Couldn't Have Been More Wrong...

The whole American Idol thing...forget I said anything...apparently, America noticed what I noticed about a left hand holding right hand gesturing eye closing knee bending teen...no offense to him, he's got a great voice.

Harry Callahan, Party of One

I got tired of having no picture associated with my blog, so I thought a beastly .44 would suffice. It does make me think of Inspector Harry Callahan...aka...Dirty Harry for those of you unfamiliar...if you don't know who Dirty Harry is, seriously, climb out from underneath your rock, step away from the computer or at least use it to do a little research.

So'z. I'm off to the gym, where my training regimen has been more intense as of late. I've got a goal set for June 14th, and from there I'll set another for August 1st. Bottom line, I'm shooting for optimal health by fall. BUT, before I head off to the gym, I thought I'd ramble about American Idol.

All season I've liked David Cook. In truth, he's probably the first performer that I've enjoyed on the show. Last night during the American Idol finale, he was up against the smooth voiced teen, David Archuleta - you know, the kid who ALWAYS holds the mic in his left hand while gesturing with his right and tossing in occasional knee bends and closed eye vocal riffs? Yeah...him. Well, he was clearly the "favorite" last night, however lacking in diversity and texture he may be...he's 17. Anyway, I feel like I witnessed the first American Idol that was "thrown."

Now, really do I believe that David Cook threw the game? Highly unlikely, but it would just go to prove how smart I think he is. What's one thing all Idol winners have in common? A crap first album produced by an arbitrary label that comes with your Idol winning contract. Look at the biggest successes in Idol history. Though a couple ladies have gone on to success, Clarkson and Underwood, no Idol winning dude has done anything worth writing home about. And Kelly Clarkson was already frustrated with the label after record #2...

Looking at Idol success, so far Daughtry has set the bar for the gents. Didn't he finish 4th or something? Maybe 5th? All this is to say that David Cook not winning the competition would be the winningest move for his career as a musical artist. Thrown? Hmmmm...depends on your perspective. At least he'll be able to sign with a label of choice and maybe write some music instead of singing stuff from a can.

Word Play

I haven't had fun with a post in a while...and I'm writing about the financial world at present, so a little break is necessary.

I love when people say words wrong. Growing up in Missouri and with family from bayou country in Louisiana, I thought it was reserved to a few textured U.S. regions. After traveling the United States, including all four corners, as well as the Southwest's Four Corners Region, I've discovered that it is everyone. So, here's a short list, and please, feel free to suggest any I've forgotten.

All time favorites:

1. Probly. (Probably) We're probly gonna go to the store in awhile. As in...it's possible, but not proble?

2. Egspecially. Exspecially. (Especially) Am I the only one who's noticed that people actually say egspecially? Egspecially if you're probly going to the store later.

3. Bob Wire. (Barbed-wire) As if it's your neighbor's name. We put up some 48 inch posts with Bob Wire on the back 40...it probly took us all day. Now, I love Bob, but when him puttin' up wire, well, he egspecially sucks.

4. Excape. (Escape) Yep, this goes hand in hand with egspecially.

5. Supposably. (Supposedly) This is probly my all-time favorite...

6. Expresso. (Espresso) Egspecially a favorite when I go to a small coffee shop and it's spelled wrong in vibrant colors on the arbitrary chalk-board.

7. Libel. (Liable) I'm libel to probly do that there if we can get bob wire, which will supposably help on the back 40.

8. Libary. (Library) Really? Lie-berry? Maybe that's the reason you've never been able to find it in town or on campus..."Is that it? Dang...that's the library...I need the libary...stupid r's."

9. Zuology. (Zoology) Maybe I'm nitpicking, but if it were Zu-ology, it would probly need another o - egspecially if you're supposably talking about the scientific discipline.

10. Realitor. (Realtor) Really. It's Realty. Not to be confused with reality.

Well. That's all the fun I'm allowed for today. Now I must go to the DMV - someone supposably stold my license plates off my motorcylce. I went to the cops and said I thought it was probly Bob Wire, but he must of excaped while I was having an expresso down at the libary while waiting on my Realitor to call me about some property with a back 40. I'm libel to kill that Bob Wire if I ever see him again, egspecially if I find out he's really a Zuologist.

ETC

ETC. It fits perfectly into every list that has no end in sight...

...but today, ETC carries far more weight than a summation for additional parts contributing to a whole - these letters represent a name...

Emmett Travis Coleman. Emmett finished up his work on earth today, after giving a diagnosis of cancer one heck of a wrestling match.

"Dad" to one of my best life-long friends, Nick Coleman, and friend to an impressive mix of individuals, including myself, not only was he a believer in dreams, but a believer in the people who dreamed them. I can attest to his generosity first-hand. There simply wasn't an instance in which I visited the man while with his son that we weren't treated like royalty...or perhaps like the celebrities that we hope one day to be. Regardless of the fact that Emmett knew very little about the business aspect of "the arts," he was always interested in learning more and rejoicing in the small successes that Nick and I tried to present. He served as a benefactor while we struggled to make a film in our home state of Missouri, offering us the finances for a place to live so we could use our time to work hard and not get paid for it. And when frustrations would mount, he'd call us away from it - 2 hours down the road, for a round of 18, the shuffle of some cards, steaks and baked potatoes.

His personal story is a gem, and I'm sure Nick will get around to penning it someday. His time served in the military was rooted in a desire for American citizens who "had bigger dreams" than he did - and serving in Special Forces, he brought home the heroic goods...including a back injury that I first noticed in 2004...Nick telling me, "I have no idea what it's from, but he's had it for as long as I can remember." It was grenade shrapnel...from Vietnam. They finally cut it out a couple years ago.

I found it incredibly strange that last night I struggled to find feeling in anything I did. Work. Play. I missed out on a best friend's birthday party for a reason that continually eluded me. I would doze off, only to pop up, not the least bit tired, and when Kristi and I finally went to bed, I just stood in the dark bedroom, confused about my options - go to sleep, or stay awake. Ultimately I knew that something just didn't feel "right." Today I struggled to find direction, and dozed off after lunch, staring...then I woke up this afternoon, feeling different, and Nick called. When I saw his name on the phone, I knew it wasn't good news. I tried to rebuke the feeling by answering the phone like a dork...something I'm so good at...but my will was crushed by the Supreme, and not only am I OK with that, I welcome it. Doesn't mean I like it...but I openly surrender to it.

And I thank God for letting me know ETC.