AI Recap: Matt departs Idol and Adam lands in bottom two . .

So here's how it went. Ryan first revealed that Danny and Alison were saved and that Matt, Kris and Adam were in the bottom three. I was happy for Alison and Danny, but had a passing thought that wow wouldn't it be weird if Adam landed in the bottom two and even more weird that Adam could possibly be eliminated tonight. Did everyone like me vote for Alison to save her and neglected our favorite Adam! I had a flashback to Melinda Doolittle's premature elimination two seasons ago.

Next, Ryan then announced that Kris was safe. Yikes! And after Jamie Foxx's performance (and BTW, I thought Natalie Cole was wonderful and I really enjoyed seeing Taylor Hicks perform), I was prepared for the improbable!

And then the moment of truth! Was this going to be another Idol Elimination gone wrong. Could we see Adam get booted off Idol! Dim the lights . . . Ryan announces that Adam is safe! Whew!

It was pretty sad to watch the good-bye video for Matt and I thought he actually sang his song better last night than the night before. I think he will definitely have a successful career in music. He has the look, the talent and the personality to have a very successful musical career!

So judging from how the votes went last night no one has a lock on the competition and these remaining Idols will have to give it their best performance each night from this point on to earn the title of Season 8's New American Idol!

And that's my recap! Keep on Rocking AI . . .

AI Recap: Idols pay tribute to songs by the Rat Pack . . .

Last night's theme include popular 50's & 60's songs that were sung by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop, also known as the Rat Pack.

First up, Kris sings The Way You Look Tonight! And I loved it. Kris is really getting stronger and stronger each week. High praises from all the judges, but Simon!

Alison sings Someone to Watch Over Me! At only 17 years of age, I thought she did that song justice. Again all the judges liked it, but Simon!

Matt sings My Funny Valentine! I actually didn't like his performance and neither did Randy and Kara. Paula liked it and this time so did Simon!

Danny sings Come Rain or Come Shine! The soul and blues came pouring out from Danny! I loved it! I thought it was his best performance of the competition. Finally, all four judges agree and loved his performance, and yes including Simon!

And last but not least, Adam sings Feeling Good! I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it as much as some of his past performances. All the judges liked him. And I have to agree with Randy that I thought it was a tad too theatrical. He's still my favorite though.

I have to give Kudos to Jaime Fox for mentoring the Idols this week! I thought he did a really great job.

My standout performance of the night (and surprisingly it wasn't Adam) was without question, Danny and second to him, Kris! Then Adam, then Alison and sorry to say but the performance I liked the least was Matt's. But because Simon told Alison that he thought she was in jeopardy, I threw all my 7 votes for her last night.

And that's my Recap! Keep on Rocking AI . . .

Here I go again . . .

Trip 2009!

I won't be having any THIS, but I hope to have some beautiful Skye!

PhotoHunt: Protect(ion)

The Yosemite Valley is the center piece of the Yosemite National Park and it was the relentless advocacy of preservationists like John Muir who championed it's protection by law under the federal government.

Nowhere will you see the majestic operations of nature more clearly revealed beside the frailest, most gentle and peaceful things. Nearly all the park is a profound solitude. Yet it is full of charming company, full of God's thoughts, a place of peace and safety amid the most exalted grandeur and eager enthusiastic action, a new song, a place of beginnings abounding in first lessons on life, mountain-building, eternal, invincible, unbreakable order; with sermons in stones, storms, trees, flowers, and animals brimful of humanity. ~ John Muir

And with an introduction like that, it was impossible to limit my photo selection to only one!

El Capitan ("the captain", "the chief") is a 3,000-foot vertical rock formation located on the North side of the Yosemite Valley . . .


Vernal Falls (Yan-o-pah (little cloud))taken from the Mist Trail is 317 feet high . . .


The Half Dome , located on the northeast end of the Valley is a granite crest rising more than 4,737 ft above the valley floor. The final 400 ft ascent is made with the help of two steel cables used as handholds.


The view from the top is breathtaking . . .




