Thursday, May 29, 2008

Tabbikat's Thursday 13 #6



13 Photos of My Pets


Pepeu
  • Freshly Washed Pepeu

  • Baby Pepeu

  • Mr. Pathetic

  • Pepeu And His Birthday Cake

Abbie
  • Abbie by the Christmas Tree

  • Abbie In the Window

Clarkie & Lucyfur
  • Baby Clarkie & Lucy with AndrĂ©ia

  • 2 Petunias in an Onion Basket

  • The Fat Twins

  • Fatty Clarkie

  • Lucyfur with Her Electronic Sunshine

  • Fraidy Cat Hiding From the Thunderstorm

Mr. Dubbie ~ Gone but not forgotten
  • Mr. Dubbie Plays Flat Cat



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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Writer's Wednesday #6

union

gently touching, softest caress
like a whisper, or
a delicate spring breeze
passing across you, on
a warm sunlit day
my hands drift across
the surface of my love,
more than just a touch
emotion crossing tactile barriers
leaving nothing unshared

written April 17, 1994
updated May 27, 2008

Friday, May 23, 2008

A Favorite For This Time Of Year

Since it is graduation time here in Georgia I decided to pull out one of my all time favorite news columns. I have always loved the messages and believed in them; but, the older I get the more I understand just how true it all is...

"ADVICE, LIKE YOUTH, PROBABLY JUST WASTED ON THE YOUNG"
by Mary Schmich
June 1, 1997 Chicago Tribune


Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.


Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Tabbikat's Thursday 13 #5



13 Fav Performances from AI7


  • 13 - Love Is A Battlefield - Brooke White



  • 12 - Eleanor Rigby - David Cook



  • 11 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - David Cook



  • 10 - In My Life - Ramiele Maluby



  • 9 - Hallelujah - Jason Castro



  • 8 - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me - David Archuleta



  • 7 - Let It Be - Brooke White



  • 6 - Hello - David Cook



  • 5 - Imagine - David Archuleta



  • 4 - Billy Jean - David Cook



  • 3 - Come Together - Carly Smithson



  • 2 - Always Be My Baby - David Cook



  • 1 - The World I Know - David Cook






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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Cookie Takes It All

Woo Hoo! My guy took the title! This is the first time that the contestant I picked in the beginning as my personal fav has taken the title! I am sooooooo happy!!!!!!!! I am even tolerating the magic rainbow skittles song Cook has to sing, he almost makes it sound like something I would want to listen to on a regular basis.
Now, I just have to find something to entertain myself until the next season of American Idol.

Writer's Wednesday #5

Love Hold My Heart



Loving you is something
I did not chose to do
love tapped me on the shoulder
bound my broken heart to you

Now loving is more painful
than what I had before
and my mended heart is tearing
as you walk out the door

Is there nothing I could do
to bring your love back to me
knowing it's our togetherness
that brought peace back to me

Please release my aching heart
or hold it more gently to you
because loving you is something
I did not choose to do

written March 1994
updated January 2004

David vs. David

So, I wish I had been wrong about this show; but I wasn't. The worst part is that it was so skewed to one side that I'm afraid people didn't hear what was really offered.

Clive's Choice:
David Cook sang "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2. It was really pretty and I love when he strips a song down to the essentials. I am always surprised by his takes on familiar songs and I like being surprised.
David Archuleta sang "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" by Elton John. This has to be one of the most over used songs on American Idol and while David A. sang it well I already have a song on my computer that sounds just like it... only better really.

Songwriter's Contest:
In a strange twist they have let the contestant's pick from the top 10 vote getters but not the top vote getter, that is supposedly being save for tomorrow night. Oh Joy!
David Cook sang "Dream Big" by Emily Shackelton and it was okay. It proves that he could sing my Great Grandmother's sugar cookie recipe to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and I would be able to at least say he sang it well and attempted to make it interesting.
David Archuleta sang "In This Moment" by Ryan Gillmore and it was the longest song of my life. The lyrics to this song are just so cheesy and bordering on arrogant that it was hard to listen to. Add to it that the dang thing never went anywhere it just kept droning to the finish line and one has to wonder what Archie saw in it.

Contestant's Choice:
David Cook sang "The World I Know" by Collective Soul and I was floored. I don't know that other's heard it but I couldn't have stopped myself from loving it had I tried. Once again Cookie about the door to his soul and invited us all inside. I know that judge's wanted rocked out and all but what we got was so much better.
David Archulet sang "Imagine" by John Lennon and all I could say was, "Hey, where have I heard that before?" I think he has a pretty voice but he has no real connection with what he is singing and I am almost always left wanting.

