| Author |
Topic:
Creche Thread: Current topic - The Woes of Writerhood (9.28.08)
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Creche_Master
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
8/20/07 7:49pm
Subject:
Creche Thread: Current topic - The Woes of Writerhood (9.28.08)
- Date Edited:
9/28 5:44pm (13 edits total)
Edited By:
Creche_Master
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Newbies and Masters alike,
Welcome to The Creche, where newbies and oldbies can come together and pair off as Padawans and Masters!
Master = A Master is a mentor and someone to help you find your way around the boards, as well as a friend and automatic reader (in most cases). Many of the Masters listed in here are very interested in helping to improve a youngling's writing skills and begin their own story threads.
Padawan = 1. A NEWBIE. 2. An experienced writer who would like to expand his/her skills.
Creche_Master is: The Musical Jedi
I also have a group of wonderful helpers who are more than willing to lend a hand to the newbies. They are my Order of The Braid. Oldbies, please let me know if you’d like to be a member.  If you have questions and for whatever reason would rather not PM me or the mods, you should turn to them.
The Order of the Braid
Zonoma
NYCitygurl
JadeSolo
-----signature-----
Why do writers write? Because it isn't there. - Thomas Berger
~*~*~*~
What is important is to keep learning, to enjoy challenge, and to tolerate ambiguity. In the end there are no certain answers. - Martina Horner
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Creche_Master
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
8/20/07 7:50pm
Subject:
What to Do
- Date Edited:
8/20/07 7:52pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Creche_Master
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HOW TO GET INVOLVED
1) All Masters (yes, all you oldbies) and potential Padawans (this means you, newbies!) must fill out the form found in the next post.
2) Look through the various applicants every once in a while -the complete lists are updated faithfully with dates and links. I highly recommend actually taking the time to read the provided samples.
3) When you find someone that seems like a good match, then PM him/her! Both Masters and Padawans are allowed to make first contact) Don't be shy!!!
Make sure your PM states "Adoption Inquiry" or something along those lines in the subject so that it does not get overlooked.
Listing yourself as Master or Padawan makes you fair game for Adoption business PMs from prospective partners.
4) Be patient while waiting for a response.
5) If you do not feel it is a good match, that's okay. Decline gracefully and move on. You need to feel comfortable with your partner. This is supposed to be educational and FUN.
6) Finally! When the deed is done, and both of you are happy... come share the good news with us!!
-----signature-----
Why do writers write? Because it isn't there. - Thomas Berger
~*~*~*~
What is important is to keep learning, to enjoy challenge, and to tolerate ambiguity. In the end there are no certain answers. - Martina Horner
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Creche_Master
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
8/20/07 7:52pm
Subject:
The Surveys
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IMPORTANT!!
If you would like to be listed as a Master or a Padawan then please fill out the following survey and post it. Be thorough, each question there is because these are things that tend to be important to most people when looking for a new partner.
NAME:
LOOKING FOR: (please indicate Master or Padawan)
ERA:
FAVE CHARACTERS:
STRENGTHS:
WEAKNESS:
I LOVE TO WRITE:
NO WAY WILL I EVER WRITE:
RANDOM FACTS AND FUN INFORMATION ABOUT ME: (number of current Padawans for all Masters!)
LINK TO A SAMPLE OF MY WRITING (if onsite sample is available):
Trying to figure out what kind of person your new partner is? You may want to try out this survey to break the ice. Silliness is heartily encouraged here, even amidst the serious business of writing. Take time to get to know the other person; knowing more about them makes it easier to work together. I would recommend you do this survey via PM. Some of it might even relate to writing… 
What time did you get up this morning?
What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
What is your favorite TV show?
What do you usually have for breakfast?
Favorite cuisine?
What food do you dislike? Prefer?
What is your favorite CD at the moment?
Morning or night person?
Favorite sandwich?
What characteristic in other people do you despise? Look for?
Favorite item of clothing?
If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be?
What color is your bathroom?
Favorite brand of clothing?
Where would you like to visit?
What was your most memorable birthday?
Favorite sport to watch?
Pets?
What did you want to be when you were little?
What date on the calendar are you looking forward to?
What music do you like?
Your Favorite Book?
