Some thoughts on the Danny Gokey backlash

I've made no secret of the fact that Danny Gokey is my favorite American Idol contestant. Not only do I love his singing, I've also loved his spirit on the show--and I was pleased to find out that not only does he have a connection to the area I live in, but that he is a Christian.

So I was delighted that Danny made it through to the top 12 on the show last night.

Well, apparently not everyone likes Danny as much as I do. In fact, some people aren't at all shy about expressing the fact that they hate him.

Check out many Idol-related websites today (or DON'T check them out--thanks to the venom and obscenities being spewed, you may feel like you have to shower afterwards)--and you'll find lots of anti-Danny comments.

The anti-Danny complaints?

Besides many who just don't like Danny's voice (to each his own, I guess!?!), they are sick of hearing about the fact that his wife recently passed away. They believe Danny, and the show, are milking her passing for sympathy votes.

The comments on some of the sites are just plain cruel and unfeeling. Some commenters were appalled that a friend or family member of Danny's held up a picture of his wife while he was singing.

Do any of these people have any idea what it's like to lose a loved one? When my niece died several years ago, we tried to honor her memory in every way possible. Invoking, celebrating and honoring the memory of a loved one is often a motivating factor in getting through a tough or challenging situation.

A friend and former colleague of mine, Joe Buchanan, has this to say:

"I thought he [Danny] looked quite humble last night. I think maybe what has ticked a lot of people off, including Simon (he didn't seem to like Danny and it seemed personal on Tuesday night) anyhow, is the fact that it's starting to come out that he is a Christian. And, I'll tell you this - if it were my wife and I was in that situation I wouldn't be as self controlled as he is. I think he's handling it very well and the more I see of him the more I like. Plus, wasn't the whole reason he chose that song was to inspire and encourage others who are hurting?"

A commenter responding to a particularly vicious anti-Danny thread at rickey.org said her husband died a little over a year ago:

"When your spouse dies it is one of the most lonely feelings in the world. Your grief takes hold without warning. One minute you’re fine and the next you have this image of the person you love most in your mind and then he/she is gone and it’s a stark reminder how you’re alone and the dreams you had about building a life together are gone. Now, I don’t expect you all to fully understand the extent of what it’s like to lose your partner in life. You won’t know until you experience it yourself. But believe you me, you wake up each day hoping you won’t have a freak out. You feel hopeless and helpless quite often. Sometimes you want to die too. So for him to step up 4 weeks after her passing is a brave thing for him to do. And to fellow widow(er)s, he is an inspiration because he isn’t letting his grief get the best of him."

Rude to Tatiana?

Another charge from the Danny haters is that he was "rude" to Tatiana when she was in meltdown mode just before and after it was announced that she was eliminatd and Danny was moving on.

I like what my friend and former co-worker Mike Schlote has to say to that:

"Rude to Tatiana? Are you kidding me? How do you console someone who is in a trance-like communication with her mother ship? And celebrating your success is rude? He didn't jump up and down and throw it in her face (not that she would have noticed it coming if he did). He celebrated, put his arm around her and enjoyed the success that God gave him. It's just ridiculous the attacks that come AGAINST people instead of support FOR someone."

Take a look at who's orchestrating the backlash

Besides particularly vicious remarks about Danny's widower status (some even referring to him as "Dead Wife Guy"), most of the anti-Danny Gokey people are savaging his Christian faith and even denigrating the church he attends--copy 'n pasting things from Faithbuilders' website and ridiculing them with sadistic glee.

The comments are typically teeming with obscenities and juvenile name-calling. They truly exhibit the mindset of people who obviously have not even a nodding acquaintance with compassion or heart.

American Idol shares in the blame for the backlash

We can blame the producers at least in part for this backlash. They seize on a person's backstory, and the more heart-wrenching it is, the more they milk it--and yes, they've done this with Danny's story just as they have with many others.

But that doesn't negate the fact that Danny Gokey is a young man with true talent, and every appearance (take a look at his Sophia's Heart charity, for example) of having integrity and compassion.

We'll just have to see what happens

Will this backlash be successful? I'm not here to say that Danny Gokey is a perfect person, by any means--or that I would agree with every action or decision he's ever made or will make.

But I think it will really be a shame if a group of hateful people who enjoy celebrating their ugly sarcasm on Internet forums are able to de-rail his success.

Happy birthday to my precious babies

Happy birthday to my wonderful children, Justin and Elizabeth!

Elizabeth's birthday was actually Monday...she turned 22. Justin is 26 years old today. So hard to believe!

Below is a picture of Justin holding his brand new sister in the hospital, with my mom looking on.

Justin and Elizabeth have always been dear friends. She adores both her big brothers (my oldest, Jonathan, will turn 29 in March.) It's been difficult for her to live away from them, as they're both living in Texas now.

Many times in the past, we've celebrated Justin and Elizabeth's birthdays together. We're both sad that Justin won't be here to celebrate today!

Oh Danny Boy...

I've made no secret of the fact that Danny Gokey is my favorite contestant on American Idol this season.

Danny has been a worship leader at Faithbuilders church in nearby Beloit, Wisconsin in recent years.

I'm going out on a limb and saying that he is probably my favorite contestant EVER on the show.

Go here to hear Danny's performance last night.

Stuff to tell you!

Is cursive writing going the way of the buffalo?

It's always been a little point of pride for me that I have really good handwriting. However, I've had little chance to use it of late. About the only time I pull it out of my meager skills bag is to sign a birthday card or write a thank-you note.

My lovely handwriting is quickly becoming a skill that no one is particularly impressed with, and is in fact on its way to being obsolete.

"Penmanship, like hieroglyphics and the IBM Selectric, has lost its purpose. Let's erase it for good," writes Jessica Bennett in Newsweek.

Bennett goes on to say, "I haven't used script since elementary school. I type, I Twitter, I Facebook and IM. I e-mail co-workers who sit feet from my desk, and text rather than call. The only time I pen a handwritten letter is when I write to my grandmother. So when I hear people say that penmanship is dead, my response: it's about time."

Other articles tell us that teachers are having a hard time fitting the teaching of cursive writing into their schedules.

What do you think? Is handwriting becoming a lost art that should stay lost?

--Producer/author Mark Joseph has some solid ideas on how to improve any future Narnia movies--not the least of which is to stop downplaying the faith themes of the stories. Joseph says the relationship between Aslan and the Pevensie children comes across as emotionally flat in the movies--I agree, by the way--and he purports that a director who understands the relationship Christians have with Christ might be a good idea.

