Absolom

The difference in the dances was diabolical. Abby really handicapped her original team. That was too obvious even for her. Boots? Really boots?

Yes, Meri came from a polygamist family and has said she accepts the sister wives because she wanted Cody so much. I think the lifestyle is killing her on the inside. It will be interesting to see how she adapts to an empty nest. Judging by the last photo I saw of her, she's heading downhill fast.

I don't think Jen was being a martyr going to Zoey's appointment. She'd had to very reluctantly miss their first medical appointment with her and as a lot of mothers do she pushed herself to get to the second one. It's something I can see quite a few mothers doing with it being a complex or anything. I don't know about the trip to San Francisco. It seemed somewhat on the cusp of medically reasonable. She seems to have done it without ill effects and perhaps there was some push from production to get the episode. If that's part of it, then not so good. I had to look up the Hannons. I found them dull and toward the end whiney. I'd even forgotten their existence. Oops. I don't think theirs was a story with widespread appeal and traction and thus had low viewership and was ended.

I fear that they've become too much reality tv people and believe too much of their own press. Jim Bob seems to have been bitten the worst. I think it's going to be a real let down for him the day the cameras stop showing up.

The plot lines they use are tired and worn out. As for why they continue, they are under contract. It isn't as easy to get out of the contract as is frequently thought. We have a relative who does entertainment law and one of the things she does is negotiate TV actors out when they want to leave early. It can take months and a lot of wrangling. Frequently the actor ends up performing longer on the show than they wanted to do originally. I don't believe the mothers had any idea what they were getting into when they signed on. A lot of people are unbelievably naïve about entertainment contracts and get stars in their eyes instead of reading and getting advice. Viewership this week: 1.198 M viewers and a .7 rating. I haven't watched this episode yet and I'm leery of Abby and a second team.

Robyn looked pregnant in recent photo.

I think Mariah came to California for spring break. I can't remember now, but she was twitter about going somewhere with friends.

The simple food at the reception is a southern fundie standard. It would be more unusual to serve a full meal. I was upset with John David and his Jim Bobbish prank on the car. That goes way beyond the normal and for me acceptable. Then again, we hid the car for our wedding. I found it tacky and childish even then. That dress! It was on sale on the rack at David's Bridal. That says enough for me right there. I'm definitely not a David's Bridal fan and wouldn't even let my daughters look there. Their alterations if not extremely basic are not usually well done at least not at their stores in our area. The sleeves were added and then they stuck some allegedly matching material in the bodice and up the back. I think they turned the material opposite to the grain used on the dress or else it wasn't exactly matching material. Whatever it looked tacky to me. I'm glad Erin was happy with her dress. Her SIL chose what I thought was a better option and bought a bolero and skipped the alterations. I don't think Zach and Whitney's wedding will be shown though. Weddings pull in ratings: 2.238 M viewers and a .7 rating.

I enjoy seeing the kids and they're adorable looking to me. I hope Jen and Bill know when it's time to pull the plug. I don't know how long the contract they signed runs, but perhaps when this one ends they won't sign on again or possibly only for a once or twice a year special. I'm not surprised that they haven't worked much on toilet training with Will. A lot has been going on and I always found that a fairly quiet stable environment worked better for easier toilet training. Summer was better than winter for us, too. Ratings last night: 2.759 M viewers and a .8 rating.

I've seen burgers, lasagna, assortment of Chinese food, etc, along with some baked chicken, broccoli, sandwiches, and so on. They look to be eating similar to what my two year old grandson is eating. In fact I wish he'd accept the meat as readily as Will and Zoey do.

Viewership for this episode was 1.122 M viewers and a .4 rating. I was hoping for a big drop.

Scintillating they are not. Lumps in the breast - previously had and weren't cancer. A bit scary but not exciting TV. A window that one close. A wife that feels put upon. Oh my let's play poker. A tattoo or not. They deserve to be one season wonders. In fact I'm not sure why TLC thought they could make a season of this.

The Josh and Anna hand holding was after they were engaged NOT while they were courting. It doesn't make it better, but means the Duggars are being somewhat consistent.

I wish just one of the kids would do just that. Go we decided to hold hands, go to dinner by ourselves, or whatever.

Rosemary is apparently not feeling the love: http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2014/04/my-five-wives-polygamist-jealousy-taken-advantage-tlc-video/

It's getting old fast having to open four or five threads for one comment on each. Perhaps I'll adjust.

Those short pickle looking things are cucumbers. They are generally called pickling cucumbers. However, the large slices of pickles come from sliced larger cucumbers. A lot of the refrigerator recipes call for larger slices.

I'll try a new turn - Will is no longer a toddler. He's a preschooler. :)

It was yet another time of Jim Bob acting worse than the average 16 year old boy. He has never grown up and at this point I doubt he ever will. The instructor asked him to shut up if I'm remembering right.

Nia needs to have concrete instruction. Either it needs to be demonstrated at the time or someone needs to help her put her body in the correct position. Someone screaming over and over from across the room isn't going to do it. That's only going to fluster her. If Nia "felt" being out of position, she'd correct it because that's the kind of person she is. She learns dance like one of my daughters and it needs a different approach.

Zach (the Bates' son with the broken courtship) married Whitney (met at Sonic!) in December and they are expecting.

Viewership for this episode was 2.279 M viewers and a .7 rating.

So awkward. I think that defined the entire episode for me. Michelle should have planted Jim Bob in one of the ponds. Viewership for this episode was 1.846 M viewers and a .6 rating.

Will is in speech therapy according to Jen and now (spring 2014) is speaking in sentences. We should begin to see increased speech in the upcoming episodes. Last night had 2.831 M viewers and a .8 rating.

It's almost like with each round, Gil and Kelly get a little more relaxed. I think it's good to see. The pregnancy for Erin apparently never developed an embryo so she'll be more upset at losing the potential of a pregnancy than actually losing a fetus. I believe, also, that she'll be pregnant almost any time now.