Cindyrella's Castle

Did you know mice can read?

2010-10-08T11:40:00.000-04:00

Neither did I.

We've had a bit of a problem this summer with field mice burrowing through my flower beds. We've had some mousetraps set (not those snapping ones, the slightly more humane cardboard box ones), but no luck. We weren't sure if the mice were on to us, or if they just moved on to one of the neighbors. Yesterday Victoria came to me and said, "I know why the mice aren't going in the traps. It's cuz there's a dead mouse on the package." Well, duh! I guess the picture was a "dead" giveaway (pun intended)!

Back to School – Finally!

2010-08-27T20:50:00.000-04:00

Is it wrong that I’m so happy school is starting again?

Victoria started this past Tuesday, and Alex starts on Monday. I know I should be a little sad that my youngest is starting full-day kindergarten but, truthfully, I’m almost giddy!

Let’s see…school starts at 9:15, so by 9:16 I will be doing a happy dance in my living room ALL BY MYSELF!!! I don’t think I’ve been all by myself for a whole day in 7 years!

I know, come Monday morning, I may get a little misty-eyed as my baby enters the building with his big sister. But don’t worry, I’ll get over it. I may even skip back home!

Times they are a changin'

2010-08-26T11:00:00.000-04:00

In our house we have a never ending battle over what's for breakfast. Alex thinks a single sausage link is a balanced meal, while Victoria is more likely to have a waffle (cut into strips) every day for the rest of her life.

As we prepared for the start of the school year, I thought I would mix it up a little and ask the kids for new ideas for breakfast food. Maybe oatmeal, cereal or-I don't know-something crazy like eggs.

In the cereal aisle at Walmart, I told Alex to pick out whatever kind of cereal he wanted. He said he hates them all. (I think it has something to do with his aversion to honey. The rest of us like Honey Nut Cheerios, but Alex can smell the honey from the next room and has a fit!)

Anyway, I tried to get him to get a box of Kix. I told him, "You used to love Kix. You used to eat it all the time." To which he replied, "Times change. Seriously, mommy, they do."

Associated Content Rising Star Award!

2010-08-06T21:50:00.001-04:00

Wow! July was a great month! I am very proud to announce that I just got word that I was one of five recipients of Associated Content's Rising Star Award for July 2010!!

Each month, AC awards five up-and-coming new contributors who have started publishing in the past four months. Winners are determined based on factors such as publishing volume, community involvement, writing style, page views and, most importantly, potential for future success.

I didn't even know I had received this award until I started receiving a bunch of congratulatory messages!

Click here if you would like to read the whole announcement. Yay me!!!!

Random Ramblings

2010-08-05T13:12:00.001-04:00

Went to the drive-in last night. First time for the kids. They loved it. Went in their PJs, brought candy and popped popcorn (although we did have to pay a $5.00 "outside food and beverage" fee for bringing our own food), set up pillows and blankets in the back of the SUV. Made it through the first movie (Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore). Would have stayed for the second movie (Inception) but there was some lightning and a few raindrops. Not to mention the train that went by every 10 minutes, making it hard to hear. Anyway, got home at almost midnight, and the skies opened up for one hell of a storm. Good timing on our part.

The other night when tucking Victoria into bed, she was watching one of her baby movies. She asked if I had any movies from when I was a baby. I said no. She said, "Oh yeah, that's right, cuz there wasn't, like, power." Nothing like a shot to the ego to end your day.

Alex starts football practice on Monday. He's very excited. He's been practicing throwing and catching the football with Daddy. The league even gets to attend a Browns game and go on the field for some pre-game activities. Daddy is planning on taking the kids to Browns training camp this week.

Can't wait for school to start in a couple of weeks!

Associated Content Featured Contributor

2010-07-25T11:04:00.000-04:00

I am proud to announce that, in addition to being a Featured Contributor for Arts & Entertainment on Associated Content, I have just been accepted as a Featured Contributor for two more categories: Travel and Home Improvement.

Look for lots of Disney tips in the Travel category, as well as traveling with small children.

In the Home Improvement category, I'll be sharing lots of ideas on designing a custom closet, home office, garage, etc., as well as general organization tips.

If you haven't noticed, I've redesigned my blog to add pages by category, which are listed across the top of the page. Here you'll find links to my articles and specific blog postings.

Thanks for visiting. Enjoy!

Don't Miss Toy Story 3

2010-07-13T23:38:00.000-04:00

One rainy day last week, I took the kids to the movies to see Toy Story 3. Let me tell you, it was the best Disney-Pixar film I have ever seen. If you are a fan of the first two Toy Story movies, don't miss this one.

And don't forget the tissues! There were many moments that I teared up (thank goodness the 3D glasses disguised it), but I was crying like a baby at the end!

My kids were like, "Are you crying?!" And I'm like, "Shut up and watch the movie."

For my complete review and other movie news, check out my Arts & Entertainment page.

SPOILER ALERT! Do not read the Toy Story 3 review if you haven't seen the movie yet!

I Married Mr. Potato Head

2010-07-08T00:43:00.001-04:00

So I get a call from my dear hubby this morning telling me his head is swollen.
“What do you mean ‘swollen’?”

“The whole top of my head is swollen. I have an indentation all the way around my head from my hat.”

So I’m thinking, “Take your hat off.”
But being the concerned wife that I am, I say, “So, what do you want me to do about it?”

“Nothing. I just wanted to let you know.”

Great, honey. Thanks for the update.

Let me back up a bit. Over the 4th of July weekend, we spent a considerable amount of time in the sun. We swam in Lake Erie, we attended the local holiday festival, and swam in my sister-in-law’s pool for about 5 hours.

Oh, and did I mention that we’re in the middle of a monstrous heat wave? We’re talking 105 degrees in the sun (according to my handy-dandy weather station which, by the way, always registers about 10 degrees hotter on our patio where the sensor is than anything Dick Goddard ever reports.)

We applied and reapplied sunscreen just like you’re supposed to do. However, as I slathered up the kids for the umpteenth time with the waterproof 50+ stuff, dear hubby thought he could get by with a mere 15-block sports version, you know, because he’s a guy.

Anyway, by the time we were finished swimming, he was literally fried – front, back, top – except for his belly-button which looked like a marshmallow in the middle of a strawberry sundae. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that shade of red before.

I sprayed him down with Lanacaine and told him he would be fine, just like I tell the kids after I put a band-aid on their boo-boo. Men can be such babies, can’t they?

OK, back to the Elephant Man…er, I mean, my dear husband…

He wears a baseball cap everyday, so the top of his head has only been exposed to direct sunlight maybe five times in the 14 years we’ve been together. We’re talking fresh meat.

So when I get the call about his expanding noggin, I’m thinking it’s a reaction to the sunburn. Again, what was I supposed to do about it? I told him to go to the UrgiCare and have it checked out if he really thought there was something wrong.

So a little while later I get another call that the swelling is going down. Super, crisis averted.

But wait, there’s more….

So later he calls to say that a guy at work said he should have it checked out because it might be from a bug bite. (Because the guys at work know everything.) Again, I tell him to go have it checked out.

I don’t mean to sound unsympathetic, but I just don’t know what I was supposed to do from home. Should I have loaded up the kids and driven to his job to look at his head only to say, “Yep, it’s swollen”?

I should add that our niece was recently bitten by a brown recluse spider. She didn’t realize it until a couple of day later when her arm became swollen and red. Turns out she got to the emergency room just in time before it got into her bloodstream. So I was a little concerned that he may have been bitten by something.

