mamamedia recaps :: Episode 9 of The Bachelor Australia

THERE IS JUST TOO MUCH GOING ON IN THIS EPISODE OKAY GUYS THIS IS GONNA BE A LOOONG ONE.

We begin with the girls casually sitting around the kitchen - clearly this is just after the last rose ceremony and they've all had a costume change, as Heather's hair is the same. These poor girls must be EXHAUSTED. "Ugh, just let me go to bed already! I'm too tired to feign excitement about a freaking invitation."

But feign it they must! Osher soon enters with the aforementioned invitation, which cryptically states: "Let's blow it all sky high." Just in case you'd forgotten, Emily reminds us that she hates Nina, crying "it cant be Nina, for the life of me it just can't be freakin' Nina." Don't worry, this storyline will get A LOT of airtime tonight. Meanwhile, Heather is just excited at what the invite might be hinting at: "I'm thinking: rockets...

 

"...Monkeys..."

"...And a circus."

The lucky lady off to "blow it all" is Bec, who is probably thanking her lucky stars right now that she wore something under this dress:

After taking a quick chopper ride across the city, they land at their mystery location...gosh, if only there was some sort of way to tell where they are...

Poor Sam. Seriously, this poor guy is supposedly scared of heights, and he's been set up on dates where he's flown in a hot air balloon, climbed the harbour bridge, and now he's faux sky diving. Can't catch a break! Plus, just look at the man's hair!

Back at the Manor, Emily & Ebru are discussing Bec's chances of returning with a rose. Em says "I think he will rate her highly than some other people in the house, he will give Bec a rose, she'll be safe and someone else will go this week." When Ebru then mentions that she thinks Snez & Nina will be all over Bec for details upon her return, Emily just can't even:

"UGH."

Reiterating her hatred for two-faced people, Emily then says that "if Nina stays over anyone else in the house now...I don't know what's going through Sam's head." This is quickly followed up with: "I think the only way harmony will be brought back into the house is if she left. It's not a pleasant living situation right now, is it?" WHAT IS NINA DOING TO EMILY THE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW.

Meanwhile, Sam & Bec are back on terra firma and have sat down with a deck of relationship cards to get to know each other a little better. The first question Sam asks? "What was your worst ever date?" A great question to ask coming off the back of the groundhog date fiasco! Poor Sammy Boy. The light-hearted conversation soon turns more serious, with Sam questioning the likelihood of their friendship ever turning to romance. Bec agrees, saying "if it's meant to be, it's meant to be." And, as Sam confirms, it just wasn't meant to be under these circumstances. And with that, she's off into the sunset.

Back at the manse, the girls are eagerly awaiting Bec's return with rose in hand. But instead, it's Sam that strolls into the lounge, shocking everyone with news of Bec's departure. Up until now, when on dates they've only had to worry about whether they will receive a rose or not, but as Nina explains, they now have to wonder if they'll be returning to the manse at all. The news hits some harder than others:

Poor Emily.

"I'm here to find a real woman to have a real relationship with, and to me that's not cocktail parties with fancy ballgowns and tuxedoes, it's more kicking around in your PJ's, having brekkie on a Sunday morning and just being comfortable in your own skin." And the best way to test how comfortable these girls will be is, of course, to ambush them with a surprise breakfast. As you can imagine, this goes down well, with Snezana shrieking "I WASN'T PREPARED!"

Oh, you're still stunning, just stop it.

Rolling with the punches far better is Heather: "The girls really seemed to freak out about the whole, 'Ahh, Bachie's coming in and we don't have any makeup on!' I was just like, I've got a butt flap man, just go with it."

 

The aforementioned butt flap.

ADORABLE. #TeamHeather

Someone who is decidedly not cool with this AT ALL is Em, who enters apologising for the remnants of last night's dye job all over her. She at least has time to throw on a "breakfast scarf" though, so there's something.

"Yeah, I'm not a morning person." O RLY?

Because I'm not particularly interested in the Sarah-Sam combo, I will blow thru their single date quickly: wine tasting at the Bach Pad, where she gets a rosé AND a rose, ending in a pash. Yep. 'Twas about as interesting as it sounds.
 

Yeah, yeah, get back to the good stuff.

