Beanie level: Unemployed slacker in a sparkly tracksuit

I FINALLY got to start watching Doojoon’s new show! “Never give up” took me the entire two episodes to get on board, but there’s a shifty rich old lady with an off limits basement and a ragtag group of people living in her house for either free or reduced housing. I laughed so hard during one scene that my daughter called me from her bedroom to make sure I was ok —post-Covid and all. Poor Jung Suk having his friend and business partner double cross him, leaving him homeless and Pil-solo’s chicken shop franchise not taking off is making me root for this unlikely bromance. And Doojoon is as affable as ever, but thinking the plight of a middle aged Asian man wanting to do what’s right for his family and his emotionally distant teenaged son might just be what I need right now. Thanks @blnmom for the heads up that ondemandkorea had it and it’s easy to watch on my Roku! https://www.ondemandkorea.com/never-give-up-e1.html?from_collection_name=Other%20Episode%3ANever%20Give%20Up%20%3A%20E02

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    I was worried when Doojoon’s character started commenting on the bad combo of peanut and cheese that he had been typecast really hoping this isn’t the case. The last time I have seen this was the actor with the famous laugh in Fated to love you who was randomly laughing throughout every episode as if he got a bonus for every time he did it. It got old really quickly and I was rooting for the second lead consistently hoping it would lead to the main lead disappearing out of the storyline.

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Only kdrama adjacent, but while watching Yumi’s cells 2, hearing the old friend discouraging Yumi from writing a novel just made me angry. Saying she’s too old to start a new career. I’m saying you all you Beanies that it’s never too late to follow your dreams! My best friend from childhood just published her first YA novel and she’s 45 years old! And I love her for that. So suck it, Yumi’s college friend. 😆
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    It’s so true and such a shame that people who are happy to settle feel its their job to discourage others from doing something exciting and different. They do say that we need to be careful who we share our dreams with.

    Such great news for your friend so glad she did not give up on pursuing her dreams.

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    I’m so happy for your friend! Follow those dreams!
    It’s just…this doesn’t feel like Yumis dream? She seems like she didn’t even know she liked writing (on a deeper level than what she was doing at work) until a cute boy have her a few compliments and then she’s quitting her job to take classes and read books in book cafes.

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    You’re never too old! My grandma went to university in her 70s, and later was ordained as a priest and worked for several years in her parish.

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      Love that and what an inspiration for her children and grandchildren you must all be so proud of her ☺️

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    I present NAVILLERA and the defense rests.

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    We shouldn’t discourage each other this way~

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    Great reminder, Ally, and congrats to your friend!🥳 I’ve gotten used to telling people I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, and that seems to explain my unconventional ‘career choices’.

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What day is it? It’s Na In Woo day! I have a super soft spot for this guy—like marshmallowy, squeeze him until his eyes pop out, soft. 😂 PS PS Jinxed at First https://www.viki.com/tv/38566c-jinxed-at-first

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    You are watching him weekly on 1N2D, right? 🥰

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    He’s such an overgrown puppy.

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    I watched episode one of JINXED AT FIRST tonight and loved it. At a certain scene I thought of you lol. Want to take a guess which scene it was?

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      I soooooooo loved the first episode too!!!!! It was everything I would have wanted in a first episode. I have no idea what scene you might be referring. I liked EVERY scene. Was it the truck of doom? I was like, of course it had to happen!

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        I wasn’t planning to check this out but I feel like i shud if Ally loves it.

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          You really should! Na In-woo looking like a smart college co-ed, an epic historical origin story, an “evil” CEO and his “innocent” chaebol son, and a super adorable Seo-Hyun is a recipe for greatness!

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        LOL Truck of Doom! C’mon Ally. It was the scene outside mom’s fish shop where mom gave a big hug to Soo Kwang! (I refer to your original post ⬆️).

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I love Yumi’s Cells 2 already. God bless Gong Yoo. 😆









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I texted my hubby the news about Jang Nara today. And he promptly texted his family the news as well. 😂



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    So happy for her!!

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    AhhhhhHAHAHA he is so cute. My sympathies to him.

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    Please give my sympathies to Mr. Ally, but I am really happy for Jang Nara!!

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      He’s still depressed about it today. 😂

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        Just imagine if Gong Yoo released such news. You (and I) would feel devastated, hahaha.

