Where have I been? I've been hooked on watching Lakisha!

I never watched American Idol in the past. What little I know about it, I caught in commercials, on the news, in the paper, or around the water cooler. Well, that was BEFORE LAKISHA. I have been so hooked on watching Lakisha that my whole week has revolved around Tuesday and Wednesday nights. I can't tell you what a letdown Thursday nights are--boring!

Well, it all ended for me this Wednesday night--boo hoo! I cried my eyes out with Lakisha. What soul that girl has. What a trouper! Her voice was hoarse, but she carried on with it--singing her swan song "Stayin' Alive!"

I'm from the Flint area, so you can imagine what Lakisha has meant to us in this area. She's special and just because she didn't get the votes to stay on the show doesn't mean she's not a winner in our eyes...in my eyes. She has such a great attitude, that there is a higher power in all of this hoopla and things are meant to be the way they are.

Anyway, to the punch line. My coworker, Donna, and I were interviewed by Corey Williams, Associated Press, on Thursday at lunch in the University Pavilion. Here is a link to his article "LaKisha source of pride for Flint despite Idol exit"
http://www.examiner.com/a-720984~LaKisha_source_of_pride_for_Flint_despite_Idol_exit.html

My husband gave me heck for mentioning him during the interview (ahhh, life is good):

"I followed her every week," said Debi Rowden, 55, of Davison. "It was all about LaKisha. Her singing makes me cry. She was hope and faith for the Flint area. Even my husband was watching it."

Here's Donna part:

Donna Jacobson, 44, of Flushing acknowledges it was tough the last three weeks.
"She's got a strong voice, but when she tries to hit the high, long notes she does yell," Jacobson said. "Whatever happens, she has to feel good about herself, especially being a single mom."

Well, if there was ever any doubt that I am going to any and all events in Flint to see Lakisha, this is the final catalyst that will ensure that I will be there. I'm going to print out the article and try to get Lakisha to sign it and then I'm going to frame it and hang it in my office (at UM-Flint). My favorite Lakisha look was the "Diamonds are Forever" performance. Oooo-la-la! That was hot! Even though Simon thought the song and the look was too old for Lakisha, I loved it.

My favorite song was when Kisha sang "I Have Nothing". I am a Whitney Houston fan and I thought Lakisha looked beautiful again.

I thought Lakisha's personality shined through on the Bon Jovi song "This Ain't a Love Song". She looked awesome, her singing was straight from the heart, she seemed happy, and she laid one on Simon!

Well, as you can tell, I am pretty much a Lakisha fan. And it's not all because she's our hometown girl, Flint's Rose!