Anyway, he went to the UrgiCare where he sat for two and a half hours before finally being seen by the doctor (an elderly, balding, Indian woman who apparently didn’t speak very good English). So she spent five minutes with him and gave him a prescription for antibiotics.

Can’t wait for the bill for that visit.

I’m a little scared to go to bed tonight. I’m not sure what I’m going to wake up next to.

Keepin' Busy on Summer Vacation

2010-06-28T17:04:00.002-04:00

The kids have been out of school for two weeks now, and I'm already tired! It seems we are on the go every day with one activity or another. Take last week....

Alex attended a two-day football skills camp to get ready for the fall flag football season. It was a great experience, and he learned a lot - everything from how to make a pocket with his arms to catch the ball, to how to line up for a play. The coaches were awesome! They really took their time with the kids, teaching them each step along the way. The boys even got to practice with the high school boys, which they really enjoyed.

If anyone is interested in the Youth Football League in Berea, check out their website here for more information.

Victoria attended a three-day cheerleading clinic with the Berea High cheerleaders. The girls worked hard learning several cheers and dance routines. It concluded with an awards ceremony and refreshments. Victoria received a backpack, pom-pom, t-shirt, and megaphone. She was very excited and can't wait for the fall clinic where they will perform at one of the high school basketball games.

Victoria was so funny telling us about all of her new 'big friends.' When we were eating our snack at the end, a group of the cheerleaders were walking across the gym to sit down with their plates, and Victoria waved her arms and yelled, "Over here, girls!" The cheerleaders giggled, but they came and sat with her - very cute.

Later we went out to Wickliffe to the parish festival of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Uncle Dan was in from New York, dealing blackjack in the casino for the festival. Victoria and Alex had fun playing the games and riding the rides. They won all kinds of crap...um, I mean cool stuff. Scott, Dee Dee and I had fun eating the awesome food and winning the trivia contests in the food tent.

The kids even entered the hula hoop contest and didn't want to quit. Victoria kept going even after dropping her hula hoop about fifty times! (The host let her keep going because she was having so much fun!) We got rained on for a few minutes, but it was still a fun evening.

Finally, on Sunday, we helped niece Jamie move into her new house. It's an adorable bungalow complete with white picket fence and gorgeous landscaping! The heat was awful, but the kids cooled down on the banzai water slide.

Unfortunately for the grown-ups, Aunt Tracey's community pool was closed down because some idiot drove off the road, went airborne over the embankment, cleared the pool, and crashed into the side of the clubhouse! It must have looked like something out of a movie!

The guy's lucky he walked away from it. Not so lucky that he left the scene, called the police and reported his car stolen, then went back to get some stuff out of his car. Little did he know there are security cameras all around the pool and clubhouse. Duh!!!

So that's how we spent our 'relaxing' weekend. Looking forward to a little R&R this week - oh, and a little writing as well!

His Bowl Runneth Over

2010-06-07T23:36:00.006-04:00

My 5-year-old doesn’t like to wipe. Maybe it’s a phase. Maybe his arm isn’t long enough. I don’t know. But it seems like I spend half my day asking if he wiped, flushed and washed his hands.

So the other day, I go into the bathroom and I see the water in the toilet is pretty high.

So I flushed.

Big mistake.

The swirling water started rising higher and higher.

I panicked.

I grabbed the plunger and jammed it into the bowl. Water rushed over the rim…and all over my feet.

I hollered to the kids to get some towels. They brought me a handful of paper towels.

I yelled, “No! I need TOWELS!” They brought me my kitchen dishtowels.

“NOOOO! I need BIG towels!”

By now the water had drenched the bath rug, my feet, the whole bathroom floor, and had started seeping out the door. I tried in vain to get the area rug folded back out of the way. The water was starting toward the kitchen.

As I slopped around in inch-deep poop water trying to stop the relentless rapids, all Alex could do was stand there and say, “I’m sorry, Mommy. I’m sorry.”

I was trying to keep my cool and, at the same time, find out if anything besides toilet paper had been flushed. It was about this time that I looked at the toilet paper roll which, by the way, I had just changed about an hour earlier. There was now less than half a roll.

After a few frantic moments, I had the flood pretty much under control, but I could still hear running water in the tank. I thought maybe the chain had gotten stuck on the thingy in the tank, so I removed the lid and pulled up on the chain. Duh!!! This made the toilet “try” to flush again, sending a new wave of poop water all over me, the floor, and the now-soaked beach towels that the kids finally brought me.

I guess the tenth time’s a charm when it comes to plunging a toilet, and the flood finally subsided. Next came the tricky part of extracting myself and my poop water feet from the bathroom to collect my cleaning supplies without contaminating the rest of the house in the process.

I managed to clean up the mess, get the towels and rug into the wash, and disinfect myself and the floor without further incident.

Later, I was playing Simon Says with the kids and it was my turn to be Simon. I said, “Simon says, ‘How much toilet paper do you use when you go potty?’” They both held up their arms about 6 inches apart. “Simon says, ‘How much toilet paper do you NOT use when you go potty?’” They held their arms apart as far as they could.

Let’s hope they remember that the next time.

Hey, at least he wiped his ass.

Another One Bites the Dust

2010-05-27T09:33:00.004-04:00

The other day Alex and I were in the car and Queen’s Another One Bites the Dust was on the radio. Alex asked me what that meant. I told him it means that something or someone has died. He exclaimed, “Dust can kill you?!”

For the duration of the ride home, he provided a litany of who did and did not bite the dust:

“George Washington bit the dust.”
“Abraham Lincoln bit the dust.”
“Michael Jackson bit the dust.”
“Barack Obama didn’t bit the dust cuz he’s still a-life.” (We’re working on a-life vs. alive.)
etc.
etc.

American Idol Season 9 Finale - Lee Wins!!

2010-05-27T09:31:00.002-04:00

And so comes the end of another American Idol season. After surviving 18 cuts, Crystal Bowersox finally succumbed to Lee DeWyze, the newly crowned season 9 American Idol.

True to form, American Idol stretched out the results show to a seemingly never-ending two hours until it reached the climax in the final moments announcing Lee DeWyze was the new American Idol of season 9.

Each season, American Idol travels the country searching for the best new talent in America. This season covered seven cities, over 100,000 auditions, 14 weeks of live competition, and more than 500,000 votes. Host Ryan Seacrest announced that coming into Monday night’s performances, less than 2 percent of the votes separated Lee and Crystal.

Throughout the evening, Seacrest checked in with the hometowns of finalists Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox. Toledo, Ohio’s Huntington Center held a stadium full of Crystal fans, and Mount Prospect, Illinois’ Village Green was brimming with Lee followers.

American Idol finales are always chocked full of celebrities and guest appearances. Overall, the guest performances were lukewarm and a bit odd at times. It seemed to be a tribute to the ‘70s and ‘80’s, strange since most of the contestants were not even born until the mid ‘80s.

Starting off the night were the Top 12 contestants singing School’s Out, accompanied by Orianthi jamming on guitar. Then, in probably the biggest thrill of his life, third place finisher Casey James introduced none other than Alice Cooper himself.

The reigning American Idol champ Kris Allen performed next, his latest hit The Truth. It was good to see Kris doing well, and his performance was worthy of his title.

