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Another Blog Post About The Simpsons (Seasons 9-16: Part 1):

April 28, 2020 manda_faromeiro

Here we go again my fellow Springfieldians! For this next blog, I will be focusing on five of my favourite episodes from Seasons 9-16; perhaps within this post, you’ll find some gems that you forgot about! While narrowing down this list wasn’t as difficult as the earlier seasons, I found it pleasantly surprising and delightful to revisit some of these episodes as I myself had forgotten their charm. So grab yourself a can of Mountain Dew (or Crab Juice) and enjoy these next five episodes.

The City of New York vs Homer Simpson (Season 9, Episode 1)
Alright New York, we’re coming back, and I won’t be making two stops in Atlanta to get there.

Synopsis:
Homer and his fellow barflies are informed by Moe that they are responsible for 91% of all traffic incidents in Springfield, so they are going to start having designated drivers; Barney is the first one randomly drawn via picked egg and descends into madness watching everyone else get totally wasted as he remains sober. After dropping a very drunk Homer off infront of his house, Barney disappears with the car and 2 months go by with both of them still missing. Eventually, Barney is dropped off in front of Moe’s, incredibly incoherent and with no recollection of where Homer’s car might be. Homer scooters home, and learns from Lisa (who has a letter from the city of New York) that his car is illegally parked and abandoned in Manhattan. Homer refuses to go, calling New York a hell-hole. Homer only agrees to return to New York because travel fare is so cheap and the rest of the family want to go. Once they arrive in New York, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie go off to explore the city while Homer goes to retrieve his car. He arrives finding his car parked in the middle of the plaza (World Trade Center), full of tickets and a boot on the wheel. Homer tries to pry the boot off with his hands, but a loud bystander tells him he needs to call the phone number on the boot. After the phone call, Homer learns that he needs to wait by his car for a parking officer between the hours of 9 A.M. and 5 P.M. More shenanigans ensue as Homer gets fed up waiting and eventually drives his car with the boot on the wheel, attempting to remove it with a jackhammer. Ultimately, the car is trashed and the Simpsons are seen leaving New York with a broken windshield, while driving behind a garbage truck…

Why I Love It:
I always really enjoy the episodes where the Simpson family travels outside of Springfield, and this one is probably my favourite (with the exception of the fictional Cypress Creek of course). I love all the cultural references found throughout their whole time in New York, and I appreciate the accuracy and details of the city. The first time I visited New York City was in 2006, so after 9/11, but I remembering being able to piece together elements from the episode so clearly. Additionally, like many great episodes, I love the movie references; Ben-Hur, Die Hard, and The GodFather for example. Of course, there are just many laugh-out loud moments that make this episode a real gem. I believe that this episode also has very high rewatch value, as there are always new subtle details to pick up on with each and every rewatch.

Memorable Quotes:
“We’ll meet you in Central Park at 5:00.”
“Okay, but not a minute later. Once the sun goes down, all the weirdos turn crazy. (looks at person on street) I’m on to you!”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to be driving around in a car you built yourself.”
(Building a car out of a mattress) “Okay, Marge, either you can stand there and complain, or you can get started knitting me those seatbelts.”

“Alright New York, I’m comin’ back! But you’re not gettin’ this!” (throws his wallet into the fireplace)
“Dad, our baby pictures were in there!”
“Don’t you start!”

“Uh oh! It’s getting dark! Well that’s it! I’m getting out of this town alive if it kills me!”

Homer to the Max (Season 10: Episode 3)
How many times have you cleverly ended a discussion with, “and that’s the end of that chapter” because for me, I’ve lost count.

Synopsis:
While watching TV, the Simpson family stumbles upon a new show called Police Cops; the show has a suave detective and his partner, and Homer is especially interested in the show when he finds that the suave detective shares his name; Homer Simpson. Convinced that he and the character are so much alike, Homer starts mimicking the character including catch phrases and accessories (scarf). Homer is getting praise from everyone in town, including the old prom queen from high school, but when Homer goes to Moe’s to catch the latest Police Cops episode, the episode now features Homer Simpson as a fat, bumbling, detective. Detective Homer’s new catchphrase is “Uh Oh Spaghetti-O”. Homer is mortified to see that his namesake is now no longer handsome and cool, the irony of course being that this version of the character is now more like Homer than the pilot version. Homer pleas with the producers of “Police Cops” to change the character’s personality or his name; to which they do neither and this prompts Homer to change his name to Max Power. The rest of the Simpson family is surprised to learn of his name-change, but “Max” starts speaking of his new personality — dynamic, decisive, uncompromising and rude, which is pointed out as being exactly like his old personality but faster. Now that Homer is Max Power, all the negative attention fades away, and Homer even gets noticeably better attention at work and from others in the community; including a few celebrities. However, Max and Marge get roped into a protest to save the redwood forest where they are literally tied to trees. The cops start chasing Max around his tree, trying to “swab” him with mace. However, as he runs round and round the tree, the chain around him starts cutting into the tree and finally, the huge redwood falls, knocking down the other redwoods. Ultimately, Max Power becomes Homer Simpsons once again.

Why I Love It:
In addition to being incredibly quotable, I really love the concept of this episode as Homer comes to terms with a television character in his likeness. I also love the idea of Homer changing his name and seeing it as a clean slate for him to try to do and be anything he wants to be. All in all, this episode is a lot of fun, especially as we get to see Homer live a different life with new found confidence; I love the confidence boost Homer gets by becoming Max Power. However, we are reminded of the all important truth that your family loves you unconditionally; it doesn’t matter what your name is or if you have a clever catch-phrase or fashionable accessories.

Memorable Quotes:
(singing) “Max Power, he’s the man whose name you’d love to touch, but you mustn’t touch! His name sounds good in your ear, but when you say it, you mustn’t fear! Cause his name can be said, by anyone!”

“Kids, there’s three ways to do things. The right way, the wrong way and the Max Power way!”
“Isn’t that the wrong way?”
“Yeah, but faster!”

“Homer, your growing insanity is starting to worry me. Why don’t you talk to the producers of the show? Maybe they’ll make your character suave again.”
“Hmm… I guess I could, but while I’m gone, keep an eye on that weird-looking kid down there.”
“Bart?”
“Yeah. “Bart.”

“Oh, this is the worst party ever!”
“I don’t know. Remember that New Year’s Eve at Lenny’s? He didn’t even have a clock.”

“So where to eat? You like Thai?”
“Tie good. You like shirt?”

“Nobody *snuggles* with Max Power, Marge. You strap yourself in and feel the Gs.”

Smart and Smarter (Season 15: Episode 13):
You don’t need Phonic Frog to spell out one word to summarize this episode is, but just incase, you’d type: G-R-E-A-T.

Synopsis:
The Simpson family visits the pre-nursery school run by Mrs. Wickerbottom and realize they need to act soon at getting Maggie enlisted. Maggie fails the initial screening because she cannot talk, but Lisa is determined to show everyone how smart Maggie really is and at the second screening, Maggie is deemed a genius; smarter than Lisa! Crushed that she is no longer the smartest Simpson, Lisa tries to create new identities for herself. Lisa’s jealousy of Maggie grows stronger and she begins teaching Maggie wrong information. Upset with herself for not celebrating her sisters’ success and crippled with the disappointment from her family, she runs away and hides in the museum which sends her family on a hunt to find her. The family accidently gets swallowed into the giant human body model and it is up to Maggie to save them; she presses many buttons until she finally presses the evacuate button, following a visual cue from Lisa as to its color on the button. It is then determined from the owner of Mrs. Wickerbottom’s that Maggie had been taking cues from Lisa the whole time during her test, and therefore was not a genius. The episode ends with Maggie playing Lisa’s saxophone, to which she insists that saxophones are not for babies.

Why I Love It:
I’m all in on episodes that dive into sibling dynamics and relationships. As someone who doesn’t have a sister, and who is the youngest sibling of three, I am always intrigued by episodes about Maggie because I like how they shed light on how she fits into a family with so many interesting and polarizing personalities. Interestingly, this episode leaves us questioning whether Lisa was really the odd one in the family after all these years, as now we see that Maggie is also a smart Simpson. Similar to the episode above, you also get to see Lisa go through an identity change, as she tries to narrow down what exactly defines her as Lisa Simpson, since she is no longer the “smart” one. Episodes like these also remind us that Lisa is still a kid, as often she is wise beyond her years, at the end of the day, she is still a young person trying to comprehend why she is jealous of her baby sister, instead of wanting to celebrate her newly identified skills and intelligence; we get to see the more human side of Lisa, and it’s refreshing from her being the good-know-it-all of the family. Overall, it’s good for some laughs, but also pretty relatable when it comes to sibling relationships.

Memorable Quotes:
“I’m tired. I’m hungry. Red plastic sandals are not good running-away footwear.”

“I can’t believe I’m jealous of a baby!”
“Hey, so am I! When you’re a baby, you can just spend all day rolling around on the floor. (sighs) I miss those days.”

“We’ve all learned something today. Never be something you’re not, namely food.”

“So our kids keep getting smarter. If we have another one it could build a time machine which we could use to go back in time and not have any kids.”

“Lisa’s gone, you have to find her.”
“Why can’t you just accept that Lisa is old enough to take care of herself. Back off and let her live her life.”
“But she’s only eight!”
“Oh. I thought you said eighty.”

Trash of the Titans (Season 9: Episode 22):
Did you get a Sir Loves a Lot or a Lord Huggington last Love Day?

Synopsis:
The Simpsons celebrate “Love Day,” a new commercialized holiday created by the executives of the Costingtons department store and are left with heaps of trash after unwrapping all their gifts, toys etc which piles up significantly. Forced to take out the trash, Homer heads outside only to see the garbage truck passing the house. Homer insults the garbage men and because of his attitude and behaviour, the Simpsons’ are no longer receiving curb pickup. Garbage begins to pile up in the Simpsons’ front yard, and when it disappears, Homer thinks he won, but finds out Marge wrote an apology letter on Homer’s behalf. This frustrates Homer, who marches down to city hall and gets in an argument with Sanitation Commissioner Ray Patterson. Homer chooses to run for sanitation commissioner himself to spite Patterson and is very successful with the townspeople; at least in the beginning. Homer promises round-the-clock trash pickup and emergency cleanup service but after only a month in office, the department goes bankrupt due to the expenses of his “crazy promises”. Trash is piling up everywhere, and the townspeople want Ray Patterson back but he refuses, and Mayor Quimby is forced to move the town five miles down the road.

Why I Love It:
The Garbage Man Can is one of the catchiest Simpsons songs ever, coupled with the special appearance from U2, and so many memorable quotes and lines, this episode is incredibly entertaining from beginning to end. The comical jab at commercialism with the creation of Love Day is one of the most beloved jokes in my household, because my husband and I don’t celebrate Valentines Day. Once again we have Homer trying out a new career path when he becomes Sanitation Commissioner, and of course chaos ensues as his promises are far from realistic. The episode is just simply entertaining, yet hits a strong message home by the end of the episode about the accountability of political leaders/elected people in power and also our impact on the environment. It’s the kind of episode that makes you think about deep and important stuff without making you feel too depressed afterwards. Additionally, I think the episode is timeless; it presents us with circumstances that are relatable in every way.

Memorable Quotes:
“I never apologize, Lisa. I’m sorry, but that’s just the way I am.”

“Hold on, people! The man’s talking about waste management. That affects the whole damn planet!”
“Oh, here we go.”

“I’m Sir Love-A-Lot, the bear who loves to love!”
“They didn’t have Lord Huggington!?”
“It’s the same basic bear, Homie.”
“I guess…” (Turns away)

“What did you call us?”
“I don’t know… A lot of people yellin’ stuff…”
“Yeah, you called us trash-eating stinkbags! Didn’t you learn anything from Love Day”
“That was yesterday, moron!”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Can I help you?”
“Potato man.“
“Where the hell have you been?”

Grift of the Magi (Season 11: Episode 9):
Fun toys are fun, and so is this episode!

Synopsis:
While bored, Milhouse and Bart dress up in Marge’s clothing and jump on the bed; they are startled when Homer comes knocks on the door, causing Bart to fall off the bed onto a bowling ball, cracking his coccyx. Bart must wear a cast and be in a wheelchair for several weeks; at school the next day they realize that Springfield Elementary School is not equipped with the appropriate accessibility ramps for children in wheelchairs. “Valdazzo Brothers Olive Oil”, Fat Tony’s company agrees to build the ramps, which turn out to be faulty and no good; the school now owes the company $200,000 which they of course, cannot pay, and therefore Principal Skinner closes the school. The town pleas for help, going directly to wealthy Mr.Burns, but he refuses (he never liked that Dr. Stupid), but eventually Kid First Industries buys the school and privatizes it. Things aren’t what they used to be as the new teachers spend all of their time talking about toys; no learning is happening which makes Lisa very suspicious. Lisa later discovers that they are a toy company that’s just using the children for research to make a toy, through the use of hidden cameras, tape recording and clear, two-way blackboards. Soon, a new toy named Funzo appears on the TV, which is the name Lisa mutter in class; the Simpson kids rush to Kid First Industries to confront them, as Funzo has been programed to destroy other toys. Homer and the kids end up stealing everyone’s Funzos and burn them in the tire fire.

Why I Love It:
Another great concept, I enjoy the idea of a toy company bailing out a school to get free marketing ideas from the exact clientele who are going to be buying their product; also, how crazy is it to think about your elementary school going broke and being bought out by a corporation? It would be fun if once in awhile your homework was to bring in a toy or think of a cool toy, but would you want to do that all the time? This episode is incredibly entertaining as you witness the new “teachers” trying to brainstorm with the students, and of course, something just never feels quite right. Growing up with Furby, though I never owned one, I thought this episode perfectly highlighted just how unsettling and creepy those toys actually looked; and maybe they too were made to destroy other toys. I also appreciate how unconventionally Christmas this episode was, coupled with the family working together to save others from the evil toy corporation, it truly is a fun episode.

