Idol Chatter...top 7

First of all...what was up with Randy's sweater? It looked like it had some old-lady style lace trim. Reminded me of one I had in high school.

Overall impressions tonight...most of them played it safe and stuck to their security spots. No real big risk-takers tonight, well maybe James?

1. Scotty-Just Swingin'. He's got to be careful that he doesn't just become a character of himself that he's playing on the show each week. Cheezy & Twangy.

2. James-Uprising. What was with the stick/baton? Are you a trashy band leader or a wanna-be rock star. I'm confused. If you're a fan...just listen with your eyes closed next time.

3. Haley-Heart & Soul. I thought her dress was really cute and her vocals were better than last week.

4. Jacob-Dance With My Father. Stop with the comparisons to Luther. Luther is 100 million times better. I thought he was terrible tonight. He sings like he's got marbles in his mouth...please learn to annunciate your words!

5. Casey-Harder to Breathe. This was the first time he felt current and relevant as an artist. Sooooo much better than last week. He could teach Jacob some pronunciation lessons. Still a bit awkward on stage as he moves around.

6. Stefano-I Just Can't Stop. Really pitchy, not a good vocal night for him. The performance and stage presence was really good, but his "smouldering" look into the camera reminded me a little of Constantine from season 4, only less creepy.

7. Lauren-Born to Fly. Did you see the hairstyle of her fiddle player? She was young and fun but chose a super safe song tonight. She's got to break out of her shell or she'll be going home soon.

Going home tomorrow: 3 votes for Haley, 1 vote for Jacob...and we figure Stefano will be in the bottom 3 also.

Sleepover!

Addy and Sydnee came over for a sleepover. We ate pizza, watched Wipeout, and best of all, played with the coolest toy ever....remember these?? Fashion Plates.
Are you jealous that you still don't have your? You can come and play with mine anytime. Didn't we create some fabulous designs?? Love you girls!

Idol Chatter...top 8

Top 8, aren't they great?? Well some were, others...sealed their fate??

General impressions. I'm pretty much divided in half. 50% I like, 50% I would like to go home!

1. Paul-He Like the Old Time Rock and Roll. Surprising, because he's dressed like a Spanish Bull Fighter. The outfit was loud and obnoxious, as was the saxaphone and tambourine. Not my favorite.

2. Lauren-The Climb. Well, you did blow Miley Cyrus away. I loved the first half. You had me until you started your "climb" in the middle to the break. After that, it was just okay. Please dress like a 16 year old next week, not a 26 year old. :)

3. Stefano-End of the Road from Boyz II Men. Yes, I once owned the album. Gotta say, well, as the kids put it these days...that was Legit! And as Randy says..he was in it to win it!!

4. Scotty-Cross My Heart. Cross my heart, I think I'm becoming a country fan. When will your album be out? This kid just might win it all. Originally I thought he was going to be the one they made fun of in the season finale with his "baby turn the lights down low", but now I think he'll be in the finale as a contestant.

5. Casey-Nature's Boy. Well, I might be one of 5 people who have heard of this song. I thought you murdered Nat King Cole's version, and not in a good, that was bad, way. I thought it was bad, just bad. Hated all the weird voices and scatting. I think scat is a good word to remember, like scat! you're outta here!

6. Haley-Call Me. Blondie/Debbie Harry, whoever she was from the 80's. Totally kareoke, just missing the cocaine-induced high that Debbie had. Nobody's calling for you tonight...no votes for you!

7. Jacob-Bridge Over Troubled Water. You might be the bridge, or the troubled one. You got served a big dose of humble pie from Jimmie and Will-i-am. Nobody likes to be preached to...you got schooled! You however, remind me of Aretha in Drag...If you're interested I"ll e-mail you my creations.

8. James-Heavy Metal. What's with the talking back to the mentors? Man, if they have some advice, take it! And you should have listened. The guitar solo was the best part of this "act". Without the guitar, what do you have?? Just some wanna-be screachy McScreacherson.

Bottom 3 tomorrow? Casey, Haley and Jacob. Jacob got 2 votes and Casey got 2 also.

Top 3 tonight? Lauren, Stefano and Scotty!

Jane and the Onion

If you know me at all, you probably know that Jane Eyre is my all-time favorite book. I've probably read it 6 or 7 times and I've now seen every movie version that has been released. I love the playful, teasing relationship that develops between Mr. Rochester and Jane. I first loved Jane when she meets Mr. Brockelhurst and replies to his inquiries: "What is hell? Can you tell me that?" "A pit full of fire." "And would you like to fall into that pit, and to be burning there for ever?" "No sir." "What must you do to avoid it?" "I must keep in good health, and not die." I love her spunk and tenacity in her desperate circumstances.

