hello

Apparently I'm due for a new post.

I can promise you without equivocation, though, that if each time you came here looking for mindless drivel you went instead to Stuff Christians Like, your lives would be enriched.

Thank you for your prayers, though, and your not-so-subtle prompting (in the case of my darling oldest daughter). I think having my hubby actually leave his first ever comment since I wrote my first post in January 2005 was the shocking event that finally motivated me. I'm not even going to attempt to bring you up to date. If my life has not been interesting enough even to myself, I am quite certain no one would be entertained in the least in the retelling of it.

It hasn't just been a blog writing drought. I haven't read anything, either, even from my favorites. So if Pioneer Woman is pregnant or if BooMama has dyed her hair blue, I wouldn't know. It's been a pretty comprehensive computer avoidance on the whole. Weird. And unexplainable, so I won't try.

Danny is done with school. He graduates this Thursday. He's so happy. Susannah was asking me what my favorite day of the year is and I really have to say that for me each year, it's the last day of school. It is just so freeing -- so exhilarating. The thought of a whole summer ahead to sleep in and laze around eating popsicles with no schedule and no demands. Christmas is fun, but Christmas is work, and expectations and shopping. The other kids still have two more weeks, which seems unbearable at this point. I don't think kids should have to be in school in June.

My mom has found her purpose in life -- sweeping our driveway. She's a sweeping zealot. This time of year we have all kinds of stuff falling from our abundant tree population, but by golly it doesn't have a chance to accumulate with my mom and her mighty broom. She keeps a running "whew, whew, whew, whew.." going while she's sweeping. And of course we praise her up and down and thank her profusely. Then she beams.

Her Fox News watching has subsided a little. I think her desire to be with the rest of the family is outweighing her drive to keep up with the most fair and balanced reporting ever. Last night she sat on the couch in our living room and laughed and laughed to Zoey 101. All by herself.

She used to enjoy American Idol. It made Susannah so mad when she would say every time about Simon,"Awww...He shouldn't say that. That's mean." And each and every time Susannah would say, "He's just being honest, Grandma. That's his job. Sometimes he says nice things." And then Susannah would roll her eyes at me and make an exasperated, infuriated face. It was funny to me that Susannah's response was just as predictable as Grandma's comments.

So let me ask you this -- if you had a 73-year-old mother with Alzheimers, who had a tentative grasp on the real world at best, and it was the season finale of the 4th season of Lost, the most complicated, puzzling show ever viewed, and she had never seen even one episode before -- would you think it was A Grand Plan to let her watch with you? Yeah, that's what I thought, too. But she insisted, and was on the verge of getting all feisty and "you're certainly not MY boss"-ish. So we had no choice. We warned her that it would be confusing and troubling, and that we wouldn't be able to explain it.

"Whose baby is that?" "Why is he doing THAT?" " Are those the good guys?" "Well that's weird." "What is she talking about?" "Why would they want to go back to the island?" "How did she get electricity? I thought she was on a raft." "Is he a bad guy?"

And once or twice when I let out with an anguished "NOOOOOO!!!" (at events transpiring onscreen) she said, "Well, I don't think it's really happening. I think it's just fiction."

Whew.

It once was lost, but now it's found.... or not technically a miracle but big fun nevertheless

You will never guess what my daughter-in-law brought to the track meet tonight with her. Besides Baby James in his darling little sandals.

No really, you will never guess. Because I couldn't believe my own eyes.

MY LONG-LOST PASHMINA SCARF! The one I received as a gift the morning we left Korea back in January.

I know I had it when I went to the hospital the day James was born almost three months ago, but I hadn't seen it since. I searched, I grieved, then I gave it up as lost and gone forever dreadful sorry Clementine. Lynn was so dear -- she shopped for a replacement one for me, and that was almost nicer than the original gift, because it was such a sweet gesture.

So I don't know how it suddenly resurfaced in Dave and Cerissa's back seat. These things happen to me all the time.

I went through a stamping phase a few years back. Not stomping -- stamping. And I lost a really handy little star stamp, which annoyed me to no end. MONTHS later .. maybe even a year... there it was one day, in plain view on the floor in front of my laundry chute basket. Where I would have seen it at least once every day, the way I'm constantly, obsessively doing laundry. I don't get it.

But let me assure you that when she handed me that scarf this afternoon? Oh , there was much rejoicing.

And also Garrison ran the 400 at his new personal best time. And the sun was out. AND I found out I get to have Lily for a week starting Friday!

The only downer of the day was Jason Castro's abyssmal performance tonight on Idol. What in the world. (If he wasn't so darned cute and charming...) I haven't been that uncomfortable watching anyone perform in quite a while. I'm so sorry. I know he's an Aggie, and I think he might be a Christian, but he was really Not Good.