-----signature-----
Why do writers write? Because it isn't there. - Thomas Berger
~*~*~*~
What is important is to keep learning, to enjoy challenge, and to tolerate ambiguity. In the end there are no certain answers. - Martina Horner
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Creche_Master
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
8/20/07 7:54pm
Subject:
The Lists - Updated 9/21/2008
- Date Edited:
9/21 8:01am (70 edits total)
Edited By:
Creche_Master
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Here are the lists you’ve all been waiting for! If you would like to be on one, please post in the last page of the thread or drop a PM to the Creche_Master. I try to update them daily. However, make sure you post the survey. They’re organized by era preference, so names may appear more than once. Don’t hesitate to check someone out.
Padawan List (in chronological order, separated by Era)
Before the Saga:
solobratz - 7/24/07
saichen - 1/9/08
Captain_Pete_Solo - 1/28/08
AuroraDumalOfBoden - 3/8/08
Obi-Gon_Skywalker - 6/22/08
Katana_Geldar - 7/9/08
Thorn058 - 8/22/2008
Saga:
CHEVALIER_RYU - 6/12/07
nate_the_great - 6/14/07
ollyver - 1/5/08
Rainge - 1/5/08
tenelka_jacen - 2/2/08
AuroraDumalOfBoden - 3/8/08
dreamshell - 4/8/08
Anduli_Vader - 5/11/08
Quigonjecca - 5/18/08
Katana_Geldar - 7/9/08
JEDIGUNSHIP - 7/24/08
Thorn058 - 8/22/2008
Jaina_Jade_Fel - 9/19/08
Beyond the Saga:
Lordabc123 - 7/6/07
solobratz - 7/24/07
kecen - 4/23/08
DarkMastermind - 4/30/08
mrjop2 - 5/2/08
chaotic-force - 5/8/08
MaruKyuu - 8/1/08
Jaina_Jade_Fel - 9/19/08
All:
SandDigger - 6/19/07
Dooku-Darklighter - 6/23/07
master_jedi_tink - 6/25/07
Lordabc123 - 7/6/07
AndrewLightstar - 9/5/07
w_nymph - 2/15/08
DarthXan318 - 4/16/08
Stroja - 6/12/08
Master List (in chronological order according to era)
Before the Saga:
Jturtle - 6/16/07
Valairy_Scot - 8/5/07
KELIA - 8/23/07
Obi-Gon_Skywalker - 8/21/2008
Saga:
Rynne - 3/30/07
Alley_Skywalker - 5/3/07
Amrita_Glittersong - 5/9/07
Jturtle - 6/16/07
Jaya Solo - 6/16/07
Valairy_Scot - 8/5/07
G__Anakin - 8/5/07
KELIA - 8/23/07
Anakin_Heartbreaker - 8/29/07
AnakinsFavorite - 8/29/07
JmsBndGrl - 8/29/07
brodiew - 11/6/07
Luton_Plunder - 1/6/08
Aiel - 4/15/08
Golden_Jedi - 5/1/08
zonzo - 6/23/08
Obi-Gon_Skywalker - 8/21/2008
Beyond the Saga:
Rynne - 3/30/07
Jaya Solo - 6/16/07
G__Anakin - 8/5/07
divapilot - 8/25/07
SithGirl132 - 9/17/07
brodiew - 11/6/07
Jedi_Ant - 11/12/07
SilSolo - 11/12/07
Aiel - 4/15/08
Kidan - 4/22/08
Earthknight - 4/24/08
Golden_Jedi - 5/1/08
zonzo - 6/23/08
All:
lordmaul13 - 7/19/07
MarasFire - 8/28/07
Jedi_Linewalker - 11/22/07
LilyHobbitJedi - 1/9/08
HyperionRising - 1/9/08
Meredith_Kenobi - 1/9/08
ZaraValinor - 5/16/08
Jedi_Perigrine - 6/5/08
furrylittlebantha - 7/3/08
As always, please let me know if I've missed something in these lists. I appreciate it. 
-TMJ
-----signature-----
Why do writers write? Because it isn't there. - Thomas Berger
~*~*~*~
What is important is to keep learning, to enjoy challenge, and to tolerate ambiguity. In the end there are no certain answers. - Martina Horner
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Creche_Master
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
8/20/07 7:55pm
Subject:
The Essentials
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Essentials of the Creche
I WANT TO BE A MASTER, BUT AM I QUALIFIED?
