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Odds and Ends: Assembling the minion army

javabeans: Well, I know what we’re all doing this week. And weekend.

girlfriday: And next week…

HeadsNo2: And next weekend.

javabeans: There are just a lot of sample recaps, okay? You guys sure sent us a lot of minion applications. We’re super grateful and excited to read them! It’s just, if I’d known we’d have the numbers to make a real minion army, I would have worked harder at being evil.

HeadsNo2: It’s still not too late, you know.

girlfriday: You’ve already got the evil overlord part down. Now we just need to train the army. Not it!

HeadsNo2: Not it!!

javabeans: What’s the point in being the overlord if I can’t boss anyone around?

girlfriday: I never said we were a GOOD army.

HeadsNo2: But first, we have to pick the recruits. And there are SO MANY to choose from, gah.

javabeans: I recognize this is a problem to be grateful for. I just think that if we tried out everyone, we’d still be doing tryouts far into IRIS 9: Hephaestsus — God of the War-Hammers.

HeadsNo2: Also, we’d sleep when we were dead. And we’d be dead pretty quick.

girlfriday: At least this isn’t our first carnival.

HeadsNo2: You mean, rodeo?

girlfriday: Potayto, potahto. It’s all circusy, right?

javabeans: Wait, are you calling me a clown?

girlfriday: *ignores question*

HeadsNo2: …So, how ‘bout those minions, huh? Lots of those.

javabeans: And lots and lots of reading. We have this monster Excel spreadsheet that we’re using to keep track of everyone, making sure that each of us reads every sample (meaning each sample gets read three times).

girlfriday: We’re doing it American Idol style, where each of us get a vote.

HeadsNo2: Where the votes get broken into a simple “Yes,” “No,” “Maybe,” “Yes/Maybe,” “No/Maybe,” “Maybe/No,” “Yes/No,” so on and so forth. Y’know, in a way that totally makes sense.

javabeans: This is what happens when you take three indecisive writers and force them to decide. Our one-word votes turn into paragraph descriptions instead.

HeadsNo2: Even in charts, we can’t be brief.

girlfriday: Yes, there are two separate columns for notes, and sometimes the votes are “No unless they work at it, in which case, Maybe.”

javabeans: Or “Probably not, but willing to reconsider if you guys talk me into it.”

HeadsNo2: Truer words have never been spoken.

girlfriday: Have we mentioned that the chart is very long?

javabeans: It’s a really fascinating exercise to read a bunch of recaps on the same episode. I think I read like twenty recaps of the first episode of Monster. And yet, they’re all different.

HeadsNo2: There were sooo many for Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul-ho too, which was really interesting, because of the way every entry differed in the way they’d set the opening scenes up.

girlfriday: I do think it’s instructive, because I’m able to distinguish the better writers immediately if I can follow the narrative right away and picture the scene, and that’s especially true if I’ve read ten other versions that couldn’t get me there.

javabeans: Yes, and sometimes I read samples where I’ve seen the episode but I still can’t follow the recap. I’m realizing there’s a huge variety in storytelling style, even within the specific format of a drama episode.

HeadsNo2: Reading all those entries, and all the different ways people found to describe the same scenes, made me start panicking about whether I make the same mistakes. And then I read some of my recaps over and thought I should never write again, and I also don’t deserve to live.

javabeans: No! You never read your recaps again! Not after the first day, when you might catch a typo or something. Life is about moving forward, and acknowledging that the past happened without needing to really remember all those details.

girlfriday: What she said. I do think that this time around, we have so many good applications that we’ll have to stagger the minion bootcamp because we’ll just run out of shows to try them out on.

javabeans: Plus that whole pesky thing where in order to try out minions, we have to watch and screencap every single episode ourselves, so that we can train them appropriately.

HeadsNo2: Aaand we’re back to not sleeping ever again.

javabeans: Why do we do this again?

HeadsNo2: So that we can maybe sleep in the future?

girlfriday: In 2053.

javabeans: Just in time for IRIS 27: Who Are You — Xena, Goddess of Ramyun 2053.

girlfriday: Not it!

javabeans: Not it!!

HeadsNo2: Nooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

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"This is what happens when you take three indecisive writers and force them to decide."

LOL! Good luck to all of you! And I just wanna show my appreciation for what you guys are doing. Cheers to your new minions and more recaps in the future! :)

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Ikr that made me laugh so hard! Too bad i couldnt give in a recap. I always wanted to work for you guys (yes its a dream) but i just shifted to another place and the wifi here is not the best, at least for now, so i couldnt take the risk of giving in a recap and IF i get selected (which will not actually happen) i wouldnt be able to follow up with more recaps! *sigh* I hope another such opportunity comes my way again but i know that wont be happening anytime soon :'( Good luck to all the people who actually gave in their recaps! Fighting!

