Fashion

A friend of mine recently gave in to the pressure of blogs and got one of her own (I would post a link here but I think it's a secret blog, if you know what I mean). Anyway, she posted a blog about how she'd gone shopping and ran into a little old lady who had her arms in the air and was asking for help.

Turns out she'd tried on a dress that was missmarked and it got stuck as she was trying to remove it - arms in the air. As women, we know how this works. We can fit in a size 5 with one cut and in another we do good to fit in the size 9. There's little, if any, consistency to how women's clothes are cut. And that's just how it is.

It reminded me of when I was married and my then husband had put on some weight. He'd always liked his jeans tight so he was having a difficult time getting them on with the additional weight. I finally had to raise the subject that maybe he needed a bigger size pants. OMG, he balked at that in a major way. "The pants shrunk," he wailed. "You've had them for years but they didn't shrink until now?" I argued back.

We went back an forth until I finally convinced him to try a larger size. I drag him (kicking and screaming I might add) to the department store and select the next size up in jeans (for men, that's their waist size - pants length stayed the same) and point him in the direction of the dressing rooms.

He comes out a few minutes later, the jeans all but cutting off the circulation to the lower half of his body and says, "They're cut small."

Yeah, 'cause that's how it works.

Go Lisa Go!

I will eventually blog about something other than Dancing with the Stars. LOL I'm just excited about the dances they did tonight.

Let's start with, I thought I was going to miss the beginning of the show. I had a 5:00 doctor's appointment so I thought I had plenty of time to get home before the show started. I walked out of the doctor's office at a quarter of. I was a bit panicked because the way home is paved with construction. But I made it home with about two minutes to spare. *whew* ;)

Anyway, Lisa Rinna is really starting to shine. I think she has a strategy though. Have you noticed that the last two weeks she's opted to dance the same dance as the celebrity men rather than what all the other celebrity women are dancing? That way she can't be compared to the other women when being scored. Of course she's doing the same dance as the professional women but you know, she's really stepping up. I'd really like to see her stay in the competition to the end.

Who did you like this week?

Devastated

So this isn't a shot from the Tango which got her eliminated (those aren't posted yet) but does this shot look like a person who isn't flexible? How many 45 year olds do you know that could strike that pose? I'm not 45 yet and I know I can't.

At week one of the competition, I knew who four of the ten celebrity dancers were. I wasn't really all that invested in the show. Now, at just week three, I care about all of them. I don't want any of them to go. And it's only going to get harder each week.

Anyway, I was so disappointed to see Giselle eliminated last night. I thought she was doing so well. I also feel a little bad because I really didn't think she was in elimination range and I don't think I voted for her at all, although I know I considered it. (I was distributing my votes among those I worried might be eliminated by not getting enough viewer votes.)

They showed all the dances again, in their entirety again and I felt the same way as I had on Thursday...and I was looking for the flaws and strengths the judges said they had and I just didn't feel any differently about the performances.

I honestly believed that Jerry and P Miller would be in the bottom two last night. As such, Jerry got some votes from me (although I had a very hard time getting through on his phone line, which encouraged me). When he was the second named celebrity as staying, my first reaction was relief. My second reaction was "oh *censored*" because who was going to be down there with P? I got concerned.

Then, when a little later in the show, P Miller was saved and there were still four couples left, I knew I wasn't going to like it. I hadn't prepared for a contingency.

The last three standing were Drew, George and Giselle. A no win situation. They say they call the names in random order (although I don't recall them saying that last night) but who knows where they actually placed. I started feeling real bad about Drew, concerned that I was taking it for granted that he would continue on - and I honestly think he is doing the best job out there, regardless of his advantages. He's working hard and doing a wonderful job - he doesn't deserve to be eliminated. I silently promised myself if he made it through, I would vote for who I thought did best from now on. I also honestly believed he wouldn't be in the bottom two. He wasn't.

When it came down to George and Giselle I was sick. I wanted them both to stay. Of the two though, I wanted George to stay more (he got more than half my votes for Thursday's performance). But regardless, I thought it was a wrong call either way.

To Giselle I say, you did a wonderful job. You inspired me. You shouldn't have had to leave. Thank you for being such a good sport about it. Hopefully in a twist, they'll bring you back later in the season. :)

To P Miller, P it's time you really stepped up to the plate. We both know that if you didn't have such a strong fan base, you'd be gone by now but you need to put more into it. You are improving but I need you to convince me that you deserve to be a contender. Make me want to vote for you to stay.

I dare you.

Wanna Bet?

