Amazing Race finale

I'm not four for four. Adam and Bethany came in third on the Amazing Race. I'm sure they were disappointed. They came in first on several of the legs, and were very strong in the finale. But the final challenge was very difficult, and Bethany struggled.

As I expected though, they took third place in stride. They have every reason to hold their heads high and be proud of themselves. They ran a great race, they weren't dirty players, and they worked exceedingly well as a team. We never once saw them argue or get frustrated with each other. They encouraged each other and faced every challenge with enthusiasm and positivity. They were a joy to watch.

Thanks for a great season Team Surfers!

Survivor, and other reality tv season finales

I am very pleased with who won Survivor last night. I was rooting for either Natalie or Keith, but I really wanted Natalie to win. To be honest, I found her and her sister rather annoying when they competed on the Amazing Race, but I liked her on Survivor, and I definitely think she did more than enough to deserve the win. She gave up rewards to further herself in the game, she volunteered to go to Exile Island, she found an immunity idol, she won a few challenges and came close in others, and she made several huge moves at Tribal Councils: single-handedly flipping the game to get Alec out before Keith, working with others to get John out, and in the biggest move of the season, giving her immunity idol to Jacqui so they could get Baylor out. That was such a huge move, because it broke up the mother-daughter alliance, and I think she knew that if she could get Keith out after Baylor, then she would be left with Jacqui and Missy, and neither one of them had done enough to deserve the win. And that is exactly what happened. Natalie made the big, sometimes tough plays, and that's what you have to do to win Survivor. I admire Missy and Baylor for understanding that Natalie had to make that strategic move. I know they weren't happy about it, but they didn't hate her for it.

I know this is old news, but I didn't have a chance to blog about it until now. I am very happy with who won Dancing with the Stars as well. I was rooting for Alfonso and Whitney the whole season. They were so much fun to watch. Janel and Val was my second favorite team; I was disappointed that they ended up in fourth place. But they Top 4 teams were so strong this year, that I honestly would not have been that disappointed to see either Sadie or Bethany win as well. I am not a Duck Dynasty fan at all, but I think Sadie is a sweet girl and I am very impressed that she made it to runner up with absolutely no dance experience.

And going even further back, I was also happy with who won Big Brother this summer. Derek played a masterful game, right up there with some of the greats. I really wanted Donny to win, but I knew he wouldn't. I'm so glad he won fan favorite; I figured he would. Frankie was another favorite of mine early on, but he got too full of himself as the game went along. He was entertaining though, that's for sure. Derek definitely deserved the win. Overall this season was so much better than the previous summer; the contestants were so much more likeable - even Devin. Zach got on my nerves sometimes, but evidently many people liked him because he was in the running for fan favorite. I thought I would hate Caleb because of the pre-show press about him, but actually I liked him. I felt bad that he was blindsided so badly, and I also felt bad that Amber didn't have feelings for him. But in the end I am very happy that Derek won.

Now if Bethany and Adam win the Amazing Race tomorrow night, I will be four for four for the reality television year! I don't watch the Amazing Race every season like I do the other shows; I watched this season specifically because of Bethany. She rocks!! If only I could be as brave and strong and beautiful inside and out as she is. Fingers crossed for Team Surfers!

librarianintx

Fingernails

Actually, this post is about thumbnails. My two thumbnails. Odd subject for a blog post? Yes.

When you have a disability, compensation is a big part of your everyday life. My hands and neck are the weakest parts of my body, so without even noticing I accomplish certain tasks by compensating for my lack of hand strength. I use my thumbnails to put my necklace on, to do zippers, to open my case for my retainers, to punch pills out of a blister packet, etc. So now that both of my thumbnails have been torn off "at the quick" as my mom says, I don't have them available to me, and I'm not sure how long it will be before they grow back sufficiently to use again. A few weeks probably. I say "without even noticing" because until I started to put on my necklace in the morning and was having a lot of trouble fastening it, I suddenly realized, "Wow, I use my thumbnails to do this." I was able to get the necklace on, but it took longer than usual. Likewise with the zipper, retainer case, and pill packet.

Even though I have a disability, I am exceedingly fortunate that I can do just about everything for myself. I have trouble with opening bottles and jars, changing my bed, pushing a vacuum cleaner, taking heavy pans out of the oven, etc. But I can bathe, dress, feed myself. I can cook and wash dishes. I am pretty independent. I always, worry, however, what will happen if I can't use one of my arms. One is not strong or agile enough to do the work of both.

Several years ago one of my hands got caught in a CAT scan bed. I didn't break it, thank goodness, but it was badly bruised, and I didn't have the use of it for two or three days. So I found out quickly how more disabled I am when I only have the use of one hand. Suddenly I had great difficulty dressing, bathing, and making food for myself. Even going to the bathroom was difficult. I have a caregiver, but she only works for me nine hours per week. Friends and family said to me, "Just ask your caregiver to work more hours for a few days." But it doesn't work that way. Not the managed care that I have. She COULD work more hours for me, but she wouldn't get paid for it. I would have to hire someone else, or hire her, and pay out of my own pocket.

I made it through those few days. From what I remember, I ate mainly sandwiches that my caregiver prepared in advance, I wore pull-on sweatpants that made going to the bathroom easier, and I probably didn't wash my hair. I don't think I was able to work, if I was working at that time. I survived my bruised hand. I also survived being stung on my hands by a wasp a few years later. I am very fortunate that these incidences lasted only a day or two. My fear involves breaking an arm, hand, leg, or hip, which would result in weeks or maybe even months of increased dependence.

So I am grateful that I have only lost the use of my thumbnails, and this is a temporary situation that will resolve in a short period of time. I can still do the tasks that are usually accomplished with my thumbnails, I just have to take more time and have more patience. A tiny problem in comparison to what many people face on a daily basis.

If I had more resilience, though, I wouldn't have even thought to write a blog post about this.

librarianintx