Pepper Mostly

Production, sure, but Josh too. He is getting off on how "bad" Aleksandra was. She's his prize convert! He jumped right in with "see through shirts?" when she was trying to describe what she wore in Prague, with a silly grin on his face.

Hahaha, TLC can't catch lightning in a bottle twice! Ignorant bigots like Danny's dad are getting thinner on the ground these days. I'm flashing back to UNReal "thousand dollar bonus to the first one to find a racist relative who'll cop to it on camera!"

I thought Melanie's parents were getting them the rings as a gift, and probably had a budget from them. I actually laughed a little at Melanie's testy "stop it!". No one is sunshine and rainbows all the time. Its a big change and she's had her share of stress, I don't blame her for getting irritated. And Devar's "oh yes" response to every question makes me laugh too. He is the very definition of laid back. God, poor Aleksandra. So she used to go out and have fun. Why all the judgy side-eyes from sanctimonious cousin? And don't Mormons dance? Isn't it part of their religion to honor the Lord by dancing? I thought that was why there were so many Mormon ballroom dancers.Why make her feel bad about herself for dancing? Shouldn't someone say to her "oh we LOVE to dance! you should come to class with me sometime!" And lord, those wedding dresses. You can have a modest dress without it being cheap looking and frumpy. (See Trump, Ivanka, and Duchess of Cambridge, Katherine.) The poor thing, I just wanted to hug her. Josh's mother is just a professional Patient Sufferer, I guess. Everything seems like such a burden. Does she ever smile?

Loved them. Edmond and his brother look just like his father! What a good looking crew of men! Nope. When the look walked out I just exhaled and said "well, those pants are.....unfortunate" Agreed. I couldn't understand that at all. To me it was "OK, Kelly's quirky, Ashley is feminine plus, Candice is moody darkness, so Edmond is SEXY."And sexy isn't just no front and no back, Heidi. Jesus. My blood pressure. Edmond's floaty black and whit number was absolutely beautiful and had a nice retro, 70's vibe, like something Barbra Streisand would have worn back in the day. Or Marlo Thomas in the "That Girl" era. Really cute. And a nice shout out to his very fashionable parents. I think our Edmond is playing the production a little. No way he'd turn up so unprepared. He's either psyching the other three out or mind fucking production in a way I find delightful. I'm a die hard Kelly fan, but I hope Edmond wins it all. I feel like everyone's picks for the mini collection were producer driven. No way Kelly wouldn't have chosen at least one of her detailed looks. And there's no way Ashley could have chosen to send those sad looks out of her own volition, is there? IS THERE? I have to believe this or I will cry myself to sleep. I can't figure out why the judges were so nonplussed by Edmond's choice to do evening wear. Season 2 winner Chloe Dao won with all her her upholstery-inspired "fantasy evening wear". Sheesh. Of course, Daniel V. crashed and burned and there was no way in hell they were giving Santino the win, so if Chloe had sent trash bags down the runway she would have won. #still bitter. Can we just talk about the home visits for a minute? Kelly's family was adorable, and the trip to the deli was everything. The Tim Gunn sandwich! Kelly's shy boyfriend (I said out loud "Oh, look at him--he's a palooka, but a nice one--I bet he likes cats!) I loved it all. Kind, simple salt of the earth folks who'll wrap up a sandwich for you to take home. Everyone was so proud of her! I think I might have teared up a little.

hahahaha, only because Christian's parents know he's a barely-out-of-puberty manchild. Mamma bear knows her cub.

I have to believe that Veeral and Ragini are just putting on a show for the cameras. I HAVE to believe this, because no two sane adults would continue to have the same revolving door arguments every day. And Veeral's sister, too. She seems way too conscious of the cameras, and her arguments are nonsensical! "we've all fallen in love with you! We crave your company! Were you just pretending to love us too, so you could get your filthy, modern Indian woman hooks into my brother?" Girl, take a seat. You are insane.

Agreed. Melanie may be many things but I don't think she is stupid. Maybe they are in love, maybe they made a deal, maybe she's thinking "hey, if I can get five years' happiness with this hot young stud, I'll consider myself ahead". Either way, its her life, Hosebeast Sister. She has given no indication that she's the kind of person who makes poor decisions or does things foolishly. She has a career, a nice home, and her son is happy and healthy. Back off.

