Whine & Cheese

Delaying It Straight

How bad can a reality show be that Fox (yes Fox!!) pulls it from the schedule after three weeks?! Well, Playing It Straight has done it...while it is a little frustrating to have it pulled before it reaches its climax (so to speak)... I admit I am not terribly disappointed....happily it is one more hour (well 43 TiVo minutes) that can be filled with yet another TV program! Rumors are swirling that PIT will return to air its full run or unaired episodes in July...but whatever.

Already on the Fox website is The Casino, Survivor producer Mark Burnett's latest entry which "will provide an extraordinary 24/7, behind-the-scenes look at the real-life dramas unfolding at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, as its new owners, Tim Poster and Tom Breitling, take over the business and attempt to bring back the glory of its Rat Pack heyday.

Premieres June 8th... you know I am all over this one!

American Idol Week 3: Funk You

I don't think the Funk Brothers' legacy will increase any after being the house band for Motown Night on last night's American Idol...though I guess I should give them props for effectively drowning out some of the so-so performances. Don't have all that much to comment on (well, once again we learn...guest judges are useless!!)...but here are the notables:

Camile Velasco - The first victim of being drowned out by the Funk Brothers...she didn't seem as nervous last night, but this is not a voice that deserves to stick around much longer.

If Camille has anyone to thank it should be John Stevens. I have never felt there was a place in this contest for his throwback vocal stylings... but his "My Girl" was horrid. Totally off-key any time he tried to stray from his usual monotone. If he does not make bottom 3 tonight, he is going far ... thanks to some kind of rabid fan-base.

Wasn't feeling Diana DeGarmo tonite. I though her "Do You Love Me" was shouty and she was trying too hard to get the "connection" w/ the audience. If landing in the bottom 3 last week was any indication of her lack of public appeal...she might end up there again tonite.

I liked Jon Peter Lewis better this week than last...I thought it was a good song choice ("This Old Heart Of Mine")...but still don't get his overall appeal. Unscathed last week, I would suspect he is safe again this week.

After her success last week, Amy Adams went up-tempo again... but guess what this week she made a fast song boring...injecting nothing new into "Dancing In The Streets."

Similarly I think Jennifer Hudson was trying to hard to inject that "Jennifer personality" back into her performance...too vampy.

That leaves the top 4...in descending order I would place them: Jasmine (earning the "Ballsy" Award for singing an Ashford & Simpson song in front of A&S), LaToya (not quite a knockout performance, but still has the best voice & control), George (definitely in his element, but what's with the sweat rag?)... and Fantasia - she is simply an original and the complete package of personality, performance & voice.

The Real Southwest? / Introducing the F.A.G. List

Caught up on a couple of episodes of A&E's Airline last night...this is the reality-documentary show that follows Southwest Airlines' staff and passengers as they cope with traveling challenges...and often with each other. Who "wins" is anyone's guess... I can't imagine anyone watching this show and not think twice about booking a flight on Southwest. I have flown Southwest several times (mostly short jaunts to Vegas) and I have never had any problems with them...but despite being one of the few successful carriers out there this show more often than not shows them in a poor light.

But is it the airlines or the type of passengers they seem to draw? Do I want to be sharing a seat with a passenger that is a) drunk, b) rude, c) senile, d) wacky, or e) all of the above. The show makes you think that 85% of passengers fall into one of these categories. But I guess boring passengers like me don't make for good airplay on a TV show. So I will continue to be amused by the show...until something like what happens on the show every week plays out for me in real life.

I just imagine Yolanda has risen to rock star status by now over at LAX...she seems pretty cool!
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As another added service to my blog, I thought I would help out the poor folks who land on this site thanks to a search engine a little bit more. Why they click on what is obviously a blog is a totally different issue!

I have already created an index of my American Idol-related blog entries - by far the most popular search topic ever for my blog.

