Go away American Idol.

Jim: Last night on ‘Trading Spouses,' there's... did you see it?
Pam: No, I have a life.
Jim: Interesting, what's that like?
Pam: You should try it some time.
Jim: Wow. But then who would watch my TV?
 

  I hate American Idol. It is the most ridiculous show currently on television. (sorry, mom!) Now don't get me wrong, I watch my fair share of reality t.v., but American Idol has to be the worst of the worst. And I'm even including the Bad Girls Club and A Basement Affair with Frank the Entertainer into this equation.
  So I'm going to take this moment to whine dramatically about it.

 For too many months (what is it, 4?! That's 4 too many.) Fox makes these people the leader of pop culture. 
 Really? You actually believe these are your next pop star icons? DO WE ACTUALLY NEED ANY MORE OF THEM?

 Chris Daughtry
All of a sudden these completely average guys try to "rock" their way into pop culture by channeling Eddie Vedder or some other grizzly, throaty singing guy. And this is also another reason I can't listen to the radio (except for Christmas time!). Go away Chris Daughtry.

 These people are practically raping classic songs
Ok, so think of your favorite song ever. Most likely, it's been butchered by American Idol. Sure, lots of songs have been sung badly on T.V. throughout the years, but Idol really gives it to 'em. They simply laugh at "No means no!". And think of the millions of kids who know classics only from the Idol versions. That's just wrong. Ella will never watch it.

  Disney World
It's been invaded. Idol in Disney -Magic Kingdom isn't safe.

 We have too many "idols" and most of them aren't even idol worthy,
Whatever happened to the true HERO? Not these movie stars or singers. Our obsession with famous people and their lives is ridiculous.  Mediocre singing skills doesn't make them a hero or anything close to it.

 It's crowding out good shows for the rest of us!
I recently watched an episode of Parenthood with my mom. When it was over I wondered how many other amazing shows aren't being aired because they don't want to go head-to-head with the Almighty. Either that, or they are being pushed to late night showings while the AI groupies have moved on to talking or texting about who's going to be kicked off next.

 "Well, everyone else watches it..."
I can imagine that there are quite a few out there who watch it just so they can join in on the AI talk with everyone back at the office. They want to be a part of the "in crowd".

-Dwight: Studies show that more information is passed through water cooler gossip than through official memos, which puts me at a disadvantage because (picks up water bottle) I bring my own water to work-

Be a leader. Start a new trend and begin an actual conversation of your own. Be a Dwight.



I bet you if John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Mama Cass, or Janis Joplin tried out for AI they wouldn't get through. I'm sure the judges (and America) would find some flaw they didn't like or didn't think they were good looking enough. And we would have missed out on them.

What happened to the days where people had to climb their way up through actual hard work to make it in the music business?



And finally, Ellen Degeneres, what are you doing?!  ...................

Okay, I'm making this blog come to end before I get on the subject of Dancing With The Stars or all hell is going to break loose!

The phone went "Green Green". I "pinked" it up and said "Yellow?".

Did you know that the 40th Earth Day is this week? That's right. It's April 22nd (this coming Thursday). So, in lieu of this, I want to give some really good 'Go Green!' tips/tricks. I promise to not let get this get preachy, because personally I find it very hard to practice an environmentally friendly lifestyle after being raised in a society where that is not so much the case. So, really, I'm learning this right along with you. Here are some not so well known tips!

1. Maybe you'd like to celebrate this 40th anniversary with a little wine? Please, be my guest. Get your worries off your chest. (Thank you, Beauty And The Beast.) But did you know that there are eco-friendly wines out there? You did? Well, I didn't. They can be found in many whole food stores and some chains. Just check those catchy little wine labels to be sure!

2.Get off junk mail lists. (And I do mean the mail that appears inside your home mailbox.) GreenDimes.com can get you started. They’ll even plant a tree for you!

3.Do full loads of laundry and set the rinse cycle to “cold.” Who uses hot water anyway?

4.Give away your goods and find new ones at FreeCycle.org. I LOVE this site. I have given away and gotten some really great stuff from people in my community. Not to mention, it keeps our already overloaded landfills free of useful items.

