multi-generation madhouse includes pets and meals

Looking at the sky on Friday...#7

clock April 24, 2009 02:00 by author Tricia | commentComments(90)

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If you had asked me before last night which photos I was going to use today, I would have mentioned some of the 300+ cloud photos I have taken over the last 9 days. Then a storm came and went just before sunset...

Cloudy Sunset 1
Cloudy Sunset 2
Cloudy Sunset 3

Amazing what a little rain and a few clouds will do...

Tricia
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American Idol - Top 7 Results

clock April 15, 2009 20:23 by author Tricia | commentComments(51)
American Idol

 

So no big recaps of the non-essentials tonight other than to say that Jennifer Hudson was great and Miley Cyrus was more nasal than I've ever heard her.

Allison was up first and she was safe! Then Adam and no big surprise he is safe too. Anoop is the first contestant in the bottom 3.

Kris and Lil stand together, and Kris is safe while Lil is in the bottom 3. Matt and Danny stand, and Matt is in the bottom 3 while Danny is safe.

Anoop is the first to be released from bottom 3 hell and then Lil. Matt must sing for his life and boy does he. This is the first time I have heard a dramatically different performance on results night and I'm glad that everyone beat Simon down. No one goes home this week.

Simon reminds us that the way this plays out is that 2 people will go home next week, oh yeah, and the theme is Disco! Um, I'm not sure I want to watch this, could we just not and say we did...

Tricia
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American Idol - Top 7 and Music From the Movies

clock April 14, 2009 20:24 by author Tricia | commentComments(104)
American Idol
 

Over all it was a pretty good night and I enjoyed most of the performances. Quentin makes an okay mentor and the 2 judges commentary was amusing to say the least.

Allison opened with I Don't Want To Miss A Thing (Aerosmith) from Armagedon. I usually love her but there was something about this that just didn't do it for me. I can't really put my finger on it either. Hopefully she will stay out of trouble because I really do like her and want her to stay in the competion.

Anoop was up next with Everything I Do (Bryan Adams) from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.  I have to say that Anoop surprises me at times, he has a pretty voice when he isn't trying to over do it and he is beginning to develop some real stage presence.

Adam performed Born To Be Wild (Steppenwolf) from Easy Rider.  As always he is note perfect and highly dramatic, I think he may be growing on me just a little though.  I still wouldn't buy his CD; but I imagine it would be fun to see him perform live.

Matt drew the middle slot and filled it with Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman (Bryan Adams) from Don Juan DeMarco.  There were some definite rough patches in the performance; but there is still something about Matt's performances that I find appealing.  I think he could be in trouble this week though.

Danny is up next with Endless Love (Lionel Richie & Diana Ross) from Endless Love.  It started off really rough to me and then he slid into his comfort zone.  It wasn't one of his best performances but it should pull at the heart strings of all his fans.

Kris performed Falling Slowly (Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova/The Frames) from Once.  I had never heard this song, and I've never seen the movie so I have nothing to reference it to; but I thought it was an interesting, moving, and slightly quirky choice for Kris and I'm looking forward to hearing the studio track.

Lil closed the show with The Rose (Bette Midler) from The Rose, and I thought it was one of her better performances.  She wasn't perfect; but I do feel she was true to herself and genuinely tried to give the judges what they want without compromising herself.  I just don't know if it was enough to save her at this point.

So from top to bottom: Adam, Kris, Anoop/Allison, Danny/Lil, Matt...

Tricia
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Blue Monday #5

clock April 13, 2009 04:40 by author Tricia | commentComments(102)
 
 
 

I love these little forget-me-nots and couldn't resist planting some the first year we lived in our house. I still don't think my neighbor has forgiven me for the strays that seed themselves on his lawn each year. The only thing more prolific are the Johnny-jump-ups and they are a story for a whole different day.

Tricia
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Hail

clock April 11, 2009 03:44 by author Tricia | commentComments(74)

This was the view from our back door last night. Oh how I love the unstable weather of spring. We even took a trip downstairs when I heard the sirens go off. Fun, fun, fun...

Tricia
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American Idol - Top 8 Results

clock April 8, 2009 19:31 by author Tricia | commentComments(77)
American Idol
 

So it's results night again and we are treated to the usual group sing, although not as much preproduction this week. And a kind of cute Ford Commercial (just calling it the way I see it) to Britney's Circus.

Adam is safe, Kris is safe, Anoop is in the bottom 3.  Then cut to commercial, Flo Rida, and another commercial.  Danny is safe, Matt is safe, Scott is in the bottom 3.  That just leaves the girls and...  Allison is safe, while Lil finishes the bottom 3. 

