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| I'm so sad Big Mike is gone - I love his voice and really wanted him to go to the final two. But I'm sure that he will get a record deal :)
It's down to the top 3 and I am kind of glad that it's almost over since I thought this season pretty much blew chunks....
The contestants are singing 2 songs tonight. One chosen by them and one chosen by the judges. Casey is up first singing the song he chose, "OK, It's Alright By Me." It started rough and his voice isn't sounding that good tonight. Overall, blaaaaah. Randy didn't like it, Ellen said it's do or die tonight and he didn't blow her away. Kara said it's hard to choose a song that not everyone knows and it didn't work in his favor. Simon thought the song left no lasting effect on the audience.
Crystal is up next singing, "Come To My Window." This was a good song choice for her - it compliments her voice and is the style of music she will sing when she makes her own album. But, I am still blah about it. Maybe it's this type of music or something, but it doesn't do anything for me. Plus, I think the harmonica was stupid....she played so little on it and it really restricted her from emoting on the song that it wasn't worth it. Randy didn't like the arrangement but thought it all worked in the end. Ellen agreed with what I said. Kara thought it was a good vocal but she hopes she has a "moment" tonight. Simon thought it wasn't the most stunning vocal, but he likes that she hasn't compromised who she is as an artist.
To be totally honest, I would rather go back to watching the season finale of America's Next Top Model online right now than watch the rest of this show. I really don't care who wins and don't feel like I would be missing anything at all. I'm bored watching this.....but, I'll soldier on.....mainly because Glee is on after this with Neil Patrick Harris guest starring...it's gonna be legendary!
Lee is up singing, "Simple Man." This song definitely compliments his voice. But again....blah. Randy loved it, Ellen loved it, Kara said the first round goes to Lee, and Simon said he crushed the other two....
Casey is up next singing "Daughters" for the judges choice. The key he is singing this in is making him sound pitchy. And it's too slow, it's dragging.....boring. Jim asked if he had a stroke because he can't understand a word he is singing....at least he plays guitar well. Randy said that's the direction he should go, Ellen liked it, Kara said he shines when he shows he is sensitive and vulnerable. Simon thought it was a better song choice than the first one but the arrangement was lazy and the climax was a limp guitar solo.
Crystal is next singing, "Maybe I'm Amazed." She's started rough but once she got to the higher part it sounded much better. I think it's pretty funny that she's singing the line "Maybe I'm a man" and Ellen picked this song for her.....Bwahahahaha! Randy loved it, Ellen loved it, Kara said she heard parts of her voice that she has never heard before, and Simon said he was surprised by the song choice but she proved that she has soul.
Lee is singing "Hallelujah." Meh...It was OK but just blah. Of course the judges loved it.
I think Casey will be going home and it will be a Crystal/Lee finale.
Peace out - I've got me some Glee to watch!
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| Harry Connick Jr. is the guest judge tonight.....I'm feeling so blah about this season that it's getting hard to be excited about this. At least it's almost over. I never thought I would say that about American Idol.... Anyway, they are singing the music of Frank Sinatra.
Hmmm...they are giving Harry a lot of interview time up front...they must have some time to kill.
Aaron is up first and these contestants are so blessed to be able to sing with Harry Connick Jr. accompanying them! I thought he sounded a little rough in the beginning, then when the tempo picked up it was better. But, the low notes were not strong at all, and the higher note on the word "you" at the end of the chorus was a little strained. Randy and Ellen liked it, Kara thought it wasn't as strong as last week and he needs more charisma. Simon thought he was a mouse compared to Sinatra who was a lion. On a better note (hahaha....) Aaron looks nice with his hair like that - he looks older....
Casey is next and I don't like his hair slicked back like that - but I guess he's trying to look Sinatra-eske...Well, as he starts that vibrato is VERY apparent I think this is too slow for him. It's making him sound all over the place pitch wise....That wasn't very good at all......Randy thought it was his worst performance ever. Ellen thought it felt very stiff. Kara mentioned his fast vibrato - she said it was out of control (FINALLY!). Simon thought he wasn't fantastic and that he came across embarrassed and awkward. Ryan asked Harry what he thought and he said that Casey did sound better in rehearsal, but in his defense it is hard to hear up there.
On a side note, I'm flipping back and forth between AI and BIggest Loser....I've only seen 2 minutes of it and I am already crying...what the heck?!
And - So You Think You Can Dance starts May 27th!!!!!!