But there are other topics...well actually men...that bring folks to my blog over and over and over again. So I figured I would do my best to answer their search requests. So I introduce my F.A.G - Frequently Asked (by) Googlers (also referenced on the sidebar to the right).

The first two honorees into my F.A.G Hall of Fame:
Josh Duhamel and Nate Berkus

The "Family"

Is jet-lag contagious? Todd made it home safely from France, but today it has felt like I am the one who had a 12+ plus flight. I have no real excuse, we took it pretty easy this weekend. Oh well, I guess the good thing is that I have pretty much sleep-walked through the day...I have been busy with work and some of it probably would have annoyed me, but my tiredness has kept me pretty even-keeled.

We are still a week behind on The Sopranos -- we caught last Sunday's episode (not the one aired last night) and I have to say I was pretty bored with it... well, mostly confused...the mob-related plots have always been a little muddy for me (Who's the boss, who works for who, how are they all connected, etc.) so this particular episode ("Where's Johnny") was just one of those I mentally slogged through and hope that things become clearer in the future. I really hate "not getting" stuff.

Granted I "get" all the stuff that is going on over at Playing It Straight but what I don't get is how people can still be so ignorant when it comes to stereotypes...
in this case, gay stereotypes. I guess we are all supposed to be perfectly coiffed, gym-pumped bodied, smooth-skinned...but not masculine and incapable of carrying on a conversation with a woman. What gets me on this one is that the gay guys are just evil in their attempt to secure the cash prize -- more than any other "romance" reality show...I have not seen one iota that anyone (straight guys included!) are really in this love. It is just a bunch of guys looking to walk off with some cash here and a gal who is just befuddled ("I have to figure out who's gay...goshdarnit" or some version of that is uttered by her at least 17 times p/hour) by the fact that gay guys can really just look and act like their straight counterparts! Groundbreaking... I am really not all that sure. The ratings pretty much suck for this show anyway...so I guess it really does not matter!

London Calling

I see the light at the end of the tunnel..."flying solo" week is coming to an end as Todd is hopefully on a British Airways flight from London back to Phoenix (after his first two hour flight from France earlier today). The flight is already about an hour behind schedule so I am guessing there are some major headwinds since the plane was not all that late leaving the gate at Heathrow.

So I survived the week. It was one of the fast week/slow week combos. In the big picture, I guess it went by quickly...but during, it seemed like it really dragged (actually it does seem like he has been gone forever). So let's go back to Monday's "goals" and see how I did:

Sleeping In: Pretty good here...in that I didn't. The latest I slept in was 7:30a... and that was only one day...I am usually "in the office" around 7:00a most days, so not bad. Though should give credit to Toby and Mindy, two dogs are much more efficient/persistent alarm clocks than anything that may sit on your night table.

Eating: Again pretty good... though I did not do any "home cooking." It was a fairly fast-food week - but I rarely do that anymore and my choices were not terribly unhealthy. On the dog front it was a little different, Toby was in his wacko delay/defense mode... in that he doesn't start eating until Mindy is done with her food... then he wolfs it down, keeping a sharp eye on her if she approaches his food bowl. But no dog fights over it.

Working Out: Now the "failures" begin...haha! I had good intentions of getting back to the gym this week...but it didn't work out (hardee har har..). Both days I planned to go ended up being hell-ish work-wise. Tuesday I worked on-and-off from about 7am to 8pm and yesterday was another big fire drill day. But I was looking at/feeling my arms and they actually seem to be in pretty good shape (okay, I am shallow and just want big(ger) biceps)...so maybe what they say about "resting" your muscles so they grow is true....but I do have to get going again!

TV/Computer: More computer than TV. I guess the computer feels more interactive...feel like I am doing something instead of just observing... yeah, all that clicking and scrolling really keeps one busy! But I think I got most of the stuff off the TiVo that I had planned on...

Reading: Just did not happen...ugh! Does reading blogs count?!

