Joe Millionaire is WAY better than The Bachelor

Nearly 20 years ago I watched the first season of Joe Millionaire. It came on air just as “reality” tv was taking off, most similar to The Bachelor franchise, which has since become a %#@*#-show that somehow still has viewers. Sidenote: the ratings for The Bachelor are on a steady decline, and here’s why I’m not surprised.

Then comes along season 3 (evidently there was an international season 2 which I don’t remember) of Joe Millionaire but with a twist. There are TWO men, one is filthy rich and the other isn’t as rich. By now you probably know the details so I won’t go more into that but it’s late February and the season is nearing an end. Six women remain, none know which guy is the millionaire but some are forming what seems like real connections with the guys, not just lusting after their riches. Time will tell if that holds true.

Two things I really like about this show, especially in regards to its competitor, The Bachelor. The two men, Steven and Kurt, joke around with each other and address real-world thoughts like you or I would. The Bachelor abandoned this a long time ago. I’m not saying Bachelor contestants don’t share this on camera, but if they do, it gets left on the edit room floor so we never really see it. For instance, when there’s an awkward silence on The Bachelor, they break it by kissing EVERY TIME. As if the producers told them to kiss as much as possible without talking about how there might not be chemistry or how awkward silences might be a red flag. Any awkward situations on Joe Millionaire are handled differently, or they are addressed by someone as being awkward… which is refreshing. So the interactions between the two guys are a lot like I’d have with my guy friends.

The other thing/person I really like is butler Martin. He’s not stuffy, not completely serious (as if every episode is the most dramatic ever). He’s funny at the right times, and sincere. He’s the perfect manager for a show like this.

If you haven’t watched yet (and you like these types of shows), I’d recommend giving Joe Millionaire For Richer or Poorer a chance! You might find, like I did, that it’s a lot like what The Bachelor used to be.

-Out of the Wilderness

When you want to camp, but can’t!

It’s February 26th and I’m going through withdrawals.

Stressed Season 1 GIF by Friends - Find & Share on GIPHY

Why am I going through withdrawals, you might ask? Because IT’S BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE I’VE CAMPED! Two. Weeks. Is. Too. Long. The last excursion was Falling Waters State Park, which, if I’m being totally honest, was my least favorite state park so far. Here’s why. So I’ve been itching to get back on the road but there’s something holding me back. It’s something I’m responsible for and it can’t get done if I’m traveling.

I had no idea there were so many great state parks in Florida but as of today, I’ve been to Juniper Springs, Alexander Springs, St. Andrews, and Falling Waters.

https://www.smugmug.com/app/organize/Alexander-Springs-January-2022/i-9jvxhkR
Morning mist at Alexander Springs
pull-through site at Juniper Springs State Park

There are a few campgrounds mixed in there as well, and one of those was a really great experience (Tropical Palms RV Park in Kissimmee, Florida). I’m not a full blown germaphobe but I like to avoid gross things and at this RV park I showered barefoot. Yeah, that’s saying a lot about the cleanliness of their restrooms. Ok, I’m way off track… where were we?

State Parks. Camping. Responsibilities. One day soon, I hope and I pray and I beg and I wish, I’ll be back on the road checking out the many other state parks in Florida. I need more bodies of water in my life so I’ll be looking at springs, rivers, and the ocean.

https://www.smugmug.com/app/organize/OrmondBeachAdventureJan2022/i-6jPMVZq
Ponce Inlet at Ormond Beach, Florida

Until then…. *deep breaths*… patience…

-Out of the Wilderness

Free Spirit, part 2

If you missed my post yesterday showing a few “before” pictures of these fantastic bicycles from the 1970s, click here to catch up. OK, so these bikes have now had a little work done on them, not like in the Dolly Parton way, although the bikes DO have some big round things. Wow, when I started writing this I had no idea I’d be talking about Dolly Parton’s boobs. Okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk anyway, without further aboob ado, here are the “after” pictures of these Free Spirit bikes.

