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Archive through November 30, 2008

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: Other Reality Shows ARCHIVES: Archives for 2009 - 2: Top Chef - Fall '08: ARCHIVES: Archive through November 30, 2008 users admin

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Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - 10:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Watching2 a private message Print Post    
I'm really curious about tonight's show. They mentioned on our noon news that a local grocery will be featured on Top Chef. We're on the other side of the state from NYC. It's interesting in that this particular "local grocery" is the only one and it always has been "family owned." I do believe it's named after the family who were instrumental in the growth of that particular town. I haven't been there in ages, but Hegedorns has grown much larger than it used to be in competetion with the larger grocery chains. Anyway, I can't imagine what they'll be doing in this area for the show and how they came about finding this one single grocery store. (It's in Webster, NY which is a suburb of Rochester.)

Panda
Member

07-15-2005

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - 8:28 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Panda a private message Print Post    
Foo Fighters rule.
and mmm it made me in the mood for mac n cheese.

Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - 9:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Watching2 a private message Print Post    
OK, so now I know why they picked that grocery store. It was small enough that they could probably shut it down for the show to have only the contestants and crew in there. The others are open 24 hours and are huge so they'd never be able to clear everyone out.

What was even more interesting to me than the grocery store was that it was the concert here and I live about 15 minutes from there and less than 6 mi. away.

Guess when they had "Thanksgiving?" July 28, 2008!!! Oh and they make it look like it's a short drive? Riiiiiiiiight! It's at least a six-hour drive depending on traffic and which route you take.

I don't know if it was on the news or not when they were here since I had a lot of family things happening.

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Thursday, November 27, 2008 - 8:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
Finally got to watch my tape - a totally worthy person to go home!

I totally love mac and cheese and look forward to when we serve it at Second Harvest's (our local food bank) First Cafe which is an open-to -the-public buffet every Friday to raise money to purchase foods that are not donated. All English teachers should avoid the preceeding sentence! Anyway, I love bringing home some mac and cheese for the next day. Any food that has NOT been out on the line (available to the public for contamination) goes to Nashville's Table which picks up PREPARED food from caterers, hotels, restaurants and recycles it to feeding programs such as Meals on Wheels, Kids' Cafe, Senior Meals Programs, various homelesss shelters, etc.

Well, that was probably a lot more than you want to know, but I wanted to explain why I could take food home from a food bank!

Jodie75
Member

08-26-2004

Thursday, November 27, 2008 - 11:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jodie75 a private message Print Post    
Tnt, kudos to you for volunteering at a food bank. I volunteered myself for several years at a food bank, and I also have to use it because I'm on disability. The holidays are very difficult, and fewer people are donating these days (I guess because of the economy? But people who are forced to live on disability have to make do with even less - the government doesn't give extra to reflect the economy, and so they don't match fluctuating food prices). This last Thanksgiving was very hard for me (in Canada, we have it in October), and I was too ill to be with family. I received very little from the Salvation Army when I went to get some help. I am really dreading Christmas...I can't bear the thought of another year with canned ham for the holidays. I know how to prepare and roast a turkey, but because I'm single and don't have children, I don't merit a turkey. So I get salty, canned ham, which I've actually turned down now because I have serious kidney problems, and the amount of salt in canned meat is bad for me. I also receive several cans of mixed veggies and instant potatoes. That's pretty much Christmas dinner for me. I can't afford to lose anymore weight, either. When I get really sick I have nothing to fall back on. I do try to buy something to enjoy that I could NEVER really afford any other time of year, like chocolate Moritz Icy Squares (I can't afford them now, either, but it's a once-a-year treat). mmm, I love those.

Anyway, I didn't mean to get bummed out here. I meant to say I really appreciate your efforts and I know the people serviced by the food bank you volunteer for appreciate you, too. I don't volunteer for the food bank anymore; now I volunteer for a community centre that looks after the elderly and shut-ins. When I'm well enough, I visit them and accompany them to their doctor appointments. It's very important to do things when I can, because I know from experience that I get sicker if I hole away in my apartment. I have a lot of days where I feel really bad, but I try to leave my apartment at least once a day to even just go for a walk. I can relate to a lot of the people I volunteer for; it is awful when you lack the ability to see other people...it is so isolating. I truly benefit from the volunteering as much as it benefits them. I get to see them, and they get to see me.

Anyway, good show. I felt really bad for Richard, because I don't think he's been doing that badly all along, has he? And does anyone else think Jeff looks a bit like Jesse Spencer, who plays Dr. Chase on House, M.D.? I am still very charmed by Fabio, and I'm glad we had more time to get to know Leah and Melissa. Honestly, before this last episode, I didn't even realize they were on the show, especially Leah.

And OMG the Foo Fighters. What would I give to see them in concert. I love them and their music so much. They've always had such a good attitude (they're so funny, remember their Mentos spoof video Big Me?), although it was kinda weird to see them on a reality show. But I'm glad if they had to be on a reality show it wasn't something like Paris Hilton's New BFF or The Bachelorette, etc, because those shows are so tacky. (PLEASE keep in mind this is my opinion and what I am stating is NOT fact - I am actually enjoying Paris Hilton's show, even though I would never admit it to anyone in RL).

