Vote - Week 9

[clauderainsrm]

This week's topic was "Sucker Punch".

Life decided to pull a sucker punch of its own, by taking out two old friends and heavy hitters,  with a bye-out.

Goodbye toalycewilson  and eeyore_grrl

Second Chance is starting soon. So I hope we will see you there!

In the meantime though, it's time for the rest of you...

To face the Gatekeepers.

Yes. The topic Sucker Punch was in fact a sucker punch.

For those of you who have never experienced this before, it's a like a Contestant Only poll. Except that you don't vote.

It's like last week, except you don't get your friends to vote for you.

Don't let that stop you from reading, and commenting on each other's work though - or sharing your favorite pieces. It may not impact the voting, but it's still something that's very important to be doing for each other.

It's a special panel that I personally put together, to read, to decide on their favorites, and to send me a list. I compile those lists (like I do with the Contestant Only week) and eliminate people accordingly. :)

We will be losing a minimum of 5 contestants, with a maximum of 8.

I've given them until Thursday at 8pm EST to send me their lists. The results will be posted soon after that.

Good luck to everyone.

Comments

[murielle]

Oh no! Can't believe alycewilson and eeyore_grrl are leaving! This just gets harder and harder.

And on top of that a Gatekeeper week! And a minimum of five being eliminated. (Headdesk!)

[dmousey]

I hear you! But you know what, would we have written with OUR true 'voices' and soul that we put into the process each time if we had known? Or would we buff and polish and possibly out of nerves, not written what our heart truly wanted us place on the page. ✌🐭🐀😊💚💜

[murielle]

You are right, of course, D. But I came so close to taking a bye this week. LOL!

[dmousey]

Me too. But Fox had been clammoring for a visit, so I let her out! But I had to rush the back third or so of her story- And I hope it was enough to stand alone, and Aaaack. Welp, not any amount of worry will get the pudding done. 😊✌

[murielle]

So true! Worry can't cook, or write! :-)

[bsgsix]

5-8 is a wide range of eliminations from an already-dwindling group! But it was bound to happen. Tis the season?

I look forward to seeing what the Gatekeepers say! That's always fun (truly - that sounded sarcastic, but I mean it, because I know most are former and wonderful Idol writers and champs)!

In the meantime, with nothing to click and nothing to check - all fine by me - I'm going to put my efforts into my replies, hope people don't hate me for my post, and get started on the first TRUE action for cancer: an oncologist at a brand-new hospital who has given me a 50% survival rate for the next 5 years. I'll take it. Life is precious, so yeah. 50% over 5 years sounds pretty decent. <3

[reidharriscooper]

If you get 80% for 2 years... I hope you have good credit to get really shitty credit.

Although I realized you have people who would have to take on your debt, so... yeah.

That was always my plan though since I am sadly and unfortunately currently single and without kids (although not unfortunate if I was going to die). Splurge on credit and travel the world if given a death warrant.

Wishing you the best. For realz.

[bsgsix]

Ha, you know, I thought about this. Life is short, so why not enjoy it, right? And if I were single, I'd probably max out a lot of credit cards and go explore everything. It wouldn't be responsible, but let's face it - 50% in 5 years is like saying, "Well, you COULD live. But you could also die. It's an even split. Flip a coin. If it's heads, you live, and tails, you die." And I flip - but am not allowed to see the results for 4-6 years (because 5 years is just the general average).

But... my debt becomes my husband's debt, and I've done enough to that poor guy already. My kid would be devastated that I didn't save money for treatment or trips with him. And I was told in 2014 my cancer was terminal, only to be told in 2016 that it was in partial remission. So odds? I don't know them any longer. I could hear 50% for 5 years for the next 25 years. Or I could die next month. No one knows for themselves, let alone for me. I just have a... slightly expedited trip toward the end?

Really, the goal is to build a home by the bay in my state in about 3-4 years. If we do that, and I get to spend my final days there, that's a win. If we do that, and I live 25 more years, it's a CLEAR win. I'm not a normal person, but some normalcy is key here with the whole family thing (and the fact I am so tired).

That aside? Were I single? Yeah. Yeah, I'd gamble.

And thank you. I know you are, and I really do appreciate it. <3

[murielle]

Oh, hon! *Hugs* I'm so glad you found someone who is hopeful and has a plan for you. *Hugs* And yes, I do hug this much! LOL!

[bsgsix]

*hugs* Thank you! I mean, I don't like the odds, but 50/50 isn't... as bad as it could be. It's a coin-flip, and that's just basically a metaphor for life in and of itself, right?

