What you can accomplish on a rainy day

Leah likes to be a fairy, prefers to sleep in a nest of blankets next to her bed, continues to recite movie lines, has had great potty success lately, and reasons her way out of perplexing conundrums like "We're all out of popsicles" and "It's too rainy to go outside." ("I know, an umbrella can help us!"). She has absolutely no concept of "patience."

Samuel has had18 poopy diapers (and counting) in the last 52 hours, and consequently used an entire tub of wipes and half a tube of Desitin. Sir Poops a Lot can climb onto the kitchen counter and halfway up Leah's ladder. He can say two dozen words and hams it up when the camera comes out. He has learned that climbing into the dishwasher and playing in the garbage can will earn him a spank. (Oh, the tears!)

The air conditioning is up and running, the sprinklers are sprinkling, (the weeds are growing), my compost is composting (I hope). We are enjoying season 4 of House (although I am lost without LOST). Chris got a calling teaching Elders' Quorum, I had a Discovery toys party yesterday and made new friends (hence, the cleaning of the house...), decided its just not worth it to take two kids to the water park by myself, and am working on matching dresses for Leah and cousin Jessica. Prototype L:

And the living room and kitchen have not been this clean since we moved in! Here are the final views of projects completed. Notice the new chic paint and completed curtains, new microwave in the kitchen (I guess 6 years was enough for the $40 one to call it quits...) and yes, that is freshly baked bread on the counter :)

Stay tuned for an accounting of our trip to San Francisco, the zoo, the carnival, bike rides, and everything else we've done in the last month.

What happens when you watch too much CSI

We just finished watching the first season of CSI. In the past, intense shows like this have given me nightmares. This time it's day-mares. I think it may be time to watch something else for a while.

Case in point:

This morning I did laps at the gym. Mid-workout I paused for a drink of water and a breather. After I'd been standing there in the water for a couple of minutes resting, I heard someone bubble up to the surface on the opposite side of the lap pool. How long had someone else been there and why hadn't I noticed? Were they lurking about quietly so as not to be detected? Now, I'm blind as a bat without my contacts in, so I couldn't tell if this blob was a man or a woman, if they were staring at me or not.

Then my mind started imagining. The blob was a scary man and he was most certainly watching me, his future prey. We were the only two in the pool. If I naively continued my laps in blurry blindness, I would be apprehended by this mysterious shape on the other side. By the time Grissom arrived, I would have had my neck sliced open and my locker key, which had been pinned to my suit, would be gone. A look-alike Jenny would have gone into the locker room and removed my ID from my locker, and then used it to retrieve and kidnap my children from the gym daycare. Then Grissom would interview Chris and find out who my enemies were. That guy who gave me a dirty look on our bike ride yesterday? One of the creepy kids who waits at the bus stop in front of our house every morning? It would turn out that some desperate pseudo friend had me off-ed so she could console and ultimately woo my grieving widower.

I decided to get out of the pool.

Vote for David!!!

Need I say more?

Tonight is the night. Vote for your favorite David. I'll be watching devotedly and voting for David Cook. I have been pretty pleased with this season of American Idol, haven't you?

Oh, and last night on the news they showed a clip of Nigel Lythgoe(the Am Idol producer) annoucning that he plans to bring American Idol audtions to SLC next year. You better start practicing!!

I've been a little Lost lately

Over the past weekend, we watched no less than twelve episodes of Lost, finishing season one and starting on season 2. It contributed to a very uneventful, unproductive, and scary-dream filled weekend. I had that stupid number sequence filtering through my head in my sleep and actually had to look up future plotlines on the internet so that I wouldn't be so completely obsessed over the show. Fortunately, I was able to get out of the house and away from my whiny 2-year old for a girls' night out with Michal on Saturday. I'm glad to be out of the dark living room and actually doing things like loading the dishwasher again and getting dressed daily. Today is day 8 of potty training and I have to say, progress is reeeeeeeeally slow, but I think there is progress nonetheless. I've called mom probably 6 times this week for tips and she gives me a little nudge of encouragement each day when I feel like quitting.

