Life's Choices

There comes a time in a person's life when he or she has to decide their own path. We all have our own desires. Desires that burn deep and either have to be fulfilled or let die. Some people want to be doctors. Some dancers. Some lawyers, or teachers, or chefs, or musicians. And then there are those of us who want to be stars. Of course, that's the path I have chosen. In recent years, I have put a lot of thought into what would make me happy. Is it teaching? Is in advertising? Is it in retail management? While I think I could easily be happy in each of these, the burning desire of my heart is to become an actress. There are many times when I am sitting and watching a movie or tv show that I insert myself and my own character into the show, and then I go on to think about the acceptance speech I would give at the awards show for that performance. Yes, I'm the girl nobody has heard of, and yet she has an awards show acceptance speech already planned out. That's me, awards show acceptance speeches....never leave home without one.

Hell Hath No Fury Like Gordon Ramsay

The kitchen was hot as Christina, the culinary student from Missouri, and Petrozza, the catering director from North Carolina, battled it out in Hell's Kitchen. Two worthy opponents battling it out for the chance to be the new executive chef at Gordon Ramsay's new restaurant, London West Hollywood. A position worth a quarter of a million dollars.

The two opponents started out the evening choosing their team of competitors. Petrozza, having one the last challenge, was rewarded by being first to choose his first team member. Up for grabs are Ben, Corey, Lou Ross, Jen, Bobby, and Matt. Bobby is first pick, followed by Corey, who is chosen by Christina. Petrozza chooses Ben next, which is followed by Christina choosing Lou Ross, leaving Matt and Jen to be the last two standing. Tough call for both teams. Had it been me, I would have said no thank you to both of them! But alas, they each have to take one. Petrozza's turn to pick next, and after debating which is the lesser of two evils, he pulls Jen to be on his team; Christina happily takes Matt.

This is where the heat really kicks in and things really start to get interesting. While Ben and Bobby are eager to do everything they can to help Petrozza win, Jen is none too happy to be returning to the show as a team player and not a team captain. Of course, one of the more interesting things said on the show was when Jen said something like this:
"I know that I was picked next to last because I am one of the best cooks in this competition and they didn't want to be outshined by me."
She also had the nerve to ask Chef Ramsay for a letter of recommendation. Needless to say, he didn't say yes. Jen, I think it's safe to say that it's time to get a clue. You suck as a cook. You suck as a person and you need to freaking get over yourself!

On the flip side, we have Corey and Lou Ross who are very excited to be back in Hell's Kitchen supporting Christina and eager to do their best to help her win. The same, however, cannot be said for Matt who told his fellow cooks, as well as Christina and Chef Ramsay himself to "shut up" and let him cook. Let him cook? Get a grip Matt. You don't know how. Let us all take a moment to think back to the episode when he suggested that they serve "sushi on a tortilla" at a girls' 16th birthday dinner.

The evening gets even hotter as each of the kitchens run into their fair share of obstacles. Over in Christina's kitchen, she has trouble getting Matt to actually cook his fish, meanwhile steaks come back to the window cold. Petrozza is not without problems of his own. As if just having Jen on his team were not enough, he can't get her to produce him a decent onion ring. In addition, both Bobby and Jen announce that they are out of ingredients needed for two different appetizers. Because they wouldn't be in the top 2 if they couldn't, they both recover from each of their individual problems and cruise on to serve the last of their 13 tables.

And now the moment we've all been waiting for. Christina and Petrozza are finally called to Chef Ramsay's office where he gives them the traditional pep talk. It was during this time that I actually thought that Chef Ramsay was going to pull rank and present them both with offers they couldn't refuse. After all, really, they both deserved it. But, alas, he did not. Instead, he instructed them to take their respective positions in front of their doors, place their hands on the handles, and open the doors on the count of three. As a reminder, both door handles turn, but only one of them will open. The one that opens leads the winner out into the dining room to be presented to family and friends. Chef Ramsay counts to three, they turn their handles, Christina proceeds through her door out into the dining room of cheering family, friends, and Hell's Kitchen production staff. In the end, Chef Ramsay said he thought Christina not only had the most potential, but had the most potential long-term.

Until next time folks, remember, it's not real, it's just reality!!

My Current Reality

Just to give everyone a small update on my life. This past weekend my parents went to a town in East TN where they met with the personnel committee of a church. They met with them on Saturday, and on Sunday dad preached. Dad was basically told that if he preached well, it was pretty much a done deal. We shall see. The committee is supposed to meet tonight (wednesday) and call dad with a verdict. I will keep you posted on that.

As for me, I really don't know. I jus keep thinking to myself "didn't we just do this? did we not just move from kentucky to atlanta thinking that THIS is where God wanted us?" WHAT IS GOING ON? Well, I do have a choice about whether or not I am going to move. I can stay here with my aunt and uncle and live with them and go to school. I just don't know. Once again I am waiting on a giant billboard to magically appear and say "SHEA, DO THIS." Alas, that is probably not going to happen, sad day. So, that is where I stand in my life today. When that changes, I will let you know. Until next time everybody, remember: It's not real, it's just reality.

"I can't believe I picked the guy with the pink shoelaces!!"

It was down to the final rose ceremony. Two men with two rings. One woman with only one rose. Who's it going to be? Jason, the single dad with a steady career, looks that could win him an Oscar, and a smile to melt half the female population, or Jesse, the long-haired snowboarder who is funny, charming, and says things like "rad"?

And the final rose goes to......... JESSE!!

That's right, women everywhere fell off their chairs as they watched Jason get out of the first limo and walk on towards the biggest rejection of his life. DeAnna, who looked gorgeous, simply smiles as she watches the man whose heart she is about to break, walk up, get on one knee, and propose. (they say he actually went through his entire spill before she said anything and asked him to get up; editing)

Afterwards, Jesse arrives to meet his woman and present her with a ring most women only daydream about.

While none of us saw that coming, I think we can all agree that A.) we are happy for them and B.) this just means that we can all fly to Washington and vy for Jason's heart ourselves.

Don't get me wrong, I thought Jesse was adorable. He was cute, had a great personality, very sweet and loveable; I just never dreamt that he would be the right one for DeAnna. Clearly, she thought differently.

In closing, I would like to congratulate Jesse and DeAnna. I hope the two of you will be very happy together.

To Jason: All that this means is that there is someone 12 times better out there for you and you will find her. Best of luck!

Until next time folks, just remember: It's not real, it's just reality!

Just a Little Something

So here’s the rules: All of the answers must be just one word.

1. Where is your cell phone? ottoman
2. Your significant other? somewhere
3. Your hair? long
4. Your mother? fun
5. Your father? thoughtful
6. Your favorite thing? napping
7. Your dream last night? weird
8. Your favorite drink? tea
9. Your dream/goal? happy
10. The room you’re in? dining
11. Your church? nonexistent
12. Your fear? brokenness
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? settled
14. Where were you last night? bed
15. What you’re not? married
16. Muffins? blueberry
17. One of your wish list items? laptop
18. Where you grew up? everywhere
19. The last thing you did? ipod
20. What are you wearing? pajamas
21. Your TV? off
22. Your pets? none
23. Your computer? Compaq
24. Your life? unsettling
25. Your mood? indifferent
26. Missing someone? no
27. Your car? gone
28. Something you’re not wearing? makeup
29. Favorite store? JCPenney
30. Your summer? boring
31. Like(love) someone? nope
32. Your favorite color? red
33. Last time you laughed? yesterday
34. Last time you cried? recently
35. Music: ipod
36. Who will re post this? nobody