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Not going to tell tales. I really wanted to send in a recap for this but, knowing how inconsistent subtitles can be at times made the decision for me. One of the things I love about Dramabean writers is the ability you guys have of explaining things down to why a certain korean term was used. Because I can only watch dramas at a 97% ENG and understand means I'm just not there yet. All the best with your new recappers.

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...And you have summed up my thoughts beautifully. Thanks! +1000

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Awwwww!!! Hwaiting, Team Dramabeans~~!!!!
Us as your readers really do appreciate all that you gals do and know that it's all for us readers (and your own health, sleep, and for the sake of your sanity, too) <3 I was actually THISCLOSE in also applying as well, but I figured that I actually don't have the time to commit long term T.T I can't wait to see who you (and we as the readers) will be inviting to join the Dramabeans community & family ~~!!!!

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I too wanted to apply but then I realized I needed to improve on my writing skills, grammer skills, commitment skills etc etc etc lol oh well good luck to everyone who applied ?

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Mary! Mary! Mary!

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I second this motion.

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+1

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Can't wait to meet the new minions! Good luck to all, and please stay healthy. I just love our Dramabeans family.

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I want mary just as a troll recapper! I mean Rimcapper! Like an honourary position!

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oops, this was meant to be a reply to @Denali!

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I also second your motion. Now let's proceed to the vote:
Those in favor, raise your hands! *too many to count*
Those against? *none*
Well, then the motion is approved with a Rim seal.

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LOL

But where does one stamp a Rim seal....?

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I say how does recapping every type of episode of whatever drama it's been sent in- making your time easier? As in more free? I mean it sounds as if you have to watch more drama episodes in order to read the recappers works.

Yikes.

Er did you stock on wine and meat?

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Awww. You guys are so adorable.

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OMG, I also do the thing where I re-read my recaps and think I should just jump out a window. I really gotta stop doing that. Especially since I only have first-floor windows.

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This post just made me go reread my recap application and now I'm tempted to go crawl in a hole, and just lie there for a while. And since both Descendants of the Sun and Page-Turner have finished airing, I'm not going to have any incentive to come out of my hole.

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Meeeeeeeeeee tooooooo! I moved two weeks ago and still had to paint the old house. Then, I had to stay up and do my taxes (which took forever because we moved), and I gave myself a third degree burn (so half the time I was writing, I had a fever). I keep replaying the things I missed, the typos, the mistakes in the form, the time that I used the word priceless TWICE IN THE SAME PARAGRAPH. The thing is, I know I could have made it perfect. Do over! Do over! Do over! *Throws self on floor kicking and wailing*

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I was determined not to read my application until javabeans, girlfriday, and Heads got back to us (so I could understand the response, positive or negative). I mean as a self-published young adult writer (who wants to burn the only book in existance), sporadic blogger, and an Instagram poet/writer, I knew better. You'd think I'd learn from past experience, right?

Nope. After spending about 60 hours obsessively stalking the website and explaining to my therapist how anxious I was about this awesome opportunity, I cracked and read it on my walk home.

Why did they teach me to write? Why did they teach me to type? Do I not know any synonyms for cute?!?! (Used it at least 5 times, twice within a few lines of each other)

I'm going to catch up on the celebrity articles (RJY I'm looking at you) and stare at pictures of my adorable (I do know synonyms) nephew, who made me a first time aunt. On April 1st, the day the call for DB minions was made. Sigh, I almost distracted myself.

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I feel your pain, Purple Owl. I guess we can content ourselves with the fact that we sent one in because imagine how hard we'd kick ourselves if we hadn't sent one in at all. Fighting!

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Lol @ the first-floor window problem! You're awesome, LollyPip, and we're so lucky to have you.

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+1

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We love LollyPip! Please don't jump -- you might hurt your finger and won't be able to type recaps. :-(

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No!! I love your recaps!! We have such similar tastes and views! I believe in you!

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Lollypip, dont! Dramabeans won't be the same without you! xo!

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I found it fascinating how you said a lot of people did the same episode but they were all different.

Recapping is an art. And dramabeans has some of the best recappers!!

I have come to a point I can tell who's writing what on dramabeans by just reading the article. Everyone has a distinct style.

I remember episodes of dramas where the recaps and analysis have blown me away, just as much as the episodes themselves. So thank you so much!!

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Btw, what happened to (sorry, can't remember the name), colourful palette and her(?) drawings?

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Ikr! I loved her drawings and the meaning she put behind them! Where is she??

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IKR!? I miss them!

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Yea colorful palette could have posted beautiful drawings especially from DOTS.. beautiful sjk

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That was Fanderay, and I've been looking for her for 2 years. I did post on her last review, hoping she'd check her email and reply, but no, sadly ... don't know where she is.

