What I've Learned from Watching Baseball

I've learned about teamwork

I've learned about working toward a common goal. 

But mostly I've learning about perseverance, about never giving up. 

It can be two outs, bottom of the ninth, the other team is leading - and you can still come back and win the game. 

Never give up. 

Always believe...

In your team

And in yourself

librarianintx

Turning the Day Around

Recently, I learned about the concept of turning the day around. 

It's simple. When you're having a bad day, don't automatically assume that the entire day will not go well. Believe that the day can improve, and do what you can to make it happen. 

Believing in this concept, and putting it into practice, can be a game changer. 

Many times I wake up not feeling well - physically, emotionally, or both. I dread the day, thinking that I will always feel the way I did when I woke up, and what a struggle I will have to endure. But then I keep telling myself, "You can always turn the day around." And often the day does improve. Or maybe it gets better for awhile and then takes another downturn. But at least there were some good moments. 

Turning the day around ties into gratitude as well. No matter how bad you perceive your day to be, you can always find at least one thing to be grateful for. Sometimes it takes some looking, but there is always something. 

librarianintx

Dancing with the Stars Halloween Nite 10/25/21

I'm trying to get back on track with recaps. 

So I'm starting with tonight's Halloween episode. 

I'm not a Halloween fan. It's probably my least favorite holiday. 

But I can say I was a big fan of this episode of Dancing with the Stars. 

Tonight for me there were two transformative performances. Both of them were contemporary dances. 

Dance #1: Iman & Daniella

This was me watching this dance:

OMG!

No way!

Holy crap!

Ahhhh!

WOW!

Unbelievable!

OMG!

No way!

Shut up!

What. Just. Happened.

Me standing and applauding.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT ON DANCING WITH THE STARS. 

Sorry for my shouting. But it was truly groundbreaking. 

I agree with Bruno. Daniella choreographed a masterpiece. We will remember that dance for a long time.

I did not see that coming. The originality. The musicality. The unbelievable lifts and tricks. It was truly a thrilling routine.

I'm shouting again: THAT NUMBER DEMANDED SO MUCH TRUST AND PARTNERING. And Iman rose to the challenge!! I am SO impressed!!

Derek knows me so well. I've already watched this dance five times. 

Thank you for the moment, Daniella and Iman. 

This is why I watch this show. 

Dance #2: Jimmie & Emma

When I saw this dance, it was the routine of the night for me. Then came Iman and Daniella. But Jimmie and Emma were amazing in their own right. Their dance was also a moment that will live on in Dancing with the Stars history. It was so emotional, so powerful. Was it perfect? No. But almost. I gave the dance a 10 because it was so special.  I loved the use of sign language. I loved the musicality even with the quiet music. The lifts were beautiful. It was a gorgeous  performance. I am so happy for Jimmie and Emma. Their connection is so strong. 

When it comes to the other dances, I would say that the ladies better watch out, because the guys are upping their game. Cody had a fire tonight that I was very happy to see. The Miz was fierce and had good attack. I'm not saying at all that the women did a bad job. Jojo and Amanda are still strong contenders. And don't count out my girl Olivia - she has fallen in love with dancing, and she is going to fight for every score and every vote. But Melora played it too safe tonight. And Suni's expressiveness was much better, but she still has work to do. I am very glad the judges saved her.

Overall, I absolutely loved this episode. Thank you for a great nite of dancing. 

librarianintx

Madonna

Yesterday I watched Madonna's new concert film "Madame X." 

I am not familiar with her newer music. 

What really impresses me about Madonna is how she is constantly evolving. 

Some artists make the same genre of music for decades. 

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that. 

Some people prefer to stay in their own lane. 

And they still make good music that people enjoy.  

But I like that Madonna is always changing and growing. She has learned how to play the guitar, and recently, the piano. She collaborates with many different singers and musicians. She has her finger on the pulse of what's hot at the moment, or she invents the newest craze. Remember when her "country glam" style shocked us? She rocked a cowboy hat before Lady Gaga (no shade at Gaga, she is one of my favorite humans).

My favorite parts of the concert were her Malawi and Portuguese-inspired numbers. Four of her children are from Malawi. She was living in Lisbon at the time the concert was filmed to support her son David's passion for soccer. She sang a Fado song during the show. Fado is a genre of music that originated in Lisbon in the early 19th century. As Madonna learns about various cultures and incorporates them into her music and her stage performances, she in turn educates as well as entertains her fans. I learned about Fado because I watched the Madonna concert. 

 librarianintx

 

 

Helen Keller

I am SO excited about the Helen Keller news recently.

Tomorrow night there is an episode of American Masters on PBS about Helen. I have heard the show will at least in part focus on her suffrage activities.

Then last week news broke about an upcoming biopic called "Helen & Teacher". This movie will NOT be a remake of "The Miracle Worker." It will cover the time when Helen was a student at Radcliff College, and Anne Sullivan was dating John Macy. The actress playing Helen, Millicent Simmonds, is deaf - hooray for representation!

