Memoirs of Madison

Starting a new job

Posted by: madisonlane on: October 18, 2010

I’m happy that I’m starting a new job so I can advance in my accounting career.  However, this will be a new experience since I don’t have much IT audit experience.  I’m willing to learn and grasp new knowledge :)

My goals for this job:

  • Stay until I become a senior associate whether it takes me 1-2 years.
  • Manage my stress better this time around since it’s Big Four.  However, it’s not financial audit – more IT audits :)  
  • Maintain being humble and not open my mouth before thinking of consequences
  • If not working, must meet with family and friends. 
  • Stay on task and being more effective and efficient as possible
  • Pass the CISA exam within a year
  • If in stressed mode, express concerns to teams

Hopefully setting these goals I am able to manage and control my stress level and workload.  By setting goals, I can see what I need to achieve for this career. 

Staying positive about finding the right job does help.  I went on 30+ interviews trying to seek something better in industry; however, I come back into Big Four.  My ambition to go the sky limit is still here so I’ll give it another try.  :)   I have to say for job seekers – know that you have value and worth going into an interview.  At times, there are times to take a lower pay grade when there is a home mortgage and children to think about.  Don’t let interviewers intimidate the fact that they think you are incapable of doing a good job!  When you are the best of the best :)

I havent been listening to much new korean music since my laptop was down for the past week.  I knew I had to reinstall or repair Windows.  In the end, I had to re-install Windows on my laptop.  I’m proud of myself of accomplishing such a big task LOL!  Now it’s just re-install alot of the other software onto the laptop.

Compilation of Korean Dramas Watched

Posted by: madisonlane on: September 7, 2010

Since I have a bad and forgetful memory, I’m gonna list the korean dramas I watched with recommendations.  I think I seen some drama which I don’t  wanna watch again :)   Don’t think of this as a timeline.  I had to use some resources to capture all the dramas that I have watched.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Korean_television_shows

