Green Room - Week 29 - Day 7

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

You know what sucks the most about (insert the name of an Idol contestant here)?

I have no idea. I'm just trying to get you started on something. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Give me your food, and assistance and I will eventually slaughter you! I'm a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to celebrating the holidays! :)

You, on the other hand, have a different set of traditions - you come here, to your Idol family to celebrate. Which makes you the best of the best! Unlike those people with "lives" and "families who care about them", you cling tightly to the random grouping of folks on the internet! Good for you! I'm glad to see some people have PRIORITIES!

Speaking of "priorities" - the poll is currently up. It's both a public poll as well as a Contestant Only email vote. So make sure to get your votes in - http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/809247.html It's a great way of saying "Thanks" to the writers who have brought you so much joy over the course of the season.

Also - the Home Game/Killing Floor is happening: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/808357.html So you still have time to get involved with that.

***
Yesterday I talked about the emails that I had gotten over the last 24 hours. Today I'm going to mention the questions from a couple other emails from a few weeks back. I held off on them until now because of the whole "Giving Thanks" thing, combined with Black Friday/Cyber Monday.

Taking the comments, throwing together a few different emails and trying to make them more general - the theme was "How to Give to Idol".

Now, before I get into this I need to give the usual disclaimer of "Positive and active participation in Idol is giving back to it." But there are always people who want to go beyond that - and I'm certainly not going to stop them. ;)

There are various things you can do. We have an AMAZON STORE: http://astore.amazon.com/li0cd-20 I've updated some of the newest Idol-related releases. (I'm sure there are more that I need to add though. Just send me a reminder!) Even if there isn't anything from the store that you want, if you click through that link to go to Amazon, we still get a little something. Which is great, since you literally just have to click a few more buttons before making the purchase you were going to make anyway - and end up helping out!

If you are someone who likes the idea of making a monthly donation to the cause - that's what Patreon is there for - http://www.patreon.com/user?u=70027 It's the only exception to the rule of "Giving Back DOESN'T help you in Idol". That's because there are incentives. The biggest one is having one of your topics used!

One question that was asked was "Is there a way to make a ONE TIME donation"? Absolutely. That would be Paypal.

(There are some other options as well - I can provide those upon request. :D)

As for the usual question of "where does the money go?" The old answer was "to the wedding fund". The new answer is "to get out of debt to my ex-landlords, and others - so that I can start putting money back into the wedding fund". :)

***

Anyway - enough of that - WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?

Or, taking a page from what some of you were talking about yesterday - make up something that you are thankful for! :)

Comments

[kickthehobbit.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty happy with my life and where it's at right now. I'm grateful for my friends and my "chosen family". :D

I'm also grateful for Idol, as I said in the e-mail with my votes. ;)

Oh, and YOU KNOW WHAT SUCKS MOST ABOUT cislyn??

She posted a brownie recipe and now I want brownies. This despite the fact that I have two pies and enough Thanksgiving-Eve leftovers to kill a man. :(

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

You know what sucks the most about kickthehobbit? SHE HAS APPLE PIE AND I DON'T. :P

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

It's good to be happy with life!

[jexia]

You know what sucks the most about jexia?

She won't get off her butt to go to bed, even when she's EXHAUSTED.

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

I do that, too. I always think I'm going to miss something.

[jexia]

Also: does Latchkey Tales count as LJ Idol related?

http://www.amazon.com/Elementals-Wings-Air-Latchkey-Tales/dp/0994110669/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1417080024&sr=8-8&keywords=solarwyrm


Since this is where I SOLD MY FIRST SHORT STORY TO *ahem* which started as an Idol piece.

[n3m3sis43.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on selling your story. :D

[zhent.livejournal.com]

I'm thankful to have a job to be posting from on my phone at 3:45am on Thanksgiving morning.

[dmousey.livejournal.com]

(Huggz Zhent)... aww Happy Gobble Day anyway?

[n3m3sis43.livejournal.com]

I really want to write funny "you know what sucks about [Idol User]" things here, but I'm too half-asleep to be funny without probably offending someone.

What sucks about me is I have the day off and I am doing the opposite of writing (i.e. cutting things out of my NaNo).

[ryl.livejournal.com]

Pruning is an essential part of writing. Sometimes you have to cut the deadwood away to let the new branches reach the sun.

[ryl.livejournal.com]

I'm thankful that I get to do Thanksgiving my way (mostly). I have to work four hours, but I get paid double time and then I can go home and not have to "visit." I've always hated having to visit on Thanksgiving. Introverts assemble (in your own homes!)

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

Good for you! And good for overtime!