Memorable Quotes:
“Instead of giving us an education, they used us to design a toy! Aren’t you outraged?”
“Not really, but if you’re gonna throw a spaz, I’ll come with.”

“Hello, I’m Dr. Stupid! I’m going to take out your liver bones. Oops, you’re dead!”
“I never liked that Dr. Stupid.”

“Lisa in trouble? The ironing is delicious.”
“The word is irony!”
“Huh?”

“Fun toys are fun.”
“Well said, Ralph, but we’re trying to come up with a name for a toy.”
“Mrs. Fun?“
“Not bad.”
“Fun?“
[getting angry] “Ralph, there are no right or wrong answers, but if you don’t pipe down I’m giving you an “F”!
“The before teacher yelled at me too.”
[calming down again] “No one’s yelling, we’re just brainstorming names.”

“All’s I know is I’m getting straight A’s, and that ain’t not bad.”

Well, that’s it, another five of my favourite episodes! Were any of these on your list? Is there one you love from these mid seasons that I might have missed? Don’t forget, there are another five episodes from seasons 9-16 coming up in my next blog! For the record, I would totally be okay with a Sir Loves a Lot… Thanks for reading neighborino! Smell ya later.

Finally, a Blog Post About The Simpsons (Seasons 1-8: Part 2)

March 22, 2020March 22, 2020 manda_faromeiro

Welcome back! Without too much delay, I wanted to continue the discussion around my top 10 favourite episodes from Seasons 1-8 of The Simpsons. So grab your favourite flavor of Krusty’s partially gelatinated non-dairy gum-based beverage, and enjoy these next 5 episodes!

Radioactive Man (Season 7, Episode 2)

Truly a classic of The Simpsons, Radioactive Man is a recurring comic book character beloved by Bart, and many townsfolk alike, particularly the kids of Springfield. Downright hilarious and with a high quotability score, even if you’re not an hardcore Simpsons fan, I’m confident you would have seen this episode at least once in you life.

Synopsis:
It is declared that the newest Radioactive Man movie is going to be filmed in Springfield; tryouts for Radioactive Man’s sidekick, Fallout Boy are set to take place at Springfield Elementary. Bart is eccastic and cannot wait to audition for the role of his dreams. Unfortunately, Bart is deemed perfect for the role with the exception of being an inch too short and the role is cast to Milhouse; whom didn’t even want the part but was forced by his parents to audition. Of course, Bart is disappointed but tries to live vicariously through Milhouse; what Bart sees as exciting and cool, Milhouse finds his new gig tiresome and miserable. Meanwhile, the town of Springfield is taking advantage of Hollywood being in town, creating new taxes, jacking up prices and so on. While filming the most expensive scene for the movie in the powerplant using “real acid?” Milhouse runs away and disappears to Bart’s treehouse as he feels too overwhelmed by the pressure. The film is ultimately cancelled and the producers who are broke, go back to Hollywood.

Why I Love It:
Now more than ever, with so many comic books being transformed into movies, I can only begin to imagine the excitement and hysteria that would ensue if a movie based off of a comic book was going to be filmed in my hometown. Apart from a fun concept, this episode also brings about hilarious tidbits and moments; Springfield placing an ad to film the movie and not even spelling the ad correctly (FLIM Springfield), to the iconic Rainier Wolfcastle cast as Radioactive Man to bring to life the character we’ve only read about through Bart and others, and the little ridiculous ways that Springfield ultimately destroys the film’s productions. After all these years, I still laugh out loud at almost every scene in this episode, and honestly, my heart goes out to Bart (as a short person I feel his pain) for being fingertips away from achieving his boyhood dream.

Memorable Quotes:
“Up and Atom!”
“Up and At them!”
“Up and ATOM!”
“Up and AT them!”
“UP AND ATOM”
“UP AND AT THEM”
“Better…”

“But we already did it. It took us seven hours, but we did it. It’s done.”

“My eyes! The goggles do nothing!!”

“Well, when they find him they’ll… hmm.. (mumbles)”
“Uh, excuse me. You didn’t answer me. You just trailed off…”
“Yeah… yeah. I did kind of trail off, there, didn’t I?”

Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie (Season 4, Episode 6)
How do you feel when your favourite childhood cartoon is turned into a full-length film?

Synopsis:
Homer and Marge learn in parent teacher interviews at Springfield Elementary just how bad Bart’s behaviour truly is; Marge is very concerned that Bart does not receive enough punishment when he acts out and encourages Homer to discipline Bart seriously. Upon returning home from the interviews, Bart has smashed Grandpa’s teeth and while he is sent to bed without supper, Homer sneaks him up a few slices once the family has gone to bed. The next day, the Simpson kids learn that there is going to be an Itchy and Scratchy movie, and immediately they buy some tickets. Bart continues to get into mischief and trouble, with the last major incident being when he fails to watch Maggie. Homer is quite enraged and ends up ripping Bart’s movie tickets to bits and forbidding him to watch the movie, ever. As all his peers and schoolmates have seen the film, Bart is depressed, angry, and jealous. Both Marge and Lisa plea with Homer to reverse the punishment, but Homer refuses, even after months. After eight long months, the movie finally leaves theatres, and Bart admits defeat to Homer. The episode ends with a flashforward forty years where Bart can finally watch the movie with Homer.

Why I Love It:
Another example of Homer trying to be a “good” parent, I really like the dynamic here of Marge and Homer trying to be better parents to ensure that Bart doesn’t grow up and continue his patterns of misbehaviour. I think this episode is also very relatable as a kid, because I am sure there was always a time when we felt a punishment we received was disproportionate to what “bad” act we may have committed. This of course comes from someone who seldom got in trouble, and when I did it was never to the degree of Bart Simpson’s behaviour, but I sympathize all the same: not seeing the movie for opening weekend? Fair. For a month? Also fair. But not being able to see it EVER? In a time where Netflix didn’t exist and you had to wait MONTHS for it to be released on VHS, and even then if you could never see the film would your parent even LET you rent it? As time goes on, I love this episode even more because now that The Simpsons Movie exists, I lived through the joyous experience that is your favourite childhood cartoon show being adapted into a full-length film! Like all the episodes thus far, this one has many quotable moments too. Kudos to Homer for sticking with his punishment for so long: 40 years!

Memorable Quotes:
“You’re welcome to watch anything you want on TV.”
“TV SUCKS.”
“I know you’re upset right now, so I’ll pretend you didn’t say that.”

“Boy, time really flies when you’re reading… THE BIBLE? Ew…”

“Be good for Grandpa. We’ll bring back dinner.”
“What are we gonna have?”
“Well that depends on what your teachers’ say. If you’ve been good, pizza. If you’ve been bad, ummm, let’s see… poison!
“What if one of us is good and one of us is bad?”
“Poison Pizza.”
“Oh NO. I’m not making two stops.”

Bart Gets an F (Season 2: Episode 1)
The one when you’re really rooting for Bart to do some good, and also thinking about how much fun snow days were when you were a kid.

Synopsis:
After failing to read Treasure Island for a book report, Bart is confronted by his teacher, Mrs. Krabappel about his slipping grades. The following test, Bart fails to study, faking an illness and being sent home before writing. Lisa warns her brother that he cannot hide from the test forever, and he must put in the work if he doesn’t want to fail. Bart calls Milhouse for the answers to the test, but learns after taking the test the next day at school that all the answers were wrong. Mrs. Krabappel holds a meeting with Marge and Homer and the school psychiatrist, who recommends that Bart repeat the 4th grade. While Homer and Marge think that holding Bart back a grade may help, Bart is determined to work hard and pull up his grades, enlisting the help of Martin Prince for tutoring and study tips in exchange for teaching Martin how to be cool. Initially the plan works, but Martin quickly learns Bart’s bad traits and bails on helping him study for the next test. With a prayer to God for one more day to study, Springfield is hit with a massive blizzard. In the morning, the Simpsons learn that everything is closed for the day; including the school. While Bart is enthused and ready to go sledding, Lisa stops him at the door, reminding him that he asked for this, and needs to do the right thing and use the day off school to study for the test. Agreeing with Lisa, Bart then tries his best to spend the day with his nose in the books, despite all the fun everyone is having outside. When class is back in session, Bart fails again by one point, and breaks down crying in front of Mrs.K; upset that he actually tried his best to study. While Mrs.K initially doesn’t believe him, Bart is able to make a connection with something he read in the textbook, and Mrs.K awards him an extra mark for “applied knowledge” allowing Bart’s grade to improve to a pass.

Why I Love It:
In one of my first blogs, I wrote about how I wanted to be an educator since I was in Grade 3; and helping people learn has always been an important goal for me. Thus, an episode like this really pulls at my heartstrings as an educator, because the reason I got into teaching was to help each individual student learn and see their own potential. In my classroom experiences, I’ve had many students like Bart, and learning over the years how “normal” or “typical” learning techniques don’t help kids like Bart succeed, makes it all the more important that teachers really understand each and every one of their students’ needs. Of course, when I first watched this episode, I didn’t know anything about what it meant to be a teacher, but the episode still spoke to me because of how hard Bart really tried. On a bigger scale, I think that this episode shows us how we really don’t know what people are going through, and even though on the surface they appear to be one way, we cannot use past actions to make judgements on them here and now. A solid episode, especially considering it was very early on in the show’s run.

Memorable Quotes:
“Hey Otto Man, I’ve got a big test that I’m not ready for. Could you please crash the bus or something?”
“Oh, sorry little buddy. Can’t do it on purpose. But hey, maybe you’ll get lucky!”

“Everyone knows you’re faking it.”
“Well, everyone better keep their mouth shut!”

Lisa vs Malibu Stacy (Season 5: Episode 14)
Imagine if you could make your very own Barbie doll!

Synopsis:
Grandpa Simpson decides to give his inheritance to the family early, but is disappointed when the kids spend their silver dollars on toys. Lisa is thrilled to own the new Talking Malibu Stacy doll, but instantly is disappointed at the sexist comments and remarks the doll makes. Lisa is determined to speak with the Malibu Stacy doll manufacturer, and reaches out to Mr. Smithers, who holds the title as the largest Malibu Stacy collector, to help track down Stacy Lovell (the woman behind Malibu Stacy). Upon meeting, Lisa expresses her disappointment in the talking doll, as she had been waiting her whole life to hear what the doll she idolized her whole life would say. Lisa and Lovell partner up to create a new talking doll, Lisa Lionheart – a doll that not only looks more realistic but also has motivational and encouraging catchphrases. When learning about the doll, the Malibu Stacy company fears the doll will surpass theirs in sales, and releases a “new” Malibu Stacy the same day that Lisa Lionheart is available in stores. All the little girls in the store go crazy for the “new” Malibu Stacy, with the exception of one who purchases Lisa Lionheart.

Why I Love It:
This episode is always a memorable one for me; I loved playing with Barbie growing up, and while I always looked at the positives about her (she had so many awesome careers, had cool clothes, went on lots of adventures), it wasn’t until I was a little order that I realized the negative ideals that Barbie might be suggesting to young girls. I sympathized with Lisa, as you always imagined up the types of things your Barbie would say if she talked and fit into the creative world you made up for her amongst your other toys and dolls. I love how determined Lisa is to make it known to the big company how someone who actually uses their product is feeling about their toys, and Lisa is always methodical in her approach. The idea of Lisa creating a new doll was inspiring, and taught us as the viewer an important lesson about how we are influenced by things like our toys. While I’m not laughing as loud in this episode as I am with most of the others on the list, there are some very witty and comical tidbits here, like when Stacy is trying to come up with the hairstyle for the Lisa’s new doll; blurting out that all the Simpsons have hideous hair… were we all thinking this all along? Bahaha.

Memorable Quotes:

“Lisa! Ordinarily I’d say you should stand up for what you believe in, but you’ve been doing that an awful lot lately.”

“I’d be mordified if someone ever made a lousy product with the Simpson name on it.”

“Do we sell…french…fries?”

“How about Blabbermouth? The jerky doll for jerks.”

“It’s awful being a kid, no one listens to you.”
“It’s awful being old, no one listens to you.”
“I’m a white male, aged 18-49. Everyone listens to me! No matter how dumb my suggestions are.”

Homer the Heretic (Season 4: Episode 3)
I bet you’re craving those moon waffles right now.

Synopsis:
Homer decides to forgo church during a blizzard. He has an excellent day skipping church, and thus decides moving forward that he is not going to be attending church anymore. Despite Marge’s plea, Homer doesn’t change his mind. Homer is happier than ever skipping church, but Marge, Ned Flanders, and Reverend Lovejoy try to convince him to return. One Sunday, when the family leaves for church, Homer is living it up, but falls asleep on the couch with a cigar in his hand, which ultimately falls on top of a pile of magazines and catches fire. Homer wakes up, but is quickly knocked out due to the smoke. The Springfield Volunteer Fire Department head over to the Simpson house, but Flanders comes to the aid of Homer before the arrive. Once the fire is put out, Homer agrees to give church another chance, and when returning to the next service, sleeps through the whole thing (snoring aloud).

Why I Love It:
This episode poses very interesting questions and considerations about one’s relationship with God/faith. As someone who grew up going to church regularly, it definitely crossed my mind once in awhile what would happen if I stopped going to church? What was I missing out on? Is my life better by going to church or can I be spiritual and faithful in my own ways, outside of attending church on Sundays? All serious thoughts aside, I really enjoyed this episode as it places Homer in an intriguing position; as a parent he is expected to set an example for his children, but does that mean that skipping church is a bad thing? This is one of many episodes that poses a number of questions about religion, faith and spirituality. While in the end, Homer ultimately decides to join his family at church and his faith in God is restored (even if only slightly), the antics he gets into are memorable and comical.

