Bling for my baby

I can't believe I'm just now getting around to writing this post. The weekend was a smidge hectic. Anyway, on Friday, AMEN had dinner plans with our good friends Chad and Marla and their kids, Audrey (Abby's BFF), Avery (Ethan's betrothed) and Ailey (the squishy baby). Marla and I decided at the last second that we were going to grant the older girls their months-long dream and get their ears pierced. Oh, you should have heard the giggles of excitement. We went into Claire's (ah, the memories) and both girls honed in immediately on sparkly pink flowers for their first set.


Abby went first, and was very brave, considering. I could tell she was getting nervous, but before she had a chance to freak too much, the first earring went in.

I won't lie--she wasn't too thrilled with the sensation. I just prayed that she would let the girl put the second one in, and she did. She was wailing pretty hard by then, but the genius Claire's girl produced a lollipop from behind the counter, and all of a sudden things were dandy. Within 2 minutes she was pain-free and gleefully eyeing her adorned ears.

Unfortunately, Audrey had witnessed the display and was none too keen to follow suit. We decided to have dinner while she thought about it. Sure enough, 20 minutes later she had gathered her courage, and we returned after dinner. Her reaction was pretty much the same as Abby's. I was so proud of both the girls, and their new baubles look stunning.

This week is going to be a killer. Matt is in LA at a Microsoft conference all week. Abby has FIVE softball games, and I am running a PTA rummage sale at her school this Saturday. I could use your prayers, and failing that, any extra Valuum you may have.

Okay, some schmo down the street is using Ethan's nap time to work on his nasty muffler'less truck. I have to go ruffle some feathers. Idol update tomorrow if it kills me!

AI: Conspiracy Theory

I am an optimist. I always look for the good in a situation, and I always try to believe the best about people.

But.

I'm having a hard time right now. Since the show's beginning, conspiracy theorists have accused American Idol producers of having a hand in determining the winner, from weighted judges' comments to performance order to outright vote rigging. I have always brushed off the idea, but after tonight, I'm finally starting to think it's probably true. The evidence:

1. The only person to receive rave reviews is Adam. Not all that unheard of, but put it in context with the rest.

2. Adam has never gone first (considered a huge detriment) until tonight. A night that was clearly going to be his to own by virtue of the genre (rock and roll). He has, however, gotten the coveted last performance spot more than once.

3. The genre was rock and roll! In a season that has given the contestants more freedom than ever before in song choice (Billboard Top 100s! iTunes downloads!), a niche type of music like rock and roll, which so clearly does suit two contestants and does NOT suit the other two, is quite fishy this late in the game.

4. More than once, Simon referred to Adam's brilliance while judging OTHER people's performances.

5. Even though Adam and Allison went first and second, they STILL managed to be the last performers with this crazy duet business. Those duets didn't do any favors for Kris or Danny, but were a genius move for Allison and Adam.

6. This is a little farfetched, but I started trying to vote for Kris a little after 8, and neither of his numbers started working until around 8:20. Now, I can get through most of the time, but there is a good 10 second pause between the time the number's dailed and the time the recording picks up. Also, about one out of every 5 or 6 calls never connects. Did anyone vote for one of the other contestants? Was your experience the same?

Well, this wasn't technically a review of the performances of the show, but I'm feeling a little jaded right now. I hope you'll understand. I like Adam--a lot. I just don't think it's fair that the cards seem to be stacked for him.

I really want to know what everyone thinks. Am I right? Or just paranoid? Did you vote? What happened? Did Lee Harvey Oswald act alone?

Character is overrated

That great news? That I almost talked about but didn't at the last minute? Good thing, because it didn't happen. It was a business thing, a company that two friends and I almost franchised into, but it didn't work out. We're bummed out, but beyond sure that it was the right decision to back out.

What's amazing is that I had no idea how worked up people can get when you dangle a secret in front of them! I'll never do that again.

Whoo! Okay, glad to put that behind me. Now I can resume blogging as usual. I had a wedding this weekend in Eureka Springs, and while the wedding itself was completely normal, it took place in the Crescent Hotel. Any time I'm in the Crescent, I know that I could be within earshot of some real freak shows. This weekend was no exception. I heard one couple excitedly asking their bellhop what kinds of pranks the ghosts would pull in their room. Another woman stopped me and, inexplicably mistaking me for a hotel employee, asked me if she was in the right place for her tarot reading appointment. Now, please know that I am not criticizing people who believe in playful ghosts or tarot cards. I am just making fun of them. They are strange and silly and if you're one of them, then I'm sorry to tell you this, but you too are strange and silly.

I have nothing against places like the Crescent, but it's just not my cup of tea. I don't want to take a tour guided by a woman in period dress, I don't want to ooh and ahh over the hotel's pet cat, I don't want a "quaint" room that has a creaky floor and a junky door that rattles every time someone walks past. I don't want "character". I want COMFORT. Give me a brand spankin new Embassy Suites with modern furniture, three telephones and a blackout curtain. Most of all, give me privacy. I don't want you to tell me when the building was built, or that some spirit is going to hide my toothbrush in the night, or what some deck of cards says I'm going to do tomorrow. I just want to lay up and watch the giant plasma tv on the wall. Is that too much to ask?

Sharp dressed men, and Allison

I do love a man in a suit.

And I got 4 of them tonight! I thought Idol was fantastic. This is undoubtedly the best top 5 ever. Of them all, Matt was the only one that didn't knock my socks off, but it was still a great performance. Was it just me, or did Allison look different? I mean I know she does a different look each week (and this was my favorite so far) but did she get her bottom braces off or something?

Any prediction yet for top 2? Other than that I feel sure Adam will be one of them, I'm undecided.

Patience, padawans, patience

You know how sometimes, you get ready to tell people something, and then you realize you better wait just a coooouuuuple of more days, juuuuuust to be sure that you're not speaking before it's prudent? Well, that's where I'm at now. I reeeeaaallly want to tell you (can't you tell by the way I keep drawing out my words?) but I think I best hold my tongue just a wee bit longer.

I know this will rile several of you up, so I have two ways to attempt to pacify you. One, if you know my phone number, and you want to call me, I'll tell you what it is--it's not SUPER secret, just not internet-sharable yet.

And two, pictures of my weird kids:





See? That's better, isn't it?

Really--I don't even like maple syrup

Matt and I are packing up the car to drive to the Rock for a long overdue weekend with my grandmother. The kids are way excited, and I'm looking forward to it myself.

When I get back, I have some VERY exciting news to blog about. NO, I am not pregnant. NO, we are not moving to Vermont to start a maple syrup factory. (where did I come up with that one?!) Anyway, I can't wait to share it with everyone and see what you think.

In the meanwhile, I'll entertain guesses! If anyone gets it right, they might just get a prize! And I know that there are a few people who read the blog who already know what it is--if you are one of them, do NOT spoil the surprise and do NOT make a guess. You know who you are. I will come after you.

Have a great weekend!

Idol on speed

It's been a loooong day and I'm tired, so you get the uberfast Idol recap. Blink and you'll miss it. Ready? Here goes.

Kris and Adam are amazing. Danny is great. Everyone else is inconsequential. I could go the rest of my life and never hear disco again, and be fulfilled.

I promise not to let another week go by without a post. My bad.