Amazing Race Season 22 Premieres Tonight!

We have a guest blogger, Cousin Vinny, who has offered to write recap blogs on the Amazing Race for us because this season one of the teams has mafia ties. Here is a preview of what to watch for in season 22. Welcome Cousin Vinny!


Tonight is the start of another race.  There is a new twist this season, for those people who are fans of the race.  One team will be able to give another team an express pass by the fourth leg of the race.

What else is happening this season – well it seems that three teams may not decide to do the challenge on the first leg of the race. There are rumors that they "give up" and will be penalized. One of these teams may face elimination.

This season includes the team known as the Battaglia Brothers. These guys are former NHL hockey players. The brothers are Bates and Anthony Battaglia.  Their strategy is to be friendly with everybody. They are used to traveling around the world and sleeping on buses. They are competitive and also physically fit. This is the kind of training that may give the former NHLers a slight edge in the race.

The Battaglia brothers have another celebrity in their Family history.  By several accounts, Sam Battaglia, the grandfather of the Battaglia brothers, started out with nothing and became a millionaire. He was the uneducated son of immigrants from Italy who wanted to make a life in the United States, in the city of Chicago. In 1924 he was associated with Al Capone. Bates Battaglia never met his grandfather. Sam (whose nickname was Teets) was released from prison when Bates was two years old because he had a terminal case of cancer and was allowed to die at home.

Sam had more than 25 arrests, which included burglary, larceny, and robbery. There were also reports that Sam allegedly committed at least seven murders. Sam was also allegedly involved in narcotics and extortion.

The parents of the Battaglia brothers divorced and its possible the boys knew very little about their grandfather, other than what their father told them. The father of the Battaglia brothers is the youngest of Sam Battaglia’s children.

Watch The Amazing Race tonight on CBS, 8/7c to see if the brothers have what it takes to kill the competition.

Written By: Cousin Vinny

Mob Wives: Ramona Rizzo's Wedding to Joseph "Joe Boy" Sclafani

A mob wife plans to get hitched to an alleged mobster.

Recently Twitter, my inbox and the internet has been a buzz concerning Ramona Rizzo's upcoming nuptials to Joseph "Joe Boy" Sclafani.  You didn't read a peep from The Mob Wives Blogspot until now.  Thanks to one of our readers Fans of Mob Wives who asked the question, "Are you slipping?"  Hot damn I love most of our readers.  I decided to put down my chips & cookies and share my thoughts on the matter.

Frankly it took me a bit to digest this news.  Months ago I had heard whispers of Ms. Rizzo getting engaged.  I scratched my head because her boyfriend is in jail.  I get it's 100% her call & choice.  It's not something I'd be up for, so it's a bit perplexing to me.  So imagine when I was told there were plans for a big wedding.  *scratching head again*  I don't know about your idea of a wedding.  I know growing up it included a bride and a groom.  When the groom didn't show up, fathers grabbed shotguns & dolled up brides-to-be cried their make up off.  As a young adult, I started to receive wedding invitations in which there were two brides and no groom or two grooms and no bride sharing their vows.  

Karen Gravano & Ramona look stunning in white.

I turned to Chiara a couple of days ago and asked, "How in the Hell do you have a big wedding with a 500 guest list & the groom is behind bars?"  

Chiara's response, "Ramona is my girl.  I love her.  I ain't touching this one.  I have to cook dinner. Bye!"  She was a big lightening rod of information.

It's common for inmates to get married with the Officiant and a couple of witnesses.  An elaborate wedding with hundreds of guests is completely out of the question even if you're an alleged mobster.  I think it's great that Mr. Sclafani wants his fiance to celebrate their love in a big way.  However, a wedding involves TWO people sharing their vows of commitment.  So if you ask me, yes I know you didn't.  The 500+ wedding people are typing, e-mailing, tweeting and bumping their gums about is instead an over-the-top reception minus the groom.  That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.  We have no doubt whether simple or elaborate Ramona Rizzo will make a stunning bride.  She's a beautiful woman.  We wish the future Mrs. Sclafani the very best in life & love.  

 Don't forget to watch VH1 @ 10PM on Sundays to witness the Mob Wives in action.  Word on the streets and Twitter is things are heating up in Staten Island.  And we're not typing about TV dinners either.

We're so glad our Bookie is back!

Mob Wives: Love Explains to Drita Sneak Peek Ep 6

Love explains it all to Drita

Love chats with Drita about one of her episodes of past violence: stabbing an ex-boyfriend in front of his mother, while they sip their beverages. Can you imagine having this conversation at your table? Check out the video.

Video and Picture Credit: VH1

Mob Wives: Renee & AJ in Rehab Ep 6 Sneak Peek

AJ comforts Renee

A heartbreaking scene from episode sixRenee and AJ have a very touching session at the rehabilitation facility. Renee realizes how much she has been absent from AJ's life while she has been self-medicating and the thought of it is unbearable. AJ is the one person she loves more than life itself. But, AJ supports and comforts his mother and together they will conquer this disease and come out stronger on the other side.

Picture and Video Credit: VH1

Mob Wives: Meet The Ricki Lake Show

Mob Wive Karen Gravano & Ramona Rizzo appear on The Ricki Lake Show

Two of our favorite Mob Wives Karen Gravano & Ramona Rizzo appeared on The Ricki Lake Show yesterday.  I watched the episode solely to get a glimpse of these lovely ladies.  Karen Gravano shared a bit about her life growing up, thoughts on The Sopranos and bestselling Mob Daughter's message:

"....no matter how many times you get knocked down, no matter how many mistakes you make, you can always pick yourself up & basically start over."

I'm not a fan of the ombre hair craze.  However, I thought Miss Gravano looked beautiful, hair included.  Her BFF Ramona equally looked beautiful.  She shares her grandfather Left Guns died on Thanksgiving Day of cancer unlike the movie Donnie Brasco portrayed. Ramona also shares that she confronted Al Pacino on the movies and that the lifestyle is not glamorous.  I'm glad I made time to watch women on The Ricki Lake Show.  They remind me of why I love the show Mob Wives.  After their segments I went back to a view chores.

