Interesting show. It was the first one that I thought was kind of weak. It felt very karaoke tonight. Interesting, they finally get to sing whatever they want and they flop. On top of that some of my faves didn't do so well and some I didn't think would make it much further did OK. so I'm not sure who's out. My least favorite performance of the night was Anoop but he seems to have a little more support than I figured him for, so I'm not sure he goes home. So my list in order of beast to least:
Adam. This was a great performance for him. I'm grooving on the Elvis look. You think the king would have sang that song? He'll need to keep mixing it up so we can see the great performances coupled with a connection moment like last week.
Kris. I like his voice but he pretty much bores me when ever he sings. I thought he did a great job tonight though. He is getting better every week. He could be a sneaky one.
Danny. I didn't care for this performance. It did seem karaoke to me. Very good karaoke, but still imitation. I think he'll need to be careful as we narrow the field. With a performance like tonight later in the competition I could see him being odd man out.
Lil. I think tonight was OK for her. It reminded us how well she can sing, I think it's still early enough that building a resume is still not a bad idea for such talent. But the judges are right on, she needs to find more relevance. Also she was smokin hot in her video but not so much on stage. She needs to figure out how to let who she is shine a bit more on stage.
Allison. I didn't like this performance. Every time I see her now I see a 16 year old trying to be older. I don't think that'll work. She'll need to fully embrace her R&R and cross her fingers to get by week 6, and it's a comin'.
Megan. Well I like her. Every week she's getting closer and closer to actually learning how to sing. She has to be more careful in song selection. If she thinks she'll win based on vocal ability she's a fool. the judges have been trying to steer her, she's either doesn't get it or she's not listening. She's finally good enough to pull off the right song. Can she find it?
Scott. an improvement tonight. He's just not as good as the rest, it's only a matter of time.
Matt. He's insanely talented. but he's in a tough spot. If he does what he does best his votes get squeezed by the other guys, and if he goes rock he just doesn't pull it off well. My opinion is that he sticks with the R&B and hopes other guys fall before him. He gains with every male eliminated.
Anoop. he's got a nice voice, but I just don't like him when he tries to be contemporary. I can't believe he's still in this. That tells me I don't get his appeal. And that tells me I don't know when he goes home. I hope tomorrow.
I really don't know who goes home tomorrow. Adam and Danny are probably safe but after that I just don't know.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Face book Rocks
Yes, I'm hooked, addicted. Call the intervention posse or twelve step me 'cause there ain't no stopping me now. What a great thing I can stay connected to people without actually talking to them. If I want to poke my head into their life just to let them know I'm here and thinking about them I can without intruding.
This is all great for me because I can let massive amounts of time slip by like nothing. suddenly I realize I haven't touched base for a year. I will say though some people have changed over these big time lapses. And it's cool, I'm not regretting any contacts, although it's quite possible others are regretting me finding them.
My dog keeps farting, he rarely farts. Just thought you all needed to know that.
we have our first official track meet this Thursday. We are only allowed four entries per team. I will have the task of informing some they will not be jumping. Fortunately it's easy to decide who jumps and who doesn't, but still some kids may not see it the way I see it. tough nuts.
that reminds me. I'm a very effective coach/supervisor. One of my great strengths is my easy going nature. but invariably that invites push back. It's at that point they encounter another great strength; my single minded focus to the goal at hand, and a certain scary intensity lying underneath the surface. I'm at the point now that I'm kind of giggling inside as I watch the wtf reaction the first time the kids encounter it. I'm expecting and looking forward to those encounters this week and next. yeah I'm a little sadistic.
This is all great for me because I can let massive amounts of time slip by like nothing. suddenly I realize I haven't touched base for a year. I will say though some people have changed over these big time lapses. And it's cool, I'm not regretting any contacts, although it's quite possible others are regretting me finding them.
My dog keeps farting, he rarely farts. Just thought you all needed to know that.
we have our first official track meet this Thursday. We are only allowed four entries per team. I will have the task of informing some they will not be jumping. Fortunately it's easy to decide who jumps and who doesn't, but still some kids may not see it the way I see it. tough nuts.
that reminds me. I'm a very effective coach/supervisor. One of my great strengths is my easy going nature. but invariably that invites push back. It's at that point they encounter another great strength; my single minded focus to the goal at hand, and a certain scary intensity lying underneath the surface. I'm at the point now that I'm kind of giggling inside as I watch the wtf reaction the first time the kids encounter it. I'm expecting and looking forward to those encounters this week and next. yeah I'm a little sadistic.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
for my sisters in law
Check out the link. You'll like it. Just click on the title of the post.
Edit, I'll make the link easier.
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch?e=20090329034303292
Edit, I'll make the link easier.
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch?e=20090329034303292
Friday, March 27, 2009
End of week two.
So the second week has ended. And I'm having a blast. We had our second meet. Everyone made great improvements. One girl made a huge gain and is now one inch from the state standard. That means if she hit that height during the sectional meet in may she automatically qualifies for state regardless of her place. So that's cool. i think it was my changes that launched her, so to speak. But as one coach in Mississippi says, coaches don't make great athletes they just uncover them. Like an anthropologist with an artifact slowly removing the unwanted debris to reveal the treasure inside. so there is only so much credit a coach can take. And of course without her previous coaching would not have been ready for this step.
So it's all cool. Tomorrow morning I'll be heading to a track clinic at the U of M. Maybe I'll actually learn what I'm suppose to know. Imagine how good I'd be if i actually knew what I was doing?!
On other news. Face book is a blast. I made contact with an old friend from elementary school. She keeps in contact with most everyone I was in school with, and she says they still talk about me. That was cool to hear since i think about them often too.
It's funny i was only there for four years, just as long as anywhere else, but I connected better at that age with those people than any other time in my life. You'd think it would be opposite. Certain long standing friends excepted. Maybe because it was so much more uncomplicated it was deeper and less muddled. Hopefully at some point I'll be able to reconnect in person. How cool would that be? Thank you face book.
So it's all cool. Tomorrow morning I'll be heading to a track clinic at the U of M. Maybe I'll actually learn what I'm suppose to know. Imagine how good I'd be if i actually knew what I was doing?!
On other news. Face book is a blast. I made contact with an old friend from elementary school. She keeps in contact with most everyone I was in school with, and she says they still talk about me. That was cool to hear since i think about them often too.
It's funny i was only there for four years, just as long as anywhere else, but I connected better at that age with those people than any other time in my life. You'd think it would be opposite. Certain long standing friends excepted. Maybe because it was so much more uncomplicated it was deeper and less muddled. Hopefully at some point I'll be able to reconnect in person. How cool would that be? Thank you face book.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
AI thursday (wednesday) results
Well Michael went home tonight. it was a good run for him. More importantly he made the final 10 which gets him on the tour. the most surprising thing for me was that Matt was in the bottom with him.
Demographics play an important part in AI until it gets towards the end. The differences between the males left aren't all that great It might be that Matt is stronger overall but weaker in voting blocks. He's similar to Scott in that he's a piano playing artist. Sings soulfully like Danny. And is young but not as cute as Kris. And the hipper vote is probably going to Adam. If Matt survives I'm thinking he strengthens each week. For instance if Scott goes Matt picks more of his votes than many others, except the granny's, they go to Allison.
I'm glad Megan made it through.
That's all for now.
Demographics play an important part in AI until it gets towards the end. The differences between the males left aren't all that great It might be that Matt is stronger overall but weaker in voting blocks. He's similar to Scott in that he's a piano playing artist. Sings soulfully like Danny. And is young but not as cute as Kris. And the hipper vote is probably going to Adam. If Matt survives I'm thinking he strengthens each week. For instance if Scott goes Matt picks more of his votes than many others, except the granny's, they go to Allison.
I'm glad Megan made it through.
That's all for now.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
AI wednesday (tuesday) update.
Well it was another good night. The judges blasted Scott, Michael and Megan and praised many. I thought they were mostly spot on except the venom towards Megan was a little odd for me. Two things that stood out more than others was Anoop's Smokey smooth vocals and the fact that not only did Adam give another great performance but he connected. I'm not really sure his performance was the best of the night as the judges said, but probably was the most impactful.
The fact that the judges took time to beat up two lovable contestants was interesting. I've known, everybody has known Scott and Megan were weak vocally. It shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone, and all of a sudden the judges who had been oddly over protective of both turned on each this weak. Makes you wonder about what happens behind the scenes. Did they get too full of themselves and the judges wanted to send a message. Did the judges feel like since they made the tour charity time was over? It was interesting. I actually saw great growth in Megan. In the end maybe that was the problem. If she's going to pretend she's a singer now, well she would have bee out long ago. But I didn't see that, i saw an artist gaining confidence. I actually saw some of the growth that was going to allow her to pull off the stuff the judges kept saying she would be great at. In the end she's not ready, and so I suppose the judges got her on tour to work with her and give her time to develop, it's time to get her out of the way for the ready talent. I don't know.
