American Idol Weekly Rundown-Final 2

So the season wraps up at last. The final two were indeed the 'Davids'-Archuleta and Cook. And though the finale is usually somewhat anti-climactic, there were a few surprises, namely in the performances of David Archuleta.

The first round were songs chosen for the contestants by Clive Davis. David Cook performed "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2 and it was very good. However, David Archuleta sang 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me' like his life depended on it, and it was was GREAT. His best vocal of the season so far.

Then, the two contestants had to perform songs written for them by competing songwriters across the nation. Evidently, they were given a selection to choose from and both songs were dismally mediocre. However, the difference was that David Cook's song sounded like something from a John Huges film. David Archuleta's sounded like a possible hit and he sang the HECK out of it. His voice was strong and pitch-perfect throughout. Plus, he sang with lots of evident emotion.

Finally, the Davids got to choose their own songs. David Cook chose to perform Collective Soul's 'The World I Know', a tune that could stand some re-working. His rendition was very sympathetic and tender...the best performance he pulled off last night. But then David Archuleta did a long-awaited reprise of 'Imagine', a hit for him earlier in the season, and I believe he nailed the coffin shut for David C. He made a huge impact on the audience and judges alike. Not only was he visibly moved by everyone's reaction, but he completely deserved it.

So the night was a bit of a surprise for me, especially since I expected David Cook to run away with the title. Now, I think it's more likely that, based on last night's show, David Archuleta will triumph. But I still believe that Cook will be the artist w/ the most 'staying power'. Unlike previous seasons, I truly think that both of these guys will be around for a while.

New Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

I took the boys to see this movie yesterday...It's a good'n!

www.movinpitchers.blogspot.com

New Review: The Miracle of Morgan's Creek

*If you haven't seen this great ol' comedy, read the following review, and pick it up soon!

www.movinpitchers.blogspot.com

To Jew

Since our 13th wedding anniversary is coming up on the 20th, I thought I'd post a little tribute to my Mr Darcy, Bick Benedict, Ulysses Everett McGill, Brian Crookshank, Jefferson Smith, and Han Solo-all rolled into one well-maintained and devastatingly handsome package.

These two songs received lots and lots of airplay in our home over the past year. One a 'rediscovery' and the other a newfound gem. Enjoy!

The video wasnt available on youtube but here's the link:

'Fourth of July' by X

http://www.vh1classic.com/view/artist/1163/32630/X/4th_of_July/index.jhtml


and
'Barefoot' by The Ray Collins Hot Club

American Idol Semi-Weekly Rundown- Final 3

Okay, so American Idol tends to lose steam towards the end...just the lay of the land. So these reports are a little sporadic lately. I haven't been ultra impressed by anyone recently, especially since Michael Johns and Carly Smithson were prematurely ejected from the competition. However, I'll admit that David Cook has continued to impress. His vocals seem to have improved, even if his song choices aren't always perfect. So in my opinion, he's the lock.

Last night, the three remaining contestants (Syesha Macado-how'd she make it this far exactly?, David Archuleta, and David Cook) had to sing three songs. One judge's choice, one song choice of their own, and one producer's choice -aka 'the sell out'.

David Cook led the pack easily. His rendition of Simon's choice-ROberta Flack's 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' was really really good. Possibly bordering on 'greatness'? That might be a bit much but it definitely shone in comparison to the rest of the night's performances. His 2nd choice, a Switchfoot song, was only okay. The PRoducer's choice was 'I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing' and it was predictably boring. Not much can be done w/ a Dianne Warren song that's already been adequately covered, is there?

Syesha was less-than-standout. She was given an Alisah Keyes song by Randy which was obviously going to be a yawn. Then she attempted to perform a 'cabaret' version of 'Fever' (my favorite karaoke song ever, by the way) using a chair as a prop. Although she sang it well and was very very sexy, it was a bad choice for this pivotal night. Her last song was that Happy Feet song, you know the fun one that plays over the credits at the end? It was a stupid choice and the producer's were obviously trying to get her ousted.

David Archuleta has passed his peak, if you ask me. He had a few memorable moments earlier inthe season (and actually, his 'Love Me Tender' from last week was nice), but I think we're all growing tired of the snoozy ballads. And let's face it, that's David's genre. Last night he performed the judge's choice of Billy Joel's 'And So It Goes' which was very beautiful. One of his best so far. But then he took a couple steps back when he attempted to do an up-tempo Chris Brown song and ended up looking like a nervous schoolboy. Finally, the producer's nailed the coffin shut on his American Idol chances by giving him Dan Fogelburg's 'Longer'-a gorgeous song but totally wrong for this arena.

I think it's safe to say that the Davids will end up in the finale and that David Cook will win by a landslide. He's far more talented than Chris Daughtry after all and we see where that joker's ended up.

My New Toy (giggle)

Time to upgrade! After perusing the dell website I realized that the Inspiron 1525 is now quite affordable...and in my case completely tax deductible. So I took a deep breath and got me one. And just in case there is any doubt who in this family it belongs to, I ordered mine in Flamingo Pink. So there!

New Review: Pixar Revisited-A Critical Opinion And Synopsis of Pixar Films

http://movinpitchers.blogspot.com/2008/01/rediscovering-disneypixar-as-long-as-i.html

New Review: Pride and Prejudice (and other news)

It's been a while. Here is my review of the 2005 version of P&P:
www.movinpitchers.blogspot.com

Also, I've entered a page from The Man Who Laughs on my long-neglected 'page a day' blog:
http://www.themanwholaughs.blogspot.com

I can't say why I stopped keeping up with it but it's sadly behind. I decided it would be time to resurrect it since my dad is currently publishing an abridged version of the story for United States markets. Right now, I believe the book has to be ordered from overseas and it costs an arm and a leg to have it shipped. My dad's book should be out within the next few months and he's also written a screenplay that may or may not be marketed along with it, depending on the initial success of the story. It's a shame American audiences know so little about this great work of Victor Hugo's. Hopefully that will change.

Around here, things are moving along. We have begun the work on our house to prepare it to sell. A realtor came by to advise me but I doubt we'll be listing it with her office. I want to try to make the most from the sale as possible, which kind of makes cutting a realtor in on the profit pretty silly. We are hoping to have the landscaping done by the time of our convention in early July and the house ready to place on the market in September, around the time of our planned vacation to DIsney.

Victor James is getting so big. He sits up on his own now and says Mama frequently. He's also very mobile now which means he's into everything and such a handful. He isnt actually 'crawling' yet but he inches his way a long at record speeds! I've started making his baby food but he really has very little interest in real food at this time. The doctor is concerned, telling me that I need to start supplementing him w/ vitamins and keep pushing him to eat. Whatever. Anyone can look at this nearly twenty pound kid and see that he is getting along just fine. He'll eat when likes, I'm sure.

That's all for now. I'll try to report again very soon.

Clip of the Week-VLV 2008 Jive Competition-Threesome

Even if the moves weren't individually as stunning ast he winner's, this jive 'threesome' was amazing! The sheer difficulty of timing everything right was in itself remarkable...

American Idol Weekly Rundown-Top Six

Andrew Lloyd Weber Week! Yay!

I am such a Broadway Baby so this was after my own heart. And it didnt disappoint. Almost every performance was good-and surprising!

THe Best:

1.David Cook-Okay, I thought his handling of Music Of the Night was bound to be a disaster but it wasnt! It was actually really great and the arrangment retained just enough of a pop-rock feel to not sound ludicrous when he performed it. His vocals were 'on' throughout the whole song-even that intimidating 'beeeeeee' in the middle and I especially loved the way he closed the performance. Very impressive.

The Good:

2.David Archuleta-This week was very suited to him and I expected him to really go crazy-with 'jazz hands' and everything. But again I was surprised. 'Think of Me' is an aria from Phantom and was meant to be sung by a soprano. So it was a shocking choice. But he made it a very radio-friendly pop song, suited for his vocals and not even overly effiminite. Great job.

3. Carly Smithson-sang 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and even though the song is rediculous and laughable-she belted that baby! It was fantastic.

4. Syesha Macado-I didnt recognize this song but it was a very sexy bluesy tune, well suited for her personality and vocals. I loved the way she hammed it up. Her vocals are still a little shrill for my taste-but she had a very good week, no doubt.

