So I started a new season, dropped off of it due to the home situation, but am back watching it again.  I have to say there were some good performances (so far) that I’ve seen.  But I started this post to say, Crystal Bowersox (text 5707!) (despite her bad teeth) is the most amazingly talented young woman I’ve seen in a long time!  I mean, her voice is great.  Her stage presence is great.  Even her guitar playing was pretty darn good!  Even though I really like the 17-year-old whose grandma has alheimerz, I think Crystal may be my pick for the season…..at least for the women!  But I reserve the right to change my mind since it IS pretty early in the season.

Who is your favorite?  What do you think?

Wow, I can’t believe this night is really here!  I LOVE this time of year!  I wish I was able to have a more formal affair tonight, but as I am in the middle of ANOTHER move (the last for AT LEAST a year, thank you very much!), I am just thankful that I have a warm room, cable TV, and this laptop to enjoy this year’s festive event!  Bring on the awards!

So I have to admit a few things……I am not passionately rooting for too many winners as I have in previous years.  Last year I was CERTAIN that Kate Winslet was to win, and was SO SO excited when she did!  I jumped up and it was cool becasue Deana and I were at an Academy Award party too!  Whoot!  The other big confession is that I did NOT see Avatar.  Sigh.  I just couldn’t do it but will once it’s on DVD…..sorry for those of you who think I’m just horrible!

But, I DO have a couple nominees I AM rooting for……..I think Mo’nique deserves the award for Best Supporting Actress.  Her performance in Precious was amazing, really.  I forgot who she was.  She gets my knod.  And for Best Actress, I fully admit that she probably won’t win, but I really wish Carey Mulligan (from An Education) wins.  She was convincing to me and didn’t seem to be acting at all.  However, if Sandra Bullock wins, I would be pleased, too.

I think George Clooney will get best actor, Christoph W. best supporting actor, Precious for pic, Kathryn R for best director, James Cameron for best director, and Up for best animated film.  Saw no docs or foreign films, so can’t go there.

We shall see how it goes!

1.  He said the United States was not a Christian Nation.  Well, actually, he said it is not a Christian, Jewish, or Muslim nation.  To actually quote him, he said, “One of the great strengths of the United States is … we have a very large Christian population — we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.”  Damn him, how will we bend the constitution to our Judeo-Christian beliefs?  I mean seriously, I want this country to be like those run by the Taliban or by theocracies where they kill people for having sex outside of marriage.  Or maybe be more like England first under Queen Mary (aka, “Bloody Mary”) and kill all those pesky protestants……or before her when King Henry was trying to get his freak on and therefore split from the Catholic church and basically killing anyone who disagreed with his decision……..so you can take your Bill of Rights Article 1, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereofor abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” and remind the President he better damn well not speak up about this EVER as free speech is NOT allowed him – OR ELSE!

2.  “President Barack Obama requested that the Congress repeal the [don’t ask, don’t tell] law and directed Gates to consider how best to implement a repeal.”  How DARE you request that citizens of this United Stated of America be treated equally!  How DARE you even THINK that those homosexuals have the right to be HONEST and OPEN about who they are!  I mean seriously, let them lie about who they are when they are dying to defend you and me.  As long as we don’t know they are gay, then they are a-okay!

3.  Hello, you may not have noticed this, but Barack is NOT WHITE!  Doesn’t he know that this is AMERICA and that means you have to be WHITE to RULE?!?!!?!  Let’s look back on GW Bush – HE, a good ol’ boy, helped our country by taking our deficit to the highest point in generations.  HE started the $700billion bail out plan!  Now THAT is leadership!  And THAT is AMERICAN!

4.  The whole health care mess.  I mean people, the insurance agencies know how to run things – why does Obama want to go and change it?  I mean seriously – my insurance won’t cover my kid’s immunizations and I am paying $500+ a month for coverage.  THAT is the American way people – shove that whole “change” idea!  Let the health insurance companies keep their monopoly exemption!

