Weekly Idol: Top 3 – Semifinals

I so love it that the final three are more rock than pop … more BAM than zip.  I love rock, totally, completely, explicitly … doesn’t matter the generation, be it old school or new, rock just plain rocks my world.

And to have the final three of the biggest pop-fest in America be rockers tells me that my peeps may well be universal. Way cool.

Okay, I’m telling you … Lee blew the night away with two very strong performances, hands down.  Casey then edged Crystal out for second best (in my humble opinion).

Idol’s Selections:

Lee Dewyze, Simple Man … how much do I LOVE that Lee did Skynyrd on AI?  ToInfinityAndBeyond! much!  Skynyrd! And a great job!  Fan-freaking-tastic!

Casey James, Okay, It’s All Right With Me … I’ve never even heard of the song or the artist before, but I loved it. Take a cup of Seger, couple ounces Cocker, just a pinch of Mraz, a tablespoon of 311, and top it off with just a dash of David Grey. Splendid. Gimme more. VOTED OFF

Crystal Bowersox, Come to My Window … not her best, little bit screechy, but solid. I kind of expected more, you know?

Judge’s Selections:

Lee Dewyze, Hallelujah … can I just say that I’m not enamored of this song? It irritates me no end. It just doesn’t strike me as the kind of song to be whispered (or whatever the heck Buckley did to it). Not one of my favorites, so I was all “SUCK!” when Simon picked it. Then my man Lee came out and did a perfect job of it. Best. Rendition. Ever. Actually brought a tear to my eye. Oh, beautiful.

Casey James, Daughters … I totally expected Casey to collapse on this; could they have done any more to set him up to fail? I have to laugh because I was revising my opinion as I was writing it during Casey’s performance.  Didn’t like how he started out, but fell in love by the end. It’s tough to do Mayer, because he’s in a league of his own, stylistically, so you have to really make it different, or duplicate it exactly. I thought Casey was trying (and failing) to duplicate Mayer, until he slipped away and actually did make it his own. Sweet. VOTED OFF

Crystal Bowersox, Maybe I’m Amazed … horrible song choice! Blecht! Poor Crystal didn’t stand a chance; she’s not even remotely this type musician. Wow. Bad week for Crystal.

Seeing as my wishes have been granted in the AI universe lately, I’m going to keep on keeping on wishing for Lee to go all the way … and either Casey or Crystal to runner-up (I’m good with either, although if I have to admit my preference, it’s Casey … that voice!  I love that voice!).

All Aboard!

I am SOOO okay with this ... let's ALL do it!


I'm pretty much done with all the complaining about "illegal aliens". Nope, I'm not a Liberal (actually fairly Conservative, for those of you not already in the know), but I cannot believe all the hoopla about illegal day laborers stealing our jobs, etc.


Really? I don't know about you, but I can't recall the last time I was interested in being paid minimum wage (or below) to do hard physical work. Nope, not even on the radar. I can't paint a house, perform landscaping, pick crops, fix vehicles, build a house/deck, put in a pool, etc.


Which is not to say I'd turn up my nose at the work; if it was all I could find I'd totally be on it. But. I'd have absolutely no idea how to do it! So already a day laborer (e.g., illegal alien) is a better bet than I am!


And the argument that they're going to cost us sooo much money to medically insure ... oh, please. Grow up.


Speaking as someone with a debilitating chronic (and currently) incurable disease that absolutely requires medical intervention to be kept in control, I don't want to be responsible for anyone not getting medical treatment. Ever.


So howsabout we, meaning our Local/State/Federal Government, reign in the pharmaceutical and insurance industries instead of beating up on the littlest of the Little Guys, huh?


And FYI: if you were born in the United States, then you are a U.S. citizen, period. 


Next argument being "but they came here specifically to have an American baby so they can stay, and we can't have THAT!!" 


