I Shouldn't Be Alive

Have you ever seen or heard of the show I Shouldn't Be Alive? A better title for this show might be, How Badly Do You Want to Live? I just watched an episode about two white people lost in the Amazon jungle. I was wondering if some mess like that would ever happen to my boyfriend and I. Definitely not. First of all, we're not renting out a cabin in the Amazon for two months just to walk through the forest and explore. I can't even say the Amazon is even on my list of places to see when I begin my worldwide travels. Call me ignorant, but I'm not that excited about heat, trees, and wild/crazy/savage animals I've never seen. Anyway, the two white people spent six days walking through the Amazon, drinking water they shouldn't drink, barely holding it together without their medication--just going crazy.

I just find this show interesting because it really shows you how long the human body will hold out when someone is in survival mode. I don't honestly believe I'd make it through half these situations, but it sure is interesting to watch.

I have yet to see any black people on the show.

G. Garvin Cookbook

My boyfriend has been sick for the past few days, but yesterday called me from his house to notify me of a surprise for me. He proceeded to read something aloud and guess what? He bought my G. Garvin cookbook! Isn't he a sweetie? Well, he really only bought it because he complained that we've been going out to eat too much. Ain't that something? He buys me a cookbook and directs me back toward the kitchen, right? He wanted me to cook him something today, but since the boo-skee is sick I figured his taste buds might be off. My poor baby.

Anyway, pictured below are two other dishes previously created by me, thanks to G. Garvin. One is turkey chops, sweet potato casserole, and collard greens. The other dish features roasted short ribs, sauteed green beans, and goat cheese mashed potatoes. I noticed that with G. Garvin even if you aren't sure about the dish, you just have to try it out. I have yet to be disappointed.




Just in case you're interested, here are a few other dishes I made based on other cookbooks and recipes found on Robbie's website (see her link on the right?).



Southwestern Chicken Salad



Fully Loaded Spicy Nachos



Enchiladas



Smothered chicken, wild rice, and brussel sprouts



Buffalo wings & fries

What can I say...I love to cook! And thanks to Top Chef I know that much more about presentation and making things look pretty (although I was already into that anyway).

Carmen Bryan on Wendy Williams

Now, obviously I'm an avid television watcher (DVR has ruined me), but I do read too. While I don't read as much as I use to--the point is--I read! With that being said, I just want to point out the shit Karrine "Superhead" Steffans has started. First she aired her dirty laundry about who she'd slept with in the music/film/every industry claiming that she wanted to help young girls understand that the video girl (and I'm being nice by using the word "girl") world wasn't all that it was hyped up to be. Ok, while I missed that particular message while reading the book, I will mention that the book was interesting and Steffans' writing was pretty decent. I especially enjoyed the part where she discussed performing fellatio (being nice again) until she got a nose bleed. Wow. That was serious.

So since Steffans' book has been on the Essence best-sellers list, I'm sure it's inspired other females who had numerous sexual exploits with celebrities (still being nice) to write their own tell-all books. Thus, may I present Exhibit A: Carmen Bryan. Now sometime ago I read an excerpt from her new book, the new book where she's consistently noted as being "Nas's baby's momma." (clearing my throat) Being a former A.I. fan myself, I was not impressed with the writing or the content of what I read. Big deal. You slept with him...I didn't...but does that mean I want to read about your adventures? Not really.

My sister and I both read Superhead's book and laughed about her sexual encounters, but I doubt we want to read Carmen's book. I will admit that I'm slightly interested, but I'll only read it if Secret Santa buys it for me. Anyway, found below was the hilarious clip from the Wendy Williams show on VH1. If you have time, it is truly worth going to the website and viewing them all. My favorite parts include when Wendy asks her about her last AIDS test and later proceeds to spray everything with Lysol. Funny.

Oh yeah, if you want to read an excerpt from Carmen's book, feel free to check it out at Amazon.

Carmen Bryan on Wendy Williams Show, Nas Baby Mama

They Bet Not!

Before I get started, let me first say I don't want anybody looking that angry while they make my food. I might have to watch them. So, I was a couple of minutes late for work this morning trying to make sure the black dude didn't get sent home on Top Chef. Now, I don't care for his character, but I knew he didn't need to be sent home. I don't care if he did get sand in his food.

This week's challenge began with very general information and directions for the chefs. They were given $30 and taken to the grocery store where they were allowed 30 minutes to purchase breakfast items to prepare for a group of athletes. They didn't know how many atheletes, they didn't know if they would be in a real kitchen, and they didn't know what supplies they would have. Well, as you can see in the picture they were taken to a beach to prepare breakfast for like 40 surfers. All they had for cooking purposes was an open flame.

One thing I like about Top Chef is that they give the chefs some serious challenges. Did I tell you all about the one where they gave them $3 and put them in front of vending machines? They had to purchase items and whip up a gourmet dish with them. Crazy!



Anyway, three chefs were left standing at the end of this episode and I didn't think any of them deserved to go home. But, like the losing chef said, although by far he wasn't the worse cook on the show, he was the worse at this challenge. Unfortunately, he'd decided to make a quiche and when he got to the beach and saw the open flame he knew he was messed up in the game.