  1. Princess Hours (Goong) 2006 – Highly recommended.  I love Joo Ji Hoon and Yoon Eunhye’s pairing in here.  Plus I think Joo Ji Hoon is so hot with his lean tall back :)   It’s very pretty drama with their artistry and clothes.  Yes, acting wasn’t superb, but all actors start at some point.  4.5/5 stars
  2. Coffee Prince 2007 – Highly recommended. I love Yoon Eunhye in this drama.  She’s very tomball and went to great depth to become the character.  Gong Yoo is a very hot commodity as the owner prince.  I miss the whole cast since one of the princes has passed away.  RIP Lee Eon!  Good comedy and some touching moments.  5/5 stars
  3. Cinderella’s Sister 2010 – Recommended. First drama since the comeback of Chun Jung Myung’s from army and debut of Taecyeon of 2pm as an actor.  I really love Moon Geun Young as an actress and loved her from Autumn Fairy Tale as a child actress.  She gives very daunting glares and at times held in so much burden.  The drama itself was very slow at first then it went very high-speed at the end so I felt rushed.  Plus, I watched the music video of Cinderella’s Sister OST, I had some expectations of the storyline to be in the drama, but it didn’t happen.  So the music video and drama itself did not correlate.  I do wish that the romance between Jung Myung and Geun Young had more showtime and development.  4.5/5 stars
  4. My Name is Kim Sam Soon 2005 – Highly recommended. One of my 1st dramas that I saw where no one died and made me fell in love again with korean drama.  Hyun Bin and Kim Sun Ah – best comedic pairing ever.  LOL!  Of course, I cried for Kim Sam Soon since she’s a pretty righteous person, but at times naive in love.  I feel I can relate myself to her at all times.  5/5 stars
  5. City Hall 2009 – Highly recommended.  Kim Sun Ah and Cha Seung Won are beautiful actors.  Kim Sun Ah is great at everything.  I love her trying not to be political, but then she grew and matured herself as the mayor of Inju.  Cha Seung Won is a good looking man -.-  This drama talks a lot about politics; thus, if you don’t understand korean politics, it’s a bit difficult to understand.  However, it’s very fun and entertaining.  You learn what it takes to become powerful to people, but not using the hands of force.   5/5 stars
  6. The World They Live In 2008 – Highly recommended. Hyun Bin and Song Hye Gyo – what a wonderful pairing.  I love the lines and story between them.  They were kissing alot during the drama.  LOL.  It does give you more insight of the making of a drama and the work lifestyle of the producers, directors, film editors, and everyone taking part of the dramas.  5/5 stars
  7. New Heart 2008 – Recommended. Park Ji Sung and the main heart doctor.  I loved this drama!  It’s very fast paced.  But it shows how the best people cannot always win or shine because some people are always jealous of the competition.  4.5/5 stars
  8. Oh Dal Ja’s Spring 2007 – Highly Recommended. Chae Rim and Lee Min Ki are so adorable together.  Lee Min Ki plays a wonderful character and I wish I had a boyfriend like that.  LOL!  I loved the little snippets before and after the episodes.  5/5 stars
  9. Witch’s Amusement 2007 – Neutral. I think the storyline went off-track and it didn’t make sense.  A lot of good looking actors and actresses, but the writing and story fell through.  I like Jae Hee as an actor and finished watching the drama because of him.  Dennis Oh spoke better Korean.  Kim Jung Hoon from UN played another third wheel again besides his role in Goong.  2.5/5 stars
  10. Get Karl Oh Soo Jung 2007 – Neutral. I like Uhm Jung Hwa, but I didn’t like the storyline of this drama.  It’s very light hearted and that’s about it.  2.5/5 stars
  11. Hello, God 2006 – Highly recommended. I cried so much for this drama.  Yoo Gun is a very talented actor who shined throughout the drama.  I just loved the storyline and it breaks my heart that he did a transformation so he can be liked.  Kim Ok Bin and Yoo Gun’s pairing is very cute.  She treats him like a dongseng.  Very spectacular drama.  It’s an adaptation of the book – Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. 5/5 stars
  12. Sweet Spy 2006 – Neutral. I like Nam Sang Mi and Dennis Oh.  I think it was Dennis Oh’s first drama.  But he’s very good eye candy.  I can’t say much about the acting.  At times, the drama was funny then it would be serious.  3/5 stars
  13. Autumn in my Heart (Endless Love) 2000 – Highly recommended.  I watched this series when I was in high school.  I cried every episode, but the storyline would just tug at your heart in every aspect.  I think this was one of my first Korean dramas that I watched.  It’s a classic tearjerker. 4/5 stars
  14. We are Dating Now 2002 – Recommended. I watched this drama due to Chae Rim.  I really liked her acting from Oh Dal Ja’s Spring so I wanted to watch some of her older dramas.  This is a very simple drama about the stages in life that humans go through.  The high school -> college years -> army years -> working in the real world.  So Ji Sup is too cute in the drama because he loved Chae Rim’s character from the way beginning when she was trying so hard to find her true love.  4/5 stars
  15. 1% of Anything 2003 – Recommended. It’s not a fancy drama, but a well rounded family drama with Kim Jung Hwa (who I think is a great actress but not very famous).  Kang Dong Won is a very adorable character who acts very abrasive.  LOL.  3.5/5 stars
  16. Full House 2004 – Recommended. Rain’s debut as an actor as Jung Ji Hoon.  I liked the storyline between Jung Ji Hoon and Song Hye Gyo.  Though at times, I couldn’t stand Song Hye Gyo acting too aegyo, but it’s alright.  3/5 stars
  17. Which Star Did You Come From 2006 – Recommended. I do love Kim Rae Won’s sexy voice!  LOL.  The pairing between Kim Rae Won and Jung Rye Won was adorable.  Though I wasn’t fond of her pigtails, but it showed her as being very country bumpkin.  This drama also has Park Shi Hoo who is very good-looking :) 4/5 stars
  18. What’s Up Fox 2006 – Recommended. This is the follow up drama by the same writers or PD of Kim Sam Soon.  The whole thing about an older lady is coined as fox since she likes younger men.  Chun Jung Myung is way too adorable and cute.  4/5 stars
  19. Snow White 2004 – Highly recommended. Another classic drama where an ugly Betty becomes beautiful inside first then have outer beauty with a makeover.  Yet I felt pain for Kim Jung Hwa’s character since Lee Wan loved her for the way she was.  :) 4.5/5 stars
  20. Delightful Girl Choon-Hyang 2005 – Recommended. For not knowing history, this is a great parody drama.  It is very quirky and Jae Hee fits the main character.  The fighting scenes were a bit exaggerated at times lol.  4/5 stars
  21. 18 vs. 29 2005 – Recommended. It’s an older crowd of actors and actresses.  But it was just so funny to watch.  I laughed so hard during most of the episodes.  The relationship is better after she forgets. 4/5 stars
  22. Marrying a Millionaire – Recommended. I finished watching this drama in 2 days.  LOL.  I was at my friend’s house and it was in dvd version so I was able to fastforward some parts.  I like Go Soo and Kim Hyun Joo as actors.  It’s kind hard to picture in reality of the drama because an average joe can become famous and live a normal life.  I didn’t like the girl’s character because she was a flip flopper, but in the end she scored brownie points.  LOL!  He gave up everything for her.. 3/5 stars

Note: I have watched some dramas, but never finished.  I’ll update as necessary.

