Fiddledeedee

In all the years I lived in Los Angeles, I never attended the Academy Awards.  I knew people who were “seat warmers” and I thought that would be really awesome, but I never had the nerve to do it.  I just knew that I’d end up accidentally sitting on someone important.

And now I’m kicking myself for never trying to camp out to get an up close and personal gander at the red carpet walkers.  I’m pretty sure that would have been A BLAST. When I was much younger and wouldn’t have had to wear orthopedic inserts though.

Each year, our acting company put on a big glitzy Oscar watching bash for Christians in the entertainment industry.  It was well attended, and we all got dressed up in our favorite party frocks.  Shrimp was served. You just knew that it was going to be a fancy event if the shrimp and cocktail sauce was served.

In hindsight, I believe it was because all of us starving actors were less likely to pilfer shrimp into our pockets for the lean days ahead.

Just sayin’. Not that I would have ever ruined a perfectly good handbag by trying such a despicable act…

I enjoyed sitting around with good friends, dining on hors d’oeuvres, and discussing what everyone onscreen was wearing, and OH MY GOODNESS, I HAD NO IDEA THAT ACTOR HAD DIED during the death montage. (Which always brings me to tears.)

Since leaving LA, I have missed those gatherings on Oscar night.  And pretty much, since then, if I even watch the Oscars, I’m watching alone.  Sob. Sob.

Sunday night was different.  Fiddledaddy hooked EyeTV up to my computer.  What that means, is that I was able to watch the Oscars, Tweet with my peeps, and even compose this blog post.  ALL ON THE SAME SCREEN.

All that technical know-how freaked me out a little.  And I won’t even pretend that I understand how it works.  I just know that there is a little box above my computer with a blue light that looks like an evil eye (hence the name EyeTV) staring at me.  But I don’t care and just won’t look upwards. Ignore/Avoid = Coping Skill.

I almost felt like I was back in Los Angeles, sitting around with a bunch of starving actor types, eating shrimp.  Except that I was wearing my pajamas. And I’m pretty sure that known of my Tweeps are starving.  And I traded in the shrimp for vanilla cookies that I really don’t like all that much, but @redclaydiaries HAD to go and mention cookies and so I spent an entire commercial rummaging through the pantry for any type of cookie I could find.

Other than that, it was just like being there.

I thought that Sandra Bullock gave the best acceptance speech ever.  That was my favorite moment of the entire show.

“Here’s to the mamas who take care of the babies and the children no matter where they come from.” ~Sandra Bullock

Amen sister.  And I love that a woman finally won for Best Director.

Did you watch?  Any surprises?

Recently, I read in the entertainment news that Frances Reid, known to millions as Grandma Horton on the long running soap, Days of Our Lives, had died at the age of 95.

I was saddened.  As I had grown up with Grandma Horton.  My summer trips to stay with my own grandmother were marked with quiet afternoons sitting with her to watch her stories.  These were sacred times.  And unless the house were ablaze, my brother and I knew not to speak a word when Days was playing on her tiny 13 inch Magnavox.

I continued watching during off-school days with my mother.  Who greatly resembled Julie Horton Manning Williams when she wore her long chestnut fall.  A “fall” was a type of half-wig, set apart by a braid wrapped about ones head.  My mother could also recreate Jackie O. and Sophia Loren with her “fall.”  I also tried that look, but my dishwater blonde tresses always gave me away.  The only look I could ever recreate was that of Pippi Longstocking.

All of this was back before technology gave us a means of recording our favorite television shows.  So during the school year, I would have to rely on my mother’s recounting of the antics of Doug, Julie, Mickey, Bill, Laura, and of course Sister Marie (lowers voice to a whisper), who was in a family way.

I reveled in the Christmas Horton tradition of hanging ornaments bearing the names of family members on the Christmas tree.  And I cried bitter tears the year after Addie died, when her ornament was sadly positioned on the tree by Grandma Horton.

