Bracketology: Bubbles bursting

BAM! Last night you got zero, so in short order you're getting two.

Let's go chronologically. (For you Wisconsinites and Iowans out there, that means in order.)

First, we have Tenley. I'm drinking her koolaid right now. Like Jake said, she's always brings the positivity. From what I've seen, I would describe her as a realistic dreamer. Who isn't looking for that? I could envision Jake walking into the front door and saying, "Tenley, do you know what I think we could do to make our relationship better?" ... and she would drop every thought in her head and care very deeply about the next words coming out of his mouth. That's the dreamer part - good, better, best - one track mind. The realistic part is the maturity. She obviously has internalized her broken dreams and found a way to allow that to be a foundation for a new dream. Best of luck to this one.

Next, we've got the castle 2 on 1. Here's the thing about Vienna, although she's kind of turned into the show's resident villain / car crash, she doesn't come across as having evil intentions. I blame it more on her just not having that much going on upstairs in regards to the social / emotional intelligence scale. Maybe that's what is going on when she looks up all the time when she's talking. "If I try to look at my brain, will it help me find an appropriate decision?"

Commercial break: (I don't know when this showed up, but I'm putting it here.) Did the Marry Me Monday dude really ask his girl to marry him by saying I want you to be my "happy ending?!" Isn't that the line to use at the sensual massage parlor? It made me laugh.

Gia is impressing more and more. I had her labeled as the fruity model at first, but she is sensitive, introspective, kind, and patient. I think she's moved into Jake's top 2 (with Tenley).

That brings us to the biggest shocker line for me out of Jake's mouth so far: "You know I have dates with the other women, but I don't have the amazing moments that we did." Wow, that's the kind of reassurance you offer a sole girlfriend. He is (or has been edited to be) pretty cautious about what comes out of his mouth (other than his tongue, obviously).

Then, Vienna decides "it's getting late, and I need you now." I think Jake's finally fading in his interest for her.

Corrie reveals a shocking, startling, and virtually unimaginable bit of information about herself. So startling, in fact, that it deserves its own post. So for now, all I'm going to say is that I don't believe it was the reason Jake didn't pick her. They didn't have much chemistry.

Ali comes in as the closer in her adopted home town. She's friggin hot. Does Jake think of her as the girl who has too much fine rump to dump, but also is maybe too mean to have an enjoyable lasting relationship with? If they end up together, it would be a who's the boss fight fest. However, before you write her off, if we can learn anything from centuries of men on this earth, never underestimate the power of hot.

We now have our Final Four. I hope your bracket has survived.

The V Card

Yes, that V card, the one Corrie brought out. We're going there. Why? Am I an idiot? Very possibly. This topic has as much chance of pleasing a diverse audience as does a Palin-Franken duet. If being mind-numbingly entertained is your goal, please read a different post (or maybe even a different blog?). This one wouldn't be for you. OK, I'm jumping in now. Eeek!

When the virginity topic was brought up last night, I would guess many reactions were felt, including but not limited to: 1) oh jeez, don't go there, this is fantasy and I don't want anything to do with this Debbie Downer topic; 2) yeah! I like her more now; 3) what a prude; 4) thought so; 5) warm up the bus, you're gone! ... Point is, chances are, you felt something.

There is a continuum of positions (no, not those kinds of positions, Mr. Quagmire) on the, let's say, Sexual Progressivity Scale. On one end is the nuns, with the other side being the funs. (Or if you'd rather, the pures and the huuures.) We all have either established a certain place on that scale or have moved up and down it a bit. The chances of you finding someone who is at the exact same place you are on that scale is rare. This ... causes issues.

It causes issues because sex matters (a lot) to everybody. Quick, what is the first word that comes to mind that comes before "scandal"? Sex. It becomes a big part of many people's identities, in ways that bring both pride and shame / worry.

When you are feeling like you are on the "nun" side of the spectrum, you might feel proud about your values, your gift to a future (current) mate, your physical / emotional / spiritual health, your self-respect, and your everything-I-might-want-is-still-out-there-for-me attitude. However, just when you are confident about this, you start to wonder if it's really that big of a deal, if you're missing out on sweet adventures for being such a prude, whether you'll be any good when you actually are in the situation, whether you could even get some if you wanted some, and feel like you are seriously lacking in validation ... and judged by the "funs."

When you are feeling like you are on the "fun" side, you might feel proud about how desireable you are, how much fun you're having, how powerful you are, how adventurous you are, how living-life-to-the-fullest you are. However, you also have that nagging feeling that it's supposed to mean something more, it's great but also empty, worry if anyone I really care about will accept me for the mistakes I've made ... and feeling judged by the "nuns."

I'm not telling you where you should be on this scale. I'm saying that it's hard to be both a "nun" and a "fun" and there are people in this world who could make you feel like either one. When you're with somebody, assuming where the other person is on that scale, assuming what's gonna happen at what relationship stage, assuming that the other person resents the parts of you that are different from them ... are all damaging. If you find a way to build a mutual sexual identity that brings you fun AND peace of mind, that's a pretty cool thing.

And finally, I think the Bachelor went a bit overboard on the "shocking / startling" revelation stuff. Lies: Everybody has sex and everybody goes to college. Truth: 52% of high school graduates still hold their V card and 53% attend any college (27% attain a Bachelor's degree). I'd agree that the V card shift would be large over the next 7-10 years (which would include the ages of most on this show), but the number wouldn't disappear entirely. Are we going to get a shocking revelation that a contestant is left-handed next week? Highly doubt it.

Thanks for reading. Friends?

I'd like to put the blame solely on the shoulders of ... myself

Sorry Bachelor Nation - I don't have time to post tonight. I was continuing my quest to play in every random basketball game imagineable in the greater metro area. As you are likely very interested in hearing, my squad successfully completed our undefeated season in the Attorney League! (no, I'm not a lawyer)

Afterwards, we had a "you were awesome," "No, you were awesome" praise ourselves fest at a nearby watering hole. I would imagine it being similar to a pre-party sorority house, telling each other "oh, that's cute," "you look amazing" conversations. Solid bonding. Anyway, I'll try to post tomorrow night.