Friday, March 27, 2009
Wishing we had a politician like this!
Have you seen this clip? Where is a statesman on this side of the pond who has the intestinal fortitude to stand up to this current administration and say this?
Monday, March 23, 2009
A Corrective
Dear Readers:
I have been heavy on Frivolity and light on Faith as of late. I hereby promise more substantial entries will be posted soon. Blame it on Mitford - reading these books, it's hard not to be lighthearted.
Thanks,
Alisa
I have been heavy on Frivolity and light on Faith as of late. I hereby promise more substantial entries will be posted soon. Blame it on Mitford - reading these books, it's hard not to be lighthearted.
Thanks,
Alisa
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
American Idol Recap
Grand Ol' Opry was the theme tonight and I was disappointed. With the songs available, I expected great things and and except for Anoop, there were no standout performances.
The GOOD: Anoop!! I like this guy. He is a nice, intelligent young man who finally is showing that he also can sing. Yah for a breakout moment.
How can Allison just be 16? The girl has a great voice (but I thought she went flat a lot).
Kris put a new spin on an old song and I didn't recognize the Garth standard. Nice job.
I am not an Adam fan (too much of a flamer for me), but his eastern taken on Ring of Fire was weird enough to be good.
Danny gave another solid performance, but I expected more.
Megan was a pleasant surprise.
THE BLAH: Lil Rounds has the voice, but the song wasn't right for her.
Alexis chose the wrong song and again wasn't as good as she should have been.
Matt did a nice job, but I don't get the infatuation with him.
THE BAD:
Michael's attempt at Garth was bad. His voice couldn't keep up with the rapid fire lyrics and he seemed to be dragging at times.
Everyone of Scott's songs sound the same to me.
I really hope Dial Idol has the bottom three wrong this week.
The GOOD: Anoop!! I like this guy. He is a nice, intelligent young man who finally is showing that he also can sing. Yah for a breakout moment.
How can Allison just be 16? The girl has a great voice (but I thought she went flat a lot).
Kris put a new spin on an old song and I didn't recognize the Garth standard. Nice job.
I am not an Adam fan (too much of a flamer for me), but his eastern taken on Ring of Fire was weird enough to be good.
Danny gave another solid performance, but I expected more.
Megan was a pleasant surprise.
THE BLAH: Lil Rounds has the voice, but the song wasn't right for her.
Alexis chose the wrong song and again wasn't as good as she should have been.
Matt did a nice job, but I don't get the infatuation with him.
THE BAD:
Michael's attempt at Garth was bad. His voice couldn't keep up with the rapid fire lyrics and he seemed to be dragging at times.
Everyone of Scott's songs sound the same to me.
I really hope Dial Idol has the bottom three wrong this week.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Divine Engravings
One of my dear friends has just written a post that encapsulates an aspect of God's love in a beautiful way. I heartily recommend it.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
American Idol Redux
Every year we hear “most talented group ever” from Ryan Seacrest and company. This year, it might just be the truth. I already have my favorites, but first a quick recap:
Lil Rounds - “The Way You Make Me Feel” – Vocals good, but song wasn’t challenging enough for her. Wasn’t as impressed as I expected to be.
Scott MacIntyre - “Keep the Faith” – Okay. Here goes: If this guy wasn’t blind, we wouldn’t be hearing him on American Idol. Period. Nice voice, but there are hundreds of “nice voices” out there.
Danny Gokey - “Pretty Young Thing” – Disclaimer: He is one of my favorites. I love his voice. I loved his performance. I hope he makes it to the end.
Michael Sarver - “You’re Not Alone” – Every year we have an Everyman in the competition. Someone with a nice voice, talented, and winsome. This year it’s Michael. He’ll stay for awhile based on his likeability.
Jasmine Murray - “I’ll Be There” – I was thrilled when she was brought back on the Wild Card show, but I didn’t like this at all. Sounded like a high school talent show entry.
Kris Allen - “Remember the Time.” – I’m betting Kris stays until the middle of the season. He’s cute and appealing. His song, in the immortal words of Randy Jackson, was just alright for me.
Allison Iraheta - “Give it to Me” – Wow! She’s got vocal chops! I like the rocker chick and hopes she stays around a while. Kinda agree with Simon, if she doesn’t lighten up she might become a one-trick pony.
Anoop Desai - “Beat It” - Anoop gets ragged on by the judges and deservedly so. He did a Michael Jackson impersonation – but I still voted for the guy. He’s just so likeable. Think he’s safe until mid-season.
Jorge Nunez - “Never Can Say Goodbye” – I like him better when I close my eyes and just listen to him sing. He’ll go out in the early rounds (8-9).
Megan Joy Corkrey - “Rockin’ Robin” – I don’t get the infatuation with Megan. Just. Don’t. Get. It. Hoping she’s one of the two gone, but Vote For The Worst has made her its beneficiary.
Adam Lambert - “Black and White” – Too much personal information about Adam was gained this week, but still – He Can Sing! He and Danny are the best of the lot, in my humble opinion.
Matt Giraud - “Human Nature” – Another one I don’t get. Nice job, I just don’t see what the judges see in him.
Alexis Grace - “Dirty Diana” – I agree with Simon. It wasn’t as good as she and the audience thought it was, but it did give the impression of being that good. Probably top 5.
I agree with the top four on Dial Idol, but I’m shocked by their bottom two.
Lil Rounds - “The Way You Make Me Feel” – Vocals good, but song wasn’t challenging enough for her. Wasn’t as impressed as I expected to be.
Scott MacIntyre - “Keep the Faith” – Okay. Here goes: If this guy wasn’t blind, we wouldn’t be hearing him on American Idol. Period. Nice voice, but there are hundreds of “nice voices” out there.