5. Jason Castro-Regardless of what the judges though, I felt his version of 'Memory' was well-suited for him. I liked the way he handled the melody and the sensitive way his vocals wrapped around this otherwise HUGE song. And I mean hey, it was infinitely better than Barry Manilow's version!

The Bad:

6. Brooke White-She chose 'You Must Love Me' and it would have served her far better if she played the piano herself; it might have helped her conquer her nerves. As it was, she forgot the lyrics about 5 seconds into the song and had to stop the band and askk them to start over. Yikes. It was really not very good. She has been fading in the last few weeks, I feel.

Though there was no 'ugly' performance this week, I do feel Brooke is the most likely to get the boot. The bottom three, based on the judges lukewarm reviews will probably be Jason, Syesha, and Brooke. Syesha, not because she didnt do well this week, but she seems to be a little less popular than the other contestants.

*By the way, I didnt review 'Mariah Carey week' (Top Seven). It wasnt bad, actually-even Kristy Lee Cook did an okay job. But she went home anyway. From what I remember, David Cook kinda rocked that one as well. I'm angry that he's doing so well...but it is what it is.

Viva Las Vegas 2008-'Those Pink and Black Days'

Here we are. Back from another great vacation in sunny Las Vegas and hankering ever more to return...possibly for good.

Following is my trip report and though all of it may not be of interest, you guys are welcome to read it.

THURSDAY:

After an slightly turbulent plane ride (Victor wore his baby b'air and I loved the security it gave me when the bumpy parts came), we finally arrived at McCarran Intl. Airport, which is in my opinion the real low point of any Las Vegas Trip. The place is a veritable maze and the Baggage Claim area is gargantuan (and confusing). We must be getting used to it however, since we got out of there in relatively quick time. We were smart this time and took the shuttle instead of a cab. Cabs to the strip are cheap (5-8 bucks); a Taxi to our off-strip hotel (The Orleans) runs up to 25.00 so taking a shuttle (at 7.00 a person) is always a better option. We had only two stops before making it to our resort, which allowed us to check in early. After ordering club sandwiches via room service, husband and baby relaxed, and I picked up the rental car. By 4pm we had made it to the Gold Coast for our event wristbands and were well on our way sightseeing. We had opted to make the drive to Boulder City this day, which is only about 15 miles outside of Vegas. It proved to be a lovely drive and the small town was great with alot of big old established trees, gorgeous views, and a cool downtown area that reminded me the Old West. Since Hoover Dam was only a short drive away we made a quick visit (impressive!) and headed back to meet our friends, Misty and Michael, who were just arriving. Since it was already pretty late, we only just had time for dinner and some shopping before bed. Little Victor was very sleepy, poor thing.



FRIDAY:

The Orleans has 15 (count 'em, fifteen)restaurants and The Courtyard Cafe was our choice for Friday breakfast. After which, Michael and Misty went to the Gold Coast for their wristbands and we made a 40 mile drive to Pahrump NV (yep, as in 'pahrump-a-pum-pum') to scout around and basically visit the local Wal Mart. It's fun and familiar to visit Wal Mart when you're away from home...try it sometime. The drive across the desert was INCREDIBLE and overwhelming. The joshua trees and craggy mountains made for the most brilliant landscape I've ever seen. And since Pahrump is only 3 miles from the California border, we made the slight detour to the state line and I got out and took the above photo (but only after grabbing some soft serve at the cutest little ice cream stand). We ended up staying out later than we intended so had to head straight back to the hotel and get ready for our 7:15 meal at Mon Ami Gabi (in The Paris resort). I've never tried french food before (and I love food so that's pretty amazing) but this is a pretty great place to start. The escargot was phenomenal, the scallops were perfect, the beef wellington was hearty, and the creme brulee was sinful. I had really been looking forward to Misty seeing the Bellagio fountain show but unfortunately the music selection was Faith Hill's 'This Kiss' which made the impressively choreographed waters seem to be line dancing-so dissapointing. After dinner, I went back to the hotel w/ the baby and Jonathan, Misty and Michael headed over to the Gold Coast to catch some bands.







SATURDAY:
After more room service, we spruced up for the car show (Victor wore his new sock monkey shirt and was a big hit) and I dropped off the rental car. The GOld Coast has always been the home of the Shifter's Car Show but this time it was badly cramped since it has gained in popularity over the years and the people were bumper to bumper-heh heh. We scanned the vendors and took a couple of pics but it just got too difficult to navigate so we went for a quick indoor break and made plans to come back later. Unfortunately, the show closed down at four (not what we had expected) and we missed a big chunk of the cars. Grrrr. That night, we ate dinner at Big Al's Oyster Bar and I got to go out w/ our friends while Jonathan stayed w/ the baby. A great band called 'The Two Timin' Three' was playing and it was fun watching them and the jive dancers. I was done by 2:30 though. Late nights are not my thing.




SUNDAY: Sunday is my favorite day. It's Tiki Pool Party day. All the girls put on their retro swimwear and the guys slick back their hair and show off their tattoos. A documentarian was there and he fell in love w/ Victor so I was interviewed by he and his crew for a while. It was wierd and intimidating but it might be cool to see what comes of it. The Orleans pool was a perfect location and the surf music was ideal-and live, as it turns out. A few barefoot couples started dancing by the stage and we got some video of them from up in our room. It was extremely nice. After the party, we dressed up a bit and went back to the Gold Coast for a more shopping and a premiere of a Rockabilly documentary. It was too smoky there for the little one so we went upstairs and watched the jive competition. It was so amazing-one guy actually had TWO girls he was twirling around. I could not believe the talent! And I'm extremely jealous.



MONDAY:

Monday was a quiet day. We all went the strip to get my favorite Cobb Salad (The Caribe Cafe in The Mirage)before heading back to the airport to catch our smooth flight back to Nashville. When we got back to the house, my son had just come down w/ a virus and was covered in a rash from head to toe and throwing up. Sigh. And the beat goes on...

Funerals and Family

My grandmother's funeral was last Saturday. My family and I made the trip to Memphis on Thursday, which was largely uneventful but still very nice. We made it to my mom's around 4pm and were able to enjoy the association of family, both genetic and spiritual, for the rest of the evening as well as the following day. So many friends brought food and words of encouragement that we had to come up w/ inventive storage solutions for both.

The service was Saturday at the mid-town Kingdom Hall, where my grandmother went last. The brothers and sisters loved her very much, as was evident from the large number of congregation friends who attended. All of the extended family also were there, which was bittersweet since we haven't seen many of them in a long time. My mom had put a huge collage of family pictures in the foyer of the hall and I could kick myself for not having taken a photo of it. You would all have enjoyed it so much.

The opening comments were by brother Harry Chambers-who was ill but loved my grandmother so offered to be there anyway. He said a prayer and read the obituary. There was also a letter to friends and family that was included in the funeral program and though he wasnt supposed to read it aloud, he did so-much to our delight. The body of the letter was written by my mom and it was a beautiful letter, full of encouragement and sweet anecdotes about Halene. Here are a few segments:

"Helene and Papa studied for 2 yrs before they ever came to the Kingdom Hall. So before they went, Halene asked Ailene what she should wear and Ailene said: "Oh, just wear something simple" so Mom came with her hair incurlers and a scarf around her head! When she saw how well-dressed everyone was, she was mortified!"

"While Helene was in the nursing home, we started studying the bible with her roomate, Mary Taylor. Even though Mother had Alzheimer's she still remembered the scriptures very well and when I started to read a scripture I thought she might be familiar with, I would ask her, 'Mom, do you remember this scripture?' and I'd read a few words and most of the time she could finish it from memory. She would also offer comments from time to time to help Mary understand a point we were discussing. The last study we had with mary before Helene died was 2 wks ago. At the end of the study she said 'May I have the closing prayer?' So Mom began to pray and to ask Jehovah to bless Mary's desire to learn about Him. In the middle of the prayer, Mary said 'Are you praying about me?' Mom said, 'Yes but I'm not finished with the prayer so you have to be quiet until I am!' and then she continued'"

"We will miss her sweet, cheerful disposition and beautiful, smiling face, her hugs and kisses. No one ever had to wonder if she loved you, she'd tell you repeatedly and all of you made her feel loved as well, of which we are ever grateful."


