Green Room - Week 9 - Day 9

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It's Day 9, of Week 9, of Season 9.

The Upside-down Day of the Beast!

And what a day it's going to be! There is a poll ending: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/739650.html
and a Bag of Tricks that is opening!

If everything goes to plan, there is also going to be a special guest mentor this week in the Work Room!

Oh, and it's also the final day of the current Killing Floor: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/739274.html

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It's also the day after both the Survivor and American Idol finales. Which is weird, because I totally thought our inferior television cousin was ending TONIGHT! I even said that yesterday, both here and elsewhere - and I didn't see anyone correct me. And let's face it, if someone was going jump up and try to correct me about something, it would be someone from this group! ;)

Which I think says a lot about the state of what used to be the biggest thing on television. It's now something that a lot of people, including folks who are enjoying the season, forget that it on! That's probably not a good sign.

***

What are some of the signs you are seeing about YOUR favorites? About your day? What are some of the signs you ignored while driving today? Did some of them say "stop"?

Results - Week 9

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9 weeks into the process, and every time we get to this point, saying goodbye comes a little bit more difficult.

Fortunately, we know that there is a still a way back into the competition, coming down the pike, but that doesn't mean that everyone will be able to do that, or that life won't sideswipe them in the meantime.

And so, you get that gut punch of a moment, when you see a name that you really didn't want to see... and start realize that there really isn't anyone that you *want* to see go either... it's just the nature of the beast that someone will.

This week, those someones are:

vaudy who went into this week writing an entry with the idea that once the poll went up, there would be a sacrifice, so that no one else in Tribe 3 needed to go home. Major style points there, even if I'm really sad that it happened.

kagomeshuko and octavian_trex are also leaving us.

Whereas in the last minute race to the finish that was Tribe 1 aimercat and sobota will be joining the Redemption Tribe.

Thank you to all of you for coming out this season, and I hope you take advantage of the opportunity to get back in as soon as that opens up! Until then, please Home Game and hang out in the Green Room as we see where the twists and turns are going to take us next!

100 Weeks

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In the midst of the bad news, sometimes I am fortunate enough to be able to give some good news as well!

And it just so happens that I get to give TWO PEOPLE some good news this week.

Making it week to week isn't always the easiest thing to do, and being able to power through even the most challenging topics, and twists, and general pressure of competing, that's something worth celebrating.

When you survive 100 Weeks in this competition though, that's something above and beyond. It's something special.

We've already had a few people hit that mark this season - but this marks the last "sure bet" left. There are some people who might hit the goal. But that's still a long way away.

This time around though, even getting those 9 weeks has been a bit of struggle, as the Drop and Bye-out lists can attest.

These two have definitely fought their way into the club. (one of them going so far, in an earlier season, of writing right up until the moment she was due to give birth, and then arranging to have wifi at the hospital, just in case she had to write *immediately after* giving birth! The other moved countries during the competition. So I'd say they both have a bit of that spirit that needs to be celebrated!

Congratulations to alycewilson and mstrobel!!!

Special Powers

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Oh, what do we have here?

Someone left a bag in the middle of Idol Manor, just sitting there for anyone to come pick up. That's not very smart. Who knows what sort of people hang around in this neighborhood!

I better take it and put it somewhere safe.

Or better yet, I'll just hand out whatever is in it to people who were nearly eliminated, but escaped their fate. (Not counting the tie, since that's a special case).

After all, I love an underdog. Maybe there is something in here that can help.

Who is eligible? Let's go to the tape!

We have kotenok_angel, diagenou, deza, kate_spencer and morleysnow

But *counts* there are 9 items in the bag. Hmmm - how about the Top vote-getters in each tribe HAVE TO SELECT SOMEONE, OTHER THAN THEMSELVES OR EACH OTHER, TO RECEIVE the the other four. Yep, that works! malinaldarose, roina_arwen, whipchick and halfshellvenus.

It's first come/first serve.

So email me at clauderainsrm@gmail.com and let me know the item(s) you want the most!

You have 24 hours from this post to do so, if you do not or decide to decline the opportunity to pick something, then those next on the eligibility list will be contacted.

What are they?

Taken:

immunity to give to one person - kate_spencer
1 free bye to give to someone else - deza
bouncing immunity - selected by morleysnow
personal immunity - selected by diagenou
1 free bye for self - selected by kotenok-angel
Power of Veto (ability to veto any one elimination) - selected by halfshellvenus and gives to it bleodswean
Pandora’s Box (will tell you powers if you are receiving this) - selected by roina_arwen, gives it to theun4givables
Mystery Box (will tell you powers if you are receiving this) - selected by whipchick, gives it to kathrynrose
Resurrection Stone: Brings one person back into the game, giving them a one week immunity - selected by malinaldarose, gives it to belgatherial who uses it to bring back ?

Let's have some fun!!

Topic - Week 10

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You think you know everything at this point.

Or at least you did before the Special Powers came into play.

Heck, maybe you think you know that aspect too.

But did you know that

“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting our time”

Well, now you do.

The deadline to link your entries back here is Thursday, May 29th at 9 PM EDT

Have fun!

Work Room - Week 10

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There's a lot of information out there tonight, a lot of posts... there was an elimination: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/740825.html followed by a 100 Weeks announcement: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/740965.html and then Special Powers: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/741330.html and then the new Topic itself was posted: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/741490.html

That's a lot to wrap your head around. You need a Mentor this week.

Fortunately, I know just the person!

She's an Idol Veteran and was recently called one of BlogHer's "Recognized Intersectional Feminist Bloggers". Basically, it's a list of "people to watch"/follow, and she is one of them!

Extremely proud of everything she has accomplished, even if it means she completely abandoned us this season! ;P

It's the price of Idol being helpful getting you jump-started. Sometimes you might actually get kicked into gear and end up being successful!

Please welcome back to our shores, the one and only Elizabeth Hawksworth!

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Hi all,

My name is Elizabeth Hawksworth, and I was known as milk_and_glass when I played Idol. I came in 5th my first season, and 3rd my second time. Idol really changed my life as a writer, and enabled me to write my two books, “Break for Beauty” and “Lake Effect: Voices of Toronto’s History”.

(Note from Gary, you can find them at http://astore.amazon.com/li0cd-20/detail/148025682X and http://astore.amazon.com/li0cd-20/detail/1496083539 or http://astore.amazon.com/li0cd-20/detail/B00INYBIY2 and http://astore.amazon.com/li0cd-20/detail/B009JVMENW on Kindle)

I primarily was known for my historical fiction when I played Idol. Some of my inspirations come from old photographs, first-hand stories, articles, and maps. I also write a lot of articles on body positivity, fat acceptance, feminism, mental health, and other social justice causes. Those can be found on my blog, http://www.elizabethahawksworth.com, and on other places like the Huffington Post and BlogHer.

If you’re into poetry, that’s what my first book, “Break for Beauty”, is all about! I wrote a lot of poetry during Idol and found that it was well-received. My main strategy was to mix up what I wrote while still maintaining a recognizable voice. Nearly every kind of writing genre worked for me, and especially helped when the latter half of the game got underway.

I’m happy to be a mentor this season of Idol – ask away, and I’ll do my best to help!

- Elizabeth