LJ Idol Presents:

Yay!! breaks out the Pepsi to celebrate!

Well done!

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awallens.livejournal.com

Now that that is out of the way. I have important things to do. no, not grad school... Not work. My fantasy baseball draft is Saturday, six PM. And Red Sox games need to be watched. Yes, yes yes! Baseball is back!

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rosepurr.livejournal.com

Baseball means spring. YAY!!

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lilerthkwake.livejournal.com

LOLZ.

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That's BOO!!

Icon love!!

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Wow! That's cutting it close! We have tickets to the Nats opening day on Saturday!

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eqfe.livejournal.com

14th yah me

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eqfe.livejournal.com

ok 3rd sam e thing

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I've been thinking about how odd the friendships that we form here are. I mean all we know about each other are the things we put in our entries. Learning each others most powerful thoughts, dreams, secrets, and emotions over the past 5 months can create this intimacy, this intensity, with this knowledge of each other. But yet it isn't all that the person is. We are so much more than we choose to write about. It's an odd feeling, at least to me.

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tru2myart.livejournal.com

*nods* Interesting comment, I've been thinking about that kind of thing myself lately. Not only are we more than what we portray online, we're also very much less. We tend to get more intimate faster, with less knowledge of who we're getting intimate with. Not only that but there's a lot more backstabbing. People are much more willing to take that intimate knowledge and use it against you than they are in real life.

Makes me wonder why I keep a journal at all sometimes.

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true also, it feels easier to be mean, when you don't have to look the person in the face to do it.

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*nods* power of the internet?

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Very interesting comment.

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I love that icon image.

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Thanks, I found in a icon community and thought the art was really nice.

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*pulls up a cup of hot chocolate*

Is this why, for some people, all the "other stuff" (phone calls, e-mails, letter writing, text messages, etc) becomes so important to them?

We can never, truly, know who the person is at the other end of the digital line, but in a lot of respects, that is true in any relationship. Some of my closest friends in the world are still in this competition, and I am still learning new things about them.

Even in my own case, I do not always know who *I* am until after the fact.

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I would agree with you things you say here.

Even in my own case, I do not always know who *I* am until after the fact. I think this is really true for me as well. For me I feel like it's a constant growing process and after it is when I find out who I am or who I turning into.

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Can I have a hot chocolate too, please?

I agree with you about learning about yourself after the fact. I have been realising a lot of things about myself over the last five months, which is both good and bad. I have a long long way to go I think.

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Absolutely! Without or without the little marshmallows?

*makes you a cup of cocoa, tiny marshmallows on the side*

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With marshmallows, most definitely!

Thank you. MMMM!

While I'm thinking about marshmallows, does anyone have any Peeps they don't want? :-)

I can't get them here, and want to microwave them to see them expand, or explode or something. *g*

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*marshmellows*...

It's hard to find good cocoa that has marshmellows already in them...

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*starts a fresh batch from scratch*

When I worked as a barrista, I learned to make hot chocolate starting with whole milk, a bar of chocolate, and an espresso steamer.

*sspppppshhhh sspppppshhhh sspppppshhhh sspppppshhhh*

*carefully pours unto a mug, and adds marshmallows and chocolate shavings*

Try that.

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*yummy*

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i think sometimes online we create this image of who the person is because all we see is what they leave for us. that is true in any relationship, but online there is little else to go by than the written word (no tone of voice, no conversation, no facial expressions).

it's like when i was in college you spend so much time with each other the friendships become so much more intense so much faster. this competition does that as well, i think.

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I will give you that.

When something happens that somehow doesn't match our inner image of the person, either by way of a third party, or even just an observation in a different setting, the foundation that the friendship was built upon can suddenly be called into question because of the speed with which it was built, The mind wants all its ducks in a row; new information almost automatically requires new evaluation of everything, instead of sifting the new information against what it already known to see if it makes sense.

My first semester in college was the typical "country mouse goes to big out-of-state university." There were more people on the floor of my co-ed dorm room than my graduating high school class. Hell, my first science class had more people in it than my entire high school population.

I was very-much-not the person at Syracuse that I was in little-town-Maine. Maintaining a persona is hard work, even online, and frankly, more power to those who can pull it off, I guess. I wound up quitting school after the first semester, because I could not be me, the real me, at all there.

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angstzeit.livejournal.com

This isn't natural. One of the problems I've noted in online relations is that tendency to extrapolate. In RL, we use those various clues we get from tone and non-verbal cues to fill in things about a person. Online it seems we still try to fill in the picture but without the extra information. It makes for some very odd notions about people. And, I think, underlies a lot of the drama--people get ideas about others without much information to base such ideas on.

