The Ballard Bunch

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Ahhhh, the Bachelorette update. Where is it? Today's already Wednesday and nothing posted.

There are several reasons why this week:

1) I am exhausted!
2) Swimming lessons...three days a week
3) Dance on another day
4) Activity days planning
5) The kids are crazy
6) Work...ugh
7) Grocery shopping, Costco...
8) My house is a wreck
9) My computer sucks...super slow
10) I'm kinda bugged with this group of guys, to be totally honest.

I watched the episode and was so disappointed. Disappointed with few things, including but not limited to: Tanner P speaking his mind but not having the cahones (sp?) to man up about it, Wes' cocky smirk and total non-denial "I'm clean", David's disturbingly inappropriate conversation about "T&A", the fact that Juan is gone {oh wait, stoked about that}, Jillian letting Michael go, and the drama-mama rose ceremony that solved nothing.

I'm growing more and more frustrated with this season. I really hope it turns out better than I'm thinking it will - starting with serious finger-crossing that next week we find out that Wes has a girlfriend so we can get rid of him and finally get to some real relationship stuff. It's just so annoying that there really is no front runner besides him right now. I'd like to think that Jake and Kiptyn are right up there, but there still seems to be something missing.

I want there to be more than there is with SOMEONE. She just seems to be playing the field {for lack of a better term} and not really connecting with one person...she needs to let go and not be so reserved. That may be a great strategy that might work, but it seems like I liked Jillian more last season once she put her heart out there and quit being so reserved about her feelings. It really seems like she's trying, but not whole-heatedly in fear of getting hurt again.

As if I know these people and don't realize this is a reality show. Humor me, eh?

Anyway, sorry to disappoint. I'm sure next week will induce many more opinions and lots more commentary. But right now, I need a nap.

xoxo

Blasted DVR! I can’t believe I was forced to wait so long to watch this week’s episode.

It was awesome!
And by awesome I mean totally and utterly disturbing.

First Up: Bachelor Look-a-LikesBecause there are so many bachelor-specific issues to address after watching this episode, I’m just going to talk about each of the guys separately. Here goes…

Ed {Man Show}
Really, I hadn’t given him much thought before this episode. I like him. He’s sweet, understated, drama-free in ’03. I liked that even though he was freaked out, he took chances. But seriously, could that rappel line go any slower? I wasn’t nervous that something would happen to either one of them; I just hoped they’d make it down the line before dinner was served! I also love that he’s brave enough to rock the almost-speedo. {Did anyone else catch that in the segment just after the next week preview at the end?}. He may just be the black horse here… I likey.

Juan {Ponce de Leon}
{ugh} I just can’t stand this guy. Maybe it’s because I’m not one to fall for cheese, but he’s so over the top it’s not even funny. He’s trying way too hard. And, I suspect {and you’re free to disagree} that he’s maybe a little more into boys than girls. Not necessarily anyone in the house, but I’m just getting a little bit of a vibe with this one. As I watch more I’m sure I’ll have more examples to share, but just remember that I said that. More to come, I’m sure. He did tell her she looked “marvelous” en Español, though. Do straight guys say marvelous? Just wondering.

Brad {Tonsil Hockey}
Most awkward kiss ever. That was so weird and lame! I don’t even know what to say about it. But he sure did. I absolutely loved the editing of him describing this amazing kiss and then footage showing the complete opposite. The cherry on top? Buh-bye “drifter”. No rose.

Sasha {City Bus}
I was surprised that she let him go! I really thought she’d have kept him around sooner, but I guess she needed to save roses for the psychos and someone had to go. I just felt like the show went to a new level of tacky on this date. Take the guy who almost died in a car accident on a car themed date? Street racing in the middle of L.A.? That’s smart. Oh! I have the best idea! Want to totally humiliate him as he’s sent packing? Put him on a city bus.

