Senator Hillary Clinton breaks up the monotony in her campaign trail by engaging the audience in a rousing game of "Red Rover"......after which she engages in a "chugging" contest with
fellows from the local VFW.
The bartender commented, "She can chug with the best of 'em..."

My voice belongs to Daddy...?

I only follow "AI" through the news reports, and this one caught my eye. Click here or on the title to read it in its entirety, but here's an excerpt:

The Associated Press and other news outlets reported over the weekend that David Archuleta's father has been banished from rehearsals by Idol producers.

The reports say that the action came after Jeff Archuleta demanded phrasing from Sean Kingston's Beautiful Girls be inserted into David's rendition of Ben E. King's Stand By Me last week. The change cost the show additional song-clearance fees. The AP cited an unidentified source associated with Idol who was familiar with the situation; an Idol spokesman declined to comment Sunday.

I think I can safely say that my parents didn't do things like this when I was younger and singing. To be honest, they tried to rein me in when I got too conceited (which, regretfully, was often).

On the flip side...I remember a parent who (supposedly) went to my high school choir director and complained that I was taking attention away from her daughter's talents and what was he going to do about it? He put me in the back row and didn't give me any solos...that's what happened there. He didn't defend his decision, he just plunked me back there and that was that. I never forgave him for that, but I realize that he was caught between a rock and a hard place and had to do something. If I were in his place, I would have done something different, but that's me.

When you have a child that's talented, what do you do? Do you stand back and let your kid be manipulated by the Powers That Be or do you get in there and fight for your kid? I'm not for Mr. Archuleta's actions...and to me, he seems like he's trying to live vicariously through his son. But if I were a parent, I would be hard pressed to know what to do.

This isn't high school, though...AI is a business. Apparently, Mr. Archuleta didn't know (or care) that his actions regarding his son's song choice cost the show extra money in copyright fees. Moreover, it compromised another artist's piece, and was pretty lame all the way around. Yeah, "AI" is a multi-million dollar enterprise, but Sean Kingston could also sue the show for allowing copyright infringement, correct? (If there are any lawyers reading this, please clarify...)

If I met up with Mr. Archuleta, I don't know what I'd say other than "Back off". Yes, this kid is a minor and shouldn't be taken advantage of. However, this kid needs to know how to deal with things on his own and have his own bumps and pitfalls. Daddy needs to rein himself in and let David do his thing. Once the final votes are tallied, then Daddy can do what he needs to do to help his son.

Wonder if Daddy realizes that 18 isn't too far away and then his son might tell him to shove off? Only time will tell. Right now, all I can say is that there are many good therapists out there that might make some $$ taking on David's case file. Lots of Freudian stuff there to munch on for the next several years.

But I guess after reading this article, I should thank my parents for their approach. They pushed me, but they loved me. I'm sure there was more I could have done, but they let me make the choices and those choices made me who I am.

I'm not famous - I'm just me, and I'll be OK with that.

anybody got a snorkel?

I am so SICK of rain.

Sick sick sick, I tell ya.

I know it's good for the water table, blah blah blah, but it's not good as far as getting out of bed and getting to work.

So until I can think about anything else to write, I'll say glub glub for now.

for the weekend...the white stripes in "Conquest"

Star Jones strikes again...

Star's pissed at Baba Wawa, because Ms. Wawa wrote a book and was honest about things in her personal and professional lives.

Barbara Walters' book, Audition, sheds light on many aspects of Walters' life (affairs, marriages, etc.), and apparently Star is not pleased and is MORE than happy to share her distaste.

To quote the article:

"It is a sad day when an icon like Barbara Walters, in the sunset of her life, is reduced to publicly branding herself as an adulterer, humiliating an innocent family with accounts of her illicit affair and speaking negatively against me all for the sake of selling a book. It speaks to her true character," Jones told Us Weekly magazine.

Yes, Baba had the nerve to voice her experience in dealing with Star's dishonesty with the whole gastric bypass episode that Star HERSELF refused to acknowledge on "The View", not to mention the "Bridezilla" wedding crap.

You know, isn't it better to tell things on yourself than have things told on you? I am learning that's exactly the case. I mean, Barbara exposed herself, which is what an autobiography is about. You're telling people about YOU and the things/people/places that make you who you are...for better and for worse.