After the letter, Bob Borger made some humorous personal comments and then Steve Gilliam gave a GORGEOUS and lovingly delivered funeral discourse about Halene and her hope for the future. I am so thrilled that he was able to give it since he is a special friend of our family and such a sweet brother.

The thing I loved the most about this funeral is that it was so uplifting; very few people were crying. Those of us who did shed a few tears, did so with pride and happiness as we reflected on Halene's life and her faithful example.

After the funeral, the family gathered at Toby's new place and it was a nice time indeed. It was almost surreal, however, to watch the kids playing together-the 'younger' generation, doing the things we used to do. It also made me feel a little down. Time is flying.

Sunday was the special talk and I'm happy to say that in spite of all the weekend's chaos, most of us made it. The talk was great but seemed so short (this 30 minute thing is difficult for me to get used to). We came back Sunday afternoon, a whirlwind of cleaning, packing, and preparing for our vacation ahead of us. We leave tomorrow.

I'm excited but can't help but feel a little guilty at the same time. Anyway, see ya'll later!

American Idol Weekly Rundown-Top 8

'Inspirational Week' had an eye-rolling sound to it but it turned out to be a surprisngly good one. THe group had to sing songs that were 'inspirational' in nature but thankfully, very few of them chose the spiritual route. Most of the song choices were simply 'uppers'.

The Best:

1.Jason Castro-His rendition of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' was perfect. Though I didnt see much room for him to make such a distinctive version his own, he did it brilliantly. THe vocals were better than they've been all season and yes, he even played the ukelele. It made me sigh.

The Good:

2. Kristy Lee Cook-Gasp! WHat a shocker! She did a great job with Martina McBride's 'Anyway'-a song that I find to be a guilty pleasure. I never would have thought the gal had it in her, based on past insipid performances (and knowing the strength of Mcbride's big ol' vocals). But Kristy held her own.

3. David Archuleta-'Angels' by RObbie Williams is a GREAT pop song. I am an unabashed fan of Williams and this song was on his 'The Ego Has Landed' cd, which I love. Robbie's version reminds me of Elton John and it is fantastic. I never thought of it as being actually ABOUT angels but per Jessica Simpson (who did a mediocre cover a few years ago) and David A. last night, it evidently is. Anyway, David did a pretty good job, though I wasnt as crazy about the 'runs' as Randy was. The r & b vibe to the song took away from its power, I felt.

4. Michael Johns'- I liked that he chose 'Dream On' as his song because it wasnt a predictable one for 'inspirational' week. However, my view is that if you can't sing this song BETTER than Steven Tyler-you should probably not try it. He did it well but comparably, it suffered.

5. Carly-'The Show Must Go On' by Queen was her choice. She sang it well-her huge voice was again impressive. However, I agree w/ Simon that it seemed almost 'angry' in parts.

The Bad:

6. Brooke White-'You've GOt a Friend'. Yawn. A nice song. She sang it nicely. But it was just downright wrong for a singing competition. Very bland....yet again.

7. Syesha Macado-When Fantasia Barrino sang 'I Believe' during the AI finale a few seasons back, it shook the rafters. Even I found myself in tears during her performance because she somehow managed to sob through almost the whole song without her vocals being affected. It was one of the highlights of AI's many seasons. Syesha was NOT able to sing it with the same passion or skill. It was a bad choice, no matter how much she loves the song.

The Ugly:

8. David Cook-The song choice was 'Innocent' by Our Lady Peace. And it was very very flat. I hated the whole thing, especially the redundant chorus. David did not have a good night last night. His vocals were on, I guess, but the song was definitely a poor selection.

The American Idol Weekly Rundown-Top Nine

Well, even though things are a bit hectic and weepy around here-I did make the time last night to watch the show. Everyone doing the songs of Dolly Parton was a dismal idea and if they're going to follow thru w/ this 'everyone doing the same artist' thing for the whole season, we are in for a major snooze.

Quickly, here's my take on last night:

The Best:
1. Michael -Bluesy vocals and lots of passion. FOr the 2nd week, he impressed me the most.

The Good:

2. Carly-great slow version of a classic up-tempo country song. Lots of powerful Sheena Easton style vocals and she was brilliantly on-key.

3. David C.-Finally he gave us an original take on a great song. It wasnt as good as last week but it was his own, which made it very nice. His vocals were on point.

4. David A.-Really good and very smooth. I didnt like the song choice and it was a bit cheesy but the vocals were undoubtedly great.

5. Syesha-Even though she should have continued to make the song her own, instead of sinking to a lackluster version of Whitney's version at the end, she sang it well. Her upper register still seems a little shrill to me. But she hit every key and held it nicely.

6. Jason-very nice. Very listenable...great vocal delivery. Catchy cover of a good song. I think it was good stuff.

The Bad:

7. Kristy- It should have been her week but it wasnt. It was a pitiful song choice that did not call for enough challenge vocally. Yet again, she fails to impress.

8. Ramiele-very forgettable. Her vocals have been worse but the performance was painfully mediocre.

The Ugly:

9. Brooke-this version of my favorite Parton song was beyond dull. The stomp-rhythym and the lowered key were distracting enough but she sang it with absolutely none of the passion that Parton possessed. Her worst week, in my book.

Music Clip of the Week: Bing and Frank-Did You Evah?

So I am on my way to Memphis come Thursday to attend the Memorial Service of my lovely grandmother. Though I'm sad that the journey was brought on by such an event, I am also happy that all of our family will be in one place at the same time. It will be very nice to all be together again. My cousin Stephie was asking me the other day what I would wear to the funeral. Originally, I had picked out a pink sweater set and somber gray skirt for the occasion but as we talked I realized how Haleen would have loved to see everyone looking cheery with the springtime. So out came my favorite spring dress-blue with yellow polka dots.

Memories of my last grandparent brought on this week's music clip. Both she and Papa LOVED this and would be tickled to death to know that I'm dedicating it to them.

Helen Ray Nichols 1923-2008

"Awake and cry out joyfully, you residents in the dust. For your dew is as the dew of mallows, and the earth itself will let even those impotent in death drop in birth"-Is. 26:19

The American Idol Weekly Rundown-Top Ten

American Idol at its best...a great show. The performers had to sing a song from the year they were born and it made me feel very old...but I digress.



The Best:

David Cook-Never thought he'd impress me like this. His version of Billie Jean was instantly appealing and extremely marketable. Making it a Rock Ballad was one of the most brilliant choices I've ever seen anyone make on any season of this show. He also sang the heck out of it. Though his voice isnt necessarily the best, he definitely has the best grasp on today's pop audience. Chris Daughtry has officially been replaced...Thank Gawd.

***Edit***Just found out that this is a cover of a version that Chris Cornell did first...so, like Chris Daughtry with 'Ring Of Fire', he has fooled us (temporarily) into thinking this was an original take on the song when it is ,in fact, stolen. So I felt the Chris Cornell clip (which is friggin beautiful) should replace David Cook at the top of the page. And in my opinion, top honors for last night's show now go to Michael Johns.

The Good:

Carly-Blow me down, that was a great one! Contrary to stupid Randy's opinion, I absolutely loved her version of 'Turn Around'. It was just great...loved the tempo, loved the performance, loved the drive...loved the final note, even. I think Carly knows that it's necessary to belt a note at the end in order to leave an impression on America. Sad but true. 'Not in key' my foot.

Jason Castro-Sting's'Fragile' was never sung by a prettier mouth...haha. Yes it was safe and a bit drowsy but I loved it.

Michael Johns-Finally the Aussie ROcker has made the grade. He sang 'We Will ROck You/ We are the Champions' without going flat or predictable on us. It was really energetic and strong. Great Song Choice.

Syesha- -A very loosey-goosey version of 'If I Was Your Woman'. Her pitch was perfect throughout, though the high registers aren't as pleasing to the ears as the low. It was much less torchy and far more modern than the original and she definitely had a 'moment'. Plus, she's cute as a button. All in all, it was far and away her best performance.

Ramiele-chose to really take a chance and sing Heart's 'Alone', which Carrie Underwood really hit out of the park a few seasons ago. So it was very brave for Ramiele, whose voice is not nearly as strong, to attempt the song. I thought it was good...a million times better than last week for sure. She was a little flat on the high notes but the rest was on key and she put an original spin on it that I found impressive.

