Biggest Loser - Season 11, Episode 1

The Biggest Loser is back, and not too long after the last season's finale.  It feels like I've had hardly any time to catch my breath, but at the same time, I'm so ready for the next season.

NBC hyped up the previews of the 11th season to draw in viewers, with two new "unknown" trainers being the biggest bait twist.  After weeks of repeatedly airing previews of the "biggest cast" of all time, it was time for NBC to bring it on. Will they?  Only time will tell.

After writing recaps of the 9th season (which you can see here), I decided I wanted to take a break.  Knowing what the Biggest Loser has in store for us this season (and knowing I'd have opinions about it), I decided to get back into it.

So... here we go!

Of course, I have to start this off with one complaint.  It wouldn't be a ME blog without one ;)

At the beginning of the episode, it was announced that Bob and Jillian have been leading the torture fest at the Biggest Loser ranch for 10 seasons now and it was time for two more to join in the fun.  Not true.  Jillian left during season 3 (which resulted in the most boring season ever with that blonde whats-her-name taking her place).  No reasons were given.

Not a big deal but that was kind of misleading.  Just sayin'

Anyway...the producers have promised us a crazy ride this season, starting with a "stellar" cast and ending with two brand new trainers.  The contestants to keep your eye on this season are:  the biggest man to be on the show to date (percentage-wise), the biggest woman ever who had to lose 100 pounds at home to even qualify for the show, and a former gold medalist at the 2000 Olympics.  Now - back to the girl who lost 100 pounds at home: Courtney.  If she can lose 100 pounds at home in a year, she could certainly lose the rest on her own.  I'm still wondering how she got a spot on the show.

First impressions are crucial, right?  My first take on the twin brothers (Dan and Don) was mediocre.  The first one said "I'm 54 years old" and the second one said "and I'm also 54 years old" or something to that extent.  Uh.. Duh?

On to the other contestants.  I don't know why but something about this year just makes me think of previous contestants.  For example, Ken & Austin reminded me of the father/son duo Ron & Mike.  Maybe it was just the brown shirts Ken/Austin were wearing.  Deni & Sarah reminded me of Ashley and her mom from season 9.  Again, maybe it's because both teams were pink.

Remember I mentioned the biggest man?  Arthur weighed in at 507, which isn't as much as Mike who weighed in at 524 or something, but Mike was over 6' tall while Arthur is 5'8.  Arthur was weighed in with his dad which brought the duo to an astounding combined weight of 800.  They're the ones that the contestants will need to watch out for - they've got lots to lose and if they do it right, they'll end up being big threats.

With this next duo, I mentioned to J that I thought they could be Tongan.  Could it be?  A third set of Tongan teams in just 3 or 4 seasons?  Nah.  That's just too crazy.  Sure enough, Moses confirmed that they were Tongan and started rattling on about how Sam/Koli & Filipe/Sione did so well and that they'll "no doubt" follow in their footsteps and be the next Biggest Losers.  Um OK.

If there's just a few things I've come to learn about the Tongans it would be these two things:  1) they've got the biggest egos on the planet and 2) they are very determined beings and won't let anything get in their way.  Do I foresee drama with Moses and Kaylee this season?  Maybe.

I guess the Tongans can be likable but honestly, the only one I've ever really liked was Sione.  They do turn out to be good-looking people once they lose the weight though.  I keep wondering about the sudden frequent appearance of Tongans on the show.  It's a well-known fact by now that the village is overrun with obese people because it's in their culture to party and eat all the time.  I guess NBC took it upon themselves to try to save the whole village...

Before Filipe/Sione and Sam/Koli, I had never heard of the Tongans and wouldn't have been able to tell them apart from any other native islanders.  Well, thanks to NBC I'm a bit more educated in that area now.

Now on to the trainers.  It's no secret now that Jillian is leaving.  You can see a news article here.  I'm just glad Bob is staying.  I liked him better anyways.  It's still not clear why two new trainers were brought on.  Possibly it was to gauge the viewer's responses and see which one would be the best candidate to replace Jillian.  Or maybe both will stay and we'll have to suffer through another season with three trainers again.  We'll find out soon enough.

