American Idol recap for the week March 16

This week’s theme was “Country” which I actually wish they’d saved until a little farther into the competition but whatever, it was nice to see Randy Travis as the mentor. First, he wasn’t promoting a new album or anything – he was just competently there giving advice and helping the kids. It was very refreshing.
So let’s get to the performances:

Michael Sarver – before I knew it was country songs this week, I was thinking about this theme and what song I thought Sarver would sing. I was hoping for either some Rascal Flatts or Lonestar, you know, a nice ballad like “I’m Already There”. Instead he did a really up-tempo Garth Brooks tune. But he did it well I guess. Nothing special. And I’m still disappointed that it wasn’t something like “My Wish”. Maybe neither Rascal nor Lonestar are in the Grand Ole Opry, which is what the theme specifically was?

Alison Ireheta – Still don’t believe she’s 16. She competently sang a Patty Loveless song which is actually a Dottie West song, which was perfect for her.

Kris Allen – So cute. “To Make You Feel My Love” was too cliché a song choice though. But he sung it well. I’m actually hoping he makes it to the final 3. He’s totally grown on me.

Lil Rounds – Zzzzzzzzzzzz I’m so tired of people on this show being “uncomfortable” with the different themes. She did a Martina McBride song of course. I’m over Lil…and Martina McBride.

Adam Lambert – Boy oh boy. I don’t have words. Is this guy for real? To quote Randy Dumbass Jackson, Adam “did his thing”. I just wish “his thing” didn’t also involve such an alarming amount of eye-fawking. Jeezus.

Scott MacIntyre – I’m sorry, I’ll say it. I was DAMN DISAPPOINTED that he didn’t sing a Ronnie Milsap song. It’s not just the blind thing. Milsap songs are all piano-based melodic gems that would have suited Scott very well. And Milsap is a member of the Opry (I checked). I think Randy Travis was hoping for this too. Anyway, Scott chose to sing a fawking lame Martina McBride song instead with his mediocre voice and he continued to weird me the hell out with his creepy eyes and the way he holds his mouth.

Alexis Grace – I really don’t like when other people sing Dolly songs, especially “Jolene”. Alexis’s version had a weird arrangement with timing issues, but it didn’t suck that much. I might revisit what it sounds like on the actual studio recording of it on iTunes.

Danny Gokey –Sigh…what was up with that white jacket he was sporting? HATEd the Carrie Underwood “driving Jesus” song he did. But I’m resigned to the fact that this dude is going to be in the finale.

Anoop Desai – I just LOVE my little mathlete! He was awesome and I will be buying this off iTunes for sure. And did you see his hot brother/cousin in the audience with Anoop’s adorable parents? From “zero to hero” indeed.

Megan Joy – Megan Joy? She dropped her last name? The hell? I hate poseur shit like this. She already bugged me with her faux quirky vibe and this cements my hate. She looked cool though.

Matt Giraud – First of all, I loved Randy Travis as a mentor. I would have had the same reaction upon learning that Matt was singing that damn sad Carrie Underwood song. Second, this was a surprisingly great performance. Love ya Matt!

Pet Peeves con'td

Things that have bothered me this week -

People in HUGE ass cars that park in spaces marked "Compact":

Example #1 - My friends Dan and John own a condo that came with two parking spaces. Their extra one that they let guests use is labeled for compact cars as are the spaces on either side of it. About 6 months ago their neighbor decided to rent out their extra space right next to John and Dan's. While it seems a little shady to rent a space to someone who doesn't even live in your building, that's not my problem with this. My problem is that the dude who rents the compact space drives a gigantic Chevy Suburban! And has the nerve to complain if someone parked in the adjoining space doesn't give him enough room to open his door to get out! What. A. Dick.

Example #2 - The parking lot surrounding my building at work has a plentitude of parking. But people being lazy like they are, of course try and get one of the 40 or so spaces that are very close to the building entrances. Several of these 40 spaces are marked for specific types of cars - vanpool, carpool, visitor, compact. It never fails - if I park my compact car in one of these compact spaces, when I get back to my car to go home there is a BIG HONKIN' SUV or extended cab pickup parked in the compact space next to me. Or like today, parked in the compact spaces on either side of me, so that I had to have security make an announcement on the building PA to have the jackass move their gas guzzler so that I could get into my car through a door and not my hatch. Dude with the pathetic faux-hawk who works in Provider Relations? I've got your number a$$hole.

Listen, if you want to own a large vehicle I don't care. But one of the things that comes with having a ginormous car/truck/Canyonero is that you can't park in just any space. You have to take one for the team and park at the far end of the lot. Thems the breaks.

