My Guy Finally WON!

Before I met Ted , I was not into Idol at all. I hate riding the trendy-train with everyone else. American Idol certainly holds the crown for popular band wagon. However, when Ted and I were dating he insisted that I watch Idol with him. He wanted to teach me all about the Idol ways and I wanted to cuddle so I went along with it. Well some where along the way I became hooked. I loved watching to see what crazy thing Kelly Pickler was going to do next or Taylor Hick's Vegas like performances. But what I really loved was Chris Daughtry. He had it all...the vocals, the look, the total package! What did America do...send him home! By the end of season five I was through with Idol forever!

Life went on...Ted and I got married...then it was time for Idol again. Being blissfully married I had totally forgotten how mad I was at the end of season five so I began watching Idol again. As much as I hate to admit it, my addictive personality gets so easily entangled into the whole Idol world. Yet again, I found myself tuning in every week to watch. First, I watched in dismay that Sinjaya who couldn't hit a note to save his life could make it to the top six. I actually enjoyed watching Gina and Chris rock out! Of course, Melinda Doolittle was phenomenal! She nailed the vocals every time and made her audience just want more and more...but yet again America sent her home. To make matters worse they chose a whiny teenie booper as the Idol over someone with original talent like Blake. Let's just say I am still ill about season six!

By the time this season of Idol came around, I was completely disinterested...or at least I tried to be. But I feel in love with Brooke White. I know she didn't give the best performances but I loved her bubbly personality. Besides if you put her in folk music she'll do great. while I loved Brooke I knew she didn't have a shot of actually winning. However, I was quite ticked when hippie dread locks guy made it farther than her. What was that all about? I have yet to find anyone who liked him! Moving on...my real vote went for David Cook. I believe he is the epitome of what Idol is...the look, the vocals, and the performance that keeps you wanting more. Now, David A's vocals were on spot every time, but he annoyed me because he didn't sing to his age group. The songs were too old for him therefore unbelievable in my book. Despite all of that, I was convinced he was going to win because my guy never wins. The teenie boopers have nothing else to do but hit redial for four hours so their guy always wins. But not tonight...my faith in Idol was restored when MY GUY FINALLY WON! So here's to you David Cook...Rock on!

DAVID VS DAVID

Ok, so tonight is the sing off between David & David on American Idol(I captured the image from the AI page..is that illegal?). I like both the guys a lot. I love AC type music(big Clay fan) & I enjoy modern pop/rock...so it's win win for me this year. I have a feeling if David A wins...they will push him into more of an R&B flav. I think he could do it, but not sure if people would believe him in that roll. Kind of like what happened with Katharine McPhee. She is AC, and for her to go the pop diva R&B route was just not believable. I was glad to hear she was going to do an album with David Foster. Right move on her part!! Now if David C wins, I just pray they let him have creative control over the vibe of the album. What we have seen from past winners(and finalists)...when they are pushed into a box that is not their own...they will not fit(Katharine, Bo, Taylor..etc). David C has a great thing going! He knows who he is musically, and has done some amazing things on the show this year!!! He has proved himself to be a true talent.

Anyways..those are my thoughts on AI for now. Should be good!!!! Let me know what you are thinking!!

P.S. Shana wants David Cook to win!

P.S. again......I CAN'T WAIT FOR MELINDA DOOLITTLE'S CD TO COME OUT!!!!!

Hi-Ho Hi-Ho...it's off to Portland we go! Well, not yet, but with us being in the last week of school...I'm dreaming of a white Christmas....I MEAN...I'm dreaming of a great vacation. Often people say..."Oh, must be nice being a teacher...get your summers off!!!!" Well, to those people...I say...YES IT IS! However, I know few teachers that actually have a full summer off. I'm trying to work as much as possible so I have the cash for grad school! However, Shana & I are taking a quick trip out to Portland, Oregon before I start teaching my summer camps & scrapbooking classes! Why Portland....WHY NOT?!?!? We actually have a close friend of ours out there right now...and thought this would be a great time to see the city! Per Shana's request...and Josh's great joy...I believe our trip is going to be based around great places to eat in Portland. I'm kind of along for the ride. I'm as happy at Taco Bell as I am some 5 star foodie heaven. When we went to Las Vegas for our anniversary in Dec.....that was the farthest west I had been. Portland will be a new record for me!! :o) Now Shana has been to CA a good bit...so she has me beat, but never to Portland. So we'll enjoy this new adventure together. It will be wonderful to get away & let the cares of the school year melt away...and have some time to dream of the future together.

