Graduation and baby time!

Here are some highlights of my day yesterday:


He could not decide whether to laugh or cry.


The rude lady with the balloons in the way made it really hard for me to see and video, but Pop is a high school graduate now!

Random Thought #41

Hugh Laurie (a.k.a. Dr. House) has a very, very, very small roll in Sense and Sensibility (the movie version with Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet). You see him holding a baby with about the same amount of disdain that Dr. House would have in the situation. Quite entertaining although brief.

American Idol 2009

Last year I stopped watching American Idol. I pretty much boycotted the whole season almost unintentionally. The year before, I was as disinterested in the final as I have ever been. I did not like either of the two choices, and did not watch either part of the final. Due to the lack of interest for me, I did not watch in 2008. Then this year rolled around, and I watched the week where the top 12 or 13 or whatever it was were on. I decided I liked Kris Allen the most out of that group and his singing made me want to keep watching. I did not watch as regularly as I have in the past, but I kept cheering for Kris. This year is the first year that my favorite from the start has actually won American Idol.

The amazing thing to me is that people are complaining about Kris winning all over the place, and blaming it on the fact that Adam is gay or Kris is Christian or other reasons not related to music. However, there is one blog I read that I think gets it right on why Adam did not win, and it has to do with music. Adam might be talented, but not everyone likes the screaming, edgy rock that Adam brought to the table. Kris, however, has a more mainstream style that can appeal to anyone. Kris' style of singing is closer to the style of Danny Gokey, the third place finisher, than what Adam's style is. Since Gokey was not in the final, Kris and Adam were (in some ways) singing to the Gokey fans to convince them to vote and to vote for them. To do this effectively, Adam needed to sing one of his performances from the season that showcased his voice more than his dramatic side. Instead, he chose one that involved way too much screaming and that overly dramatic. Kris needed to sing a performance that was close to Gokey's style. Kris accomplished this. Therefore, Kris, through song choice and talent, was able to pull off the upset.

I personally think that Kris has more talent than Adam even though Adam might be more of an entertainer. It will be interesting to see what happens with both. I may actually buy the CD of the American Idol winner for the first time ever. The only other idol participant whose CD I have purchased has been Chris Daughtery's CD. I have a CD that has a song on it by Mendisa as well, but that is not why I bought it (although she is talented and I liked her on Idol). Anyway, I am not used to my favorites winning the competition, so this is a nice change!

Random Thought #40

The Baptist Temple in Shreveport looks more like a tabernacle and the Baptist Tabernacle more like a temple. Maybe they should trade names.

Random Thought #39

Just a few more hours and I will be headed to NO for graduations! I actually packed most of my stuff tonight so I can head out earlier. I am ready!

I am at the Rangers game and it is already a crazy one! It was delayed, and then the Angels pitcher was ejected in the bottom of the 1st after only two pitches.

Random Thought #38

My favorite Idol finalist actually made it to the finals this year. First time ever for me. Unfortunately Adam will probably win, but I will be voting for Kris!

One more week until vacation!!!

I just have to survive one more week before I will be on vacation for a week to see this become reality
and to see my little guy!!

The writers of House have to be some of the most gifted writers in the business. House definitely has some of the best season finales.

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring

I thought I would combine random thoughts today as I try to start working on an appellate brief in a case that is due just a few days after I get back from vacation. I go into a weird brief writing mode where I do not like to be bothered. I also have to keep a piece of paper and pen around for those random thoughts that distract me while trying to write a brief. That is the reason I am doing a list of random things.

First, it has been raining and raining and raining and raining. We have had tons of thunderstorms, several tornado warnings, and many inches of rain. I am glad that my house is pier and beam because then it does not flood. My yard does look like a swamp or marsh land though, so it would be nice for it to dry out sometime soon. However, the forecast for this week shows only one day without rain. Maybe Wednesday will be sunny instead of cloudy too.

Since there has been so much rain, there are much cooler temperatures than what we normally have this time of year. As a result, my air conditioner has run only one day so far. Just one. I anticipate another, unexpected month of low electric bills since we are already in May. Maybe I should not complain about the amount of rain!

The Miss California thing is getting old in the news, but I am glad that those who support gay marriage are so intolerant of Miss California's views because it shows that those who have been trumpeting tolerance are intolerant themselves. The funniest thing about the whole scandal though is that Miss California represents the views of over half her state since California recently voted on the issue. I wonder why no one is pointing that fact out.

I feel like a true Southern lawyer today. I recently purchased a seersucker suit, and I am wearing it proudly today. The only thing that makes it not quite perfect is the bow on the suit is blue instead of red. One of my bosses used to wear a seersucker suit with a red bowtie. Now that was perfect!

Really Random Thought #37

I was stung by a wasp yesterday. It burned all afternoon and night long. However, it never did swell up. The only thing that happened was my skin on my finger tightened with the swelling, but it was not a visible swelling. I was disappointed because it was so small and insignificant that I looked like a big baby for complaining about the pain. Today it is just a little red dot on my middle finger. Tomorrow it will probably be completely gone. I wish there was more of a war wound so that I do not look like so much of a baby for complaining about the sting!

Judge Jim Hudson

The Arkansas judge that swore me in to practice law in Arkansas died yesterday after complications from surgery he had in March. More here.

Ironic?

This news story caught my eye, more because of the picture. Think she learned this from her mother?