I went on to add the Young and the Restless, and finally General Hospital to my soap opera watching venue in the early 70’s and 80’s.  After college, I became a closet soap opera fan.  As it was no longer in vogue.  My own mother had stopped watching soaps.  She quit cold turkey when 3 of her favorite soap opera characters were unceremoniously killed off in the span of a week.

She couldn’t take it anymore.  And she never looked back.

I had the opportunity to shake hands with McDonald Carrey (the elder Dr. Horton himself) at a Los Angeles show business event in the early 90’s.  Just a few years before his death.  Wherein I characteristically embarrassed myself when bits of a stray breadroll flew from my mouth and landed on his lapel.  And I relished those moments when I would spot a hapless soap opera actor innocently pushing their grocery cart around a Hollywood Mayfield, or Ralphs.  If I had a picture taking cell phone back then, you can be sure I would be posting pictures!  And possibly would have served jail time for stalking.

It’s now a rare day when I tune in to a soap opera.  Mostly on account of my husband’s mockery soon after we were married.  Occasionally I’ll turn on my little kitchen TV during lunch and quietly catch 5 minutes of Y&R or Days.  But honestly, Days lost me way back when Marlena became possessed, and was then later found to be the Salem serial killer.  Murdering her way through nearly every cast member, including Grandma Horton, and well, that was the last straw.  Except that they weren’t really dead, and I don’t know how they explained that away.  Something about a hoax. It was too late.   I couldn’t bear to tune in again.

But still, when I learned of the passing of Frances Reid, a million happy memories of watching DOOL with my Nanny and my mama washed over me.  Rest in peace, Grandma Horton.  Your work touched many.  Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.

Frances Reid, 1914-2010

I’m awfully glad to see the industrial sized Coke cups back on the judges table.  I just can’t trust anyone who drinks mineral water. Or say they drink mineral water.  What is mineral water, anyway?

Moving on.  The boys sang tonight.  I have to say that my socks were not blown off of my feet.  I didn’t have a Daughtry moment.  Or a Bo Bice moment.  I don’t think I’ve ever watched A.I. this closely so early in the season.  I usually tune in when it gets down to the final 10.  So, I’m sure this will begin to heat up.  Here are my thoughts on the top 12 guys.

1.  Todrick Hall – sang Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson.  He is such a great performer.  Made it his own by changing arrangement hugely.  Secret to making a song very fresh – pick a song originally recorded by opposite sex.

2.  Aaron Kelly – Double dose of adorable.  Sang country song Rascall Flatt’s “Here Comes Goodbye”.  GREAT voice suited for country.

3.  Germaine Sellers – I was surprised he made it to top 24. He was the guy that told the music director that he didn’t do the song the way he was suppose to.  Dude.  He seemed more humble on this night.  Sang “Get Here.”  Not crazy about the performance.

4.  Tim Urban – He’s the guy that got into the top 24 because someone had to get the boot because of a prior undisclosed contract.  Sang Apologize. I wanted him to do well, he’s cute as a bug.  But he fell short.  I want him to come back next week and surprise the judges.  In a good way.

5.  Joe Munoz – I don’t know what that song was.  I didn’t care for it. I agree with Simon, no star power.

6.  Tyler Grady – Sang American Woman.  Loved watching him. Not the strongest voice, but very likable.  Kara had great advice.  Bring it into the present.  He’s fun, he’s different.

7.  Lee Dewyze – Sang Chasing Cars.  So off key. But Simon LOVED IT. So what do I know. He is adorable. I hope he does well.

8.  John Park – Sang God Bless the Child.  Started way too low.  Not the right song for him. But golly, he has a pretty voice. I think he’s going to surprise everyone.  But he needs to make a better song choice.

9.  Michael Lynche -  Sang This Life. I loves when he performs with his guitar. I think he has good potential. But I keep worrying about his wife with all alone with that new baby.  HAS HE EVEN HELD THE BABY YET? I worry about these things because I have become my mother.

10.  Alex Lambert – Sang What a Wonderful World.  Very interesting voice.  I don’t like this song for him.  He has terrific potential.  I hope he can pull together his nerves.  And the mullet?  I’m not a fan.  But he is absolutely cute as can be.