Crystal is up next and now THAT is a back tattoo! I like the shape of her dress, but not the material....It was OK. I didn't love it, but at least she tried to use some dynamics which is more than I can say for anyone else so far. Randy thought it was sleepy, Ellen thought she was impressive. Kara kind of liked it - especially her phrasing. Simon thought the first half was too jazzy but it wasn't one of her strongest performances. Wait, it that a back tattoo or is it the light on her back......I can't tell....
YES!!!! Hell's Kitchen is coming back June 1st!!!!! And Lie to Me is coming back too!!! Who says there is nothing good on TV in the summer?!!!!
Big Mike is up and I'm likin' his hat :) I'll say it again, I think Big Mike has the best voice of anyone on this show. He's far better than anyone else I have heard tonight. Somehow he has mixed R&B with Jazz and done a good job of it. I am so glad the judges saved him. JJ must have liked it too because he spontaneously started clapping at the end of the song. Randy thought it was unbelievable and he's in it to win it! Ellen thought he had the most comfort on stage of all the contestants. Kara thought it was great. Simon said the first three performances were just OK and Mike put himself back in the game and that everything clicked on that performance and it was a terrific arrangement! At this point, Mike is my favorite and I would really like to see him win. Do I think he will? No....But I am interested to hear the record he puts out when he is done with this.
Lee is last tonight and Harry said his wife thinks Lee is cute.....Well, he had swagger and JJ was clapping along with the beat and then clapped at the end. But I still liked Big Mike better. But Lee was definitely better than the first 3...
Randy loved it, Ellen thought if this was the last night of performances that he would have won the whole thing. Kara asked if he thinks he can win. Lee said yes and then she told him to go home and write that down 100 times so he'll rally believe it because he could win this thing. Simon said that Harry helped Lee bring out his confidence and personality tonight. Simon thought it was the best of the night.
I think that it could be Arron or Casey going home this week.....
See you next week! | | |
| It's Shania Twain night and I am so excited because I love her music!
Lee is first and he's changing the melody up, but not in a good way in my opinion. It didn't sound bad, but the original melody is so beautiful, he should only have changed it if it made an improvement....Overall, not my favorite from him. The judges all liked it....
All I can say about Big Mike is AWESOME!!!! The judges agreed and thought it was beautiful - except for Simon who said the performance was "wet," girly and overdramatic......Boo Simon!
Casey is next and he's singing a "singing song" in his words.....His hair is looking especially perfect tonight. His voice is sounding great (well, except for that fast vibrato....). Randy thought it was one of his best performances ever. Ellen was going to say the same exact thing....Kara thought it was awesome. Simon said last week was a wakeup call and he agrees with Randy...
Crystal is next and this song is a message to her boyfriend...way to call him out in front of 30 million people! I like her voice on this song but the only complaint I have is that she doesn't articulate better - I had a hard time understanding what she was singing. Plus the girl who was singing BGV's should have just stopped - she was distracting from Crystal.... Randy said it wasn't his favorite performance - but he liked that she actually did the song as a country song. Ellen says there is nothing she can't do. Kara agreed with Ellen and Randy. Simon thought it was bad, limp and he felt no conviction and the song was forgettable.....
Aaron is up next. He just sounds unpolished compared to the other contestants. Plus he is having some pitch problems. And I think he's in a rut of slow songs. I know there are millions of teenage girls that love him cause he's cute, but I just can't see him as the next American Idol......Randy said he is a country artist and that he did a really good job. Ellen said it's going to be tough because everyone is doing well tonight, but that she is impressed that he was able to show such a depth of emotion considering that he is only 17. He said he was singing the song to his Mom - Awe - that is so sweet! Simon thinks the last few weeks he has really struggled, but tonight he was like a different artist. The judges all loved him, but I was thinking....meh....
Siobahn is up last tonight and Shania told her she needs to have the attitude to back up the lyrics. I'm not enjoying this. The end was good.....that girl can blow! But, overall, I think this might be her last week.....Randy loved it, Ellen thought it was a fantastic way to end the show. Kara said she's back. Simon said he really liked that song, but the screaming at the end went a little bit long - he said it was almost like she was giving birth up there.....Hmmm...I'm not agreeing with the judges here.
Overall - a great night, but when you have the awesome Shania Twain's songs to choose from, you know it's going to be a great night!
Now it's time for Gleeeeeee!! Yippieeeeeee!
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| JJ and I are back from our trip last week to Des Moines - what an awesome time we had!
We arrived on Monday afternoon and met up woth Toni who drove 2 hours to pick us up from the airport - what a great friend! We decided to stop for lunch at a local mall and let Jj run around in the kids playground area to burn off some steam (he had been sitting for about 5-6 hours between the car ride to the airport, his stroller at the airport and then on the plane). Then we made the trip back to Toni's house and enjoyed a quiet evening at home.
