Ajumma's Pad

Saturday, March 14, 2009

White Day= A most horrid holiday

As if Valentine's Day weren't bad enough, Koreans and Japanese celebrate another horrendous holiday founded on expectations and guilt. March 14, known as White Day, is when those who received gifts of fondness on Valentine's are supposed to return the favor with candies, jewelry or flowers. Shops across Seoul and Tokyo are stocked to the gills with gawdy baskets and White Day gift sets for people (usually guys) to give to others. I distinctly remember White Day as one of my worst days in Korea. In fact, when I think about White Day I imagine myself as a deranged Joan Crawford screaming, "No White Day everrrrr!!!!"

Thursday, March 12, 2009

I think he's drinking taro

Marikoroo created this while bored in class.

Jet Li and Barbie: BFF

Jet Li finally got the girl. The bad news is she's 50 years old and made of plastic. Li attended the grand opening of Barbie's flagship store in Shanghai, last week, where models posing as life-sized Barbies strutted their stuff. Mattel's Senior VP said China was chosen for the Barbie store due in part to its large population and vast market potential. Another attraction, he said, was the potential appeal of Barbie in newly affluent urban areas of China not just to young girls, but to their mothers as well. Eek! It's still a bizarre place to find Jet Li.

See photos of the Barbie store here.

The Muppets sing-along

If you live near downtown Orlando, get your booty to The History Center for a sing-along version of The Muppet Movie on Saturday, March 14. In case you've forgotten, The Muppet Movie (1979) includes fantasical songs Movin' Right Along and The Rainbow Connection. The screening and sing-along is part of the exhibit, Jim Henson's Fantastic World, at the center through May 3.