The first step, is admitting you have a problem...

Addiction. To be honest, I never understood it. I've never had a 'vice' or a 'dependancy' on something where I felt the need to do it everyday (well.. eating food ... but that's not the same, right?). 

But sadly, I can no longer say that I'm free of that perspective. I now know what it's like to be under the control of something else. To have the feeling, no... craving... of wanting more - needing more. When I start, I can't stop. I think to myself, 'this is the last time, after this, no more.' But I find that I grow anxious when I know it'll end, and I'm already rationalizing why I'll do another. It's all I'll think about - my last thought before I go to sleep, the first image when I awake. It's effecting my sleep habits, and emotionally, I'm all over the place. 

If you know me, you wouldn't suspect it. If you saw where I lived, it's the last thing that would cross your mind. Even now, as ashamed I am for how much time I've wasted, I still have the desire. But I know if I allow myself even 5 minutes, I'll be hooked... and I won't be able to stop. It really does have that much control over me. 

I'm sure you're wondering what it is I'm talking about. And I'm going to warn you now that the rest of this post might be hard for some of you to read. And if you choose not to, I completely understand. I just hope as I share my burden with you, that you'll still try and think of me as the person you always knew, and not think of me differently. 

What I'm talking about - my obsession that I can't quit - has a few different names. If you're familiar with any one of them, you'll know it instantly. 

It's been referred to as BOF, BBF and even simply, F4. 

And yes... it's a Korean Drama

Korean Dramas are CAH - RAZY. There's no other way to explain them. It's kind of like a cross between Gossip Girl and Telemundo (but minus the sex - there are ZERO 'adult situations' in Korean Dramas - or at least the ones I've seen) BOF/BBF stands for 'Boys Over Flowers' (or Boys Before Flowers) which still to this day, I have no idea what that has to do with the drama itself. BOF is a drama that mostly takes place at Shin Hwa Highschool - a school that was created for the rich and elite living in Seoul, Korea. It supports the top 1% of the wealthiest families in Seoul, and is almost impossible to get into if you aren't already. They don't welcome outsiders and all the kids there worship F4 (Flower 4 - for they are more beautiful that flowers) which is lead by the heir to the Shinhwa corporation (Joon Pyo), and consists of Ji Hoo, Bin Woo, and Yi Jung. Add to the mix, Jan Di, a poor 'commoner' who is not afraid of the F4 and becomes intertwined in their world. 

After watching all 25 episodes, I found the following to be true:

• Feminine hair cuts on boys aren't that bad. (okay, maybe they still are)
• Who says wearing silk ascots, or 3 piece suits to school isn't stylish?
• It's definitely okay to punch someone in the face (even your friends) but if you get punched, you can't hit back.
• Scream out in anguish a lot. It's good to get the emotions out.
• If someone has 'wronged' you and it majorly affects your life, don't say anything or ask for help, just bear it quietly.
• A manly trait is to have a 24 inch waist.

But seriously - the writers of Korean Dramas.... I don't know WHERE they come up with these things. The stuff that 'Jan Di' goes through... it's out of control... and no one can do 'cliff hangers' like they do. 

And just so you have a little visual: 

From Left to Right:

Woo Bin - a son of a mobster

Yi Jung - pottery maker/playa/Kenny G wannabe

Joon Pyo: heir to the Shin Hwa Group (I heart Joon Pyo!)

Jan Di: heroine extraordinaire/maker of annoying facial expressions

Ji Hoo: melancholy/violin & piano player/wearer of solid white

During each episode I think I snickered, laughed and cried. The first episodes are good - they set up the story, but around episode 10 or so (I can't quite remember there's 25 in all) it gets REALLY good... and then then the last 7 or 8, they just FLEW by because I couldn't watch it fast enough. They really pack a ton of info into each episode, so if you skip one, you miss out on a ton that can be important in an episode down the road. 

And while I loved, love, LOVED, Boys Over Flowers... another one achieved to suck me in. 

SHINING INHERITANCE

From Left to Right:

Joon Sae: LOVE HIM, LOVE HIM, LOVE HIM

Seung - Mi: beautiful - but... um... just watch and find out...

Eun - Sung - Heroine & all around great person

Hwan:  Eh, not my favorite, but liked him more towards the end. 

I don't want to give away too much because it's a MUST SEE. The writing is REALLY good in this one. Better than BOF, and I think it would appeal to more viewers. So if you're just going to check out one,  see this one (and even a certain spouse of the male kind that lives in my home with me likes this one  - but he shall remain nameless)

So go to: http://www.dramafever.com  

and in the search box enter 'Shining Inheritance' or 'Boys Over Flowers' and they'll take you to the entire series. It comes complete with subtitles, and the occasional 20 second commercial (and just so you know, it'll probably be the same commercial every time, and they'll pop up at the weirdest times also)

So there you go. That's my vice. My drug. My poison. 

And I love every. single. minute.

Although when I explained the story line of BOF to my sister and my LOVE of F4 our conversation went a little like this:

Her: And... didn't you say they're all supposed to be in highschool?

Me: Yeah... but the girl is like 19 and a '2nd year' and F4 is a couple of years older than her... so I'm thinking their schooling is different...

Her: So... basically it's like 'Saved By The Bell' but older?

Yeah... um... no.

Don't disrespect F4... don't disrespect them.

Or I might have to come over to your house, and put a red card in your locker.

(if you see the series, you'll understand what I'm talking about)