Holly_Morris's Blog

The list below made me feel old... but at the same time, it provoked a lot of  fun discussion among the people I shared it with. So read it and let me know what you think.!

By the way.. the thing I miss the most that is not on the list... Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific  Shampoo!!! 

Here are the top 25 things (according to Walletpop.com) that we wish would make a comeback...see if any of them are what you miss the most!

25.) Grape Nehi Soda

24.) H&G Magazine

23.) Use of vowels

22.) Lard in pastry

21.) Howard Johnson's

20.) Vent windows in cars

19.) Screaming Yellow Zonkers

18.) Train Travel

17.) New Harry Potter Books

16.) Chromed Metal

15.) Gelatin Salad

14.) Drive In Theaters

13.) Gas Attendants (they still exist in New Jersey & Oregon)

12.) Milkshakes with milk

11.) 45 rpm records

10.) McDonald's Fried Pie

 9.) Cursive writing

8.) Full size spare tires

7.) Day games during baseball playoffs

6.) Phone booths

5.) Pleasurable air travel

4.) Hydrox cookies

3.) Easy to open packaging

2.) In store lunch counters

1.) THE FAR SIDE by Gary Larsen!

The title of my blog caused you to look... didn't it?!

This past weekend, I was one of the millions who went to see the "Sex & the City" movie. (Let me go ahead and insert a special thanks to my husband who went along with me to view this very apparent chick flick!)

So... did I like it? ABSOLUTELY!

I loved the movie for what it was... two plus hours of entertainment. It was simply more of the story with characters I enjoyed (and shoes I would kill for :0)  

However, I will also say this. You did not have to watch the series to go see and enjoy the movie. Why? Because during the movie, I laughed, I cried, and, most importantly, I walked away grateful for the girlfriends I have. So much so, I went home and emailed my closest group of girlfriends from college and told them how thankful that movie made me for them.

My wish for women everywhere, is that they get to experience and treasure the gift that good girlfriends truly are.  

Remember when flying used to be somewhat of a luxurious experience... even in coach? I know, it's hard to remember back that far. Well, there is going to be yet another amenity stopped.

Check out the article below and then vent!

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Fliers, let go of the pretzels and peanuts. In what could be the ultimate cost-cutting move by airlines buffeted by sky-high fuel prices, US Airways Group says it will eliminate free snacks in coach class on all its domestic flights starting June 1. US Airways also says it has matched last week's fare hikes by United Airlines, AMR Corp.'s American Airlines and Delta Air Lines Inc. The increases are from $10 to $60 per round trip and vary based on the length of the flight. US Airways spokesman Morgan Durrant says the move to cut free snacks was needed to save money in a time of extremely high fuel costs. The price of jet fuel has soared this year with crude oil prices in the $130-per-barrel range. The airline is still providing complimentary soft drinks.

Still providing complimentary soft drinks.... for now! What's next? They start charging for using the overhead bin space? Seriously, what would they have to cut to make you stop flying?? Or are you already there?

LA is buzzing .... it's game one of the Lakers - Spurs series at the Staples Center. Meanwhile, directly across the street at the Nokia Theater... a new American Idol is about to be crowned!!! Gridlock aside..  is there any better place on the face of this Earth to be??

I can honestly tell you that I can't remember the last time there was this much excitement surrounding a final. And that's probably because, we literally do not know who is going to win. I know Archuleta brought the house down last night and if you base it on Tuesday night's performances alone, he should and would win. But that's the thing.... American Idol voting is way more convaluted than that.

Vegas odds did a 180 between yesterday and today. Tuesday... Cook was the overwhelming favorite. Wednesday... David A. is the odds on favorite by a pretty good margin. And I will tell you, most people we talked to out here today said little David should take the title.

But Dial-Idol.com (the website that measures busy signals) says Cook will win hands down. Plus there is conspiracy talk that because Simon was so harsh against Cook, fans went out of their way to vote multiple times. Plus, one other article I read said... Cook will win because Idol needs him to win... because he will sell records more than Archuleta and Idol needs a bonafide star to win (ie not another Taylor Hicks)

So what do you think?

Also... I got word on finale stars performing tonight.... George Michael, Seal, Mike Myers, Carrie Underwood, Bryan Adams, ZZ top, the Jonas Brothers, Jordin Sparks.... just to name a few.

Who would you like to see perform tonight? The all time best for me, remains to be Prince during the Season 5 finale. In my opinion, that would be hard to top.

The Tuesday idol buzz here in LA is all about the pressure. Word is both Davids are feeling not just a little, but a lot overwhelmed.

They are going non-stop working 15-16 hours a day. They have to learn 3 songs for tonight's competition. But in addition to that, they have to learn 5 or 6 more (complete with choreography) for tomorrow night's finale. Not to mention, the interviews, photo shoots, style consultations, etc.

We haven't had access to either David, but we did see quite a few of the other top 12 finalists yesterday. We caught them in between rehearsals and they too looked VERY tired (and they all said they were). They also, however, said the finale is going to be off the hook! And that we should expect some really great surprises!!! Right now we do know that Carrie Underwood and the Jonas Brothers will be performing.

But before we get to tomorrow's hoopla, we have to get through tonight's showdown. We know that David Archaletta (nicknamed out here "Archie" to distinguish between the two) will be singing "Imagine" and that David Cook will be singing U2's "I still haven't found what I'm looking for". The other 2 songs each will sing... still a secret!  We also know that Ruben Studdard is going to perform tonight "Celebrate Me Home".

The word on who will win? The standing joke... "it will definitely be David". But according to my sources, the early lead goes to Cook. Apparently, his fan base is strong with 52 percent of this years viewers being 35 and older (Cook's demographic). Archie, however, is huge with the teens and tweens and those are the ones who vote early and often! In other words, never underestimate the power of fast and furious texting.