--Do you still have dial-up internet service? If not, would you go back to it for economy's sake? Some people are, according to this AP news story.

--I missed this, but Steven Curtis Chapman was on Mike Huckabee's show over the weekend. You can watch it here.

--What would Abraham Lincoln have had on his iPod? Based on what we know of Honest Abe's musical tastes, Miles Hoffman speculates.

--And random thought o' the day: If ex-Governor Blagojevich ever starts a blog, he could call it Blogojevich! (Yes, that was an original thought, thank you! :))

The Most Famous Lovers of Literature and History

In honor of Valentine's Day! From listafterlist.com, the most famous lovers in literature and history.

1. Romeo and Juliet--portrayed at left by Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting in Franco Zeffirelli's movie adaptation of Shakespeare's famous play.

2. Cleopatra and Mark Antony

3. Lancelot and Guinevere

4. Layla and Majnun--OK, this one I admit I had never heard of, but you can read about them here

5. Tristan and Iseult (Isolde)--pictured portrayed by James Franco and Sophia Myles in the 2006 movie adaptation

6. Eloise and Abelard

7. Paris and Helena

8. Orpheus and Eurydike

9. Napoleon and Josephine

10. Cyrano and Roxane

11. Pyramus and Thisbe

12. Werther and Lotte

13. Odysseus and Penelope

14. Jane Eyre and Rochester--The romance from my favorite novel of all time! It gives hope to every young girl who isn't beautiful that the man of her dreams can still fall madly, passionately in love with her. Who can forget Jane's impassioned speech to Rochester, just before he declares his love for her:

"Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! - I have as much soul as you, - and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you."

15. Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler--From one of my favorite books and movies, Gone With the Wind.

Got any favorites here--or couples that you think should be added to the list? Let me know in my comments section!

13 (Plus) Things about My Husband and Me

This is from one of those things that goes around on Facebook. With Valentine's Day approaching, I thought I would use it for a Thursday Thirteen. This is dedicated to my one and only true love, Doug! Happy Valentine's Day, honey!

♥ What are your middle names?
Susan and Elving (he's going to kill me)

♥ How long have you been together?
Married over 30 years

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?
Known each other slightly and from a distance for a couple of years

♥ Who asked who out?
Doug asked me out.

♥ Whose siblings do/ did you see the most?
His. All of his brothers live in this area, and all my siblings live out of state.

♥ Do you have any children together?
Yes, three.

♥ What about pets?
Two dogs...Stormy the German Shepherd, and Brandy the toy poodle

♥ Did you go to the same college?
Yep. That's where we met.

♥ Are you from the same home town?
No.

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Giuseppi's...a wonderful little mom-and-pop Italian restaurant.

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
California

♥ Who is the neat-freak?
Doug is, definitely. Although I've become more of a neat-freak and he's become a little less of one...we've kind of met in the middle.

♥ Where was your first date?
We went bowling!

♥ How long did it take to get serious?
We were engaged less than nine months from the time we met.

Go here to participate in Thursday Thirteen

I guess Dane on Biggest Loser will have to talk now!

...and yes, that WAS Jorge Garcia who commented on my blog!

Well, it looks like the silent member of the black team on Biggest Loser will have to step up to the camera now. Dane's partner and cousin, Blaine, got sent home last night.

Contestants were told that only one member of the below-the-yellow-line team at last night's weigh-in would be going home, and that the team would have to make the decision as to who that would be.

The black team, after posting major numbers at most weigh-ins, found themselves below the yellow line...and Blaine begged his fellow contestants to send him home.

It's understandable. Blaine's wife had just had a baby a few weeks earlier, and his heart was there. Also, the follow-up showed that he's doing great losing weight at home now, and is even training for an Iron Man triathlon.

For whatever reason, Dane has scarcely spoken on camera at all. To hear the other contestants tell it, he's a real leader in the gym when it comes to pushing his team-mates to excellence...but he truly has been a man of few words.

Now, maybe we'll hear more from Dane.

Jorge! Woo-hoo!

Again, apologies to those of you who could care less about either Biggest Loser or Lost, but...

You heard me gushing the other day when I was pretty sure that the "real" Jorge Garcia--the one who plays Hurley on "Lost"--had commented on my blog.

Scroll down to read my Hurley-centric post. :)

Anyway--it definitely WAS Jorge Garcia/Hurley. He commented AGAIN!!! And I quote:

"That was cute. I'm printing this page up to add it to my scrapbook. (Well to send to my sister who scrapbooks my stuff for me.)
I found your post because it came up on my google alert. (It's a trick Dom had taught me)

And yes it really is me."

By "Dom," I can only assume he means Dominic Monaghan, who used to play Charlie. And who I miss VERY much, by the way.

Oh well...I just think it's cool that an actor on the Greatest TV Show of All Time commented on my little blog.

Stuff to tell you...

It's been a while since I've done a "Stuff to tell you" post, so here goes...

--Ahhh, romance! Christian fiction writer Patty Hickman is featuring "Romancing the Authors Week" on her blog...and there are free giveaways involved!

--How deep are your Facebook friendships? This guy calls Facebook "an entertaining saboteur."

The most significant Facebook connection for me, then, happens outside of Facebook. It happens with those people made of human flesh and blood, who speak audibly to me, and whose body language is such an integral part of their communication. These are real friends with whom I work and live...

--Could the Academy be a bit out of touch? Just asking. Usually Oscar-nominated movies can expect to get a Best Picture "bump" in attendance, but not this time. Dave Karger of Entertainment Weekly speculates:

"So what's the problem? Is it because there are so many other high-profile award shows these days that the Oscar nominations almost come as an afterthought? Or is it that many of this year's Best Picture nominees are simply unappealing to the average moviegoer? Regardless, it's quite telling that the combined box office take of the five Best Picture nominees so far ($233 million) isn't even half of the $532 million Oscar also-ran The Dark Knight has grossed."

--Wouldn't you think if you are "pro-choice," you would also be for a person's right to choose to hear a viewpoint opposing yours? Hmmm...I guess choice doesn't extend that far, at least in this case.

--OK, I'm a hopeless romantic...but I recently read James Patterson's Sundays at Tiffany's and loved it. I have not read any reviews for it, so I don't even know what critics think, and I don't even care. It was totally implausible, totally romantic--a fun, escapist diversion!

Whaaaa....did Hurley just comment on my blog????

