It’s the end of a long, long work week. I am ever so happy.
I keep telling the kids: I only have one nerve left and you’re getting on it! Of course, I’m kidding, and they know it, but I can feel that my patience is rapidly waning. Dec. 23rd can’t get here soon enough.
This morning, though, I’m enjoying my morning coffee and looking forward to a busy, but fun, weekend. We’re going shopping tonight, then tree hunting tomorrow — we cut our own tree at a tree farm we’ve been visiting since we moved to Bon Accord 21 years ago. Then, on Sunday I’m going to do some volunteer Christmas gift wrapping in support of JDRF for Gibbons School. I have wrangled Tim into helping, so I’m sure it will be a hilarious time. He’s a consummate clown and crowd pleaser.
Watched X-Factor last night. I am really enjoying this show, am astounded by the caliber of talent that exists out there, but that is ‘undiscovered’. Until Simon Cowell. Whom I adore. He’s like Oscar the Grouch, only much better looking. He may be a steely eyed business man, but, in the tiny bit of research I’ve done on him he is also a caring, compassionate philanthropist. And his genuine concern for the singers he has mentored, as well as some of the others on the show, shows each time one of them was sent home.
The only true criticism I have of this show is that I don’t agree that children under the age of 16 should be allowed to enter. It is painful to watch these kids after they have been rejected. Emotionally, they are too fragile to handle such huge disappointment.
They have spent weeks being built up as ‘an amazing artist’, ‘a true recording star’, ‘brilliant’, ‘an extremely talented singer with a bright future’ and on and on and on. They don’t have the experience or the mental and emotional ability to deal with the reality that this is all for television ratings. There can only be one winner, everybody else, no matter how good they are, or how much they believe in everything they’re told, will be a loser.
Which is not to say that they are ‘losers’. Anyone who can sing and perform the way these contestants have is anything but a loser. They are all talented, creative individuals and I hope that many of them — Drew, Rachel, LeRoy — go on to have huge success. But watching Rachel and Drew after they were eliminated from the show was more than painful. These girls are little more than children, watching them disintegrate on stage was awful to witness.
I know they’ll be fine; they have strong, loving, supportive families. And let’s not overlook the fact that Simon, or LA or some other producer watching all this unfold will sign these young stars to a recording contract. But, I just don’t think children should be subjected to the kind of world they are being expected to compete in at such a young age. I hope that they raise the age limit for future shows.
In the meantime, my money is Josh Krajick. He is one amazing artist. And I can’t wait for his first album. Also, I have to give a shout out to Chris Renee — he was amazing last night. The song he finished with — well, it was simply beautiful.
And, those are my thoughts for this Friday. Have a good one, everybody!
All That Matters 