Memorable Quotes:
“You know, I have a feeling there’s a lesson here.”
“Yes, the lesson is-“
“No, don’t tell me. I’ll get it. The Lord is vengeful. Oh, spiteful one! Show me who to smite and they shall be smoten!”

“Rise and shine, and give God your glory!”
“GROWL!”

“One size fits all, my butt!”

“You bet your sweet…ass!”

Well Springfieldians, that wraps up my first set of top 10 episodes for The Simpsons. Which of these episodes on this post is your favourite? Which episodes from Season 1-8 that you love did I miss? Trust me when I say that this was quite difficult to put together, and I know I left out some real gems. Meet you by the lemon tree! Until next time…

Finally, a Blog Post About The Simpsons (Seasons 1-8: Part 1)

March 19, 2020March 19, 2020 manda_faromeiro

Anyone who knows me outside of this blog understands how deep my passion, love, dedication and obsession is for The Simpsons. You can seldom make it through a daily conversation with me that fails to allude to or include a Simpsons reference of sorts; more often than not I’m spewing a literal word for word quotation or interaction that fits in perfectly to whatever we might be talking about. Without diving into the many reasons why I adore The Simpsons, (and have for basically all my years on this planet), I decided to list 10 of my most favourite episodes from Seasons 1-8; this is the best way to break up so many great episodes within so many great seasons! Perhaps after reading this you can take the time to go back and rewatch some of these gems on Disney+, or you know, a DVD if you’re one of us hardcore fans that collects the seasons! Either way, I’ve listed a brief synopsis of the episode as well as a brief explanation as to why I adore it so much. Insert cough gag, put your butt there, and enjoy!

You Only Move Twice (Season 8, Episode 2)
When you love something so much, it’s really hard to choose 1 thing you love most. Honestly, I get asked this question a lot: What is your absolute favourite episode of The Simpsons? Without hesitation, I always answer with this episode.

Synopsis:
Homer is offered a job at Globex Corporation, which requires the Simpson family to move from Springfield to Cypress Creek. The family is reluctant to leave Springfield in the beginning, but soon realize Cypress Creek is much nicer than Springfield. Optimistic and excited, the Simpsons say, “So long, stinktown!” to Springfield, leaving it in their rearview mirror. Upon arriving in Cypress Creek, Homer is almost immediately greeted by his boss, Hank Scorpio (not to be called Mr. Scorpion) who seems perfect and Homer quickly falls in love with all the great things moving to Cypress Creek has offered. Alas, Homer is the only Simpson who truly loves Cypress Creek; Bart is being held back in school, Lisa is highly allergic to much of the natural surroundings in town, and Marge is bored out of her mind as the house automatically does all the housework for her. As the episode progresses, we learn that Scorpio is basically a supervillain as many hilarious and villainy-esque events occur. Ultimately, as you can suspect, the Simpsons move back to Springfield but Homer receives the Denver Broncos as a present from Scorpio as a thank you for his hard work.

Why I Love It:
Probably one of the most quotable episodes ever, You Only Move Twice, never fails to make me laugh out loud no matter how many times I watch it. I appreciate every little detail in this episode in making Mr. Scorpio a villain you love and one who makes you laugh. Mr. Scorpio is the best one time appearance character the show has ever had, and with such a great storyline you’re left wanting more Scorpio, yet you’re completely satisfied with knowing he’s continuing more villany work despite no more on-screen time. The episode also brought upon us great sub-storytelling with Bart at school and Lisa exploring the forest; how can we forget, “I come from Canada and they think I’m slow, eh.” or “I’m allergic to everything here! My nose is so stuffed up, I can’t even taste Mom’s delicious boiled celery.” All in all the episode is clever, probably the most clever in the whole series; it’s laugh-out-loud funny, while also touchingly sweet and memorable. Oh, and who could forget the “Scorpio” song? He’ll sting you with his dreams of power and wealth, beware of Scorpio!

Memorable Quotes:
“By the way Homer, what’s your least favourite country, Italy or France?”
“France.”
“Hehe-Hehe- Nobody ever says Italy”

“My ass is for sitting, not for kissing”

“You don’t like these shoes; then neither do I! *throws them away* Get the hell out of here! Homer, have you ever seen a man say goodbye to a shoe before?”
“Hehe, yeah. Once.”

$pringfield (Season 5, Episode 10)
Season 5 has a lot of gems, but this one stands out to me the most.

Synopsis:
Springfield legalizes gambling to boost the economy, and Mr. Burns opens a casino. Homer is employed at the casino as a Blackjack dealer, and Marge develops a gambling addiction after she finds a quarter on the floor of the casino and can’t find its rightful owner, plays it in the machine, and wins. Seeing the casino is all the rage with adults, Bart opens his own casino in the treehouse catered to kids. Soon, Marge is neglecting the family and spending all her time gambling; she forgets to help Lisa with her costume for the geography pageant. As the episode progresses, Mr. Burn’s becomes obsessive over germs and develops extreme paranoia. Ultimately deciding that he misses the power plant, Mr. Burns decides to return there, and after she is confronted by Homer, Marge recognizes her own gambling problem.

Why I Love It:
Apart from it’s quotability, this episode offers a different side of Homer we aren’t used to seeing. The way Homer balances work life and home life, once he realizes that Marge is dropping the ball, makes the episode all the more interesting; a role reversal of being the “responsible parent.” I appreciate the way Homer is trying so hard to be there for the family, yet find it entertaining to watch him try to master being a card dealer. Also, the way that Mr. Burns’ transforms throughout the episode is entertaining as well, and the cultural references to films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Rain Man, and Dr. Strangelove are not lost on me. Lastly, all I ever wanted to be for Halloween after this episode aired was the state of Floreda.

Memorable Quotes:
“I’m not a state, I’m a MONSTER!”

“ARGH! YURGERDARADGIFEDERARA”
“Homer, what is it? Slow down!”
“JER GETTA FERTER RADA ARA”
“Think before you say each word.”
“You broke a promise to your child.”
“What?”
“You promised Lisa to help her with her costume. You made her cry. Then I cried. Then Maggie laughed. She’s such a little trooper.”

“Bart, I don’t want to alarm you, but there may be a Boogeyman or Boogeymen in the house.”

“No. Nevada makes my butt look big.”

Treehouse of Horror III (Season 4, Episode 5)
The Halloween episodes are iconic on their own, and many of these episodes (divided into 3 separate short stories) would make great stand-alone episodes if given the full 22 minute runtime. Growing up, I always looked forward to the newest Halloween special; even though I’m a scaredy cat, these episodes hold a special place in my Simpsons’ heart.

Synopsis:
The Simpsons are throwing a Halloween party for the kids of Springfield, and are trying to scare each other by taking turns telling spooky stories. The first, “Clown Without Pity” shows us that Homer forgets to buy Bart a birthday gift; he rushes out and ends up at The House of Evil where he purchases a (cursed) talking Krusty doll. Despite warning from the shopkeeper, Homer brings the doll home, and Bart is excited (yet does not know the doll is cursed). The Krusty doll ends up trying several times to kill Homer, who then buries the doll in a bottomless pit; Krusty escapes and attacks Homer in the kitchen. After calling the number on the box, it is revealed by repairman that the doll’s switch was turned to “evil.”

The second story, “King Homer” parodies the story of King Kong, where of course, Homer is the legendary ape. Marge, Mr. Burns and Mr. Smithers are on the hunt to find King Homer, but Marge is spotted by the natives living on the island and offered up to King Homer as a sacrifice. King Homer ends up falling in love with Marge, and Marge reciprocates, seeing the good in the ape. Mr. Burns is determined to capture King Homer and show him off in New York City; he is displayed on broadway until things go awry and King Homer attempts climbing the Empire State Building to escape. At the end of the episode, Marge and King Homer wed.

Lastly, “Dial Z for Zombies” starts off with Bart finding a book of spells and accidently bringing the dead back to life as he attempts to make Lisa feel better about losing Snowball I (their first cat). Zombies then terrorize Springfield, and while they break into the Simpson house, Homer sacrifices himself for the family, but the Zombies want nothing to do with Homer (brains! brains? no BRAINS!). Bart is able to lure the Zombies into Springfield Elementary where he casts another spell to banish them back to their graves.

Why I Love It:
Three very iconic Simpsons stories that leave you laughing until your belly hurts. When I think about Treehouse of Horror episodes, this one comes to mind almost instantly. As stand alone stories, these three are my favourite of all the Halloween episodes. As I mentioned above, I’m a scaredy cat, so I appreciate Halloween themed things that don’t make me lose any sleep. As I said with You Only Move Twice, I also believe that this episode is one of the most quotable episodes ever. The storytelling is clever and offers unexpected belly-laughs (cue Burns throwing the gas bomb).

Memorable Quotes:
“Take this object, but beware it carries a terrible curse…”
“Ohhhh, that’s bad.”
“But it comes with a free Frogurt!”
“That’s good.”
“The Frogurt is also cursed.”
“That’s bad.”
“But you get your choice of topping!”
“That’s good.”
“The toppings contain Potassium Benzoate.”
“….”
“That’s Bad.”
“Can I go now?”

“The doll’s trying to kill me and the toaster’s been laughing at me!”

“Alright, you big ape. Get a snootful of this gas bomb! *throws bomb at feet* “I was strolling through the Gas one day…”

“Dad, you killed the zombie Flanders!”
“He was a zombie?”

“Is this the end of Zombie Shakespeare?!”

Lisa on Ice (Season 6, Episode 8)
As a sister, so much of the dynamics of Bart and Lisa in this episode resonate with me and bring back the fondest (more hilarious) memories of my brothers and I growing up.

Synopsis:
Lisa learns in a school assembly that she is failing Phys Ed class and is encouraged to join a sports team to up her grade. After several failed attempts at a number of different sports, it’s looking hopeless for Lisa. The family goes to watch one of Bart’s ice hockey games, and after the game Bart is making fun of Lisa’s poor athletic abilities; he shoots a puck at her and to everyone’s surprise, Lisa is able to stop the pucks with ease. This catches the attention of Apu who coaches the opposing team and asks Lisa to be their new goalie. A sibling rivalry is born, and fueled by Homer encouraging the two to be competitive with one another. After a number of back and forth bouts, the last few seconds of the final game showcase Bart and Lisa remembering all the times they looked out for one another, and they share an embrace ending the game in a tie. The fans riot in dissatisfaction and trash the arena, but Marge is ever so proud of her kids.

Why I Love It:
This episode always makes me smile because I really can relate to Bart and Lisa being so close in age and having such a complex love and hate relationship with each other. Growing up with brothers, I often fought with them over trivial things, but we also bonded over many things. The sibling dynamic between Bart and Lisa is all too real in this episode and the fact that Marge and Homer have differing opinions about how the kids should be acting during this rivalry is all too familiar. While I never played hockey in a recreational league, many times was I playing against my brothers or with friends, and almost always put in net. I don’t think I was ever as good as Lisa, but I definitely screamed just like her everytime a puck came my way. Ultimately this episode stands out as one of my favourites simply because of its familiarity and hilarity. Don’t tell me you can watch the scene with Bart and Lisa kicking air and twirling arms around fighting each other without bursting into tears with laughter.

Memorable Quotes:
“Me Fail English? That’s unpossible!”

“Oh my God, Marge. A penalty shot with only four seconds left. It’s your child versus mine! The winner will be showered with praise; the loser will be taunted and booed until my throat is sore!”

“I asked for Ketchup! I’m eating salad here.”
“I won’t have any aggressive condiment passing in this house!”

“I don’t care who started it. I don’t ever want to see you two fighting like that ever again. We love you both: you’re not in competition with each other! Repeat: you are not in competition with each other!”
“Hey! Apu just called. This Friday, Lisa’s team is playing Bart’s team. You’re in direct competition. And don’t go easy on each other just because you’re brother and sister. I want to see you both fighting for your parents’ love! (Flicks light on and off.) Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!”

Homer at Bat (Season 3, Episode 16):
What could be better than Simpsons and Baseball?

Synopsis:
The Nuclear Power Plant workers sign up for the company softball team, despite the previous years lacking success. Despite the team’s record, Homer is excited as he crafts up his Wonder Bat made from a fallen tree branch that was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm. The team ends up having great success and makes it to the playoffs. Skeptical, but eager for a championship, Mr. Burns makes a bet with the rival team’s owner and to ensure a victory insists that Mr. Smithers rally together professional baseball players. Burns hires several MLB stars to play on the team, but must disguise them as everyday power plant employees. In addition, Burns hires a hypnotist to train the team, but soon enough all the major league players succumb to misfortunes that rule them unable to play in the final game; except for Darryl Strawberry. With the score tied and bases loaded, Burns actually puts Homer into the game who gets so distracted by Burns signals at bat, that he gets knocked out by the pitch. The team wins the game!

Why I Love It:
The idea of Homer making a homemade bat and it being the main reason the team has such success in the regular season resonates with so many of us who played sports or participated in any activity and had a lucky object or item that we believed brought us success; whether it was a lucky pair of underwear, having to wear a certain number, or pre-game rituals, I think we’ve all had a special thing that has made us feel more confident in our successes. If not, that’s cool too! Anyway, I simply enjoy the blending of major league players in with everyday Springfield folk and truly felt that each player brought something different to the team and episode. It was refreshing (and down right funny) to see how these stars would act in normal day to day activities and decisions; Jose Canseco saving the family (and the appliances) from a house fire for example. Not to sound like a broken record, but this episode is also filled with many quotes I found myself continuously repeating and fitting into everyday life, like when you’re friends’ sideburns are really distracting you from carrying out your everyday activities. Lastly, I question the character of anyone who doesn’t sing along when the “Talkin’ Softball” song comes on at the end of the episode.