Fanderay if you're reading this, know that you are missed!!!

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Sorry, I should say 1 year... her last review was posted in May last year. It really feels like more time than that has passed!!!

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Really miss her drawings, I still go back to her articles and checkout her beautiful Healer ones.

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Hi fab
Oh yes she did more than one for Healer... in fact I believe she did 5 pieces of art on Healer. :)

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Fanderay (I think). I miss her work, too.

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This cracked me up. As did the just-right screencaps you chose. I'd probably do the chart in about the same way-- I'm really good at over-complicating things.

So glad to hear that plenty of the submissions are minion-worthy-- I'd hate for you to be inundated with mostly ones that weren't.

You may be doing this already, but I'd be inclined to do another screening based on things like having the ability to follow through, being pleasant to work with, etc. I'm sure you don't want any drama queens at Dramabeans.

All the best-- don't forget to sleep and eat! And remember that we love you!

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Hahaha!! All the best in deciding on who to join your minion army!! =D

I love reading recaps here since you guys do such an awesome job, pointing things out that we might not have noticed or explaining historical background/Korean terminologies and cultural context. When I don't have time to watch some dramas but still interested in the shows, I always come here to check the recaps. ^^ If only I have complete fluency in Korean, I'd take a stab at applying. Heehee...

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Let me just add that I love you guys AND I'm grateful for your work and your lack of sleep does not go unnoticed. I mean, I've seen the typos.

Just remember that this hard work in recruiting the new minions will help you in the future get extra hour of sleep.

FIGHTING!

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LOLOLOL!

My commiserations! And all the sleepless best!

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Hey, just wanna know... will we not able to see the new recappers soon?

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Haha, I remember the time when Heads was *always* stuck with the terrible dramas. Even if they started out well, they would inevitably turn on her.

Although I must say IRIS 27: Who Are You — Xena, Goddess of Ramyun 2053 doesn't sound half bad.

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I think SFD was her reward.

Lol, I still laugh or chuckle when I recall her dark days, with Basketball being the worst.

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Hee, you guys are great.

Off topic, but just a question about the ads - this is probably the site I'm happiest for in that regard. Because you guys should definitely get paid for the work you do. They're fine on the computer, I just click the cross and it goes away, but on the phone, you sometimes can't close the ones that jump out at you, and other ones take you to another site without leaving the former site behind, which is admittedly frustrating. There's been a couple of times now I've just given up. I was wondering if you knew a way to get passed those on the phone?

Thanks!

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Really? There are ads? But then again, I have AdBlock, which is probably why I did not know (this helps with Viki ^^). I always wondered how they got paid.

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Aw, good luck to all the applicants!!! I really wanted to apply, but the week we had to write our sample just happened to also be the busiest week of my year so far. Hope I'll get another shot after another two years. Looking forward to seeing new recapers this summer!

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Just pick the ones who know Korean, and make them sign a blood oath** (in Korean) to explain whatever relevant text isn't explained in the subtitles.
** Their blood, not yours.

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Haha I love you guys! Have any of you ever gone back to read what you wrote in high school or college? It's horrifying! At least for me. Haha

But thank you guys so much for everything! You make it so we can all cry, laugh, squee, and throw hopefully soft and inexpensive objects at our screens together.

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I just threw my elementary school diary away...

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I also applied and was glad when I got the email that the recap sample had been received. :)

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All the best in conducting selection and recruitment of your team, JB, GF and Heads!

Long live DB, 2053 and beyond~!
^^

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Good luck to all who applied, thank you buckets to the overlords for their hard work, and are we allowed to nominate an Overlord for their own Bean of Wisdom?

"Life is about moving forward, and acknowledging that the past happened without needing to really remember all those details."

Truer words, truer words. Thanks again!

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Wow! To each of you, thank you for taking the time to read them. It gives me fuzzy feelings to know you guys are reading something of mine and even if Im not chosen thank you foe even giving me the opportunity to apply.

I love your writing and this website so much. Thank you ; _ ;.

P.S. I can be a coffee minion just putting that out there.

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*for

That was embarassing...

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Wow, you guys make me want to read all them recaps.

I did proof reading for 2 and even though the stories recapped were different, the writing styles were so totally different that it was like seeing a new world.

I think the problem most people have with recaps is 'how much should I shorten it' or 'how much detail should be in there?' because there's this problem of not explaining enough and then explaining too much. (And when attempting to explain 'too much', one has to think real hard for the various vocabulary just so the recap doesn't read like a stale beached whale.) So it's either too long a recap or too short a recap.

