Fifteen Minutes of Scrawl

So, my friends and I watched the season premiere on Thursday. Here are a random collection of questions, hopes, and other thoughts on this season premiere I had after watching. Yes, jump off the boat! When Jeff said that the two themes (if you will) of the season are "permanent uncertainty" and "open era," I at first thought that meant that the show would have brand new twists and there would be no returning players (and none had been announced, so this made sense to me), but then Jeff explained later that it meant that any twist or element from any season could come back (which...isn't that always true?) and that there would be some elements in the hands of the players (he made a long speech about how at the start of the game the power transfers to the players, and I wanted them to be like "Well, we're the hosts now"--c'est la vie) I ended up feeling so bad for Lewis who ended up on exile island, had a chance to chop down a tree for an idol, b...

Long ago, I thought of one parody lyric for this song, so now I'm challenging myself to do the full parody. I call it "SCL" (summa cum laude). Na-na-na, read on Na-na-na, read on Na-na-na-na-na, read on Na-na-na, read on, read on, read on Na-na-na-na-na, read on Na-na-na, read on Na-na-na-na-na, read on Na-na-na, read on, read on, read on Na-na-na-na, read on Feels so good being smart (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) There's no way I'm ceasing books (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) Now the cram is for pleasure 'Cause nothing can measure (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) Love is great, love is fine (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) Only genius is my shrine (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) The researching of a scholar leaves me wanting more (Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) 'Cause I may be sharp, and I'm perfectly apt at it Facts in a book, I don't care, I love the smell of it Sophistry may anger me But brains and wits excite me 'Cause I may be sharp, and I'm perfectly apt at it Facts in a book, I don...

Yes, I know that Survivor 's 51st season premiered Wednesday night, but my friends and I watch on streaming on Thursdays (or that's the plan!). So here are a random collection of questions, hopes, and other thoughts on this season premiere I had before watching. Why are there 21 players but two announced tribes (and it's been a while since there have just been two tribes I believe)? What's that odd person out going to do? Also, I thought tribes were usually announced prior to the premiere, but they didn't this time...I wonder why? My fantasy team is Angelica “Jelly” Loblack (a sociology professor), Brady Booker (a professional wrestler), Danny “Kilby” Kilby (a game designer), and Ori Jean-Charles (a physical trainer and former pro-athlete)--I am eager to know if they're on the same tribe or different tribes as I think two are going to be better at puzzles and two are going to be better at physical challenges (although I think Ori could be good at both, but folks...

Time for (part 1 of?)  the tell all! Sarper now has an AI girlfriend...wild Also, "Sharon" says off the wall things Guillermo, I do agree that you and Kara shouldn't be together, but you should have ended things face to face I am nervous to hear Patrick and Thais's updates Kara's hair is a color I want, but I think the green isn't the right match for the hair Guillermo, Kara is allowed to dress however she pleases I do think, overall, the cast cleans up pretty good! Oof I am not looking forward to Patrick and Thais's turn Gosh I'm so sorry for Jenny Yeah, Guillermo, like you CAN do what you did, but it does suck a lot for Kara and it will suck a lot when your son watches that scene one day I guess it depends on context, but I don't think calling the cops usually deescalates things, Patrick Why does Patrick not seem happy to see John? Also, why is John not sitting by Patrick? Wait, is Patrick saying that $240k in debt is no big deal? Also, if I...

In case you don't know, Open House Chicago (OHC) is a free public festival that offers behind-the-scenes access to more than 200 sites of architectural interest, including many that are not normally open to the public. If you're curious, browse the 2026 sites . Otherwise, enjoy 15 more sites that intrigue me (you can also read my post "15 Open House Chicago 2026 sites that intrigue me" )! Graceland Cemetery and Arboretum Haitian American Museum of Chicago Héctor Duarte Studio Herban Produce House of Blues Intuit Art Museum Irish American Heritage Center Judson & Moore Distillery Kenar Studio Lillstreet Art Center Ling Shen Ching Tze Buddhist Temple Park Castle Condominiums Smashed Plastic Record Pressing Sts. Volodymyr & Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church Starshaped Press The Wasteshed Chicago (Prompt by me) Open House Chicago 2026, Chicago Architecture Center

