Green Room - Week 19 - Day.. something

[kithan.livejournal.com]

Quoted directly from clauderainsrm:

Good morning.

I’m feeling better, but still haven’t had the chance to go through my email yet. So if anyone is waiting for an answer from me, it’ll be a little bit longer.

It’s funny how much being sick can take out of you.  One minute you could be jumping up and down, and the next you barely want to move. But as I said, I’m feeling better now. Thank you to everyone who was concerned.

I’ve had these big topics in my head for what I was going to post in the Green Room but they really boil down to two points –

(1) No one is ever going to be happy. You can just do things the best you can and hope for the best outcome. You do something. People are unhappy and say you shouldn’t. You don’t do something, and people are unhappy and say you should have.  This is an across the board thing. Just do whatever you can and keep moving forward. Doing your thing and doing it well is often the best revenge.*G*

(2) For all of the ups and downs of this season – this truly is my favorite group. Yeah, there have been times when I’ve wondered “why would any sane person put themselves through this?” But then I remembered that I’m not sane, and that helped.*G* Seriously though, it’s all about the writing. Every single one of the people who are still in the competition, you’ve stepped it up writing wise and I couldn’t be more proud of you if I tried. Maybe that doesn’t mean much, but I just hope that you are proud of yourself as well. Because you are doing a phenomenal job.

That’s why I do this. For the satisfaction of seeing good writers surprise themselves and do better than they would have ever thought they could. It’s what keeps me coming back day after day, season after season. . . it’s what helps me rise above the buzz of nonsense and helps me deal with people who might not care if they hurt each other in the process. Seeing the good, and the potential for good makes it easier to handle the bumps in the road.

I’m feeling better. I hope you are too.

Comments

[gnomeangel.livejournal.com]

that was for out of town spydielives!!!

(but i'll claim the point in the stats!)

[shay-writes.livejournal.com]

Are US banks closed tomorrow?

PS I've enjoyed this season too!

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

I think my bank is closed Monday not Friday but I might be wrong.

Easter is NOT a federal holiday FYI

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear that you are feeling better.

I;m feeling much more human than I have been in over a month. I guess the antibiotics are doing their job of killing the infection. Now if I can get the tooth to stop hurting.....

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

Good morning. Hope everyone is having a good morning. I'm going to breakfast with imafarmgirl. She has to work and I don't! haha. I'm sure when she's on vacation in May she'll rub my nose in it a bit!
it's still raining! Arg!

[tru2myart.livejournal.com]

But the question is, is she wearing matching shoes today?

[tru2myart.livejournal.com]

:nodnodnod:

And on a completely different note...

Does anyone know how to make a two year old dog stop chewing? She chewed my BRAND SPANKING NEW SHOE last night and I'm ready to take her head.

So seeing as how having a headless dog would be a little weird does anyone have any suggestions?

AND....

I'm curious to know what everyone is doing for Easter, if anything?

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Easter Egg hunt with Caroline and her little friends but it may be on Monday rather than Sunday.

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

I just woke up *sleepy grin* Right now I'm waiting for the water to boil so I can have some green tea.

Not much going on today except laundry, cleaning, errands, and taking the poor Kidz for a walk. It's been raining here the last couple of days. I admire the fact they've been holding in their cabin fever.

[kittenboo.livejournal.com]

btw just added you back :)

[adpaz.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're feeling better, too, Gary. Sick sucks.

For me, I'm doing better than yesterday. Anyone that read my LJ noticed that I had a trip to the ER yesterday because of abdominal and chest pains. They still aren't sure what either is, but they know what they AREN'T - heart attack, kidney stones, blood clots or anything wrong with the baby. They think the chest is related to my asthma and the abdomen is related to the growing baby.

I'm feeling a bit better today. Worn out, wanting to sleep all day but will settle for resting instead, but not in as much pain as I was in yesterday. And a huge weight is off of my mind because I've been told that the baby IS still looking good. So it can't be too bad of a day.

Well, except having to go back to work tonight after being out sick for 3 days. But that's never easy.

Hope everyone else is feeling well today too!

[tryslora]

Eep!!! I hope things go more smoothly and easily from here on out!

[minikin.livejournal.com]

Good morning from one of the most beautiful parking lots in the world. I'm Flar's chauffeur this morning, and he's in a meeting here at Keeneland.

While I wait, I'm sorting through this week's mail.

It's a beautiful, albeit chilly, first day of spring here in Lexington, KY.

[tryslora]

Best wishes and thoughts for speedy recovery to Gary! Being sick is teh suck in a serious way.

I'm sitting on the sofa in my parents' place, stealing what it probably the last of my real free time today and praying to make it through the day without my sinuses exploding (even though I know I won't be so lucky).

The goals for today are the packing that can be done in the living room. Freecycling the stuff my mom told me to get out of the house. And packing the kitchen. Kev is removing wallpaper and painting a bathroom, plus changing three faucets. My dad is in his office packing and shredding papers (some of which are older than me).

Don't we know how to have fun?