11.  Casey James – {faints} ADORABLE.  I had a stupid grin plastered on my face during the entire performance. Embarrassing. I think this guy has star potential. And the boy is from FORT WORTH.  I do think the whole teasing Kara thing is a bit distracting.  He handles it well.

12. Andrew Garcia – I like his voice, but I thought the performance was forgettable.  I loved when he sang “Straight Up” during Hollywood week.  He needs to recreate that type of performance.

My picks for the top 6 guys are:  Aaron Kelly, Casey James, Michael Lynche, Lee DeWyze, John Park, and Andrew Garcia.

What did you think? Any front runners yet? If you have an American Idol post up, head over to BooMama’s.  She is rounding everyone up with Mr. Linky.

I fear that Tuesday nights are simply not going to be a good night to put together a post with any reasonable story line.  Especially when I am furiously taking copious notes while watching the first part of American Idol, hitting the pause button, switching over to Lost, and then back to A.I.  And then scouring the pantry for cookies.  Any kind of cookies.  Or a saltine, maybe.

And next week, Biggest Loser will get thrown back into the mix.  Hold me.

It takes me several days to digest Lost.  The only thing that really stood out for me was, OH MY GOSH, when Jin was getting up from the ground for the first time in Claire’s chateau, he had black boxers with red hearts on them totally peeking out of the back of his pants.

Fiddledaddy noticed this, and I was all, NO WAY, and then he hit rewind, AND OH MY GOSH. JIN WAS WEARING BOXERS WITH RED HEARTS.

Rewind if you don’t believe me.

Favorite lines of the night belonged to Hugo:

“I just lied to a Samurai.”

“Thanks for the 7 years of bad luck, dude.”

I am beginning to love the characters in the parallel time sequence.  Who do you think Jack was married to?  I HAVE NO IDEA, but I think it will surprise us.  Maybe Juliet?  Hmmm?

I need to watch the whole episode again in slow motion.  The symbolism?  It is mind bending, man.

Now on to American Idol.

I am so very sad to admit that I was not impressed with the ladies.  Seriously.  Not one of them really showed their full potential.  Of course, it was their first time singing in front of a GAZILLION PEOPLE.  But still.  And I got the idea that all of the song choices were just someone’s idea of a practical joke, and thought that the contestants really wouldn’t go through with it.

But YEAH Simon for wearing a sweater.  My favorite lines of the night belonged to him.  “I’m only saying what you’re thinking.” And of course his zinger to Ryan, “I think it went both ways.”

I have a few favorite picks.  Although I wasn’t crazy with their performance, I think they’ll shine in upcoming weeks.  My top picks for the ladies are (in no particular order):

Paige Miles
Lilly Scott
Didi Benami
Siobhan Magnus
Crystal Bowersox (LOVE HER, LOVE HER, LOVE HER)
Katie Stevens

Those are who I think will go through to the top 6.  But, Katelyn Epperly is a close call. But next week I hope she leaves the fish nets at home. Fish nets have only one valuable use.  Catching fish.  The end.

I think that sweet little Haeley Vaughn will go home.  And sadly, I also think that Lacey Brown will join her.  I LOVE Lacey’s voice, but oh my gosh, choosing “Landslide” was a train wreck for her vocals.  I hope I’m wrong.

Can’t wait to hear the boys.  Who do you see going through to the top 6 for the ladies?

I watch American Idol for the last two nights, and frankly, it was such a weird whirlwind that I can’t compose a thoughtful post about who I think is outstanding.  I have a few favorites, namely Crystal Bowersox, Erin Kelly, and Kasey James.  I’m totally unsure of spellings because somebody deleted the show before I could go back for names. And I have to write this post in 3 minutes, or I would google it.  But whenever I google anything I end up on a bunny trail and before you know it, LOOK! THERE’S A PICTURE OF SAWYER WITHOUT HIS SHIRT ON!

Where was I?  I have no idea.

Oh yeah, American Idol.  Next week when everyone really gets down to the business of singing, I’ll write something more thought provoking.

As if.

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Happy Thursday!