Cookie Dough Brownies

[n3m3sis43.livejournal.com]

(as requested by tonithegreat)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

•2 cups butter, divided
•¾ cups unsweetened cocoa powder
•2-¾ cups granulated sugar, divided
•1 cup light brown sugar, packed
•3-¼ cups all-purpose flour, divided
•3 whole eggs
•½ teaspoons salt
•½ teaspoons baking powder
•4 tablespoons milk
•3 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
•½ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
•1 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks (or you can use more of the mini chips noted above, but I like a really dark, nice chocolate)
•heavy whipping cream (I buy a pint and use as needed)

For Brownies:
1 c. butter
3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 1/4 c. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Prepare 13X9 baking pan by laying a piece of foil in the bottom and up the sides. Spray with cooking spray or butter the foil.

Melt 2 sticks of butter in a medium saucepan; add cocoa, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Add sugar, salt, eggs, and vanilla; beat with a spoon until combined. Add flour and baking powder; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread batter into pan. Bake at 350 degrees until a toothpick inserted 1 inch from the side of the pan comes out clean or almost clean. Allow brownies to cool completely before moving on to the next step.

For Cookie Dough Filling:
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. packed light brown sugar
1/2 c. granulated sugar
4 Tbsp. milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine first 5 ingredients in a mixing bowl and cream together. Add flour and stir until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread in an even layer on top of cooled brownies. Chill before adding chocolate ganache topping.

For Chocolate Ganache Topping:
1 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks
Heavy whipping cream

Place chocolate pieces in a microwave-safe bowl. Pour heavy whipping cream into the bowl until the chocolate is just covered. Microwave on high for 10 seconds at a time, stirring in between. You may need to add a bit more chocolate or whipping cream to get it to the proper consistency. Once the ganache is completely smooth, spread it over the chilled cookie dough layer as quickly and evenly as possible.

Cover and refrigerate (overnight if possible) to set the ganache layer. Cut into very small pieces, as the brownies are ridiculously rich.


(theun4givables can vouch for this recipe, even if it was really too hot out for chocolate ganache anything and her ex almost destroyed the brownie layer by dropping it)

Re: Cookie Dough Brownies

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

That sounds amazing. Kind of a pain to make, but worth it, I'm sure!

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

A beloved friend died at age 33 last week, from nothing, a stupid, meaningless confluence of factors that should kill no one, so you're going to have to give me some hours to come up with what I'm thankful for. Nobody else dying? Knock wood.

Meanwhile, the turkey breast is almost done brining, the butter is softening to mix with sage for under its skin, the Rhodes rolls are rising in the dish, and the whole scene is so domestic it'd make you puke. LOL

[watching-ships.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear about your loss.

Dadgummit, the idea of turkey with butter under it's skin is making me so hungry. Breakfast!

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

Heh, Gary, you must have posted this right after I went to bed (had to wait to ice another batch of cupcakes because the housemates made pumpkin pies and dinner -- OMG ALL THE DISHES. I am gratefully, get-down-on-my-knees-praising-THANKFUL for having a dishwasher! I'm going to eat something, have more coffee, and start prepping stuffed mushrooms. If I don't make them my extended family will have my head on a platter :eek:

If you're celebrating, have a wonderful Turkey Day!

(((((((((HUGS TO EVERYONE)))))))))

[theun4givables.livejournal.com]

Omg, stuffed mushrooooooms.

*drools*

[watching-ships.livejournal.com]

I am off with a couple of store bought cakes (the horror!) down south to make my rounds. Hopefully today will be better than the situation in this week's entry. I believe it will.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'm off to grab a cup of coffee so I might be around here for a little while longer. Has the parade started?

[dmousey.livejournal.com]

Happy Gobble Day everyone. :)

Know what Turkey's are thankful for today?....(wait for it)...vegetarians! Hehehehe

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

I'm thankful for my family (most of the time), my friends online and in real life, and that we've got a comfy house, lots of happy cats, and ridiculous amounts of turkey (currently in the oven) and other yumminess to eat later.



And now I have to go clean up cat puke. *sigh*

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

Yay for happy cats!

Book Exchange reminder!

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

Happy eat-all-the-food day! Just a reminder that today is the last day to sign up for the unofficial LJI book exchange - pop a used book in the mail, get one in your mailbox. It's nifty. You should totally join us. Joiiiiiin us.... (does elongating vowels ever actually convince anyone to do things? I think it should).

You can sign up right over here (http://lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com/78380.html). I'll be closing the poll around 6 pm cst.

Re: Book Exchange reminder!

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

I would. Probably, even though I don't have many English-language books I like that I would just send off like that. Hmm, maybe some that I have two different editions of.

But what about overseas mailing? I don't mind it, do others?

[suesniffsglue.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I'm thankful to still be here having a reason pushing me to write. I've been counseling for up to twelve hours a day lately, which I love but also find incredibly exhausting. I never make it to the Green Room; I really don't personally know other contestants and this makes me nervous. I don't always have time to comment on posts. The cards are stacked against me. But somehow I'm still here, gifted with a reason to keep writing when I think my brain might give up on it otherwise. For that I'm so very thankful.

