Green Room - Sign Up Week - Day 8

[clauderainsrm]

 Good Morning and welcome to July!

More importantly than that - welcome to the day of the first topic/prompt is going to be posted and we get started with whatever this particular journey is going to look like. 

The sign-up sheet is open until 7pm ET. today  (Thank you to the person who messaged me reminding me that I forgot to put the time zone. It's those details that were once standard in my head that I need to remember. :D)  therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1138078.html

I have noticed a couple things on that thread though that I need to remind YOU about. 

Make sure you are linking to a specific entry and not your main journal. That becomes important when your weekly entries because who wants to scroll down to find which one you are asking people to check out? 
The other is locked/friends only journal entries. I can not, and will not, tell anyone "You need to make those public!" because it's your space. BUT I can tell you that if no one outside your immediate circle is able to read it, no one outside your immediate circle is going to be able to enjoy it/give you feedback and ultimately cast a vote for it to keep you in the competition. So that's your choice, but that's some unsolicited information.

***

We currently have 43 contestants so far. Which is pretty good. I wasn't sure what to expect this time around. Included in those are *3* people with the possibility of crossing the 200 entry mark! 1 of them is almost guaranteed to do it. For the other 2 it will depend on various circumstances. But if nothing else they will come a little closer. 

***
It's the start of new week, a new month, and for many (including my old job) it's the start of a new fiscal year!  It's a chance to start again. 

What do you have planned to make the most of your reset? 

Comments

only Q4 here

[hangedkay]

Our FY ends at the end of September, so this is only the start of Q4 for me.

That said, we are hiring 100 new attorneys in the next FY (first batch arrive in October) and I am in charge of training them all, so... It's early, but I am already busy. Hope I can find the time for writing in here between writing for trainings! I definitely need the creative outlet.

Re: only Q4 here

[gunwithoutmusic]

I'm so excited to see you competing; I'm a big fan. My FY ends at the end of September, too, and (being in finance) it promises to be a busy time. I hope you make it through training the newbies okay!

Re: only Q4 here

[hangedkay]

That's very kind of you. I remember names (including yours) but my memory is not good enough to remember what anyone's style was.

Meanwhile, it's been so long since I wrote anything like this, I can't promise to have the same approach, style, impact, or anything that I had before. I truly have no idea what will come out of me...

[fausts_dream]

I will be sober for the first time in this contest or, you know, literally ever.

I used to think drinking made me write better that's so far it's turned out that none of the positive things I thought drinking did for me that were positive were actually true in the cold light of morning... But even if drinking did up my game at this point I think I'd rather be a sober crappy writer than a drunk brilliant one.

Some people in this contest will be able to compare and contrast so it'll be fun to play for that reason alone.

[roina_arwen]

Wow, that’s excellent! I don’t think I recognize this username, so I’m not sure if I can compare/contrast, but it’s great to know you’re making positive changes.

[fausts_dream]

I write under m_malcontent on LJ with a Marvin the Martian Icon.

[roina_arwen]

Aha! That is a name I recognize! Thanks!

[reidharriscooper]

Congrats on being sober and knowing yourself.

[chasing_silver]

I'm really, really glad to see you here. And to hear this news <3

[pixiebelle]

Well today I went to one of my favorite parts of the city and picked up some of my favorite donuts, something I haven’t done in awhile. It’s a nice little treat. I hope the rest of the month goes well, it’s my summer vacation and I’m trying not to waste it away by scrolling Facebook nonstop.

[roina_arwen]

Mmmmm… donuts!

[pixiebelle]

They’re so good! Too good. They’re also huge, typically I eat half or a quarter at a time and I ate a whole one earlier and regretting my life’s choices now 😂

[bleodswean]

I'm running into such perplexing resistance whilst pimping Idol. And what's frustrating about it is that I realize it's coming from ignorance, not being exposed to the brilliance that Idol is! My hope is that this mini season will spark some fires and we will begin to build a momentum again!

Thanks for all your dedication and hard work, G!

[murielle]

Ditto, though not for the resistance. <3

[reidharriscooper]

Unfortunately no resets for me here. As long as my mom is in her current situation, taking care of her is going to be my life. Any chance of her life returning to semi-normal will not be till September. That doesn't mean my life has to take a pause but it also does. I'm not going to go for a vacation per se that would have me gone for more than 12 hours max which means no vacations, but at least a day in the city when needed. Maybe if I'm stuck on what to do for a prompt and need inspiration?

