WHO WILL BE THE NEXT IDOL?

Well, so far I've narrowed it down to my top four. Here they are for your viewing pleasure. Let me know which you think should win the title. By the way, I used to make fun of people who watched this show, but I really think these 4 have talent, so they've won me over...

HOPEFUL #4

HOPEFUL #3

HOPEFUL #2

HOPEFUL #1

CRYIN'

cryin', originally uploaded by goodbyepisces.

GRIEF

Mourning with you...sorry Washington about your Super Bowl loss...

MY FAVORITE THINGS

A&W Wuppets, originally uploaded by Neato Coolville.

Here's the short this of some favorite things (in addition to pom pom A&W Wuppets) --

First line to get rid of automatic indent

Running on a Saturday morning

Floppy-eared dogs

Contrast

Innovation

Piano music so beautiful it makes me cry

Playing with toys

The feel of paper

Hot bread & butter

Spiced Chai Latte

Making a new friend

Burying myself in the bed with a book

Pulling on comfortable shoes

Learning something new

Birthday parties

Taking snapshots

Telling stories

Originality

Color-drenched photographs

Vinyl LP’s

Words

A FLICKR FAVORITE

Autumn Walk, originally uploaded by moonjuice.

If you haven't checked out flickr, what are you waiting for? Stop by, pick a few favorites, join a group or two, maybe even start one of your own... Get goin', why don'tcha?

GOSSIP AND POLITICS

The State of the Union got me thinking about gossip and politics. Here are my thoughts.

Most people from Judeo-Christian backgrounds would probably profess to hating gossip. Even the gossips would admit that it's a vice needing repentance.

But what about Historians? Do they need to repent of their wicked ways? After all, isn't history just plain-ol' gossip about dead people?

And here's a similar thought I heard attributed to Jay Leno that I think bears repeating: Isn't Politics really just Show Business for ugly people?

Any thoughts?

FEVER

I've got the Fever...(but not for Pringles). I formed another group on flickr, bringing the total up to 2 within 24 hours. I sent out invitations, and people are joining! Fun, right?

So here are the links in case you want to check them out:

RECOLORED

WELCOME HOME

INVITATION

Here's an open invitation: Any and all are welcome to join my new group on flickr - Here's a link. I searched and couldn't find another one like it to join, so I made my own. The name of the group is RECOLORED.

PUNKY POWER!

photo snagged from soaresantiques.com

I was talking to Pauline about Kangaroo Tennis Shoes. As kids, we both had a pair of them. Mine had zippers on the side pockets; hers had velcro. I used the pockets to store 2 dimes - my milk money for the day. Do you remember those shoes? They looked stylin' with my tight-rolled jeans or my parachute pants, Ocean Pacific shirt, Swatch, friendship bracelets and friendship beads.

Dukes of Hazard lunchboxes...Izod shirts...Garbage Pail Kids stickers and cards...Transformers and MASK... Can you believe all of these things are sold at ANTIQUE STORES now? Can you believe that The Cosby Show and The Facts of Life are played on oldies TV stations now?

What do you remember about the '80's? Need to jog your memory? Check out RETRO JUNK. I especially enjoyed their video collections.

NON-EPIPHANY

Is there such a thing as the opposite of an epiphany? I'm not talking in a religious jargon sense about the manifestation of the Divine Christ. I'm talking about that instantaneous manifestation of mental clarity when you cry, "Eureka!" (not always in the tub like ole' Archimedes). Would it be an anti-epiphany? How would you know you were having it?

I'M CHERRY PIE A LA MODE

I'm propped up in bed, watching President Bush give his State of the Union Address, typing happily on my HP. I just took a couple of goofy online quizzes to see what flavors of pie and ice cream I would be. I glanced around the room, and I thought, "This is a moment I want to remember."

You Are Cherry Pie

You're the perfect combo of innocent and sexy Those who like you enjoy a contradiction

What Kind of Pie Are You?

Your Icecream Flavour is... French Vanilla!

You're a smooth and silky suave type! You exude class and you believe in tradition. A classical taste who doesn't like things to be too flashy or showy. Climb the Eiffel tower of taste with a spoonfull of you! Oui Oui!

What is your Icecream Flavour?

Find out at Go Quiz

WELL, HAVE YOU EVER?

What a swell party this is... (If you get that movie reference, then 5 bonus points for you.)

HAVE YOU EVER...

Smoked a cigarette: NO
Wrecked a car: NO
Stolen a car: NO
Gotten a speeding/parking ticket: NO
Been dumped: YES
Shoplifted: YES
Been fired/laid off: NO
Been in a fist fight: NO
Snuck out of your parents' house: NO
Been arrested: NO
Gone on a blind date: NO
Lied to a friend: YES
Skipped school: YES
Seen someone die: NO
Been to Mexico: NO
Been to Europe: YES
Eaten sushi: YES
Met someone in person you met on the internet: NO
Taken pain killers: YES
Had a tea party: YES
Cheated while playing a game: YES
Fallen asleep at work: YES
Used a fake ID: NO
Had surgery: YES
Felt an earthquake: NO
Experienced a tornado/hurricane: YES
Thrown-up in a public place: YES
Touched a snake: YES
Been robbed: YES
Broken a bone: NO
Slow danced with someone you love: YES
Petted a deer/goat: YES
Won a contest: YES
Hit a home run: YES
Been suspended from school: NO
Been in a car accident: YES
Made a speech: YES
Partied till dawn: YES
Had braces: NO
Gotten stitches: YES
Been spanked: YES
Sat/Stood in a corner: YES
Eaten a pint or more of ice cream in one night: YES
Witnessed a crime: YES
Swam in the ocean: YES
Climbed a moutain: YES
Been struck by lightning: NO
Flown: YES
Sailed: YES
Sung karaoke: YES
Snuck into a movie: NO
Paid for a meal with only coins: YES
Laughed until a beverage came out of your nose: YES
Been kissed under mistletoe: YES
Crashed a party: NO
Slept in church: YES
Worn pearls: NO
Had braces: NO
Slept in a cabin/tent: YES
Jumped off a bridge: NO
Eaten pet food: NO
Kissed a mirror: NO
Bowled a strike: YES
Glued your hand to something: YES
Done a one-handed cartwheel: NO
Cheated on a test: YES
Talked on the phone for more than 6 hours: YES
Skipped showering for a week: YES
Gone skinny dipping: NO
Picked and eaten fruit right off the tree: YES
Been told by a complete stranger that you're cute: YES

WE'VE SECRETLY REPLACED...

...today's post with **NEW** Folger's Crystals! Let's see if anyone can tell the difference.