Aruba, Jamaica, Frank’s a bit of a wanker

So. Did she actually have sex with both guys (would have been all three if Frank hadn’t excused himself)? I’m never one to judge someone’s amatory proclivities (nor am I in any position to), but the back-to-back thing seemed a little – icky.  If I was Roberto watching this episode at home tonight, I’d be thinking “thank God I had the first date.” 

Roberto was a sweaty yeti (pits,face, back, chest) his entire time in Tahiti.  This is exactly what I would have looked like if I were in his place.  He actually managed to keep his cool and look fairly smooth as he dripped like a BP oil leak – I think we can all agree that I would not do as well.  Their date seamed to go only so-so.  Though I guess it ended… happy? 

It’s really no surprise that the happy couples who leave the bachelor or bachelorette almost never make it in the “real world” (no finalist of a primetime reality show ever actually returns to the real real world).  Try to compare a weekend of sleeping on a pull-out couch at the in-laws with a torch lit private dinner on your very own island.  It’s a little like feeding your dog tenderloin everyday for two years; and then expecting it to suddenly be happy only eating dry dog food from Walmart.

I can’t tell if Chris is a simpleton or just nervous in front of the cameras; but he repeatedly utilizes the same monosyllabic adjectives (wow, cool, great, nice…).  Despite his fleeting vocabulary, I think Chris is a pretty cool guy and kind of a natural with girls.  The little interaction when he cut-off Ali and told her jokingly, “hey I’m reading this” was pretty smooth.  It was playful, dominant (in a fun way), and created anticipation for the moment.

I still think it was Frank’s contest to lose.  And, I think he was  foolish and cowardly for the decision he made.  Kind of an important lesson there: no matter how strong your connection with someone may be; it can be inexplicably trumped by someone’s history.  I believe this comes down to four reasons:
1. revisionist’s history. We tend to remember and obsess on the good moments and trivialize the bad ones.
2. investment. Time, emotional, financial (vacations, etc…), but mostly time.  Sometimes it’s hard to accept that we wasted so many months or years of our lives.
3. safety.  Going backwards is often the safest (seemingly) play.
4. comfort in the familiar. Throughout a relationship you build mutual friends, develop daily routines, have favorite restaurants and locales…  It can be scary to start all of this over with someone new.