And other than that, it's hard to write the comment section. "Which parts of the one hour show do I explore more of" or "that just blew my mind/ underwhelmed me and I don't have the words to describe them/ I can't even form coherent sentences because they're all inter-related and so I'm stuck with no opinion to write of".

Lol!

Thanks to the two who dropped me their recaps!

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It depends on why you are reading the recaps . I usually read recaps as a night-time story when I don't want to watch the drama , like when it's too scary or melo , or when I don't understand a no-dialogue small scene . The minions' recaps seem to be either for people who have watched the episode , or for those who just want the gist of the story and being part of the fun . So if I'm reading as a story I usually don't understand most scenes , and if I'm looking for a particular scene I haven't understood , it's usually omitted . So for people who read the recaps for reasons like mine JB's and GF's and more recently Heads' recaps are perfect because they are detailed and seriously exactly like you are watching it . But for those other reasons the minions' shorter recaps are nice and fun and witty .

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Yikes. Looks like a lot of application. Glad to see that I'm not the only person in the happy camp, thrilled to get a chance to be a minion. Worked like crazy when I saw the post and sent in my application the minute I was done, just so I don't chicken out or work doesn't come to keep me from getting it done. What did it result in? A long long long long recap. Yikes! Even when I went back to read it, all I could do was ask forgiveness from whomever was going to read it cuz it was really long. And now that I know it's all three of you? My apologies for the uber long recap. (___)

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Knowing that you guys also want to do violence to yourselves when you go back and read recaps makes me feel a little better about myself, lol. This was my first time ever recapping and I wanted to kick myself as soon as I sent it in and noticed ten things I needed to fix. Thanks for taking the time to consider every recap with so much love and care! You guys are the best! Also please take breaks for your mental and physical health :)

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How about hiring Wag_a_muffin for her cartooning abilities? The drama-site-that-shall-not -be-named 's loss would be DB's gain!

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+1 I loved her toon for CIIT.

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I'm nervous. Every time I read my recap I thought I need to learn English all over again. When was it that I got a gold medal in this very language? Gosh its killing me!!!!

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OMG I want to watch all meta-IRIS dramas mentioned here!!
IRIS 9: Hephaestsus — God of the War-Hammers and IRIS 27: Who Are You — Xena, Goddess of Ramyun 2053. ROFLMAO. Preferably with Lee Beom Soo in it...

Btw I actually thought to send the sample recap and have written the first few sentences or so (Ms. Temper & Nam Jung Ki) but eventually I chickened out because 1) Korean is not my first language and I have to rely heavily on subs, 2) with my current workload and possibility of new job, I don't think I can juggling so many things.

May the best minions chosen and may the force be with you JB, GF and Heads!

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Wishing everyone the best of luck!

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I completely identify with what you said! I read my recap again after I clicked 'send' and all I did was cringe. All the errors... and wishing that I had written something different at certain parts. Is that hole big enough for me as well? I've got a lot of hibernating to do. *hangs head in shame*

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*scoots over* You, too? Was it the typos? The word repetition? The failure to make graceful transitions? Yeah, we've all been there. Come on in. *pats back* *Hands over a coffee*

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I'm sure you'll find the right people! I personally like the comment section. If you find someone as awesome as you guys I'm totally satisfied ;D someone who notices things I don't, someone who thinks further...in the right direction.

When I look at the pics for this post I really want to watch that drama....oh Byun Yo Han....

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CRRRRAAAAPPP!!!

Finally, after the busiest time EVER in my life, I get back online to go to my mental sanctuary Dramabeans and find that they are recruiting? And I'm hella late to the party?!

CRRRRRAAAAPPP!!!

*sigh*

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SAME. I took a brief drama hiatus to like, live my life and stuff, and just came back to check on stuff at DB and find I missed an opportunity TO LIVE MY DREAMS.

Ah well. Next time ;)

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There was no way in hell I would apply. I am the laziest person ever and the thought of keeping up on recaps sounds like a chore to me. Which is why I am so impressed and thankful to the current (and future) cappers.

Good luck to all those who applied! And thanks for all the hard work of the current cappers!

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WOW!! this is scaring and exciting me at the same time. Cant wait for the result !! hope i fall in the category of Yes.....or even YES/Maybe !! ;)

But i really dont envy you guys right now who have to read and go through all the entries... Fighting !!

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Is it just me, or is anybody else just really really really hoping to find out who gets to be a new minion? Anyone else checking this site a bit obsessively? You could call it stalking.... At this point, whether I get in or not, I just have to know. I have trouble waiting patiently. On the other hand, I know that it is so amazing that Dramabeans would take the time to have all entries read THREE times. That is so generous. So, I'll wait. I can do it. *sigh* Third world problems, ya'll.

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Ack! That was meant to read, First world problems.

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