We have another commercial break and then Kelly Pickler is back just as cute and blonde as ever.  Gosh that girl knows how to make dumb blonde a really smart move.  The bottom 3 come to center stage and Lil is safe for another week.

After the requisite commercial break Anoop & Scott stand center stage and hear that after 34,000,000 votes only 30,000 seperated them.  And Anoop is safe and Scott is given the opportunity to sing for his life.  The judge's are split and drag the false drama on until Simon makes the decision and sends Scott home.  It's just yucky every time they go through the motions.  Paula babbles after Scott's video journey ends and another week of Idol is over.  TTFN!

Tricia
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American Idol - The Top 8 and Songs From the Year They Were Born

clock April 7, 2009 20:38 by author Tricia | commentComments(64)
American Idol
 

Okay, I have an extra 6 in the house and nothing is going right. I actually listened to audio clips from tonight's show before I had a chance to watch it. So, I'll include my initial one word reaction to the track I heard first.

Danny Gokey opens with Stand By Me (Mickey Gilley), and my first thought is Good; and when I watched the show I thought, his performance kind of saves this.  It was too slow to get into things and he didn't really shine until the end.

Kris Allen was up next with All She Wants To Do Is Dance (Don Henley), and my first thought was Okay; but seeing it on the show did nothing for it.  I just never got into it.

Lil Rounds sang What's Love Got To Do With It (Tina Turner), and Whatever came to mind; and I was even less impressed seeing it.  She doesn't seem to have her own identity, she just comes out each week recreating someone else's performance.  Too bad, she has a pretty voice and I like her a lot when this started.

Anoop Desai did True Colors (Cyndi Lauper), and Okay was were we started.  Watching it I'm struck by the thougth that he needs to connect more with the audience, he is almost too aware of himself when he performs and he needs to let go.  It was a  little off in a few spots but definitely one of his better performances.

Scott MacIntyre sings The Search Is Over (Survivor), and it's another Okay.  Watching I'm glad he came out from behind the piano; but it may be too little too late.  It was a little all over the place and Simon was right the singing and the playing never quite gelled.  

Allison Iraheta did I Can't Make You Love Me (Bonnie Rait), and Great was the first thought to come to mind.  Watching her I'm struck by how much older than 16 she seems.  That may be her problem she doesn't appeal to the chronic power voters.  Too bad, because she is really easy to listen to, and I almost always enjoy her performances.

Matt Giraud sang Part Time Love (Stevie Wonder), and I thought Great.  Then watching it I'm struck by the fact that I miss him playing a little, but it's such a good performance for him I can't begrudge it.  I like him alot and I just want him to keep having good weeks.

Adam Lambert closes with Mad World (Tears For Fears), and third in a row with Great; but I'm still not buying it, his album that is.  Watching, I'm conviced that they sit him down and play with the lights in order to keep the drama down.  He is much more likeable tonight, obviously I'm getting old and losing my edge; but such is life.  A standing "O" from Simon is a first.

I hate it when they bicker early; but run out of time later.  Let's go for clear, concise comments, one judge at a time and no bickering.  That way every contestant can get the benefit of the judge's "wisdom".

Top 3:  Matt Giraud, Allison Iraheta, Adam Lambert

Bottom 3:  Kris Allen, Lil Rounds, Scott MacIntyre

Tricia
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Blue Monday #4

clock April 6, 2009 06:35 by author Tricia | commentComments(140)
 

Today I have 3 screen captures from the Eagle Cam at Audubon’s Eagle Cam at Tesoro during the 2008 nesting season. Unfortunately this year the cam wasn't shown on the web due to lack of funding.

 

Tricia
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She has finally...

clock April 4, 2009 01:00 by author Tricia | commentComments(62)

Our girl has spent at least 3 years attempting to master a particular skill.  Several other children her age have been doing for a while now, and she has so desperately wanted to join them.  I partially blame myself because I have so many rules about it, that she has been forced to learn this under the worst possible circumstances.  But yesterday afternoon it happened...

[More...]

Tricia
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Looking at the sky on Friday... #6

clock April 3, 2009 06:16 by author Tricia | commentComments(43)

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I went and got the freebie from Warped Eggs Scripting this morning, and just had to try the script out on something so...

Here are nine Vermont sunset Easter eggs made using Distortion Removal and Scripted Egg scripts offered in the freebie.

And here are 3 more made just using the Scripted Egg script from the freebie.

Tricia
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