Next in the guest line-up featured Siobhan Magnus and Aaron Kelly singing Bee Gees hit How Deep is Your Love, joined by Barry and Robin Gibb. As expected, they looked a little older and sounded a little rougher. There was no introduction, and I wondered how many kids in the audience even knew who they were. Victoria even asked me, “Who is Oldie-locks?” (referring to Barry Gibb’s flowing now-gray hair.)

Mike “Big Mike” Lynche came out singing the Doobie Brothers’ Takin’ it to the Streets, and was joined on-stage by Michael McDonald. I think Big Mike missed his first few notes, but he got into a groove and did okay.

In preparation for the Summer Tour, the top 6 girls came out and performed a medley of Christina Aguilera songs, starting with Beautiful. Aguilera joined them for the last line of Fighter and then the diva did a solo performance of You Lost Me from her upcoming album Bionic.

Back to the 1970s, Lee and the rest of the Top 6 guys took the stage for a Hall & Oates medley, joined mid-way by Darryl Hall and John Oates (although I think Lee introduced him as Dale Hall). This was really lame and Lee looked uncomfortable.

In one of the best Idol moments of the night, Crystal sang Alanis Morisette’s Ironic and was then joined with Morisette for a rocking rendition of You Oughta Know. This is one of the hardest songs to sing – I know from karaoke experience – and to sing it with the artist had to be nerve-wracking, but Crystal held her own. It was awesome!

Carrie Underwood rated a solo performance of her latest hit Undo It, which she co-wrote with Kara DioGuardi. More rock than country, this was another great performance from Underwood.

In a brief break from the Nokia Theater LA Live, video showed Crystal and Lee going to what they thought was to be another photo shoot. Instead they were greeted by last year’s winner Kris Allen and presented with their brand new Ford Focuses, the ones they designed several weeks ago during their Ford promo spots.

Back to the stage, Casey James performed Every Rose Has Its Thorn with Poison lead singer Brett Michaels, who is recovering from his brain hemorrhage and is awaiting surgery to repair a hole in his heart. One of the better performances of the night, Casey actually sounded good.

The next Idol finalist/guest spot was probably the worst of the night. Poor Lee had to perform with Chicago, a medley of songs about time. Sorry Chicago, bur your time was up long ago – don’t bring Lee down.

What would the Season 9 finale of American Idol be without a mention of Pants on the Ground. Yes, we were forced to witness a prolonged version of the pseudo-cult classic. Worse yet, General Larry Platt was joined by William Hung (of She Bang notoriety) and a bevy of boys barely bearing their briefs.

This American Idol finale finds me a little more nostalgic than most, as it also marks the end of Simon Cowell’s run as the judge everyone loves to hate. The show was filled with clips and tributes to Simon’s time with Idol, and culminated in a performance by (almost) all of the past American Idol winners and a couple of dozen past finalists.

Read my other post here for more on the American Idol farewell to Simon.

With the American Idol finale nearing its much-anticipated conclusion, the Top 10 took the stage one last time for a sleepy version of Janet Jackson’s Again. Then viewers were treated to a special two-song medley from Ms. Jackson of her new song Nothing followed by Nasty.

With the excitement building, Lee and Crystal joined forces in their last performance as finalists, singing A Little Help from My Friend with Joe Cocker. Crystal and Cocker overpowered Lee in this performance making him seem a little out of place on stage with them.

And the Winner is…..

As the lights dimmed for the last time on the American Idol Stage, the music thumping, the crowd eagerly awaiting the result. Crystal looked cool as a cucumber, without a care in the world. Lee looked like he was about to pass out or throw up.

Finally, Ryan announced the winner of American Idol season 9 is…..Lee DeWyze! Lee was immediately overtaken by emotion. Tears of joy streamed down his (and my) face. When Ryan asked how it felt to be the winner, Lee replied, “I don’t know. Oh my god.” I think he said ‘Oh my god’ about ten times. He thanked everyone, told Crystal he loves her and said he has never been happier in his life.

This season of American Idol was perhaps not as exciting as some, but it was fulfilling nonetheless. Crystal and Lee are both tremendously talented artists, and I really didn’t care which of them won – they both deserved it.

Don’t feel bad for Crystal. Her career is just beginning, too. Being the runner up on American Idol is not a bad thing. Just look at Adam Lambert, Chris Daughtry, Bo Bice, or Clay Aiken, to name a few. They took the momentum and recognition gained on American Idol and parlayed it into successful careers. Crystal will be fine – we haven’t seen the last of her. Not by a long shot.

There you have it. Another American Idol crowned; 99,000 dreams dashed. So as we wait patiently for the next installment of Idol to begin, how do we get our American Idol fix?

Look for many new CDs to be released, not only by Lee DeWyze, but by many runners-up as well. And if that’s not enough for you, check out the American Idol Summer Tour. Click here for a complete list of Idol tour cities.

For more articles and Idol recaps, click here.

Farewell to Simon Cowell

2010-05-27T09:29:00.004-04:00

The season 9 American Idol finale had a duel mission. Not only did millions of fans tune in to see if Lee DeWyze or Crystal Bowersox would be crowned the new champ (it was Lee), they also tuned in to see Simon Cowell’s final appearance as he exits American Idol.

Throughout the Idol finale, we saw clips of Simon giving harsh critiques, laughing with Paula, and just being Simon. There was a cute segment showing Ryan and Randy celebrating and fist-bumping now that Simon is gone – all in fun.

Later Dane Cook performed a parody called The Things that Simon Said. He told Simon he had “the honesty of Abe Lincoln and the charm of the man who shot him.” It was a funny bit, and several of the most criticized past contestants came out on stage, including Tamika from season one (that’s Ta-mi-ka, Simon).

I think it was intended to be a longer sketch, if not for one of the cast-offs taking the mic and refusing to relinquish control. Cut to commercial.

The Office star Ricky Gervais provided comic relief from the singing with a satellite farewell to his good buddy Simon. He joked that it was too far to travel the half-mile to the studio, and Simon wasn’t that good a friend, so he would just do it via satellite. More seriously, he called Simon the Kingmaker and wished him well.

A farewell to Simon Cowell would not be complete without ample footage of Paula Abdul. A judge for the first 8 seasons of Idol, Paula had kind (tongue-in-cheek) words for Simon accompanied by clips of their on-screen antics.

Simon was surprised when Paula then appeared on stage to bid him adieu in person. Unfortunately for Paula, her comic efforts went unanswered, as she tried joke after joke only to be greeted by chirping crickets.

Simon’s send-off included a montage of video clips with Frank Sinatra’s My Way playing in the background. What happened next was the most moving of the farewell coverage.

Starting with Kelly Clarkson singing alone, she was joined one by one, by Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Taylor Hicks and Kris Allen. (David Cook was the only absent alum, apparently participating in a charity gold tournament in his hometown of Kansas City.)

Then the stage filled with a couple of dozen finalists from past seasons including Justin Guarini, Blake Edwards, Matt Giraud, Kimberly Caldwell, David Archuleta, and Bo Bice. Together the group sang “Together We Are One,” a fitting tribute to the man who probably had the most influence on their careers to-date. Lyrics included, “see what we’ve all become, together we are one.”

Finally, Simon took the stage for some parting words. He began with, “I didn’t think I was going to be this emotional, but I am.” Then he thanked everyone for their support, fun and sense of humor, ending his brief but heartfelt speech with, “It’s been a blast” and a hug for Ryan Seacrest.