Can you believe that a conspiracy theory is circulating on Tik Tok that Helen was not a real person, or if she was, she did not accomplish all that she did as a person who was deaf-blind. Get educated, young people. Watch American Masters. Google Helen Keller. Go to the library. Fix your ignorance. And while you're at it, learn about Haben Girma, the first deaf-blind woman to graduate from Harvard. And Rebecca Alexander - author, fitness instructor, psychotherapist, and extreme athlete who is losing her sight and hearing due to Usher Syndrome. They are two of many accomplished individuals who happen to be deaf-blind.

librarianintx

Week 3 - Britney Nite!

It's Britney Nite, bitch!

Even though the show didn't use Britney's actual music (sucks, but I understand the money involved), I still thoroughly enjoyed the episode. LOL for Tyra rocking the Britney looks (and Witney!).

Two transformative dances:

1) Olivia Jade & Val: She's been very good so far this season, but this dance was NEXT LEVEL! How did she only get 8's for this Tango? Tragic! This dance had everything - excitement, musicality, passion, chemistry, did I mention that she and Val were all kinds of HOT?!?! I loved every second of this routine and have watched it repeatedly. 

2) Melora & Artem - Okay, I understand that Melora's breakdown in the video before the dance made the routine look even better, but c'mon, she was great in this Cha Cha! She was on point, radiant, and had great hip action and leg extension. Artem's choreography was perfectly in sync with the music. 

Two continued standouts:

1) Amanda & Alan - Yes, Amanda CAN do Latin! Her musicality is off the chart, and I love how happy and seemingly carefree she is when she dances. 

2) JoJo & Jenna - A groundbreaking Argentine Tango, and these two ladies did not disappoint. I think it is fascinating that JoJo, the celebrity, takes the lead in these dances, and she succeeds! The lifts were great, and I was pleased to see nice body contact. 

Two dances that were not the best but I enjoyed the hell out of them:

1) Jimmie & Emma - Okay, it was a little too hip hop for a Salsa, but it worked for me. Very entertaining, and I thought the lifts were good (raspberry to Carrie Ann and Len). I loved his hot pink outfit too. Yay Bruno for giving this dance an 8!

2) The Miz & Witney - The Miz's hips could have been better in this Salsa, but likely only Len was looking at his hips - the rest of us were oggling his chest (close your mouth and find your chair, Bruno). The lifts were very exciting, his partnering skills were strong, and yeah...his chest again. 

When it comes to the bottom two, I agree with Len - I would have saved Christine & Pasha. But it's a tough season; everyone is good now that Martin has left (sorry Martin).

librarianintx

Capital Metro's Pickup Service

Yesterday I had an opportunity to try Pickup - Capital Metro's same day, on demand ride service. 

The Pickup service includes 12 zones I think in Austin and surrounding cities such as Leander, Manor and Pflugerville. You can only travel within a zone, not from one zone to another. It is app based, but they have a phone number too. The cost is $1.25 per ride, but this month all Capital Metro services are free. 

On Friday after work I scheduled my COVID booster appointment.  The Walgreens by my apartment didn't have any times available, so I went to the CVS at Parmer and Dessau.

I arrived at the CVS before 3:00; my appointment was at 4:15. I was so relieved that they were able to take me early. I had already filled out the paperwork online,  so getting the shot was a breeze. I waited less than five minutes.

So I was finished before 3:15 and my ride window to go home didn't start until 4:45. I did not want to have to hang around CVS for 90 minutes. I considered getting an Uber. But then I thought to myself,  I should try Pickup. It's free this month. But I didn't know if the CVS and my apartment were in the same zone.

I put the two addresses into the app, and score! They are in the same zone! I set up the ride, and 8 minutes later a converted Metro Access bus pulls up. It's a shared ride service, so we picked up one person, but then it was my turn.

Using Pickup was a very good experience. Now I know I could use it to go to HEB, or back to CVS. Having a same day transportation option is awesome. And it's cheaper than Uber. I just wish I could travel farther, like going to and from work, or a doctor appointment. The other downside is that for now Pickup is not available on the weekend. 

librarianintx 

Big Brother Finale - My Thoughts

Late as usual. 

But congratulations Xavier!!

Thank goodness you are the winner of Big Brother!

I definitely think Xavier is a worthy winner. I especially liked how humble he was, thanking the Cookout and the other houseguests, and saying that they all made history.

And then you have the opposite of humble, Big D, who for me was the biggest disappointment of the season. I laughed out loud when he tried to tell the jury that he carried X to the finale. Oh please. I was relieved that he didn't get a single vote, and he didn't win favorite houseguest either. 

As for Tiffany winning favorite houseguest - not a fan of that. I agree that she deserves recognition for coming up with the duos concept of the Cookout, which was a big reason for the ultimate success of the alliance. But she also nearly ruined the plan by getting greedy. I don't think she should be rewarded for that. I would have liked to see Azah or Hannah win favorite houseguest. 

I find it very interesting that everyone professed so much love for each other at the finale, yet five of them had such significant secrets about who they really are - X, Big D, Claire, Hannah, and Brittini. Such a fascinating game this is. Crazy, but I enjoy it.

librarianintx