So I hope my oncologist has a good plan. Targeted therapy is being discussed, and I've started a few new meds, so I'm hopeful. I'm a stubborn ass; it's hard for me to just accept the notion of just giving up. I have plans, at least for the next five years. I plan to see them all through, and then some. :)

And it's okay! I like hugs! *more hugs back* So you will never hear me complain about that! Haha.

[bellatrix_lestrange]

*adding to the hugs and well wishes for you* <3

[bsgsix]

Thank you so much, love. I'll be fighting this. I don't like being told what my chances are when I can try to make my own rule book. ;) <3 <3

[bellatrix_lestrange]

I'll be fighting this. I don't like being told what my chances are when I can try to make my own rule book. ;) This makes really happy to read <3 I'm rooting for you and believe in you <3 <3

[bsgsix]

Haha, thank you! I don't like to lose when it comes to things like my life. I do make my own rules. ;) Thank you for believing in me! <3 <3

[bellatrix_lestrange]

I don't like to lose when it comes to things like my life. I do make my own rules. ;) I'm the same way! <3 And when someone tells me something like "That's impossible!", it just makes me even more determined, so I know exactly what you mean!

I do; I'm cheering you on from here! <3

[rayaso]

I'm so sorry to hear this. I'm sure you were hoping to hear better news. I wish I had a thought to make you feel better. Statistics only tell the story of a group, they don't tell your story. I hope you become a statistic buster.

[bsgsix]

Thank you so much. I was definitely hoping for better news, but in the medical world... you never know. Sometimes it's better than you expect, and sometimes, it's a real blow. This kind of fell in the middle - a coin flip of live or die, if it's a 50% chance, really.

However, you're right about stats, and when I was declared terminal in 2014, I wasn't supposed to make it more than 2 years. It's now been 4, so, maybe I can beat the numbers once again. There are new treatments and trials, and something could work. I'm tired, but not out of hope. Never out of hope. <3

I like "statistic buster," though. I'll be working to bust up all of those stats! :)

[tatdatcm]

Just read this, so I am rooting for you and hoping/wishing/praying for the very best outcome. I'm a glass half full kind of person, so I'm choosing to believe the good 1/2 of a 50% survival rate. *hugs*

[bsgsix]

Thank you so much. :) And there's a good shot that this can be a glass-half-full situation. Treatment options aren't great, no, but I JUST found out that Toby's boss knows the head of oncology at a great hospital here in Maryland, and that could fast-track me into some kind of clinical trial or treatment. The call has been placed, so... it could be the good 50%. I hope it is. I've beaten back cancer twice before, so maybe?

It's a coin toss. To be fair, so is everyday life, so... I just have to hope this lands the way I'd like it to, and that I'm around for a bit longer than another 5 years. *hugs*

[babydramatic_1950]

I wanted to comment directly to your entry, but found myself trying to type in black on a dark red background. No. Which reminded me of one of the things that I never liked about LJ: too many "artsy" choices about type fonts, colors, etc. There probably would have been a way to change my type font to white but it was too much trouble. Anyhow, I can comment here. I know most of your story from your memoir so this entry was not "news". But of course as always it was brilliantly written. I am a "Toby" of sorts. Seeing your entry reminded me that often the sick partner who is left at home is angry and acts out. Fortunately my partner never acted out in the way you did; with her it was more digging in her heels and refusing to do *one thing* (and this was before she became as ill as she is now; at that time she was about the age I am now) while I was killing myself all day. I worked and did all the housework and she never had the energy to do anything but she did have the energy to go to a museum with a friend, for example. And she spent a lot of money. My money. Probably the worst thing she did was buy things on my AmEx card and leave me with sticker shock.

I am so happy that you are not in the place you were in when you were living that experience. You have come through a lot and continue to shine in every way.

[bsgsix]

I'm sorry it's hard for you to see. I guess I don't see it because I don't comment directly from that page or something? I swear I'm still trying to figure it all out here. :) But I AM here, as are you, and that's good.

Thank you for your comment about my entry, though, and yes, some of that was in the memoir. This was a bit more detailed - one broken down scene in a much bigger story, like the memoir - and to you, no, probably not "news." I've known you for a while now! Funny to think that we've known each other since before my TBI, and from Idol to boot! :)

Anyhow, I'm glad you found it well written, and the acting out is more a DID thing. With the alters, who try to protect me but have taken on so much trauma, I think they sometimes get confused. I know they are parts of me; I created them to help me. And they do. But they have their own ways of coping, and their ways don't always align with my own.

I'm so tired, so I apologize if this is a rambling comment! Cancer stuff is really taking it out of me. But I, too, am happy to be in a different place. Eight years can change everything, and for me and Toby, it definitely did. And thank you! I'm glad you see that in me! *hugs*

[sonreir]

Minimum of...*five*? Jesus, Gary!