I happen to agree. My (radical) thought is to document said child as a U.S. citizen, then to work with the birth parents on the best possible solution for this American child, which may be one of the following:

• Move back to the birth mother's country of origin to be raised ... until the age of 18, when the child would be allowed to make his or her own decision on where he or she wanted to live.
• Remain in the U.S. with a relative who is a U.S. citizen.
• Remain in the U.S. as a ward of the state in which he or she was born, to be put up for adoption by a U.S. citizen.
• Create a foster program for these children where they'd be raised as U.S. citizens by U.S. citizens.

There are so many families in the United States that are desperate for a child, why not kill two birds?

Wicked Awesome Poem Wednesday

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

-Lt. Col. John McCrae MD

Blogger Just Peeves Me ... Lately

okay, can i just say how EFFING ANNOYING blogger has been lately, what with all the NOT posting as written insofar as SPACING is concerned?

FAAA-AAA-AAACK!

Weekly Idol: Top 4 – Songs From the Movies

I’m living proof that music frees the soul, because it certainly frees mine. It releases the chains that strap me down in daily life; unwilling to show the emotion that boils directly beneath the surface of the me I let the world see.

For me, music releases dreams to flight and sets the score to the imagination … which is the main reason why I simply love a good soundtrack. If I’m watching a movie (or television series) and the music not only emphasizes the scene but brings a deeper element to life, then that song or score stays with me forever.

My three (you didn’t expect me to have just one, did you?) favorite Masters of Movie Music, mainly due to consistency of excellence, are John Williams, Danny Elfman, and Quentin Tarantino. Although completely different stylistically, they have set the bar for me.

So how did tonight measure up? Weeeeeell, let’s face it, the duets were marvelous:

DUET – Crystal & Lee, Falling Slowly … I love this song, love it, love it, love it; these two started slow and frankly had a HUGE possibility to be horrible, but then they made a magnificent changeover to rock, which (let’s face it) is their shared bailiwick. Looks like I’ll now have three versions of this gem in my iPod: the original artists, Kris Allen, and now these two. Great job; lovely. Best overall performance of the night.

DUET – Casey & Mike, Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman … terrific; almost as good as Crystal's and Lee's duet.

As for the solo performances, here’s how they hit me:

Casey James, Mrs. Robinson … I like Casey more and more every week; that little tremor he gets going; nice, very nice. This was sweet, for reals. I especially liked … almost everything about it. It was like Eddie Vedder meets the Beatles meets Simon & Garfunkel ... I can't wait to hear the full version. Best solo performance of the night.

Lee Dewyze, Kiss From a Rose … not his best performance ever, but nothing wrong with it either; we all know Lee’s pitchy, but for me it enhances his work because it occurs during the moments when the emotions of the ‘first person perspective’ should have impact. Beautiful.

Crystal Bowersox, I’m Alright … hee hee hee heh heh, oh, gasp! It is so flipping fun to watch this little girl GO. She’s like, “make me.” Every. Single. Week. “Make me do it your way, c’mon, make me.” Not. Bloody. Likely. Well done.

(Melodramatic) Michael Lynch, Will You Be There … ergh – bored now; he simply does nothing for me. Nothing (solo, at least … he was swell in his duet, though). VOTED OFF

Hunh, this is more difficult than expected. Based on tonight’s solo performances Michael is done (in my view … I’m sure someone else will get booted, though, because I appear to be all biased against poor Mikey or something, seeing as he annoys the living daylights out of me but the rest of the nation appears to love him).

I want the top three to be Lee, Crystal, and Casey. Who’d a thunkit (um yeah, that, my friends, was sarcasm … I’ve been leaning this way for weeks).

Pssst! Hey Mom ...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!


I LOVE YOU!!


You are the absolute BEST. Ever. Bar none. Period.
And when I grow up , I want to be just like you.

Wicked Awesome Poem Wednesday

I Keep Six Honest Serving Men

I keep six honest serving-men 
(They taught me all I knew); 
Their names are What and Why and When 
And How and Where and Who. 


I send them over land and sea, 
I send them east and west; 
But after they have worked for me, 
I give them all a rest. 


I let them rest from nine till five, 
For I am busy then, 
As well as breakfast, lunch, and tea, 
For they are hungry men. 


