LJ Idol Presents:

 "Back in the day" there was a topic that I rather liked - where people would take a look at their "hometown news" and pick a story as a springboard for their entry. 

I've had that on the "possible topics" list for years now, it just never seemed to be the right time (considering that state of the world and what news has become) 

But "local news" (the kind of stuff the rest of the country/world doesn't see because it's not sensational enough to go viral tends to be interesting. 

So, in that spirit - what's going on in YOUR local news right now that is just "interesting"? Or that other people might find amusing? 

(I'm not sure if people in bigger cities are at a disadvantage in that things are more likely to go viral due to sheer population or more advantaged because more things going on) 

***

Speaking of viral - www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/the-20-best-viral-personal-essays-of-the-past-20-years-120615753.html

One of these started as an Idol entry during Season 8.  Can you guess which one?  ;) 

***

Will one of THESE entries go viral and end up on a "best of" list a decade from now? Not if you don't vote for it and tell other people what you are reading!  therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1147601.html

The first poll is up, and stakes couldn't be higher!   therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1142509.html

Which isn't even an exaggeration, it's an outright lie. Everyone could be dangled over a pit of starving crocodiles, armed with laser guided missiles, and the rope is fraying. Whoever stays up the longest will win the ability to live out the rest of their life! 

THAT would be much higher stakes than being eliminated. Which would be absolutely silly to be happening in a Week 1 poll. That is, at very least, Week 8 or 9 at the earliest.   ;)

***

How was your weekend? Did you do anything interesting?

***

I watched two movies, one because Amazon sent me a Prime video credit and the other not so much:  Late Night With the Devil and I Saw the TV Glow.  Both of them definitely had that "relatively calm for most of the movie and by the end things get crazy" 

The great thing about having a new co-worker who lives out in the boondocks is that she has to drive by me anyway to get to work, so I've been getting a ride. The bad thing is that when she's out, that means getting up extra early to make the bus that I'm not used to catching anymore.

You get spoiled on things like riding in cars awfully quickly! :)

***

Last night was the perfect storm of US reality television with Survivor followed by the premiere of the new season of The Amazing Race. For anyone who didn't catch the Race, this time is a gimmick season with all the contestants being former CBS reality show contestants, which means some returning Racers, Big Brother House Guests and yes, some Survivors. I tend to be a purist when it comes to the Race - not liking stunt casting. BUT I also know that the ratings haven't been great - to the point that the show didn't have a time slot this year, it's only on because that Million Dollar Mile/Tim Tebow show crashed and burned so quickly. So right now I'm just happy that there is a Race on at all. If they need to do a celebrity edition every once in a while to get ratings back up, in order to get the show I love back on in between, I'm going to have to be OK with that.

That said, it was actually pretty darn good. I'm kind of looking forward to seeing where this goes.


Speaking of TAR - the host, Phil Keoghan, has a podcast. It's been going for awhile now, but I only just heard about it because of an interview about the new season. It's really good. It's called Buckit https://philkeoghan.com/ and is all about "Tickit Before You Kickit". (making the most out of life, while you can) which has been very much on my mind lately, for obvious reasons.

It's really inspiring.

***

Speaking of inspiring, and making the most out of life - someone we love isn't going to make it another week. Right now, according to the poll, it really could be anyone: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1061039.html so make sure to get out there: read, comment and vote for your favorites to stay in!

Your topics are right over here: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1044767.html

Your explanation of what Gary is doing is right here, in this post.

Those of you who follow me over on FB, I'm posting about this tomorrow. So this is a sneak peak. I'd appreciate it not being mentioned until I tell them,

All of the clues have been out there for some time. I've even mentioned it to a couple people. But I've been trying to mostly play it close to my chest, because this is genuinely something that is *exciting* to me. I know it won't be for a lot of people. But I hope anyone who is reading this *here*, who has been around Idol for any length of time, will appreciate it.