Chikezie-Regardless of how dated you think it was, the guy has a great voice. I didnt recognize the song but I think Paula mentioned that Luther Vandross sang it-which stands to reason since that is very much the type of artist I think Chikezie wants to shadow. I don't think that is as bad a thing as Simon does, evidently.

The Bad:

David Archuleta-I faintly remember this song from easy listening radio and also remember disliking it intensely. Can't recall the name or the artist but I'm sure it would be easy to figure out if I weren't so lazy. Anyhoo...I hated this. It sounded and looked just like a performance on some type of local 'benefit' or county fair. He hit some very bad notes also. And go figure: Randy liked this one? He needs to clean the wax out, methinks.

Brooke-'Every Breath You Take' has a bad history on this show. Chris Sligh, last season, really messed it up by reworking the tempo and even his stellar vocals couldnt save the performance. Brooke made the same mistake. Starting off at the piano was promising, as was the first part of the song. But when she hit the chorus and the band kicked in, it sounded rushed. She sounded as if she were shouting and we lost most of her smoky-sweet presence. Too bad.

The Ugly:

Kristy-I don't care if she sang 'God Bless the USA' well or not. I couldnt help but think of how disappointed I was last year when I went to Vegas to see the Bellagio fountain show, only to discover it had been set to that same obnoxious piece of patriotic sap. I detested it then and I despised it last night. Blech.

I am wondering after last night's show, which of the pretty boys has the most pull w/the screaming girls. I thought it was Castro until Archuleta finished up...the screams were nauseating.

My guess to go home is Chikezie though I don't think he deserves it, by any means. I am so ready to get rid of Kristy but Simon gave her high prasie (darn him) so she'll be around to serenade us for another week, it seems.

Music Clip Of The Week-Jive Competition Winners 2007

In homage to my upcoming trip back to the Rockabilly Weekender,I thought I'd post a little clip of the couple that won the Jive Competition last year-Mark and Genevieve. They are incredible! Usually you find yourself watching the girl more because of her skirt and twirling but that guy was brilliant! Rubber legs! Can't wait to see what is in store this year...

And incidentally, the song is Ruth Brown's 'As Long As I'm Movin'-a great one.

List Yourself

I received this book as a gift some time ago and just wanted to share it. It's a great one for chronic listmakers like I am and is really, as the title suggests, an interesting way to 'get to know yourself'. I filled out two lists today...one on 'Things that Always Make Me Cry' and 'Places I Like To Go In My Head'.

American Idol Weekly Rundown-Top 11

Last night was a pretty big dud in the entertainment department. Why did they have to do another Beatles week? How very dull. Anyway, as it stands, here is my take.

THE BEST:
1. Syesha - She performed "Yesterday" in a very contrived but emotional way. It was lovely and pretty memorable-especially when paired w/ the rest of the comparative tripe that came our way last night.

THE GOOD:
2. David A.-definitely a far cry from last week's chaos. The bright and shiny David gave us "The Long and Winding Road" in a very nice way. It was melodic and well-sung, even if it did sound a bit 'musical theater' at times. I could tell he was forcing it a bit and the desperation was kind of apparent. But it's nice to hear him do well again.

3. Kristy-sang "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" and I felt it was her best performance in spite of the bad choices in arrangment and a few flat notes. I finally heard her actually SING and understood why she made it to the finals at all. She seemed comfortable w/ her performance as well and not afraid to belt it a few times. The judges were not impressed, however, and this could be the end for Kristy.

4. David C.-Thought it definitely didnt compare to The Bad Brains rendition of 'Day Tripper', I actually liked the arrangment. He sang it pretty well. His downfall was his self-confidence which bordered on blatant arrogance last night. Throwing picks into the crowd, the 'Frampton'-style voice box etc...bad decision. It's still
a contest at this point.

5. Carly-sang 'Blackbird'. It was pretty and she has a great voice. But still kind of a 'molehill' after last week's 'mountain'.

THE BAD:

Amanda-'Back in the USSR' was not a very good choice, I felt. It was a little safe and I too am getting a wee bit tired of her schtick. I like how unassuming and unwilling to change she is, however. She really milks the audience and pays little attention to the judges-which is kind of refreshing.

Michael- The song choice was bad. 'Day in the Life' is a bit of an epic and not suitable for condensing into 1 and 1/2 minutes. It sounded rushed and indeed it was. Also, though he sounded great at the beginning-he hit some really sour notes in there as well.

Brooke-"Here Comes The Sun" was again, absolutely the wrong choice. Without her piano or guitar, she looked really awkward and self-concious. And then she tried to dance around a bit, which looked even more desperate. The delivery of the song could have been worse, but the performance was far too distracting to notice many good points.

Jason-"Michelle"...hate the song. But anyway...that's neither here nor there. Jason performed it very strangely. It was okay if you were just listening to it, but watching it was kind of painful. He looked so odd up there clinching the microphone stand like Edith Piaf. And when he started walking, it was all a little 'hey, how's your steak?' for me. But Simon is right; he's got a great face.

Ramiele-It was very 'Libertyland' for me. "Should Have Known Better" was a nice peppy choice for her but she looked extremely uncomfortable trying to keep time in those stillettos. And the high waisted pants and hat brought to mind a little polynesian leprechuan. heh heh. Her vocals were okay but I thought she was better last week...when she was just boring.

THE UGLY:

Chikezie-Wow. Top to bottom in one week. I think the problem is that poor Chikezie took the judges' praise too literally. While, they admired his funky southern song arrangment last week; they did not say he needed to do it again. When he started doing 'I've Just Seen a Face', it was nice but I had a problem w/ the steel guitar. Then he shot it all to heck by upping the tempo and relegating the tune to something out of a friggin' hoe-down.

Days of Yore...Really Bad Yore.

Okay, I dared. Now it's YOUR turn. Everybody post their graduation pics by the end of the week!

Funny Stuff

This makes me so happy. Silly brother of mine...

And I thought I'd go ahead and add the following video also, against my better judgement. I hope I dont offend anyone but I laughed so hard at this little clip that I nearly peed...

Music Clip of the Week-The Evolution of Clutch

No secret Clutch is one of my alltime favorite bands. Thought I'd post a few of their videos to show how they've progressed over the years...really remarkable, I think.

1. A Shogun Named Marcus- 1993


2.Dragonfly- 2000 (no video, just the song...but it's a great one. This is my boys' favorite album.)


3.Electric worry-2007

American Idol Weekly Rundown-The Top 12

So I really wasnt excited about the Beatles. I'm not a fan and I think opening up their song book was a bit 'anti-climactic' since neither Lennon or McCartney had a great voice and therefore their songs are not that vocally challenging. The real trick here was making the songs 'new', so to speak. There is only so much you can do with 'She Loves You (yeah yeah yeah)' or 'Ticket To Ride'. But I will admit that if one were willing to try and conquer some of the less well-known songs, like 'Happiness is a Warm Gun' for example, good stuff could ensue. As it stands, most of the selections were predictable. Here's how I call it:



THE BEST:

1.CHIKEZIE- I knew this guy had something to prove! This was great. The arrangement he attached to 'She's A Woman' was nothing short of perfect for his 'comeback' performance. It reminded me of the great Robert Randolph (and the Family Band) whose music combines American Delta Folk with Funk to come up w/ a truly unique sound. Chikezie borrowed from this vibe and produced the 'moment' of the night. Plus, he was having a blast and carrying the audience along with every note. I'm surprised that no one mentioned the absurdity of the sweater vest, however.


THE GOOD:(in no particular order)

2.Carly- I hate 'Come Together'. It's one of those songs that gets all kind of credit for being a phenomenal piece of rock history when it is ludicrously obvious that the ditty was written in a drug induced haze and contains on the 'skillful' song-writing of a 3 yr old. Stupid stupid lyrics. I know...I'm mostly alone on this. I don't care. If you're going to use drugs as the impetus, at least give us some better imagery. Anyway, Carly sang a great rendition of it either way. The gal has pipes.

3.Jason- I think he and his mellow guitar may eventually bore America. But I really liked 'If I Fell' as he performed it. He changed up the melody a little to make it interesting and actually hit the majority of his falsetto notes this week. And the teeth...have I mentioned the teeth?