Memorable Quotes:
“Mattingly, I thought I told you to TRIM those sideburns? GO HOME! You’re OFF the team, FOR GOOD!”

“I will give 100 percent.”
“That’s impossible. No one can give more than 100 percent. By definition that is the most anyone can give.”

“It’s like there’s a party in my mouth, and everyone’s invited!”

“Well, are you better than me?”
“Well, I’ve never met you, but… yes.”

Okay folks, that’s the part 1 of what is going to be many parts of my blog about The Simpsons. What do you think of the first 5 episodes I’ve picked so far? Do you think any of these are the “WORST.EPISODE.EVER.” or do you agree with my picks? Remember, these are just 5 of my most favourite episodes from Seasons 1-8; I am not only missing the latter 5, but there were several additional iconic episodes I left out. If anyone needs me I’ll be at Moe’s! Smell ya, later…

Anticipating Survivor Season 40: Winners at War

January 27, 2020 manda_faromeiro

It’s time for my second Survivor-themed blog post, and I am quite excited to be writing this one. As I mentioned in my other blog, I have been a HUGE fan of Survivor, having never missed a single episode since it aired in 2000. For the last several years, there have been intensifying rumors that an all-winners season was coming and honestly, waiting until Season 40 was really the perfect time. In order to execute an all-winners season that everyone can be pleased about, you’d need to ensure that there is a large enough pool of winners to pick from that covers all the classes of Survivors: old school, middle school, and new school. The idea of an all-winners war is thrilling, and it is so because of the right casting and the anticipation of witnessing how these players will match up when faced against someone from a completely different time period of Survivor history. Therefore for this post, I am going to give you my list of the 5 players whom I am looking forward to seeing play this season. So, Survivor fans ready… GO!

Sandra Diaz-Twine
Yes, the Queen of Survivor is back, and while I didn’t really see a need for her to come back in Game Changers (even though she totally is/was a game changer), I’ll never bore of Sandra on my television. Having won Survivor Pearl Islands, and Survivor Heroes vs Villains, the target on Sandra’s back during Game Changers was the largest anyone could possibly be carrying around. I was a little disappointed when I heard she was coming back for Game Changers because I knew that we wouldn’t get to see the magic that is Sandra’s survivor game play for too long, and honestly, the cast was so stacked for Game Changers, that it made me nervous that if she came back for this, she wouldn’t be willing to come back for an all-winners season. Also, no one wanted to see her record change from 2-0 to 2-1. However, I’m so glad she is returning because now that the playing field is even, with everyone having won, I think it is her time to shine again. Sandra is a top pick for me not just because she is my favorite Survivor contestant ever, not just because she is iconic, but because I look forward to seeing how she plays with the newer cast of winners like Natalie Anderson, Sophie Clarke, Ben Driebergen and Wendell Holland. Since her stint on Game Changers and most recently with Island of the Idols, Sandra has truly witnessed how intensely the game has evolved, and while she remains true to her own conceptions of how to play the game, she still possess an excellent great read of her fellow castaways. While her “anyone but me” philosophy served her well previously, she recognizes that this too needs to evolve and adapt to the new environment of playing with and against 19 other winners. Sandra is adored by fans and fellow players alike, and while many would want to put voting her out on their resume, I feel like the respect and admiration they have for The Queen, and the fact that they could play WITH her rather than AGAINST her is very appealing (and would make for some awesome television). Of course, if Sandra is crowned a 3x Survivor champion, I would be so pleased, but it would be just as thrilling and satisfying to see her make it to the final 4. Basically, if there truly are Survivor Gods, do NOT let Sandra get voted out pre-merge; that hurts!

Wendell Holland
Definitely my favorite Survivor player of the new era, Wendell has so many things going for him as a returning player. In his first stint on Ghost Island, his relationships and people skills, coupled with his solid performances in challenges, ensured his place in the finals. Charming, likable, and a solid tribe-mate both at camp and in challenges, Wendell is a huge threat, but not an intimidating one, and definitely someone who I am looking forward to seeing play again; especially with “old school” survivors like Yul Kwon and Sandra, but also “new school” survivors like Ben, Jeremy Collins, and Tony Vlachos. I feel that Wendell has the ability to work well with all schools of Survivor players, and the fact that he has stated he is going to be playing differently might catch some former castaways off guard. He has proven that he can work with having a target on him for most of the game, while showing that he can work closely with those who also have a target, and not having to blindside them to get to the end. If its true, and Wendell changes up his game, doing things a little more out of character, we could see a brand new version of Wendell show up in Winners at War, and one that is equally deserving of another Survivor title. Wendell is a pretty recent winner, and this could be seen as an advantage since little time has passed since he had his head in the game. With mixed reviews on the Ghost Island twist, I was a fan, but also think that having played with this kind of twist will only aid Wendell in thinking about the evolution of the game; he has had the chance to play new survivor with the “ghosts” of past survivor seasons, and further thinking about decisions and moves with a bit more intent. When it comes down to it, Wendell falls into the class of winners that you genuinely wanted to win, not because he was taken to final 3, or because he was the best of the other 2 options. No. Wendell was someone who so many rooted for since the beginning, and when you have such a satisfying ending , you’re left feeling really at ease and glad. So, let’s do that again!

Yul Kwon
Can we find ANY flaws with Yul and his time on Survivor? He was great; another of those really satisfying winners who played a solid game from day one. I am really enthused about seeing Yul return to Survivor because it’s been such a long time; his first and only stint on Survivor was Season 13: Cook Islands. What is really exciting about seeing Yul return with a cast of all winners is seeing how other winners perceive him. I’m curious to see who he is going to align himself with and just how he is going to conduct himself. What is really exciting about seeing Yul return in general is observing how different his game play will be. It’s been more than 20 seasons since he’s been in the Survivor mindset, and I am dying to know how he will adapt. Will some of his strategies from ages ago in the Survivor timeline workout? Maybe what’s old is new again? Or maybe he’s flipping his game around completely and this is Yul 2.0. What is really exciting is that Yul will truly be a breath of fresh air, having never returned before, and being from that class of really satisfying and deserving winners who could easily prove that distance and time away from the game is a blessing. Also, remember when he beat Ozzy? That was REALLY satisfying for me, and I’d love to see him beat out some big players. Whatever happens, I am rooting for Yul to go deep, and hope he at least has the chance to be in the finals again.

Denise Stapley
Survivor Philippines was good, and Denise was great! Attending every tribal council, aligning with one of the most likable players ever, and truly staying true to herself, I have high hopes for the longevity of Denise’s game play in this winners’ war. I think she will be able to “adapt, adapt, adapt” just as she planned and executed successfully in Philippines. What I believe is also going to prove to work well for Denise in this winners season is who she is at the core; I don’t believe she changed much if any of who she was on Survivor; adapting when necessary but never doing anything that went against her core/self. I also think that her career as a therapist helps her in the game tremendously; she works with people at their most vulnerable on the daily, and while it may seem she has the therapist hat on, she is genuine. I look forward to seeing Denise play the game with winners from both schools (old and new) as I feel she could really adapt well with almost anyone. In particular, I see Denise and Ben being an interesting pair, as well as Denise and Nick Wilson, or Denise and Kim Spradlin-Wolfe. I’d love to see Denise go far in the game, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she was booted well before the merge; I think everyone is aware that she’s well suited to play from the bottom and not only attend every tribal, but survive (and thrive) doing so. Then again, I could see her doing exceptionally well at adapting and having all the flashier players go out ahead of her. You know, she’s in my top 5 for a reason, so naturally I’d love to see her in the finals again. Like Yul, she is really exciting to me because she hasn’t been brought back yet, and falls into that category of truly likable winners. In addition, she has already played with returnees, and while they weren’t winners, I think this will give her an advantage over some other contestants because she played alongside castaways desperate for redemption. What is interesting to me about watching Denise play again is that her stint on Survivor was already 15 Seasons ago, yet I don’t think she’ll appear to have missed a step, at least I hope.

Ethan Zohn
I was so thrilled to see that Ethan was returning to Survivor again because I don’t feel that Survivor All Stars (Season 8) was a good snapshot of just what Ethan could do if invited back to play again. As the oldest winner on this cast, having won Survivor Africa (Season 3), he is the only person (aside from Amber) to have such a long stretch of time since playing. For some deeper perspective, the last time Ethan wore a buff, it was 2004; no advantages, no idols, no clues. The game of Survivor has evolved immensely and so has Ethan (personally, professionally etc), that it’s going to be fascinating watching him work. Compared to any other member of this winners cast, Ethan has the most work to do; the most adapting, the most to figure out. Ethan is a stand-up guy, who again, many people rooted for since day one, is his charm and personality going to be enough? My hope for Ethan is that he finds a solid block of fellow castaways who see value in his time away; I think the best thing he can do is act as though it is his first time out there because with the game being so different nowadays, it seems logical to treat it like a brand new adventure. I hope that Ethan is valued by other teammates for playing Survivor when it was still figuring itself out, arguably one of the toughest locations; when they were really roughing it, and I think Ethan has a lot to offer an alliance. If he is able to replicate an alliance similar to his with Big Tom and Lex, in castaways like Ben or Nick, or even Adam Klien, I could see it really working for him and going deep into the game. Additionally, I believe that his time away from the game will allow Ethan to slide under the radar; I don’t think these winners are expecting him to adapt effectively and truly be a threat. Sure, EVERY SINGLE ONE of these castaways is a threat in their own way, but some definitely less than others; Ethan falls into this category but it’s not a bad thing. Also, Ethan was the very first Survivor winner that I truly loved watching and was rooting for all the way; and he always stands out to me as being part of a really great cast and playing exceptionally well.

So there it is, my top 5 winners for this Winners at War season of Survivor. I would have loved to share with you a full cast assessment, but time was not on my side! Nevertheless, a few honorable mentions who I’m excited to see return for a number of reasons: Tyson Apostol (not for the sole fact that he is incredibly entertaining!), Ben Driebergen, Nick Wilson, and Sophie Clarke. Who are you rooting for?

A 2010s Sendoff: Recapping the Last 10 Years (Part 4):

December 31, 2019February 2, 2020 manda_faromeiro

2017
The beginning of 2017 started off in the most beautiful way; a dear friend of mine (whom I consider my un-biological little sister) was getting married! The whole day was lovely, and the spirit of joy, love and happiness kept us all warm throughout the -25 degree Celcius temperatures. I was honoured to be part of their special day and continue to have these people in my life! In January, I also started a second job, working as a mentor and tutor. I stepped out of my comfort zone this year and completed my first ever paint nite and got creative at Creative Cafe; before this time, I did not enjoy art and always felt I was very bad at it. This year, I also went ice skating for the first time in over 10 years for my brother’s birthday, and later would take up snowshoeing as well. It was shaping up to be a year of new adventures!

Early 2017 was also when I made the decision to quit my job. After more than 4 years, it was one of – if not the most- difficult decisions I have ever made for a number of reasons. For starters, I didn’t have a new full-time job lined up to replace it, so I felt a little unprepared and uneasy about not having the same income flow coming in. Additionally, I had invested so much time and energy into the company, it felt like a breakup. What was the most important note here was the overall feeling I had about work; I always pride myself on working hard and learning new skills etc., and while my career or job didn’t necessarily define me, it was crucial for me that it always be something I enjoyed and felt benefited me not just financially. My job was not only feeling stagnant, but I was also feeling run down and was dreading coming into work every day. I never had anything positive to say about my workday, and I was feeling incredibly stuck. I knew this wasn’t healthy and it wasn’t going to get any better, so I had to remove myself from the situation. I was sad, relieved, excited, nervous, and optimistic all at once. As soon as I spoke to my boss and explained everything about how I was feeling and why I was leaving, I felt an immense weight lifted off my shoulders, so while there was still a few unknowns about what was next for my career, I was surprisingly okay with letting things shape themselves out.

One of the big highlights of 2017 was celebrating 30th birthdays for some very important people; first up was an incredible weekend in Ottawa filled with wine tastings and hockey! Too many laughs, too many jokes, too much 80s music and too much wine! It was truly one of the most fun weekends ever, and I know that the birthday man enjoyed himself to the fullest. A few weeks later, I surprised my best friend with a trip to Las Vegas to watch the Backstreet Boys Larger Than Life concert. The timing was perfect not only for us to get a trip in as best friends, but with having such a great kick-off to new beginnings with work. While we were only in Vegas for a few days, we jampacked those days will lots of site seeing, selfies, walking the strip, lounging at the pool, and ending off with the phenomenal BSB concert. Celebrating her 29th birthday in Vegas was surely a top 5 moment for the decade!

Spring 2017 graced me with the opportunity to begin working with family, as I started my job as an Executive Assistant for my brother and sister-in-law’s real estate business. While I was no stranger to working with family, I was intrigued to learn more about the world of real estate and gain new skills while sharpening those I had been working on with each new job title. A year in the 2010s wouldn’t be the same without another concert thrown in the mix, a few more paint nites, boardgame nights, exploring provincial parks, cottage weekends, and road trips. This year, I celebrated my birthday with a few close friends in Niagara Falls where we did a day-long wine tour visiting five different wineries. With a load of great experiences encompassing the first half of the year, Summer 2017 was shaping up to be nothing short of amazing!