This American Idol finale found me a little more nostalgic than most, as it also marked the end of Simon Cowell’s run as the judge everyone loves to hate.

Read my other post for more on the Idol Season 9 finale.

If you missed any of my other recaps from Season 9, click here.

White Glove Test

2010-05-19T22:52:00.001-04:00

After leaving the house strewn with toys, Alex exits through the garage on his way to school, looks around and sees assorted grass clippings, dirt, and mulch from a weekend of gardening and announces, “You guys really need to clean this place up.”

Writing Gigs a-Plenty

2010-05-18T13:48:00.003-04:00

I’ve been honing my writing skills on various topics for several different websites while I try to decide if I want to specialize in a certain area. So far, much of my writing has been pretty self-indulgent, reporting on the weekly minutiae that is American Idol and Dancing with the Stars. (More on those later.)

I’ve been published on at least three sites and have even had one article stolen and posted in its entirety on someone else’s blog. I know imitation is the greatest form of flattery, so maybe I’m just that good!

My first entry into the online world of publishing was through a website called VirtualAssistants.com. I initially responded to a job posting for a newsletter writer and was hired to write a four-part article on Starting Your Own Virtual Assistant Business. Since you need to be a member to receive the newsletter, I have also published this series on my Associated Content (AC) page. I recently submitted another article for VA on how much VAs should charge. That should be in the next newsletter and, again, I’ll link it to my AC page.

My main focus has been on the Associated Content website. I think a lot of you are visiting, because I’m approaching 10,000 page views in just over a month. I’ve written 30 articles ranging from Idol and Dancing updates, to starting a virtual assistant business, to displaying and archiving your kids’ artwork. If you haven’t already visited, here is a link to my content on AC.

I have also sold two pieces to Seed.com, a branch of AOL. One has been published and another is awaiting publication. So far these are short how-to or tip ideas, but I’m also working on a couple of longer articles on dog and cat care.

I’ve had a few resume/cover letter writing gigs. I posted an ad on Craig’s List and thought this would really take off. Apparently, people out of work don’t have any money to pay to get their resume done. Go figure.

I’ve tried to be more active on Facebook, but I can’t seem to get into the whole Farms Friends frenzy that seems to be going on. I’m sorry, but I don’t find trading virtual livestock very entertaining. But that’s just me.

Try as I may to remain tweet-free, I finally signed up for Twitter, mainly to promote my writing and gain viewers (pageviews = money, you know!). So far I have a whopping 4 followers, so if you have a Twitter account and want to follow me, you can find me here. I’m following a bunch of celebrities just to see what goes on on Twitter. Jim Carrey posts like every ½ hour (or at least his assistant does). If anyone knows what #BOING means, please fill me in. I’m not really getting the whole tweet thing, but I’ll try it for a while.

Other sites where you can find me include digg.com, stumbleupon.com. StumbleUpon is pretty cool. If you’re just looking to waste time surfing the net, go to SU, fill out your preferences (sports, movies, whatever) and hit the Stumble button. It randomly generates websites that pertain to your interests. I’ve come across some very interesting things that I would never have found just doing random surfing.

Idol Watch Coming to an End

As we near the season finale of American Idol in two weeks, I find myself torn between being happy that I won’t have to write another series of preview/performance/results articles and being sad that I’ll have to wait several more months for next season to start.

Speaking of Idol, I think it’s really cool that my dad went to see Crystal Bowersox last weekend when she was at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds for her Homecoming Visit. Can’t wait to see if Dad turns up on Idol in the footage tonight!

DWTS Watch Also Ending Soon

Same as with Idol, Dancing with the Stars ends soon, and I’ll be left with no outlet for my ballroom dancing critiques. The show has been great this year, and the talent has been amazing! I hope it’s Evan Lysacek and Nicole Scherzinger battling it out for the mirror ball trophy, but I really want Evan to win.

With my favorite reality shows finishing up, I guess I’m going to have to write more substantive articles.

If you have any ideas for articles I would happy to take them under advisement.

A New Outlook on Work

2010-05-18T13:40:00.002-04:00

So I’ve been trying this writing thing for a while now and am actually enjoying it quite a bit. I have found, however, that I tend to get lost in the virtual abyss and can actually lose blocks of time while reading other people’s blogs and articles. Therefore, I have decided to construct a schedule for my workdays so that I actually do some work every day. What a concept!

While my self-imposed schedule is not written in stone, it is at least on the computer so I can view it throughout the day to be sure I am working on the right project. One of the biggest time savers I identified was only checking email twice a day. Otherwise, every time I hear the ‘ding’ signaling, “you’ve got mail,” I would be taken away from whatever I was working on, only to find myself lured into some non-productive, non-money-producing activities.

I have been terribly remiss in attending to my blog, so there is now a scheduled block of time in my day to write new posts. I hope you haven’t missed my idle (or was that Idol?) banter too much, and will try to do better from now on.

Time to catch up!

2010-05-10T09:49:00.003-04:00

Things have been hectic lately and I apologize for being very lax in my blog posts. Here's a quick rundown of what's been happening:

* Spent Mother's Day with Grandma and Papa. Loved my homemade gifts from the kids.

* Starting a vegetable garden. I need to get these plants in the ground this week before the jungle takes over my dining room!

* The kids had dentist visits last week - no cavities!

* Alex had some mysterious fever last week that kept coming and going. A trip to the Dr. and then to the hospital for a "pee in a cup" test showed nothing. He's fine now.

* Victoria is about to lose another tooth.

* Dancing with the Stars: Pamela Anderson voted off last week (should have been Niecy). Down to final 5 couples dancing tonight.

* American Idol: Aaron Kelly voted off last week (should have been Casey). Final 4 perform tonight with mentoring help from Jamie Foxx.

* Doing lots of writing. Published on AssociatedContent.com, DIYLife.com (for Seed.com), VirtualAssistants.com newsletter articles, volunteer proposal/grant letter for non-profit youth football league.
That's all for now. My goal is to post something new 3 times a week.

There, it's in writing...now I have to do it!

Have a great week!

Mommy! You said you were 29!

2010-05-02T12:27:00.002-04:00

After posting about Alex's birthday party, and seeing my comment, "It's hard to believe my baby is 5 years old", it reminded me of a funny thing that happened on my last birthday.

We were at Grandma & Papa's for Thanksgiving. My birthday is also Thanksgiving weekend, so we always celebrate my birthday along with my husband's and sister's who are also in November. We were sitting around talking and my mom said, innocently enough, "I can't believe my baby is 43 years old."

Well, by the looks on my kids' faces, you would have thought she said there was no Santa Claus! They looked at me and said, "Mommy! You said you were 29!" I tried to convince them that Grandma was lying, but to no avail. Lots of debate followed, and the result was that I was busted. For 7 years, I had my kids believing I was 29 every year.

Alex had even had a conversation on this very subject with our babysitter, Theresa, earlier that week. When I picked him up, Theresa informed me that Alex told her, "My mom is 29 and my dad is 46." Theresa who, by the way, graduated high school with me, never missed a beat. She said, "Really? So am I!" So the lie was perpetuated.

Until Grandma blew it.

I tried to backpedal and convince them that some women, did in fact stay the same age while the men just kept getting older. No luck. The jig was up.

So now my kids take every opportunity to tell everyone they meet that their mom is really 43 even though she tried to tell them she was 29.

I wonder how long I can stay 43?

Alex is 5!

2010-04-25T23:39:00.004-04:00

It’s hard to believe my baby is 5 years old. He’s such a little man!

