Damn...So, We Saw the Advance of the RT Review...

So...I was gonna do some whining and bitching in here. See, we got a look at the advance of our review for Artifactual from Romantic Times today.

It's not what I was expecting or hoping for at all...but in order to say why, I have to put the review out here. I need to tell all y'all whats blowing it for me. And I really don't want to do that until the issue comes out. Which will probably be good, because it will calm my indignation down. It's just common courtesy...if you give me a sneak look at something you're gonna publish, even if it's about me, it is wrong for me to publish it first.

So I'll wait. And tap my fingers. And tell myself that anger leads to the dark side.

We can talk about other things right? We can talk about Idol; how I'm even more in lust with Gina after those sweet-as-hell boots and the way she sang and her attitude. About how Haley has me thinking thoughts about her the last couple of weeks that certainly are not appropriate for television...at least, not network television. About how Blake is the one who is going to come out of this and sell the most records, because he can sing, he can beatbox and he has style. But I still say it's a race between Melinda and Lakisha, even with Blake and Jordin working so hard to put themselves in contention.

Sanjaya....*sigh* I can sing better than that. You sucked tonight, dude. Well, you've sucked a lot. But your smile and your hair have kept you around. Maybe this will finally end that...but I doubt it. You need to go, dude. It's just silly now.

We can talk about how I want to go see 300 and how I haven't because I don't have anybody to go along and I don't want to take the time away from my family or my other endeavors. My wife would spend the whole movie looking between her fingers, my daughter would hide under the seat and my son would either get nightmares or start chasing people with my 8" Chef's Knife tied to a pool cue. Neither option appeals to me.

Can we talk about how I can't seem to get rolling? I'm writing 250 words here, 300 there. No decent progress and none of the 2500 word spurts that happen when I'm at my best. Arrrrgh. I so want to get a couple of WIP's finished!

Baseball's coming...*Grin* Yes, I'm a sports geek. I admit it. I can't wait for opening night.

Okay...watch this space. As soon as that magazine hits the shelves, I'm ranting! I mean, imagine how Dan Brown would have felt if the the first major review he got was in the Vatican Observer. That's kinda how I'm feeling tonight. Like I opened a new steakhouse and they sent a Hindu vegetarian to do the restaurant review. Like Heath Ledger waiting to talk to Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson after they watched Brokeback Mountain for the first time.

I feel cheated.

I Admit It : I'm Hooked On Idol (& Gina)

So up until the finals last year I had never watched a single episode of American Idol. My greatest exposure to Simon Cowell was the bonus clip at the end of Shrek 2.

Now I'm hooked...a former co-writer of mine is going to laugh her ass off when she sees this because she only told me I would like this show about three seasons ago. I love seeing people's dreams come true, I love watching the way people react and grow. I'm not too fond of the "let's watch the train wreck" stuff in the early auditions. If I want to hear someone butcher a popular tune I'll record myself in the shower, OK?

I watch the guys and it's alright...I'm mystified Sanjaya is still around and I think that Chris Sligh has an awesome attitude, decent voice and one of the best senses of humor I've ever seen on a celebrity. The comment on the cut down day in Hollywood, where he walks into the room...the three judges are sitting there...they are about to dash his hopes or make his dream come true...as much pressure, as many nerves as any of us will ever have to deal with, ever. So he pulls the chair back and says, "I guess you're all wondering why I called this meeting..." Classic! This dude has cajones!

But let's face facts....except for maybe Blake, the girls are all stand 10 feet above the boys. Melinda & Lakisha especially. Those two are the best singers on the show.

But I do have one that is clearly my favorite all around, and I admit it has to do with more than her voice. And no, it is not the little girl from New Jersey whose continued presence on the show despite her weak talent has nothing to do with anything other than her conformity to some Cindy Crawfordian ideal of feminine attractiveness. My choice has more meat on her bones and ten times the appeal of little miss Antonella.

But she's edgy, she rocks and I fear she'll be gone soon. Her song choice tonight was so her, so energetic and so fun to watch. And maybe too close to the beloved demons of sex, drugs and rock & roll to get enough votes to outlast a girl with half her talent.

I'd rather have Gina in my bed for one night than a month of Sundays with Jersey girl. Gina would rock your world while Antonella would stare at the ceiling and do her nails over your shoulder. Gina would sweat with you, roll off the bed to land on the floor while never missing a beat. Pull out the handcuffs and the riding crop on a Saturday afternoon and show you that there is more action when you turn the TV off.

Antonella is heir to the throne vacated by Annette Funicello and Shirley Temple. Gina brings to mind Joan Jett, Janis Joplin and Courtney Love (when she was powerful instead of pathetic.)

Gina won't win. That's already a two person race. But she is way more genuine and sexy then the girl she's likely to get voted off in favor of.