Summer brought about cherry-picking trips, WWE live events, high-tea afternoons, more birthday celebrations for friends and close family, engagements, my first ever Vegan Fest, the CNE, a few more Blue Jays games, and to no one’s surprise, a treetop trek or two! Additionally, I got to experience yet another incredible Coldplay concert in Toronto. It was this year that I was asked to be part of two incredible weddings for the upcoming year as a Matron of Honour and the Best Woman, but more on that in 2018s post!

My best friend and I also ventured off to Chicago this summer to watch the Blue Jays on the road and check out the city! We saw the “bean” while walking around downtown Chicago, rode the sky wheel, ate a lot of deep-dish pizza, sat on a boat tour, and learned so much about the city’s skyscrapers and architecture. Chicago was an amazing city that offered so many perfect little shops and delectable snacks, definitely, a highlight was the popcorn shop and the little cupcake storefront. I am so thankful for another amazing road trip with my bestie.

Autumn brought another successful Client Appreciation Party for the Lucia Faria Real Estate Team, another Jays game or two, and a lovely girl’s weekend away in Blue Mountain. Of course, we continued to celebrate Halloween with our annual bash, followed by a wine tasting night-in, and a few attempts at karaoke and rockband – I didn’t say they were successful ones, but they sure were a hell-of-a-lot-of fun! A few more birthday celebrations were thrown into the mix, including some kids, as well as more creative afternoons at the cafe, and yes, a lovely tea-time double date as the year came to a close. Oh, and yes, another Star Wars movie in December – Star Wars VII: The Last Jedi. We hosted a family Christmas as well as another wonderful Friendship Christmas and said goodbye to 2017 and hello 2018 at the 80s themed New Year’s Eve party! No further commentary necessary, 2017 was superb!

2018
Before I even dive into the goodness that was all of 2018, I just have to mention how overcome with gratitude and joy I am as I look back at all the marvellous and incredible experiences and events that have taken place this decade. So many times we often think about our life as being busy and chaotic, it can take a while before we see that in the midst of all that, there are so many phenomenal things happening. While I’ve been sitting here writing this 2010s sendoff I am truly blessed. I value all of my experiences throughout the years and appreciate how I have been able to keep balance in my life. I am thankful that those relationships I’ve worked so hard to maintain are still intact, and hope that those who have come into my life recently can be met with the same fate for the next decade and beyond. Now let’s jump right into 2018 because baby, it’s a thrill ride.

The earliest days of 2018 consisted of birthday celebrations for family members and friends alike, royal celebrations, and classy high tea afternoons. There were wedding plans in the works and without doubt, a permanent glow in our hearts for all the love and happy times ahead for the next twelve months.

This year, I got to experience what some may argue was more than 10 years in the making, and that was a friends’ group vacation. At the end of January, a group of 8 of us jetted off to Panama for a week of fun in the sun. Without a doubt, this trip was an iconic milestone not only for the decade but for our timeline of friendship. Most of us on the trip had been friends for more than 10 years already and had never experienced a shared moment like this before. The trip started out as a way for us to celebrate the soon to be bride and groom in lieu of bachelor and bachelorette parties but soon became so much more. Coordinating the schedules of 8 people can be difficult, but we made it work and were able to have arguably one of the best weeks ever in hot, beautiful, Panama. Apart from everyday pleasures like lounging poolside, we partook in tours of Panama City (old and new), got to see the Panama Canal, visited a natural waterfall, played far too much BINGO, and consumed copious amounts of delicious food and thirst-quenching beverages; jungle juice anyone?

After Panama, it was full-on wedding planning mode as I assisted the soon-to-be-married couples with tasks like dress and suit shopping, mailing out invitations, and other wedding details. In early 2018, a few friends were celebrating the milestone 30th birthday; from dance parties to medieval times, there was so much to celebrate! Spring meant it was time to practice that golf swing and discuss the upcoming nuptials over some tea or wine. There was also a surprise Mad Hatter Tea Party Bridal shower thrown into the mix!

Next to Panama, another milestone vacation happened in May as we piled into a Jeep Cherokee and began an epic road trip to Myrtle Beach. Like Panama, this trip was long overdue as the three of us had been friends since 2007 and our trio, forever coined as Hydra, had never experienced a getaway together. With 1/3 of Hydra marrying that fall, it was a celebration of many things, but most importantly, friendship. Through all the hills and valleys, BNL and Billy Joel’s greatest hits albums, and 80s music alike on repeat, we had a super fun journey that week. Apart from late afternoons at the beach, we played a round or two of golf (both actual and mini), took in a wine tour, visited the pier and sky wheel, and truly indulged in some phenomenal food. On a side note, we also partook in a heartbreaking playoff loss by the Toronto Raptors, but watching the game on Cinco de Mayo was memorable for sure. That trip created so many memories that we all will hold onto for years to come, most definitely!

Upon returning home from Myrtle, I kicked off Summer with another great concert as well as going to see the theatrical production of Chicago. In June, I turned 30 and since celebrating my birthday is always special to me, it was no surprise that a milestone like 30 would be any different. I was blessed with being able to throw a carnival themed party with all my friends and family present. Life’s a Circus was such a fitting theme for everything that happened to me in my 20s but in the best way. I’m always looking for fun, adventure, good eats and games, so I couldn’t have selected a better theme to sum up my life!

Before long, it was July and prior to the wedding of our Best Couple Friends Ever, there was another birthday or two to celebrate, as well as a baby shower for dear friends of ours who were expecting their first child later on in the year. As I’ve explained in other blog posts, this year was a very special one when it came to weddings. July was the first of three weddings to which I would have the honour in attending; two of which I was blessed to be part of the wedding party and partake in all the behind-the-scenes moments of love and joy as the couples became wed. Our friends Mark and Lyndsay were married on the 21st of July and my husband and I were the Best Man and Matron of Honour. The love we have for those two people cannot be put into words, and that was truly one of the best days of my life as we got to celebrate them in such a wonderful way. You could not ask for two better souls and humans to end up together, and for such an amazing tightly bonded group of friends to celebrate their love as a couple.

There was a two-week break before the next wedding, and it included another birthday celebration as well as a trip to Ottawa where we got to do an escape room in the Difenbunker Museum and visit some iconic landmarks within the city. On August 4th, we celebrated the wedding day of another one of my best friends, on what was another beautiful day and cherished moment. Again, it was a day filled with joy, love and happiness as my best friend wed his beautiful bride. Closing out the summer with a Blue Jays game and a girls’ day at the beach, as well as some family BBQs, it was time to prepare for the closing quarter of 2018.

In September, my husband and I became a 3x Aunt and Uncle as our nephew Oscar was born. With the last preparations for the Annual Client Appreciation Party completed for work, I was able to focus all of my attention on my upcoming Best Woman duties, as the last of the 2018 weddings would soon be taking place. It was time to revisit North Bay for what would be the best reason, as our friends were going to get married! If you’ve been following my blog, you know there was a special post dedicated to this wedding and the importance it held to me as a milestone mark in the friendship I have with the groom. Apart from North Bay being nostalgic for so many reasons, a new mark was about to be left on the city and in our hearts forever. There were so many iconic places to fit in our schedule with so little time, but we did what we could: a hike to the falls, a meal or two at Burger World, a campus tour, and one last Thursday evening at Cecil’s. With the last of the wedding details out of the way and the rehearsal dinner over, we spent late Friday night doing what we do best; sharing stories, hopes, laughs, filming vlogs that are way too long for anyone else’s interest, and celebrating the groom. The day of the wedding was a great one, with the highlight being the time we got to spend getting the groom ready and just being our trio in the simplest and best way possible; and the rest of the day was filled with just as many laughs and filled with just as much love!

With four very important people in my life now all married, how was the rest of 2018 going to shape up? Autumn traditions continued, like the Lucia Faria Team Client Appreciation Party, our Annual Halloween bash, and exploring more beautiful parks. There was also a bridal shower for a dear friend who would get married at the beginning of 2019, as well as more great birthdays for our nephews! We would once again host our family for Christmas, and continue the tradition of Friendship Christmas for the 4th year in a row. 2018 was filled with immense amounts of love, joy and celebrations. It was a year that planted deeper roots in existing relationships and deepened my understanding of my place in the hearts of those whom I care for deeply. With so many people in my life going through milestones of their own, 2018 was a year of profound growth and emotion. While it was surely one of the best years of the decade, 2018 was quite emotional for me, but in an overall positive way. I was truly invested in the happiness and love of others more so than ever before, and it was quite exhilarating.

2019
This is it! The last year of the decade. It’s funny how at the beginning of the year, I wasn’t at all emphasizing the fact that this would be the last year of an iconic decade. So much happened between 2010 to 2019 that it was baffling to think that if any year was going to truly send off the decade, that 2019 would be it. If writing this 2010s sendoff has shown me anything, its the truth in the notion that it is the little moments that make life amazing. My 2010s look so different in the eyes of others, and while I may have looked back on a year at its end and thought “damn, I’m glad that’s over” I can truly say that no year was simply 365 days of limbo before getting to a “better” path or part of my life. Each and every experience shaped me in a different way, and without sounding super cliche, they were all necessary and as unfortunate as some events may be, they were bound to happen eventually. Without further ado, let’s recap 2019.

In January, I got to celebrate the winter wedding of a long-time friend, and truly it was a beautiful day filled with excitement and joy. Weeks before her wedding, we attended a classy bachelorette party in her honour and also celebrated a few friends’ birthdays. After a busy 2018 year of weddings, it was still an honour to have a small part in her special day by reading at her mass. The whole day was loads of fun and a great celebration all around. A few days later, my bestie and I would be southbound once again for another incredible Disney World vacation! For the first time, we would be staying on Disney property at Coronado Springs. I won’t go into much detail about this trip because I actually blogged about each day in their own separate posts, so look for that on my homepage! To sum it up, it was magical and wonderful, despite the temperature dropping and me coming down with a brutal sinus infection by the end of the trip. Regardless, it was a great way to kick off 2019.

My husband and I took a couples spa day at Scandinavian Spa in Collingwood, and I enjoyed my first ever relaxation massage. There were more birthday celebrations, board game afternoons and evenings, as well as more creative afternoons at the cafe. 2019 was surely the year of golf, as I hit the links numerous times with my friend KJ, with a few pars here and there to celebrate! Avengers Assembled for the End Game, and some of us mourned the death of Thanos while others applauded. There were also some housewarming get-togethers as well as a girls’ day at the spa. My nephew had his First Communion and the Raptors were making history with a clinch of the East and were in the NBA finals. If it feels like I am lacking some details with some of these events it’s only because I have blogged a few of these moments in further details in previous entries, so look back if you’re interested…

To celebrate turning 31, I played laser tag with some friends and enjoyed a great meal, and I also went treetop trekking with my best friend and had dinner with my family! Days later, the Toronto Raptors would become NBA champions and I cried so much that day, you’d have thought that I was an NBA champion. Summer 2019 brought on more epic films, as Toy Story 4 hit theatres. I continued to work on my golf swing, with many awesome days out on the green and took time to slow down and enjoy the little things like beach days with friends. Summer also brought about another career change as I quit my tutoring and mentoring job and would soon get the opportunity to start a career with Georgian College. It wouldn’t really be summer without a road trip or two, as well as some exploring of our provincial parks. My best friend got her first apartment, and we were able to help her move in, and later celebrate with a little apartment warming party. The first half of the year brought upon a lot of greatness, yet with calmness because time didn’t feel like it was flying by and this was a nice feeling.

Autumn brought us another fantastic Client Appreciation Party for the Lucia Faria Real Estate Team, as well as a lovely ladies’ weekend at the spa in Collingwood. Our fifth Annual Halloween Party was a blast, as usual, and I got to visit North Bay again to take in some Grand Slam Curling with a good friend. The year was winding down, but there was still fun to be had. A few more birthday celebrations thrown into the mix, more board game nights, as well as revisiting some escape room adventures. In November, my husband and I were hit by a car one evening by someone who failed to come to a stop at the stop sign. While our car was written off, we walked away from the incident with minor injuries, but I would spend the remaining months of 2019 in physiotherapy with a hairline fracture in my tailbone and a torn muscle in my neck and shoulder area. All things considered, we were very lucky, but would begin shopping for a new vehicle once we felt up to it. In the meantime, I was really enjoying my time at Georgian and continued to split my days between the campus, the Lucia Faria Team, and my SweetLegs side business.

Here we are, at the end of 2019 and what a decade it has been. Our nephews turned 8 years old, Hobbes turned 4, and we bought a brand new vehicle. The last of the Star Wars movies came out this year, Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker, and I partook in a Dr. Seuss experience in the city. Another wonderful Friendship Christmas took place, and the last day of the decade is here! It’s fitting that I write the last few sentences of this blog as there are mere hours remaining of such an incredibly memorable decade. I’ve never been the type to make resolutions, but my wish for 2020 and the decade ahead is that it is full of lessons, experiences and adventures that are both new and old so that I can continue to value them and the people involved. As 2020 approaches, my husband and I celebrate not only 5 years married, but also 15 years of togetherness. Through all of these moments mentioned in this blog, I have been truly blessed to share them all with him and knowing that he will always be there alongside me. And lastly, thank you to everyone reading this blog, but also to all those who have been part of my life this decade, and beyond. My heart is full, as is my head with beautiful, wonderful, magical, inspiring, amazing memories, moments and milestones. See you on, the other side!

