Survivor Finale: My Thoughts

I can sum it up in one word: Meh.

After such a good season with so many great contestants - to have Maryanne, Romeo, and Mike as the final three - sigh. 

My dream final four would have been Johnathan, Drea, Hai, and Omar. Of those four, I think Omar should have won, although my preference would have been for either Drea or Johnathan to win. Omar was a surprisingly strategic player, although it's hard for me to root for someone who plays so deviously. I'm still a fan of Johnathan, although I did not like the way he spoke to the female contestants. If Jonathan had made to the final three, even with Maryanne and Romeo, I'm not sure he would have won. He pissed off too many people with his attitude as the season progressed. 

Usually, I root for underdogs, but in my opinion, none of the final three deserved to win. I found it laughable at the beginning of the final tribal council when everyone on the jury was apparently trying to convince the audience what an amazing final three this was. 

Still, I'm glad that Romeo and Mike each won important challenges, and I'm glad they both got what they wanted out of the game. I like Maryanne as a person; she is enthusiastic, authentic, and a Survivor superfan. But she didn't win any challenges, and she only made one big move in the game - getting out Omar. Was that move, and getting to the end with a idol in her pocket worthy of a million dollars? Or did she win because Mike choked on his sense of integrity, Romeo was a goat, and everyone underestimated her? 

Outplay? Nope

Outwit? Twice at most (Omar and Lindsay)

Outlast? Yes. And in the end, that's all you need to win. 

librarianintx

Matthew Morrison Fired From "So You Think You Can Dance" - My Thoughts

 Matthew Morrison was fired from "So You Think You Can Dance" a few days ago. This was his first season as a judge on the FOX dance competition series. 

Matthew's first comment was that he was let go for not following "competition production protocols."

Then an article came out that he was fired for "sending flirty text messages" to a contestant. 

On Thursday of last week, this article appeared on yahoo!: Matthew Morrison Shared The Only Message He Sent A Dancer, Which Reportedly Got Him Fired From “So You Think You Can Dance” (yahoo.com)

In this article, Matthew claims he only sent one text message, which read "Hey! It's Matthew. If you don't mind, would love to get your number and talk you through some things."

So if Matthew is to be believed, that text message isn't flirty. For the sake of his wife and children, I hope he is telling the truth, and this is another case of the media sensationalizing what actually transpired. Matthew insists he sent the text because he was trying to get the contestant a job as a choreographer. 

But the bottom line is, Matthew deserves to be fired. Even if that is the only message he sent, and it was not in any way sexual, he was still showing favoritism toward a contestant, which is unacceptable for a judge. 

So while he may not be sleezy, he is woefully clueless. In sharing that text, he might clear his name as a potential adulterer, but proves the show's case that he violated the rules and his termination was justified. 

librarianintx

A Misleading Article About the Royal Family

Obviously, there are lot of articles and news stories about the Royal Family this weekend. The Queen is celebrating her Platinum Jubilee - Seventy years on the throne! What an amazing accomplishment! 

The rift between her grandsons, William and Harry, has been discussed and written about endlessly. We know from their own mouths that there is indeed a rift, but there is only speculation about how bad it is, or if there has been any improvement in their relationship. 

This morning I read this article on yahoo!: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Hold First Birthday Party for Lilibet. No Senior Royals Went. (yahoo.com)

The headline is misleading and designed to elicit sympathy for Harry and Meghan. Aren't the senior royals horrible people for refusing to attend a child's first birthday party? 

What the article doesn't explain is that the senior royals - William & Kate, Charles & Camilla, and Anne, all had previous engagements yesterday. They were representing the Queen at Platinum Jubilee events in various places. They didn't refuse to go to the party. This wasn't an insult to Harry, Meghan, or Lillibet. They had somewhere else to be. Yes, a child's birthday party is important. But a sovereign's Platinum Jubilee obviously takes precedence. I would hope Harry and Meghan would understand that. The Queen was planning to attend the birthday party, but word has it that she did not. Again, this was not an insult. She has not been well enough to attend most of the Jubilee events. I assume she was saving her strength to hopefully make an appearance on the last day of the celebration. 