Okay, since Honey asked so nicely, I'll give my review. :)

I have never in all my years of devouring books, read the last chapter of a book to see what happened. I've always come to the last chapter as a natural course of reading the book. But, when the book opened Once upon a time I had to know...was the last line and they lived happily ever after? As I was flipping to the back page I thought, "Naw, that would be too cheesy."

But sure enough (at the risk of giving out a spoiler) that was the last line. I rolled my eyes and thought, "this is going be great" (and not in a good way).

You have to understand that I've only read one other of Jennifer Crusie's books and I absolutely hated it. Not disliked it. Not didn't care for it. I hated it. I didn't like the characters - at all. One pissed me off so bad it wasn't funny. But a friend had recommended the book so I read the whole thing (based on her lie that the secondary character I really, really hated wasn't in much of the book...I was kinda ticked at my friend after that and haven't really read anything she's recommended since). So I was very skeptical going in reading Bet Me.

With that in mind I will say this, had I read this book first, I would probably be out buying up all the Jennifer Crusie books I could get my hands on. It was so funny and I was hooked very early on. I would read something and I would have to put the book down because I was laughing so hard (and couldn't read while laughing).

There was one thing though - I really hated Min's mother. Fortunately she wasn't in much of the book but she annoyed the heck out of me. I guess she was needed for the story that was being told but I was having flashbacks (not the good kind) when she was in the story. If not for her, I would still (despite my feelings for the first book) probably be buying up all the Crusie books I could find. It leaves me with the impression that Ms. Crusie likes to have over the top characters that create friction or conflict. But seeing as I know these people personally - have lived with these people but have finally gotten them out of my life, I don't want to revisit them in a book - it just brings me down. I like to read for escape and those types of characters make the enjoyment difficult. As I said though, Min's mother wasn't in much of the book so she didn't take over the overall enjoyment of the book. In fact, if I hadn't read the other book first (and hated the characters), I probably wouldn't be near as annoyed with Nanette's character - but again, she wasn't really a key player. Anyway as a result I will read more of Ms. Crusie's books but it will be sporadically (and somewhat skeptically) rather than buying out the book store.

Bottom line on this book though is, I loved this book. It was a lot of fun - very funny, and I liked the way it was all neatly wrapped up at the end. :)

Can you say Ouch?

I know I said I wanted a P elimination - and I do - but could Len have been any more harsh? He told Master P that it was time he and the competition parted. All I can say is Ouch!

I was so excited to see Lisa and Tia break out. They were great! And to see them do so well in the rating. I was very pleased with that.

And I absolutely LOVE George Hamilton. How funny was it that he went to the Assisted Living Center to solicit votes? He got my vote for that alone - and his dance wasn't too shabby either. :) And Giselle was funny when she interpretted what George was saying, "He said, 'Vote for Giselle'. " Even George laughed. Teehee

Like the judges, I was a bit disappointed with Jerry tonight. It seemed too slow and wasn't up to what he did last week. I still gave him a vote though because I do not want to see him leave and P stay (but I still thing Len was too cruel).

I disagreed with the judges where Giselle was concerned. I thought she did a good job. Of course that's my "I know what I like when I see it" trained eye, not a "I know the hell what a tango should look like" eye, but I thought she looked great.

And lastly, I think Drew is the breakout leader. I think he will be the one to beat this season. He does so good and just seems to really enjoy himself. I think he has an edge because his wife is a choreographer and he can practice with the "professional" a gazillion hours a day and then go home and get coaching from his wife (and I read he does do that but that also indicates his dedication, so there you go). He hasn't gotten any of my votes yet but not because he doesn't deserve them. I just don't want the wrong people being eliminated just yet. :)

Buh-Bye Tatum

Is anyone else following the Dancing with the Stars? I love watching the celebrities learning to dance.

This season though has been somewhat disappointing to me. Last season the celebrities seemed to check their egos at the door. Yes they knew it was a competition but the goal was to do their best, however it worked out. They seemed to be having fun.

This season, however, some of the egos are huge and distracting. Last season the judges and audience were voting on different dances so they changed it where everyone is voting on the same dance and rather than wait a week to find out who is eliminated, you find out the next night. On the second night, they show some backstage happenings and comments by the contestants.

Tatum took a firm stand and said she would be the winner because she was the best out there. But when it came to the bottom two contestants for elimination last night, it was P. Miller and Tatum O'Neal with the two lowest scores. Personally I would have been happy if they'd both been eliminated but they only eliminate one at a time.