Since it probably really is too close to call... most are saying it truly will come down to their performances tonight... which how exciting is that?! We haven't had a close finale since season 2... the last battle of the boys, Ruben and Clay. So maybe the final showdown alone, will set Idol's ratings soaring once again?  

Greetings from La-la land!!! Here we are again, in Los Angeles for yet another American Idol finale. Can you believe we are seven seasons in? Time flies when you are making stars I guess?!

The finales is such an interesting thing. It truly is a reunion of sorts. Many of the idol finalists from years past come back out to let us know they are still out there seeking fame and fortune. It's good to see that some have matured and are indeed making it in some way, shape, or form. Others, however (to be totally honest with you) are a little pathetic. They are doing their best to continue to ride that idol wave and you just want to say.. "you tried,  it's over, now go home."

It is also a reunion of Fox reporters. Reporters from Fox stations from across the nation converge on LA for the finals. Only a few of us have been here for every season. When we see each other, we laugh, hug, and then say "can you believe we are still doing this?" One interesting note about the number of stations here this year. Last year 40 stations sent crews. This year only 27 stations are coming. Hmmm.... what does that say?

No matter what, the fact is, on average, 27 million people watched American Idol each week this season. That's a lot of fans! And a lot of people interested in seeing whether David Cook or David Archaletta take home the crown this week. American Idol is a cultural phenomenon that cannot be denied and we love being in the middle of the mix!

I found this story on the wires this morning and found myself wanting to do something to challenge a stereotype (and/or drink a beer)! 

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Don't call this brewmaster, "Mister." Tonya Cornett is the first woman to win the brewmaster award at the World Beer Cup sponsored by the Brewers Association. She says she lost her voice so she couldn't scream, but the tears were flowing. Cornett is a brewer at Oregon's Bend Brewing Company. She says she still runs into the stereotype of a brewmaster being a bearded guy. She adds at a recent trade show no one would take her seriously. But Cornett hopes her brewmaster award will inspire more young women to think of beer-making as a career.

So if you could do one thing that is traditionally done by the opposite sex... what would it be?

So I found this story on the news wires this morning. Read it... and then I have a question for you...

SEDONA, Ariz. (AP) -- John Mosley might have to buy some hiking shorts. Deputies in Arizona charge he was hiking in the buff. Authorities say Mosley told them he didn't think it was illegal to hike naked in a public forest. Deputies report two women complained, saying they were confronted by a naked man, who offered to snap their pictures. Mosley, who's from St. George, Utah, is now charged with indecent exposure. Authorities say they're looking for people who might have encountered the naked man.

Here is my question.... if a naked man walked up to you offering to take a picture. Would you let him take the picture OR would you ask him to be in the picture?  LOL!!!! 

I spent the morning with 8 young girls who were beyond words excited that tonight they are going to see Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus in concert at the Verizon Center.

For many, it is their first live concert ever! They, of course, were all decked out in their teen rockstar wear and knew every word to every song that we played and thus, in turn, sang.

I have to admit, it was too cute and made me think back to my first live concert.

Are you ready?

It was Shaun Cassidy!!!!!!!! (Don't be jealous) I saw him at Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, Ohio. My sister and I both had satin Shaun Cassidy jackets complete with his face airbrushed on the back!!!! (again, don't be jealous).

I so vividly remember him coming out on stage.... and the pure excitement I felt. It was one of my favorite childhood memories!

I hope everyone going tonight has the same experience I did at my first live concert. Rock it out girls!

Now, having said all that....Do you remember your first live concert? Who was it and what do you remember most about it?  

I haven't blogged in a little while... okay, a long while. I promise to be better in the new year!! (Or so I tell myself) And speaking of New Year's resolutions, is one of yours to get fit?

If so, you know you are not alone. Losing weight and/or getting healthier is the number one New Year's resolution. (which is why the gyms are jammed in January). Similarly, however, losing weight and/or getting healthier is the number one resolution that is broken, say.... come February!

So how do you you really begin and, furthermore, follow through with this goal?

This morning, I posed that very question to the staff at the newest location of Results Gym in northwest D.C. And their answer....

ANY EXERCISE IS BETTER THAN NO EXERCISE!!

Let that sink in a minute. Time is an excuse we can and do all use. Either we don't think we have enough or the amount we think is required to make a difference seems like too much. We get overwhelmed with trying to fit it in and/or trying to do an amount that is unrealistic for our level.

In other words... if you can only exercise for 5 minutes (5 minutes of running in place or 5 minutes of toning exercises), then do the 5 minutes. It may not seem like a lot, but 5 minutes is better than no minutes. On another day, you might be able to take a walk for 20 minutes. The point is... make activity (ANY amount... no matter how small) a habit.

It will pay off. And before you know it... you might just find those pants fitting a little looser or your energy level a little higher.

To look at it another way. I am currently training to run a marathon. Now a marathon is 26.2 miles. That is very far! And for me... overwhelming in terms of thinking of the race and distance in its entirety. What I do instead is think of running 2 miles at a time. For me, very doable physically and mentally. Thus, when I run the marathon, I will simply run 2 miles... 13 times.

Give it a try and, who knows, come 2009... you just might have to come up with a different new year's resolution!

Okay... so today we had our first brush with winter weather. Snow fell from the skies, not a lot, but enough to make it feel like the holidays AND enough to apparently bring the city to a halt???

This morning it took my crew and me two hours to get from Fairfax back to the station in Upper Northwest. (9;30am to 11:30am... not even rush hour!) The roads weren't slick... they were wet. Salt trucks were out.

I JUST DON'T GET IT!!!!!!!

It's not like snow is a rarity here. We get some... not a lot mind you... but some every year! So I ask you... Why is snow so paralyzing in the nation's capital?