LJ Idol Presents:

FIRST!

From:

myrna-bird.livejournal.com

Whoo-hooo First!

From:

medleymisty.livejournal.com

Someone really liked Cabin in the Woods. What's next, a gas to make us split up? ;)

I'm working so I don't havr long, but I just wanted to say that I really likec this topic. A bunch of us who usually write fiction went nonfiction, and it's been awesome learni.g about everyone's passions.

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From:

medleymisty.livejournal.com

OMG how did you reply to my post when I can't even see it? And yeah - I haven't read everything yet but so far it's all been cool and interesting.

From:

medleymisty.livejournal.com

AH! That's why I couldn't see it! LOL - I didn't mean to reply to your post. Is cool though. :)

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You're FIRST!! ^_^

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Congrats! *confettis*

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Ugh... I woke up this morning with either allergies or a cold. So not amused. I work from home and barely go out, and none of my family is sick, so WTF?!

I'm hoping it's allergies just so I don't risk getting my son sick. Sick babies are teh sad.

Really excited to be in the top 50! I came so close to dropping out this week that it wasn't even funny. "Real life" is always an issue for me, but this time around I just couldn't get my piece to come together at all. Ughhh, so frustrating.

Edited Date: 2012-04-24 02:52 pm (UTC)

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I'm glad you didn't drop! It seems like a lot of people were struggling this week. Gary really upped the traps this week I guess....

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I am not kidding when I say that I was writing parts of this week's post on my phone while my son was running around the playground last night at 5:45 pm, and while he was eating his dinner afterward, and...

So rough, but I'm glad I didn't drop. Hopefully if I make it to the next round, I'll do better.

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Oh I know the writing on the phone bit well. Though it's been so common for me, I now write my entries up by phone even with my laptop in the same room. This last one was mostly written on my phone while I was at home, it's just become more second nature than my laptop. Crazy, huh?

Though I hate when it's by necessity since that's stressful :/

From:

mstrobel.livejournal.com

I came perilously close as well...
Deadline is 11am my time.
9pm the night before: "Oh, shit, I have to write that entry."
9:30pm: "I should really stop procrastinating and write it before I fall asleep."
9:35pm: "Okay, closing the internet so I can't procrastinate!!!1"
9:36pm: "Wait, what was the topic?"

I totally deserve an award just for showing up, LOL.

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Yeah, I just about dropped this week, too. I'm really going to be week to week for the next several. We'll SEE.

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Yeah, I imagine you're pretty busy between work and being a newlywed. The work/toddler balance is tough for me. This week I even had a decent amount of writing time, but nothing was coming together the way I wanted it to and argh.

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Yeah, sometimes the amount of writing time isn't related to the result. I feel ya. Argh is not a good writing result, dammit!

Hang in there. Work/toddler is a tough path.

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Thanks! Enjoy your new marriage. :)

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Seriously? Thank you. It was very rough going even though I liked my subjects. Fortunately I had some helpful bets advice and was able to do some last minute writing from my phone, lol.

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I couldn't tell you had struggled, either. Seriously, you did awesome. ^_^

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Aw, thank you. I think having someone beta for me completely saved my butt this week. <3

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It's okay, I'm pretty bad about commenting sometimes. I just appreciate knowing you liked it, because I was super close to dropping out this week and I'm glad I persisted. :)

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I just noticed I commented to you twice! I'm dumb today, lol. I guess it's good that the 2 comments were at least somewhat different.

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vaudy.livejournal.com

I almost had to drop this week, too, between concert weekend and the stuff I had to do at home for my grandmother. And if I make it through this week, I have another concert this weekend.

I kind of wish I had a phone that I could get some writing done on during breaks at work or when I have downtime at rehearsal.

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The LJ client works kind of badly on my phone - the cursor kept randomly jumping to the end of what I was writing. Still, being able to write part of the piece on my phone is what completely saved my butt, well, that and my awesome beta reader who gave me an idea for how to somewhat salvage things when they weren't going well.

I never had a smartphone at all, ever, until maybe 2 and a half years ago and didn't see the point of them. Now I would be lost without one.

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Seriously, it's like being on Star Trek or something. Only with less killing, fewer aliens, and no Shatner.

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When I "write on my phone", I'm actually texting a friend with a smartphone, who will e-mail me the text log when I finish. :)

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unmowngrass.livejournal.com

That sounds like a great friend!

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She is! :D

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Glad you got an entry in! Sometimes it's so tough to produce!

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Thank you! What I can't imagine is how people handle it near the end when (I've heard) there's more than one deadline per week! Although if I make it that far, I'll be pretty honored and I'll do the best I can. :)

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That's right! I totally forgot about the weeks when we wrote 2-3 pieces for the deadline.