So - the contestants had to run a 5k.  The top finishers would be able to choose whether they wanted to work out with Bob and Jillian or choose the unknown trainers and be guaranteed a 4 week immunity.  Immunity is the ultimate prize that the Biggest Loser gives out, and this year, 4 weeks worth were given out at once.  This is huge.  If it was me, I'd choose what I know works and that is Bob and Jillian.  I would probably lose a lot more in 4 weeks with Bob and Jillian than with the unknowns.  Also, if I had a fluffy pillow with 4 weeks immunity embroidered on it, I might just be too tempted to sit my fat butt on it.  Come time to join the Bob-and-Jillian followers on the ranch, I might find I'm too far behind in the game and be thrown out during week 5.  Um yeah, no thanks.

Highlight of the episode:
Jillian announced that she will not scream at anybody this season.  If she tells someone to do something, do it.  Not because she's screaming but because she says so.  Riiiiiight.  I love love loved Bob's reaction to that.  "It's like asking the grass not to grow, *giggle* fish not to swim, *giggle* lion not to roar."  Ya hit the nail right on the head there, Bob! *giggle*

Another rant coming on here.  What's up with keeping the identities of the new trainers a secret?  Still? Gee!

At the weigh in, the players with the unknowns did well.  Moses and Kaylee (the Tongans, remember?) chose the unknowns and that fluffy pink pillow.  Moses lost 41 pounds - a record thus far.  OK - I'm a little impressed.  One team had lost 59 pounds together.  Not too shabby.

The players on the ranch also did well.  One lost 31 and all the others have lost at least 15 pounds each with the exception of Jesse.  The older half of the blue team, whom I predicted would be a big threat, didn't do so hot.  At least his son, Arthur, lost enough (31) to keep them around another week.

I'm already looking forward to next week, minus the mystery of the "unknown" trainers.

Christmas #4

I had Christmas all over again today.  I've had 4 Christmases this year... or is it three Christmases in 2010 and the first one so far in 2011?

Christmas #1 - with my kids two weeks before the actual holiday because they would be with their dad.

Christmas #2 -  on Christmas Eve with my family.

Christmas #3 -  on the actual day with my best/closest friends.

Christmas #4 -  when my kids came home.  The anticipation of waiting for my kids to get here was in itself like Christmas morning.  You.just.can't.wait.

I spent the afternoon playing Wii games with my daughter, playing "Go Fish" with my son, and helping the kids make garden stones.

Then my family showed up.  Christmas all over again (number 5?).  Since the kids were gone, my mom hadn't had the chance to give my kids their gifts.  Wrapping paper went flying, excited kids were running around and the adults (or at least me) wished we could go back to being a kid again.

Christmas treated me well this year, but I think I'm just about burned out now.

New Day's Resolution

1-1-11.  Interesting date.

We begin a new year... again.  People left and right are making resolutions to quit bad habits, do more good deeds and be a better person overall.  Out with the old and in with the new, huh?

I have a long list of faults.  I'd be the first person to admit it.  I'm stubborn and I don't do well with authority.  In other words, I like to be a "leader" and take control.  That's probably the kindest thing I've heard somebody say about my issue with authority :)  I can be loud, but I can be too quiet and shy sometimes.  I'm outspoken and that gets me in trouble.  Sometimes I put others first (too much) and at other times, I become too selfish.  I like a clean house, but can get lazy.  And sometimes, I blame others for my problems.  There, I admit it.  I'm not perfect :)

I stopped making resolutions a long time ago.  Mainly because I never kept them.  I'd end up breaking my resolution just a few hours, days, or weeks later.  I made resolutions because I succumbed to peer pressure and for the sake of a frivolous American holiday tradition.

If people really mean to change themselves once and for all (even it's just one annoying little habit), why not just change yourselves that day instead of waiting for the new year?

So how about this.  Instead of making a new year's resolution every year - why don't we make a new day's resolution every day when we get up in the morning?  Learn from your mistakes from the day before, make a promise to improve yourself and set forth into the world.

Take it one day at a time instead of one year at a time.  It just makes more sense to me....

How debit cards work (or don't work)

My debit card is weird.

I accidentally washed it after I left it in my jeans once.  It went into the washer/dryer in perfect condition and came out looking pretty worn.  Oh well, no biggie.  I'll just get a new one, right?