If you've missed it, here's a part of Karen Gravano's segment:



and here's Ramona Rizzo's:


I was so glad to catch The Ricki Lake Show.  It brought back found memories.  I remember years and years ago when The Ricki Lake Show 1st aired. Gotta love Ricki Lake!!!  Happy V-Day everyone!  Remember to love yourself....

Photo and Video Credit: The Ricki Lake Show

Carmela's Food Blog: Mozzarella & Tomatoes in Love

A simple, but delicious Valentine's Appetizer!

I hope you have enjoyed that last 2 blogs I posted. I have one last idea that is simple and rather cute.

How about some tomatoes and mozzarella, but with a little love twist?

Arrange slices of tomatoes and mozzarella on plate. Salt both lightly. Cut a heart shape out of one of the mozzarella pieces and place on top. Garnish with basil. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I hope your special Valentine will be appreciative of this little love token of food.

 ♥ Happy Valentine's Day Everyone! ♥

Carmela Corleone
Please follow me on twitter @carmelacorleone

Can you add your own creative twist? I would love to see it and pictures welcomed!


P.S. Check out my other Valentine's Day Menu Recipes for a complete meal!

Pasta Entree: http://www.mobwives.blogspot.com/2013/02/carmelas-food-blog-lovers-pasta-for-two.html

Dessert: http://www.mobwives.blogspot.com/2013/02/carmelas-food-blog-zombies-valentine.html

"The Walking Dead: The Suicide King" EP recap

Due to some laptop issues, I wasn't able to post the Season 3 recap in a timely manner that I wanted. If you need some catching up to do, read this Season 3 recap that breaks down everything that happened in the first part of Season 3. 

The show starts out with an imprisoned Merle and Daryl, with the Woodbury crowd cheering on for a brutal fight to the death.  The Governor walks around the two as the angry crowd cheers on. Andrea tries running to the Governor but is restrained by the guards. The Governor is stoic among the chaos. “Don’t do this!” Andrea yells at the Governor. “It’s not up to me but to the people,” The Governor replies before turning to Merle: “I asked where your loyalty lies and you said here….prove it…brother against brother, winner goes free…fight to the death!” Andrea continues to yell at the Governor. Interestingly enough, the only one that’s not ecstatic over the fights is Milton, who watches on in dismay.

Tag Team, Walker style! 

Merle yells to the crowd that he’ll do what he has to do and takes a few hard punches and kicks at Daryl. The fight begins as the crowd cheers on. The guards get out walkers to enclose the two. Merle gets on top of Daryl as Daryl attempts to strangle Merle. “Just follow my lead, little brother,” Merle whispers to Daryl. The two scramble up and go back to back to thwart off the walkers with punches and kicks. Daryl throws the walker into the crowd. To make the fight more epically awesome, Maggie takes shots at the walkers as Rick throws a frag grenade, sending the crowd into a full-blown panic mode. The crowd is now filled with screams, gunfire, and walker snarls. Yet despite all this chaos, the Governor remains calm, taking out a walker or two in the midst. Daryl takes his crossbow from a guard and him and Merle run with Rick and Maggie to the walls of Woodbury. While Rick is apprehensive of Merle joining them, Merle is determined to leave Woodbury and is faced with walkers. “A little help here, guys!” Merle yells. “We don’t have time for this!” The crew have no choice but to leave with Merle. However, a walker sneaks into the opening of the entrance to Woodbury….

Back in the woods, its daylight as Michonne and Glenn wait near the car for Rick’s return. Glenn and Michonne are greeted by Rick and the crew but the reunion is less than heartwarming. Rick warns Glenn to back up but all hell breaks loose at the sight of Merle. Michonne draws her katana and Glenn is infuriated, wondering what Merle is doing there. Rick tries to calm the group down with little success. Merle is antagonizing the group while Daryl is telling him to shut up. Merle decides to tell Glenn that Andrea was in Woodbury and he also tells the crew that Andrea and Michonne were surviving in the woods and talks about two walker friends Michonne had with her. Merle antagonizes the group further so Rick decides to do what everyone wants to do and knocks Merle out cold.

Back in the prison, we are back into what I call the “newbie cell”, where the new band of survivors are locked in with supplies. Axel is getting a meal as Hershel checks out the new stranger and his wounded leg. Beth and baby Judith come back in and Sasha is curious about the baby; “I never thought we’d see another baby….she is beautiful…” Sasha asks Beth how she is feeling, assuming it is hers. “It’s not mine,” Beth replies. “Well, where’s the mother?” Sasha asks. She looks around the room and sees the sullen faces. “I’m sorry….” She replies.  Tyrese, the leader, then recognizes how much the crew has been through and says “it’s getting worse out there”. Tyrese tells about how they survived the outbreak. They had a neighbor who was a survival fanatic named Jerry. The crew hid in his bunker under his shed until he ran out of supplies and then they met up with a camp of 25 survivors in Jacksonville, where they met the other two men, Ben and Alec. “The camp was overrun 6-7 weeks ago,” Sasha said. They explained how Donna got bit and died at the prison. “We’ll see she has a proper burial,” Hershel said. Hershel: “We’ll see she has a proper burial.” Tyrese said that for awhile, “we didn’t know who we were dealing with.” “Neither did we,” Hershel said. “I must be the first black man to break out of prison then!” Tyrese jokes. “I must be the first white boy that didn’t want to break out!” Axel replies as he offers Tyrese a bowl of food.  Hershel warns the new group; “Like I said, we have a much larger group, a close knit, I wouldn’t get too comfortable here….it’s not up to me to decide.”

