Hi, Aaron.
If you watched LOST tonight, you know why I’m freaking out!
Freaking. Out.
Fuh. Reeking. OUT.
¿Y tú?
Da Boot #1
The video was very cool…another great song by Daughtry.
Group performance = trainwreck
The first guy (?) to go – Garrett. Buh and bye.
The first girl to go – Amy. I have to agree with this one as well.
Okay. I’m not afraid to admit it. I like that Paula Abdul song. And the video. There. I said it, okay?
Girl #2 – Wow. I didn’t see that one coming at all. I was hoping to see more from Joanne…
Guy #2 – I’m surprised by Colton leaving as well. There were FAR worse performances Tuesday.
Until next week…
The Ladies Take The Stage
Let’s get down to it…
Kristy Lee Cook: I’ve liked her so far, but she’s not doing anything for me tonight. The tempo is too slow. The vocals are average. In a word – Boring.
Joanne Borgella: The beginning of the verses are too low for her. I like her voice, but the performance was a bit rough. I was expecting a bit more from her.
Alaina Whitaker: She is annoying me to no end. Don’t bank on your birthday to make it through. Hopefully the performance will be better than the talking. Well, I do think she’s the best so far, but that’s not saying much. *sigh* The talking. She’s killing me with the talking…
Um, did Paula say it was a very dreadful experience when Diana Ross sang that song? Huh?
Amanda Overmyer: I love her, but I want to see her do something more. Weird song, but there’s something about her I dig.
Amy Davis: Yikes. Terrible start. Terrible middle. Terrible key change. Make. It. Stop.
Brooke White: I have really liked her so far. I hope she does me proud! Me likes! Something about her just makes me smile. The most polished so far…
Alexandréa Lushington: The most animated thus far, but I could do without all of the shoulder shrugs and the falsetto. Better than most tonight, but not fantastic.
Kady Malloy: The Britney impersonation was spot-on. Creepy, but spot-on. I love her voice, but she’s not nailing the notes. Just okay.
Asia’h Epperson: I have loved her thus far and I think so far she’s the best tonight. By a mile.
Ramiele Malubay: I like her voice, but I’m over the slow lounge songs for tonight. Enough already.
Syesha Mercado: She’s been great thus far. I like her spunk. Syesha – help a brother out. I think I liked her better than Asia’h. FINALLY someone who can own it.
Carly Smithson: What can I say? I like a girl with an Irish accent. I liked her performance too. It was dynamic and I love her voice.
Whew! With the exception of the last two ladies I have to say, the guys were way better than the girls this week. WAY.
The Pack Your Bags List:
Amy Davis
Kristy Lee Cook
In It To Win It:
Amanda Overmyer
Brooke White
Asia’h Epperson
Syesha Mercado
Carly Smithson
My faves – Syesha and Carly.
How ‘bout you?
And So It Begins…
Ah, the sweet smell of winter. Morning flurries, wind chill factors, and the first night of competition on American Idol! Yes, kids, tonight begins the war of the 24. The men compete tonight and the ladies tomorrow night. Based on Hollywood week I have some favorites but I’m trying to be unbiased tonight. Here goes nothin’…
David Hernandez: He has a great voice, but he’s kinda boring. Doesn’t light up the stage at all. And that ending – crash & burn. Ouch.
Chikezie: Rough start. Rough suit. Rough song choice. And when did I miss the “pop the blazer collar” trend? Maybe I’m showing my age, but it just looks like a mistake to me. And Simon just called him Jacuzzi. LOL!!!
David Cook: I’m glad the hair has changed since auditions and Hollywood. I’ve been looking forward to hearing him tonight. I like the song and the arrangement and the wardrobe. And the vocal. Very original. Me likes, all around.
Jason Yeager: I don’t remember much of him from earlier in the season. “Moon River” is one of my favorite songs, but he butchered it. It reminded me of a bad cruise ship bar performance. Not good. R to the ough. And he played the dead grandmother card. Nope.
Simon just said CRUISE SHIP. Kinda makes me smile that we agreed on that but kinda scares me as well.
Robbie Carrico: I liked him in the auditions. Curious to see what tonight is like. Love this song as well…His persona doesn’t really match the voice, does it? He confuses me…looks like a rocker but sounds very pop. Good performance though.
Simon just said the same thing about the rock/pop dichotomy. I promise I’m typing as I watch, not waiting for Simon to speak.
David Archuleta: I LOVE him. Can’t WAIT to see this! He has that cute-as-a-bug-put-him-in-my-pocket appeal. He started out kinda nervousish but he clicked in. LOVED HIM!!! He may just get my vote tonight.
Danny Noriega: Annoyed the crap out of me up until now. We shall see… Well, I hate to admit it but I enjoyed his performance tonight. But those pants kind of fit him weird, no?
Luke Menard: I don’t really remember him either. Rough start. And I can barely hear him. For the love of amplification, SING OUT. And that ending. Blech. My next door neighbor’s dog just howled. Just rough all around.
