Amie Stuart ~ On the Back Porch

Bad insomnia last night–thank you Kara (who got her nose double bitchslapped by the cat at 3 AM).

I did catch up on some season finales including NCIS *WTF?* damn, Criminal Minds (OMG), and Gossip Girl *sigh* I still have about three weeks of LAO and SVU to watch and OMG did anyone watch the season finale for CSI Las Vegas? I nearly fell out!!!!

In other news NAILED goes on sale TUESDAY!

HANDS ON finaled in the First Coast Beacon contest (published) and I’m chatting at FARChatters today! So pop in and say hey!

A strange thing has happened the last few mornings. I woke up happy. I know this might seem strange but normally I just wake up. The last two mornings I’ve woken up almost GIDDY. (I Should probably save this for my Monday blog post at SFC but oh well)

Strange indeed and I can’t explain the happiness (despite the impending deadline). Spring is here, the book is coming along, I have no kids this weekend, and life is good. I feel optimistic and dare I say, poised on the edge of something, almost as if I’m holding my breath….waiting.

So what’s the point of all of this?

I watched Eli Stone this morning. And if you’re not familiar with Eli you have no idea what you’ve been missing. Eli is a lawyer at a top San Fransisco law firm who suddenly begins having halucinations. All of which are geared toward him taking cases involving underdogs, helping the common man etc. It involves George Michael and has a real spiritual bent to it–because Eli’s acupuncturist/friend believes that Eli is a prophet. The truth of the matter is Eli has an (almost) inoperable brain aneurysm that they think are causing his visions–except his visions keep coming true. So, I’m watching last week’s episode–the one about the earth quake, where Eli’s boss (Victor Garber from Alias who I LURVE) nearly gets voted out of the company while Eli is trying to get the city to close the Golden Gate bridge because he believes this HUGE earthquake is coming.

So anyway Victor makes this wonderful speech about how every company, every law firm, every-body needs an Eli to basically keep them human. I had chills and I sat there watching it (and yes I know it’s TV *eyeroll*) praying PRAYING that Eli was right and that the earthquake really was going to happen.

Meanwhile in court this fringe scientist who also has predicted this earthquake gets on the stand and he said something that really hit me, so I ran for a pen and jotted it down.
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Michael Johns went home. Who here thinks we haven’t seen the last of him? Who here was surprised?

I had a blog topic but I forgot it so instead I’ll point you to Jackie’s sale story! It’s quite a wild ride and I’m honored I got to witness it first-hand!

Business then pleasure!!!!!!! The fabulous Rocki St. Claire is guest blogging today at SFC about her new release and what she does to celebrate finishing a book!

Last night on American Idle the contestants had to sing a song from the year they were born. All I can say is it made me feel REALLY OLD! Because I knew almost all of them. I mean hell David Archuletta was born three years before my oldest child.

Before I get to my recap I thought it might be fun to look at the songs that were popular when I was born–keeping in mind that I”m too old to be on AI anyway.

1. Aquarius, Fifth Dimension
2. Sugar, Sugar, Archies
3. I Can’t Get Next To You, Temptations
4. Honky Tonk Women, Rolling Stones
5. Build Me Up Buttercup, Foundations

WTF? Let’s try THIS LIST:
1969
1. Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
2. Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater Revival
3. I Want You Back - Jackson 5
4. Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones
5. Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival
6. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby, Stills & Nash
7. Dazed And Confused - Led Zeppelin
8. Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones
9. Come Together - Beatles
10. I Can’t Get Next To You - Temptations

MUCH BETTER!!!!!!!!!! Okay I’m going to put my recap below the cut for anyone who hasn’t seen it. All I can say is I almost didn’t watch but I’m SO glad I did.
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Otherwise known as Amie’s American Idel recap!

Did you watch? What did you think? I’m putting it below the cut for Amanda.

Ooooooooo Anne Frasier is over at SFC Today blogging behind the book
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Trying to watch American Idol while your children are jamming out to Rock Band. I NEVER thought I’d say this but if i hear Wanted Dead or Alive one more time….someone’s gonna die.

So let’s get to the girls…
1. Asia’h “Extra” Epperson–I wonder what movie she was an extra in. She did Whitney–and frankly I knew she was in trouble because Simon busts on ANYONE who does Whitney. Why I dunno….anyway I thought it was weak at the beginning and it sounded like she blew it at the end. No, Paula, she didn’t hit the note.

2. Kady Malloy–You’re so forgetable I don’t remember what your embarrassing moment is. I didn’t know the song. I thought it was horrible–made worse when I found out it was Queen. You were pitchy and flat and you….are NOT the next American Idol. I totally agree w/Simon in that you have NO personality when you sing. You’re like a robot. Just go back and watch the tapes. Seriously dude.

3. Amanda Overmeyer–Joan Jett?! Sweet! Great job….I though this was her strongest performance yet.

4. Carly “Greased Up” Smithson–Dude…I thought it was solid. She’ll probalby end up in the top 12 but she wasn’t stellar, knock it out of the park for me.

I think this was the point where Paula, who is actually coherent tonight accidentally insulted the crowd by calling some of them mutts because I have a note here that says someone called Carly a dependable dog. I kinda agree w/Simon about the wrong song thing.