OK, you all now how much of a "Lost" fan I am. Still, I realize that Jorge Garcia, who plays Hurley on the show, is just a guy...an actor...a person of no more worth or importance than you or me. I'm sure he puts his pants on one leg at a time. That being said....

DID JORGE GARCIA COMMENT ON MY BLOG???

Here's the deal. My last post was a repeat of "Lost" trivia that I've posted in the past. One of the bits of trivia that I got from either imdb.com or tv.com was that Jorge Garcia initially tried out for the role of Sawyer (along with Matthew Fox and Dominic Monaghan.)

The most recent comment I got to this post was this one from one Jorge Garcia:

"To say I auditioned for the part of Sawyer is not quite accurate. I knew when I went to the audition that I wasn't up for that particular part. They just wanted to see me do something and that's the material they had."

As those of you familiar with Blogger know, you can click on any commenter's name and be taken to their profile, which will include a link to their own blog. In this case, I was taken to Dispatches from the Island.

All I can say is, I could be wrong, but this blog really looks like it might be written by the real Jorge Garcia--or, I should say, the one who plays Hurley on "Lost." (I'm sure there are any number of Jorge Garcias blogging in the world.)

If so, it shows that the guy who plays Hurley has a nice sense of humor and seems to be a real down-to-earth kind of guy. Just what we would hope for from the guy who plays Hurley.

I especially got a chuckle of this post.

So if you're the Jorge who plays Hurley, thanks for visiting my blog and clearing up that erroneous bit of trivia! We like you being Hurley. In fact, I honestly can't imagine anyone else being Hurley...or anyone besides Josh Holloway being Sawyer, for that matter!

And I have to tell you, I've blogged about my Hurley love before. Like when I recently did a Thursday Thirteen of my favorite TV characters of all time--and Hurley was one of them:

Hurley's down-to-earth sense of humor is one of the things that keeps the show from spiraling into inaccessible weirdness.

And when I posted about 13 reasons why I love "Lost," Hurley was one of those, too:

Hurley is absolutely vital to the show. For a while, I was watching "24"fairly regularly, and it's excellent--but there is almost no comic relief, if any. The intensity blasts you nonstop. But the great thing about "Lost" is that just when everything gets a little too spooky, scary or strange, there's Hurley saying, "Dude..." and bringing everything back down to earth. I totally love Hurley.

Wow. I'm almost as excited as my friend Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee got when she was contacted by Clinton Kelly of "What Not to Wear"!

13 Bits of "Lost" Trivia

It's been quite a while since I've done a Thursday Thirteen, and apparently during my lengthy hiatus, the meme is actually under new management!

For those of you who've been reading this blog a while, yes, this is a re-run. However, I have "Lost" on the brain, since I'm heavily embroiled in the new season. I have added some new thoughts in italics.

How about that episode last night? I loved it. Somehow, I felt that it captured the spirit of some of the earliest episodes of the show.

I know the time travel aspect is confusing, but that doesn't really bother me--when has the show been simplistic?

The bottom line is, we love the characters. We're invested in them, and that's what brings us back.

Let me know your thoughts in my comments section.

Enjoy the trivia, courtesy of imdb.com., tv.com,

1. Jorge Garcia (Hurley) was the first person cast for the series.

2. In the original description for Kate (Evangeline Lilly), she was a slightly older woman separated from her husband, who went to the bathroom in the tail-section of the plane. However, that idea ended up being used for the character Rose. (Note: where are Rose and Bernard now that the islanders are time-jumping! Bring them back!)

3. Josh Holloway was trying to cover up his Southern accent while he was shooting several of his first scenes in the first season. It wasn't until director J.J. Abrams told him that the reason they cast him was BECAUSE of his accent that Holloway changed it. There are still some scenes left in the pilot where Holloway doesn't use his Southern accent. (Spoiler warning: Did he kind of break your heart last night when he glimpsed Kate? I'm a Jater--someone who thinks Jack and Kate should be together--but that doesn't stop me from loving Sawyer.)

4. Jorge Garcia, Matthew Fox, and Dominic Monaghan all auditioned originally for the part of Sawyer as the other characters had not been developed at the time. (I miss Charlie! Do you think we'll see him again on the show? Did anyone catch Dominic Monaghan on "Chuck" the other night?)

5. Michael Keaton was considered for the part of Jack, but turned it down. Had he accepted, he would have been killed off in the pilot episode. (Wow...glad that didn't happen, on both counts.)

6. Charlie (who sadly died in last season's finale) was in a band called Drive Shaft. Their only hit was called "You All Everybody". That song can be heard in the background of an episode of Alias, another show created by JJ Abrams.

7. During Charlie's heroin scenes, Dominic Monaghan is actually snorting brown sugar.

8. According to several Official Lost websites, the plane crashed on September 22, 2004. The journey was supposed to be 13 hours and 52 minutes long, leaving Sydney at 08:04 and arriving at LAX at 18:16.

9. There is a common misconception that since Claire (Emilie de Ravin) is eight months pregnant and in her third trimester, the airlines wouldn't have allowed her to fly. While airlines may not necessarily recommend flying when eight months pregnant, they cannot and will not prohibit a pregnant woman from taking a flight if she really wants or needs to. (I do hope we see more of Claire on the show...it would be nice to have an explanation as to what exactly happened to her character.)

10. Evangeline Lilly (who plays Kate) and Dominic Monaghan (who played Charlie) were engaged to be married to each other in real life until just recently. (Actually, I think they may have re-united again recently...not sure of the latest on that. And didn't Kate look gorgeous on last night's episode? I bet she wishes she could take a straightening iron back to the island with her!)

11. Naveen Andrews' character, Sayid, is Iraqi; but in real life Andrews is of British and Indian origin. (Sayid has definitely turned into the kind of character you would want in your corner--and by your side in a dark alley. )

12. A goof in one of the earlier Desmond-centric "time-travel" episode: When Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) passes an army careers office he stops to look at a poster for 'The Royal Scots' which has some inaccuracies proving it is not a poster that would be found in Britain. Firstly the word 'honor' is spelt 'honour' in Britain. Secondly the small print refers to 'boot camp', which is not a phrase used in the British military. (Desmond is one of my favorite characters, for many reasons--not the least of which is his delectable Scottish accent.)

13. Go here for some fun "Lost" quizzes.



You can go here to participate in the new version of "Thursday Thirteen"

Joelle enters Biggest Loser Hall of Shame

Biggest Loser's Joelle takes her place in the figurative Biggest Loser Hall of Shame, right up there with last season's Vicky, after her shenanigans on last night's episode.

