LJ Idol Presents:

 Anyone have any plans for the weekend? 

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How have you been doing anyway?  Not a lot of people have been using these spaces, so I haven't been updating every day.  But I still want to touch base and see what you have been up to during the week! 

I'm looking forward to getting back to the polls/headed back home in January! 

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The current prompt is available at therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1109440.html

 Good Morning. Hope everyone had/is having a nice holiday!  (Happy Hanukkah!) 

The new prompt will be up later today, but until then, here is the link to the current one. Make sure you are taking some time to read and comment on other people's entries! There might be a quiz later.  ;) 

therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1108602.html

 This week is apparently sponsored by hugedomains.com...  :)  I need to figure out how to get rid of that.  :D 

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People haven't asked me if we are having a prompt this week, but I'm giving you the answer anyway - yes.  I'll post it later this afternoon. 

Until then though: 

- How was your weekend? 
- What were some of your favorite entries from this week?  therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1107400.html

 I've been asked when Idol is going to start back up again.  My estimate is early January. Maybe I'll put the sign up sheet up (over at LJ) on New Years Eve again.  That seemed popular in the past, to start the year off with a goal of writing more in 2022! 

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We're still in Idol Minor+ though - so in the spirit of the thing: 

Who were some of the first people to encourage your writing? A parent? Teacher? Friends? Who did you that early encouragement of "This is something I should be doing?" 

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the new prompt is available at  therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1107400.html

 The deadline has past for last week's entries. therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1105950.html  

What were some of your favorites? 

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We've been dealing with a COVID case in the household. Celena was sent home from college to recover.  She's been here for a few days and getting better, Fortunately, she's been vaccinated (and young) so it wasn't that bad. 

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I've been reading a LOT lately - which has been great.  I just finished what was *the* most disturbing book I've ever read... "The Girl Next Door", which, given that it's horror and I found it on a list of "the most terrifying books ever" probably shouldn't have surprised me much.  :) 

The worst part of it though is that it's based on a true story. (Basically a fictionalized narrator's POV of a real life event with the names changed)  The things that people are willing to do to each other is far more terrifying than any alien spider monster that lives in the sewer. 

We also finally started the Squid Games. 

So basically I'm feeling pretty darn good about humanity right now.  :D 

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What have YOU been up to? 

(the new prompt will be posted in a few hours) 

 I'm currently listening to the audiobook for "The Stranger Beside Me",  the story of the woman who was friends with Ted Bundy. (narrated by her)

I've wanted to throw things at the audiobook so that it goes through my screen and time travels so that hits someone upside the head back in the 70s.  ;) 

What do you do when a book frustrates you? 

(A friend of mine threw A Game of Thrones" across the room at the 'twist scene" toward the end of the book) 

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Hopefully no one will be throwing any of the entries from this week across the room, or wanting to vent their frustrations at them... but if you do, here is where to find them and add your own entries to the mix!  therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1105950.html

 The deadline for the second prompt has past, and I'll be posting the new one in a little while. (After my staff meeting, where we will "have questions answered" about what is happening with the company) 

But until then - have you read the entries from last week?   therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1104538.html

What were some of your stand out favorites? What was it about them that captured your attention? 

 This week has actually been going by faster than expected. As soon as I say that though, that means today is going to DRAG... 

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I've just started listening to audio books.  Yes, I said "just started" as in on my second one, ever.  I just like reading physical books! But it occurred to me that since I listen to podcasts, with the *right* book, I might be able to just listen to it... so I'm trying it out. 

What have been some of your favorite AUDIO BOOK experiences? 

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Oh, and there is a new prompt. You should probably get to writing if you haven't already started! therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1104538.html

 I got a phone call from my boss yesterday, but didn't see it right away. 

It was followed by a phone call - and then two more texts - from my team lead for me to call them ASAP. 

I knew it wasn't going to be good if they were interrupting my day off. 

When I finally got back to them, this is what I found out: 

That my company had lost the contract in Pinellas county (NOT my county/circuit) to run the foster care system and so had ALSO decided to surrender their contract for MY county/circuit as well. 

It was either a negotiation tactic gone wrong or a corporate version of a temper tantrum with people's jobs on the line. Either way, it wasn't good. 

As it stands now... unless there is a change, my job ends in June.  Which is more certainty than a lot of people have right now if you squint when you look at it.  :)

But hopefully either (1) something will be worked out and they will end up staying OR (2) the new company hired to run the system will onboard the existing staff, which has been known to happen... 

So that's how MY day went yesterday! How was YOURS?  ;) 

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The new prompt is up: therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1104538.html

Make sure to get your entries in for the first prompt!  https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1103032.html

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Today has already been a rough day at work. It's one of those times when you just ram your head into a brick wall over and over again... which is why I'm taking a break to come over to Idol.. oh man, it MUST be really bad. ;)

How is your Friday-Eve going?