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sarea
I'm taking a break from my Korean studies to write this post. Man, my brain is FRIED. All the different verb conjugations have broken me. My brain is at max saturation point, where I feel like not only can I not absorb any new material, but I'm quickly losing all the stuff I once KNEW, because I'm getting super confused! Argh! Why is this damn language so hard? 왜??? Partly it's because they have so many different levels of speech, from casual to polite to formal, and verb conjugations are/can be different for each one. Like WTF, man. In English, we might have different words we choose to use depending on a situation, but for the most part, words are the same words regardless of who you're talking to or what the situation is.
Example: "I'm eating breakfast." Regardless of if I'm talking to my friend or my boss or the freaking POTUS (this had more weight previously), it's that same sentence. And it doesn't matter if I'm talking to them in an office, at my house, or at the White House.
In Korean, there are three ways I could say that, depending on if I'm talking to a friend, an acquaintance, or my boss, and it also depends on where we are (e.g., a formal or casual setting).
To a friend, in a casual setting: 나는(내가) 아침을 먹어.
To an acquaintance, in a casual setting: 저는(제가) 아침을 먹어요.
To (someone), in a formal setting: 저는(제가) 아침을 먹습니다.
AND THAT IS ONLY THE PRESENT TENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the casual there isn't even the "true" casual because we haven't really learned that yet (and probably never will, because it's a classroom setting). And it's only one verb of, like, thousands -- not that I even know that many. It seriously makes me weep. Why couldn't I have just learned all the languages when I was a kid? That'd be so much better. If only I knew how to speak Korean, learning how to spell in Korean would be a breeze. You know, in comparison.
adelagia created a study sheet and just looking at it made me want to give up. LOL. :((
Anyway... that was a really long tangent because that isn't even what I had planned to post about. >< I wanted to post about something that could possibly be the best thing that has ever happened. Well,jade_okelani and I think so, anyway.
This weekend I saw two movies -- Pitch Perfect 3, which was everything I ever needed or wanted from a Pitch Perfect movie (singing and laughs), and I, Tonya, which was good in a completely different way. PP3 had a totally dumb and unbelievable plotline, and "bad guys" that were laughably two dimensional, but I don't really care? I mean, it's not the type of movie where I'm looking for depth. What I wanted from it, I got. I, Tonya was fascinating, because that whole thing has always been fascinating. Having Margot Robbie portray you would be amazing for anyone, and once upon a time I would have said "more than Tonya Harding deserves," but this movie has made me change my mind about that. (But I WILL say it for Sebastian Stan as Jeff Gillooly.) Margot was great (as was the makeup/effects that make her look less like a stunning, otherworldly goddess and more like dumpy trailer trash), but it was Allison Janney who stole the show. God, she's so amazing, even when she's playing a character who is almost totally unsympathetic.
But the reason I saw these movies, and going back to the best thing ever, is because of MoviePass. It's a subscription service that costs $9.95 a month, and what you get with it is a movie -- in the theater -- EVERY DAY. Of course, most people wouldn't actually go see a movie every day, but watch even two in a month and the thing pays for itself. It's crazy. I don't understand their business model at all, but it's completely legit. I mean, these days a theater ticket costs about $10 on average, less if you go to a matinee, and more if you go during peak times. Jade and I used to see movies all the time, but of late it's become like a "special occasion" thing. Part of that was due to cost. Tickets aren't cheap these days, so first I had to determine whether the movie was even worth spending my money on. If I decided yes, I'd try to work it out so that I caught the earliest showing, which isn't always convenient, and also it's annoying to have to work around; or else at least caught two shows, which was a lot easier before theaters started doing assigned seating in order to crack down on movie hoppers. (And it was also annoying to have to figure out which movies would work out, timing wise, together... then once at the theater, figure out which movie was showing where, because sometimes they wouldn't say.)
But with MoviePass comes... FREEDOM. Now it doesn't matter if I have tons of interest in a movie, or mild interest. If I want to see it, and want to make the time, I CAN GO SEE IT. In fact, it's more worthwhile if I do! And I don't have to worry about the time of day; ONLY MY OWN CONVENIENCE. I can watch it WHENEVER I WANT, as long as the theater still has seats. And that is just. so. awesome. I watched PP3 Sat night. The ticket cost $12+. So even watching a single movie, during peak hours, already paid for the monthly fee AND THEN SOME. It was another $10 to see I, Tonya today at an earlier showing. And they were both movies I really wanted to see. So it's like, how could this be better?! (I suppose it could come with popcorn. But then that would wreak havoc on my diet, so maybe it's for the best it doesn't. That said, you can still use your rewards cards, so I still got my Regal points!) It's not like I'm going to go crazy and make myself see every single movie that comes out. There are still movies I don't want to see, where it would not be worth the effort of going to the theater and making time to see it. But now, I can see any movie that tickles my fancy (like Jumanji) and I don't have to worry about cost or having to catch a matinee, or anything. It's movie freeeeeeeeedoooooommmmmmmmmmm.
