OK, I was so excited when Scotty won American Idol, I was for him the first time I saw him perform what a voice and the fact he is only 17 is amazing to me.

So, this is my Reality Check Post:

Real Housewivs of NJ came back a few weeks ago, and I thought I would not like the (2) new ones, but Melissa and Cathy so far are wonderful and it does not make Teresa look good, I wish Jacqueline and Caroline could see how she acted at the Christianing and how here husband acted before taking sides, it might open some eyes. When Teresa said she was the Matriach of her family is she kidding? Your family is falling apart and you and your husband are not helping it at all. Caroline rightfully so did not want drama at the Brownstone, but what about a child's christining is that the place to have drama? I think fame is going to Teresa head and she doesn't want to share it with her brother and sister in a law very selfish as far as I can tell. Caroline, I am in the hotel/restaurant business and my husband is the F & B director and I barely see him it is long and hard work I give you and your husband credit for keeping your marriage alive and healthy with his long work hours..

Real Housewives of NY: Ok, last season I thought Kelly was crazy, but now I really think Ramona and Sonja both have some screws loose, who are you that someone has to unpack for you? Have you never traveled? To tell a Top Moroccan designer who is offering something to you,that you want more "sexiness" are you crazy? It is a conservative country and you are both so obnoxious, I would be embarrassed to be seen with them. Sonja how are you affording to live the way you think you deserve when your husband had the money and you are what making a cookbook about toaster ovens? If I was Alex I would do what she is doing and staying neutral because we all can tell it is going to be a bumping next two weeks on the show.

Mob Wives: Ok, Renee the drama queen cracks me up but her heart seems to be in the right place for her son, but what an explosion last week at her dinner party between Carla and Renee, it was interesting to watch. Karen is still upset about her break up with Lee and yes it has been 14 years, but you know that pain doesn't go away unless you have confronted what you believe was the issue and Dritta should respect her feelings, even if she feels they are not justified they are her feelings.

Saddleranch: Being in the restaurant business this shows exactly how wait people let off steam and other drama, we are all actors in this business.

The Voice: I love this show, the judges have a tough time picking who should stay and who should go, I am looking forward to next weeks show, of course I am a huge Blake Sheldon fan but CeLo, Adam and Christina are so much fun to watch how they all interact with their pupils. I was suprised CeLo kept the Thompson girls it will be interesting to see how it all plays out...

American Idol: I voted for Scotty from day one, Lauren is so cute!! I really thought in the 1st round it would be Casey and Pia the final two, so it was nice to see my favorite not only go the whole way and win, when they were both elimanted I thought Haley and Scotty would be the final two. It was wonderful to see both Country acts get the final two slots now what happens? Lets be honest besides Carrie who has made it as big? I realize some are on broadway, and where is Lee? I saw Crystal's video on CMT, she is wonderful, sometimes it seems 2nd place has done better than first just saying, we will see what happens after these (2) because I truly believe Scotty will do so well in Nashville..

Another small wedding here at the Wolfeboro Inn in the 1812 room. It has been raining all week long and the sun came out for a bit this morning and then it started again raining..

It is prom season up here in NH, so I thought I would dig out a few of my prom pictures. The small ones are from my Senior Prom the standard picture and of course the one that made it into the yearbook. The one below is from my Senior Cornation - love the shoes back then was not even attempting heals.. The other one is my Junior Prom another bad picture of me for the yearbook, a trend or what?

The boys: Senior Cornation Tom Chinigo -Artist, bad boy guess why I picked him? Even though I look so buttoned up, why he said "yes" I will never know.

Senior Prom: David Giroux

Junior Prom: Paul

Ok, we all heard what happened to Osama Bin Laden in Abbottasbad, Pakistan and I want to commend the Navy Seals, but also understand all the press and information out there can jeopardize the men and their families, do people not realize that the Terrorist are just out there looking for who has taken down this man and will punish even innocent people to get their point across to the world.

As Americans we are taught freedom of speech but sometimes we need to keep our mouths shut along with nothing on the internet, these are men they we as americans are proud of and want to let them know this, but we are in time where any information in the wrong hands can hurt these people from doing their jobs.

