The poll is up: https://therealljidol.livejournal.com/1057358.html and will be until tomorrow night. So this is your last full day to vote for your favorites!
It's also another important day.
May 31st 2006 was the day I posted the first sign-up sheet for LJ Idol.
For those curious about what that looked like: https://clauderainsrm.livejournal.com/488076.html
It's been an incredible 12 years. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of it!
This September is the start of a new mini season, and possibly a new era of Idol. There are definitely a few big surprises/changes in the works that I hope people are going to really like. But in order for that to work I have to ask the same thing I asked back when I was talking about this idea I had 12 years ago - tell your friends! Get them interested. Because this doesn't work without you, and it doesn't work without new people discovering what we have going on here. I think it's something pretty special, and I hope you do too.
It's also another important day.
May 31st 2006 was the day I posted the first sign-up sheet for LJ Idol.
For those curious about what that looked like: https://clauderainsrm.livejournal.com/488076.html
It's been an incredible 12 years. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of it!
This September is the start of a new mini season, and possibly a new era of Idol. There are definitely a few big surprises/changes in the works that I hope people are going to really like. But in order for that to work I have to ask the same thing I asked back when I was talking about this idea I had 12 years ago - tell your friends! Get them interested. Because this doesn't work without you, and it doesn't work without new people discovering what we have going on here. I think it's something pretty special, and I hope you do too.
A few words from 
clauderainsrm:
clauderainsrm:
I was listening to a podcast this morning about the history of country music. (Cocaine and Rhinestones, I highly recommend it). The host was reading an email from a listener asking how a certain well respected musician got so good at his instrument.
The answer, boiled down, was that he practiced.
He started at an early age, and he keep practicing until he got good at it.
That made me think about what is happening here at Idol Minor.
Saying goodbye is never easy. But with this group of young writers, the good news is that we are saying ‘Hello” to being able to enjoy their work for years to come.
I hope that everyone else who has come out to check this out has been as entertained as I have been.
If so, and if you want to give back to them - this is the last week to donate to the Community Chest. All 5 writers have met the goal, which means the $50 we have in there currently is going to be split into a $10 Amazon gift card for each of them. Which is great - but if you want to give them a little more, you still have time - just send it to paypal.me/GDreslinski
While other people are doing that - the parents of our writers need to send me an email to clauderainsrm@gmail.com to let me know what email you want me use for those gift cards!
The main thing to do though - the most important thing - is to read the entries. Read, comment on them and vote for your favorites!
That second part, the commenting, is really important. I owe our writers comments from last week, so don’t be like me. Be better than me. Make sure to comment before things get busy and you forget to do it.
The poll will close Friday, June 1st at 8pm EDT.
Good luck to everyone!
The Ballot:
"Happy Memorial Day" just doesn't sound right. It seems like the opposite sentiment of what the day is about.
Gratitude sure, but "Happy"? People react differently to different things I guess.
Or maybe happy because the sacrifice gave you an extra day off to enjoy, which is the point of the sacrifice - for people to be able to enjoy their lives.
***
Just a reminder that the topic deadline is tomorrow: https://therealljidol.livejournal.com/1056954.html
What have you been up to this weekend?
Gratitude sure, but "Happy"? People react differently to different things I guess.
Or maybe happy because the sacrifice gave you an extra day off to enjoy, which is the point of the sacrifice - for people to be able to enjoy their lives.
***
Just a reminder that the topic deadline is tomorrow: https://therealljidol.livejournal.com/1056954.html
What have you been up to this weekend?
It's the final week of Idol Minor.
Only one more entry to write, and of course that means it's getting close to saying
Goodbye.
(which is our topic for the week)
Link your entries to this thread by Tuesday, May 29th at 8pm EDT (I'm giving you a little extra time in case the adults in your life have plans for their three-day weekend)
Have fun!
Only one more entry to write, and of course that means it's getting close to saying
Goodbye.
(which is our topic for the week)
Link your entries to this thread by Tuesday, May 29th at 8pm EDT (I'm giving you a little extra time in case the adults in your life have plans for their three-day weekend)
Have fun!
The poll is up: https://therealljidol.livejournal.com/1056198.html Go show some love!
***
Obviously, "The Best Thing" is Cynthia.
Note: I didn't say "the best thing for me", I said the "best thing". Should it be "the best person"? No. I'm merely talking about her existence on this planet. It's the best. You don't get a vote. ;)
Right now though, the best thing would be snuggling with my cat, when she puts her head on my arm and starts purring.
Or those moments when my ankle isn't killing me. Those are pretty darn good.
The Lightning winning tonight would be pretty good - because it would make people I love happy. Their happiness is the best thing.
It's interesting to think about how what is the "best thing" has changed for me over the years - those things that once seemed to be the most important thing ever and now I barely think about them.
Those little moments though - and the people you share them with. Those tend to stick around in your head. Those moments of happiness.
Oh, and Disney. That also will always be around. :)
***
Obviously, "The Best Thing" is Cynthia.
Note: I didn't say "the best thing for me", I said the "best thing". Should it be "the best person"? No. I'm merely talking about her existence on this planet. It's the best. You don't get a vote. ;)
Right now though, the best thing would be snuggling with my cat, when she puts her head on my arm and starts purring.
Or those moments when my ankle isn't killing me. Those are pretty darn good.
The Lightning winning tonight would be pretty good - because it would make people I love happy. Their happiness is the best thing.
