Annette's Acre

First, here’s the AI Top 5 and their “Rat Pack” choices:

Kris – “The Way You Look Tonight” -  Nice job.  He’s get the good lucks and the pipes to stick around for another week.

Allison – “Someone To Watch Over Me” – Her look this week was classic and I liked it.  Her song choice – very good, though not sure there is a Rat Pack-era song that I’d have questioned.  Nice performance, but nothing spectacular.

Matt – “My Funny Valentine” – Meh.  Of course, I’ve never heard a version of that song that I like.

Danny – “Come Rain, Come Shine” – Great job!!  This is the Danny I’ve been waiting all these weeks to see

Adam – “Feeling Good” – Simply in a different class than all the others.  Loved it!!!

Danger: Matt & Allison

My Vote: No voting this week as I didn’t get home in time to watch and vote   But I would have sent votes for both Adam and Danny this week.

Challenge Update:

If I’d had a *normal* work week I’d have a stitching finish.   This weekend, maybe.

I’d also have a couple more books read.  As it is, I did manage to get Lover Avenged on Kindle this week so no more unplanned purchases.  I’m holding off to start it this weekend since I know I won’t stop once I start!

Other Craziness:

Work is nuts.  Huge new project is kicking off that will take over my life (potentially) for the next couple years.  Still balancing the 14 other projects I still have…..

Idol Thoughts

This week was devoted to disco.

Matt Giraud -Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive” – After last week’s historic “save” I don’t think Matt has done himself any favors here.  It was just… messy.

Lil Rounds -  Chaka Khan “I’m Every Woman” – Again, another chance for Lil to do something unique and personal and she didn’t take advantage.  And what is this arguing with the judges?  If it looks like a duck, and sounds like a duck, it’s karaoke.

Kris Allen – Donna Summer “She Works Hard for the Money” – Oh my.  For the first time I have to say I really liked Kris’ performance!  He’s established himself as the dark horse in the competition (in my opinion, at least).

Anoop Desai – Donna Summer “Dim All the Lights” – Meh.

Danny Gokey – Earth, Wind & Fire “September” – Again, he just sounds the same and gives the same performance as the last couple weeks.  I do think he’ll make it to the finals, but I just don’t see him winning it all.

Allison Iraheta – Donna Summer “Hot Stuff” -Whoever is giving this girl wardrobe and song advice should be smacked. Granted, Allison can pull of any song vocally, but why must she be in such a hurry to grow up in the subject area and wardrobe??

Adam Lambert -Bee Gees “If I Can’t Have You” – I thought it interesting that Simon expected Donna Summer.  I totally expected a Saturday Night Live tune   Loved it….which I’m sure doesn’t surprise anyone that’s been reading my updates.

My vote this week: Adam (Duh)

In danger:  Lil, Anoop and Matt.   I’m kinda hoping Lil and Matt go, but any two of the three works for me.

Challenge Stats (Day 2):

• #1 – 25 Projects:  No purchases, No finishes
• #2 – 25 Books:  No purchases, No finishes

So far so good!!!

That’s right, time to kick off not one, but two challenges.

Who cares if I’ve been previously successful or no?  I surely don’t!

Who knows if by merely posting the challenge I’ll have doomed myself as usual?

No, let’s be optimistic!  (oh boy, is that an opening or what?)

Here goes…..

Challenge #1 – 25 Projects

This stitching challenge has been floating around for awhile, but when Missy Ann took up the gauntlet again, how could I not support her with my own version?

• Rules: No stash purchases (outside of exceptions to be defined below) until 25 stitching projects have been completed.  This includes yarn.
• Effective start date: Today
• Exceptions:  All “automatics” (Loose Feathers Club, Blackbird Stockings, Loopy Ewe Sock Club), any open orders (Chatelaine Hanging Gardens kit, Mirabilia Letters by Nora [Stitching Bits & Bobs], Needlework Show order [LNS]), DMC (though I’m really going to try to avoid even DMC for a bit), existing Loopy Ewe gift certificate.
• Trades are acceptable – based on already owned stash

I know I could easily meet this just by working on kitted projects of all sizes I currently have stashed.

Challenge #2 -25 Books

This is a reading version.  I think I spend more on books than I do stash lately (thank you, Kindle).

• Rules: No book purchases (outside of exceptions below) until 25 books have been read from my current library.
• Effective start date: Today (after the two new Kindle titles from this morning)
• Exceptions: Any existing pre-orders (eight at Amazon over the next seven months….yikes).
• JR Ward’s Lover Avenged (I haven’t submitted as a pre-order as I want it on my Kindle and that hasn’t shown up on Amazon yet)
• No new pre-orders can be submitted.
• Library borrowing is acceptable.  So is “Mom” borrowing.
• “Free” Kindle books may be acquired and count toward the 25.
• “Sample Chapters” may be downloaded, but do not count toward the 25.