We had his party at Bounce City this year, one of those indoor inflatable, bouncy house places. The kids had a blast and everyone was thoroughly worn out by the end of the evening.

I have to toot my own horn here and say that I really outdid myself on his cake this year. Of course, he wanted a Transformers cake, but unfortunately Giant Eagle doesn’t have one of those.

So I did some research and found some awesome cakes to choose from. It really turned out great – ½ Autobot, ½ Decipticon. Later we added two little Transformer guys to the cake.

Alex loved being the center of attention!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

This week, back to business for me. I need to concentrate on writing more and publishing more articles. If you haven’t already, be sure to click here to check out my Associated Content profile. FYI, payment is based on unique page views (how many times a page is viewed by someone new), so it would really help me out if you could click on each of the articles and give them a scan whenever I publish. Thanks for your support!

DVR Failed Me Tonight!

2010-04-19T23:13:00.000-04:00

N24WS7HVY9UA (pay no attention to this-it's a confirmation link for signing up on Technorati.com)

I am so pissed tonight! While getting the kids to bed, I was recording Dancing with the Stars - like I do every Monday night! I noticed that the red Record light wasn't on, so I checked out my Recorded List, and sure enough it showed that it was recording. But when I came downstairs to watch it, it was gone! I don't know what happened, but now I have to wait until tomorrow (or whenever) to watch the show online from ABC's website. No luck tonight with You Tube or any other sites for that matter. Sorry - just needed to vent!

Hunka Hunka Burnin’...I mean, Raw…Meat?

2010-04-18T16:19:00.002-04:00

My First Steak on a Stone Experience

Anyone who knows me knows that I like my steak well-done. Not medium, not medium-well, but WELL DONE, as in no pink, got it? You can imagine my surprise when we attended our niece’s wedding rehearsal dinner at Steak on a Stone and I was informed that I would be served a raw steak!

Spoiler Alert! It turns out this was one of the best meals I’ve ever had, albeit not without a lot of stress and anxiety leading up to it. I definitely recommend Steak on a Stone.

The meal started with several appetizers which were incredible! Hummus with pita chips (am I the only person who has never tried hummus? It was awesome!), Greek meatballs, stuffed grape leaves, and the most wonderful flaming cheese dish called Saganaki – great on their fresh baked bread. I loaded up on apps because I knew there was no way I was going to enjoy the main dish.

Next came our salads. Again, I finished every last bite, so I could claim being full as my excuse for not eating my probably-still-gonna-be-mooing steak.

Finally, the waiter took our entrée order and explained how things work at Steak on a Stone. They bring you your very own platter, and in the middle of said platter is a square stone about 8” x 8” that is heated to approximately 800°. On top of this inferno-infused rock, they place your raw meat. Yum [sarcasm intended].

The idea is that you cook your own steak to your desired doneness so that it is just the way you like it. OK, that doesn’t sound so bad. After all, having been born and raised on well-done food, you kind of get used to tough, dry, shoe-leather types of meat. And when you do actually get a steak that is cooked to perfection (brown throughout, tender, and did I mention ‘no pink’?), you are so happy you could…well, you get the idea. But I digress….

So our waiter brings out a trolley full of raw meat and begins his demonstration. The steak is already sizzling on the stone, so you need to turn it over every few minutes so it doesn’t burn on the bottom (so such thing, in my opinion). Anyway, you start slicing off little pieces and grilling them on the stone as you go. He said it only takes about 7-10 seconds for it to cook. (I’m thinking 7-10 minutes, but more on that in a sec).

I chose the filet mignon (the least likely to be tough) and start slicing ¼” sections and then laying them on their side to grill. Surprisingly, after about 10-15 seconds, and a quick flip for the other side, it was cooked through! My game plan was to get all of the thin little slices cooking at once, so they would be good and brown all the way through. It turns out, after only a couple of minutes, I had moved all of my food off the stone and onto the side of the platter. The great part was, if I did happen to find a piece that could use a little more heat, I just put it back on the stone for a few seconds and presto! it was cooked!

I hate to admit it, but it was the best well-done steak I have ever eaten. Not only was it cooked just the way I like it, but each and every bite was tender, juicy and most of all hot, like it just came off the grill because, hey, it did!

Bedtime Battles - Published!

2010-04-16T09:43:00.002-04:00

Another article published on Associated Content! Follow this link to read the article, "Bedtime Battles - Establishing a Bedtime Routine for Your Child."

Again, if you would like to receive notice whenever I publish, just click on the Follow me link under my name when viewing the article.

Enjoy!

Transformed - Now Published!

2010-04-15T19:25:00.003-04:00

a quick note to let you know that my Transformed article has been published on Associated Content. Follow this link to check it out.

Associated Content is a website that features content in the following categories:

Arts & Entertainment
Automotive
Business & Finance
Health & Wellness
Home Improvement
Lifestyle
News
Society
Sports
Technology
Travel

I have submitted a few other articles and am awaiting publishing. Bookmark the site and check back often. Or, you can click on the Follow link under my name and receive updates whenever I publish new content.

Enjoy!

Transformed

2010-04-09T20:47:00.004-04:00

My four-year-old son Alex loves Transformers. He loves everything about them – the movies, the games, the action figures – you name it. If it has Transformers on it, he wants it.

We watch the movies together, we do the puzzles together and, of course, we get down on the floor and play with the action figures together. I have to admit, Daddy is much better at this game than I am. And my son is quick to correct me if I call a Decepticon by an Autobot name or, heaven forbid, forget that Optimus Prime is the leader of the good guys.

One day we were playing and he asked if he could have an ice cream cone. While I went to scoop the ice cream, I asked him to pick up a couple of toys – specifically one dinosaur and one truck. It seemed an innocent enough request, given the fact that I was dishing up a pretty tasty treat.

Then, it happened.

I really shouldn’t have been surprised.

He transformed.

My sweet, loving, son transformed into a whining, Lazy-bot of some sort. Gone were the hugs-for-no-reason, the “I love you mommy” in the middle of the day. In its place was an alien creature whose language consisted only of an endless loop of “I can’t”, “I don’t want to”, and “I’m too tired”.

Now, my son is not stupid. Nor is he lazy. He’s actually quite clever and – if I do say so myself – brilliant. He is quick thinking and never ceases to amaze me with the workings of his little mind. Here’s how the conversation went:

Mommy: Alex, while I get your ice cream cone, why don’t you put away those toys.

Alex: [throwing himself on the floor, whining] I can’t!

Mommy: Alex, you only have one dinosaur and one truck to put away. Please do that while I’m getting your ice cream.

Alex: [now rolling around the floor, angry and whining] I can’t! My hand hurts!

Mommy: Well, if your hand hurts, I guess you won’t be able to hold your ice cream cone.

Alex: [now crying, angry and whining] No! This [pointing to his left hand] is my cleaning-up-toys hand and this [pointing to his right] is my eating-ice-cream hand!

Once we stopped laughing (by now, he was laughing too), I gave him a big hug … and his ice cream cone. As it turns out, laughter is the key to transforming back into a human boy. In that moment, I was reminded just how sweet, innocent and, yes, brilliant, he really is.

Job Search Continues…

2010-04-07T13:23:00.002-04:00

I was determined to get back into gear with the job search this week, but I’m so frustrated with the job listings. I’ve been looking through the Plain Dealer classifieds (pitiful) as well as online with Careerbuilder, Monster and Craig’s List. It really is depressing to think that there are so many crappy jobs out there!