In my order of finish tonight.
Adam. As I said, I'm not sure it was the best, but most impactful. I'll remember his performance long after I forget the rest. He connected and showed something that was missing.
Matt. I think he's really gaining week to week. He's simply showing tremendous skill and performance ability. If he could connect as well as Danny he might give Adam a run.
Danny. I was disappointed that he didn't take Smokey's advice tonight. But when he sings you just feel it. That's a great skill that sets him apart. And it was there again tonight.
Lil. This is two weeks in a row where was a little disappointing. She still showed great ability and so it wasn't a great failure. I did also agree she looked great and like she belongs on stage. But maybe because she felt like she needed to kill it she over sang the song terribly. It's hard to believe but her voice might be too big for that song. Mostly I think that she needs to understand that the best way to honor a song and genre is to nail it in the way it was meant to be done. Greater energy and passion isn't as effective as the right amount of energy and passion.
Anoop. Kudos to Anoop. I haven't been a fan but I saw a large amount of talent that wasn't there before. He earned another week. He's got a shot at the final six.
Allison. She keeps blowing everyone away for a sixteen year old. But in the end, she's going to have to beat the rest head on. So far she looks like a very talented sixteen year old enjoying her moment in the sun. It will get tougher and tougher for her from here on.
Kris. He did well again. I like his voice and I think the right song will launch him. But man is he forgettable after. I can never remember what he did by the end of the show. It'll catch up to him soon.
Megan. I spoke about her at length already. I hope she doesn't go home. she's finally learning how to sing. Three or four weeks more and I think she kills it. I don't think she gets that far.
Scott. He looks like he's about ready to cry. I hate to stereotype him but I really wish he had dark glasses on. You can tell he's blind and it's distracting to the music. I think though as I've said earlier, this is how good he is and it's not good enough for this group. how many better artists will American send home to honor his achievements?
Michael. I'm having a hard time judging his demographic. I will say though that being in the bottom three in a week that should have been his strongest makes me think he's done tomorrow.
I'm not going to speculate immunity as it didn't work out so well for me or Alexis last week. I will say of the ones I think would be saved Lil maybe shows up in the bottom three. But I would be surprised.
The fact that the judges took time to beat up two lovable contestants was interesting. I've known, everybody has known Scott and Megan were weak vocally. It shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone, and all of a sudden the judges who had been oddly over protective of both turned on each this weak. Makes you wonder about what happens behind the scenes. Did they get too full of themselves and the judges wanted to send a message. Did the judges feel like since they made the tour charity time was over? It was interesting. I actually saw great growth in Megan. In the end maybe that was the problem. If she's going to pretend she's a singer now, well she would have bee out long ago. But I didn't see that, i saw an artist gaining confidence. I actually saw some of the growth that was going to allow her to pull off the stuff the judges kept saying she would be great at. In the end she's not ready, and so I suppose the judges got her on tour to work with her and give her time to develop, it's time to get her out of the way for the ready talent. I don't know.
In my order of finish tonight.
Adam. As I said, I'm not sure it was the best, but most impactful. I'll remember his performance long after I forget the rest. He connected and showed something that was missing.
Matt. I think he's really gaining week to week. He's simply showing tremendous skill and performance ability. If he could connect as well as Danny he might give Adam a run.
Danny. I was disappointed that he didn't take Smokey's advice tonight. But when he sings you just feel it. That's a great skill that sets him apart. And it was there again tonight.
Lil. This is two weeks in a row where was a little disappointing. She still showed great ability and so it wasn't a great failure. I did also agree she looked great and like she belongs on stage. But maybe because she felt like she needed to kill it she over sang the song terribly. It's hard to believe but her voice might be too big for that song. Mostly I think that she needs to understand that the best way to honor a song and genre is to nail it in the way it was meant to be done. Greater energy and passion isn't as effective as the right amount of energy and passion.
Anoop. Kudos to Anoop. I haven't been a fan but I saw a large amount of talent that wasn't there before. He earned another week. He's got a shot at the final six.
Allison. She keeps blowing everyone away for a sixteen year old. But in the end, she's going to have to beat the rest head on. So far she looks like a very talented sixteen year old enjoying her moment in the sun. It will get tougher and tougher for her from here on.
Kris. He did well again. I like his voice and I think the right song will launch him. But man is he forgettable after. I can never remember what he did by the end of the show. It'll catch up to him soon.
Megan. I spoke about her at length already. I hope she doesn't go home. she's finally learning how to sing. Three or four weeks more and I think she kills it. I don't think she gets that far.
Scott. He looks like he's about ready to cry. I hate to stereotype him but I really wish he had dark glasses on. You can tell he's blind and it's distracting to the music. I think though as I've said earlier, this is how good he is and it's not good enough for this group. how many better artists will American send home to honor his achievements?
Michael. I'm having a hard time judging his demographic. I will say though that being in the bottom three in a week that should have been his strongest makes me think he's done tomorrow.
I'm not going to speculate immunity as it didn't work out so well for me or Alexis last week. I will say of the ones I think would be saved Lil maybe shows up in the bottom three. But I would be surprised.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Run gooder-er
So every activity, job, hobby has it's words and phrases. It has it's own language. For instance, high jumpers have these big landing cushions so they have a soft landing. They're called pits. They're not in pits they sit on the ground and are actually about two and a half feet thick. There is nothing pit like about them.
Likewise, certain stretches and drills have names. Most of that is OK to deal with as you say what you know and dodge around terms that you're not sure of until someone else says them. In this way 22 years away has left some rust. The real problem comes when kids are in the heat of an activity and you have to provide some useful guidance in a fraction of a second, like as they run by or are floating in the air during a jump. It's at this time it's good to have a natural command of the lingo. Otherwise you just sound like an imbecile and not the leader you're suppose to be.
Today i was positioned at the last part of what are called back loaded intervals. Basically they run a certain distance at moderate pace and at the end part run harder. so I was there to inspire them to run harder in better form. i could not get cohesive phrases out of my face.
So now I may be the crazy dumb coach, although they did seem to respond by running faster...and gooder-er, so at least I may have been effective. There's a certain amount of deference you give to unstable folks, so it's not all bad.
Apparently my workout yesterday looked like a bit of a cluster. It was, the teams are a little smallish but for some reason I'm getting a lot of new kids trying the high jump. It's difficult. I've usually worked mostly one on one but with this many kids I need more of an organized team approach. The High jump also has the added difficulty of different levels of athlete being at different heights. In a long jump you can have different kids working on different things, and mix different levels but not in the high jump. So the coaches spotted this. they handled it diplomatically and we're going to find a way to split them up so I don't have so many at one time. I don't know if i had them scratching their heads or not, but i fully acknowledge i don't have a way of dealing with so many kids. I did come up with some drills that could be done away from the 'pits' but really someone gets shortchanged every day, either the new kids or the experienced.
I know I have very limited readership on this blog, but i want to put a call out to those with kids, or everybody i guess. Schools some time ago began requiring fees to participate in after school activities. At first they were small but now more and more schools are charging higher and higher fees. Where I'm at they charge a kid $220.00. If a kid is on reduced lunch their fee is cut in half. They cap the fees at $1000 per family for the year. We had one kid who's mom wouldn't pay the fee. she probably couldn't. and another long time athlete not show up, when asked why he said his dad was just laid off. The coaches said participation is declining. who's not coming out? Kids from families that don't value athletics, kids from families who can't afford it, and most importantly kids who just want to try something out, and kids who do other sports during the year and just want something to do in the spring. Our numbers are way down. My personal belief is that this is a civil liberties issue, and a community issue. After school activities are an important part of the total education and crucial in being a part of a community. The call, is that in involvement with community leaders and elected officials we need to express our dissatisfaction at how this is evolving from a small fee to one that creates an exclusive participation. I believe the practice should be illegal in a public school. If a community doesn't want athletics, drama etc, fine, but the finances of kids and families should not be the determining factor. Free participation for all or none at all. That's how i see it. I believe when tested with those choices each community will go for free.
Likewise, certain stretches and drills have names. Most of that is OK to deal with as you say what you know and dodge around terms that you're not sure of until someone else says them. In this way 22 years away has left some rust. The real problem comes when kids are in the heat of an activity and you have to provide some useful guidance in a fraction of a second, like as they run by or are floating in the air during a jump. It's at this time it's good to have a natural command of the lingo. Otherwise you just sound like an imbecile and not the leader you're suppose to be.
