First thing: Top Chef. WTF? And before you read any further, please note that there are spoilers regarding the latest episode in the next paragraph. Stop reading if you don’t want to know, and please remember that I did warn you.

This isn’t going to be a thorough critique of the show, but I’ve gotta get a few things out before I go mad with insanity. Well, it’s not that bad, but this show really did upset me in a few ways.

I hardly get bent out of shape while watching reality tv shows. When Christian won, I was upset, but I got over it fairly quickly. I know that I’ll be ok once the show is over, and I’ll go back to living my normal day-to-day life, forgetting it ever happened. Not after tonight. Tonight, Tom and I are no longer friends. When did you make choices based solely on ratings? Booo, Bravo and Tom.

Lisa has to go. That’s it. I said it. She has to leave.

Antonia was one of my picks from the very beginning because she was so consistently good. Plus she was always “cooking from the heart” that they were always getting on to Hung about. Guess it just goes to show that “cooking from the heart” is always a nice thing, but it doesn’t really matter at the judges table. She was extremely classy, and showed real work ethic in many situations. I’m sad to see her go.

Stephanie and Richard are both incredibly strong chefs, and it’s actually hard for me to choose between them. At this point in the game, anyone but Lisa is the chef for me. I know that’s harsh. I realize that Lisa is also a very good chef, but when they showed her upset at the end because Stephanie and Richard didn’t congratulate her, that really got under my skin. At least she realizes that they aren’t impressed with her attitude, and neither am I. She should really stop crossing her arms and looking like a 15 year old being reprimanded by her mother.

She has been one of the two at the very end how many times now? Six? They took that into account when they booted Spike, and I think they should have taken it into account this time, as well. I realize that Antonia’s peas weren’t fully cooked. I realize that she shouldn’t have put them all in the same plate. Bah. The only real actual cooking issue? Her peas. The judges had cooking issues with every single one of Lisa’s dishes.

Anyway. Enough about that now. If I think about it anymore, I’ll have wasted much too much time on a show that will be over in a week.

Which brings me to thing two: “I” and “me”

When using the phrases “___ and I” and “___ and me,” one has to be careful to choose the right one. . . you know, to be grammatically correct. I know that I am not the bestest and greatest when it comes to grammar, but I do have a pet peeve.

Use the right one.

But how do you know? How can you be sure? Well, good thing you stopped by.

Easy layman’s terms? Just substitute the “I” or “me” into the situation without the other subject, noun or pronoun and see which one makes more sense.

For instance: Shelley and I went to the store. Take Shelley away, and see what is left. I went to the store. Makes sense, right? Would Shelley and me went to the store make sense? No. Because Me went to the store is incorrect. And it sounds stupid.

Something a little more complicated. When labeling pictures of one’s self alone, what would you label it as? “Me” or “I?” (This punctuation is another thing I have a problem with. . . the problem being I don’t know which is correct. Any grammar police out there who can help a gal out?) I’d label mine with “me.” Most pictures I see? Shelley and I. Argh.

Ok, something else. “I” and “me” at the end of the sentence. Shelley went to get ice cream for Carlos and me. Why does this make sense? Because Shelley went to get ice cream for me. It’s not that hard, people.

If I’m wrong, let me know. If I’m not, do it right. That’s all there is to it.

_____________________________________________

Edit: Here’s an article I read part of after I wrote this, and I think it makes my point much better than I did. Just read it.