Back in the woods, the group are arguing whether to keep Merle or not. Glenn says he refuses to have Merle sleep in the same cell as Carol and Beth. Daryl says he’s not a rapist and they need the extra muscle. Rick says Michonne isn’t coming back but Maggie says she’s not in a state to go out on her own. Daryl is not having any of it. “Merle is blood!” Daryl argues. “But HE isn’t mine, my blood and family is standing right here!” Glenn protests. Daryl resentfully tells the group that Merle and him will fend for themselves: “It’s always been Merle and I before this…Carol will understand. Say bye to your pop for me….” As Daryl packs up his things from the trunk, the group tries to talk him out of leaving. Daryl looks at Rick: “Take care of little asskicker and Carl,” and goes to join Merle. Rick then turns to Michonne; “we patch you up and then you’re gone!” They all pack in and drive back to the prison.

Back in the prison, the newbie group of four carry out Donna to go bury her along with the others.  They drop the body for a second. One of the men looks on and tells the rest it’s a golden opportunity to take out the “little kid and woman” and for them to get their weapons to take over the prison. Sasha and Tyrese are outraged at their suggestion. The two other dingleberries tell Tyrese that there’s only the woman, a kid, a baby and a one-legged man. “These are good people! This isn’t what we do and it’s called common decency!” Tyrese objects. Dingleberry #1 tells Tyrese that he’s still stuck in the past; “this is survival of the fittest!” he yells. “I’m not waiting here to have them throw our asses out!” One of the prison doors open and Beth and Axel come out and give them shovels and offer them assistance. They walk away. Tyrese and Sasha thank them and then glare at the Dingleberries.

Back in the woods, Rick and the crew drive up to the red truck. Glenn opens up the truck to find a walker in there. He foot stomps the walker repeatedly. Glenn is heated and pissed off at Rick for leaving Glenn out of the loop and for putting Maggie in danger. “You didn’t kill him!” Glenn yells. “Daryl was the main priority,” Rick explains. “And you were in no condition! You could barely walk!” Glenn is seething at Rick and resenting him for taking so many risks for only Daryl to leave. “This is the hand we’ve been dealt with!” Rick concludes. Maggie tells the men that they should get going, get some rest and then talk it out later.  “You guys do the talking, I’m done” Glenn objects.

Mercy Kill? 

Back in Woodbury, Andrea tells nine are injured to Milton. Milton tells Andrea the Governor is stuck in his office and wouldn’t open the door because he was in “the middle of something”. Meanwhile, cars and crowds are surrounding the fence, demanding to leave. “It’s not safe here!” they yell. Andrea tries to convince the crowd that it’s not safe out there. One man climbs up but is kicked back by one of the guards. The crowds shouts and car horns are honking. The noise is drawing in walkers outside of Woodbury, which the guards must take out. One guard tells one man to stop the horn, points a gun at him, opens the car door and throws him out. Andrea tells him to stop it. “I don’t take orders from you!” the guard yells. “These people are scared, pointing a gun at them won’t help!” Andrea objects. Before they can calm the crowd down, a  blood-curdling scream is heard from the other side of town. Andrea runs as a guard follows. Two walkers bite a man while another chases a woman. Andrea shoots the walkers and Martinez shoots one. The wounded man is lying down, bleeding profusely and is going into shock.  “Help him!” a woman yells at Andrea. “Do something!” Before Andrea can take a mercy kill, the Governor comes out of his abode, shoots him in the head and walks back in the apartment. The group is left stunned and speechless.

Back at the prison, Carol and Carl are on guard outside. Carl mentions it’s so quiet. “Its so easy to forget how loud the world used to be,” Carol said. “I used to complain about it all the time! Now what I wouldn’t give to hear the sweet sound of the jumbo jet!” Carl is still stoic. “Your mom was proud of you…” she consoles to Carl. The car then pulls up when Carl and Carol open up the gates. Rick embraces Carl. “Wheres Daryl?” Carol asks. Rick is somber and tells her “he’s alive…he ran into his brother…they went off…” Carol tries to sink it all in. “is he coming back?” she asks. Rick consoles Carol and the two go back to the prison.

Back in the Governor’s headquarters (with an appearance with Rick’s Sheriff’s bag form Season 1). Andrea storms into the apartment. “What the hell was that?” She demands. “You put a round to a guy’s head then take off without explaining? They are panicking, you have to talk to them! Those people won’t last a day!” The Governor isn’t having it. “They had it good! Barbecues, picnics…no more of that, we’re at war!” “Don’t take it out on them over the mess you created!” Andrea said. She then begins to question the Governor. “Why was Daryl here?” Andrea said. The Governor tells Andrea that Glenn and Maggie were kidnapped by Merle and turns it onto Andrea. “Your friends killed seven good people. That’s what your friends did!” The dull light bulb in Andrea’s brain FINALLY lights up; “Why did you keep that from me when we were…..” Andrea asked. “You’re a visitor here just passing through so why should I tell you?” Governor said. Andrea at this point should probably shoot the governor but seethes at him instead. Milton comes in to tell them the town is getting ugly.

Back in the prison, Maggie embraces her family and Hershel tells the girls to go inside. Rick and Hershel meet and tell Carol and Carl go back in. “You came through, like always,” Hershel said, “sounds like we have a new problem on our hands. Did you get a good look at him?” in reference to the Governor. “He had Merle and Daryl pitted against each other, wanting to fight to the death as the crowd cheers on,” Rick explains; “What kind of sick mind does that?”“The world this kind created,” Hershel replies. Rick asks Hershel what the new problem was and if it was baby Judith. Hershel says the baby is very healthy. “What is it then?” Rick asks. Back in the newbie unit, Rick and Hershel come into the cell where Carl is keeping watch. Rick and the two lock them up and go back to C Unit. One of the dingleberries mentions that Carl is not a talker. “Give him some time,” Tyrese advises. Back in C-Unit, Beth gives Rick the baby and the baby starts crying. The crying begins to affect Rick, knowing he hasn’t had the time to bond with Judith yet…

Outside in Woodbury, Milton tells the group that fences have been repaired and tells them that the governor’s condition is unsteady, but the people of Woodbury aren’t too thrilled. “He shot Richard, we all suffered!” someone pipes in. Andrea decides to take charge; “Everyone of us has suffered. We don’t have funerals anymore because the death never stops,” she said, “We’re never going to be the same….so what do we do? We dig deep and find our strength to carry on. We work together and we rebuild…not just the fences and gates but ourselves. Our hearts and minds, and years from now when they read about this plague in the history books, they’ll write about Woodbury. We persevered!” The group nods in agreement and finds some renewed hope through Andrea’s speech (probably much to the Governor’s dismay as he watches on from his room).