Syesha and David A. were pretty incredible, I thought. I keep trying hard to love David Cook. Truly I do. I was honestly eager to see what he'd bring tonight since it's supposed to be his genre and all. But really? Were those the best songs he could come up with ? I have been listening to rock and roll for a verrrrry long time, and I have never heard that teenage wasteland song. I just thought it was a weird choice.

But overall the balance in my life is beginning to tip. Not a shabby way to temper the broken and unfixable iPod, the broken camera that Jim attempted to fix and ended up breaking further, and the scorched and smelly microwave.

The view from the pit is looking up.

see ya later alligator

I don't know how much blogging I'll be doing in the next few days. Very few state parks that I know of have wireless, and I don't have a laptop, anyway.

All I know is that I will be in front of a TV set one way or another on Thursday night for The Office. I may be covered in s'more goo, but Jim and Pam can count on me to welcome them back with open, campsmoke-scented arms.

jumping on the american idol blogwagon

I know not everyone watches American Idol. So I'm sorry to have to report about it tonight. But I have some things I need to discuss, and what are blogs for, if not for that?

I do love Dolly Parton, so I was predisposed to like all the songs tonight. And I have to say that this week overall was probably my favorite. I honestly could have voted for all of them. Yes, even Ramiele. But I didn't. (Did you know she was little?) I thought everyone did exceptionally well. I thought most of them were wow-worthy.

But here's what I want to talk about in no particular order-- didn't you think it was interesting that Ryan gave David Cook that opportunity to credit all the arrangers of the arrangements he's used? Way to put out potential fires. Nicely done.

And finally! David Cook's hair didn't look quite as freemy. It still has a ways to go, but at least he's on the right track.

I liked Kristy's performance --- I thought this was going to be a good week for her, and I think it was-- but I didn't like a) that she was sitting down for so long b) her dress -- it didn't seem to go with the song for me and c) it didn't go with bare feet, in my opinion.

I had seen a you tube video of Jason Castro leading worship, so I've been feeling this kinship with him, wondering if he's a brother in Christ. I saw his cross peeking out from under his shirt tonight, and I was thinking yeah..... I know that wearing a cross doesn't in itself mean anything, but I was encouraged, anyway. Then he sang that Traveling Through song and I was so proud of him! Yes! I did hear the name of Jesus! I hope it's not a strike against him. It seems historically that as soon as contestants open up about their faith their days on Idol are numbered. (Mandisa....Chris Sligh...)

Same with David A. -- Yay, Jesus!


Is anyone else distracted by the gold glittery eye shadow on Syesha and Kristy? I understand that they want to look special for the camera, but it seems a bit overdone. Also -- did Brooke's eyes look strangely made up to you? I won't hold it against her. She's still a favorite personality, but she wasn't my favorite singer tonight. I will buy her album, though, in a snap.

I LOVED Syesha's big "glory note." But how could the same voice that held that note for endless awesome minutes have to stop and take a breath right in the middle of the word "always" earlier in the song?

What have I been saying about Carly's wardrobe? The thing about Simon is that he says what we are all thinking. Even though I cringe when he says it just because it's so BLUNT, I secretly find myself agreeing with him most of the time. Tonight, however, he seemed unnecessarily harsh and he wasn't blown away by the people I thought were more than just "good, not great". Somehow is blogging about the contestants less of an attack?

The kids and I have been fast forwarding through all the blah blah ever since we got the DVR, and just tonight it hit us that we could be fast forwarding through Paula's drivel, as well. So that's what we did. Like hitting yourself on the head with a hammer, then stopping. That's how good it felt. Wasn't that a bizarre ring she had on? It was an improvement of those disastrous glove things from last week, but still... When can we vote her off?

I've been reading the buzz at Entertainment Weekly online that the "mosh pit" hand wavers may be eliminated soon. I had hoped that they would be gone tonight, but no such luck.

I do like Michael Johns, but I also worry frequently while he's singing that he's not going to be able to hit the note I know is coming. And frequently he doesn't. He was okay tonight, though.

I was disappointed when Chikezie left. I was disappointed when Davidson lost to Kansas. Let us hope that tomorrow night will see justice prevail once again in TV land.

As if my own hair is landing me any recording contracts

I am so sorry, Carly. I never should have bashed your shirts. I had no idea that it would land you in the bottom 3, for heaven's sake! What a shocker. But Girlfriend, you'd better wise up, because your shirt from tonight wasn't much better. Honestly. We need a What Not To Wear intervention in the worst way.

I wonder what Nick would do for David Cook's hair. Anything would be an improvement. Washing, perhaps, for starters. Just a thought.