But different folk have different views; 
I know a person small ... 
She keeps ten million serving-men, 
Who get no rest at all!

-Rudyard Kipling

Weekly Idol: Top 5 – Sinatra!

I love Sinatra … one of my absolute favorites (among very, very many) is Summer Wind.  Love it, love it, love it.

The thing about Sinatra is he’s iconic, so in order to do well in the AI world on a Sinatra song, I really think you have to  … wait for it … you know I ‘m going there (I have been all season long) … think outside the box, people! CHANGE IT UP, as it were. And what is the deal with Simon? He’s just been phoning it in lately, no?

Okay, tonight:

Lee Dewyze, That’s Life … Best. Of. The. Night. Period.

Michael Lynch, The Way You Look Tonight … fantastic (HAH! you thought I’d be all “SUCKAGE!”, didn’t you?) but I do have a but, and here it is … Kris Allen did it much, much better just last year, and his is my gold standard for AI renditions. But almost the best of the night, with only Lee doing better (you know Lee? My favorite? Yeah, that Lee).

Crystal Bowersox, Summer Wind … my song! MY SONG!! Started slow, but ended beautifully. Yes, the beginning seemed a little too soft for the backing music. But that wrap up? Lovely.  

Casey James, Blue Skies … his voice sounded a little weak (I fully expected Ryan to pull out the infamous AI laryngitis treatment), but I liked it, for real.

Aaron Kelly, Fly Me to the Moon … Very “Glee”, as in … High School Musical, as in … high school musical, as in … simply not good enough.  VOTED OFF

Of those remaining I still favor Lee, Crystal, and then Casey … the rest can go, in the words of Timberlake and (former) crew, “Bye Bye Bye!” But based on tonight's performances, Aaron should be packing his bags (IMHO ... well, not very H at all, really).

Wicked Awesome Poem (NOT) Wednesday

The Song of the Jellicle

Jellicle Cats come out tonight,

Jellicle Cats come one come all:

The Jellicle Moon is shining bright--

Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball.

Jellicle Cats are black and white,

Jellicle Cats are rather small;

Jellicle Cats are merry and bright,

And pleasant to hear when they caterwaul.

Jellicle Cats have cheerful faces,

Jellicle Cats have bright black eyes;

They like to practise their airs and graces

And wait for the Jellicle Moon to rise.

Jellicle Cats develop slowly,

Jellicle Cats are not too big;

Jellicle Cats are roly-poly,

They know how to dance a gavotte and a jig.

Until the Jellicle Moon appears

They make their toilette and take their repose:

Jellicles wash behind their ears,

Jellicles dry between their toes.

Jellicle Cats are white and black,

Jellicle Cats are of moderate size;

Jellicles jump like a jumping-jack,

Jellicle Cats have moonlit eyes.

They're quiet enough in the morning hours,

They're quiet enough in the afternoon,

Reserving their terpsichorean powers

To dance by the light of the Jellicle Moon.

Jellicle Cats are black and white,

Jellicle Cats (as I said) are small;

If it happens to be a stormy night

They will practise a caper or two in the hall.

If it happens the sun is shining bright

You would say they had nothing to do at all:

They are resting and saving themselves to be right

For the Jellicle Moon and the Jellicle Ball.

-T. S. Eliot

Weekly Idol: Top 6 – Shania Twain

Ugh … sigh. If season 9 is any indication, yours truly will not be Idoling it for season 10. Which I guess makes a certain sense.  I mean, I never even watched until season 7 (David Cook, people!!! David COOK!), and that was because he was a local boy. Then I watched again season 8 because there were a number of interesting and unique contestants.

But this year? Meh. Shrug.

Of those remaining I like Lee, Crystal, and Casey pretty much equally, and Siobhan almost as much … but my two favorites were removed from competition long ago (Alex and Lilly, anyone?), so I’m not much invested anymore, especially since Michael and Aaron have managed to hang on so long (insert sad tuba sound effect here).

