April? Which way did it go?

I struggled to decide if I have anything – even boring – to write since the last time I prattled on and on. Daily things, routine things – just that regular month thing going on. Maybe, I thought, I should just post the link to my postcards and be done with it. Then I decided that I just wouldn’t let you off the hook that easily.

I will confess that I have become a closet fan of the singing “reality” TV shows American Idol and The Voice. I didn’t watch The Voice last year and am not sure I’ll tune in again next year.

The formats are totally different and while I actually like the V’s format better, I really and truly got tired, very quickly, of Christina Aguilera’s diva persona. Her fashion choices are, at best, trashy. Her petulance over every little thing drives me crazy. It also may be in the back of my mind that she was chosen to sing the National Anthem at a major sporting championship and appeared more than just a little tipsy and forgot the words. If you’re an Xtina fan, I don’t mean to tread on toes – but she really is what in Texas we would call “trailer park trash.” What may change my mind about not watching the show is that I love the interplay with the other 3 “coaches.” It’s also the coach, not judge, twist that I like. It’s very interesting to see the celebs really work with the singers they choose for their team.

American Idol – it’s been around a long time and has a pretty good track record of finding true talent. I mean, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson? Not shabby. I get frustrated with all three of these judges. Almost every contestant is “the best ever on AI.” That lasts until the next one sings. If they never deem you as the “best,” then you’re doomed. Steven Tyler is the judge that is the equivalent of watching a train wreck about to happen. You know something bad is coming, but you can’t look away! The savior of this show to me is not a judge – it’s the producer extraordinaire, Jimmy Iovine who has sessions with each singer. He usually has a guest celeb and together, they give each singer real, tangible, and instructive criticisms and encouragement. It’s what these kids need to hear – not the, “I love you – you give me goose bumps” from JLo. The woman needs to bring a jacket to the podium; she seems to get goose bumps a lot.

Both shows are completely flawed as far as winners since the public can call in and vote as many times as they can get through. Different contestants have bigger voting blocs than others. The good thing is if they truly have marketable talent, they’ll have more exposure to producers than through any other venue. Jennifer Hudson didn’t win – but I believe she has an Oscar on her mantel.

So – you see how pathetic my April was! Entertaining – but sad. I’m still reading the John Lennon book and it is forcing my eyes open to the truth about all of the Beatles; the lengths that their managers, producers and “handlers” went to keep the escapades involving “the lads” from being public knowledge. It reminds of the “golden years of Hollywood,” when all the movie moguls made sure their stars’ shenanigans didn’t get in the gossip columns.

After I wrote about the book last month, a very super Postcrossing friend sent me an old “Beatles Monthly” fan magazine – August 1964 (Issue 13). This publication (not the particular month) is cited in the book. It is a cherished gift and just emphasizes how innocent we were – and the interviews with the guys are hysterical. I’m reading the magazine and comparing their carefully contrived answers to the Lennon book’s revelations about their true selves. None of them were angels. That’s pretty much OK with me. I wasn’t anything close to being an angel when I was in my teens and early twenties, although arson was never one of my sins. Question for you. Have you actually really listened to the song “Revolution No. 9” on the White Album? From start to finish? I forced myself to do just that and it was just painful. “Number 9, number 9, number 9….”

I discovered so many surprises in my mailbox that I couldn’t believe it! Friends in Australia sent me fun care packages including trinkets, Aussie Animals dishcloths, notepads, coasters and magnets! It was crazy-fun! Others sent me remarkable commemorative editions of cards and stamps marking the 100th anniversary of the Titanic tragedy. I also received a card with one of the London Olympic mascot, Wenlock. Haven’t received anything with Mandeville yet! They are the most, what’s a good word? Creative? Unusual? Odd? Anyway, they are unique and the story behind them is entertaining.

The most amazing, what-are-the-odds thing happened this week. The person who is responsible for my postcard addiction, Aurora (check her out on link to “Drop Me a Line”), got to work this morning and said, “Michelle, you are NOT going to believe what happened.” Now, in our world, that could mean a lot of things, so I follow her into her office. She’s pulling a couple of large postcards out of her purse. She explained that when she was going through her cards, she found that two were slightly stuck together. Both were the same size and from the same person in Vietnam. Both had cancellation marks. One was addressed to her. One was addressed to me! Does anyone out there want to take a stab at calculating the odds of that happening? We don’t live anywhere close to each other and don’t have the same postal (zip) code. The sender is someone who sends many cards and I am 99% sure she mailed more than one card that day – not to even think about all the post offices they probably went through from Vietnam to Dallas. Aurora and I have had some ironic things happen, but this absolutely is freakish!

I loved my April collection of cards – both arriving in my mailbox and leaving my mailbox. Every day brings a reason to smile – if not laugh out loud. I often wonder what the people at my post office think when they’re sorting these cards. They cover one end of the spectrum to the opposite. It’s what keeps it fun.

I leave you with one of the best quotes I’ve run across in a while. The author was from Texas and was the most inspirational women and politician – yes, politician – in my lifetime. She’s definitely worth Googling!

“Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o’clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap.”
~Barbara Jordan

Hope you have fun scanning through my pieces of happiness – maybe with a glass of milk and cookie close at hand! Personally, I’m heading straight to the blanket and nap part!

Hugs with a cookie,
Michelle

April Arrivals

April Smiles on Their Way

~ by Wheeler on May 13, 2012.