Time for part 2 of the tell all!  Shawn asking the real question to Josh, "At what point do you take her at her word?" Gosh, I don't need to know about Josh and Catie's sex drive Even the idea of a glass dildo makes me uncomfortable Does no one want Catie to get intense therapeutic help? I would also be annoyed if someone was vaping in a van I was in I don't think Thomas is a "loose cannon"--like, yeah, he's upset but quite reasonably Ashia is being quite fun Mallorie, Thomas did  use his words Shea, you don't need to do shots I am enjoying Debby's sparkly top Wait why did Edward refer to Mariss as "Blondie"? Edward, Marissa does have to maintain some line of communication with Michael as Marissa and Michael's sons are minors Catie, you good? Shea, that was actually really sweet to share your story regarding your parents Catie, last call happened Also, Catie, you're not okay Shea, do you really have 0 pictures of Nicole? Lik...

In case you don't know, Open House Chicago (OHC) is a free public festival that offers behind-the-scenes access to more than 200 sites of architectural interest, including many that are not normally open to the public. If you're curious, browse the 2026 sites . Otherwise, enjoy 15 sites that intrigue me! 6018 North Albany-Carroll Arts Building All Saints' Episcopal Church Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Chicago Anti-Cruelty Birch Road Clubhouse Boxville Center for Native Futures Chicago Magic Lounge Chicago Maritime Museum Columbia Yacht Club FarmZero Glessner House The House of Glunz & The Glunz Tavern Graceland Cemetery and Arboretum (Prompt by me) Open House Chicago 2026, Chicago Architecture Center

Wen through some of my dad's stuff today and "Take a Bow" by Rihanna came into my head, so here's my attempt to combine those two experiences. Oh, how about a round of mem'ries? Yeah, a scarring retention Ooh, whoa, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah You'd look so blank right now Standing rig ht by my side Trying to explain your life You're so barefaced when you lie Please, just leave my mind And you couldn't say you're sorry 'cause you're not Because dad you'd only say sorry cause it's fraught But you'd put on quite a show (Ooh, oh) Really have me going But, now, I should let go (Ooh, oh) The chance for truth's all done There was once a chance (Ooh, oh) Very sad reminder But it's all gone now (But it's all gone now) Go and leave, you know how Oh, oh I sort clothes and your things (Your things) You crated away so You would not truly be seen (Be seen) Actin' like "Kids, I love you, you know me" That just sounds...

Gotta prep! Cookies Ghost cutouts Drippy candles S'mores supplies My costume pieces Halloween-y prizes Frosting and candies Empty potion bottles Two pumpkin baskets Large Halloween-y bag Spooky photobooth supplies Big piece of paper and markets An inflatable decoration for my patio Flyers with QR codes for various games Disposable paper plates, cutlery, and napkins (Prompt by me) Photo by Adriana Sidor on Unsplash

So, due to me unpacking, I discovered my old Degrassi: The Next Generation  bucket hat. That made me want to rewatch the show, so here are a random collection of thoughts I had as I rewatched all of season 1 an d 14 epis odes of season 2. I do think it's pretty cool that the show does pick up from an older show where the teens from the original show are now adults (some with teenagers of their own) Gosh, that opening song takes me back, but maybe we don't put the final logo on a teen girl's butt? Omg J.T. is the babiest of babies Toby, I was you as a kid--actually aware of danger It is too funny to hear the characters refer to the internet as "the net" In my head, these episodes were like 45 minutes instead of like 22...brain does weird things I guess I am so anxious as this creeper is trapping Emma Hell yeah, Snake, pin that creep up against a wall until the police get there I do find it interesting that the first kids we meet are from the younger group Toby, tha...