ETA: Happy Thanksgiving to all American TVCHers!!

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Thursday, November 27, 2008 - 11:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
Lee Ann mentioned on her blog that it was a 7-hour drive to Rochester! What a horrendously long day that must have been! Can I just say - I still love this show!

Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Friday, November 28, 2008 - 12:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Watching2 a private message Print Post    
I'm not surprised it took them that long. I also wondered if they waited until after the concert and then all of them drove back. They had to have judges table at 5 or 6 am if they did it all in one day!

I wish it wasn't Richard who left. I wouln't have minded seeing Danny go instead. Richard was funny. I also was glad to see more of the other contestants. I barely noticed them myself. Now that you mention it, Jeff does look like the guy on house. It had to be weird to be pretending it was Thanksgiving in the middle of summer. LOL

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Friday, November 28, 2008 - 6:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
i missed the elimination part of the show, which one was Richard? did something happen during the eliminnation? i sort of heard Gail saying something like 'she couldn't believe'

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, November 28, 2008 - 11:37 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
FWIW, when Carla is not speaking to the camera (in a confessional) her eyes look quite normal. Just sayin'...

Richard was the one who did the banana s'mores, which turned out to be pretty bad.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Friday, November 28, 2008 - 11:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
thanks cost! can't keep them all straight yet.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, November 28, 2008 - 12:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Richard was a local chef, so I was kinda tryig to remember who he was. He was the second member of the self-named Rainbow Team to be eliminated.

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Friday, November 28, 2008 - 4:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
Oh, Jodie! How much more meaningful and important your volunteering is than anything I could ever do! I only try to give back to a world which has richly blessed me, so what I do is more in the nature of paying a debt while what you do is a gift!

At St. Lukes's - where I work in the food pantry packing food boxes twice a month - we have seen a HUGE increase in the number of family needing assistance. Second Harvest - which supplies St. Luke's as one of our satellite sites - has really stepped up the food drives for the coming months. The Titans - who are a MAJOR community partner in many areas - are doing food drives at their home games. We have food drives at area grocery stores and other places as well to try to meet the growing needs. The Culinary Art Center where I volunteer has taken on a WHOLE lot of catering gigs to earn money to purchase foods that are not donated. I continue to hope that together we can do it!

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Friday, November 28, 2008 - 8:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
((Jodie)) I wish you lived closer. Our high school kids do entire meals for those in need (my class put together 5 and we had 37 school wide). The meal includes: yams, corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, stuffing, bread, dessert, pudding, drink mix, gravy, fruit, and a turkey. The smaller families/singles get a chicken in place of the turkey. it's to avoid "waste" but it's still real meat- not canned stuff.

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Friday, November 28, 2008 - 11:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
I didn't want Richard to go :-(

Jodie75
Member

08-26-2004

Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 1:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jodie75 a private message Print Post    
TNT Your volunteering at the food bank matters as much as volunteering anywhere else. I am especially grateful that I can use a food bank once a month, even though these days the amount you get is much less. I remember when I could count on having at least a couple of cans of tuna, but not anymore. But what I do get I am extremely grateful for, and the other people using food banks also know what a valuable service you provide.

Teach - I would LOVE to be able to receive a chicken - way better than canned meat. The other things on your students' menu sounds awesome, especially yams, which I rarely eat but really love.

I always feel a tiny bit put out because I can't have children (health issues) and I'm not married (nor am I looking to be married, as my health problems are more than enough to deal with, and I just can't imagine even trying to take on the added stress of a romantic relationship). But it's as if I'm a less valuable human being. I get no anniversaries, no wedding, no wedding/baby showers, no Valentines Days, no Mother's Days, no Family Days (which was recently installed here in Ontario Canada). I feel like my very life is a crime. It really does suck.

Oh well, that's life, so what else can I say? But I think it is awesome what your kids do, Teach. I bet they don't even really know exactly how much the people in your community appreciate it. I can't describe what it is like to be feeling like an unworthy person and a waste of space, and then having people "rescue" you and give you food so you can also take part in the holiday. You and TNT are awesome people.

Thorandtara
Member

09-15-2008

Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 10:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Thorandtara a private message Print Post    
Jodie, I have a suggestion for you...go buy those cheap, funky kids valentines at the dollar store. You can get lots for a small amount of money. Send/hand them out to everyone you know/encounter. Celebrate Valentine's day! It will be so fun! Just hand them out randomly and enjoy the smiles!

Have a baby shower! Make it a "pot luck"/BYOB and ask everyone to bring a wrapped baby gift. It will be so fun to open the gifts and ooh and aah. Donate everything to a shelter or orphanage or something.

You are not less valuable. I am quite offended as a single woman who is not married and choses not to have children. I am certainly not less valuable as a human being. And, to describe my life as a crime pretty offensive.

{Sorry, mods, remove if necessary}

My mother passed away last year. She always and forever refused to participate in Mothers' Day. Since she died, now we can, in fact, celebrate Mothers' Day.