A 2010s Sendoff: Recapping the Last 10 Years (Part 3):

December 28, 2019January 31, 2020 manda_faromeiro

2015
I’m biased when I say that this was the best year of the decade, but that’s truly how I feel. This year was jam-packed with fun, adventures, celebrations, love and pure epicness. 2015 began with a few more snowboarding sessions, gameboard days turning into nights, and many things wedding- like saying “yes to the dress” after only trying on a few! March Madness included celebrating group birthdays, finding bridesmaids’ dresses, catching a concert or two and some Raptors’ games (we even got to meet Damon Stoudamire). Time was flying by, but it’s no surprise with so many wonderful events happening, and the biggest party of the summer was going to go down in a few short months.

In Spring, there was an epic paintball adventure for a good friend’s bachelorette party, followed by a menu tasting for my wedding with family, a getaway to Port Carling to visit our best friends, more attempts at golf, another concert (or two), and suit shopping with the groomsmen for our wedding. It wouldn’t be the 2010s without a few more Blue Jays games, and wedding season was officially on with my cousin’s wedding in June. June also meant another wonderful birthday celebration, as well as my brother’s graduation, exploring new provincial parks, and a dress fitting or two.

One month to go before our wedding, July began with the most amazing bachelorette weekend ever; I truly could not have asked for or planned a weekend that was so much fun. I headed to Niagara Falls with some of my favourite gal pals for three days of laughs, love and adventure. My BFF and my MOH (Maid of Honour) planned a night of interactive party games, followed up a full day of an Amazing Race style scavenger hunt that had two teams racing all up, down and around Niagara Falls, and closing it out with a superb dinner and night of dancing! Anyone who knows me, knows that I am near impossible to surprise, and being such a planner, to have someone take over all control of planning my bachelorette party was difficult for me, but she truly hit a grand slam home-run with that weekend! Truly one of the best weekends of my life. Believe it or not, I was totally brought to tears that weekend, not only because I was given a special keepsake scrapbook with messages and photos from all my gal pals, but in all reality, growing up with so many guy friends, I never thought that I would have so many amazing ladies in my life to call my good friends and celebrate my bachelorette with me; oh and facetiming my cousin/bridesmaid in Newfoundland in the weekend also made me cry; another rare sight.

It was finally August which means we were days away from our wedding. Most of the days leading up to the wedding were pretty standard stuff: pick up the dress, pick up the suits, drop off the centerpieces to the flourist, get the rehearsal done, then contain your excitement for the biggest party of the summer! My husband and I are truly blessed because no two people could have felt more love on our wedding day than the two of us; its cliche but it’s true. Being together for almost 10 years by our wedding, everyone had built-up excitement and enthusiasm for our big day. With all the “you’re finally getting married” lines out of the way, our wedding was also a great opportunity for my family to get together and celebrate something wonderful; for the first time in years both my mom’s and dad’s sides of the family were under the same roof, laughing, smiling and catching up. Walking into the hall, you could feel all the joy, love, and positive emotions in the room, and it’s a feeling I will never forget. August 15th 2015 was a scorcher day, weather wise, so thank goodness for an indoor wedding venue and an open-bar! We celebrated our wedding day with about 175 friends and family, ate way too much delicious food, and drank all the thirst quenching beverages in sight! When the clock struck midnight we ate a little more and continued to dance the late night away. The next day, we travelled to Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls for a little post-wedding getaway with our wedding party; our best and closest friends supported us so much through our entire relationship and the wedding planning process we wanted to thank them but also celebrate an extra special way with them for getting us married. Incase you couldn’t tell, we’re big kids at heart so waterslides and hanging out playing games is an ideal weekend for us; we had an absolute blast!

In Fall 2015 there was no slowing down, as two of our dear friends would also be tying the knot; one in September and another in October. There was also another successful Client Appreciation Party thrown by my brother and sister-in-law for their real estate business clients; which started in 2013 and was growing in numbers each year. Round out October with another concert, and what would become an annual tradition Halloween bash at our house! November brought upon a new apartment warming party for our friends, and yes, another road trip to Ottawa where we’d discover a hidden gem winery and the epic Diefenbunker museum. We cannot forget those epic board game nights too.

Just when you thought 2015 couldn’t possibly fit any more epicness into it, Star Wars was back in theatres for the first time in 10 years! Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens was released and really, the force awoke in almost everyone; what an exciting time! We closed out the year with what would become another annual tradition: Friendship Christmas. With the decade half over, it was difficult to picture what other events might occur that would be as life changing as the last few years. 2015 was one of the happiest years of my life, so 2016 had some pretty big shoes to fill. It was unlikely that it would match that bar but it came pretty close.

2016
Most of 2016 started off with the same likeness as 2015; much snowboarding and game nights and new experiences like escape rooms! In February, Jeff and I would visit Ochi Rios, Jamaica for our honeymoon in what would be the most pampered and relaxing experience of my life; I am forever thankful for how astounding that vacation was! A honeymoon really is a once in a lifetime experience, and having a private pool, butler service and such amazing food and drink at our fingertips was overwhelming, but in a good way! In addition to relaxing poolside and at the beach, we were able to visit Dunns River for the day. Our honeymoon was wonderful because we got to spend time away from everyday life and we got to do it together; a nice reminder to slow down and take in the little moments. Taking our honeymoon 6 months after our actual wedding was also a great refresher of those exciting feels you get on your wedding day!

After our honeymoon, Jeff and I visited the humane society and picked out a new furry friend to bring home. Initially we were told this adorable little white and grey kitty was a girl, so we named her Zelda; my husband is a huge Legend of Zelda fan. A week later when we took Zelda to the vet, we found out that Zelda was actually a boy. For a day or two, The Cat Formally Known as Zelda had no new name, but eventually we decided on Hobbes; like the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. I was so overjoyed to have a cat back in my life, and to this day we love and adore Hobbes dearly.

Spring 2016 brought on live wrestling events, another concert or two, some treetop trekking, another Raptors playoff run, more exploring of our provincial parks, a friend’s baby shower, and an epic archery tag birthday party for yours truly! I was also asked to be a bridesmaid in my dear friends wedding, which was going to be in January 2017, so there were a handful of bridal preparations throughout this year that I was helping the bride-to-be get checked off her list. A few days after my birthday, my best friend and I took a road trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to catch the Blue Jays on the road, but also partake in some American history. I love road trips because they bring out some of the best conversations, carpool karaoke sessions, and just an overall grand adventure you’ll remember for a lifetime. Being history majors, we adored how rich in history Philadelphia was from the liberty bell, to Independence Hall, and the National Constitution Centre, and Eastern State Penitentiary, much fun was had! Yes, we climbed those famous Rocky-steps up the museum, and of course we indulged in some Philly Cheesesteak! The Jays games were blast; ballpark food is out of this world in the States, and we may have fallen in love with the Phillie Phanatic. If you’ve never been to Philadelphia, I highly recommend it!

Summer kicked off with my brother’s wedding, a cottage bachelorette weekend for my dear friend, more outdoor adventures at some provincial parks, continued treetop trekking adventures, friends’ having babies, another round of Rogers’ Cup tennis, and cottage weekends. For the first time in forever, we got to spend the long-weekend away at the cottage with friends, and oh what laughs were had! Truly a great little getaway with some really amazing people. A cousin’s wedding would close out the summer, as would some natural rock climbing adventures; note to anyone wanting to try this- it’s quite an experience but it definitely takes a toll on your body- especially if you do not exercise or climb regularly; worth a try though if you love outdoor adventures.

Before I go on any further about the wonderful things that continued to happen in 2016, I would like to take a moment and touch upon the other things going on in my life at this time. Having been at my job for about four years now, I had taken on much more responsibility with every passing school year and it was beginning to take its toll on me. Long work days followed by after hours phone calls from staff, coupled with continuous lack of staff to cover programs had me stretched out pretty thin attempting to do my job in addition to that of the front-line staff who were either ill, needed time off or were practically non-existent. I enjoy being challenged in the workplace and I face new responsibilities with a positive attitude, but day in and day out of the same constant problems with no support from head office to help our small team was equal parts physically and emotionally draining. While I adored my supervisors very much, we were all under a great deal of stress trying to juggle all the roles, paperwork, staff and parents that were knocking at our door each day. The circumstances of my career took a toll on me because I didn’t want to walk away from a challenge and I was learning so much valuable experience and skill set that could never be taught in a classroom. More importantly, I wasn’t sure where I would go next if I left the company; although I was a teacher by trade, I was certain that going back on the supply list or being in the classroom wasn’t exactly what I wanted. I took much of 2016 as a chance to think more clearly about what would be next for me as a career, but more on that later!

September 2016 was another magical time because I would return to Walt Disney World with my best friend and a good friend of ours from Nipissing who moved overseas would be joining us! We ventured to Epcot for the Food and Wine Festival, indulging in delicious food from all over the world throughout the World Showcase exhibit. We met a ton of characters in Magic Kingdom, took a Jungle Cruise, ate lunch with the friends from the Hundred Acre Woods, and visited Animal Kingdom for the first time! The highlight of our trip was Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, which was an after-dark event at Magic Kingdom where all guests could dress up and go trick-or-treating throughout the park, meet villains and ride some attractions! We dressed up as the Aliens from Toy Story; so many people loved our costumes, especially Buzz Lightyear. Such a magnificent vacation it was, especially because it would be the last time I would see my friend from overseas for a long time!

The closing months of 2016 included our second annual Halloween Party, a few more board game nights, escape rooms, and more frequent hockey games where my nephew was the star player! A wine and cheese night was thrown into the mix, as was a bridal shower/fiesta for the January bride-to-be, another road trip to Ottawa, and yes- another Star Wars story (Rogue One). Last but not least, a lovely Friendship Christmas was had, followed by a pajama party New Years Eve. 2016 had some big shoes to fill, and all things considered, it didn’t disappoint. The year continued to strengthen many bonds made years prior, while introducing some new people into my life as well. Friends of mine were starting or growing their families, and changes were brewing! With my dear friends wedding mere days away, I was excited for all that 2017 would bring even if it was a tad scary! Stay tuned…

A 2010s Sendoff: Recapping the Last 10 Years (Part 2):

December 25, 2019 manda_faromeiro

2013
Picking up where I left off in the last post, the beginning of 2013 was an emotional rollercoaster. Positively, my best friend and I had applied to be on the first season of The Amazing Race Canada, and to our surprise and excitement, we were making it through the few first rounds of casting. I vividly remember sitting in Swiss Chalet one evening running over the final details of the next round of casting forms and information. This moment was so exciting, as we had been fans of the original version of the show for so long, but it was also a little scary for me; if we were selected, it would mean leaving for 4 months, and as I mentioned previously, my Dad was becoming very sick by this time. In fact, my Dad spent almost the whole month of January in the hospital and would pass away on February 5th.

The first half of 2013 was truly a whirlwind; everything seemed to be happening so fast, yet some moments appeared to stop time. February was both the longest and shortest month of my life; the responsibility that comes with what to do when someone passes away is a long list of formalities, yet you’re also supposed to find the time to grieve. It’s a feeling I still can’t quite articulate perfectly. For me, it was really hard having so many people check up on you all the time, as mostly you end up sounding like a record stuck repeating the same few lines or phrases with every “Is there anything I can do for you?” or “How are you feeling today?” – what are we really supposed to say to people when something like this happens? Losing someone you love is always difficult and the time between my Dad getting really sick and dying was so short, it took me months and months to really process and let myself take the time to understand what had really happened. The fact that I had lost two important people in my life, less than 6 months apart, also made all of this quite difficult to navigate.

The next few months would bring about some exhilarating moments. Jeff and I would buy a house and test out our interior design skills by picking out all the little details from cabinetry to countertops and everything in between. A good friend of ours held a special dinner at their culinary school and it was such an honour to see all his hard work. Spring 2013 also had a trip to Ottawa with some friends to take in a Leafs vs Sens hockey game, The Killers’ concert, and a North Bay reunion. In June 2013 I had my 25th birthday and celebrated by ziplining and throwing one last party/get-together at the house before it sold. Summer was filled with more concerts, camping, the pop-up history of video gaming museum, rafting, wonderland, live wrestling events, and a friends’ wedding! By September 2013, I was offered a promotion at work and would be moving to a new office with new responsibilities; it was exciting and a tad scary to be moving in a bit of a different direction from being in a classroom, but it was definitely the right move.

2013 would close out with a Housewarming, one more trip to Ottawa for hockey, and taking in Les Miserables in Toronto. It probably goes without saying, but despite some great moments, I was ready to see all that 2014 would bring; and boy was it pretty damn great.

2014
Starting off much better than 2013, I had high hopes for 2014. In March, Jeff and I would be getting the keys to our brand new home and would be homeowners for the first time; all that time picking and choosing finishes and the little details would come to life in a place to call our own. It was thrilling and we were looking forward to living in a new town and having new beginnings. In early 2014 I was reunited with a snowboard, and thanks to my best friend, I felt comfortable relearning the proper way to ride. Alas, another house(apartment)warming, and a few more concerts. We were so thankful to be able to host two housewarming parties at our new home: one with our family which our two close friends as chefs prepared, and a second one with all of our closest friends. That year, the Raptors were in the playoffs and we were lucky enough to score tickets to one of the games. That spring, there was treetop trekking, more concerts, like Avicii, and even more treetop trekking. Sadly, we found out our cat Tyson had cancer, and most of 2014 was tough on him and us but we tried to make the most of it and make him as comfortable as possible. Tyson would, in fact, pass away in late August.

2014 was shaping up to be loads of fun, with every weekend bringing on some type of fun and adventure; I remember so vividly all the joyous times and memories I made that year, and it would only get better. As I’ve mentioned in other blog posts, I truly love celebrating my birthday; it’s a day I feel so special and loved and I never tire of making the most of the day and 2014 was no different. With much surprise and excitement, Jeff proposed to me the evening of my birthday. I was returning home from going out for dinner with my family, but Jeff was working later that night and couldn’t join us. When I got home, he had a card and gift ready but insisted on playing me one of my favourite Coldplay songs on the guitar first. As he finished playing, he asked me to read the card, and when I finished, down was Jeff with the box with the beautiful ring inside. Despite us being together for 9 years at that time, I was still surprised, but in the best way! Truly the best birthday to date. A few days later, we’d celebrate my birthday with friends where most of them found out the news.

