I have a Confession to Make

I admit it... I love Simon! American Idol would be boring without his wit and insight - and I doubt I would watch it again if it meant hearing only from Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Ryan Seacrest. Now whether you love him or hate him, you have to admit ... he knows what he is talking about.
On MSN they have the top 79 exerpts from the show, noting comments that Simon has said after performances of the contestants.
My personal favorites? Talking to poor Jason after his rendition of Bob Marleys I shot the sheriff, Simon said: "Jason, stand back. That was utterly atrocious. Sorry. That is a song you do not touch, the arrangement was atrocious, this was like a first-round audition massacre. I don't know what you're thinking."

To which that adorable Jason said:"I WAS THINKIN' BOB MARLEY!!! YEAH!!!"

...priceless :)

UPDATE TO THIS POST:
As much as I respected Simon before, after last night's comments on his biased views of their performances and listening to him humble himself and offer an apologetic recount of DC's singing on Tuesday, I love the lunk-head even more! I just couldn't see DC NOTwinning this thing - and although I thought his last night's show was much weaker than his previous ones, he still was so versatile and strong that he could have pulled a rabbit out of anyone's hat!

I am one happy Cookie here... Finally a show that turns out with the right results. I'm proud of you, voting America - you made the right call!

Oh, I almost forgot to mention - Bryan? You will always be the bomb-diggity!!

Life is too short to wake up with regrets - so love the people who treat you right. Forget about the one's who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it. Friends are like balloons; once you let them go, you can't get them back. So I'm gonna tie you to my ♥ so I never lose you.
(I know I've posted this before but it's worth repeating!)

MMMMM... I'm in Heaven!

I have two lilac trees planted outside my front room windows and the first year I moved into the house, I kept all 3 windows open whenever I was home. The house filled with the wonderful aroma of fresh lilacs and each spring I anxiously look forward to revisiting that wonderful experience. Last year and the year before we got terrible frosts just as the trees were starting to bloom and alas, each year I lost the joy of flowering lilacs (boo, hisssss)
Well, I am happy to report that (barring any unforeseen clamity) my trees will be in FULL BLOOM by the weekend or first of next week.
Arent they lovely? My windows are already open too and I'm one happy cookie!

Ooooh, that David!

I was mezmerized tonight listening to David Cook sing. Switchfoot has long been one of my favorite Christian bands but he also sang what is without a doubt one of my favorite songs by Aerosmith. And I have to say - he did a FINE job on "I dont want to miss a thing"!!

Now, anyone who talks to me about American Idol knows that I love me some David Cook - after all, he is my hometown boy but more than that... the fella has SKILLS XTREME.

There is even more reason to love the guy though... I want to share some inside skinny on him. He came home to Kansas City last weekend and was approached by the KC Royals to sing the National Anthem at the baseball game while he was here - an honor in itself. But when he found out that a group of 25 elementary school kids had been practicing for a very long time and would get bumped for his performance, he declined the offer and instead, offered to throw out the first pitch and sing "Take me out to the ball game" at the top of the 7th. Now, any way you slice it... THAT'S CLASS!

Here's a bit more on David that I learned from a friend who lives in Blue Springs: David Cook originally made the trip to Omaha to encourage his brother Andrew to audition for American Idol! His intent was merely to be the moral support but at the urging of his mother, decided to grab a contestants number and try out as well (btw, his brother didnt make the cut).

Did someone say C-A-N-D-Y?

Sissy has to keep an eye on her lil brother (it's kind of like lasso'ing a tornado)! You see, someone let it leak that the Humble Arts was having a red, white and blue Halloween theme on Ebay and the mere mention of Halloween has Buster dreaming about Snickers, KitKats and Laffy Taffy.

repeat after me ....

CANDY ... CANDY ... CANDY

You can find Sissy and Buster on Ebay - pop in and toss him some Sugar Babies!

hot diggity

I've been going through quite an unproductive dry spell lately. I just haven't had an urge to create but I decided Thursday morning to take Friday off from the office. I wanted to spend some time in the dungeon and try to come up with something to participate in a launch with one of my ebay groups.
After this dry spell, I'd almost forgotten how happy my dollies make me - they seem to come to life and I see can actually pick up on personalities in them - and you know what? I think my spirits are lifting already.

Oh, Say Can You See...

I've had a hard time getting motivated long enough lately to spend any quality time in the dungeon - between weekends on the bike and weather that warrants some time digging outside, I've just had a very hard time getting inspired. Today I got to thinking about some ideas for the first time in many days and tonight I've been working on a dolly for a launch on the Humble Arts - for now, these sweet lil Patriotic Stumpers have kind of ignited my fires again.