Do you like people?
The primary purpose of a Master here in Fan Fic is to befriend their padawan. Be a tour guide, encourage him when he is down, always read and reply to his stories, and be willing to offer constructive criticism gently and with regard for his feelings and age.
Do you have a working knowledge of the Terms of Service?
To be a knowledgable tour guide and help steer your padawan clear of common newbie mistakes, you should have a working knowledge of the Terms of Service and be willing to refer to the Fan Fic FAQ for answers to questions you don’t know the answer to.
Are you ready to act like a responsible role model for an impressionable newbie?
It’s all part and parcel of having a padawan, guys. Responsible role models are essential. This is a lesson unto itself, though. More on that later.
Do you have the time to encourage a new writer, read their story(s), and reply to them?
If you just want a padawan to have a cool signature, then move on, please. A padawan whose own master does not take the time to read at least some of their work and show a genuine interest in them can easily become discouraged from pursuing their writing.
Since we are here to encourage writing, make your padawans’ stories a priority. This is time consuming at times. I also assure you that it is incredibly rewarding to watch the progress of their writing skills.
Is that really all there is to it?
There is always, always more. After all, one should never stop learning, right? But the rest can be learned. The most important part is having the desire to help someone.
Where do I sign up?
If this sounds like something for you, then please feel free to browse the padawan lists and create your own Master’s profile, post it, and we will link it in the first page.
THE RIGHT PADAWAN
This subject is debated from time to time around here, so I’ll offer several schools of thought.
First: Same to Same
This is the most popular method of finding a padawan here in the Creche. Many people scroll through the lists and lurk, waiting for a profile to appear with a familiar and comfortable list of ‘favorites’. Usually Masters look for a potential padawan to share a favorite character, relationship, era, or a penchant for writing Original Characters or a certain genre (Romance v/s Action, for example).
Second: Opposites Attract
Some people go looking for Masters outside of their comfort zone on purpose. Most of these potentials know what exactly their weaknesses are and look for a Master to help strengthen them.
Third: It’s About The Personality!
Sometimes, it’s just all about the personality. Even if the profile looks great, you just don’t click. It’s okay, it happens. This is why getting to know a potential padawan via a few PMs is a great idea.
Conversely, a padawan with a profile that turns you off may be such a fun personality that you become interested in their interests while they take part in yours. That is what I call a win, win situation.
Fourth: Relationships Found Through Story Threads
Some of the best Master/Padawan relationships begin as author/reader friendships. Allowing this kind of relationship to build into a mentorship can be very enjoyable for both people involved.
Regardless of the method you choose, some careful thought and frank questions help to avoid uncomfortable Master/Padawan pairings. Once you have narrowed it down a little bit, consider the following:
Know Your Own Expectations and Limitations.
While you are choosing a padawan, examine your skills frankly and hold them up to the students expectations and goals.
- Are you a harsh beta?
- Will you be giving assignments that highlight their skills and force them to work out their weaknesses?
- Do you just want a padawan to help them out here and there, leaving the betaing to someone else?
- Can you help them find one, if spelling and grammar are not your strong suits?
- Are you looking for a serious minded writer/padawan?
- Are you looking for someone who is more interested in playing with ideas and plots, but not worried about the small stuff?
What Are Your Potential Padawan’s Expectations?
These are important questions to ask not only yourself but any potential student. You need to know what their expectations are from a Master, too.
Read Your Candidate’s Sample Writing.
This should be a no brainer, but you’d be surprised. For those potential Padawans and Masters alike, READ the work of the person you are considering learning from and teaching to.
Which Approach Works Best?
It has been my experience that every method works. Find one that works for you and go for it! The worst that can happen is that you meet someone new, right?
Just remember, the burden of contact is primarily on you as a Master. These younglings tend to be shy, so while you welcome their PMs – take the initiative and send a PM or two out yourself.
