Even DEEPER in debt.

Thanks to somebody who shall remain nameless but who knows perfectly well who she is, I had to spend my lunch hour (and all my discretionary income, such as it is) on acquiring all the Nancy Atherton books (except for the latest hardback).

Hmph.

Tonight's American Idol. Don't care? Then don't read.

Well, what can I say. Clay is my favorite, and nothing is going to change that. I don't care what he wears or what he sings; when he's up there, I'm gobsmacked. It's not just me; the crowd seemed to really love him tonight.

However, there were some other good things to say about tonight's episode. I'm finding that I like Trenyce a lot more each time I see her. She can at least behave graciously, and she doesn't hold anything back when she performs. I can do without little blonde Carmen, who was Simon's wildcard pick. She's okay, but she needs to stop yodeling. I think she's really just too young for this competition. Ricky "Hercules!" sang well tonight, I thought, and he looked a bit more presentable than usual. I remember a brief clip from one of the earlier audition episodes when they showed him belting out a little bit of "Il Donna e Mobile" from Verdi's Aida, and I was so impressed that he could throw down the opera! The first performer I want to see booted off the show is that bitch Julie D'Amato. I think she's psycho and stupid with it. Some of the performers kind of glaze me over, such as Charles Griggs. Probably a very nice young man, but he's this season's AJ Gil without the interesting cheekbones. Who else... Oh yes, Kimberly Locke. I thought she did well in the auditions and she sounded especially great when singing with Frenchie, but now I feel like she is somewhat overshadowed. It doesn't help that she acts like she's still God's gift to the show. The other Kimberly, the blonde, we still like. She's attractive and I think she has an interesting voice. Vanessa of the flaming pink hair is, I think, not getting the credit she deserves. She has a really good voice and she also throws herself into her performances. I'd rate her up there among the top three female performers. Corey Clark, ehhnn... I like his hair better this way, but his voice gives me the creeps. Who am I forgetting? Oh, the military boy. Well, it's not politically correct to criticize any members of our great military forces at this time, but his corn-fed wholesomeness is getting on my nerves. Hua, and all that. Which brings us to Ruben. I really like Ruben. (Doesn't anybody find it a bit hypocritical of Simon to badger Vanessa about her weight when Ruben is packing like 400 pounds? But I digress.) So far, with the two songs we've seen him do, Ruben manages to make it look as if he wrote those songs. You know who he reminds me of? Ken Paige, who plays Deuteronomy in the DVD version of "Cats."

Please please please let them boot Julie, or maybe even Charles. If anything happens to Clay this early in the season, I will be inconsolable.

A story for PMB and Alex.

Here is the story I mentioned at the club a few weeks ago. Brr.