Joelle has had problems from the start. Her partner Carla's first mistake was agreeing to be the one to go home while Joelle stayed on the ranch. That was during the first episode, when most teams had to choose a partner to go home and lose weight while the other stayed on the ranch.

The condition was that the partner on the ranch had to work hard to keep from getting eliminated so their partner could come back in 30 days.

Joelle almost blew that! While Carla gamely soldiered on at home, Joelle dallied around, never giving it the "150 per cent' that most participants say is need to stay in the game.

Last week, she kicked it up a notch and rallied for a respectable weight loss, insuring Carla's return. I applauded her change in attitude and hoped it would continue.

It didn't. Once Carla returned to the ranch, Joelle returned to her slacking ways. Last night, while Carla lost 9 pounds, Joelle lost ZERO--a rarity on the ranch, where everyone's job (as trainer Bob said last night) is just to exercise and lose weight.

While--in my opinion--Joelle never garnered the level of intense dislike that last season's Vicky did, she was easily one of the most annoying Biggest Loser contestants ever.

She wasn't mean, like Vicky was (or at least appeared to be). She was just selfish and lazy. At least Vicky was a competitor!

The follow-up at the end of the episode showed us that Carla and Joelle haven't been able to patch up their friendship, which isn't surprising. But it did show that both of them have continued to lose weight at home. Good for them.

American Idol's local connection

Jamar and Danny with Faithbuilders' pastors Jeff and Robin Pruitt--from the Faithbuilders website

The former worship leader at Beloit, WI's Faithbuilders International, and his friend are through to the next round on American Idol...and color me WOWED by Danny Gokey's voice once again!

Here's a link to the video of Danny Gokey and his friend Jamar's segment.

And more about their connection to Faithbuilders here.

Danny is the one whose wife passed away just weeks before he initially auditioned. Last night he sang "Kiss from a Rose," and...again...WOW. He and David Osmond are two I will really be pulling for.

My doctor says I can't lower my cholesterol

February is Heart Month

"You're not going to be able to lower your cholesterol," my doctor told me a couple of weeks ago. "You could eat nothing but salads all day, and it wouldn't matter. It's heredity."

I struggled not to burst into tears right in front of the good doc. It was enough a blow, in September 2007, to find out that I have Type 2 diabetes. Now my doctor wants to put me on cholesterol medication as well!

Buying some time?

Initially, I agreed--albeit reluctantly--to take the cholesterol medication, and the doctor even called in the prescription. But despite his assurances that I would NOT be able to lower my LDL--the bad cholesterol--without medication, I wanted at least a chance to try.

Type 2 diabetics are at a higher risk of coronary disease than other people, so it IS important that my LDL be low. The doctor had never mentioned being concerned about my cholesterol until last October (2008). Now, in January, he is concerned enough to put me on medication.

I asked for three months to try to lower my LDL on my own. That gives me until roughly the end of April.

I write down everything I eat on a daily basis in a notebook every day, along with whether/how much I've exercised, my blood sugar numbers morning and night, and whether I've taken my apple cider vinegar twice a day.

Slacking off a bit?

I pulled out my notebooks from previous months to see if I've been doing anything differently.

Sure enough, even though I exercise regularly, I had not been exercising as much as I was initially. In the months after my diagnosis, I was exercising five or six times a week. Since getting my blood sugar in check, it's been more like three to four times a week.

I was checking my blood sugar just two or three times a week--and even though my A1C was a respectable 6.1, it had been lower in the past.

Whereas I used to take my apple cider vinegar faithfully morning and night, my ACV-taking had become sporadic...and sometimes I would go days without taking it. (Although scientific studies on the subject are limited and most evidence is anecdotal, I firmly believe taking the ACV played a major role in me being able to bring my blood sugar down so dramatically...and I believe it could also lower cholesterol and blood pressure.)

And while I studiously count carbs as my diabetes educators taught me to, I don't always limit foods like eggs and cheese, and I definitely was NOT eating enough fruits and vegetables.

Bottom line, I was slacking off a bit.

Cue the "Rocky" theme song...

So I've pushed everything up a notch. I'm exercising almost every day, with more intensity.

I'm eating oatmeal, Cheerios, almonds, fish, avocados, fruits and vegetables more. I'm looking into supplements that might help. I'm taking my ACV religiously, and checking my blood sugar morning and night again.

Oh, and there's the fact that I need to lose more weight. I need to take off at least 20 more pounds, and I'm now re-doubling my efforts to do just that.

My doctor may be right...maybe there's nothing I can do to lower my cholesterol on my own. If that's the case, I'll go pick up my prescription.

But if I don't lower my cholesterol, it won't be for lack of trying.

By the way, any advice would be appreciated! Comment below.

If you're interested, from dlife.com, here's 10 ways to lower your cholesterol.

"Voyage of the Dawn Treader" will be made

Good news for Narnia fans...or at least, for Narnia movie fans! The Voyage of the Dawn Treader will be made after all.

How have you liked the two Narnia movies so far? I finally saw Prince Caspian, and generally liked it, but thought the battle scenes were way too long.

To be honest, Prince Caspian was not my favorite of the books (although I've loved all of them since I was a little girl.) Dawn Treader, on the other hand, was one of my favorites, and I think it could make a terrific movie.

What do you think...are you a Narnia lover, and how do you feel the movies have measured up?

Happy birthday, Payton!

It's hard to believe my precious little grandson, Payton, will be two years old tomorrow (January 31st). Although I don't get to see him nearly as often as I would like, he has brought so much joy and laughter already in his little life so far. I won't get to be with him on his birthday this year...hopefully I'll see him in a couple of months.

Payton, Grandma LOVES you so much! Happy birthday!

Here are a few pictures of Payton's 2nd year.

At his 1st birthday party

At the strawberry patch

Among the Texas bluebonnets

In May, when we went down for his daddy's MBA graduation

Really enjoying that TexMex food!

Fun times in the pool

With Grandpa, Labor Day Weekend

On the farm of his other grandparents, in Idaho

A funny little lion on Halloween

Getting ready to turn a flip. It is SOOO cute when he does this!!!

Enjoying Christmas 2008

A few observations about last night's "Biggest Loser"

1. I'm very sad to see Dan go, but if we can judge by the follow-up at the end, he has what it takes to continue his weight loss journey. I truly hope so. I don't have high hopes for Dave, though, and I'm almost as annoyed with him as Tara was!

