Green Room - Week 39 - Day 3

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Like a car on fire crashing into a dynamite factory – LJ IDOL Season 8 is coming to an end!

Tonight!

Which means you have one last chance to decide who you want to win this thing - http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/603806.html

The last time I looked, it looked like we could very well be coming down to the wire again! Which is appropriate, given the talent level of our final two!

It also means that this is the final Green Room of the season. You also have one last chance to enjoy this space. Because the staff is getting anxious to get in here and start cleaning! Or at least attempting to… I’m really not sure about some of those spots. Especially in the corners.

The DJ has started the music down in the Banquet Hall and it’s about time to move out of here… so get your group pictures of “Us in the Green Room, in happier times” out of the way, before it’s too late!

I don’t know about you, but I’m going to miss this place.

So, thank you Green Room, for another season of, well, everything it is that you do! Whatever that happens to be! ;)

And (if you are so inclined) remember to tip your wait staff!

***
Most of all though, we have one last chance to enjoy this moment.

They don’t come around all that often, and you should definitely take a moment to let it all sink in when you get the opportunity. Where you were when we started. Where you are now. Where you see yourself going now, and where all of this craziness fits into all of it!


“A punk rock song won’t ever change the world, but I can think of a couple that changed me” – Wingnut Dishwashers Union

I’ll see you later tonight with the results and the Afterparty!

Comments

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

First?

First! In the last GR of the season too! Though it's pretty quiet in here for me to make first after reading everything twice (I'm tired guys).... So we need some drama or something to get everyone talking....

Hmmm....

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

You're FIRST!!!!

[medleymisty.livejournal.com]

Oooh, name change? I like the tribute to Annabelle.

[myrna-bird.livejournal.com]

Hurray for First! At least I get to say that once more.
Just finished watching SYTYCD that I taped last evening. My goodness, what fabulous dancing talent there. I will have more time for active TV watching during the break from the GR but I will miss it like crazy and be looking for it when it's time again.

[vaudy.livejournal.com]

Happy last First!!

[theun4givables.livejournal.com]

Not that long ago, I looked back at the entries I started this season with. I was writing fairly infrequently before Idol started, so I joined Idol as a way to make sure I was writing something at least once a week.

Dude, you guys. The amount of improvement I've had from week 1 to week 30 alone was ridiculous. I'm back to writing everyday now, and I'm putting out at least 1000 words a day. Gary, I can't thank you enough for doing this sort of thing. When my husband tells me I can't compete next season (jokingly), I keep giving him these horrified looks.

I hope to up my game next season and make it even further than top 31. ;)

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

I already wrote on it, but the improvement I've seen since Season 6 is mind blowing. And every season, I can look back at the beginning to the end and see growth.

I had a dream last night that'll hopefully turn into my first ever non-Idol short story. That's pretty exciting for me!

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

Donated! This season has done so much for my writing and I've also made some super awesome friends. Can't wait to do it all over again. :)

[myrna-bird.livejournal.com]

Same here! I'm with you there, girl.

I looked back at the beginning of the season when Gary put that link up and I just thoroughly enjoyed meeting and greeting all friends again and was amused and excited by the enthusiasm I had for starting this amazing season. It was long...but looking back, it went fast. We will have to make Season 9 the biggest and best yet ( though it'll be pretty hard to top this one!)

[sarcasmoqueen.livejournal.com]

Can't believe it's the last GR! Can't believe how close the poll is!!!

Definitely playing next season, and my goal is WORLD DOMINATION... er, I mean, to make it further than I did this season!

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

This season has had me thinking about a lot of writerly things, from watching people's steady improvement from one season to the next to picking through my own with the proverbial ice pick. This season, in particular, has made me question at times what writing means to me, how seriously I look at it, what I want to do with it and if I want to do anything with it.

Idol -- as well as LJ -- has always been my playground. Not that I don't take things seriously because I do, but I guess my issue is this: The bar has definitely been raised this season. I think we can all agree with that. On the one hand the reader/writer/teacher in me is thrilled. OTOH there's a big part of me that's in mourning as in "Oh, now that the bar's been raised, I'd better raise mine too and I'm not sure I really want to do that for [whatever reason]." The downside of the bar being raised is that, for me, it makes the game less fun in a way.

Understand I'm not putting down those who see/use Idol as a stepping stone. Please, don't take what I'm saying in that vein. I'm also not, in any way, putting down our beloved GR because we certainly do have fun here!

I'm seeing the game itself as a playground, and because the bar has been raised, it's dismantling the playground bit by bit. And I'm standing there, watching it, half in shock, and half trying not to weep.