For the past few months, I haven't felt like doing anything: reading, blogging, eating, cooking, cleaning, stamping, getting dressed, praying, even reading email. Nothing. I've only changed diapers. Really. I can tell that I'm on the downhill end of this because yesterday I found myself singing in the shower! And when I was in Washington, I actually read a book cover to cover just for fun. Then I got home and started on another one. I'm finally smiling at my baby again. Yesterday I spent the afternoon enjoying some long-awaited sunshine while Leah played in the sandbox, then we jumped on the neighbor's trampoline and spied on the horses in the field behind us; safely fenced in and with access to sand, grass, jumping, and horses? Our extended backyard is truly the best of all possible worlds! Then I watched American Idol and voted for David Cook and Syesha. (Didn't you?)

Anyway, all I'm saying is that I've in general been a little bit lost--in more ways than one--for quite a while now, and I think I'm finally coming out of it thanks to therapy and medication. So that's were I've been: the impossible, high-walled, dark-pitted throes of depression. There. I said it. I still have a long way to go, but I'm glad to finally start feeling a little bit more like myself again.

Prediction for all you "Idol"ites out there

Why was everyone so surprised when Michael Johns was voted off? I wasn't. I was suprised that Syesha was in the bottom three, because I thought her performance this week was fabulous.

Here is my prediction of who will be voted off, but not in any order: Jason (ack!), Christy Lee Cook, Brooke White, and Carly Smithson. That leaves David Archuleta, David Cook, and Syesha as my prediction for the top three, then I think it's a toss up. Then again, Christy's performance this week was better than past weeks, so I could be wrong. And as I said before, I was surprised that Syesha was in the bottom three, so maybe she's not as popular as she is talented. That's another issue--is this a popularity contest or a talent contest? I've said before that David Archuleta is very talented, but I think his popularity is pulling him through consistently week after week--he's never been in the bottom bracket. He's talented, but soooo very young and kind of cookie-cutter in his performances that I don't think he will be the winner (but Jordin was only 17, right?). That leaves me with my money on David Cook, but he could suffer from the Chris Daughtry phenomenon and be out of the running prematurely. Okay, so I've given my predictions, then refuted them all. I really have no idea.

Good night.

*Update* I've put a poll in the sidebar for you to vote on who you think the next American Idol will be.

On Becoming a Star OR Uninhibited Wanderings of the 2am Mind

I wrote that blog title at 2:00 this morning because I was blogging in my head while I was up feeding the baby. Here's why:

Since I've been following this season of American Idol, I've once again become obsessed with wanting to audition just to see how far I could make it--rather, I'm curious if Simon wouldn't turn me away at the door. One day a couple years ago I started memorizing the words to and practicing a Nellie Furtado song because the auditions were coming to SLC and so I needed to learn a really hip song. (Of course, now that I'm older and wiser, I know you could sing the national anthem for all they care...) I chickened out, or rather wasn't in the least bit committed and likely forgot. But really, I'm curious if the judges would like me.

Please journey with me through the musings of a sleep-deprived hopeful...

There are several problems with my American Idol dream that filter through my mind while I'm up in the middle of the night. First, what would I sing for my audition? I used to think I would sing a Jewel song, but then last season they had Jewel as a guest judge during auditions. How mortifying would that be to sing a Jewel song in front of Jewel? There's always Dixie Chicks, but somehow I don't think that would bode well with Simon (don't get me started on what I think of Simon...)

It occurred to me at 2:00am that without question I would sing "Misty," which has become my signature song and which I even sang for my husband at our wedding reception. The best part is that I've never heard a recording of it, so how I sing it is all me, and I know the words like the back of my hand.

Second problem: I'm a huge copycat. Humor me and lets just imagine that I was really good and got to, say, the top 12. Doing popular covers week after week, the judges would catch on that I sing them all exactly like the original artist and would criticize me for my lack of individuality and personality and whatever. The real question is, what style do I sing? and I really don't know. I don't have my own style. My favorite songs to sing are very classical, operatic, or from a musical, and as I said already, anything on the radio I sing exactly how I hear it. (Of course, at 2am it doesn't occur to me that perhaps there is a more refined talent competition I could enter...)