Wes {“Love Don’t Come Easy”}
He totally has a GF! The more I see him, the more I’m convinced. And did you see how weird he was when they kissed? He went through the motions, I’ll give him that much. But that’s where it ended. It totally looked like he was quick and trying to pull away and looked like he was scared about getting in trouble after. Trust me, if you recorded it and don’t know what I’m talking about, watch it again. Something shady in the neighborhood. Shady with a song.

Robby {Rozmo}
That was pretty impressive. He really did take the bull by the horns w/ the lame acting challenge. But the spinning was too much. D-I-Z-Z-Y. I really don’t see him being a final contender, but he had a good episode all in all.

Not sure who to save for last, ladies. I mean, we have some serious nut jobs in the mix this year. And two for totally, TOTALLY different reasons.

Tanner P {Toe Sucker}
One point {and this is only because I can appreciate funniness in all forms} for his comment about his outfit on the group date. It so totally was “Flintstones”. I laughed every time he was on camera because of is. Strike that. I laugh every time he’s on camera period. I could not get over the many “confessional-type” clips of him talking about all the things he wanted to do to Jillian’s toes. Suck, lick, bite, nibble, pluck {he said that! Sick, huh?}. The guy is so strange and I can’t believe that we haven’t seen more footage of him being razzed 24/7 by the other guys because of it. I just pray to the reality tv gods that he doesn’t last more than next episode. Jillian is slowly slipping down the coolness scale for me by keeping this one around.

David {Roid Rage}
Simmer. Down. Now. He’s loco, folks. Honestly, he scares me. And he looks like The Rock, so I’m already turned off {sorry Kimm and Tanya – haha}. But really, though. If that’s not a sign of relationship issues to come, I don’t know what is. What happens when “Jilly” burns the toast or forgets to pick up his dry cleaning? I wish there were a way for the Bachelorette to watch secret footage of the guys in the house or something. I really think her choices would change quite a bit. He bothers me so much that I won’t even try to defend his motives when it concerns Juan {even though I do side with his opinion of the guy}. He needs some help. The kind that involves lying on a couch looking at a Freud poster. And possibly a straight jacket and a restraining order.

I guess that’s it. This was by far the most entertaining of episodes this season. But I’m still left more and more disappointed in our girl Jill. I’ve got hopes still that she’ll redeem herself soon. And I’m sure her choices aren’t all entirely her own either. Some of the people left do make for good TV, so I’m left to wonder if there is some dishonesty at play in the Bachelor/Bachelorette production offices. Just saying.

For whatever reason, I can't play the last episode of The Bachelorette and thus, no post yet.

Around these parts we call it a tramp.
And my kids absolutely love it.

No, I am not joking.

Feel free to talk amongst yourselves.

I love when the dating begins!
So much to talk about, we'll just dive in.

Can I just tell you, even though I'm jumping out of order {and you know that's a stretch for this OCD girl}, how much I love Jake now? I must say, I'm a little scared at how it will all turn out because the show gave us so much good to go off of on their date. Usually when you think someone is going to go far, it all ends up sour. But I really hope this guy is for real and she keeps him - I loved them together! Their date was totally fun and goofy, but they connected really well. I don't know how I feel about Jillian's "Coyote Ugly" bar dancing aspirations {without music? really?}, but we'll let that slide for now. I did think he was trying a little hard with the whole "Belgian waffles" spontaneity, but again, sliding this once. Cute, cute, cute. I will really be surprised if he doesn't go far.

Wes, on the other hand, lost me as a fan after this episode. I know some of you might think I'm jumping the gun on this one, but there is something shady there. I know it's a competition and the real goal is to win the girl in the end, but he was kind of slimy. Plus, he doesn't seem all that genuine to me - like he says all the right things but there's underlying motivation. {reminds me of a particular ex-bf} I tried to ignore that last week and really did like him, but there's something else going on there. And next week's preview of him serenading Jill is sweet, but again, I think there's a career motivation involved as well. And, last week some of you commented on the "girlfriend" issue. I think you might be on to something. Maybe he does have more baggage than Jillian is aware of right now. It all remains to be seen, I guess.