As I drove around the state on Thursday, I noticed people are again being patriotic and making statements on signs, hanging up the American Flag, which I remember after 9/11 the surge of patriotism, I am proud to be an American but in order for us to fight the terrorist we must be smart and steady, so please respect the privacy of these people who took him down to continue working for us and not have to worry what might happen to their families why they are making a difference and trying to save us civilians..

Last night over Lake Winnipesaukee this rainbow came up, wonder where the pot of gold was. It was amazing to see, I have been so depressed and down lately, that for a few minutes it made me feel almost happy again.

Reality Shows Update:

Ok, I have started with a new "reality show" some of these are so addicting. So here is my take on some I have been following:

Mob Wives: Ok, the name alone can tell you drama, this takes place in Staten Island, NY, and so far I can actually understand all their ideas of what happened either with fathers, husbands sometimes both. Renee was so programmed to believe what her father (in jail) told her was her life and beliefs but when her ex-husband is arrested again, she is reevaluting what is right and wrong and how it is affecting her 16 year old son AJ. Carla is my favorite so far, she divorced her husband a bit before he was arrested and now in jail, the only thing is her kids do not know he is in jail. Karen is writing a book about her life ( her dad is Sammy the bull), she is still upset at Drita for marrying her ex-boyfriend (about 15 years ago) get over it.

Saddle Ranch: Love, due to the fact watching them work and play in the restaurant business is always close and dear to my heart, the first episode I watched was a party at the bartenders house and the drama that unfolded reminded me of many of those I have gone too or thrown myself and the aftermath (watch Waiting )..

Real Housewives of NY: Kelly is even stranger than usual and Ramona is on my last nerve, love Cindy (new) she is wonderful.

Real Housewives of OC: Alexis give it a rest, " I can't do anything without my husband", what is that about? ARe you and adult or just a child? Gretchen you are a caddy bitch and if Slade can not pay child support it is his battle not yours, and how dare you make fun of Tamara's new man "Eddie" oh what was your comment oh she has a boyfriend? I don't believe you an Slade are anymore then girlfriend and boyfriend too. Alexis stop competeing with Peggy you are way out of your league..

The VOICE: LOVE! I am so into American Idol this season, but this show has such a twist, I love watching to see if Christina will feel bad and hit the button anyway... Interesting to see who is picked because of talent not because of looks or age and who is beautiful and normally would of been picked but didn't make it because they did not have the voice!!

Bad Girls: Why is Nikki so competetive? It is not as if they "win" any money, and Char needs to get over herself, you are not all that...

American Idol: My pick for the top (2) Should be Scotty and James, but I have a feeling it will be Haley and James, Pia was the most talented but like Jennifer Hudson before her, she may have gotten elimanted way to early but it seems to be helping her get further ahead then anyone else, congratulations on her record contract and all the new things she has been doing...

I find this so sad, what can we do?