Danny Gokey - “Pretty Young Thing” – Disclaimer: He is one of my favorites. I love his voice. I loved his performance. I hope he makes it to the end.
Michael Sarver - “You’re Not Alone” – Every year we have an Everyman in the competition. Someone with a nice voice, talented, and winsome. This year it’s Michael. He’ll stay for awhile based on his likeability.
Jasmine Murray - “I’ll Be There” – I was thrilled when she was brought back on the Wild Card show, but I didn’t like this at all. Sounded like a high school talent show entry.
Kris Allen - “Remember the Time.” – I’m betting Kris stays until the middle of the season. He’s cute and appealing. His song, in the immortal words of Randy Jackson, was just alright for me.
Allison Iraheta - “Give it to Me” – Wow! She’s got vocal chops! I like the rocker chick and hopes she stays around a while. Kinda agree with Simon, if she doesn’t lighten up she might become a one-trick pony.
Anoop Desai - “Beat It” - Anoop gets ragged on by the judges and deservedly so. He did a Michael Jackson impersonation – but I still voted for the guy. He’s just so likeable. Think he’s safe until mid-season.
Jorge Nunez - “Never Can Say Goodbye” – I like him better when I close my eyes and just listen to him sing. He’ll go out in the early rounds (8-9).
Megan Joy Corkrey - “Rockin’ Robin” – I don’t get the infatuation with Megan. Just. Don’t. Get. It. Hoping she’s one of the two gone, but Vote For The Worst has made her its beneficiary.
Adam Lambert - “Black and White” – Too much personal information about Adam was gained this week, but still – He Can Sing! He and Danny are the best of the lot, in my humble opinion.
Matt Giraud - “Human Nature” – Another one I don’t get. Nice job, I just don’t see what the judges see in him.
Alexis Grace - “Dirty Diana” – I agree with Simon. It wasn’t as good as she and the audience thought it was, but it did give the impression of being that good. Probably top 5.
I agree with the top four on Dial Idol, but I’m shocked by their bottom two.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Moving to Mitford
I typically don’t like modern Christian fiction - my usual adjective for these is vapid. Reading Christian romance novels, I am convinced, is a form of torture! Whatever the latest fiction series creating buzz in the Christian bookstores, it will not get a moments’ notice from me.
My Mom, however, discovered Jan Karon’s Mitford Series and fell in love with the books. She devoured the nine installments and spoke wistfully of re-reading them. For Christmas, I came across several of the books at Half Price Books for $1 and had an epiphany. This would be one of Mom’s Christmas presents – the whole Mitford Series! She was delighted! The only problem – she just knew I would love them as much as she did and so I had to read them. My (unspoken) reaction? Ugh.
I love my Mom dearly and thought it would be nice to have something to discuss, so when she brought the first three books in the series to me, I dutifully began reading, albeit with a heavy sigh. After the first few chapters, I realized Mama truly does know best. I love Mitford.
I immediately fell for Father Tim, the bachelor Episcopal priest, who in his sixties discovers love with his new neighbor Cynthia. Tim is a loving man, but has people he has trouble tolerating, even in his own congregation! He is a diabetic who sneaks sugar. In other words, Father Tim is a real person and not some idealized priest.
The other characters are just as winsome. I want to sit on Miss Sadie’s porch and sip tea while she tells me stories or listen to Uncle Billy’s jokes while avoiding his wife Rose’s cooking. Mostly, I want to scratch Father Tim’s big black dog Barnabas on his head.
Karon has created a literary Mayberry. It’s a place of simple pleasures and nicely tied up stories. Life circumstances always have a happy ending in this little town. There will be no shocking twists; plotlines are telegraphed well in advance. This is a place where all is right with the world or will be in just a chapter or two.
With the stock market tanking and concerns over the direction in which our country is being led, like Rascal Flats, I miss Mayberry. This is precisely why now is the time to discover Mitford. It is a wonderful respite from a stressful life.
My Mom, however, discovered Jan Karon’s Mitford Series and fell in love with the books. She devoured the nine installments and spoke wistfully of re-reading them. For Christmas, I came across several of the books at Half Price Books for $1 and had an epiphany. This would be one of Mom’s Christmas presents – the whole Mitford Series! She was delighted! The only problem – she just knew I would love them as much as she did and so I had to read them. My (unspoken) reaction? Ugh.I love my Mom dearly and thought it would be nice to have something to discuss, so when she brought the first three books in the series to me, I dutifully began reading, albeit with a heavy sigh. After the first few chapters, I realized Mama truly does know best. I love Mitford.
I immediately fell for Father Tim, the bachelor Episcopal priest, who in his sixties discovers love with his new neighbor Cynthia. Tim is a loving man, but has people he has trouble tolerating, even in his own congregation! He is a diabetic who sneaks sugar. In other words, Father Tim is a real person and not some idealized priest.
The other characters are just as winsome. I want to sit on Miss Sadie’s porch and sip tea while she tells me stories or listen to Uncle Billy’s jokes while avoiding his wife Rose’s cooking. Mostly, I want to scratch Father Tim’s big black dog Barnabas on his head.
Karon has created a literary Mayberry. It’s a place of simple pleasures and nicely tied up stories. Life circumstances always have a happy ending in this little town. There will be no shocking twists; plotlines are telegraphed well in advance. This is a place where all is right with the world or will be in just a chapter or two.
With the stock market tanking and concerns over the direction in which our country is being led, like Rascal Flats, I miss Mayberry. This is precisely why now is the time to discover Mitford. It is a wonderful respite from a stressful life.
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