American Idol

I have mixed feelings about American Idol. While this week we saw Lil Rounds and Anoop Disai (sp) leave, I feel somewhat sad. I'm not really that sad about seeing Lil go. I know some will be upset, but for some reason I just didn't connect with her. She was good, (much better than I could ever be) but I just didn't dig her. Anyway, my conflict comes with Anoop. I do not think he has the best voice. I do not think he is the most marketable. But I like him!! I mean, I root for him like crazy. I want Danny to win. Just so we are all clear, but there is something about Anoop. I think, he is someone I'd enjoy sharing a meal with. I'd like to hang with him, maybe set him up with a friend....Therefore that is what gives me my conflict.



Danny Gokey's back story touched a nerve with me, and I love his voice. He also seems like a stand up, grown up guy. I like that he is a sincere guy.

Adam, probably has the most talent of every contestant, but I just don't dig him. I have some friends who don't like him, cuz he bats for the other team. ::Like I care:: Some who don't because he wears more make-up than 1988 Tammy Faye Baker.::Don't hate--Appreciate:: Still others who don't because of what he did to Ring of Fire. ( That was kinda crazy! Poor Johnny Cash is still rolling over in his grave!) But for me, I just have no interest in him. He has to "frankenstein" every song, and I don't find him personally compelling. He has the voice of an angel, but so far he doesn't sing anything in a way that makes me want to listen.

Allison, is a cutey to me. I like her rock-ee vibe, but to me she is blah. Now, I will say that she shows waaaaaaaay more poise and polish for a girl of 16 than any I've met, and to be doing what she is doing is phenominal! So, snaps for Allison. ::snaps snaps:: But, I'm not that interested in what she's going to sing next. I also hate that hair. I think she'd be much edgier with black and purple or something, but that bright red, is kinda hard on her features and coloring. (or maybe my tv is going out. It's possible!)

Chris is way cute and if I were 22....I think he's waaaay marketable and has a good voice. I don't think it's the best in the competition, but it's darn good. He also, seems to be a down to earth guy. I hope his young marriage can stand the strain that the music business can bring, with touring and all that.

Matt, I'm glad the judges saved him last week, cuz I like him better than Lil. I'm not sure how marketable he is, and I think he has a decent voice, but I figure he'll be gone soon. I don't think he should make it to the finals.



So, that's my wrap up of the final five. Now....who do I think should make it to the finals? Adam and Danny. I want Danny to win, but figure Adam will. Those judges are all about Adam. Of the final 7, who would I like to have dinner with? Anoop, Danny and Chris. For some reason they just look like people I'd enjoy chillin with.

Zombie Chicken Award

Ms. Desert Rose has awarded me the coveted Zombie Chicken Award. Yay Me!!

This is what this award means..
"The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all..."
I will pass this award along to ..

1. Cindy (http://cindyreadsromance.blogspot.com/)

2. Heather (http://heathersfavebooks.blogspot.com/)

3. Randi (http://randiromancereader.blogspot.com/)

4. Heather(http://heathersreadingromance.blogspot.com/)
5. Roberta(http://pinkprincessbookreviews.blogspot.com/)

Not Exactly Time Travel Tuesday

It's not exactly Time Travel Tuesday, but I heard this song at work this week and we all got to laughing at each other's memories of why/where we remember this song. Most of us were young when it came out and so the disco was not in our realm of recognition. However, the Roller Rink was. So for one this was always the song she skated backwards with her "Crush du Jour". For one, is was the song during which she was kissing her "Crush du Jour" in the corner or most likely in the bathroom. I always think of my brother...(not nearly as fun huh?) because he was a teenager during this time, and hated the Bee Gees. (Still does, if ya wanna know the truth) So my memories of this song, were me singing as loudly and falsetto-ey as I could, while Ed was trying not to hear. As if Barry Gibbs falsetto wasn't bad enough, I had to crank it up with my 10 year old voice. Oh yea!!

So I invite you all to reminisce about this time in your lives. comment if you'd like. What memories does this song bring out for you? Without further ado I give you....The Bee Gees "Night Fever".

Flat Out Sexy

by Erin McCarthy

Reader's Choice for Spring Reading Challenge

I liked this book quite a bit. Elec was a really good "Stand Up" guy. Tamara was a good hardworking woman of integrity. I understood her insecurities, and respected the way her heart was written. I also liked the way she and Elec both made choices to be up front and honest with each other. I liked the way Ryder gave them a hard time about having "relations" in all of his homes. I liked the secondary characters every one of them. These were people with whom I would want to sit and have dinner. I'd go for Margaritas with Suzanne and Imogen for sure and would definately make sure Ryder and Ty were invited to the barbeque. No doubt. I think that having secondary characters that engage you, is really the hallmark of a good author to me. A mediocre author can write a decent story of a hero/heroine, but a good one can write a great story for h/h and make you fall for a whole community.

I didn't like one particular "love scene" but that's ok. I'm looking forward to Ty's story.

Untamed by Pamela Clare

I read this for the Readers of Romance Spring Reading Challenge Romeo/Juliet story

Untamed is the second in the McKinnon Rangers series. I did something I seldom ever do, and I did it on purpose. I read a series out of order....I know!!!

However, I didn't feel like this time that I was missing too much. I enjoyed Untamed. Morgan was a great Alpha hero, with a heart of gold. Amalie was a good example of a sheltered and seemingly fragile heroine who actually had the inner strength of a warrior.

Morgan McKinnon is forced to fight for the British in the French/Indian war. He is captured and wounded by the French and Amalie a convent raised french young woman is forced to tend to his wounds so that the French can interrogate him before handing him over to the fierce Abenaki indians who intend to burn him at the stake. She tends his wounds and at the same time, loses here heart. Morgan, tries in futility to protect her from himself and his growing feelings for her as he plans to escape and doesn't want to harm her or her heart.