2. I agree with Sam Barrington that Tara would make a great employee. She's the kind of competitor that my husband, a basketball coach, dreams about...and she also seems to have a great heart. I love how she encourages her fellow team-mates.

3. Kudos to Joelle for the radical change in attitude that I honestly didn't think she was capable of! I hope it continues.

4. The musical soundtrack to the show is getting way out of hand. When Jillian was encouraging Dan on the treadmill, the music reached raucous proportions! I expected a choir to start screeching "O Fortuna" at the top of their lungs any minute. We don't need extremely loud, overly dramatic music for every dramatic moment!

5. The show made me cry again last night. When Blaine went home for the birth of his baby, I teared up bigtime.

6. Why does Dane never talk to the camera? We know he can talk...he talks to other people on the show. So why is he never interviewed? It's a mystery.

7. Kurt Warner is handsome.

All in all, a pretty good episode! If you're BL fan, tell me what you thought.

Must-see video for "Lost" fans!

(Yes, the jar in the freeze-frame is off-putting and unfortunate, but this is very funny bit about trying to help a friend catch up with "Lost." :))

Cindy Swanson, CyberSnoop: The Case of the Stolen GPS's

The Case of the Stolen GPS Devices

Are thieves stealing GPS devices to find out where the owner lives, so they can burglarize their home?

That’s the message of an e-mail that’s currently making the rounds. It tells of a family who were at a football game when their GPS device was stolen from their car, along with a remote control garage door opener. When the victims arrived home, they found their home thoroughly ransacked. According to the e-mail, the thieves had used the GPS to guide them to the owner’s home, then used the garage door opener to get inside the house.

In the e-mail, this happened to the "friend of a friend," so there’s no way of verifying the story. However,Snopes.com tells us there have been at least a couple of confirmed instances in which stolen GPS devices were used to guide the thief to the owner’s home. In both cases, the houses weren’t burglarized, but cars were stolen from the homes.

And even if this e-mail can’t be proven, it does raise a good point: although not necessarily being used to find the owner’s home, there IS a very real problem with GPS devices being stolen.

In an April 2008 story, CBS news reported that the number of GPS’s reported stolen has quadrupled in the past couple of years. Police say the bad guys are breaking into cars just because they can see the GPS in full view. Their advice: don’t leave it exposed…not just the unit itself, but the cradle unit as well.

In fact, police say to take the whole unit out of your car…don’t just shove it under a seat. It’s just too tempting for thieves. Police say when you remove the unit, you should even wipe off the marks that the suction cups leave behind! Don’t give thieves any clue that you even have one.

By the way, you don’t have a prayer of recovering your stolen GPS if you don’t have a serial number for it. There’s a website you can go to that was specifically created to help you register your lost device and find it if it’s stolen: it’s juststolen.net. A similar site is stolen911.com

According to the CBS story, some GPS manufacturers are now making the devices so that you have to have a 4-digit pin number to make them work. The hope is that if no one else can use it, it won’t get stolen.

Clearing up another internet rumor, this is Cindy Swanson, CyberSnoop…reminding you to check it out BEFORE you hit that “send” button!

NOTE: This feature is now airing as "Cindy Swanson, CyberSleuth" on the radio in Canada! I share my internet sleuthing to de-bunk or confirm e-mail rumors with Beth Warden on ShineFM.com

Kudos to some terrific blogs...marking January 22nd....and welcome back, "Lost"!

Some of the blogs I highly regard and recommend have turned up on a list of the most-read church blogs.

Kudos to Tim Challies, who was number one!, Justin Taylor's Between Two Worlds (#2), PyroManiacs (#8), Evangelical Underground (#10), Adrian Warnock (#23), and Jollyblogger (#41.)

I've had the pleasure of interviewing Tim Challies, Justin Taylor and Phil Johnson of PyroManiacs.

A Day to Mourn

Today marks the 36th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

One of the tenets I've come to feel ever more strongly about is the sanctity of human life. If we don't value the gift of life--whether that of the unborn (or preborn if you prefer that term), the handicapped, the ill or the aged--then our society is truly doomed.

Of course, to believe life is sacred, you have to believe there's a higher power who created it. And if you believe in God, it follows that there is such a thing as right and wrong. Good and evil. Absolute truth. All of those things fly in the face of secular humanism. I'm sorry, but I abhor a philosophy that devalues life.

For the past several years, I've posted on January 22nd something I wrote a few years ago. It's titled "January 22nd--A Day to Mourn."

I won't re-post all of it here, but here's a bit of it, and the link to the entire post if you'd like to read it:

When I was a junior in high school, I was delighted to hear that my older sister was pregnant with her third child. I adored my nieces, Shelly and Stephanie, and was looking forward to another little niece or nephew.

My sister gave birth that January to a beautiful little baby girl, and named her Deborah Leigh. But as perfect as Deborah looked, it quickly became obvious that something was wrong. Deborah's little heart was incomplete, and she died within a week of her birth.

--read more here

"Lost" is back!

Watching "Lost" again was like seeing old friends that have been away for a while. The time travel element is confusing, but fascinating...and I can't wait to see what's in store for our Losties.

A tale of three pastors

Would you pray at the inauguration?... a Mississippi pastor faces a deadline...and Tchividjian to take the helm of Coral Gables?


Pastor Rick Warren

Would you accept if you were asked to pray at the inauguration...and what would you say? That was the question Christian blogger Dan Phillips asked several pastors whose opinion he respects. One of those was local pastor Chris Brauns, of the Red Brick Church in Stillman Valley, IL.

Rick Warren of Saddleback Church gave the invocation prayer at today's inauguration. Many have said he did a fine job, despite the controversy over his selection. You can read the entire prayer here. (By the way, Dan Phillips wasn't impressed.)


Pastor Chris Brauns

Chris Brauns admits he wouldn't have been on the short list of those asked to pray at the inauguration, but he says, "I am inclined to say that I would accept, provided that there not be any conditions that would insist that I downplay my allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ as the only true King."

Here's part of Chris's prayer:

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your Name.

We stand today to ask you to bless our country and this president. Father, would you guide President Obama and the United States of America through the night with a light from above?

Lord, we pray that you would protect President Obama from temptation, that you would keep him from situations where he might make mistakes and do that which is displeasing to you. We ask rather that you would give him wisdom with each choice he makes. Lead him to make the right appointment. Give him eyes to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly.

