barbara

What did he do? Almost any successful artist or athlete does not emerge whole and without assistance anyway. Once a recording company gets their hands on an artist, they become as managed, or more so, than Korean artists. And, yes, BTS (and TXT) have evolved - pretty much exclusively due to their own creativity and hard work growth. Also -

An easy series to get sucked into - but now I know more about what Americans mean when they diss K-pop as not organic but created. Still, it's also clear that this entire department is a result of what they learned from BTS as they were developing. It really shows more and more how important Namjoon has been ot the success of BigHIt.

It's interesting to see how much time each member takes up in this. RM still very much the leader and spokesman (and, in a way, I had thought of him as the spokesman because he could speak English, but that's just a late addition to his spokesman role). Obviously shot when Yoongi was still recuperating from surgery. JK speaks so softly and Jin almost not at all. Tae finally adds something. Worth the watch and we see a dynamic. Hobi so Hobi and honest about how he always always wants perfection, to make it better - and has always been that way (and we see that even in early practice videos). Can't wait for the Disney+ documentary (and hoping that the 20th means the 20th in Korea....). I also think that all the new content all the members teased before they went in to the military will be released in spaced doses.

I love that the merch is made in Busan but the store is in Japan. I guess his dad sells merch out of his cafe in Busan, too. He wouldn't be able to use anything that Hybe "owns" so Young Forever is a stretch. Now I think more of spending a day or two in Busan just to go to his cafe (and also the temple that is there that looks amazing.)

They aren't "quality" photos. I take Weverse's word. If the ministry of defense is making money off the members (and that wouldn't surprise me) I still think Weverse would step in. Why would they have released a statement about rogue photos is they felt or knew they were legitimate? The only photos I've seen that I feel are okay are the ones of Hobi taken by, and with, graduating recruits. Anything "candid" just seems that it would be not approved - especially as they are in uniform. We couldn't even see the uniformed members at the recent entrance ceremonies except the one or two official photos of the seven.

There is an announcement somewhere on Weverse that any photos of the members not released by Weverse are infringing on the privacy of members and ARMY is encouraged to not repost or otherwise engage with whoever posts them. There should be NO photos coming out of the four new military members (unless through Weverse and they aren't releasing any.). There must be someone in the unit with a phone camera (meaning they have a phone meaning they've been in at least 100 days) who is taking these surreptitiously and, for all we know, selling them. Note: no photos of RM and Tae. The army takes that 100 day thing pretty seriously, and no pictures of military in uniform, period., and it's Jin's unit so I hope he gets to the bottom of it (if he knows about it). I was cheered by how the members were "becoming" just regular Korean young men and it's annoying that there are those doing this. I love seeing photos of our guysm anytime, but I;d rather wait until the photos are legitimate Weverse releases.

There are probably quite a few recruits who do not have the education (or even close) to our members. And the few pics I've seen of group activities makes me think that the whole group is lined up in alphabetical order... And it's SO cold on Jeju and brutal in Seoul. I really hope all the guys are staying warm. A bit of Hobi news -

Have a seat (it cost but I'm nearly on my way!!!!) Nightmare trip but today is a new day. Jin's crying? He has no idea how many people are joining hime in his tears. At least he'll have the two for while (I don't know if they stay at that base after training....) News not BTS but sort of related. Catch you all on the other side! (and I clearly won't be available for the watch party..,)

Well, this pretty much ruins the idea that I'd be saving money while the guys are gone, But, Yes, I will get it, Update: I didn;t get on the flight. The airline cancelled the rez and that deleted the bag tag, So my suitcase was missing for hours. Snd when I got it back, it had been pretty severely damaged, Rrrrrrr. Two of the four wheels don't work and there is a crack all the way through. Bit by then, forlorn me was scrambling to find a way to get to Korea. Even Osaka flights full. Mine looked reasonable and I expected to get on until about twenty regular passengers booked seats and over 30 standby passengers suddenly checked in., Why so much interest in brutally cold Seoul, In winter. But on tomorrow for sure (I went ahead and bought an employee price ticket - still pricey, but ON). Cannot wait to get there and have this interminable cursed day behind me. @rockstaryuzu sent me a Hobi hug. It helped.

