May 20, 2008 – A Half Hour a Day

See this? This is what I call a big problem.

We used to love having birds roost in our porch rafters. “Awwww…the babies are so cute!”

Then we had bird mites….in the house. “Kill them!! Kill them all!!!”

Okay, so I’m not that heartless and neither is Zan, but since we can’t have them building nests here anymore, we have a problem.

This Mama has been building and re-building her nest for three weeks now. We keep taking it down, other birds keep destroying it, and yet she frantically keeps rebuilding. The photo is half a day’s progress. She’s getting faster as each day passes. She’s relentless. And my heart bleeds for her. Mother to Mother, I feel her intense need to see her children safely into the world…to protect them from harm once they’re here. And everytime we destroy her nest, I swallow the lump in my throat. She’s killing me with her desperation.

However, my need to protect my home and MY babies from bird mites is more important.

Sorry Mama, this nest can’t stay. Now we bring out the Big Guns….aluminum pans.

Okay, so since it’s a “very special American Idol” night, I was thinking I need to make some yummy something to go with the occasion. And since my favorite is, of course, David Cook, cook-ing seems appropos, no?

The problem is, I need suggestions! So have at it. Have a great idea? Something simple, and simply yummy? Let me know.

And since we’re on the subject of American Idol….

Shrewbie Doobie Doo happened to mention that I’ve been strangely quiet on the whole Taylor Hicks Teen Angel subject. She is absolutely correct that I am strange! I have also been quiet on the topic. The reason? I haven’t known what to say.

I want more for him. I want the best opportunities for him. I want music for him…REAL music, not “Beauty School Drop-Out.” I want an audience for him that appreciates his roots and his talent the way I do…not an audience that comes to see the spectacle. I want recognition for him…not the “see I told you Daughtry should’ve won” recognition, but the, “Dang! They were right after all!” recognition. I don’t know…it just seems a bit far from where he’s come, and hopefully far from where he’s going. For the record, I felt the same way about the book. (And no I haven’t read it so I won’t comment on the quality of the book.) I just felt it was a left hand turn off the road of focused artistry, and this seems another one. So, I guess what I feel is disappointment…the same disappointment I have felt with my students who choose not to exercise a God given talent and opportunity. It’s his path to choose, and I will continue to look forward to the next album. Hopefully I will be able to say, “Wow! He knew what he was doing after all!”

Addendum: For a more in depth discussion, head on over to Music Maven’s place.