Cocktail hour! And Emily is in fine form tonight, listing the reasons why she thinks half the girls shouldn't still be around: "It shocks me to my very core who is left. Heather, I don't understand it at all...Snez, don't see with Sam, mostly for the fact that she's got a daughter...Nina I thought would go in the first 1-2 weeks." Not pulling any punches, eh Em?

EVERYBODY SUCKS BUT ME: The Emily Simms Story

Suddenly, Osher enters...which is strange, seeing as how he is not normally present at the cocktail parties. I like to think he's hiding in the kitchen with the crew, knocking back a scotch or three. I mean, if you had to be around all this drama, wouldn't you? Anyway, he hasn't pulled Sam aside for a sneaky Glenfiddich, but to announce the imminent arrival of two new ladies. Oh Gunsberg, you cheeky devil, you.

"HEH HEH HEH"

There is no time for Sam to prepare himself though, as New Girl #1 saunters in in a blur of black sequins and kohl eyeliner. Lana is 27, works in corporate communications, plays golf, practices yoga and is here for "an opportunity at love." She seems very sweet, I must admit when I first saw her press photo, I thought she'd be much more of a tough talker. The eyeliner threw me, I think. Anyway, Sam is lovely as always, and after a pleasant chat he sends her off to the lions den. As she crosses the lawn, Nina spots her and yelps "OHMYGAWD OHMYGAWD OHMYGAWD IT'S INTRUDERS GUYS IT'S INTRUDERS." Because, apparently, we're on Big Brother now?

Any guesses as to what Emily was uttering here? Anyone?

"It doesn't bother me that there's intruders. Whatever..." Hey Em! This statement would have been more convincing if you hadn't followed it up with this face...

Poor Lana entered to a warm welcome from Heather and Snezana, and then 20 questions from everyone else. Including a NOT AT ALL SUBTLE sizing up from Sarah and Ebs:

(This isn't just a conveniently timed screen grab, by the way. They literally looked her up and down.)

As Heather astutely observes, "where there's one, there will be more" a glowing white orb appears over the Manor hedges as we meet New Girl #2. Rachel is 29 and a food blogger from Brisbane - who can't cook! Isn't she adorable! (Ugh.) Her & Sam have a polite conversation about their pets and Sam questions how much she actually loves her food. Nice one, Sammy Boy! Rachel then trots off to meet the rest of the ladies, who shriek "A BLONDE! Sarah, there's another blonde!!" Ebru voices her concerns about the new ladies, saying "You're thinking, OK there's two new girls competing for Sam's affections, and now they're going to live with us in this house, in our house! Like, it's literally our house, eating our food." Sigh. Too many of these women have a very shaky understanding of what the word "literally" means. Literally.

As Sam gets to know a bit more about the new girls, Emily, Sarah, Ebru & Heather discuss the likelihood of Sam forming a connection. After Heather states that she "100%" believes that the newbies are in with a shot, Em counters with "Well, I'm gonna say no, because I think intruders are bullshit, and B: not necessary, and C: not enough time." Yeah. It was at this point in the evening that I realised Emily had probably had a few too many champagnes. She soon follows up with "I'm gonna put it out there, I'm just gonna be honest...I think Nina is gonna go. I don't see them together. I think he needs someone who's more...ladylike. I just think she's too rough for him." The producers then brilliantly contrast Em's declaration with this:

SO CRASS NINA.

Oh God, this episode will never end.

Sam then pulls Emily away from her blanket buddies for a one on one. After she confirms that the new gals don't threaten her, as she "doesn't want someone who doesn't want me wholeheartedly" (a good policy Em! I support this 100% - don't settle babes!) she then asks Sam to explain how he views her. Well. This was never going to end well. After calling her a slow burner, to which she makes this face...

"...what?"

 

...he explains that their relationship has ebbed and flowed and has taken a while to get going...

 

"...wait, WHAT?" 

 

...and lets Em know that she's not the "goof" she thinks she is. He then drops the bomb that she's a bit more "glitz and glamour" than the girls that he would normally go for. WORLD SHATTERED.

 

For some reason, she then thinks it's a wise decision to let Sam in on how much Nina makes her want to "lose my shit." Nice. After Sam once again expresses doubts about their compatibility, Emily is "baffled" and then retorts with "you either like me as I am or you don't." This is definitely how you go about winning him over.

