Happy Memorial Day

This day is often overlooked by, well, many of us. The holiday is often characterized by cookouts, hot dogs, and quality time spent with family and friends. All these things are great but we can't forget the real meaning behind this holiday, which is to honor our servicemen and women and their daily sacrifices for us. I know that I take them (and my freedom) for granted a lot as I'm sure you all do as well. Chances are either one of our loved ones is serving or we know someone who has a loved one in the military. There is a guy at my church who serves in the Army Reserves and just got back from Afghanistan not too long ago.

I also have a special member of my family who served in the Navy during WWII. My grandpa, who is 88 years old, served in Japan on the USS Chicago. I'm fascinated by the stories he tells me and he said that he even got to see Gen. Douglas Macarthur sign the San Francisco Peace Treaty, which ended the Allied occupation of Japan in 1951. I'm proud to call him my grandpa and proud of his service for our country after the attacks on Pearl Harbor. I'm glad that he's still living to tell me these amazing stories. Without them, I probably wouldn't have as much of an appreciation for what our servicemen and women do on a daily basis.

Thank you U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard members for your valiant service to our country. I, along with many others, will continue to pray for you as you protect our freedom!

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Not Up To Par

I've got a bone to pick with Durham's local newspaper, the Herald Sun. Apparently they weren't as excited as the rest of us were about Scotty McCreery's big win on "American Idol." I was very disappointed in the coverage from them. In the May 26 edition, there was a small picture on the side of the front page with a small story on the next page. 

In fact, that story on the inside wasn't even from one of their own writers. Instead it was taken from the Associated Press! I mean, how hard is it to go out to the RBC Center to do a story? The Herald had this little article while the News & Observer had a full page spread on the front and four pages chronicling Scotty's run on "Idol" inside. Even though Scotty is not from Durham, he’s representing the Triangle and, more importantly, he’s representing the state of North Carolina. Isn’t that enough to get a big spread on the paper?

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Scotty Has Done It!

Scotty McCreery has won! I can't believe it and I'm excited for him. Like you've seen, I was at the RBC Center in Raleigh and I almost got on the show. The host of the event, season three finalist Matt Rogers, was going to do a live shot for the show...right in front of where I was sitting! "Idol" cut that because they were running over time on the show. In my opinion, they could've either cut out some commercials or Lady Gaga! They said they would go to Matt if Scotty won but, although he did win, they never went to him so I didn't get my face shown in front of 50+ million people. Instead I was almost mauled over by screaming girls who were going crazy and pushing me all over the place.

I got tough and went Hulk on them and pushed right back. I think I even pushed a person off a chair they were standing in but, I wasn't going to just stand there and let them push me around! Before the live show started, there was an "Idol" camera guy who was taking video and I did get on that with no problems. I don't know what it was for but I got on anyway! Even though I didn't get on "Idol" I still had a blast and wouldn't trade anything for being there. Being at the viewing party was probably the next best thing to being at the Finale in L.A.

Congrats Scotty and God bless!

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Finale Prediction

Courtesy: National Ledger

We'll soon know if either Scotty McCreery or Lauren Alaina will become the next "American Idol." But before we get to the results show, I thought I'd give you my take on the Finale performances. Overall, both did really well. I think the pair's opening songs were equally great. The second round for both Scotty and Lauren were the sleepier parts for me.

Finally, the last round was, in my opinion, just as good as the first round of songs. I've liked Lauren a lot throughout this competition but, when it comes down to the Finale, I've got to pull for my home state (and local) boy Scotty McCreery.

On a different note, I thought the whole speculation and craziness before the show about Lauren losing her voice was pretty strange. I believe that something like this wouldn't be made up but, I just can't see how some "medicine" miraculously made her voice that good in such a short amount of time. It's a little fishy to me. I'm now officially off the Lauren Alaina bandwagon not only because of that but because I think she sounds a lot like Carrie Underwood. After all, that is her personal idol and I'll probably not buy her album when it comes out. I want something different in country music, which is why I want Scotty to win! It should definitely be an interesting show tomorrow!

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Down To Two

Courtesy: Michael Becker/FOX

It all comes down to Garner's own Scotty McCreery and Georgia's hometown girl Lauren Alaina for the 2011 "American Idol" crown. This year has already set records but last night's result set three. The first being that the Top 3 got 95 million votes, which was the most for a non-Finale show ever and 15 million more than the Top 3 last year. Also, this will be the youngest Finale and the first ever all-country Finale.

I was at the viewing party last Thursday night at Garner Magnet High School and, like many people, I was excited to hear Scotty's name called. Regardless of what happens, I'm proud of Scotty for all he's done on the show and he will have a great career ahead of him.