One of the, many, interesting things about this people and the people who populate it is the diversity. Maybe not in gender. ;) (although there is some) But definitely in the lives that they lead. There are some folks here who travel the world on a regular (or semi-regular) basis. Sometimes for work. Sometimes for fun. Or I know one person who, because she can, travels halfway across the country to take care of a sick friend. Just gets on a plane every month or so and goes - because she is in a position where she can help, and can travel to do so. (Which is awesome!) We have those who are homebound due to medical conditions, who haven't had that luxury. Or economic class, who just plain aren't able to afford that luxury.

I'm definitely not in either extreme, and I realize how lucky I am not to be in the latter, and always watch the former group with interest and admiration at the choices they made over the years that put them in the place to be able to do that. (Sometimes it was the choices of the generation before them. But still... you get what I'm saying.)

I don't travel much. You may remember that last year I went to my honeymoon in Texas and that was the furthest away from home that I've ever been, and the first time more than a U-turn length being west of the Mississippi.

I may have also mentioned how Celena's high school music department is taking a big trip to go play in Vienna and Prague!!! Which is amazing. I'm so excited for her. Also for Cynthia who was able to volunteer as a chaperone.

Because of that trip, we've been cutting back on pretty much everything over the past year. I *know* that I posted about my last trip to Disney World, and how my love for that place started with my Mom's dreams of going to Disneyland when she was growing up, that become Disney World once that opened, because it was much closer. The Disney passes were part of that cutting back process. (we renewed before the trip was announced, and money had to start being saved. So we had to pay monthly until it was paid off.)

A couple months into the process of saving for that trip - Cynthia told me one of the greatest things a partner has ever told me in my life - she said that I should take a trip of my own. The idea had literally never occurred to me.

Which seems silly, but all of my trips have been with family or friends. The idea that I could just *go somewhere* on my own was an eye-opener. The fact that I had someone I love actually giving me that permission, that encouragement... it was, and still is, an amazing feeling. She knew immediately where I needed to go.... you probably do as well, but I'll tell one more part of this story.

Back in 1999 I was married to my first wife. We were living in an apartment/bungalow where you could push the front door open even if it was locked. (we learned this because a stray cat ended up doing that once. We're *really* lucky there was never a hurricane during that time. But I digress.) We were living paycheck to paycheck and generally not happy with our lives the way people in their 20s can be.

So there came a point where we were going to have to move. (It wasn't quite at the "being evicted" point - but it was getting close enough that we started looking). Thanks to the internet, which we used at the public library, we had friends all around the country and, I don't remember which one of them was the first to suggest it - but we started getting offers to "stay with us for a couple weeks". So, given the choice between finding another apartment or adventure, we chose adventure.

We sold most of our things in several yard sales - and put the rest of it in a storage locker. And we left. (again, we were in our 20s. :D) The plan was to spend the rest of the summer traveling the country. The first leg was up and down the east coast. Each leg was going to move us further across the country.

The first place we stayed was in Providence Rhode Island. It was awesome. While we were there, our hosts took us out to Cape Cod for the afternoon.

Which is where “it” started.

When I’ve told this story to friend in the past, I’ve said that I put my right hand into the Atlantic Ocean. I’ve recently found the picture we took - it was my left hand. Probably because, in my 20s, I wanted to “not be cliche”, even though I was still being a cliche. :)

I’d been to the Atlantic Ocean before - but this was a special time. We were on our adventure. There was a “purpose”.

I decided, right there on the beach of Provincetown, that I had a new goal in my life. I was sticking my left hand into the Atlantic Ocean. I would put both hands into the Mississippi, and I would put my right hand in Pacific Ocean. I knew this would happen because I was young and I had declared that it would happen. We were going to continue the trip until we reached the Pacific Ocean!

We stayed several places along the east coast - and then went back home to save up money for the next leg of our trip.

We never left.

It’s not surprising. That’s how life works out sometimes.

We divorced a few years later. It’s not surprising. That’s how life… you get where I’m going….

