The Bachelor… January 16, 2012

After believing that Sonoma was Ben’s home town, we learn that his true home and heart are in San Francisco.  He travels with his bevy of beauties to The City by the Bay.  His first one-on-one date was with Emily.

Ben takes this wonderfully intelligent gal to the Oakland Bay Bridge to climb it on cables to the top.  Unfortunately, she’s terrified of heights.  Being that I, too, am acrophobic, if Ben took me on this excursion, I would simply dump the guy.  I mean, who does this to a gal unless he knows that she’s an adventuresome climber?  Oh, Shame Shame… Tisk Tisk Ben and  ABC!  In any event, she eventually makes it to the top of the bridge after suffering a panic attack… all in the name of potential love.  At least the girl gets a nice dinner, the rose and a gorgeous display of fireworks to kiss Ben under.

Ben meets with his sister for an iced tea and discusses some of the standouts.  Thereafter, he takes the girls out on a group date of snow skiing down a street in San Francisco.  The twist is, it’s 85 degrees outside so Ben and the girls strip down into bikinis before heading down the slope. 

Kacie B. ends up skiing backwards, tush-up down the hill while others navigate it with ease.  They are joined with a rather large group of on-lookers (neighbors and lookie-loos alike).  This date just came across as so contrived and not as a fun, exciting outing.  Again, I believe that it’s ABC finding any excuse to get the girls in bikinis.  Later that night, they go to a nice restaurant where they are able to mingle and get some one-on-one time with Ben.  Meanwhile, Brittney is given the date card for the next one-on-one date.  (Recall, she’s the one with the Grandma who set her up for the show). 

While she contemplates going on this date with Ben, she decides that he is not the one for her.  To spare him his time and feelings, as well as to give another gal an opportunity, she gracefully bows out of the competition and says “good-bye” to Ben.  Although the viewers are not privy to the details change in his date choice, Ben elects to take out Miss First Impression Rose, Lindzi C.

Their less than exciting date includes a trip to Swensen’s Ice Cream Parlor, a private concert at City Hall, and an intimate dinner in an old San Francisican speak-easy bar/restaurant.  They are both quite enamored with one another and she scores the rose. 

During the rose ceremony, the pot gets stirred upon the arrival of Shawntel (a front-runner from Brad Womak’s season).  She apparently has had several telephone calls with Ben and felt that they had a connection that she needed to explore.  If this was the case, why wasn’t she one of the original 25?

The ladies are visibly upset with her entrance and interruption into their quest for love.  None is more upset than Courtney, whose eyebrows are really starting to irritate me to death (it’s nearly a unibrow).  She claims that if he gives Shawntel a rose, then she will give hers back and leave the show (oh, we can only hope!).  I think she’s just insanely jealous of Shawntel’s looks and intelligence.  Her holier-than-thou attitude is really starting to annoy the heck out of me!

During the elimination, Erika passes out.  Unfortunately, she is one of the three to be eliminated, including the rejected Shawntel. 

 Until next week…

Owen Thornton and Bob Chatt Star in the Premier of Combat Cash

Discovery Channel has produced such a unique and refreshing new reality series in COMBAT CASH.  On January 11th, I had the opportunity to attend the premier party and view two back-to-back episodes, which were a roaring success with the crowd.   Nearly immediately after it aired, Bob and Owen were met with emails from fans and collectors alike wanting to know and see more about this great, history-based reality show.

The first episode was about Bob and Owen’s quest to locate a rare and unique World War II Japanese Hago Tank for a tank collector.  Later, they purchase Sadaam Hussein progranda banner which was retrieved from Operation Iraqi Freedom.  In addition, Owen’s passion for paratrooping collectibles led them to a seller of a rare BSA 1942 foldout paratrooper bicycle.  However, this was not the easiest purchase of the show.  Owen was forced to prove his love for the paratroopers by jumping out of an airplane.    

Viewers learned about  about the amphibious “DUCK” vehicles which were used in D-Day to take soldiers from ship to shore in the second episode.  Bob and Owen participate in an annual D-Day live re-enactment in Ohio which included these DUCKs, planes, and thousands of enthusiasts bounding the shores of Lake Erie.  We also got an insight into a rare collection of WWII guns as Bob and Owen get to fire away in attempts to create actual sound recordings of these guns being shot for the sound effects of a video game. 

Of all the subjects I took in school, history was the one which I struggled the most with.   All of the dates and facts were hard for me to memorize.  In COMBAT CASH, I am given a reminder of what our veterans experienced in our war-time history.  What is surprising to me is the number of military and historical enthusiasts not only throughout our country, but also throughout the world.  With my never-ending love for good reality shows, this show is a rare one which I can not only get good laughs from, but also learn from.  If history isn’t your cup of tea… I would still highly recommend this show to friends, “hubbies”, and anybody who loves The History Channel.