One thing that hit me mid-week was the total lack of conversation/speaking I had this week. It is just weird to think that I probably have not talked for more than 1-2 hours in total since Sunday night. A few quick phone chats with clients, my business partner, and Mom...a few exchanges at the pet store, casino, and convenience store... talking to the dogs and the TV...but that is about it!

So at least that explains my blog ramblings this week...but I guess that excuse won't cut it next week. Have a good weekend folks!

Idol Week 2 Results: Roger(s) and Out

My finger still can not quite find pulse of the American public in regards to American Idol. I finally liked Matt a little on Tuesday... his voice sounded better (even if the song was a bit vanilla) and he turned down the obnoxiousness level...but I guess that is not what America was looking for. While I don't think he ever stood a chance of winning (or even getting half-way thru), as I said yesterday, I thought he would have lasted for a couple of more weeks. Now the betting is on for how long Camille can keep hanging on...

The bigger surprise of the evening was Diana losing the final stand-off with Amy. While Amy certainly deserved to stay after her comeback performance, given last week's results it would have seemed that she didn't stand a chance vs. Diana. But it was the 'ole "fooled ya!" I think Diana was vulnerable since she performed first... and at this stage, with so many contestants, by the time the show ends it is tough to remember WHO performed first let alone how they did. And btw... Paula (just in case you're reading) I was impressed with Diana's last long note...but "groundbreaking"?? I guess someone wasn't able to get to the pharmacy yesterday. I also think Diana may have been perceived as "safe" ... but who knows, at this point it will probably be a Jon Stevens/Jon Peter final for all I know.

Thought K-Lo was looking good last night...but who is writing these songs for these ex-Idols? I think "8th World Wonder" pretty much out-awfuls Ruben's "Sorry 2004."

Jackpot!

As you know, I am by my lonesome this week. So this afternoon I thought I would give myself a mid-week treat and head off one of the local Indian casinos for a little video poker action. Todd is not the biggest fan of gambling, so I figured it was something for me to do while he was away...and he really would not mind at all.

The Harrahs-run casino is not all that bad on the comps... today they were offering me $20 for just walking in the door as well as tripling my comp points... and since those comps got me 3 free nights at the Rio for my trip with my parents next month...I figured it was worth building them up.

Things didn't start off that well on ... but I guess I blew it with the title...so no sense building up the suspense Triple Play quarters....so I moved over to Ten Play dimes (Triple Double Bonus or something like that)... the machine had the worst video screen...even 1 foot away from it I felt like I was missing a contact lens or something... so I wasn't planning on staying there all that long.

But w/in 5 minutes on it.... I was dealt 4 Deuces... this is one of the premium 4-of-a-kinds on this game... 400 coins p/hand...but it also offers a "kicker" bonus if the 5th card is a 2, 3, 4, or Ace....a payout of 2000 coins p/hand. I held the 4 Deuces... and got 5 hands with the kicker!!! So 12,000 credits... or $1200!! Wow! My biggest one-hit ever!

Now the bad news (well, not exactly there is no BAD news in this story!)... guess what your winnings have to be on video poker/slots in order for you NOT have to report it to the IRS... you got it, under $1200... so I had to wait for a W-2 and all that... oh well... I just hope it is still around by next tax season!

American Idol Week 2: It's A Little Bit Country

It was Country Music night on American Idol...or should I it was the OC...no
not that other Fox show...but over-correction night! George didn't dip, Fantasia wasn't funky, John Peter didn't spazz out, Matt knocked it down a few notches, and Amy finally sang a song that befit her hair color!

Bottom Bunch
We didn't need Simon to tell us that Camile's nerves still have the best of her... shaky vocals once again will likely put her where she belonged last week...in the bottom three "we'll find out after the commercial" torture chamber. She would be my vote "out" at this point.

