3 is enough

Wow. I can't even imagine citizens preferring a rundown abandoned mall to a brand new Walmart. I know a lot of people don't particularly like the franchise, but still... wow. I didn't mean to start a discussion about big box stores. Not even sure if Laurel is big enough to rate getting another franchise like Target or Kohl's, especially these days when the big box retailers are being extremely careful about opening new stores. I just think that if you look at the demographics of Laurel, the average income is $25,000 per year, and 30% of the population are below the poverty line. So a lot of the population have no use for high end boutique type stores, and, given a choice, would prefer something they could actually afford to patronize. It's hardly surprising that someone would call Erin out on this, even if it was through an anonymous blog comment. The other day someone asked via Instagram about the tan pants Ben wears so often. Erin actually answered and referred her to the company that makes them. She told her to ask for the Big Ben Duck Pants. The company is Blue Delta Jeans. They take your measurements and make a pattern just for you, then use Mississippi grown cotton to make the pants. Sounds lovely, and you are supporting an American business. BUT, the jeans cost $500 a pair! How many people have $500 for a pair of jeans? I would bet that Ben got the pants at a deep discount in return for word of mouth advertising, or maybe Erin did some print work for them. I know these small business owners network to support and encourage each other. $500 jeans and $800 porch swings? Mayberry sure is pricey these days!

Go to the homepage of their website. Click on "Our Story". Scroll down to the part about Erin and Ben. There is a link to click on to get to the beginning of the blog. Have fun! Took me the better part of a week to read the whole thing. There are a lot of entries.

Just curious, BCKPCKFULLANINJAS, what did you find exasperating? For me, there were a couple of things that made me go hmmm. First, a couple of posts about buying old vehicles and "not having a note". But subsequently showing lots of photos of the restoration of said "noteless" vehicle which must have cost a pretty penny. Yes, buying a vehicle with cash is admirable, but for some people it simply is not possible. I am sure it was not intentional, but it came off as being slightly smug. Second, in the earlier days of the journal, comments were allowed. This has since been disabled, and I certainly do understand why. But there was an entry about having her feelings hurt by a comment someone made. It was concerning Erin and her "clique" and their efforts to bring back Downtown Laurel. The poster made some reference to the fact that the efforts shut out the "regular" townspeople. Erin simply did not understand and countered that she wasn't fancy, she lived in a 2000 sq ft home. I think she just could not relate to the fact that for some people, the rebirth of downtown with all the new quaint shops was alienating, because the new businesses were simply beyond their means. My guess is that there is probably a group who would have appreciated getting a Target or Kohl's instead. Not taking anything away from their efforts to rejuvenate the town, but you can't please everyone, and sometimes those folks speak up about their disappointment. Third was the dogs. I understand that dogs are messy, and some shed a lot more than others. But for me, if you don't want dogs in the house, don't have any. I cannot imagine the point of owning a dog if it stays outside all the time. And yes, Ben did build them a nice doghouse. Honestly, three relatively minor things over the course of 8 years of journal entries is nothing. Funny how the things that irritate you do seem to stick in your mind though...

Did anyone else notice that when Alex revealed the Final Jeopardy category one of the male contestants said "No!" It was off camera, so I did not see who but I think it was the champ. Thought that was funny.

I never read any of the Gaines' stuff. Just not that interested. On the other hand, I like these two. Although I must admit that as someone approaching the big 6-0, I find the idea of a memoir written by someone in their early 30's somewhat amusing. ;)

Can I just say how much I loathe these "missionaries" who feel the need to convert Catholics? I would just love it if they happened to accost someone who spoke enough English to tell them: "Yes, I know Jesus, thank you very much, because I am a member of THE ORIGINAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH! LEAVE ME ALONE YOU ARROGANT DUMBASS GRINGO!"

And so it begins... Erin and Ben announced via Instagram today that they have a book coming out in October. It is a memoir called "Make Something Good Today". It expands on her blog, with Ben writing his perspective. I will probably buy it, as I did enjoy reading her journal. They both have a way with words, I must say. Also, last week Ben posted some photos of a furniture factory in Virginia, with a comment about a "business opportunity". If he is collaborating with an American furniture maker, kudos to him for keeping things stateside. They certainly seem to be following the Gaines' pattern. I think (and hope) they will do things on a smaller scale, but we shall see I guess.

I think the picture is from a Christmas pageant where they played Mary and Joseph. I don't think Mary ever wore a flowered sheet, but whatever...

OK. She fed her younger siblings Kool-Aid. I bet she has no idea how ironic that statement is. Just go away already. Your fifteen minutes were up a long time ago.

I guess they are choosing style over function. The screened in porches look kind of dingy, but they do serve a purpose. I have noticed most of the porches have ceiling fans. I'm afraid I would not fit in Laurel. When it is hot, humid, and there are mosquitoes around you will find me in my cool air conditioned house. And if I chose to eat outside, it would be in the privacy of my backyard, not on the front porch where everyone walking by would see. Then again, I do wonder if the town is really as much like Mayberry as they claim. I think the historic district where they redo most of their homes is actually quite small, and the rest of the city is made up of less picturesque neighborhoods. Also, a lot of the renovations have been for their friends and business associates. There seems to be a group of young entrepreneurs working at revitalizing the downtown area, and they all want to live close to their businesses. So yes, their own little neighborhood may be very much like the image they are projecting, but the rest of the town maybe not so much.

Yep. No window treatments with the Texas sun and heat. Real good idea there...

Exactly. I can just imagine guests on the groom's side thinking how sad it was that the bride lost her dad. Wondering how recently he passed. And then upon learning it had been 20 years thinking "OMG! WTF is wrong with these people?" Because yes, you never really get over the loss of a loved one. It always hurts. But time passes, life continues, and generally you do move on with your life.

