2727

This benefits no one, but I can't help but speculate and re-mix couples in my head. Like, wouldn't it have been nice for generous, supportive Bobby to be matched with someone like outgoing Amber who is quick to compliment and appreciate him?

Nobody is ever going to measure up to the last person Deonna dated. Greg was being so playful and cute with his "smitten" comments and she shot him down like a drone over foreign air space. I really wish the producers would let me enjoy the wedding and honeymoon episodes in peace without showing upcoming scenes of arguments, tears, and walk-outs. I'd like to bask in some happy moments between the couples in ignorance of how quickly they deteriorate. It harshes my mellow!

First Elizabeth's dad jokes about hoping her husband doesn't have a small penis, then gets angry when he sees Jamie kissing her. Pick a lane, dude. Sorry, Deonna. You need to date yourself for a few more years until you get yourself to unclench. Poor Greg.

I wish people, including news media, would stop using "millennials" as a catch-all term for "young person." A lot of millennials are in their 30s now and there's an entire new cohort after them who really are young.

Aside from blue laws, I don't understand the arbitrary social rules for when it's okay to drink. Brunch is fine; expected even. Lots of people have a drink with lunch in a restaurant (but not at home). Plenty of folks have a beer or several during the day when watching sports or hanging out in their yards. Then somehow mixed drinks are okay again after 5pm. I'm not talking about problem drinking, but I don't see why someone having a Ramos Fizz or Bloody Mary with breakfast at home should cause such raised eyebrows. I typically only drink 2-3 times a year* on holidays or whatever, but my sister recently received a gift of fancy margarita mix and I had her make a batch when I was there around 9am. Her husband was appalled, to the extent of giving us disapproving looks, even though she typically has a couple of glasses of wine each night. So silly! * I eat my feelings instead of drinking them. ;-)

In a weird way, the more I watch animal shows, the better I feel about disease and illness. Seeing that animals in the wild, in zoos, and in homes also get heart disease, cataracts, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, kidney stones, arthritis, cancer, etc. makes disease more clearly a natural process. It's comforting to be reminded that I'm part of the Kingdom Animalia, and that bodies sometimes simply break down.

A long time ago I was cleaning and had the stereo on in my apartment. My neighbor came over to ask if I could turn down the music because he was trying to study. As he stood in my doorway he said in surprise, "It's not even loud in here." My speakers were against the wall and he no doubt heard the bass more than I did. Stupid sound waves!

I'm not excited for and won't be watching season 3 of Stranger Things. I enjoyed the plucky kids of season 1, but angsty teens are not for me. Am also good with no more Winona Ryder. Ideally, David Harbour will be in lots of other shows that don't annoy me.

Iris: "I don't drink. Pour me some champagne?" Was that yet another first for her or did she mean, "I rarely drink." We'll see if she continues to "not drink" on the honeymoon. Iris and Keith seem to share the same faith but their different levels of observance could be a sticking point for them. I'm going to need a facial expression from Greg at some point.

I thought the women's flash art was so much better! The white outlines on the men's piece looked jarring and childish to me. Of course the outline-obsessed Peck and Nunez singled that aspect out for praise. Dave looks like he may have gained a little weight this season, which is good. I've been fond of the guy since his stints on those I Love the 80s shows and of course Rock Star. Wish him well.

Is it too much to hope that after Matt's own eventual divorce, he discovers a tiny bit of empathy for his parents? "They just gave up!"

Iris is a virgin!? They really kept that a secret. Took me by surprise.

I loved Iris' mom getting a juicy tidbit and running straight to her son with it: "Ooooh, child!" So human. My guess is that MAFS production straight up told the DJ to call for Matt's mother. Were none of the women shown how to bustle their dresses?

Not even worth lamenting the roller coaster judging any more. Not finished? You win! As usual, Dave was the voice of reason: "I'd be bummed with that." None of the artists are standing out to me yet but it's early days. Seems like Peck and Nunez slammed most of the women. I didn't see what their problem was with the sternum piece; maybe it looked worse in person. The female coaches are:

Anybody into the new season of Secrets of the Zoo (the Columbus one)? The animals are great, the keepers nice, and I like vet Priya, but the stories somehow aren't as interesting to me as The Zoo. Nothing I've felt compelled to discuss here, at least. I do enjoy seeing the various training techniques and procedures used by different zoos and aquariums. Chester Zoo can sometimes seem a tiny bit lackadaisical in comparison.

