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Thursday December 1, 2005
I missed the first few minutes of the show due to a vcr programming error. I apologize for anything important we missed.
Jessica is talking on the phone with Rhonda and they are talking about working on the Habitat for Humanity House. Jessica tells Rhonda that it helped the family but it also helped her too. Rhonda tells her to have a good day and they hang up. Jessica tells the housemates that she has an announcement to read to them. The note says that they have been working hard, and that they have been given a $400 gift card from K-Mart to buy gifts for the Rodriguez family. They are to get things off the Rodriguez family’s wish list and they are to present the gifts along with the house tomorrow. In confessional, TJ says that she has done this kind of work on her own house before and that if you think it’s going to take you 4 days it is going to take six days. She says they are already a day behind schedule and they don’t have an extra day. In the bathroom, Jessica says to Christina that she has a feeling there is going to be a confrontation between Christina and TJ today. Christina says that it’s not going to happen and that she wouldn’t let it happen on a work field. Christina says that she has no problem with her. Jessica tells Christina it looks like she has a problem. Christina says that she said she is not RJ’s friend and she is not going to try to be her friend. In confessional, Jessica says that she feels the tension between her housemates this morning and that she thinks that Christina and TJ are really struggling. Jessica says they need to come together and get the job done. Lisa is in the bathroom and says that it’ really fun to let off some steam. Christina says yeah, that she lets off steam and that she thinks it’s hilarious. They all leave for the site. In confessional, TJ says that Christina doesn’t have any patience or tolerance in TJ’s direction. TJ says that she is frustrated and hurt because she doesn’t know what to do.
They are pulling up to the site and there is some eye candy at the HH house today. There are bare-chested men carrying planks of wood in the sun. Someone in the car asks if the men are naked. In confessional, Jill says that when they first pull up and sees the guys she is thinking yay we got help, and then she thinks they just lost Christina and Lisa. They arrive 42 minutes behind schedule. The foreman comes up and asks them if they notice anything different about the site today, and Allison says help! He tells them they are going to go meet the help and talk about what they are going to do today. He meets with the group and says that they are behind and that’s why they brought in help, and they are all going to work really hard today and get it done. In confessional, Jessica says she thinks that everyone is physically tired, and hoping that today with lots of rest that they will be able to get the job done and follow through. She says that she feels fantastic that they have help and that each one of their teams will have a pro on it to guide them and give them directions. They pick out the teams and get to work. In confessional, Lisa says that she lives to flirt and that she likes to play around and that flirting is playing around. Lisa is telling one of the guys on the site that her boss used to call her and another girl dirty birds because they talked so nasty. The guy is standing there and says yeah. In confessional, TJ says that they could be in the middle of an earthquake and Lisa would find an opportunity to flirt. TJ says there really is no time for socializing on this project. Lisa says just to tell her what to do and she will do it. In confessional, TJ says that the game plan is to build the fence and a put in a pathway because they have to plant tomorrow and they are definitely behind schedule. One of the guys is talking to TJ and telling her about what they are going to do in the yard. Christina is standing behind them when they walk off. In confessional, Christina says that she has to work with TJ today and that she can do it. She says that TJ is her housemate and not her friend, but she can work with people who aren’t her friends. Jill and Jessica are looking at the posts and Jill says that it looks like more cement has been added. In confessional, Jill says that she thinks she will be really helpful with doing the fence because all that bending and squatting in that hot sun isn’t going to happen. Lisa and Allison are getting information about the fence from their professional. In confessional, Lisa says that anytime there is someone new brought in it is interesting for her, but the fact that they are young good looking men makes it very interesting. He tells them that they will be dividing up the job where one is going