For more PhotoHunters go HERE!

AI Recap: Lil and Anoop says goodbye . . .

Tonight, Lil Rounds and Anoop Desai (sorry Annie) are eliminated. I expected that Lil would be eliminated but was sort of surprised that Anoop was also eliminated. I was even more surprised that Alison was in the bottom three. I'm going to really miss having Lil and Anoop perform during the show, but as young David Archuleta said to Anoop and Alison after his performance, this is just the beginning for them and there is going to be many, many opportunities for Lil and Anoop after Idol even though they did not make it all the way to the end. And if anyone should know, he would!

Lil and Anoop were both so gracious after learning that they have been eliminated from the competition. They are very talented and so nice and I really hope that they go on to have very successful careers!

BTW, there was a nice melody of disco songs performed by Freda Payne, Thelma Houston and KC and the Sunshine Band which I enjoyed. But I still say it would've been so cool to have had Donna Summer be a part of Disco week on Idol. Oh Well, maybe she wasn't available! :)

And that's my Recap! Keep on Rocking AI . . .

AI Recap: Dim all the lights, its Disco Week on Idol . . .

It's Disco night on AI and I've been looking forward to it for a week!
Ryan opens the show by announcing that two Idols will be eliminated since the judge's one and only save was used on Matt last week! That's going to make tonight's results show very hard to watch. Yikes!

And here's how it went:

Lil starts off with I'm Every Woman by Chaka Kahn. I love that song and although the judges didn't like her, I thought she was pretty good.

Kris performs She Works Hard for the Money by Donna Summer. I thought it was a creative and unique take on Donna's classic. And I have to agree with Paula in that it really did have a Carlos Santana vibe to it. Loved it!

Danny sings September by EWF! Love that song and loved his performance. The judges gave him some pretty high praise! Well, Simon did have one criticism about his stage performance, calling it clumsy again. I don't agree.

Alison sings the second Donna Summer song called Hot Stuff. She slowed it down and put her own hard edge spin on the song and I loved it! Simon called it a brilliant performance.

Adam sings If I can't Have you by Yvonne Elliman! Awesome performance! I really think that Adam is probably the most talented, most unique and most creative contestant to have ever competed on the American Idol show. Watching him perform each week is almost like watching a famous artist paint a great work of art! He was so good that poor Paula was an emotional wreck after! :)

Matt sings Staying Alive by the Bee Gees! Well, I'm not sure that he accomplished to stay alive with his performance. And Simon didn't like it too.

Anoop closes the show with Dim All The Lights (the third song of the evening by Disco Queen Donna Summer)! I really like Anoop and I think he is a great singer, but was it good enough? I guess we'll find out tonight!

My standout performance of the night: Without question (and by a very long mile), Adam Lambert! I also liked Kris, Alison, Danny and Anoop.

And that's my Recap! Keep on Rocking AI . . .

PhotoHunt: Purple

Having just watched a brilliant performance by Susan Boyle singing I Dreamed a Dream from the muscial play, Les Miserables, I was feeling quite inspired by her heartwarming story.

And while exchanging recent comments with AnnieNC about her, I somehow remembered a photo that I had taken of this cool theatre sign that I saw while cruising the streets of London after having just seen a wonderful muscial play called Blood Brothers with my friend! This was my first experience seeing a Musical Play in London, England and I loved it!



It's interesting that Susan Boyle's story reminded me that while growing up I always dreamed of seeing the world (especially Europe) and I'm actually doing it. So you know what? Dreams really do sometimes come true!



For more PhotoHunters go HERE!

She dreamed a dream . . . .

I heard of Susan Boyle from my blogging friends in my last post and last night I watched her sing in Britain's She's Got Talent 6 times already! Her story is what dreams are made of and I was so moved that I had to join Jane and Jerry by posting on my own blog about her. You delivered in your promise to not only make the audience in that theatre Rock but you made the world Rock!!

Thank you Susan Boyle!

AI Recap: Saved . . . .

