This month was an abysmal one for blogging. There’s a reason behind it but I think it’s best saved for another time. On the bright side: While being an absentee blogger my writing side projects were for the most part going okay. There really are clients who are so hard to deal with when it comes to payments. Aside from problematic clients Iím proud to say that my writing (copywriting and fiction writing) has been prolific. I’m sure Grammarly would be proud of me too. My initial plan back in September was to focus on my kdrama website, Ramyeon & Reviews. I had my content calendar all ready for October. I had so much fun searching for and piecing together blog topics! But things happened and I had to push back all the fun and creepy posts. Who’s up for Nightmarish November instead?
It feels SO GOOD as I type this down. It feels like forever since I last blogged. I figured Iíd drop by here and fill you in with what made October worth it.
It’s me. Hi, I’m the problem. It’s me.
So yeah. Taylor Swift has recently released her Midnights album and you bet I listened to it. I was drawn to Snow on the Beach and Labyrinth. The former felt like I was being lulled into a dream. A chill and peaceful one. A dream I could live in. The latter made me want to flop down on my bed, look up at the ceiling, and just let my mind go on a freefall. And that moment? It’s nothing great, but it’s nothing bad, either. I’m just there, lying on my back, staring up at the ceiling, thinking of nothing, everything, and the in-between.
A business trip? HAHA. Joke’s on you Gracie
I love to write mostly supernatural or horror. I write the occasional romantic comedy too. But it’s always just for my eyes only. I never had the courage to officially publish my works. I was too worried about what readers will think of it. What if my writing isn’t good enough? What if my characters feel flat for them? What if the plot is just not interesting? It was a never-ending spiral of crippling self-doubt.
And then I heard about Patreon, thought “Why not?”, and then decided to try my hand at publishing a story chapter by chapter. I already had this story swirling around my head for quite some time. I thought maybe it’s high time I write and publish it. So that’s exactly what I did.
In this romantic comedy Gracie is sent to Maroon Island thinking she was there for a work-related trip. Turns out Fate has other plans for her and one of them includes getting married to a rich grouchy stranger and getting entangled with a popular and charming celebrity. In a predicament that’s completely out of her hands she struggles to find her place in the vibrant and not-so-ordinary city at the heart of Maroon Island.
The Secret Wife
“The Secret Wife” currently has nine chapters and is released every Sunday. There are no ghosts and murderers here. It’s as if I didn’t even write it. If you’re into light and fluffy romcom, please check it out at Patreon. Who knows? It might just be your cup of tea.
Kdrama notes and tropes: Bestfriends-to-lovers, contract marriage, world of mysteries, and rags-to-riches
This part is for all my fellow kdrama fans. Feel free to skip this section if kdrama isn’t your cup of tea. It’s cool.
“Love is for Suckers”
The first few episodes were already full of humor and surprises: A fling, the return of the ex, a blind date, and a dating reality show. Jae Hoon, played by Choi Si Won, falls into the character trope of the lovesick bestfriend who is pretty damn near perfect. Sure, he has his flaws but it’s hard to not root for him. However, beneath Jae Hoon’s goofy, easygoing personality lies a person with a guilt so heavy it’s enough to crush him. Yeo Reum had helped pulled him out of his misery all those years ago, but sometimes the past comes back to haunt him. Yeo Reum, played by Lee Da Hee, has always been career driven. She wants to succeed as a television producer and has been working hard for it most of her adult life. One of the biggest blows in her life was when her fiancée had broken up with her to pursue a job abroad. She’s recently been assigned to the second season of a dating reality show and her life has been anything but boring since then.
“Love is for Suckers” is a light romantic comedy about two people in their late 30s, torn between crossing the line of a treasured friendship and a romantic relationship. It has aired eight episodes as I type this and I look forward to the next couple of episodes. This is a fun watch. If you want something light and fluffy with amusing humor thrown in this might be the romantic comedy kdrama for you.
“Love in Contract”
Choi Sang Eun has it all: looks, wealth, charm, and poise. She seems to lead a perfect life and her chosen job as a professional contract marriage master complemented her difficult past. Each of her client comes to her when they need the perfect date and even the perfect wife, if the situation calls for it. Then there’s Jung Ji Ho, a long-time client of Sang Eun. He’s a judge who has no problem saying what’s on his mind, making it difficult for his colleagues to get along with him. He’s also very mysterious and Sang Eun is drawn to him, eventually developing feelings for the man who is her husband on contract only. To make things even more complicated, popular actor Kang Hae Jin asks Sang Eun for her service as his girlfriend. Stubbornly persistent, Hae Jin pursues Sang Eun, falling in love with her at first sight. The two of them go way back, but will it be enough for Sang Eun to be swayed?
“Love in Contract” is another fluffy romcom with the right balance of humor and drama. I love Sang Eun and Woo Gwang Nam together, too. Gwang Nam used to be her client and is now her bestfriend and housemate. Their scenes are my favorite. I live for their bond and bantering. The back stories on the three main characters were well executed, too. Go Kyung Pyo, the actor who plays Jung Ji Ho, nails his character every freaking time. Go watch this kdrama if you want something with crazy, funny antics and a set of characters that are memorable and sure to make you laugh.
“The Golden Spoon”
Seung Cheon is a high school student who gets incessantly bullied because he’s poor. His fate does a one-eighty when he crosses paths with a woman who sells him a golden spoon. “Eat three meals using this spoon with someone you want to switch parents with.” This was what Seung Cheon did with Hwang Tae Yong, his classmate who’s the son of a chaebol.
But everything comes with a price. While Seung Cheon is living the life of a rich and pampered heir, he soon discovers the dark side of Tae Yong’s family, including Tae Yong himself. Caught up in a family drama centered on greed and intrigue, Seung Cheon ponders on what to do with the life he has chosen.
I love this kdrama because it’s touching, heartbreaking, and amusing all at once. The characters come alive and don’t feel flat. The subplots are always surprising and each episode is exciting. It also makes me think “Would I trade parents too if I had that golden spoon?” Watch this kdrama if you’re into fantasy drama served with a hint of darkness and a boatload of plot twists.
“Blind”
A serial murder case brings together a detective, a judge, and a social worker. Ryu Sung Joon is a detective whose heart is in the right place, although his temper gets the best of him at times. His brother, Sung Hoon, is a judge. Sung Hoon is the perfect son and pretty much leads the perfect life: Good-looking, has a respectable career, and is doted on by both parents. Jo Eun Ki is a warm-hearted and kind social worker. She tries her best to help the youth in need. Her life takes a turn for the worse when she gets involved in a serial killer’s case after being appointed as one of the nine juries. Together with the two brothers, Eun Ki uncovers the mystery behind Hope Orphanage and the brutal killings of some of the jury members.
This kdrama was so gripping right from the start. It instantly became my favorite. The two brothers Sung Joon and Sung Hoon both seemed to be hiding their own secrets. As each episode unfolded more mysteries were revealed and more people were killed. Itís the Crazy Wall equivalent of a kdrama but in a good way. If youíre into murder mysteries thatíll take you for a wild ride, then “Blind” might be for you.
This week in photo
I am now signing off. Halloween is near and there’s so much great horror movies and series to start watching. I hope you’re having a great weekend! Stay safe. Stay sane. Don’t talk to strangers.
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