Summer 2014 featured a few family weddings, more treetop trekking, the Canada Day Blue Jays game, concerts like One Direction and Linkin Park, oh and visiting our friends in Port Carling where we would fish, go golfing for the first time ever and have sushi, and Rogers Cup!

In the fall of 2014, I had the trip of a lifetime, as I was able to visit Walt Disney World with my best friend; it was a dream come true, as I always dreamed of visiting Disney World. While in Florida, we were able to visit Universal Studios, as well as two Disney parks: the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. It was a jam-packed week but absolutely amusing and amazing. At Universal, Simpson Land was definitely a highlight for me, as were the parades and taking photos with characters like Optimus Prime. There was so much to be thrilled about at Disney World; it was incredible meeting so many characters but also seeing how so many of my beloved stories came to life. Highlights included meeting Gaston (arguably one of the most spot-on characters at Disney), getting stuck on the Seven Dwarves Mine Train Ride, and eating at the themed restaurants and snack bars (i.e. Pizza Planet). I truly had the trip of my dreams, and I couldn’t wait to plan the next one. Oh, and in case you were curious or keeping track, that year Michael and I weren’t supposed to eat bread and cheese but I was allowed a free pass so I would be able to have a Krusty Burger and Pizza Planet meal while on my vacation.

2014 would close out with more trekking adventures, a North Bay reunion, boardgame nights, a semi-surprise birthday bash for Jeff, snowboarding nights, oh and a fun work Christmas party and New Year’s Eve bash. All in all, 2014 was fantastic and full of fun, laughs and adventure. Looking back, despite losing Tyson, 2014 was definitely the recharge of light and energy I needed after such a whirlwind of emotions and changes brought on by 2012/2013. I can easily say that 2014 was one of the best years of the decade.

Prepare yourselves for the next blog because 2015 was EPIC!

A 2010s Sendoff: Recapping the Last 10 Years (Part 1):

December 23, 2019 manda_faromeiro

It’s been far too long since my last blog, and I was waiting for the right kind of topic to get my writing juices flowing once again! I figured that with the New Year (and decade) around the corner, now was a great time to stop and take some time to reflect upon some of the many different things life threw at me over the past ten years. A lot can happen in a decade, and a lot did happen this decade! The 2010s brought on many changes, opportunities, losses and gains, adventures, challenges, friends, upsets, and through all of it, a greater sense of myself. I surely can’t recap everything, but I’ve compiled a good list of highlights within this blog post; for clarity sake, I am recapping in chronological order by year, but will break it down into a few blog posts. So let’s send off the 2010s with a stroll down memory lane.

2010

At the beginning of the decade, I was in my 4th year at Nipissing University deeply invested in my final term research papers for History. This was a bitter-sweet year because many of my friends would be graduating, and while some of them would be back for teacher’s college in the fall, the frequency in which we would see each other would diminish greatly due to placements and changing class schedules. This was also the last year that I would live with my best friend, as she was graduating in June and starting at a new school in September. Despite 4th year being quite academically heavy, my friends and I arguably spent the most time out-and-about at Cecil’s on Thursday nights, or exploring everything that North Bay had to offer, and making the most out of birthday celebrations. We made a lot of memories that year; it was the last semester with the gang all together at school and when you’re young, you hold onto those moments for as long as you can! The winter semester of 2010 was loads of fun, and Convocation meant that the new decade meant shifting into full-blown adult mode!

With school out until September, it was time to catch up with friends from back home, and work a ridiculous amount of hours- I had 3 jobs that summer plus a few weeks of teaching practicum in the spring – but still tried my best to have a life! My Mom was visiting from British Columbia, I was helping direct a school play, Jose Bautista was a Toronto Blue Jay, and we had to arrive at the theatre an hour or more before any blockbuster film to ensure that we’d get optimal seats, and that we’d all sit together; Iron Man 2 was in theatres that summer. I had the opportunity to experience a few concerts too, including Michael Buble and Rob Thomas, went camping, had some late nights at the drive-in, had adventures in Ottawa, and also visited British Columbia. My childhood cat, Silver was so happy to see me, and sadly it would be the last time I saw him as he died in 2011. When summer ended, I went back to Nipissing for my final year, and had the opportunity to live with my very first friend at Nipissing; her family was kind enough to welcome me into their home for a few short months before my final teaching practicum would begin. Once 2010 was coming to an end, my friend Michael and I celebrated at the stroke of midnight by indulging in chocolate; we had decided to give it up for the year – much to the disapproval of our friends, but more of that to come as the decade goes on.

2011
This is a year that I remember quite vividly, as there were many powerful moments that I experienced in these 12 months. I began 2011 with the adventure of a lifetime as I embarked on a month long trip to Ecuador. Here, I not only taught English in a local school but had the chance to visit the Amazon Rainforest, as well as learn so much about the culture and people of Ecuador. It is still one of the best experiences of my life, and a place I’d love to go back and visit again.

Much fun was had this year: I got to sit courtside at the Harlem Globetrotters game, experience Medieval Times dinner theatre, took in a ton more Blue Jays games, witnessed a longtime friend get married, and got accepted into Grad School. In June, I graduated from Nipissing University with two degrees and got to celebrate my graduation in conjunction with my 23rd birthday; it also meant I was saying goodbye to North Bay, which had been my home away from home for 5 years.

Summer 2011 I spent preparing for my move to Kingston, as I would be starting my Master’s Degree at Queen’s in August; my first time having to hunt for an apartment! Adjusting to the big campus lifestyle was a bit overwhelming at times, as Queens was so different compared to Nipissing, but I quickly made a good friend and felt right at home in no time. I really liked the city of Kingston and got to spend more time with a friend of mine from Nipissing who lived out that way. Many fun nights were had in my apartment, including the Halloween where we all coincidently dressed as pirates, and although my childhood pet passed away, I was gifted with a new kitty, Tyson who made living alone a lot less lonely.

2011 continued to bring new experiences, as for the first time ever, I would become an Aunt; my nephews Elliott and Benjamin were born only a month apart in November and December. We closed out 2011 by counting down the New Year with the Pizza delivery guy – as Michael and I were excited to indulge in pizza at the stroke of midnight after giving it up for the year.

2012
Just like 2010, in 2012 I was in the heart of my thesis at school, working towards completing and hopefully publishing my cognate by the summer. Still enjoying my time at Queens, the beginning of 2012 meant a lot more research, with too many hours spent in the archives. In February, my beloved VW Jetta had to be replaced – that car had experienced so many fun road trips – but a new car (Mazda 3) would take its place and provide many wonderful driving memories. In the early spring, our Nipissing University Crew (NU Crew) returned to North Bay for a reunion and held our first ever wine tasting evening; it was eventful and ever so much fun. Additionally, my boyfriend (now husband) and I celebrated 7 years together with our first ever vacation, travelling to the Dominican Republic; highlights of the trip included snorkeling, boating, and simply relaxing together poolside and at the beach.

I spent much of Spring 2012 job searching, as I knew my studies were coming to an end, and I wasn’t going to be living in Kingston much longer. My Summer didn’t really start until the middle of July, as I was busy finishing my cognate and awaiting for it to be approved by the university. I visited home periodically to see family and friends, while also taking the time to catch some baseball, hit up Canada’s Wonderland, and take in a concert or two; I saw one of the best Coldplay concerts that summer. I took a lot of time to visit my Grandma that summer, and I was really glad I did, as she ended up passing away later in the year.

Before moving back home, I celebrated my 24th birthday in Kingston; so many of my friends made it out to visit, I felt really loved and blessed that year. The end of the summer was actually pretty uneasy for me; an old teacher/friend passed away, my grandma’s health was declining, and for the first time in a long time, there were many unknowns regarding what I was going to be doing come September. I tried to remain in high spirits, making the most of the free time I had for the first time in (what seemed like) forever. Some highlights include: ziplining, attending Rogers’ Cup Tennis, visiting Sandbanks , camping, and Benjamin’s baptism.

A week before the school year was going to start, I accepted a new job working in a Before and After School program, and my future didn’t seem so scary. Ask anyone close to me, what the month of August was like for me, and they’ll chuckle and say I was very concerned that I would be jobless forever; in my defense, I was used to working 2-3 jobs every summer and going back to school in September, so 2012 was a new experience for me since I finished my Master’s program and therefore wouldn’t be returning to school. A few weeks into my new job, I was struck with news of my Grandma dying. My Grandma and I were quite close, and had grown even closer the last 5 or so years before her death; that year I was visiting her almost on a weekly basis. My Grandma dying wasn’t the only difficult experience I faced during the tail-end of 2012; the classroom which I was working in was quite intense, with high behavioural needs and while I learned so much real life teaching experience and behaviour management skills, on some days it was really difficult to feel excited about going to work. A highlight during this time though was finally being able to have Jeff, my boyfriend at the time (now husband) after 7 years of dating, move in with me.

The end of 2012 wasn’t actually the end of the world, and I happily rang in the New Year with many of my close friends. Few people knew that my Dad was becoming pretty sick by the end of the year, and given all the changes that happened throughout the year, I was looking forward to beginning a new year. While it wasn’t an easy year, 2012 provided so much growth and perspective. I learned a lot, not only academically but also about myself: my insecurities (letting go of control) my strength, will, determination and my relationships. Oh, and with 2012 coming to a close, it meant that Michael and I were able to eat ice cream again (among other things!).

Three years down, 7 more to go! Stay tuned for the next blog.

Finally, A Blog Post About Survivor!

September 25, 2019 manda_faromeiro

It’s the most wonderful time of the year- for television – because Survivor is premiering tonight for its 39^th season. I don’t remember much about the year 2000, other than the fact that Y2K didn’t destroy us, but I do vividly remember what it was like watching Survivor debut on my television. In the year 2000, I was only 12 years old, but I was immediately captivated by the social experiment of being stranded on an island for 39 days with complete strangers, competing in physical and mental competitions for a chance at a one million dollar prize. I remember being completely immersed in the show, so much so that it was all I wanted to talk about. I recall buying magazines that featured articles interviewing and outlining the castaways, and keeping a scrapbook; yeah I totally did! Survivor was the first show of its kind and most people I know have at one point in their life, if they don’t still continue to do so, watched and enjoyed Survivor.

Over its 20 year run, Survivor has evolved and introduced a handful of twists keeping both the castaways and viewers on their toes and at the edge of their seats. Whether it’s multiple tribe swaps, an early merge, a late merge, no merge whatsoever, Exile Island, Redemption Island, Ghost Island, the Edge of Extinction, hidden immunity idols, medallions of power, stealing votes, extra votes, legacy advantages, larger juries, voting off jury members, drawing rocks at tribal or having to participate in fire-making challenges, something fascinating is always afoot when you tune in to Survivor.

While I could write an entire essay analyzing 39 seasons of Survivor, I thought it would be fun for me to give a list of 10 of my favourite Survivor seasons thus far; and yeah I say thus far because I hope there will be many more to follow. I also have incredibly high expectations for season 40’s All-Winners cast, and I cannot contain my excitement for that. For now, though, let’s revisit some really epic seasons of Survivor shall we? It should be noted that while I want to put these in ranking order, I continuously flip back and forth on where a few of these would rank in my list. Thus, I have listed them instead in chronological order.

Survivor Borneo (Season 1)

You cannot have a list of Survivor season favourites without the season that started it all. I probably have rewatched this season more than 12 times since its original airing. It’s hard to be super critical of Borneo because it truly was the starting point of great seasons to come. Whether you like him or not, the level of masterful gameplay that Richard Hatch exhibited seemed leagues above the fellow contestants he was paired with; the way he was able to create the 4 person alliance of himself, Rudy, Sue and Kelly was fascinating. Sure, alliances are standard for Survivor play these days, but with no point of reference on what it meant to play and win Survivor, Hatch did a lot of things right. Borneo was the first opportunity for the audience, and those playing, of course, to figure out what exactly it meant to survive; how do you outwit your competitors, how do you outplay them, and with those two questions answered, you would surely outlast them to get to the end of hopefully win that cash prize and title of sole survivor. Borneo answered many questions for us too, for instance, no, it’s not an effective strategic idea to avoid hurting your tribemates feelings by casting your vote alphabetically, Sean – what were you thinking! – oh and if you’re going to decide by the final 6 that you won’t work with your alliance anymore, you best not pout around the island after telling them, KELLY! Honestly, I could go on and on about the highs and lows of this season, Snake and Rat tribal speech, anyone? But I’ll leave this point by saying that Borneo gave us the bones of what would evolve into many wonderful and masterful seasons of Survivor to come; oh and we got Rudy and Sue out of this season, so that’s a win in my books!

Survivor: The Australian Outback (Season 2)

Two seasons in, and Survivor was already changing the rules; this season saw contestants playing for 42 days instead of 39. The contrast of location from Season 1 and 2 made Survivor the Australian Outback that much more exciting. The landscape of the outback was visually appealing, and seeing the contestants try to adjust to the elements brought a whole different experience from Borneo. Memorable moments include Mike Skupin killing the pig and later falling into the fire and having to be medically evacuated, the water bucket weights challenge, Jerri falling in love with Colby (I mean, who didn’t), the forest fire and later flooding of the camps, and the relationships of Roger and Elizabeth and Tina and Colby. More so than Season 1, The Australian Outback definitely intensified the survival aspect of the whole Survivor concept; the contestants were really at the mercy of the natural elements. It was here where we learned that past votes would affect your fate in the result of a tie, as we witnessed with Jeff Varner’s exit. I can’t mention this season without pointing out the incredible individual immunity run by Colby, with 5 individual immunity wins; a record that hasn’t been broken since, but has been matched by a select few contestants. All in all, this was a great season that surely holds up after all these years.