As you may have been able to tell from my posts "15 group costume ideas for Halloween 2026" and " 15 group theme costume ideas for Halloween 2026" , I am considering doing a group costume this year. But, who knows! Maybe I'll be solo, so here's me brainstorming:  Ariel from The Little Mermaid Bella Goth from The Sims Carmen Sandiego from  Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? Dolly Parton (I know I mentioned this on another post, but it'd still be fun) Duo from Duolingo Grave of the Fireflies (I'd wear like a tombstone skirt and put firefly stickers all over me) Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus A Mad Lib (I could carry around a sharpie for folks to fill in the blanks) Maryanne from The Chicks's song "Goodbye, Earl" (I could carry beans, poison, and a fake body in a tarp) Miss Piggy from The Muppets Nurse Christine Chapel from Star Trek: TOS Penelope Featherington/Bridgerton from Bridgerton Terri Irwin Wigglytuff, The Pokémon Wo...

Time for (the start of) the commitment ceremony?  Sarper, they put that sign there so that this exact situation doesn't happen I think Thais needs therapy (not a judgment!) It's really tough to be able to tell what Sumit actually wants It's pretty wild that they surprise the couples with the zipline Kara, I do feel the need to comment that ziplines shouldn't be "a leap of faith"--you should know it works I feel like the couples are getting scolded based on how they all have to sit on the ground and the therapists (who did not just do a cave trek and zipline) get chairs Shekinah, were you prompted to say the show name? Oof Pao...don't say you came to the resort to break up with Russ in front of everyone... Hey, are the therapists gonna correct what trauma bonding means? Like, a lot of people use it to mean people who bond because of shared trauma, but it actually means a powerful and unhealthy emotional attachment that develops between a person and someone ...

Something my therapist recommended recently is putting the questions I wish I could've asked my dad on a page (any page), so here goes.  Who were your friends and why did I never meet them? You were very smart. What did that add to (or take away from) your life? What made you know that you wanted to marry mom?  What made you know that it was time to end the marriage? Did you ever even consider taking me on a trip? If you did, why didn't we go? If you didn't, how come you took my brother on one? Did you have fun with us when we were kids? What did you enjoy doing with us? You once told me that having kids was the best decision you ever made. Was that the truth? What were your wishes and hopes for me? Did you even have them? You wrote that your drinking made my brother and me worry. Do you think that's all it did to us? Do you think we didn't love you and thus suffered watching you suffer? Why didn't you show your family members support when they needed it most? I...

Time for part 1 of the tell all!  Mido, you're gonna get hit by a taxi Wait, Mido, do you want to be on Broadway now? You do know that's a different thing than being in Hollywood, yes? What is up with Josh's hat? Mallorie and Rasit seem cute, but I've heard some internet scuttlebutt Thomas, let Paula get ONE miniature thing Is Maxwell shirtless in bed on this video chat? Aw Edward seems genuinely excited to meet Josh Anabelle looks so good Wow I actually agree with Catie on one thing (Mido sucks) Catie, Josh is more attractive than Mido Ashia, did you (again) pick a dress you can't sit comfortably in? Ahhh now we know how to properly pronounce Rasit's name I thought Rasit and Brandon had become bros? Mallorie, Catie agreeing with you isn't the best sign Catie...I hate to break it to ya, but your castmates were talking to you about as gently as they could about your documented and admitted behavior Ashia, loosen the corset so you can actually sit Yeah of cour...

While I already posted "15 group costume ideas for Halloween 2026" , those had specific costume recommendations. For this post, I'm going to recommend a theme for a group costume and everyone can pick a costume that is within the theme, but that suits them best (e.g. the theme could be superheroes and folks can be Batman or Wonder Woman or Elastigirl) Historical musicals (e.g.  1776 , Hamilton , and Oh Mary! ) Famous fictional hired help (e.g. Alfred Pennyworth from Batman , Mary Poppins from Mary Poppins , and Mrs. White from the board game Clue/do ) Greek gods and goddesses (e.g. Hera, Ares, and Persephone) Lights in the sky (e.g. the sun, the moon, and Polaris/the North Star) Iconic aliens (e.g. Spock from Star Trek , Wicket from Star Wars , and the Alien from Alien ) Sport projectiles (e.g. a birdie, a golf ball, and a football) Well-known fictional dinosaurs (e.g. Blue the velociraptor from Jurassic World , Old Lace the genetically engineered deinonychus from Ma...

