Scott the Blogaholic

Hi. My name is Mary Ann, and my husband is a blogaholic. Seriously, I am absolutely astounded by Scott's apparent affinity for blogging. I thought I'd be lucky to get him to blog maybe once or twice a year, but he has more posts than I do. This post will actually even us up. Even more surprising than Scott's blogging addiction is the fact that he outed his relationship with American Idol. Seriously shocking.

Rain Rain Go Away

Is anyone else had enough rain? There has been enough rain to bring the May flowers, I am ready for at least a week of sun. The past week has been extremely gloomy. I am beginning to hate Spring. Spring is really annoying to me. I really like that everything blooms, the trees get leaves, and everything starts to look alive in general. I like the warm days, but there are just not enough of them. There are days that are warm enough to remind me that the summer is great. But just when I am getting used to warm nice weather it goes back to being winter. At least in winter you really have no hope that it will be warm so you aren't disappointed when it is cold. I am ready for Spring to be over if it means this gloomy rainy mess we have right now. Bring on Summer, I am ready for it!!

Update: I shouldn't have complained, it has been snowing for the past 2 1/2 hours!!

I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM DOING THIS

For some time now I have been trying to think of something to blog about. My sister Diana has blogged a few times about The Biggest Loser. I figured I could blog about the one reality show I follow, American Idol. However my nature is to not let anyone know that I am interested in something, and that only intensifies if there are many others who are interested. I actually try to avoid things that are popular. I usually am able to stay disinterested, Harry Potter and AI are two examples where I haven't been able to avoid that which is popular. Anyway desperation has driven me to give a run down on my opinion of the current AI contestants.

I will start with the apparent front runner Adam. I think he is a very talented singer but I can't really get behind him. His flamboyantly gay persona is a little too much for me. He isn't as bad as some, but this no reason to give him a pass. I also think he changes songs too much from the original. That week the he sang Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire is the best example. It was the worst thing I have ever heard on the show and any chance of me being okay with Adam died then. For those of you that didn't catch that I am sure you can find it on youtube.

Next let's talk about Matt. I have never really loved anything he has done, but he is okay. However the first week he was in the bottom three I noticed this distracting growth on his forehead. I am not sure if it is a mole or something else, but honestly I can't stand to look at the guy. Enough said.

I guess I will move on to Lil. She has been bad for weeks now, I think she will be the next one to be voted off. I don't usually care for the divas anyway, but she is a poor version of the big voice divas of past seasons. Currently she and Matt are the two that must go.

Anoop has a great voice and can really sing a ballad beautifully. He hasn't shown an ability to do much else. I am mostly indifferent about him, but in the long run he is too geeky to last. If he were to win it would almost the same as when Taylor Hicks won. Anoop however is night and day better than Taylor.

Kris I think will be in until close to the end. He is not a lot better than some of those that have already left, but he has the 13 year old girl vote which counts for a lot (they are strong supporters of the show, what does that say about me I wonder). I liked him at first and I still think from time to time he is really good, but in the end there are two more that I prefer.

Danny has had a bad week or two, but his bad is better than most this year. He is really good and has a way of picking songs that can really show the best qualities in his voice. He is usually entertaining and well worth watching. I do have a problem with him, well I guess not him, but what the producers have done. Apparently he was married and his wife died, I am not sure how, but the producers have a need to constantly remind us of that. I am getting a little tired of it.

I have saved my favorite, Allison for last. AI usually seems to have a least one rocker each season. This year I think they have found one that has a chance to go somewhere. Every week I have enjoyed what she has done. She has a super powerful voice, and can handle big songs. She is a little quirky which I like. Last week the judges had issues with her clothes, and I agree they were nothing to get excited about. But what rocker wears anything the rest of the world likes? She has been in the bottom 3 twice already which I can't understand. I think I will quit on this season when she is eliminated.

One final note, the Paula Simon interaction is too much. I am super irritated by it. If the producers are promoting this they are stupid, if that in not the case please put Simon and Paula on opposite sides of the table.