So my winner tonight is David Cook and honestly no matter how the votes turn out tomorrow night I believe that it will be David C. not David A. who goes on to long term greatness.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Tabbikat's Thursday 13 #4



13 Favorite American Idol Contestants


Here are my top 13 American Idol contestants from seasons 1-7...
  • 13 - Kellie Pickler - Even when I don't like her music, I like Kellie because she doesn't take herself too seriously and always seems to light up the room.

  • 12 - Katharine McPhee - She has a beautiful voice and always looks good on stage.

  • 11 - Melinda Dolittle - I love her humble nature, big voice, and the ability to tell a story with a song.

  • 10 - Diana DeGarmo - Little girl, big voice, never say die spirit, what's not to love.

  • 9 - Clay Aiken - He was the first guy I liked on AI and was definately my choice to win season 2.

  • 8 - Jennifer Hudson - She always performed well on the show, despite taking a beating from the judges and the voters. I think she has really had the last laugh.

  • 7 - Brooke White - Her stage presence leaves something to be desired but if I am just listening to her, I love it.

  • 6 - Elliott Yamin - Great voice and a fantastic attitude, he was my second pick for winner in seasn 5.

  • 5 - Jordin Sparks - It took sometime for Jordin to grow on me, but her beautiful voice and performing skills won me over.

  • 4 - Kelly Clarkson - I thought Kelly was okay on AI, but love her now. I know some are turned off by the darker side, but let's get real, which one of us is light and sunshine all the time.

  • 3 - Bo Bice - Bo had that gritty southern charm on stage and he pushed AI to new levels, I am happy to see that he has come out with an album more representative of who he is and what he does, than his AI release was.

  • 2 - Chris Daughtry - My #1 choice in season 5 I was devastated when he left in the #4 position. Of course, he is another one that proves you don't need to finish anywhere near #1 to make Idol work for you.

  • 1 - David Cook - I like David as much for his pre-Idol music as I do for his Idol performances. I could care less where he gets his arrangements, at least he is smart enough to go looking for what works for him instead of settling for what is expected. Add that he is a self-proclaimed "word nerd" and to me you've got the whole package.



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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Wednesday, May 14, 2008

So Long Syesha

Well you knew it was going to happen, the David vs. David finale has been pimped for far too long to allow Syesha any chance of sneaking in.

I wish I could say that I was looking forward to next week, but I am truly unhappy that this season has come to a close so quickly. I am also suspect that the finale has been overhyped and will never live up to the standards that have been set.

Prove me wrong AI. TTFN

Writer's Wednesday #4

My Life



As I wander through my life
Not the way it is
But -- the way it should be
I see you standing there, waiting for me
Life the way it can be
Happiness and laughter surround us
As we share the world together -- as one
You and I in my life
The way it could be, if I had met you
Not him -- first
Held you to me, loved you the way
I want to now
To be with you and share with you
That which he already has
You as my life, filling the emptiness within
Using friendship and love to close the gap
I wonder how I made it this far -- alone
As I wander through my life
Wanting what can never be
I see you standing here, waiting for me

written February 9, 1994
updated 2004

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

The Top 3

Okay, this night was not as fantastic as it has been in past seasons. The Judges choices turned out to be the best of the night and the contestant's choices the worst.

Judges Choice:
David A. sang "And So It Goes" by Billy Joel. I wasn't thrilled that Paula picked this for him but he does a pleasant, note perfect, yet slightly boring performance. It as standard DA all the way.
Syesha sang "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys. I wanted to slap Randy for choosing this but was pleased that she for the most part stayed out of her screech zone, it was a good performance.
David C. sang "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack. I think Simon has it bad for this song but Cookie owned it and dedicated it to his Mom! Got to love a guy who loves his mother.

Contestant's Choice:
David A. sang "With You" by Chris Brown and it was rough at the start, to overdone at the end and poorly danced (if that's what that was)throughout.
Syesha sang "Fever" by Peggy Lee and I think that the only big problem was that it looked a little desperate with the way short dress and the chair. She needed to focus more on delivering the big vocal.
David C. sang "Dare You To Move" by Switchfoot and I'm just a little sad that he didn't do the Collective Soul number. But I think that as far as being a middle song goes it was a smart choice in that it didn't stretch him too far.

