What's up besides Idol?

Mundane life!

Been actually keeping up with the yard work this year. I'm slowly making progress in getting ahead of some of the bushes and such that really need to be culled back. I'm much happier with the back yard, and the kids have been out there very regularly so far.

I'm playing World of Warcraft again. I know Chelle is frustrated with it. I've been pushing to catch two friends who recently restarted as well. Once we are sync'd up things will settle down.

I also ordered a whole mess of books through Amazon.com. I ran out of topics that I could get from the library. These probably don't pass muster with the liberal filter applied when getting books that kids might read. For the first time I tried the used book section. The first one that showed up was in spectacular condition for and at a large discount. So this could work out well.

Obligatory Idol Post

My gut says finally Brooke is toast. But one of her songs was actually decent.
Jason was woefully bad with both.
Makes me think that Syesha can pull out a miracle 3rd place with her good performances the last couple weeks.

Cook had 2 very nice songs, but Archeletta had 1 good and 1 spectacular.. so, its still a die toss between them.

Who cares!

So.. the next 4 weeks on Idol are worthless. The final two will be David and David.
This week Brooke is so totally toast, with her botch job.
Carly has sunk and is gone next week if she doesn't surprise, and then Syesha would go instead
Jason will hang to the number 3 spot.

But I don't even care about any of them.

NOOOOO! Kristy gone... pout

Well.. earlier I had predicted she would be #7 and she was. The only surprise is that Syesha is on and Mike isn't. Now that both Chelle and my lust objects are eliminated, you'd think we would can the show... nu-uh. I guess I'll have to pine for my #2 Syesha, even though she is gone next week, two at the most. Chelle has this goofy thing for Jason. I think it's because she is really thinking of Ronan from Stargate (dreadlocks). Who knows someday we might actually vote.. Oh wait... I'm pretty sure Chelle did make a handful of calls one week for some performer who I can't remember.

And what is up with the writing a message on your hand. Granted I feel for Eliot's loss, but there has to be a better way.

I also peeked at High School Musical before Chelle made it out to watch the show. We got it from netflix for Audrey to watch at her sleep over this weekend. Seemed ok, just seems strange that 1st graders are all into watching high school aged people. Hannah Montana, HSM, Bratz... So many other parents we know have allowed it for their girls exactly Audrey's age, so - oh well.

Family walk/stroll/roll

Chelle prompted the family into a walk. On the way out the door, I had a wild idea. Wear the Rollerblades I hadn't touched in like 7 years. So we go around the 2/3 mile loop with me pushing the stroller, Kaeden loved it. He was gripping the stroller tight since it was faster than he was used to, but he was laughing.

When we got back home, Chelle put her blades on and we went for a longer greenbelt/park trip. At the far end, Chelle gets this idea to get her prescription from Walgreens which was only an extra 1/4 mile or so. Without wallet (but they have us on quickpay) and no shoes (they let me go sock-footed) we picked it up and then cruised back home. Kelden was puttering out with only two blocks to go, and it was getting on the dark end of dusk. Was a good time and the kids crashed hard and fast into bed.

Big shocker - yea I know

So Mike Johns is gone - nobody saw that coming. You could tell from the incredulous shocked looks on everyone's face. But it's understandable. It's the same reason why one of the 3 divas got dropped early in like season 2. He has far too much overlap (Cook, Carly = rockin, and an overloaded male talent pool) and people expected him to stay. So people voted for their 2nd choice to keep them safe and wham... perfect storm, enough votes drained to leave him hanging.

This week.. was another yawner. The skinny is - Brook, Syesha and Carly are on the bubble. Carly had so much early talent, but she has been in the game for a long time and had no room to grow, she hasn't gone up and it shows. Syesha is out of her league, it's ok.. she is a decent singer and incredibly hawt! She will definitely get a gig somewhere. Brook is artistic, but she is a church mouse... she's got no confidence and it shows. I called pitch problems, pacing problems and a quavering (scared) tone to her voice... all three were called out by the judges. She was scared and it caused her to rush her song. She has far more talent, but she isn't a star, not like they are looking for on idol... she'd do great performing at a 5 star restaurant or formal functions.

It's now a story about the two David's you have the young and vocally superb Archeletta and the spicy, creative Cook. Both are going to be block buster sellers. I think Archeletta will win due to his age and the tweeniebopper factor. He is a boy band front man for sure. Cook, while artistically more interesting may find his sales nitch a bit more restricted.

Jason and Kristy - Kristy did about as much as she could with the week theme, far better than I thought. Basically she stretched a triple out of a hit to the far right field corner. Jason was fine. I didn't dig it. I'm sure he is fine with his share of tweenieboppers he is fighting David for.

This week on Idol

YEAH! - Kristy blew one away, saves her for a week. Syesha and Carly had the weakest performances of the night, I expect Carly has enough solid fans to keep her from dropping out. Syesha is a gonner. Archeletta was super. Brook, Mike and Kristy were solid. Wife and I parted ways on Jason - yea he sung his song pretty well, but I thought it a bit weak as an inspirational pick (week's theme). OH and Cook was horrendous this week, but again... he has been amazing so many other weeks, there is no way he is getting the boot.

Syesha = gone, bottom 3 easily
Carly has flirted with the bottom before and on her weak night she will be bottom #2
I think Kristy hasn't solidified a large fan base and has been habitually in the bottom. Fair chance she will be bottom #3 again.
We could get bottom surprised by Cook, Brook (been there before), Jason (been there before)

Right now the final 3 is Archeletta, Johns and Cook - nobody else is even close, though Brook and Jason have very unique qualities and loads of musical talent that may make up for their lack of showmanship or vocal gaps.

HA! - just looked at dialidol.com and they have Kristy and Jason in the safe range with Cook, Johns and Brook at risk. So I guess I'll lock in Brook as Bottom #3

Busy weekend

Got so much done this weekend. Pulled out one of the Ficus stumps, did 80% of the rerouting of the irrigation, mowed of coarse. I finally got to replacing the main sink faucet, that had been encrusted. Whoever designed the faucet had plumbers local 421 in mind... holy cow, was it a bear to get out. I literally had to cut the lines with snippers and a hacksaw, because there was no way I was going to be able to get the assembly apart. Kudos to Home Depot though. The replacement faucet was a dream to put in, works great.

I also exercised my butt off, not all of it directly exercise. Was able to bike both mornings for my 40 minutes. But did an hour of ice skating and two serious episodes of dance dance on Sunday. In addition to the axing and shoveling... it all added up.

Audrey and Sydney had fun skating... but hot cocoa at Starbucks afterwards was the trip. They wanted a table to themselves and they really snootied it up. It was very cute... but can't imagine what it will look like in 8-10 years.

Idol - guessed right again!

Yeah - I knew Ramiele was a gonner. I fear Kristy's time is very near. She is neck and neck with Syesha for being voted off. Though I think a fluke vote could put Jason or Brooke out before her, but I don't think that will happen.

Stay tuned!