round 1

Playoff Schedule

Game 1 - Sat. April 19 - San Antonio - Noon PST - LOSS
Game 2 - Tue. April 22 - San Antonio - 6:30 p.m. PST - LOSS
Game 3 - Fri. April 25 - Phoenix - 7:30 p.m. PST - LOSS
Game 4 - Sun. April 27 - Phoenix - 12:30 p.m. PST
Game 5 - TBD - San Antonio
Game 6 - TBD - Phoenix
Game 7 - TBD - San Antonio

song in my head 04/18/08

New Deep by John Mayer
This is somebody's cheesy clip montage. But there was never a video made for this song.

tomorrow's goals

make up blood tests

new blood tests

haircut

mail sister's birthday present (her birthday is in 10 days!!)

get prepped for the NBA playoffs - GO SUNS!! Beat the Spurs.

try to stay sane

note to self

There is more on the internet than american idol forums and blogs about Jason Castro.

best of idol - top 7

David Cook


Jason Castro

I was very fearful of last night. I really do not like Mariah Carey at all. I have disliked her for a long time. I do not deny her ability and I think most of my dislike comes from jealousy. But still. So Mariah week. I knew it would be rough and it was. David A just needs to go away. Leather pants? Really? He sounded fine, but sooo boring. David Cook did not impress me the first time I heard him, but I gave it another try and I was impressed. I did not like the very last note, but the rest was creative. I did love when he cried. His brother was there in the front row and he got all choked up. He seems like a cool dude too.

Castro did not disappoint. I am always worried about his song choice, but he some how manages to find a way to make them unique. He really does have his own style. My fellow dreadheads (check out the idol forums!) are calling for a Cook/Castro top 2. I agree. I have a feeling it will be the battle of the David's, but I hope otherwise. Jason can lose. That is really ok with me. I just want him to get as far as he can. Winning American Idol is no guarantee of a long career (*cough-Fantasia, Taylor, Ruben-cough*), so losing is not really a bad thing (ie. Clay, Daughtry).

I voted last night until my phone and bluetooth died. Funny.

My bottom 3: All girls... Syesha Mercado, Kristy Lee Cook and Carly Smithson - with Syesha going home. I am going on a limb here with Syesha leaving. I think she has lost momentum. And Kristy has the Vote for the Worst thing going for her. I predict the girls going home in the next 4 weeks.

04/17/08 - 1:24pm PST
edited to add: So, I suck at picking who goes home. I admit I have been wrong all along. But really, it doesn't matter. I have been getting 2 out of 3 on my bottom 3. I am just glad that KLC finally left. It's getting so close now. It's very stressful. I basically watched the show unfold on the forum last night during the East Coast airing. It was stressful reading what was happening, but I was glad I did that. Had I not known the outcome, actually watching the show might have given me the heart attack I fear. I hate that stupid "pick a side" crap. You knew that David A. was safe and he was so stupid for not realizing that Ryan was trying to tell him which side to choose. Cute that the boys sat down together. It is so clearly divided that its not even funny any more. Andrew Lloyd Webber week next week. I saw something about them going to Vegas.

one step forward, a million steps back

Last nights Idol review coming later!

So, the step forward. I guess it was more than one step. It was the positive test results from the nerve test & the MRI. It was also that I made an appointment with a psychiatrist. It is not until the middle of May, but as a new patient, it was the best I could do. That is progress people. Making that appointment was so difficult. It is not nearly as easy as it may seem. I really hope that I am comfortable with this doctor right from the start. I am so far in the process, so I am trying to stay positive about it.

The steps back. The lab called yesterday about my blood work. Apparently there was a "lab accident" and they were not able run all the tests that were ordered. This is the second time something like this has happened. I am so annoyed at this lab. So, I need to go back to have the test re-taken. But I guess its not so bad, since I also got a call from the doctors office telling me they did get some blood work results and are ordering more tests. My B12 level is low. So, I have to go back to the lab anyway. I was so overwhelmed by these phone calls yesterday. That, and I have not been feeling well the last couple of days. Hell, I don't feel good any day. But some days, the pain is worse than others. I am living with it and learning to deal with it, but I wish someone would fix me. I wish that my symptoms were text book and the doctor would say, "This is what is wrong and this is how we will fix it." My symptoms are clearly more than anxiety. At first, maybe you could dismiss them away. But I have always felt something was wrong. I am still have the enormous pain in my shoulder/chest area of my left arm. The numbness in my face seems to have subsided, but it happens randomly still. I now have the numbness in my right foot. Also, my limbs fall asleep way too easy. I also have pain in both of my elbows and knees. Any one a doctor? Any one figure it out, yet? Cause it ain't MS. It ain't nerve damage. My blood pressure is fine. I am afraid it is too fine. My body was used to my heart pumping the blood faster and now it is not. Now I have circulation problems. Is this from the lack of blood flow? I am no doctor. I am just guessing here. I wish I knew what to do.

the hotness tats

Somebody got a whole sleeve done when he was in Japan.

