I should be more empathetic to the contestant's sob stories but instead I feel slightly used. I choke up very easily anyway and don't like it when it's used frivolously. I get very upset with myself when I cry at stupid commercials. So the stories of childhood hunger (ok that one's legit), the closeness with grandma (big deal), stints in juvi hall (boo hoo), struggling families (who doesn't), childhood illness (ok that one's legit too), just tug at my heart strings and it irritates me when it's for something that seems soppy. It sounds like I'm heartless but it's just the opposite - I'm a total sucker. There's some manipulative element to some of the featured stories, which makes me want to make fun. I'm so complicated and deep...

So we didn't hear too much from the judges on Tuesday night. Ellen made a couple of good funnies, but overall the show was uneventful. Seemed like they were rushing through. There were a couple of high spots:

Andrew with the cap - loved it - reminiscent of folksy stuff from the 70's. My generation...

Janelle Wheeler - wonderful voice and something snazzy about her.

Vanessa Wolfe - country girl "going on a air-o-plane, now she's going back to Tennessee.

Janell Wheeler - liked her a lot

Haeley Vaughn - not so much

Mary Powers- strong voice, big hopes, don't count your chickens yet

Jay Stone- horrible, don't spit into the microphone

Lily Scott- maybe, great voice

Michael Lynche - can't see him going through all the way; good luck with the baby thing. That's one of those soppy stories that piss me off.

Tim Urban - not so good. bad hair cut

Jersey sisters- partay girls are going back to Jersey

Maddy Curtis- awful song

Casey James - good singer, like the blues ; cute boy but I just can't stand the long hair whiskery look. Clean up and the girls will love ya

Did Benami - loved the song, loved her voice. If she's tough enough, she could go to the final.

Crystal Bowersox - another winner. Honey forget getting more tattoos; you're powerful; another finalist, I predict. And I'm a sucker for the baby once again.

Wednesday night's coming up soon. Snacks for tonight: dark bittersweet chocolate and some giant strawberries. We live big around here.