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*nods*...

and plus there's a lag in between responses as opposed to being able to pick up the phone and getting the entire/real story...

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good point

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i think that is very true, and you're right it isn't natural. in RL we see so much more of a person by what they say, how they respond, how they interact with others too, and by just being around them. online we assume things about a person based on their words, and i find we are often wrong about those assumptions.

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Whether we give someone more or less benefit of the doubt says much about our own personality.

Assuming anything about someone, whether it is based on an online interaction, or after knowing them for twenty years, has never worked out well for me.

[Of course, asking a clarifying question can get me into hot water faster than a boiled lobster dinner...]

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angstzeit.livejournal.com

Just going by writing is tough. You don't know if the person carefully crafted the writing or just dashed it off so it's hard to know how to take it.

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well plus the anonymity of the internet helps with that. This is why I don't get involved with Role Playing games on the internet, but I have friends that do. Carrie's known people that take the RP stuff way too seriously and these people really become the personas that they create for themselves. And fuck why not? It's tempting, if you could change the way you look, be sexiers (via written word) why wouldn't you? The shyest person in the world could be quite a chatterbox on the internet.

The anonymity serves as a really nice security blanket too, it's safe behind that wall. Plus writing, it's one way and not necessary real time - the interaction's different than how it'd be face to face.

my five cents

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I think that the first part--that we are learning each others thoughts, dreams, secrets, and emotions--is why it gets harder and harder to see people leave every week.

It is an odd feeling to know that you don't know everything. But I'm willing to bet that many of my real life friends don't know some things about me.

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i think what's odd to me isn't that we don't know everything, but that we only know the intense stuff, the stuff we don't just talk to everyone about. it's like the opposite of a regular friendship, which starts knowingincidental things about each other and builds to learning each others most intimate thoughts

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Very true. It is strange. This whole contest has been very emotional for me, both with unleashing these personal stories and reading others.

I think it would be interesting to go back to the Topic 0 posts and see what people revealed about themselves when it was just a basic introduction.

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*grin*

Round 0 excerpt (http://spydielives.livejournal.com/1586552.html#cutid1)

Though I shake and quake in fear,
I plan to also engineer
a modest false-biography.

I am often known to wail
At my thoughts that do go stale
But I'll never write pornography.

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good point. I didn't say much about myself, but i did explain why i was participating in idol, and what i hoped to do...

I am going to get a bulldozer. To get a bulldozer and go in search of me. I am going to go into that room, break down those walls, and really listen to what it is I have to say

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I think over the internet...people say stuff that they wouldn't normally say in RL..or isn't permissible in RL...

for instance...boundaries are very different...one for online friends on the internet and in RL...

With me...well internet is my only link to the outside world..for that I'm grateful...

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This is an interesting discussion. We have become a rather tight little community through each week. It reminds me of when I was thrown into "how to be blind gracefully school" that I referred to in my entry. We were thrown together with people we wouldn't normally meet and were living through some intense emotions. Thus being drawn together very quickly. One of my best friends is from those days. There has been drama here but I do have to say there has been respect for people's intense admissions in their writing and for that I am grateful and happy. we certainly are an interesting bunch!

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Very true. There is a lot in my life that I don't talk about but I think I put that self censor on partially because my husband is a public figure (in some circles) and partially because I know his ex is reading my journal which still wigs me out.

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tulip-in-yellow.livejournal.com

The ex reading my journal would wig me out too! Is it an ex that hates you or do you two get along?

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Interesting note! Did something specific lead you to make the comment?

I agree - and it *is* just the best and the worst and the most intense that get divulged here. I write about things that matter most to me....when I have *time* to write about them.

For instance, my library system was about to lose state funding here a few weeks ago and I was terrified because I would lose my job if it came to that. It was a major thing in my life and I kept meaning to write about it, but things were so busy I never had the chance to.

We get so personal online for the same reason we get ugly easier online - because we know tomorrow we won't be seeing most of the people reading our thoughts at the water cooler.

Online relationships are fascinating, but I fear, far more ephemeral than bonds formed in the "real world."

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my dad wants to read my ljidol entries, so i was going through them and decided which ones to send him. i was realizing if you just read my ljidol entries you get a very weird picture of who i am. a very dark picture, when i'm actually a very cheerful person.

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It's funny. Most of my LjIdol entries have to do with some sort of disability, either mine or people I've come in contact with. You'd think that is all I think about which is so far from the truth. But when the topic comes up, I've seemed to relate it to some sort of disability issue. I'm a pretty well rounded person I think. One of the reasons I joined LJIdol is to gain more friends not in the disability world. I wanted my Flist to be a little more well rounded.

