I hate American Idol

Am I the only person in America who hates American Idol? I really do. The only entertaining part is the tryouts and the people who can't sing, otherwise I think it's a load of crap. People actually get excited that they get to pick someone to win... who cares? Fox has cleverly made Americans feel special so they constantly tune in to watch the rude englishman and those other two no-names. I mean how many different ways can he tell someone they suck? I just don't enjoy live singing shows. I love going to concerts but if they were giving out free DVD's of the show I just watched I'd say no thank you. Live performances just don't cut it with me. To me, the live performances are a sub-par reproduction of someone else's song who probably sang it better their way. I just don't get the phenomenon and I hate that it's still on the air, it wasn't interesting the first time and now it's way less interesting. What do you think?

What is wrong with todays youth?....Their parents.

I was at the mall today doing some light shopping when I run in to this girl who is probably, um, 15 at most. And she is waving around her cell phone while muttering "there's no signal in here."
WHAT DOES THIS 15 YEAR-OLD NEED A CELL PHONE FOR?
At that age my mother never would have allowed me to have cell phone (granted, when I was 15, the only people who owned cell phones were doctors and ofcourse Zach Morris on Saved by the Bell but that was fictional, anyway) I talked enough on my home phone to make it seem as though I was permanentley attached to the wall and it was almost always about some insignificant crap (much like my conversations of today) like boys or what I was going to wear the next day or who I hated for being so pretty. Caddy yes, but again I was 15 and that's how most girls are so stop judging. I barely even use my cell phone today cause I don't' want to pay for minutes used talking about nonsense. I wouldn't even own a cell if it wasn't for work purposes. So in conclusion, parents today are ridiculous with their children. I'm sure her mother thinks "oh it will teach her responsibility and she'll have it in case of an emergency and I can always find her" but the last time I checked you had to be at least 16 to work in this state. That tells me that the mother is paying for her 15 year-old(and again I am guessing, she could have been younger) to gossip and essentially start trouble all because all her friends probably have a cell phone and god forbid little Brittany isn't fitting in with girls she probably won't even be associating with in 2 years. Not to mention her daughter isn't going to answer the phone when she's out doing things she's not supposed to be doing. I'm just speaking from experience. I was a very good kid but I got in to a small amount of trouble and my mom always caught me and punished me. So I know what 15 year-old girls are capable of and that phone is only going to speed it up. Please see illustration below on how the first bill might go.

black truffle with flowers from our back yard.. they're edible also

Chad got me a truffle for Valentines Day. Not the chocolat kind because I don't like those. Truffles are an underground sort of mushroom that is hard to find and expensive. Mostly found in Italy and in some parts of Oregon and i think maybe Washington. I have been trying to attach a picture for your viewing pleasure but for some reason the photo hosting site isn't working properly but I will keep trying until I get it up...tee hee.
To the untrained eye it looks like a giant turd but it's delicious. You shave off slivers and use it as a garnish (at least that's the only way I've had it.) They come in white which are very rare and even more expensive and in black which is what I got. They use dogs and pigs which have sensitive noses to find them under ground. See definition for exact description:

Any of various fleshy, ascomycetous, edible fungi, chiefly of the genus Tuber, that grow underground on or near the roots of trees and are valued as a delicacy.

Needless to say I love it and am very grateful for this unique gift... Chad never disapoints.

I thought this was so pretty I just had to take a picture so it would last longer!! 

Here's that pic I promised of my neighbors new orange house. It's not great cause I had to pretend I was taking a pic of something else. Their always around when I go outside to take the picture. 

it's pay day suckers!!

Did my taxes today. oh yes I am making some bank in refunds. that's right I get to take it back from The Man. You know I paid $12,000 in interest and fees to the mortgage people? yes well I got a nice chunk back from the bastards. I shouldn't gloat so much but I don't get many chances.

here's realizing the value of a HOA

So I have always been against HOA (home owener's association.) I have always felt that these committee's were run by those jerks who got their jolly's from telling others how to run their lives. You also have to pay them to tell you so that's the icing. I considered myselft pretty lucky and infact very clever that I found a new neighborhood without an HOA. They are few and far between around here.
But today I woke up to find that my neighbor across the street (not Crazy Paul who falls asleep in his car but the family next to him) have gone and painted their house orange. ORANGE!!! At first I thougth "oh what a kooky base color for a house" but when they starting cleaning up I started to panic. The only worse color they could have chosen would have been lavender but I am starting to think lavender sounds better. It looks so hideous. Two shades of orange. A lighter more pastel easter wanna-throw-up-in-your-easter-basket-orange and and darker I-just-threw-up-my-tangerine-from-lunch-orange.
I tried to take a picture so that you could all share in my horror but they looked annoyed that I was pointing my camera at their house with my disgusted look on my face so I will take one tomorrow when they aren't watching.

It's haiku time!

Aimee has to write haikus for her class at ASU West. She was uninspired so I thought I'd help. For your enjoyment, here is my haiku about working at the bookstore

pesky students come
books they need now not later
go to hell and die

yes it just came to me. Brilliant I know. Working for years at the same job gives you instant inspiration and perspiration on hot days.