P.S. You can also get involved by coming out to the two viewing parties being held. The first is Tuesday night at Scotty's high school, Garner Magnet. The second will be Wednesday night at the RBC Center. Both will be from 7-10 pm and free to enter; but you'll have to pay $10 to park at the RBC Center. "Idol" is hosting the party at the RBC Center and their cameras will be there so you may even get on national TV! If you can't make it out to the parties, I'll be live-tweeting from both so you can get a first hand look at the all the mayhem!

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Great Time In Garner

As you know, I went to Garner yesterday for Scotty McCreery's homecoming. I was overwhelmed by how many people support this guy. I would say the size of Garner (about 30,000) doubled in just one day at that celebration! It was almost a fair-like atmoshphere with food, games, and music. They even had deep fried candy bars and good 'ol classic funnel cakes! While waiting for the man of the hour to perform, fans could also buy all kinds of Scotty gear, from t-shirts to buttons and even masks with his face on them. 

As we got closer to the time of the concert, fans piled into the area around the stage and we could hardly even get out. Finally, at about 2:30 or 3:00 pm, Scotty arrived and went on stage. When he finally saw how huge the crowd was (which spanned almost three-fourths of the field at the park) he was shocked to say the least. He performed about five or six songs and even got a surprise while singing his audition song "Your Man." The artist of that song himself, Josh Turner, walked on stage and Scotty walked right into him while singing. It was perfect!

They sung a couple songs together and Scotty still could not believe he was singing with his favorite artist. It was really special to see! Near the end of the concert, Scotty told everyone thank you and how much he loved everybody. Overcome with emotion, he began to cry and his family came over and comforted him while we clapped and chanted. It was a tender and special moment for everyone.

This was the first time I had been to an "American Idol" hometown visit and I had a blast! I will never forget all the emotion that was in that park yesterday and how Scotty felt about seeing all of us there to support him. This was a highlight of 2011 for sure! Below are some pics from the concert...



View from my seat of fans at Lake Benson Park



The man of the hour, Scotty McCreery, performing at the park

Scotty and Josh Turner singing together

Scotty showing off his guitar skills at the concert

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Welcome Home Scotty!

After months away from his hometown, Garner's Scotty McCreery is coming home! And he's bringing an "American Idol" crew with him. The show will be taping Scotty's every move as he makes the traditional Top 3 hometown visit. The town is hosting a huge party in honor of him complete with food, games, a parade, and a concert.

I've talked my family into going so I will be there for the whole day! We're going to get there about 10 am and stay until everything is over. Stay tuned to Twitter tomorrow as I'll try to TwitPic photos from the big event. You can also check out my blog for a complete wrap up!

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VIP

As you could probably guess, I'm pretty excited about the Idols Live Tour coming to Raleigh. This has truly been a great season of "American Idol" and I can't wait to see these amazing performers in person! Anyway, today, they had a presale for tix to the show. I was prepared to get as close as possible to the stage but I actually got more than that. I found out soon before the tix went on sale that they were going to have a VIP package that included floor seats, an exclusive autographed photo, tour program, a VIP laminate, and-the best part-a meet and greet with the "Idol" contestants! Although it set me back quite a bit of money, I decided to go with it. I'm treating this concert as my "summer trip" instead of going to the beach or something.

I've never been to a meet and greet before so it'll be a new experience for me. I'm bringing my mom and grandma along and, hopefully, we'll get to meet Garner's own Scotty McCreery! It will be so awesome and I will definitely blog about my experiences at the concert!

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Unforgivable

I saw this story on "Inside Edition" and was absolutely disgusted. A mom in my hometown of Durham, NC has been forced by a judge to give up her two kids to their estranged father all because she has breast cancer. The mother, Alaina Giordano, has stage four breast cancer and was told that she was a "capable, caring, and loving mother" but the court has ruled her children must live with their father in Chicago.

The kids now will have to leave probably the only home they've known and go to Illinois where they'll have to make new friends and go to new schools. This is not easy on any person especially kids. What really disgusted me is the court said, "Children who have a parent with cancer need more contact with the non-ill parent."

Give me a freaking break! Although the mother has this horrible disease, it doesn't mean she is incapable of taking care of her children. It's not fair for the court to send down such a judgement on this woman who is already going through a lot as it is. Her children are the last thing she has to comfort her and, thanks to the Durham Family Court, she will not have them for too much longer.

My message to the judge and the court: you should be ashamed of yourselves for making such an apalling decision! Always remember this and the pain that it has brought on this family.

