Pepper Mostly

Emilio Sosa. Tim hated him. He hated him even more than he hated Santino. I laughed like a hyena at Swapnil shaving. He knew damn well production would have a fit. I always said that if I went on reality teevee (never happen!) I would wear a different outfit every day and do something different with my hair/makeup to keep 'em scrambling. Good one, Swapnil!

The whole thing screamed "SETUP" to me! they "randomly" assigned the crew members to a designer? What a coincidence, the plus size girl gets Ashley, and moody, passive-aggressive one gets Slacker Swapnil (at least that's the story production wants to tell), pretty easygoing overall-clad woman gets Kelly. I think they were all encouraged to be difficult. Maybe there was bonus money for the woman who got her designer auf'd. (Viewers of Unreal, amirite?). When I saw Shiri and Constance as guest judges, I knew. The was producer manipulation at its best. Angela's mother didn't cry as much as these people. These women know the ropes, so their over the top reactions were making my eyes roll out of my head. I can't help but feel Swapnil has been ill-used. Its like ANTM when Tyra brands one wannabe as "fading away" or "lacking personality". There's no coming back. For some reason he was the sacrificial lamb, and I am very disappointed in Tim. He's supposed to mentor, not torment. The kind of talk he was dishing out was not going to work on Swapnil, who might have responded to some encouragement and kindness. The old Tim would have given him that. Those ridiculous pockets in the peplum on Ashley's dress were cringe inducing. But yay Kelly! I just love her. All of my psychic energy is now being directed to her making the top 3.

Leah absolutely refuses to have her child medicated? that's rich. She's the only special special princess who gets to have medication for her multitude of "issues". ADHD/ADD are overdiagnosed and over medicated, but it is a real thing, and medication can be a godsend. Get off your high horse, Leah. That said, I don't think Gracie has ADHD (I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on TV). I think she is acting out, in a big way. I think she is desperate for attention. And I think her behavior reflects this. Adumb. Love how he wore his best T shirt for the occasion. His snotty, dismissive attitude was hilarious. Chelsea having a few beers is equivalent to his multiple DUI's? He had to rush off to Denver for "me time"?? Newsflash, most of us have to just muddle along, you know, working and raising our kids and paying our bills. We don't get to jet off for the weekend whenever we please. Leah absolutely repels me. Even after being professionally styled, made up, and dressed, she still looked like a hot mess. Miranda was flawless in comparison. No wonder Leah was on the defensive.

I loved the visit from Colbert's friend. I especially loved how accepting and non-judgmental his friend was. They just kicked back and enjoyed the day. It made me smile, for real. Colbert is a very interesting character. He should write a book. I'd be interested to know about his childhood, the reasons why he chose go into business, why he left it all behind, and what his first few years of living in the wilderness were like. Tony and Amelia make me smile too. I find them adorable and Tony made me laugh with his Mighty Hunter routine. I loved how matter of fact they are. They just get in there and get it done. Derik makes me a wee bit uncomfortable. I feel like there are serious anger issues lurking. His eyes get a little crazy sometimes.

Diane is a goddess, to be sure. And you just know that she's laughing her head off inside. who could take these empty headed, vapid twits seriously? I laughed so hard at this. Diane has some serious comic timing. Sob, sob, I won't have much more time with my elderly mother. Why, she has one foot in the grave! Honey, its not 1715, its 2015. A fifty year old woman has a decent life expectancy. I can't fathom why she's overcome with emotion every time she talks about her mother. I mean, its sweet that she appreciates her and that they're close, but really? You're so moved by the fact that your mother, you know, raised you, that your eyes fill and you can't control your weeping? Get a grip, girl. I can't stand any of these ninnies. I don't turn in to root for anyone. Just to see who is going to cover herself with the most chagrin this week. HOW can they be so clueless? Cat is just an abominable person. Utterly self centered, ill-mannered and tactless. I do hope she will go down in flames.