Well, this happened in September.  I tried using my card at Wal*Mart and found out my debit card still worked.  So hey, maybe I don't need to get a new one after all.

About 99% of the time, my card works.  Except at the bank.

I was in Dallas for the State Fair when I tried (for the first time) to use an ATM machine at one of the branches.  It.would.not.work.  I must have made poor J stand there and wait for me for like 10 minutes before I gave up and walked away.  I kept standing there, swiping my card again and again... saying "one more, let me try one more time."  You know how that goes, right?  Guess what, the card finally worked on my very last attempt (my "for real" last attempt).  Whew!

Since then, I never had any problems with my card.  Until I needed to use my bank's ATM again to deposit some checks.  Then it wouldn't work at all.

So after about nearly 3 months of using my washed out card, I finally hauled butt into a branch to get a new one.  Yeah, I know - getting a replacement card online is as easy as 1-2-3, right?  Guess I'm just lazy.

Just thought I would tell the world that my card works funny...

Desserts, Friends - and oh, Christmas Too

Christmas was quiet for me this year.  Quiet is good.  Until I start to get bored.

But you didn't come here to hear about how bored I am, right?  You came here to find out about that pretty little cake I've been raving about this past week on Facebook!

Well - here's how it turned out....

See this adorable puppy?  Just looking at her makes you feel like you wanna squeeze her tight, scratch her ears and bathe in her wet licks, right?  Right!  Well, this adorable little ball of fur managed to ruin my cake. Go ahead and laugh.  There, don't you feel better now?  I know it felt good after I was able to laugh about it.

Thanks to my "lack of thinking ahead" as J would put it, Midnight (aka 12am) had a blast with my cake.  She brought a whole new meaning to "finger lickin' good"  After I had put the initial frosting on, I left the cake on the counter a bit too close to the edge and went upstairs to take a shower.

J came home while I was getting ready and casually asked me if my cake was done.  I was a bit preoccupied so I told him "yeah, sure, the frosting's done but I need to add something else on it."  He gave me a weird look so that got me thinking that he was the weird one.  Um yeah, the frosting's on, can't you see that?

I came downstairs, took one look at my cake and well - internally, I lost it.  12am had licked the frosting off half the cake!

As a result, I had to cut my cake in half and brought the good half to a friend's house.

At least we all got a laugh out of it....

I tried to salvage the cake the best I could and tried (and pitifully, might I add) to add trees on it like I saw in the picture.  I gave up, gave the frosting to J and told him "have fun with it."  He went ahead and randomly dropped green frosting on top of my cake.

Final outcome:  The cake looked funny, but at least I got the ornament part right.  And the cake was still delicious.  The homemade buttercream frosting was the best part.

How a 4 Year Old Thinks

I love my 4-year-old.  Even when he's being difficult.  I love him even more when he says insightful (and just plain cute) things.  He's funny when he tries to be grown up (although it wasn't funny at the time).

I was trying to sleep in yesterday.  I made my room dark so I could sleep in.  Yeah right, I should have known better.  When there's kids, you're not going to sleep in.  Period.  So while I was unsuccessfully trying to sleep in, my son jumps into bed with me.  He wakes me up and says "I'm hungry."  I tell him "Go ask Becki to get you some cereal" (ha yeah, I know - I should be doing it).  He gives me a stern look and says "But Mommy - it's morning.... see?" and points to the very little light that's coming in through the window.  "There's light so it's morning... and morning means you HAVE to wake up!"  I couldn't argue with that so I got up.

I've been using the counting system with Logan and it works 95% of the time.  One day he wanted some ice cream.  I told him no because he wouldn't eat dinner.  Guess what he said?  "I'm going to count to 5, you have to give me ice cream."  He got a spanking and hasn't tried to count with me again.

Retelling this story as interpreted by someone at church:

We were at drama rehearsal and the director was talking about a scene that will take place in a church (and pointed to the stage where the church will be built).  Logan turned to a hearing person at church and said "How can that be church?  This (pointing to our floor) is our church.  How can he take this whole church and put it in there?"  I got a good laugh.

The extinction of theme songs

While I was growing up I had a secret pleasure.  I thrived off TV theme songs.  I remember being proud of the fact that I could recite the whole theme song of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and I remember thinking I was all that because I could "rap".

