Great ending- LOL.
I really feel bad that Secret Door isn't going well, though I am watching it in a very slow pace and will probably never finish it. ♥♥♥♥Lee Je-hoon♥♥♥♥ though.

Maybe sageuks just aren't your cup of tea? From the ratings and general response it seems like it's just me, but I don't find Secret Door boring. I mean, it's no Conspiracy in the Court, and it's not what I thought it would be--it gets lost in the weeds too much...but, I think it's one of the better fusion sageuks I've seen, as a political thriller. I'm really happy to have an in-depth look at the Noron and Soron for once, and it's doing an excellent good job showing the systemic violence of the Confucian system, and the fear that generates. I guess you just have to find toadies entertaining in themselves to enjoy it, though--if Kim Taek, Hong Gye-hee, Park Moon-soo (RIP), etc, felt like filler to me, I think it would be hard to watch. I do agree this past week took a dip, but the first half had a few exceptional episodes, writing-wise, and the acting as you say has been excellent (though there's not enough Han Suk-gyu for my liking). Even if you aren't recapping anymore, though, I'm glad you guys are sticking it out for the ending. I have a feeling it might pick up now that it's probably entering the last plot arc (which if it has any sense will focus on Yeongjo and Sado).

I've noticed that you guys have been more and more open about blogging being your (probably full-time?) job in recent years, but your blog (to my delight) has not been flooded with ads at all. How does this blog generate income for you? I doubt if it'd be difficult since you're so popular, but I am just genuinely curious. Despite all these occupational hazards you mentioned, it still seems like a pretty sweet job to me :D

Hi Javabeans and Girlfriday,
Thanks so much for your hard and dedicated work, and I'm sorry to hear that you're in so much pain. Yes our bodies just keep aging and if we don't hear the warning whispers, they speak up loud and clear with pain.

Please get well, take longish breaks, do only short bouts of work and whether it's sitting, standing or lying down, keep changing your position (re-straightening your back for eg.) every few minutes. Re-position to use more and different muscles or parts of the body.

Even with regards to your hands/wrist when you're on the keyboard/mouse ... keep changing your position slightly and rest your wrist or elbow when you type. I'm beginning to train myself to use my left hand to manage the mouse nowadays because my right feels so tired and strained and sometimes hurts. So before it gets worse.... I try to re-position.

All the best and take care!

As someone recovering from surgery, I'm daily acquainted with body pain, so I can't help both hope you both get better soon. Bodily pain is no joke! And you guys make all of us feel so much better by keeping your blog up to date and interesting. But not at the expense of your health...please!

For your hip, I recommend ibuprofen and ice packs, and for your wounded spirit (no sitting at the computer? Ouch.), some soothing tea/coffee, perhaps with a drop of whiskey in it. And lying on the couch with somebody feeding you grapes. Preferably a flower boy in really hip clothes.

Can you dictate your recaps and let somebody else do the typing while you recuperate?

::sending you get-better-soon vibes::

It's time like this makes me feel guilty; we always take you guys for granted??
Get well soon...
I'm sure you guys are in front of the computers for hours( like the rest of us, hehe) .Please take breaks and use preservative free artificial tears to keep the eyestrains to the minimum ?
Thank you all again for all your hard work... Take care

Hope you're feeling better soon! And knowing how horrible that kind of pain is, hopefully some of this might help:

If it's worth a trip to the Seattle area here's a great physical therapist.

http://www.olympicpt.com/therapists_bio.asp?pg=1&pdx=46&zdx=5

I have some sports injuries that resulted in back/neck problems. Doctors always said that I'd have to limit my sports activities and live with the pain. The therapist above was able to unravel what wasn't working right and get me completely healthy.

And a factoid worth keeping in mind for anyone who has a chronic migraine that doesn't respond to conventional treatment: Migraine symptoms can be caused by the trigeminal nerve in your neck. Not many doctors (even neurologists) consider this possibility.

I had a 'migraine' that lasted about 4 months. It was 4 months of pain throughout the day and being constantly woken up at night with a horrible recurring nightmare that I had just been shot in the head with a shotgun.