Some secondary characters end up being more human than previously thought, and I think Ms. Clare did a great job of expressing the burgeoning moral dilemma that Morgan found himself in. To be forced into service for a King and Military Leader that you despise, and forced to betray a military leader that you come to respect. To stay loyal to your brethren means betrayal of the one you love. Very poignant.

It helps that the intimacy between Morgan and Amalie was steamy too. (if you like that sorta thing.....and it's pretty safe to say, we do!!)

I hope to read more about these men.

Britain's Got talent

You all may have already seen this but, in case you haven't I'm posting a link here. My husband showed me this this morning, and I cried. (which is not typical for me as I'm not really a crier!) Made me late for work. A Lady named Susan Boyles auditioned for Britain's Got Talent and I'm not going to say anymore about it now, because you really should see it. I even made my daughter watch it. So, please if you have a minute watch this, and hopefully you'll be as moved as I was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY


It just goes to show you that you really can't judge a book by it's cover. My heart was so torn for her, because you could see the whole audience as well as the judges rolling their eyes. Then she opens her mouth and turns everyone into an instant fan. I love it!! You see everyone's mouth drop open, and it kinda feels good for the dowdy lady to sock it to all those who only saw what's on the outside and not what God given talents could be on the inside....Shame on all of us, who prejudge!

Lover Enshrined.

by JR Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood #6)

rated 4 stars

This is Phury's story. We know that in previous stories his status as a solid hero was formed. In this story we see the inner demons really come out. Now, I will say that The Wizard did get on my nerves. I don't like giving our own self loathing a name. Cormia...It took me a while to really connect with her. I'll say that of all the heroines she made me sad. Even Mary with her illness didn't get me down the same way. I felt like she had real strength inside. Cormia, was such a doormat, and I know that maybe centuries of training at being selfless are at fault. I think I didn't like the idea of her being trapped or a prisoner of her station. It just got me down, and I felt like she never...grew a spine and if a woman is going to love a man like Phury with his issues and his addiction, it's going to take someone with a real inner strength and I just didn't feel that from her. Now, I will say, that I enjoyed her discovery. I loved the Dirty Dancing stuff and M&M's do rock...

I think overall there was so much heartbreak in this book, and so little light that it will not be my favorite book. I cringed over Quinn, John Matthew, Blay, Cormia, Thor. I felt like the Brotherhood lost some of it's shine for me. I know sometimes, you have to have tough love, but I felt like they turned their backs on Phury, especially Z. After all he put Phury through, you'd think he'd be a little more supportive.

I for some reason don't have a mental image of Xhex. I see some sort of female body builder type, but no face....I want to see her face. I want to see who John Matthew is so intrigued by.

I know, I'm going on about this, but there was soooo much in this book. The Chosen, Payne, Lassiter, Rhev, Xhex, whoever Eagle man is.

Time Travel Tuesday

Join me in a trip back to yester-year! Yep, it's Tuesday. And while there is nothing really exciting about Tuesdays (except book release days), I figured I'd start a Tuesday posting on some flashbacks of my youth. If you'd like to share something, by all means, go post something! I'd love to read your story!

I was watching a membership drive for my local PBS station, and they had a DVD selection of the best of Carol Burnett. They showed some skits and interviews. It was great. I have to say, I loved Carol Burnett. It was all sooo great. So, I have the infamous Went With the Wind skit. It's really long but in it's entirety. Enjoy.

Lover Unbound

This is Vishous' story. After being mortally wounded, Vishous is saved by a human doctor. Dr. Jane Witcomb, is curiously connected to her patient. He is not who he seems and his physical anomolies are intriguing, however that is not all. She is taken back to the compound to tend to his wounds. However, it seems she is meant to tend to his heart instead.

I found the story to be one of intense overcoming. I think both of them had a lot to overcome. This is where we really get to know V, and his insecurities. As the story begins, V is jealous of Butch and Marissa, and feels particularly drawn to Butch. His affection and connection is misinterpreted by V as attraction. When in reality he has a genuine affection for Butch. This is altogether new to V, and therefore uncomfortable. V. is instantly drawn to Jane even from the operating table. It takes him time to figure out what it is he feels and what to do with it. He is forced to face his feelings and decide what to do about them.

There were moment that wer so poignant. When he took her back home...There were times that made me cry. It's always meaningful, when someone finally allows themself to feel. This to me was the crux of this book. I was ok with the resolution of the V/Jane romance. It won't be my favorite ending, but it works.

I'm starting Phury's story in Lover Enshrined. I do not have high hopes, but am going to keep an open mind. Besides, I'll get more JM anyway.

I need more Cowbell!!

So, I love Saturday Night Live. I have since the beginning, when my parents wouldn't let me because it was too subversive. My older brother watched it, and I would do what I could to sneak in and watch. This is one of my favorite skits of all time. It took me a long time to find a version that I could embed here. So, since this probably belongs solely to SNL, I'll make sure to put a plug in for them. Don't give up on SNL, when one of your favs leaves the show. It just means that there are new favs coming. So, here it is...Cowbell!

Time Travel Tuesday

I know, it's wednesday, but tuesday was really busy for me. So here is my blast from the past. On Facebook some friends from back in the day were discussing a certain exchange student who came to our school. He was Soren, and he was from Denmark or Norway. Anyway, my friend Amy used to be crushin on him, and anyway, we were all remembering... I used to tutor him and Alex from Germany. Good times...Not sure how much help I was to them in Mrs. Kings english class, but.....What can you say. So in honor of all our 80's exchange students this is for you. I never could understand half of the lyrics, and couldn't get any of our x-students to help me.....

Take On Me by A Ha. They were from Norway, and at one time one of our exchange students was from there.