Also, I'm not even paying $9.95/month. That is their regular rate (for the time being), but right now there's a $90/year MoviePass deal at Costco, which makes it come out to like $7.50/month. That's the one I got. The downside to the deal is that you're paying it up front. But still, that deal is NUTS. Like I said, I don't get the MoviePass business model at all, because while you use their card to buy your ticket, THEY pay the theater full price. Maybe they're planning to raise their rates at some point, when they've got enough subscribers, I don't know. For now, I am taking full advantage of what a good deal it is.
Sounds too good to be true? For the most part, it's just as good as it sounds. But yes, there are restrictions:
1) It only works at theaters that accept debit cards -- which, frankly, who doesn't, these days?? ALL the theaters I frequent with any regularity are listed as fair game.
2) You can't use it on IMAX/3D movies (basically any time a theater can charge a premium on the ticket), but I don't actually care about that (especially 3D, which can make me dizzy).
3) You can only use it on one movie per day. So you can't watch a movie, then run out and buy a ticket for another movie (I mean, you could... but not using MoviePass).
4) You can only use it the same day you're going to see the movie -- no advance purchases. So it's not for people who must always buy their tickets ahead of time. Frankly, that was never me unless it was an incredibly popular movie, and my friends and I made plans to see it and we HAD to see it together, at that specific day and time, so we couldn't risk it selling out. But 99% of the time, even if my friends and I make plans, we just buy our tickets when we get to the theater. So this limitation doesn't bother me at all. Also, if you're someone who likes to watch blockbuster movies the day they open, that get sold out in advance, you might have to resign yourself to buying a ticket some other way. But if you're like me, and you're willing to wait a day or two, or until the crowds die down, then it's fine.
5) It might not be the best choice for people who absolutely MUST sit together, or pay for each other's ticket. It's one card per person/phone, so you can't buy multiple tickets with it. And because you then have to buy your tickets separately, there is a CHANCE that by the time your companion(s) goes to buy their ticket, the seat next to you's been taken (but frankly, that would likely only happen for a super popular movie that's selling out quickly. If it happens for a movie that has plenty of other seats, I can't imagine it would be a big deal to switch out the tickets for different seats that are together).
6) If you decide to do get MoviePass, you can't cancel your account unless you're willing to not be able to open it again for another 9 months. I'm sure this is to deter people from using it once to see a single movie, then canceling it until the next time they feel like seeing another movie.
For me, the downsides are barely downsides. I usually don't choose to fight with crowds to see a popular movie as soon as it's released, I nearly always buy my ticket the day of anyway, I'm not a huge fan of IMAX/3D movies, I'm probably going to see most movies by myself, and I only ever really did double features because it was to maximize the price I'd already paid to get in the theater. It's not like I desperately wanted to be stuck in a theater for 4+ hours with nothing but overpriced junk food to eat. Since I got the Costco deal, I'm locked in for a year anyway, so I don't have to worry about canceling. AND there are plenty of theaters near me where I can use it, so the whole thing is just a huge no brainer. And now I can see all the movies I want! Augh, so awesome.
Food I've made recently: Miyeokguk (Korean seaweed soup) again, because it's so yummy and delicious; eomuk (fish cakes! I made my own fish cakes! So amazed at myself); and lentil, spinach and sausage soup, which I made in my Instant Pot. I was talking about the Instant Pot with a coworker the other day, and it made me realize that I should be using it a lot more. Even before, when I used to use it more often, it was to make yogurt. But now I want to use it to make savory dishes. Specifically, I really want to use it to make Indian food. I have a cookbook for it arriving on Wed!
