Seriously - put down whatever you are doing and go read some of the free topic entries: http://community.livejournal.com/therealljidol/285146.html

Trust me, you won't regret it.

Unless of course you were in the process of *writing* a free topic entry. Or open heart surgery.

But in either case, I still think it was worth it. Don't you????

I've just been reading them, and since there isn't a vote this time around, without naming names DAMN some of them are excellent.

And by that I of course mean YOURS. Whoever you happen to be. I can't believe how good it was (insert your name here). You do work most fine. So fine it blows my mind, hey (insert your name here)!

***

So, while I have you here - What sort of entries do you like the bestest?
Care to share examples?("so and so writes gud 'bout this"), what keeps you coming back for more???

And of course, how many marshmallows do you want in your hot chocolate? There's a line forming behind you, so you better make up your mind!!

renaissance2010
Turning to photography as a creative outlet during a valiant fight with breast cancer at age 34, renaissance10 survived and set up a photo contest to help raise funds for the Lavender Trust, a nonprofit that provides information and support to younger women with breast cancer. In the first two years, the competition brought in over £65,000 (that's $107,260.73 U.S.!), with entries from 130 countries last year. Renaissance10 recently joined LiveJournal to meet other passionate photographers and find supportive friends.

curiouscupcakes
Holy buttercream frosting! If you have a sweet tooth for sugary goodness or a wandering eye for whimsical confection, this is pure ecstasy iced in deliciousness. Hailing the beloved cupcake as the artisinal canvas of choice, you'll enjoy recipes, photos, and bountiful tips to bake up a batch, whether your taste leans toward French classics or funky and flavorful.

mission101
With New Years in the offing, it's an ideal time to reflect on past accomplishments, make peace with disappointments, and refocus the lens on future goals. This community welcomes you to create a bucket list of 101 things you plan to accomplish in the next 1,001 days. Offering support, guidance, and inspiration, this is a great way to jumpstart those pesky resolutions.

So who has to work this week and who is coasting along the last week of 2009???

The *last week of 2009*. . . that just sounds weird doesn't it? Is it just me????

***

The "free topics" are here: http://community.livejournal.com/therealljidol/285146.html for anyone interested in them!

Good afternoon. Hopefully everyone survived the holiday and no one had a visit from a little kid who, because he was too cheap to come up with anything else, decided to bang on a drum in front of a sleeping infant.

Hey kid - You know what a baby *does not* want for Christmas? You banging that thing in his ear!!! :)

***

There are "free topics" available for anyone interested/wanting something to post about: http://community.livejournal.com/therealljidol/285146.html

***

So, any good sales????

Going with the theme of the day, here are some Free Topics!!

As always, free topics are not restricted to current contestants - anyone can write on them and post their links to this thread!

(ONLY links though please. Otherwise things get out of hand!)

The Free Topics are:

Unwrapping
Winter Wonderland
Rosebud

and of course

Freaky Friday!


The deadline to link them back to this post is, just for the sake of having a "deadline": Wednesday December 30th at 5pm EST

Have fun!

Merry Christmas!!!
(and/or ChickenMas for those who follow the ways of the Chicken)

For people in the spirit of giving today - who haven't already been there, or gone back - give a little bit of love to your fellow LJers over at: http://shadowwolf13.livejournal.com/788144.html

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!

*peeks over your shoulder*


What did Santa bring you?

***

fyi - New "Free Topics" are up for anyone interested: http://community.livejournal.com/therealljidol/285146.html

Who will be home for Christmas?

Glad you asked!

The following have been eliminated. . .

creature_girl08
kate_spencer
unlikekudzu
kenakeri

As promised - there was an elimination this week. . .

By sheer coincidence, they all just happen to have been the people specially selected to be REINSTATED INTO THE GAME BY EXECUTIVE ORDER.

So welcome back all of you!!! :D Merry Christmas.

(Oh come on, sure, I'm a heartless bastard - but did anyone *really* expect to have anyone packing their bags a couple days before Christmas????)


The new topic will be posted on Monday, Jan 4th. Go - enjoy your vacation and spend time with your families.

I will be posting Green Rooms and Free Topics between now and then. But you guys need to rest. Because the competition is going to get getting a lot more intense in the new year!!!

Things that I have forgotten today:

My lunch

My access badge for work

To wake up on time

Things that I have NOT forgotten today:

That we are sending some people home tonight: http://community.livejournal.com/therealljidol/283203.html
Make sure it's not one of your favorites!!

To post a Green Room

The hot/cold pack and pain meds. *shakes fist at teeth* "Merry Christmas motherf-ing teeth!!!"

***

How are YOU doing today? What did you forget/not forget?

***

Happy Birthday to roina_arwen and lordrexfear!

Voting is still going on, and still close.

Week after week these things have been going down to the wire (or beyond, into overtime!) so make sure to keep your favorite entries safe, or sit back and accept that you might be saying goodbye to them this time around.

***

I'm back at work today for a couple of days. How about you?