And while we're on this theme, my second gripe tonight is - People who don't know the difference between a Yield sign and a Merge sign:

This thing to the left here? Is a MERGE sign. It's telling you and others on the road with you that traffic from one direction (in this case to the right) will be joining the traffic already moving. With merging, the folks driving on the road that's being entered (aka the thick, straight part of the arrow diagram) have the right-away.

So this other traffic sign to the right, below? This is a YIELD sign. If you see one of these at the end of the road that you're driving as it meets up with a another road? It means that you have to WAIT until the traffic, or pedestrians or whatever in the other road is clear. YOU HAVE TO WAIT!!!

Is it only the lameasses in Seattle that don't know the difference between these two? I swear. The fawkers in this city are going to push me to the brink.

For the love of Cara Cara navel oranges

I had my first Cara Cara orange yesterday evening. What a divine taste experience! These special oranges have been available in this country since the mid 1980s but only recently have been found in regular grocery stores and outlets like Costco.

Peeling the navel orange and exposing the rosy pink flesh of the orange - like a pink grapefruit - that is such a pretty contrast to the deep orange color of the skin; my nostrils were enveloped by that characteristic refreshing citrus smell of a good navel orange. Only this time it was sweeter, almost tinged with a hint of rose petals.

And then that first taste. Sweet orangey goodness but more complex than that. Other fruit flavor notes are there - nectarine, cherry, blackberry - all combine to give your mouth a treat.

I want to make juice from these ambrosiac oranges and make delicious cocktails. I want to eat the entire 10 lb bag I bought at the store. I didn't do either; instead just lazily enjoyed my sweet navel orange treat.

I was even inspired to write a haiku:

sweet orange goodness

Is that nectarine I taste?

pink fleshed ambrosia

An ode to Samoan love

I feel like I have an intimate connection with the little girl on the box of Samoas Girl Scout cookies. With the reddish brown hair cut into cute little bangs, the white mock-turtleneck, wearing the fireman's hat.
I have a whole backstory for her: her name is Ashley; she likes to draw, read, and ride her bicycle; she has two turtles named Mo and Rafael; she wants to be a nature photographer when she grows up.
More importantly her picture graces the top of the box of delicious cookie crack goodness. Gawd, it's not fair how addictively awesome Samoas are. I don't know what I love more about them - the caramel? the toasted coconut? the yummy chocolate coating? They're my downfall!
Did you know that 1 serving of Samoas is two cookies? ONLY TWO cookies?!!! Eeek!

I tried to hold out and not buy any this year. It helped that my usual source for Girl Scout Cookies, no longer works in my office and I was typically going grocery shopping very late in the evening past the time when the Girl Scouts were out hawking their evil temptations.

But tonight I had to run in to the store for my dad and there she was waiting for me front and center. 5 or 6 boxes with the little girl in the fire hat facing my way. My undoing. And whaddaya know? I happened to have exactly $4 in my pocket. Little Ashley, you're going home with me.

American Idol - 9 finalists and Wild Cards

Well, the third group of three finalists were picked to head to the top 12 of Season 8 of American Idol.

Lil Rounds, the awesome 23-year-old mom of three from Memphis; Scott MacIntyre, the blind dude who annoys the hell out of me - seriously, am I the only person who is totally creeped out by this guy? His face (and hair) are so oogy. I'm sure I'm going to hell for talking about a blind man's eyes but holy fawk that vacant stare he has weirds me out; and Jorge Nunez, the Puerto Rican guy who is I suppose sort of charming but annoying all the same. They join the other 6 finalists already chosen over the past couple of weeks: Kris Allen, Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace and Michael Sarver. All 12 finalists will be known Thursday after the wild card round.

Cowell and the other 3 judges also chose the 8 folks that will compete tonight in the "Wild Card" round: Von Smith, Jasmine Murray, Ricky Braddy, Megan Corkrey, Tatiana Del Toro, Matt Giraud, Jesse Langseth and Anoop Desai.

I absolutely approve of Anoop, Ricky, and Matt getting another chance. But Tatiana? REALLY? Uggh. At least they didn't also pick Nathaniel. Now my man Anoop just has to bring it(!) and get into the finals.

I'm still not really sure how the wildcards are working. Is it like season 2 where the judges pick after the folks have performed? That would be nice. I don't trust America. But are the judges obligated to make it an even split with girls and guys like the past 5 seasons? That wouldn't make sense since the 9 finalist so far are mostly boys, but I don't know.

GO ANOOP!!!!!!!