Today i was positioned at the last part of what are called back loaded intervals. Basically they run a certain distance at moderate pace and at the end part run harder. so I was there to inspire them to run harder in better form. i could not get cohesive phrases out of my face.
So now I may be the crazy dumb coach, although they did seem to respond by running faster...and gooder-er, so at least I may have been effective. There's a certain amount of deference you give to unstable folks, so it's not all bad.
Apparently my workout yesterday looked like a bit of a cluster. It was, the teams are a little smallish but for some reason I'm getting a lot of new kids trying the high jump. It's difficult. I've usually worked mostly one on one but with this many kids I need more of an organized team approach. The High jump also has the added difficulty of different levels of athlete being at different heights. In a long jump you can have different kids working on different things, and mix different levels but not in the high jump. So the coaches spotted this. they handled it diplomatically and we're going to find a way to split them up so I don't have so many at one time. I don't know if i had them scratching their heads or not, but i fully acknowledge i don't have a way of dealing with so many kids. I did come up with some drills that could be done away from the 'pits' but really someone gets shortchanged every day, either the new kids or the experienced.
I know I have very limited readership on this blog, but i want to put a call out to those with kids, or everybody i guess. Schools some time ago began requiring fees to participate in after school activities. At first they were small but now more and more schools are charging higher and higher fees. Where I'm at they charge a kid $220.00. If a kid is on reduced lunch their fee is cut in half. They cap the fees at $1000 per family for the year. We had one kid who's mom wouldn't pay the fee. she probably couldn't. and another long time athlete not show up, when asked why he said his dad was just laid off. The coaches said participation is declining. who's not coming out? Kids from families that don't value athletics, kids from families who can't afford it, and most importantly kids who just want to try something out, and kids who do other sports during the year and just want something to do in the spring. Our numbers are way down. My personal belief is that this is a civil liberties issue, and a community issue. After school activities are an important part of the total education and crucial in being a part of a community. The call, is that in involvement with community leaders and elected officials we need to express our dissatisfaction at how this is evolving from a small fee to one that creates an exclusive participation. I believe the practice should be illegal in a public school. If a community doesn't want athletics, drama etc, fine, but the finances of kids and families should not be the determining factor. Free participation for all or none at all. That's how i see it. I believe when tested with those choices each community will go for free.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Good weekend.
It was a fruitful weekend. I got a glimpse of how I might make music a part of my future. If it pans out to be more than possibliblity (try saying that misspelling 5 times fast!)It'll be here on this blog. Just know that the inspiration phase is progressing and the wheels are a turnin, proud Mary keep on.
But outside of that crypticism Sunday i went to see my Uncle make his comedy club debut. He did rather well. As I tell my new high jumpers the first time is all about experiencing it and getting a base to grow from. Chad over achieved seeming very comfy on the stage and funny. so kudos to him. It was nice as I was able to see family I don't see very often, especially my very beautiful sister in law.
I also found out that more people have access to this blog than I had thought. I'll need to be careful. Did I mention how smart my sister's in law are? Oh, and the most darling kids ever. Obviously great parenting.
I then accompanied me momma to the casino. I actually left with money in my pocket. Not more than i went with but pretty close to even. i call that success. so it was a very enjoyable evening.
My brothers are dopes, but did I mention what a great job they did in selecting wives?
But outside of that crypticism Sunday i went to see my Uncle make his comedy club debut. He did rather well. As I tell my new high jumpers the first time is all about experiencing it and getting a base to grow from. Chad over achieved seeming very comfy on the stage and funny. so kudos to him. It was nice as I was able to see family I don't see very often, especially my very beautiful sister in law.
I also found out that more people have access to this blog than I had thought. I'll need to be careful. Did I mention how smart my sister's in law are? Oh, and the most darling kids ever. Obviously great parenting.
I then accompanied me momma to the casino. I actually left with money in my pocket. Not more than i went with but pretty close to even. i call that success. so it was a very enjoyable evening.
My brothers are dopes, but did I mention what a great job they did in selecting wives?
Friday, March 20, 2009
Week one.
Well week one is over. It was great. The rust is pretty much off. You'd think after 22 years it'd take a while but nope. The girls I'm working with are solid. They all did well in our first scrimmage meet (practice meet) with two achieving personal bests. It says more about the previous coaching than me but i helped a little. Anyway it bought me a little cred as i try to make my mark.
I don't have any experienced boys and so it will be a tough year for the boys in high jump. The best I'll be able to do with them is teach them how. But until they develop more they won't get high enough to contribute points wise. Boys are different than girls in the high jump. Girls are mostly developed by 9th grade and so you can get them up there a little better when they're younger. The problem with them is that the year to year improvement is less and so they get frustrated as juniors and seniors. boys just aren't strong enough for their body weights or coordinated to compete with older boys. The difference between the two is huge. So it's tougher to get boy high jumpers because they suck when they're young and so don't get the positive reinforcement to stick with it. Usually boy high jumpers appear as juniors out of the blue. I know how to keep kids around and so hopefully can bring the young uns along and provide for the future.
I think the coaches are pretty happy with me. I'm taking over the high jump duties from one coach and I think he's got his eye on me but luckily he's the head girls coach and while he might see some things he wants to address it'll be hard for him to be anything but happy when we dominate. at least that's my plan.
For me the problem that I think I'll have is that I've become a little prickly and not as agreeable as i was when I was younger. I'm fine with the kids but need to be a little more deferential to the head coaches. Over the last 20 years I've kinda got to the point where i had little tolerance for the disrespect management had for the working stiffs, and the general stupidity of those in charge. there's always been a reverse correlation between management advancement and management ability. It's made me prickly towards authority figures. I'll need to do better with that and try to remember who's show it is. They are good coaches and deserve my respect, but old habits are tough to break.
so all's well and going as planned.
I don't have any experienced boys and so it will be a tough year for the boys in high jump. The best I'll be able to do with them is teach them how. But until they develop more they won't get high enough to contribute points wise. Boys are different than girls in the high jump. Girls are mostly developed by 9th grade and so you can get them up there a little better when they're younger. The problem with them is that the year to year improvement is less and so they get frustrated as juniors and seniors. boys just aren't strong enough for their body weights or coordinated to compete with older boys. The difference between the two is huge. So it's tougher to get boy high jumpers because they suck when they're young and so don't get the positive reinforcement to stick with it. Usually boy high jumpers appear as juniors out of the blue. I know how to keep kids around and so hopefully can bring the young uns along and provide for the future.
I think the coaches are pretty happy with me. I'm taking over the high jump duties from one coach and I think he's got his eye on me but luckily he's the head girls coach and while he might see some things he wants to address it'll be hard for him to be anything but happy when we dominate. at least that's my plan.
For me the problem that I think I'll have is that I've become a little prickly and not as agreeable as i was when I was younger. I'm fine with the kids but need to be a little more deferential to the head coaches. Over the last 20 years I've kinda got to the point where i had little tolerance for the disrespect management had for the working stiffs, and the general stupidity of those in charge. there's always been a reverse correlation between management advancement and management ability. It's made me prickly towards authority figures. I'll need to do better with that and try to remember who's show it is. They are good coaches and deserve my respect, but old habits are tough to break.
so all's well and going as planned.
Defluffing super fluff.
So this time of the year my boss, aka the schnoodle get's extra fluffy. I let his fur grow during the winter. He kinda puffs out, but gradually he starts to matt as well. So starting in February I have to snip off a clump or two.
Come march though it's time to trim him back like the shrubbery. He doesn't care for it and generally sneaks off when I look the other way. And so I keep a scissors handy and trim a little here and there when he's unsuspecting like when he's laying next to me. The problem is that it's about a week long process. One day he was laying on his left side and so he got a trim on his right plus I got one leg before he escaped. Wednesday i got the right side of his head. You get the idea. So he tends to look a little goofy during this process. I let him run during the winter as I'm a little remote and there are other neighborhood yippers out as well, and he can commune with his kind. He likes that. But i wonder what the neighbors think when he's wandering around out there with partial hair cuts. i enjoy that thought.
Come march though it's time to trim him back like the shrubbery. He doesn't care for it and generally sneaks off when I look the other way. And so I keep a scissors handy and trim a little here and there when he's unsuspecting like when he's laying next to me. The problem is that it's about a week long process. One day he was laying on his left side and so he got a trim on his right plus I got one leg before he escaped. Wednesday i got the right side of his head. You get the idea. So he tends to look a little goofy during this process. I let him run during the winter as I'm a little remote and there are other neighborhood yippers out as well, and he can commune with his kind. He likes that. But i wonder what the neighbors think when he's wandering around out there with partial hair cuts. i enjoy that thought.