The dude on the right was the one that was sent home--and after he hated on another chef the previous week he got what was coming. I'm just saying, don't announce personal feelings about somebody when judging their food. It's my personal belief that the dude on the left has over stayed his welcome. He's been pretty lucky, but his time is wearing out. He throws crap together and he just looks dirty. I wouldn't want him cooking for me.

"Naw, is that who's in the kitchen? I'll pass."

Nip/Tuck Season 4

Get an idea of who the characters and what's happened so far this season.

Six Feet Under Series Finale

If you're gonna go out, this is exactly how you do it! Leave your fans with no questions as to what happened to their favorite characters. Way to go Six Feet!

Nip/Tuck

Tell me what you don't like about yourself is how each episode of Nip/Tuck opens. If you're not familiar with Christian Troy, Sean McNamara and the crew, then you're missing out on a real treat. Nip/Tuck truly pushes the line for what can be shown on cable television, not that there is a line any more with the mess they show on the regular channels.

These season the producers of the show were nice enough to grant us the regular presence of an African-American character with the lovely Sanaa Latham. Needless to say, she's doing an excellent job even though they made her be an ex-escort turned doctor. I'll keep my mumbles to myself about why they chose this as her former profession, but since Christian is such a sex fiend I guess it works. Unfortunately, viewing the promo for the season finale I hope that she makes it to the next season. Hey, do you remember when television shows had REAL seasons? Now shows give you 8 episodes and call it a wrap. What's that about? My Good Times DVDs have like 20 episodes on one season.

Anyway, last night's episode (which I already relayed to an attentive boyfriend...he's getting better about at least listening to me describe the shows) dealt with Sean preparing to sell his house and leave the business, Kimber announcing that 18 year old Matt isn't satisfying her in bed while she grows bored with being a Scientologist, and Christian continues on with the adoption process for his black son who really isn't his son. To comment on that, I was waiting for Christian's slutty homegirl to make her return. This chick had slept with over 300 men in a year because she has a sex addiction. She told Christian she was pregnant from him and the baby turned out to be black, but Christian decided to raise him anyway, until the real father stepped back in. Now his real father, an old ass black man, is dead and left his now 4 year old son to Christian. As mentioned previously, Christian is dating Sanaa (I don't know what her name is on the show...I call her Sanaa) and has had to convince her to adopt this little black boy. She's been thinking about it but decided to go through with it by the episode's end. Now Sanaa has been helping her ex-madam steal folks kidneys against her will, still that was getting a little played out they had ol' girl show up and blow her brains out. Unlike other Nip/Tuck characters, I guess that means she won't be returning.

I would have to say my favorite characters are Christian and Kimber. I love telling the story of how Kimber thought she was a dime piece and Christian checked her and then gave her plastic surgery to make her into one. She's a nice looking girl, being honest, and she wears some hot outfits. Did I mention she's sleeping with Christian's 18 y/o son? But we don't know how long that will last since she said he's boring in bed. I guess an 18 y/o would be boring to a porn star.

Anyway, the season finale happens next week. It looks like a goodie and again, Sanaa might die. I'm sure she won't though, but who knows. They might not want a black character on the show on a regular basis.

Ok, I have to stop myself because I'll go into all the past story lines of this show. If you've never seen it you gotta go to Blockbuster and get the season DVDs. You will not be disappointed. One of my friends rented a couple and he was turning to me every five minutes asking me what was going to happen. This is a tottally unpredictable show and I'm so glad my friend recommended that I start watching it after I started losing it when Six Feet Under went off. Oh, Six Feet Under... I loved Six Feet Under. I'm still disguisted with HBO about taking the show off, I'd watched every single episode.

So check out the You Tube's below for Nip/Tuck and Six Feet. I'll talk about Six Feet another time, otherwise we'd be here all day.

Thanks G. Garvin

Ok, so boyfriend kicked up a fuss about how he doesn't like chicken pot pie and went into a whole question and answer session concerning what was in it. I was going to say forget him and make it anyway, but decided that I'd have too much food leftover. So instead, I made the chicken and bowtie pasta, as featured on the TV One website for G. Garvin. Needless to say, it tasted way better than it looked and as you can tell it looked damn good. Between my sister, her husband's best friend and our Wolfgang Puck pot sets, we plan on trying the majority of the recipes on that site. We've cooked quite a few items already and provided each other with tips for improvement.

I even watch enough Top Chef that I learn a great deal from their mistakes. I've learned a little more about presentation and how to correctly pronounce some vegetables/spices that I said incorrectly before. They're so creative on that show! I enjoy cooking, but I definitely don't have enough experience to whip together the dishes they create. I would be voted off after the very first Spit Fire Challenge.

