AS AMERICAN IDOL WINDS DOWN

I see no sure lock as a winner. Then there were 7.

My analysis of each, in a nutshell.

Even before I share my order, I was very pleased with last Thursday's decision by the voting populace. Sometimes we get it right. Sometimes it takes too long. But finally Paul was voted of the island. Not one of my faves, Paul went much farther than he should have. A possible one-hit wonder, but only if he stops that awkward dancing. Nice teeth don't count for a lack of talent in this contest.

Casey. Time to go. I didn't think last week was brilliant at all. Not that he's bad, although I thought he stunk it up with his solo. When he performed a jazz duet with Haley, he was very good.

Stefano, he's gone about as fur as he can go, I'm afraid. Nice voice. Good guy, but this is a talented group.

Coming in at number 5 for me is Scotty. Oh, there will be a contract for him, but like Paul, I only see a one-hit man. I must confess that I'm not a country music lover, but I haven't see him improving much since his first song. Plus, I hate the sideways way he holds the microphone--annoying.

Number 4, though I think she could win the whole thing is Lauren Alaina or Alaina Lauren. Great, great voice. I see her following Carrie Underwood in her music and her appearance. Like Scotty,very likable.

Number 3, a surprise Haley. I like her Joplin, but her rendition of Bennie and the Jets was second only to Adam Lambert's Mad World as the all-time best single performance. Great voice, needs to work on delivery.

Number 2, and when I first heard him, I thought "The next AI," Jacob. What a genuine artist and person. Just a beautiful person, and so, so talented.

But the winner of this year's Idol is James. What a rocker. If the rock fans get out the vote, he's a shoe-in. He can sing and perform. He can and will take risks, and he's a superstar right now.

That's my list. It's obviously right on or spot on. No one can disagree. Or can they?

BEAUTY--IN THE EYES OF THE BE OLDER

Now, I'd be one of the first to say Jennifer Lopez is a nice looking woman. I might just be one of the first to say she's not the most beautiful woman in the world as recently reported by People magazine.

See picture at left for proof. Jenny sans make-up.

While watching this year's American Idol with our 10-year old grandson, he asked if she was plastic? Good comment. Good make-up. Yet she seems very personable, very supportive and encouraging to the contestants, and overall, a very likable gal.

She also constitutes one of the best three judges on the show this year. What I'm trying to say is that this year's judges are the best ever and she fits in very well with them. So I don't mean this to be a slam on her. Plus, she's a great singer, entertainer, and I think a very talented actress.

But she's 41. She can't compete with 20-somethings. And the most beautiful in the whole world? Now wait a minute. If that's the case, then she should enter The Mrs. Universe Pageant. Better yet, divorce that Marc guy and enter The Miss Universe Pageant. It's been awhile since the US has won that one. Or she could represent Puerto Rico. I'd like to see them win, too.

Well, at least she destroyed last year's People pick--Julia Roberts.

I KNOW A DOG

who looks like this. His owners are friends of ours. Neighbors. But I sure have one beef with them.

They took this beautiful little animal and gave him the illustrious name of Teddy. Now how in the heck did they come up with that?

I've known other people who did the same thing. What are they thinking. Teddy! The name of one of our great Presidents and nickname of one of our not so great Senators. But still.

This Teddy is smart though. And pampered. He has 20 toys that make squeaky noises or are good to chew on. Undoubtedly, some do both. When one of his owners tells Ted (he's sometimes called that, too, and that is hitting a little too close to home) to bring the white puff sheep toy, that's what he does. He never brings a duck or dog bone toy or any of the others.

Once he was searching for nearly one hour when he discovered the big eyed frog as requested who had apparently hopped under the bed. Now, that's one smart and industrious dog.

Maybe, he's kinda worthy of his name.

Naugh.

SKIP THIS ONE IF YOU'RE YOUNG

Because you'd never get it. Until you become older.

Today is one of my best friend's anniversary. Forty-three years. I remember the wedding, or at least parts of it as I do my own.

I remember painting LDH + LDH on the back window of his midnight blue Chevy. I remember it was on the right side.

Now, what I don't understand is why that memory is so vivid after all these years. Why it literally seems like it was yesterday.

But as the cliche goes, ask me what I had for lunch yesterday and I can't tell you. Supper was a 6-inch cold cut sub at the ballpark, but I don't know what I ate for lunch. I've been racking the old brain for awhile,and it just came to me--some tuna and grapes and chow mien noodles all mixed together.

That's not a normal meal for me. It should have been memorable or at least not deeply embedded in my brain to the point that I had difficulty retrieving it. But that's the way it gets with age, I'm afraid.

It's not just me either.

Another very good long time friend was reminded of one night from our juco days that we spent waiting for two cheerleaders to get home from an out of town basketball game. He was reflecting on that very uneventful night because of an old song he had heard and placed it at the scene. Although I didn't recall the song that night, I added details to his story (as if he needed any more). My point is we recalled something with clarity that was not out of the ordinary. I mean ridiculous, graphic accuracy.

I don't remember what we were drinking that night, but I'd guess a Squirt or Mountain Dew. As for me at lunch yesterday with my tuna--bottled water.

And a happy anniversary to Larry D. and Linda D.Howard. I hope that white paint came off easy.

THE PONYTAIL TREE

A Hawaiian friend of mine posted this tree picture on Facebook. Called the ponytail tree. I like.

But I always did like ponytails. On girls or women. Two men usually sit in front of us at church. They're not together. Each has his wife with him. One has better hair than his wife. But still.

But why I like ponytails and hair pulled back away from the face is what they reveal about the face. That is, there's no hiding a bad feature when more of the countenance is exposed.

What's so impressive about the female face (I have no interest in detailing the male) is that there's no set way, no pattern to attractiveness. What I mean is that eye color, nose shape, cheekbones, facial structure, hair color, full lips, not so full lips--none of it can be used as a beautiful template for what constitutes good looks.

Grace Kelly and Sophia Loren, two iconic beauties looked nothing alike. Switch just one feature with the other and that beauty is more than likely destroyed. Yet each in her own right is near perfect with her God-given features.

I bet they'd both be striking in ponytails, though.

SOME TREE

Sometimes I really like the very simple. Cutting to the chase. Bottom lining.

In Charlotte's Web, "Some Pig" sums (pun) it up pretty well. As Some Tree sums this picture and caption accurately.

My first thought was "A Crown of Thorns Tree." Then I looked more closely and thought to myself, "is that a woman superimposed or superexposed in that picture?" Then I just thought it was "Some Tree".

I'm not sure of its kind. But I don't feel bad about that. Botany was not my bag in juco. I kinda liked it, but like a lot of studies, I wasn't ready for it when it was introduced to me. I'm glad I stayed away from Econ back then because I know that at my maturity and experiential level then, I wouldn't have been ready.

But why I don't feel bad is because of the Arizona Allergy Tree. Of course, there's no tree with that name, but I've yet to find anyone who can identify the tree that hurts me. It is yellow/orange with small balls when it blooms. It takes my breath. It makes me gasp by its sweet, sweet aroma. It's like it must be being gassed. But no one seems to know what it is. Actually, it's a very popular tree that lines parking lots at malls and some neighborhoods. We have a couple of huge ones a few blocks away. I'm trying to kill them by throwing my ABC gum in their proximity. So far, it seems to be having the reverse effect as they thrive from chewing gum oxidation.

So, if long time AZ residents can't identify, then why should I be able to? Again, it takes me back to lab practicals in Botany.

I really would care to know its official name, as long as my chewing gum worked.