Complaints.
I have a complaint in my comments section from a 'part time' reader. Fifi had this to say:
Really...all we are going to get now is AI updates? Come on...you have way more to say than that! :)
Just think of my AI updates as bonus material. It'll all be over soon enough. Just count yourself lucky I'm not watching dancing with the stars, bachelor or the Osborne's this year.
Really...all we are going to get now is AI updates? Come on...you have way more to say than that! :)
Just think of my AI updates as bonus material. It'll all be over soon enough. Just count yourself lucky I'm not watching dancing with the stars, bachelor or the Osborne's this year.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
AI elimination night
Well, it was a decent show. A little surprising to me who went home,or more so who wasn't in the bottom three. Alexis made herself vulnerable by a mediocre performance. I thought she might be immune but the judges couldn't quite give it up for her. Every week you have to inspire your fan base to support you and steal a few from the other contestants. Alexis couldn't and i think Michael may have found a way to tap the country demographic this week.
The other surprise to me was that Allison was in the bottom three and Kris was not. I may be judging Kris wrong. There may also be too many likable candidates eroding Allison's fan base. I'm thinking with one more female gone Allison will gain a little strength pushing someone else down to the bottom three. Next week should be interesting.
Motown week, that doesn't seem like it will help Megan much. We'll see.
The other surprise to me was that Allison was in the bottom three and Kris was not. I may be judging Kris wrong. There may also be too many likable candidates eroding Allison's fan base. I'm thinking with one more female gone Allison will gain a little strength pushing someone else down to the bottom three. Next week should be interesting.
Motown week, that doesn't seem like it will help Megan much. We'll see.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
AI update Tuesday edition.
This is a fabulous group of kids. I like them all. In other years you could really narrow down the truly talented from the so-so. Occasionally you were surprised but not often.
But that creates a problem this year. In past years it was enough to simply not suck to make it through to at least the final eight. Not this year. Safety and bland forgettable performances may send you home. The better talent might be sacrificed for more interesting, more likeable, and more memorable performances. At the end of the night the only performance that stuck out from an interesting standpoint was Megan's and we know her vocal limitations but still? Adam of course put his twist on but somehow it was expected and to use simon's favorite criticism which he didn't use tonight it was indulgent. You need a vocal performance to speak to you, and although adam delivers a WOW show after show he never connects. It may end up hurting him as this winds down.
Who's going home? it's a tough one. In reverse order of who I think may go:
Adam. He's still the front runner. tonight exposed his vulnerability though. I can now see how he can be beat. No way he's going home soon though.
Matt. He's flat out talented. there's still going to be a loser in his demographic but I think he rises up and gains strength as this competition moves on. He's more talented than Danny but not nearly as loveable or powerful.
Danny. His soulfull power is going to take him a long way. Plus he's flat out likeable. what he has over all his opponents except megan is that he always connects. powerful, likeable and can connect, a winning combo if ever i saw one.
Megan. she's just fun to watch. Proof that music is about more than...music. And i think a good song highlights what she has to offer and minimizes her vocal limitations. If she finds that song she will be tough. this song was awfully close. She connects so well and that is just too powerful an ability to overlook in a vocal popularity contest like this. I now see what the judges saw in her.
Lil. She may have had the worst performance of the night but I'm putting her ahead of many. I think she's proven through past efforts she's a force and so she's not really vulnerable yet. With that said, a performance like this may help her because she did it well and it did show style range. when reflecting back as part of her total package it may actually enhance her standing.
Allison. I like her, america likes her, she's sixteen. As long as she doesn't screw up she makes it through.
Alexis. she was buried in a mediocre performance. She's good but that won't cut it. You can't give up your edge and expect to survive in this group. You have to remind America every week why they love you. Unless you're a monster like Lil, Danny or Adam, then you can give away a week and earn style points.
Kris. He's got a lovely voice. and just so forgettable. His other problem is his demographic is narrow and split quite heavily by more talented folk. I can't see him making it more than two more weeks, maybe even gone tomorrow.
Scott. I've said it before; he's weak. the more this competition boils down the more he'll be exposed artistically. we just love him and really want him to succeed. But how many are we willing to sacrifice to keep him in this?
Anoop. He reminded America that he can sing. Is that good? It would be if America thought he could sing better than others left in this competition. I don't think he did that. And so in the end, depsite a very good performance he might have hurt himself.
Michael. He draws the lucky week and really hits hard at his demographic base. i'm not sure it's enough. someone has to go home it may be him.
Immune:
Adam, Matt, Danny, Lil, Alexis, and Megan (this week only).
But that creates a problem this year. In past years it was enough to simply not suck to make it through to at least the final eight. Not this year. Safety and bland forgettable performances may send you home. The better talent might be sacrificed for more interesting, more likeable, and more memorable performances. At the end of the night the only performance that stuck out from an interesting standpoint was Megan's and we know her vocal limitations but still? Adam of course put his twist on but somehow it was expected and to use simon's favorite criticism which he didn't use tonight it was indulgent. You need a vocal performance to speak to you, and although adam delivers a WOW show after show he never connects. It may end up hurting him as this winds down.
Who's going home? it's a tough one. In reverse order of who I think may go:
Adam. He's still the front runner. tonight exposed his vulnerability though. I can now see how he can be beat. No way he's going home soon though.
Matt. He's flat out talented. there's still going to be a loser in his demographic but I think he rises up and gains strength as this competition moves on. He's more talented than Danny but not nearly as loveable or powerful.
Danny. His soulfull power is going to take him a long way. Plus he's flat out likeable. what he has over all his opponents except megan is that he always connects. powerful, likeable and can connect, a winning combo if ever i saw one.
Megan. she's just fun to watch. Proof that music is about more than...music. And i think a good song highlights what she has to offer and minimizes her vocal limitations. If she finds that song she will be tough. this song was awfully close. She connects so well and that is just too powerful an ability to overlook in a vocal popularity contest like this. I now see what the judges saw in her.
Lil. She may have had the worst performance of the night but I'm putting her ahead of many. I think she's proven through past efforts she's a force and so she's not really vulnerable yet. With that said, a performance like this may help her because she did it well and it did show style range. when reflecting back as part of her total package it may actually enhance her standing.
Allison. I like her, america likes her, she's sixteen. As long as she doesn't screw up she makes it through.
Alexis. she was buried in a mediocre performance. She's good but that won't cut it. You can't give up your edge and expect to survive in this group. You have to remind America every week why they love you. Unless you're a monster like Lil, Danny or Adam, then you can give away a week and earn style points.
Kris. He's got a lovely voice. and just so forgettable. His other problem is his demographic is narrow and split quite heavily by more talented folk. I can't see him making it more than two more weeks, maybe even gone tomorrow.
Scott. I've said it before; he's weak. the more this competition boils down the more he'll be exposed artistically. we just love him and really want him to succeed. But how many are we willing to sacrifice to keep him in this?
Anoop. He reminded America that he can sing. Is that good? It would be if America thought he could sing better than others left in this competition. I don't think he did that. And so in the end, depsite a very good performance he might have hurt himself.
Michael. He draws the lucky week and really hits hard at his demographic base. i'm not sure it's enough. someone has to go home it may be him.
Immune:
Adam, Matt, Danny, Lil, Alexis, and Megan (this week only).
Monday, March 16, 2009
Day one.
What a great day to start track. Simply perfect.
I don't think it will take me long to get back to speed. I was able to make some contributions today and it just all came back, 20 years and it's back. After about a week i should have the routines, warm ups and work outs down. I'm really looking forward to making a difference.
The coaches there are good, they are strong teachers and seems to have more technical know how than past coaches I've been involved with. I'll be able to learn some things from them, in fact i have already. It's all good.
I don't think it will take me long to get back to speed. I was able to make some contributions today and it just all came back, 20 years and it's back. After about a week i should have the routines, warm ups and work outs down. I'm really looking forward to making a difference.
The coaches there are good, they are strong teachers and seems to have more technical know how than past coaches I've been involved with. I'll be able to learn some things from them, in fact i have already. It's all good.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Spring
Is it finally here? I hope so. I pulled myself out of bed a 4:30pm today. Attended to a few things and then went out for a little jog. Very nice, a little slushy in spots. My jogs are very short, and so is my breath. I'm still not recovered and its three hours past. But I've been through this before and gradually the conditioning returns and the legs start hurting as the distance and the pace picks up. Then they stop hurting and I push myself more until my conditioning becomes the weak link again.
