Flu Bug Times Two

Welp, whadda ya know.
Murphy - the (Irish?) Flu Bug has come to visit the family.
Both DS and DH are home with Influenza A.
Marvelous.
There were able to prescribe Tamiflu for the ds because he's only had it a couple of days. The dh just has to suffer through it.

I did find a lesson in this though. My budget has a "Medical" line on it - I fund it with an office visit, a non-generic prescrip, $25 for dental and $50 for the vet.
I pay it whether I need it or not. Came in handy today with a $40 co-pay for the Urgent Care and $55.00 worth of prescriptions. I pulled out my medical envelope and shelled it out without concern.

What a nice feeling.....that is until I start getting the symptoms.

American Idol - Top 12 Girls - Updated

A few suprises for me tonight as I watched Idol.
I worked late so I missed a few - but the recaps helped.
But I'll be honest - I like male vocalists better anyway..
so I disagree with the Dawg. The guys smoked it!


Who I missed, and recaps weren't enough for me
Brooke White, “Happy Together” - perfect song for her. Woah...did you catch the makeup? I'll bet she was unfortable. Even if she did win this thing. The LA mongers would eat the poor girl up.
Kristy Lee Cook, “Rescue Me” They said she was sick. Really sick? Well, she did pretty good for being sick - but I didn't get enough even through entertainment week to have an overall opinion of her.

My Personal Faves of the Night
First let me start my saying that my original favorites walking into this are NOT in my faves of the night! I was suprised by how blown away I was with these girls!

Ramiele Malubay, “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me” - adorable. I would never have guessed that voice would come from her. Aside from the fact that she reminds me of Jasmine Trias -- she is an amazing vocalist.
Alexandrea Lushington, “Spinning Wheel” -- Holy cow! Who is THIS girl!? {{clap clap}}
Syesha Mercado, “Tobacco Road” - Phil Stacey did this song last year and I loved it. I love this girl! She's amazing. Plus I love the song!
Joanne Borgella, “I Say a Little Prayer” -- She has a different type of vocal, but I really enjoy her voice.

Those I liked -- Okay:
Kady Malloy, “Groovy Kind of Love” - Yikes. Don't turn your back on this one. She's down right spooky! Had a great voice, I thought - but the emotions on her face while receiving criticism was scary. If we were in high school together, I would have taken a different hallway than she was on. YIKES (two times)
Amanda Overmeyer, “Baby, Please Don’t Go” Another one of my original favorites. Perfect song for her, but I guess I'm growing wary of her. She reminds me of Dilana from Rockstar: Supernova. There were just better girls tonight.
Asia’h Epperson, “Piece of My Heart” Another of my early favorites. Maybe just playing the "not as good as game", but there were others better. And Nikki McKibbon did such a job on that song they should have retired it from the American Idol database. (wink)
Alaina Whitaker, “I Love You More Today Than Yesterday” She cute. She reminds me of someone I can't put a finger on. Who is this girl?? Vocals okay - cute as all get up!

Those I could have done without:
Carly Smithson, “The Shadow of Your Smile” My other favorite. I couldn't believe how bad it was. What's with all the yelling? Are you proving that you can sing the high notes? That many times? "Yup, thanks Carly, got it. Again? Okay, Carly...seriously. We got it." I couldn't beleive that Randy and Paula were singing praises. I was wondering if it was just me out of my rocker -- but then Simon shed some new light. His light I agreed with.
Amy Davis, “Where the Boys Are” Creature of no air time. Who is she? I don't know. Here or not...matters not to me. Unlike a few others that were sick, this one was NOTICABLY sick. Poor thing. They just never hyped this girl enough. Perhaps she should have a YES in her name?

My Choice for the plane ticket home:
Kady Malloy, “Groovy Kind of Love”
Amy Davis, “Where the Boys Are”

Voted Off:
Amy Davis, “Where the Boys Are” - had a feeling
Joanne Borgella, “I Say a Little Prayer - Definately didn't see THAT coming!

Wendy's new score: 1/4

American Idol - Top 12 Men - Updated

What does this have to do with debt reduction? Chalk it up as cheap entertainment, I guess!

I said that I was NOT going to watch another season of American Idol. I said it when Constantine got voted out years ago. I said it again when Chris Daughtry got voted out. I said it again after a lack luster Season 6. But here I am -- watching again. Upset that Josiah didn't make it to the top 24 because I just loved that kid, but moving onward.

Our Top 12 Men sang last night. Some I got - some I didn't. Some blew me away - and some....well they just blew!

Talk about confusion - has anybody realized that there are 3 Davids & 2 Jasons this year!?

Here's my thoughts on the performances last night.