4.David C.-The resident 'rocker' performed Eleanor Rigby within an inch of its life. It wasnt bad, actually, albeit extremely predictable. I was telling my husband, "Now watch, he's gonna sing it straight until 'I look at all the lonely people' comes around and then he's gonna go all Linkin Park on us...' which is exactly what happend. However, some credit should be given for the arrangment (if it is indeed his own) and the 'sellability' of the cover. I'm surprised, however, that Simon didnt have anything to say about how 'indulgent' this performance was.

5.Brooke-Aside from 'Let it Be' being a very predictable song choice for her and -even with the piano- a very drowsy performance, it was still nice. I enjoyed it. I was washing dishes while she sang and I didnt look up from my pot-scrubbing or anything. But it was pleasant. I think she might be a bit of a 'one-note'. I'll have to see. I'm not sure she could stake a viable claim in the ranks of female singer/songwriters out there nowadays.

6.Michael-I was a bit surprised he didnt really blow me away w/ 'Across the Universe' since it is one of the only songs from this catalogue that I truly love. I adore Fiona Apple's version. But Michael didnt really bring much originality to the arrangement. He sang it well though, and it is a good enough song to give him an easy pass to next week, I think.

7. Amanda-Though she has a pretty face and a meek persona, Amanda's performances are really the antithesis of all that's sexy. It's almost off-putting, even for a true rock and roll lover. That said, she sang the heck out of 'You Can't Do That', rendering it almost unrecognizable. Which is just fine by me.

THE BAD:

8. Syesha Macado-Once again, song choice may prove to be the downfall for her. It was a bold pick, 'Got To Get You Into My Life', but she had problems w/ the pitch at the beginning and though it picked up a bit toward the end; it was probably too little too late. A better song choice? 'Get Back' would have given her more options.

9. Ramiele Mubalay-'In My Life' is a lovely song. And she has a lovely voice. The two together were...lovely. And really really dull. A better choice? 'Something' would have allowed for more range.

10.David H.- 'I Saw Her Standing There' was a dumb song. And Tiffany covered it in the eighties. Those two things should make any AI contestant run Forrest run. But instead, David embraced the cheesiness. In my old high school, there was a group of kids (hated by almost everyone) called Show Choir. At every school event, they were there en masse...dressed in sordid color coordinated duds and crooning medleys of insipid pop tunes that would cause the most tolerant ears to bleed. This performance could have been yanked from any one of those shows. A better choice? I can see him really giving an r & b vibe to 'Sgt Pepper' and making it work.

THE UGLY:

11. David A.- Poor kid. I read in a recent article that David Archuleta 'is Reality Tv's equivelent of a newly hatched chick' and I laughed because it's such a perfect description of his white-bread shininess. But the judges' golden boy really dropped the ball this week. First, he admits on camera that he's nervous and that he doesnt really know any Beatles songs. Sure David...I'm sure you're just being modest and going to blow everybody away as always. Wrong. He really DIDNT know any Lennon/McCartney tunes apparently. He chose 'We Can Work It Out' and forgot the lyrics...twice. He also started late and stumbled through the parts he remembered. Why oh why didnt he do 'Yesterday' like everyone was sure he would?

12. Kristy- Hilarious. The arrangment she chose for 'Eight Days a Week' was manic and beyond comprehension. Those strings will haunt me, I swear. The tempo was so fast that even she couldnt keep up, though she did try valiantly. Her vocals seemed to be recovered somewhat but the song choice and performance were not salvageable. A better choice? For her 'country' fans, an intelligently constructed cover of 'Helter Skelter' could have been really memorable. Maybe next time.

Though David A. screwed up royally, his previous performances and huge fanbase will save him. I believe Kristy and David H. will be the bottom two this week and either of them could go. Ramiele may also be in danger since she's so small. heh heh.

Make-up Can Be Fun

I found this little tutorial on youtube and tried it on Saturday. I'm really pleased with how it came out...and much easier than I would have thought. I cut the false eylashes in half because the full 'curtain' over my eyes annoyed me. But I think it still works.

It was oodles of fun! Oh, and by the way...excuse the extreme close up on the photos. Unlike the lil gal in the video, I was without an adorable head ribbon when I took them. If you look closely, you can catch a glimpse of the sponge rollers...hah.





Oh, but I did also try a retro bandana trick after taking out said rollers. And it worked out well too...

Music Clip of the Week-Queen/ Who Wants To Live Forever

I thought I'd post this quintessential eighties classic as a tribute to American Idol contestant Kady Malloy who tried her darndest to win over America w/ her rendition of it. I guess it didnt pay off-heh heh.

But hey, let's enjoy the hokey fun of 'Highlander' anyway.

The American Idol Weekly Rundown-'Ze Girlz'

Everybody is stepping it up, it seems.

THE BEST:
1. Carly Smithson-I LOVE THAT SONG! I think I actually let out a little 'hoot' when I realized she was going to sing Roy Orbison's 'I Drove All Night', one of my very favorite songs of that decade. Yes, I know Cyndi Lauper and Celine Dion have covered it but it will always be an a Roy classic, to me. And even though Carly belted it in a style similar to Celine Dion, she also retained the tempo and sound of the original...which was NOT a dance song, like Celine's version. She is now the clear winner, in my book.

THE GOOD:

2. Brooke White-sat on the stage (again) and did a mellowed out version of 'Love is a Battlefield' which conveniently left out any of the truly challenging vocal segments of the original. The cool thing is that she did succeed in 'modernizing' one of the cheesier songs of the eighties, and make it her own. It was really kind of great. But I would have loved to see her tackle the dance moves of the video...heh heh.

3. Amanda Overmeyer-whew! Nice comeback. Joan Jett's 'I Hate Myself For Loving You' sounded even raunchier coming from her. I didnt like it as much as Simon did (the chorus was a little bland) but it was definitely a far cry from last week. Plus, the hair was tame and the face looked pretty. She seemed...incongruously sweet.

4. Kady Malloy-another huge surprise. She was in my bottom two last week. I know she hit some flat notes in her interpretation of Queen's 'Who Wants To Live Forever' but there were parts of it that gave me chills. And she really showed courage tackling that song. Even Katherine McPhee of two seasons ago wasnt able to do it without choking. It is a HARD song.

5. Syesha Macado-did 'Saving All My Love For You' and the only thing more predictable than the song choice was her delivery of it. But she did a good job nevertheless.

THE BAD:

6. Ramiele Malubay-Okay, it wasnt bad. She sang 'Against All Odds' well, even. But it was sooooo boring! She really needs to step up that performance level.

7. Asia-h Epperson-I thought the whole thing seemed very 'Disney-esque'....kinda like a 'High School Musical' performance of Whitney's 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody'. I also just think it's DUMB to sing Whitney Houston songs and I wish everyone would STOP DOING IT. Asia is gone this week, I think.

THE UGLY:

8. Kristi Lee Cook- I still can't stand this girl. I am tired of the judges giving her all kinds of praise for these strangled performances. And to butcher Jorney's 'Faithfully' like that too! The final note was terrible...awful...ech. And did anyone else notice the red tongue? I have noticed a few blue tongues this season as well. I'm guessing these kids are sucking on cough drops before they perform. Someone should tell them to try the CLEAR ones. heh heh.

So my guess is that Kristi and Asiah will be gone this week. But since the judges didnt really 'pan' anyone, we could have a surprise.

The American Idol Weekly Rundown-'Ze Boyz'

The boys are coming into their own.

THE BEST:

1.Jason Castro (pictured above)-stole the show in all his 'Pretty Travolta' glory as he tackled (gasp!) Leonard Cohen. It was probably the most surprising song choice I've seen since Fantasia Barino knocked 'You Were Always On My Mind' outta the park back in season three. I loved the quiet way he sang the song with his guitar, almost as if he were serenading a congregation instead of competing on a talent show.

THE GOOD:

2.David Cook-sang Lionel Ritchie's 'Hello' and did a great job with the arrangement. He made it a bluesy, rock ballad that was pretty good and definitely would be a radio hit, were it allowed to air. His vocals were 'on' as well. I don't like him any more than I liked Daughtry but he is equally 'sellable'.

3. Chikezie- I like him. I think his vocals are great and the fact that he attempted a Whitney Houston song was admirable. I thought it was a success.

4.David Archuleta- snoozy Phil Collins song aside, I thought he sang it well. But Simon was right, he shouldnt have gotten up. When he was at the piano, it seemed less contrived. Still no mention of Star Search...I'm wondering if there are infringement issues.