4:30pm?? What's up with that huh? I can explain. I stay up too late at night. I try to go to bed by 2:30 but too much coffee and so I toss and turn until about six and finally snooze. An hour later my daughter calls to tell me she missed the bus and so I get up make the two hour round trip to get her to school. by the time I'm home I'm kinda awake and so stay up. But about noonish I get tired take a nap for an hour or so. I feel refreshed, but still so little sleep and I fall asleep about 7pm. But at that point I just need a nap and so wake up an hour and a half later wide awake. And so I'm up all night. It's a viscous cycle. I don't mind the cut up sleep pattern but would like to have a little better routine with it. As essentially it discombobulates me for a couple of days and I get little done.
Little to say. I'm going to add a link for a local gals blog. Pretty amazing the way some people live and what they get done in their 'spare' time. Woodland creature is the blog.
Later.
4:30pm?? What's up with that huh? I can explain. I stay up too late at night. I try to go to bed by 2:30 but too much coffee and so I toss and turn until about six and finally snooze. An hour later my daughter calls to tell me she missed the bus and so I get up make the two hour round trip to get her to school. by the time I'm home I'm kinda awake and so stay up. But about noonish I get tired take a nap for an hour or so. I feel refreshed, but still so little sleep and I fall asleep about 7pm. But at that point I just need a nap and so wake up an hour and a half later wide awake. And so I'm up all night. It's a viscous cycle. I don't mind the cut up sleep pattern but would like to have a little better routine with it. As essentially it discombobulates me for a couple of days and I get little done.
Little to say. I'm going to add a link for a local gals blog. Pretty amazing the way some people live and what they get done in their 'spare' time. Woodland creature is the blog.
Later.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
AI results
So I was wrong about the Adam rule change. Interesting twist though. I think it's a mistake, and while I agree it was a crime that Daughtery got the boot a few years back it's part of what brings drama to the show. Now after every elimination we've got to go through another saga. Really just one more chance for Simon to be cruel.
I thought with Scott taking some of the grandma vote maybe Anoop might face his rightful fate and be gone. I was wrong. Poor jorge he's too good to go this quickly. But I guess at best he'd make three more weeks. I am surprised at Jasmine's departure this week. I guess she was more forgettable than i thought.
One thing i love about american idol is that it's really a study in mass psychology. A certain segment of the population will vote in a certain way. Sometimes two artists sharing the same demographic votes cant split them and cause a very good candidate to go leaving a lesser one with a more solitary hold on their demographic to advance. Right now we have way too many similar white guys. Michael may escape as he pulls down the rural/country demo. And i think Danny's just too talented to be worried yet. But if I were Matt or Kris I'd be a bit worried.
Megan gets the quirky vote. So she might pass all the way to six without having to sing. Lil is hugely talented and rightfully the only one who lay claim to the urban vote, she's golden for a while especially with the only other black candidate just eliminated. And of course America loves spunky 16 year olds and there's only one, allison gets a free pass for a few weeks as well.
My top 11 in order:
Adam
Lil
Danny
Matt
Alexis
Allison
Kris
Megan
Michael
Scott
Anoop
My projected order of finish at this point
Adam
Alexis
Danny
Lil
Matt
Megan
Allison
Scott
Michael
Kris
Anoop
I thought with Scott taking some of the grandma vote maybe Anoop might face his rightful fate and be gone. I was wrong. Poor jorge he's too good to go this quickly. But I guess at best he'd make three more weeks. I am surprised at Jasmine's departure this week. I guess she was more forgettable than i thought.
One thing i love about american idol is that it's really a study in mass psychology. A certain segment of the population will vote in a certain way. Sometimes two artists sharing the same demographic votes cant split them and cause a very good candidate to go leaving a lesser one with a more solitary hold on their demographic to advance. Right now we have way too many similar white guys. Michael may escape as he pulls down the rural/country demo. And i think Danny's just too talented to be worried yet. But if I were Matt or Kris I'd be a bit worried.
Megan gets the quirky vote. So she might pass all the way to six without having to sing. Lil is hugely talented and rightfully the only one who lay claim to the urban vote, she's golden for a while especially with the only other black candidate just eliminated. And of course America loves spunky 16 year olds and there's only one, allison gets a free pass for a few weeks as well.
My top 11 in order:
Adam
Lil
Danny
Matt
Alexis
Allison
Kris
Megan
Michael
Scott
Anoop
My projected order of finish at this point
Adam
Alexis
Danny
Lil
Matt
Megan
Allison
Scott
Michael
Kris
Anoop
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Guitars
I need my guitars. I love them. I think they love me. But just like my hundreds of books that I have not read but still need, i don't always need to play my guitars. They are a part of me but more as an instrument of creativity than an instrument of music. The have also become an important part of my identity. I'm not quite sure who I would be without them.
The first guitar I had was when I was 12 or thirteen maybe. I can't remember the circumstance but I remember being in downtown St.Cloud for many evenings as a young awkward lad. For some reason I had time to myself and would run through the stores. My favorite stores was a jewelry store that also specialized in rare coins. I was a coin collector. My mom was a waitress at the time and so every night after she came home I would dig through her tips and pull out the wheat pennies and silver and plop them into my little blue cardboard collector books. There were rarities and ones I just wouldn't probably come by and so I'd go to the coin store to see them and dream about scraping together the thirty buck or so it might cost to fill the empty space in my book.
The other stop I'd make was the music store. I'd go and just look at the guitars and dream about having one. I set my sites on one I thought might be in the range of a Christmas present and hoped....and dragged my mom in one night to make sure she knew what I wanted and where to get it. As is the case with her she caved and I got the gift early. It was a terrible guitar, the action was high even in the open positions and it made it tough to form chords without all sorts of unwanted accompaniment. But still it was mine. I loved the fact that i had a guitar, not so much that I could play it as much as I had it. It was mine, and it meant that there was potential of something. A basis of hope.
I didn't play that guitar much, I tried and did learn all the basic chords and could move between them albeit clumsily. I still remember screaming out Sister Golden Hair at the top of my lungs. The only way i could sing. It was horrendous, even I knew that but I still could do that and it meant something.
In fifth grade I had moved from rural North Dakota to a suburb of St. Cloud. It was a bit of a dramatic shift as I left fourth grade still a little kid and entered 5th grade a preteen, the land of sneakers, big combs and feathered hair. No segue. I was unprepared and so went from being very popular to a bit of an ill fitting outcast. That year we had our testing for band, the only band instruments I had an interest in was the drums. The problem with them is that because every boy wanted to play them and the limited equipment you had to test above a certain point to be qualified. Only myself and another kid qualified. i felt really good. Here was a chance to fit in.
The only real problem was that there was a higher cost of equipment. We were quite poor at the time and so I let it drop, even I knew there were more important things. And so when the chance to get a guitar came along I jumped on it. It was more validating for me than anything. I could be in music too, on my own terms. Even better than band.
Like a lot of things in my life it was always more important that I could do them than it was that i actually did do them. So I never really put in the time to learn the guitar. Everybody was better than me. It really wasn't until my early twenties that I started putting the time in on guitar. At the time I was playing bass guitar a bunch, daily for hours and so would use the guitar as a related distraction. Gradually I became more proficient, but still until the last few years I played guitar like a bass player. I now feel more comfy with my acoustic in my hands than a bass.
A true musician has to let the music out. For me it was never about the music, it was about the creative process. The process was always more important to me than the result. Thus I've partially written hundreds of songs and finished maybe a handful. For that reason I've never really seen myself as a musician. i get just as much satisfaction out of well timed one liner zinger as i do out of a finished set of lyrics and chord progressions.
But I do need my guitar. From that first moment that I got one it's been a huge part of my self identity. If I was ever without one I would not be complete, there would be a great emptiness.
The first guitar I had was when I was 12 or thirteen maybe. I can't remember the circumstance but I remember being in downtown St.Cloud for many evenings as a young awkward lad. For some reason I had time to myself and would run through the stores. My favorite stores was a jewelry store that also specialized in rare coins. I was a coin collector. My mom was a waitress at the time and so every night after she came home I would dig through her tips and pull out the wheat pennies and silver and plop them into my little blue cardboard collector books. There were rarities and ones I just wouldn't probably come by and so I'd go to the coin store to see them and dream about scraping together the thirty buck or so it might cost to fill the empty space in my book.
The other stop I'd make was the music store. I'd go and just look at the guitars and dream about having one. I set my sites on one I thought might be in the range of a Christmas present and hoped....and dragged my mom in one night to make sure she knew what I wanted and where to get it. As is the case with her she caved and I got the gift early. It was a terrible guitar, the action was high even in the open positions and it made it tough to form chords without all sorts of unwanted accompaniment. But still it was mine. I loved the fact that i had a guitar, not so much that I could play it as much as I had it. It was mine, and it meant that there was potential of something. A basis of hope.