The article goes on to speculate about why Harry & Meghan did not attend the Party at the Palace concert and other events, and why they were seated so far from William & Kate at the National Service of Thanksgiving. It also mentioned once again that the Sussexes were not on the balcony at the Trooping the Colour. The language and tone of the article was so inflammatory. Poor Meghan and Harry that they were barred from the balcony and William and Kate didn't even look at them at the service, blah blah blah. It was Meghan and Harry's decision to step down as senior royals. They can't expect to live in America and not perform royal duties and then go back to England and have the privileges and visibility that being a working royal affords. 

I hope that William and Harry can repair their relationship. I don't dislike Harry and Meghan. I think it could be possible for them to split their time between the two countries and resume their royal duties at least part time. I also believe that Meghan has experienced discrimination, racism, and emotional distress within the Royal Family and the Firm, and I think that is inexcusable. The Royal Family should have learned their lesson after what happened to Princess Diana. Considering their wealth, status, and privilege, one would think they could all work harder to treat each other better, for the Queen, the Commonwealth, and their own health, happiness, peace, and purpose. 

librarianintx

Survivor Finale: Who Should Win? Who Will Win?

Who will win?

I do not know.

Too many variables.

Who should win?

Omar.

He was playing the best strategic game.

But he's on the jury now.

So let's break down the strengths and weaknesses of each player.

Maryanne:

She made arguably the biggest move of the game, blindsiding Omar.

And she is very good at puzzles.

But otherwise, her resume is not impressive. 

No challenge wins.

She is iffy on the social game scale.

Some jurors probably like her.

Some are likely annoyed by her.

But she is a super fan.

And she is motivated and determined. 

Romeo

He gets my vote - for least likely to win.

No challenge wins.

Poor social game.

Often on the wrong side of the vote.

Since the merge he has been paranoid, hungry, and listless.

His only claim to fame was agreeing to Maryanne's idea to vote out Omar.

Mike

If Mike can win some of the challenges in the finale, he has a shot.

Because of the final five he has played the best social game.

He has made alliances.

Unfortunately, he also allowed himself to be completely manipulated by Omar, which might not sit well with the jury.

Lindsay

Lindsay is very good at challenges.

But how popular is she with the jury?

Her gender might put her in a more favorable position to win, because...

Jonathan 

His strength, is, literally, his strength.

He earned the nickname Goliath.

His team won several challenges due to his brute strength.

He was also the food provider this season. 

Since the merge, Jonathan has continued to win challenges.

But he also often been hangry, petulant, and self-important. He especially has not worked well with the female contestants. He has a "My way or the highway" attitude and often talks down to them.

He's also not good at puzzles.

So who's going to win?

Your guess is as good as mine.

librarianintx 

When a Television Show Ends

I watch a lot of TV. Dramas and documentaries mostly. A few comedies and reality shows. True crime. Some science fiction.

I am picky about my reality TV. No Kardashians. No Bachelor / Bachelorette. No Paradise Island.

Family, medical, and firefighter shows are my jams when it comes to dramas. When I fall in love with a cast of characters, I fall hard. My So Called Life. Thirtysomething. ER. If we want to go way back: Little House on the Prairie. The Waltons. Eight is Enough. I used to watch soap operas too. Daytime and Nighttime.

So when a show that I love ends - it's tough. I struggle. I get emotionally invested in the characters and the storylines. I feel like I know these people. I care about them. I learn from them. I look forward to seeing them every week. I celebrate their joys and commisserate with their sorrows. They become a part of my world.

This is Us is ending next week. I am already in mourning. I'm not ready to let them go. I love the Pearson family. I have seen every episode. The story has come full circle. I have witnessed their failures and triumphs. I have watched them grow up, have children, grow old, and pass away. I have been through lifetimes with them in the span of six seasons. 

But I want more.

Not every series finale has been wonderful and satisfying (I'm looking at you, Shameless) But I think This Is Us will be. The penultimate episode was a masterclass of acting and storytelling. I will be sad, but the experience will have been worth my time, my attention, my emotions.

Thank you Pearson family. And all the families and medical staff and starship crews and other casts that have come before you. And will come after you.

librarianintx 

Survivor Final 6: My Thoughts (spoilers)

Oh what an episode!