And tomorrow the dumpster arrives!

[kittenboo.livejournal.com]

well said Gary, and glad you are starting to feel better.

I'm enjoying my one hour of free time while the boy watches sesame street

[shay-writes.livejournal.com]

I love that show!

[porcelain72.livejournal.com]

I just found out my office is closed tomorrow, which was a nice surprise. Still not feeling so hot, and having an upsetting dream last night hasn't helped, but I'm muddling through.

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

A day off will probably do you good then. Hope you feel better and enjoy the 3 day weekend!

[monkeysugarmama.livejournal.com]

Gary, I am glad you are feeling better! Don't let the turkeys get you down. You are right, not only will some people never be happy, but some actually prefer to be grouchy and displeased. They like complaining - it gives them a sense of purpose!

I have to get my house and yard spit-shined in the next two days because Peanut's birthday party is on Saturday.

I've always been a little embarrassed of my college-era, mismatched furniture but I decided, screw it, this is my home and it's full of love so my guests can deal. I decided to stay home when my babies were young so I have a good reason for not being able to afford a new couch!

Anyway, this is her first party where school friends are invited so I am nervous to be opening my home to the fancy mommies. Women can be so catty, you know?

I keep thinking I need to spring for a slipcover and maybe toss the gold velvet "pimp chair" that I bought for $5 at a yard sale when I was a sophomore. It's tacky as hell but it makes a great spot for reading!

[eqfe.livejournal.com]

we have a bedroom set that we bought at an unfinished furniture store 28 years ago. replacing it has always taken second place to more important financial priorities, like braces,vacation and college. Besides its important to remember where we came from.

1st Day of Spring!

[ladyozma.livejournal.com]

Rita's Italian Ice for everyone!!!! WOOOOOT!

Hello flowers and birds and great weather!!! :)

Well officially flowers and birds and great weather. Here we never really saw winter and instead morphed one day from fall to spring and I'm not really sure when it was. Kind of missed the winter and am scared about the ecological aftermath of it... but for today I'm going to revel in spring and not worry!

Re: 1st Day of Spring!

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

*waiting for the sun to come out*

Now I know that April showers bring May flowers, but this is getting ridiculous. It's supposed to rain up here all weekend :(

On the bright side, my crocuses are peeping!

Play boy Bunnies?

[worldofcharlie.livejournal.com]

*there aren't any playboy bunnies around!*..

NO wait..Easter...Different Kind of Bunny.. *eg*

AH nevermind.

Probably go out to brunch and recuperate from eating for the rest of the day.

Claudia will probably go to Mass for Good Friday and Easter service in the morning (Carrie & I aren't Catholic so we don't do the church thing).

*waves*

Re: Play boy Bunnies?

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

Michelle never was a bunny... whoops! wrong story thread.

*snicker*

[elva-undine.livejournal.com]

I am *so* overwhelmed today. So overwhelmed. I have to much stuff to do and no time to relax and today culminates in having company over for LOST...for a panic-prone person, today is kind of a nightmare.
Off I go to be committed.

[chazari.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[unsold-capacity.livejournal.com]

Tomorrow night my super-duper boyfriend Andrew and my super-super friend Sam are coming up from DC to visit me in Pittsburgh. Sam will be here for the weekend, and Andrew's staying ALL WEEK!!! <3

The sad part is that I'm going to go get a lot more work done with Andrew here because he'll motivate me to get out of my room :P

For Easter, my family has always gone to a Mexican restaurant (don't ask), and I think I'm going to start continuing the tradition in college. There's a cutesy Mexican place down the block, I think it deserves a visit...

[kittenboo.livejournal.com]

that sounds like a fun tradition actually!

we have a tradition of going out for chinese on new years eve

Thoughts

[angstzeit.livejournal.com]

Under the ocean there's a river.

It is so easy to only see the scum. So easy to skim and fling it in the faces of those with a shred of hope left. To only map the miles and miles of waste. To sell the heart as defective and rid oneself of caring.

Love is thirsty. It writhes in a desert, baking in the heat of our scorn while under the sand flows a river.

Will you not join me? Have you lost your shovel, I'll loan you mine. Let us dive. Do not be afraid. Though dark and cold there is a sustenance, a rhythm. Leave your lonely, little island and help me find the connection, the flow, the pulse. There is no enemy anywhere, there is no friend anywhere, there is only the river, the blood, the spiral.

Re: Thoughts

[shay-writes.livejournal.com]

Nice!

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

Gary -

Glad you are feeling better.

No one is ever going to be happy.

Some people are happy. You're never going to make everyone happy, but some people are fine and dandy.

That’s why I do this. For the satisfaction of seeing good writers surprise themselves and do better than they would have ever thought they could.

I've said this before privately, but it bears repeating publicly. I used to write a lot. I love words, and I love putting them together, but like several other things I love, I haven't done it in a while. After a major life event I went into survival mode, and then as I got it back together, I found myself dealing with major illnesses with both parents, then the death of my dad.

