Green Room - Break - Day 8

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

It's the final day of our Free Topics http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/511799.html so smoke 'em if you got 'em. . . err. . . write 'em if you got 'em? Yeah, that sounds better. Otherwise people will just start printing out their work in order to set it on fire. Or skip that step, and just set the computer itself on fire.

Which won't help anyone.

Granted, I know some people that I would like it if they did. But, unfortunately, they will probably be the last folks to ever do it!

On that thought-train, I was listening to some Bishop Allen this morning and was reminded of the song "Things are What You Make Of Them". I like the song in general - but it's also good advice, I know that I personally need to step back and take it more than my own fair share.

It's good life advice, as well as "Idol Experience" advice - that you get out of things what you put in, and if you are going to only see the negative, that's what it's going to be for you.

So, with the calendar year coming to an end, and a new one about to rush in, what are you planning on doing to make your "new chance" as positive of an experience as you can make it?

Comments

[sneakishfrog.livejournal.com]

(First?!)

Yay, writing will be something to do while my husband goes to see Mission Impossible 4!

[tigrkittn.livejournal.com]

First! Yay, you!! *throws confetti*

[sneakishfrog.livejournal.com]

Also -- with regards to the positive new chance, I have a great serendipitous occurrence: I am starting a new job at the end of the first week of the new year. So yay for new beginnings (and more money!)

[snarkerdoodle.livejournal.com]

yay for first! :D

[tigrkittn.livejournal.com]

I'm ending the old year by not finishing the writing thing I said I'd finish this week... but I started a new job, so that's something! I can start the new year by setting my computer on fire finishing that thing, and starting another. 2012: the year of Writing All The Things!

[lawchicky.livejournal.com]

Yay for new job!!

That's fab news :)

[sarcasmoqueen.livejournal.com]

My first day back at work - I'm ready to set something on fire!

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

I'm with you there... It's my first day back after a long vacation and I'm ready to start a fire with the contracts piled on my desk. Hey, it's freezing in here too, so why not?

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

We have lots of new things happening at the moment. When I look at how far we came this year and know we're going to get even more done in the coming year, it's pretty mind blowing. And also exciting.

ATM I'm researching stuff for an article on the Fairy Queen. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy doing that.

[tigrkittn.livejournal.com]

Wow, the first three of us to post all have new jobs!! Can this be a good sign of some kind?? *crosses fingers*

[sra33.livejournal.com]

I know a few people who might benefit with their computer lighting up forcing them to step outside every once in a while. 0=)

[mstrobel.livejournal.com]

I totally flaked on writing for any of the free topics :(

But on the plus side, I'm up to the tenth chapter of my novel... :D

[lawchicky.livejournal.com]

Ten chapters and definitely something to celebrate :)

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

Well I'm grumpy today and back at work after 9 days off. Not a good combo since I'm busy as heck and trying to figure out what everyone did whole I was gone so I can finish loose ends. It's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be from what I can tell... Hopefully it stays that way. I'm still exhausted, no sleep at all the night before and a cat that wouldn't let me sleep last night either.

So I may sound negative and all that, but when it comes to Idol, you'll see no negative comments from me. It really is what you make of it here. I'm happy here. If you're not, why stay around and do something you hate? Life is too short for all that, you know. Usually I find that some people just like to have something to complain about. I don't get those people, I like being happy :)

I'm exhausted, I hope this makes sense....

[lawchicky.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I'm trying to work today too and it stinks!

[lapis-lazuli615.livejournal.com]

Still putting in the new kitchen floor today - whee!!

I know I need the time away from the brain crunch that Idol is, or I will crash and burn. So I won't be doing any of the free topics - that way I can be bright eyed and bushy tailed for next week!

As for my new year - going to be doing a little modified Fly Lady on my house and seeing how that goes. Right now, it looks like shit. :) and maybe exercising. That would probably be good.

[alien-infinity.livejournal.com]

I'm NOT going to make any New Year's Resolutions. That sounds like a negative, but it's really a positive. Resolutions have an odd cultural reputation for never being fulfilled, and I would rather not set a ridiculous goal and then hate myself for failing to meet it.

Also, I think I will indulge myself (yay for holiday money!) and get a pedicure; I could swear my toenails are glaring at me from their woefully jagged state. Before my midterm, I got a pedicure and studied while doing so; I got an A on that exam, so...being indulgent means good grades? Haha

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

I don't make resolutions for the same reason. They have that negative feel of failure from the beginning. So nope, I make goals for myself year round.

I've had one pedicure my entire life. Nuts, huh? It was last May. If it gets you an A, I say go for it!

[lawchicky.livejournal.com]

Ugh- trying to get though work today but it's an uphill battle. I'm also dealing with a terrible cold that I picked up around Christmas which has been getting progressively worse and some horrible lower back pain which has been plaguing me for weeks now. If anyone wants to come over and give me some back adjustments, I'll repay you with homemade buffalo wings ;) Hey, a girl can try.

I think we're getting closer to making our 2012 vacation plans become a reality and I'm SO excited for that. It looks like we're be recreating our honeymoon but with all of the kids along with us, so like an updated version of what we did ten years earlier.

I'm determined to bust out another volume from the 2011 trip report because it will make me think of happier times than arguing with clients, even if it's not the warm/tropical type of report I'd like to be imagining right now.

As usual, I'm trying to stay superpositive, because that's the kind of person I am. Sometimes I DO get negative and depressed and upset, but I always TRY to remind myself that being that way never helps me get anything I want and only makes me feel worse. Sometimes this is easier said than done, but I try!