I’ll be working on the appropriate Wish Lists to fill the gap.  I’ve already revised the Stitching one (see the tab up at the top there) and next will be my Amazon list and “To-buy” shelf on GoodReads (links on the Wish List page).

All support and encouragement will be greatly appreciated.

Oh, and regarding a couple of comments from the last post:  I have read the first two books of the Codex Alera series and hope to be caught up by the time the final book comes out this fall (one of the pre-orders referenced above) and yes, I have been to a signing

(In the spirit of full disclosure – I admit, I edited this to add the JR Ward title.  I totally forgot and there’s *no* way I could finish 25 books before I get that one!!!  It’s taking every ounce of self-control to keep from buying the real book version.  All the others in the series are on my Kindle)

Thanks everyone for the great birthday wishes!

I did have a marvelous day.  DH and I went to The Cheesecake Factory for lunch.  I had my favorite – Miso Salmon with Snickers Cheesecake for dessert.  Very very yummy.  Light dinner and a cake from Baskin-Robbins awaited me at home (pralines & cream with white cake).  I am sporting a lovely new watch, have two classic pirate moves to watch (Sea Hawk and Captain Blood), and some gaming fun (Henry Hatsworth and Scrabble).  I spent the evening watching Idol (thoughts to follow), Fringe and Dancing with the Stars while stitching on my bookmark exchange.  It’s coming along so nicely, I didn’t put it down.

Idol Thoughts

This week was devoted to movie songs with some interesting choices:

Matt Giraud – Bryan Adams’  ”When  a Man Loves a Woman” from Don Juan DeMarco.  This is one of my very favorite movies and I am a huge Bryan Adams fan.  I did *not* like Matt’s “version” of the song – it had all the right words and I could hear the melody, but he  totally overkilled the melody.

Lil Rounds –  Bette Midler’s “The Rose.” Oh my.  This was not a good week for Lil and I think she is in some serious danger.  Also, not confident the judges will save her as Lil hasn’t given them much to work with the last few weeks.  She was just all over the place on the song and sounded “off” to us here at Chez Acre.

Kris Allen – “Falling Slowly” from Once.  I’ve never heard the song, never heard of the movie.  Not that that is a bad thing, but when I have a hard time appreciating any of his performances, well, let’s just say it’s still a challenge.

Anoop Desai – Bryan Adams’ “Everything I Do, I Do for You” from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.  As noted above, I love Bryan Adams.  Love this song.  Not enamored with Anoop’s performance, and I think he’ll see the bottom three tonight, but he’s definitely not the worst of the bunch.

Danny Gokey – Lionel Ritchie’s “Endless Love” I remember seeing this movie in the theatre when it was first released (I was in high school).  Loved the song then….not so sure I loved it last night.  Danny started out waaaay off-key but did bring it in by the end.

Allison Iraheta – Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” from Armageddon.  Thankfully, no costume craziness tonight.  Just a girl with bright red hair doing her thing.

Adam Lambert – “Born to Be Wild” from Easy Rider.  I’m so glad he didn’t sing a ballad like everyone else!  Adam has done a couple mellow weeks, it was a great change and definitely set him apart from all the rest of the group.  I could have done without the running around the stage, though.

My vote this week: Adam (surprised?  Nope, me neither)

In danger:  Lil and Anoop and I doubt the judges will save either.

Dresden

If you are a fan of urban fantasy or love a good detective story and can handle mixing your supernatural with the Chicago skyline, you *must* read The Dresden Files.

Start with Storm Front and work your way thru the series until the latest installment: Turn Coat.

Go look.  I’ll wait.

As I’m typing, I’m about halfway thru Turn Coat and I LOVE IT.  It’s got all the things that I love in the series….. well, almost.  Not enough Bob so far.

If you’d like a taste of what Harry’s world is like, head over to Hulu.  They have the episodes of the short-lived series based on the books (Here – start with Birds of a Feather).  Now, there are some *significant* differences in the characters between the series and the books.  Harry is a proper wizard and carries a staff, not a hockey stick.  He doesn’t drive a Jeep (though I admit to liking that change).  Bob is not a ghost, but the voice is right.  Murphy is a blonde.  Don’t get confused with the “Storm Front” episode – while the crime is the same, from that point forward the two plots diverge.  Widely.

And Melissa?  If you want to borrow my copy when I’m done, I’ll send it over  It’s that good.

Off to stitch and watch Idol results and then some Ghosthunters with K, the shiniest daughter in the ‘verse.  (Hulu has Firefly, too!!)

Today is the 4th anniversary of my 40th birthday.

I’ve taken the day off work and slept in a bit this morning.  This morning I’ve caught up on email, Facebook, Twitter and my blog reader.

