Return of Idol Commentary-The Top Ten March 28, 2007

American Idol-Here we go-

Lakisha-Nice look, good vocal, her personality did improve a bit this week from weeks past.  She is kind of predictable to me and not very entertaining.

Chris-TRAINWRECK!  Randy said it best-trainwreck.  That is one of my favorite songs-WHY DID HE DO THAT?  I am ready for him to go.  That funny man business ended for me with the comment about Hasselhoff-that was the first and only funny thing I have heard him say.  GO HOME!

Gina-I really like her.  I love her hair and I like her style.  I think she did a great job!  I love the song she chose and I think she really nailed it.  I agree with Simon-it has certainly been the best performance of the night thus far.

Commerical Break:  I am really done with Chris Sligh.  Enough is enough with the funny man bit.  I do love Gina.  I think she is going to go further than I first thought-if she keeps it up.  I guess I am kind of over my crush on Simon. I know it has been pretty bad in seasons past but I am pretty sure that I have seen too many interviews with him as of late and he is smoking in all of them.  Gag a maggot!  I don’t like that at all.  Ryan is still really cute but I am not sure we would make a good couple.  However, I do think me and Crouton from Family Force 5 could have something really special if he would drop his perfect girlfriend and hang out with me for a while.  For those of you who don’t know who I am talking about, you really need to check their band out! Oh no-Sanjaya is next-yikes!

Sanjaya-It is past time for him to go home.  Ok, I get it-he has a lot of hair and you can do funky things with it…I love funky styles and fun stuff like that but he cannot pull this off.  He is way too fruity to pull this off.  I don’t mean that in a bad kind of way, I am just stating a fact.  That would be like me trying to dress and look like Laura Bush-It just doesn’t work.  I am pretty sure the hair is a ploy to get attention from the voting public at home-I am not talking about Laura, I am talking about Sanjaya.  Paula is right-he doesn’t go for it and that is why this performance and look is so dumb for him.  He is driving me really crazy and if he makes it too much further I will stop watching.  That song was really bad.  He is an all around bad performer.

Haley-I am done.  I was done weeks ago.  She is proof that sex sells.  The only thing there is to really like about her, that really stands out about her is the fact that she always forgets to get fully dressed before she comes on stage and she carries herself like a hooker.  I realize that is appealing to the man crowd but I don’t get it.  Her hair looks like early 90’s prom.  The only reason Simon likes her is because he wants to ___________ you fill in the blank.  He is looking totally at the external and I am really suprised that he did not have something just absolutely glowing to say about her.  That prom hair lets me know he might be right about her being forgettable.

Commercial Break: I am really hoping that Phil does not come out looking like he did two weeks ago-and that was like the title character in the movie Powder.  I am not sure if anyone really remembers that movie but it was about some guy who had some type of problem (I don’t remember too much about it myself) but he was really white and did not have any-and I mean ANY-hair on his body.  At least, I know he did not have any on his head, including the absence of eyebrows and manly facial hair.  Maybe it was the tv I was watching and there was a problem with the coloring on it but he looked like he was glowing white.  It was really unattractive and I still think he is a moron for missing the birth of his daughter!  What a dummy!  That is only going to happen once.  American Idol tryouts will happen again next year. Boo on Phil!

Phil-Glad he has on a hat tonight although it does make his eyebrows look a little like Groucho Marx.  And now he is about to ruin a classic Police tune.  GO HOME!  He looks like a cartoon character in some sort of wierd way.  I hate when they pick up the mic stand.  The bridge is the best part of this song and there he goes looking a little possessed by a demon-a cartoon demon but a demon nontheless.  I must admit the vocal was good but I can’t stand to look at him.  I guess it is good that he sang a stalker song since he looks so strange.  I will say it was overall a good performance but he is not my American Idol.  He has got on way too many jackets! It is not cold in Hollywood.

Melinda-I know she has gotten so much hype.  I like her but she does not have the look of a star to me.  I will say that I like what she has on tonight and I like what she has done with her hair. She is not going to have a bad vocal. Tonight is proof about this.  I am a little bit concerned about her not having a neck and I don’t mean that in a bad way.  It makes me feel like she is uncomfortable.  “As usual”-that is what I feel about her.  She is getting on my nerves a little bit by being so overly humble.  It is almost a false humility because she knows she did a good job-just accept it.