In 2007 my best friend (at the time) and former Idol contestant wanted to take a trip to Florida with her daughter. She could drive all the way, but preferred to have some company. She would be stopping to see some friends of ours along the way. It sounded like an awesome trip, one that I dreamed about going on. She offered to pay for my plane ticket to fly up to her in Chicago.

On a day in June of 2007, we stopped in the town of her birth, Cairo, IL. - The confluence where the Ohio joins the Mississippi, transforming it into a far greater river.

I put both of my hands into it. The trip made me feel like I was becoming a far greater person, in so many ways. People who knew me before and after that trip know just how much it transformed my life.

There were things that were supposed to happen in the years following that trip - that didn’t end up happening. Life, well… see above.

Almost 20 years after I made the declaration of my goal - this Friday in fact - I will be sticking my hand in the Pacific Ocean in Newport Beach. CA (the first stop on a tour of the “Ocean County Beaches/Whale Watching).

It’s the furthest I’ve ever been from home. It’s my first time on the west coast. This is what I’ve been planning the past year. This has been my focus. Trying to pay my bills, and pay for this trip - a little bit out of each paycheck. First the plane ticket. Then the hotel… then the next thing… piece by piece, I’ve been paying on it, putting in the overtime to help make this happen.

Tomorrow I will be getting on that plane and completing my adventure.

The day after, I will be going to Disneyland for the first time. With my Mom. (Who heard that I was going and asked if she could come too. Because this was *her dream* first.)

It took far too long, and life had a lot of surprises in between. But I’m doing this. I’m finally doing this!

The poll closes tonight https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1039537.html so make sure to vote to keep your favorites in the running!

***

I've mentioned before that I've been doing freelance writing work for Cynthia's company. It's only a few articles a year, but it's a little extra money and gives me an excuse to write about subjects I have absolutely no interest in writing about, but doing it in a way that makes it fun for me.

Today I heard that the woman in charge of Marketing is leaving. She's been my point of contact now for the last couple of years of freelance writing. She let me know who I would be talking to now - and also let me know that her *new* job is going to be needing freelance writers in a couple months, once she gets settled into the new position! :) I know having *two* clients is no big deal to people who do freelance work on a regular basis. Or even semi-seriously. But for me it feels huge!

***

I finished a 1,600 word piece last night (it was due today, so of course it wasn't even half-finished!) and had that rush of "OMG! I finished it, and it's pretty good". It was such a relief to be finished writing it. When I expressed this to Cynthia, she was confused. "I thought you liked writing".

"Nope. I like HAVING WRITTEN SOMETHING. The actual writing process kind of sucks". I figured if there was anyone who understood, it would be people here.

Anyone else feel the same way?

I extended the Second Chance by a day, so that closes tomorrow: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1030373.html and the main competition is closing the following day: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1030811.html So at least you have more time to sit down and have some enjoyment in your life. Reading entries being said enjoyment. I haven't authorized any other enjoyment, and it's not likely that I will any time soon.

The Department of Enjoyment has furloughed about 95% of its staff, so we have to be careful with the allocation of resources right now.


***

Other than reading, commenting, and voting for your favorites - what do you have in store for this weekend?

Good Morning.

Unless you are reading this at a different time of day.

You've been having some questions. I have answers.

In some cases I just have kicks. Sometimes I have answers hidden inside of kicks. Most of the time I have kicks hidden inside of answers. So pay attention!

- I wasn't sure if I could ask you this. -

Never say this. You can *always* ask me this. If it's something I can't tell you, I will tell you that I can't reveal that information. If it's about someone else's vote, no, I can't tell you that. I can answer almost everything else. (or give you my best guess - as in "When is this mini season ending?" I have a rough guideline for that. But Second Chance could explode and then that timeline goes out the window.)

- Are we getting a break for Christmas? -

Look for that announcement after Week 9's results are announced.

- When is the Second Chance sign-up sheet going up? -

After the Week 9 results are announced.

- What is a sign-up sheet? What do I need to do?-

You write something in your DW/LJ/Open Source blog that says "I want to play Second Chance". It can be more detailed than that. It can be as exactly detailed as that. You then link it back to the Sign Up Sheet. And voila, you are signed up to play in Second Chance.

