American Idol 5' finalist Kevin Covais dumped girlfriend to land votes

I guess his plan didn't quite work out for him...goodbye Chicken Little!

By Steve Rogers, 03/14/2006 Demonstrating that even American Idol's youngest competitors will apparently do whatever they can to land additional votes from home viewers, 16-year-old American Idol 5 finalist Kevin Covais reportedly broke up with his 15-year-old girlfriend in an attempt make himself more appealing to the program's young female viewers.

"He's my best friend still," Victoria Fairclough, Kevin's former high school sweetheart, told AOL's TMZ.com website in an interview published Monday afternoon. "We'll remain friends." Despite the break up, Victoria says the pair still talk several times each day.

According to Victoria's comments to TMZ.com, the pair broke up after agreeing that Kevin would "gain more popularity if his fans knew he was single."

Presumably consistent with the break up plan, Victoria told the website that she isn't sure if the pair will ever get back together. Although she won't be eligible to tryout and prove it to American Idol viewers for another two years, Victoria also told TMZ.com that she actually considers herself to be a better singer than Kevin. Before he tried out for Idol, Victoria beat Kevin when they went both competed in two local talent competitions. "He was upset that I won," she said about her victory in their Island Trees High School's "I.T. Idol" competition. "But he was still happy for me. He was proud of me."

Don't bite the hand (or paw)...

If you haven't seen this before, it's pretty funny:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cSRpu7bI04&feature=Favorites&page=1&t=t&f=b

A prayer of St. Theresa of Avila

One of my dearest friends recently sent this to me...

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you...
May you be content knowing you are a child of God...
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
~ A prayer of St. Theresa of Avila

I hope it's as refreshing and helpful for you as it has been for me.

confrontation...yikes!

Instead of a big throw down party for the Big 3-0, I decided to celebrate by taking the day off on Friday. So, a day at the spa followed by a nap, and time to bum around the house was the ultimate treat.

The only problem was the massage. When I scheduled it, they asked what comfort level I wanted. I asked for light-moderate. Well, I'm scared to think what her deep tissue massage is like. I think she somehow bruised my lung, kidney, and spleen...my back muscles are still sore!

The whole time I'm thinking, "You've got nothing to prove to me woman...yes, you're strong!" So, I'm cringing in pain, but still don't say anything...why is that? It's like the hairdresser I keep going back to, but can't bear to tell her that I wish she would cut my hair a little different.

There's a goal for my '30s..get assertive with confrontation!

30 and proud!

Like everyone said it would...Wednesday was just another day. A good day, but not much different than any others. Only difference is that I'm now 30!

I received several phone calls from concerned family and friends making sure I was OK. I guess my blogging about turning 30 has communicated that I had a sense of dread. I tried to reassure everyone that my emotional state is fine, I'm just weirded out by the whole idea.

But the day was great. When I woke up that morning, it was pretty surreal, though. It sounds so self-absorbed, but I was brushing my teeth staring in the mirror thinking, "How can I be 30?" It doesn't seem possible.

It was definitely a great day (actually a great week as I got to celebrate several times this week). I'm surrounded by lots of wonderful family and friends...what more could you ask for?

And as most people that make the change, I did a lot of self-reflecting and realized it ain't so bad! Over the past year or so, I've become much more content with who I am, what I believe, what makes me happy, and as a co-worker said "comfortable in my own skin."

It is exciting to think what lies ahead in the next decade. At least I have a few more years before I have to start the countdown to 40! :)

Series on the Big 3-0

Aunt B sent me the link below to a series that a CA columnist wrote over several weeks before she turned 30. It's pretty good. She decided to spend the last few weeks of her 20s doing different things she was either scared of or had never attempted. Hmmm. Not sure if I'm that adventurous, but "tossing pizza dough" and "making tiramisu" are both on my never done list. I'll have to come up with some of my own before I turn 31. :)

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/13517860.htm

James Blunt

I'm rarely an early adapter, so this is probably a little behind the times, but I just caught up on my Tivoed Oprah episodes from last week. One of the musical guests was James Blunt, who sings "Beautiful," which is all over the radio. For something that's already overplayed, it's still such a sweet song, and his other songs are just as good. He looks like Steve Nash (who used to play for the Dallas Mavericks). So cute in that odd, British, dry wit, long hair way.

http://www.jamesblunt.com/

Sarcasm

I'm learning quickly that sometimes my sarcasm or tongue-in-cheek phrases don't carry over well in a blog posting.

When talking to Wade about my last blog, he said he was surprised with my description of judging social classes. What??!! (in horror)

I'm realizing that I didn't quite communicate what I meant by the melting pot of jury duty. More than anything, it's a discredit to the sheltered life I live in. I find myself surrounded by people just like me...why is it that people unlike us make us uncomfortable?

Hopefully it makes sense.

Jury Duty

Ahhh, Jury Duty. What a funny thing. This was only my second time in 29+ years to receive the dreaded jury summons. The first time was several years ago in Dallas County. I was in and out of there within 2 hours. Things didn't go that easy at the Tarrant County Courthouse today.

Jury Duty is funny to me, kind of like going to the DMV. Those are two of the few times in life you're really thrown into a melting pot. Most of my life is typically surrounded by people like me. I don't do it on purpose, but I live in suburbia USA, work with well-educated peers, and have family and friends all living their middle-class dreams. :)

So as someone who's an avid people-watcher, a social situation like Jury Duty is pretty entertaining to me. No major drama with the folks around me except for the chair neighbor that talks your ear off and the 30+ people who try to convince the judge they need to be excused.

The really funny part of Jury Duty is the inner battle of wanting to get out of there as soon as you can to get on with your life and at the same time, feeling patriotic and somewhat intrigued with the idea of being on a jury. How American can you get?

When they started calling juror names for the first few courts, I found myself feeling a little rejected when my name wasn't on the list. They don't want me? Why not, I'd be a good juror!

After about an hour or so, I was realizing that it was a good thing, because then I could go back to the office and get caught up at work. So, it was time for the last list...alas "Kelly....(long pause) Steerrrzzzuuuuuneck?" is called. So they do want me after all!

Then I realized they were calling lots of names. I'm thinking to myself this must be a really controversial court case and they need lots of potential jurors...how exciting. Not quite. In fact, it wasn't exciting at all.

I was selected for the "alternate jury." We all got to wait around at the courthouse from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. as potential alternates in case they needed more jurors. Good times!

As annoyed as I was the entire time, I had to keep reminding myself that a jury of your peers is an incredible freedom. It is a privilege for me to hang out at the courthouse ALL day.

Family Shame Continues

It started when I was the first grandchild to break tradition (2 grandparents, 1 parent, 1 aunt, 1 uncle, 3 cousins...no pressure!) and go to a non-University of California university by going to school in Abilene, TX (go ACU Wildcats).

Now I seem to have made it worse by not knowing about the leader of the Free Speech movement (see family comments from prior blog). Yikes...the family shame continues!

Thanks for the clarification y'all! :)