Mom sings beautifully. She met my step-dad in the community chorus and he has a lovely voice too. Apparently I got the music gene from my father. It brings me joy to sing and I have plenty of time in the car alone, so it all works out.

Man, that was fascinating. The food, the locations, the clothes, the people's faces...

the variety of foods was interesting, and the way that westerners tend to eat so much more prepared/frozen/fast food. And the picture of the family in the camp, with their little bit of food made me want to cry.

I don't sing where anyone can hear me. It's a thing.

Top Chef: Kristen, I went to bed before I could read your white font. I agree, both Marcel and Ilan need to go away. Luckily, they did. I'm not sure about the S3 people yet, though I see lots of potential for divas. Whee! Also, how much did I love Steven's face when he realized he'd spent his team's extra money on something that might help the other team as well. For the Quickfire challenge, it amused me to see people try to work one handed, but at the same time, I really hope that isn't indicative of how gimicky this season is going to get. That really didn't have much to do with well how they can cook, and a full season of it would irritate me.

Lee - did you mean Marcel and Ilan? Or Marcel, Ilan and Elia? (Because this short dose of Elia was okay -- but given last season -- you know she will annoy in longer doses.) Also, Dave - he's a troublemaker and he doesn't own up to it.

The first one, Sumi-- I just misspelled (no coffee yet) , but have now fixed. I agree with you about the other person too.

Old cigarette ads are bizarre. This is from a 1938 ad:

Do Expert Marksmen find that Camel’s Costlier Tobaccos make a Difference?

“YES, SIR, in any bunch of expert shots — Camels are the favorite cigarette,” says Ransford Triggs, one of the foremost marksmen in America. “Marksmen know that it takes steady nerves to make high scores. And the fact that Camels don’t frazzle my nerves goes over big with me. I smoke plenty of Camels every day, too.”

And millions of other people — the most loyal group of smokers in the world - put their “O. K.” on Camels too — making Camels the largest-selling cigarette in America

TAKING X-RAYS is a delicate job—and a tiring one too. But as Miss Myrtle Sawler, X-ray technician, says: “When I’m tired, a Camel refreshes me. I get a ‘lift’ with a Camel.”

“I’M HANDLING money by thousands,”says bank teller, John McMahon. “Jittery nerves don’t fit in with this work. So it’s Camels for me.”

HOME economist, Elizabeth May, says: “There’s a world of comfort in smoking Camels ‘for di-gestion’s sake,’ at mealtimes.”

[link]

Things that are not wise:

Saying, "I try to avoid Big!Boss whenever possible these days. I can't even look at him any more without giggling." And then walking around a corner to find him standing there talking to someone.

Ah well.

I'm on my second infusion of coffee. If I don't choke any bitches this morning, I may have to reward myself with french fries for lunch.

"I try to avoid Big!Boss whenever possible these days. I can't even look at him any more without giggling."

I can't either, since you pointed out the Golden Retriever puppy thing. Not that this helps with your particular moment of d'oh!

I've had one cup of tea. I'm still tired as fuck. But I'm feeling some free-floating anxiety. So if I have more caffeine, will my lowered tiredness outweigh the possible increased anxiety?

ION, would "Kerfuffle" be a good name for a cat?