American Idol bandwagon - 36 Group 1

Okay I am forced to now blog about my American Idol thoughts. I'm a little frustrated after last week (hello? Tatiana?), and I'm even more frustrated right now at their thoughts for how we get to the Top 12. At first, I thought it was going to be a pretty neat new development. The top male and female voting earners in each of three groups of twelve these next three weeks...plus the next top earner in each group...and then a final three from a wildcard round. BUT - Y'all, Danny and Anoop are in the same group! And Michael-the-Roughneck! What is a girl to do? Carrying on...here goes nothing:

01 - Jackie Tohn, singing "Little Less Conversation" - First, let me say, Olivia Newton John much? Anyone else taken back to the end of Grease by her outfit? I thought she was entertaining, and not a horrible singer, but she didn't do much for me. I agree with the judges.

02 - Ricky Braddy, singing "Song For You" - Who is this kid and why haven't we seen him before? That boy can SANG. Once again, I agree with the judges, and especially Simon, that he won't make it through because he's not been featured enough. No "star quality." And I think I'm going to call him Ricky Bobby from here on out, because SHAKE & BAKE!

03 - Alexis Grace, singing "I Never Loved A Man" - she can sing, too. Maybe one of my favorite females so far. And I do love her pink tips in her hair.

04 - Brent Keith, singing "Hick Town" - There is possibly not another song tonight that seems to fit a contestant more. He is so cute (hello, dimples), but I'm not sure he can roll on past the other boys with that. Again, I do agree with the judges.

05 - Stevie Wright, singing "You Belong With Me" - Hm. Stevie. Bad song choice, I think, and weak vocals (which, don't hate me, but is characteristic of Taylor's songs). I think the nerves hit her HARD. And hello? -Is that Paula, making real, constructive criticism? Also, I'm totally proud of her for not crying on national television. Bravo, Stevie.

06 - Anoop Desai, singing "Angel of Mine" - I love his R&B singing, but I wish he had sung something a little more upbeat and BLOWN THE DOORS OFF. I think that boy can sing. And may I please just say that he totally doesn't look like he can sing? That's my favorite. I also love that he is so well-spoken. That's all.

07 - Casey Carlson, singing "Every Little Thing [S]he Does Is Magic" - I don't think it was as fun for me as she had hoped. I love the song, but I think she cheesed it up a little bit. She doesn't have the "cool" to sing The Police. All in all, it wasn't fantastic for me. Judges, we are of one mind this evening.

08 - Michael Sarver, singing "I Don't Wanna Be" - I like the words of this song for him. I do wish he had sung more of a singer's song. I think he had a couple of pitchy moments, which makes me very sad because I do love him so.

09 - Ann Marie Boskovich, singing "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" - C'mon, girl, if you're going to sing it, you've got to SING IT! I don't think she really worked it. But I could be friends with Ann Marie, I think. It's too bad since I don't think she'll be on the show much longer. Or really should be. I do love looking at her sitting next to Ryan. (: Love that shawty!

10 - Stephen Fowler, singing "Rock With You" - I do love some old school MJ...but I don't think he really hit it. It was a little boring in my opinion. I'm glad he admitted he wasn't yet comfortable singing without the piano, because it felt like it. It's too bad.

11 - Tatiana Del Toro, singing "Saving All My Love For You" - I just can't get past her personality. She's got some power to her voice, but it was a little pitchy in some parts. Overall, not too shabby but I want her gone. I'm sorry.

12 - Danny Gokey, singing "Hero" - My word I love his voice. Just a little bit of grit. Delightful, though I wasn't crazy about the song choice at first. And then, he kicked it! Thanks for that. Hello, my favorite.

Okay I think I might have to vote now. I will say this final thing: It drives me CRAZY when they boo Simon. Hello, general public? - Simon is almost ALWAYS RIGHT. That's all.

Thank you, and goodnight. (:

Belated Valentine

Three posts in one month!  Must be some kind of record for me...at least for this year.  (: 

My life lately has been a little lackluster.  I don't have a whole lot to say except a play-by-play of my weekend.  Woo hoo!  De-lightful.  The boy was in town for Valentine's Day.  I was quite happy to spend some quality time with him since it's been a little while since I've seen him.  We got to catch up on some TV Friday evening, because that's what all the hot couples are doing these days.  (:  We are both fans of The Office, Burn Notice, and Psych, so we watched all three. 

All I have to say about The Office is this - SHE LICKED THAT CAT.  Oh my word, I like Angela less and less these days.  But I still love the Creed quotes: "$7,000 for a cat? I can get you a kid for that."   

