This morning on my way to work I'm listening to the Tom Joyner Morning Show and was saddened to hear Eddie Levert (from the OJays) 39 year old son Sean died last night.  He was just taken into custody last week in Cuyahoga County, OH for back child support payments.  Not even 2 years ago Gerald Levert died at 40.  Eddie Levert has outlived both of his sons.  I've had "Casanova" singing in my head all day!

RIP Sean and condolences to the family.

I just got back earlier this week from my hometown of Detroit!  It still has my heart!  I love that city!

Well I spent a little over 2 weeks there.  The first weekend was my husband's family reunion, 2nd weekend was a trip to Grand Rapids to visit my sister, and the 3rd weekend was my 20 year high school reunion!!!!  Cass Tech's class of 1987 still knows how to party and I loved every bit of it, but realized that I am getting old and wiser. 

The first night of the class reunion I was out until 3 in the morning and besides my feet burning from being in heels for 7 hours, which included dancing to the music from my era plus doing the "Cupid Shuffle," I had a splendid time!  Photo above of my husband and I on the Detroit Princess - a dinner cruise party boat.

The second day we went to the Detroit Historical Museum to view the CT Centennial Exhibit.  Cass Tech alumni has included Lily Tomlin, Diana Ross, David Alan Grier, Ellen Burnstyn, Miss USA 1990 Carole Gist (in my class), and 1993 winner Kenya Moore, 2003 America's Next Top Model Naima Mora, Jazz Trumpeteer Donald Byrd, Fashion Designer Kevan Hall (brother of actor Vondie Curtis-Hall) and many others.

That night we partied but it was at a club owned by one of our classmates so it was open to anyone 21 & over after 10pm and as I watched the youngins walk in to party I wanted to tell some of them to put some clothes on.  I'm a bit old-fashioned and believe that many young ladies don't leave enough to the imagination.

Sunday was the picnic and I had to tell the caterer to put a couple of hot dogs back on the grill because I like mine a little burnt.  I enjoyed having my 2 daughters there and seeing my classmates' children playing and enjoying spending time on Belle Isle.

The best part about the reunion was that we're all grown up now, out of the cliques, and relaxed with each other. 

He did it last night before her second song and he did it once when he was on the streets asking the public who were their favorites.  Ryan come on, her name is Melinda.  Seacrest, out!

I want a Top 3 Female American Idol next week!  This is final four week and Blake or LaKisha will be getting the ax tonight.  No doubt!  Blake was crappy last night with both songs and I thought LaKisha was better the second time.  One DJ this morning said that everything LaKisha sings sounds gospel.  I'm waiting for her to sing anything by Yolanda Adams or Martha Munizzi but oh well, that won't be a category.  Perhaps she'll have a gospel hit CD if she chooses.  Blake well I like him just as much as I like LaKisha.  He just needs to realize there is a time for beat-boxing and then other times he needs to lay off of it.

I believe Melinda or Jordin will win this year.  It's going to be a tight race!

Last night's episode was so good!  Luka and Abby finally got married.  Abby seemed pissed at first because Luka tried to surprise her with a wedding that she didn't have to plan.  He with help from 2 doctor colleagues/wedding planners/Hope and Morris have everything in place.  The only thing Abby needs to do is get dressed.  She's at first a little upset that she didn't get to plan her wedding.  Luka being romantic thought she has enough stress why not just do it.  Eventually she decides this is the right time and they marry.

Then we get to the sad part.  Ray is in love with his former roommate and colleague Neela.  Neela's husband, Michael Gallant, was killed last year while serving in the war.  Neela first rushed into a relationship with Dr. Gates.  He's a jerk.  Neela finally figures this out and decides she wants to be with Ray.  Too bad, so sad but it's too late.  After a drunken Ray got thrown out of the wedding reception for fighting Gates, he went to a bar and had more liquor for dessert.  He left the bar, crossed the street, saw that he missed Neela's call on his cell phone, was about to check the voicemail when the phone dropped.  He reached down, picked it up and as he stood up he met the front of a truck.  Neela will probably be scared to ever love again.

Inspirational night was excellent.  It was needed after last week's 3 tragedies - VA Tech, NASA, Blue Angel's Air Show Crash.  I'm looking forward to tonight's "Idol Gives Back" special. It was touching to see the judges and Ryan out and about.  The best was a humbled Simon.

Melinda and Jordin are the best in this competition.  Phenomenal voices!

My bottom 3 picks for this week

LaKisha - I think she has a fabulous voice.  I don't understand though why she picked songs by back-to-back Idol winners 2 weeks in a row.  I don't think she screamed (as Simon said) "I Believe" any more than Fantasia does.  It's one of my favorites and I play that song a lot to this day.  But of course she's going to be compared to the former Idols.

Blake - I loved his Imagine but his voice did crack a little.  Plus he was in the bottom three last week.

Chris/Phil - Could go either way because there has to be a bottom three.  In all of these weeks I never would have thought LaKisha had a greater chance of going home before these two.