The prayer ends with this:

God, on our knees, we ask again, that you would bless our president. Guide Him through the night, with your light from above.

In the name of the only King, your only begotten Son, the Risen Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Amen.

You can read the entire prayer at Pastor Chris Brauns' blog, chrisbrauns.com

A crisis for a Mississippi church



If you've been reading this blog for a while, you'll remember me interviewing Lakeshore, Mississippi pastor Don Elbourne a year after Hurricane Katrina. (Note: I'm sorry that the soundbites in the story can no longer be heard.)

The facilities of Elbourne's church, Lakeshore Baptist, were destroyed by the Hurricane. Since then, using temporary buildings, the church has been the hub for an amazing amount of volunteerism aimed at rebuilding the entire community.

But a county decision could force the church to close its doors.

Here's a link to a video about the church's plight.

Keep Lakeshore Baptist and its rebuilding efforts in your prayers.

A new pastor for Coral Gables?


Tullian Tchividjian and family

The Associated Press reported today that Tullian Tchividjian, a pastor and author who happens to be a grandson of evangelist Billy Graham, was set to become the new pastor of the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church formerly pastored by the late D. James Kennedy.

However, according to the blog of Tchividjian's current church, that's not a done deal yet.

I've had the privilege of interviewing Tullian about his book, "Do I Know God?"

Monday Melange

Storyside B member dies..."Lost" producers interviewed...a comic book of Genesis?


Ron McClelland of Storyside B

--Sad news in the Christian music world: Storyside B band member Ron McClelland passed away suddenly over the weekend. Radio Promoter Chris Hauser posted this on a radio forum last night:

Ron McClelland of Gotee act Storyside:B collapsed today during a basketball game on a Christian cruise, and could not be revived. Since December Ron had been co-hosting WCRJ/Jacksonville's morning show with Theresa Ross as well. Please keep Ron's wife Rebekah (also on the cruise), the band, and WCRJ's staff in your prayers in the difficult days ahead"

Christian singer Aaron Shust posted this comment on his blog:

"I cannot fathom the sadness that must be in the hearts of those who lived close to Ron day in and day out. Ron always had a big smile and a big heart. His words were never anything but kind and complimentary. I believe that we will see him again. In the meanwhile, he will be missed. Let's lift up his family in prayer as we think of them. "

A note on the band's MySpace says that they are "shocked and deeply saddened" at the news of McClelland's death, and will be setting up a fund to help the family pay for funeral expenses.

In other news...

President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration is being sufficiently covered by the rest of the media, so forgive me for straying from that theme, but...

I'm jazzed about "Lost" coming back!!!



--You can watch a video interview with the "Lost" producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof here. It's about a Paley Center tribute to the show.

That January 17th event included a screening of the top two episodes of Lost as voted by fans. The winners were Through the Looking Glass, the season 3 finale of Lost, and Walkabout--(SPOILER IF YOU'RE WATCHING SEASON ONE ON DVD!!!)the season one episode that revealed that Locke had been in a wheelchair. (I can still recall my open-mouth astonishment when I saw that!)

Jennifer at
Connect With Your Teens attended the event and blogs about it quite interestingly. Here's an excerpt:

Jeff's final question was how they think Lost will be viewed down the road. One response that Damon gave really stood out in my mind. He said that he hopes that people have great memories of it and will say "when I grew up I watched Lost with my family". All I could think of was the first post I ever wrote on this blog "Why Lost is the best TV show to watch with your teens" and the great times I've had watching and discussing Lost with my family.

--The biggest story in comic books in 2009 is said to be Robert Crumb's comic book adaptation of the biblical book of Genesis. I'm not a comic book devotee, nor am I familiar with Robert Crumb, so I'm wondering if the scripture will be treated with respect.

There's no doubt that Genesis contains some of the most amazing and enthralling stories ever written.

I can't resist a weight loss competition!

Mark Hall of Casting Crowns and Bart Millard of MercyMe are trying to see which one can lose more weight before the Dove Awards. Note: "Biggest Loser" it's not. Maybe Mark and Bart could use some help from Trainer Bob or Jillian? :)

Cindy Swanson, CyberSnoop: The Case of the Jury Duty Scam

Are identity thieves trying to trick people into revealing their personal information by telling them they’ve failed to report for jury duty?

The answer, according to several sources, is YES.

This is the subject of an e-mail that has been circulating since around 2005…the latest version, which I actually just received the other day, even provides a link to Snopes.com confirming that it’s true.

Here’s how it works: The scammer calls claiming to work for the local court, tells you you’ve failed to report for jury duty, and claims that a warrant has been issued for your arrest. When you say you never received jury duty notification, the scammer then asks you for confidential information for "verification" purposes.

The scammer will ask you for your Social Security number, birth date, sometimes even credit card numbers and other private information. The jury duty scam has popped up in several states.

Here’s what you need to know: court workers will NOT call you to ask for personal information because you’ve supposedly missed jury duty or even for screening purposes. ( In most cases, court workers won’t call you at all…most of the info you receive from them will be through the mail.)


Again…and we can’t say this enough…unless YOU initiated a call, do NOT give out those personal details to someone who claims to be from a government office, the bank, or even just someone who’s trying to sell you something. They’re probably just trying to get the information they need to commit identity theft.


Confirming another internet rumor, this is Cindy Swanson, CyberSnoop…reminding you to check it out BEFORE you hit that “send” button!

American Idol singers have a local tie

Shortly after Darren Marlar and I mentioned American Idol contestant Danny Gokey on 101QFL this morning, I got a call from an elder at Faithbuilders International in Beloit, WI.

It seems Gokey--who touched hearts as a recent widower and wowed the judges with his soulful singing--was a worship leader at Faithbuilders. Also involved with Faithbuilders was Jamar Rogers, who also made it through to Hollywood from the Kansas City auditions.

I didn't get to see AI last night, but I checked out Gokey's audition at Rickey.org:

Danny Gokey audition

Apparently both Gokey and Rogers have ministered in the Faithbuilders locations in both Milwaukee and Beloit, which is right up the road from me. I will definitely be watching to see how they fare in their AI journey!

Biggest Loser tugged at the heartstrings last night

As annoyed as I with with Biggest Loser last week for sending nine players home to lose weight on their own--with the promise of maybe getting to come back to the ranch in 30 days--I saw strong glimpses last night of what makes the show worth watching.

First, the negative...