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          I really just want him to not be lonely! I’m already taken and less likely to be left now that Jang Nara is off the market! 😂

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I’m a big fan of artists that are independent and start their own labels. WOOSUNG of the Rose is one of them. Here’s his most recent interview where he talks about his process and his new album!

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    Ohh, interesting I’m gonna have to listen to this when I get a chance, I also love when artists make their own labels. And it always feels especially rare/interesting in kpop because labels are such a huge part of how traditional kpop is structured.

    I saw Woosung open for Epik High a few months ago and he was great. I had always liked The Rose and was bummed when all the stuff with their label went down, but I’m glad to see them taking control of their music.

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      I’m so jelly you saw him! He’s starting his tour and I think I’ll wait until The Rose tours before seeing him. Love how down your earth he is. His Moth EP is awesome! Phase Me mis ky favorite.

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        He played Phase Me at the show and it was soooo good that I’ve been waiting for it to release. I’m in love with the new EP and it’s been on repeat since it came out. I think my fave is Side Effects, but honestly they’re all excellent.

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I don’t know who the music director in Shooting Stars is, but they are perfect. I love the Spanish-style guitar BGM, and I think the OST by Vincent Blue and Sondia will be a classic. ❤️❤️❤️

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    Yes the OST and BGM has been a major highlight of the show so far.

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    This song feels so refreshing – I love duets with lots of harmony! I’m so glad they used it at the beginning of the series. It’s unusual to have something so beautiful near the start…

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    Yes I am loving My secret, my everything too it’s regularly on replay and is such a great fit for the drama.

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It’s peony season where I am! I really don’t like gardening (which what I’m doing this weekend), but I do love the pretty things it gives me. Happy spring!









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    Oh, what gorgeous peonies! I had no idea there were so many beautiful varieties until I had a tree peony crisis (trampled by contractors) and met a woman who owns a business named Peony’s Envy. Embarrassingly, it took me several days to get the joke (of that name).

    I highly recommend a tour of her website for all flower lovers:
    https://peonysenvyc.com/

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      😂 that’s clever! I have just the one peony plant, but I have a lavender plant next to it. Such a great fragrance when I walk past them!

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    These are lovely!

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So watching Sound of Magic and getting weird pedophile vibes from JCW in the first episode. Maybe because the girl was almost raped earlier, but he seems totally sus. Or is it just him?

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    Oh no, it’s not like that!
    He’s just a misunderstood boy with no ill intentions…I can’t say the drama did a super convincing job portraying that though 😅

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      Yeah. I’m not super impressed yet.

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      Episode 2: still getting the same vibes: “come to my show,” “you’re already under my spell.”

      But doesn’t the female look like Nam Da Reum 4-5 years ago? I thought so prior but sheesh, they could be twins.

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        Oh! Funny you mentioned him!
        I wonder if you know any spoilers already 👀😂

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      Oh my gosh darn cuteness. How can Hwang In-Yeop be this adorable and dorky?

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        Oh, snap, he’s bribing her!

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          If he ends up a serial killer…

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            Lol! Everyone must have thought something like this while seeing his character development xD
            (SPOILERS, but no, he is not..another misunderstood boy here ahah)

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            Phew, that was a close one. I fell asleep somewhere in Episode 5, so will continue tonight!

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    I keep seeing Johnny Depp in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory whenever I see a reminder of this show. If that image ever fades from my mind, I could watch this.

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Woori the virgin is going to be the most makjang thing I watch this year, isn’t it? So many impossibilities, but yet I like it! Doesn’t hurt that Shin Dong Wook is the perfect police detective and boyfriend! Really, what a juxtaposition of widely different characters. https://www.instagram.com/p/CdJ4TlkPSzV/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

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After a bit of a drought, DB published me!!!

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@sicarius’ musings on strawberries makes me want to share the small patches of strawberry plants growing on my front yard. These things basically grow like weeds taking over everything if you’re not careful! But we’ll have some sweet strawberries come June!






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    noice. we have 6 strawberry beds but we took one out and planting moon strawberries instead they tolerate cold , grow crops even at +1-2C and need less care.