After rebounding on my list last week Jon Peter falls back down with a truly awful song choice - Kenny Rogers "She Believes in Me"... very shallow sounding...after the line-dancing segment, I was thinking he really should have sang "Achy Breaky Heart" ...I know he was trying "different"...but it just reminded me that, without all those distractions, his vocals are not great.

I am going to go out on a limb and place Jasmine Trias in my bottom 3 this week...though I certainly don't think she deserves or will go. Just a so-so version of Faith Hill's "Breathe"...I think the problem with picking such a popular and contemporary song is that it begs to be compared with the original...and in that sense I don't think Jasmine got even close to Faith.

Okay John Stevens almost made it to my middle group this week - he picked a song that was well in his comfort zone and his "King of the Road" was probably my favorite performance of his thus far. That said...still utterly expressionless and painful in the performance department.

Middle Earth
I like the mellower Matt Rogers. I agree with Randy that is was his best vocal performance thus far... which should earn him at least a couple more weeks in the competition...and no verbal smackdowns with Simon this week...I hope this is a sign of things to come.

I like Jennifer Hudson and thought she did a good job last night, but given last week's results show I would not be surprised at all if she is the one to go this week. Can't put my finger on it - I think she rubs folks the long way...despite being one of the better singers, I think she is not distinctive enough in this group.

Not much to say about George Huff...he kind of wimped out by picking a country song that is perhaps more better well-known for its pop/soul incarnation...but he did a good job with it. As Randy says "Aaight"...just a bit "safe" as they say.

Amy Adams seems like a fun girl and it was finally good to see her have some fun on stage with the Dixie chicks' "Sin Wagon." She needed to break out of her balladry and there was no better song to do it with than this one...and she sounded great to boot. Just as a sidenote, there was a little censorship going on ... the songs real lyrics talk about doing some "mattress dancing" (i.e. the horizontal tango)...but I guess even Fox was too afraid of the wrath of FCC and opted to for substitute some "crazy" dancing.

There is little doubt that Diana DeGarmo has perhaps the technically best of the group...the "technically" is perhaps what will get her in trouble...effortless but lacking some human emotion. But what can you say about that incredible last nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooote.

Top 2
Boring, boring, boring...but...

LaToya was on fire with her take on Garth Brooks' "Ain't Goin' Down"... totally channeling Tina Turner...half expected her to break it out into a "Proud Mary" mega-mix. Hard song to do with more than a mouthful of words...and poor Josh Gracin had to actually be in the audience to see his own personal best performance quite easily eclipsed.

Always On My Mind is one of my favorite songs and Fantasia certainly did not change that. A stirring and soulful rendition...and she really performed it...put emotion in it...and as was said proved that she wasn't a "one trick pony"...real nice change-up.

Shack at TWoP has a wondeful re-cap of last night's show ... go here to check it out. I only wish I could be that observant and witty!

The Return of... I've Been Googled!

Okay just out of topics today. Didn't sleep well last night and my workload is just kind of not doing it for me...so just in a "ugh" type of mood....just very, very unfocused in general! So rather than whine about that (and do so badly), I will fallback on what is to become a regular feature of my blog...trumpets please!....I've Been Googled! These are actual Google (okay Yahoo, MSN, etc too...but it is more fun to say GOOGLE!) searches that landed folks on this site:

Yahoo! Search Results for: breakout of small bumps all over the body
Ewwww.. thankfully I didn't write about this specifically or unfortunately for this
poor person... hopefully they headed over to WebMD (not that they're much help either over there!)

Google Search: clay aikens dating
Not sure why the plural on this search...when I referred to "Aikens" in my blog I was using as a noun defined as "a dorky breakout star with an amazing voice competing on nationally televised singing show." But being a person who tries to keep up w/ gossip... I have not heard anything about Clay dating...or whether that would be a guy or a gal (btw, no strong gaydar beeping for me on Mr. Aiken...I think he is just a shy Southern boy who did not have confidence w/ the ladies...well, wait a minute that was me when I was growing up, well except for the Southern part).

