Results - Week 31

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

As I've been following the vote totals today, whenever I would refresh, my remarks were pretty much the same, "OMG!"

Having refreshed that final time, and closing the poll, that changed to "My girlfriend is going to kill me".

She LOVES the bicycle to the moon story, and knowing that I am snuffing the torch of the guy who gave that to her, that's going to make her sad.

I'm sure she won't be the only feeling that way tonight.

Because today we say goodbye to the one (and last time I checked) only joeymichaels! Our Spirit for this season. He officially finishes Fourth in Season 7, out of a field of 261.

Which is a pretty impressive feat. He is also the highest ranking non-winning Spirit, which I'm sure isn't any sort of consolation at all. But it is an interesting fact.

Not bad for everyone's second favorite member of the Michaels household! Not bad at all!

As much as I loved his work last season, I think I enjoyed what was coming out week after week this season ever more. Which is saying quite a bit given that I'm a pretty big fan of his writing.

Any result this week would have had the equivalent of a sledge hammer to the belly, so that I'm feeling that way right now really isn't a surprise. I can't even go to the standard "please Home Game" because there's only one topic left for the finalists before the curtain goes down. I hope that I really don't have to say "please stick around!". I would hope he already knows that!

Goodbye Joey, and Godspeed You Black Emperor.

Comments

[p-m-cryan.livejournal.com]

Wow. Just... wow.

[p-m-cryan.livejournal.com]

But my sincerest congratulations, truly/madly/deeply, to the three finalists remaining.

I know I'm sounding like a parrot...

[ellakite.livejournal.com]

... but once again: "Ditto".

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

I love that icon! What is it from?

[p-m-cryan.livejournal.com]

It's from a webcomic called CAT AND GIRL, which normally deals in absurdist humour. The strip where this panel is from is one of the very few in its run where it is entirely serious and real-world-focused.

What you said, lady.

[ellakite.livejournal.com]

What you said.

Re: What you said, lady.

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

That made me think of:

...

[ellakite.livejournal.com]

...

...

...

It's a good thing I didn't say "Hit the road, Jack!"

[comedychick.livejournal.com]

Not gonna lie, I am sad he was knocked out this week, because he's been my favourite competitor for a very long time. I don't really have words right now, but I do have a pre-prepared list of my favourite entries he's written over the last two seasons. People should read them (http://comedychick.livejournal.com/522134.html) and see why I think he's so awesome.

I should add that I'm extra sad because he's expressed to me that he won't be competing again, and I'm going to miss his Idol writing. If it weren't for his enthusiastic home gaming last season, I might not have stuck around, or been here this season.

Love your work, Joey.

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

The "not competing again" thing was sort of something I hadn't meant to share with the world, but just to explain why...

As Gary says, LJI is a marathon, not a sprint. At some point this last season (March, I think), I started realizing that the pressures of work, life, art and cats mingled with the pressure of producing 1+ LJI entry a week was just too much. I'm not somebody who quits (though I will sacrifice), so I figured I would fight it out as long as I could, but maybe not do Season 8.

Around the time my kids were graduating in May, that turned into "whoa, not doing Season 8 - maybe not finishing season 7."

Around two weeks ago, when I was opening the play I was directing and working like 19 hours days and having to write 6 then 4 entries, that turned into "I am out of my mind and see little aliens living in that pepper shaker."

So, yeah. Over half a year commitment and - as every single person who has competed understands - you can't just half ass LJI. If you're going to seriously participate, you've got to go all out, know what I'm saying?

In conclusion, love LJI, will be a fan next season, but if I compete again, I'll need to be hooked up to an IV by week 3. Maybe Season 9, if there is a Season 9. Or maybe I'll just be happy to be an occasional cranky guest critic. :D

[comedychick.livejournal.com]

Oops, sorry! But, you know, this is a little about how I feel about why I won't be competing again next season. I might do 9, if there's a 9, but I know how hard it is to put everything into your entries week after week, and I didn't have the schedule you did. We can be followers without competing together. :P

[sharya.livejournal.com]

Meh. One can always re-assess after a much needed break :P

[talon.livejournal.com]

This. :D

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

You did great, and you'll make a fabulous cranky guest critic and/or Gatekeeper, LOL.

[serpentpixie.livejournal.com]

Well, you know, it's okay: kittymichaels already won MONTHS ago.

