LJ Idol Presents:

Am I dead? Perhaps.

Or maybe I've just been in with my boss going over "work stuff" this morning and this is the first time I've really had to post.

I kept telling her "No one cares. People are waiting for the Green Room to be posted, this is IMPORTANT!" But then she looked at the average number of comments and just laughed.*

(*Note - this conversation may have taken place inside my head and not in actual "real space")

What's *not* happening inside my head is the Second Chance vote: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/1000163.html

That's actually important, and *will* be shaping the next few weeks of Idol in a major way. So I'd make sure to read, comment and vote for your favorites!

***

One of MY favorites is asking for help. Even those of you who don't know him - you know his far more famous (to Idol) wife!

So, if you are currently in a position where you can do the "Idol Gives Back", please consider helping this awesome family of talented writers (and just plain good folks) out. https://www.gofundme.com/peter-david-needs-your-help

Apparently, the US electoral college will be changing their votes today to make *ME* the new President-Elect of the United States!

It's extremely flattering, and, I must say, well-deserved.

I promise to unleash my minions upon the Earth to feast upon mortal flesh and, in general, rule with an iron fist.

Part of this rule will be to make sure that all contestants vote in the Contestant Only poll: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/960470.html

It's one of the cruel things you can look forward to during my reign of terror!

That, and extra long weeks!

***

People have been asking what the schedule will be like for the next couple of weeks - so they can plan around Idol. Of course I'm not going to tell you.

But I *will* say that (1) Topic posts will be going up following this elimination on Tuesday and (2) you're going to want to make sure you're paying attention to the schedule/what's going on.

Good morning and welcome to the last day of Week 0.

Yes, I finally just said that. I know it was a long "week". But I'm hoping that people appreciated the additional time more than they were offended by a week being longer than it "should be". :)

Today is the deadline to get me your votes for the Veterans entries: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/950046.html and it will also be the day when we find out what the advantages are that the Newbies, and a Veteran, are going to have at their disposal.

So make sure to finish your reading and get in your votes! If you have sent them to me and *haven't* received a confirmation email (as of this post), please let me know. (Note: the closer we get to 7pm EST, the longer it may take to send out those emails. But as of the moment I hit "post" on this, I'm caught up)

Also of interest - today is the day when the WEEK 1 TOPIC will be posted! Which means this train is about to leave the station. (before picking up steam, going full-throttle, jumping the tracks and crashing down the side of the mountain)

So if you are reading this, and you still haven't signed up, or if you know someone who you think *should*, that window is shrinking rapidly: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/945807.html (it closes on the deadline for Week 1 entries, which again, you will find out tonight!)

***

I've seen a lot of requests for spreadsheets lately. Heck, I've made a few because I still haven't made mine yet!

I've seen some people who literally only have a list of names, and others with detailed colored charts on who received their votes which week, as well as other criteria.

What you have, or don't have, on a spreadsheet, is highly personalized.

For those of you who DO like keeping spreadsheets - what sorts of information do you keep track of from the season? (and do you have one I can borrow? :D)

What suggestions do you have for anyone who has an interest in keeping one, but has never ventured down that path before?

What do you deserve?

I wrote out a couple paragraphs going into the background of why I'm asking that question and giving it parameters before deleting them - because, fuck it, TELL ME WHAT YOU DESERVE.

However you want to interpret that question.

***

One thing that the contestants DESERVE is for you to read, and vote on, their entries: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/822267.html So make sure to do that before the poll closes tonight!

The poll closes tomorrow night: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/809247.html and given that people are going to be leaving from both the public poll *and* the contestant only one - we are looking at some potentially huge shifts in this game when the results are announced.

At least if what I am seeing at the moment can be believed.

(Granted, that probably depends on what you personally think would be a "huge shift"!)

Regardless of the outcome though, it's going to be a shot to the gut to lose so many people at this stage of the competition.

Hopefully, you have gotten your votes in.

You can have one additional way of impacting the results by participating in the Home Game/Killing Floor: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/808357.html

***

Since this is "Cyber Monday" - you should check out the Idol Store! http://astore.amazon.com/li0cd-20 (or just click there before going to Amazon to buy whatever you were going to buy anyway!)

***

How was your extended weekend? Did anyone actually finish their Christmas shopping or are you just getting started?

It's weird, because it wasn't that long ago when my Christmas shopping consisted of what to get my cats and just getting through the holidays. I always loved Christmas in general, but it was still a sad and lonely time that reminded me of what I didn't have.

If there is anyone else in that place right now - and I'm sure there are - reach out to your Idol family! They helped me through some rough patches. I'm sure they will help you as well.

Well, at least one part of my birthday went right!

Today is the final day for people to get in their votes for the main competition: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/784297.html

Tomorrow is the deadline to submit the first entry http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/783873.html /sign up for Last Chance Idol http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/782944.html

How did *your* weekend go?

Hello Everybodeee!

"The Monster at the End of the Green Room"

That was a very dull sentence. What's in the next sentence?

WHAT DID THAT SAY?

On that previous sentence, what did that say? Did it say that there will be a MONSTER at the end of this Green Room?

IT DID! I am so scared of MONSTERS!!

