LazyToaster

The cracker and cheese house baffled me - I get that it is edible; but, I can't really see it at a nice holiday party because it is just so "crafty" for lack of a better way to describe. Plus, I can't really see guests reaching out with their hands and tearing that thing apart to eat. Gross.

WOW- ok, that was all kinds of weird wasn't it? It takes a helluva lot of nerve to lie about something so easy to credit or discredit! Geesh! And I agree with xaxat -- I doubt if Irvine would be so forgiving of others - he just seems so "gotta be right all the time".

I know, right? I think she said that he was 67 when she was born!

Does anyone like that Christmas tree cake? It just seemed like too much of everything to me - too much cake (and waste), too much work, too much candy, too much frosting - I would rather take the time to make nice cupcakes.

I watched a show from yesterday, which has to be a record for me because that means I'm caught up on my recordings of Chopped! Yay me! Anyway, the show I just watched was the "retro" show. Favorite moment -- one of the competitors styles himself as Ozzy Osbourne, right down to the long black hair, dark glasses, and dark painted fingernails. Anyway - when they were critiquing his first course, Alex said something like "OK, there's an elephant in the room. Did you just wake up one day and decide you're Ozzy"? Cracked me up! Gotta love Alex, she just says it out loud.

Wikipedia says he began his cooking career upon enlisting in the Royal Navy at age 15. He completed culinary training & served a 10-year tour of duty. So, he does have training and you can tell whenever you get to see him cook (as opposed to talk/yell/strut) that he has real skills and knowledge. However, he did come under controversy from what appeared to be exaggerated resume claims. It seems that he blamed inaccurate reporting for the issues. Who knows for sure what happened there. I think he probably has real skill, I just dislike his overbearing personality - and, he seems to act like that every time I see him. Just not my cup of tea for sure.

I think Robert Irvine is one of those people who thinks whoever is loudest is right. Add to that the muscles and overall body language. Ugh.

The creepy and egomaniac guy was horrible - he was even worse the first time he competed. You don't very often get a jerk that openly questions and tries to contradict the judges. But, the kicker for me was when he attacked Bobby for his looks. What the hell? He seemed to take it all really personal. If he hadn't been so hard to like I would feel sorry for him. I really liked the chef that got to go up against Bobby and was rooting for him. At least he had the good sense to show some manners and respect. He truly seemed happy to be in the moment. I think Bobby is a gracious when he wins or loses and that's good to see. Oh - PS... I just love Ted. :)

Wouldn't it be funny if somehow some way Heather and Derek ended up kind of liking each other when they meet up on these get-togethers? Stranger things have happened - right? Nah... probably will never happen.

I suppose that the show producers make sure the people fill a certain role and persona. I just wish they would let them be themselves without any OTT behaviors. I bet if they did that Jeff and Sunny would tone it down and be a lot more tolerable. I would still be bored by Katie Lee and put off by Marcella when she keeps rubbing her belly and over pronouncing words.

I think they point out that Marcella isn't drinking alcohol - including her glass being different - is to keep viewers from freaking out and telling her she isn't supposed to drink - falls under cover-your-butt. I don't blame them if that is the case - the do-gooders of this world can start chaos with not much to go on.

I hope they fall in love too; but, I must be more of a romantic than I would have thought - because I would hope people can proceed from noticing and meeting a person - to liking them as a person - to physical and emotional attraction. I just don't see it happening with Nick & Sonia. It would be great if I'm wrong and they can build from where they are to a real relationship.

The steps - that really made me laugh (well, the whole show does that) - anyway, my theory is that Real Eleanor knew right away the button was there because the house was really meant for her - so - it is sort of her dream house. I would love to know what would be Our Eleanor would like for a house.

holly4755 - OMG that guys sounds all kind of weird! Who talks like that? Ew...

The whole dramatic Decision Day was such melodramatic crap. The "experts" kept saying things like - Do You Want To Stay Married -OR- Do You Want To Get A Divorce. The pronouncement sounded like life or death - they may as well of said - Do You Want To Live Happily Ever After -OR- Do You Want To Die A Slow And Painful Death. Freaking crazy talk. First of all - whatever they decide can be undecided in 50 years or tomorrow - nothing is signed in blood no matter how solemn they make the moment. It made them all look ridiculous IMHO. Another thing that bothered me (of course, what didn't - ha!) is that Nick seemed really nervous that Sonia would say divorce and I couldn't help but think he was sincere. But, then when she said she wanted to stay married - I do think he was pleased and relieved - and yet, even for the Introvert Nick - why wouldn't that be a moment to show some type of affection - take her hand, give her a hug, squeeze her shoulder, good lord man - kiss your wife why don't you? My family doctor shows me more affection (he's a great shoulder patter and hand squeezer) than Nick does to Sonia - you know, his WIFE?

