Eliminations

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

I believe the appropriate phrase here is "Grap and Double Grap".

At this point losing anyone is painful, but given the Salute to the Derby that happened in the final stretch. . . wow, at one point it was starting to look as if a little over half the poll was vulnerable to elimination!

Whatever happens week to week we are going to be losing top notched writers, and I hope everyone knows that and just takes a moment to consider regardless of where your personal favorite happens to be eliminated, that they started out in a field of *155 contestants*. Getting to this point is a victory.

So now the hard part, saying goodbye...

The two contestants leaving us today are

az_starshine

and

unsold_capacity

One of them I was a late comer to the bandwagon. The other I've been personally following from the start.

For whatever reason, az_starshine just didn't pop up on my radar for weeks on end. I knew she was there, and the writing was good - but you know, it really does come down to different tastes and that "it" factor of being able to grab someone's attention and hold it. Sometimes it's not even you - sometimes it's the person doing the reading. That was the case here.
It ended up being tru2myart, one of my closest friends and Season 2 winner, who started singing az_starshine's praises to me first. Loud and often. So I gave her another shot, and *&()_) me if she wasn't right. (Don't tell her I said that.*g*)
I don't know if az_starshine came into her own during the season, or if it just took someone I trust to sit me down and tell me "read this". . . but I'm guessing that other people were doing the same because she went from someone I saw hovering toward the bottom of the polls to someone who would be fairly dominate.
I probably know her the least out of the all of the remaining contestants, but what I *do* know seems to be a truly talented and caring individual who will be very much missed.

unsold_capacity is a different story. She's not caring at all.*G* (Heh, sorry couldn't resist that!*g*)
Seriously though I spotted her right off. Day 1. Scratch that. Day 0. She quickly became one of my sentimental favorites.
I wasn't sure how she would do, because she often went off the beaten path for a bit, and then cut a walkway off to the side of *that*!!!
The fact that she's standing here, after starting with something like 4020 friends. . . to me that says a lot about her, and it says a lot about the game itself.
She went off on rants now and again*g*. But I knew where they were coming from. She cared about Idol, and was just frustrated at certain people.
Her writing, her passion, her spirit - these are all going to be missed in the game, but not the jury!!
Ok, I'm actually getting a little more worked up about this one than I expected/wanted to be... so I'll just skip to the end.

These two very talented women are leaving the ranks of the contest, and becoming part of the jury where they will help shape the remainder of the game on a weekly basis!

Thank you so much for, well, everything.

Comments

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Both are great writers and will be missed.

I really hope that y'all stick around the green room since y'all are part of the jury.

Oh and Caroline has a virus. She is much better today.

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

I am glad to hear Caroline is better, btw.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It is nice to have her on the mend. A sick Caroline is not a fun Caroline.

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

*wails*

I love both these writers!

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Well me too.

They got my attention early and often for entirely different reasons.

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

I think unsold_capacity is just amazing; her takes on the topics never failed to make me think. I think there is far more there than meets the eye.

And as for az_starshine? What can I say? I am so happy to have had a chance to meet and add this wonderful person to my "collection" of fantastic people.

[porcelain72.livejournal.com]

az_starshine got better and better as she went along. She also seemed to be in just for the writing, as opposed to the game-playing, which is admirable. I'm sorry to see her go. unsold_capacity, as well, very talented young whippersnapper.

[unsold-capacity.livejournal.com]

I gotta say...in most other parts of my life I'm on the older end (back a year in school, my boyfriend's 18, live with my younger sister, etc) so being unusually young for a change is rather humbling. But it also has made me extremely aware of this excessive energy I apparently have...

Though ... whippersnapper? That just makes *you* sound *old* :P

[porcelain72.livejournal.com]

I am old, in comparison to age 20 anyway. When I was 20 Nirvana was still a hot new band.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Youngster. *grin*

[ewok-626.livejournal.com]

I think that I qualify as the youngster around these parts... I'll turn the ripe old age of 24 in July.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Well Grap I was 20 when you were born. Yes I am old enough to be your mother *grin*

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

My son **is** her age.