Google Search: "nate berkus" official site
When looking for an "official" website it is always worth taking a wild stab at
something like this: www.nateberkus.com, it is his design firm page...so don't get all excited and expect to see pictures of him sh*rtless or n&de or n#ked...keep searching folks!

Well that's it for today... guess I better start writing some stuff that will come u with more intriguing searches. See you tomorrow with the Idol recap... rumor has it that it is "Country" night... should be interesting!

Flying Solo

I am solo this week. As I type, hopefully my other half is getting on a plane at London Heathrow to complete an 11-hour flight combo for a business trip to France. Times like this are a good test for a relationship...I think are relationship is in good shape. The first sign was that I took him to the airport and even hung around while dozens of teens clad in yellow shirts were also checking in for some kind of UK soccer exchange program. Next, I felt pretty glum on the way home, no "whoopees" that I would be returning to an empty house (well, empty other than four animals).

I just had to remind myself that this is the way it always used to be before we moved in together now just over 2 years ago...we would say our goodbyes on Sunday night and 90% of the time not see each other again until Friday night. But these days, I realize how much I rely on having him around...so in total fear of sounding like a loser here is what I have to "watch" myself about this week:

Sleeping In: I used to be a morning person...now, if I am allowed, I am more than happy to sleep in. Since my commute requires a 30-second walk across the house... barefoot and in t-shirt and shorts... there is usually little sense of urgency for me in the mornings (especially when work is a little slow...like it is right now). Todd, like the majority of Americans, has to get ready and get to the workplace at a certain time. So that gets me up and going in the morning...I did not totally succeed this morning. I was awakened to the sound of helicopters about 5:45am -- this is usually the morning news shows covering some fender-bender -- and doing so in the manner that puts Apocalypse Now to shame. But when I finally did drag myself out of bed (at a not exactly obscene 7:05a), I learned that there was a nearby warehouse fire that potentially had some toxic fumes...I even got called with a recorded alert from the fire department at 8:00am ...but all is fine. [UPDATE: Actually no fire, but a collision of two trucks... one containing ammonia...but as mentioned, all is well...all is "contained" and no toxic fumes].

Eating: People used to ask me how I stayed trim... for most of my adult single life, the answer was simple I didn't eat all that much. Living alone, there was little or no motivation to cook for myself. A day could go by and my food intake may have consisted of a healthy combo of some cookies and a handful of chips. Granted I am still not good about taking care of myself food-wise during the day(and probably the main reason I still can't bulk up at the gym like I would like to), but at least I am always eating a measurable (and usually somewhat healthy) dinner every night. I enjoy cooking...but I get far more enjoyment when it is for someone else and I am not going to have leftovers for the next 3 days.

Working Out: I have not been good about the gym at all lately. I took last week off and only made it in 2 times the previous week...after yet another extended break before that! I am having problems...feeling my body has peaked... I have not "seen" the improvements when I first started out. But with the weather warming up, I guess I should have more motivation to get the arms and upper body in shape for the summer t-shirt and swimming season. I can get to the gym during the day when it is substantially less crowded, so I really should do that this week...and keep doing it!

TV/Computer: When I am bored, I spend a lot of time in front of the tv and/or computer. While I have filled up the TiVo with many shows to keep me occupied for the week, I should be careful not to totally plant myself in front of it on more than a part-time basis...likewise, there is nothing new on the websites that I surf all day long...so I don't know what that accomplishes...I really should...

Read: Despite my intention a couple of months ago to get back to social reading, I have yet to do so. I did open up my autographed copy of Hillary Clinton's Living History, but two weeks later I am still just a couple of chapters in...and the book is certainly not to blame... it has been very readable, entertaining and informative.

So I guess this all paints me as a lazy loser...haha! I really don't feel like I am one...but I tend to get into motivation ruts ... and going into this "solo" week I felt I was slipping into one...so I need to prove something and show myself that I can be productive and active all by myself!