I don't know how I feel about this quite yet.

sharing music

How about a couple Jason Castro songs to brighten the day?

First a couple originals...

Someday by Jason Castro

The Other Side by Jason Castro


And now a video of a cover....

Clumsy by Chris Rice


Ah, isn't that nice? Just puts a nice little smile on your face.

random bits

Somebody screen capped it --------------------->
I was trying to stop with eyes...
Trying, but not too hard apparently. I should be locked up for this. He is legal by a lot, but it still seems so wrong.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow is now #8 on itunes.

The John Mayer (you didn't think I forgot about him, did you?) ticket mess is still a mess. I decided that if I could get a really good seat when they went on sale today, I would buy one and go by myself. If I couldn't find any good seats, I would just buy 2 lawn seats and hope that Chris would go. Well, I am still waiting for good seats. I am gonna keep trying for a couple more days and see if they release any more in the pre-sale. After that, I will just give up and buy the lawn seats. That will be ok too. I really don't know if any show will measure up to the 2nd row experience I had last summer.

My mom had a colonoscopy today. Hooray for her. She had been needing to have one for many years, but kept putting it off. After I had mine, she said that she was inspired to get one. The plan was that since she took me, I would take her. But she couldn't schedule it on my day off and I couldn't take the day off. My dad took her instead. She did better with the drinking of the stuff then I did. She didn't get nauseous really, so that made a difference. They found a couple polyps, but are optimistic, like they were with me. A few days and she will know for sure. But she is not worried.

I purchased a Ped Egg. It's a thingy to remove dead skin from your feet. TMI alert!!! I have really dry, nasty heals and sometimes I try to work on them. Most of the time, I just give up. Nothing really works. But I do need to give them a shave once in awhile and I found the Ped Egg at Walgreens. I had seen other, more expensive things like this, but didn't want to spend the money. I'll let you know how it works.

I wanted to mention one last thing. I am aware that I get really obsessive about things. Like the hotness and American Idol, among many others. It's how I deal. I need distractions in my life. I know that it is avoidance, but if I didn't distract myself, my mind consumes itself with stress about everything wrong in my life. About health mostly, right now. So as obsessive as I get, I really think these things are ok distractions. I would much rather spend my time on this stuff, then stress myself out. Maybe one day I can deal and not get stressed out, but until then I throw myself at my obsessions and like them.

I am calling shrinks tomorrow.

song in my head 04/10/08

In Love With A Girl by Gavin DeGraw
New album comes out May 6th. Way cool.

idol strikes back

Seriously? I really didn't like Archuleta before. Then he goes and butchers the lyrics to one of the best songs ever written, Seasons of Love. To regular folks, his solo last night might have sounded great. Whatever. He sang the wrong words! This kid might have a voice, but there is more to talent than that. He is consistently bad when it comes to songs he doesn't know. He had like 2 lines to sing and couldn't get them right. I know he is 17 and all. Blame it on him being young. Whatever. I think it annoys me so much because he is probably going to win. He shouldn't. He would not have a career. He has no charisma. He is not a public figure. He clearly breaks under pressure.

I am sorry to go off on this. I am just a huge RentHead and I was thrilled beyond when they started singing this last night. Rent is a classic and getting the words wrong is blasphemy to me.

best of idol - top 8

Jason Castro

Only one (and I left the video big! hehe) video this week. There was only one stellar performance. I am so glad the kid pulled it out. I have to admit that I have to remind myself that he is only 21 and that it just way too young... stop with that video with the eyes... stop...
This kid is a major star. The original version of that song is right now #10 on itunes. After he sung Hallelujah, the original went to #1 on itunes and gave Jeff Buckley his first ever #1 hit. No other idols have caused this much sensation in the music industry.
I voted for over an hour last night. I figured out how to redial on my bluetooth and I just watched the Diamondbacks game and voted. He is so safe this week its not even funny.
Now, what the hell is up with Kristy Lee? Why is she still here? I do like that Randy said that performance was "good, for her." She can sing fine, but she is just a copycat of every other young, blonde country singer. And she still has those nails!
Michael Johns needs to lose the scarf. Cute last week. Not so cute two weeks in a row.
What was with David Cook too? He seemed out of it last night. I agree that the jacket was nice, but the hand thing was cheesy. Everybody has an off night and that was clearly his.
I also need to mention that I really cannot stand David Archuleta. He can sing, but a 17 year old adult contemporary singer? Really? That is your American Idol? Why do all these little kids think he is so cute? That sign "Lick Those Lips" was being held by an 8 year old, for crying out loud. That is just wrong. I just don't get it.

My bottom 3: Syesha Mercado, Brooke White and (yes, I have to do it!) David Cook - with Syesha going home. I hate putting David in the bottom, but everybody has to go thru it at least once.

This is funny... when I mention that Idol Gives Back is on tonite, I always say "Idol Strikes Back." That's funny, right? hehe

normal

What does that mean? normal?