I'm rarely "off the clock" for my work - just the nature of the business. I do take vacations, but will occasionally check email and can easily and quickly respond. It isn't exactly required, but it makes things operate so smoothly overall that I wouldn't imagine not doing it. That doesn't mean I stayed glued to my phone etc., because I don't - but, my job matters to me and it is what I do. Gee, I thought as a grown-up that was my choice. I sure as hell would not want someone to tell me it was off limits. Especially someone that has no clue about the nature of my job and clearly doesn't understand (or apparently care) how important it is to me. Tom was the one most worried about keeping finances separated - and now he wants her to possibly jeopardize her own success and potential ability to support herself? What? He wants it both ways? Aarrgghh! Possibly they can work through this to a compromise, but I kind of think they may be doomed on this issue.

I have no idea if there is real flirtation with Sonia & Derek or not - but, I can see how easy it would be to get her interest. She's dying for attention and some kind of interest. I imagine a text or tweet that says something like - "hey Sonia, I probably should say this - don't be mad - but, I think Nick is a fool for not doing everything he can to keep a beautiful woman like you". From there - or something similar - it would be off to the races. Then, you factor in how lonely Derek seems to be and I can easily see it happening. Have to admit - I wouldn't feel sorry for Nick and Heather won't care.

Your average junior high age boy knows how to interact with a girl better than Nick does.

Regarding Heather's wedding dress - I think it would have looked better if there had been time to get it altered properly. It was just too big and let's face it - the girls don't stay "up & at 'em" forever. Buying a dress last minute like they did means you get something off the rack and do the best you can with fit. That said - she should have picked another style, because it just didn't fit right and didn't look good on her.

Well.... it was called Naked Moments - or something like that - right? Other thoughts on this oh-so-riveting episode: -- I would like to thank the show for the captions when Sonia's dad was talking... HOWEVER, I could understand him without much effort. Truthfully, I really need the language help when mush-mouth Nick is talking. -- Tom, Tom, Tom - you landed yourself a grown-ass woman with a real-life job. Dude, I bet you're going to screw it up because you are so damn needy. Lilly has what seems like a great career. Man-boy Tom has not much of one. She's in real estate - the computer, phone, iPad are all the tools of trade that she NEEDS. What is wrong with you - other than you really would rather live in Neverland? Maybe she lost the clients because she was unavailable because of you-know-who. So - "EXPERTS"? Why couldn't you pair Lilly with a success oriented classy ambitious guy? --The editing on this show seems so strange - other people have mentioned it so I'm not alone. The TH's are cobbled together and it is obvious. I notice it especially when they show Sonia because she wears her hair in so many different ways and it is easier to spot. ...that's all - what a dumb episode. Best part of this show is this board.

You know something, this whole "experiment" just feels wrong to me. If it were real and nobody was watching - then maybe, but even then I don't like it. It reminds me of studies that show babies in orphanages that are fed and clothed, but not loved and then don't thrive. What poor babies get picked for that wonderful study? And we're all pretty sure this is mostly made up for TV crap (I admit - it hasn't kept me from watching the train wreck), but in that light it is even worse. They are playing with people's lives - even though the people involved were willing it is still icky to me.

I think Derek has to know that it wouldn't and probably shouldn't work; but, now he's taken on the victim role and has to stick with it. He has to keep acting like it is all her, that way he stays the guy who wanted to work it out and she's stays the one who gave up. Also, I wonder if he would shriek like a little girl and run away if all of a sudden Heather said - yeah, maybe we should try again.

That scene where Lilly was working frantically in the car - that could have been completely staged for drama - or, I guess it is possible that she actually had something to finish up before enjoying the rest of the day. But, the way she was consulting her phone and her computer at the same time - something seemed off about it. Not that it is impossible it could happen, but it just seemed forced to me. They are trying way too hard to show Tom as the - take life as it comes - fun guy and then show Lilly as the serious - have to work hard - never be fun girl.

Even though I'm no Nick fan, I actually enjoyed the whole sandwich giveaway thing. I could tell that Sonia had done that before and was comfortable and it seemed to me that even though he was less comfortable (understandable) that he took his cue from her. I liked how matter of fact she was - kind of hey, want a sandwich? No 3rd degree, no judgement, no patronizing - just giving away sandwiches and that's it. I also liked how they let people have more than one if they wanted it. And, it seemed to me that the whole process affected Nick at least to a degree - I know, I know - so hard to tell - he is so - uh, Nick - but he did seem to feel a bit. Ha! That's all you get from me Nick - I still don't like you and think Sonia could do way better - so there!

I'm sorry - probably shallow of me - but, I could never ever trust Nick again if I was Sonia. I just imagine her with a really sweet, cute guy that would adore her - wouldn't that be nice? He keeps getting worse in my eyes and she has shown a surprising amount of inner strength. I hope she sticks to her guns.