My Personal Faves of the Night:
Michael Johns, “Light My Fire” -- love him since Day 1. I did say this though. Chris Daughtry was hands down - the walk away winner of Season 5 - however he got voted off. Although this guy seems to be the Season's fave male doesn't mean ANYTHING in the world of American Idol.
Danny Noriega, “Jailhouse Rock” -- this is where I hate Simon. He tried shooting this kid apart and discrediting him. This kid has a bunch of personality, and unlike Sanjaya from last year - he's got vocals to back him up. I totally disagreed with Simon because I wasn't expecting this performance from Danny and I was blown away!
David Cook, “Happy Together” -- as always - seems overly confident but good vocals. Is it me or does he look like he's in pain when he's singing?
David Archuleta, “Shop Around” -- could this kid be any more HAPPY! I was giggly for him!
Jason Castro, “Daydream” -- Trippin' Dude! Another one with good vocals that I really knew nothing about going into tonight. But I can totally see him sitting in the back of a VW van at a Grateful Dead concert banging on a hand drum (family friendly blog -- but you know where I was going)

Those I liked -- "okay"
Garrett Haley, “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” -- who's this guy except someone I would have had a crush on if it was still the 80's? Good vocals though I agreed with Paula, I was expecting him to start it off slow and then belt it. Sorry -- you got the hair -- I'm expecting a Rebel Yell!
Robbie Carrico, “One” -- Wasn't sure what to think about this guy - reminds me of a mix of Bucky/Bo -- but this song was nice!
Colton Berry, “Suspicious Minds” -- Okay, so I was pretty ticked off at this kid for taking Josiah's spot in the top 24. I put my feelings aside to see that he does sing better than Josiah, but he certainly isn't as cute!

Those I could have done without:
Chikezie, “Yesterday” - lounge singer but I loved the orange suit! REALLY!
David Hernandez, “In the Midnight Hour” I'm probably the only one who just doesn't get this kid. Here or not -- don't really care.
Luke Menard, “Everybody’s Talkin" -- This guy was ALL OVER THE PLACE. Although I think Simon having to get the last word in when Luke's last statement tried to save face was a little uncalled for. Poor kid didn't stand a chance.
Jason Yeager, “Moon River” -- Maybe his kid being there might have saved him, but as soon as I knew it was Moon River that he was done.

My Vote for the Plane Ticket Home:
Luke Menard, “Everybody’s Talkin’”
Jason Yeager, “Moon River”


Voted Off:
Garrett Haley, “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do - Lack of airtime? Was he that bad?
Colton Berry, “Suspicious Minds” - either people didn't like HIM or they really resented him taking Josiah's spot!

Wendy's Score 0/2

Winter Blah-dom

The Storm that Wasn't
The weather people like messing with me I think. Throughout this whole week the forecast has changed dramatically of what was going to happen today. I've heard everything from flash floods, freezing rain to up to 18 inches. Of course, I work the night shift tonight which means I'll be on the road when what is now rain turns to ice driving home. If I'm lucky someone will have thrown some sand down, because I think we are all out of salt. Joyous! Black ice and night driving do not go well together.

A Needed Break
Besides OUR neighboring tourist town there's another BIGGER tourist town north we have plans to visit for the day. A quick rejuv. Of course, everyone and their uncles are thinking the same thing - and the town's hotels are to capacity. You know what THAT means, don't you? Crowded restaurants, crowded stores, crowded, crowded, crowded. Gasp! Why do I keep doing the tourist town stuff?

Glory of Grocery Shopping
My husband found a store in a town not too far away that does DOUBLE COUPONS every day! It's the same chain that I used to shop that did double coupons on Tuesday before the SuperWalmart put them out of business.
This gives me another store choice as I try out my E-Mealz menu list next week. I'll be excited to share my review. I've printed two weeks worth of meals and the recipes look simple and NOT way beyond frugal like '101 ways to eat on beans and rice' like I feared. It's real food! There's meats, there's vegatables and thank GOD -- Pasta and Bread!

Financial Stand-Still
Of course, when you are flying along for what seems to be a mile a minute, sooner or later you have to come to a stand still. And I'm there. I should be picking up soon at work, but the snow, being sick, lack of things to work on.....they all have played hell on my paycheck this winter. My worst winter in the last 5 years!
We've been flying right along that I hadn't even noticed that fact until this weekend when I played the comparison game. I hope to have an incredible spring with extra hours or I will have to go look for a moonlighting job.

UGHH!

What a way to spend Valentine's Day

All I can say is -- Thank goodness we're celebrating Valentine's Day later in the month. Today's just not good for me. LOL

We both work today, me ... late probably, dh has a fantasy draft online tonight and ds will most likely be on the phone with Miss Caitlin all night. The good news is: I get to spend Valentine's Day with Sawyer!


Lost: 8:00 CST on ABC