DWTS Season 24

First episode of DWTS of the new year is always a harbinger of spring. I love it

Only two months away. It'll be here before we know it

PS Happy Inauguration Day, Robin!

Melania looked beautiful!  So elegant.    I'm feeling cautiously optimistic.   I think The Donald will do his best to make America great again.
nypost.com/2017/01/20/trump-melania-dance-to-my-way-at-inaugural-ball/

www.yahoo.com/style/melania-trump-makes-elegant-and-understated-style-statement-at-inaugural-balls-031614079.html
Watch the first dance, it almost made me cry. 

"She speaks six languages: English, French, Italian, German, Serbo-Croatian and her native Slovene". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump

She began modeling at age 5 and first commercials at 16, when she posed for the Slovenian fashion photographer Stane Jerko. At 18, she signed with a modeling agency in Milan, Italy. She was named runner-up in the 1992 Jana Magazine "Look of the Year" contest, held in Ljubljana, which promised its top three contestants an international modeling contract.
After attending the University of Ljubljana for one year,she modeled for fashion houses in Milan and Paris. She then relocated to New York City in 1996, her contract and visa negotiated by Italian businessman Paolo Zampolli. Through her lawyer, she has indicated she first entered the United States on a business visitor visa in August 1996. She obtained an H-1B visa in October 1996. After that, she regularly returned to Slovenia to obtain a series of four more one-year work visas because, at the time, Slovenians could only obtain one-year visas in the United States. In November 2016, the Associated Press reported that she was paid $20,056 for 10 modeling jobs in the United States in 1996 before she had legal permission to work in the country. In response, her lawyer stated the documents on which AP relied "have not been verified, [and] do not reflect our records including corresponding passport stamps."
Following her immigration to the United States, she appeared on the covers of Harper's Bazaar (Bulgaria), Ocean Drive, In Style Weddings, New York Magazine, Avenue, Allure, Vanity Fair (Italy), Vogue (following her marriage to Donald Trump), and GQ (UK).She was featured as a bikini model in the 2000 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. As a model, she was associated with Irene Marie Management Group and Donald Trump's Trump Model Management.
Applying as a model of "extraordinary ability", Melania obtained a green card and became a lawful permanent resident in 2001, and citizen in 2006.

Hi, Ache

Are you home today enjoying the storm?
I am thinking about ordering a pair of New Balance sneakers, they support Trump. I will never go near a Nordstrom or Starbucks again.

It's a shame they didn't make those pink hats a neutral color and without the um, cat ears, think of all the homeless people and veterans that could have used them to keep warm, the protesters could have donated them to shelters.  What a waste.

I had a pair of NBs years ago, a podiatrist told me they were the best choice. Better than Nike and the others. Maybe I'll check Marshalls, after the storm, of course

FREEPORT, Maine — L.L. Bean is moving to cut costs by freezing pensions and offering voluntary early retirements, and company officials say they are taking a hard look at its generous shipping and return policies.
The Freeport-based outdoors retailer will freeze its defined-benefit pension plan and boost its 401(k) savings contributions to all 5,000 workers, including 1,000 out-of-state store employees who were not previously eligible for the full pension, company officials said.
It’s part of a broader look at all aspects of the business, company officials said, which could lead to changes that affect shoppers.
L.L. Bean currently offers free shipping on everything, and its “satisfaction” guarantee is so liberal that it’s led to abuse of the return policy. Company officials said they will have more to say later this year about shipping and efforts to combat fraudulent returns. (excerpt from) www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/apnewsbreak-ll-bean-freezes-pension-offers-early-outs/2017/02/09/8ba07b86-eefa-11e6-a100-fdaaf400369a_story.html?utm_term=.b4fe6ad1cbde

LL Bean is not cheap, however, they do have quality products that tend to last. I am wearing one of their thermal jackets right now. I found it in a thrift shop for $2, brand new with the price tag attached.
According to the article, they are not doing so well at present.

While youre there, Robin, you can purchase omething from Ivanka's line too, if you wish. Unlike Nordstrom, Marshalls is still selling her stuff, I believe

Youll be making a fashion statement as well as a political one

I dont go to Starbucks either, Robin. Never have

My non-patronage has nothing to do with politics though

I just dont like the taste of coffee:)

Dancing with the Stars Season 24 will return to television on March 20, and the contestants will be revealed on March 1 on Good Morning America. No casting has been confirmed yet, but rumours doing the rounds hint at television host Billy Bush being a contestant.

A production insider told Radar Online that Bush was "begging to be cast on Season 24" in a bid to redeem his image, which was tarnished for his involvement in Donald Trump's Nancy O'Dell audio scandal.

"Billy said he would be willing to take a pay cut, and take a sum much lower than the other contestants," the insider claimed. But ABC executives aren't too thrilled to have Bush on the show, the insider added.

"The higher-ups are tired of having celebs wanting to join DWTS as a way of doing damage control."
Rumours also hint at The Bachelor contestant Nick Viall possibly joining the show after his stint on the dating reality show ends. Ricky Schroder is another possible candidate. His name got thrown in after professional dancer Witney Carson posted a photo of him on social media.

As for the professional dancers, Maksim Chmerkovskiy has revealed he will not be a part of the show this time around. He and fiancée Peta Murgatoryd welcomed a son Shai on January 4 and he earlier told People that he wanted to take some time off to focus on being a dad.
"I come from a dirt broke family. I just started to be able to afford things in 2005 when [Dancing with the Stars] started," he said. "For me to be able to take time off in this way … [to have] what we have to enjoy and be proud of, that's anybody's dream."
www.ibtimes.co.in/dancing-stars-season-24-air-date-cast-billy-bush-ricky-schroder-nick-viall-compete-715682

Added benefit for hiring BB: He is a professional interviewer. If Erin ever goes down with the flu or something, Billy ould step right in for her at a moment's notice. If anyone can pull off double duty of celeb dance performer/fill-in co-host for a night, it's Billy Bush!

I agree, Robin

The release of the tape was embarrassing for Trump, but the accusations that followed of "sexual predator". Oh, Jesus

So ridiculous

Yup. Bush got the shaft alright

He doesnt need to redeem himself as far as I am oncerned, but I hope he gets his opportunity at redemption on DWTS anyway

Ache, I agree. I have heard much worse in workplace staffrooms. Usually guys shut up when a female enters the room, which I appreciate. I am not offended by it, I just tune it out as it doesn't concern me.

And as far as supporting the president, I would have supported the other one too, if she had won, despite the things that her husband who she enabled for decades did.
I don't feel the need to get all intense about this stuff.

Thanks, Robin

Arianne Zucker. That name rings a bell now

Very lovely. I would take her over Nancy 'Dell any day