OH and another thing…while on Boys night Paula said the boys were all wonderful and talented, on Girl’s Night it was all about apperances–but at least she was coherent if not useful. (I’m going to try and be nice–cuz you know if I found out Paula had like health problems that made her act like that I’d feel bad)

5. Kristi Lee “Dog” Cook–Very daring doing a Journey song because you KNOW Randy is going to be all over you and not in a good way, but I think she did a good job. There was a part of me that kept expecting JUST a little more and I never got it–she blew the high note. I disagree w/Simon–I don’t think she’s forgettable.

6. Ramiele Mulabye?–I totally missed her embarrassing moment. I totally agree w/Simon that shew as predictable and I was a little bored even though I think she did a good job. She just really hasn’t impressed me like she did in Hollywood week.

7. Brooke White–Pat Benatar?! Does anyone remember that movie, The Legend of Billie Jean? I LOVED that movie…okay anyway, I actually like the acoustic and I know it’s difficult. I totally agree w/Simon here..it’s NOT a song that would have suited her and i was surprised when I heard she was doing it but she totally made it her own. I really liked it though I kinda felt like I was waiting on the punch line–I also realize she doesn’t have the powerhouse voice some of the other girls have, she’s much more low-key and that’s okay

Ok what is Simon so tickled about? He’s in a good mood.

8. Syesha Mercado–She’s so cute. And solid…much like Carly I think she’s very dependable and i agree w/Simon that it was a bit predictable. I really expected worse feedback for her–after all she did Whitney *eyeroll*

So who’s going home? DEFINITELY KADY. Her time has come to go. The other one is a tough call. Syesha? Ramiele? Asia’h? Or Kristi Lee? (who I really like an I really think she needs to be around–the show could use a nice solid country influence).

BTW was reading Country Music Weekly–hello Gary was in it–and Phil Stacey has an album coming out SOON! They had a pic of him and everything and I’d forgotten how cute he is!

NO writing! I ran errands all afternoon and cooked!!! Yes, I suck. Sven is going to beat me

Or took off her weave. I’m not sure which but it didn’t improve her speaking skills AT ALL!

1. Luke “Jitterbug” Menard–My dude What the WHAM were you thinking? You sounded like a really bad George Michael impersonator. Like REALLY. BAD. I agree w/Simon you sounded girly. Like 12 YO’s at a slumber party singing along with the radio girly. Buh-bye now.

2. David “Social Conscience” Archuletta–Good interpretation of a Phil Collins song but I have to agree w/Simon again–lighten up. You’re only seventeen. Not sure I agree w/Simon about you being in the season finale (Top 2? Ummm you and Michael Johns)

3. Danny “TMTH” Noriega--I’m totally laughing my freaking ass off over Tainted Love. What a song pick. MY DUDE! That said I’m not sure I liked it. It was definitely interesting. I think you’re just a little too over the top but I DONT agree w/Simon on this one. I almost think Simon was either a) Goading Danny or b) Goading VFTW

Paula…WTF was that mass incoherency? If you watch…all night….she’ll go to compliment whoever is singing, then stop IN THE MIDDLE and say ALL THE BOYS ARE WONDERFUL! WTF

4. David “Boogie” Hernandez–okay that was almost TOO easy Um WTF…….Celine Dion? What. The. F*ck! I wonder whose vote you were working for last night? Because that was totally…just…WRONG!

5. Michael “The Roo” Johns–Okay, I’m sorry but I totally laughed at his story about getting beat up. Totally disagree w/Simon here. I thought it was a great song, great interpretation and great vocals. He’s got SUCH a strong voice and IMO Star Quality stage presence.

6. David Cook–HELLOOOOOOO, I don’t remember what your embarrassing moment was. He doesn’t leave much of an impression on me. I almost wish he’d left the guitar at home. I don’t agree w/Simon that it was was risky and/or exceptionally done. It was a good interpretation–very alt rock/emo vibe but I just didn’t care for it. It’s a taste thing IMO.

7. Jason “Loose Dreads” Castro–You are so funny and so cute I just want to pinch your head off and hang it from my–oh wait. Sorry. I LOVE This song, don’t know the name of it but he has SUCH a PURE voice. I thought it was really great–not his best, but great. I didn’t get the degree of difficulty thing though I do know singing with just a guitar is hard.

8. Chikezie–I don’t remember your embarrassing moment either but who the hell cares. I totally disagree w/SImon–I don’t think it was Cabaret; I thought it was wonderful and strong. Ignore him, my pet. You gave me chills.

Sooooooo who’s going home? Paula? Can we vote her off the island? Seriously, overall I don’t think ANYONE sucked–except for Luke “WTF” Menard. I do think because of VFTW we might see someone who doesn’t deserve to go home yet leave us on Thursday.

Going Home: LUKE MENARD and….I dunno. Maybe Danny or one of the Davids–again I think it’ll be someone who doesn’t quite deserve to leave yet.

*I got pages last night. going to try and catch up on my Sven writing this afternoon but I have to buy food and get a haircut.
* I had a dream last night. Early this morning. Someone was singing “New York, New York” — it was bizarre but I’ve been having a lot of nightmares lately. Most of which I can’t remember other than having the bejesus scared out of me.