Lets not forget to mention that I am a terrible performer, can't dance a lick, I'm awful at remembering lyrics, and I take any kind of criticism or rejection way too personally. Plus, I just don't look the part of the next American Idol.

Okay. It's out of the closet: I want to be the next American Idol. All things considered, I'm still just a little curious.

About honesty

Out of curiosity, last night I watched "The Moment of Truth." The contestants on this reality, win-me-some-money show have been through a polygraph exam on 50 personal questions, 21 of which are chosen for the show. They have to answer truthfully in front of their family members (and all of America), with the answers from their earlier polygraph test revealing if they are being honest or not. I have to say I was briefly entertained and then sorely disappointed.

The tag line at the beginning of the show is, "Is there an honest person left in America?" One of the contestants questions was "Have you ever said a credit card charge wasn't yours when in fact it was?" The girl had to answer honestly that yes, she's done that before (because that's what her polygraph would later reveal). If she said no when she really had, her lie would give her away, and she'd lose and be off the show. Here's where I'm disappointed: an "honest person" is not defined by the liars who are willing to admit to their lies on national television for a couple grand, it's the people who don't lie in the first place. So, great. The lady is a dishonest person who got away with it, but the show labels her "honest" and gives her $100,000. What's up with that?

The questions get increasingly personal, and have to do with whether or not you've been faithful to your spouse, and if there are secrets that would destroy your marriage, etc. (And even more that are not appropriate for my blog or my ears!) It wasn't entertaining. It was just sad. Sad that people aren't honest with their spouse. Sad that people aren't faithful to their spouse. What can a marriage be based on if not total honesty?

I have to conclude that I would never be cast on the show for several reasons: I don't do dishonest things like cheat on my spouse or with my creditors. (Makes for a pretty boring show!) Secondly, in an instance where I would have to confess a shortcoming or prejudice of mine, I can guarantee that my husband already knows about it: there are no secrets between us. And lastly, who would want to humiliate them self by answering questions about how they negatively perceive other people? That sounds a lot like "hanging out your dirty laundry" for all to see. It seems kind of pointless to me. (Lets not forget to mention that I would never voluntarily participate in this kind of thing anyway)

Anyway, here's TV's sorry attempt to see if anyone out there is honest. What a waste of my time!

I think I'm a groupie

Wow...I don't think I've had a crush on a 17-year old since I was...well, 17. He gives me the chills, he's so good! I'm looking forward to the rest of the season. Could little David Archuletta be the next American Idol?

(Yes, Rachael, I copied this from your blog...isn't imitation the best form of flattery?)

Beat boxing boy vs. dazzling vocalist-Who will it be?

From the time of the top 24, I've felt that this season's American Idol finalists weren't what they were last year. I mean last year, Kellie Pickler, Chris Daughtry, Katharine McPhee, and even Elliott Yamin (Ack!) none of which won the finale, came out with record deals and a great career underway. Last season I was on the edge of my seat from the 6th finalist on not really sure who would win because the competition was so fierce and matched so perfectly. By the end, I was clueless as to who would win, and to be honest I didn't really care. Taylor and Katharine are both talented and they both deserved it, although I do think Chris should have made it at least one more round (as opposed to Elliott).

I've not been as impressed with this year's finalists. I think for the most part they've all been talented (with the exception of Sanjaya). But did Melinda Doolittle's fantastic musical talent really represent America? This time around, its been a toss up for me as to who gets voted off each week--they all seemed mediocre compared to last season's finalists, and I can't forsee as many non-winners getting record deals. I've been impressed with Blake's daring style, surprised that with such a unique calling card he's made it to the finale. He's talented, he's cute, he's got a nice ballad-like voice when he's singing songs he hates. Jordin is amazingly talented at only 17, I can't imagine how terrific she'll sound in a few years, assuming of course she doesn't turn into a brittney or a christina. It was a terrific finale. But as Simon said last night, Blake was the entertainer and Jordin was the vocalist. Hands down, Jordin ruled the show.

There's my prediction, for what it's worth.