Also, 43 contestants and I'm rusty. We'll see how long this lasts for me! :D

[murielle]

I'm sorry to hear about your mom. She is blessed to have you.

Well, I think you're going to be just fine. I on the other hand...:-/

[reidharriscooper]

We shall see... I might end up just telling stories about scheduling doctor's appointments and rescheduling and getting to those appointments and trying to reach doctors and all that shabazz. Fascinating stuff, it'll keep me in for two weeks tops out of pity!

[nicholewithanh]

Reid, I think you and I are living the same life. My mother is coming to stay with us throughout July for various reasons and I'm just kind of bracing myself for her arrival today.

Maybe we can plan day-cations for ourselves where we just take ourselves out for a day or half a day to give ourselves a break and find inspiration! Coffee, trip to your favourite shop sans mom, etc.

Best of luck

[reidharriscooper]

I really hope not. Changing ostomy bags is something I wouldn't wish I on anyone else but also something I saw the care she got in rehab to be severly lacking in terms of everything, diet, mental health, etc.

I could always go for a walk but NYC weather has also not been the healthiest for that. There's a park (world famous Flushing Meadows, home of the 69 World's Fair) nearby with a small water system... by the time I walked back to the entrance of the park I was dry again and still then had to get home... it wasn't fun. I miss having a local friend who I could just chill with for a little. I am sure a prompt in this competition will inspire discussing that as um... I think the last time I was in LJ Idol was 2019 and well lots changed.

[murielle]

I'm so nervous! (Just saying.)

It's been wonderful to see all the familiar names and experience all the memories. If I've missed anyone, please forgive me. My memory is getting a tad rusty.

Thank you, Gary!

[nicholewithanh]

Love seeing all the familiar names! I had no idea that I would recognize so many.

Plans for the new month involve swapping over my new monthly tarot card, preparing for my mother's arrival for the month and trying to make the best of it, and waiting for a certain job posting to go up, which if I get, will have me working more hours at my same library. Cross your fingers for me!

[roina_arwen]

Finger crossed on all accounts!

[reidharriscooper]

I don't recognize ANY usernames anymore! I know people by their REAL names now!
My fingers are crossed but not well... My hands confuse me. I can use them but never how I want.

[roina_arwen]

I think getting back into Idol and journaling in general will be a good thing. I’m not sure what my weeks in Idol count is at, but I know it’s up there! Fingers crossed I make it to the next level.

Like a few others here, I’m dealing with a MIL who is in her early 90’s and is slowly going down hill. Fortunately her granddaughter (who is in her 50’s) lives with her, so that’s a huge help.

[pixiebelle]

You were one of the people that came to mind first for getting close to 200 weeks.

[clauderainsrm]

195

[roina_arwen]

Oooh, excellent! Thanks!

[reidharriscooper]

I don't know what I would do with mom if my life had taken a different direction than it has. Roads go the way they go.
Ya know, I've been here since like the second LJ Idol I think, and probably haven't made it past 50 weeks, so you're rocking.

[roina_arwen]

Aww, thanks! I started competing in season 3, and I think most of the mini seasons.

[clauderainsrm]

You also started in Season 3. You're at 83 weeks. (just happened to have some of recurring veterans listed on my spreadsheets. :D)

[tigrkittn]

I'm one of those "new fiscal year" people - which unfortunately means they pull all the budgets to zero and my new boss is boggled because she thought today meant a nice new clean start. Hahaha! I got to break the news that it will take almost a full three months to get the new year up and running - then it runs for six months and we spend the last three months closing it out. At the risk of wishing my life away, is it 2029 yet so I can retire???

[alycewilson]

The funny thing is that I now have friended a number of LJ Idol peeps on the Book of Face, but I no longer remember what their screen names are! I'm looking forward to reading what everyone has to contribute.

[unmowngrass]

Reset is a good word so far as I'm concerned. I am making space for things by letting other things go, at least temporarily. Some fun, this month, I hope, but my main goals are study-orientated.

[niquildrvr]

Dang it! Late to the party--y'all have fun!

[clauderainsrm]

I tend to give some grace when it comes to signing up. If you post a sign up (and an entry) before the deadline for week 1 you'll be good. (I've received other messages from people who didn't realize we were back and about to start until today. So I think the word is just starting to get out)