A Bunch of Business (including a one question poll)

Just a few things on my mind:

First of all, I wanted to remind my Utah readers that the book blogging party is tomorrow! I know that came up fast, but why linger in anticipation, right? It will be at 6:00 at the Golden Corral in Midvale (about 7200 S and 13th E). Bring a book to exchange if you want. If you haven't been contacted, emailed, tweeted, or otherwise personally invited... that's okay, you are officially invited if you live here in Utah and have anything to do with book blogging or the bookish business. Please come!

Second... I've been wanting to ask everyone a question. This is a one question poll. I'm wanting to know how long you've been around reading this here blog. Because I'm staring to feel at times that I'm repeating myself, and am worrying that it's getting boring. But then I think... hey, there's some new people here I bet who haven't seen that story yet! Or whatever. So then I wondered what percentage of my readers are newish or oldish. And besides,  it's been awhile since I did a poll. Okay, so are you ready for the ONE question? It will be so easy I expect every single one of you to hit that one button!



See that was easy, right?

Finally, I'm wondering from my fellow American Idol fans... what do you think? Do we have some interesting people this time or what? Who's your favorite so far? I'm liking Stefano and Casey, and maybe Paul a little. Sad to see Tim go, I wanted to hear him more. Oh well. And as you know (or maybe you don't if you are a new reader...see what I mean? I need to know!) I'm not so much into the girls. I really like guy voices! :)

Okay I've been on this computer way too long! I'm off!

Friday's Random Rambles

Stuff I'm thinking today:

** We finished Robin Hood Season Two and I'm going to be going into some serious Robin Hood/ Guy of Gisborne/the-whole-outlaw-gang withdrawals. It may be awhile before we can manage to get our hands on Season Three, so until then.... I'll just have to read about them. What about you, got any feelings one way or the other about Robin Hood?

** This weekend, I WILL finish some books! I've got several that are so so close, so I hope there's time to get some good readin' in. What books will you finish this weekend?

** We're also hoping for a chance to see The Lightning Thief since our attempt on Monday was futile. It was a little bit too popular that day I guess. Seen it? What did you think?

** No big bookish events this weekend, but NEXT weekend.... it's the Utah Book Bloggers Winter Social! Yes, I'm excited. If you are a Utah blogger, will I see you there?

** Let the concert countdown begin! Only six weeks until we get to go see both these concerts:

I'm so excited. It still feels like forever away, but it will be here before we know it! If you could see anyone in concert, who would it be?

** Last night at book club we had a fun discussion on fairy tale books and the original of fairy tales, and just fairy tales in general. I decided they make quite the fascinating subject. What's your favorite fairy tale and/or fairy tale remake book?

** Just saw that all the top 24 American Idols have been set up with Twitter, My Space and Facebook accounts! Sheesh, now I need to decide who to follow and none of them are really standing out to me yet this year. Do you have a favorite American Idol at this point for this season? (I just followed Casey... reminds me of Sawyer... haven't decided about his singing yet though.)

** Well, okay. Enough of that. Happy Weekend people! Get some good reading done!

Review: American Idol Concert

Concert: American Idol Top Ten

Genre: Pop/Rock

Rating: A

For: my ongoing flirtation with a mid-life crisis which causes me to think it necessary to join in the celebration of all things pop culture such as American Idol

What a rockin' time we had last night! They started right out with a bang, no preliminary goofiness, with the #10 Idol, Michael Sarver. He was fun and enthusiastic, but sang a couple of songs I didn't really know so I couldn't easily sing along with him.

Then we moved to #9, and our hometown girl, Megan Joy. The comparison between the crowd's excitement for her, and its excitement for David Archuleta last year was.... interesting. We clapped politely for Megan, but for David last year, we screamed the roof off until he was overwhelmed with tears. It was great! But Megan... I just think no one really "gets" her. She sang and we endured.

Up next was #8, Scott, who I totally love. He has the clearest, most clean sounding voice of them all I think. He rose up out of the stage, sitting at the piano, and sang "1000 Miles" and something else I like but didn't really know. He was great with the crowd and had wonderful stage presence. I loved it.

Let's see, #7 was Lil. She did three songs I think, and one was that "All The Single Ladies" song that got everyone up and dancing. She sounded awesome.

Anoop was next at #6, and wow, he was also amazing. I wanted to stand and scream for him too, but sadly, it appeared I was in a bit of a dead audience section. I hate it when that happens.

Then we were to #5, which was Matt. Wow. Did he have some energy or what! And he ROCKED on the piano! Amazing.

Then those first six did a group number with Matt and Scott dueling it out on the piano together during "Tell Her About It." That was a blast too.

Intermission. Boring. I hate intermissions usually. I noticed so many people going up and down past our aisle seat during the concert itself that I wondered why we even needed one. Sheesh. People, if you are paying a ton of money for a concert like this, why not SIT (or stand as the case may be) and WATCH the show! Just wondering.

Alison, #4, brought us back from intermission rocking out to "Barracuda," along with a couple of other songs. She had it going on for sure.

Danny was next, and I loved listening to him. He sang "What Hurts the Most" and a couple of others that were quite inspirational.

THEN... finally.... what the audience had been waiting for! The energy was intense. Everyone was holding their breath, then screamed like crazy! ADAM was on! First the very cool, very loud, very flashy intro, which segues right into "Whole Lotta Love" and there's Adam rockin' out on stage! Wow. He was just like you'd imagine him to be. It was insane. But finally, the WHOLE place was on their feet singing, dancing and screaming. He sang five songs, including his duet "Slow Ride" with Alison.

Then they put a curtain down in front of the band, and up from the stage rises Kris, sitting on a stool, with his guitar! What a contrast. But it was Kris singing "Heartless"! And he was wonderful! And we all screamed for him too. He was so good. He played the guitar, he played the piano, he played the electric guitar. Amazing. (Please, don't go and count how many times I used that word in this post. Please.)

I could definitely watch both those guys for a full two or three hours and never get tired of it.

Kris ended with "Hey Jude" and the rest of the Idols came out and joined him. Then they did a finale of Journey's song "Don't Stop Believing" and suddenly, it was all over.

I loved it. It makes me wish I was younger so I could enjoy it all without feeling like a weirdo or something. But, happily, there were LOTS of middle-agers screaming for Adam and Kris last night. Lots.

And next time, I will not take my 14 year old son who sat there with his fingers in his ears, and his elbows on his knees, looking down at the floor, then asking me if the noise hurt my head! Are you kidding me? I love the noise! I go for the noise! Yes, next time, he stays home.

A New American Idol

You know I can't just ignore the fact that last night American Idol ended for yet another season. Why am I turning into such an American Idol freak? I love it. I love seeing kids who start out with a dream, and end up being a star. I love following them through that process and becoming one of their first fans. I love discovering new singers to listen to.

It's all just plain fun.

So last night, it's amazing how it all turned out! Wow, wow, wow! I think many of you assumed I was a total Adam fan, and yes, I thought he was great. BUT, I've been voting for Kris from nearly the beginning. So I am thrilled he won. Ideally, I wish it could have been a tie. But, I just think it's so cool that Kris came out ahead in the end over the guy whose singing seemed to be blowing everyone away.

I can't wait to see them both in July. It's going to be one fun concert! And when they make cds? I'll be there, buying both their albums on the very first day.

Pictures That Make Me Smile

We recently got our family pictures taken. Maybe I'll post the one with me it eventually. But for now, here's the kids. Oh, and in my blog hopping today, I found two others that just make me grin and grin, so I had to share them too!

My kids

My kids

Josh

Adam and Kris

Adam Lambert's "Ring of Fire": Like It? Or Not?