January Slush

Meh. It's January, and it's slushy, now that we're having a bit of a thaw.  I don't have a single thing to really rant on and on about, so that means, O lucky readers, you get a little bit of everything.

• I look forward to the new season of American Idol after getting hooked on the show during the 2009 season.  A lot of people won't tune in until there are only a handful of contestants, because frankly - watching some of the auditions and some of the performances can be a downright painful experience.  Simon Cowell is brutally and assholishly (if I can make that a word) honest - but that's one of the things we love to hate about him.  Paula Abdul was just plain odd at times, and I thought I'd miss her this time around.  Not so - I watched the January 13th episode with guest judge, Mary J. Blige - and there certainly is less bickering with her in the judge's chair.  There were a lot of interesting people who auditioned for the show.  Some were very, very good.  Others were very, very bad.  So bad that it made the cat yowl in sympathy.  The highlight of the 90 minute episode was watching General Larry Platt sing an original song called "Pants on the Ground," which can be viewed on Youtube.  It's a catchy ditty, and I think it should be required listening and viewing for any gangsta-youth wanna-be.  I think it's funny, and so did judges Randy, Kara, Mary, and Simon.
• Am I the only person on the planet Earth who did not know what a Cougar Bar was?  I heard a reference to this in a conversation recently and said, "A what?"  My husband shook his head at how obviously sheltered I am and said, "There are reality t.v. shows about that right now."  Huh. Well, aside from American Idol, I don't really watch much t.v. because hubby usually has some sporting event on the screen.  Whatever.  I find it funny that older women now have a "designated name" for picking up younger men.  Men who were "kept" by older women - perhaps any woman - used to be called gigalos.  Older men who picked up younger women were called either perverts, or lucky.  Women are just "cougars," which implies a sleek, savvy, yet predatory creature.  Huh.
• It's winter time, people.  Do you know what a snowbrush is used for?  If that's even what the item is called, these days?  I can't help but shake my head over the number of people who persist in believing that it's safe to operate a motor vehicle with just one little round space cleared on the windshield, and perhaps a small space cleared on the back window.  Not to mention all the snow piled on top of the vehicle that blows off makes it extra super-great for anyone driving behind the idiot. 
• Once again, it's winter time, adults.  Do you know what your children are garbed in?  Please - get thee to a discount store and get some snowpants, boots, and a decent winter coat.  Plenty of places will help you purchase this stuff, or give it away - free.  There are also Goodwill and Salvation Army, and sometimes a St. Vincent De Paul store where you can buy discounted winter gear for your child.  It get cold in Michigan, so  please - keep your kids warm.  And if you're reading this on your own personal home computer with high-speed Internet, and your kid doesn't have the proper winter gear, shame on you.  If you can afford Internet service, you can afford winter gear for your kid.
• If you haven't visited Failbooking, you need to.  How can you possibly live when you miss out on such exchanges as these?  "Going to file for unemployment tomorrow and then pick up my  new X-box." 

Browse away.  And remember, keep your pants off the ground, why dontcha.