Local doctors (who are otherwise excellent) and then doctors at Mayo Clinic-Rochester couldn't figure out how to fix it. Went in for a visit at my PT (same clinic as above) to get help for my stiff neck. When I told him about the migraine symptoms, he diagnosed and fixed the cause that same session.

Hope the info is helpful to someone out there...

Everyone's said what I want to say... wish you (both?) a speedy recovery!

Ouch. Sorry, guys, it hurts to hear about your aches and pains and creaky bones (and that Reply 1994 pic, sniffle, will always make me think of you now). A heating pad, perhaps?

Is there a difference between a hobbyaholic and a workaholic?

Loving whatever you can peck out this week, or not, if giving it a rest will help.

Okay, we need to get you girls a mini projector each so that you can project your dramas to the ceiling and watch them while lying in bed. This is for your drama addiction.

As for your recapping job and hip pain... Why not get some sleeping pills? More than simply reducing pain, you both sound overworked.

And how old are you?! I've never pegged you both as grandmas!

Javabeans, thanks so much for the recaps and feel better, soon! I encourage you to invest in mounting TV's in places that will help you take the stress off of your back (expensive, but maybe a work related tax write-off). I miss my old treadmill and my TV on the wall of my garage. I was never so fit as I was when watching a three hour Bollywood film and walking! I'd get sucked in and the time would fly. You might consider yoga stretches and exercises that strengthen the back. My chiropractor taught me an amazing stretch for my SI joint. Before I learned it, sometimes I would get out of my car and not be able to walk for a few minutes! Some of the headache cures might be found by looking up referred pain and getting a Theracane. It's like a back scratcher, but allows you to massage knots out of your back. Take it from someone who has been there (and started getting issues in my late 20's) - it only gets worse if you don't change things. On the positive side, change can be great. I learned to take care of myself and live healthier lifestyle. PS - You guys are always writing about forgetting to eat and go outside, but those things really affect your body, especially food related muscle cramps. Take care of yourselves! We want you guys around for a long time! Get more minions! :)

get well soon!!

Its funny this happens the week I learn all about bone and joint diseases in med school..not that I could help you (at my stage) anymore than you could help yourself...anyways JB, take rest and get well soon, d owhatver you have to do to feel better first before pushing yourself to do more recaps and blog work...your (reasonable) readers, including myself will understand

Get well soon. I find it a torture recapping dramas I don't enjoy and can only salute your professionalism. Since you have recruited so many minions, why not catch a break while you can. You can offer your thoughts and views from time to time, because surely that won't be as backbreaking.

I kinda wish for your mothers to barge in and order to stay in bed for a day and boss you around making sure you do NOTHING.

You both need tough love ! No joke !

Feel better you both ! Eat good tasty food, it always helps at least for that sometime ! :)

get well jb.I have suffered like you and najang and it's really painful and paralyzing .Now i try to prevent it by :
protecting oneself from the cold weather and wearing warmer clothes even at home(putting something like a shawl or a jacket when using pc ) .I don't hold heavy things, moving a little bit when i stay hours using internet and when I'm in pain paracetamol can be lessening the pain and helping but not a lot . :*

Hope the hip gets back to normal quickly, javabeans ! And girlfriday, please take care of your health this winter, as well as the rest of the DB team!

My job keeps me desk-and mouse-bound too, so I totally sympathise with the neck-shoulder-back-hip aches and pains, not to mention the arm-elbow-wrist ones!

I'm sure you've got lots of advice, and the doctor's advice bit is already covered, but I hear it helps to keep warm (gets v chilly for the lower body parts when you're sitting upright at the computer for hours), and to help the hips/joints, maybe eat more salmon, herring, anchovies, mackerel, sardines, and tuna, and turmeric, ginger, and whole grain foods.

Love the pic of Na-jung, but hate the idea of you having to crawl around the house like that!

Get well soon!
Been in love with all your writing, individually and together for some years. *big hug*

please take care of your health! because if you don't no one else will. have you tried acupuncture? i do enjoy you two's banter. & thank you for all the recapping you do for us.

@javabeans: Ask for a medrol dose pack from your PCP. That might do the trick. You might have bursitis vs sciatica.