Bowing out.

[ofearthandstars]

Regrettably, real life has taken its toll.

You know the words, you know the look. I fold.

I'm bowing out of therealljidol. But I've had so much fun this season, and I adore all of you lovely, lovely writers so much. I'm going to try to keep reading and commenting and cheering you on, even if it requires doing so while half-buried under a pile of work.

All the best to each of you!

❤️

Comments

[bleodswean]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I'm so bummed out to read this. I get it. I do. Here's to this season and to the next!

[ofearthandstars]

I was not super-enthused to post this, because I was really having a lot of fun. If work would just *calm down a minute*, I could maybe home game it.

Thanks so very much for all the support and kindness along the way!

[banana_galaxy]

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I've truly adored your entries this mini season, and connected with so much. But I also understand how life can get in the way, and I appreciate you doing this in a sacrificial way to hopefully save someone else from having to leave/get a strike this week.

[ofearthandstars]

♥♥♥ Thank you! I have really enjoyed your entries this season, too. I don't think I realized how much Facebook strips of keeping closer friendships with people (by both shortening what we
write and selecting what we see), things that were so much easier to keep up with we were using these platforms regularly! Anyway, hopefully we can stay connected here. At least Idol helped me get back to journaling/writing with some regularity.

[banana_galaxy]

Yes, I feel the same way about Facebook. Even with the people it deems to show me, I don't think it shows me every post by them. I never understand how Facebook decides which of my posts to share with people and who.

I should probably spend more time checking in here, and I'm also aware of how much there is for me to keep track of. Most of my journaling friends migrated away so I'm not used to checking any kind of friend list any more, you know? I am grateful for Idol for that reason, because it gave me the opportunity to reconnect better with folks that way.

[ofearthandstars]

I agree that checking in here seems a bit harder than checking in elsewhere - there isn't an app making it easier to follow up on new posts (though I guess I could set notifications, but I hate notifications as a general rule.)

I am trying to get back to this space more, though, because I find it more thoughtful/introspective than the meme-worlds of FB, twitter, etc. I do appreciate that Idol (and Maria, really), got me involved enough to come back here.

[banana_galaxy]

*nodding* Yeah I have notifications set up for when Gary posts for Idol but overall I don't want to have to set up notifications for everyone (I had set up notifications for specific people on LJ, and that's how I know how infrequently, if ever, those friends post these days). I'm also more inclined to post to my Wordpress site for non-Idol posts (and sometimes I've crossposted my Idol posts there, depending on the content). I don't really have an answer to this. I know I'm a lot busier these days than I was when I was regularly checking LJ - i.e. I'm actually working now and I'm a single mom, as opposed to single and a university student (when I started using LJ) or married and a stay-at-home-mom with no local friends (the last time I consistently used LJ and kept up with friends).

I agree though, LJ/DW lends to being a better space for the thoughtful/introspective posts I like to see more and get to know people. I engage with such posts when I can on FB, but they're few and far between. When I post stuff like that on FB, it often seems like my LJ friends are the ones who are more inclined to respond. ;)

[erulissedances]

I totally understand. It's been a joy getting to know you a bit over the past months and I look forward to future writings from you.

- Erulisse (one L)

[ofearthandstars]

Thank you, and same! I'm glad we crossed paths, both on a friendship level and as writers. Hopefully we'll get to write more in the future!

[roina_arwen]

Awwwww! I’m sad to see you bow out. I hope you’ll home game when you’re able to. ❤️

[ofearthandstars]

Thank you! ♥ I hope to try, but the next few weeks are really quite insane at work. If I could have managed an entry this week, I would have, but 12-14 hour days in front the computer for work were already too much. I think I went into this season knowing work would probably kill me off sooner or later, so I am least feeling good knowing I managed for far longer than I thought possible.

[stellinas]

Sorry to read this,since you are a talented writer.Thank you for all your supportive comments over the weeks and I wish you luck in everything.Take care xx

[ofearthandstars]

Thank you so much! I hope to keep reading and commenting, and good luck in the coming weeks! ♥

[fruzicle]

Gone but definitely never forgotten. Good luck with the pile of work!

[ofearthandstars]

Thank you so much! It persists, which I guess is good for the paycheck, but I'm looking forward to the quiet season!

[hwango]

Oh no! Real life has a lot to answer for these days. Sorry to see you had to drop out.

[ofearthandstars]

I really would like to give real life a good stern talking too! Thanks for all the comments and banter this season!

[dadi]

Oh no :( I am sorry to read this!

[ofearthandstars]

Thanks, I was sorry to post it, but unfortunately life has gotten in the way!

[gunwithoutmusic]

I'm so sad to see this :( I hate losing anyone in the competition, and I especially hate it when we lose someone that has to drop rather than wants to.

I had a lot of fun reading your entries and seeing your comments on mine; hopefully we can do this again next time around. :)

[ofearthandstars]

Thanks for understanding. It definitely hurts a little, but I have been under a heavy work-load for the past few months and it's only gotten worse, so I suspect it would have gotten me at some point soon!

[flipflop_diva]

Ahhhh, I am so bummed to read this. I'm going to miss reading your entries so much. You're a really talented writer! But I totally understand why you need to drop out, and I hope you can kick that pile of work's ass ♥

[ofearthandstars]

Thank you so much for the kind words! I am trying to kick its ass, and hopefully can find time to play again in a future season.