Producer's Choice:
Okay the producer's obviously need to get a grip. Their song choices sucked and did nothing for any of the contestants.
David A. sang "Longer" by Dan Fogelberg and it was a full on, overblown Archuleta ballad. Solid but boring.
Syesha sang "Hit Me Up" by Gia Farrell and I know this song because my 5 year old is a big Happy Feet fan. Would I have ever chosen this for her to sing, no. She puts alot into the dance and gives some decent vocals. It was okay.
David C. sang "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" and it was good a solid vocal performance. If I am judging him on just each performance and in comparison to the others he is head and shoulders above the competition even if he wasn't head and shoulders above his personal best. Go Cookie!

My Order: David Cook, Syesha Mercado, David Archuleta

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Tabbikat's Thursday 13 #3



13 Favorite Movies


  1. Fried Green Tomatoes

  2. When Harry Met Sally

  3. Pretty Woman

  4. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

  5. Cinderella

  6. Rock Star

  7. Close Encounters of the Third Kind

  8. Shrek

  9. The Breakfast Club

  10. Beauty and the Beast

  11. Titanic

  12. The Little Mermaid

  13. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone



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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Farwell to Jason

Wow, am I relieved with the outcome of this one. If Jason had stayed then someone who was truly invested in this competition would have been outed and that would truly have been sad. Can't wait to see all the visit home festivities and see what 3 songs the contestants pick next week.

Writer's Wednesday #3

All That Glitters



Love is...
As gentle as spring rains
As sharp as a razor

Guides me through life
Opening and closing doors
Blinding me to all
But that to which it leads

Helpless in the grasp
Of that which I can't control
Life spinning wildly
Tender hearts tearing
A world out of control

And like that which glitters
All that breaks your heart

...is not love

November 2001

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

The Top 4 & the Rock & Roll Hall of ????

So here I am all set to be wowed out of my seat and oh it isn't happening tonight.

David Cook's first performance was okay for him and great in comparison to what the rest had to offer. His second was better except for the very end where it seemed he was rushing it. Perhaps if the judges shut up there would be time for the contestants to comfortably sing their songs the way they practiced them.

Syesha isn't going down without a fight and I really enjoyed her performances. Her voice is much more enjoyable in her lower range and she is able to power without screeching.

Jason, Jason, Jason... What could I possible say that wouldn't be mean? Dude, if you don't want to be there tell the producer's you quit and go home, otherwise practice and perform, practice and perform.

David Archuleta's first was good and I liked the little change ups, but the second left me sleepy and bored. I think he has a lovely voice just no wow factor.

My Ranking: David Cook, Syesha, David Archuleta, Jason

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Tabbikat's Thursday 13 #2



13 Photo Variations #1


I have this crazy idea that an easy and fun way to tackle some of these Thursday Thirteen posts is to share with you some of the fun I have had playing with my photos in Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop. So here goes nothing...

Here is a cropped photo of my first apple blossoms.
Original Apple Blossoms Photo

Below are 13 variations on the photo using effects available in Jasc's Paint Shop Pro 9. The settings are listed from top to bottom, left to right.

Apple Blossoms Photo with Brush Strokes Effect
brush strokes
20/200/2/20/2/90/0/white


Apple Blossoms Photo with Colored Chalk Effect
colored chalk 50/25


Apple Blossoms Photo with Colored Pencil Effect
colored pencil 90/50


Apple Blossoms Photo with Aged Newspaper Effect
aged newspaper 100


Apple Blossoms Photo with chrome Effect
chrome
3/90/use original color-checked


Apple Blossoms Photo with Colored Foil Effect
colored foil
5/50/#E8CF01/315


Apple Blossoms Photo with Enamel Effect
enamel
10/90/75/315/#F1A59B


Apple Blossoms Photo with Neon Glow Effect
neon glow 20/90


Apple Blossoms Photo with Edge Effects
edge effects
dilated then enhanced more


Apple Blossoms Photo with Kaleidoscope Effect
kaleidoscope
0/0/45/0/reflect/2/3/30


Apple Blossoms Photo with Kaleidoscope Effect
kaleidoscope
25/-50/315/0/wrap/11/0/0


Apple Blossoms Photo with Pattern Effect
pattern
50/-50/27/-7/4/4/-10/5


Apple Blossoms Photo with Mosaic-Antique Effect
mosaic - antique
25/50/symmetric-unchecked/25/5/5




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!