Kudos to The Discovery Channel for discovering such an interesting aspect of American culture and bringing us into the world of militaria collecting.

For more information on buying or selling militaria and great military vintage clothing, visit VintageProductions.Com, Southern California’s premier military collectibles company.

The Bachelor… January 9, 2012

Last night may have been one of the most least interesting episodes of The Bachelor to date.  Ben took the remaining beauties to his hometown of Sonoma, CA.  There, he had a one-on-one date with Kacie B.

Ben and Kacie enjoyed the local sight-seeing and shopping of downtown Sonoma.  As ABC aired clips of this evening date, the entire time I found myself annoyed by Kacie’s choice of date outfit.  For an evening date, in which Ben wore a nice outfit including a jacket, she wore a long-sleeved jersey shirt, shorts and boots.  She looked like she was going out for a picnic or bike ride, but not an evening out on the town.  At the very least, she could have worn slacks.  Nonetheless, she spots a baton in a shop they visited and grabs it as a surprise to Ben.  She then springs the news on him that she was a baton twirler in her day and proceeds to teach him how to toss the grand ole’ stick. 

They enjoy a quiet dinner in which Kacie is presented and thereafter accepted the rose.  Thereafter, they go to the town movie theatre where ABC put together a combination home movie of Kacie’s and Ben’s childhoods.  Ben, seeing his father (who passed away) on the big screen and hearing his voice, is brought to tears.  He shares with Kacie that this is an experience that only they will share.

While Kacie and Ben are out and about, the date card comes for the next group of girls.  This group date is for them all to perform a play in the local community theatre.  The playwriters of this work are children from the local school.  The next day, the ladies all audition for the kids in the park so that the kids may cast the play.  The one who made the biggest fool of herself was Blakeley who was wearing a completely inappropriate striped, short romper with her tah-tahs pushed up and out in full display.  It was appalling to see her dressed this way and running and bouncing about in front of the kids.  Needless to say, she wasn’t cast with the best part.  The evening’s play runs as planned and all are happy to see the child-friendly side of Ben.

The ladies move on to an evening of drinks, appetizers and pool-time (any excuse for ABC to get the ladies in bikinis).  It is here that Blakeley sets her sights on the rose and makes no qualms about going after Ben.  Her aggressiveness is received as an outright insult by many of the ladies who wanted some honest, good time with Ben.  Blakeley brags about her astrological sign of Scorpio and how that makes her a passionate person.  She adds that she has great kissing skills.  Well, it was either her kissing or her bikini bod that won her the rose from Ben for the evening leaving many ladies discouraged and jealous.  The good news is that she doesn’t appear to be Monica’s love interest anymore.

During the group date, the date card arrives which invites Courtney out for a one-on-one date with Ben.  Rather than being gracious about receiving the invite in front of others, she makes a snide remark to Kacie B. and acts holier than thou about getting the date card.  Like Kacie B., she throws on a tee, some shorts and boots and heads out for a picnic with Ben and his dog Scotch.  They eat lunch in a redwood laced forest and later have dinner at the winery.  Ben is amazed that somebody as beautiful and wonderful as she is not snatched up and off the market.  She explained that it is the treachery of dating in Hollywood that has left her single.  But, they both agree that finding one another is an “AHA” moment (thanks, Oprah for the phrase) and kiss.  She, obviously, gets the rose.

The elimination night includes the standard dose of drama.  Our tearful wack-a-doodle, Jenna, tells Ben that she’s not like a girl, but rather like a guy.  After she stumbles on her words to him in her one-on-one time, she heads to the bedroom to lie under the covers and cry.  Blakeley keeps interrupting Ben from his intimate encounters with those who have not yet received a rose.  This dons her as Queen Bitch of the Night as the ladies spew venom her way.  Even her Scorpion strength must not have been enough of a shield as she is later found by Ben hiding in the luggage room in the corner crying.  Personally, I think it was a ploy to get more attention.

As to be expected, the rose ceremony commences and the two eliminated are Crazy Jenna and who-even-knew-she-was-there Shawn.  A deep sigh of relief that Jenna is gone.

Next week, Ben is scheduled to take the remaining girls to San Francisco where he spends the majority of his time.

Until next week…

November Greetings to You…

I hope that all is well with you as we see Thanksgiving creeping around the corner.  It’s already that time of year to start thinking about Christmas presents, cards, and decorating the house.  Where has the time flown?  The twins, pups and I are planning our annual trip up to Big Bear Mountain.  There’s been a dusting of snow and the girls are hoping for a lot more so that they can snowboard while we are there.

I recently celebrated my 42nd birthday with my mom and sister.  We went to this fabulous place called The Melting Pot, which is a fondue restaurant.  I think I ate until I could eat no more.  My mom took me shopping and then a couple of days later surprised me with a copy of Nicholas Sparks’ new one The Best of Me.  So far, so great (but, to be expected from one of favorite authors).