I didn't play that guitar much, I tried and did learn all the basic chords and could move between them albeit clumsily. I still remember screaming out Sister Golden Hair at the top of my lungs. The only way i could sing. It was horrendous, even I knew that but I still could do that and it meant something.
In fifth grade I had moved from rural North Dakota to a suburb of St. Cloud. It was a bit of a dramatic shift as I left fourth grade still a little kid and entered 5th grade a preteen, the land of sneakers, big combs and feathered hair. No segue. I was unprepared and so went from being very popular to a bit of an ill fitting outcast. That year we had our testing for band, the only band instruments I had an interest in was the drums. The problem with them is that because every boy wanted to play them and the limited equipment you had to test above a certain point to be qualified. Only myself and another kid qualified. i felt really good. Here was a chance to fit in.
The only real problem was that there was a higher cost of equipment. We were quite poor at the time and so I let it drop, even I knew there were more important things. And so when the chance to get a guitar came along I jumped on it. It was more validating for me than anything. I could be in music too, on my own terms. Even better than band.
Like a lot of things in my life it was always more important that I could do them than it was that i actually did do them. So I never really put in the time to learn the guitar. Everybody was better than me. It really wasn't until my early twenties that I started putting the time in on guitar. At the time I was playing bass guitar a bunch, daily for hours and so would use the guitar as a related distraction. Gradually I became more proficient, but still until the last few years I played guitar like a bass player. I now feel more comfy with my acoustic in my hands than a bass.
A true musician has to let the music out. For me it was never about the music, it was about the creative process. The process was always more important to me than the result. Thus I've partially written hundreds of songs and finished maybe a handful. For that reason I've never really seen myself as a musician. i get just as much satisfaction out of well timed one liner zinger as i do out of a finished set of lyrics and chord progressions.
But I do need my guitar. From that first moment that I got one it's been a huge part of my self identity. If I was ever without one I would not be complete, there would be a great emptiness.
Yes I AM
...an American Idol fan. This might be the best final 12/13 I've seen. Well let me remove the Minnesota hedge. This is the best final group I've seen. The two weak ones are probably Anoop and the quirky Blond chick Megan.
I did like her tonight though. It's funny because I didn't like her before and the judges raved and I was dumbfounded. This week not so much for the judges and I saw something for the first time. I think it's just too bad she has so little experience and training. She has a very alive voice that will need a lot of harnessing. there is just not enough time.
I'm wondering if the panel will pull a quick one and disqualify Adam. Not because he should be but because he's way better and it could make the rest of the competition a bit ridiculous. In exchange he gets all the perks of winning plus features throughout the rest of the season. having such a clear favorite could hurt the season and more importantly the phone lines that generate nice profit for the show.
One of the things that the judges talk about, mostly Simon is that a performance has to be more than good it has to be memorable. At the end of the show I had almost forgotten many of the performances. Outside of Adam the two most memorable for me was Megan and Allison. Interestingly enough I'd also rank them in the bottom four vocally.
My run down.
Adam. WTF is he doing still searching for a gig. Better as a front man than solo, does he know that?
Alexis. In the end may have the biggest commercial appeal, not sure she's found a contemporary voice yet. Interesting that she pulls the short stick on the phone numbers. Do they think she could withstand the hit, or do they want her out?
Allison. I love her. America loves her. She shows her age though which will help her now and hurt her later.
Anoop. I was a bit miffed he made it last week. There were about a dozen with better talent. A few with very good talent. I can see pulling along some flavor but if all it means is you leave out some borderline talent that doesn't have a shot. But this year unlike others there were some left out with potential. We'll see if the panel's instincts were right if he makes this weeks cut. If he truly is grandmas fave like i think they thought he'll make it through...ugh.
Danny. a better cleaner version of Hicks...and he won.
Jasmine. Can you say smile for the camera, absolutely gorgeous and immensely talented...who was i talking about again. Oh yeah, and forgettable.
Jorge. all about song choices for this guy. Beautiful quality to his voice, Latin, and likeable. How strong is the latino vote?
Kris. right now there are about a million gay guys getting off to his performance. And I say that in the nicest way. But again great commercial possibilities. But singing what?
Lil. I'm not sure it matters how good she is. Limited appeal doesn't hurt you against weak competition. it will against this group. I expect her to go deep though just because she is very good. And I wouldn't be surprised if she builds one of the better careers out of this group.
Matt. now he's got a beautiful voice. Very timberlakian. I'm afraid that ship has sailed though. Sometimes a little bit of baby goes out with the bath water. Here's hoping he finds relevance. I'm afraid a generic soulfulness isn't going to win in this crowd. I'd clearly put him top three talent wise with Adam and Lil.
Megan. Undefinable. That may sneak her though a round or two, but she better find a voice she can actually nail a song with or she'll go from darling to joke butt in the blink of an eye. And we've seen it before.
Michael. I'm not sure if it matters if he can really sing. How far can you take the male country demographic if you don't actually sing country. I'd say buy a cowboy hat and a horse.
Scott. I like him, you like him, we all like him. he makes us feel good. He's weak. Other years that woul be enough to get to the final six. He already seems to be getting swallowed by this group. Only a matter of time.
Providing the panel doesn't pull a fast one and remove Adam the two cuts I predict will be Anoop and Michael although I 'm thinking the voting will be pretty close and I'd only put Adam and Lil as untouchable.
I did like her tonight though. It's funny because I didn't like her before and the judges raved and I was dumbfounded. This week not so much for the judges and I saw something for the first time. I think it's just too bad she has so little experience and training. She has a very alive voice that will need a lot of harnessing. there is just not enough time.
I'm wondering if the panel will pull a quick one and disqualify Adam. Not because he should be but because he's way better and it could make the rest of the competition a bit ridiculous. In exchange he gets all the perks of winning plus features throughout the rest of the season. having such a clear favorite could hurt the season and more importantly the phone lines that generate nice profit for the show.
One of the things that the judges talk about, mostly Simon is that a performance has to be more than good it has to be memorable. At the end of the show I had almost forgotten many of the performances. Outside of Adam the two most memorable for me was Megan and Allison. Interestingly enough I'd also rank them in the bottom four vocally.
My run down.
Adam. WTF is he doing still searching for a gig. Better as a front man than solo, does he know that?
Alexis. In the end may have the biggest commercial appeal, not sure she's found a contemporary voice yet. Interesting that she pulls the short stick on the phone numbers. Do they think she could withstand the hit, or do they want her out?
Allison. I love her. America loves her. She shows her age though which will help her now and hurt her later.
Anoop. I was a bit miffed he made it last week. There were about a dozen with better talent. A few with very good talent. I can see pulling along some flavor but if all it means is you leave out some borderline talent that doesn't have a shot. But this year unlike others there were some left out with potential. We'll see if the panel's instincts were right if he makes this weeks cut. If he truly is grandmas fave like i think they thought he'll make it through...ugh.
Danny. a better cleaner version of Hicks...and he won.
Jasmine. Can you say smile for the camera, absolutely gorgeous and immensely talented...who was i talking about again. Oh yeah, and forgettable.
Jorge. all about song choices for this guy. Beautiful quality to his voice, Latin, and likeable. How strong is the latino vote?
Kris. right now there are about a million gay guys getting off to his performance. And I say that in the nicest way. But again great commercial possibilities. But singing what?
Lil. I'm not sure it matters how good she is. Limited appeal doesn't hurt you against weak competition. it will against this group. I expect her to go deep though just because she is very good. And I wouldn't be surprised if she builds one of the better careers out of this group.
Matt. now he's got a beautiful voice. Very timberlakian. I'm afraid that ship has sailed though. Sometimes a little bit of baby goes out with the bath water. Here's hoping he finds relevance. I'm afraid a generic soulfulness isn't going to win in this crowd. I'd clearly put him top three talent wise with Adam and Lil.
Megan. Undefinable. That may sneak her though a round or two, but she better find a voice she can actually nail a song with or she'll go from darling to joke butt in the blink of an eye. And we've seen it before.
Michael. I'm not sure if it matters if he can really sing. How far can you take the male country demographic if you don't actually sing country. I'd say buy a cowboy hat and a horse.
Scott. I like him, you like him, we all like him. he makes us feel good. He's weak. Other years that woul be enough to get to the final six. He already seems to be getting swallowed by this group. Only a matter of time.
Providing the panel doesn't pull a fast one and remove Adam the two cuts I predict will be Anoop and Michael although I 'm thinking the voting will be pretty close and I'd only put Adam and Lil as untouchable.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
And so it begins.