Commerical Break:  Not too much to say about today, I guess.  I got to have lunch with Ms Debbie at Spot of Tea downtown.  It was really good.  I always love to see her.  I have found a new past time-the local news.  I would encourage everyone to watch their local news but to watch it like you would watch Saturday Night Live.  It is unbelievable what goes on in the Port City!  I do love the Geico commericals with the Caveman.  They are pretty funny to me, funnier than Chris Sligh-that’s for sure! I am afraid I am not so committed to this season of Idol.  It is not on purpose.  I have just had so much going on that I have missed so much of the preliminary things.  And it is sad that I don’t just love a contestant enough to not miss.

Blake: Now I do love him but I am concerned about singing something from the Cure.  I think he is really cute.  I love what he has on tonight.  I think he can really sing but I feel like he holds back so much of the time.  This performance is kind of forgettable to me.  I love this song and him but I am afraid he has to kick it up a bit.  I think he will be back next week.  I agree with Randy-not jumping up and down but I liked it.  I think he is the girls’ answer to the guys’ Haley.  He is adorable.

Jordin: I cannot believe she is going to sing this song.  I love this song but-wow-that is a risk! I am liking it. She sounds a little like it is bigger than she is.  I am curious to know what the judges think about this.  I am not so sure I am sold on it. I will say that the band on this show is incredible.  She might be creeping up my favorites list.

Commercial Break:  I think AT&T might be taking over the world.  I cannot even think of any other names of phone companies off the top of my head.  I am not usually a big fan of Will Ferrall movies but I cannot wait to see Blades of Glory.  It looks like it might be pretty funny.  I did not really like Talledega Nights.  It was not as funny as I hoped it would be.  I am hoping to see it this weekend or really soon thereafter.  I am loving the weather here recently.  I always feel better when the sun shines and I am sure I am not the only one who feels that way. 

Chris: I love Don’t Speak.  I am not so sure this is for him.  Gwen said it best-I am hoping he sticks to the melody.  That is the only chance he’s got with this one.  He kind of looks like his eyes are glazed over most of the time.  His face does not seem to make any type of expression except to just look straight ahead.  He is not doing this song justice, especially after Gwen sang it.  I don’t feel like he really feels what he is singing and that is a song that needs you to feel it.  I totally feel it everytime I sing it-and I sing it a lot louder and better than he just did.  I am serious.

My bottom three prediction: Chris Sligh, Haley, Sanjaya……..now I know that sounds like I am putting my least favorite in the bottom three but I am pretty sure if I were doing that I would have to add Lakisha, Phil and the other Chris.  I guess we will know the real bottom three tomorrow night.

until then………………….Seacrest out!

…continuing March 26, 2007

There was much to say the last time I wrote but there is even more to say now that I have lived a few days since then and have a little more life experience under my belt.  WOW!  What a crazy time it has been since that last post.  I feel as though I have aged about 57 years.  Not in a bad way, like now I have arthritis and I can’t afford my medicine aged, but wise.  I just feel a lot wiser than I did a few days ago.  Now that might not be true and may totally be a “feeling” but it is feeling true right now.  I have had some interesting conversations with all kinds of people over the last couple of days that have me feeling like I have learned a lot but still have much to learn, which is great.  That is a sign to me that there is still life to be lived and fun times to be had!  At any rate, here are a few of my thoughts today-

It is very suspicious that Anna Nicole died from the same thing as her son and both of their deaths have been listed as accidental.  I know to a lot of you Anna Nicole is old news but you know I been keeping up…

Where is this troop withdrawl thing going?  I mean, I don’t think you have to be on certain “side” to realize that a sharp, swift withdrawl is a really, really bad idea.  I think this for many reasons.  I usually dream I meet with President Bush and we talk about the war about once a month.  I have already met with him this month and I don’t remember exactly what we talked about but I don’t think it was about the war this time.  Maybe we need to meet again….

I was introduced to the Blasphemy Challenge a few weeks ago and never really looked into it online.  I finally got around to viewing some of the videos that others have submitted and I find it….pretty much…expected, I guess.  I can’t say that I was surprised something like this is out there, but I can say that I was amazed at the lack of the fear of God the people behind this movement have.  There is zero fear in their voices and there was is not the least bit of concern that maybe, just maybe, Hell is a real place.  I am always astonished when people exhibit a total lack of fear of the Living God!  Just another sign of the times-I hope that does not sound too much like the old people at your church!