No AI eliminations last night because the judges finally decided to use their save! And who was the recipient? Piano playing Matt! And leave it to Simon to throw some cold water on the happy for Matt contestants by reminding them that two Idols will be eliminated in the next two weeks, because there are no more Saves.

Simon went on to deliver the news that next week's theme is Disco songs and then rolls his eyes! So what's wrong with Disco??:) For all you disco voting fans, get out your polyester bell bottoms and platform shoes, it's Disco week next week on Idol! I'm curious who the mentor will be?

And that's my Recap. Keep on Rocking AI . . .

BTW, I really enjoyed seeing Jennifer Hudson perform again on the Idol Stage!

AI Recap: Songs from the Movies . . .

Last night's theme are songs from the movies and this week's mentor was movie director and American Idol fan, Quentin Tarantino. But before the competition begins, it is announced that only two judges will be commenting after each performance. Apparently, AI received a truck load of complaints from fans, because people were so upset when the show ran over last week and a lot of them who were recording it on their DVR's missed Adam’s performance. Looks like Adam is having an impact on the show in more ways than one! :)

Alison is first up with Aerosmith’s Don’t Want to Miss a Thing. I actually thought that she’s done better before, but I still loved her performance. And Simon picked her as being the lone female to hang in there with the guys in the end. I have to agree.

Anoop sings Look into Your Eyes by Bryan Adams. I thought he was pretty good. I didn’t get Quentin’s advice to him. Anoop just doesn’t have the kind of voice and style to pound the song like he was suggesting. I’m so glad that Anoop didn’t follow his advice! Smart!

Adam sings Born to be Wild! Talk about your high octane performances! I have to agree with Simon in that I loved his song last week better but I still thought it was a very powerful performance and I would be shocked if he didn’t move on.

Matt sings Have You Every Really Loved a Woman from the movie Don Juan. I thought it was good, but the judges (this time Randy & Kara) was a little more critical.

Danny sings Endless Love by Lionel Ritchie. I really love that song. And I loved his soulful performance of this classic, but the judges weren’t as high on his performance as I was.

Kris sings Falling Slowly from a movie called Once which I have not seen but he has. I thought it was the best performance of the night! The judges were split on it. Randy didn’t like it, but Kara loved it! I’m with Kara!

Lil ends the show by singing the Rose by Bette Midler (one of my favorite performers)! I thought it was good and probably her best performance, but I still sort of agree with Simon. I’m afraid she could be in jeopardy tonight.

According to my clock, they were over by 4 minutes! :)

My standout performance of the night goes to Kris! Next in line, Danny, Adam, Anoop and Alison. I think Lil could be in the bottom three and maybe Matt, but I’m not sure who the third bottom three will be. I do know that if Adam, Danny, Alison or maybe Anoop ends up in last place that the Save could be used! Not sure that they would use it to save Lil, Matt or even Kris. It's getting tougher and tougher each week.

And that’s my Recap! Keep on Rocking AI . . . .

And for Annie, here are two more photos of my Wine Bottle Flamenco Dress! Well, maybe it's more like a Flamenco Apron! It was showing just a tad too much bottle (in the back) for it to be a full dress! he he! :)

Spain Souvenirs: What I brought home from Spain . . .

Before I left for my Spain Trip last November, blogging friend Maria was so kind to post a thread on the Spain/Portugal Forum on Slow Travel: What to bring home from Spain! From her wonderful thread I was able to get some fantastic ideas from Maria and other fellow Slow Travelers of what kind of souvenirs I could bring home from Spain as a wonderful reminder of my trip! And here's what I got:

From Madrid, a book from the Prado Museum which provides a summary for some of the most famous pieces of artwork such as Velasquez's Las Meninas (This guide and notes from watching Sister Wendy's DVD which was recommended by AnnieNC was so helpful to me during my visit) and a rosary from the Almudena Cathedral . . . .




From Seville, a flamenco dress for my wine bottle, a beautiful print of a street in the Barrio Santa Cruz, beautiful fans and castanets . . . .







A letter opener sword from Toledo . . .