Back in the prison, Beth carries Judith. Carol tells her about how Sophia used to wake up the neighbors at clockwork at 3am. Beth expresses her want for a child. But then she wonders about Daryl; “I don’t see why he had to leave. Merle sounds like a jerk!” she said. Carol tries to explain to Beth the way Daryl is thinking. “He probably felt like he deserved the abuse,” Carol explains. “If Ed walked through that door, I’d like to think that I would tell him to go to hell…” Beth said she would. Carol tries to turn the conversation around. “Tyrese and his group do seem capable.”  Carol takes Judith in her arms and puts her in a bin with blankets labeled “lil asskicker”.

Back in Unit C, Hershel tries to clean up Glenn’s wounds. Maggie walks by. The two are giving each other the silent treatment and Maggie walks off to the cell next door. “Thanks for looking out for her. If anything, I’ll go check on her,” Hershel said: “same thing goes for you, if anything worse than this had happened to you, you’re like my own son now,” he tells Glenn as he walks over the Maggie’s cell. Hershel takes a seat next to a silent Maggie. Hershel is asking Maggie what had happened. “You two seem to be holding something back. You want to tell me what happened?” he asks. Maggie remains silent. “I rest easy knowing you can handle yourself…you got your mother’s spirit and her stubbornness!” Hershel comforts her. “Don’t disappear on me….” Rick then asks about the state of Michonne. Michonne is sleeping in one of the cell beds. “She is out like a light. Must be days since she slept,” Hershel says on Michonne’s condition. Rick asks Hershel how long she will stay. Hershel estimates a couple of days if she wakes up. Downstairs, Carol seems to be comforting Axel, who is taking in the news of Oscar’s death. “Whenever Tomas went off, Oscar always stood up for me. He was my friend.” Axel reminisces. Rick assures Axel that Oscar went out fighting and his death wasn’t in vain.  “What now?” Beth asks. “Will the governor retaliate?” “We could use reinforcements,” Hershel hints to Rick.

Lori is still haunting Rick....

Back in the newbie cell, Rick meets Tyrese and the rest as the crew looks on. Rick asks Tyrese how they sneaked in. Tyrese explains that there was fire damage in one part of the prison. They told him that they had to sneak in because their friend Donna was dying. Rick is furious at Hershel; “You brought them here?” Hershel told him they had no choice. Tyrese tells Rick; “Hershel said you could use extra hands. We have no problem getting our own food and staying out of your hair. You got a problem with another gourp we’ll help you there too. Anything to contribute…” “NO!” Rick protests. Sasha tries to plead with Rick. Rick explains to the group how they tried to let in some of the prisoners. “We’ve been through this with Tomas and Andrew…and where’s Oscar now?” Rick says. “I can’t be responsible.” “If you turn us out, you are responsible,” Tyrese warns Rick.  Hershel wants to talk to Rick; “We owe you our lives. We do everything you ask without question. You have to start giving people a chance,” he advises Rick. Rick is in deep thought when he looks up and sees a silhouette of a woman in a white dress stands up on the second story rail of the prison. The woman is Lori. Rick is having another “spell”. “No…..no….” Rick moans. He begins to walk towards where Lori is standing and looks up and starts yelling; “WHY are you here? What do you want from me??” The crews grow very alarmed. “Dad?” Carl whispers. Rick then turns around and screams at Tyrese and the group to get out. “YOU DON’T BELONG HERE, GET OUT!!!” The new crew stumbles to grab their things and Glenn warns them to get out. Tyrese and company scramble out of the cell. The group looks on, horrified at Ricks’ erratic behavior. Rick looks up…Lori is gone.  

Janes Notes: It was nice to know that I could put away my copy of "Boondocks Saints" because I NOW have my Daryl Dixon fix back on...oh wait...I should get to the more important stuff first, right? Sorry, a bit distracted...ANYHOO....

I am SO STOKED to be back on board and covering this show! :D I was watching this opening with some friends and some were "eh" at the episode. I admit, it wasn't as action packed as the last few episodes leading up to the season finale but boy, I think we are just getting warmed up! A couple points/predictions; 

• Daryl: oh my sweet husband to be. Him leaving for Merle wasn't really surprising if you ask me. It seems he and Carol have a much deeper bond this time around too and more of it is exposed. With Daryl hinting that Carol will understand to Carol talking to Beth on what she would do if her husband came back, it seems like there is a slight case of Stockholm Syndrome with Merle and Daryl, the same way with Carol and Ed. 

• Milton: In this episode, Milton really stood out to me. It seems like Milton is a genuinely good man but is torn between being the liaison between the Governor, Andrea and Woodbury. I think he is passive towards the Governor but also is growing to dislike him more. See the way he reacted to the Merle and Daryl fight. There's a lot of humanity in Milton and I hope he will help Andrea secure Woodbury. I also hope those guards will start taking Andrea more seriously since the Governor has proven he can't be a good leader amongst chaos.

• Rick: Can we say the man needs a serious break? Between saving the crew, prepping for war against the governor, I think Hershel should step in and be the main head of the crew. Granted, he is disabled but he is the voice of reasoning in the group and always has been, even with Rick leading. I think Rick should've kept the new crew in their own cell. Not sure what the new crew will do but here are my predictions: 

• Andrea ends up leading Woodbury with the help of Milton; while they hold down the fort to restore security, the Governor will get all Dirty Harry on Rick and the gang. 