I've started following JK's brother (who posted this) so maybe will see more of what's going on (and following Jimin's dad's cafe). In SFO and my flight looks grim.....PRAYERS and crossed fingers that I get on!!!

Of course! Jin joking about it being way below freezing when he entered..... he thinks it's all good. I hope the guys hear about Spring Day being #1 (at Christmas!). Yoongi will have heard and I hope he texted the others.

And we all much endeavor to stay active here and on Weverse to keep supporting our guys. I know the final four have created a lot of content for up. And JK and Jimin were up to something special in Japan. Can hardly wait for the Disney+ deal on the 20th (hope I can access that in KOrea, with a VPN...in necessary. And if Jimin has caught her eye ( and he has mine....), I expect there will be a "behind" or "making of" type film about Face. No announcemnet yet, but they will be dribbling that out...

i'm guessing that Hobi had just come from his base for the Monday send off but is genuinely on a day off today. And we haven't seen Yoonhgi is army clothes yet (?) I haven't a clue what his "uniform," will be. Getting ready to leave my house for the first leg of the trip to Korea. SO many clothes, but it is brutal winter there. I'll check back omnto the planet between flights -

And this is SO sweet - waiting for photos

It all makes me so sad. I haven't even watched the last live of the four saying goodbye. Saving it until I have some quiet time to reflect, and cry. It just makes my heart burst to see all seven together. (Insane getting ready to travel -so being quick here). I screen shot all the photos of them together so i have multiple of all. This one - info we didn't have

Yes -Westies are rat hunters. And foxes and badgers. This rat was going straight up an inside wall (in the outside laundry room). They killed two baby ones a month or so ago. And I know they know they are there. They sniff around like wild dogs. And I just as soon they don't get a hold of a rat. Those suckers are big and I don't wnat my pups bitten. It's 10 in the morning in Korea. JK and Jimin are likely on their way. I'm dying.

How can someone look do handsome with a shaved head? Going nuts getting ready to leave in two days, dog sitters arriving tomorrow. Cleaning TOO much. Arghhh. Worse: spotted an actual full size rat climbing up my (outside) laundry room wall last night. Now, I have to deal with rats and I haven't even started packing yet. Plus, extraordinary sadness. Wow, I'm going to miss those guys.

How can this be possible?

Evidently not a real thing (?)

Interesting that Tae has his parents living with him. And the best for Tannie!

I've already asked him for a gift card. Even though he's ARMY, he's never ordered from the Weverse Shop (and would likely freak out if he saw what kind of money I've obviously spent.) It is a magical sweatshirt but It's generally warm and not sweatshirt weather where I live and I have plenty of BTS branded t-shirts. (And a sweatshirt.) JK might have loved being in special forces but he'd always have come home to BTS. HIs shot to "global pop star" and records broken could have made him think he doesn't need or want to be one of seven, but it's really clear, he is BTS. And, I think he is not unhappy about enlisting with Jimin and being with Jin. (I doubt there is "friend" or companion enlisting in special forces...)

The Artist Made sale reminded me about how much money I spent on those things and how frantic we all were. The only thing I didn't get that I'd like is the purple Jimin hoodie, but, again, even though it looks great on @rockstaryuzu, it's still. with shipping, just too expensive for a sweatshirt for me, right now. (You can tell, I'm still in the process of talking myself out of it.....)

The Wings Tour. March 2017. I can understand how a busy, traveling business woman might not know who BTS was in 2017. Even if she did, vaguely, why is it they are here? It would have been like a Twilight Zone episode, even if she knew who they were (and, if she did, she'd still have been an adult business woman and not likely to harass them or go all ga-ga fan girl. And that's a monster cheese board. I know in this country, if you were carrying that, they'd send you through a special "agriculture" customs area. They'll do that even if you have rocks. Anyway, how cool.....I wonder if any of the members remember this. They were probably pretty tired, too. That was their first stop on that LONG tour and they would have just arrived from KOrea.

Interesting that RM knows what they are doing when they are sleeping. I wonder what we'll see from their trip. Tae will be in amazing shape when he returns. Having to learn all martial arts, he'll certainly have maintained his ability to do high kicks. That one post looks like they are climbibg buildiongs in the city and I guess we heard he'd be in Seoul. Is that just for his initial training? Or, do we think he'll get to stay in Seoul the entire 18 months? Edit: subs are up!