Friday, April 25, 2008

An Idol Rant

Let me go ahead and make a 'shocking' confession. Though I have been known to ridicule the lack of 'reality' in reality television...and have wondered aloud how anyone could possibly schedule their calendars around such a program, I am now one of those people. I have been a closet 'Idol' fan for going on two seasons now.

It actually started three seasons ago when the girls were watching. I didn't really get addicted at that time because I had to be at church on Wednesday nights for teacher's meetings and missed the most important parts. (I did mange to see the episode where Kellie Pickler burst out saying, "Look, there's a pickle with my face on it!) However, last year, our class was participating in a different Bible study than the rest of the classes so I did not have to attend the meetings. I watched in horror as they went through the auditions...and kept watching all the way through the final show. I even cast a few votes!

This year, I decided to skip the auditions. It was just too hard to watch people make a complete fool of themselves on public television in front of millions of people. You can bet that I was tuned in come Hollywood week though...and have missed only one episode since then. I will admit that I sort of cheat by using the DVR to record the broadcast and tuning in about 3/4 of the way into it so that I can fast forward through the commercials. I mean, how many times can you watch the Geico caveman on the moving walkway at the airport and think, 'My, isn't that a clever commercial'?

But I digress, back to the reason for this post.

I have watched people leaving over the past two seasons and have sometimes disagreed with the results...but never so much as this week. I mean what are people thinking? As I watched the performances on Tuesday night I thought that the TOP three would have been (1) Syesha, (2) Carly and (3) David Cook. I have been a huge Carly and David fan throughout the season...Syesha, not so much. But on Tuesday night, I thought she stole the show. Carly rocked it, even though the song she sang is NOT one that I even sort of like. And David...well, this isn't his style at all, but still he pulled off the haunting undertones of the song quite well. Or so I thought.

Evidently most of America didn't see the same show that I saw. Maybe it was the DVR. Maybe it made the three of them somehow better when in 'reality' they weren't...because I have to tell you that when it was announced that Syesha was in the bottom two, I thought 'NO WAY'. Several weeks ago, I could have seen it and would have even agreed to it...but not this week. Then Carly...surely they were kidding us, right? Even if I don't agree with the choices, I can usually see how they came to be. But to have the best two be in the bottom two? Something is wrong with this picture.

I honestly thought that it would be Brooke and Jason in the bottom two. Brianne thought that Brooke would garner the sympathy vote and squeak by...but predicted that Jason and David A. would be the bottom two. (She didn't like that David would change one of her favorite songs from Phantom -- big fan that she is.) We were both shocked at the announcement. When Carly went home I was extremely disappointed. I have found her to be very consistent and entertaining throughout this season. I know that this will not be the last we hear from her. That girl certainly has a future in the entertainment business if anyone else does.

But it has me thinking about the voting process. I know that AT&T is in it for the money. I mean at 99 cents a pop...that's a lot of POP! But who text messages? And who text messages OVER and OVER with no thought to the cost? Ahhhh...young girls with cell phones!! Hence the fact that David A. has never been in the bottom three. Do you see how those girls nearly fall out when he takes the stage? And Jason is quite the cutie with those dimples...though I can hardly see past the dreds.

I think they should change the voting system to one vote per person like several online contests. Maybe then you would feel like your vote actually counted. Of course, that is just my humble opinion...and may cause AT&T to go broke. I know they must be struggling, after all, we only use them for our home phone, our Internet, my cell phone, our work phone and Internet.....

How about you? American Idol fan? Who is your favorite? Another reality show have your attention? Which one? And, if you happen to be one of the last people in the US not addicted to a reality show...well, never say never. It will sneak up from behind and bite you every time.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Bluebonnets and Allergies

We have had the most amazing week as weather goes. It has been absolutely beautiful with cool breezes blowing. The temperatures have been cool in the mornings (Monday morning we had frost on the windshields) with mild afternoons. I have definitely gotten use of the convertible this past week. I drop the top every evening for the drive home and let the wind blow the stress and worries of the day away. It is an awesome drive once I get outside of Houston...lots of curves and scenery on the two lane roads.

Not a lot to report from last week. We have all been keeping busy with work or school. We had friends in for the weekend. On Saturday the guys golfed and us girls went in search of bluebonnets. Unfortunately, they didn't do as well in our area this year and are just about gone. The new picture in the sidebar is from a gorgeous field in Grimes County. Today I am suffering from allergies and have been sleeping since Debbie gave me some Sudafed. That stuff works wonders! I have been taking another medication for the past week, but it just doesn't work and I can't sleep more than three or four hours before I need another dose.

Well, I just took the Chicken Pot Pie out of the oven...so I need to go call the crew for dinner. I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Friday, April 18, 2008

Blame It On The Cookies

As sick as I am sure you all are of hearing about my fortune cookies...I have at least one more to share.

Two weeks ago I received this message via the 'all knowing' cookie:

You will attract cultured and artistic people to your home

As it turns out, in less than two weeks after receiving that message we hosted our annual company crawfish boil at our house. Here are few pictures from the day:

The crew, minus the kiddos who were too busy playing to have their picture taken.


The CFP family, minus one of our fearless leaders who went back to eating

Gathering for the horseshoe tournament rules


Boys being boys


It was a perfect Saturday for a party!

I will not try to designate who were the cultured and who were the artistic...but they were all a lot of fun! We should do this again sometime soon.