• Tyrese and Sasha will try to find a way to stay in the prison while Dingleberry #1 and Dingleberry #2 will try to find a way to compromise Rick's crew and take over the prison. Tyrese will probably try to do what Rick did with Hershel back on the farm in Season 2 and try to reason...while the Dingleberries will pull a Shane and just try to f*$k everything up. 

• Merle and Daryl will enjoy each other's teamwork for a bit but I believe Daryl will start to really miss the crew and try to break away from Merle....but knowing how dominant and hostile Merle is, it won't be an easy fleet, resulting in Daryl possibly killing Merle, freeing himself from him and going back to the crew. 

• Lori will keep making appearances to haunt Rick. Maybe she will appear to him as an apparition and communicate with him? 

• We might tap into more of Axel too. Carol was ready to castrate him last season but maybe we'll learn more about his past, personality, etc.

• Glenn will probably want to try to take over the crew. He's so PO'd at Rick and that anger might cloud his judgement and question Rick's leadership. This causes a rift between Maggie and Glenn as well.

• Hershel will still be Hershel and I will still be envious of Carol getting to ride the back of Daryl's bike. 

What are you predictions? Any comments? Follow me on Twitter @janespringfield and let's chit-chat! 

Picture Credit: AMC 

The Walking Dead: Season 3 PT. 1 Recap

The season kicks off with Rick and the crew, with a very pregnant Lori, seeking refuge from house to house, hoping to establish a permanent camp. Growing weary and tired of running, hope seems to diminish until Rick and Daryl discover a nearby prison. Rick and the rest believe the prison can provide a safe haven for the survivors so the group sneak in and take out all the walkers that stand in their way but not without a few tragedies in the way. First off, Hershel gets bitten in the leg, which causes Rick to dismember it to prevent Hershel from turning. The men have to take care of business with a couple of prisoners that are human survivors, who cause trouble within the group with one wanting to kill Rick and the other wanting to cause a walker infestation in the prison. In the end, two prisoners (Oscar and Axel) are still living and Rick makes a deal that they take one part of a cell while Rick and the crew stay in theirs and will also share supplies.

The group ready to infiltrate the prison

Meanwhile, Andrea and her rescuer, Michonne are still fighting for survival and decide to continue on into the woods with Michonne's walker buddies in tow. They are in the woods when they come across a helicopter crash sight but before they can investigate, they can see a jeep approaching and hide behind some bushes. They observe the men from the jeep, keeping a low profile. Michonne's walker buddies are creating noise so Michonne decapitates both walkers so her and Andrea can remain silent. However, Merle sneaks up behind the two and they are kidnapped by him and a couple of other strange men. They are tied up in a vehicle and are taken to a paradise town named Woodbury. The town is led by a man who calls himself the Governor. Woodbury is a town Andrea has dreamed of which consists of a secure perimeter guarded by sentries, shelter, food, clothing and medicine. Woodbury has a population of 72 survivors and is a town that reminds everyone of what life was like before the infectious outbreak. But Michonne is VERY suspicious of the townsfolk, especially of the Governor. Michonne feels like Woodbury is more of a "setup" in a way to control the population. In the end, Michonne ends up  leaving Woodbury on her own call while Andrea stays behind. While Andrea is saddened that her friend left, she's also become very smitten and close with the Governor. But what Andrea doesn't realize is that the Governor is up to no good behind the scenes; he and his men attack a National Guard unit to get their supplies and equipment; the Governor keeps a hidden aquarium room with tanks full of walker...and human....heads but above all, he also hosts an event where Merle and a couple other guys fight in a ring surrounded by chained up walkers, hungry for human flesh and much to the crowds' delight. But none more disturbing or questioning than the Governor keeping his little girl Penny, a walker, imprisoned and treating her a if she was still human. One of the "sidekicks" of Woodbury that does play an important role is Milton, a scientist under the Governor's command who works hours experimenting on walkers determined to find out their behavioral patterns and to see if they have any correlations between their "living selves" and their "walker selves". One of these experiments includes a cancer-infected, dying man who willingly volunteers to be experimented on when he passes and turns to a walker (which ends in Andrea stabbing the patient in the head when he turns).

Welcome to Woodbury!

Prison time for Rick and the gang proves to be a tough challenge. Walkers still linger the prison halls as Andrew, a prisoner who surprisingly survives after Rick locks him out in a prison yard full of walkers, is creating chaos and a serious security breach in the prison where once again, walkers are slowly taking over the prison. Rick and the gang are prepared to take out the walkers when Andrew sneaks up with a hatchet, ready to kill Rick. During the confrontation, Oscar pulls out a gun at Rick. Andrew screams at Oscar to shoot Rick but Oscar kills Andrew instead and gives the gun back to Rick, proving his loyalty. During the walker raid, Lori goes into labor. Maggie and Carl carry her in a room where Lori tells Maggie to perform a C-section on her. Maggie refuses but Lori knows she will lose the baby and also her life will be lost. Maggie cuts open Lori's stomach and pulls out the baby...but the blood loss and trauma take Lori's life. Before leaving the room, Carl puts his mother's human body out of her misery so she doesn't turn. To make matters worse, Carol and T-Dog are in another part of the prison...when T-Dog gets bit and then later on, sacrifices himself to a group of walkers so Carol could flee.

Michonne escapes Woodbury but Merle and his men are on her trail. Michonne and the men confront each other in a brutal bloodbath that leaves one man decapitated, another stabbed, and Michonne being shot in the hip by Merle before escaping further into the woods...not to mention being covered by a new form of camoflauge against walkers, walker organs and blood. 

A mother and son's final moments

The rest of the gang are in the prison yard....only Carl, Maggie and the baby return. Rick knows immediately that Lori didn't make it and storms into the prison, going on a walker killing rampage. Rick suffers a mental breakdown and suffers hallucinations when he recieves a mysterious phone call from Lori and "other survivors". Fortunately, Rick snaps out of his hallucinations and meets his baby girl. Daryl makes it his mission to find Carol and finds her in a closet, dehydrated and exhausted. With the group reuniting and trying to band together, Maggie and Glenn decide to go to make another run....when they run into an angry Merle that takes them hostage before forcing Glenn into a vehicle and driving off to Woodbury. Michonne is in the distance, watching on......