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Ahhh, that sounds scary. Oh well, like I said. If I make it that far, I'll worry about it then. :)

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*hugs* It's definitely allergy season, so that's a good possibility.

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I still stand by what I say that anyone left seriously could win this thing and not surprise me. There's so much talent this season. Then again, I'm sure I say that every season because it's proven to be true.

I'm really excited to see how the rest of the season plays out and who makes it to what. Top 40? The top 20? Who wil it be?!? Only time will tell.

I may actually finish reading this week! And I want to start doing rec lists again because the entries are that dang good. We will see what happens.

I'm feeling much better today, I almost feel normal (isn't that scary?), but my job is killing me. It's went above and beyond ridiculous. I'm so done with this place. I'm hoping that the interview tomorrow leads to a promising way out so I can (politely) tell my supervisors to F' off for being asshats.

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I hate that feeling... your job is such a big part of your waking life. I hope that you can get something else soon. I have had the satisfaction of telling my boss to fuck himself, and it was REALLY satisfying.

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It will be really satisfying, trust me. My boss may get a polite F' you because he can be somewhat decent. But there are times I get no support and he expects me to be a mind reader so there is that. But the girl known as Evil One... Now that's going to be fun.

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I kind of wish I had told a couple people to F themselves when I left. Although in a way, I think I did just by going to the job I did.

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In reality, I won't tell them to F themselves because of burning bridges and all that. Not a good thing to do in this industry just in case I do need to get back info this field. Everyone knows everyone within these companies. So I can't totally tell them off. But I can explain why I'm leaving and why that's just wrong to treat people this way. I get no support, I'm a scapegoat, I'm supposed to be a mind reader, they pile ridiculous stuff on me and everything has to be done NOW (even the petty stuff they really don't need NOW), the way Evil One talks down to me and micromanages... The list goes on and on. I deserve better than this, really anyone does. Other admins are always telling me this, so it's not just me... And when I tell my boss that people who have had my job before (when the economy was slower) have told me they need to hire an admin to help, he rolls his eyes at me. So screw you people. I'll just say it in a nicer way as to not burn bridges.

Please let this interview be a promising lead....

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Yeah, I wouldn't have done it either for the same reason. My old company has a policy of never rehiring people who've left, but I still might need a reference from someone there someday.

Where I went was more or less a big F you to them, though. Several people who have been super disgruntled in the past went to the same place and I think it's kind of a well-known screw-you strategy. :-p

You really do deserve better. I sort of do wish I'd told someone WHY I was leaving, but there was no one I could trust to listen. If there had been an HR group at my company, I probably would have told them.

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Sadly, everyone knows each other in this industry. People move around a lot. If I need to stay in this industry, I might interview for a company that hired people from my company. We get people that know each other from our competitors all the time. Some people even have worked together at more than one other place before. It's not worth risking my potential interviews over my anger. But boy is it tempting.

We have HR who will hear my complaints (in a civilized manner) and I'll likely confide in my boss. My admin friends will likely know exactly why I'm leaving. I've gotten sympathy from the former Office Nazi and she goes easy on me, which is insane because everyone fears her wrath when it comes to slacking. But she does stuff for me without me asking, which is not common. But she knows my bosses are ridiculous right now. She's suggested they hire someone to help me, and even threw a comment at my boss last week that when she had her wisdom teeth removed, she got a week off work, not just a few days.

So they will get it :)

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Glad you're feeling better and crossing my fingers that you can find a new job quickly!

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Man, I ALMOST logged in quick enough to get my fourth first, but then I realized that everyone would know that I have no life. haha

Hey, thanks for all the great wedding wishes. It's been fun talking to everyone about the ceremony and the Vegas trip... and I got to do an entry that really was right in my wheelhouse!

From:

I saw your wedding post and I meant to comment, so I'll do it here instead:

Great job, you guys... you're such a wonderful couple, and I'm really, really delighted that you have done this thing. Blessings on you for many more years of shared contentedness.

From:

jacq22.livejournal.com

Great to hear about the happy things. Have a wonderful life you two.

From:

ellakite.livejournal.com

Yo, Gary! Two questions for ya!

(1) You used the phrase "Top 40" in your post like it was an official milestone in Idol. Was a Top 40 Icon created for last season?

(2) This "memory fogging gas".of yours... is it capable of suppressing the memories of an unhappy childhood? If so, I'd be interested in purchasing a few metric tons...

From:

clauderainsrm.livejournal.com

1. No. I used "Top 40" because it's a milestone for Casey Kasem! There was no icon created for it though. I can see what I can do for you though.

It's more of a marker this season because of the powers that expire when we hit it.

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I thought the special powers expired when we hit the top 30... I just assumed the top 40 mention was a Kasey Kasem reference. :D

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That's what I thought about powers too... Top 30?