People try so hard to be complicated.  Not all people, but some.  Why not just chill out and stop adding drama to your life? I am convinced that life itself is wrought with drama.  However, we can pick and choose most of the drama we want to become a part of our lives.  Why not just let it go.  Maybe there should be a school that offers a few classes on this subject like- BA 401: How to Choose Your Battles Wisely, LG 345: Just Let it Go, BP 501-The Big Picture.  This is just a thought.  I don’t have any real specific examples of this as of late but I was thinking about some past situations that were so dumb and totally wore me out.  Was it all really necessary?  Looking back, no.  If I had been enrolled in the above classes and actually paid attention and did all my research for all my papers instead of cutting corners with things like Cliff’s Notes and Google, I would have been a lot better off.

I have heard some seriously funny one liners this past week.  I wish that I could post them all here, but I will save them for phone conversations.  They all need a little prefacing.

I cannot believe  that Noah (my boss’ son) is already ONE!  He had a cute little party on Sunday afternoon.  It was the perfect day to have an outside party.  My first day on the job at Mobile is the day that Vanessa found out she was pregnant.  It has been so fun to wait for him to get here and then to watch him grow and change.  That has led to some deep thoughts on my part but I am not about to bore you all with that…

Did Katrina really happen?

Did Britney really shave her head?

Is Sanjaya really still on American Idol?

Is Anna Nicole really dead?

Who is that baby’s daddy?

Why do I love Family Force 5 so much?

Why did Augustine feel it necessary to write down every, stinkin detail of his life?

Did I really get punched by a German woman in Germany after Bible study once?

Did I really see a leprechaun in Crichton last year?-NO! But I did see an image-you know, like a painting at an art gallery-a image…

Was I really in a drive by shooting?

Am I a big star in Denmark?  Because I am pretty sure I am being followed by cameras and my life is a big hit tv show in some foreign country somewhere….

anyways-peace out

Time is like a wildcat baby…… March 22, 2007

Well, there are a thousand things I could talk about, however I will limit myself to just a few.  Let’s start with American Idol.  Tonight was a tragedy as far as I am concerned.  Stephanie?  Really?  Is the American public listening and watching when Chris Sligh and Sanjay are singing and dancing around on stage?  I am amazed that people could hate on Stephanie like that!  She was one of my favorites.  I knew she probably would not make it to the very end but I thought for sure she would get a little further-actually a lot further.  At this point, I am going with Melinda and Blake as the final two.  I could be really off about that but they are two of my favorites and about the only two who are marketable.  I love Gina Glockson as well but I don’t think she has mass appeal  like Melinda and Blake.  I know everyone is hyped up on Lakisha but unless she shows a little more personality, I am afraid I am not a fan. 

Onto another really fun topic-FAMILY FORCE 5!  You know I am loving them more and more everyday!  As of right now, there is a huge road trip planned for the weekend of April 1 to see them in Montgomery.  I am super excited about this and cannot wait!  They just released a new album-The Diamond Edition, which everyone should go out and pick up.   There is more to say but I will have to continue later.  I am attending a talent show tonight.  See ya!

And then………… March 10, 2007

I do not even know where to begin so I guess I will just start with where I last left off.  What a whirlwind the last two weeks have been!  I will hit the highlights and if you need more details just give me a call because there is so much more to what I am about to type that there is not room for on this blog!  I will begin with the first leg of my whirlwind tour of the southeastern corridor of the United States.

