Ika 21 ng Mayo 2009: Intense

It's past midnight and I just finished watching the delayed telecast of the grand showdown of American Idol over Star World..... And borrowing from Randy, dude it was intense! Adam started the show with his own take on the much raved about "Mad World". Kris sang his signature, "Ain't No Sunshine when She's Gone". The second round had Adam singing "A Change Is Gonna Come" while Kris sang Marvin Gaye's classic "What's Goin' On", one of my favorite songs......oooops, I just gave my age away. Third round had both Adam and Kris singing a song co-written by Kara Dioguardi, "No Boundaries". I saw the rest of the top 13 in the audience. I think I also saw Katie Holmes watching. Carrie Underwood performed "Home Sweet Home" as the closing song, also this season's going home song.



Adam have always kept the judges in awe...... bias is in his favor. Even if I don't appreciate his music and would unlikely buy his record as it can give me a migraine from all his shrieking, I know he is an excellent performer. Kris, with the subtlety of his performance is the clear underdog. In last night's competition, Adam won..... two rounds to one. A vote for Adam is to defy convention, the norm..... If ever he wins, he is the first American Idol to transcend gender, genre, traditions. A vote for Kris is a vote from the heart....... Here is your good-natured boy next door who married his long-time sweetheart, a former homecoming queen; his parent's pride and is his hometown's latest celebrity. The night they sang Michael Jackson, he helped his co-finalists in singing their chosen songs. During the audition, Simon Cowell was quoted as saying that Kris's humility is turning him off. I don't know about Americans but people generally like rooting for the underdog.....a come from behind win is just what we all look forward to. Add to that, Allison's votes are most likely going to Adam while Danny Gokey's would naturally go to Kris and Danny had the greater votes. I also believe and I maybe wrong that there are fewer rocker-voters. Like most people, Adam would be disadvantaged to this blogger because I am voting with my heart.

The intensity of last night had also so much to do with our Enchanted Kingdom adventure. I was trying to recall the last time we were there and that was more than ten years ago, a few months after EK opened in 1995. I had just two daughters then...... Now a welcome addition, MS, actually made us tag along..... it was his school activity after all.

There were lots of new rides...... In our first trip, the log jam was 'the ride' for me and my young daughters..... I think MD was not even permitted in that ride.

4D Discovery Theater, which is part of MS school package, was the first destination. Seats were limited. After waiting for about three batches to finish watching the mini version of the film, "Journey to the Center of the Earth", we finally got in.... The experience got us pleasantly surprised, jagged, jerked, blown away, wet, exposed...... it's neat.....cool....

Rio Grande Rapids, the park's largest attraction, is a wet-and-wild adventure that's guaranteed to make you come back for more. It was a bad choice for a first ride as we were soaking wet emerging from this experience. To dry up, we rode the Flying Fiesta, as suggested by ED, to somehow dry us up......

We tried some other rides and took a break for a bite. MS was rushing us and we had to explain to him that we need not go with his teachers and classmates anymore as we brought our car. That pacified him.

I won't be describing the other rides anymore. But I'd like to especially talk about Anchor Away. Seeing the excitement of people riding it, we were drawn into it although MS would not want to go with us. We actually forced him. I sat opposite the kids to have a vantage point in taking their photos. It started well..... but as it moved up and down repeatedly getting higher and higher, I began feeling woozy.... my stomach was turning..... and our spirits seemed to separate from our body as described by MD later. I was worried about MS who seemed to be grimacing, I kept shouting for him to hold his head high while motioning to ED to look after him. It was a relief when the swinging was done. Let me tell you now this ride is not a good idea after eating....

We were winding down and chose the Log Jam as one of our final rides..... It was way too easy compared to the Anchor Away. To think we were all so excited we had the first time we tried this ride more than ten years ago. As a final ride, we had to go back to Rio Grande expecting to get wet. But we made our plan...... change of clothing after this ride..... and go home to catch the replay of American Idol finals.

I was tired..... but here I am renewed and happy......but also lazy........quite unsure if I am ready to face my day today..... While taking my shower this morning, what do you know..... American Idol's live results night is being shown over Star World..... That's it..... I decided to extend my break just a little bit this morning as I just have to see who wins.......

After more than a hundred million votes, it's underdog, Kris Allen, who is this season's American Idol......


Related Posts:
Revolutions and American Idol
American Idol Upset
Allen throws a wrench into expected 'Idol' outcome
Underdog Wins American Idol Title

PS: Dahil sa pagod, di ko nagising ang panganay kong anak na dapat kasama sa medical mission ng organisasyon nila sa isang urban poor na lugar dito sa Kamaynilaan. Yan pa naman ang kailangan niyang mga gawain para lumawak ang kanyang karanasan sa napiling kurso. Kasabay non ay ang pagmumulat sa kanya sa mga responsibilidad niya bilang isang mabuting mamamayan ng mundong ito.... sayang ang pagkakataon.....