Ouch, I say. Ouch. :(

[onecheapdate]

FIVE?! Yikes!

[reidharriscooper]

Oof... but I did what I did and either it swings and sucker punches or misses and lands in the wall.

[bellatrix_lestrange]

Yep, my thoughts exactly! lol

[eeyore_grrl]

ARGH!!!! I totally flaked the deadline. :-(

Thanks for letting me play everyone!

[bellatrix_lestrange]

I'm sad to see you missed the deadline D: I loved all of your entries and hope you come back for second chance!

[dmousey]

Hugggs am sorry to see you go. Please play second chance!

[murielle]

Yes! Second Chance is coming us very soon! :-)

[tatdatcm]

I'm so sorry you missed the deadline. I enjoy your poetry and your readings so very much.

[hwango]

Well, dang. I guess I'm happy I gave up and used that last bye? I think I would have been freaking out if I'd managed to throw something together at the last minute and then had to worry about that thrown-together-at-the-last-minute entry being voted on by the Illuminati.

[hwango]

fnord.

[murielle]

I am kicking myself for not taking a bye this week. (Headdesk, Headdesk, Headdesk!)

[hwango]

Hopefully the Illuminati are pleased with your entry. Good luck!

[bsgsix]

I LOVE "The Illuminati." :)

And yeah. What a week to talk about what a terrible person I am in an entry. Way to win over an audience!

But come what may. Life is short: tell the truth (or write really good fiction)!

[hwango]

I LOVE "The Illuminati." :)

Who doesn't love them, right? People who mysteriously disappear and are never mentioned again, that's who. But we won't mention them.

As for the terrible person thing...meh, it's the quality of the writing they're judging, right? Like, as long as your description of eating kittens and setting orphanages on fire is well written, then everything should be fine!

[bsgsix]

Mention... who? Whatever do you mean? ;)

And indeed. It is the quality. I've not eaten any kittens or burned down orphanages, but I mean, I've lived a pretty weird life otherwise. Just not cat-eating pyromania weird.

There's time, but I think I've reached enough weird for one person. At least for now. Ha.

[hwango]

Just not cat-eating pyromania weird.

I believe in you.

Or...I mean...if you'd rather eat the orphanage and burn down the kittens then I guess that's an option? You be you.

[bsgsix]

I'd believe in me, too. ;) I've defied some weird odds. And have done some weird things. I'll probably leave the kittens and children alone, just to be safe, though. Karma and all that jazz.

"You be you." Well, I mean, I'm trying, but that pesky DID thing makes it tricky. I'll let you know if I'm ever NOT me, but if I'm talking here, you're talking to me (Mandi), and I'm probably quite boring. Ruby, on the other hand, might set a lot of shit on fire just for a story to tell. It's a delicate balance. But I make it work.

That didn't mean to get serious. Exhaustion-fueled responses, be gone! :)

[murielle]

Thank you!

[megatronix]

Woah!! I should've maybe expected the sucker punch round to have a sucker punch element to it, but I admit, I didn't suspect a thing. Gatekeeper rounds - I forgot about those. I'm crossing my fingers this week for sure.

And best wishes to alycewilson and eeyore_grrl. It's been great playing with you all!

Oh my gosh, I can't believe we're losing 5-8. But I guess I can since Second Chance is starting!!

I love LJ Idol, always interesting!

[kehlen.livejournal.com]

Yes, all of the 5-8 could just go straight to Second chance, which is a relief :).

[dmousey]

Am very sorry to see Alyse and Eeyore-girl go. Two very strong writers, please play second chance. I enjoyed reading both of you.

And WHYyyyy? 🐌Gary, why? Were we playing too nicely? Just had to go and stir up some drama, huh? Silly snail. 😆✌

Figures its gatekeepers, I almost byed, but rushed this entry in. I hope it makes the cut. 🐀🐭💜✌

[rayaso]

This was a good week to use a bye. This is harsh! I took the bye because our children are home for Christmas and because I had nothing for this prompt. I wish luck to all of you!

[tjoel2]

Wow! Losing 5 to 8 people. Yikes.......

Still deciding if I want to do Second Chance or not.

[bewize]

The fun continues! A minimum of 5 is high, but I guess it's time to speed this train into the side of the mountain right on up! ;)

[the_eternal_overthinker]

I have enjoyed reading both alycewilson and eeyore_grrl. It's sad to see them bye out :/ Hoping they'll jump back in for SCI.

Ah! Well...Twists each week is making this interesting.