I agreed to go and spend some time in Nashville to celebrate Greg’s birthday by going to a Family Force 5 concert in Nashvegas at some skatepark/teen club.  In case you have never heard of Family Force 5, I would highly encourage you to check them out!  They are nuts and their music is nuts and to see them live is one of the greatest things I have ever witnessed!  Well, the night of the concert Greg thinks we have plenty of time to eat and hang out before the show so we head to a local favorite and enjoy some burgers and fries.  After a while, we head on over to the venue just in time to hear the lead singer-Soul Glow Activator- say, “You guys got time for one more tonight?”  Well, that was that.  We heard one final song before they headed off stage and the group Disciple took over.  Now, I don’t know if you are familiar with the group Disciple but all I can really say about them is YIKES!  I am pretty sure I prayed the sinner’s prayer with everyone else in the room and then cheered as the lead singer screamed-”You mess with my country and you mess with me!”  I am not really sure if you are aware of the types of folks who go to their shows but let’s just say, the crowd was cheering but probably only because he was screaming.  I don’t think too many people in the room were concerned with war or countries or patriotism or anything like that.  They basically just wanted to get in the mosh pit and bang their heads around. All was not lost however.  We got to meet Family Force 5 at the end of the show and they signed my shoe.  I am pretty sure that I will marry the drummer-his name is Crouton and he is HOTT!!!!  Anyways, after that we headed home, somewhat disappointed but you know, I lived.  The next day Greg talked me into staying and going to a taping of a Family Force 5 video-or what we thought was a video.  We stood outside a studio in Franklin for hours-literally.  Finally around 8:00pm they opened the doors for us to head inside and stand around some more.  When we finally got into the room where the taping was happening, we found out that we were the studio audience for a show in the Gospel Network called Front Row Live.  What are the odds?  It was so fun and good to see a whole concert, finally.  I must say that I would go and see these guys every week if they were performing around here.  I loved their music before but seeing them live took it up a few notches for me!  I encourage you all to check them out.  They have a new album coming out next week.  Anyways, since it too so long to get into this taping it was too late for me to head back to Mobile.  I spent another night in Nashville and then got up the next morning at 6 am.  I got back to my apartment around 12:45 pm and took a shower, unpacked, washed my clothes, and packed again and headed over to join the rest of the team that went to Chicago.  I was a driver for the trip so I got behind the wheel again and headed to the Windy City.  It was a crazy drive and we drove through the night.  We only stopped when we had to and arrived around 10:00 am Friday morning.  We immediately went to the missionary’s house, got a brief introduction to the city and the work that is being done there, grabbed some lunch and headed to a Mosque.  We toured and met with an Imam who answered questions and gave us a brief history of Islam.  We spent much of this time in prayer (as we were listening, we were to be praying) and then we headed over to a Hindu temple. It was unbelievable and there is not enough space or time for me to tell of all the things we saw there.  Both places were heartbreaking and very dark.  Finally, after 39 hours, I went to sleep.  I would just like to say that it was the best sleep I have ever had in my life!  We slept at a local church and had one shower for all 30 of us.  It was incredible that it worked!  Not a single complaint from anyone on the team!  The next day we headed to a part of town called Little India.  It was very interesting.  There are millions of Hindus and Muslims living in the metro area of Chicago.  For those of you who know me,  you should already know this was very interesting to me.  I spoke with a man who works in that part of the city about my passions and where I feel the Lord is leading.  He was very encouraging.  There is so much to say about this part of our journey but I will move on.  We went out to the shore of Lake Michigan, which looks a lot like a beach, and spent some time in prayer.  This is where A.W. Tozer spent hours and hours praying for the city of Chicago.  It was freezing but totally worth it.  Later we chilled out and prepared for Sunday.  In the morning on Sunday we helped out with an Ethiopian church plant and provided activities for the children and participated in their services.  It was amazing to hear and see them worship.  Later, we went back to the missionary’s house and prepared a festival for people in the neighborhood.  The statistics of who is living in and moving to the Chicago area is amazing.  If you are interested in knowing more about that, call me.  It is too much for here.  We hosted a Purim festival (celebrating how God saved the Jews through Esther) and told the story of Esther and had food and games.  There were some interesting people who came and it was a good time for all.  Please call me about Joe-he was a guy I had an incredible conversation with.  It is certainly too much and too long to put here but well worth hearing.  On Monday we spent some time at the largest community college in the U.S.  We were basically just prayerwalking and engaging people in conversation and getting the word out about Campus Ministries.  We did the same thing on Wednesday and if you would like to know more just ask.  We all learned some valuable lessons on prayer and prayer walking.  On Tuesday we had a free day and were basically tourists.  We took the train into town and visited the Miracle Mile.  We went to Navy Pier and had deep dish Chicago style pizza.  It was all really good and fun and then we headed back to chill out for a while.  We left on Wednesday afternoon around 3 pm and then got back to Mobile around 9 am on Thursday.  It was quite an adventure and I would love to talk about it with you if you have the time.  At any rate, there are about one hundred and seventy five things I could tell you about the last two weeks but this is enough for now.  Peace out