It's interesting to think about how what is the "best thing" has changed for me over the years - those things that once seemed to be the most important thing ever and now I barely think about them.
Those little moments though - and the people you share them with. Those tend to stick around in your head. Those moments of happiness.
Oh, and Disney. That also will always be around. :)
The poll is now up: https://therealljidol.livejournal.com/1056198.html
It occurred to me last night that I don't actually know the ages of all the contestants. I know some, and others I have decent idea, but not exactly how old. (I was discussing the season with someone I'm hoping can show up before this is over with something fun)
Granted, I don't know the ages of "regular Idol" contestants either. ;) I've actually been quite surprised by some of those. (usually "I thought I was a LOT older than them and it turns out that I'm not!". Although there have definitely been some that seemed older than they actually were.)
***
What has been inspiring you lately?
It occurred to me last night that I don't actually know the ages of all the contestants. I know some, and others I have decent idea, but not exactly how old. (I was discussing the season with someone I'm hoping can show up before this is over with something fun)
Granted, I don't know the ages of "regular Idol" contestants either. ;) I've actually been quite surprised by some of those. (usually "I thought I was a LOT older than them and it turns out that I'm not!". Although there have definitely been some that seemed older than they actually were.)
***
What has been inspiring you lately?
A few words from clauderainsrm:
clauderainsrm:
It’s Week 3, and these entries truly are the best thing.
Well, that’s the topic anyway: “The Best Thing” was their launching point, and there are 5 really cool stories waiting for you to enjoy.
So go check them out!
The poll will close on Thursday, May 24th at 8pm EDT
You can vote for as many entries as you feel like supporting, so make sure to read, comment and vote for your favorites!
Emphasis on that second part - commenting is really important. These are young writers who are coming out to share their talent, the least you can do is to say “Thank You”. :)
The Ballot:
Today is the deadline for this week's topic: https://therealljidol.livejournal.com/1055269.html
It's funny how quickly this has gone. I know it's only 4 weeks total, but it seems like we just got started a minute ago.
On the other hand, pretty much everything I had set up ended up falling through. I had guest Mentors (published authors of children's books) and librarians making lists of their favorite age-appropriate books. But just like Livejournal itself, those people seemed to fall into a pit and not come back out again.
Usually I don't mention when things *don't* happen, because I prefer to concentrate on the positive. But I did want you to know that there was stuff that was supposed to happen, and who knows, maybe they *will* come through.
How did YOUR weekend go? I spent most of mine at work (trying to get in some overtime to pay for this "foot thing".)
Anyone doing anything exciting?
It's funny how quickly this has gone. I know it's only 4 weeks total, but it seems like we just got started a minute ago.
On the other hand, pretty much everything I had set up ended up falling through. I had guest Mentors (published authors of children's books) and librarians making lists of their favorite age-appropriate books. But just like Livejournal itself, those people seemed to fall into a pit and not come back out again.
Usually I don't mention when things *don't* happen, because I prefer to concentrate on the positive. But I did want you to know that there was stuff that was supposed to happen, and who knows, maybe they *will* come through.
How did YOUR weekend go? I spent most of mine at work (trying to get in some overtime to pay for this "foot thing".)
Anyone doing anything exciting?
The new topic is up: https://therealljidol.livejournal.com/1055269.html
and while we are waiting for the next batch of entries this is a good time to tell you that there has been another donation to the Community Chest! It now stands at $50!!
Which means if all of the current writers get to the finish line at the end of Week 4, they will be getting $10 each! Not bad. But if you have been enjoying their entries for the last couple weeks and want to give a little something to them as a thank you for a job well done - send it to paypal.me/GDreslinski and I will be giving it out at the end of the season!
***
I'm actually starting to get excited about the next mini season of Idol. It comes in waves of excited, nervous and then back to "why am I doing this?" when I think about how much work it actually is, then back to excited again.
It's something we've never done before, combined with something we've only done once. It's everything you love, plus a few new things that I hope you will enjoy.
It's coming in September, so I really hope anyone who reads this will start spreading the buzz.
and while we are waiting for the next batch of entries this is a good time to tell you that there has been another donation to the Community Chest! It now stands at $50!!
Which means if all of the current writers get to the finish line at the end of Week 4, they will be getting $10 each! Not bad. But if you have been enjoying their entries for the last couple weeks and want to give a little something to them as a thank you for a job well done - send it to paypal.me/GDreslinski and I will be giving it out at the end of the season!
***
I'm actually starting to get excited about the next mini season of Idol. It comes in waves of excited, nervous and then back to "why am I doing this?" when I think about how much work it actually is, then back to excited again.
It's something we've never done before, combined with something we've only done once. It's everything you love, plus a few new things that I hope you will enjoy.
It's coming in September, so I really hope anyone who reads this will start spreading the buzz.
Week 1 was embarrassing.
Week 2? Monstrous.
Week 3 though?
That topic is
The Best Thing
Literally, that's the topic. "The Best Thing".
The deadline to link your entries back to this thread is Monday, May 21st at 8pm EDT.
We are only 2 entries away from the end. So I hope you've been saving the best for last!
Have fun!
Week 2? Monstrous.
Week 3 though?
That topic is
The Best Thing
Literally, that's the topic. "The Best Thing".
The deadline to link your entries back to this thread is Monday, May 21st at 8pm EDT.
We are only 2 entries away from the end. So I hope you've been saving the best for last!
Have fun!