I know, lots of you think they’re both terrif … phbbt! Lots of you have no taste in music, too. BWAH HAH HAH HAH! Just my opinion, people!

So tonight? Mediocre:

• Casey James, Don’t … wow, beautifully done, lovely.
• Crystal Bowersox, No One Needs to Know … so good; so very, very good!
• Lee Dewyze, Still the One … I feel like his version would have benefitted by a listen to the entire song, as opposed to the Idol Snippet, but I still loved it (I figure at this point you can pretty much tell Lee will have to fall down in an on-stage coma for me to give him a less-than-swell review … so sue me, Lisa knows what Lisa likes).
• Siobhan Magnus, Any Man of Mine … there’s this weird thing where Siobhan’s vocals drop out of existence between the low notes and the BIG BADS, and that’s a little not-cool, but grrl, you so BAM! VOTED OFF
• Aaron Kelly, You Got a Way … sweetly done; too little, too late.
• Michael Lynch, It Only Hurts When I’m Breathing … actually better than usual for Michael, but still not my cup o’ tea; but yes, one of his best (which is not saying much … I’m SORRY, but I’m just not a fan).

Had to force myself to post on this tonight … ended up powering through the tedium not so much for your benefit, as for my slightly OCDish have-to-finish-what-I-started-ism.

And Then There's Mads, Who Couldn't Care Less

Stratton the monkeycat, perched on my shoulders, advising me of his worldview.  If only I spoke Mrow, no?  He’s up there now, purring fit to bust, thrilled with something he surveys in this shoulder-height kingdom of his.  It’s just the mood he’s in tonight … every time I put him down (often) he finds a way to get back up.

And, just to teach me not to remove him from his chosen throne, he keeps digging those daggers most call claws into my back on his way up. He’s declawed up front (oh, shut up … until you’ve had furniture absolutely destroyed by a cat, I don’t want to hear it … besides, he’s an indoor monkeycat, so hind claws are plenty for any escape just-in-case scenario), but those hind daggers are lethal as all get-out.

Harrumph; he must know I’m posting about him, as he’s just left the vicinity with a head snapping leap to the coffee table. The new (to us) coffee table that spent a year plus in the garage. Along with the sofa table, which is now the across-the-front-windows table, seeing as the sofa is of the reclining nature and putting a table behind it would be pure idiocy.

So, where was I? Oh, yeah … aaaand, not to be outdone, Briggsy the monkeycat has just climbed aboard. Blerf. I’ll talk at you later, this typing with monkeycat in lap is even more difficult than with monkeycat around neck.

Wicked Awesome Poem Wednesday

The Tyger

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright 

In the forests of the night, 

What immortal hand or eye 

Could frame thy fearful symmetry? 

In what distant deeps or skies 

Burnt the fire of thine eyes? 

On what wings dare he aspire? 

What the hand dare sieze the fire? 

And what shoulder, and what art. 

Could twist the sinews of thy heart? 

And when thy heart began to beat, 

What dread hand? and what dread feet? 

What the hammer? what the chain? 

In what furnace was thy brain? 

What the anvil? what dread grasp 

Dare its deadly terrors clasp? 

When the stars threw down their spears, 

And watered heaven with their tears, 

Did he smile his work to see? 

Did he who made the Lamb make thee? 

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright 

In the forests of the night, 

What immortal hand or eye 

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry? 

-William Blake

Weekly Idol: Top 7 – Inspire Me!! Go on, MAKE MY DAY!

I definitely notice a better Idol listening experience with the audio through the stereo system (thank you, Dad!!), but I have to say this week was a step down from the previous two … maybe it’s just because the Beatles and the King were such great singers/songwriters, no?

Anyway, here’s what lil’ ole me thought:

Two performances were unbelievably fantastic and, dare I say it, inspiring …

• Crystal Bowersox, People Get Ready … I love when she sings softly, which is often in the ‘group’ performances yet rare in her individual performances, so this was incredible, and I love, love, love that she got swept up in it (prolly ‘cuz I do, too!). Lovely.
• Lee Dewyze, the Boxer … perfectly awesome all the way ‘round; brought a tear to my eye, he put so much emotion into it. Beautiful.