What's in a Name

What's in a name? My name, Ted(and yes that is my given name), means "Gifted" in some translations. That's a lot to live up to!! ha ha I found one of those name mugs once that actually said "Gifted in the Arts & Musics". Crazy, eh?!?!?! My parents had not a clue when they named me that I'd be an artsy fartsy. However, what I see in my name is my father. His given name was Herman Edward Edinger, but everyone called him Ed. This picture is from my dad's garage. I snapped it the first time I took Shana up to Ohio to meet my friends & family...and to see where I grew up. It's funny..the ED part of Ted sticks out to me. The T is a little lower & a bit off from the ED. Maybe I'm just missing my dad. I wish Shana could have met him. He would have totally loved her(her beauty & firey personality would have won him over). He was a character!!! Never met a stranger, had a story for any situation, very funny, and extremely loyal to his family & friends. For sure I got his looks(I don't have any digital photos...or I'd show ya!)...and I got the "ed" for Ted....but I feel that he modeled that zest for life, family, & relationships to me...even if I didn't know it at the time. May is a tough month in regards to my dad. My parent's 38th anniversary would have been May 8th. My dad would have turned 59 May 14th. He was diagnosed with cancer in 1999 on the 21st & died on the 25th(yes...the same week!). I miss my dad. I didn't realize how much we had in common till he was gone....and that some of the best parts of me are directly from him. Sometimes people slip and call me Ed...people that never knew my dad...or knew that he was Ed. I don't really mind though...it reminds me I'm a lot like my father. And that's not a bad thing. We should be reminded we're more like our Father more often!!! So...what's in a name.....MEMORIES, LAUGHTER, TEARS, IDENTITY, HERITAGE, LOVE, & HOPE. I know, this isn't the most fluid of blogs, but my thoughts are a bit jumbled..and this is what fell out!

May is Here...The End Is Near!

No, this is not a dooms day blog. The end I am speaking of is the end of the school year!! Yes, teachers are MORE excited about summer than students!!! I personally just felt the need for summer to be here this week. A large number of my students have mentally checked out. I am finding myself repeating directions...reminding them to stay on task...redirecting behavior issues.....repeating directions(oh wait...I already said that).....more and more! I do love my job..and at this moment...I still love my job, but if it were not for summer break.....!!!!! Yes..I know...it is conditional love. They say that the reason summer break began was because of the farmers need to have their kids home working the land, but I'd like to challenge that. I believe there is a story that was covered up.....of a school system that made the kids go year round...with breaks no longer than a week(Christmas & Easter...that's it!). No one survived....THE END. So...that was the start of summer vacation. IT HAS TO BE!!! FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHILDREN...AND THE TEACHERS!!!!!! SUMMER BREAK IS OF GOD!!!! TRUST ME!!! :o) ha ha

Good Bye Brooke White

American Idol's Brooke White had been a fav. of mine, but as I said in a prior post...she kind of lost "IT".  However, she should not have gone home tonight.  And although Syesha Maercado is one of my least fav. people in the competition(has been since the beginning!!!)....she did not deserve to be in the bottom two tonight(she's actually done really well the past two weeks...good for her!).  Jason Castro...the dread head...SHOULD HAVE GONE HOME!!!!!!!!!!  America got it wrong!  WAY WRONG!!!  He sounds exactly the same on every song he has sung.  There is something about having a recognizable sound...but there is also something to say(and not good) about sounding the same no matter the song.   Though an all male final three would be a first for American Idol...he needs to go ASAP!!!!!!!!!  

SIDE NOTE:  I really like how Ryan handled the Paula situation.  I must say...it was one of the craziest things I'd ever seen from Paula....but what Ryan did was one of the kindest things I'd seen out of the entertainment industry.  

I love my wife!

Shana has gone over & above to make me feel loved & special during my "birthday weekend"(who knew ya got a whole weekend?!?!).  A wonderful date night Friday night...a card informing me she was going to get me a new laptop for grad school....a pancake breakfast w/ blackberry syrup(I love blackberries!!!!!!!!)...and now she's working on my birthday cake for tomorrow nights cookout with friends(actual birthday is tomorrow.. April 28th).  YES...I KNOW I'M BLESSED!!!! :o)