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You're Fired!

I don't usually watch "Celebrity Apprentice" or rant on one single person but, when it comes to Star Jones, I have to. I never knew how hateful she really is. Like I said, I don't watch the show a lot but, when I do, she's always arguing or putting the blame on someone else when her team loses. The last time I watched the show, she was being very rude towards her project manager and got into arguments with her own team.

On tonight's episode, she and Meatloaf (a musician) got into an argument over product branding after they found out their team had lost. She passed off the blame so many times, saying this was not my job and the like. Heck, I didn't know what her job really was. While escalating the argument outside the boardroom, Meatloaf called Star "sweetie" and that is what set her off for good. She basically took over the entire conversation and didn't even let Meatloaf get a word in. She finally cut him off completely and refused to discuss it further. She even said that she would only argue something with someone who had "her credentials."

It continued somewhat in the boardroom when Trump asked the two about what was going on outside. Star then went on to tattle tale to Trump about how Meatlof called her "sweetie" and you shouldn't do that because that was "demeaning to women" in that context. Luckily, Trump didn't buy it and fired her anyway based off how the company they were doing the task for did not like the job she did.

Now here comes the rant...

I'm so glad she was fired. Like the Donald said himself, he was tired of that "politically correct" BS that she would bring up all the time. If I was Trump, I would've fired them both because they were arguing like a bunch of little kids. In fact, I think even worse than kids! But, overall, I learned that Star Jones is just a bitter, hateful person who honestly needs some encouragement (or counseling) to help her. I don't know what happened but she has acted like a little two year old throughout this competition. My message to Star is: GROW UP!

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Punk'd For Real

For this week's Oops Award, I want to recognize L.A. Police for the "great" job they did. I saw this on Twitter and it was pretty crazy: "Dancing With The Stars" contestant, Hines Ward, was pulled over and detained at gunpoint by police for driving a reported stolen car. Ward was later released and apologized to by the police.

It turns out that the owner of the car thought it was stolen and made a report back in April but never cancelled it. I'm sure the police department won't hear the end of this one!

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Perfect Harmony

The "American Idol" finale is coming up in just a few weeks and I'm pretty excited since Scotty McCreery has gotten closer to it. However, I'm even more excited now because a lyric I submitted to them could be in a song sung by Taio Cruz at the finale!

The song featured some unwritten parts and fans could go on to the show's website and submit ttheir own lyrics. Those would be judged and finalists would be chosen. Fans will vote for one of the finalists whose lyrics will be in the song.

I decided to do it just for the sake of trying and I got an email yesterday saying my lyric was being considered as a finalist. Now, you'll have the chance to vote for it to go into Taio's song! This is such a neat opportunity so I would ask anyone who reads this if you would please VOTE for me. I thought the entrant names would be on each but they're not so it looks like mine is the first one on the list. Like the show itself, it all starts with you, so please log on and vote!

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USA


After ten long years of struggle, heartbreak, and sacrifice, America has triumphed by killing Osama Bin Laden. I'm not one to celebrate death but, as said on Twitter, "it was necessary for David to kill Goliath in the Bible." It's truly a remarkable milestone in American history and even the history of the world. It's one of those things, like 9/11 that we'll all say, "I remember where I was when this happened."

I was shocked by this news myself. I was actually just flipping through the TV when I stopped on MSNBC. They had "Breaking News" on the screen saying Pres. Obama had an important statement to make. That was all the info they had at the time. They almost said something further about the issue but backtracked before they announced it. Later, CNN said the statement was concerning national security. My heart sank as I immediately thought "terror attacks." Finally, my mom said that FOX News reported that Bin Laden was dead. And so began the jubilation.

I really couldn't believe that it had actually happened. I mean, it took ten years to bring justice and some sense of closure to those families of 9/11 victims but we finally did it! Like I said, I'm not one to celebrate the death of any person, good or evil. It's really ashame that this seemingly bright person chose to use his gifts and talents for evil instead of good. For that, he must suffer the consequences, which he did. However, with this the fight is not over. As Americans we need to use this to band together with our military and end terrorism for all people!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!

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Beginning Of The Future

Today, we had the groundbreaking ceremony for the Legacy Center. This was such an exciting time for our church as we have officially started the building process for this project. What was even better, we had the kids turn the dirt as this building will be theirs in a couple years when it's completed. To be honest, today was a special today for me personally because I've been connected with so many of those kids through daycamp and volunteering in the children's ministry. In fact, two of the kids are almost like my little brothers. Everytime they see me they literally bear hug me and just go crazy. It's those kinds of kids that makes me so excited about this project. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us with this new building!

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