Two other performances were pretty dang good …

• Casey James, Don’t Stop  … great live show, put me in mind of Bob Seger, but may suffer in the not-live arena.
• Siobhan Magnus, When You Believe … not a tune I’m familiar with (I don’t think I’ve ever actually hear it before), but I liked it, and I love that she’s got her own style each week; sweet performance.

The rest of the performances did absolutely nothing for me …

• Tim Urban, Better Days … meh. VOTED OFF
• Aaron Kelly, I Believe I Can Fly … boring.
• Michael Lynch, Hero … cringe, not a very good performance, seemed flat. A lot.

All in all NOT a great episode … not even a good one … but I’m so happy with Lee’s and Crystal’s performances that I’m all good. I will admit, though, that tonight is the first time ever I fast-forwarded through to the end of some of these ‘gems’. Then went back and watched the whole thing because otherwise, my opinion ain’t based in reality. But it was a chore, especially with my bottom three. And I had a very funny (to me) but uncharitable thought about one which I will not share here (it’s unkind, and what has that person ever done to me? Nothing. So no sharing of the funny-but-mean thought) … but it made me laugh out loud, so now I’m checking the interweb to see if anyone else noticed and decided to write it (but I really hope not … did I mention it’s unkind?).

I think the final two will be Lee and Crystal (actually, I hope it will be!).

Crazy Days of Activity and Crankypants

Wow. Been a minute. Haven’t even subjected all y’all to my weekly poetry blogslam in a couple weeks. I have an excuse … a most awesome excuse: some of you were here!!!  Visiting me!!! And I LOVED IT!!!

Now, can we talk about hair? Mine is finally almost all grown out (I’m going for that block-wedge look). After having for the most part very (very) short hair almost my entire life, I find this quite different. Let me just say that the bed head of longer hair is ever so much better than that of short hair, and requires far less work to make presentable.

Longer hair also, I’ve discovered, needs regular conditioning … something I’ve never been too keen on with the shorter hair, but that is perfectly acceptable (even downright necessary) with the longer hair.  Okay, done with the hair talk now.  You gasp with heartfelt joy, I know.

So, multitasking by watching DVR of new Doctor Who (Rah! Rah!) and writing this little postarooni.  Poor little tyke, he told her he’d be back in five minutes, but I bet it’ll be more like five years, seeing as his next companion is currently a child and that will never work. Aaaaand … I am so right. Bet that young officer is Amelia. Bet I’m right. Okay, I’ll stop ‘betting’ and just watch.

Whoa! Fourteen years … didn’t see that long a time coming.

Mom and Dad were here, and can I just say they had me running from sunup to sundown? Those two are energy personified! Human dynamos. Most freaking awesome. Before they ever got here I was commissioned with creating a list of things I needed Dad to fix, and darned if he didn’t blow through said list in about a day and a half. What to do with the rest of the week? I was just making stuff up by the end of their stay. We did so much that I’ve actually forgotten much of it (and by ‘we’ I pretty much mean ‘Dad’) including, but certainly not limited to:

• Figured out the proper size filter for my furnace, and installed it (can I just say that thing is a bitch and leave it at that?).
• Installed wire grid and put new screen on the sliding glass door (I’ve had to install a new screen every year because at some point in the summer one, or both, the dogs generally walk right through it … but the grid is white metal, which they can see, so walking through the screen door is now a thing of the past).
• Hung oak wall cabinet in main bath (bathrooms out here do not have medicine cabinets, but rather giant wall mirrors, making storage a premium).
• Cleaned out the garage. Cleaned! The garage! Including the hanging of multiple shelves and hooks.
• Brought furniture up from storage (where it had languished well over a year) into the living room (it. is. beautiful!).
• Noticed the 50 year old cedar chest had no knobs and used knobs on new furniture to get matching replacements for the chest (why I never thought to replace them I have no idea) … the new ones look lovely!
• Replaced fluorescent lightbulbs in the kitchen.
• Fixed the light/fan in the main bath (turns out it never worked because it was installed wrong).
• Replaced the water valve in the leaking ice-maker.
• Fielded multiple service calls for estimates on other home repairs.