I mean, really, what are these people getting out of posting bogus ads? So many listings don’t provide even the company name (I know, they don’t want to get inundated with phone calls). For example, I responded to an ad recently that said it was for writing content for a website. What I received was a job description for going to adult websites and then writing reviews about them! Come on!

I am so tired of wasting my time to try and find out what these jobs are all about. From now on, I’m only going to respond to ads that either have a company name or are through an agency. At least that way I’ll know they’re real or can do some research on my own.

That’s all for now!

Catching Up: American Idol & DWTS

2010-04-05T14:09:00.003-04:00

Busy weekend...no time to post...here's my catch-up on my favorites. I'm 2 for 2!!! Shannen Dougherty got the boot on DWTS and Didi Benami was sent packing on Idol. Can't wait to see what this week brings!

Hope you had a Happy Easter!

Break is Over...Back to Reality

2010-04-05T13:58:00.007-04:00

Well, Spring Break ends today. Back to the real world tomorrow: school, work (well, in my case look for work), packing lunches, etc. We always think breaks go by too quickly, but I am actually looking forward to getting back into a routine tomorrow.

We enjoyed the time off, but I was running out of exciting things for the kids to do! We spent a lot of time at the library, playing outside, getting ready for Easter, making cards….spent a long weekend at Grandma & Papa’s, so today is the usual unpack, do laundry, get things back to normal day.

I know I’m going to feel differently when the alarm goes off in the morning, but for today I’m glad school starts tomorrow!

Victoria Lost Her First Tooth!

2010-03-31T19:41:00.003-04:00

Well, it’s about time! I thought she was never going to lose a tooth!

Here’s how it happened:

A couple of weeks ago, she comes home from school and says a friend was looking in her mouth and said she’s going to need surgery. First, what was her friend doing in her mouth? And second, what kind of surgery?

Much to my surprise, when I looked in her mouth I saw not 2 but 4 teeth on the bottom! Her front bottom teeth were still there, but so were the permanent teeth coming behind!

(A call to the dentist assured me that it would be ok and that the permanent teeth would push the baby teeth out.)

For the last 2 weeks, she’s been wiggling and playing with her teeth. One has been very loose and I knew it wouldn’t be long before we would be having a visit from the Tooth Fairy.

Last night she was begging us to pull it out with a string tied to a door like we saw on America’s Funniest Videos a week ago. We convinced her to wait one more night. So tonight, as soon as Daddy got home, we told her we would pull that tooth.

We got the video camera set up and some string. We tied the string to her tooth, hit Record, counted to 3 and slammed the door! Nothing. The string came off. So I turned off the camera and tried to get the string back on her very wiggly tooth.

Finally, I said, “Are you ready?” Slam! I swung the door without any warning for her! We thought the string came off again, but then she said, “Wait, it’s gone!” The tooth was out…now we just had to find it. After all four of us searching around the floor, we found it! She is so excited!

Too bad the camera was off!

Let’s just hope the Tooth Fairy has some money tonight.

American Idol Top 10 Performance Night

2010-03-31T15:51:00.006-04:00

It was Soul/R&B night on American Idol last night, and Usher was the mentor this week. I think he really gave the contestants good feedback that they could immediately use for their performances – if only more of them would have taken his advice and actually used it!

There were some surprises last night on Idol, namely Siobhan Magnus! She had a really bad night, so I hope she doesn’t get the boot tonight. I don’t know what happened, but she was off-key through the whole song (Into the Fire, Missy Elliott) and just didn’t look comfortable. My fingers are crossed for her!

Casey James did a good job with Hold On (Sam & Dave), but I think the judges were a little too excited over it. Yes, he sang well. Yes, he looked good. But, again, there’s nothing special about him. He could be any guy singing in any band in any bar on any given Saturday night. I’m sure he’s safe this week, though.

Michael Lynche had a really good performance with India Arie’s Ready for Love. I’m not his biggest fan, but he’s smooth. I think putting him into the audience a little helped him connect more.

Didi Benami: What the heck was that?!!?!? What should have been a great song for her (What Becomes of the Broken Hearted) just didn’t work. The judges crushed her. I thought it was boring, monotone and only got a little bit of character toward the end. But by then it was too late. I think she is going to be in trouble tonight on the results show.

Tim Urban: Christian rocker meets lounge lizard??? Tim’s version of Anita Baker’s Sweet Love was anything but sweet. It was so karaoke, almost a joke. But you can’t get this guy down. Even after bashing by the judges, he just smiles and says how much fun he’s having.

Andrew Garcia: I think Andrew really redeemed himself with Chris Brown’s Forever. While he will probably never have a moment like he did in Hollywood Week with Paula Abdul’s Straight Up, this was definitely a close second. And having Simon flirt with his mama probably didn’t hurt his likeability factor either. I think Andrew may have just saved his neck on this one.

Katie Stevens: Yes, Katie can sing, she can even belt it out when she needs to, like with last night’s Chain of Fools (Aretha Franklin). But I couldn’t get past the “Walk Like an Egyptian” head move she kept doing. She looked pissed or slutty or goofy…I’m not sure which, but I didn’t care for it.

Lee DeWyze: Lee sang Treat Her Like a Lady (the Cornelius Bros.) and it was a show stopper! This is the best we’ve ever seen him and certainly the best of the night. I think his confidence was up and it really looked like he was having fun instead of being scared to death! Good job, Lee!

Crystal Bowersox: Crystal is always awesome. She promised a surprise this week and she didn’t disappoint. It was nice to see her without her guitar to hide behind and looking more “girly” for her rendition of Midnight Train to Georgia (Gladys Knight & the Pips). While this certainly wasn’t her absolute best performance – she needs a little more work on the piano, but it was a nice change – I think her vocals are spot on, and she’ll have no trouble sailing through to next week…and the next…and the next.

Aaron Kelly: This kid is so sweet, it’s hard not to like him. However, his version of Ain’t No Sunshine was a little flat. Usher gave him some good advice but I think he must have forgotten it when he got out onstage. That’s OK. He’ll be back next week.

This week, I think Tim and Didi are going to be the bottom 2, but I think Didi is going home.

Check back tomorrow to see how I did!

Thank Goodness for DVRs: American Idol & Dancing with the Stars

2010-03-30T16:07:00.006-04:00

OK, so I watch Dancing with the Stars, too – don’t hate me!

Tonight is the results show, which is a compilation of last week’s dancing and this week’s dancing, to determine who is the first celebrity booted off in Season 9.

My infatuation with Dancing with the Stars is much different than my obsession with American Idol. First, on DWTS, I actually know some of the people who are competing. Second, I love seeing the crazy costumes they come up with every week. Yes, the dancing is good, too, but who doesn’t want to see which guy gets put in pink socks or salmon shirt? As for the ladies, you know everyone is just waiting for another wardrobe malfunction like Kelly Monaco (my General Hospital girl!) had in Season 1.

I think Tom Bergeron is one of the hardest working hosts in television today – maybe only second to Ryan Seacrest! Between America’s Funniest Videos, DWTS, and the occasional game show thrown in, he’s on TV almost as much as Regis Philbin! And Tom is funny! I love when he cracks himself up with a joke or really loses it over something one of the judges says.

Like last night, Len the cranky judge, said Pam Anderson was titivating, which means all dolled up (or tarted up, depending on which dictionary you use). Tom got a kick out of that and you could just see the wheels turning as he tried to come up with something clever to say – he didn’t.