Time for the roses! And once again, Emily is digging at Nina: "I just don't see anything between Nina and Sam. I just don't think that he'd be attracted to her. She's too rough for him!" As per usual, Heather receives a rose, along with an eyeroll and a catty comment from Emily: "I'm wondering what the hell's going through his head, and why is he still choosing people that I just can't see him with." Because obviously, Emily knows what's best.

In the end, it comes down to Emily and Nina. A FINAL FACE OFF. Well, Emily's not prepared to go down like this...

...so she walks.

 

...and not just out the door, but out of contention for Sam's heart, as Heather explains that Sam is not the kind of guy who will chase you. I actually love that he didn't follow her. You know Blake would have chased.

"SIMMS OUT, BITCHES"

Not even the cameras follow, she just disappears around the corner, never to be seen again. At least Ebru appears to be a ride or die kind of friend, and after checking with Sam that it's cool, runs after Emily.

After that little bit of drama, Sam regroups and presents "the rose that was always meant for you" to Nina and the other girls rejoice. Well...most of them...

One of these things is not like the others...

 

Oh wait, we do get one last look at Emily as she departs the manse. She seems to have passed through the "belligerent drunk" stage, and is hitting "weepy," explaining how sick it makes her feel...that she's leaving before Nina. A fierce competitor to the very end.

Farewell Emily, we'll never forget you. BITCHFACE 4EVAAA.

NEXT TIME: The Bachelor turns Dating In The Dark, and the new girls continue to make waves.

The Bachelor Australia airs Wednesday and Thursday nights from 7:30pm on Channel Ten. Missed an episode? Catch up here:
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7
Episode 8 

Never Forget.

Since I've had a baby, my memory is shot. I say things and 5 minutes later I forget saying them. I walk into a room and can't remember why I'm there. I open Google and then immediately forget what I wanted to search for (this may be the most frustrating one of all...) But there is a grey Wednesday morning that is seared into my memory for all time.

When I awoke on the morning of September the 12th, 2001, I remember hearing the TV and thinking, "that's strange, we're never allowed to have the TV on when we're getting ready for school." Even stranger was hearing my Dad's voice drifting up from the lounge. Normally, my father would have already left for work by the time I woke up. Next thing I knew Mum was dragging me out of bed, saying that something had happened in New York and I needed to see.

 

I remember staring at the gaping holes in the Twin Towers - buildings that, up until that morning, I had never heard of before. I remember being sleepy and confused, wondering what this Pentagon thing was that they kept talking about, if it was the name of one of the Towers. I remember the rumbling roar of the collapse, and the tidal wave of dust and debris that rolled through lower Manhattan. I remember being terrified.

 

Fourteen years later, and while I have a far greater understanding and appreciation of the events of 9/11, sometimes it still feels like I'm that 12 year old girl, sleep still in her eyes, standing in front of the TV while her dad swore and her mum cried.

I don't know if I'll ever truly grasp what happened that awful day - it still doesn't seem real - but I know that I will never forget. I'll never forget praying for the victims in my Religion class, hoping that they would come home safely to their families. I'll never forget overhearing a conversation between two teachers, discussing the supposed shortage of body bags in New York. I'll never forget my younger brother and sister - only 7 and 5 at the time - asking me, weeks after the attack, why there were still no kids shows on TV, why every channel was still showing these tall buildings on fire. I'll never forget the pain, the fear, the grief.

But I will also never forget witnessing the best of humanity on display. Strangers comforting each other on the street. Men and women, caked in ghostly white dust, walking back into the pile of twisted steel to search for survivors through the night. Even an act as simple as passing around a cell phone so that people could reassure their families that they were OK. As much as 9/11 opened my eyes to the evil that exists in the world, it also reassured me that there are always people willing to help their fellow man. I learnt that the only way to drive away the darkness is with love and light.
 

My thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of the 2,977 people who never came home that day. They live on in the hearts and minds of millions.

 

I would also like to make special mention of the men and women who gave their lives trying to save others in the Towers. When others were running out, you ran in. We thank and honour you for your sacrifice.

EVERYBODY BE COOL :: In Defence of Kim Kardashian West

I recognise that this may be an unpopular opinion, but this has been eating away at me for a while so I'm finally saying something. BRACE YOURSELVES.

Last week, the MTV Video Music Awards were held in Los Angeles. In attendance to receive the Video Vanguard award for lifetime achievement was rapper Kanye West, accompanied by pregnant wife Kim Kardashian.

