AI – Top 4

8 May 2007 by

OH, how this stage in the AI game makes me jump for joy…everyone sings two songs and everybody’s really talented and the only thing that would make the prospect of tonight’s show any better is if I had a chocolate fountain on my coffee table and a very long straw with which to drink All The Chocolate Goodness.

(sidenote: I haven’t had refined sugar in about a month now. And you know all those people who say that if you give something up for 28 days you’ll eventually form new habits and not miss the old stuff? THEY’RE A BUNCH OF LIARS. So I’m a wee bit fixated on chocolate, and right now I’d like nothing more than a dark chocolate brownie with milk chocolate chunks and chocolate sauce on top, along with some Hershey’s Kisses. But other than that I’m not thinking about chocolate at all.)

So.

Is there a TV show I’m supposed to be talking about or something?

I’ve lost all train of thought.

Melinda Doolittle –

“Love You Inside And Out” – Of course she sounded great, and when she hit that bridge I knew she was in her element…that’s when she really made it her own. I don’t love this song by any stretch of the imagination, so while I can’t say it was one of my favorite Melinda performances, it was good.

“How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?” – Now y’all know that I love me some Melinda. But I was bored during this performance, honestly. And again, that’s not so much a reflection on her as it is on the song itself. I love what she did with the last third of the song, though…but on the whole, she’s way better than tonight’s performances indicate.

Blake Lewis –

“You Should Be Dancing” – Honestly, the falsetto creeped me out a little bit (she says, ducking for cover). But I’m wondering if I’m going to love any of tonight’s performances because I’m not exactly sure that the Bee Gees’ songs stand the test of time in terms of entertainment value. I’m just sayin’. And as for Blake’s beat boxing, it was pretty cool for about two seconds, and then I just wanted him to stop it, already, because it’s getting a little old.

“This Is Where I Came In” – It was just aight for me, dawg. It sorta felt like a bad 80’s song – and the tempo was just weird. It wasn’t slow, it wasn’t fast – and I’m pretty sure that it lasted forever. But that’s okay, because it gave me more time to think about chocolate.

LaKisha Jones –

“Stayin’ Alive” – I liked this version of the song – WHO KNEW it could be such a sassy anthem? That being said, I think the song got in the way of the performance for me. I almost feel like she didn’t have much to work with – and because of that, she should’ve picked a different song.

“Run To Me” – I thought it was great. You can tell that her voice is hurting, but this was way better than her first song.

Jordin Sparks –

“To Love Somebody” – On a completely superficial note, I wish she hadn’t done the whole dress with jeans look (why? BECAUSE IT IS TIRED). But I’ll forgive her because THAT WAS GOOD, Y’ALL.

“A Woman In Love” – Aside from the fact that this song BORES ME TO TEARS (Not a Bee Gees fan. Can you tell?), she did a great job with a sappy ballad.

Who should go? – Blake. *ducking*

Best of the night? – Jordin.

And to the AI producers: please, for the love of all that’s good in the world, NO MORE BEE GEES THEME NIGHTS EVER AGAIN. Thank you and good night.

If you’ve posted about tonight’s AI on your blog, add your link to the Mr. Linky below.

Filed Under: TV Is My Friend

It’s Not Just A Lotion, It’s A Public Service

7 May 2007 by

Sister and I have an ongoing friendly contest to see who can find the very best lavender- or eucalyptus-scented products. Neither of us can walk into, say, Bath & Body Works without making a beeline to the aromatherapy section, and when we find something that meets our high standards, we give it the Sister Seal of Approval,TM which sounds a little something like this:

“Oooooooh – THIS IS SOME GOOD STUFF RIGHT HERE.”

Then we discuss all the many different ways said product can make skin beautiful / turn a bath into a retreat / cure any possible sinus ailments while we hold the product very closely to our noses, because separating ourselves from the delicious lavender and/or eucalyptus goodness would just be far too much to bear.

And now you are wondering: so what’s the point, oh crazy lady?

(Oh, you’re so kind to assume I have a point.)

(But I do! I really do!)