In other news, I have no words for the awesomeness of Joey. <3

[kittymichaels.livejournal.com]

I KNOW RIGHT?

[mstrobel.livejournal.com]

I just had to refresh a closed poll like three times to check you weren't kidding, Gary. Speechless.

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

I was interviewing somebody for a position at our company and missed the last hour. I've heard it was Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. :D

Congrats! You deserve to be top three!

[mstrobel.livejournal.com]

I was asleep! And then some weird force of the universe woke me up about ten minutes after the poll had closed. And then the regular forces of the universe woke me up again at 10am and I thought, what a weird dream I had last night...

You should hopefully know how awesome I think your entries are. I was blown away four times over this week alone! (Like, is he for real, how can anyone be that brilliant four times over?!) But aside from that, you, sir are an amazing gentleman. Lovely and engaging to comment with, and you have said some things to me that are the sort I am going to remember for the rest of my life. Thank you!

[amenquohi.livejournal.com]

You weren't the only one shouting OMG! Holy crap. I thought sure Joey was going to top me, and I still am scratching my head as to how this all worked out. It could have easily gone his way, and had the poll lasted 30 seconds more (from the way we were stalking each other) it most likely would have.

Joey, you are are AMAZING. I love to read you, and I am far from alone in that. You could write a grocery list, and I would want to read it. You are an inspiration as a writer, and a damn fine person to boot.

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

You totally deserve top three. It was a pleasure competing against you! And your "Look Me In The Eyes" entry this week was a real thing of beauty.

[sharya.livejournal.com]

Congratulations to the remaining finalists! I'm sure it's not a surprise to hear that I favored Joey, but I truly believe all of the finalists are well-deserving of the title.

Tears for Joey being out, but smiles for the rest of you guys - well done!

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

'Tears for Joey' is going to be a new single by Eric Clapton. Watch for it in the fall.

[team-jessie.livejournal.com]

With all the love and respect in the world to the remaining contestants... this is flat-out shocking.

Thank you for an incredible wealth of creativity and friendliness this season, joeymichaels.

You're everything this contest is about, and part of me is glad you can now participate in future seasons.

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

Love you and that neckbeard of a husband of yours. :P

His word! Not mine!

[team-jessie.livejournal.com]

I CAN'T GET THAT DAMN GUY TO SHAVE!

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

That icon. Awesome.

[beautyofgrey.livejournal.com]

Ah, man...this makes me all teary.

*hugs* to Joey. You're amazing. Your stories can make me laugh and move me to tears, and you always, always entertain me. Thank you so much for participating. ♥

And for everyone else...congratulations for advancing one more time.

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

We are spirits... in the material world...

I couldn't have been prouder to follow in your Spirit footsteps. <3<3<3

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

Hurray for amenquohi, mstrobel and nishi_kaze! They totally deserve to be the top three and (believe it or not) I couldn't be happier!

Thank you to everyone who helped get me to #4 - that rocks. I outlasted far better writers and I very much appreciate the kindness and support from everyone all season.

I'll follow tradition and write a farewell post shortly. In the meantime, I'm going to hop on my motorcycle and race through the streets of Japan with my fellow gang members!

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

(Oh! And I'm beyond thrilled that she liked the Bike Ride To The Moon story! Hurray!)

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

Goodbye, Farewell and Amen (http://joeymichaels.livejournal.com/609673.html)

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

Far better writers? Who are these people of which you speak?

You should have WON, man!

Ah well. It was a really fabulous group of entries to compete against and the remaining contestants are all great writers. You've just been my favourite writer for a couple of seasons now and I really hoped you'd take the crown.

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

...with a machine gun!

[ecosopher.livejournal.com]

Aw, when I said last night in the GR that I would be happy if any of the final four won, of course that meant by default that I'd feel sad about the others getting knocked out :(

And Gary, your little postscript here made me shed a tear or two as well.

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

Getting to the top 25 even was amazing. Surviving to write in the semi-finals? Awesome. :D

[vaguelyclear.livejournal.com]

It completely slipped my mind that the poll was ending today, but I'm kinda glad that I forgot because I'm sure the last hour of poll-watching was hell given how close it ended up being. Sorry to see joeymichaels is out, but congrats on getting this far - it's an amazing feat :D

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

As it happens, I have amazing feet, too.

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

How wrong. Sigh.

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

But it feels so right! :D

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

Whatever you say.

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

(It's a quote from a song) :D