Theme songs were the bread and butter of TV.  Theme songs does for TV that junk food does for your mouth.  You just can't help but go "wow."  You could watch your TV shows week after week and not ever get tired of the song that introduces the spectacle that you'd be watching for the next 30 minutes or an hour.  Now, when I watch TV, I can't help but feel incomplete.

Producers have done away with TV theme songs to make room for more ad time.  They have also shaved off a few minutes of each episode, but that's a whole 'nother thing to complain about.  What used to be one of the best things about TV has been reduced to about 10 seconds of perky music, or for most shows nowadays, nothing.  

The reason that theme songs were created was to make time for credits (after all, you DO have to credit people for their work, right?).  This also gave the viewers an added bonus of enjoyable TV moments.  I guess the reality of all this is that when it comes down to it - money matters.  In an effort to earn more  cash, they've lost sight of the thing that perhaps drew in and kept their viewers.  Maybe this is why ratings are lower?

I remember way back when the theme songs lasted for about a minute while images of the actors and their names flashed on the screen.  I remember way back when I laughed or smiled before the show even started.  I remember being eased into something gently rather than have something thrown in my face.  It was the equality of easing slowly into a hot tub, savoring the moment rather than just jumping in.

Not only have they pretty much eliminated theme songs, they've also messed with the credits.  They are usually shown during the opening scenes of the TV show, but who actually watches that?  I know I don't.  Some TV shows have credits stashed at the end, running through them quickly in a 1/2 window while the other 1/2 is showing an advertisement.  I've even see TV shows run through the credits so fast (in 5 seconds or less), that you'd have to pause to actually be able to see what they were.  Pretty sad.

Not all is lost, though.  There are a still few TV shows that have theme songs, but I wonder how many seasons they'll go before they wise up.  True Blood, Dexter, United States of Tara are among a few that are still clinging to the old tradition.

I give it just a few more years before theme songs become completely extinct, and before that happens, I'd like to acknowledge some of my favorites..

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air - a nice rap that catered to their African American audience, and also tasteful enough for us "whites" who like to feel involved.

Saved by the Bell - a classic.  Enough said.

Growing Pains - a great "family" song about loving, smiling and getting through hard times together.  How can you not like that?

Doogie Howser - the perfect perky song.  It doesn't get any better than that.

Can you come up with some of your own favorites?

Busy Summer

It's been quite some time since I have written something.  Actually, it's been a long time.  I look into myself and ask for forgiveness, a forgiveness that will probably never be given.  I try to absolve my lack of writing with self-assuring excuses.  "I have a full time job now, which I love, that's keeping me pretty busy", "I no longer live alone (although the kids were gone almost the whole summer), therefore I have somebody to do things with", and the clincher, "I actually have a life."

My life today is a complete 180 from what my life was like a year ago.  OK - a little over a year ago since I just recently celebrated my one-year anniversary at my job.  My life one year ago looked like this:  No kids (they stay with their father every summer), no job, and no money.  I also lived alone in a 3rd-floor apartment.  I didn't go out much.  I escaped into computer games a lot, and I mean a lot.  I also found peace in writing because then I could complain to something/someone and ultimately, it gave me something to do.  After almost 7 years of being married and being a housewife, I had enough of staying home.  I wanted out.  I think at that point it was quite possible that I could have been tested insane.  Maybe.

In August, I received a huge blessing.  I was offered a job.  For those of you who know me most likely already know this story - so I'll make it short.  A temporary job on minimum wage turned into a full-time job that came with a huge raise.  This full-time job has been keeping me insanely busy - especially this past summer.  I can't complain (although, I do at times).  The pay is enough, I love being busy, I feel worthy and needed, and above all, I have a job.

All good things come with a catch.  Sadly, this means I have less time to do what I'd really like to do.  And when I finally get the time to do what I want, I'm dumbfounded at the time I have on my hands, having forgotten (and then remembering) what it was like to HAVE time, and I end up doing nothing at all, because I want to cherish being able to do nothing.

So - in short, I've been slacking off and I hope to make it a habit to write regularly again.  We'll see.

Next on my agenda: my trip to Colorado!