Burn Notice is one of the most delicious shows ever.  Not only is it filmed in my fair state, but those characters are the ultimate in COOL.  And they drive cool cars.  And they like mojitos.  And they kick some bad-guy boo-tay.  This week Michael got stuck in a bank heist and had to ruin the robbers' lives.  Not only did he overpower a cell phone jammer by hot wiring a broken phone to a massive ethernet cable, but then he froze the inside of a gun with liquid nitrogen so that it broke apart INTO the shooter's hand, plus Fiona got to blow up some stuff.  Delicious.

Since it was on Friday the 13th, Psych was creep-tastic this week!  All psycho killer stuff and I will admit that I jumped a few times.  I love Gus and his attempts at bravery.  That show is some good comedy. 

On Saturday I tried my hand at making my favorite sugar cookies.  All for my man.  I've loved these sugar cookies for my whole life and I would like everyone to know that I made them FROM SCRATCH.  I made that dough and I let it chill and I rolled it out and I baked it and then I iced them with the icing I also made from scratch.  However, there was no heart-shaped cookie cutter in the whole of Tallahassee so they were just...round.  Boo.  Because I am so dedicated, I free-handed two hearts.  Anyway, I went over to his house and we made homemade pizzas together - and they were DELISH.  Then we played some Wii and watched Get Smart.  I think that movie is hilarious.  Here are some of my favorite V-Day pics:

Yes, I took a picture of them baking in my oven.  I'm proud of it.  Don't judge me. 

 

The finished product: 

Thank you, everyone, I am a "bodybuilder" in the Wii Fit.  As evidenced here: 

And I have been sick with a fluish head cold ever since.  It was a good weekend, folks, and totally worth it.  Hopefully this week will be good, but even if it isn't I've got next weekend in Atlanta to look forward to!  I can't even stand the excitement.  

TV weekend

And now, I would like to comment on the Grammy's.  

Starting with, "Let's Stay Together."  Al Green, I love you.  And you've still got some CHOPS!  

And of course, now my TV isn't working, and I get no picture.  I will try my hardest-best not to throw something.  Thankfully I can still get the sound, enough to be listening to Carrie Underwood right now.  It's really too bad that girl can't sing.  Seriously.  She is one of my favorite singers ever.  But I wish she had sung a less...shall we say...trampy song.  But still.  The girl is out of control good!

And now, for my soapbox.  I like Sugarland, I do.  They are a mystery to me, since the way she sings drives me a little nuts but I LOVE all their songs.  But I am so angry that they won a Grammy for that song.  I hate that song.  Sure, the melody is pretty, but she is singing about being the "other woman."  Why is that okay?  Stink.  I love Lady A the best and I'm sad they didn't win.  I would've been ok with Rascal Flatts, too.  But whatever.  Sugarland...  you cut me deep, Shrek.  

Okay and my cable is officially freaking out.  I've got nothing right now.  But I still haven't thrown anything, so I consider my evening a success.  

Hello, bandwagon

25 Random things about me:

1. I love doing this stuff, but I do not like feeling obligated to do so. Nor do I like obligating anyone else to do so.  Thus, if you'd like to share 25 things about yourself, feel free, and I will love to read it!

2. I like challenging myself and I do not enjoy being told I cannot do something. This is most especially applicable when it comes to feats of strength and agility. Scrappy? Yes.

3. I love the water. I love to swim and ski and boat and just be close to the water. This is possibly what I miss most about living in Tallahassee - I miss the beach and the lakes and the rivers in and around OP! 

4. I wish I could play the piano by ear. I took piano lessons for 8 years and I love to play. Except I stink. I am constantly amazed at how much my ability to play my old songs is based purely on muscle memory. 

5. I have always wanted to work in covert ops. I love a spy game and I once tried to tail someone. 

6. My lifelong dream is to be a backup singer. 

7. My other lifelong dream is to be a record producer. 

8. My other lifelong dream is to be the "professional driver, closed course" on the car commercials.

9. I named my dog George, though she is a female. This is because of the Nancy Drew novels. I love Nancy Drew. Nancy loved her BFFs, Bess and George, both females. George also liked feats of strength and agility - she was awesome. 

10. I like math. 

11. I am not a girly girl. I'm making peace with that. But I LOVE clothes. I LOOOOVE J.Crew. 

12. I am not a fan of talking on the phone. I like to say what needs to be said, but I am not a chatter. 

13. I don't know how to dress in the winter.

14. I laugh silently. It frustrates me because I do not feel it adequately expresses my enjoyment of the funny.

15. I have a touch of the OCD. Not the clinical kind, though.

16. I am a rule-follower by nature. However, if I'm going to follow rules I'd like for there to be a POINT.

17. It's true, I enjoy manual labor. This perhaps stems from my love of World Changers. I love roofing and construction because I like making something and seeing the results of working hard.