(meant unsold_capacity)

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

Heh, I was 23 when you were born.

AAAAAAAAAACK, I'm old enough to be your mother!

*checks gray hairs*

[unsold-capacity.livejournal.com]

Gary, I have 38 friends and 11 of those have come from Idol over the last few months. And *at least* 5 of those friends are basically inactive! :P

Thanks for the blurb, really. I'm extremely happy with how far I got, and consider it a personal victory. Getting any farther didn't really seem possible with the big numbers being thrown around these days...I just don't have the reserves :O!

But I'll be around. I never really posted in the GR (partially because the times I'm on most seem to be the deserted ones) but I read most of everything, and plan to continue that so I'm as around as ever. And I'll be throwing a monkey wrench into the immunity jury! Probably not even intentionally...my tastes seem to be a little different than most.

And there's nothing against me writing home game entries, is there? Because hell, the reason I got into this contest was to write, and write I have...why stop now?

Now if you'll excuse me...I need to go farm some Primal Waters/Fires so I can make my Ebon Shadowbag. Seriously, a raiding afflock with a 16 shard bag? I should be ashamed!

[tru2myart.livejournal.com]

and *&()_) me if she wasn't right

This day should be officially commemorated as a national holiday. And for the record, I'm always right. :blows her fingernails:

I'm going to miss them both, they were great players.

[unsold-capacity.livejournal.com]

And a note about az_starshine -- I didn't notice her for a *long* time, and when we got past the half way mark I was always a little surprised to see her. But then she started writing some really good stuff, and it suddenly all made sense. An honor to go out with you :)

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Sorry to see you two go - awesome work both of you! You've got tons to be proud of!

[ewok-626.livejournal.com]

THE FINAL 10?! OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

*hands over brownies and cookies to the two going home to make them feel better*

[monkeysugarmama.livejournal.com]

Wow, ladies. You two are both amazing writers with entirely different styles.

Az_starshine, your life has been filled with fascinating, heartwrenching, completely unique stories. You opened your heart and let your tales pour out and I was often floored at your honesty and how well you put your experiences into words.

Unsold_capacity, Gary is right, to have come so far with such a small friends list is amazing! Your pieces have been so creative, avant garde, occassionally just thrown out there - go dinosaurs! - but always engaging.

Keep writing!

[unsold-capacity.livejournal.com]

LOL I forgot about the dinosaur entry...But yeah, without the friends-list support I had to do *something* to keep attention a lot of the time! :) Thank you!

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

*sigh*

OUCH.

Two very talented writers...*sigh*

I can't add anything other than what monkeysugarmamajust said.

Both of you will be greatly missed.

*hugs to both*

[uawildcatgrl.livejournal.com]

breaks.my.heart.

[az-starshine.livejournal.com]

I am devastated to have to go, but on the other hand, reading what everyone has said has touched me in ways that I can't even explain. So thank you - everybody - for your words, for giving the chance to stay in here, and for allowing me to meet so many wonderful people. This has been an absolutely fantastic experience and you'll definitely see me again next year.

((((hugs to all)))))

I've posted a public entry here (http://az-starshine.livejournal.com/400759.html?mode=reply) about my time here, so go check it out if you so wish.

<3

On Behalf of The Jury

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

We welcome you, az_starshine and unsold_capacity!

Re: On Behalf of The Jury

[unsold-capacity.livejournal.com]

:D! How many are there now, 6?

Re: On Behalf of The Jury

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

*counting*

me, gypsy_moon, bax, angstzeit, you, and az...yep, we're now 6!

:D

[creature-girl08.livejournal.com]

Well coming from someone who is old enough to be the mother of some of you here it was a real surpride to see
az_starshine on the list to leave. I thought she was safe for sure. Sure hates to be wrong.

And as for unsold_capacity what can I say.

Hugs to you both and congratulations on being such good writers.