Michonne takes the basket of items Glenn and Maggie filled up from the store and goes into the prison, a group of walkers around her. Rick and Carl notice the group of walkers and notice that Michonne is hobbling and hurt...and also carrying a basket of baby formula. The walkers then detect Michonne's blood and go against her. Michonne uses every ounce of her being to fight them off but not before collapsing, waiting for death. Carl and Rick save her and take her back to the cell to give her aid and to question her and Glenn and Maggie's wherabouts. She informs the group about Woodbury and the Governor. Rick, Daryl, Oscar and Michonne draw out a plan to sneak into Woodbury to rescue Maggie and Glenn. Daryl desperately wants to meet Merle and convince Rick that he can "talk things out" with Merle but Rick dismisses it and reminds Daryl that he is a valued member and needs to focus on saving Glenn and Maggie. 

Back in Woodbury, Maggie and Glenn are each being held in their own interrogation room. Merle goes into Glenn's room and proceeds to beat him to a bloody pulp for information and tops it off with locking up a live walker in the room with Glenn. Glenn barely survives his ordeal with the walker but ends up killing it. In the other room, the Governor sickingly seduces Maggie to pry information out of her. With Maggie and Glenn both refusing to talk, they put them both in the same room with the dead walker as the Governor decides what to do with them. Maggie and Glenn take the bones of the walker to use as stabbing tools. When Merle and one of his men open the door to the room, Maggie stabs one man and Glenn fights Merle but Glenn and Maggie become outnumbered by Merle's men.

Not too far away, Rick and the gang find a log cabin to hide in from a group of walkers chasing them but are met with a human survivor who is less-than-welcoming. The human tries to jump on Rick to kill him and escape but not before Michonne stabs him to death. The gang throw the dead man's body to the walkers from the front of the log cabin as the rest of the gang sneaks on in the back and by nightfall, they arrive outside of Woodbury. Michonne leads the way and sneaks them into a restaurant, where they take a citzen hostage and question him. While the men figure out their next move, Michonne sneaks off to the Governor's office.

Merle thinking he's Jack Bauer

In one of the interrogation rooms, Maggie and Glenn are on their knees, holding hands and waiting to be executed by the GOvernor and his men when Rick, Daryl and Oscar barge in to save the day. They rescue Maggie and Glenn and hide out in another location, preparing for war against Woodbury. Daryl provides cover as Rick and the rest enter a knarly shootout against Woodbury's security sentries before escaping. Sadly, tragedy strikes again as Oscar is shot to death.

Meanwhile, MIchonne goes into the Governor's aquarium room and is stunned by what she sees. She is even more stunned that she sees a little girl with a sack over her head, locked up in a cage and bound by a collar and chain. Thinking the girl is human, Michonne rushes to save the girl...but uncovers the sack to realize it's a walker. Before Michonne can finish her, the Governor rushes in with a gun, screaming at Michonne to not move. Michonne stabs Penny, putting her out of her walker misery. Infuriated, the Governor attacks Michonne, punching her and throwing her at the aquariums, causing the tanks to break and live walker heads to roll on the floor, waiting for a bite of human flesh. Michonne takes a piece of glass and stabs the Governor in the eye. Before Michonne can finish off the Governor, Andrea comes in with a gun pointed at Michonne, screaming at her to not touch him. Michonne, knowing full well Andrea won't kill her, leaves the room to join Rick and his crew.

War in Woodbury

Back at the prison, a new band of survivors infiltrate the prison; the survivors consist of two couples, including a woman who is severely bitten by a walker. Carl can hear the survivors and walkers. He leaves behind Hershel, Beth, the baby and Carol to investigate the halls and comes across the survivors fighting off the walkers. The survivors then turn their attention to Carl, stunned to see a child in their midst.. Carl leads the surivivors to a secure part of their cell but he also closes a cell door on them. He convinces them that they are safe and have supplies.

Tyrese, leading his own band of survivors 

Outside of Woodbury, Rick, Maggie, Glenn and Michonne reunite and after Rick has a few choice words for Michonne of her sneaking around, but then they realize that Daryl is still in the town. Michonne decides that they should go back into Woodbury to recover Daryl.

After the battle in Woodbury, the Governor calls together to people of the town to the arena where the zombie fights are held and gives a speech about how "terrorists" are now a strong threat against the wholesome town of Woodbury. It's there that the Governor accuses Merle of double-crossing him and tells the crowd that Merle is related to one of the "terrorists". Armed men bring out Daryl...both Merle and Daryl, now restrained and both prisoners of Woodbury, are stunned to come across one another. The Governor asks the crowd what he should do to them when the crowd chants "Kill them, kill them!". The episode ends with the Dixon brothers ready to face what seems like a deadly fate.....

Picture Credit: AMC
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Carmela's Food Blog: Lover's Pasta for Two... A Valentine's Entree

The finished dish, how do we get there?

Mob Wives brought a lot of love during episode 5. Karen was in love with the idea of the studio. Drita seems like she's in love with Lee, who is coming back into her life. Big Ang thought Neil wasn't stepping up to the plate, but as he played bouncer well, Big Ang just seem to fall in love all over again. Ramona is obviously in love, having kept secret her engagement to Joe from us! Congrats Ramona! Renee is dealing with her anger, but we all know deep down inside she is full of love, especially for AJ. So all you Mob Wives and lovers out there, how about a quick easy pasta for your Valentine?

Lovers Pasta for Two, Creamy Pasta, Peas & Pancetta

This is a very easy recipe for an impressive pasta dish to prepare for that Valentine in your life this week. All the ingredients you will need are shown right here:

INGREDIENTS

1 cup of heavy cream
1/2 cup of white wine - any
half of a small onion diced
2 garlic gloves diced
2 slices of pancetta diced
1 cup of peas - canned or frozen- I prefer frozen
salt & pepper to taste
2 tablespoons of olive oil
8 ounces of pasta-cooked

Step 1: cook 1/2 pound of pasta and set aside. I used Orecchiette, its one of my favorites.