Only you can decide you are less valuable. But you also get to decide to make holidays and anniversaries of your choosing to be fun and happy. Just do it!

Thorandtara
Member

09-15-2008

Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 10:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Thorandtara a private message Print Post    
Writing to Jodie has inspired me. I am a single woman, living alone and supporting myself and my dogs as a real estate agent. After reading Jodie's post, I was looking for an "anniversary" to celebrate. I'm going to celebrate my August 23rd anniversary of getting my real estate lisence by organizing a "Habitat for Humanity" project! What a great anniversary!

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 10:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
I do know what Jodie means, though. I am married but I have no children. I appreciate that raising children is our society's highest priority, but it does leave those of us without children out of a lot of life's fun sometimes.

Jodie75
Member

08-26-2004

Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 12:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jodie75 a private message Print Post    
Thora, I truly didn't mean to offend you or any other single person here. I know I'm not a less valuable human being, I just meant I feel like that a lot times. I wasn't saying your life is a crime. I was saying sometimes I feel like my life is a crime. There's more to it than me just not having kids or marriage. I also feel bad about myself a lot of times because not only am I not a "productive" person in terms of creating a family, I also have to live on disability. So I feel like I am taking away from society even more.

There was absolutely nothing personal directed at you or anyone else...I have friends without children (yet) or not married. I only meant what I said directed at myself. I do not think that all unmarried people without children are "living a life of crime" - that was actually meant facetiously, and again, I was talking about my life - a life in which I can't work (and have to live off your taxes). And believe me, a lot of people look down on me for this, no matter how sick I am (I have lupus and was also born with a birth defect called bladder exstrophy, which causes me at least 5 kidney infections a year). Not only do I live off your taxes now, but my 31 operations and lengthy hospital stays were also paid by the government, which add up to millions of dollars. And I have nothing productive to offer back. I live with a lot of guilt.

I just feel left out a lot of times, and quite honestly, giving out cheap valentines is not going to resolve this issue for me, nor can I have a baby shower in my one-room apartment. I understand though, why you're suggesting I do this. But it's not going to just make me forget, and I would feel quite empty having a "baby shower" knowing I will never be able to have children.

I apologize to you and anyone else I've offended. I didn't mean to.

Jodie75
Member

08-26-2004

Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 1:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jodie75 a private message Print Post    
will the moderator please delete my post before last - I added on to my post, and didn't realize the first post had already gone through. I am sorry.

<done><100>

Daydreamer
Member

05-30-2008

Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 7:32 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Daydreamer a private message Print Post    
Jodie, you wrote, "I have nothing productive to offer back. I live with a lot of guilt."

Are you kidding? According to what you wrote a few posts back, when you are able to you volunteer to accompany the elderly and infirm to their doctor's appointments, and you have worked in food banks. That's already so much more than I have (physically) done for others.

It just happens that I am able to work at a job I enjoy, and so that's what I do; I don't have free time for volunteer activities, so I write a check to a charity instead. But we all do what we can, and from what I've read, you do as much as I do, and probably more.

When you go out for your once-a-day walks, do you smile at people you pass? Are you kind to others? If the answer is "yes," you have nothing to feel guilty about.

(And FYI to other kindred spirits on this board -- my husband and I chose not to have children. Instead, we are the favorite aunt and uncle of several precious nieces and nephews, whom we refer to collectively as "the heirs" (ha!), and neither of us for a moment believes our lives were a waste because we did not have children.)

After that long digression, here are my thoughts about this past week's show: it was a hoot to see these rock musicians be so into judging the food. What good sports to actually come on the show, and not worry about whether being geeky foodie fans clashed with their cool image as rockers.

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 7:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
Jodie - all the services that you use that are provided by my (and other folks') tax dollars were put into place exactly for people who need them. You should certainly not feel guilt about using them!

I lead a very blessed life and have been retired from "money earning" work for 27 years. I volunteer at ten sites around Nashville, and, at each one, I feel I get far more than I give. It is my priviledge to give back to a world that is very, very good to me.

Kellee
Member

07-07-2004

Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 4:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kellee a private message Print Post    
I have to say watching this year has been interesting as there is no clear front runner. Really I think for a group that is supposed to be "amazing top chef" they are adequate at best. Banana smores sounds great but for a camping trip not a thanks giving dinner..cmon.

Thorandtara
Member

09-15-2008

Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 7:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Thorandtara a private message Print Post    
OK, I apologize to everyone. I was only trying to postitive. If the moderators will please remove all of my posts, then I will promise to never ever post OT again. I'm a huge fan of Top Chef and TVCH, and I hope you will not think poorly of me because of this thread. I'm sorry.

Beth4freedom
Member

10-24-2003

Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 8:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Beth4freedom a private message Print Post    
Thorandtara, I am not sure what you are apologizing for, I loved your posts above, and found them inspirational myself! In fact, have loved this thread in general.

On a Top Chef note, I saw Richard Blaise of last season giving some cooking tips during the breaks from a movie on cable this weekend--wish I could remember which network, but I was so taken by surprise and it was so good to see him again!