FINALLY!

Love the new background. Love all the amazing words you said. I would love to do the book thang on here! I miss you too. We are so far apart, but only in distance. I am all about moving and grooving this year.. Let's do the bucket list.. I want to change the name though.. I think we should call it The Dare to Live List or something really cute and cool like us : ) Italy here we come. I am already planning Audrey's 7th birthday present. Her trip (totally doing it for her wink wink) to France. So excited about this venture.. Books and Living Life.. My two favorite subjects.. The book thing I have down pat... Going to start reading Decoded now by Jay-Z.. The living life thing is a bit harder than I thought but I am ready to do it.. Let's get started Sista!!!!!

xoxo

Homesick for my Lil Sistah

So Jenn and I have been talking on the phone a lot lately, and man, I miss having her around.

It's so not fair that she's one of the people in my world I can talk to about ANYTHING, and yet she's 500 miles away. She listens and just knows what I mean, and I like to think I offer the same to her.

I hope our girls will have that same closeness, even though they are growing up in different states, and experiencing so many different things.

I shouldn't worry at all, and I'm not, truly, as when you meet someone like my sister-in-law, who you mesh with in such a way, and you don't find one another in this lifetime until you're way past your most formative years, yet you still click in such a way ... it's truly the luck of the draw, I'd say.

And I'm pleased to be someone who is just that lucky.

I've a lot more to say but the child is whining up the wazoo due to waking up with a sore throat today. So she thinks screaming will help soothe that, I guess. Or not. Sigh.

Miss ya, Sis!

It's been too long ...

After seeing my amazing sister-in-law this past week (and then some), I was motivated to return to our joint blog, and change our background up a bit. Maybe we can start talking books here? That might be fun. Since we read a lot for the book clubs we belong to, and we sometimes read the same books, and sometimes not so much, but hey, why not, right? More to talk about ...

And another thing I wanted to make mention of, although I couldn't find the perfect travel background, is that I think Jenn and I need a travel bucket list. Or just a primary goal for us. We made a brief mention of Italy (she mentioned, and I said we should go for our 40th birthdays, sometime in between ...) and that inspired me a bit, as well.

I truly wish my little sister lived closer to me, or I lived closer to her, I guess ... but in the meantime there are ways to connect, and here's hoping we continue to do so, with all our plans ahead of us!

The Girls

So I watched the girls today and wanted to post before I start watching the results show from tonight.

Here's my take (not to turn this into an AI blog, but hey -- my Sis and I like to talk about this and we've been so busy we haven't had the chance so at least she can read what I think about it!):

Mama Sox: LOVE her. L-O-V-E. Still reminds me of Donna from That 70s Show, she's adorable and I don't know what was wrong w. her but I am glad she's healthy.

Hayley: I think that poor Hayley may go home tonight. First of all, she started off by telling us that she makes her own headbands. I see an Etsy store in her future, which is great. Honest. I wish I were that crafty. However, it's enough. She needs to stop channeling Jasmine Trias as she (Hayley) is NOT from Hawaii (right?) and Jasmine didn't fare all to well herself. I did realize as she was singing tho, that I actually LIKE that Miley Cyrus song! So look at that! I may buy it on iTunes now. Hmmn, may even buy Mama Sox's song from last night, too.

Lacey: Short-haired girl. Kiss me. Beneath the milky twilight. Love the song. Thought she sang it well but I don't feel that she has an AI future. Plus, she wears a lot of blush. I think. She's not that rosey, is she? MAY go home. May be alright, though. She's fun and perky. Not that annoying, so she might be OK. Poor thing.

Didi: Ah, Didi. She's not doing so hot after last night, I'm sure. She reminds me of a cross between my cousin and a girl/mom I know down here in NC. Interesting combo. She can sing, I actually liked her attempt at Lean On Me, to some extent. But she tried SO hard to get the soul out of her that she drained herself dry. I am sure she broke down at the end of the night, behind-the-scenes and all. Sigh. Poor Didi.

Paige? Paris? What is her name? She sang Kelly Clarkson, and well, whattaya know? Kara WROTE that song w. Kelly. Go figure. I knew I saw her dancing while the performance was happening, but I was thinking, hmmn, she's getting into it, interesting. I have to admit, I'm not hating Kara's opinions quite as much as I tend to dislike Kara, herself. She's trying to be a cross between Paula and Kara-of-yesteryear. Interesting, no? I liked this P-girl. She DOES have a really good voice, but I agree that she's not as strong as she should be when performing.

Lily: Still liking Lily, but I hate that they taught her to STARE at the camera. (Eyeroll!) I have hated that behavior that's been pushed on the Idols since the days of Constantine. And it annoys the cr@p out of me. She's talented, though, so I hope she stays.

Katelyn (?): Ms. Epperly - or whatever her funky name is. I actually liked her performance, but her expressions were kind of off. I agreed w. Simon's concern about her being corny. **Go figure that I agree w. Simon, right?**

So, who am I missing?

Oh, Katie! Who I keep wanting to call Megan. I don't know why, but I just feel like that should be her name. She has a fantastic voice, and I LOVED that song. I think she did it really well, too. I do understand what everyone was saying about her, though, needing to be younger. But I wanted to smack Randy and tell him that there are hardly ANY under 20-yo singers out there these days that are good/great! Poor girl isn't going to say 'The Jonas Brothers,' right? And Hayley already sang Miley, so what's left?

OK, I think I have one more left. Who the heck is it? Oh, no, I have two more? Man. That's bad. Oh! The one who sang Creed!!! Arms Wide Open. The Alicia Keyes girl. She was good. I didn't jump outta my seat or anything, but I liked it, Dawg. She's pretty. She's got the potential to be powerful. I liked what she did. She made it her own. All that jazz.

