AI Predictions

OK, so I admit - I am an American Idol JUNKIE. There is just something that sucks me in every year...... My sister, Teresa is the same way - we call each other after each episode to dish about it. So sad.

So, in keeping with my obession, here are my predictions about who will go home (I was correct with my predictions last week!).

Girls - Kinnik and Melissa
Boys - Kevin (definately)..... the next one is a bit harder to call, but I will say Bucky, but it could also be Gedeon.

I haven't been able to watch a Thursday show yet, due to church choir rehearsals, but we don't have one tomorrow - and I will be watching....

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How old am I??

You Are 31 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

I got this off of Empress4's Blog - and since I am really 38 and going on 39, I guess this isn't too bad. I guess I need to find that RealAge site again and see what my RealAge is.....

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Start of ISAT Testing

Third grade is somewhat of a Milestone for us in Illinois. It is the first year the students get the privilage of taking the ISAT test, in order to measure and quantify a school's yearly progress towards fullfilling No Child Left Behind.

The schools make a big deal out of this event - the students have been preparing for the test for the past 5 weeks or so (per my daughter). Last week, there was assembly at school to rah-rah and get the students geared up for the test. I guess it was like a Pep Rally, but for a standardized test instead of a sporting event - how bizarre. Some schools will have a celebration party at the end of the week. Erica was invited to a classmate's "ISAT's are over - Let's Party" function on Friday.

I recall taking standardized tests when I was in grade school - something like the Iowa Test. But no intense preparation, no celebration parties - we just took the test. Now, I am sure that the results of the test didn't determine a school's funding or place it on the State's "Watchlist", but I am sure that the results didn't just go un-noticed.

So, the ISAT test started today for Erica. She was initially apprehensive about it, but the report after school was "those were really easy tests and they made the day just fly by". I guess there is a bit of a silver lining to it all - especially when you get to "party down" at the end of the week.....

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Just a Synopsis

Because it seems boring that my last two blog entries are about American Idol, I will only post a short synopsis of the guys.

Like: Taylor, Elliot (what an amazing voice!), Chris
Embarassed to listen to: Kevin, Will. These boys had me laughing - not a good thing!
Better than last week: Sway (not by much), Bucky (much better)
Most disappointed in: Ace
Still finding a Niche with me: David, Gedeon

Overall - much more exciting than the females last night.
My picks for who might go home: Sway, David

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American Idol - 10 females

I didn't get to see all of the female contestants last week, so I am taking time out to enjoy tonight's episode.
Already, the hosts are killing time with their aimless banter. Now we get to see some aimless coverage of Katharine and Kelly being silly.

Now, I didn't see much of Katharine during the audition rounds. I personally think she looks like Rachael Ray, which should only help her, as Rachael seems to be everywhere.
Katharine is OK during her rendition of Stevie Wonder's All is Fair in Love. There were some rough spots. I have never heard her sing until now, and thought it was just OK. But it seems like the judges really like her, regardless of tonight's performance.

Next up is Kinnick (sp?) Sky. This is the first time I have heard her sing. She is going to sing a country song from Gretchen Wilson. Let me say - I am not really impressed. She sounds like she is shouting / talking more than singing. It could be that I am not a country fan, (but I do like Carrie Underwood). The song is boring and repetitive. The judges tell her that it was entertaining, but didn't showcase her singing talent. I agree.

Lisa Tucker is next. We get to hear about her experiences of being a stage person, and how she wants to be the American Idol. No kidding. She is singing a song that I don't recognize. It seems OK, it is a bluesy, slow-ish song. I now find out that it is originally from the Jackson Five. Randy says it was "all-right", but didn't showcase her voice. Seems like a re-occurring theme tonight. Paula loves her. Simon says that she will make it through this round without an issue. I like her - she is cute.

Another country song from the belly-button bearing Melissa McGhee. Just OK again. It seems that this week the contestants are picking somewhat safe songs. It did get better towards the end. Randy and Paula seem to be pleased, but Simon didn't like the song choice.

