spikesmom

I wasn't even going to watch Idol this year. Had finally had enough of it. Really wasn't "watching" it the last couple of years. I would DVR and FF through everything except the actual performances. Often I didn't even watch the group numbers. Results night, except for a rare performance or two, skipped the "big names" who were on to pimp whatever they had going on and skipped to the end to see who got the boot. Sometimes didn't even bother with that, just caught the results on-line or waited for the next day's news. I had planned to be completely done this year - wouldn't even DVR and FF. It had jumped the shark for me. But then this year, a guy from Milwaukee made it, so I watched because of the hometown connection (didn't watch any of the audition rounds, I didn't start until the top 12 or however it worked this year - shows how important it was to me I guess). Still DVR'd and FF though - I mean I was still only willing to do so much! I even FF'd through some of the performances if they didn't interest me. I enjoyed Allison's voice - I had a little trouble with her enunciation, but enjoyed her overall. I do feel that both Adam and Kris are talented but tastes being what they are, they weren't "my cuppa"... of course, those who didn't care for Danny probably figure I don't have ANY taste. Yup, one of the main reasons I FF is to skip the judges. I've heard their repetitive comments enough. Last I checked, the show isn't supposed to be about them. I hate the pimping - regardless who it's for - I can make up my own mind thankyouverymuch, I know what I like, don't need them to tell me what's "good" and "bad", and Ryan just works my last nerve. So FF makes it a much more enjoyable experience... And now they're extending to 90 minutes? Barf. Barring another Milwaukee connection, I've had enough. And I'm praying no one from Milwaukee tries out... I didn't have any issue with Clay's blog/answer to the AI question. Didn't hear a diss on Adam. If Adam fans hear a diss, IMO, that's on them, just like any upset I may have about Clay comments is on me. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and can voice it if they choose, including Clay. How someone reacts to it is totally on them. No one, except Clay, really knows what he meant to say. Everyone is just reading what they want into his comments - including me. I guess I just see a whole lot of two-faced going on - fans can say whatever they want about whomever they want - especially Clay, but Clay must rise above it all. Apparently he's not entitled to have an unpopular opinion, be politically incorrect EVER! or be a fan/non-fan without taking shit for it. I guess I don't get it.

I haven't take a long train ride but I ride the Amtrak train from Milwaukee to Chicago often (it's about 90 minutes). I love it! The best part - I usually catch the earliest a.m. one down to Chicago and I can catch a few zzzz's! The state police frown on you doing that if you're driving! It makes the fact that I have to get up at 4:30 a.m. a bit more palatable! I've taken the Greyhound twice - once to visit a friend at college (too many years ago to count) and once with my son - we were going up to St. Paul, MN to visit my husband who had three weeks of training for his job. I didn't want to drive as my husband already had a car there plus it's like a 5 hour drive one way and I liked the idea of letting someone else do the driving. It was cheaper than Amtrak and I figured it would be an adventure for my son. I wanted my son to experience different kinds of transportation so that he'd be comfortable with different options. I know too many people that won't even take the city bus - they're either afraid of it or just don't know how to do it... If they can't drive or fly, they don't go. So, he has flown, taken the Amtrak and the bus (both Greyhound and city). I'd like to think that he won't immediately rule out the train or bus as options when looking to travel... I know I looked at plane, train and bus when considering Spamalot... plane ended up being the best price, and of course, the quickest but I did look at all three.

Before becoming a Clay fan, I never really gave much thought to the "comedians" and their put down jokes, getting laughs at the expense of celebrities/real people... unfortunately, I probably did laugh at some of it... never really searched any of them out, I would have seen them on things like Leno, Letterman... never watched Conan... didn't particularly find Kathy G. funny - I think she was more shrewish if anything... Since becoming a Clay fan, and not liking the fact that he had become the butt of many jokes, it made me take stock... I realized that if I didn't like it when Clay was the joke, then I shouldn't like it about anyone else either... I don't think much of those comedians who use real people to get laughs... I imagine there's a fine line there, but basically I don't find much humor in it... I guess I don't hate people like Kathy G., Conan, Ripa but I don't have much use for them either so I just avoid them. My time is valuable so I don't waste it on them. I do enjoy comedians who can actually make you laugh without making fun of specific people/groups of people... I mean, a really good comedian (or writer) can do it - it's more challenging perhaps but I also think it says more about their character that they don't go for the cheap joke/shot... ldyj - thanks for the clip of Jeff G.... hadn't heard of him before - I must live in a bubble... but the bacon bit was funny... took a minute to watch a couple others... much more to my liking... And I love reading Clay's answers at the OFC! It's a bright spot in the day when I see that he's back answering questions! Makes me smile every time...

Scarlett - thank you so much for your video! I'm loving it on my iTouch!!! It's so much fun to be able to take him with me wherever I go now!! THANKS!!! He looked and sounded great!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there! And Happy Mother's Day to the Moms of all the FCAers for without them, we wouldn't have this great group of folks here! I don't post often, but read every day. This is a great place and I would really miss it if it didn't exist! {{{{FCAers}}}} I was off on Friday so my son and I spent part of the afternoon together. Went to lunch at our favorite sushi place and just enjoyed each others company. He still lives at home but he's so busy with his own life now (part-time school, a full time job and a part time job) that any one-on-one time I can get is a gift. I managed to catch part of the excitement last night but missed some. So off to download the clack!