SHHHH Listen. I have an idea. If you do not read any more sentences, we will never get to the end of the Green Room.

And that is good, because there is a MONSTER at the end of this Green Room.

(so please do not read any more sentences)

Maybe you do not understand. You see, reading sentences will bring us to the end of this Green Room, and there is a MONSTER at the end of this Green Room...

But this will stop you from reading sentences. See, I am tying the internet together with this rope, so you cannot...

YOU READ ANOTHER SENTENCE!

You do not know what you are doing to me!

NOW

STOP READING SENTENCES!

THERE, I clauderainsrm am nailing this section of the post to the next one so that you will not be able to move forward, and we will not get any closer to the Monster at the end of this Green Room.

ALL RIGHT ALL RIGHT ALL RIGHT

Do you know that every time you read another sentence... you not only get us closer to the Monster at the end of this Green Room but you make a terrible mess

THIS will stop you from reading sentences! A heavy, thick, solid, strong brick wall. I would like to see you TRY to read another sentence!

(do you know you are very strong?)

The next paragraph is the end of this Green Room, and there is a MONSTER at the end of this Green Room! Oh, I am so SCARED! PLEASE do not read anymore! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

Well, look at that! This is the end of the Green Room, and the only one here is

ME!

I, clauderainsrm, am the Monster at the end of this Green Room!

*DEVOURS YOU ALL*

It's the final day of the Week 10 poll: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/743480.html

Who is going to survive to fight another week???!!!???

Who is going to come back into the game at the end of it???

(Other than ellakite, who should NOT have been eliminated this week, and has been given an Executive Bye. My apologies for that, and thank you for emailing me about it.)

There is still a little more time to give some love over in the Killing Floor: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/743022.html So head on over there if you have the time!

Until then though, what did you LOVE about your weekend?

and of course, what have you enjoyed this week that needs more love in the polls???

This mini season is hanging on to that last edge if track of a Dive Coaster, with your feet dangling in the air, just waiting for it to take that final 95°, 200 foot vertical drop before it spins into a batwing heartline roll through an Immelmann loop! http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/682110.html

Who will be still on the ride when it remerges from the tunnel? Who will have had their straps “accidentally” cut and end up flying through the air to their certain doom?

We got to the Humane Society, on Saturday, and there was already a line, waiting for them to open.

After the initial rush, we went in and started looking around. I noticed that some people went right to the front and were filling out paperwork. Which, after seeing how long everything took, I think those people probably had the right idea, and the most experience with the process.

However, others went right for the kennels, to grab the paperwork for their favorites. So, who knows – maybe they were the ones who were right!

Different people. Different overall strategies.

When we walked into the front room, I noticed the terrier puppy immediately. We hadn’t talked about a puppy, and in fact, were thinking of getting a 2 year old… besides, there was already a woman in front of her with her paperwork in hand. But, she was awfully cute!

We wandered around, and finally decided to have a visit with another dog. It went well. But there really wasn’t that spark you hope to make when you sign on for a lifelong commitment.

So, we kept looking around. The two year old was still there – he had some health issues, but it was well worth checking out, because the picture and info online had been so adorable.

We grabbed his papers and went to the front to set up the visitation.

While we were in the waiting room, I noticed that the woman from before was there as well, with several papers in her hand. At one point she got up, went to the counter and said, “It’s really busy. I’ll be back tomorrow” and left… I was immediately at the counter and told them that I wanted the terrier puppy’s sheet. We took it, and set up the two visits back to back.

The older dog was fine – but he had spent all of his time outdoors. (which is why he had the health problems) and really hadn’t been socialized with a family before. He did seem nice, but not really engaged.

On the other hand, the puppy immediately came up to me and started giving kisses… and then went back to roaming around the yard… coming back to give kisses…

We actually debated for longer than it sounds like we should have… it came down to it being a “no kill” shelter. Otherwise, I’m pretty sure we would have left with the dog with even more problems than the 2 year old! :D

As is though, we ended up with the dog now known as “Foxy”!

I’m not just bragging about the dog though. (Although, yes, I AM bragging about the dog)

There are times when you think you are out of the running – and someone will make a mistake. They will think they have more time and can come back tomorrow. They think ”if I write it, people will read it”… or “I’ll just send this out blindly and an editor will see it”… if other people are making that mistake - capitalize on it!

Waiting around, hoping that things will work out has rarely produced positive results! If you want something, you need to go out, do your best, and wait for that break to come. Be proactive. Shop your writing around, but look for the market that needs you and be there to fill their need.

“Maybe one day” isn’t going to get you that gig, or that dog. Keeping an eye on where the competition is, so that if they make a bad call, will! :D Even if all hope seems to be lost, putting yourself in a position to succeed is the best move.

(Of course, it occurs to me that some people do this with relationships and I’m *not* a fan of that. So ignore this advice when it comes to those. ;D Just with “breaking in with writing, or other skills” and “getting a dog from the Humane Society”)

Other things that I am in favor of are: Our new topics: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/594381.html
The last two sets of topics: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/591554.html and http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/593207.html
Home Game Entries: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/592005.html
The Work Room: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/591795.html

And, of course, Curiosity! Because robots are awesome, and Robots on Mars are even better!!