Blogs are a funny thing. Sometimes it makes me feel more connected to the world, sometimes I feel more isolated. Same activity different feeling. I can go stretches without posting. sometimes I just don't have anything to say. Sometimes I don't like what it is i have to say. Sometimes i specifically avoid posting.
Why i blog. Different reasons I guess. Sometimes it's a creative outlet. A place i can 'publish' a piece of something before i forget about it. A marker of sorts that I did have a thought that involved more than sports and pretty women. Sometimes i use it as a communication tool. Sort of a way to get info out there without having to intrude with a phone call. Sometimes just as a way to clarify my thoughts. If i can make a sentence out of what I'm thinking then I have structure to my thoughts and I can build on them. The structures not always there prior to blogging. And if you've read my blog you'll realize how few proper sentences I actually make. Imagine my brain!!
I've been writing some stuff, and that would indicate creativity but really i feel very uninspired. I'm really forcing any efforts i make right now. luckily writers block has never been an issue and so a little here and there it can appear like I've done much more than I actually have.
Where I'm at. If you've been reading you'll realize I'm at a crossroads. Hopefully a turning point and not just a stop sign. There are things I'm working on, slowly but still in a positive direction. It's these things I hope to build on. I have a vision for my life, it's not in the form of a career and so is difficult to communicate as that seems to be all that anybody knows even oddly my creatively inclined friends. But you know, it wasn't long ago and the vast majority of America was not involved in what we would commonly call a career, although very productive. And yet they found ways to survive and be happy, and even to grow. It is my belief that opportunity exists again, I've seen it coming for a couple of years and this economy seems to be the starting point.
The cost of participating in the normal path has been producing diminishing returns every year. i think we finally hit the limits. shedding that world and it's expectations may now create the opportunity to simplify and live better. Sure a Lexus is out of the question, but so is the repo man. And so I look for ways to make it happen.
The first step for me is to find my inspiration again. I've turned to the only job I've ever had that i had a passion for to see if it would return and inspire me on in new directions. Only one job has left me lying in bed thinking about the things i wanted to do and the best way to do them. Every other job i forgot about within 5 miles of leaving the work site. And so my plan has been to volunteer as a track coach this spring as I search for my direction.
The good news came on Friday. The local school accepted my offer and in fact has offered me a very nice role in their group. The school district had cut funding for one of their assistants and so were one short. Quite the stroke of luck. I met the track coaches and it seems like a very nice fit. I'm not sure they have a feel for what 20 years of rust actually means but hopefully I'll gain my footing before I lose all credibility. The universe may care after all.
And so in two weeks I begin the journey. who knows where it will lead. Maybe nowhere but then again???
Other than that I'm trying to sort through possibilities and see what role they might play. I have my music, and two other hobbies that can yield part time incomes or better. Or i may patch together part time jobs to support more opportunities like this coaching one.
So that's where I'm at. The gear grinding stage is over, at least this part of it. The inspiration part begins.
Why i blog. Different reasons I guess. Sometimes it's a creative outlet. A place i can 'publish' a piece of something before i forget about it. A marker of sorts that I did have a thought that involved more than sports and pretty women. Sometimes i use it as a communication tool. Sort of a way to get info out there without having to intrude with a phone call. Sometimes just as a way to clarify my thoughts. If i can make a sentence out of what I'm thinking then I have structure to my thoughts and I can build on them. The structures not always there prior to blogging. And if you've read my blog you'll realize how few proper sentences I actually make. Imagine my brain!!
I've been writing some stuff, and that would indicate creativity but really i feel very uninspired. I'm really forcing any efforts i make right now. luckily writers block has never been an issue and so a little here and there it can appear like I've done much more than I actually have.
Where I'm at. If you've been reading you'll realize I'm at a crossroads. Hopefully a turning point and not just a stop sign. There are things I'm working on, slowly but still in a positive direction. It's these things I hope to build on. I have a vision for my life, it's not in the form of a career and so is difficult to communicate as that seems to be all that anybody knows even oddly my creatively inclined friends. But you know, it wasn't long ago and the vast majority of America was not involved in what we would commonly call a career, although very productive. And yet they found ways to survive and be happy, and even to grow. It is my belief that opportunity exists again, I've seen it coming for a couple of years and this economy seems to be the starting point.
The cost of participating in the normal path has been producing diminishing returns every year. i think we finally hit the limits. shedding that world and it's expectations may now create the opportunity to simplify and live better. Sure a Lexus is out of the question, but so is the repo man. And so I look for ways to make it happen.
The first step for me is to find my inspiration again. I've turned to the only job I've ever had that i had a passion for to see if it would return and inspire me on in new directions. Only one job has left me lying in bed thinking about the things i wanted to do and the best way to do them. Every other job i forgot about within 5 miles of leaving the work site. And so my plan has been to volunteer as a track coach this spring as I search for my direction.
The good news came on Friday. The local school accepted my offer and in fact has offered me a very nice role in their group. The school district had cut funding for one of their assistants and so were one short. Quite the stroke of luck. I met the track coaches and it seems like a very nice fit. I'm not sure they have a feel for what 20 years of rust actually means but hopefully I'll gain my footing before I lose all credibility. The universe may care after all.
And so in two weeks I begin the journey. who knows where it will lead. Maybe nowhere but then again???
Other than that I'm trying to sort through possibilities and see what role they might play. I have my music, and two other hobbies that can yield part time incomes or better. Or i may patch together part time jobs to support more opportunities like this coaching one.
So that's where I'm at. The gear grinding stage is over, at least this part of it. The inspiration part begins.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Beware the skizzers.
The fabric that binds us. Invisible.
In our distance we sometimes want to color that fabric.
Just so it can be seen, make it more interesting and to show we are here.
And we care.
Sometimes, to simply fill what seems a void and prove it is not a void we color.
Sometimes cleverly, sometimes not.
Sometimes the color offends.
It's here that what is intended to strengthen the fabric, may weaken it.
And so you have scissors.
In our distance we sometimes want to color that fabric.
Just so it can be seen, make it more interesting and to show we are here.
And we care.
Sometimes, to simply fill what seems a void and prove it is not a void we color.
Sometimes cleverly, sometimes not.
Sometimes the color offends.
It's here that what is intended to strengthen the fabric, may weaken it.
And so you have scissors.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Updates
I received a call today from the track coach at the local school. I have a meeting with them on Friday. Hopefully all goes well. From the conversation I had with them they are short a coach as they had their budget cut and it doesn't sound like they have any other volunteers. So it sounds like it will happen. Crossing my fingers.
Oh, and to TT when I said buy a comfy couch I was referring to my friends and not myself. Ha.
Your couch will do.
And stock up on Ben and Jerry's. And I like wheat chex, raisin bran, oatmeal and eggs for breakfast. Plus half and half for the coffee. We can work out the rest as my needs arise.
Actually, you're a bit worried about nothing. Vagrancy is an option, but not really the plan. Just saying my goals are no longer career oriented. I will be working to serve my very modest needs and nothing more so I can focus on the things that make me a better, happier person. Such as coaching.
Oh, and to TT when I said buy a comfy couch I was referring to my friends and not myself. Ha.
Your couch will do.
And stock up on Ben and Jerry's. And I like wheat chex, raisin bran, oatmeal and eggs for breakfast. Plus half and half for the coffee. We can work out the rest as my needs arise.
Actually, you're a bit worried about nothing. Vagrancy is an option, but not really the plan. Just saying my goals are no longer career oriented. I will be working to serve my very modest needs and nothing more so I can focus on the things that make me a better, happier person. Such as coaching.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Floating
For most of my life I've been floating. Adrift. Never really connected to anything. Always in transition. Much of that has to do with my childhood. Moving around, not really being able to depend on the grownups in my life for stability and support. so I guess very early, I'd say about four I simply let go. I've been floating ever since.
Now I've been tied to a buoy or two now and then, but still adrift.
For much of my life I've had this need to connect put some roots down, fit in, be a fine upstanding young man, and maybe then I'd do, complete myself i guess. but sometime in the last few years I've lost that drive. I just want to float. to drift. It's really causing me problems because that's not what you're suppose to do. In fact this was at the heart of my recent breakup. I just don't care about stuff, careers and having any more money than it takes to be happy. Because that effort makes me very unhappy. It was getting harder and harder to apply myself in an effort i simply didn't believe was fruitful for me. And so if i am to change in a way that makes me happy then I'll need to be true to myself. And so i will float. And that is what i want to do. And it's compounded by the simple fact that I can.
In essence to be blunt. I'm done. I don't like the game, it doesn't like me. i don't see the need to play. Mostly this is what I've been pondering. And so this is my announcement. There will be no future career. Quite frankly I should have done this thirty years ago.