18. I like matching my underwear to the rest of my outfit, even though no one else will know but me. And I do the same with argyle socks. 

19. If I ever build my own house, I will have an outdoor shower. 

20. I think I would be a great architect. 

21. I once had a "moment" with God, sitting in the parking lot of the Tallahassee Mall at sunset. I love Him best at sunset ever since.

22. I hate being videotaped, but I would make an exception only to be on What Not To Wear. Clinton, Stacy, and I would have SO much fun!

23. I have been to at least 5 Point of Grace concerts. Don't judge me. 

24. "What I'm saying is all I really want is someone to hold me and tell me that everything is going to be all right."  I like using movie quotes in my everyday conversations.

25. Sometimes I like to pretend I'm in a Cosby lip-sync. 

and p.s. I love facebook.  (:  

Love,

With an assist from Lea

I sometimes need a kick in the behind.  I cannot write to save my life lately.  It is a vicious cycle, ladies and gentlemen...not having anything to write about, then not writing, then having stuff to write about and not knowing how to say it, and then getting out of the habit.  So anyway, here I am today.  I haven't written anything since "Merry Christmas."  For SHAME.  

So I mentioned a cute boy who happened to have redesigned my blog.  That was a highlight of the Christmas season.  And see?  He is cute:

  

That's us at the wedding of the century, before we left town for the holidays.  It has been termed "wedding-palooza" because some friends of mine from church got married and asked our praise team to sing about 7 songs, total.  At first I thought it was a little much but it now marks not only the start of their life together, but the most fun we've ever had singing together.  I'm telling you, there was some worship happening, and it was awesome.  So anyway, there's that.  

I was home with my parents (and their parents) for the holidays and we actually had a little more drama than I find is really necessary for our family.  But we survived, and it was good times.  I received contributions towards my new favorite toy...a new MacBook.  It. Is. Delightful.  I'm thinking I want to get one of these.  Any thoughts? 

Ok and then after the holidays I had to go back to work.  It's not my favorite work.  I'm praying about that.  But it is a job, and make no mistake, I'm thankful to have it.  I've just been plugging along at that for a little while. 

Meanwhile, my favorite TV shows are all officially back on!  New episodes of The Office, Psych, and Burn Notice have been keeping me busy.  I was growing weary of holiday marathons.  Now, everyone pretty much loves The Office (right, Robyn?), but if you are reading this and have never seen Psych or Burn Notice, please do so right now.  Hulu is your friend.

 

More on Psych and Burn Notice later.  Probably with some American Idol thrown in there for good measure.  This has been rough.  Thanks for sticking with me.  Hopefully I'll get back in the swing of this soon.  (:  Leave some love if you'd like.  

Merry Christmas

I would like for everyone to have a very Merry Christmas!

Also, please notice that I have an awesome boyfriend who surprised me with a re-designed blog. Is he spectacular or what? Thanks, TP. (:

It's my caprese salad

I stinkin' love The Office. I am stinking right now at this whole updating-of-the-blog thing, but I'm going to try and give a nice run-down soon. I just had to get one her and spill my guts over tonight's episode. WHY IS IT SO FUNNY? For me, it wasn't even as funny or as quotable as the past few episodes have been. A little lackluster, people. Until that outro. Number one, Ryan is an IDIOT. Number two, I LOVE JIM AND PAM (but I was so nervous when he took her to the house). Number three, the art studio?!!--that is so hot. Number four, Michael totally screamed when he saw Toby. Though I am holding onto my love of Holly-for-Michael, I will be glad to get back to his crazy, outspoken hatred of Toby. It makes me laugh a lot. Okay and number five, Creed...when the cops came in. My word he is insane. And funny.

Okay so I always have to re-run my favorite quotes:

Michael: Well I do have cause. It is be-CAUSE I hate him.

Michael (to camera): You wanna see some real high caliber acting? Well, Mr. Kurt Russell, you are about to be served.

Jim: Why'd you come in here?

Dwight: To socialize. And inform.

Dwight: What is my perfect crime? I break into Tiffany's at midnight. Do I go for the vault? No. I go for the chandelier. It's priceless. As I'm taking it down, a woman catches me, she tells me to stop. It's her father's business. She's Tiffany. I say no. We make love all night. In the morning, the cops come and I escape in one of their uniforms. I tell her to meet me in Mexico, but I go to Canada. I don't trust her. Besides, I like the cold. Thirty years later, I get a postcard. I have a son, and he's the Chief of Police. This is where the story really gets interesting. I tell Tiffany to meet me in Paris, by the Trocadéro - she's been waiting for me all these years; she's never taken another lover. I don't care. I don't show up. I go to Berlin. That's where I stashed the chandelier.