Odds & Ends from the week

American Idol: Nothing really stood out for me from Tuesday night other than it was kinda boring and that even those who were passed through were not all that great. Were they in Nashville? I can’t even remember now! However, Wednesday night from Miami was *hot*! It seemed like they showed way more good singers than bad, and those good ones, were really really good! I do predict that some Miami contestants will be in the finals.

Candidate debates in Los Angeles: I missed the GOP one again – I know they are replaying it today, so I will try to catch it. The Democratic debate was…fabulous! First off it took me until about an hour in before I sat back and thought: Wow, a woman and a black man! It’s come down to this and it was not even the first thing I thought about! IOW – it seemed perfectly *normal*. Progress! Gosh I love progress – and progressives 🙂 Anyway, they were very cordial as all the media pundits keep saying. Still, there were distinctions on a few issues such as Ira. However, I am not as hung up on nailing Hillary for that original vote as some are. She gets vilified first for voting yes to the resolution and then for not admitting that her vote was a mistake. I kind of admire her for sticking to her guns on that. I mean, if in her mind, she had specific reason for that vote, and those reasons really have not been changed, then go ahead and stand by your decision. I do ‘get’ her explanation – to a point. Her claims that she could not have known for sure that the resolution’s passage would automatically mean we starting bombing Iraq are really really naive for someone who claims to have all these experience. I thought Obama was spot on to counter that while she may be the most ready on Day 1, he will be more prepare to use correct judgment from Day 1. So, my heart is still with Obama, and overall I really do think he is the best to ensure a Dem victory. OTOH, it would be interesting if it came down to McCain/Clinton since they both seem to be so so polarizing in their respective parties! I have heard from so many Republicans this week who are *bummed* he is coming out as the front runner!! Fascinating. Of course, since I really want to see record numbers of voter participation this year, I am concerned that such a match up would keep people away.

Other stuff: One day at work which was almost useless since my laptop docking station died and it took us a few hours Thursday to figure that out. So I am trying to catch up this weekend when I can. Sportsboy started LL practice which is Fridays and Saturdays for now. He made it through this week without a missing work slip so he is due to come off restriction on Tuesday. We had a long talk about responsibility though. He has this desire to have a cell phone in Jr high and to be able to walk home to my house and hang out here until I get home from work after school in the fall. I told him that the path he was on now, there was NO WAY he would get those privileges. He needs to prove to his dad and I that he can handle such responsibility and trust and he has 5 months to do it. School has got to come first in his head all the time, not just when he gets into trouble. Otherwise there is no cell phone and he will be going to the boys&girls club next door to the jr high after school. It’s all in his hands.