-----signature-----
Why do writers write? Because it isn't there. - Thomas Berger
~*~*~*~
What is important is to keep learning, to enjoy challenge, and to tolerate ambiguity. In the end there are no certain answers. - Martina Horner
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Creche_Master
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
8/20/07 7:56pm
Subject:
Newbie Resources
- Date Edited:
8/20/07 7:57pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Creche_Master
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Resources for Newbies
Yes, there’s a lot going on in these forums. Here are some links that might get you headed in the right direction – whatever that may be. If you’re looking for something to get you started in your writing, I recommend checking out the character threads as they usually have challenges and prompts to get you started. I also highly recommend you look at the Fan Fiction Index, home of the comprehensive link list.
- Fan Fiction FAQ – You’ve got questions? They’ve got answers.
- FanFic Orientation Guide – To help you get settled in. Also has clues to board oddities, like the Awards.
- Beta Readers Index v4.1 – Some Masters beta. Some don’t. Here’s to go if yours chooses not to, or if you just want a second opinion.
- Plot Bunny Thread – Want to write, but not sure what? Here is where other authors take their plot bunnies and release them to the wild – or at least the Hutch. Note: This is not the place to post ideas if you don’t want someone else to adopt them.
- The Unofficial Star Wars Encyclopedia and Wookieepedia
- Lazy’s Amazing Link Machine – Once upon a time, it was very hard to find threads in the Fan Fiction area. Then, lazy made an amazing link machine to make life easier for the rest of us.
- Character Threads – There are a lot of characters in the Galaxy. Chances are, if you like to write ‘em, they have a thread here. Here are some bigger names from Star Wars, but by no means a comprehensive list:
-Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
-You Can Take the Farmboy Off the Farm… Luke Skywalker
-Palpatine
-Warrior Queen, Gentle Lady - Padmé Amidala Naberrie Skywalker
-Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
-The Bespin Café Version 2.0 – Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo
-----signature-----
Why do writers write? Because it isn't there. - Thomas Berger
~*~*~*~
What is important is to keep learning, to enjoy challenge, and to tolerate ambiguity. In the end there are no certain answers. - Martina Horner
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Creche_Master
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
8/20/07 7:58pm
Subject:
Masters' Training Courses
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So you want to be a Master? Think you have what it takes? Well, if you don’t, we have now have a Masters’ Training Course thread to help you polish those important skills needed to guide an initiate to Knighthood.
Previous topics:
Well… I haven’t written them yet. But when I do, they’ll be linked here.
-----signature-----
Why do writers write? Because it isn't there. - Thomas Berger
~*~*~*~
What is important is to keep learning, to enjoy challenge, and to tolerate ambiguity. In the end there are no certain answers. - Martina Horner
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Creche_Master
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
8/20/07 7:59pm
Subject:
Previous Discussion Topics
- Date Edited:
9/28 5:46pm (13 edits total)
Edited By:
Creche_Master
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Previous Discussion Topics (Your burning questions may have already been answered!)
-----signature-----
Why do writers write? Because it isn't there. - Thomas Berger
~*~*~*~
What is important is to keep learning, to enjoy challenge, and to tolerate ambiguity. In the end there are no certain answers. - Martina Horner
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Creche_Master
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
8/20/07 8:00pm
Subject:
Writing Prompts and Assignments
- Date Edited:
12/4/07 4:22pm (3 edits total)
Edited By:
Creche_Master
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Previous Writing Prompts and Responses
-----signature-----
Why do writers write? Because it isn't there. - Thomas Berger
~*~*~*~
What is important is to keep learning, to enjoy challenge, and to tolerate ambiguity. In the end there are no certain answers. - Martina Horner
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Creche_Master
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
8/20/07 8:02pm
Subject:
Reserved Post - Just Because.
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This is a test. This is only a test. Had this been a real post, you would have been given some sort of direction in which to continue the conversation. And since this is a Star Wars board, I must now have the obligatory movie reference.
Move along, move along!
-----signature-----
Why do writers write? Because it isn't there. - Thomas Berger
~*~*~*~
What is important is to keep learning, to enjoy challenge, and to tolerate ambiguity. In the end there are no certain answers. - Martina Horner
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The Musical Jedi
Registered:
Dec '99
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Date Posted:
8/20/07 8:25pm
Subject:
RE: The Brand Spankin' New Creche Thread! - Come in and Check it out!
- Date Edited:
8/20/07 9:08pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
The Musical Jedi
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And we are up and running! 