And the point is this:

A few weeks ago I was trying to put together some gift baskets for some people for some stuff I’ve been working on (and really, I don’t know how much more vague that last phrase could possibly be; clearly I have a gift for communicating details). I was bouncing ideas around with Big Mama, and she mentioned that she has a friend WHO OWNS A LAVENDER FARM (seriously? just typing those words? my heart started to race), and her friend makes really great lavender lotion, among other things.

I was a little skeptical that the lotion could be all that great, especially since Sister and I have such obsessive shopping tendencies in this area (WE KNOW THE MARKETPLACE, PEOPLE), but considering that Big Mama and I agree on, well, pretty much everything, I figured it was worth a shot. Big Mama made a few calls, told her friend what I needed, and about a week later a big ole box full of lavender products arrived at my front door.

And y’all.

Y’all.

The lotion? It’s the best stuff I’ve ever used.

Somehow the lotion is ultra-moisturizing without being greasy. And while the scent is most definitely lavender, there’s nothing cloying or perfume-y about it. It smells clean and fresh and it makes me so happy that I’m going to have to go rub some on my legs right this second and then smile contentedly while I marvel at all the dry skin I’m not seeing.

In short, I love this lotion almost as much as I love carbs, and that, my friends, is a whole, whole bunch.

So I say all of that to tell you this: go treat yourself. Right this second. Don’t wait for someone to give this to you for Mother’s Day (though it would make an absolutely lovely Mother’s Day gift for someone you love). It’s like a spa in a bottle. In fact, last night, after Alex was in bed, (and after listening to him talk non-stop for three straight days), I sat down on my couch, watched the SNL 90’s special, and lotioned to my heart’s content.

And loved every single lavender-scented second.

(Also: this stuff is divine, too. As are the sachets – which they make after they PICK THE LAVENDER THAT GROWS ON THEIR FARM, because strangely enough, LAVENDER, IT COMES FROM NATURE.)

And just so you know: this isn’t one of these deals where someone sent me a product to try in the hopes that I’d review it. This is just one of those happy times when I’ve found a product I love, and I MUST SHARE THE INFORMATION because I care deeply about you and your skin care regiment, especially with summer’s leg-baring days upon us.

I’m telling y’all: THIS IS SOME GOOD STUFF RIGHT HERE.

Filed Under: Out Of Control

Well, Hey There, Internets

6 May 2007 by

First, we had a great weekend with lots of food and lots of shopping and lots of coffee. Good grief at the coffee – I think we drank at least seven full pots in 36 hours. I plan to sleep again next Thursday.

Second, here is the purse that called my name from the very second I laid my eyes on it, at which point it whispered sweet nothings into my ear and promised me that, together, we will have the best. summer. evir. – a summer filled with brightly colored flowers and an adorable leather clasp and a strap that is both rope AND leather at an affordable Target price.

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It’s my first fashion crush of the summer, y’all, and I really think this purse and I are going to have a beautiful future together. I don’t want to jinx anything, but we’re, um, totally serious already.

And speaking of cute, which technically I wasn’t but I will now:

This picture was taken during the .4 second span this weekend when Alex wasn’t TALKING! EXCITEDLY! ABOUT! HOW HAPPY! HE WAS! TO HAVE! HIS COUSIN! HERE!

Finally, the little man is now making a regular habit of taking his daddy and me to the Wii bowling woodshed. In fact, Friday night he actually beat me by over ONE HUNDRED POINTS. I’m trying to be supportive because HE’S FOUR AND ALL, but don’t think for one second that I’m not going to be getting in some practice rounds this week once he goes to sleep.

Because I’m not competitive.

Or anything.

See y’all tomorrow.

Filed Under: Rambling

He Giveth

6 May 2007 by

So the first night that we stayed here in La Casa Nueva, we noticed that it was a little chilly. But because this new place has an electric heat pump and not the gas heat that we’ve been used to for the last ten years, we figured that it hadn’t had time to “regulate” yet and would eventually get warmer, despite the fact that cold air seemed to be blowing out of the vents at all points in the day.