Edited Date: 2012-04-24 03:51 pm (UTC)

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I think that some powers expire at the Top 40 and some at the Top 30. There are multiple powers with different use-by dates floating around, from the Intersections and the non-elimination round, if I remember correctly.

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That's right. There is one power from intersections left. But the Topsy's I'm pretty sure expire at Top 30 and those seem to scare people the most!

From:

ellakite.livejournal.com

I'm not asking for a *NEW* icon. If one existed already, I would have asked for it... but *PLEASE* don't go to any additional effort on my account.

I noticed you never answered my second question. Have you been sampling your own product Gary? :)

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I do not believe it is perminant.
painful childhood memories have a nasty habit of sneaking back up on you after surpresion trust me - I even wrote an entry on it.

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ellakite.livejournal.com

Believe me, I am aware of this. I made my post as a bittersweet joke.

One of these days, you and I should meet & talk. We seem to have a lot in common.

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what most people have been chalking up to “Real Life” has just been my increased involvement with setting traps around contestant’s houses in order to better destroy them!!

Should have known. First you make the cat vomit, and then you wake up my children at 4.30am, and they threaten to vomit! At least I didn't step in any...

Forgot to say in my choked-up response to you all on the Vote page: if anyone wants to add me, feel free. I am generally a ready friender, unless your journal is only LJ Idol, in which case, I probably won't add you back as I like to keep my flist personal, yo :)

Love to you all. (Except Gary, obviously. Kicks to him).

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I miss you already! I'm so, so sorry that life got in the way, and if you need to talk or anything, you know where to find me. I definitely understand trying to juggle family and day-to-day obligations and just never having enough time. Ugh.

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Thanks, so much :) I'm glad we're friends! I'm determined to get stuck into next season, though.

From:

unmowngrass.livejournal.com

Hi, I've added you, I hope you don't mind :)

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Not at all, I've added you back :)

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jacq22.livejournal.com

Kicks Gary for you, steps over cat vomit, oh I have such fun in my house when that happens. I am 'official cleaner up' of anything disgusting. A position I am ready to relinquish.

I am due for knee replacement mid June, so think RL is raising its head already.

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Yeah, I'm designated cleaner of disgusting things too - or they stay there! Ew!!

Mum had a knee replacement (actually, two!) a few years ago. Obviously a bit of a hassle at the time but is really pleased with the results. Good luck :)

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What good does kicking Gary do?
I have already ascertained that he has that rair genetic disorder that prevents pain nerves ( or the pain centers of the brain ) from developing fully so he does not feel it.

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Ah, but like kicking anything, it's about how it makes you feel as kicker :) (in my case, that's usually sore, because I kicked something I shouldn't have. Like the wall.)

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roina-arwen.livejournal.com

That memory fogging gas of yours sure is potent, Gary! I always knew you had it in you, LOL.

Hmmm... I wonder if this gas is flammable?

*gets out lighter*

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It would not surprise me if Gary were planting booby traps for all of us. Of course, I create enough problems on my own that it would be impossible to tell if my downfalls were my own or Gary created.

It's a busy day for me here- so much to get done and then continuing ed tonight followed by a late appointment with a friend/client to sign contracts.

From:

roina-arwen.livejournal.com

Men have a thing for booby traps... some women do, too!

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marjory.livejournal.com

Oh it's you pumping gas into the room, is it? I had thought the boyfriend had just been at the wasabi peas again.

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I was chalking it up to grilled cabage

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marjory.livejournal.com

You mean you've met my boyfriend?

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Naw. We had that Monday. Or Tuesday. They all just blend together. Read my stories.

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I thought my fuzzy-feeling brain was due to inadequate sleep and inadequate caffeine, but I think now that it's from Gary and his gas! :P

From:

roina-arwen.livejournal.com

Gary's gas is very potent!

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dslartoo.livejournal.com

Ha. Foolish mortal, you know not where I live! Your puny machinations shall not catch me unawares!

cheers,
Phil

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sweeny-todd.livejournal.com

It's a public holiday today! Anzac day. I think I am bad because I forgot.

Mind you, I went to the dawn service last year, and it finished before dawn...

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mstrobel.livejournal.com

I don't think there WAS a dawn today... Rain hammering down all night, I'm wondering if the service was completely washed out!

From:

sweeny-todd.livejournal.com

it was actually sunny here today! and that is after 2 weeks of rain! I was even complaining about yesterday, where it was overcast and gloomy All Day. It sucked!!!

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mstrobel.livejournal.com

We had two weeks' worth of rain overnight I think XD

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jacq22.livejournal.com

Cough, cough, that darned gas.....

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serpentpixie.livejournal.com

Gary was super sneaky with the trap on me. He trapped my house, so I moved house, and was then so overwhelmed by MOVING HOUSE that I had to bail.

I'm watching you, Gary.

*Eyes*

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