And with it comes our first discussion topic: How To Break the Ice in a New Pairing
So you've made it; you posted the survey, found yourself a nice Master to help you with your writing and navigating these boards. But, how do you figure out something about the person beyond the computer screen? How do you find out crucial information, like whether your Master will groan at your Obidala or if his heart belongs to Tenel Ka? Let alone about him/her as a person? Masters, how do you find out about your Padawan?
EDIT: This and many of the following discussion topics are brought to you by JadeSolo, who gave me a fantastic list of ideas in the old thread. Thank you, Jade! 
-----signature-----
Real heroes were like the characters in that man Tolkien's story, who did what they had to even if they hated it, even if it took their own lives away from them.
-- Otherland: Mountain of Black Glass, Tad Williams
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Lord help our Colts.
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Persephone_Kore
Registered:
Jan '06
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Date Posted:
8/21/07 1:24am
Subject:
RE: The Brand Spankin' New Creche Thread! - Come in and Check it out!
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HURRAY!
What a lovely set of intro posts. Nice organization. And I think I mentioned this when you put up the sample posts, but I think the little introductory collection of links is a fantastic idea.
On the discussion:
I only have one experience to go on so far, but I felt drawn to Elana partly because of her stories, partly because of her PM, and... well, to be honest, partly because she seemed amenable to being a pretty laid-back mentor. A lot of it was just kind of a general feeling, but her view of the GFFA as seen in her stories was a comfortable one, which was important to me at the time. I'd been writing in several fandoms already but was new to this forum, so at that point I was mostly looking for someone I could ask specific questions about getting along on these boards, rather than someone to help me get the hang of fanfic in general or to give me writing-development help.
I think I ended up asking her straight out if that was all right with her, once I started feeling she might be a good match.
In general, I think I'd try to sort out things like favorite characters and the things that cause someone to run screaming up the wall and huddle on top of the ceiling fan before agreeing to a pairing. *grin* There are always the stories that deftly dodge objections or just blow straight through them, and surprise me by making me like something I wouldn't expect to from hearing the concept described -- but that can be hit-or-miss even with some of my established favorites. I don't think I would commit to helping a new author write stories about a concept I usually dislike; I don't think I would feel I could guarantee being helpful and effective, so it wouldn't be fair.
Finding out about them as a person.... You know, I don't think I have anything useful to contribute there at all. I'm usually content to get to know people online very slowly, in that sense. I'll read stories, I'll read discussion posts, sometimes I'll track down other-topic discussions or a LiveJournal and that does speed things up... but I tend to interact with people mostly in terms of the milieu where I met them and discovered a common interest. Then eventually we both start mentioning other things and picking up on other parts of each other's lives. But it's not for everybody, and it certainly isn't efficient.
-----signature-----
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Healer_Leona
Registered:
Jul '00
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Date Posted:
8/21/07 3:32am
Subject:
RE: The Brand Spankin' New Creche Thread! - Come in and Check it out!
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Wow, it's so new and shiny!!!
Happy to see this underway. Anything I can do to help, just let me know.
-----signature-----
Still crazy after all these years.
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VaderLVR64
Title: Fan Fic Manager in Combat Boots
Registered:
Feb '04
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Date Posted:
8/21/07 6:23am
Subject:
RE: The Brand Spankin' New Creche Thread! - Come in and Check it out!
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Wow! A great job on this! 
-----signature-----
If you have to choose between tears and laughter, remember that laughter burns more calories.
Proud New Army Mom - off to bootcamp!
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Jade_Pilot
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
8/21/07 9:52am
Subject:
RE: The Brand Spankin' New Creche Thread! - Come in and Check it out!
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Wowza! Great looking new place! 
-----signature-----
I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. - Rita Rudner
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VA_Parky
Registered:
Aug '05
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Date Posted:
8/21/07 11:42am
Subject:
RE: The Brand Spankin' New Creche Thread! - Come in and Check it out!
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Nice job!!! Wow! The new thread looks great!
While I'm here, I wanted to take this opportunity to make the official announcement that my dear Padawan, AnakinsFavorite, has been Knighted.
*snips AF's Padawan braid and hands it over*
*discreetly wipes away a tear*
It has been an honor and a pleasure, hon! Congratulations!!!
-----signature-----
Currently on hiatus Awash in Broken Promises (RotS AU): http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/23913704/p1/ Our 1st - Matthew - arrived 1/1/08 
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