But then my parents came to visit. And mentioned once or twice or fifty times that they were freezing. And that “the baby” was freezing. And that since their previous house had a heat pump and they were familiar with how things should be working, Something Must Be Awry.

As it turns out, they were right.

So over the last four days, we (and by “we,” I mean “D.”) have been dealing with with a home warranty company, a service company, a realty company, and a home inspector trying to decide who’s responsible for fixing it.

Meanwhile, hey! Remember us? Over here? We’re cold!

As it turns out, the warranty company is going to make all the repairs. In fact, they’re going to replace the whole unit. We’re beyond grateful for the provision, but that’s not really even the point of this post.

Because there’s a little something called The Grand Scheme of Things:

A family in our church lost their one year old daughter last weekend after a lengthy illness. A family in the community where we used to live lost their 15 year old daughter in a car accident. The family across the street from our new house lost their husband and father a little over a week ago. My sister-in-law’s friend Lauren and her family are facing their first Christmas without their oldest son. My friend Elise and her boys are facing their first Christmas without Paul.

I’m sure you know of families who are hurting and suffering, too – it might even be your family that could use a little extra measure of grace and mercy right now.

And when I think about those families – when I think about their hurts and their struggles – it snaps our heat pump woes right into perspective. Because even though it may be cold in our house for a few days, I have a healthy child and a healthy husband who will snuggle up with me and keep me warm. Because even if we had to pay for an expensive home repair, at the end of the day – well, it’s just money. It’s not illness. It’s not death. It’s not heartache. It’s not despair.

Earlier today I was reading something that our pastor wrote, and he quoted the lyrics from a hymn written by Annie Johnston Flynt. Here are her words:

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase
To added affliction, he addeth his mercy
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace
When we have exhausted our store of endurance
When our strength has failed and the day’s half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s own giving has only begun
His love has no limit
His grace has no measure
His power has no boundaries known unto men
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

Even in the midst of our trials, we’re so blessed to serve a God who “giveth and giveth” His infinite grace and mercy.

I needed to remember that today. Just because.

I hope it helps you to remember it, too.

This post was published originally on December 8, 2006.

Filed Under: Faith

WAX ON! WAX OFF! WAX ON! WAX OFF!

5 May 2007 by

So.

The pre-schooler and a couple of his buddies started a little KAH-RAH-TAY class today, and I’m not exactly sure what they did besides yelling “HIIIIIIII-YAH!” four or eight hundred times. However, Alex does seem to have mastered a martial arts stance / arm motion that’s eerily reminiscent of Elaine’s dancing on “Seinfeld,” so quite obviously we’re going to get our money’s worth (and then some) out of his first official extracurricular activity.

Anyway, as we headed to our car after his class, I couldn’t help but notice that he was even more excited than normal. And as soon as we were all buckled in he said, “Mama! I need to talk to my daddy! I NEED to talk to my daddy!” So I got D. on the phone, and A. told his daddy all about the KAH-RAH-TAY, did a few quick “HIIIIIII-YAH!s” before hanging up, and then we headed to Publix because, well, that is what we do on the days when the sun comes up in the morning.

The fact that Alex seems to come alive in public settings – like, for instance, at Publix – has been confirmed time and time again, seeing as how he likes to introduce himself to people he doesn’t know and engage them in lengthy conversations. In fact, when I recently took him to get his hair cut, he found out the names of everyone in the waiting area, made sure every child had paper and crayons, procured Little Debbie cakes from the coffee station and distributed them, then passed out balloons and candy to all the children (their names were Cameron, Ethan, Zachary and Morgan, and I know this because Alex repeated their names approximately four hundred and ninety four times while we were waiting).

In short, our child is a three year old camp counselor.

And let me just tell you: this afternoon? the extroverted child? after participating in an organized martial arts activity? with a bunch of other boys his age?

OH MY SWEET MERCY MAMA NEEDED A NERVE PILL.

I don’t even know how to explain what happened when we were in Publix, but I do know this: while Alex does typically talk in exclamation points (I can’t imagine how he inherited such a tendency!), this afternoon in the grocery store he was talking in ALL CAPS. ALL CAPS WITH EXCLAMATION POINTS! LOUDLY!