Kanye wore his slouchiest best, paired with Yeezy Boost 350's (in a new colourway!!! ...people lose their damn minds over these shoes) while Kim wore a bespoke lace up gown designed by Olivier Rousteing of Balmain. Personally, I thought Kim looked beautiful: love her or hate her, you have to admit the woman has some damn good genes. Plus, she's pregnant, and I think every pregnant woman is gorgeous.

But apparently, I am in the minority.

Here is just a sampling of some of the delightful comments that have been floating around since the ceremony:

OK. I'll be blunt: If you are making fun of a pregnant woman's body - REGARDLESS of who the woman is - you are being an enormous tool.

I understand the Kardashian family inspires strong reactions in people; B was not impressed when my younger sister asked for the DVD sets for Christmas: "We have to spend our money on Kardashians?!" I get it. I tend to fall on the side of "tolerating" them: I'm not going to pretend that there aren't better role models out there for my daughter, but I also don't think they are the four horsewomen of the apocalypse.

I also know that Kim's fashion choices aren't always everybody's cup of tea; her style has become far more, shall we say, "experimental" since she began her relationship with Kanye. It only takes a cursory glance at the Kim Kardashian tag on Go Fug Yourself to realise that the woman wears A LOT of stuff that people tend not to like. And never more than when she's pregnant, it seems. Cast your mind back to the Met Gala of 2013, and the Givenchy dress that launched a thousand memes...

 

...I mean...Yeah. That wasn't cool either. A woman has zero control over how her body carries a pregnancy, so you're ridiculing her for something that she can't change, even if she wanted to. It's not like she can just diet that belly away! It also has to be said that Kim is quite small: she's only 5'3" so a pregnant belly has the potential to overwhelm her figure more than it might on a taller woman.

"But Jess, why then would she choose to wear such unflattering clothing?" Well here's the thing: Pregnancy does not suddenly negate your right to wear what you like. A SHOCKING CONCEPT I KNOW. And when your body is changing in ways it never has before, when you feel exhausted and uncomfortable, the clothes you wear can feel like one last little thing in your life that you still have control over. As I was pregnant over an Australian summer, where I could barely handle the feeling of fabric on my skin, I spent A LOT of time in bikinis. When I actually had to leave the house though, my wardrobe choices were often flowing and/or elasticated. Comfort all the way!

Conversely, you also have women like a friend of mine who kept her pre-pregnancy wardrobe - 5 inch stilettos included - in rotation well into her third trimester. It was only once her seams literally split that she relented and bought some maternity gear. And that's OK too - at the end of the day, it's whatever you feel comfortable in. If you feel good in caftans? Awesome! If you would rather rock a more tailored maternity wardrobe? Sweet! And if anyone tries to tell you something isn't "appropriate" or "flattering," then fuck that noise. YOU DO YOU, BABES.

(Another point I'd like to add quickly: Your body can change SO quickly during pregnancy, so there is always a chance that in the time between Kim's final fitting and the VMA's, her shape changed and affected the fit of the dress. I can vouch for this happening, after putting off buying a dress until the last minute for an event when I was around 5 months pregnant, then finding it fit differently only days later. Super annoying.)

Anyway, at the end of the day, Kim is just another pregnant woman, who is probably uncomfortable, exhausted, and incredibly sensitive about her appearance. And when you consider the awful jokes made at her expense during her first pregnancy - a pregnancy in which she suffered preeclampsia resulting in an early delivery and was apparently such a terrible time for her that she was unsure if she could endure it again - I can only imagine how she must feel seeing these kinds of comments being made once more.

Play the ball, not the player. If you hate Kim's Balmain dress? Then say you hate the dress. That's cool. Fashion is art is subjective, after all. But if you're cracking jokes about her body?

You're just being a dick.

mamamedia recaps :: Episode 8 of The Bachelor Australia

Emily trains her bitchface on a new target, and the news of the group date pash is out. LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS, NINA.

"This has been a fascinating ride so far. I'm halfway through what truly is a wonderful adventure. I guess the trick now is to try and have the foresight, in the short dates that I have, to see which girls are not just great in bursts, but a woman I can spend the rest of my life with." And you know he's serious, just look how pensive he is on this random farm! Seriously, they're in Hunters Hill, where would this farm be?!