Heather Cox is going to sing one of my favorite songs, Hero by Mariah Carey. We get to see a clip of her holding a boa constrictor on the streets of Hollywood. OK, on to the singing. Well, the problem with singing a song originally sung by Mariah Carey is that you will never be as good as Mariah. And Heather isn't as strong as Mariah - and the judges agree. It seemed like she was singing in a wedding. Boy, Heather looks really disappointed and even angry with the feedback, but manages to eek out a smile for the camera.

Brenna is the one contestant that I hate. She annoys the living tar out of me. She is just too full of herself. She is going to sing Last Dance from Donna Summer. She's not too bad - not so annoying, she looks like Donna Summer and it was fairly entertaining. But then she has to talk and I go back to hating her. The judges were lukewarm again to her performance.

I like Paris - liked her ever since her audition. She was great last week and I think she is very talented. Paris shows incredible control as she sings another wedding standard, Bette Midler's Wind Beneath my Wings. And she is better than Bette! Wow! The judges all agree that she should be singing something "younger", but Paris chose it because it is her great grandmother's favorite song. Sound like she has proven the judges point.

Ayla Brown, who is more used to being in sweats than glamour wear is singing a Celine Dion song. She sounds very pleasant and certainly can sing very well. I would like to see her liven things up in the folllowing weeks. The judges give her the general thumbs up, but still think she is almost too perfect and mechanical. She doesn't have the raw talent of Paris, but she should go far.

Kelly Pickler's clip show us what a sheltered life she has lived - she had her first spinach salad while doing Idol. Hmmm - I would think that they grow spinach in most states. She is singing Something to Talk about from Bonnie Raitt, which is a song I like, although with the country rendition, it was just OK for me. Paula and Randy like her, and so does Simon. Because she is cute. (rolling eyes now).

Last up is Mandissa. She is singing Cry by Faith Hill. Continuing on the country theme. Her clip is hilarious - the dog jaw joke. I only recognize the chorus of this song, but it is fantastic. Where Ayla sounds very manufactured, Mandissa is very real. Even though it was a country song, but it didn't sound too country from her. The judges like her but think she can be even better.

So, who might be going home? Brenna (I hope), maybe Kinnik or Heather Cox.

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American Idol - The Guys

OK, I didn't get to watch all of AI last night, and we are AI junkies. So we are watching tonight, from the beginning. And I will be blogging it!

Here we go:
Patrick - don't like the song. I don't care for Melissa Etheridge's version either. He seems a bit stiff and nervous. Not too impressed.....

David - Not too bad - an upbeat song (Crazy Little Thing Called Love). But it seems a little forced. Generally speaking, I liked it, but he needs to be a little smoother, like Harry Connick Jr. Time for critique - Randy was a bit harsh, and there's this weird thing going on with the females - the girls are acting stupid by yapping like dogs?? What's up with that?

Time for commercials, which means I'll have to switch the channel so that Erica doesn't get exposed to some of Fox's more questionable programming....

Bucky - OK, I will first say that I am not a country person. While Bo Bice was a rocker, he could really sing, and I am not too sure about this guy. A little bit too edgy for me. Simple Kind of Man - don't know the song and I can say it is not my style. The judges' opinions..... Randy is right - a little too hard. "Stretching?". Oh - Simon just gave a dig to Constantine with his comment about "so called rockers who in reality had been playing weddings". Another thing - I seriously cannot understand anything he says - the twang is just a little too much (for me).

Commercial break - a trailer for 8 Below, a movie that Erica really wants to see. Oh, and that cool iPod commercial with Miles Davis - makes me want to get some Miles Davis tunes....

Will is next - Now, do any of you think he looks like Fred Savage? I personally think he is pretty cute, and Paula is right - the high school girls will love him. Don't know why he picked a Jackson 5 song though. The singing was OK, but it was upbeat and entertaining and he is likeable.