Happying the holidays or warring with Christmas?

i_hope_that
For many of us, the holidays can be kind of rough. If you're searching for a network of understanding friends, this ultra-nurturing community encourages you to express your heartfelt wishes and offer other members encouragement and acceptance. Not for the terminally snarky or emotionally-challenged, this is a good-spirited place to lend comfort and support.

diygifts
Feeling crafty? If you've got a few last folks on your holiday gift list, this is a great place to seed your creativity and generosity. You'll also discover wonderful DIY tips to decorate your home and entertain guests. Offering a no-frills-no-skills attitude that welcomes the cash-challenged and arts-phobic, you're sure to get ideas and make friends in the process.

cooking_club
A fun and friendly community dedicated to those who love to cook, whether you're a meat-and-potatoes type, an aspiring gourmand, and/or a vegan. In search of a brilliant dish to use up those weekly leftovers? Post your ingredients and you'll be whipping up a feast by dinner. You can also share favorite recipes. For Type A chefs, you can spice up your culinary repertoire with exciting cooking challenges.

Rock the vote http://community.livejournal.com/therealljidol/283203.html

don't rock the vote baby
don't tip the vote over

Or something like that. Or perhaps *do* tip the vote in favorite of your favorite entries.

Or your favorite kind of ice cream. Perhaps a nice raspberry sor-bet. The kind you find in a second hand ice cream store.

Although I'm not certain you'd want to eat anything from a second hand store.

***

How about you? Sleigh bells ringin' or are you just listenin'?

Coming into this week, we had the possibility of *57* bye-outs. 57 contestants hanging on that edge of dropping off into the abyss.

Post by post I started ticking people off as their entries appeared, as they continued to fight during one of the toughest times of the year to try to make any sort of deadline.

Unfortunately we do have some folks leaving us. Some amazing folks who will be greatly missed.

The following contestants have gone on to that Great Home Game in the sky:


____hejira
blythe025
cindylou07
eggsnail
elderwoodpixie
es
eschatologies
lapis_lazuli615
lynxypoo
perrie
playmoby


Thank you so much to all of you for coming out and playing this season!!

And with that, it is now official that we have said goodbye to over 100 contestants so far this season.

***

Now for the "good news" segment of this post - the Tribal Immunity.

It was another *close* one - but this time with different results!!

It actually came down to Bye Outs of all things!! But the tribe with Tribal Immunity this week, meaning that no one will be leaving us, is Tribe Pixie117!!! Congratulations!

A few words from clauderainsrm:

As we get closer to the end of the calendar year, as well as closer to our (numbers-wise) half way point in the competition, let's pause for a moment to reflect on all of the wonderful things that have come into our lives. . .

OK. Pause is over. Let's get to a poll! :)

The topic this week was "Reprobate".

We will be losing the bottom vote-getters from each tribe. So make sure to support your favorite entries, and let other people know that they should be reading them as well! Considering how close some of these votes have been lately, one more person reading the entry could be the difference between continuing and going home.

The polls closes Wednesday December 23rd at 8pm EST. So don't be a Reprobate - make sure to give someone a Very Idol Christmas, instead of some coal...

( Click here to Vote! )

'Twas the weekend before Christmas and all through the Green Room. . .

* * *

Still need to get your entry in? Just looking for something to read?

Head on over to the Topic thread: http://community.livejournal.com/therealljidol/281845.html

The deadline is tomorrow at 5pm EST and we are still waiting for approximately HALF!! So get yours in pronto - and give some love to those who already have done so!

Know a non-paid user who wants a coupon for $10 off LJ membership? Go to http://community.livejournal.com/therealljidol/282811.html

Know someone who has cookies? Send them my way!!

***

Hope you guys are having a great weekend. Except of course people who haven't turned in your entries yet! You can enjoy yourself *after* you write!!! :)

***

We are saying a goodbye today to libra_dragon, another veteran taken down by the rigors of RL stuff going on. The good news is that I'm sure she will continue to be around when she can. The bad news is of course her actually leaving. :(

People have asked me "Hey Gary, what can I do for Idol this Christmas?"

I've replied to them, "Voices in my head - I'll be making a post about that at some point"

The the voices usually started singing songs in some strange and foreign language.

But since I told them I'd do it, here it is:

1. Get your entries in for this week:
http://community.livejournal.com/therealljidol/281845.html

2. Go to the individual entries, read them, COMMENT to them.

3. TELL YOUR FRIENDS to come out and support their favorites. Encourage them to come out and *find favorites*. (We know they will - anyone who comes out to read is going to find some amazing stuff. I know it. You know it. It's about time that *they* found out too!!!)

If they wanted to join the community as well - well I'm not going to complain about that! ;)

4. If you still have any of the $10 coupons left, and you want to give them out to non-paid Idol members, comment to this thread and let people know where they can get them!

In case you don't know what I'm talking about - From news : "If you have a Paid or Permanent account, you can send up to 10 LiveJournal Basic/Plus users a $10 coupon for an annual paid subscription now through January 15th, 2010. Recipients can upgrade for $9.95 (instead of $19.95) for one year by enrolling in our automatic payment plan or make a manual payment of $15 (instead of $25). Please note that these coupons are not transferable and cannot be used to renew existing paid accounts. If you're a Paid/Permanent user, you can send out your holiday coupons now"

5. One million dollars in unmarked bills, dropped in a bag under the bridge. . . oh wait, that's the other note I'm dropping off today.

stepstomarrow
When granddaughter, Jada, was born with leukemia, a donor-match was located and Jada made a miraculous recovery. In honor of her grandaughter's health, Jeanna has decided to walk across the country (in the dead of winter) to raise awareness and build support for the bone marrow registry (all that's required is a cheek swab). Follow Jeanna's remarkable journey as she travels the United States by foot.