Today’s plans include a few errands, one stop will be the LNS (to get the rest of the L*K Halloween charts) and lunch out with DH.  Right now Cheesecake Factory is the probable destination.

The rest of the day will be stitching (on a bookmark exchange or Lilac Pixie) and reading (the latest Harry Dresden) with American Idol and Fringe tonight

All in all a low-key and relaxing day.  In my mind, the *perfect* way to celebrate.

This week they crammed all the performances in an hour.  Well, they *tried* to at least.  This is the one issue I have with my DVR, it doesn’t record the program – it records based on start/end time.  So when AI went over by a few minutes, if I wasn’t actually watching (or had set the next program to record), I’d have lost the last performance!  As it was, Kylie’s quick thinking to start recording Fox news at about 10 after the hour, saved us from missing the last few minutes of Fringe. (the DVR picked up the recording back to the 9:00 hour as we hadn’t changed the channel on the receiver)

On to the performances in no particular order (ok, it’s the same order as the last post, I just deleted Megan):

Matt Giraud – While the judges were quite taken with his performance, I wasn’t.  It sound like “Matt does Stevie.”

Lil Rounds – She looked great, that’s for sure.  I thought she did well by the song, but also agreed with the judges that the performance was way too much like the original Tina.  I think she’s in danger this week.

Scott Macintyre – Why bring out the guitar?? It just didn’t add anything other than to give him a reason not to sit behind the piano.  Meh.  Another one in danger this week.

Kris Allen – Still too young for me to consider casting a vote for Kris.

Anoop Desai – Well, there’s no way to argue that he didn’t give a new sound to an old song here.  I rather liked him.  However, if he continues in his “one week up, the next down” pattern, he’s fast running out of people that will do worse on his down weeks.

Danny Gokey – Ok.  Does anyone else think he sounds the same no matter what he sings?  I had such high hopes for him

Allison Iraheta – She did beautifully, as always.  As a mother, though, I’m not sure I’m all together comfortable with the song choice.  She’s sixteen and singing about stuff that she shouldn’t know about!  (I know, naive on my part, but I certainly would question my 19-yr-old singing some of that).

Adam Lambert – Standing O from Simon.  Wow.  Who cares if he was born the year I graduated from high school? LOL

My vote this week: Adam.

I also think this may be the week the judges exercise their “Save” if anyone other than Scott is voted out.

Here she is after Sunday:

I *need* to put her down to stitch my bookmark exchange.

Maybe tomorrow    American Idol tonight!!

By popular demand:

She’s on white Belfast.  I filled in the blue/green of the bodice and added her arm yesterday while watching Princess Bride.  I’ll continue up towards her head and arm today as baseball season has finally started!!

Stitching content will return… eventually.  I’ve had a bit of work stress lately, and I’m reading more than anything right now.  Of course, this was after a serious attack of startitis on Friday which found me starting Lilac Spring – Nora’s latest pixie couture design.  I have a green blob (733) with two dark green strips (500/501) on white Belfast.

For Hanging Gardens – after a couple of missteps (insufficient cut of 35-ct at home *and* at LNS, bought too small a piece of 30-ct…argh) I have gone to a piece of 32-ct white Jobelan.  Done.  If only the LNS had had the silks for the border I would have started it instead of the Mirabilia.  Oh well.

Anyway….  here’s my take on this week’s performances:

Matt Giraud – Still not a huge Matt fan.  Last night’s performance was just bland.  I recognized the song, which means he sounded *way* too much like the original artist.

Lil Rounds -  Wow.  Lil aged 10+ years in a week!  Hated the dress.  Hated the hair.  Blah song.   Her daughters are adorable, though

Scott Macintyre – I so want to like Scott, but there’s just no “buzz” here.  He did pick a good song – Billy Joel compliments his voice very nicely, and I really liked that there was no band, but while all the parts were good, the “sum” of the parts was nothing special.

Kris Allen – Very good job this week.  He’s just so… young.  That’s not a bad thing, just doesn’t appeal to this 40-something voter.

Anoop Desai – Oh boy, I think Anoop may see the bottom three this week.  If you’re going to sing a song with lots of lyrics – enunciate!!  I *hate* when I hear “chew” instead of “you.”  Granted, he isn’t the only one with that issue, but it seemed far more apparent to me with his performance.

Megan Joy – Ugh.

Danny Gokey – My first thought when he stepped onstage? “Hallelujah, he got new glasses!!”  Good song choice and very well sung.  Would I buy it on iTunes?  Nope.

Allison Iraheta – Between the outfit and the guitar, I was very confused.  She made a big deal about playing her guitar, but only used it for a fraction of the performance, letting it hang down her side for the rest….adding to an already overwhelming outfit.  Ummm….wha??

Adam Lambert – Love the new look.  Groaned when I heard the song title, but Adam could sing the phone book and I’d love it.

My vote this week:  Adam.