Now who is the last person? I think I have to turn on the show to check ... Oh! I know! The last girl! I always forget about her but she ROCKED that note last night. Siobhan. She is quirky, interesting, odd, and sweet. Along with being cute and fun, and a bit of a powerhouse based on that one note. I hope she sticks around. I might find myself really liking her!

OK, now I'm off to watch the show. Have a great night, I'll try to come by tomorrow to discuss!

AI: WEEK TWO!

Totally missed posting last week, but I have a recap I can share from a message board I belong to.

So, SIS, here goes my recap for the guys last night:

Big Mike: He was better than before, and he IS good, but he's not taking it all the way. He's soulful, Reuben-ish, but the guitar will be his downfall.

Tondrick - Still not a fan, though he tried to pull the viewers in during his package about how sweet he is. He may go home.

John (that his name?) - who sang Gravity. Not that great. I think he has a good voice, but I TOTALLY get what everyone said about missing the connection. He's just unexpressive and it bothers me.

Lambert (not Adam's twin) guy -- I really enjoyed him this week. Thought he did pretty well and was happy for him. Also loved how Simon spoke to him. As always I love Simon. Go figure.

Hot-Bucky-Covington -- while I enjoyed his performance, he's no Bo Bice. I did like it, but I kind of got what Kara and Simon said. I LOVED when Kara said what she did and Simon was like WHAT? In shock. Cougar's a fan, but I wasn't feelin' it. For some reason I was totally hating Kara as usual, but I really "jived" w. her comments last night (as I watched this AM!) and that scared me.

Baby Aaron (that's his name - isn't it?) - I thought he did really well! I thought Simon was a little hard on him, yes, the song was ANCIENT, but he was so much not-David-Archie-when he sang around the stage and walked and really belted it out for lil 16 yo him. Good stuff. He's safe.

Jermaine (name?) - - gonna head home, too. Unless one of the others beats him there. They give you advice and you don't take it? Buh-bye.

Tim Urban (aka Zac Efron/Jonas Brother #4) -- I was SO happy when Simon said what he did. I really REALLY enjoyed his performance. I thought he was relaxed, comfortable and really pretty good.

Lee -- Lee [LOVE the name!] may very well be my fave this season. The chunky David Cook. He's great. Totally great voice. Needs to strengthen his stage presence, but great.

Is that 10? If not, I left out someone who will go home. Shoot, that's only 9. WHo is the last guy? Shoot, I have to go look it up!

OK, I didn't have to look it up. Andy Garcia -- I have no idea if that's his first name. Robert-Downey-not-Gokey/Latin Pop Guy. Totally agree about the Straight Up performance being his best. It's all downhill from there. And how sad is that?

So, anyone watching? What are your thoughts so far this season? :)


And adding my "recap" from last week:

Although I didn't care about the results all that much, I agree that Joe was better than some of the others, but I knew he would go, and mostly because as I said last week about the Top 24 when I had to look up his name and his picture and said, WHO IS THAT GUY? Nobody knew who he was. They had him there as a token singer. Glad the crazy-haired guy is gone, too. Bathrobe? REALLY? Come on. Loved Simon's expression when he blamed them, too. Excellent.

I think the teenie-boppers out there voted for Tim "I'm not a Jonas Brother but I look a little like Zac Efron, and I'm not related to Keith" Urban. And the other guy, the one who wears the glasses. He's kind of teenie-ish.

Girls I was fine w. I liked Ashley when she was in the tryouts. She was good then. She also reminds me of a friend of mine, so I had hoped she'd be nice and sweet like her. Ah, well!

Oh, and I don't like Allison as much as I didn't like her when she was ON the show.

Anyone else think Kara's hubby reminded them a little of Simon?

Kara's cougar mode is too much, tho. When it comes to (Emily, I hope you like this one, too!) "I'm hotter than Bucky Covington and can kind of sing but nobody remembers that 'cause Kara made me take my shirt off in my first audition," it was a bit much already. Poor guy didn't get any real criticism. I don't even know his name. He's just called hot-Bucky by me and my SIL.

Kara's hubby didn't strike me as hot, mostly cause he reminded me of Simon, but not as hot as Simon, so can you tell I luv Simon? ... and til tomorrow!

Wayyy too long!

It's been way too long since my Sis and I have posted here.

I had to come back now, as I've decided that we should find this time of year to be the best time. We talk to each other at least 2x a week more than normal. We e-mail more frequently and develop our own code language. We battle it out, we take sides, and sometimes wind up on the same one.

Why? Why do we do this every. single. year?

Well, I'll tell you why.

Because ....


THIS.

IS.

AMERICAN IDOL!!!!!!


And after last night we now know who our Top 24 are. I have much to say about these people. Some I've honestly never seen before the final group was announced ... Like, uhm, this guy?


Check out the rest of them here: US Magazine: Idol's Top 24!

I'm sure we'll be talking about them a ton this season! Who are your faves? So far I like Crystal (the mom w. the dreads who looks like Donna from That 70s Show! I have some others I like, too, but she's my current front-runner!

So join us. We'll be chatting it up every week, well, about the show, the singers, the performances, the judges (Love Ellen, but won't be the same or as crazy w.o Paula this year!) and so much more!

WAIT!!! One more thing...

As I am new to this thing. I posted my last entry without finishing it. After I saved it as a draft, I couldn't find it.

I just wanted to add that our children only know the time we spend with them. They don't compartmentalize like we tend to do as adults. And for all the time Audrey gets to spend at school with her friends.. she is happiest at home when mommy and daddy give her full attention as she acts out (dramatically I might add) something she remembers from the day..

On a personal note: Andrea rocks as a mom!! (shh... don't tell her I said so, but she never gives herself the credit she deserves..)

Jenn