Anyway, in my opinion, the competition this season is already split down the middle between who has a shot and who has to go home. Here’s my take, in no particular order:

Pamela Anderson (Damian): She’s great at throwing all the sexy stuff out there, but she can really dance. But she freaked me out a little last night – it didn’t seem like she could get out of her Marilyn Monroe character. Fans will keep her around she deserves it.

Niecy Nash (Louie): Surprisingly Niecy is very light on her feet. Louie is a great teacher and I think she’ll be around for a while.

Aiden Turner (Edyta): The hunk from All My Children, not as smooth as I thought he would be. I feel bad for Edyta. She’s so good and she never gets a great partner. She’s only been to the finals once with fellow AMC hunk Cameron Matheson. Maybe Aiden will surprise us.

Kate Gosselin (Tony): Kate is such a diva! Poor Tony, the nicest dancer on the show, actually quit! OK, so it only lasted about 2 minutes, but still! She has no rhythm and no talent. She should go home and take care of her kids instead of just blowing them kissing and mouthing ‘I love you’ every time the camera pans to her.

Evan Lysacek (Anna): I am a big fan of Evan’s. I loved watching him win gold at the Olympics. I’m not such a fan of Anna’s, but it’s about time she got a partner with some potential. I think Evan has a chance to win the coveted mirror ball trophy, mainly because he is used to learning lots of routines, he has rhythm, and he’s not afraid to put in long hours to perfect a routine. I think Evan will be in the final 3.

Shannen Dougherty (Mark): Sorry, Shannen. Not a fan of 90210, not a fan on DWTS. I don’t think she fits with her partner, and I don’t think she has much rhythm. She may have a week or two left, but that’s about it.

Chad Ochocinco (Cheryl): They have good chemistry, mostly because he’s a flirt and she likes attention, but he doesn’t take criticism very well. I think he was really embarrassed last night and wanted to just walk off the show. I don’t think he has the talent to be around for much longer.

Buzz Aldrin (Ashly): Yes, we all admire Buzz as an American hero, but dancing, really? I also feel bad for Ashley. She just came back this year after being away for several seasons. She has to be thinking, “I came back for this?”

Erin Andrews (Maks): I love Maks. I know, everyone loves Maks – especially Maks. I think he will whip Erin into shape, but I don’t know if it will be enough to win the whole enchilada. She’ll be around at least 5 or 6 weeks.

Jake Pavelka (Chelsie): A bachelor does not a dancer make. Yes, Jake is nice to look at. Yes, he’s trying his best. Good thing he got the prize in the other competition, because I just don’t think he best is going to get him very far in this one.

Nicole Sherzinger (Derek): My favorite to win. Nicole is from the Pussycat Dolls, so she already has a lot of dancing and stage experience. I know, every other contestant who has had dancing experience says it’s not the same, but I can’t help but feel it gives her an unfair advantage. Agreed, she doesn’t have ballroom or Latin experience, but she does have stage presence and the know-how of learning dance routines. That goes a long way against someone who acts or is only a celeb because of a reality TV show.

All that said, I think Shannen is going home tonight. We’ll have to watch to see if I’m right.

And if that wasn’t enough…..it’s performance night on American Idol! Thank Goodness for DVRs. I’ll probably watch Idol and record DWTS. I’ll have my recap on both tomorrow! Until then, get the popcorn, we’re going to be in for a bumpy ride!

Hooked on American Idol

2010-03-29T10:56:00.005-04:00

OK, I admit it. I’m addicted to American Idol. I’ve been a fan since Season 1 when Kelly Clarkson won the coveted title over the teenie-bop favorite Justin Guarini (how could you not love that hair?!).

Each season during the early rounds, Scott and I pick our favorites – and then try to remember who they were as they proceed into the dreaded Hollywood Week. I’m on pins and needles as the poor contestants are forced to make the loooong walk to the judges to find out if they are going to be on the show as part of the Top 24.

I can’t wait for the Tuesday performances to provide my own critique as I sit on the couch in my pajamas listening to the contestants sing for their lives. And at Wednesday’s elimination, I’m always sure I’ve made the correct pick as to who is going home. I’m usually right, although in 9 seasons I’ve probably been surprised a time or two (can you say ‘Chris Daughtry’?).

It’s fun to see who rises to the occasion and who crumbles under the pressure of performing live in front of millions of viewers. Come on, some of these kids are only 16 years old – wouldn’t you be petrified? It’s always interesting to see who grows week to week and who should stick to karaoke in a local bar.

This season is no different. We’re down to the Top 10, and the group is really split between the ‘how are they not signed yet’ and the ‘they must have a huge family voting for them’. My favorites are Siobhan Magnus and Crystal Bowersox. They are truly unique in their styles and voices, and I think it would make for an awesome finale if these were the final two.

You have to love the judges, too. I remember the first season of Idol being shocked at how cruel Simon was. Now I find myself saying those same things to the television screen! I can even anticipate what some of the comments are going to be: “Dawg, you were pitchy.” “Absolutely, horrendous!” “You can really blow!” And don’t forget, even the harshest of insults can be softened if you start with, “If I’m being totally honest…”

I thought I was going to miss Paula Abdul, but I have to say that I am absolutely loving Ellen DeGeneres as the new judge. She’s honest in her criticisms but not as harsh as Simon. And she’s encouraging without being as loopy as Paula was. And she’s funny! Even when she’s shooting someone down, she manages to make them laugh.

Here’s my take on the Top 10 Contestants:

Siobhan Magnus: Regardless of the outcome of the show, she will be a star. She is so unique and she’s not afraid to show who she really is. Loved Paint it Black!

Crystal Bowersox: Ditto for Crystal. This fellow Ohioan has a brilliant career ahead of her. She belts out Janice Joplin like she singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. She makes it look so easy. She, too, knows who she is and what kind of artist she will be. Even if she doesn’t win the whole thing, I think Simon will have her under contract in no time.

Michael Lynche: Everyone loves Mike. His voice is reminiscent of another “Velvet Teddybear” Ruben Studdard. He can be a little cocky, though. I think he’ll make it to the Top 5.

Lee DeWyze: I think Lee is the dark horse. He has really grown over the past several weeks and is finally coming out of his shell. He has such a distinctive voice and seems so down-to-earth that I think he’ll give the girls a run for their money.

Katie Stevens: It’s time this little girl went back to Connecticut. She reminds me of those little girls who are pushed into pageants by their mothers, and now she’s grown up and doesn’t know what to do. I think she was used to getting a lot of praise for her singing, but on Idol, she’s just not as good as some of the others

Aaron Kelly: Great kid. Great voice. He just needs to grow up a little. I think he’ll stick around for a while because the Tweenies love him, but I don’t think he has what it takes to make it to the finale.

Andrew Garcia: Sorry, Andrew, but unless you’ve been staying up nights coming up with another Straight Up, you’re going home this week. Nice enough voice, but nothing special. Oh, and maybe try wearing contacts.

DiDi Benami: DiDi has a very interesting voice, but I think she’s better suited to lounge singing than a pop recording contract. She really hasn’t done anything wrong. She’s gotten over her nerves. She just doesn’t have IT, whatever IT is that they’re always talking about.

Casey James: Sure he’s easy on the eyes, but he always looks scared to death when he’s performing. He can play guitar, but he just stands there like a deer in the headlights. His looks will take him a couple of more weeks, but then it’s going to be home to Texas for this cowboy.