My theory is that Justin in insufferable because he works in radio. I have never in my life met anyone who works in radio, especially on-air personalities, who wasn't a complete douchebag. (Except Darrell Martini, the Cosmic Muffin.) Pax to anyone here who works in radio or is an on-air personality, I'm sure you are a wonderful person. But Justin's level of insufferableness just screams radio guy. I don't think he's socially awkward or tone deaf. I think he's a radio guy and used to acting like a jerk. He may be kind to his mother and read to the blind, but he's got a persona and he's living up to it. jmo Yes. My son would be mortified also. Claiming credit for your son's accomplishments (even a tiny one like learning a few dance steps), but refusing to speak to him when he comes out? Um, ok. Mama needs to get a grip. I have to love Ernest and Jin because they are my Boston homies. Good thing I love them. They were adorable at the airport. After them I like the news folks and the track girls. I hope they can make a big comeback. I can see that the Texas bros are living up to their initial impression of being meatheads with a sense of entitlement as big as Texas.

Macy's! I just snorted unattractively at my desk, needschocolate! " Tyra is certifiable.

I squee'd when I saw Ron and his swiffer. Chelsea and Yamir are utterly adorable. I just love them. I thought it was cute that she was so shy when they were filming the video. From the beginning I thought they had a plan for Yamir's career. To me it looks like they are being sensible--tiny apartment, Yamir writing songs and working on his English, Chelsea working. I'm sure they'll go somewhere with a livelier music scene eventually, and I wish them nothing but the best. They are madly in love and its sweet to see. Jason is really funny. He's so deadpan you never know if he's joking, but I think he's probably really funny in real life. He and Cassia crack me up, for real. Dani. oh god. I felt such a wave of hopelessness come over me when the camera pans from Dani, flaked like a beached whale on her couch, checking her facebook, across the room to her girls, all glumly glued to their phones. Not a book, not a hobby (knitting? board games? houseplants? sewing? drawing? crafts? cooking/baking?) in evidence. I was profoundly grateful that that was not my life. And yes, Mohammed can hardly abide her. Dani to me seems like she's living in some sort of fantasy land, in which she is a TV star. Every time she was in a staged scene she couldn't contain her smirk and side glances to the cameras. I bet she moves her delusional ass to Hollywood and pursues and acting career. Danny and Amy, cute baby, cute couple. Not much to add.

None of these guys can choose a decent print. I'm just glad my girl Kelly is still in it. I just love her. Laurie's top reminded me of Daniel V.'s orchid top.

I saw that one, KarmaG! What a heartbreaker, and his reaction blew me away. That's why I can't snark, at least on him. I snarked pretty smartly on the guy in the perfectly pressed camo shorts and groomed hair and beard who was setting traps, to be sure. He apparently isn't on this season. Hee hee.

if she lived in France for 7 years I'll eat my chapeau. Her French is terrible. Mine is better, and its high school French from the 70's.

I just discovered this show, and I am absolutely hooked. I'm just really glad that a guy like Colbert or Thorn can find a place in the world where he can pursue his own destiny in his own way. I was inclined to snark, but I am oddly moved by Colbert, especially. I love Amelia and Tony. I love how calmly they go about things. And I love that Amelia wears her pretty yellow gingham dress to go tap trees or build rabbit runs.

I loved Edmond's vest. It was supposed to be conjure up night and I could see that. I'm glad to see him really working this opportunity. How many times have we on these forums bemoaned the lack of preparedness of the contestants? And then there's Edmond. He's been waiting for years and is READY. I've really been appreciating him. No drama, no sniping, no tears. You do you, Edmond. I'm sorry to see Lindsay go, actually. She was fated not to fare well--her designs are clean, sporty, minimal--not something that usually wins the favor of La Garcia. I always enjoyed Lindsay's dry wit and insightful remarks. The footage of her ahd Kelly giggling like a couple of middle schoolers was adorable. Godspeed, Lindsay. Didn't they have something like 8 months to prepare for Fashion Week in season 1? Now the have what--three weeks? No wonder the quality is lacking. Ashley will totally be saved. Just when I'm getting sick of her. Who compared her to a popular contestant on the Biggest Loser, who everyone loved and supported at first, but who became whiny and tiresome? Kudos to you, whoever you are. You have called it!

I love this show! I hardly ever catch it nowadays, but last night i saw one about two people who were on extreme diets. One was a body builder who was obsessed with lowering his body fat so his muscles would be more sharply defined, and a depressed teenage girl who was on some fad diet. (the chocolate diet? I never heard of such a thing). The bodybuilder was interesting and in the end saw reason and started eating more normally. He had a great girlfriend and good friends who helped him. The poor little teenager though! Dear lord I kept yelling at the TV "get this child a THERAPIST". She said early in the ep that she'd been diagnosed with depression but gained weight from the medication. Her mother, bless her heart, loves her but seems totally ineffectual. The kid needed help, badly. When True Life is good, its really good. I still remember I have broke parents, and I'm getting out of prison. Heartbreaking.