- Who is eligible to play in Second Chance? -

Anybody.
You could have byed out. You could have been eliminated. You could have missed the chance to sign up for the mini season in the first place. You could still be in the main competition but decide you want to set up a second account to play. (an "alt") If you have a desire to be in Second Chance, you can be in Second Chance.

- When will the Week 9 results be announced? -

Sometime tomorrow after 8pm EST. I'd look for them around 9pm or so on Thursday.

- When will we know who the Gatekeepers were? -

Right after that results announcement I will be making a Thank You post to the Gatekeepers, where I reveal who they were.

- I have questions about byes -

OK. But that's not a question.

- What is a bye and how do I use it? -

A bye is a "free week". If you use a bye, you don't need to write anything that week. It's a sports term.

In this mini season, everyone started with 2 of them.

I prefer that you go to the Topic thread and post that you are going to be using your bye that week. It makes things *much* easier for me when you do that. Because then I know not to waste my time searching to see if maybe you did post something and forgot to link it.
If you don't declare it though, I will check to see if you did post something, and if you didn't, I will automatically use the bye for you.

When you run out of byes and miss submitting your entry - you are eliminated.

I have extended the period to use your byes to the Top 20. (meaning that once we reach the Top 20, your byes go away. No more "free weeks")

Regular byes are good only in the main competition. (You can't use them in Second Chance)


- Can I transfer my bye to someone else and if so, when?

Yes, you can transfer your byes to another contestant. The only restriction is that you can only do that while still in the competition. So you can't wait until after you are eliminated and then say "give my byes to so and so". At that point, it's too late. You're gone. They are gone. But before you are eliminated, it's all good.

- What is a Golden Ticket bye? How do I get them? How are they different than a standard bye?

A Golden Ticket bye is a brand new thing. This is the first time they have been introduced.

It's a special bye that doesn't have some of those restrictions listed above. You CAN transfer it after you are eliminated. In fact, you don't even have to be a contestant to purchase one!

They are also good until the Top 20 - and again, an unique trait is that they are the ONLY BYES that can be used in Second Chance!!

You can purchase them for $10/each (limit 2) just mark your donation as "Golden Ticket Bye" and let me know who you want to receive it: paypal.me/GDreslinski

The cut-off for purchasing them is TONIGHT (Wednesday) at midnight!!! After which, they are gone.

The proceeds will be going toward the Mini Season's "Purse" (the money being split between the Final 4). Which, as of this post, is $363.59!

You can't use them until after Week 9 is completed. Which, see above, is Thursday.


- How many Golden Tickets are currently going to be entering the game?

As of this post, there are 5. I know there are a couple other people who have mentioned getting them.

Of those 5, some people have purchased them for themselves and others have bought them as gifts to give out to other contestants. (For the writer who has everything, except a safety net!)

- I have more questions -

Again, that's not a question.

- Can I ask you more questions? Or will you bite off my head? -

Why not both????

Of course you can ask me questions. You can post them in Green Rooms, or if you don't want it to be public - email me at clauderainsrm@gmail.com and I will do my best to respond quickly.

***

Remember to read and comment on the entries this week! That's how you support your favorites! With feedback! https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1021851.html

What are you thankful for this week?

I'm thankful that I get to eliminate two contestants https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1013689.html But that's probably not on *your* list, because, unlike me, you are not a complete and utter monster.

How are you showing that thankfulness to the people in your life?

The poll went up last night and voting happening right now! https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1002642.html

What entries are on your personal Mount Rushmore of Week 2?

We definitely saw it in week 1 where entries weren't on everyone's radar. The best way to counter that is to speak up and share your discoveries with other people! Not just here, but anywhere you happen to go through your internet day!

There's no need for a DNA test, our polls are 100% Native 'Merican! No damn foreign polls here!

***

How is your day going?

What did everyone bring for lunch? I'm getting peckish.