Turns out I'm in a mixed episode. A bipolar nightmare: the worst features of mania and depression mixed together. I describe it like having the worst flu - aching, pains, lethargy, malaise, tiredness, sleepiness - and then taking 30 NoDoz. Insomnia and jitters (mainly in my tapping/shaking feet) plus all of those others is a real treat. Plus the other mood features like bouncing back and forth between sad and bouncy, melancholy and giddy. Within 30 minutes of one another. I have moods that swing, but they're not supposed to go back and forth that fast. I'm talking my whole mood... what you would judge your entire day by. How I'm truly feeling, versus some transient momentary feeling. You know - how you can be sad overall, but something will make you laugh? Well, I will be SAD one minute, and HAPPY the next, and UPSET after that. Down to my core feelings. Seriously? Manic depression SUCKS ASS. I suggest you don't try it.

So: I found the perfect movie for my mixed state... Jesus Christ Superstar (the 1973 version, not this new Australian militant crap version). Both sad and happy! And with some very excellent music. I realize that since it's the early 70s it looks cheesy in spots, but if you remember it was made in '73, in the middle of the Israeli desert, then it's really fantastic. As someone with a stage background I can really appreciate how they used their surroundings, like the lava tube with natural spotlights for "What's the Buzz?" and an old temple for a bunch of different locations in the story, the way one would use one stage during a performance by utilizing props. The dance numbers were fabulous. My personal favorite was "Simon Zealotes". He and the followers with their frenzied dance really show Jesus their fanaticism and excitement at their presumed Christ-led revolt against the Romans, though Jesus tries to explain that it's not his 'bag,' so to speak. Also fabulous? The out-there King Herod with his very, um, sacreligious number. I would not click on this link if you're easily religiously offended.

Though, I found out if you listen to enough Andrew Lloyd Webber stuff, you start to hear the same chords in every show. Evita and JCS are REALLY similar. Like, similar chords, progressions, and tunes, almost. Even Phantom starts sounding like Evita and like everything else he's done after a while.

Speaking of the ALW, American Idol?? NEVER DO THAT AGAIN. EVER. NEVER EVER. Only trained professionals need to deal with those songs, and for someone with the best performance of the night to be kicked off for singing a great song that just happens to contain the words "Jesus Christ" seems absurd. I really wish that they had spent some of the time with ALW explaining the song so that those who hadn't seen the musical would get the context and not wonder if this chick was an atheist screaming about Jesus being Christ and sacrificing and stuff. 'Nuff said about that.

Why do I feel like the only 20-something who knows not only all of the words to Herman's Hermits "There's a Kind of Hush," but all of the harmonies as well, by memory? Or, for that matter, even know who Herman's Hermits are? Or ANY music from the 60s (other than, it seems, Chris S.)?

And the fact that NONE of the contestants have ever heard "To Sir, With Love" is really sad. Lulu can still wail. And, I really really want to look as good as she does when I'm her age. To be able to strut in 4-inch stilettos, shiny leggings, and a lacy corset top when over 30 for me will be a feat. To do that at roughly twice that? Hell yeah.

Well, you really can't get closer than that, now can you?

If you saw Idol, you know what I mean. ( Cut for spoilerage )

As previously stated, I'm now going to start watching American Inventor. The people are just too good, and it'll be great making fun of the fact that Mary Lou (the only woman on the panel) cries at the ones that have even the vaguest of sob stories, yet calls Doug (the nerdy inventor guy) an asshole when he is supportive of a crazy therapist who wants to put our children in plastic tubes so they can have "tizzies." Not that I didn't agree with the "asshole" tag at that moment.

I'm adding The Loop, The Evidence, and now, dammit, also Doctor Who (thanks, SciFi for starting the series from the beginning for me tonight). Totally different genres, but all really good in their own ways. Most likely Ghost Hunters will also be added to this list once the new season starts.

I'm having a horrible scheduling issue next Wednesday at 8pm. Idol, Lost, L&O, and Criminal Minds all at the same time, and all new. Crap. Since I don't have two DVRs in my house, I think I'll probably record Lost and either L&O or Criminal Minds (I haven't decided which yet), and watch American Idol on the other TV in my house. Oh, decisions.