5. Find your and your family's carbon footprint. It's really interesting.

6. Eat less meat. You can help save the rainforest, save water, feed people, refresh the air, and even reduce your risk for heart attacks and high blood pressure. (Not to mention, you're just being nice!) Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain. This is especially true for seafood.

7. If you’re in an area where plastic cap recycling is not available, seek out retailers that accept them. Any Aveda network salon or store will accept the caps to be made into new Aveda caps. (And no, I'm definitely NOT advertising for Aveda products, just giving you ideas for recycling!)

8. Certain greens can help remove indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene. Don't have the gardening gene? Golden pothos, English ivy and peace lilies are all easy-to-grow toxin fighters.

9. Inform your children about how to live "greener". They are the future, you know.


10. Keep your tires inflated to improve gas mileage by 3 percent. Every gallon you save also saves 20 pounds of C02 emissions.

So there you have it. Please feel free to comment with more tips and advice for staying green. And maybe we can try to practice these things the other 364 days.

Blog on Blog

I keep asking myself why I started this blog. At least 5 times a day I am thinking about what to write ... but nothing comes out of it. Even as I have forced myself to sit down and just start typing, obviously nothing has come to mind.

And also I wonder, where am I headed with it? What is the theme to this whole thing? I've been told to blog about "being a mom" or to provide short stories of my everyday life. But, in all honesty, who (besides close friends or family..and I'm not even sure THEY would want to read it) would want to read about a married, "momma" of one, cosmetologist from Richmond, IN? Riddle me this.

Or maybe I just started this to bring back old memories. I have felt so nostalgic the past few weeks that perhaps I thought this would cure some part of it, if not all. So far, that plan has failed.

Now don't get me wrong. I wouldn't go back to my old high school days for anything. I absolutely love my present life. I would, maybe, re-live some memorable experiences... i.e. the first unofficial date (big fish), the first official date, dance camp, dance team competition, random trips to thrift stores, loud and obnoxious sing alongs in the car, mystery 50's themed party, our trip to Chicago, watching numerous band practices, the first summer back in richmond with Jenny/Dustin(one of the best in my life), my wedding & honeymoon... (please feel free to comment with more memories!)

But it is also exciting for me to know that I am making new memorable experiences for the future with my husband and daughter. In only 19 months time, there are hundreds...so I can only imagine. Even yesterday, watching Ella try to "play" with her 4 year old cousins will be a memory. She tried so hard to keep up, to sit on her ball and bounce, to run fast. But she was always 10 steps behind. At one point, I almost felt sorry for her. Her older cousins knew so much more; knew how to do so many things that she didn't. They had gone and done so many new things that she hadn't yet. And I felt empathy. But she will get there one day, just like I will get there one day.

And so, even though this might be a blog about what to blog, I feel like there's some substance in it somewhere. At least for me.

Welcome to Drool Lake. Population: 1

A carpenter bee made its way inside my kitchen today.

It was practically a suicide mission. Doesn't it know that cats live here? Couldn't it tell by the tiny nose prints that had formed on the kitchen window? Did it not realize how much I hate bugs?

Now, I'm all for saving animals but I'm pretty sure I have made my hatred for bugs well known. Not to mention, the huge (and expensive) fact that these bees are ruining our house!
R.I.P. kamikaze bee

On another note, have you seen those movies where a child is irrevocably in love with his/her dog?The dog is like a god to them! This is our giant of a dog, Max, to Ella. Thankfully, he is the most passive and patient dog I've ever seen when it comes to being laid on, rolled over, and jumped on. She sits in his lap and "reads" her books to him. Forces him to take his bone or any other object she wishes. Pokes him. Prods him. Every black dog she sees or bark she hears is obviously named "MAAAATS!" (which is Max in Ella language).

As much as Max drives me crazy, I love the heck out of him because Ella does. I can look over the fact (for now) that carpet has been ruined, fences were broken, original pocket doors have been chewed, MANY sippy cups torn apart, has panic attacks during thunder storms, and he occasionally lays on the couch and drools a lake when no one is around. It's okay. It all means nothing to me because I've seen how much Ella, and Adam for that matter, adore this dog.
Live it up, Max.




P.S. I haven't blogged since high school so I apologize in advance if these are pretty boring. They will eventually get better.... I hope.