Please don't judge me to harshly for posting such a long overview of AI. I am already considering deleting this in an effort to save face.

My ER addiction

So please tell me that I'm not the only ER junkie left out there. I watched the first 3 1/2 seasons back in the mid-90's, and then I left on my mission. Since then, I had only caught an occasional episode here and there until last year. About mid-season I rediscovered ER, and I was quickly hooked. I even found myself surprisingly liking "Uncle Jesse" as the new heartthrob doctor. At the end of the season, I couldn't wait for this year's 15th and final season. I have faithfully watched every episode this season (more often taped than not--yes, we still use VHS to record). It all culminated last night in a 3-hour grand finale--one hour of ER highlights and interviews with the actors and then a 2-hour final episode. Scott mocks me for my addiction, but he watched every last minute of those three hours (although he claims he was just washing dishes during the first hour--whatev). I'll admit that I teared up a few times, but I couldn't really cry in front of mean old Scott. :) I don't know exactly what it is about that show that I love so much because I really am the hugest wimp about blood and the like. I think I might be addicted to the trauma and drama (as if I don't get enough of that in my own field of work). Last night the actors kept referring to the characters as "flawed heroes," so maybe that's the big draw for me. All I really know for sure is that my Thursday evenings won't ever be quite the same. Adios, ER! I will miss you!! (At least I still have The Office, right?)
NOTE: I tried to add a photo of Uncle Jesse/Dr. Gates, but apparently I have no clue how to do that correctly. Please HELP!

Sandy's list

Two post in one day? I promise this will never happen again.
Copy this list into the comments and answer the questions about me!

1. Where did we meet?

2. Take a stab at my middle name?

3. Color of my eyes?

4. Do I have any siblings?

5. How many?

6. What's one of my favourite things to do?

7. What's my favourite type of music?

8. Am I shy or outgoing?

9. Am I a rebel or do I follow the rules?

10. Any special talents?

11. If you and I were stranded on a desert island, what is one thing that I would bring?

12. What is my favourite color?

Apologies are in order

I sent out a mass email to inform everyone that we, or I should say Mary Ann has started a blog. Aunt Barbara asked why she had to find out through Aunt Lynda that we had started blogging. My only answer is that my email address book has never been updated. I sent emails to any address I may have had. To any of you who have to find out about this blog through the grapevine I am sorry

Cubs Spring Training

Ok, I'm going to attempt a post with pics... Scott and I spent last weekend in Arizona for Cubs Spring Training. I have gone every year since 1997 (excluding my mission years), and this was Scott's 2nd year. We/Scott drove to Vegas Thursday night and stayed with Scott's cousin Tyler (always so kind to give us his bed). Then we drove the rest of the way to Arizona on Friday morning (actually Scott drove the whole way because I was way sick and hadn't slept in 5 days), and we went to an afternoon Cubs game at Hohokam Park (Cubs' stadium) in Mesa. Scott and I then met up with 3 of my college friends and their families for dinner at a yummy Mexican restaurant called Tia Rosa (the food was good enough to forgive the wait). We all then went to Melanie's house for dessert, catching up, and a little Catch Phrase. The next day, 2 of the same friends and their families met us in Phoenix for a Cubs game against the White Sox. We won both games we saw, which actually kind of disappointed me. I want the Cubs to stink this year because I'm sick of getting my hopes dashed. After the game, Scott and I headed back to Vegas to stay with his sister MaryAnn and fam for about 10 hours (thanks for breakfast!) and made it home to Utah just in time for the Draper Temple Dedication (and the yucky cold and snow). It was a fun, quick weekend!

Scott wearing all his Red Sox gear to the Cubs game--shirt, hat, AND watch!

My friend Roxanne holding Melanie's baby with her own son by her side. Cute!

Jodi, me, Melanie, & Melanie's baby at the game. It was at at least 90 degrees. Nice!

Too bad I had to go to the White Sox' stadium to get a good Chicago dog. Yum!

Scott and me at the Cubs game.



Wow, there's got to be a quicker, easier way to add pictures. Help!