What is up with Stevie Wonder songs and American Idol? If you haven't seen it yet, Joe R. on TWoP has leaked that next week's them for the new Top 12 is Stevie Wonder songs. And as he put it, "As if there are even any Stevie Wonder songs left at this point." I mean, seriously. There has to be some kind of super-secret deal between 19 Entertainment and Stevie's people because there are just too many "Wonder"-ful coincidences:

# of top 24 contestants that listed him as their fave male vocalist:  4 - Heather, "Sway," Lisa, Mandisa (That's 1/6 - Seems like a big percentage to me...)

Stevie songs already sung by the top 24: "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" - Brenna, "If You Really Love Me" - Elliot, "Overjoyed" - "Sway," "All in Love is Fair" - Katherine.

This Tuesday, according to Stevie's official site, he'll be there, judging the contestants with Simon, Randy, Paula on how they sang his songs. Wow. Talk about pressure. And you know his ears are going to pick up on stuff that the others aren't. Then (I think, because it's not completely clear) Stevie will perform one of his old songs with the top 12, plus one of his new ones from his new album. I've heard one song from his new album and it's a good one.

My bets: "For Once In My Life," "God Bless the Child," "I Just Called To Say 'I Love You'" (I actually love this one - it always reminds me of this one Mickey Mouse's Valentine's Special from the mid-80s), "Isn't She Lovely," (Which, if I hear one more time will send me into a homicidal rage, I swear), "My Cherie Amour," "Part-time Lover" (maybe), "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours," "Superstition" (Another favorite I really hope they do), "Uptight (Everything's Alright)," "We Can Work it Out," "I Was Made to Love Her," and "Higher Ground" (also a total favorite... they used it in the movie Center Stage to great effect, though that version's sung by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, I like Stevie's version, too.)

Now, don't get me wrong, here. I like most of his stuff. I do. It's just that some of his songs are overplayed (and they're usually the saccharin ones I don't like very much like "Isn't She Lovely"). And too much of anything is bad.

Okay. I had to mention it. Sorry. ( My first animated icon! )

Why is it that Prince can sing entire songs in falsetto and they sound great, will stick in your head for days, and Julia Roberts will be adorable singing them... but when Sway did it on American Idol it just grated?

Speaking of American Idol: While walking through the grocery store, I heard that song by Vanessa Williams "Save the Best for Last." You know... "Sometimes the snow comes down in June. Sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon." Sappy, yet catchy at the same time. I wondered aloud to Mom, who happened to be there with me, if it had ever been used as an American Idol contestant song. Because it seems like a perfect one for some chick to sing thinking she'll impress us with her depth and sensitivity. Instead, she'll just make us run to the loo to vomit for those two minutes.

OH! Just noticed on my MSN page that both the Astros and Cardinals won their spring training games. Cards 11-8 over the Mets, and Houston 11-5 over Cleveland. Woot. It's so nice to see baseball scores back on my homepage. With football over and no baseball, my sports area on my homepage was so barren it was sad. (I can't tell you how many times I've complained to MSN about carrying the scores for other sports leagues, like the AFL, but nnnoooOOOooo, that would be a good idea.)

Why is it when you want your meds to work (particularly sleep-wise) they don't? Is it like that "watched pot never boils" thing? You think about wanting to sleep so much you keep yourself awake? Why do I have the feeling my sister will have a comment on this...

By the by.... in case you were wondering, which you probably weren't, but if you were I thought I'd let you know that the cheese was waiting in ambush and did attack me as I opened the fridge a little while ago. Not only rebellious but also vindictive cheese. I hope it's just this package and not a product-wide thing.

I just had to show off my new icon. Because I am LOVING having a decent photo editor. If anyone wants an AI icon, lemme know.

I thought of doing one of Taylor for you ordinarywhirled which read, "Gray is the new black." But I couldn't decide if that would end up sounding racist. So I didn't.

Brittenum twins in t-r-o-u-b-l-e. And they were my favorites from the premier episode, too. Why does this have to happen every year??