to measure and cut, and the other will align the post and screw it in. Lisa shouts that she wants to screw. The cement guy helping TJ and Christina says that he always gets this job, but he chose it. In confessional, TJ says the she and Christina are working together and not getting along but she is really working hard to just focus on what they need to do rather than get caught up in how Christina is feeling. The guy says that he realizes that they volunteered for that job too, and they say no, they were volunteered. In confessional, Allison says that she and Lisa are working with Jacob and we are going to build fences. Allison says she finds they are flirting and having a good time screwing the panels into the fence. Jacob is explaining to Lisa what a level is and how it works. In confessional, Jessica says that she really struggled to stay present and focused working because she was consumed with the anniversary of her mom’s death, and now she is just really excited. Lisa is telling the guy about all of the places that she has lived and is just chatting away and you can see the other housemates looking at each other. In confessional, Allison says that Lisa is a big flirt and that she feels jealous because to her it is about being driven to do the work and not being social. They are waiting for the concrete guy and he gets there and so the women take a lunch. Jessica asks them how they are all doing and to kind of check in. They all say they are doing good. TJ says that she was looking forward to building the fence but she ended up shoveling dirt. In confessional, TJ says that if she never shovels a pile of dirt again she will be a happy camper. They talk about who is going to go and buy the gifts. In confessional, Jessica says that it has been a struggle being the foreperson at the job. She says the last two days have been very emotionally challenging for her. Everyone is working on their projects and Christina puts the level on one of the guys and says that she wanted to make sure he was level headed. Jacob tells Lisa that he has never met someone who has never worked and that she is his first. Allison walks by and says that he looks like someone from Top Gun and Lisa says that it was a good reference point and thanks Allison. Jessica tells everyone that she and Allison are going to K-Mart to buy gifts for the family. In confessional, Jessica says she is going to pick out some goods and supplies for the family’s house and that she gets to decorate the little girl’s room specifically and she is excited because she gets to go shopping and give some great gifts to the family. TJ asks what to do with the cement, and Victor tells them to shovel it out. Christina is shoveling and says that she didn’t learn this in Stripper 101. In confessional, Jill says she didn’t realize how far behind they were and they have to make up it all up and that it is a lot of work. They finish up the cement and it is all smoothed out, and the fence is mostly up. Jessica and Allison come back. In confessional, Jessica says that she feels guilty because she knows they have been working hard for two hours while she and Allison were shopping. She says she hopes the housemates can appreciate all the hard work they did just like she appreciated the work they have done. At the end of the day, the women are given a mailbox to decorate that is going to be the Rodriguez’s mailbox. In confessional, TJ says that although they have accomplished a lot they have a long way to go and their deadline is approaching fast.
They get back to the house. In confessional, Jessica says that she has a few gifts waiting for her at the house. Her sister sent her a candy bouquet and her father sent her over 50 pictures of her mother for her photo exhibition; many which Jessica had never seen before.
TJ, Allison, and Christina are working on the mailbox. They are painting and TJ says to Allison that on of her best friends is an alcoholic and that is not anything that she feels anyone has the right to judge. In confessional, TJ says that Allison drinks a lot and that she is just trying to understand it and be her accountability partner and try to help her. TJ tells Allison that when she drinks she drinks to excess, or to numb. TJ says that an alcoholic doesn’t have control in the moment. Allison tells TJ that she knows a lot about alcoholism, and TJ says as does she. TJ asks Allison how she feels about it and Allison says that she thinks that at first she was spinning before she thought about her drinking. Allison says that she can’t say that she won’t misuse it again, but for now, she is ok. In confessional, Allison says is drinking a good idea for her with cancer, health, and weight challenges. She says probably not, but she is not going to let someone tell her that she is something that she is not.