When I read his answer to the flower question, I assumed he meant it wouldn't tell us his favorite color? Probably wrong but it worked for me.... aikim - haha, great minds and all that jazz!

Happy Birthday Preden!!! Happy Sunday everyone else! ;-) It's a beautiful day here in my neck of the woods - yesterday was beautiful too (spent part of the day at a winery!). And after all the overcast skies and rain we've been having, this is definitely a breath of fresh air! May just take my book out into the back yard and sit in the sun... my vitamin D count is low so I'll be doing it for medicinal purposes... haha. Loving all the answers over at the OFC. A lot of the questions, not so much... I've actually stopped reading them and it's too bad because I'm sure I'll miss some great ones. But I don't want to wade through all the not so great ones. So I'll just read the ones Clay decides interest him enough to answer and let it go at that... Thanks to everyone noting when he's answering questions again and where to start! Looking forward to his next appearance even though I won't be there. Thank goodness for Clack! Everyone going - have a great time!! Interesting costumes in Mylene's concert... clearly she's into putting on an entertaining show... good for her!... and nice legs on Reed.. whew! And where are those loincloths?

ldyj - I am so very sorry.... {{{{{ldyj}}}}}

Nope, not just you. I haven't even read all the questions. It saves a ton of time.... Congrats to everyone going to Vegas!!! I'm GREEN with envy!! I'm on perpetual strike standby and can't plan to do anything for what appears to be the rest of my life now...

{{{{{00lsee and Jack}}}}}

Happy Easter FCA!!! {{{{Fear}}}} Bummer.... hope it clears up quickly! Honeybaked ham, polish sausage and macaroni salad here... nothing fancy - not even using the dining room table - just grab your plate, cop a squat and dig in.. no fuss, no muss, keeping in simple... (although the Indian food sure sounds yummy...)

So, your sister pronounces her name Pa-tri-see-a, not Pa-tri-sha? Heh. No clearly I sucked at explaining what I meant. She pronounces it Pa-tri-sha. The point I was trying to get to was that Patricia, Tricia and Garcia all end the same but I don't know anyone named Garcia that pronounces it Gar-sha. Yet I don't know anyone named Patricia/Tricia that doesn't pronounce it Pa-tri-sha/Tri-sha... So it's interesting to me - I never even considered Garcia being pronounced like Patricia... I know I'm doing a poor job saying what I mean... it's why I lurk more than post... Anyway....... Love the pic of Clay with all the girls... thought he did a great job on the show!

I've never heard Garcia pronounced that way either but it occurs to me that my sister, Patricia, went with Tricia as a nickname. We pronounced it Tri-sha (not sure how to show the i so it's not pronounced like try) but same concept. It wasn't Tri-see-a. Funny, like funny weird, how it works, I guess....

{{{{{{{{{Scarlett}}}}}}}}}}

Carry on y'all. bottle - I do have to admit to having quite a bit of loyalty to my hometown boy, Danny. Doesn't matter if he's on or a little off with his performance. I just like him. And it's fun actually having someone from here on the show... As opposed to the dopes running the show... my DVR is set to tape 5 minutes over the end of the show and it still wasn't enough. It cut out right after Simon gave his quick comments. No recap of all the singers.

{{{{{{annabear and mamabear}}}}}}

No, wish I did though. I found them in my e-mail today - in a feel good kind of e-mail! The timing was good though!

luckiest, Piper is adorable!!! And since everyone's in a puppy mood... (Here's hoping I do this right!)

{{{{{ncgurrl}}}}} so sorry for your loss.... luckiest - yes, please, let us know how your puppy is doing... I have puppy envy... I've read two other places - one with lots of happiness, one more mixed. I just don't understand the negativity. I'm loving all the clack from last night! And we didn't get the 5-7 inches of snow they predicted for last night (we got maybe 2) so it's ALL good for me!

Me too! Of course not. I believe it's the "do as I say, not as I do" mantra...

Awwwww!!! Thanks for posting the U-Tubes - so much easier than downloading!!! And the pics - I'm all schmoopie this morning!!! What a great thing to wake up to... ok, I've been up for hours, but just logged in now! A cute blog, the U-Tubes, the pics (especially the hugging one!), it's a great day! I'll have a smile on my face all day! I'm so happy for Clay!!! Yes, this post is brought to you by the exclamation mark!!!!!

Congrats gbmifan!!!!!

Congrats Couchie!!!

Harrison Ford in Air Force One: GET OFF MY PLANE! Will Smith in Independence Day after punching the alien: Welcome to Earth! Yeah, no classics here either...

Happy Birthday Gibby!!! And many more! Great way to look at it! And, for me, it keeps the blood pressure in check and the fandom more fun! What a beautiful day here! Not sure if we did but we were supposed to hit 52 about 3 pm... Blue sky, sunny, no coat!!! Hurry up Spring, I'm a gettin' anxious!!!