I'm not a Juan fan either. He's just a little too polished and self-aware than I like. His basketball shorts, however, were totally making me laugh. Did he have them rolled up? Pegged maybe? And the drink thing was weird. I'm not a drinker myself, but I'd like to think that I'd at least be straight-forward about that. But to take a fake shot is just silly. Be honest, dude. I just personally think he's phoney, of the most bologna variety.

Mike jumping in the ocean in a speedo was great. It was fun and spontaneous without being totally inappropriate {Brian...later}. I think it set him apart from the pack and he needed that, desperately. The more I see of him, the more I like him. Maybe not my first choice, but he's growing on me.

Tanner P must go! I can't believe she kept him, even after learning that he's "obsessed". I don't know one girl that would learn that about a guy and want to keep him around. C-R-E-E-P-Y! And he's not even cute, sorry.

And David needs to lose the temper. It's going to bite him in the end as I don't see Jillian as a girl that would enjoy any kind of loose cannon. He's quick to comment on other guys {even though sometimes he's right on} and needs to re-focus onto creating a connection with Jillian. As much as I disagree with the way Wes goes about it, I kind of agree with the philosophy that the show isn't to make friends, it's to win a girl's heart. And if David isn't careful, he's going to get too caught up in the drama of the boys to realize that he's losing the girl.

That being said, I have to constantly remind myself that she's seeing less "behind the scenes" than we are on these guys. She really is judging them on what she sees in a limited amount of time. So, before I get all up in arms about her choices sometimes, I have to remember that her perspective is very different than mine and yours. Lets just hope she sees the light on some of these guys sooner than later.

Also, so as not to offend readers, I've shortened a quote by Brian, the naked swimmer, into an appropriate post title. "...like a light switch" But, alas, "she didn't like what she saw" and our favorite try-a-little-too-hard bachelor was sent packing. *{ugh} That whole naked cannon ball {and totally awkward non-kiss - haha} left me with the Willies. And left him without a rose.

And while I'm being totally inappropriate, did anyone else see the Schick Quatro commercial about half-way though the show? I was dying at how scandalous that was. Waterproof bikini trimmer? Ew! And the "trimming" demonstrated on the show was just too much - could they have used another illustration to get their point across? I don't even want to say the word. Hedges maybe? Is that less offensive? Seriously, I was so bothered by the commercial that I'm even having a hard time commenting on it. If you saw it, you know what I mean. If you didn't, you're not missing out on anything important. Avoidance is key.

So there you have it. Who are your favorites? Are you also freaking out that she kept Tanner P around? Who are your final three?

Comment-a-rama.

Yep folks, Blame it on the Rain. Theme song for Memorial Day Weekend. Really, the only title that would be at all accurate.

Camping with 3 small children in a tent {plus} non-stop rain {equals} not so happy me. But, the kids had a blast so all is well. Here are some pictures to prove it.







Thanks to everyone for making a crappy situation fun anyways. Here's to next year!!!! {are we changing holidays?!?!?!}

And, I guess without a little rain out and early trip home, we would have missed out on a day of this {pictures below}, so all is not lost.

So here's the deal. I'm really giving this photography business a go. I'm totally loving it and staying busy so far. And then, a light bulb moment. Why not promote my little business with a giveaway? We all love a giveaway.

Here's how this one will work:

1) Comment to this post {so I can keep track of everyone participating}
2) Dedicate a post on your blog about my photography blog and about this contest
3) A bonus entry will be given to those of you that also add a link to my photography blog on your personal blog
4) The winning blogger will get a {free} 1hour photo session at your location of choice {local only, sorry!} and a CD full of images
5) Drawing to take place on Wednesday of next week {May 20th}

I plan on drawing two or three names - I always like when I have more than one chance to win something. And I'm assuming you do, too.