Plus, that last full day they were here Mom was in the laundry room downstairs while I was showering upstairs, and actually found the elusive leak from said shower, which Dad figured out, then Mom and I spent five hours or so driving 122 miles or so to eight or so hardware/pool/home stores searching in vain for the busted part, which Dad eventually found on the internet.

It came in day before yesterday, and I installed it today and ran the shower while I stood down in the laundry room checking for runoff/waterfall. None!! Hoorah! Yet another problem fixed. Home feels like a house again, as opposed to a broken-down shack.

While they were here Mom and Dad got to meet Duders and Vonnie (e.g., Briggs and Stratton) for the first time, and fell in love. I know this because EVERYBODY loves the boys. They are the least feline cats you’ll ever meet … more like monkeys. Little monkeys that like to climb on people and give hugs. You heard it here first: I have monkeycats. Very friendly monkeycats, who like freaking everybody. Fo’ shizz.

And wonder of wonders, Mom and Dad took my desktop tower home with them, to bring up to Mike’s this week so he can see if there’s anything he can do to with it. I had explained that it was taking 23 minutes to log in, then what seemed like hours to do anything once I was logged in … but those kinds of time delays really need to be experienced to be fully understood.  And believe me, they were indeed experienced! Stupid computer slowing down stupidly. Even Mom, one of the most patient people I know, admitted to a desire to fling it out the office window in frustration. Good thing I’ve got this spare work laptop for the nonce.

Oh! And one night we watched the new(ish) Sam Rockwell flick called ‘Moon’ … I highly recommend it. Some plot points were clearly telegraphed, but some absolutely were not, and the similarities to/differences from ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ just made it that much more fun.

And Dad routed my television audio through my stereo, so now that is aaaah-may-zing! For real … I can actually hear the voices over the soundtrack now. No more having to run the closed captioning and read all the lines for practically everything (excluding the news) that I watch. Pure, unadulterated bliss.

Although its cooled off a bit (I actually ran the heat this morning), we had warm enough weather that it reached 80 degrees F inside the house all last week … I even had some windows open overnight. Right now it is windy as all get-out, and is supposed to remain the same most of the week; so Mom and Dad were here during the nice stuff, yay!

Mom and Dad left Tuesday morning, and I, who am trying to get a promotion into a position over at headquarters, had one interview Wednesday, and a second … almost three hour … interview Friday. I’ll find out this Tuesday or Wednesday if I’ve made the cut, in which case it will be stakeholder interviews. Yeah, not worried, me … the stakeholders are only the VP and a couple Directors. Gulp! But I want the job. As I told my boss, there’s no upward mobility for me at the plant level, so if I want to get anywhere with my career I’ve got to move over to HQ (or another company, but I didn’t tell him that, although I’m sure he’s figured it out). I need money, people; I’ve got all the same bills as everyone else, but only the one income to cover them. Sucks. Much.

This job would be perfect for me, and I perfect for it … so I’m kind of using it as a litmus test. If I get it, then I’ll stick around. If I don’t get it, then I need to look elsewhere, because not getting it is what I’ll perceive as an indication I’m going nowhere with this company. It’ll be good to know … ever so much less stressful finding a job when you’re employed.

So, although it’s been a most awesome couple weeks, it has also been a most stressful couple weeks due to immense lack of sleep. You know how I make up for lost sleep on weekends? Yeah, NOT WHEN THE ‘RENTS ARE HERE!! Can’t sleep in with company! Especially company as important as they are! Add to that the work I had to catch up on due to taking a four day weekend, plus having to get up at 5am Friday morning for the (almost three hour) interview and, well, you know … me so tired.

And cranky. Can’t forget cranky. Lisa very cranky when tired. Much like a toddler. Crankypants.