  • The Devil – Joo Ji Hoon, Uhm Tae Woong, Shin Mina (7?/20)
  • When It’s at Night – Kim Sun Ah, Lee Dong Gun (10/20 – currently watching)
  • Boys Over Flowers – I only watched the So Yi Jeong and Gaeul parts.  Major bias cuz I think Kim Bum is so hot o.O

I got a few recommendations by my friends to watch and plan to watch when I get the time.  Let me know if you have any suggestions.

  • Shining Inheritance
  • You’re Beautiful
  • Hwang Ji-ni
  • Iljimae
  • Return of Iljimae
  • I really really like you

Jay Park – Live Chat via Allkpop

Posted by: madisonlane on: September 6, 2010

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9353773

Jay Park – Live Chat via Allkpop September 5, 2010

Jay Park and Andrew (he’s from Houston)  YAY for Houston representation!

I was watching/listening during the live chat.  I did laughed alot when Jay responds to the audience’s comments.  He was like I will not kiss Andrew.  LOL!

And he gave shout-out to all over the world.  I tried to add “come to Houston” but I forgot to sign up :)

Jay is pretty entertaining.  He’s really honest to his fans.  He’s like I will marry you when I propose to you.  Then, I was like aww he’s soo sweet.  As the live chat was going, there were comments such as take off your shirt and stuff -.-  Girls or guys – I can’t really tell! I do have to say the fans are typing super fast while Jay is trying to read and answer at the same time.

But he is recovering from his sickness.  He likes Lucky Charms too!  I can’t say anything about Lucky Charms cuz we used a code name for Lucky Charms.  LOL!

I think this adds more reason why I’m more proud to be a Jay-Walker :)   I hope Jay gets to collaborate with Usher in the near future.

Dalmatian – Round 1

Posted by: madisonlane on: September 6, 2010

Dalmatian – Round 1

They are a new boy group debuting in 2010.  At first, I was like darn another boy group coming out cuz I can’t keep up with all these male and female groups debuting in 2010..  At times, I can’t even tell their difference since there has been alot of new groups.

However, they made a huge impression on this performance.  They started out rapping so I thought they were hip-hop.  So I’m thinking hmm okay a bit of Big Bang.  But then, it went to singing via pop/ballad.  Then, I went hmm a bit SM style with the singing.  But they also DANCED (not like 2pm flair), but more so synchronized with everyone doing the same move.  But one member would do a different move than the rest.  So I got impressed.  Then they started singing in English and I went hmm most of the lyrics are in English.  LOL!  Not bad English and their English made sense.  More props!

So after watching the video twice, I’m gonna follow them.  I think they have a lot of potential and to keep up the good work.  They have a lil bit of everything in their music style.  So it’s unique :)

Long time ago..

Posted by: madisonlane on: September 6, 2010

Sorry for the past due update.  I been through some trials and tribulations in life.  I got lost in life for a while working a lot of hours.  I don’t know where I stood in life when I worked long hours.  However, I’m back.  I wanna promote korean music and their wonderful artists.

I missed writing on a blog for a long time.  But things are not meant to be said online at times :)   I loved watching the World Cup 2010 :)   I cheered on the S. Korea Red Devils and USA teams :)   I played my first fantasy game in the World Cup 2010 and was placed 2nd in the final results.  Woohoo!  Remember I’m a girl and it was my first time placing my picks who was going to win games and I got a few estimated scores correctly.

Job market is tough out there for everybody.  Stay focus and positive.  Seek for inspiration to keep your strength strong.

I know that I see Jay Park as a positive influence and also as inspiration.  He was terminated from 2pm in 2009, but came back slowly through Youtube and b-boy activities with AOM, Art of Movement.  He went from leader of 2pm to former kpop artist to b-boy to singer/actor with Sidus HQ.  Now he’s signed a contract with Sidus HQ Entertainment.  I’m so impressed and I read alot of his interviews and he always spoke that he did it for his fans.  I’m proud to be a Jay-Walker :)

I do love his collaboration song with the Brave Brothers, “I Want to Cry”.  See below for audio.