Tim Urban: Tim seems like a very nice guy – very wholesome – but I don’t think this Christian rocker is the next American Idol. He has a nice enough voice, just not enough to make it much farther in the competition.

That’s my rundown, just my opinion. But remember, all 10 of these kids are going on tour next summer anyway. Regardless of where they finish the competition, at least they know they have a steady gig for a few months and cash coming in - reportedly 6 figures (http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2007-03-20-idol-tour_N.htm). Not bad for being unknown just a few months ago.

Can’t wait for tomorrow’s performance show. Enjoy the show!

Spring Break 2010

2010-03-29T00:10:00.005-04:00

The kids are on Spring Break for the next 8 days – Ugh! um, I mean Yeay! Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy sleeping in just as much as the next guy, but I can’t help freaking out about what we’re going to do all week.

Victoria and I spent about 3 hours this afternoon making Easter cards for Grandma, Papa, Aunt Amy and Uncle Dan. Yes, I said 3 hours for 4 cards. They’d better appreciate them, too – they cost me about 30 bucks in scrapbooking supplies! And the best part is, tomorrow Alex wants to make his own! Anyway, she had fun and the cards really are cute.

So that took care of today – now I just need to come up with 8 more days’ worth of fun that both Victoria and Alex will enjoy.

Tomorrow we’re going to the library. We need to return the 15 or so books and movies that we took out last week and I have to pick up some books on reserve for me. That ought to take at least an hour – longer if they spot the Sponge Bob DVDs. We’re actually in the middle of a Sponge Bob boycott again. I find that I have to ban the show every once in a while until I can beat the kids back into shape. Then I give in and let them watch it again. I know it’s not the perfect parenting plan, but if it works……

Maybe I’ll try to convince them that Spring Break is really just a fun way of saying Spring Cleaning! Yeah, right. Anyway, I don’t think we’re quite ready to trade in the long underwear for shorts and swimsuits yet. Perhaps by 4th of July!

The weather is supposed to be beautiful by mid-week – a welcome change after the cold blast and surprising snow we had last week. While I’m thinking of it, check out my new weather widget to the left!

At least the kids can go outside and get some fresh air for a change. Maybe we can try to lose the training wheels on their bikes this week. Neither of my kids has the slightest sense of urgency to ride solo, even though there are younger kids in the neighborhood who were riding without training wheels by the end of last summer! All in due time, I guess. Do you think the other kids will laugh if they still have training wheels in high school?

Anyway, I’m looking forward to having the kids at home, and not running back and forth to the school 4 times a day! Suggestions for fun (and inexpensive) Spring Break activities for the kids are welcome. I may not make through the week on my own!

Kids' Choice Awards 2010

2010-03-27T22:10:00.009-04:00

I just watched the Kids Choice Awards on Nickelodeon with the kids. Lots of slime, very little interesting content.

Katy Perry got a face full of slime that knocked her off her feet. I’m not sure it was planned that way, but she was hit full force with green goo! My kids loved it! If you have kids and are at all in touch with the current tween stars, this was the place to be. Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Lautner, et al. I can’t believe the Chipmunks movie beat out Twilight New Moon for best movie but, hey, I guess my tastes are a bit different than a 13-year-old girl’s!

The highlights for me were Robert Downey, Jr. (love him!) and Adam Sandler swinging from the ceiling dressed as an angel to guide poor host Kevin James through his first emcee job.

Overall, it was a pleasant evening of quality time with the kids, complete with popcorn.

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

2010-03-26T23:05:00.007-04:00

I just finished watching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution and I couldn’t wait to get online and write about it! I watched the premier on Sunday night and was blown away by several things.

First, the rudeness of the people he was trying to help was appalling. The radio talk show host was downright offensive in the way he treated Jamie. Here is this charming, successful chef who has taken time away from his own family to try to suggest some improvements that can actually change the lives of our children in a good way. He hit a roadblock every step of the way, from the radio guy to the lunch ladies, to the principal of the school and even the superintendent and! The radio host was so closed-minded that all he could say was that they weren’t going to eat lettuce all day.

Second, I was amazed that out of an entire first grade class, not a single student could identify a tomato, potato, cauliflower, broccoli or eggplant. OK, so maybe I didn’t know an eggplant in first grade either, but a potato? They sure knew what french fries were, but they did not know that they were made out of potatoes! Seriously?

Lastly, the amount of junk that kids are fed schools is disgusting! I have had an issue with the lunch program at my kids’ school for a while, but this show really made me want to do something about it. My problem with our school lunch program is not only the food they serve, but also what they don’t serve. Specifically, the school lunch costs $2.05 and that is supposed to include an entrée, vegetable, fruit and milk. However, even if my daughter only asks for milk and pizza, it’s still $2.05. They shuffle the kids through like cattle and only give them what they ask for. What happened to providing a balanced lunch? Not to mention getting what we are paying for.

If they would give each child the full lunch, perhaps a lot of it will end up in the trash. But, you know what? If the kids are still hungry after their pizza, maybe – just maybe – the corn and peaches will look appetizing and they will at least try them. They say kids need to try new foods an average of 10 times before they acquire a taste for it. So how are they going to be introduced to new foods if the schools are letting the kids only choose the fun stuff? We’re talking about 6 and 7 year olds here!

Alternatively, if the schools will not accept the responsibility for introducing new foods to our children’s palate, then charge on an a la carte basis. If she only wants pizza and milk, then only charge for pizza and milk. Don’t charge for a full lunch that she was never given.

I have joined my daughter for lunch on several occasions and, let me tell you, it’s really hard to choke down the processed food they serve. I would LOVE to have Jamie Oliver come to our school and revamp the menu! Learning healthy eating habits has to happen in school. Why wouldn’t we want to encourage that? Now, I’m not saying that it is entirely up to the school to teach our children how to eat healthy; I try to provide healthy, balanced meals at home. But, if our kids are going to eat 160+ meals each year in school, then that food should be good for them, too.

If you are as outraged as I am about the state of the public school lunch program, click here to go to Jamie Oliver’s site and sign the petition he is planning on taking to the White House: http://www.jamieoliver.com/campaigns/jamies-food-revolution/petition. The purpose of the petition is to show the President and First Lady how many people care about our children’s health and to ask for their support in making a positive change. Jamie’s goal is at least 1 million signatures. If we don’t take action, who will?

Hello out there! Newbie blogger on board!

2010-03-26T19:32:00.003-04:00

Well, I've finally taken the plunge into the blogosphere! My first post on my first blog. After all of the time, thought and research put into taking this step, there should have been some fanfare to my grand entrance...but, no, it's just me at the computer, kids playing in the background with Daddy, dishes in the sink from supper -- just another day.

I am, however, very excited to start my blog! I have a lot of great ideas I need to put somewhere - anywhere - and this seemed like the logical place to start. I've been dabbling in freelance writing for about the last month, and I would like to have a forum for comments and constructive criticism on my efforts.

Over the next several months, I hope this blog accomplishes the following:

showcases my writing, allowing for comments and critiques to improve my writing skills
offers a place to chronicle the day-to-day escapades of our family, including photos to keep family members up-to-date
provides a place to share my thoughts on current events, anything from American Idol to the new federal health care program
allows me to achieve work/life balance - a place to celebrate my family while maintaining a professional identity

Thanks for reading...come back soon!