Well, I’m deciding to start the day by looking for silver linings. It’s amazing how many can actually be found when you start looking. Too bad it’s not more difficult to always see the clouds. Here’s a short random list showing just how diverse the clouds can be:

• This morning was a little crazy in that I had to take my dog to the vet at 7 a.m. It was extra chaos and work to meet everyone’s needs.
  I can say I’m not just ready but well into my day only an hour and a half later.
• My photoshop software stopped working after my daughter’s Disney digital camera software was installed.
  I actually found the program CD with ease, am SO grateful the photo files are not stored with the program files that need removed/replaced and my daughter loves her new camera. (Ha! triple header!)
• Sanjaya is still on American Idol; a sad display of things gone wrong and long term I believe it could be a very bad/damaging reflection on the kid in the near future.
  I can still have an opinion/vote and while he may be burning his “15 minutes of fame” at least he’s getting it full throttle.
• Unexpected bills and expenses always come up and rob me of my positive thoughts on all things financial.
  Yesterday my bank account received the state portion of our tax refund.

So there’s always a way to achieve balance, I just find it requires a little effort on my part. American Idol is a silly example, yet it perfectly shows the process too. Take Chris being sent home last year. It was his competition to win, but the silver lining for him in my opinion is that by not winning he wasn’t restricted by AI schedules, mandates and control. He was able to determine his own path so maybe it was a blessing in disguise. All of the top four finalists from last season have successful albums out now and careers started. That’s awesome when you take into account that the only name most of us know from earlier seasons is the top one or two. It also bodes well for the negative impact of one Sanjaya restoring balance and keeping more attention on true success.

And while we’re on the topic of the top two - four here’s my hope (you can skip to the end if you’re not into AI), I hope the two who go head to head are Jordin and Blake because I think it would be an awesome finale. I’d like to see Melinda and Chris make it to the top four. I think Melinda is comparable to last year’s Elliot who by talent alone has what it takes to deserve the crown. Blake has that unique style that adds variety and fun like Taylor did last year but he’s stepped it up a notch. Chris, brings us the Chris element with a Timberlake twist and Jordin just plain has the entire package - she was made for the AI experience like Carrie Underwood. The wild card is truly wild and that’s just sad. I almost wish the kid would drop out in recognition of the joke his status is becoming, in the meantime I just keep praying that justice will come sooner rather than later for him. I knew Chris S. was going home last night because the timing/beat issue is huge, recurring and it really hurt him. Watching him try to step in time is like the hazy memory I have of watching the friend of “Footloose” try to learn rhythm- painful. I still voted for him because he’s brought a much needed balance with his personality and I wanted so much to see the deserving Sanjaya go home. Phil, Gina and Haley are all on shaky ground even though last week I think Phil and Gina were two of the top three performances but I’ll keep pulling for them to go AFTER Sanjaya. The one I’m really sad about being kicked out while he is left is Sabrina. I really think she was and is a top contender and absolutely should still be on that stage compared to him. Oh well. American Idol is full of silver linings because no matter what happens, the chances, attention and fame are full of possibilities for all those who qualify for its limelight.

What silver linings are you finding among your clouds?

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