For example:

“MAMA! WE NEED SOME TURKEY!” (true that)

“OH, LOOK MAMA! CEREAL! I LOOOOOOOVE CEREAL!” (he doesn’t eat cereal)

“MAMA! BANANAS MAKE ME HAPPY!” (really? as far as I can tell, air makes him happy)

“YOU KNOW WHAT WE NEED NOW, MAMA? EGGGGGGS!” I LOOOOOOOOVE EGGS!” (he doesn’t eat eggs)

And please don’t misunderstand me. I am beyond grateful for the blessing of a happy, healthy child. It’s just that the happy, healthy child was a little amped up due to all the chopping and kicking and “HIIIIIIII-YAH”-ing he’d been doing, and I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that a stranger or two craned their necks from adjoining aisles to see who was starting the pep rally for “CORRRRRRRN! LOOK, MAMA, IT’S CORRRRRRN!” over in frozen foods.

I tried to say things – calm things – like, “baby. let’s use our inside voice. our quiet voice. ‘kay?”

And Alex would look at me very seriously and nod his head and say, “OKAY, MAMA! WE’LL USE OUR INSIDE VOICE! THAT’S A GREAT IDEA! IT’LL BE SO! MUCH! FUN!”

When I had just about hit my limit – when I was just about to that point where you just pull the young’un out of the grocery cart and hope some shopper comes along who needs the exact combination of groceries that you’re about to leave behind – Alex looked at me, smiled, patted my arm, and said, “Oh, Mama. You’re my sweet girl, aren’t you, Mama?”

I melted. On the spot. Despite the fact that I was surrounded by large refrigerated coolers.

I paused for just a second so I could soak up the sweetness of the moment – and then I smiled, patted his little arm, and said, “I am your sweet girl. And you’re my sweet, big boy.”

And together, we marveled at THE PAPER TOWELS! and THE WINNIE THE POOH FRUIT CANDY! and THE ORAL B STAGES BUBBLY FRUIT TOOTHPASTE! as we wheeled our way through the rest of the store.

This post was published originally on January 31, 2007.

Filed Under: Chatty McTalky, Out Of Control

How’d They Get So Smart?

4 May 2007 by

For about a month Alex has been talking about a little girl – I’ll call her Sidney – at his Mother’s Day Out.

Just about every single time that I pick him up, he tells me all about Sidney…that she’s not as old as he is, that she’s his friend, that he plays with her. I couldn’t figure out why a younger child would be in his three year old class, so I figured that Sidney must be on the playground at the same time, or maybe he saw her in chapel, or maybe they had music together. Regardless of how they met, it’s been pretty clear that Alex adores her.

Yesterday Alex stayed an hour longer than normal at MDO so that I could get my hair cut, and when I walked in the extended care room, he was sitting at a table with three or four other kids having a snack. As soon as he saw me he hopped out of his seat, ran toward the door, and said, “Mama! I’m having a snack with Sidney! It’s Sidney, Mama!”

And when I looked at the little girl who was sitting to the left of where Alex had been, I saw his precious blonde-haired friend named Sidney. What I didn’t expect – because Alex hadn’t told me – is that she has Down Syndrome. He hadn’t told me, of course, because he never noticed. Why would he?

As Sidney watched Alex running toward me yesterday afternoon, the joy in her eyes took my breath away. I was blinking away tears before I ever knew what hit me.

While Alex and I gathered up his things and started walking toward the car, I asked him if he and Sidney had fun playing. He said, “Oh, yes ma’am, Mama! Sidney wanted to read Blue’s Clues, and we watched a movie, and we had a good time, Mama!”

And as I buckled the little man in his seat, all I could think about was how grateful I am for Sidney. I’m so thankful that she’s Alex’s friend.

They’re buddies. Plain and simple.

There are many things I love about children, but the tenderness of their little hearts – the way they look at people and at the world without judgment, without prejudice, without bias – it just blows me away.

Alex and Sidney, for me, are a reminder of what real friendship looks like.

And I thank them for the lesson.

This post was published originally on November 9, 2006.

Filed Under: Other
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