*

Anyways the only movie which I'll go see (hopefully today) is The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and it's because IT'S THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS!

*fangirl mode: on* 

AHHHHH! OMG ASDFGHJKLLSDFRW ITSMAGNUSFREAKINGBANEPEOPLEANDALECANDJACEANDCLARYAND

DEMONSANDTHEGUYFROMTHETUDORSANDQUEENCERSEIAND

AHOTWEREWOLFWHOWASONCEAHOTDWARF

ANDSTUFF!COOLSTUFFALLAROUND! /DEAD 

*fangirl mode: off*

A possible review will be written after watching it and after all the fangirl has died down a bit.

The bad news is that from here on out things will only get harder with the thesis and school work. Overachiever me somehow thought it was a smart idea to take not one, but two classes this term, a how-to-teach module and a grammar module, on top of trying to finish revising my entire novel for this term. *throws up* Yes, I'm fine. I can do this. I CAN DO THIS.

The only thing that's kept me in a semi-alive/sane state through all this is...

Kpop

Because being a hermit writer was getting kind of boring, I've now become a hermit writer with a Kpop obsession. I think this is perfectly normal for us writerly-nerdy-mostawesometypesofpeople types to have an obsession (read:fandom). I don't know about the rest, but I've found that having a current obsession typically fuels my muse. So while others have their tumblrs desktops filled with Supernatural, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Sherlock I have mine filled with all of those plus Kpop idols. Pics, gifs, fanfiction, you name it, it's there. And while it's been an uphill, graveled and thorny road with my thesis, I'm sailing down a nice stream writing short Kpop fanfics that will probably never see the light of day, but that nonetheless keep me writing.  Kpop videos have also fueled something in me I thought long lost...the desire to *gasp* dance. Yeh. I've been dancing (read:wiggling/spazzing) to some of the kpop dances and it is beautiful to have something active to do.

In other words, obsessions are useful procrastination.
And in dire times, they keeps you somewhat sane.

PS: Note I've tagged this as 'rambling'

At the Movies: Now You See Me

Movie: Now You See Me
Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Mark Ruffalo
My Rating: 4/5

What I loved~
The tricks! When the first, lets say, 20 minutes of the movie had passed I was kind of worried. All the footage I'd seen in trailers and special scenes released pass during that time. And now the chase began, so I though...that's it? No more tricks? Because you know they'll be running and hiding. WRONG. That was just the tip of the iceberg. What comes next was as or even more impressive and visually satisfying than those previews.

The Four Horsemen: Daniel Atlas, Merrit, Henley and Jack. These guys couldn't be more different from each other if they tried, yet they are brought together and the result is an amazing team.

I do think they could've expanded more into each character's lives. The only one we get to know really about is Merrit and only because the detective reads his file. We know Daniel and Henley had a past together. But nothing is said about Jack, that I remember.

The ending...I admit to having my mouth full open for the entire time it was going on. The people in the theather were all like.. "Naaaah." "Nooo" "OMG" Then it became really funny when I heard the whispered, "It cant be" and then, "Is this for real?"

What I liked~
The main actors. As with the characters, this was an unlikely cast to be brought together yet they worked so well. Oh and Mark Ruffalo in all his scruffy, ruggedy, but not hulky goodness was a treat to watch.

Morgan Freeman...because he seems to be in every freaking movie I've watched this year. Having him explain the tricks was very cool.

What I didn't like~
As a proclaimed romanceaholic, I was surprised to find myself wanting to skip or fast forward the sexy tension scenes between the detective and the interpol agent. The scenes just dragged a bit and I only wanted to get to the next trick :)

At the Movies: Fast & Furious 6

Movie: Fast & Furious 6
Stars: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Ludacris, Luke Evans
My Rating: 5/5

What I loved~
The flirtatiousness of Dom and Letty getting to know each other for the first time...again. It was an unexpected romantic element to a franchise that its known for action, action and more action. But these two finding each other again amid gun fights, races, and a whole lot of crazy was just perfect.

The setting! From the Canary Islands to London to Spain. It's not about getting the shots and action sequences right. It's also about having the perfect backdrop to enhance those things. A fast race is dangerous. A fast race with multiple cars through the tight streets of London is DANGEROUS. See the difference?

Flying shit everywhere. I mean planes, cars, tanks, people...

And Roman isn't the only one to fly either. It was a bunch of ridiculousness that I couldn't help but love. This is why I go watch these movies: to see the impossible and laugh.

What I liked~
We've seen this crew battle through a lot and the camaraderie is evident here as they embark on yet another mission. Roman Pierce had the funniest most annoying comments and moments ever (yes, that is a good thing.) and Tej was right there being sarcastic and poking at him. Han had the sweetest moments with Gisele (this girl is like totally badass! Dare I say, much more so than Letty). And dammit, I knew he was dead, but seeing it again </3

What I felt missing~
Sexy cars...Okay, so they're not exactly missing. They're freaking everywhere, but none of them stayed in my mind like say Dom's Charger in the first movie or Han's orange Mazda in Tokyo. The only one that I really appreciated was the red Dodge Daytona, which is of course Dom's.

What!?~
Fast & Furious 7 preview. Dear god, it's...It's Statham!