Johnathon Willsey sat back in his chair, having just finished a plate of tuna casserole.
He sat with two friends, Tori Merrill, 17, and Joshua Hayslip, 25, all part of a growing clientele of young adults at the New London Community Meal Center, known to most as the Soup Kitchen.
Faced with homelessness, unemployment and the rigors of a down economy, they turn to the free, twice-a-day meals on Montauk Avenue — especially near the end of each month when various financial and state aid programs run dry.
"I'm extremely grateful that this place exists," said Willsey, 22. "Because otherwise I wouldn't be able to eat a lot. Food stamps only get you so far when that's all you have to live off of."
Ellen Bassuk, founder and president of the National Center on Family Homelessness, said young adults who are homeless have often aged out of the foster care system or left destructive home environments.
"That youth population, by and large, has less services and is relatively neglected," said Bassuk, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Tall, thin and that day wearing tiny baby duck earrings in each earlobe, Willsey was born in the area but moved to live with his father in Oklahoma and Idaho for much of his youth. After he moved out on his own, he said, he had a falling out with his roommates. His mother paid for a plane ticket, and he came back to New London.
Eventually, Willsey said, his mother was evicted from her apartment, leaving him without a place to stay. He stayed at the Homeless Hospitality Center at St. James Episcopal Church for a few months, more recently sleeping on a friend's couch.
For the better part of two years he has worked many temporary jobs, some of them through Labor Ready, a temporary employment agency. He attended a job fair at the Crystal Mall, not finding much there.
Willsey said he has his General Equivalency Degree and would like to attend Three Rivers Community College. But it's difficult finding steady income, he said.
"There are a lot of people that are getting in tough situations. It's getting to the point where their families can't take care of them," Willsey said. "Or whatever choices they've made down the road have put them in this situation. It's not easy to deal with or get out of."
Looking for work
Joshua Hayslip said he has held various jobs in the past several years, including at Sheffield Pharmaceuticals and as a bathroom attendant at the MGM Grand Casino. He quit the first job and was fired from the second for punching a wall in frustration.
Wearing a hat with the Ford Mustang logo and a silver Chevy belt buckle, Hayslip has an affinity for cars and fixing things. Computers, mostly. Recently, he has spent his free time fixing the chain, tires and fender on an old Schwinn bicycle he found at a dump.
He returns to his family's home in New London only to pick up his mail.
He called his high school diploma, which he said he earned through New London Adult and Continuing Education, "just a piece of paper" and says he would work anywhere at this point.
"Any of the fast-food places on Colman Street. I have applications in there," Hayslip said. "I've tried at the mall. I can't even remember (them all)."
He is grateful for the soup kitchen. He questioned if he would be alive without it.
A lot of family stress
Tori Merrill has been coming to the soup kitchen for about two years.
Dark-haired and soft-spoken, the 17-year-old lives with her mother. Soon other members of her family will come to live with them. Her uncle just underwent back surgery. There's been a lot of stress in her family lately, Merrill said.
Her father lives in Norwich and is not well, she said, but he has been supportive of her. She said her family has used food stamps for as long as she can remember.
Merrill has not found a job but says she is working toward her diploma in night school at New London Adult and Continuing Education. She writes poetry and envisions working in the arts or child care one day.
"I'm hoping to be able to get a job for now so I can partially help out my mom and save up to get my own place," Merrill said. "I'd like to be on my own and be able to stand on my own two feet."
Some have given up
More than 300 volunteers work at the soup kitchen each month. Sometimes they are shocked by what they see.
"You'd be surprised by the number of people that come through here to volunteer and say, 'I really didn't realize it was this bad,'" said Milton Cook, the president of the board of directors.
Richard, who declined to give his last name, has been a regular since he was laid off two years ago. He described the people he meets there: Some are educated. Others don't know how to handle their money and struggle with alcohol and drug problems.
Richard said he is a former nuclear engineer who used to work at Electric Boat and Pratt & Whitney, among other places. He went through a difficult divorce and said he's been laid off eight times.
Richard said the outlook is bleak for many at the soup kitchen. "Most of them have given up looking for a job. Most of them gave up a long time ago," he said. "They've accepted they're going to be unemployed for the rest of their lives."
But the younger ones — Willsey, Hayslip and Merrill — have plans.
As they ate dinner together at the soup kitchen, Merrill was asked where she envisions herself in a year. She plans to be done with school and working.
Hayslip said he has considered attending Three Rivers, but if he doesn't go to school, he will continue looking for work.
Tent option
In the meantime, Willsey and Hayslip said they would soon be without a place to stay again. They have recently stayed with Hayslip's cousin, but she will soon lose her apartment.
They both said they would consider living in a tent outdoors. Willsey said he has no intention of returning to the Homeless Hospitality Center.
"No, no, no. I'll find something to do," he said. "By winter, I'll be in school."
He moved on to the dinner line at the soup kitchen.
The crowded room, packed with more than 100 people, said grace. Patrons moved forward for helpings of spaghetti, tossed salad and green beans.
Willsey then sat down in the back of the room, sharing another meal with Hayslip and Merrill.
jeff.johnson@theday.com