Finally, I've been mainlining Strongest Deliveryman. It's not my favorite drama, but I'm definitely interested in it to keep going (obviously). I'm also slowly getting through The Great British Baking Show, which everyone I know watches and loves. I'm watching it in the mornings while working out (because apparently I am a masochist), and alternating it with Travelers, which is getting worse and worse, with bad writing and characters I mostly hate, but which has an intriguing premise, and now I'm familiar with it enough that it's easy to watch, other than occasionally being disgusted by the characters and/or the dialogue. Okay, more than occasionally.
Example: "I'm eating breakfast." Regardless of if I'm talking to my friend or my boss or the freaking POTUS (this had more weight previously), it's that same sentence. And it doesn't matter if I'm talking to them in an office, at my house, or at the White House.
In Korean, there are three ways I could say that, depending on if I'm talking to a friend, an acquaintance, or my boss, and it also depends on where we are (e.g., a formal or casual setting).
To a friend, in a casual setting: 나는(내가) 아침을 먹어.
To an acquaintance, in a casual setting: 저는(제가) 아침을 먹어요.
To (someone), in a formal setting: 저는(제가) 아침을 먹습니다.
AND THAT IS ONLY THE PRESENT TENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the casual there isn't even the "true" casual because we haven't really learned that yet (and probably never will, because it's a classroom setting). And it's only one verb of, like, thousands -- not that I even know that many. It seriously makes me weep. Why couldn't I have just learned all the languages when I was a kid? That'd be so much better. If only I knew how to speak Korean, learning how to spell in Korean would be a breeze. You know, in comparison.
adelagia created a study sheet and just looking at it made me want to give up. LOL. :((Anyway... that was a really long tangent because that isn't even what I had planned to post about. >< I wanted to post about something that could possibly be the best thing that has ever happened. Well,
jade_okelani and I think so, anyway.This weekend I saw two movies -- Pitch Perfect 3, which was everything I ever needed or wanted from a Pitch Perfect movie (singing and laughs), and I, Tonya, which was good in a completely different way. PP3 had a totally dumb and unbelievable plotline, and "bad guys" that were laughably two dimensional, but I don't really care? I mean, it's not the type of movie where I'm looking for depth. What I wanted from it, I got. I, Tonya was fascinating, because that whole thing has always been fascinating. Having Margot Robbie portray you would be amazing for anyone, and once upon a time I would have said "more than Tonya Harding deserves," but this movie has made me change my mind about that. (But I WILL say it for Sebastian Stan as Jeff Gillooly.) Margot was great (as was the makeup/effects that make her look less like a stunning, otherworldly goddess and more like dumpy trailer trash), but it was Allison Janney who stole the show. God, she's so amazing, even when she's playing a character who is almost totally unsympathetic.
But the reason I saw these movies, and going back to the best thing ever, is because of MoviePass. It's a subscription service that costs $9.95 a month, and what you get with it is a movie -- in the theater -- EVERY DAY. Of course, most people wouldn't actually go see a movie every day, but watch even two in a month and the thing pays for itself. It's crazy. I don't understand their business model at all, but it's completely legit. I mean, these days a theater ticket costs about $10 on average, less if you go to a matinee, and more if you go during peak times. Jade and I used to see movies all the time, but of late it's become like a "special occasion" thing. Part of that was due to cost. Tickets aren't cheap these days, so first I had to determine whether the movie was even worth spending my money on. If I decided yes, I'd try to work it out so that I caught the earliest showing, which isn't always convenient, and also it's annoying to have to work around; or else at least caught two shows, which was a lot easier before theaters started doing assigned seating in order to crack down on movie hoppers. (And it was also annoying to have to figure out which movies would work out, timing wise, together... then once at the theater, figure out which movie was showing where, because sometimes they wouldn't say.)
But with MoviePass comes... FREEDOM. Now it doesn't matter if I have tons of interest in a movie, or mild interest. If I want to see it, and want to make the time, I CAN GO SEE IT. In fact, it's more worthwhile if I do! And I don't have to worry about the time of day; ONLY MY OWN CONVENIENCE. I can watch it WHENEVER I WANT, as long as the theater still has seats. And that is just. so. awesome. I watched PP3 Sat night. The ticket cost $12+. So even watching a single movie, during peak hours, already paid for the monthly fee AND THEN SOME. It was another $10 to see I, Tonya today at an earlier showing. And they were both movies I really wanted to see. So it's like, how could this be better?! (I suppose it could come with popcorn. But then that would wreak havoc on my diet, so maybe it's for the best it doesn't. That said, you can still use your rewards cards, so I still got my Regal points!) It's not like I'm going to go crazy and make myself see every single movie that comes out. There are still movies I don't want to see, where it would not be worth the effort of going to the theater and making time to see it. But now, I can see any movie that tickles my fancy (like Jumanji) and I don't have to worry about cost or having to catch a matinee, or anything. It's movie freeeeeeeeedoooooommmmmmmmmmm.