5.  Remember that Christmas Day terrorist attempt where the guy tried to blow up the airplane?  How DARE Obama say our lives are safe under his watch!  He is WEAK in this area because, hey, that man almost succeeded!  He should be ASHAMED that he allowed that to happen!  Because, Lord knows, Americans never have been attacked on our own soil, right President Bush?  YOU would never let that happen…….

Taken from http://wsr.byu.edu/content/warning-signs-emotional-abuse – my comments in parathesis

Emotional abuse is characterized by the abuser’s manipulation and invalidation of his or her partner. Here is a list of warning signs to be aware of.

Abusive Expectations

• Makes unreasonable demands
• Requires constant attention, or that you spend all your free time with him/her.
• Constantly criticizes.
• No matter how much you give, it never seems to be enough. (and don’t expect a Christmas present, either)

Aggressing

• Calls you names, accuses, blames, threatens, or gives orders.
• Can be disguised as “helping” or “teaching.”
• Judgmental “I know best” attitude. (and no one else knows anything and is the problem)

Constant Chaos

• Deliberately starts arguments and may be in constant conflict with you or with others
• Treats you well in front of others, but changes into a different person when you’re alone together, or vice versa.
• May enjoy “drama,” because it creates excitement and brings the focus back onto him/herself.

Denying

• Denies your personal needs, especially when that need is greatest, and does so with the intent of hurting, punishing, or humiliating you.  (Ask yourself, when you just got home from being at work 12 hours and your spouse has been home for 4 hours while your mom has watched the children- should you have to make dinner and cater to him?)
• Denies that certain events occurred or that certain things were said.
• Refuses to listen or communicate (silent treatment), and withdraws emotionally. (especially with family members)
  
• Denies your perceptions, memory, and sanity.
• Disallows or overrules any viewpoints, perceptions, or feelings that differ from his/her own.
• Causes you to lose confidence in and question your own perceptions and feelings.
• Causes you to doubt your most powerful survival tool: your own mind.

Dominating

• Manipulates the relationship so that the only feelings and opinions that count are his/her own.
• Must have his/her own way, and will hurt your feelings if necessary in order to get it.
• Holds you personally responsible for his/her own happiness.
• Disregards your personal standards or beliefs, and may try to persuade you to do things that you don’t want to do.

Emotional Blackmail

• Plays on your fear, guilt, compassion, religious values, or other “hot buttons” to get what he/she wants.
• May threaten to end the relationship, totally reject or abandon you, give you the “cold shoulder,” or use other tactics to control you.

Invalidation

• Seeks to distort your perceptions of your own world.
• Refuses to or fails to acknowledge reality in order to create his/her own false reality.
• If you tell your partner that you felt hurt by something he/she did or said, he/she might say, “You’re too sensitive. That shouldn’t hurt you.”
• Or, the abuser might turn it around by saying, “You hurt me too sometimes. I just don’t say anything because I’m understanding.”
• Suggests that your emotions and perceptions are faulty and can’t be trusted.
• Any time your own feelings are disregarded or denied, invalidation has occurred.

Minimizing

• Less extreme form of denial.
• Says things like “You’re exaggerating” or “You’re making a big deal out of nothing.”
• Trivializes by suggesting that something you have communicated is inconsequential or unimportant.

Unpredictable Responses

• Acts angry or upset in a situation that normally would not warrant such a response, or gets angry certain times but not others.
• Blows up or gets angry at you over innocent comments you made.
• You feel like you have to “walk on eggshells” around him/her.
• Has drastic mood changes or sudden emotional outbursts.
• Likes something you do one day, but hates it the next.

Verbal Assaults

• Berates, belittles, criticizes, threatens, or calls you names.
• Subtle to blatant use of sarcasm and humiliation.
• Constantly finds flaws with you.
• Makes fun of you in front of others, or in private.