That’s all for now.  I want to contribute my love for kpop to others!

Once in a Lifetime 一期一会

Posted by: madisonlane on: June 13, 2009

Once in a Lifetime 一期一会

You have just one life so choose wisely in what you want to do.  Sure I have made my regrets in life, but who hasnt made any mistakes.  We are all humans so it’s natual to make a mistake, but we just gotta correct them for next time. Choices are important for the path that leads to the future.

Fly if you wanna see the possibilities.  Dream big and explore every option that is out there.  It’s not the end of the world because life gives you many opportunities and chances to do anything.  To love, to work, to see the world, and to dream.

We’re still young to be so burdened in life.  Yet it does happen and it’s good to live with life with no worries and freedom.

So remember things only occur once in a lifetime and no matter what you cant bring it back.  I do love this line ” Once in a Lifetime” from Boys Over Flowers drama from the puzzle scenes of Kim Bum playing So Yi Jung and Kim So Eun playing Chu Gaeul.  In reality, life itself is once in a lifetime.  We cannot change the times and revert and think about the what if’s possibilities.  As much as we want to change our decisions, it’s not possible.  So live life with no regrets and strive for what you truly want to do since it’s once in a lifetime opportunity.  Make your choices wisely because money is not everything.  Choose happiness, love, friends, and family.

We cannot live without them or with them :P  HAHA!

SS501 – Cuz I’m Stupid

Posted by: madisonlane on: May 19, 2009

It’s been a while since I posted -.- I’m still alive.  

I really like this song sung by SS501 :)  It’s also from the Boys over Flowers OST.  Plus, the song reminds me of the sweet or tearful moments in BOF.  Of course I saw SS501 at the Hollywood Bowl Concert 2009 :)  They were spectacular as the closer artists.  I couldnt wish more :P besides meeting them in person.  However, I knew with their busy schedule, I would have looked like another crazed fan so I think I would have pass the opportunity.  But the love for them never dies :)  

Sometimes I know I’m a bit stupid myself in related to the song in love or life.   I have to say dont live life with regrets which I had done before.  Now, I’m at a better place and taking initative of things.  I’m quite tired of people telling me what to do in life when I should make the final decision.  Life is hard yeah I know.  But do refrain when you speak like I never made a responsible decision.  And I’m glad I spoke out about it because I’m not being foolish or stupid anymore.  Who cares about their feelings when they never respected mine to begin with.  

Im learning to really treat myself with vacations :)  I have the wonderful opportunity to be in Los Angeles two weeks ago and in the last week of June, I’ll be going to Vegas :P  That’s what I learned throughout busy season that you cant continue to work yourself to death without treating yourself.  So I’m all about taking a vacation :P  and always take one or more throughout the year because everyone needs that break from everything.  Hell, I know I deserved one and I wasn’t gonna let anyone stop me or spoil my vacation.

Life after School = Work

Posted by: madisonlane on: December 30, 2008

Note: College students, enjoy your time while you can.

I have to say working in the real world is not as great as one would think.  As children, we want to grow up fast so we can make some money to buy anything we want.  But in the end, you’ll question do you really need that item?  Life is different when you start working.  There are no more times of I dont wanna go to class (which I barely skipped class during all 5 years of college).  Your life becomes like 8am-8pm schedule.  As an auditor, our schedules are different from the usual 8am-5pm.  Like I said, enjoy and take your time in school.  It’s not pretty in real life because college still shelters you a bit about reality.

Yep, work has been dominated in my life.  HAHA!  But I have three parts of the CPA under my belt (passing).  So just one more part.  I do miss tv shows and many sports shows.  I do wanna watch Tomita perform, but I have to say they do not broadcast anything on regular tv channels.  I have to youtube alot of stuff :)

I did wanted to share a fun thing I saw at a girl’s blogsite.  It’s about books one has read from the list.  See below for instructions and list:

1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.
2) Italicise those you intend to read.
3) Change the colour of the books you LOVE.
4) Reprint this list in your own blog so we can try and track down these people who’ve read 6 and force books upon them.

1. Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
2. The Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien
3. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
4. Harry Potter series – JK Rowling
5. To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
6. The Bible
7. Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
8. Nineteen Eighty Four – George Orwell
9. His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman
10. Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
11. Little Women – Louisa M Alcott

12. Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy
13. Catch 22 – Joseph Heller
14. Complete Works of Shakespeare
15. Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
16. The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien
17. Birdsong – Sebastian Faulks
18. Catcher in the Rye – JD Salinger
19. The Time Traveller’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
20. Middlemarch – George Eliot
21. Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell
22. The Great Gatsby – F Scott Fitzgerald
23. Bleak House – Charles Dickens
24. War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy
25. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
26. Brideshead Revisited – Evelyn Waugh
27. Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28. Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
29. Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
30. The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame
31. Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy
32. David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
33. Chronicles of Narnia – CS Lewis
34. Emma – Jane Austen
35. Persuasion – Jane Austen
36. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – CS Lewis
37. The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
38. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis De Bernieres
39. Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden
40. Winnie the Pooh – AA Milne
41. Animal Farm – George Orwell
42. The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
43. One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44. A Prayer for Owen Meaney – John Irving
45. The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins
46. Anne of Green Gables – LM Montgomery
47. Far From The Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy
48. The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
49. Lord of the Flies – William Golding
50. Atonement – Ian McEwan
51. Life of Pi – Yann Martel
52. Dune – Frank Herbert
53. Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons
54. Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
55. A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth
56. The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57. A Tale Of Two Cities – Charles Dickens
58. Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
59. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon
60. Love In The Time Of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61. Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
62. Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov
63. The Secret History – Donna Tartt
64. The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
65. Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas
66. On The Road – Jack Kerouac
67. Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy
68. Bridget Jones’ Diary – Helen Fielding
69. Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie
70. Moby Dick – Herman Melville
71. Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens
72. Dracula – Bram Stoker
73. The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
74. Notes From A Small Island – Bill Bryson
75. Ulysses – James Joyce
76. The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath
77. Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome
78. Germinal – Emile Zola
79. Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray
80. Possession – AS Byatt
81. A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
82. Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
83. The Color Purple – Alice Walker
84. The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
85. Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert
86. A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry
87. Charlotte’s Web – EB White
88. The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom
89. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90. The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton
91. Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad
92. The Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93. The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks
94. Watership Down – Richard Adams
95. A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole
96. A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute
97. The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas
98. Hamlet – William Shakespeare
99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
100. Les Miserables – Victor Hugo

DBSK – Mirotic (Sexy comeback :)

Posted by: madisonlane on: September 23, 2008

OMG~ DBSK has their new full music video out – Mirotic.  It is freaking hot.  I must say their 3rd album I wasnt tooo impressed because I really love the 1st and 2nd albums alot.  Purple Line got me back on track.  But Mirotic got me hypnotized and ‘crazy for them’.  HEHE!  The lyrics to this song are very tantalizing and showing some skin and body is nice to watch.  I have to say they have matured over the years.  I dont think of them as young guys more like hot blooded men.  HAHA! I have to say that cuz JaeJoong’s body is nice.  Yunho o.O  I’m just soooo impressed.  But I must say their hairstyles are like -.- on a few of them.  Like what the heck are you thinking -.-  Hopefully they will fix that.

Cuz this song is smoking hot :)   I’m actually watching their live performance of it (fancam version) during the SM Showcase and it’s pretty hot.  That’s the link below.

Totally became a slave to DBSK once again! :) I must watch a clearer version of this comeback when it shows :)

Wonder Girls – Nobody :)

Posted by: madisonlane on: September 23, 2008

Wonder Girls are back!  I actually like this song a bit more than So Hot.  So Hot was good, but this one shows off their vocal skills.  I like to watch them perform the retro style songs because they have that deep rough voice at times.  Which they need to show off.  The only thing that irked me about the music video was Park Jin Young being in the restroom – nature calls.

I really like Sunmi’s hair in the Supremes look.  I really thought the song was gonna be a ballad, but it’s a pop song with some vocals.  Good job!  SNSD has too much girly pop for me.  It’s always a damn happy song – and it needs a bit flavor.  This song shows the soul and different style that people need in life.


    • anky: Er, Hi! Don't know who you are but stumbled across randomly...ok I admit, I'm supposed to be revising for exams but surfing is more interesting :) A
    • beatriz: Is he married now??? [:(]
    • madisonlane: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NhODHK4Z9Y I found the video link. It's actually translated as my most loved :) I posted this to point out some a

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