For my birthday, I treated myself to a couple of goodies and also got my hair all chopped off.

(I got 3″ taken off my hair… EEK.  It will be the perfect length by Christmas time, I’m sure.)

In preparation for the Fall/Winter season, I cut back my overgrown garden in the front yard.  It’s nearly bare with the exception of my perineals.  We had some wonderful rains over the past 24 hours and I’m hoping for a bit more.  I’d like to plant some bright, colorful pansies next weekend and fill in the bare spots with fresh bark.

I’ve also been making little home repairs throughout the house.  I’m realizing that I’m falling in love with my house all over again now that I know that the girls and I are safe in our new mortgage.  It’s such a sense of relief after an anxious year of not knowing what the future would hold.

O.K.  time to gush about my favorite new show of the season… REVENGE!   This is the juiciest and most addictive drama since Dynasty!  There is intrigue, love, lust, jealousy, and it is filled with a cast of great characters.  My two favorites are:

 Emily VanCamp portrays Emily Thorne who is the main character who is seeking revenge for the death of her father, who was framed.

Victoria Grayson, played by Madeleine Stowe, is the housewife next door who was involved with Emily’s father, but betrayed him and sent him to jail.

I can’t get enough of this Wednesday night show (ABC).  If you are able to get it on-demand or on the web, I highly recommend it!

Well, here’s to a safe and happy week to my friends and readers!

The episode was great, the wedding beautiful… entertainment wise, this show kicked Kim Kardashian’s Wedding episodes’ butt!  Pure bliss!

For viewers with “on-demand” recorders or those with DVR’s who can record past episodes, this season of the show was highly addictive with shows pertaining to our military troops at Fort Hood, Gene’s trip to meet his family in Isreal, Shannon leaving Gene due to his infidelity, losing children as they leave the nest, marriage boot camp, and great counseling sessions.  I’m giving both this wedding episode and the season my thumbs up!

With such a colorful cast, there are so many favorites to choose from.  My favorites from last night?  Definitely… 

All of these dancers showed promise… all for different reasons.  Carson Kressley was completely hysterical in his funky chicken dancing with tons of glitter.  

J.R. Martinez was superb. 

  Chynna Phillips just nailed it on her first dance out.   

I think Rob Kardashian has the raw talent, he just needs to calm his nerves and let go. 

 David Arquette was a surprise of the night with his above par dancing.  I really enjoyed seeing Courteney Cox and Coco, their daughter, there to support him. 

 

 Who was the most controversial of the night?  Well, one can say that Ron Artest aka “World Peace” was a bit much, but I think that Chaz Bono and Lacey were the most anticipated couple of the night.  Their dance was okay, but I don’t see him lasting on the series for more than a couple of episodes.

Until next week…

 

Now that Blake has ditched the bain of his existence, Melissa, he is coupled up the self-proclaimed “prettier-and-much smarter-than-Holly” Erica for the Nealy-Wed Game.   A confident Casey and Vienna go to bed without cramming for the competition.  Holly decides to be loyal to Michael for once in this season and keeps her promise to keep him as her partner for the game.   The greatest part of the Nearly-Wed game was discovering that the majority of the household hated Blake more than any other contestant.  Michelle and Graham win the game, are granted a dream date and are saved from elimination.    The 2nd place winners,  Blake and Erica are also awarded a dream date.  Blake cringes at the thought of it.

Graham and Michelle get swept away on a helicopter for a movie night in L.A.  While they were away, Casey and Vienna get into a lover’s spat about having sex.  Casey strips the promise ring from her finger until she puts out.   He threatens to leave the house (as his bags were apparently already packed) unless she comes downstairs to “cuddle” with him.   Reluctantly, she gives in.  In the meantime, Graham and Michelle share an ultimate, romantic date on the rooftop of  a building in L.A. while watching a private screening of What’s Her Number.

Blake and Erica are given an opportunity to make a connection.  Erica, in her infinite wisdom, has informed Blake that his flirtation with Holly is ruining their chances of winning as he is infuriating Michael.  So what is a girl to do?  Of course, her plan is to seduce him on their date and make Blake forget that he ever liked Holly.   They are swept away to the Mission Inn for an evening alone.  Erica puts the moves on Blake like a professional wrestler.   The best way to explain Blake’s reaction?  Scared straight!

So, Blake and Erica are given safety roses to give away to another couple.   Ella and Kirk were hoping for it, however Blake and Erica gave the roses to Casey and Vienna.  Ella was devastated and felt that their fate was sealed… they would be voted off for certain.  My gut told me that Blake would be going home for certain.  And, I was right.

Blake the Snake is gone for good!

 …Until next week…