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I love that my secretary sends me kdrama gifs at work when we talk business. In related news, if you call a doctor’s office asking for a second opinion, don’t be rude to the front office staff demanding to be seen. If you’re mean to them, you aren’t making a good impression on how you’ll treat us and we don’t need that negativity in this day and age. #secretarieshaveallthepower
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I just saw Seo In Guk on Soundtrack #1! That was a welcome surprise! 🥰

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Re: 25-21

There’s an open ending there that allows for them to get together, kind of like Record of Youth. This was really lightning in a bottle though. The chemistry between all the actors, not just the main leads, was perfect. I can’t decide it NJH is a good actor, or just good at these types of roles. Or if KTR made him look better than he actually is, and that’s what is keeping me up at night. 😂

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    We just love NJH and can’t be objective about him.
    He’s just perfect as Yi Jin.
    Did I mention we love him?

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    Imo NJH has limited acting range but he has been great in awkward-first-love kind of roles. His love fluffy scenes are oh sooo heart-fluttering, but his emotional/sad scenes still leave much to be desired. I still think 25-21 is his best performance so far, and BaekDo couple is definitely top my 2022 favorite couples.

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      I have the same impression I think. Also think KTR made him better because her character loved him and she made him look more sympathetic than he would have been otherwise.

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        Totally agree. I still think that Yi-jin made terribly selfish choices as a reporter and didn’t love Hee-do as much as he claimed. I can forgive him for Yu-rim’s scandal because he got her approval before the broadcast, but it was incredibly wrong of him to not tell Hee-do about his decision to be stationed in NYC. I guess that’s why their breakup is inevitable.

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    I don’t remember much about Record of Youth except extreme boredom. I won’t forget the ending of 2521 though. I’m not sure I want them to find their way back to each other since his job will continue to be all consuming and she’s already had enough of coming in second. I think KTR was the magic in this one. She was wonderful, as was the entire friend group. I’d drop everything and run away to the beach with them this second if I could.

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And the motorcycle of doom appears. Of course it does…#businessproposal #amnesiaisnext 😆😜

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    I don’t want to spoil it but I don’t think so😁

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      Yeah, too late in the game, but it would be another awesome trope to Amish into this drama with all the other ones we’ve seen!

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I see all y’all losing your ever loving minds out there over episode 14, so I’ll wait until next week and see 14-16. Or none of them. And my memory won’t be spoiled. Lol. #25-21.

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    Wise choice. I was planning to do the same thing but caved in yesterday. Now I have to carry my broken heart until this weekend 😭

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    This is a good call. I should have stayed away as well. But gah I’m so obsessed with this show, I can’t tell you. It’s literally my oxygen dose for the week. 😅

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    I have the same plan. Its good to be behind in the episodes sometimes. 😊

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    E14 was great Hee-do and Yu-rim are the true OTP

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    Me too – saving Ep 13-16 for one go than burning my heart over two weeks.

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    ya it is confusing.. after wishing her happy marriage, he moved his eyebrow which was like a tacit hint to something – if i had to interpret he is the one she is getting married to

    BUT THEN there is the daughter who literally does not recognize anyone.. photos could be explained.. but she looked for a video and CLEARLY DID NOT RECOGNIZE BYJ..

    so, either this is a version of “How i met your father” .. about first love all along.. OR KMC’s dad and HD are not married. HD ain’t biological mother

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    I have no idea what you’re talking about but I applaud your use of Brooklyn 99 gif.

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      Remember when my daughter and I were watching these together a few years ago? Great memories…

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Dammit 25-21, why are you like this!?!?!?! No spoilers, but THIS is why I watch kdramas. This writer has burned me before, and I’m sure she’s about to do it again, but I don’t care. The build up in episode 13 was perfection. The longing. The forbidden fruit. The wavering. The payoff. It’s all in this episode. My heart is still yearning. Kim Tae Ri is just amazing. She makes me want what she wants, feel betrayed when she’s betrayed, love when she loves. I can’t say anything more. Just at watch it. And they’re 24-20 right now. (Will they ever be 25-21?) 😂

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    That’s also my question: when will they reach those ages?

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    I’ve decided that the 25-21 is Korean age which is where they should be now 😆

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      I think she just turned 20 with the New Year. So she’s still 18-19 in western age.

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    I know! Why is it called 2521? Is it because that is their age when it all ends? Very misleading title lol.

    Waver is such a great word.

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      I totally agree to this that at 2521 they will break up.

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Supporting both my real son as he goes back to his dorm and my adopted son, AHS, as he stars on ABP. 😂






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    I’ve been enjoying the bibigo chicken and veg mandu, aka “Korean Mini Wontons”

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I like this one too…#allhighlightallthetime

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