It's a new morning at Bach Manor and the girls are chilling in the kitchen, hopeful for a date. I can only imagine how mindnumbing it becomes in that house. No wonder some of these girls (allegedly) spend all of their time in the gym. Conveniently, as always, Osher then enters with the golden envelope, inviting Rachel, Heather, Bec, Emily, and Nina on a group date where "the race is on." After Nina's name is read out, Emily comments "the more I've gotten to know Nina, she's very fake. So on the group date, I'll just stick with the girls I'm close with." And with that, we are introduced to the new target in Emily's crosshairs: Heather is out, Nina is totes in.

And so, off on their date they go! As the Nissan PARKS ITSELF! (can we have our money now?) Emily remarks that "I don't know much about Nina. I know that she isn't someone I would be friends with." Which is a very interesting judgement to make about someone you proclaim to not know very well, dear Emily...

The girls arrive at Ultimate Karting Sydney where they find Osher & Sam zipping around the track. No helmet hair here though!

Fresh to death.

After Osher announes the girls will be competing in the "inaugural Bachelor Grand Prix," Nina can barely contain her excitement, explaining how she used to race Japanese imports and drift cars (I have to say, this was a bit of a revelation for me, I did not see that coming from a wedding planner. Never judge a book by its cover, Jessica!) This then sets up Emily's next dig: "I just don't see anything with Nina and Sam. I just don't think he would be really attracted to her. She's a bit...crass."

Crass Nina and the rest of the girls then get kitted up for the big race:

 I just wish this shot had been in slo-mo...

And after Emily makes one last snipe, hoping Nina "chokes," they're off! Let this be a testament to the competitive spirit: no matter how much of a princess Emily may be, her desire to WIN - and particularly to BEAT THAT CRASS BITCH NINA - has overtaken every other instinct. I have to say, if this is her first time go-karting, she's a natural at picking the racing lines. You may have found your calling, Em!

Meanwhile, Heather was just being her usual awesome self, burning rubber and whatnot.

#TeamHeather

At the end of the race, Emily easily takes the win, pulling into the pit lane after the chequered flag falls. Nina fails to see this though, and having assumed that she had overtaken Emily early on, celebrates a little prematurely...

...Awkward.

This is then followed by the awesome realisation once Osher announces that Emily has won by over 7 seconds...

"...Shit."

Emily then gets to claim her prize, which is some alone time with Sam. After he asks her if she had fun, she answers that "I'm just so happy I beat Nina!" To which Sam responds "I'm still trying to work out how I feel about Emily. I'm not sure whether Emily's here to find love, or if it's just about winning." OOOOH. Emily probably doesn't help her case much when she tells Sam that she thinks Nina would be off "licking her wounds" and that she doesn't really connect with her. Yeahhh, considering Sam has said that he really likes Nina, I don't know if that went over too well...

ALARM BELLS ARE SOUNDING IN SAM'S HEAD RIIIIGHT ABOUT NOW.

Back at the manse and the group daters are regaling the other girls with the tale of Nina's premature celebrations. And then in walks Nina. Awkies. But it's all glossed over quickly enough as in her hot little hands she carries a golden envelope, containing a single date invitation for Snezana to live "la dolce vita," which Emily & Nina announce means "the beautiful life!" I can just picture my best friend, who is Italian, throwing things at the TV at this point, because it's actually 'the sweet life'; beautiful is 'bellissimo.' And so completes today's rudimentary Italian lesson! You're welcome, universe.

Sam (who does know the meaning of la dolce vita, well done sir) and Snez then sail across the harbour in a vintage speedboat and arrive at Cockatoo Island (at least I'm 99% sure it's Cockatoo...) for their own private little Italy, complete with personalised pizzas, gratuitous shots of the cheese sponsor, and flour fights.

Oh, just stop it with the cuteness already.

Back at Back Manor, the girls are sitting around discussing whether they think Snez will return with a rose. After Bec says how obvious it is that Sam is attracted to Snez, Nina adds "like with the pash at the group date!" Which catches everybody off guard, seeing as the only people who Snezana had told about the kiss were Nina & Bec. WAY TO GO NEENS. Emily then weighs in, saying "Nina is as two-faced as they come...Nina can say some things that can come across as quite catty and nasty. I just don't trust Nina. I don't trust her at all." God, I would LOVE to know what's gone down between these two when the cameras haven't been rolling. You know there's a good story there.