And I'm going to shut up now lest I make any more verbal mish-mash...

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

The bar has been raised every season.

I think the playground is going to stay intact as long as people still come in with the attitude that they want to come out and play.

If everyone is “ OMGZ, I AM A SRS WRITER!” then yeah, that will definitely take a lot of the fun out the process.

But we’ve always had “serious writers” and we’ve always had “I’m just doing this for the fun”. It’s been a matter of balancing out those interests, within the community, and within ourselves.

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

:nodding: Idol was my lifesaver the year my mother passed. It was my first season officially playing, and it was my primary way of pouring out my emotions, just like you say. I can't claim it made me feel lighter and better afterward, but it did do a lot to untangle the grief. The support I received here was incredible, and it was more support than I had IRL. I'll always be grateful and will never, ever forget that.

[morning-stand.livejournal.com]

The poll is so close! Im so nervous for the finalists!

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

I'm going to miss you guys! Well, except for the few dozen who are Flisters, so there's that!

Come on season 9! Mama's got to get to an even number of weeks, lol!

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

Hey, I'll be rooting for you!

But I think that I ought to cheer from the sidelines next season. I was somewhat horrified to discover that I hadn't posted anything on Wild Violet since October 2011! Wow. Guess why that is?

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

I've donated, and I hope many people do, as well. I think the Paypal donation button was a great idea.

[teenagewitch.livejournal.com]

I am going to miss the Green room too.

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

::makes a big bowl o' popcorn and puts the poll numbers up on the flatscreen in the GR::

::sings:: "Are you ready for some poll watching!"

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

I'm here! I'm back from my errands!
:motions at you to scoot over while beckoning for the popcorn:

[lawchicky.livejournal.com]

The last GR :(

I'm missing it already.

[barrelofrain.livejournal.com]

I've got to agree with what other folks have said about growing through LJI. Part of it, for me, has been being experimental with my writing. :)

[n-maranda-coy.livejournal.com]

In reflecting upon the last Green Room of Season 8:

* I found myself CHOOSING an new layout for this journal, instead of defaulting to the generic one I picked out two seasons ago...

* I found myself installing a new default icon for this journal....

* I found myself leaving myself sticky notes not to get discouraged in November, December and January of next season, should I make it that long in the polls.

---------------------------

Wishing both finalists the very best of luck, looking forward to the Afterparty, and gearing up for next season.

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

It's my Main Squeeze's birthday today, so I'm just poking my head in super quick to be all bouncy and excited over the final poll (OMG such tension and excitement and really wild things!) and scrawl on the wall of the last GR (don't worry. I'll help paint over that before the security deposit is due). I'm looking forward to being in the thick of things again next season. If this season was any indication, it's sure to be QUITE epic. :)

[medleymisty.livejournal.com]

Well. I guess that decided me. If you're coming back, then I have to too. :)

Edited to add - also have fun celebrating birthday times!

[mstrobel.livejournal.com]

I am loving actually watching this final poll and refreshing it every ten minutes ;)

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

How are you waiting ten? I'm pretty sure I'm doing it every three or so.

::passes you the popcorn::

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

...and why does this afterparty have to be on a night where I have to be in bed fairly early because of work?!?!?

:pouty face:

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

OMG it's tied. What if it's a tie?

[lilycobalt.livejournal.com]

I feel like I haven't properly taken advantage of this season's Green Rooms, and now they're over!

For me, this season was about so much more than just writing. I did produce some writing that I'm very proud of, especially fiction, and I've decided to take my writing more seriously. But I also learned how to be a better person. I'm trying to be more open to others in this community instead of insisting that I can go it alone. I'm trying to be kinder. And I'm also trying to develop a thicker skin. I think I achieved a lot more in those regards than my 19 weeks suggests.

[Also, any chance that people are on AIM for the results and wrap party? If so, give me a prod at cobaltazure7.]

[porn-this-way.livejournal.com]

YES, AIM shenanigans are of the good!

Late Commenter League: One more for the road

[beldar.livejournal.com]

Here we go, last LCL post for me (and beldarzfixon) in Season 8.

I call upon the league of late-working, procrastinating and other-time-zoning LJers to adjourn, and meet me here again in Season 9. We keep the lights on in the Green Room, cuz we're kinky that way. =)

See ya at the party...

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

I think I'll miss you most of all, Scarecrow.

Meaning that the writing was a blast, the stories were great, but even though it took me at least a month to figure out what the Green Room and the Work Room were all about, it's the sense of community represented here that'll really leave a void when it's gone.

*sob*!