Survivor Pearl Islands (Season 7)

This season took the term Survivor to the next level; based on pirate culture and featured castaways actually having to bargain and deal in a local market for various items for their tribe. It goes without saying, this element was really fun, as you saw a new element of the game be introduced. Of course, the casting this season is quite iconic as well. Here, we met Johnny Fairplay with his dead grandma stint, Rupert the loveable tye-dye wearing modern-day pirate, as well as the future Queen of Survivor herself, Sandra! This season also gave us the Outcast twist, which saw the first six eliminated contestants return as a tribe to compete in a challenge against the other tribes. If this Outcast tribe was able to beat both tribes in the challenge, they would have the opportunity to vote 2 of their own back into the game and forcing the other tribes to go to council. Of course, the Outcasts prevailed, and we saw Burton and Scout Leader Lillian return with resentment of course. Long story short, and spoilers ahead, but Lillian would manage to get herself to the final tribal council. If you haven’t watched this season yet, please do so -it isn’t without a bit messiness, Osten is pretty miserable to watch- but keep your eye on Sandra from the beginning and it’s easy to see how her unmatched strategic play truly had her outwit and outplay and outlast everyone else. For the first time in 7 seasons, I truly felt that Pearl Islands had the most diverse cast when it came to personality styles. There were also many moments here that I still hold dear to my heart; Sandra dumping the fish, the not-so-dead Grandma, the outcast twist, and some really fun challenges. Truth be told, it is my second favourite season of Survivor, ever.

Survivor: Palau (Season 10)

The first time that Survivor ever started off with 20 castaways was in Palau, and honestly this season had a lot of new things working for it; the tribe started off all together, then had to select their own tribes- but two people would be immediately eliminated from the game without getting voted out. Here, you saw two sides of the coin, an older lady by the name of Wanda was eliminated on this Day 2 twist, but so was Jonathan, your typical brawny-type casted player. What was really memorable about this season was the Ulong losing streak (the tribe lost every immunity challenge) and a merge never even happened because the tribe dwindled down to just Stephanie and Bobby-Jon, to which Stephanie ended up joining Koror because she won the firemaking challenge. These two contestants were also very likable and watching them fight to outlast the other was not only memorable, but hard to watch as you wanted both of them to play on. This season also featured really fun challenges, and the fact that Koror never went to tribal and spent so many days with the exact same people, never even having a tribe swap made for that little extra flare. The final immunity challenge went on for over 12 hours, and one of the most memorable of all seasons. In addition, Tom Westman was a really likable and deserving winner who was a true tribe leader fulfilling the components of outwit, outplay, outlast perfectly. In addition, Tom would tie Colby with the most individual immunity wins with 5.

Survivor: Tocantins (Season 18)

Without doubt, this season brought us the highest number of memorable players to ever come from a single season. JT, Stephen Fishbach, Tyson, Coach and Taj; all of which have returned to play at least once (with the exception of Taj). These castaways were incredibly amusing to watch because honestly, their personalities (especially Coach and Tyson) made for amazing entertainment; and the BFF bond between JT and Stephen is what survivor dreams are made of. What I enjoyed about this season was another great twist right at the beginning; one member from each tribe voted to not trek to the camp, but instead of being “voted” out, they would get an advantage and be flown to the camp and get extra time to either set up the site OR search for an immunity idol. Exile Island was also back in play this season. For the first time in a long time, the final two of JT and Stephen made for a win-win situation; regardless of who was going win, you were satisfied with the result. Unfortunately, Stephen’s poor performance at final tribal, coupled with how incredibly likable JT was to everyone on the jury allowed for a unanimous vote of 7-0. Some of the memorable things about this season were the unique scenery/landscape, exile island, Coach and his stories, Sydney- and her relationship with everyone on the tribe, the Survivor auction, and the final immunity challenges.

Survivor: Heroes vs Villains (Season 20)

The reigning and undisputed BEST SEASON OF SURVIVOR EVER. Yep, I said it. A two hour season premiere, a PERFECT cast of players who were iconic and legendary each in their own way and in so many ways. The division of tribes into the Heroes and Villains categories saw an extra bit of character added to the social game play, as it seemed the actions were heightened by these categories; villains doing extra villany things, heroes burdened by the title of hero when they wanted to act a little less heroic and a little more greedy. It was SO difficult to choose who to root for this season, apart from Sandra of course, because when you’re given the option to choose Sandra Diaz-Twine, you always chose Sandra Diaz-Twine. What was extra special about this season was the fact that many players got some redemption, in that their gameplay improved immensely, and honestly they were just far more likable this time around; Jerry from Australia and Courtney from China are the best two examples of this. Once again, Sandra proved why she is the survivor queen, with all the drama of trying to get the Villains to vote out Russell, then trying to get the heroes to vote out Russell, and then ultimately beating him and Parvati in the end; making her the only ever 2x winner. Honourable mentions of great moments also include the Boston Rob and Russell rivalry, Tyson voting himself out due to paranoia and misinformation, JT giving Russell the immunity idol, Parvati playing two immunity idols while having her own immunity for herself. Oh, and remember when Sandra burned Russell’s hat? I swear she is the ICONIC and LEGEND of Survivor. I’ve rewatched this season more than any other, and will continue to watch it with as much joy and amusement as it’s air date of February 2010. There are too many good things about this season, it could have it’s own blog post!

Survivor: Philippines (Season 25)

The three tribe format and the return of some medical evacuated contestants, this season of survivor was another great one with a solid cast. It goes without saying, but having Jonathan Penner – the one and only – return was immensely entertaining. Usually, I am not the biggest fan of seasons with minimal returnees mixed with new castaways, but one cannot resist Jonathan Penner, and I think we all had high hopes on a Michael Skupin return – yeah I said HAD – that turned out to be a downer. It was a fascinating and intriguing twist to see how these former medically evacuated contestants would fair with another chance. However, Philippines introduced us to some incredible players: Denise, Malcolm (swoooooooooooon), Jeff Kent, and one of the biggest and most infuriating female villains of all time, Abi-Maria. Yes, I included Abi here because despite how annoying it was to watch her rude behaviour and questionable social skills, she made for entertaining television and really had you jumping for joy and breathing huge sighs of relief when she finally did get the boot. This was a three tribe format that I actually enjoyed watching. Similar to Stephanie and Bobby-Jon, Denise and Malcolm were on the tribe that lost the most, and you didn’t want to see either of them go; they attended every tribal council, and when they survived and thrived at the merge, everyone rested easy. Who can forget the tears when Malcolm got voted out, only to send off with what we all needed and wanted to hear, that Denise was going to win the game. A big part of what made this season so fun was the game play, location, and honestly, Denise was a very deserving and likeable winner; one we’d be happy to see play again.

Survivor: Blood vs Water (Season 27)

The idea of bringing returning players with their loved ones worked well as a theme because you’re taking a tribe of players who know the game, and a tribe who is new to it, yet the returning players have far more invested in those newbies on the other side; they were forced to think about the other tribe in a new way. Similar to Heroes vs Villains, some players here had a reputation-redemption; particularly Monica Culpepper, who also graced us with the wonderful Brad Culpepper- who later on would have his own redemption- but Monica shined as a challenge beast. Several memorable moments from this season include Ciera voting out her mom Laura, Rupert taking Laura’s place on Redemption Island within the first few minutes of the game, the intense rock vote that saw Katie (Australian Outback winner Tina’s daughter) leave the game, a few really great duels on Redemption Island, and yes, Tyson was a really great winner who’s strategy and motivation to win for Rachel (who was an early boot and voted out as a tactic to try to weaken Tyson’s ability to play the game strategically) coupled with his great social game and strong alliance with Monica and Gervase allowed him to rise above the rest. It should be mentioned too that this was in itself, total redemption for Tyson after his quick exit in Heroes vs Villains; at least in my opinion.

Survivor: Cambodia (Season 31)

For the first time, this season featured 20 returning contestants chosen by the viewers through an online vote. The anticipation of seeing who was selected was exhilarating. The cast was revealed on finale night and it didn’t disappoint; Tasha and Spencer, Jeremy, Keith Nale, PG, Terry Deitz, Kass, Stephen Fishbach, Kimmi Kappenberg, just to name a few! A fun twist saw hidden immunity idols appear at challenges rather than back at camp; another level of suspense. This season also featured increasing tribes, from two to three, and a merge at 13 players. What stands out the most about this season, is the intensity to which the players hustled; you could really see how hard the players were fighting for that second chance – as though they didn’t want to let down those fans who voted them back onto the show. With the true “fan favourites” and several twists and hidden surprises, Cambodia was very satisfying and refreshing for a show that was already more than 15 years old.

Survivor: Ghost Island (Season 36)

Memorable in many ways, Ghost Island was another breath of fresh air in a long timeline of Survivor twists. For the first time, a secluded location held mementos and props from previous seasons of Survivor, with the potential of aiding current players by giving power to old idols, advantages or twists that contestants would have the opportunity to gain. Not to sound like a skipping record, but another great selection of contestants made this season even more memorable. Wendell and Dom who not only were what Survivor BFF dreams are made of- move over JT and Stephen- but also made history by having the first ever tie at final tribal, forcing the 3rd final tribal member, Laurel to cast the winning vote to break the tie. There were so many instances when you were on the edge of your seat during this season; literally to the last final vote. Other memorable cast members included Chris, Michael, Sebastian, Donathan, and B-listers who still made for compelling television because of how they interacted with the A-list characters. What was really awesome about this season was seeing iconic Survivor items from the past also get a second chance to be played; it was a great way to instill Survivor nostalgia through a new batch of castaways because we all love those jaw-dropping advantage or idol play fails. In a way, Ghost Island was the Redemption Island but for Survivor items. Right? LOL

Well, what are your thoughts? Do you agree with my list? What season is missing that is your favourite? In case you couldn’t tell, I rather enjoyed this post and will definitely write about Survivor again. Happy Survivor Premier Day! Cheers to another 40 seasons.

Reasons to Love September

September 8, 2019 manda_faromeiro

Hello Everyone! I have been meaning to write another blog for weeks now; I didn’t intend to go so long between posts but August brought about some changes (good ones) that had me a bit preoccupied getting geared up for September. I will begin by saying that I’ve always looked forward to September for many reasons and with most of my life being spent as a student, or as an adult working in an educational environment, it’s truly the mark of new beginnings, new chances and new opportunities. This blog is dedicated to discussing some of the reasons I love September.

Fall is Coming
Yes, Summer isn’t officially over until September 21st, but in my mind, once the Toronto’s CNE rolls into town, the countdown to summer is over. This event, which happens at the end of August every year, coupled with the fact that school starts in September for students, signals to me the end of summer and the beginning of the best season ever, Fall. In Canada, our seasons are unpredictable, but the moment the temperatures drop below 20 degrees celsius and you can feel that crisp cool air in the morning, Fall is here! Bust out the layers, sweater weather is here – which means that jacket weather is ALSO here! If you’ve read my fashion blog post, you know this is a very treasured component of my life- bahaha. Fall fashion has to be the best of any season. It’s not just the colours, but the fall pieces are unlike any other season- apart from jackets there are always new sweaters, long sleeve shirts, oh and how about all the plaid? In all seriousness though, Fall is the most beautiful season in my opinion for many reasons. Not only is it comfortable and cozy outside, you’re not freezing and you’re not sweating or uncomfortably hot, but it’s also the most beautiful season; the changing colours of the trees, as well as the vivid natural colours we see with pumpkins, apples, squash etc. Thus, September means the beginning of such an exquisite season!

New Beginnings & Opportunities
As I mentioned above, September for me has very much involved the starting of another school year, whether it is as a student or as an educator, and this September is no different. For the first time in forever, I thought that this September wasn’t going to involve a “back to school” experience for me, as I had no plans to be involved with a career in education. I recently resigned from my position as an Academic Mentor and Tutor with the company I had worked with for three years, and was planning to take some time away from education. This changed in the middle of August as I was offered an opportunity to work for Georgian College in their Testing Services. So, September was once again going to symbolize new beginnings and opportunities, and moments of learning and growth. I’ve always considered September to be very similar to January; in the way that many strive for a “new year, new opportunities” attitude, September is my January. I’m not big on new year’s resolutions, but when September rolls around, I’ve always been mindful to try new things and embrace the change. I find that September often marks new changes for others in my life, whether it be new jobs or careers or modifications to work responsibilities, changes in hobbies, moving to new homes or apartments, or even other life events like engagements, weddings or expanding one’s family or preparing for such events. September has always been a month of new beginnings, changes, and opportunities, and it makes me glad.

Survivor
Yeah, I am totally dedicating a section of my blog post about Survivor because if you didn’t already know, I’m a HUGE fan of Survivor; I haven’t missed a single episode since 2000 when it debuted and I’ve watched all the seasons at least twice if not five or six times. September always marks the beginning of a new season of Survivor, and it truly is exciting! I love Survivor for many reasons, but mostly I love seeing the challenges, whether brand new challenges or twists on old favourites, or classic ones, it’s always fun watching the tribes compete for immunity. I look forward to seeing the new strategic game play and personalities that will be gracing my television every Wednesday night until the middle of December.

Surely I’ve forgotten to include some of the wonderful things, so let me know what you like about September or what it means to you! As always, thanks for reading my blog and staying interested in my thoughts.