"Sway" - I felt for him during the Hollywood week because he had to endure those Britton twins. Now, the song he is singing is a bit over the top - what a tough song. He is sharp and the falsetto is just not really my thing. I think he did get better as the song progressed, but Brian made a comment that he thought he was terrible. I think that Randy and Paula were a little too gushy - it wasn't that good. And as usual, Simon's comments are a bit more realistic. Brian's quote - "I agree with Simon".

Chris - he is singing Dead or Alive, and we get to see flames behind him. Note - this is the first time a singer has impressed me enough to actually look at the TV. Now, I am not a Bon Jovi fan, but he isn't too bad. Not too much edge in his voice, and he is in tune. Erica likes him as well and is writing down his call in number. Randy thought he was hot - I think those flames inspired those comments. Now for Simon.... he liked him as well!

More commercials.....half way there.....

Kevin - another 16 year old, the one who Simon claims that the over 60 crowd would love him. He is singing One Last Cry, with bubbles backing him. He is pleasant to listen to, less pleasant to watch, but overall a Fair performance.

Time out while I put the kids to bed. Will probably miss one or two contestants, but hey, we're too cheap to pay for TiVo, so those are the breaks.

Gedeon - the smiling fool who really didn't get much TV coverage during the audition episodes. I didn't catch a lot of his performance due to the mommy duties of holding Erica's hair while she is watching her face. But Scott was watching and said - hey, he's pretty good. I was amazed how he sounded just like the original artist.

Elliot - another poor soul who had to endure the Britton twins is singing a great Stevie Wonder song, smooth and in tune. I really liked it. And it seems like the judges agreed.

I don't know the next guy's name yet, but as soon as he said he was singing a Barry Manilow song, I cringed. Who voluntarily picks a Barry Manilow song?? I am not impressed. Oh, his name is Bobby - another guy with little advanced coverage. He is out of tune. Paula is now saying that he has great entertainment value, but I am not seeing it. Simon said "that was a complete nightmare".

Erica, being 8 and very aware of all that TV throws at her is now asking us "what does Text message mean?". Scott is explaining it to her, and I can already see the gears working in her head, thinking, "wow - that's cool and another reason why I need a cell phone". Yes, she has been asking about them. I don't even have one, I tell her. How appropriate that there is a Razr commercial on.

Ace - now he is a good looking guy, and has a great commercial name. He has chosen Father Figure from George Michael - now that brings back memories - I love this song. And I am LOVING this performance. Teresa will LOVE it as well. This guy can play the camera, too - in a more subtle way than Constantine. Paula is in love. This guy is a star.

The last guy is one of my favorites, Taylor Hicks, who sounds like Joe Cocker and I can't wait to hear what he will sing. Levon - another great song, and while it wasn't the best vocal, it was still good enough for me. Randy is right - Taylor is very original and I hope he is able to go on.

Predictions for who goes home? I prediect Sway, Patrick, or Bobby. Certainly Bobby. Maybe even Kevin. Stay tuned to tomorrow.

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How does your (Salt) Garden Grow?

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary
How does your garden grow
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row

I guess in the winter, there aren't too many gardening opportunities, unless you happen to set up a Salt Crystal Garden. My friend, co-worker, and fellow engineer geek came across this neat science experiment to grow a salt crystal garden. Using chemicals found in the supermarket, you too can create a garden full of salt blooms and coral structures. The recipe is found at Mrs. Stewart.com, and only requires table salt, laundry bluing, water, ammonia and a sponge (or charcoal or other absorbent medium).

We combined the water, salt, ammonia and bluing and poured it over the charcoal. 5 days later, this is what we have:

with close ups of the crystalline growth:



And I can tell the crystals are really growing now, as the thing is getting bigger by the hour. My friend's daughter's garden has "exploded" and has over grown its container. We'll have to see how big ours get.

Geeky, yes..... but an easy and kind of cool thing to do when it is FREEZING outside!

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