Stacy Horn

Weirdly, the other day I was talking about how icky Steven Tyler can get on American Idol and today I’m defending him. Yesterday every single news organization was talking about how badly Steven Tyler sang the National Anthem … somewhere. At a football game, I don’t know which.

So I listen. It’s fine. He goes slightly flat here and there, but not horribly so. He got both the tricky high notes. It’s hard not to go flat when you’re singing a cappella, and besides, he was probably tired, and, as I said yesterday, he’s no spring chicken. That said, it was fine, more than fine really. He managed to insert a note of sweetness and respect into his signature screech, which was quite a feat. Bottom line he did nothing to warrant yesterday’s coverage.

How did the whole thing get started? Did one person say he sang badly and they all just jumped on the bandwagon, not stopping to evaluate whether or not what they were saying was true? It was bizarre hearing commentator after commentator talk with such critical authority about it. Especially when one said they could do a better job. Right. His style may not be your cup of tea, but the man is a gifted singer, even on a so-so day, and I’d like to hear any commentator sing the National Anthem (hardest song ever) in that venue (you couldn’t pay me, okay you could, but it would have to be a lot).

Listen for yourself.

Buddy. I have no idea what this expression meant. He’s calculating in his head the hours until I feed him next?

Nigel Lythgoe has been tweeting that the New York auditions are open to audience members so I’m going tomorrow. I hope it’s okay to take pictures. Because if I can’t post pictures and blog about it, what’s the point of doing something?? I’m excited though.

Finney in a basket.

I thought I should post a picture of 1 World Trade Center from my window now, so I can compare it to whatever it looks like when it’s finished. Stupid building across the street blocking it.

Actually, I shouldn’t zoom in, so you can see what it really looks like from my window. Okay, took another shot. The second shot gives a more accurate view. It’s about a mile away.

By the way, is anyone watching American Idol? Steven Tyler grew on me and I believe he’s a decent guy, but they are not doing him any favors when they show him telling a father that his fifteen-year-old daughter is hot, moist and humid. Ugh. I mean UGH! Then they show this parade of girls claiming to have crushes on him? I have got to believe they’re just sucking up. I’m sure they’re excited to meet him, but I do not believe they want to … date him.

Oh yeah, there was also the part where they show him very gamely and not at all enthusiastically kissing the “grandmother,” who is probably his age or only a few years older, but we’re supposed to believe that girls 45 years younger or more would have not similar feelings about kissing him??

This top was in a shop where everything costs a million dollars so I cannot have it, but I do love it.

Yesterday I ended up having one of those days where I worked for ten hours straight on one small section of the book, and didn’t get it where it needs to be. I feel like watching tv for ten hours to balance it out.

Meditate. (Done.)
Blog. (Doing.)
Start in on book edits. (Must do.)
Swim. (Could skip and do an at-home exercise.)
Get cat food and other food supplies. (Really should do.)
Work on Verdi Requiem. (Must do.)
Start work on taxes. (Really must do.)
Find a day job. (Really really must do.)

Finney and Buddy’s to-do list:

Eat. (Done.)
Nap. (Doing.)
Bite someone. (Really should do.)
Break something. (Really should do.)
Nap. (Must do.)
Eat. (Must do.)
Strategically place self on couch to make it impossible for Stacy to move or reach the remote. (Really really must do.)