Kaiser is used to being ignored. He gets a bottle stuffed in his face if he whimpers. I've never seen Janelle or Nipps interact with him, play with him, even talk to him. He's just accustomed to not getting any attention so he doesn't try. Like those babies who are "blanket trained" by those Quiverfull loonies, or those poor babies in Chinese or Russian orphanages. I used to be pretty neutral on Kail---thought she was immature but on the whole interested in improving her life and her son's life. Now I utterly detest her and that man-boy she married. Isaac is a sweetie pie. So cute! Cutest of all is Aubree. I love the little faces she makes. She's adorable.

If Cat is Brittany 2.0 this show is dead to me. I loathe her and I loathed Brittany last season. Cat is mean. I laughed so hard when she interrupted her own dressing down. Oh Cat. The kind of behavior displayed was completely unprofessional. And that scene in the bar where she was telling Leigh all about her shortcomings? Get over yourself, honey. Was there a reason why they couldn't split up at the press event? Leigh should have peeled off on her own. That would have been amusing, watching Cat twist herself into a pretzel, trying to keep her own guy on the hook and trying to horn in on Leigh's interaction as well. I don't know if I can take another season of these stupid, self promoting, substanceless creatures. If we don't have a sweetie like Lenore to keep me grounded I won't be able to bear it. Shallow and spiteful is no way to go through life.

I'm in for another season, even though I think I'm going to loathe everyone, and the uptalking and vocal fry are going to make me claw my ears off. I love Diane and I love how she sells it, even though you just KNOW she knows the whole thing is a farce. You go on with your bad self, Diane. You're a goddess.

Sigh. after a couple of weeks of decent guest judges, we're back to "I love this look. I would totally wear it". My take on Swapnil was that he wasn't feeling it, was tired, and couldn't muster up the mojo. I don't have a problem with that at all. No one is 100% all the time. And really, they're mad about the muslin mini skirt? these are the same judges who LOOOOOVED Blake's glitter monster greeting card dress, mostly muslin. sheesh. I still can't figure out why the judges were all over Edmond's dress, which to me looked like he glued a crossword or a scrabble game on it. And why they hated Lindsay's so much. I thought it was cute. Why are Edmond's keys good but Lindsay's bad? Her skirt reminded me of the famous coffee filter dress by Mychael Knight. Mouse pads are ok, but CD sleeves are not creative. OK, whatever, judges. I like Lindsay, actually. Maybe her designs aren't setting the world on fire but I enjoy her deadpan delivery and lack of personal drama. She seems to know herself well and her assessments of her fellow designers are right on the money. I'll miss her when she's gone. Jay McCarroll smoked. Glad my girl Kelly won. I love her. She seems genuinely sweet. Love how she was the first to go hug Jake. And yes, the Ashley drama--poof! over. I'm sure the women all went back to the hotel that night and had a nice old drunk cry fest with hugging and avowals of lifelong friendship, and they're all besties again. I love Ashley's work, its colorful and creative. I just wish she'd stop whinging. and find makeup that matches her skin tone. I don't ask for much!

A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson. I love it. My mother introduced me to her books and now I've read several, love 'em all. I'm not really much of a fiction reader but I am hooked!

thanks for the tip, I'm going to add Savage Summit to my Amazon list!