Everyone is getting ready to go back to the job sit. In confessional, Jill says that she didn’t realize how far behind they were and she is hoping they can get organized quickly because they have a lot to do today, and she says she now understands the time crunch that they are under. They get to the site and Kimball meets them. He asks them how they like it and Allison says oh, it’s beautiful. The camera shows Starting Over 2005 that was written in the cement. He tells them they are going to need 3 people for landscaping today and he tells them what they need to do for the lawn and then tells them they have 4 hours to do it in. In confessional, Jessica says that they have a four hour deadline in which to do this and it is clear that everyone is feeling scattered and unfocused. Jessica says that it is really important to get the troops together and get them to focus and finish this for the Rodriguez family. Lisa is talking to Jacob again and tells him that maybe there is something about him that attracts psychotic women and that maybe he has a subconscious need for adventure and excitement and he is with them to live vicariously through them. TJ tells Lisa less talking more working and Lisa and Lisa says that she prefers talking. Jacob tells Lisa that he thinks she is right about that, and Lisa says that she is psychic girl. In confessional, TJ says there really is no time for socializing so she asks Lisa to talk and work. In confessional, Lisa says that this is a lot of hard work and she is not that thrilled about some things and in an attempt to have fun she is flirting and having fun with everyone. Lisa says that she thinks she is better at inspiring people to work and asks what they think. TJ says uh, no. In confessional, Jill says they only have one day left on the project. She says TJ and Christina are at each other, Lisa is flirting with anything with testosterone, Allison isn’t feeling well and they are all getting on her nerves. Jill says she is not all that sure that they will be finished in time for the Rodriguez family to move in. Kimball checks in and tells them they have 3 hours. They are all working at sodding and landscaping the lawn. In confessional, Jill says they have 60 minutes left and they still have a lot to do and she doesn’t think they will get done in time. They finish and are all lined up when the Rodriguez family come to see their house. There are hugs all around and they show the family the gifts they bought. In confessional, Jessica says that building the house for the family was just as much as a gift for her as it was for them. She says that it made her realize that you don’t’ need just a house to have a home and that you can have a home anywhere you go. It’s all about the people you surround yourself with and the love and support. Jessica tells the family about the rose bush that was planted in memory of her mother. The family promises to take care of the rose bush. They give hugs and they all leave. In confessional, Allison says that she was talking to Mrs. Rodriguez and she told Allison that she prayed every day for a new house and new life and a way to start over. Allison says it’s cool that they got to provide it for them. She says it was overwhelming and fulfilling.
Back at the house Rhonda meets with Jessica about her experience with Habitat for Humanity. Jessica says that it was great and hard. Jessica says that presenting the house to the family was great. Jessica tells Rhonda that instead of doing something in public, she told the family privately about the rosebush in memory of her mom. Jessica tells Rhonda that they promised to take care of it, and that they would pray for her mother. Rhonda asks Jessica how it felt to make a different kind of memory for 9/11. Jessica says that it was amazing creating something for others. Jessica says she discovered it was easier to acknowledge it and to have people around. In confessional, Rhonda says that Jessica is finally able to honor the loss of her mother by and create a new memory for 9/11 by building a home for a deserving family, but the reality is home is where the heart is and Jessica still has some unresolved issues about her father and New York. Jessica says there are so many question marks once she leaves the house and she tells Rhonda that she thinks she handled a conversation with her dad very well. Rhonda asks Jessica what she said and Jessica tells Rhonda that she knows in the past that she has planned like crazy, but now she is taking time and being present. Rhonda tells Jessica that she is going to invite her dad to the SOH, and Jessica asks if she can invite her step mom too. In confessional, Jessica says that she asked if she could invite her dad’s wife too because she knows she is important to her dad and that she is part of the family. Jessica says she needs to let go of the past and start fresh. Rhonda tells Jessica that when you are ready to leave a place you have gratitude about what you have learned.
Rhonda meets with all the ladies to talk about their experience with Habitat for Humanity. In confessional, Rhonda says that now that the ladies have finished their assignment they need to talk about what building a home really means. Rhonda asks them how it felt to be working and building a home for someone else. Lisa says that is was nice because she didn’t have to think about herself. Lisa says that she is tired of thinking about herself. Rhonda says thank goodness! Lisa says that with all the inquiry and investigation that it’s nice to not have to think about herself for a change. Jill says it was nice for her to do something for someone she doesn’t know from Adam and being part of their joy. Christina says that she got a lot of satisfaction of doing the physical labor and the faces of the people when they came to see the house. Christina says she saw how beautiful it was and how it must be have felt to be a mother and to have a home for her family. Rhonda says that home is a huge metaphor for your physical location, and that some of her greatest feelings of home came from the people that she was around. Rhonda tells them that it goes beyond a place. Jessica says that after her mom died she said she only had a house now and not a home. Rhonda asks where she thinks home is now, and Jessica says that she thinks that home is more than just a physical structure. She says it’s about the people and the support and the love that you get. It’s a feeling. Jessica says that when she said she didn’t have a home she had a void in her heart, and working with that family gave her that feeling again. Rhonda tells the women that a chef is going to come into the house to make dinner for them. TJ, Christina, Jessica, and Jill are sitting outside waiting for the chef, and TJ says maybe it will be the Naked Chef (Jamie Oliver) and she says that if he has any kind of personality they are done. He comes to the door and they invite him in and tell him they are ready to help. TJ is in the kitchen watching and talking to the chef. TJ goes to take a pan out of the oven and is telling the chef that her husband is the one that cooks and she isn’t paying attention and burns her hand. In confessional, Christina says that she feels sorry for the chef because TJ has gone in and forced her way into his kitchen for the night and that he doesn’t need help because it’s his job.