5.David Johns-started off the show well. I really liked his cover of one of my favorite eighties songs, 'Don't You Forget About Me'. The opening notes were the best. However, I wish they'd changed the arrangment a little more and made it less 'electronic'.

6. David Hernandez-though the song choice, 'It's all Coming Back To Me Now', was too big-I admired the attempt. His voice is good and he's a good performer. He'll definitely be in the top 12.

No 'bads' this week, just two 'uglies'.

THE UGLY:

7.Danny Noriega-Hahahahahahahahahaha. 'Tainted Love'? Really? If he had been wearing a dress and frolicking on a Vegas Stage, it would have been perfect. As it was, it was terrible. But the kid has so much personality! I adored his reaction to Ryan's taking notice of the purple hair: "Mmmmmmhmmmmm'

8.Luke Menard- Oh dear. Again, this was a mistake. I'm a fan of musical theater but even in a production of Starlight Express, this guy would manage to make me cringe. And he performed George Michael! LOL

Product Plugging

I am such a product fiend. I don't know what it is but there is just something oddly exciting about shopping for and trying new ones. I've always been this way too. When I was a kid, my mom could be just as certain of making me happy w/ a new shampoo purchase as she could w/ something tangible, like a toy.

Below are a list of products I'm currently using and my opinion of them. Also included are the names of the products I would use were money no option. I'm hoping some of my readers will feel so inclined to recommend some of their favorites to me as well...


For Face : POND'S COLD CREAM (facial cleanser, works great)
MARY KAY F1 HYDRATING FRESHENER (dry skin toner...ahhhh)
CETAPHIL SKIN CREAM (just the best facial moisturizer around)
MARY KAY CREME FOUNDATION with SPF8 (a great foundation for dry skin)
COVER GIRL (for almost all color cosmetics.)
BESAME' (for red lipstick)

*I prefer Mary Kay's Cleaning Cream for dry skin to Pond's. The smell is milder and the cream slightly less greasy. If I could use any cosmetic line, it would be SHISEIDO but one look at the prices will tell you why I stick to CG. Mary Kay also has good color cosmetics but no better than CG, if you ask me...and for almost double the price. Besame' lipstick is phenomenal. It does dry the lips a little but if you like red lips, they have the best colors and the strongest pigments. They come in a shiny bullet-shaped gold case and are very expensive.
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Hair Care: JOHN FRIEDA'S BRILLIANT RED (Shampoo and Conditioner for red hair)
AUSSIE HI HOLD + HI SHINE HAIRSPRAY (the best I've found)
TRE SEMME' HEAT TAMER SPRAY (protects hair from heated styling)

*When my hair isnt colored, I use Aussie Shampoos. They're my favorite in or out of the Salon. But when I've got red hair, I gotta use a color kicking shampoo. John Frieda's works better than Redken or any other brand I've tried. Styling products are really difficult for me to find though because my hair is so fine and most of them weigh it down.
________________________

SkinCare: BODY ESSENCE OLIVE & HONEY BODY WASH (cheap stuff from Wal Mart also contains a Macadamia Nut scrub and smells nice and 'earthy'. Plus, it leaves skin very soft. Who woulda thought?
JOHNSON'S 24 HOUR LOTION (doesnt work 24 hours, but still does a good job)

* My favorite bath products are Bath N Body Works products. I've yet to find anything that smells as potent or works as well. But until money is truly no object...
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For Baby: BURT'S BABY BEE HAIR AND BODY WASH (smells like honey and doesnt burn eyes)
BURT'S BABY BEE APRICOT BABY OIL (smells HEAVENLY and makes babies softer than ever!)
A+D OINTMENT (for diaper rash -mediciney smell but still works great)
JOHNSON'S MEDICATED BABY POWDER (for diaper rash prevention)
WHITE CLOUD DIAPERS (cheap and dependable)
PARENT'S CHOICE BABY WIPES


*I've never found baby wash or lotion I like as much as Burt's wash and oil. For really stubborn diaper rash, I like FLANDER'S BUTTOCKS OINTMENT. But the A+D works great on mild redness. Pampers Diapers and Wipes are my favorites but too expensive for me and the cheaper versions work just fine.
_____________________

For Cleaning: PINE SOL-for floors and countertops
SCRUBBING BUBBLES BATHROOM CLEANER-for toilets and bathtubs
WINDEX -for glass, sinks, and fixtures
SWIFFER WETJET ANTIBACTERIAL SOLUTION-for touch up cleaning in kitchen
PLEDGE HARDWOOD FLOOR CLEANER-for deep cleaning hardwoods.

*I just love the smell of Pine Sol so I will never try anything else. Windex and Scrubbing Bubbles are likewise old standbys of mine. The Swiffer is relatively a new discovery but one I swear by for touch up cleaning during the week. It also works for occasional hardwood floor clean-up but I use the pledge for my deep cleaning since I still don't count on the Swiffer fluid being that 'safe' for the finish. If money were no object, I'm sure I'd order more organic products online and essential oils. They're difficult to find out here in the boonies. And I'd surely get those Swiffer Dusters more often...those things are great!

Ten Things I Love that Begin With 'F'...

I'm stealing this from my friend bookyeti's blog:

Ten things I love that begin with 'F'

1.fondue
2.Frank Capra Films
3.Felix Unger
4.fiction
5.food network
6.family, my
7.Fallon, Neil (of Clutch)
8.fetal heartbeats
9.fizzy drinks
10.fair weather

Comment and you'll receive your own letter. Then place your own 'ten things' list in the comments, using the letter you're given.

American Idol Weekly Rundown-Part Deux

Here's my take on that god-awful display of girl-talent known as last night:

The Best:

1.Carly Smithson- Irish tattooed-lady sang "Crazy On You" by Heart and belted it well. Unfortunately, the rest of the pack was so mediocre that it didnt take much from her to lead them all. It wasnt her best performance but it was better than the rest.

The Good:

2.Brooke White-This squeaky clean blonde strapped on a guitar and sang "You're So Vain' really well. It was a bit boring and I surely didnt 'love it' like Simon did, but the delivery was impressive.


3. Syesha Macado-I admire her attempt to cover songs that haven't been tried on the show before and songs made popular by men. It's interesting but not always successfull. Last night she performed 'Me and Mrs(Mr)Jones' and though she tried very hard and hit the notes nicely, it wasnt the right song. Nice try, though.

The Bad:

4.Alaina Whitaker-It started off very pretty, the way she sang 'Hopelessly Devoted'. But it got sharp really quick. All the big notes suffered. Plus, she looks too similar to Carrie Underwood to make it very far, I think.

5.Ramiele Malubay-was a front-runner last week. She has a nice voice and the song started off pretty but this disco hit(not sure of the title but I've heard it all my life) was absolutely the wrong one for her. She spent the last 3/4 of the song in the same key, the same note almost, shouting along and not really acting as if she felt it. It was tedious, to say the least.

6.Kristi Lee Cook-Why do people attempt to sing a song when they can't reach all the notes? When she got to the bridge of "Your'e No Good", she didnt even make an attempt at the actual key, substituting it for a montone section that did her no favors. I expected the judges to really tear her to pieces but surprisingly, they liked it. I'm suspecting a pay-off.

7.Alexandrea Lushington-I like her personality. But she just gave up on this song, it seems like. It wasnt a 'singer's' song, first of all, and then after she finished limping her way thru 'If You Need Me Now'-she looked absolutely defeated. It was wierd. I also didnt get the outfit.

8. Asia Epperson-I like the 'hoarseness' of her voice but she didnt use it here, really. Her version of "All By Myself' was half-hearted and weak. I agree with Simon, the song was way too big for her.

The Ugly:

9.Kady Malloy- As she stumbled down the stairs singing "Magic Man", I was baffled. Is this really the girl that just showed us in her 'bio' that she can sing opera (and do it well)? Hard to believe. Because this sucked. She never found the key at all. THis gal needs to take her 'impersonation' skills to Vegas. And was it not wierd that Simon had never heard this song? Maybe he just didnt recognize the way she sang it...heh heh.

10.Amanda Overmeyer- Yikes. What was she thinking? I mean the WHOLE thing was a mistake. The look, the vocals, the 'dancing'. "Carry On My Wayward Son" is not a song meant for a vocal competition.