Are you me?? hahahaha, I was saying the exact same thing about Noon's pearl clutching on Bourbon St. Really? Bangkok is a sleepy little provincial village I guess, where the townsfolk live quiet lives, playing with the kids and singing hymns, with nothing to compare to New Orleans debauchery? What sort of chumps does TLC take us for? And I too was perplexed by Loren's hysterics. They could try again, she could go to Israel. Geez, girl, switch to decaf. Bev the Beast and her scintillating husband (did he utter one word?) are going to be Season 3's Danny's dad, I guess? She never said in so many words but clearly she was dismayed not just by the "whirlwind" romance.

I used to work at a dental school. The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department also did botox, other fillers, chemical peels, lip enhancements, blepharoplasty, and other facial cosmetic procedures, among other things. An oral surgeon has an additional four years of training after dental school. I liked her a lot, too! She seemed very grounded and secure. A rarity on this show! Boobie girl, I just can't. Her new breasts looked terrible. I do not think the look of two grapefruits under the skin, with six inches between them is very attractive. As long as she's happy, I guess!

What does Fernando DO, exactly, that allows him to up and fly to Colombia for a few weeks? He is a real douchenozzle, and his mother is a hag. She and Melanie's sister could hang out and we could decide who was more hateful. Melanie's sister was just awful--"So, if you're a lifeguard at a resort, you must be fucking everything that moves. why, you are probably infested with every STD known to human kind!" WTF?? And Bev, newsflash-Devar lives in a tropical paradise, and has a good job. Moving to East Muffin, PA is not necessarily "living the dream". I wanted to throttle her. Who talks to other people like this? I really dislike people who excuse their nasty personalities by insisting that they're "keeping it real" or "being direct". Um, no. Bev is an unpleasant shrew who feels compelled to live everyone else's life for them. Devar may or may not be in it for "the dream", but he handled himself very well and Iiked his bonding moment with Melanie's son. So, this season is a creep-off between Fernando and Mark, I guess?

I hated the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and refuse to read any of the other books. It was a page-turner, to be sure, but it was so sick and twisted (and I am far from a prude). And of course every woman he encountered, (even the cashier at the supermarket and the cleaning lady at his office, presumably) wants to jump the protagonist's bones. And all of them are totally fine with a no strings attached, friends with benefits relationship! Ugh. Couldn't put it down, but I hated myself. It was like junk food--while you're eating it you're going "oh my god this is awesome", then an hour later you're all "oh my god what did I do?"

That makes me cringe. I have to fast forward through it because it makes me cringe so much. I'm sure Candice spoke with sorrow and sadness but "had to be honest" and Ashley teared up. Gah.

Hahahaha, I know right? Then, after the taping, he called Chris March and was all "girl, you'll never BELIEVE what I just saw!", then they went out for drinks and laughed and laughed. Oh, Candice has been calculated all along. Remember her tearing up on the runway and wishing her daughter could be there with her? (looking straight at mother of four Heidi). I have no beef with anyone who plays the production (as Jay McCarroll so gleefully said way back in season 1), but if you play it, be charming and keep the viewers on your side. Candice went full Gretchen. I liked her at first but she slowly became unbearable. I am all about my hometown girl Kelly! Win it all for Boston, girlfriend!!

Really enjoyable episode this week. Loved seeing Tony and Amelia with the bees, and Colbert's new home taking shape. I got a real bang out of seeing him drive into town! Wonder what the local folks think. I hope he's treated affectionately as a local character! I was exhausted just watching Thorn take down trees and clear his little garden patch. Guess I'm not cut out for homesteading.....

Wow, really? I may check it out--I started watching Indian Summers and gave up after 3 episodes--I find it cliche and everyone slopes around being cryptic and arch. Bleh.

I'm reading Dearie by Bob Spitz, a bio of Julia Child, and it sucks. Oh, the subject is interesting; I bow to no woman in my love of all things Julia. My Life in France is one of my all time faves. But this guy cannot write his way out of a paper bag. Too many italics, ("he forbade--absolutely forbade;" "she needed space to be herself--to breathe"); and he seems to have problems with usage--he picks the wrong word, a lot "thronged by his children" rather than "surrounded by his children", stuff like that. Its driving me nuts. He's an awful, awful writer. This must be why I never bought his book about the Beatles, and I read everything I can get my hands on about them. But I will soldier on for the love of Julia. Sigh. I just finished The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman for my work book group; it was meh. I work at MIT and we try to read something science-y or somehow MIT related, this book was supposed to take place there. Except the author didn't do some basic fact checking and continually refers to the Building 1 rotunda, (he means building 7, or building 10--building 1 doesn't have a rotunda, or huge columns, or marble steps) and refers to the the walls as being Institute Green (they're MIT White, lol), and other dumb errors that took away from my enjoyment, since I'm an insufferable pedant. This drives me crazy with anything that's set in Boston or the surrounding area. Along those lines, I hurled The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane across the room with great force about 50 pages in for dumb mistakes like this (the author references a Harvard professor smoking in his office! No one in Cambridge has smoked in a building since the 80's). As well as for being a terrible, awful, stupid book. I just read Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, which I've put off for ages. I love love love The Remains of the Day, but his other work has not impressed me as much. This was ok, but maybe because I'd spoiled the big twist it didn't affect me as much. My favorite new find is Kate Atkinson--I've read Life After Life, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, Case Histories, and A God in Ruins so far and I've loved every single one!