From Granada, a beautiful print (Alhambra), a little decorative plate and box . . .





From Ronda, I picked up this cute little bottle of Sangria . . .



I got a few postcards from each city/town that I visited.


And no matter what, I can never throw out the collection of stubs, train tickets, maps, museum brochures, etc.



I brought back a great collection of Spanish music too . . .



And finally, on my last full day in Granada, I spent the day trying to find a guitar making shop, but I got lost so I finally asked a local and was directed to this great shop owner.



I was a little worried at first on how I was going to manage to bring my guitar home, but it was easier than I thought it was going to be. On both flights, the agents were really cool. They tagged my guitar just in case the flight was going to be full and I wouldn't be allowed to bring my guitar in the cabin. They then told me to ask the flight attendants when I board if they can find a place for my guitar. On my first flight, they politely stored my guitar in the closet up front. And then on my second flight home, I asked this other guy who also brought a guitar on board if we could put our guitars together so it wouldn't take extra space and so no one would be able to throw their heavy carry on's on top of them. He said sure and it worked out really great for the both of us.

And here's a closer look at my most favorite souvenir, which I really love!



Thank you so much for all these great ideas Maria! I'm sure that I will enjoy these souvenirs for years to come and they will always remind me of my wonderful trip to Spain! Edited to add: I also have to say a big Thank you to AnnieNC for asking about my souvnirs when I commented about possibly doing a souvenir post like Maria's. Thanks for the nudge Annie! :)

PhotoHunt: Triangle

When traveling I enjoy waking up early and taking nice walks around town and sometimes these moments can be filled with delightful discoveries. Mother nature created this beautiful triangle shaped mountain in a small town called Flüelen, Switzerland.




For more PhotoHunters go HERE.

AI Recap: Class Act . . . .

Last night it was really sad to see Scott leave AI. The good news is that he will be on the Idol tour over the summer and with his talent I have a feeling that this won't be the last that we see of him.

Is it me or does Frankie Avalon appear never to age! The guy looks and sounds awesome and opened last night's results show with Venus! Loved it!

Well, the first up/bottom three jinx was finally broken last night when Danny didn't land in the bottom three. The shock was that Anoop did! Maybe some of his fans were still recovering from the exciting North Carolina Tar Heel NCAA championship celebrations that Annie wrote about in her blog HERE. :) I'm not as surprised that Lil landed in the bottom three but was surprised that Anoop received lower votes than she did being that I thought Anoop did way better.

I think from this point on, each performance is going to count and there will be no second chances of singing better the next time. I think the strongest top three has to be Adam, Danny and Matt, with Anoop and Alison following a distant third. Lil could be vulnerable next week if she doesn't do well again and Kris is the "x" factor. He has a strong following that seem to keep him in the competition and when he nails a performance he can actually be better than the top three. I can't wait to watch next week!

So that's my Recap! Keep on Rocking AI . . .

I'd like to end my post by sending my heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the families of the 250 victims killed and to the thousands of victims injured and displaced in the devastating earthquake that struck the Abruzzo area of Italy. I read on Girasoli's blog about a way I could help: Abruzzo Relief

AI Recap: Birthday songs . . .

Last night the 8 Idols picked songs from the year they were born. It's getting down to the wire and each performance is more important now than ever before. So here's how it went:

Danny started things off (the dreaded first up position) with Stand by Me, which I thought he sang really well.

Kris sings next with All She Wants to Do is Dance. He did okay, but I liked his performance last week so much better.

Lil sings next with What's Love Got to Do With It! Love that song and love her, but did feel like she was imitating Tina more than singing the song as Lil. I hope her fans keep her in the competition.

Anoop sings next and gives a "Go Heels" shout out! He sings True Colors and I loved it! After his performance Randy gives another shout out to the North Carolina Tar Heels and then gives high praises to Anoop! So Annie, two shout outs for your Tar Heels in one night on Idol! Pretty cool. All four judges loved Anoop's performance.