The American Idol Weekly Rundown

So here we are in the umpteenth season of American Idol. Has the show played out? Probably. But here I am again, sitting every Tuesday and Wenesday night in front my tv, gawking in horror at the 'best in America' as they limp thru the classics and prove to us, yet again, that for the most part- there is a reason they haven't been discovered yet.

So here is my take on last night's show. FOr those of you not in the AI 'know', there are currently twenty contestants. Last week, four left and tomorrow night, four more will leave. Until there is an even 12 to 'wow' the world w/ live performances that are far too extravagant for their own good. Big Name 'guests' will assist in the judging and every show is 'themed' so that the players aren't able to stick to one comfy genre.

Last Night's Theme: The Seventies (and of course, there were very few surprises in the song choices.)

THE BEST:

1.Chikezie-After a heavy handed lounge performance (complete w/ tangerine colored leisure suit) last week, Chikezie came back with a great one. I don't know the Donnie Hathaway song he sang...so sue me. But he did a great job of delivering it and also throwing some levity around, as he teased Simon for not remembering how to pronounce his name. It was great.

THE GOOD:

2.David Archuleta- He was the judge's favorite last night. He sang John Lennon's Imagine and did not butcher it. It was lovely. However I can't help but wonder WHEN is something going to be said about this kid having already WON Star Search when he was 12? We're supposed to believe that he's this seasoned a performer by chance? At least acknowledge the facts here! David Archuleta won Star Search JR at the age of 12 and looked very much like a tiny politician. Youtube it.

3.Jason Castro- I like him. He did a Bee Gees song that wasnt quite right with the guitar accompaniament he offered, but I still like watching/hearing him. Does anybody else think he looks like a young John Travolta with dreads? I can't help but see Vinnie Barbarino when I look at him...only prettier. With perfect teeth.

4.Danny Noriega- The sweetest thing outside of Project Runway, Danny croons into the camera and makes bedroom eyes at the tv audience like a pro. I like his voice and his performance of The Carpenters was pretty good. But it's his skinny jeans and diva attitude that will take him to the top 12.

5.David Hernandez- was really good both weeks, for me. I liked his version of 'Papa Was a Rolling Stone' quite a lot. He's definitely comfortable onstage and has no problem stretching his vocals to swing a few votes.

6.David Cook-The other resident 'rocker' did 'Allright Now' and accompanied himself with his guitar. He sang it well and played adequately. While I liked the fact that he mugged his way around the stage like he owned it, and gave props to the band for their help, his confidence (and lack of charisma) will hurt him unless he pulls in the reigns a bit. People do listen to Simon.

THE BAD:

7.Michael Johns- Austrailian Import has a nice rock vocal but keeps choosing the wrong song. Last night he did "You Can Go Your Own Way", by Fleetwood Mac and it was very yawny.

8.Luke Menard- Steeped in musical theater obviously. His version of Killer Queen sounded like it came straight from the live production of High School Musical. On key? Sure. But this ain't Jesus Christ Superstar.


THE UGLY:

10.Robbie Carrico- So boring. 'Hot Blooded' by Foreigner is a catchy track but it is cheesy...so singing it on AI is inevitably going to sound like karaoke. I'm ready to see the back of him...heh heh.

11.Jason Yaegar-You just can't sing 'Without Love' unless you're fortunaate enough to have the doobies backing you up. It was so bad I cringed. The dancing, the cocky smiles at the camera, it was all so...eeeewww.

Tomorow: The girls!

Music Clip of the Week-Bruce Springsteen/ Girls In Their Summer Clothes

I cannot get enough of this song. Love it. Love...it.

New Ebay Shop...Shop-Boom-Boom

I love discovering new shops on Ebay! This one makes me crazy-happy. I bought the sweet dress above yesterday and though I haven't received it yet, I'm confident it will fit due to the meticulous measurements the shop-owner supplies with each pictured item. The dress above reminds me of something from The Sound of Music or something.

Anyway, I love almost all the dresses and seperates the shop has to offer. The prices are also about HALF what other vintage-reproduction sites would charge and the store's feedback is extremely positive. There was a little black playsuit that I wanted to wear to the Viva Las Vegas car show but I lost out on the bid. So when I emailed Melissa to ask about it, my order was held until she had one in my size to send me...and combined shipping. Yay!

http://stores.ebay.com/shop-boom-boom

Music Clip of the Week-Gene Kelly in It's Always Fair Weather

An often overlooked piece of Kelly's work...and sincerely one of his best!

Not sure what the deal is with the french subtitles but the song is called 'I Like Myself'.

"Vacation, All I Ever Wanted..."

Yes, we have decided to blow our tax refund on two vacations this year. One to Disneyworld in October and this one, to Vegas, in April. The ROckabilly Weekender last year was such a blast, we've decided to make the trip again. The Orleans hotel will be our destination again; we loved it there. We're going to take Victor this time as well, since he'll only be seven months old and not weaned yet. The other boys would love it too but unfortunately, we can't afford the airfare for everyone. I'm so excited to witness the car show again, the jive contest, the pool party, the music...it will be just as great as last year, I'm sure, except this time I won't be sporting a pregnant belly and morning sickness.

The other reason we're definitely making the trip is that we are actually in the planning stages of moving to the area. Boulder City Nevada is the place we are going to check out and we have been checking rental property prices for the past two weeks. IT's a nice area, for sure, but not exactly where we wanted to be-what with the proximity to Las Vegas. We wanted to be a bit farther from there. But because of the great job opportunities in Henderson and Las Vegas, it's a good starting point. We could rent there for a year, during which we could scout around in Arizona and Utah for a more ideal location (St. George Utah seems perfect but the job market is bad). Or, after a year is up, we could decide it just isnt for us and come back to Tennessee. I'm really set on trying it though, because I think it will be a great experience for the kids and a chance to see natural wonders we might otherwise not take the time to visit.

Speaking of travel, I was really torn about the idea of Victor riding in my lap on the plane. I know infants under two don't technically NEED a seat but most websites concerning infant airline safety will tell you that buying an extra seat is preferable due to turbulence. It's no big secret that an infant car seat wouldnt be effective in a crash, but the possibility of injury during the flight would make most parents go ahead and spring for the extra seat. Enter the Baby B'air! (
http://www.babybair.com/). It's a vest that the infant wears which allows you, during flight, to thread your own seatbelt to the back of the infant, thus holding him secure during your trip. According to FAA guidelines, the Baby B'Air is still not approved for use during takeoff and landing, but it has been cleared for use while in flight. So I feel so much better about everything and excited to be taking Victor along on our journey.


We're also really excited to have concrete plans for Disney in October. We had originally decided to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, since the kids would be sure to love it, but since we'll have a stroller and lugging it onto the busses isnt that appealing a thought, we have opted instead for the Beach Club Villas which are attatched to EPCOT and withing walking distance of that park, as well as just a short boat ride from the MGM studios. It is a gorgeous resort, w/ the greatest pool I've ever seen, and though it will probably be a bit more crowded than the AK Lodge, it will definitely be more convenient.

Music Clip of the Week-Sister Rosetta Tharpe: Up Above My Head

Yes, I'm ashamed I discovered her in the movie, Amelie. But hey, a late discovery is better than no discovery at all. She just makes me so happy!

Recipe: Pot Roast New Orleans (aka The Best Pot Roast Ever!)

I've made a few changes to this recipe so I honestly can't say where I originally got it. I view it as 'mine' now...heh heh. If you like Pot Roast, I'll venture to say it doesnt get much better than this...mmmmmmmm.


Ingredients:

One 3 to 4 pound chuck roast (chuck roasts are more fatty but more flavorful)
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp allspice
1 Tablespoon kosher salt
one large onion, chopped
one clove garlic, chopped
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/2 c. vegetable oil
flour
2c. Canned Tomatoes (whole or diced)
1 and 1/2 cup water
2 beef boullion cubes
4 peeled carrots
a few red potatoes, cut in half if extra large
2 or 3 bay leaves.
______________________

Mix spices and salt together. Rub into roast. Combine oinion, garlic, lemon juice, 1/4 cup oil, and vinegar in a dish. Place roast on top, turn to coat, and marinate for about five hours in the refrigerator, turning occasionally. Remove roast from marinade; save marinade. Sprinkle meat w/ flour and brown in remaining 1/4 cup oil in a dutch oven over medium-high heat. After searing roast, add remaining marinade, tomatoes, water, boullion cubes, and bay leaves. Cover and simmer about 2 and 1/2 hours. Add veggies, continue cooking over low heat about 45 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Serve w/ crusty bread and salad.