On Tuesday we met up with one of Toni's close friends and went to the zoo. JJ's favorite part was feeding the goats and llama's and then throwing food to the fish in the koi pond :) Then it was back to the house for naps and another fun evening at home.
On Wednesday we took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese. JJ loves that place! He was so enthralled with the lights and the show that goes on that he didn't even really eat - and he loves pizza! All the kids had fun and I think Toni and I had just as much fun vicariously! That afternoon Aby and Jantina arrived (from IL) and then Jantina drove me to my hair appointment. Toni had made an appointment for me with her hair stylist and she gave me a great haircut :) I am so loving having my short hair back :) That evening I made Mexican Chicken Skillet for everyone and it was a hit :)
On Thursday we met up with Christopher for lunch at a local family owned Greek restaurant (the hummus was delicious there!) and then explored downtown Des Moines. We visited the sculpture garden before lunch to let the kiddos run around and then shopped after lunch. I found a cute necklace at this place that recycles all sorts of things - furniture, light fixtures, street signs, etc. The necklace I found was made from an old Scrabble tile. That night Toni's parents came over and Toni made a delicious baked ziti (a recipe from The Biggest Loser and it was awesome!) and we enjoyed some of Jantina's home made cookies!
On Friday it was rainy so we decided to go to the mall for lunch and walk around. Toni had a coupon for Ann Taylor Loft that was and extra 30% off your entire purchase (even sale items!) so we stopped there and I found a cute jacket and tank top which were on the 40% off rack...I walked away with a great deal! Toni and I went back home so the kids could get their naps after lunch while Aby and Jantina continued shopping. Once Christopher got home Toni and I headed back to the mall to meet up with the ladies (thanks Christopher for watching the kiddos for us!). We had dinner and drinks at The Cheesecake Factory - I tried a drink Toni recommended called a Peach Bellini - it was delicious! I also had the chicken taquitos (I have those every time I go there which is hardly ever!) and I also decided to be adventurous and try something I have never had before - I know, what had come over me?! It must have been the Bellini talking....haha! Anyway, I tried Chicken Samosa's - they were made with curry and so delicious with a cilantro dipping sauce! Yum! After dinner we went to see The Back-Up Plan. It was very funny and entertaining. We went back to the restaurant after the movie for dessert and another round of drinks (I know, where did this party girl come from?!) and didn't get home until almost midnight - probably the latest I have been out since before JJ was born!
Saturday was our last day together so Jantina was a sweetie and made her signature Monkey Bread! It was delicious and it wouldn't have been a trip with Jantina without the Monkey Bread! After breakfast Aby and Jantina packed up and started their drive back to IL and the rest of us just puttered around the house until it was time for JJ and I to head back to the airport. Christopher drove us back (Thanks man!!!!) and dropped us off about 3 hours before our flight (better safe than sorry with the long drive to get there!). JJ and I ate dinner and then walked around. Unfortunately our flight was delayed by 2 hours (who knows why....) and I was so thankful that it was a small airport where I could let JJ run around! JJ was so good - he only had 2 meltdowns and neither of them lasted long! When we finally boarded our flight for home JJ was so exhausted that he crashed as soon as the plane took off. We met up with Jim and started the long drive home. Everything was great on the car ride (JJ slept some more since it was after 10pm...) until we were almost to our exit off of I70.....there was this huge gate that had fallen off of a truck or something and it was taking up the whole lane we were driving in. We saw it too late to avoid it and ended up driving right over it! I was so scared that the tires were going to pop! Thankfully we were able to make it home and the tires survived (we still had our snow tires on so maybe that helped). We even lucked out and saw a police officer stopped at a gas station so we could tell them about the gate in the road and remove it. The next day Jim said it felt weird while driving, something was off....the alignment was definitely off since the steering wheel was turned to the right while driving straight. So Monday Jim took it to the mechanic to have it looked at. It turns out that the alignment was fine...it was the suspension that was trashed! Oh no! It would have cost over $1800 to repair, but thankfully our car insurance covers the damage so we'll only need to pay our deductible of $250. Phew! I've never been so glad to have the lowest deductible as I am now! Thankfully we also get a rental car while it's being repaired.
Now we're just going to enjoy the rest of the week (Wed, Thurs and Fri off) and Jim and I will also be trying to get a date in this week.
Overall - I had a wonderful time with my girlfriends and can't wait to do it again next year (maybe this time without the kiddos!) and of course we're hoping Jamie can join us next time! | | |
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