And that includes bad experiences you've had when other people have really (as my mom says) "gotten out of themselves", like...um...STAR did!

I could draw so many analogies between Star Jones and other people I know, but I promised my mother I wouldn't so I'm not. But I think everyone knows people who can't deal with the fact that they're not perfect and want to shut down every information outlet that could blow their cover. The problem with living a "smoke and mirrors" existence is that the smoke dissipates and the mirrors crack after a while.

Barbara Walters has a right to tell her story, all the beauty and ugliness of it. I don't think she's faking it like James Frey did either. I've never been a fan of hers but I admire her for writing it all down. Hell, I can't remember half the things I've done and I'm half her age.

So Barbara...kick it, girl. You've earned it. Throw Star a Wheat Thin and tell her to shut up.

Things I would say in a perfect world (if they'd make a difference):

1) "I wish I'd known...then maybe I would have understood why you did what you did and I wouldn't have blamed myself all these years."

2) "Quit yelling at the cat, it's not going to do any good."

3) "I love you even when I don't say it."

4) "Go away and stay away."

5) "You're right."

6) "You're wrong."

7) "Leave my family alone."

8) "Love me."

9) "Just tell the truth."

10) "Stop using the drugs and booze - you're going to kill yourself."

OK - it's time to think...if you could say ten things that would make a difference in a perfect world, what would they be? Tag yourselves, peoples.

Sudie's weekend report...

Well, I had a pretty good weekend, all things considered.

Highlights:

**Went to a "Kentucky Derby"/birthday party with a jam session inserted for good measure. I never watched the Kentucky Derby on TV before, and it was quite interesting. I was saddened about the passing of Eight Belles but that's horse business for ya. I personally rooted for Big Truck, with odds of 20-1.

**Saw my friend Gregg H. from high school days - we went to different schools but were in a lot of the same activities so we gravitated toward each other more often than not. It was good to see him - other than the shaved head, I would have recognized him anywhere! We caught up to a degree and it was a good time overall. Lots of taxi rides and giggles.

**GORGEOUS WEATHER. 'Nuff said on that one.

The only disturbing thing? Lack of naps. Also, I think I was the only person in America that didn't see "IRON MAN" so there ya go.

You know something, though? I haven't had a truly AWFUL weekend in a long time. I realize I've probably jinxed myself but I don't care...I have been relatively yucky-weekend-free for a while. Part of it is the fact that D and I have found a regular thing to do on Saturdays and Sundays.

We go to McDonalds and hang out with some older people that we've kind of "adopted" as part of our Maryland family. Go figure.

They're all older than we are, but it's OK because we both seem to relate to older people as well as folks our age. When I was younger, I was always amused by the "coffee klatches" that would develop at places like McDonalds. I vowed that I would NEVER do that...I don't like coffee, and I imagined myself to be too sophisticated.

Things change, and I found out that sophistication isn't all it's cracked up to be. As a matter of fact, it can be damned lonely, so I'd rather be around friends and giggling about everyday stuff than in some stuffy artistic salon setting.

So I'm changing, and it's a good thing, right?

Yes?

Please say so. I don't wanna change.

a thank you...

Take a look at this list.

Now - I can honestly say that my 2nd husband enlightened me in the ways of weird musicians. Why?

Because I know about half of these musicians. (Not personally, just "knowing of" them.)

I don't give Ed enough credit for helping me be the person I am today. We had a stormy relationship and are no longer together, but he did have an impact on my life and still does today. Among other things he's shown me:

1) It's OK to be in your 30s and like crayons.

2) It's OK to make fun of bad movies (however, I draw the line at paying full admission price to see one) and treasure them for their ultimate cheesiness.

3) Cartoons can be watched actively and studied as much as a good film can be, and it's OK to like them and laugh loudly.

4) It's OK to be yourself

5) He taught me how to watch a movie analytically, although I'm backsliding a bit.

6) He reminded me that cats are wonderful creatures

7) He was good to my nieces and nephew

8) He introduced me to tuna salad with a smidge of curry in it

9) He loved my cat as much as I did

10) He tried to love me and I didn't always let him, but he tried. I'm hard to love, just ask anyone.

So Ed, thanks for helping me be me. And thanks to all who helped me be OK with that, including Ed.