I can't say I blame normally sweet trainer Bob for losing a grip over the very annoying Joelle and her non-participation. However, I wish both Bob and Jillian would clean up the potty-mouths. Even with bleeps a-plenty, it got offensive. That said, Joelle was incredibly annoying.

Still, she doesn't even begin to approach the unlikability factor of which last season's Vicky was the undisputed champion.

That said...

Yep, the show tugged at the heartstings last night. I saw contestants put thoughts of "game play" aside to give a hand to other contestants. Like when the team-mates of the over 400-pound teenager, Dan, helped him make it up a steep hill. Their very real kindness was heartening.

When the 63-year-old Jerry realized, at weigh-in time, that he was in danger of being eliminated, I'm pretty sure there were sniffles all across America. He just broke my heart...as he did Jillian's and even Alison Sweeney's, who was dabbing away tears.

Still, the players showed heart when they sent Jerry home instead of the teen-aged Dan. They reasoned--rightly--that Jerry would be able to continue losing weight at home, whereas Dan might not.

The follow-up video did indeed show that Jerry has gone on to lose a total of 84 pounds. It looks like he and his wife, Estella, have a new lease on life.

It's pretty obvious that Dan simply HAS to stay on the show, as long as possible. I am so rooting for him to lose weight and turn his life around. He has really captured my heart.

As for Joelle. Yes, she's annoying and seems to be a slacker. Did she really think she could come on Biggest Loser and fake exercising? Also, she'll be responsible if her team-mate, Carla, doesn't make it back on the show--and frankly, Carla seems like a much more fun and entertaining person than Joelle.

I'm hoping the fact that she nearly got sent home will cause Joelle to change her attitude and rededicate herself to the task at hand--but judging from the previews, it doesn't look like that happened.

All in all, Biggest Loser seems to be returning to what made me like it in the first place. It's an inspiring story about changing yourself for the better.

It's baaack.....American Idol returns to TV tonight

You've got to understand, I watch so little television that I really get excited about the few shows that I really do like...and two of them are returning this month.

"American Idol" returns tonight, with the obligatory audition episodes. To be honest, I'm not sure how much I'm really looking forward to these episodes. They can be painful, even somewhat cruel at times. Still, it's best to watch them if you're going to start rooting for someone early on. At best, they can be truly funny and entertaining.

The dilemma tonight? Both "American Idol" and "The Biggest Loser" are on. I'm thinking I'll probably DVR "American Idol," and watch "The Biggest Loser."

I was really ticked off at TBL last week for pulling a stunt that I thought was just tacky. (I won't go into it now, but Sam Barrington perfectly expressed my own feelings on the subject here, if you're interested.)

But TBL has me where they want me. I care enough about the contestants that I'll keep watching.

The other show returning this month is, of course, "Lost." I'm hoping the show lives up to my expectations and doesn't disappoint me the way "Heroes" did. "Heroes" has completely lost me. I never watch it anymore.

Why am I so fixated on/passionate about these few television shows? Well, to me, these shows represent a few of those small pleasures that make life enjoyable. I am well aware of the overall sad--actually appalling-- state of network television these days, generally speaking...so it's nice to have those shows that offer some quality entertainment.

Do you enjoy "American Idol," "The Biggest Loser," and/or "Lost"? Why or why not? Let me know in my comment section!

What are you blogging about today?

Image from Jollyblogger, where you can order T-shirts touting it


Since I'm drawing a blank on blogging ideas today, I decided to report on what OTHER people are blogging! If you read this and you're not mentioned here, tell me what YOU'RE blogging about in my comments section...and of course, provide a link to it!

--Randy at Reflections in Life reviews Don Piper's 90 Minutes in Heaven.

--Smiling Sally is taking part in the Blue Monday meme.

--Chris Brauns at A Brick in the Valley has some good thoughts on the importance of waiting.

--Ann-Marie at The Left-handed Rabbit blogs about getting to know her dad's side of the family.

--Robin Lee Hatcher at Write Thinking shares a beautiful view from her patio.

--Big Doofus might've over-exerted himself a bit.

--Angela Hunt at A Life in Pages is sharing a video.

--Dan Burrell has a house you might want to rent if you're visiting western North Carolina.

--"We're Living Proof that Depravity is Total."--Phil Johnson at PyroManiacs.

--Dave Kendall at The Silent Fool says it's never too late to become the person you want to be.

--Barbara at Tidbits and Treasures was impressed with a presentation at her church by Teen Challenge.

--La Shawn Barber blogs about Christians in Hollywood.

--David at Jollyblogger writes about his cancer experience.

--Janet at Quoth the Maven isn't sorry she fell asleep during the Golden Globes.

--Reformed Grits is sad that her son won't be playing soccer anymore.

So what are YOU blogging about? Give me a link!

Cindy Swanson, CyberSnoop: The Case of the Cell Phone Con

As part of my job on 101QFL, I check out internet rumors as "Cindy Swanson, CyberSnoop." Here's the latest:

The Case of the Cell Phone Con

Are instances being reported, here in the stateline area and across the nation, of cell phone users getting text messages asking them to contact a number with their banking and other personal information?

Yes. CyberSnoop didn’t even really need to check this out on Snopes or TruthOrFiction. It happened to quite a few of our listeners and to me personally!

In my case, both my husband and I received text messages on our cell phones, claming that our bank account was being terminated due to “unusual activity.” In both cases, we were urged to call a provided number…one of the messages came right out and said “to verify bank information.”

The bottom line? Unless YOU initiated a phone call with a trusted institution, do NOT give out those numbers. You could end up with a drained bank account.


I talked with Winnebago County Sheriff's Deputy Chief Dominic Iasparro about giving out personal numbers. Listen to his comment here.


If you’ve already given out such information to strangers who contacted you, you should call your local police department and your bank—-and make sure it’s your bank’s legitimate number, by the way.

And if you get a message like that again…whether it claims to be from your bank or any other institution…and whether it arrives via e-mail, phone call, Facebook or MySpace or text message, DO NOT give out those numbers. Be on the safe side and delete.

Confirming another internet rumor, this is Cindy Swanson, CyberSnoop…reminding you to check it out BEFORE you hit that “send” button!

Promoting and encouraging Christian filmmaking...

The San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival

The humanistic religious worldview of Hollywood elites and their intense hatred for Christianity and the value system which it embodies has created a rift in American culture and profoundly damaged the American family. We intend to respond, not by cursing the darkness, but by lighting candles. Building a community of independent Christian filmmakers is one such candle.--Doug Phillips, President, Vision Forum Ministries

More than 2000 Christian filmmakers were expected to attend this week's San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival, going on now in San Antonio. Dean Jones and Kirk Cameron are on hand at the festival.