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tryslora

Paaaaaain. OMG pain today. I shall unleash things on the world when I am in less of it?

Painting for an entire day has left my shoulder swollen and my right hand drifting in and out of asleepness. I cannot wait to take tylenol (soon, soon). But today we are done as much as we can, and we head home. When we leave, we will have rescued a master bathroom, a master bedroom, and a kitchen, all for under $700. Whee!!

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eqfe.livejournal.com

They say pride in a job well done will salve hurt muscles and stiff joints. Hope the tylenol works quickly.

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tryslora

It's a bit better now that the tylenol has taken effect, but painting was entertaining. The amount of work we did this weekend, though, is brilliant, and I'm so very happy with how it came out.

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jennieknits.livejournal.com

Can you take Ibuprofen? If so, you might try staggering the Tylenol and Motrin. Take 2 Tylenol whenever you're ready, then take 2 Motrin 2 hours later, and just alternate. That way you're not adding them both to your system at the same time, but you're getting the anti-inflammatory from the Motrin too.

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tryslora

Yeah, I've done the staggering thing in the past, but I can't anymore. *sulks* One of my blood pressure meds won't let me take any NSAIDs with it because it thins the blood and they thin the blood and there are risks if I combine them. So tylenol is literally the only painkiller I'm allowed anymore (well, codeine, but I have adverse reactions to that and pretty much any poppy-based drugs).

I've learned to stumbled through. *wry smile* I WILL be taking a hot shower after we get the bedroom put back together though. Which will definitely help some!

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jennieknits.livejournal.com

Oooh yay, hot shower!

Bummer about the NSAIDS, but your blood pressure is much more important. :) I was pretty sore after painting my bedroom too. You'll be fine in a couple of days, if not sooner, I'm sure.

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tryslora

I know... and I can't WAIT to sleep in my own bed tonight.

And chiropractor on Wednesday and my own is back from maternity leave. That'll be BLISS.

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jennieknits.livejournal.com

Sounds like bliss.

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Morning,

It's back to school this week after a sprig break, hopefully a decent work week, and hopefully catching up on some home game entries.

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Yay for rest (maybe?)

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Yeah...hopefully.

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twirlandswirl.livejournal.com

I bought my wedding dress!

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Shhhh :-)

Is talking about the wedding dress when the partner might hear/read also taboo in the U.S?

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twirlandswirl.livejournal.com

He knows I BOUGHT it, just not what it looks like!

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oh my that's so exciting!

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Naw just seeing it. I had to send my now husband out on a errand so my stepdaughters could see me in it.

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Yay! I had both intense fun and intense agony hunting down my wedding dress.

So, can you tell us anything about it - formal, fancy, simple, sequined? Is it an A-line or mermaid shape or ballgown? Off the shoulder, or sleeves or strapless?

I love a wedding!

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Exciting!

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Good morning all.

I am glad to see that

clauderainsrm is enjoying is new digital freedom.

I was all set to go meet

welfy in person today, but I am not willing to trust my driving skills at the moment, due to a medication snafu. I suppose I could unleash my twitching on the unsuspecting public, but I have enough wits left for some sense of self-preservation. I will wait for one of my kids to come pick me up instead.

Meanwhile, I can walk anywhere I might need to get to: coffee, breakfast, even a post office. I have some international packages to send out today.

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Hun, take care of yourself!

I have a certain international package that will be going out this week too. :-)

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Have fun with the net access, I thinks you deserve it!

I have only limited download limits right now, so no youtube for me, until I move and get my own net access again. :-(

A quiet week for me this week I think. That's ok though as next week is my first appointment with the solicitor, which I'm really not looking forward to.

Have a good Monday everyone!
*hugs*

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Be nice to yourself. You deserve it too.

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Thanks, hun!

I need to find something nice to do for myself this week, as I'm feeling pretty low and lost.

I didn't think I would miss Idol as much as I am either. Yeah I know I need to get a life. *g*

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How about a nice long bath? with lots of yummy bath salts? Always picks me up.

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be good to yourself...it's been nice chatting with you throughout the weekend...

I know you'll do great... :)

*hears nancy sinatra "boots" song in my head*

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Props and more props and probably a puppet that is running around in my head and screaming MAKE ME REAL!

And why does my coffee taste so icky this morning?

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i've been wondering, do you currently make puppets as a job, or for yourself? is it something you love to do, or something you just found yourself doing? if you feel like explaining

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Some puppets I make on commission. Others are just because I want to try something with the art. I have been building puppets since a teenage and playing with them since I was 2. Puppetry is as much a part of me as breathing.

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Sorry about the coffee this morning - I was all out of the good stuff so I foolishly brewed up a pot with the grounds I found smushed in the back of the cabinet.