I liked Candice a lot, but I actively dislike her now. She will have to win me back. And I'm not easy. She lost me from the minute she chose Amanda to "uplift her". Pay attention, dear, you're not Jesus. You're a fashion designer. Get a grip. I like Ashley but she's going to have to work to win me back too. I know its hard not to, but she should never have taken it personally. Everyone probably likes her just fine, they are just individually closer to other people. She said it herself--people picked their friends. No one was thinking strategically. (that was stupid, but it was first in a lot of stupid choices from that team). Instead of crying "oh poor me" she should have pasted a smile on her face, squee'd with glee at being on the team, joined in with a will and tried her best to contribute. Have a little pride! She should have put herself right next to Candice and recalled how they had won before. She made a choice to hang back, feel sorry for herself and let that feed on itself, to her detriment. Someone will always be picked last. Its a reality show. its a team challenge. And Ashley fell right into the neat little drama trap the production team laid for her. I like Lindsay too. I think she's snarky and funny. And color me shocked, but I cheered when Blake stuck up for Ashley. It must be Opposite Day. Yes, this. For heaven's sake, I thought my eyes were going to roll right out of my head at that moment. Sheesh. Yes. The women did not choose based on talent or skill, each one picked her bestie. They didn't treat it like a challenge at all, more like a slumber party. Squee! Lets all pick our BFF's and paint our nails and make some cool textiles! Squee! Hee! "I like this look and I would totally wear it". I like Kelly Osborne too. I have ever since she was on Dancing with the Stars. She worked hard and was appreciative of her partner and of the judges' feedback. I think she's always had a good eye, even when she was a teenager, and I give her credit for finding a niche and making it work for her. At least she has a job! Unlike other celebrity spawn. That business with Amanda and the scissors was ridiculous. I'm loving Laurie more and more every week. She does not back down. Amanda and her sad panda face will not be missed.

I love The Remains of the Day beyond all reason, so I tried The Buried Giant this summer. I couldn't put it down, but I was left a little empty at the end. Either I'm not intellectual/highbrow enough to get it, or what I did get was just not very satisfying. I read this too. I love non fiction and this kind of thing is right up my alley. I love a fish out of water story, I love episodes from history that I don't know about, I love culture clashes and slices of historic life. This suited me right down to the ground. I've read Into Thin Air a couple of times, and most of Krakauer's other books as well, I think he's great. I appreciate his meticulousness. (Missoula is on my list but I don't know if I'm going to be able to bear it.) I've read The Climb, and a bunch of other mountaineering books as well (no, I am not a climber, or outdoorsy in the least!) Try Dark Summit by Nick Heil or High Crimes by Michael Kodas about another doomed expedition to Everest, in 2006. Another great read is Buried in the Sky by Peter Zuckerman, about K2. Little Women is a total comfort read for me. I've read it probably 100 times, I bet, and if I reread Little Women now I have to read Little Men and Jo's Boys too. I love 'em all.. I first read them at 10, and I think I spent my whole childhood rereading them. Yes, preachy, but so warm and well meaning. I live in Massachusetts and finally visited Orchard House in Concord as an adult--it was a dream come true. I've read a lot of LMA's other books (Hospital Sketches is a heartbreaker), Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women by Harriet Reisen is a great bio of Alcott.

Right? That poor child's teeth enter the room five minutes before she does. I'm screaming "TYRA! Get this girl some ivisaligns!" at my teevee all the time. When I'm not screaming "DEVIN! Get your damn hands out of your mouth!" What the hell is with that guy? Is he three? And no one says a word to him about it? Not Tyra, not Miss J, not Kelly? Janice wouldn't have let him get away with that. Mikey is just some sort of douche-bro troll, I guess? Courtney keeps rushing off and crying so that someone will feel sorry for her and come coo over her. That will get old very, very fast. The faux drama is so very faux this season. I love Nyle, though, so that's something.

The minute I saw La Rochelle I knew it was Huguenot drama. (from reading The Three Musketeers, maybe?) I loved Tom's story and I loved how it connected him to his ancestor. I thought of Marguerite as a tough, practical woman who was probably pragmatic enough to convert to save her life and protect her opportunities for her future. Or maybe for love of her shoemaker. When opportunity knocked and she had the chance to become a fille de roi, she grabbed it with both hands. In any case, I kept thinking "good for her!" I'm a huge fan of Tom Bergeron anyway, and I really, really loved his episode.

I agree with every word of this. I, too, was yelling at my TV--"don't you dare blame her! YOU dragged your kids into this!". And she was texting/talking with this person when she should have been taking care of them, at least sometimes. She said they talked for hours, and her daughter asked who she was talking to. I am NOT old fashioned and I don't think women should sacrifice their own lives on the altar of their children, but honey, you had 3, you have to spend some time raising them and not chasing a new boyfriend. Jesus. I suppose all these average/pleasant looking people want to believe that they can win a hot model with their wonderful personalities? so much so that they'll live with any delusion? She was almost as dense as the nursing student from Arkansas who fell for the "model" who was studying to be an anesthesiologist online, when he wasn't a writer on the Chelsea Handler show. Ye gods.