P. Miller has been totally disrespectful to the judges, his partner and the audience. He refuses to wear ballroom dance shoes, despite instruction from the judges and requests from his partner but he goes out each time and talks about doing this for Katrina victims, which I'm sure is why he's pulling in the call-in votes. Thing is, nothing has been mentioned about any charities benefiting from this competition.

Anyway, Tatum was eliminated last night and when she went to have her final comments with the hosts she whined "But I'm an actress!" Um, Tatum hon, none of the celebrities are dancers - they all are learning to dance, just like you were.

Next week, I'm hoping for a P elimination.

Recommended List

The Players:

Jane Marlow: Jane is an Estate Attorney up for a partnership in the firm she works for. She's known for being reliable, dependable and very predictable. Her life is very structured. She's the person whose throw pillows are placed at a specific angle (forty-five degree angle if you want to be exact), her money in her wallet is arranged by denomination, face up. Her CDs are alphabetized by artist and then chronological, in order of release. And, like Monica Gellar (of Friends), she'll chase you around the house sweeping up food crumbs.

Teddy Rock: Formerly known as Theo Brockford. Teddy is the aging rock star who wants to make a comeback. His one hit Janey 245 made him a household name back in the late '80s. His fall from grace was long and very public. His latest album is about to be released and he has to convince the public that he has changed his ways so they will buy his album.

Andy Marlow: Andy is Jane's brother. Irresponsible and impulsive, he's the opposite of Jane. But when he catches and episode of Off the Record and realizes that Teddy Rock is the quiet boy from their childhood neighborhood, Theo Brockford, (not to mention that he and Jane grew up at 245 Memorial Circle), he is convinced that Janey 245 was written about his sister and is determined to capitalize on that fact.

Drew Weston: Drew is a partner in the firm Jane works for. He works out of the DC office but has come to Chicago to help Jane with a case that went from estate planning to litigation between grandmother and granddaughter. He has a reputation of being a playboy, reportedly having his way with the temporary receptionist on the xerox machine at his going away party (he worked in the Chicago office before transferring to DC). He's going to have to work very closely with Jane to settle the dispute with Jane's biggest client.

Jane is working towards becoming a partner in her law firm when her brother suggests she is the inspiration for Teddy Rock's one hit, Janey 245. He wants to capitalize on it to help save a family friend's (Sam) bar. When Jane is reluctant to participate in her brother's scheme, Andy sets out to put her in a position of not being able to say no.

Drew Weston has been brought in to help Jane on a big case she is handling. She set up the financial planning of Kitty Farnsworth's estate and it was being contested by Kitty's seventeen year old granddaughter, Darcy, despite the fact that Kitty was still alive. Jane believed she had set up airtight legal documents and that is what Drew was there to prove, and Jane's partnership depended on it.

Jane had heard (specifics) of Drew's playboy ways so she was expecting him to be making advances left and right. When he didn't, she confronted him about it. His response was not what she'd expected. He had heard about her reputation as well. When he described her life (quite accurately), she wanted to prove him wrong. That she wasn't a no nonsense, hospital corner kind of girl. So she invited him to Sam's bar.

And that's when everything changed.

Off the Record was a fun read for me. It follows, in a humorous way, the career of a has-been rock star that wants to make a comeback, with newspaper and magazine articles starting each chapter, chronicling the rise and fall of Teddy Rock and potential rise again. The story is told from the perspective of the rock star's muse, Jane Marlow.

Jennifer O'Connell told a fun and touching story that made me both laugh and cry. I recommend it highly.

The Bloggies

On my nightly blog hopping I came across something interesting. There are blogger awards. That's right folks, you can nominate and vote for your favorite blogs. And like the academy awards, there are a number of categories.

I be-bopped over there and checked it out. You can only submit nominations once. It's late in the week and I confuse easily so I hope I did everything right when I made my nominations (nominations made incorrectly will be disqualified). Now I'm wondering at what point the nominees are notified and if they are told who nominated them.

Oh well, know this, if you're reading this blog, chances are you were nominated for something. :)

Good luck!

It's Raining Books

Yesterday (my first day back after being off for two glorious weeks) I was talking with a co-worker and I mentioned that I had an exercise video that gives you a good workout without making you sweat. I asked her if she would workout with me during lunch if I brought it up to the office. She said she would.

So last night I dutifully set out to locate the video and put it in my car, before I forgot. Only it's MIA. I couldn't find it anywhere.

I did, however, find seven - count them seven - books I'd set aside but haven't read yet. Seven!

I thought I'd done so well over the holidays, reading a book almost every day and now I find out I'm right back where I started in the TBR pile. *sigh*

I never did find the blasted video.