Fireproof (which earned more than 33 million dollars at the box office) and Ben Stein's Expelled are among the films for the 101-thousand dollar grand prize awarded to the best feature film.

Have you seen "Fireproof"? I haven't yet, and would love to know what you thought. Give me your mini-review in my comments section, please!

Movieguide Awards

Meantime, the 17th Annual Movieguide® Faith & Values Awards Gala is set for February 11, 2009 in Beverly Hills, CA. The two winners of the Most Inspiring Movie of 2008 and the Most Inspiring Television Program of 2008 will each be awarded a total of $100,000 in prize money at the event.

Last year's winners were “Amazing Grace” and Hallmark Hall of Fame’s “The Valley of Light” on CBS.

Top Cultural Events of 2008?

Movieguide founder and spokesman Dr. Ted Baehr has come out with a list of the Top 5 Cultural Events of 2008. According to him, they include:

1. Media bias.

2. The decline in attendance at the movie box office in 2008, where admissions dropped 5%.

3. The success of clean movies, especially animated movies, at the box office, including such hits as “Wall-E,” “Kung Fu Panda,” Madagascar: Escape to Africa,” “Horton Hears a Who,” “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” “Bolt,” “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” and “High School Musical 3.”

4. Movieguide® and the Concerned Women for America’s successful campaign to get the controversial child rape movie, “Hounddog,” pulled from theaters.

5. The cultural move toward the Internet, including teenagers and young adults downloading movies from the Internet to watch on their laptops instead of in theaters or on television.

Wordless Wednesday--piggin' out on the chips and salsa

My grandson, Payton, enjoying a Mexican dining experience--spicy salsa included!

A cup of hot tea: one of life's "creature comforts"

Discovering the pleasures of loose tea

Noun
1.
creature comforts - things that make you comfortable and at ease;
"all the comforts of home"

One of my favorite gifts this Christmas was from my son and daughter-in-law, but I suspect my daughter-in-law picked it out! She knows me well enough to know that I enjoy what I call "creature comforts"...those little things in life that make things more comfortable, cozy and pleasant.

I'm holding the little purple teapot in this picture. (The color was even chosen for a reason: to match my eggplant-colored Longaberger mugs--and it does match them, perfectly.)

The pot is for the purpose of brewing loose tea. Although I love tea, I've never really had access to loose tea before. My gift was the little teapot, which comes with a snap-on metal lid and an "infuser"--a little strainer basket that fits in the top of the pot, in which you spoon a small amount of loose tea.

Along with the teapot, I was given a bag of loose tea. It's from Keria Teas in Round Rock, Texas, and it's called "Texas Summer"--according to the website: "This refreshing blend of peaches and apricots with gunpowder green tea has been our #1 seller for many years."

I can see why. This tea is absolutely delicious. I admit I had to learn by trial and error--there were no instructions as to how much tea to put in the strainer, and I put way too much the first time...to the point where it was completely undrinkable.

I learned that a scant teaspoon works best for my taste. The result is one of the smoothest, most delicious teas I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying.

I can see why tea is a so essential and even almost a ritual in some cultures. Few things are more enjoyable, more soothing and delightful than a cup of really delicious hot tea...and you can really taste the difference between the loose tea and tea-bags.

I'll be enjoying this gift for a long time to come!

So, how about you...any especially delicious teas you can recommend? Let me know in my comments section!

These former teen idols seem like some pretty nice guys

OK, I'm not saying I'm going to watch this show regularly. But while nursing a bad cold over the weekend, I lighted on VH-1's Confessions of a Teen Idol...and I actually didn't hate it.

Granted, I only watched it because there was nothing else on...and if it had even begun to exhibit the disgustingness (is that a word?) of most VH-1 reality shows, I would've zapped it immediately. But this gathering of formerly famous entertainers (other columnists and writers are labeling them "has-beens," "washed-up," etc), did catch my attention.

It's unclear what the aim of the show really is. Apparently it's to give the seven former "heart-throbs" another shot at fame, although the first episode didn't go into how that would be accomplished. I guess just being on the show will restore a measure of fame in itself.

To be honest, they kinda touched my heart in a weird way. Here were seven guys who had experienced pretty much the pinnacle of fame and adoration, and now they're back to being just normal guys.

All seven of them seem--at least from the initial episode--like nice guys. Most of them still retain the good looks that helped catapult them to fame--although Christopher Atkins of The Blue Lagoon (I'm sorry, but I always thought that was the lamest movie) and Adrain Zmed are looking pretty craggy, and Billy Hufsey (of, ironically, the show called Fame) is looking a little beefy.

A mean-spirited prank?

The show is produced by former kid stars themselves, Scott Baio and Jason Hervey. I'm sure a stunt played on the seven former idols was aimed at stirring up controversy and therefore drama for the show, but it did seem a bit mean-spirited.

Spoiler if you haven't watched it yet and intend to: the guys are told they're going to be the focus of a red-carpet event in which they'll be appearing for their "fans." They dress excitedly and are whisked away by limo, where, sure enough, a red carpet lined by (admittedly a rather small number of) fans and photographers awaits them.

Their eagerness as they wait backstage, hearing their names announced and cheering fans, is kind of sad...because you have a slight premonition that they're being set up.

The curtain rises, and Jason Hervey and Scott Baio are standing in an empty room. The cheering fans were nothing but sound effects.

Apparently it was supposed to be some sort of object lesson about the fleetingness of fame and how these guys need to have a tough skin if they want to make comebacks, but I thought it was lame.

So did the guys. In fact, a couple of them were positively irate at being punked and made to look like fools.

I've gotta say, I liked Adrian Zmed's attitude throughout the entire episode. Apparently he has a nice career as a cruise ship entertainer, so he lacks the desperation evinced by some of the other guys. He also actually seems to have some wisdom and maturity that comes across as very appealing.

Maybe it's just my thing to cheer for the underdog, but I found myself rooting for the guys. I'm not sure if I'll ever watch the show again, and maybe future episodes will reveal that some of them really are jerks, but I honestly wouldn't mind if they did succeed.

Beginning a brand new year....

My family! (Standing) My son Justin and daughter Elizabeth
(seated)My daughter-in-law Daylyn, grandson Payton, son Jonathan, me and my husband Doug

Wishing a blessed and prosperous New Year to all who read this blog!