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

having an external incentive to write helps this busy work-at-home mom, too.

[theun4givables.livejournal.com]

I am thankful that my shift today was short, that I didn't work with anyone that currently has an issue with me (there are... a couple of associates who probably don't like me, right now), and that my son is 100% my child and eating Wheat Thins with cream cheese. :)

He didn't eat breakfast at the ex's house so I'm glad I'm giving him a chance to food before heading out to my Aunt's house, who lives in NJ, and the drive is like an hour away at least. Because dinner is at 2, and he probably won't touch any of it. xD

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

I have the same problem with not wanting to eat the Thanksgiving dinner. KFP will probably only eat the peas, even though my mom has been talking up all the other stuff she's making. She doesn't realize the extra pressure doesn't help.

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

By the way, does anyone else have this weird problem with posts with a lot of comments (last GR for example). When the comments are "folded", you see them all marked with the same timestamp (which is not even in your timezone! like 12 p.m. UTC or something) and then when you expand them, they are marked with their real posting time.

It's SO annoying, makes tracking later comments difficult!!

Here's a screengrab:

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

Yep, same thing is happening to me. :/ It's been doing that since the last update to livejournal. (and when I say 'update' I mean 'downtime', but they at least planned and announced it).

Truths and lies and fantabulous storytellers

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

Let's play a game. :)

Comment in this thread and tell us three things about yourself, two truths and one lie. You can make these as elaborate or simple as you like - we're all storytellers and confabulators here, so I wouldn't be surprised to see some yarns being spun. We're also kinda busy, so three sentences will do just as well. ;)

We'll try to guess which bits you're fibbing about, and either way, we've learned something about you. You can keep the speculation going for as long as you like, and make some guesses about other people too. Ready... go!

Re: Truths and lies and fantabulous storytellers

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

1. I have been told that my sneezes sound like "an exploding hamster." One does wonder where these people get their comparison data...

2. I studied Ancient Greek and Latin in college, and I can still recite passages of the Odyssey out loud.

3. I didn't have a fancy cell phone for ages - I hate talking on the phone and the thought of carrying around a phone just seemed awful to me. I finally gave in and got one a few years ago. Now I feel like I'm inseparable from the gadget - I play games on it, send texts, take pictures. And pretty much never, ever use it as a phone, which was the reason I resisted getting it in the first place.

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

Right now I am thankful for talented fanfiction writers who sometimes manage to make fabulous work with my favourite fandoms in which I normally shy away from fanfiction period.

[reckless-blues.livejournal.com]

In my main fandom there's only one other person who writes fanfic in English, and whenever she finishes something, I just...cry into her arms, basically.

I'm really picky about my fic too.

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

I am thankful that CNN is running an Anthony Bourdain marathon starting at 5 p.m. EST today of ALL REPEATS. Woo-hoo! That means less time working, more time hanging out with the folks and hopefully getting a game of Carcassone on!

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

People ask "Why do you keeping telling people that they need to post in the Green Room"?

Look over the last couple of days. There is your answer.

It's not that you don't have anything to say. It's just that there are times when you don't *say it*.

I put that up there with people who think voters are some mysterious "other" that come out of the ether and disappear back into it - instead of former contestants and friends of former contestants who were brought in by them and got hooked! :)
(and so when people *don't* encourage their friends to show up and hang out, the shrinking voter base becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy - much like people posting that "no one is posting in the Green Room" or "No one is talking about what I want to talk about"! *Start the conversation*!!

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

Nonsense. I'm terribly boring and have nothing to say about anything. Other than all those stories I write. :P

Hope you're having a great turkey day with your family, Gary. I'm pretty grateful for you. :)

[reckless-blues.livejournal.com]

I'm thankful for alcohol and the fact that my mother shut up about the murder of an unarmed teenage boy once she realized I was genuinely angry, highly informed, and could debate rings around her

*grinds teeth to stubs*

(Also I have cheesecake. Grateful for cheesecake. *eats it in anger*)

[anyonesghost.livejournal.com]

Three cheers for alcohol indeed!

Vale Phil Hughes

[uncawes.livejournal.com]

I'm not American, and this whole Thanksgiving thing is something of a mystery to me.
BUT, I am thankful I got to see Phil Hughes play cricket.
Too distraught to say any more

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

So...how was everyone's turkey?

(if you're 'merican, as Gary would say, that is -- I mean, turkey doesn't discriminate but since yesterday was a holiday here...)

kehlen_crow, I've been noticing that weird UTC timestamp too. It seems to show up if I post in the morning as opposed to other times. I wonder if it's simply a glitch in the server...?

It snowed last night and crazy husky dogs want to go outside!

[aimercat.livejournal.com]

happy thanksgiving. i know i haven't been around much since i got eliminated, but I did find a job that has been keeping me busy and my poor boyfriend had another bad bout with kidney stones. That obviously kept me from doing as much home gaming i wanted to do.