And while I'm on a hair roll, I'd also spring for a barrette for Ramiele. I'd love to see Amanda's hair in some kind of non-skunk color. Like a soft brown with maybe highlights? I was born in Lafayette, but when she has her concert at a bar there, I probably won't make the trip. I wonder if she'll go back to nursing again. I wonder if she ever frightened any of her patients. I'm slightly okay with the fact that she won't be around the Idol stage anymore. I think she was mildly frightening in general.

I missed Brooke's curls tonight. All straight-hair girls yearn for curls, so it seems unconscionable that she would straighten hers. I hope Syesha brings hers back, too, although I agree with Corie that sleek was the right call for her sophisticated performance this week.

I don't understand dreadlocks. Could anyone have them? Or is it a certain type of hair that just naturally gets shaped that way? Are they all his hair? How could one break off? I'd like to spend an evening with Jason Castro anyway, but mostly because I'd like to get the lowdown on his funky do.

So I was thinking that when I'm a rich and famous hairstylist and have lots of disposable income to throw around, the main thing I'm gonna want my personal assistant to do for me is Holiday Planning.

I figure there's a maximum number of years that a mom can feel enthused about the never-ending responsibility of making every occasion special and fun. Because of the spacing and number of my kids, I'm pretty sure I hit my limit about three years ago. I used to love decorating for each holiday that came along. I hung flags for every season on a post outside my front door. I'd cheerfully haul out all the little seasonal trinkets and I found it delightful to shop for goodies -- stocking stuffers, Valentines, shamrocky green gum, Easter treats, birthday party favors..... Now I just get this sense of "ugh, not another thing I have to shop for..."

It's sad, really. Because now that I have grandkids, I should be getting a second wind, a revisiting of the fun of filling Easter baskets. But instead I'm dreading having to come up with baskets for the three kids left at home. Not to mention the certainty, as I've whined about before, of finding Easter grass on my floor until Christmas comes around.

Then again, maybe part of my holiday blah-ness stems from the sheer financial stress of having to buy stuff all the time. And if I was truly rich and famous, that wouldn't be a consideration.

So cancel that, and just hire me a Nick Arojo of my own.

Next week, class, we'll work on button holes

Is Carly the only contestant who is not getting stylist help with her clothes? I sorta do wish it was radio, and not TV, because I'd sure rather listen to her than look at her clothes. What in the world was she wearing this week? The top of that red shirt, with all the roses, looked like someone's grandmother's nightgown, and the bottom of it looked like it had been hemmed in home ec. class. (I feel confident someone somewhere could put a picture here, but I'm not finding any.)


I hesitate to be too critical, because my word can she sing! And even if she couldn't hit a note, I'd listen to her talk all day, but that last blue top was another misfortune, the way it looked gathered up around her neck.



And one more ticky (that's what you get when you combine tacky and picky) thing --I am not anti-tattoo. I'm thinking of getting one myself, in fact. When I grow up. But is it rude to admit that I find hers distracting? I'd like to be looking at her face, but my focus keeps being diverted to the lovely lady on her arm. I think if it wasn't a face on her arm, it wouldn't interfere as much. Call me narrow minded, I suppose. I'm still a Carly fan.

I was happy to see David A. was back in true goose-bump inducing form tonight. He and Syesha were my favorites.

There you have my two cents.

now THIS is American Idol

My first-ever recording with the new DVR was a smashing success. I knew, because Corie had told me and I had even witnessed in real life at her house, that it was gonna be cool, and let me just say that it was, my friends. It so was.

We started watching from the beginning 45 minutes after American Idol started tonight and through what can only be pure magic finished up at 2 past 10. How this works is utter mystery to me. Hubby could probably explain it but I don't really need to know. I know that for all you old TiVo and DVR pros this is no big deal, but just to be able to whiz past all the blah blah blah and the commercials was nothing short of exhilarating. And the sweetest treat is the way it swooped back just a bit when I let my thumb off the fast forward button so I didn't have to stop and rewind again. You know? Miraculous.

(I had sorta hoped that we could get an actual TiVo, just because I like the little "plurp!" noise it makes, and the cute little picture of the TiVo guy, but I'm trying hard not to be ungrateful.)

It was so much fun watching this way that I almost, but not quite, forgot how miserable my mouth is. I don't know about you, but I like my teeth to feel familiar and peaceful when I run my tongue around them. This temporary crown is weird, unstable, and uncomfortable. It doesn't fit -- kind of the Amanda Overmyer of my teeth. I'm hopeful that in two weeks when I get the permanent one it will feel smooth, solid, and confident, more like Brooke.

So. What was up with David A tonight? Bless his heart.
And don't hate me for saying this, but I did not like David Cook's performance. I'm sorry. I thought he was flat in several places and it was just icky for me. On the other hand, Chikezie? Wow. I have been a fan of his since the beginning, and I'm glad he is getting some love from the judges, too. He just had to lose the orange suit and gain some confidence.