Well, it is one of the few towns in Mississippi that is not "dry", so they can get their "swill". Not really far from the coast either.

There has been some confusion about this. I really don't understand. On their social media it's all Laurel this, Laurel that. Ben and Erin are charter members of a group that is revitalizing Downtown Laurel. Their store is called Laurel Mercantile. I am pretty sure because of the show people are actually visiting the town and spending money there. On Fixer Upper they mention Waco by name multiple times each episode. All the flip shows have the city name in their titles. It is a bit of a mystery.

That wedding was WAY too focused on a guy who has been dead for TWENTY YEARS. Yes, they lost him suddenly. Yes, it was traumatic. But for God's sake move on already! Poor Miguel, playing second fiddle to a dead guy. He has the patience of a saint. I would have understood if in Kate's dream her dad had been there to walk her down the aisle. Honestly not sure what purpose the vow renewal had.

Because the woman has to stay slim and attractive even after birthing umpteen babies for Jesus, but the head of household can do whatever he wants. I don't follow these nutjobs, but seeing photos of the children I think a visit from CPS would be in order. She actually brags that the kids eat less so she can feed the fetus? SMH...

Not sure if this is really an unpopular opinion, but I did not cry or tear up once this season. Not when Jack died, not at the wedding, not at all. I am not a heartless woman. I cried when I watched Up. I teared up at a sappy Canadian Tire ad. I cried last month when my son texted me the first ultrasound image of my grandchild. But for some reason I just do not cry at this show.

I vaguely remember this, but maybe Chrissy was unable or ultimately unwilling to have the surgery . Also, I can't imagine that a contract requiring weight loss or surgery to attain it could be legal. Maybe someone with legal expertise could weigh in on this.

It's really hard to tell. She seems to carry most of her weight around her middle-her arms and legs are relatively small. But if she did lose any significant amount of weight I would imagine it would show in her face, and I haven't seen any change there.

Here is where all of Jim Bob's finagling to avoid taxes and maintain control over the kidults comes back to bite him. We have all speculated that the TLC money is pooled into an LLC, but I am pretty sure that the couples get a TLC paycheque, and that means a W-2. Depending on how much that amount is, they may not qualify for significant discounts when buying insurance through the marketplace. I was under the impression that for all his faults, Jim Bob did have insurance for his family. I would have thought that he would have kept all the kids on until they turned 26, because family plans don't specifiy the number of kids- it's the same price for 1 kid or 19. At least that is how my husband's plan through his employer works. Maybe Jim Bob's plan works differently, if he actually has one. We kept all of our kids on our plan until they aged out. My oldest son is going to graduate school in Canada. He is eligible for healthcare up there, but since he has a pre-existing condition and plans to come back to the US after graduation, we got him a plan through the marketplace. With eligible discounts due to his low income, his premium is only $145 a month. I am more than willing to pay that so he has continuous coverage. I just want to make sure he will be eligible when he comes back, because who knows what Congress will do with healthcare in the future? As far a putting his foot down, who knows? This is the man who wasted $250,000 on a failed senate run despite having a ton of kids to feed, house, and clothe.

But how could they flash forward to a thinner Kate if Chrissy Metz has not lost any weight? I'm not trying to be snarky, I just can't see how that would work. I know they can pad someone to look bigger (Toby), but I can't imagine how it would be possible to fake weight loss. I assume that since there has been no significant weight loss the producers/showrunners/writers have adjusted the storyline accordingly.

While I admit that I am not a fan of the whole Deja storyline, I sincerely doubt Randall and Beth would just throw her away. That would be totally out of character.

I wonder if they would go there. If nothing else it might make Kate, Kevin, and Randall understand that as devastating as losing their dad suddenly was, maybe it was not the worst thing that could have happened. My dad died 11 years ago at 72 after a short battle with an aggressive form of cancer. Admittedly I was not 17 when he passed, so it really doesn't compare to Jack's death. Still, it was hard, and of course I miss him. However, his biggest fear was developing dementia or being stuck in a wheelchair. I know his preference was to die quickly rather than have a slow decline. My mother, who is 81, has been rapidly descending into dementia in the past year. Watching her decline is one of the hardest things I have had to deal with in my life. Oh, hypothetical all the way. ;)

So, I got to watch the whole episode. I think, given Toby's parents talk of him lying in bed with the curtains drawn in the middle of a work day, that the flash forward is about him falling into another depression. Also would not be surprised if he was bipolar. Kind of put a damper on the happy wedding day. Not loving the Deja storyline. Yes, it is realistic that everything wouldn't be all sunshine and roses, but it is just so unnecessary. Randall and Beth already have 2 daughters. I would rather see storylines about them. Not even going to speculate about the "she" Randall and Tess were referencing- it could be literally anyone. Kate was WAY too old to ask her dad to marry her. No wonder she and Rebecca never got along- she saw her as competition for Jack's affection. I find the whole young Kate-Jack dynamic to be a bit creepy, to be honest. Glad she finally let go a bit on her wedding day. Looks like she will have to focus on supporting her husband instead of endlessly fixating on her dead father. And finally, poor Miguel. He gets NO respect. Seriously, Rebecca was not even 50 when Jack died. Was she supposed to dress in black and mourn him for the rest of her life? We know that they did not meet up again until at least 10 years after Jack died. The Big Three had all left the nest by then. Why wouldn't the kids want her to be happy and not lonely? I don't get it.

Just a thought, but if Deja really does something to harm Annie or Beth in the future, then I cannot see Tess pursuing a career in social work.