It’s a his and hers pair of Free Spirit bikes which my uncle had with his wife, my aunt. He doesn’t ride anymore so he’s letting the rest of the family use them. Awfully kind of him! I love the rich burgundy color, the bright mirror of metal, and with the new tan-walled tires, I just think they’re spectacular. On top of that, they’re fun to ride. Sounds like a win/win in my book. To outfit the bikes with new tubes, tires, and rim strips was around ~$180. Not too bad to get these gems back in riding condition, if I may say so myself.

My bike (that’s also a Free Spirit) has 10 gears to shift between. The pair from my aunt and uncle only have 3 gears each. I’m not sure why they aren’t identical to my mine in regards to the gears, but I guess when they were originally for sale, the sellers thought slight variations were good for the American public.

All of that is history now, though. I’m happy to say these two ‘new’ bikes have a bright future after being shown a little tender loving care.

Thanks for dropping in!

-Out of the Wilderness

Free Spirit

Hello and thanks for rolling by my blog today. If you’ve been here before you’re already aware of the stuff I peddle on this site: my personal stories of camping, recaps of a dates occasionally, photos of my pups, TV commercial research, but much like a retriever at the Westminster Dog Show, today’s post fits into the sporting category. More specifically, riding bicycles.

Napoleon Dynamite Kip GIF by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Find & Share on GIPHY

Two gently-used bikes came into my life recently and it’s a crazy coincidence that they’re almost exactly like this bike I bought at an estate sale in Nashville. They’re all a Sears brand (or at least, a brand commonly found at Sears in the 1970s) called “Free Spirit.” I LOVE my Free Spirit bicycle. I’ve ridden it all around Nashville (before I moved to Florida) and also around campgrounds at state parks in Florida.

Just like mine, the his and her Free Spirit bicycles need new tubes and tires (and just a little tlc) to be road ready. Well, I’ve got the time and after buying the equipment, all that’s left is to swap these things out. Here’s a list of the equipment purchased on Amazon and at Walmart:

Sunlite Road Tires (Amazon)

Kenda Rubber Rim Strips (Amazon)

Goodyear Tubes (size 26 x 1-3/8) (Walmart in-store or online)

These bikes have such character and I wish I knew the stories they’ve been a part of. Check back tomorrow for the “after” pictures and I’ll spoil it a little bit: They look so good!

Do you have any stories of a previously loved bicycle? Feel free to spoke speak up. Thanks for taking a ‘brake’ to check out my blog today.

-Out of the Wilderness

I’m *this* old

The other morning I woke up thinking how good I slept all night. Gosh, it’s going to be a good day, but why is it dark outside? This is weird. Isn’t it, like, 8am, I’d been sleeping for hours. What gives?

*checks the clock*

It was 1130pm and I had gone to bed around 930pm. Am I the only one who wakes up so early that it’s still the same day I went to sleep? I don’t know exactly when I turned from a young person to an old person, but waking up at 1130pm ready for a new day is a sure sign that it’s happened. If that’s not, then going to bed at 930 definitely is.

*wondering if there are other signs*

Kids I don’t know often annoy me.

I complained about the Super Bowl halftime show.

I’m hungry for dinner at 530pm.

I get excited about floor plans.

iPhones sometimes confuse me.

I literally had to go up hill both ways to high school… in the snow.

I used to think everyone else is wrong. No I know everyone else is wrong.

I recently got very excited about sleeping with a pillow between my knees.

Just met with a banker about my 401k and what I should do with it before I turn 60.

Talking about being 60 didn’t frighten me.

I don’t understand, nor do I care to, anything about NFTs.

I can’t figure out why anyone cares about Instagram.

I swear music was so much better when I was young.

I’ll go ahead and stop the list there because the more I think about it, I’m realizing I could be sitting here at my computer for a long time working on this list! Is there anything mentioned that applies to the young’ns? When did you realize you weren’t a spring chicken anymore? Oh gosh, might as well add that one to the list, too.

I call young people “spring chickens”

Thanks for dropping in…

-Out of the Wilderness