One beauty shot of Faneuil Hall, the building itself, and a nice view of it, too. But most of the action was in Back Bay--some nice shots of Comm Ave and Newbury St. I prefer Maria's for cannolis.... :-)

That whole wide eyed "why didn't they come to me?" is so phony and tired. Cat's pissed because the other girls spoke with Jessica, removing her ability to control the narrative. If Jessica's in the loop, Cat can't bully or intimidate the others, and she can't create the story she wants. Boston! Some nice shots of my town. I love it when we can see something that's not Fenway Park or Faneuil Hall.

After the fourth baby, she found the key to her basement prison and ran for her life? My theory is that she's a lesbian and moved in with her longtime secret girlfriend. "she changed. RADICALLY". heh heh.

I squee'd and clapped my hands like a little girl when they got to the backpacking place and their faces fell when they realized they were at a bunch. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Take that, sanctimonious phony pretty boys. I allowed myself to hope when one of them huffed about the plan being "flawless". I actually said out loud "don't let me down, editors!" I am actually rooting for Justin and DIana now, just because the Texans are so focused on getting them out. Justin loves the race and Diana seems like a cool girl. I would enjoy seeing some of the other racers. I think Cindy and Rick are turning out to be pretty cute. "I"m a dentist, I know how to work a toothbrush". Rick seems to have taken a much needed chill pill and is finding his stride.

So....I guess Dirk's suit and tie are this season's swiffer? Seriously, the man attends a backyard cookout/birthday party as his own home in a suit and tie?? I have no words. Mark is Skeevy McSkeeverson. Kyle and Noon seem sweet and I'm sure she will have him out of that fleapit in no time. Alexandra and Josh are also cute but I have real issues with how she frequently runs herself down. Wearing a short skirt and dancing in a club at the age of 20 is not a one way ticket on the Perdition Express. Josh and all his family lining up to let her know that she was Sinful and will have to Atone is not sitting well with me. Is Devar playing to the camera with the dumbo act? I think he's after a modeling gig and this show is his via aperta.

Of course. On a resume it would be listed as a certificate, not a degree. I worked in the registrar's office and we verified degrees all the time. only degrees. If anyone called to verify a certificate we'd refer them to the proper program. I don't think there is any confusion pertaining to the bona fides of degree vs. certificate holders. But they are all alums, just the same. The Extension school, like every other school at Harvard, has its own records office. Anyone seeking to verify an academic record could do so very easily, and anyone who misrepresented him- or herself would be very quickly unmasked. There wouldn't be any danger of confusion on the part of an employer unless they were really not paying attention.

Kelly eating the pretzels was gold. She was so typically adorable--"is this butter? I think its butter, not creamcheese. I'm enjoying every bite" She is a breath of fresh air.

I love Kelly beyond all reason and I hope she wins, but I think this is Edmond's to lose. He's auditioned for Every Season! So the story is Follow Your Dreams, No Matter What! See what can happen? Sigh. I'm sick of being told to follow my dreams, believe in myself, if they can do it I can do it. And can we please come up with some other reason to compete that's not "for a better life for my kids", "I want to inspire others", "I want to be a role model". Sweet tapdancing Jesus, I would love just one person to say "I wanted to stretch myself, see what I was capable of" or "I thought it would be fun" or even "I wanted to be on teevee"! Is it too much to ask? Its reality teevee, not the Nobel prize. I don't need to be inspired by anyone, thanks. Ashley is terrible, remember how we were all pulling for her at first? And, with shame I recall, I thought Kelly was comic relief and wouldn't make it past episode 3 (though I loved her then, too). Its Edmond or Kelly for me, I'd be happy with either one winning.

They call them certificate programs and everyone knows that those are the cash cows. Everyone knows the difference between a certificate and a degree, and everyone comes to alumni weekend and good fellowship abounds. The school really can't NOT call them graduates, if you think about it, or kind of second rank, skim milk alums. Not only would it suck for fundraising, but it wouldn't sell the programs very well, either.