Anyway, a new version of the film came out, so Adrienne and I went to see it up in Salt Lake at the Broadway Theatre. It was delightful, not my classic favorite version, but I really enjoyed it. My favorite version is a 1990's BBC Mini-series production that is more like watching a live play. But this will be my second-favorite. We tried dinner out at The Copper Onion just next door to the theatre. We had three vegetables as our appetizer. In the spirit of trying new things we ordered the brussle sprouts, potato wedges and the spinach with golden raisins and cashews. The potatoes and spinach were the hilight of the entire meal. Delicious!

Adrienne ordered the chicken and mystery vegetables in a delicious sauce.

I ordered the meatloaf...shocking! It was a little gamey tasting, but the vegetable were delicious! The flash didn't work on my camera for this shot, so it looks worse that it was in person...

Here's the preview for the film in case you want to see it or check it out on Netflix when it's available...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8PLpXvhtlc

Idol Chatter...top 9

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Week. Excellent, generic enough for everyone to find something that suits them. You know what's the biggest difference this year?? Better song choices! Nobody has received comments like: "that just wasn't the right song for you, for me". Much improved.

• Jacob started us off with Man in the Mirror from MJ. Dude, don't touch the MJ. And skipping across the stage, really? I find I can actually tolerate his voice when I close my eyes and don't watch. Too much for me to handle.


• Hailey-take it! Take another little piece of my heart now baby. Pretty good. I also enjoy her voice better with my eyes closed. Not really sure what that all means. She did better than last week, still not my favorite.


• Casey-a little CCR. Nice song choice for your voice and with the upright bass. Good. Solid.Performance.


• Lauren-for a little 16 year old, she looked and acted the part of a natural woman. She's easy to watch. Not her best performance. Last week's will be hard to top.


• James-your guitar was weeping, you were weeping at the end. I am still wondering...Why?? He does have a good voice, he was a little pitchy tonight, but I'd like to see where he falls with the voting. Does America love him as much as he thinks they do?


• Scotty-that's all right, mama. Elvis' number didn't feel like a Vegas side-show impersonator. It was all Scotty. Again, this kid is a born entertainer. Hi, my name's Camille...and I like country music?


• Pia-sang some Tina and she sure doesn't have Tina's moves. She's so stiff, you've got to loosen up! Love the voice, but you've need to take a lesson from Scotty and use the stage.


• Stefano-great voice, lacks personality. This was his best performance to date, I thought. I'm not sure how much longer he'll last.


• Paul-what Stefano lacks in personality, Paul has quadruple the amount. That was crazy. Crazy good!


• The votes for tomorrow's cast-off: Lauren, Pia and Stefano. Will anyone win a point on the idol scoreboard?

The Kitchen House

Book Review: The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grisson Have you ever read a book that is so captivating and interesting that you get attached to the characters and actually worry about them while you're not reading? This has been one of those books for me. Anytime I didn't have the book in my hand I found myself wondering about their well-being and what might be happening while I was away. This historical fiction is set in slavery days (1780-1810) and spans the life of the main characters, Lavinia and Belle. Lavinia comes to the United States from Ireland and her parents die on the ship. She is sold as an indentured servant. Belle is the slave who raises her as her own child. The two women take turns narrating the story from their perspective. The book explores topics like isolation, freedom and family. There are some harsh realities that are shared about their lives and they make you question humanity at times. It's a time period I struggle to understand; man's inhumanity to man. I don't know how people could be so cruel to each other. It was a fascinating book, suspenseful, heart-breaking, funny, insightful, sad and delightful all wrapped into one.

I Looked Out the Window and What Did I See?

A snow covered yard on Sunday morning! Crazy Utah weather. It's all gone today, except for the loads up in the mountains. And the big piles in the parking lots at work. I love the bright blue sky in the background...

Is it Spring yet?

Death of a Fridge...

I'm not sure what it is about General Conference weekend, but the last 3 in a row I have had trouble with my fridge. The problems led me to multiple repairs, each time I had faith that this would be the one that would fix it. The repairman had faith too. After spending what could have purchased half of a fridge, I decided it was time to let it die. So the 4th problem was in actuality it's demise...a sad, slow, lingering illness the cause. RIP. The frost that became the decay, then the downfall...looks harmless. It's was malignant and fatal. Welcome to your new home...let's hope you last more than 9.75 years like the last one. I have faith you will!