Ingredients in the pan

Step 2: Put the 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan. Sauté the onions & panchetta till onions are translucent. Add the diced garlic and stir it in for about a minute. Add the white wine. After the wine reduces to half the amount, add the cream. Stir the cream constantly so it doesn't burn the bottom of the frying pan. After about 10 minutes, add in the peas.  The sauce will begin to thicken. Add the cooked pasta, and salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat. Serve in bowls and top with grated cheese. Easy & delicious pasta with cream sauce. Enjoy!

Please let me know if you make it! Pictures welcomed!

Follow me on Twitter @carmelacorleone

Mob Wives: Recap “The Gathering Storm,” Ep 305

First what we didn't see!

Ramona and her daughter shop for make-up

Ramona is planning a birthday party for her girls who are only a year apart. She meets Karen at Big Ang’s store to shop for gifts. One of her daughters wants to invite Aleeya to her party. Ramona tells them she has to call Drita and ask her if she will let Aleeya come. Karen doesn’t think it’s a great idea considering all the history they have between them. Ramona just wants to make her daughters happy and will do whatever it takes. There is no way of knowing whether or not Drita will agree.

Renee says, "There is no forgiveness."

Renee is in group therapy, she feels angry and says she can’t trust people. The therapist tells her addicts don’t know any other emotion except anger. There is no forgiveness for Renee. Renee says she flips out. Then a woman says she has no time for fighting and holding grudges. Renee confronts her for talking about her. Renee says that “little blonde” runs her mouth and she heard her talking about her behind her back. Renee tells her you don’t know me, so my name shouldn’t be coming out of your mouth. The therapist says Renee is projecting her emotions on someone else.

Big Ang tells Neil, "You drink diet Coke, that's what you do."

Neil walks into the Monkey and Big Ang wants to know what he is doing there because she threw him out. The reason she is upset with Neil is she can’t depend on him to do anything. He dropped her off for foot surgery and left her there. She says she has to do everything and all he knows how to do is drink diet soda. He is trying to work his way back in, but Big Ang is done…goodbye.

“Last time I saw Ramona, I wanted to put her head through a F*cking window,” Drita recalls.

Ramona calls Drita and tells her her daughter’s birthday party is coming up and her daughter wants to invite Aleeya. Ramona tells Drita she would like to meet with her to talk over a couple of things. Drita agrees to meet Ramona, but her guard is definitely up.

Karen meets with her friend Storm at his studio. Karen wants to invest some money in the studio, but she know nothing about the music business. Karina likes to sing and she wants to do this for her daughter. Since Karina doesn’t want to move to New York, Karen feels the studio might help change her mind. Karina will see the studio while visiting for Melina’s party.

Ramona says,  “Do I really wanna hang out with Drita? Um, definitely not.”

Ramona is going to meet Drita, but Drita is in shock and still suspicious. Ramona says she isn’t scared of anyone, but God. They sit down and Ramona says both she and Drita aren’t afraid of anyone and they both have egos. Ramona says they don’t have to fight. Drita tells her she feels certain people in their inner circle caused problems between them. This is actually the first time Ramona and Drita are talking on their own. They can clear the air. The rehash the balcony fight and Ramona says they can be ladies from here on in. Drita says she doesn’t want any problems with anyone. Ramona is done. Drita is seeing Ramona as a mother more than as Lucifer. Drita says she is happy Aleeya was invited to the party and she will bring her. They end by making a deal that if each of them hears anything about the other they will call each other…Peace Achieved!

Carla is at the gym with Drita. Drita drops the bombshell that she met with Ramona. Carla thinks it’s a joke. Drita says she was taken by surprise, but Ramona’s girls are having a birthday party and Aleeya was invited. Drita said she met with Ramona and no one else was there. Carla says Ramona knows she was wrong and doesn’t have the balls to apologize.(excuse me, but is this starting trouble or what?). Drita says she would rather have peace than arguing. Carla doesn’t trust Ramona. Drita wants to forget, forgive and move on. She asks Carla how is she doing with all the girls. Carla thinks she is good with everybody (really? I can hardly believe my ears). Carla tells her to have fun at the party.

“Oh my God, that is cold!” Carla says.

Back at Carla’s house, Joe comes by to discuss something. The kids are having lunch with Carla’s parents so they can talk. Carla doesn’t know what is so urgent. Joe sits down and seems a little nervous. He is probably afraid of Carla’s reaction. He tells her he went to see a divorce attorney. He says he is out of jail, his past was so negative that he wants a fresh start, a clean and positive future. He tells her she needs to get a lawyer so they can move on this quickly and expeditiously. He wants to make sure that everything is outlined in the documents. He wants all the t’s crossed and i’s dotted and nothing to be open to her volatile nature. If they agree, for example, that he has the kids for 10 days a month, he doesn’t want her to be able to change her mind when she gets pissed off. He says she took his dog, Elvis. He wants Carla to admit that her nature is more volatile than his and he needs to protect himself from her whims and moods. She says she will find an attorney and he can’t have the dog back. He says good because the papers are coming.

Ang is at the Drunken Monkey because she is having issues with the day workers and the customers. While she is there checking on things, a fight breaks out and drinks go all over the floor. She breaks up the fight. “Drunken idiots!,” says Big Ang. Another fight quickly erupts and this time Ang needs help…enter Neil to the rescue. Neil goes in and breaks up the fight and makes the men leave. Finally he is good for something. Now the cleanup!

Happy Birthday, Melina and Anissa!