Colton Berry: Not sure what I think about him yet. Is it me, or does he sound like Boy George? Not that it’s a bad thing, I’m just sayin’. Good performance. Not fantastic, but good.
Garrett Haley: Who is this hairy kid? Has puberty hit yet? And eat a burger, kid, before you blow away. Another weak, boring, rough performance. Me no likey.
At.
All.
Jason Castro: Dreads are just cool, right? I’m digging his vibe. And he’s playing the guitar. I REALLY like him. Possibly the most unique guy in the competition. Two thumbs UP.
Michael Johns: I was a fan of his from the first audition. There’s some kind of Michael Hutchence / Jim Morrison thing going on. But nice, not creepy. And look at that! He’s doing a Doors song. He has GREAT charisma and doesn’t try too hard. Loved it!
To summarize:
The “Out Of Their League” List
Chikezie
Jason Yeager
Luke Menard
Garrett Haley
The “In It To Win It” List
David Cook
David Archuleta
Jason Castro
Michael Johns
Thoughts?
Quitter’s Day
My friend Paula was my main contact at World Vision UK. We worked together with some regularity and it was always a pleasure. Last Friday was her last day at WVUK. I had been giving her a hard time about quitting, all in good fun of course. The following email and subsequent exchange are the culmination of a month of friendly jousting. Me – waiting for a a flight home in the Tulsa International Airport. Paula – boxing her personal effects from her cubicle in an office in Milton Keynes, UK…
—–
From: Michael
To: Paula
Subject: Quitter’s Day
In honor of our last day as colleagues, I looked and looked for Quitter’s Day cards at the local card shop but they didn’t know what I was talking about. So I quit looking. And you know what? I think you’re onto something. It made me realize what is wrong with the world today. If everyone would just embrace the quitter in them as you have there would be fewer - or at least shorter - wars. There would be more jobs available. Less overcrowding in schools. The student/teacher ratio would be far more desirable. There would be less of a wait in the grocery store check out line. Less traffic. Less poverty because people would quit having so many kids. Less obesity. I could keep listing benefits of quitting but, well, I quit. If only more people knew what YOU knew. What WE know. Quitting is King. Or Queen, on your side of the pond.
I salute you.
M
—–
From: Paula
To: Michael
Subject: RE: Quitter’s Day
Dear Sir
Firstly, I should like to thank you for your ‘quitters’ communication, however I do feel I should point out there is a misplaced apostrophe in the title. As I understand it, if one is referring to quitters, plural, one should place the apostrophe after the ’s’, not preceding it. Glaring grammar inadequacies aside, I do however agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment contained in said communication. Indeed, if the world was simply to quit, world wars, poverty and uhm, mold would cease to be an issue. I am exceedingly gratified to know that in my last day of employ at World Vision, I have at last stumbled upon the solution to the world’s problems.
Yours, most quittingly,
P
—–
From: Michael
To: Paula
Subject: RE: Quitter’s Day
While I can see how you might be confused by the placement of the apostrophe in Quitter’s Day, it is, in fact, accurate as the day is in honor (or honour, in the Queen’s English) of the first, solitary, trailblazing quitter…you. Quit being so humble. Oh, wait. Like I have to remind YOU to quit ANYTHING…
p.s.
Might I also suggest to men worldwide that white trousers are best purchased with a liner and worn with lightly colored (or coloured, in the Queen’s English) undergarments? And if neither of these suggestions is met with a positive response, please avoid leaning over the back of the seats at gate 59 in the Tulsa International Airport.
At.All.Costs.
I mean REALLY…
—–
From: Paula
To: Michael
Subject: RE: Quitter’s Day
Ah yes, Dodgy Underpant Man - a type of anti superhero us Europeans are very familiar with. Symptoms vary from the white trousers/black undies combo through to football shirt worn under formal white business shirt and worse, white socks worn with shoes which are not suitable for sporting activities. One can only assume these men do not have mirrors.
Or wives.
you can’t keep a good blog down…
Well, after a slight mishap with not being able to update my credit card info with my previous host (don’t get me started), I was forced to scrap the old beonkey.com and start anew. Looking forward to writing MUCH more this year! M
You Know You’ve Been On The Planet A While When…
…you have dinner with one of your dearest and most long-time friends and it hits you both that you can speak of your friendship in terms of decades. Plural.
And yes, as soon as I get home I’ll find the photos to prove it to you.
My Mama Says…
My incredibly wise mother sent this quote to me in the mail this week. There’s something about receiving it in the mail, on actual paper, that made even more of an impact on me…
“Dear Michael,
I had never heard this by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and I was struck by how appropriate it is for me…and maybe you?
Loving you always,
Mom”
Be not the slave of your own past - Plunge into the sublime seas, so you shall come back with self-respect, with new power, with an advanced experience, that shall explain and overlook the old.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