Makes about 8 servings
Calorie count: 555 per serving (gasp! But hey, you can eat healthy the rest of the day)

Music Clip of the Week: The Old Crow Medicine Show

A couple of great video clips from my heroes, The Old Crow Medicine Show:

But I Really Wanted to Be Myrna Loy...Sigh.

Your Score: Katharine Hepburn

You scored 19% grit, 28% wit, 38% flair, and 26% class!

You are the fabulously quirky and independent woman of character. You go your own way, follow your own drummer, take your own lead. You stand head and shoulders next to your partner, but you are perfectly willing and able to stand alone. Others might be more classically beautiful or conventionally woman-like, but you possess a more fundamental common sense and off-kilter charm, making interesting men fall at your feet. You can pick them up or leave them there as you see fit. You share the screen with the likes of Spencer Tracy and Cary Grant, thinking men who like strong women.

Find out what kind of classic leading man you'd make by taking the Classic Leading Man Test.

Link: The Classic Dames Test written by gidgetgoes on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test View My Profile(gidgetgoes)

Let's Get Together, Yeah Yeah Yeah

Even though it's a little bit of money up front, I've decided to go ahead and renew my membership on Dietwatch.com. Though, at first glance, the 77.00 per year fee might seem to be a bit high, that really only comes to about 1.50 per week-a small price to pay for all you get. Unlike ediets or weighwatchers, Dietwatch does not only cater to those who want to lose weight. It also helps you organize your activities and menu on one easy-to-use page that is ideal for maintaining your weight or keeping track of your progress and fitness goals. Since I thrive on organization and writing things down, this is a perfect set-up for me. Not only does the planner help prevent me from over-indulging, it also motivates me to eat MORE whenever a busy schedule makes it tempting to skip meals. I used this site for a year with good results and without ever taking advantage of their diet plans. And I did maintain my weight somewhat. Right now, I'm on a 'no-restrictions' plan but the cool thing is, if I feel like I want to take advantage of one of their customized diets-I can do so at no additional charge.

There are lots of people using dietwatch. And if you join, you can 'add friends' to find more support and motivation along the way. So what are ya wating for?

'Jine me, friends...Jine Me.'

New Review: Disturbia (2007)

www.movinpitchers.blogspot.com

Music Clip of the Week: Brandi Carlile , The Story

I am an unashamed fan of this woman's incredible voice! Actually made it a point to buy her cd last weekend which was a worthy purchase indeed. She just moves me, I guess. My favorite pop discovery since The Killers...

New Reviews: Hairspray and POTC: At World's End

www.movinpitchers.blogspot.com

Victor is Sweet

The last time I dedicated a post to my new son Victor, he was only a few weeks old and had gone from being a perfect newborn to quite a fussy one. Luckily, that stage lasted only a week or so because since then, he has been the PERFECT baby in every way.

At three months, little VW is almost 16 lbs and cuddlier than the smooshiest teddy bear. He LOVES to be held and snuzzled so I do it all the time. I never feel like I'm spoiling him because even when he's not being held, he is perfectly calm and quiet, gazing about him in that little cross-eyed-trying-to-focus way so endearing in babies his age. He still seems to be an old soul with so much wisdom in his eyes and triple chins. The little strawberry-blonde fuzz on top of his head has multiplied and now lays in a little feathery toupee across his scalp. The perfect peaches and cream complexion he was born with is still very evident and his eyes have remained a lovely steel blue. I can't gush about him enough.

During the day, he sits in his swing or car seat cooing and smiling contentedly until he happens to drift off into a brief nap. He doesnt sleep for long periods during the day and even at night, he seems to be very wakeful. But I guess he's getting enough sleep because even then, he doesnt fuss. Still not close to sleeping through the night though. His eating routine is worked out so that when he eats around 9pm, he doesnt eat again until around 1am...and then again at 5. So I just feed him once during the night, while he's in bed with me. He used to drift of comfortably while he was eating but lately, he's been very fidgety when he's laying beside me so I end up putting him back in his carseat by the bed when he's done. I still haven't been able to get him to sleep for any length of time in his crib. But I keep trying. He just seems to really like being somewhat upright when he's sleeping.

The hand-chewing has started. It will be interesting to see if he begins to suck his thumb or his two fingers, like Nathan. None of my kids would take a pacifier which can be a negative or a positive, depending on how you look at it. A pacifier can be taken away eventually; fingers cannot. Nathan, at 3 1/2 yrs, still sucks his two fingers all the time.

Victor has a great love already for his older brothers and his daddy as well. He watches them closely whenever they're in the room and smiles congenially whenever they attempt to entertain him. He does startle easily though, and that will bring on the most pitiful little curled lip and bout of tears that it just breaks the heart! We've noticed over the past week or so that whenever my husband sniffs or coughs, it scares him into a fit! His whole body jumps and he opens his mouth into a little 'o' until his vocals catch up to it and howls ensue. We really don't know what to do about it...Jonathan has attemped to 'mute' his coughs and sniffs somewhat but that doesnt seem to help as the baby even reacts when his daddy is in another room! Ah well.

I took him shopping Sunday and discovered, a little uneasily, that the child is wearing 6-9 month clothing! Looks like I've got a little viking on my hands.

Music Clip of the Week: Scott H. Biram-Hit The Road

I tried doing a monthly feature last year and kept up w/ it somewhat but I figure w/ all these great videos I've been seeing lately, a weekly feature would be more in order this year. We'll see how long I can keep it up.

Scott H Biram was featured in that documentary I mentioned on my last entry, 'Seven Signs' by Col JD Wilkes (of the Legendary Shack Shakers). The performance was the best part of the film, for me, and made me realize again how great he really is. I've been listening to him like crazy lately. Enjoy the Dirty Ol' One Man Band...Oh! and incidentally, the auto accident footage in the video is Scott's own. He was in bad shape for a while and performed some of his shows from a wheelchair...

Out With the Old, In With the Apes

You know you're getting old when you sleep straight thru New Years.

Last night, after a picnic-style meal of Mexican Take-out on the living room rug, the whole family curled up on the couch to await the ball-drop. Jew dropped off by 9:15. Littlun became obnoxious by 9:30 and was banished to bed. My oldest was determined to stay awake but even a Planet of the Apes Marathon on AMC was'nt enough to keep him alert. He was gone by 11pm. And me? I was comfortably settled in my recliner, cuddling the baby, enjoying the misadventures of Taylor and Dr Zaius, when suddenly I woke up! A quick glance at the tv brought me the realization that Taylor had already damned us all to hell and 'Beneath the Planet of the Apes' was in full swing. 12:31am. Yep, I missed the countdown to 2008 entirely. Ah well. From what I understand, things went just fine without me. And I ended up staying awake until 3am, watching the Apes.

I blame it all on a late Sunday night. My husband and I accompanied another couple to Nashville and enjoyed our first real date in months. We ate sushi in Hillsboro Village and saw the premiere of J.D. Wilkes' documentary 'Seven Signs' (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=97701277) which was disturbing and interesting. Then we went to a nice restaurant for dessert and a 'caucasian' (Dude!) before attempting to head home. I say 'attempting' because after leaving the Sunset Grill, I discovered I'd lost my keys...of COURSE I'd lost my keys! We looked at the theater, the restaurant, and were GOING to search the sushi place, only to find that it was closed. Our only course of action was to have our good friends drive us ALL the way home (over an hour away!) and see if I could find my spare set of keys. I didnt find them so they went on home and left me to stew all night, cursing myself and not getting much sleep. As it turns out, my husband was able to go back to Nashville the next day and lo and behold, there were the keys at the sushi place. Upon further examination, it also happens that I left ALL of my spare keys in the glove compartment of the car...aren't I smart?

Anyway, today was a good day. We went into 'town' as a family and ate lunch and then we got one of those new Hot Lattes from Sonic (since Lebanon/Carthage are still without a Starbucks). By the time we got home, it was snowing heavily and my big beautiful Bernice was running around in circles, being hilarious. The snow has since stopped but ball-drop or not, it was a highly satisfactory start to the year.