I know K&M spend a lot on almost completely rebuilding their decrepit houses and typically make only a modest profit, but I wish they'd cough up a bit for something other than low cost vinyl exterior doors on historic homes. They look so out of place to me! I could also go a good long while without seeing another chair rail. Mina loves Carrera and somewhat spendy tiles, but that and a few nicer light fixtures are about all she really splashes out for. I completely understand budgeting and not over-improving for the neighborhood, but it just can be a little repetitive to watch. What I don't understand are the segments on "shopping" for furniture that's only borrowed for staging purposes. Design ideas for viewers, I guess? Every design and flip show has jumped on those danged patterned cement tiles. I get it, already! They're about $27/sf in my area, so not cheap.

Glad for anything that elicits a smile! The land shark was a recurring skit on SNL's first season, as a parody of Jaws and the resulting hysteria about shark attacks. It was a shark that ... walked on land. :-)

RIP Gloria Vanderbilt and condolences to Anderson. Gloria was always so vibrant and warm when I saw her in interviews. Agreed. From the perspective of a senior with a terminal illness, the manner of leavetaking is somewhat beside the point. A peaceful and merciful death can be a good thing. NIH says 53% of all cancer deaths are in people aged 75+. At any rate, I sometimes wonder why there doesn't seem to be much sentiment for fucking heart disease or accidents, the first and third leading causes of death. ;-)

I suppose parents could get in trouble for leaving their kids in the car these days ...

I don't particularly like Streep's acting in season 2 of Big Little Lies; it seems overly mannered and forced to me. Feels good to get that out!

Same. I used to HOWL with laughter at Saturday Night Live sketches during the 70s-80s. I look at land shark sketches now and wonder what I thought was so funny. These days I'll smile or chuckle at TV. Every so often a snort of laughter will erupt, but I think ROFL is reserved for the young.

Was I supposed to feel sympathy for the wife who drove a mortally injured child to her house and put a cold compress on her forehead instead of getting her actual medical help? Her abetting husband was a selfish ass as well. PBS cut the scene at Max's house? I suppose it didn't really further the plot but it was a lovely small interaction. Here it is: Morse knocks on the door of a sweet brick cottage set amidst flowers and ivy. Max comes to the door holding a cake knife. Max, glancing at the knife: "Oh, it's nothing sinister. I was just getting a seed cake out of the oven. Come in." Out in the garden. Max: "Well this is a first. A splash more? [Pours iced tea.] How'd you know where I live, by the way?" Morse: "You're in the book. [Looks around.]' Nice." Max: "I'm fighting a war of attrition with the green flies over the tea roses. Not very successfully it must be said, but yes. As a spot, I'm rather fond. Well. Something has to be lovely, doesn't it?" Max looks at Morse while saying the last line, in acknowledgment of the horror and filth they deal with at work, and trying to reclaim some beauty.

I really liked Trewlove but don't bemoan the lack of her now. The men are so compelling on their own. Endeavour, Thursday, Bright and deBryn imprint themselves on every scene they're in, and I'm loving Strange more and more as the seasons go on. He's just so decent. Over the years he's been a stalwart ally to a prickly and condescending Morse, and now using his networking skills and connections in the background to flat out resuscitate Morse's career, and even life. If Joan ever decides what she wants is a contented, secure life with a faithful, honest man, she could do a lot worse than Jim Strange. The scene between Morse and Joan at the fete was masterful! Morse's anger and hurt were so evident in his clipped tones and eyes that couldn't quite stay on Joan's face, while her forced frivolity was just as uncomfortable and sad.

I'm not a former cast member and am definitely not optimistic about Deonna and Greg. We've seen before how far a shared faith takes the couples (nowhere), but I'm mainly skeptical of Deonna. She might think dating herself is cute, but she was defensive about it right away with Greg: "Don't give me that look!" She doesn't come off as particularly easygoing and I think she might have a hard time sharing and compromising. She's done whatever she's wanted to for 10 years, from the biggest life decisions down to controlling the remote. Even under the best of circumstances, it takes patience and tolerance to adjust to another person's weirdsies on a daily basis.

FWIW, the professional organizer (Matlin?) who wasn't chosen posted on Reddit that she watched the show and thought Jamie was very attractive. If anything, a work-focused perfectionist seems like a better match for him than rowdy Elizabeth. Edit: She also said she'd seen her potential match, Raven, around town since they frequent the same bars. Reading into her silence on the matter, she didn't seem to want to seek him out now, either.