Scott sings next with The Search is Over. I really like Scott a lot, but this just wasn't one of his best performances.

Alison (the youngest Idol Contestant) sings I Can't Make You Love Me. She was awesome!

Matt sings Part-Time Lover by Stevie Wonder and I loved it! Perfect song choice for him.

And last but not least, Adam sings Mad World and was brilliant! Simon even gave him a standing ovation!

My standout performances of the night Adam, Matt, Anoop and Alison!

And that's my Recap! Keep on Rocking AI . . . .

My crazy weekend . . . And Go North Carolina Tar Heels!

Had another crazy race weekend, but all for a good cause . . . . some candid shots!

Awesome weather . . .


I found a great position for some excellent action shots...

This other photographer had the same idea and was sort of in my way . . .



The dude finally gets out of my picture frame, but . . .



As I look up I discover that suddenly the runners are running off the marked course where the cones are and I'm right smack dab in the middle of the course with runners charging on both ends . . . Yikes!



I managed to get myself out of that mess and took more random shots. Here's VRed from Muziq Unlimited, providing some great music. These two brothers are extremely talented and entertaining! I told VRed that they need to try out for American Idol!




My best friends, Steve & Bea(who finished 4th in their divisions), Yay! Thanks for coming out! You guys smoked this course! *Edited after reviewing the results, to add that Bea also finished 4th.



And thanks to my B2V Team mates who also came... Team 237 soon to be Team 220 in 2010, thanks for coming out!






And who can resist our little four-legged runners! I love it when they have their little racing Bibs pinned to their T-Shirts! :) So cute!



And I want to give a big shout out to AnnieNC and her North Carolina Tar Heels who play in tonight's NCAA finals! Go Heels! Whoo Hoo!

PhotoHunt: Stripes

For this week's PhotoHunt theme, I selected the Church of San Giovanni Battista located in the town of Monterosso al Mare in the Cinque Terre. Although under construction at the time it was so cool to visit this unique looking 14th century church in the old part of town. I really love this part of Italy!

And although a few days late, my photo of the month is of the small fishing village of Vernazza taken from the hiking trail above the town.




For more PhotoHunters go HERE!

Have a great Weekend everyone and Go Heels....!

AI Recap: Idols sing Top 100 iTunes Downloads . . .

This week the theme is "Top 100 iTunes Download" which gives the Idols a huge selection of songs to choose from.

Anoop opens the show up with an Usher song and although I really love Anoop, I wasn't really feeling it. I think it was more of the wrong song choice for me than his lack in talent or performance skills.

Megan sings a Bob Marley song and didn't really improve all that much from last week's train wreck (as Marcia commented). I have to agree with the judges. Her song choices and performances seems to be on the down slide. She was one of my top choices at the start of the competition and I'm sorry to say not so much now.

Danny sings a song that I haven't heard before and it was pretty good. He has such a soulful style and voice.

Alison sings Don't speak by No Doubt. She starts unplugged with her guitar then rips into her high energy style that I have grown to expect and love about her. I totally enjoyed it as usual. I wasn't as distracted by her outfit as the judges were.

Scott sings Just the Way You Are by Billy Joel. I thought he did pretty good and he got some high praises from the judges.

Matt sings You Found Me by The Fray! I'm not sure that I liked it. He has such a soulful voice and I think I like that style better for him. It looked like the judges felt the same way.

Lil sings I Surrender by Celine Dion. Although I really like Lil, I didn't like her song choice again. There had to have been a nice R&B song in the top 100 for her to choose from.

Adam sings Play that Funky Music by Wild Cherry! Wow! Only Adam could've pulled that classic song off! I love that song and I totally enjoyed his interpretation and performance. His look with the hair and the bell bottom hip huggers was . . . Retro meets Funk meets Adam Lambert all in one! I have to agree with Kara, I find myself looking forward to Adam's performance each week!

Kris sings Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers. I totally loved it! Brilliant performance.

My standout performances of the night: Adam and Kris by a country mile! :)

And that's my Recap! Keep on Rocking AI . . .