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

Recreating your honeymoon? How fun! Where are you going?

I'm a very positive person most of the time. I've made myself that way. I don't dwell on the negative and I let things roll right off my back. Well except when it comes to myself. I'm very hard on myself and super sensitive... But for the most part, I always know a bad mood won't last forever. I always have hope for good things :)

[noodledays.livejournal.com]

I plan to take fewer things for granted, in particular good health (for myself and others) and the love and availability of people important to our lives.

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a good plan :)

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

Yikes! I hope you feel better soon.

[shimmerdream.livejournal.com]

As mentioned in an earlier Green Room, I'm doing Mission 101 instead of new year's resolutions, where you think of 101 things to do in 1001 days. My list so far is at http://shimmerdream.livejournal.com/12710.html#cutid1 (although it currently only has 70 items).

I am LOVING my Idol exeperience so far. "Start creative writing again" is one of those resolutions that appears on my list every year and gets broken every year. This time I've actually managed to do it, thanks to Idol!

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

I checked out your list. What a good idea! I never stick to things like that though, for me... I need to make a few goals here and there as gradual changes. Or else I get overwhelmed and say "screw it, I can't do everything" so then I give myself permission to do nothing.

First goals I'm starting: no eating junk food all day at work, follow a good diet and find a way to squeeze in exercise daily. Then I need to squeeze in writing time if I ever want to write a novel. Baby steps.

I loved that fruit in a pastry doesn't count. That sounds like something I'd do :P

[ashgaelsonaria.livejournal.com]

I don't really have any goals in particular for this year.
I have my hand full right now. Lots of birthdays are eminant.
Why in january alone there are around 5 though I can ignore a few of them and only have to deal with the two children here. Then anouther birthday in Febuary followed by one in March.
Then I can relax sort of until easterious or easter depending on ones beleafes.

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

September was the bad birthday month in my family. My niece and I share a birthday, my aunt is a day later, my brother 5 days later...

It was always like Christmas in September!

[emploding.livejournal.com]

Ah, the song Things are What You Make Of Them just put Hannah Montanna in my head. Thanks, now I have a Life's what you make it earworm :P

[reallyginnyf.livejournal.com]

This is my first LJ Idol. I am probably the harshest critic of my own work and each week I've barely hung in there, sometimes coming very close to the bottom in the voting. I've actually spent sleepless nights working on topics and despite it all, I'm still having a great time! No matter how long I last, I've enjoyed the experience. We're all awesome for having the tenacity and courage to put our writing out there for critique.

My personal goal this year is to keep working on conquering agoraphobia. My son is going to be ten soon and there are worlds for him to discover just an hour away from home if I can beat my fear of driving on the interstate and being out of my safe zone. Gulp.

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

I'm my own harshest critic too, so I understand. I also understand stressing about being on bottom or whatever. My first season, I was almost eliminated in week 5 (it was a non-elimination week, but I didn't know that at the time). I push andpush to always get better though and Idol has helped me in so many ways. I really look forward to your entries, I may not always post rec lists... But you're on many of them if I ever did get around to doing so! I hope you stick around for awhile :)

My goal this year should be to step outside of my social anxiety and make some friends. I get the agoraphobia bit, man I do. Driving terrifies me, though most people don't know that. I do it anyway, but I tend to stay home whenever I can. Good luck with that.

Late Commenter League: After Work Edition

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

I cannot believe I actually wrote on one of the Free Topics because I honestly thought I wouldn't have time! And I got it in before the deadline too!

I've got the early shift New Year's Day, so no partying for me. Not that I ever do anyway, even if I do somehow get the day off.

But hey, vacation in two weeks!

Re: Late Commenter League: After Work Edition

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

I'm not a heavy partier either. My wild binge drinking days are behind me and I'm thankful for that :)

[duckspeakeasy.livejournal.com]

Hi, if anyone is around, can you please check to see if you can see my post in the Free Topic thread? Whenever I log out, my entry/post seems to disappear, and I don't know why... =/

Thanks!

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

For some reason it was caught in the LJ Spam filter. I just unspammed it.

Sorry about that!

[porn-this-way.livejournal.com]

Omg I fail at life! For the SECOND TIME.. I did a "omgfirst!!" thing on a topic post, thinking it was Greenroom. Even though this time, I was commenting about the topic, SO I HAVE NO EXCUSE. Guess the Christmas zombies from the last round gobbled up my brain once and for all.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

I missed it - what did you say about the topic? :)

Thanks for deleting it on your own!

[ashgaelsonaria.livejournal.com]

nobody loves me
everybody hates me
I'm going to go eat some worms
bright and fruity
sweet and chewy
yummy nummy worms.
They are the best kind of gummies after all.
Oh, and my post my be somewhat silly as I've been awake and working to move furniture sence 10am yesterday.
I get a tad silly when sleep deprived.

[walkertxkitty.livejournal.com]

For those who have been following the saga of health fail: for Christmas I got a competent GI doctor! They're not quite certain exactly what is wrong, but they don't seem concerned about (more) cancer. Primary candidates right now are a bacterial overgrowth (curable with antibiotics) and Crohn's Disease (not curable but very manageable).

They even knew about EDS and the frailty of the connective tissues which can lead to perforation; they won't do anything invasive, including endoscopy or colonoscopy, unless they absolutely must and then it will be done in the safety of a surgical suite as an in patient procedure for my protection.

Me? I'm just glad there's an end of sorts in sight. I've been sick so long and no one knew why or seemed to care; it's nice to have answers, a possible solution, and some other things I can try.