Here are some short pieces based on things that have happened in my life recently.  The Gifts are...Somewhere? I hate moving so much that towards the end of the process, I just threw things into bags or boxes as they fit, which room they'd come from or which room they'd go to be damned. However, this means that some things are still to be uncovered. And I don't know if this is the case for you, but I have about one billion loved ones with September birthdays (okay, 11 but that IS a lot!). So, I have quite a few birthday presents that I know I've bought (not only do I remember buying them, but I have a spreadsheet recording what I've bought), but have not retrieved from the various piles yet. I don't have a ton more boxes and bags to go through, so I'm confident I can find them tomorrow morning or afternoon (before I head to a joint birthday party in the evening) and then wrap and label them. Moving forward, I hope to get more organized under-bed storage to k...

Sometimes group costumes are just more fun!  The Powerpuff Girls (3), possibly with Professor Utonium (making it a group of 4) Scooby-Doo  characters (5 if you include Scooby, 6 if you also include the Mystery Machine) The Sanderson sisters (3) Rock, paper, scissors (3) The Sailor Scouts (up to 9) Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion (3), but you can also add more characters from The Wizard of Oz if you have more folks in your group The three little pigs (3), but you could add the big bad wolf (making it a group of 4) Parker, Hardison, and Eliot from Leverage  (3), but you can also add Sophie, Nate, Breanna, and/or Harry (making it a group of 4 to 8) if you have more folks in your group Steve, Terry, Bindi, and Robert Irwin (4), possibly adding in Bindi's husband Chandler Powell and/or Bindi's daughter Grace Warrior Irwin Powell (making it a group of 5 or 6)--you could additionally add in crocodiles or Australian wildlife if you have more folks in your group L...

Time for a trip to Bath!  Rebecca, I get that you have trust issues (from what you've shared about your past, you've come by them fair and square), but you cannot put that all on Zied Rebecca...you are looking to find something Rebecca, I do firmly believe partners are still allowed some privacy So, I know Kara is saying she "planned" this tea, but did she? I kinda assume the producers do all of the planning Shekinah, I feel like you're weirder than I initially thought Wait, the men and women are traveling together? I kinda enjoy how there is no facade of a man planning the men's day out in Bath It is genuinely nice to see Paola and Russ just joking around and enjoying being with each other I did not know Bath was the site of Roman baths! Okay, definitely the producers had to AT LEAST clear this place for filming Kara is right that the men will be talking about them Wait, Guillermo, is Venezuela not known for spicy food? Or is it just a different level than In...

Yes this is early, but I am very much looking forward to this celebration, so I figured I'd start planning early!  Carromancy Make s'mores Costume contest Cookie decorating Spooky photo booth Scariest villain bracket Halloween-themed Monikers Mummy (un)wrapping contest Identify the object in the box game Match the 1 star review to the horror/spooky/spoopy movie Give everyone a set of spooky/spoopy tasks to accomplish (first done wins) Guess how many candies are in the pumpkin and then win the candy if you're closest Everyone is given a ghost that they must find (e.g. they each get half of a drawing of a ghost) Hide "potions" for people to find--some have blessings (e.g. you get to pick the next song), but some of curses (e.g. you must now speak only with one syllable words) Trick-or-treat grab bag where everyone brings one ~$5 item when they arrive and grabs a random one out of the bag when they leave (Prompt by me) Photo by Quilia on Unsplash

Time to wrap things up (I hope I'm right this time)? Aw, Rasit, I'm sorry you miss your mom so much I am glad that Mallorie's mom likes Rasit I'm sorry that Catie has such rough body dismorphia Uhh what do Catie's friends mean that she's "loopy" and "losing it a bit"? Saying Catie does both fight and flight is accurate, but I think she also fawns Mido, Debby is literally our wife Debby, Mido genuinely means he doesn't want more kisses Mido, you have just repeated that you're a professional tour guide...not actor MIDO! YOUR CONFESSIONALS WILL BE ON CAMERA! DEBBY WILL SEE YOU SAID IT WAS "SO-SO" I do believe many folks who work in entertainment do curate their social media, but most will post their spouse at some point and/or have a private account for real friends Mido, there is no way you aren't on the hotel's Wi-Fi I'm genuinely surprised that he did put the photo up I'm unclear if this other Kleinfeld emplo...