I haven't written anything worth reading in several years. I was on the verge of deleting my LJ, decided instead to make an effort to write more and stick around, heard about LJ Idol, decided to play the home game, and then got swept up in it.

This week's entry is the first time I've felt like my old self. I didn't want to write it, because I was really wiped from work, and from last week's entry, and I wasn't sure what I was going to say, but when I started writing, it clicked, and I found my voice again.

That happened because of this community, and this community happened because of you.

I've met really cool people whom I will enjoy knowing well beyond Season 4, and I made those new friendships in this community that you created.

On the internet people are more vocal when they're complaining. If we put as much energy into appreciation and gratitude as we do into bitching and moaning, it would be much nicer for everyone. So here is my gratitude to you. Thank you for making this space for us.

[lilmissmagic71.livejournal.com]

I will second this post. It was said eloquently enough that I don't really have anything to add except that, though I will probably be 'going home' this round, I will still participate in the reading and voting simply because people really are stepping up and the writing for many is fantastic. I won't have many regrets at all... thanks!

[tulip-in-yellow.livejournal.com]

I have the most awesome poll ever on my LJ today and I'd adore it if you all took part in it:

Awesomest Poll Ever! (http://tulip-in-yellow.livejournal.com/106165.html)

[kithan.livejournal.com]

I could not resist the Awesomest Poll Ever!

[gonadsandstrife.livejournal.com]

"Every single one of the people who are still in the competition, you’ve stepped it up writing wise..."

Lies. All I've really done is dig deeper into my +4 Ass Of Illusory Bullshit to pull out some of the larger tricks I keep in reserve.

[unsold-capacity.livejournal.com]

It's nice not being the only raging cynic. I guess. Whatever.

[ex-desert-ro188.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I'm glad you are feeling better, the gr wasn't the same without you! :-)

[worldofcharlie.livejournal.com]

*waves to you*...I've missed you lately online...

[gonadsandstrife.livejournal.com]

Peep DIS shiznit, yo!

All this time I've been waiting on my refund from the IRS. I used the "Where's My Refund?" thing on their site (at the library because obviously The Man hates Macs...& thanks to ewok_626 for pointing it out) & they couldn't find my return. So I called the number given & they still couldn't find my return. So now 6 weeks after the fact I have to file again, which means more waiting for my monies.

[ewok-626.livejournal.com]

Happy I could help, but it sucks that your return is missing.

End of the road for me

[desert-rose.livejournal.com]

Just letting you all know that I have dropped out of Idol. I'm going to be illiminated this week anyway, but even if I wasn't, my heart isn't in it anymore.

I am very pleased that I made it this far, so thank you very much to those who supported me!

I have made some great friends through Idol, so I hope you all will stick with me, as I want to be able to get to know you better, and keep up with how you all are going.

Wishing you all the very best in the coming weeks of Idol!
*hugs*

Re: End of the road for me

[sushimustwrite.livejournal.com]

No! I'm going to miss you in the game. Are you planning to stick around?

a message

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

I saw a comment over at superhappytime's entry that made me smile. Why? Because it was someone with a sense of perspective.

So many people are quick to say "Idol drama" or somehow think the competition is "this" or "that" and really fail to see the forest through the trees.

The comment pointed out that GROUPS end up having these sorts of problems. They point out a couple LJ communities that are far worse off, which could pretty much be any group considering that the problems that have sprung up thus far have been fairly isolated.

But it's not just LJ. Heck, it's not even "just the internet". Look around your average office and tell me you don't see the same sorts of behaviors going on.

ASSHOLES ARE THE PROBLEM.

Call them trolls. Call them people "stirring the pot". Call them the type of person who can't seem to actually stand up behind their own words and instead act like cowards with anonymous emails and comments.

They want to bring down the people around them. They see something good and they want to bring it down to their level.

Try as they might though, there is only one way for them to do it. There is only one way for them to win. That's for people to let them set the agenda, to let them dictate the debate.

Because they are going to look for the worst elements, and they are going to be as negative as they can be. . . they are going to find the things that upset you and keep hitting them until it's just not worth while to you any more.

Throughout this season I have gotten MANY nasty messages, and I have dealt with people accusing all kinds of ridiculous things. But you know what? They are pathetic. Who has so little to do that they need to spend their time harassing people just for being brave and talented?

I also get the messages from people telling me about positive things that have come out of the contest for many, many people. Those are the messages that I concentrate on. Those are the ones that make things worth the time and effort that I put into this.

If you have nothing positive to say - and are reading this - maybe it's time to move on. Because I'm not going to budge from this spot, and I HOPE that other good, quality writers are going to be standing right here as well , showing that their strength is greater than any bullshit that you can throw at them.

Re: a message

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

(Stands up and applauds loudly!)

[chite.livejournal.com]

OK, so it's 7:30 eastern and the content strike is starting in 1/2 hour, but I wanted to stop in and say hi to everyone.

Hi!

I worked today. A lot. A lot a lot. I actually have a listing presentation on the books now so it was totally worth all of the work.

And that is all. Have a good strike, for those of you striking.