Celebrating Mother's Day!

My buddy Karin, of Countryfolk Keepsakes is having a VERY SPECIAL celebration in honor of Mother's Day!
From now through Sunday May 11th, Peanut is offering 10% off any purchase on her Countryfolk Keepsakes website.
I have many of Goob's creations - just about one in each room of my home - and they always brighten my day and bring me a smile each time I walk past them.
And if you think they are precious here - wait till you see one in person! Each creation is crafted with such detail and oh my word, the wonderful aromas that come from each one will have you closing your eyes and dreaming of a far away paradise! I have one of her sweet little Annie's (mine arrived at lunch one day on my way back to the office and I had to fight off a couple of co-workers when I opened her up!) She is happiness personified!
My advise? - make your way over to her website and take a look around ... there are so many treasures there and at 10% off, that is like the icing on the cake!!!

And the Winner Is....

ME !!!
You can imagine my surprise on Sunday morning as I was getting ready for church and hopped on my computer long enough to check my email - there waiting for me to open was an email from Deena, the blog madame of The Primitive Gathering, telling me that my name had been picked as one of the winners in their 1st year Anniversary Celebration!
NO WAY... REALLY?? I have to admit, I started looking around for the Candid Camera but emailed Deena back to say that I was running late for church (you have to get there early to get your seat on the back row haha) but rest assured, I would be checking in as soon as I got home!
This beautiful Sunflower seed bag was made by Penny Renkke of Henny Penny Prims fame and believe me, I'm one lucky girl and just about as happy as a clam can be. Isn't it absolutely lovely???

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

I don't know what goes on in your neck of the woods, but around these parts alot of folks look forward to Cinco de Mayo with great anticipation - and it seems the restaurants always have tons of tents set up to accommodate all the party-goers that overflow into the parking lot celebrating this day!

It has been so nice here the last few days since the terrible storm and I'm sitting here wondering if its the holiday itself or just an excuse to finally have nice enough weather to celebrate in the streets? No matter - it's family and food and fun, and that's just fine with me - dip an extra chip in some guacamole for me and have a great day celebrating however you choose!

Me ? I think I'll just take a siesta!

Springtime in Missouri

What can I say, I love my bed ... it's a Tempur-Pedic© and the most comfortable I've ever had the pleasure of owning. I sleep so soundly in it, so when Hubs woke me up at 2am frantic for us to head for cover in the shelter of my ill-kept dungeon, I knew something serious was going on outside. We live in a split level home, where sleeping on the top floor allows for every creak and shudder of the house to occasionally elude your sleep.
I was shaking out the cobwebs after he woke me, trying to comprehend all he was saying when I heard it - the Freight Train cometh!
It sounded like the roof was literally being lifted right off of the joint and the wind and rain were striking the windows so fiercely that I was afraid they would implode anytime!
In a drunken-like stupor, I slipped on my scoots and grab some extra clothes, pulled my blankie and pillows off the bed and headed downstairs to a safer area. I was so shaken up, it took me all of 5 seconds to fall back to sleep (hahaha) and when I woke the next morning, our house was still standing in one piece with nothing missing from it or the deck! (thank you Lord!)
I got up to get ready for work. On the way in, I passed so many downed trees with branches littering all the streets and when I turned into the parking lot, I was greeted with this. I must say, I think we got off easy on our side of town. No fatalities through the night, but plenty of damage and folks without power.

Yup - Springtime in Missouri!

Life in Colorado

A lady in one of my ebay groups mentioned that she was getting snow where she lives out on the plains east of Colorado Springs. I can remember all too well those spring storms that would hit. For many years, we lived in an awesome place that sat on 10 acres in Shamballa Ashrama, a small community down the mountain from Devil's Head off Rampart Range Road. Devils Head is the last manned Forest Ranger's station in Colorado.

We made the trek up Devils Head so often, we could do it blindfolded - with both hands tied behind our backs, even! :)

And every guest that ever graced our threshold knew they would be making the trip of a lifetime - driving the 5 miles of dirt road (probably in the back of the pickup with me and the dogs) to the base of the camp - and then climbing 1 1/4 miles up switchbacks to arrive at a beautiful grassy knoll littered with large rocks and wild flowers.

There is a quaint little log cabin where the rangers sleep and picnic tables where you could catch your breath and rest your legs before you attacked the next 143 steps up to the lookout.

And trust me, it was always easier going DOWN!

But the view from the top made every huff and puff and aching muscle worth it! They say you can see the 4 corners from the top of the lookout (and I believe them!).

This is truly God's Majesty and those are 16 years we will never forget.

oh... and about those winters? That's another story in itself!