Top Chef Host: We gave her a set of canned goods and a piece of American cheese...let's see what she can do. (as I stand there looking dumb)

Top Chef Season 2 Trailer

Turn up the Heat with G. Garvin

Have you ever watched Turn up the Heat with G. Garvin on TV One? Most people don't even have TV One, so I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't know who I was talking about...yet. My sister and I go back and forth trying different recipes from his website. Sometimes my sister's friend will record them on his DVR and cook with the show, but I tend to do a little of both. I have to read the directions and watch too. I'm a multi-sensory learner like that, give me the words with the auditory and visual supplements. Anyway, I've made a couple of the recipes featured on the site and today (since I especially like to cook a real meal on Sundays) I'm going to try out his chicken pot pie. Hopefully, I'll be back with my photos later after a dreaded trip to Wal-Mart. Don't you just hate that place? I mean the deals are great, but I HATE going in there. But if you haven't heard of G. Garvin, Sam's Club has his new cookbook at the lowest price I've found, allthough I don't know why I would buy the book if I can just print all the same recipes from the site. I might buy it just to support a brotha, but damn can we have the "look inside" feature hooked up on Amazon?

Tone Down the Ghetto Wendy...

The Game

Synopsis:

Tia Mowry plays the lead role of Melanie Barnett, a first-year medical school student who has given up an offer of admission to John Hopkins Univ.'s medical school in Baltimore to follow her boyfriend Derwin (Pooch Hall), a professional football player, to San Diego, against the advice of her parents and her cousin Joan Clayton (of Girlfriends). Derwin is a first-year rookie with a fictional team called the "San Diego Sabres". As Melanie settles into her new life, she meets Tasha (Wendy Raquel Robinson), the mother of Sabres' starring quarterback Malik (Hosea Chanchez), and Kelly (Brittany Daniel), the white wife of Sabres' African-American captain Jason (Coby Bell). As she learns to balance her new roles as both med student and the partner of an NFL player, Tasha and Kelly immediately warn her to keep a close eye on her boyfriend because of the numerous "gold diggers" that approaches the professional football players. The show was created by Mara Brock Akil, who also created Girlfriends.

At first I didn't care much for this show. I thought the idea of promoting that whole baller/athelete's girlfriend and all the stereotypes that come with it would be too much. I will admit that the show has grown on me, with one exception. In my opinion, this could be a much better show if Wendy Raquel Robinson's character Tasha would tone down the ghetto a little bit. Now I understand maybe they're trying to demonstrate that her character is "new money," but man this could be a better show if they re-thought her character. She needs a storyline of her own, away from her son. Maybe her son should buy her a nearby place or something.

Ghost Whisperer Commercial

Ghost Whisperer

Opening Narration : "I just got married. I just moved to a small town. I just opened an antique shop. I might be just like you. Except from the time I was a little girl I knew I could talk to the dead. Earthbound spirits my grandmother called them. The ones who have not crossed over because they have unfinished business with the living and they come to me for help. To tell you my story, I have to tell you theirs."

I don't remember what initially drew me into watching this show last season, but its one show that I watch consistently thanks to my DVR box (I tell you its worth the price). Now I've never been a fan of Aisha Tyler, but I enjoyed her character on the show. I didn't appreciate them killing the sistuh off, but what really bothers me is who they replaced her with. Now Camryn Manheim (I had to look up her name, but its better than referring to her as Law & Order chick) is playing the character Deliah who's quit her real estate job to come work at the antique shop with Melinda. Kidding, right? Antique shop vs. real estate? And Melinda told her up front that she couldn't pay her much. But getting to the point, what exactly is her character bringing to the show? Yes, she has a pre-teen son who causes her problems from time to time. Yes, she can look up old addresses for the ghosts when Melinda vaguely requests. No, she doesn't look as nice as she does in that picture on the show. I already know before the season is out that they're going to have an episode where Melinda tells her about her gift. Please. Predictable and boring.

And why do the ghosts on every episode have to be so angry? Every time the ghost comes in tearing some stuff up or doing something supposedly scary. The overdone horror factor is becoming a bit much now. Now I'm guessing that if the ghosts haven't crossed over yet that the reason they're so angry is because they have final things to do. Ok. Fine. But can one of the ghosts just politely ask Melinda for help? Why not have a historical ghost or something.

An Introduction of Sorts

So my boyfriend doesn't like television. Great guy, but rolls his eyes into my hand graces over the remote control. Then on top of it all, when he does actually watch a show with me, he either kills it with too much historical background knowledge or his presence just brings a whole bad luck presence to the show (i.e. the show becomes corny).

I've watched television all my life, as a matter of fact, many of the songs that I sing around the house are television theme songs. As you can imagine, having a partner who rather do a million other things is causing my DVR box an occasional problem or two. Needless to say, outside of my older sister I need somebody to voice my opinions to. Maybe I'll get lucky and find some other people who watch these shows...maybe my blog season will end in three episodes like the show 3lbs.

Speaking of 3lbs, is there a chance that maybe this show wasn't successful because people didn't know what it was supposed to be about. Second, do we really need another medical show? Now I will admit that I never saw any episodes of the show, but the commercials just didn't intrigue me.

Anyway, since my boyfriend tends to fuss when I turn the television on, most of our time together is spend reading books, playing games, or talking...which is pretty cool to be honest. But when he's not around I have to, have to, have to clear out my DVR box. I can't imagine what I would do if I couldn't watch Nip/Tuck, Ghost Whisperer, Oprah, etc.