Birthday Party! The party is at a club with a DJ. It’s going to be off the hook. Ramona went all out on everything, even calling Drita, to make her daughters happy. There is a little red carpet for the guests. Karen arrives with Karina. Love arrives and is told that Drita is coming with her daughter. Love says it just goes to show you how much they love their kids to put their differences aside for them. Drita and Aleeya walk in. Drita feels weird when she sees Karen and Ramona at the bar. She goes over to them and Drita is greeted with open arms by Karen and Ramona. Karen says she wishes Renee could have been there too, but she dropped her off at the airport and she is in rehab. The Ramona presents her daughters with a tiny, white puppy. The girls are beyond excited.

Carla goes to see Big Ang. Ang tells her about the recent bar brawls and Carla asks if she heard the news…Drita and Ramona made up. Big Ang says yes and she is happy about it. So Carla moves on to Joe, who asked her for a divorce. Big Ang says that makes her sad. Carla isn’t sad, but she thinks Joe is rushing it because he is about to become an “old fart” (Joe is three years younger than Carla) and he wants to marry and have children before his balls dry up…(I think she said that). Big Ang wants to hook her up (pft! I’ll get to this). Carla says she has to start her life (is it time for my two cents yet?).

Karen takes Karina, Melina and another girl to show them the studio. The girls love it, who wouldn’t. The girls have been working on a song and there is a vocal coach there to listen to them. He stops them a couple of times for being off key and not showing enough emotion. Karen is excited just listening to them. She tells them they can use the studio a couple of times a week.

Congratulations Ramona, on your engagement. 

Ramona goes to see her boyfriend Joe’s lawyer, Tim. She is following up on his case. It’s been over a year since his arrest. The lawyer tells her it’s a Federal case and they can take a very long time. He has no idea when the case will go to trial. He believes they are doing everything they can to force him to become an informant. The Feds still have Ramona’s jewelry because they claim it was part of his criminal activity. Ramona tells Tim she has been secretly engaged to Joe, but she is afraid to wear her engagement ring. No one knows she is engaged, just her girls. Tim tells her she can wear her ring, Joe bought it with legitimate money, and if anyone gives her a problem about it she should tell them to speak to him.

Renee is in Miami and calls Drita to check in. Renee says she is doing great, but they have her in anger management. Drita doesn’t think Renee needs anger management. Drita starts telling Renee that she feels like she is dating Lee. She says if things keep going the way they are, she can see her family getting back together. They discuss Storm Sandy. Drita is worried, she lives near the water and wishes Lee were there to take care of things. Drita says she lives in Zone A and has to evacuate. She is scared. She gives Renee the details of what is going on. Big Ang is concerned about Drita and Carla. Ramona says, at a time like this, they have to put their differences aside and be there to help one another. Renee tells Drita to check in on AJ, but her family is looking out for him. Karen leaves her apartment, she is also in Zone A. Carla sits watching the news of the storm on the television with her children. We end with all the mob wives, one by one, asking people to help by donating to Tunnel to Towers which is raising money for Sandy victims.

MY TWO CENTS

I know why they called this episode The Gathering Storm, because I felt like I was spinning around inside a tornado. Wow. We were all over the place in this episode. And there was no drama to speak of, it was a little flat for me. But, that doesn’t mean I have nothing to say.

There were two storylines that were noteworthy, Drita and Ramona’s burying of the hatchet and Joe and Carla’s raising the hatchet to break their marriage contract, which is really like a business arrangement. The other scenes/situations speak for themselves.

First of all, I am not sure what to make of the reconciliation between Ramona and Drita. So much bad blood was between them all of last season. Now because of a birthday party they are willing to put their differences aside? I am wondering how the girls became such good friends when their mothers could not stand the sight of each other? It puzzles me how that came about. Nevertheless, I don’t think it was impossible. Karen and Drita struck a truce and I think they are both over the issues that once created all the friction between them. They have both pursued other business opportunities and focused on the positives in their lives. So there is really no reason for Ramona, who had Karen’s back, to keep the argument going at this point. Drita and Ramona both have much bigger issues ahead of them. Drita is on cloud nine because of Lee, and yet she is worried because she has been betrayed and disappointed before. Getting back together with him could wind up devastating her children if he doesn’t stay on track. Ramona has the opposite problem. Her life and that of her children, are in limbo. There is no telling when Joe will go to trial, and when he does, there is no telling how much time he will get. She is engaged to a man who may never be part of her family. So neither of them have time and energy to waste fighting over nothing. I agree with Love, who said it best when she said it shows how much they love their children that they put their differences aside. They did look sincere to me, so kudos to both of them for doing that.

Joe and Carla. Let me take a few deep breaths first. Okay, done. Joe is perfectly within his rights to ask for a divorce. Carla has been with Handy for a long time. Joe wants to distance himself from all his bad past behavior and start over with a clean slate. He can’t move on if he is still “married” to Carla. The good news is that Carla didn’t say no, or that she would fight it. The bad news could still happen depending what conditions or expectations she places on Joe after she meets with her own lawyer. Now, when Carla goes to see Big Ang, she says she thinks Joe is rushing into marriage. I don’t see it that way. Joe and Raquel have been dating a year, they have been living together for months, they can’t get married till the divorce is final. Getting the divorce can take up to two years, if it’s not amicable. So I think they aren’t rushing into anything. Then she says the reason Joe is in a rush is because he is becoming “an old fart who is afraid his balls will dry up?” I think Carla was absent the day the reproductive system was being taught in biology 101. Women typically go through menopause in their 40’s and their eggs are as old as the hills by then. A man’s sperm is always freshly produced and viable, and men can have children much longer than women can. And, if Joe is becoming an “old fart” at 43, what is Carla becoming at 46? Just sayin’. And Big Ang wants to hook Carla up? She spent Thanksgiving with Carla and Handy and I am sure she knows they have been together since before season one started. I think that’s why Carla chuckled when she said it. Carla says she wants to move on with her life. I got news for her, she already did.

P.S. Carla thinks she is good with everybody after calling Renee a “junkie” and waving her butter knife around? After talking about Love behind her back? I would do a little rethinking about that conclusion if I was her.

Video Credit: VH1