Oh and buy a comfy couch.
Now I've been tied to a buoy or two now and then, but still adrift.
For much of my life I've had this need to connect put some roots down, fit in, be a fine upstanding young man, and maybe then I'd do, complete myself i guess. but sometime in the last few years I've lost that drive. I just want to float. to drift. It's really causing me problems because that's not what you're suppose to do. In fact this was at the heart of my recent breakup. I just don't care about stuff, careers and having any more money than it takes to be happy. Because that effort makes me very unhappy. It was getting harder and harder to apply myself in an effort i simply didn't believe was fruitful for me. And so if i am to change in a way that makes me happy then I'll need to be true to myself. And so i will float. And that is what i want to do. And it's compounded by the simple fact that I can.
In essence to be blunt. I'm done. I don't like the game, it doesn't like me. i don't see the need to play. Mostly this is what I've been pondering. And so this is my announcement. There will be no future career. Quite frankly I should have done this thirty years ago.
Oh and buy a comfy couch.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Blast from the past.
so, I've been going through stuff. I've been looking at my past writing. It sucks. but it's fun to see. some of it is over 25 years old. I'll share some. Don't laugh. too much.
Here's a simple little one from 1981.
This bliss
is amiss
even disguised
with a
kiss.
From winter of that same year:
Time
walks by
ever so slowly
still
too fast to catch
For hours I watch
but still,
the footprints remain.
And the same time period, this one has a name. i could have probably saved the ink and stole a line from Janis but I did it and here it is:
Clean break.
A whole new scene
unimaginable to myself.
A place I have no hold
nor anybody else.
No grasping biting fingernails,
no clawing of my brain.
Only there.
Only there can I have control.
with no control at all.
And this one I wrote in 1988. It has deep hidden meaning. I just don't remember what it is.
Listen and hear
and not hear.
a gift unopened
unwrapped, rewrapped.
a future certain
unrealized and broken
an yet,
all the time
I know.
and my preachy phase around the same time
When your dreams
have left you standing
watching as others fall
and each morning
leaves you wondering;
"is this all",
and you know
the truth is scrolled
on the other side of this wall
Who dares climb over
not afraid
to leave behind
those who look for a door?
misled by deception
and scriptured excuses
content to embrace the floor.
And fifi's fave from around the same time commemorating a trip to the north shore, I dare you to find the technical (scientific) flaw in this:
as i sat on the rock
that is the shore,
the moon wandering over my shoulder,
a sudden chill
cold as death
opened my eyes.
and i saw,
as if a great gathering,
rows of graceful white
rolling from the water.
and i thought to myself,
"how many souls this water must own".
I'm not sure when I wrote this, sometime in the mid eighties I'm guessing. I know it's a metaphor I can't remember of what but still I'm greatly disturbed I wrote this:
You know it will sting
you know you will bleed
yet you carve yourself
with a calm peacefulness I help you
and make love to you
and you fall in love
before you die
before you slip away.
And as long as we're being disturbed this one which would have been a published piece except I refused to change the name. I apologize in advance for those I'm about to offend. Hopefully you'll realize my youth (1982) and that it was pre PC.
shit, cuntlick, and a bit of elmers glue.
dabble in trouble if it's OK
babble in double if there's a way
listen to the sounds your belly makes
pull the plug on 10,000 lakes
forget the things your fat mommy said
project fake images into their heads
do a dance in 3/4 time
glue a lemon to a lime
find a corner and kick a bum
beat your dog and have some fun.
And this one from september of 1988. A friend had comanded me to produce a poem for her and so this is a one off.
the clouds are grey
on this fine day
and the turn of the year is here
why must i
be unable to fly
and change in a way that seems clear
i'd stop the show
let it all go
just for that one twist of fate
so many roads
and still i don't know
and will i,
before it's too late.
and then my personal favorite. this one was a class assignment. I was suppose to take a picture and write a poem about it. it's my favorite because i really worked hard at it and the changes and improvement from that work was gratifying. the picture was of an old rotting barn in the middle of a wheat field. Rereading it being in my middle years (gulp) it takes on a more personal meaning. I did alter it just now, tightened it up a tad. but if I were to revise this I might try to capture a sense of abandonment and discard in this as well as broken down reclamation.
The Circle in Things
there,
the solitary barn.
a shadow,
in a sea of shifting gold.
Its emptiness
interrupted but highlighted
by the dual breath of rot and growth,
As two points pull together,
collapsing inward,
it is easy to see
the circle in things.
I'll save the old lyrics for another day. they're mostly terrible. i went through a 'mellencamp' phase. the writing did not age well. I never really finished any of them, all rough drafts and embryonic seeds. I was hoping to find my first song i ever wrote. alas I could not. it was in the spirit of BOC's godzilla. I called it Clitoris Rex. I think it's better left lost.
Here's a simple little one from 1981.
This bliss
is amiss
even disguised
with a
kiss.
From winter of that same year:
Time
walks by
ever so slowly
still
too fast to catch
For hours I watch
but still,
the footprints remain.
And the same time period, this one has a name. i could have probably saved the ink and stole a line from Janis but I did it and here it is:
Clean break.
A whole new scene
unimaginable to myself.
A place I have no hold
nor anybody else.
No grasping biting fingernails,
no clawing of my brain.
Only there.
Only there can I have control.
with no control at all.
And this one I wrote in 1988. It has deep hidden meaning. I just don't remember what it is.
Listen and hear
and not hear.
a gift unopened
unwrapped, rewrapped.
a future certain
unrealized and broken
an yet,
all the time
I know.
and my preachy phase around the same time
When your dreams
have left you standing
watching as others fall
and each morning
leaves you wondering;
"is this all",
and you know
the truth is scrolled
on the other side of this wall
Who dares climb over
not afraid
to leave behind
those who look for a door?
misled by deception
and scriptured excuses
content to embrace the floor.
And fifi's fave from around the same time commemorating a trip to the north shore, I dare you to find the technical (scientific) flaw in this:
as i sat on the rock
that is the shore,
the moon wandering over my shoulder,
a sudden chill
cold as death
opened my eyes.
and i saw,
as if a great gathering,
rows of graceful white
rolling from the water.
and i thought to myself,
"how many souls this water must own".
I'm not sure when I wrote this, sometime in the mid eighties I'm guessing. I know it's a metaphor I can't remember of what but still I'm greatly disturbed I wrote this:
You know it will sting
you know you will bleed
yet you carve yourself
with a calm peacefulness I help you
and make love to you
and you fall in love
before you die
before you slip away.
And as long as we're being disturbed this one which would have been a published piece except I refused to change the name. I apologize in advance for those I'm about to offend. Hopefully you'll realize my youth (1982) and that it was pre PC.
shit, cuntlick, and a bit of elmers glue.
dabble in trouble if it's OK
babble in double if there's a way
listen to the sounds your belly makes
pull the plug on 10,000 lakes
forget the things your fat mommy said
project fake images into their heads
do a dance in 3/4 time
glue a lemon to a lime
find a corner and kick a bum
beat your dog and have some fun.
And this one from september of 1988. A friend had comanded me to produce a poem for her and so this is a one off.
the clouds are grey
on this fine day
and the turn of the year is here
why must i
be unable to fly
and change in a way that seems clear
i'd stop the show
let it all go
just for that one twist of fate
so many roads
and still i don't know
and will i,
before it's too late.
and then my personal favorite. this one was a class assignment. I was suppose to take a picture and write a poem about it. it's my favorite because i really worked hard at it and the changes and improvement from that work was gratifying. the picture was of an old rotting barn in the middle of a wheat field. Rereading it being in my middle years (gulp) it takes on a more personal meaning. I did alter it just now, tightened it up a tad. but if I were to revise this I might try to capture a sense of abandonment and discard in this as well as broken down reclamation.
The Circle in Things
there,
the solitary barn.
a shadow,
in a sea of shifting gold.
Its emptiness
interrupted but highlighted
by the dual breath of rot and growth,
As two points pull together,
collapsing inward,
it is easy to see
the circle in things.
I'll save the old lyrics for another day. they're mostly terrible. i went through a 'mellencamp' phase. the writing did not age well. I never really finished any of them, all rough drafts and embryonic seeds. I was hoping to find my first song i ever wrote. alas I could not. it was in the spirit of BOC's godzilla. I called it Clitoris Rex. I think it's better left lost.
??
Why would sand ever want to become concrete?
We enslave the ever shifting and force it's usefulness.
and then we enslave ourselves with it's utility.
and dream of the places sand can go.
We enslave the ever shifting and force it's usefulness.
and then we enslave ourselves with it's utility.
and dream of the places sand can go.
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