My intentions were good, but the java...not so much.

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porcelain72.livejournal.com

I'm not dying anymore! Huzzah! And I finally figured out what I'm going to do for open topic! Double huzzah!

As far as this week is concerned, I'm going to try real hard not to tap into the money I have set aside to get myself a laptop next weekend. I've been wanting one forever, it's so close in my grasp, but in my fine tradition of pessimism I'm convinced something is going to come up and I'll have to put it off.

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tulip-in-yellow.livejournal.com

I'm happy to hear that you're not still deathly ill!

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Huzzah for lack of death!!!

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Yay for you for feeling better. I'm getting a laptop too. I can't wait!

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Hi everyone. Back at work today. Waiting for my colleague to get off the phone so we can go and check out a program that really doesn't function well and we want to get our ducks in a row before lodging a complaint.

As for

kittenboo's comment, it is interesting. I've learned over the years to step back before getting too upset about anything said on the net. Reacting quickly usually ends up being misunderstood or me misunderstanding others. I've made some of the best friends in the world via the net, but that has developed over time.

Off for now. Be back.

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tulip-in-yellow.livejournal.com

I plan on reading entries and unleashing comments, even if none of us get to vote. I'm incredibly interested to see what everyone comes up with for the open topic.

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Me too. But after I finish my entry.

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Oh yes. As soon as I write mine, I am going to start reading and commenting! I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

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*hoping to be back to work soon like tomorrow*..

uggg...another bloody Monday....

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Good morning everyone!

Thank you to everyone who posted to my "help me pick a topic" poll! I have a topic now, and I will hopefully get to write tonight or tomorrow. yay!

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Lucky you.*grin* I'm still waffling....Sigh.....

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I had a few prompts and through a number of weird turnings-around in my head came up with my topic. I just hope it works.

I was hoping that more of my friends would respond with stories from my life that they would like to see me write about. Alas, that did not happen.

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heykatie.livejournal.com

Hi Hi!

I just wanted to say that this is MoonLightMuse, but I've changed my name (AGAIN). Sorry for the confusion. HOpe this doesn't cause problems! :)

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Now you have the record for the most name changes in a season *and* the best anyone has done coming back for a second season (*except twirlandswirl who FORGOT she signed up for season 2, was the first out and then came back and kicked butt in season 3. She is still in the hunt for the record, but her currently one is the "technicality record" whereas you hold the real one.*g*)

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heykatie.livejournal.com

Lol. YAY for holding records!! :) Woo! Gotta love that!

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I like your new name! Gypsy_Moon has an exotic ring to it.

Now to decide what to do with my two accounts.

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taybar19.livejournal.com

I thought of a good topic for you to try.

Alternate Endings

It can be either a rewrite of a certain movie, or something in their life that they wish would have had an alternate ending, but they would have to think about the consequences of changing the outcome.

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My new cam just came in! I'll be in my Live room tonight, probably starting at around 8 eastern to celebrate. http://live.yahoo.com/chite
(I am there now testing out the cam so if you want to stop in, I might be there)

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ewok-626.livejournal.com

Yay! She's finally hosting her own party!

*scampers to make brownies for the party*

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bettybaker.livejournal.com

What's the haps? Who should I be reading?

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*giggle* you could read mine, but I keep changing my mine about how happy I am with it.

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angstzeit.livejournal.com

Never rains but it pours Betty.

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Betty!!!!! *huge hugs*

Where the hell have you been?????

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bettybaker.livejournal.com

Blue room big. Blue room draw me away from Intarwebs. Blue room mean.

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for those who don't know who she is right off the top of your head (and you really should) look right above this - Season 3's second place (but never in our hearts) finisher

bettybaker is here!!! Go say hi!*g*

If you haven't read her stuff, you really, really should!!!

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ewok-626.livejournal.com

Thanks... Now you have "Ladies and Gentlemen" by Saliva stuck in my head... *growls at Gary*

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ewok-626.livejournal.com

Gah. I had one of the busiest and most taxing days at work today. (Much punage intended) Had a client accidentally shred all of her paperwork when we hadn't even done her return yet. Oy. Guess who had to find all of the companies' phone numbers...

I'm finally back to my regular schedule at work. 8:30-4:30 all week. Hallelujah!

I'm off to clean the house now. We're hosting a Wrestlemania 24 party on Sunday night, so we've split up the chores. I get to clean the living room, kitchen, and bathroom. John gets to clean everything else.

I need to figure out what to make for the party on Sunday. We'll have around 15-20 people here to feed, and WM24 is around 3-4 hours. Any good ideas for dinner/snack foods? HELP!

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