Meanwhile, blissfully unaware that her beans have been spilled, Snezana continues to enjoy her little slice of Italy with Sam. Having discovered that Snez is apparently a huge Star Wars fan, Sam has commissioned a "Death Star" inspired dessert from Gelato Messina (Sydneysiders, if you haven't yet sampled their wares, I highly recommend you hightail it there, quick smart. I once hiked up the steep streets of Darlinghurst in six inch stilettos for a late night gelato. TOTALLY WORTH IT HASHTAG NO REGRETS.) Snezana is so into her dessert that when Sam pulls out a rose from under the lounge, she stops to shovel the last spoonful in her mouth before accepting. That's my kind of woman.

Cocktail hour! And boy, is there plenty of Emily material to go 'round! After Nina frets about Snezana's reaction when she owns up to spilling about the pash, Emily tells us "Nina is not genuine, she says what people want to hear." Soon after, Snez returns from her date and Bec & Em are sitting in the next room, frustrated that other girls are faking excitement, with Em saying "if there's one personality trait that I hate the most, it's people that are two-faced. And that's what I think [Nina] is."

As always, Sam & Heather are adorable and I just want them to hurry up & get together, because if anyone else wins Sam's love, I'm going to burn this mother down I'm going to be very cranky indeed.

Including this moment for no other reason than Heather is adorable.

Rose ceremony time! And YAY Heather is called first! ...Look, I'm sure the order means nothing, other than what will play best on TV of course, but it must feel good to be the first girl called.

Ooh, another dig at Nina from our favourite bitchface princess: "I just don't see anything with Nina and Sam. I just don't think he would be really attracted to her. She's a bit rough around the edges." Of course, Nina is next to receive a rose. And oh, if looks could kill...

"This guy, I swear, picking rough-around-the-edges, secret-spilling crass bitches before me, why I oughta..."

In the end, we are left with Bec and Nanna Rachel. Seeing as she's had a total of 5 minutes screentime all season, it's no surprise that Rachel is the unlucky lady leaving us tonight.

"Wait, where did she come from?" - My husband slash most of the viewing public.

NEXT TIME: Oh, we have SO much to look forward to. Another girl (all signs point to Bec) gets the heave-ho prior to the rose ceremony! New girls crash the party! More bitchface than you can poke a stick at! And - the rumours were true - an epic tantrum from Emily that sees her walk out.

The Bachelor Australia airs Wednesday & Thursday nights from 7:30pm on Channel Ten. Missed an episode? Catch up here:
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7

Welcome to the Wine Bar 04.09.2015

I once told someone that Karen Walker is my spirit animal...I stand by that statement.

Another week, done & dusted. Another week where I think about my to-do list and realise I really didn't check off as many items as I had planned...and then I shrug, sip my wine, and say THAT'S NEXT WEEK ME'S PROBLEM.

To be honest babes, it was a pretty "meh" week. I've been a bit blue...for no particular reason, really, which is frustrating B to no end, because he much prefers to have something to "solve" and there's no problem that needs fixing, I just felt like shit!

We at least had a beautiful day trip up to the Northern Beaches last weekend, which gave me something to smile about as I flicked through our photos. Liv still doesn't seem to know what to make of this whole "sand" business...to which I say, "You're a Sydney girl sweetheart. You better get used to sand." Although, I guess I could go all inner city hipster mama with it..."Beach? Pshaw. My baby prefers to spend her summers in underground jazz bars you've never heard of. We might be Vitamin D deficient but we have a great appreciation of Coltrane." Anyway. We'll see.

I can draw two conclusions from my photos:
1. I photograph a lot of bridges. SYDNEY HAS SOME GREAT BRIDGES OKAY SORRYNOTSORRY.
2. My daughter is just the cutest. Case closed.

One thing I DID manage to do this week is set up Disqus on the blog, so it should (fingers crossed at least) be easier for you to comment now - I know the Blogger set up can be a bitch for comments.

So, how was your week? Cheerier than mine, I hope? If not, I feel you. In the immortal words of Jack McFarland (jeez, this is a Will & Grace heavy post) I've got eyes to see, ears to listen, and a head to nod knowingly.

Go ahead caller, you're on the air.