Also, I'm not even paying $9.95/month. That is their regular rate (for the time being), but right now there's a $90/year MoviePass deal at Costco, which makes it come out to like $7.50/month. That's the one I got. The downside to the deal is that you're paying it up front. But still, that deal is NUTS. Like I said, I don't get the MoviePass business model at all, because while you use their card to buy your ticket, THEY pay the theater full price. Maybe they're planning to raise their rates at some point, when they've got enough subscribers, I don't know. For now, I am taking full advantage of what a good deal it is.
Sounds too good to be true? For the most part, it's just as good as it sounds. But yes, there are restrictions:
1) It only works at theaters that accept debit cards -- which, frankly, who doesn't, these days?? ALL the theaters I frequent with any regularity are listed as fair game.
2) You can't use it on IMAX/3D movies (basically any time a theater can charge a premium on the ticket), but I don't actually care about that (especially 3D, which can make me dizzy).
3) You can only use it on one movie per day. So you can't watch a movie, then run out and buy a ticket for another movie (I mean, you could... but not using MoviePass).
4) You can only use it the same day you're going to see the movie -- no advance purchases. So it's not for people who must always buy their tickets ahead of time. Frankly, that was never me unless it was an incredibly popular movie, and my friends and I made plans to see it and we HAD to see it together, at that specific day and time, so we couldn't risk it selling out. But 99% of the time, even if my friends and I make plans, we just buy our tickets when we get to the theater. So this limitation doesn't bother me at all. Also, if you're someone who likes to watch blockbuster movies the day they open, that get sold out in advance, you might have to resign yourself to buying a ticket some other way. But if you're like me, and you're willing to wait a day or two, or until the crowds die down, then it's fine.
5) It might not be the best choice for people who absolutely MUST sit together, or pay for each other's ticket. It's one card per person/phone, so you can't buy multiple tickets with it. And because you then have to buy your tickets separately, there is a CHANCE that by the time your companion(s) goes to buy their ticket, the seat next to you's been taken (but frankly, that would likely only happen for a super popular movie that's selling out quickly. If it happens for a movie that has plenty of other seats, I can't imagine it would be a big deal to switch out the tickets for different seats that are together).
6) If you decide to do get MoviePass, you can't cancel your account unless you're willing to not be able to open it again for another 9 months. I'm sure this is to deter people from using it once to see a single movie, then canceling it until the next time they feel like seeing another movie.
For me, the downsides are barely downsides. I usually don't choose to fight with crowds to see a popular movie as soon as it's released, I nearly always buy my ticket the day of anyway, I'm not a huge fan of IMAX/3D movies, I'm probably going to see most movies by myself, and I only ever really did double features because it was to maximize the price I'd already paid to get in the theater. It's not like I desperately wanted to be stuck in a theater for 4+ hours with nothing but overpriced junk food to eat. Since I got the Costco deal, I'm locked in for a year anyway, so I don't have to worry about canceling. AND there are plenty of theaters near me where I can use it, so the whole thing is just a huge no brainer. And now I can see all the movies I want! Augh, so awesome.
Food I've made recently: Miyeokguk (Korean seaweed soup) again, because it's so yummy and delicious; eomuk (fish cakes! I made my own fish cakes! So amazed at myself); and lentil, spinach and sausage soup, which I made in my Instant Pot. I was talking about the Instant Pot with a coworker the other day, and it made me realize that I should be using it a lot more. Even before, when I used to use it more often, it was to make yogurt. But now I want to use it to make savory dishes. Specifically, I really want to use it to make Indian food. I have a cookbook for it arriving on Wed!
Finally, I've been mainlining Strongest Deliveryman. It's not my favorite drama, but I'm definitely interested in it to keep going (obviously). I'm also slowly getting through The Great British Baking Show, which everyone I know watches and loves. I'm watching it in the mornings while working out (because apparently I am a masochist), and alternating it with Travelers, which is getting worse and worse, with bad writing and characters I mostly hate, but which has an intriguing premise, and now I'm familiar with it enough that it's easy to watch, other than occasionally being disgusted by the characters and/or the dialogue. Okay, more than occasionally.
