I am currently totally addicted to just finished a Korean drama series called Queen of Housewives. It's on Hulu. My efforts to watch less TV is totally out the window. Anyway, I liked it because it's kind of funny. And of course, there was eye candy.
I never knew of Oh Ji Ho before but yeah.. me like.
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This Memorial Day weekend, I, along with many other parents, took my kids to see "Kung Fu Panda 2." It feels strange to say this, but I really enjoyed seeing what all the characters were up to, as if I were revisiting old friends. The movie delved deeper into Po the panda's personal history, and although the expected visual and verbal gags kept the audience giggling, the film also touches on some real-life themes in surprisingly thoughtful ways: adoption, "man" vs. machine, reconciling the past with the present and future, and redemption.
As the movie ended, I was very curious to see who intertwined the childish comedy with the deeper, more sober issues with such a light, masterful touch. And when the director's name appeared on the screen, my mouth dropped. First of all, she was a woman. Second of all, she could very well be Korean!
Both turned out to be true: Jennifer Yuh Nelson is the first woman to singlehandedly direct a big-budget major animated feature. BOOYAH!!!
From this LA times article, I learned that Jennifer Yuh Nelson actually grew up in Lakewood, CA, minutes away from where I grew up, and not surprisingly, received encouragement and guidance from her own Kimchi Mama from a very young age:
As a young girl, she would sit at the kitchen table for hours and watch her mother draw, copying her every stroke. Nelson traces the lineage of her career to those formative family experiences.
I also really enjoyed reading how she learned to come into her own as a naturally soft-spoken person in a position that usually is defined by auteur angst:
"I'm a very soft-spoken person. I don't throw furniture. I don't throw tantrums," Nelson said. "As a director, your job is to protect this movie with your life. Protect it against anything that would take it off its course and turn it beige. You have to be very, very ferocious and that was the hardest part for me because I'm not used to yelling."
And perhaps the most glowing testimonial comes from the CEO of Dreamworks himself, Jeffrey Katzenberg:
"What I always find so amazing about Jennifer is that inside this beautiful, soulful, soft-spoken, elegant lady is this macho, kung fu-loving action dynamo," Katzenberg said. "It's the opposite of what we're all used to dealing with in the world, the macho exterior and marshmallow center. There is very much a cult following that she has among our artists. They all want to work with her."
Well, I'm not an artist, but definitely count me in as a cult member. I'm so inspired! Ms. Yuh Nelson, you rock!!!
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Weigook Saram gave us all a heads up about this article on Slate, "The Mommy Track Turns 21, Why it no longer deserves a bad rap from feminists" b
I've never really thought about being or not being on a "Mommy Track." I've only mainly thought about the pros and cons of being a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) versus working full time outside the home. I "chose" (in quotes because we need the double income to make ends meet unless we move to the outskirts and drastically change our lifestyle) to work full time because I prefer to work and pay someone else to raise my kids. JUST KIDDING. Well... only kind of?
Even if I had oodles of money, I don't think I would choose to stay home and raise my kids all on my own. I would probably still put them in some sort of daycare/preschool program. Why? Because I don't think I'm all that great at providing enough stimulation for them to learn and thrive. I can only play legos for so long until my butt gets sore and my legs fall asleep. Also, I want them to interact with other kids for a bulk of the day to help teach them social skills. But given that I don't have oodles of money, I work full time for Big Company who generously provide healthcare for my entire family and help me pay for diapers, groceries, and the mortgage. I like the intellectual stimulation that my work provides, as well as a sense of accomplishment I get when I finish a big project or see the product of my work being used in real life. I also like that I can be an employee or 8 hours a day, and not "mommy."
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Love at first sight... is what I felt the moment I laid eyes on Kim Yu-na (κΉμ°μ).
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Mesmerized was what I was... during both of her performances... I think even my 3 year old son was crushing on her.
Hands down, she was the highlight of the 2010 Winter Olympics for me. Way to go Yu-na!
This Kimchi mama (+ the rest of the world) loves you.
You make me a little more proud to be Korean and I sure hope that all of your endorsements (she's the highest paid in endorsements among all celebrities in South Korea) help close the largest gender income gap in the developed world. (Thank you Hyon Bin for the heads up about the great article!)
- Mary is a little sad that the Olympics are over and still a little pissed about all of South Korea's missed metal opportunities in short track. *sigh*
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