Christina calls her boyfriend Paul, and one of his friends answers the phone. Paul’s friend asks Christina who she is and asks if she is the one that is out of town. He tells Christina that he will have Paul call her back because he is on the other line right now. In confessional, Christina says that after being at Habitat for Humanity, having Paul’s friend act like he doesn’t know her is icing on the cake and it is pissing her off. Christina says that she is getting so fed up with people and realizing they are immature. She says she is working on her values and she doesn’t need immature people in her life.
Christina goes and sits down at the dinner table and explains to the roommates what just happened on the phone with Paul’s friend acting like he didn’t know who Christina was. Christina says that she isn’t going to call him back and then asks if that is manipulative. Allison says no because it was disrespectful. Jill says that Paul might not know what his friend did, and Jessica agrees that Paul’s friend could just be acting like a jerk. Jill says again that maybe Paul doesn’t know what his friend did, and Christina tells her not to take up for the guy. Jill says that she isn’t, but she shouldn’t make up stories. Jessica says that she should call Paul and tell him what happened and get his reaction. Christina says that she is going to tell Paul, but just not tonight. Jessica says something indistinguishable and Christina says all right, all right. I was juts going of the fuel that Ally gave her. Allison says that she thinks Christina shouldn’t call him back and Jessica says that is playing games. Allison then says not to listen to anything she says because she doesn’t matter. Jill tells Christina to call him instead of putting all this energy into something that she doesn’t know. Christina says she wasn’t going to make him pay for the night. Jill asks what if Paul doesn’t know his friend did that, and Jessica asks Christina if she has control over her friends. Christina says that she is sorry that she brought it up and that she doesn’t want to talk about it so forget about it. Jill asks her why she gets like that and Christina says that she is just trying to have a nice dinner and that she is sorry that she brought it up. Jill says that they are too. In confessional, Jill says that it is the modus operandi to have a famous chef in the kitchen and they are kvetching about what now? She says she doesn’t think they will ever enjoy each other’s company without a little drama. TJ brings some of the courses out and presents them telling what it is. They are all sitting around the table and you can cut the tension with a knife. In confessional, TJ says that she is so excited that there is drama in the house and she was not in the middle of it. She says the housemates are arguing about Christina’s boyfriend or something. TJ says she is not the middle of it and that is all that matters. The chef brings out desert with coconut gelato cones and some chocolate desert that looked awesome. The ladies thank him and he leaves.
Outside TJ is telling Jessica that she thinks she is doing a great job and what’s important is that she connects with her dad. Jessica says that it is not easy for her and TJ tells Jessica it can’t be easy. TJ tells Jessica that it is important to connect with her dad first and that she would not have included her dad’s wife if it were her. TJ says the fact that Jessica did is amazing. In confessional, TJ says that she is noticing Jessica has a hesitation in doing a lot of things and it’s difficult for her to move through the pain that her father has gotten remarried. Jessica calls and leaves message for her dad to call her back.
TJ is talking with Jill and says that she and Christina don’t get along and they will probably not have the opportunity to bond, but she wants to come to a place of growth for herself and that’s where she keeps moving the boundary line. In confessional, Christina says that she feels frustrated that she is not being heard and that she feels the housemates are concerned with getting their point across that hers isn’t as valid as theirs. Christina says she feels like that she has been going forward, but feeling like she isn’t being heard makes her feel like she isn’t moving forward at all.
Next on Starting Over: Tension in the house continues to grow. In group, TJ says that it’s too much and Iyanla tells TJ that is a judgment. Lisa is holding up her hand and says that she got that and if TJ doesn’t stop she is going to smack her. In confessional, Lisa says that she is going to knock TJ out and she needs to watch herself if TJ catches Lisa off guard. Jill goes off. Jill says no, no, no. It’s disrespectful and do not do it again. Lisa feels betrayed. Lisa says that she feels they set her up to be the bad guy. In confessional, Lisa says that she wishes that these mealy mouth wenches would just back her up and stop with the diplomacy.
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