My MRI & spine x-ray came back normal. Does that mean I don't still feel crappy? Does that mean I don't still have random symptoms that make no sense?
It's a good thing. I keep telling myself this. I really didn't want there to be anything wrong. It could have been something that was really bad and life altering. But I did wish that they would find something that would explain it all away.
But it wouldn't be my life if it was that easy.

I am happy about this. I really am. I just don't feel that great today.

I know what I have to do. I'll start making the calls on Friday. My doctor gave me a list of psychiatrists that he recommends.

somewhere over the rainbow

Just a little idol spoiler...
Tonite, Jason Castro is gonna be singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow, but not the Judy Garland version. The version here, by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole. If you've seen 50 First Dates - it's the version in that movie.
It's gonna be interesting...
The rest of tonite's songs are as follows:
David Cook - “Innocent” - Our Lady Peace
David Archuleta - “Angels” by Robbie Williams
Brooke White - “You’ve Got A Friend” by James Taylor/Carole King
Syesha Mercado - “I Believe” by Fantasia
Michael Johns - “Dream On” by Aerosmith
Kristy Lee Cook - “Anyway” by Martina McBride
Carly Smithson - “The Show Must Go On” by Queen

opening day

Today is the home opener for my Arizona Diamondbacks! They are 4-2 & tied with LA for 1st place. Tonite's game will take care of that. The season is also the 10th anniversary of the team. I remember when we didn't have a baseball team and I remember opening day 1998. I wish I was going to the game today. But I will enjoy it from the comfort of my couch.
I leave you with a song written for the team...

D-backs Swing
by Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers
gotta love baseball!

woo hoo!!

Official North American Summer Tour Dates
John Mayer with special guests Colbie Caillat and Brett Dennen
Sponsored by Blackberry

July 30: Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Pavilion

Sucks that it's in the summer. Cool that it's happening!!! More ticket drama for me. Cause I really don't want to sit on the grass, but I just might have to (to get you know who to go with me!).

04/08/08 - 6:08pm PST
edited to add: Holy crap! I just saw that pre-sale for tickets is Thursday morning. Crap! I gotta decide if I want to go by myself and try to get close seats, or beg Chris to go and sit on the grass.

tests? what tests?

Oh right. I had the nerve test yesterday and I went for my MRI & spine x-ray today. The nerve test was basically getting the shit shocked out of me. They ran tests on both arms to compare. They sent electrical currents thru my arms and hands. It really didn't hurt all that much. It was like shocking yourself really bad. The results from that test came back while I was getting the MRI. Good news on that one. Everything is normal with that. The MRI was an open MRI, which was good. I really don't think I could have done the old school kind, in the tube. It was over 20 minutes long and really loud. The x-ray was fine. Nothing major. I should have the results sometime next week.
I think I am being so flippant about this, because I have a feeling there will be nothing found on any of the tests. A good result is what I am supposed to want, right?

IKEA orange

Wandering thru IKEA today, I discovered the abundance of orange items. I went a little nuts to photo many of the orange things. I didn't get everything, because there was just so much. I love this, because orange is one of my favorite colors and I use it as an accent color in my home.

perez who?

yum
I don't want to, but how do I not comment on the hot mess that is Perez Hilton? I really used to be a fan. But more and more lately, all blogs about is himself and him meeting celebrities. Then he gets his own show. Clearly the whole point of his blog was to get famous himself and now that he has publicity, he uses it to his own advantage.
He has posted recently about making out with John Mayer on New Years eve in 2006. He even took a lie detector test to prove he wasn't lying. Whatever. He did lie that he was making this public for publicity. He said he wasn't and the test said he lied. You know, whether this is true or not (my money is on the "not" - people do dumb stuff when they are drunk and provoked), it really doesn't matter. It just shows that Perez is a total publicity hungry douche. I say, down with Perez. I plan to avoid his blog at all together.

best of idol - top 9

Michael Johns


Jason Castro

Hey I know he is my favorite, but I think he did way better than the judges said. In reading reviews today, many people agree with me.

This was the first time I really liked a performance by Michael Johns. He did an amazing job and rocked that scarf.

David Cook finally addressed those "covers" issue. It's so stupid. I truly think that they do things on purpose for the controversy. Duh. Ratings. Both Doxology and Chris Cornell have no commented on the issue.

Brooke needs to stop talking back to the judges so much. It really is annoying and makes her look like an idiot.

I have been meaning to mention this for a while now... What is with Kristy Lee's nails? That horrible french manicure with the glittery red tips. They are horrendous. She is the vote for the worst choice and so she will continue to grace our presence for a little longer.

My bottom 3: Kristy Lee Cook, Ramiele Malubay and Carly Smithson - with Ramiele going home. Those are my choices, but I fear Jason Castro will be in the bottom again. I didn't want to write it, just like last week. But I think it might happen. When I was voting, his line was only busy once in 10 minutes of voting. That scares me!

04/03/08 - 2:05pm
edited to add: I am happy with the outcome. Not much to say here, other than I am very pleased Jason made it another week. Yeah!