<a href="http://www.aledo.k12.tx.us/hstheaterarts/theatre%20home%20page.htm" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4375" title="drama_masks" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/drama_masks-300x260.gif" alt="" width="300" height="260" /></a>I have never watched <em>American Idol</em>.

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I know, I know.  What kind of American am I?  And I'm a <em>singer</em>, no less!  Shameful!

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Of course, the American Idol celebrities are so thoroughly ingrained in our culture, that I know who they are.  I don't live under a rock.

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So...I believe that JLo is the new Paula, correct?  In my mind, the female judge will always be Paula.  Poor Paula.

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Anywho, I was invited to judge drama events for a high school Speech and Debate tournament on Saturday.  I thought it would be great fun to be Paula for a day.  Although technically, this was drama, not singing, but who cares about details?

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Talk about a step back in time.

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Back in high school, I was a drama dork and lived in the theatre.  I don't think I ever attended a Speech and Debate tourney.  That was reserved for the Speech kids.  (Lorie &amp; sis, help me out here.  You know that my memory is spotty.)

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The pressure was on because this was a qualifying tournament for Nationals.  Yikes!  Good thing that I have a degree in Theatre and a background as a drama teacher.

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talk about how rewarding bc this was my passion at their ages .  ask audience what their passion was and could they get involved now?

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