Jibber Jabber - Q1 - Volume 33

[Rebecca Birch]

I'm trying to remember, do they usually do a press release with all the finalists or just the one with winners, finalists, semis, and assorted HMs? I'm super-curious to know who the other four finalists are.

[s_c_baker]

I'm trying to remember, do they usually do a press release with all the finalists or just the one with winners, finalists, semis, and assorted HMs? I'm super-curious to know who the other four finalists are.

I think it's usually just the one.

[DavidK]

These posts have been enough for me to write something a little different, and who knows...

[morshana]

Congratulations to all the finalists!

[Athena]

My phone rang and on the other end of the line was... Joni! Holy cow, this soon? No. Not this soon. She was calling to make sure I'd gotten my V32 Q3 HM certificate!

So be warned! Joni's on the phone giving folks minor heart attacks!

[Rebecca Birch]

My phone rang and on the other end of the line was... Joni! Holy cow, this soon? No. Not this soon. She was calling to make sure I'd gotten my V32 Q3 HM certificate!

So be warned! Joni's on the phone giving folks minor heart attacks!

That's . . . gyah!

(And since I also had an HM in that quarter, I will now be prepared to not hyperventilate if she calls me, too.)

[hazlett]

Yikes!

[preston]

Where is that darn press release? Jeez! I almost feel sorry for you finalists. The twitching must be excruciating!

[Athena]

It's only been 2 weeks. So, I imagine it will be a few more. I'm going to assume since she's got so much going on it will take extra time.

I'm not nearly as chill as I'm trying to make it sound.

[hazlett]

[Rebecca Birch]

Seconded.

Last year there weren't any results for this quarter until early June, I think, so I'm *trying* not to stress too much yet.

Kinda failing.

[Athena]

You know, if you think about it, early June isn't that far away...

No, who am I kidding? I'm a basket case. Part of me is dying for the phone to ring and part of me feels like it will be the tolling of the doom bell. I'm filled with a bizarre mixture of curiosity and dread.

Mostly I'm a mess.

[KD Julicher]

We've got four finalists here on the forum, right? So sadly there will be at least one not-winner.

That "you didn't make it" phone call sucks. Every time, it sucks. Way worse than a form R. It's like getting kicked in the stomach.

But it's ok. You hang up the phone, you take a deep breath. You go out for dinner or punch your pillows or eat a gallon of ice cream while watching Bollywood films all evening.

And then you write the next story. You don't give up. Ever. Here's the secret. Making finalist here was not a fluke. This wasn't your best story you'll ever write -- not unless you give up and stop writing. You write, you submit, you wait, and you will get another call. I guarantee it. If you're a finalist this time you have what it takes to be a finalist again.

[Rebecca Birch]

We've got four finalists here on the forum, right? So sadly there will be at least one not-winner.

That "you didn't make it" phone call sucks. Every time, it sucks. Way worse than a form R. It's like getting kicked in the stomach.

But it's ok. You hang up the phone, you take a deep breath. You go out for dinner or punch your pillows or eat a gallon of ice cream while watching Bollywood films all evening.

And then you write the next story. You don't give up. Ever. Here's the secret. Making finalist here was not a fluke. This wasn't your best story you'll ever write -- not unless you give up and stop writing. You write, you submit, you wait, and you will get another call. I guarantee it. If you're a finalist this time you have what it takes to be a finalist again.

Yay, Bollywood films! But, I kinda do that all the time anyways. (Without the ice cream.)

And yes, KD is right. If you've made it to finalist, you can get there again. It's been a few years since my first, so I was pretty sure that it had to have been a mistake. But here I am. Again. It took a while, but I'm back.

I'm still hoping for a tear in the space-time continuum (or at least three winners and published finalist, though that takes a lot longer to learn about). Luck to all!

[Athena]

Here's the secret. Making finalist here was not a fluke. This wasn't your best story you'll ever write -- not unless you give up and stop writing. You write, you submit, you wait, and you will get another call. I guarantee it. If you're a finalist this time you have what it takes to be a finalist again.

You know, I really needed to hear that. I am full of feeling that there was some mistake and I'll never be able to write a story that good again. Full up to the brim with self doubt. So thank you. This helps me to hear.

[KD Julicher]

You know, I really needed to hear that. I am full of feeling that there was some mistake and I'll never be able to write a story that good again. Full up to the brim with self doubt. So thank you. This helps me to hear.

Want to know a secret? That's exactly how I felt after my first non-winning-finalist, but someone else told me some of the same things I said there and it turned out to be true.

[Dustin Adams]

You know, I really needed to hear that. I am full of feeling that there was some mistake and I'll never be able to write a story that good again. Full up to the brim with self doubt. So thank you. This helps me to hear.

Want to know a secret? That's exactly how I felt after my first non-winning-finalist, but someone else told me some of the same things I said there and it turned out to be true.

Seconded! (Thirded?)

Especially when Dave moved in and sent me a few form R's to start his tenure. (Directly following my 1st F)

However, I will say that my 2nd NWC (non-winning call) hurt less than the first one, but was more of a surprise.
And I'm still banging on the door.
So just win the first time and save yourself the stress.

[hazlett]

Still all quiet on the Western Front.

Any word anyone?

[Rebecca Birch]

Still all quiet on the Western Front.

Any word anyone?

Nada. Looking back at the last two years, it looks like last year the winners heard in early June, but two years ago a winner posted the news on May 19. So, basically, any second or two more weeks?

[Athena]

Nothing here.

[Rebecca Birch]

Phone call from "Restricted." Sad sounding female voice on the line asks, "Is this Rebecca?"

I prepare for the sword to drop.

"This is _____ from your Condo Management company."



Are we there yet?

[Athena]

Just reading that made my chest feel tight and my heart race! The sad voice!

I got one from a private caller last night: "Hi! This is Marriot Hotels calling to tell you you've won a free vacation blah blah blah please provide your credit card information blah blah lottery in Nigeria."

We've survived 3 weeks. Right? It's been 3 weeks? Not 3 years?

[emilymccosh]

Phone call from "Restricted." Sad sounding female voice on the line asks, "Is this Rebecca?"

I prepare for the sword to drop.

"This is _____ from your Condo Management company."



Are we there yet?

Oh no, that sounds painful!

[KD Julicher]

It's Thursday!

Who's twitching?

[hazlett]

It's Thursday!

Who's twitching?

I'm pretty sure 4 people on this very forum are twitching as I write!

[Rebecca Birch]

It's Thursday!

Who's twitching?

I'm pretty sure 4 people on this very forum are twitching as I write!

Did somebody say, "Twitch?"

*twitch*

[amoskalik]

Pick a flower and pluck each petal saying, Joni has a happy voice, sad voice, happy voice, ...
Let me know how that works out

[Rebecca Birch]

Pick a flower and pluck each petal saying, Joni has a happy voice, sad voice, happy voice, ...
Let me know how that works out

I feel like I'd need to adjust the ratio to have a few extra 'sad voices.'

[Rebecca Birch]

Pick a flower and pluck each petal saying, Joni has a happy voice, sad voice, happy voice, ...
Let me know how that works out

Because I am a giant dork . . .

According to the time-honored tradition of dandelion augury, Joni will call me with a happy voice.

The Magic 8-Ball, on the other hand, says, "My sources say no."

So there you have it.

In other news, no, I haven't heard anything.

[hazlett]

Still crickets here as well...