Oh what a season!

People may think Survivor is repetitive and formulaic, but the contestants have the power to keep the show fresh and exciting, and this group is doing exactly that.

With the exception of Romeo, I think everyone deserves to still be in it, although Hai, Drea, and Roxroy deserve to be there too in my opinion. It's rare for me to like so many of the players in a season.

Lindsay is not one of my favorites, but I have mad respect for her competitive drive and ability to win challenges. I cheered when she picked the right box on Do or Die, even as my heart sank, knowing that meant Drea, my favorite from the beginning, was headed to jury. Oh Survivor, what you do to me!

It's an interesting season, because in my opinion two people deserve to win from an athletic point of view: Lindsay, and Jonathan, otherwise known as Goliath. Survivor has had some strong, physical players previously, but Jonathan has brought new meaning to the term prowess. It is glorious watching him perform these challenges. Although we have to remember that his strength alone does not win every challenge. And apparently, if the footage is true, Jonathan is not a strong social player. He talks down to the female contestants and acts high and mighty sometimes. 

So who at this stage is the most worthy of the title Sole Survivor of Season 42? In my opinion, that is Omar. Omar is running the game, and apparently none of the contestants see it. Mike thinks that he orchestrated Hai's ouster, but no, bro, that was Omar. Omar got Drea out by protecting Mike's idol so Drea couldn't take it. People trust Omar. They tell him things. They see him as an ally, not as a threat. And he uses all of that to his advantage. 

Omar reminds me of John Cochran, who only won one challenge in his second season, but played a brilliant social and strategic game, taking two people to the finale with him who had no shot at winning. He is one of my favorite players, but I don't want a similar situation this season. I hope the final four are Omar, Jonathan, Mike, and Lindsay. 

Who will win?

Too soon to tell.

There's a lot of game left.

Hang on for the ride Survivor fans!

librarianintx 

Looking on the Positive Side

Between waiting and riding, my travel time to and from work added up to about three and a half hours today.

Yeah, that's a lot.

And I can't say I enjoyed it.

It's annoying.

My commute would be about thirty minutes each way if I wasn't using paratransit. 

But I need paratransit. 

I have to be appreciative of the service. 

I choose to be grateful. 

So I look at the positives.

I made it to and from work safely. 

I wasn't late to work.

I rode in a van both times, which is more comfortable than the bus.

Also my legs have not been hurting as much, which added to my comfort.

I solved the wordle on the way to work.

I read a book while I waited for my ride home.

I looked at all kinds of houses.

I saw pretty flowers.

And I didn't have to pee badly on either trip. That's always a bonus!

Look for the positives.

It's good for your health.

librarianintx 

April 2022 Recap

My April was fantastic, definitely the best month I've had since the pandemic began. 

I had the opportunity to do rare things that not many people get to experience: I visited the Elephant Preserve in Fredericksburg, and did Goat Yoga at the Hill Country Galleria. Well, let me clarify: I petted goats at Goat Yoga. I didn't do any yoga. :) I also ate homemade peach ice cream at a place in Stonewall after hanging with the elephants, and we had lunch after Goat Yoga, where I consumed bison chili for the first time.

I also spent time with friends at the apartment, watching the Grammys, Drag Race Season 14, and Drag Race Espana Season 2. It has been so wonderful making memories with friends again. Because of watching the Grammys, I have been listening to newer music, enjoying albums from Jon Batiste, Duo Lipa, Silk Sonic, and Chris Stapleton. 

Speaking of making memories, I also was able to spend Passover and Easter with the family. We had a Seder on Saturday night, where I helped Isaac find the Afikomen. Then on Sunday Isaac hunted for Easter eggs and played with his new bubble mower. Unlike the Hill Country, Fulshear was awash in beautiful Spring wildflowers. 

In April I made two new dishes in the Instant Pot: creamy tomato pasta with turkey, peas, and mushrooms, and chicken alfredo pasta with peas and mushrooms. I also made IP pinto beans, and chocolate muffins in the oven.

I read two books in April: This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel, and the History of Kensington Palace by Tom Quinn.

Finally,  I got my second COVID booster on the last day of the month. I'm venturing out a bit, but not ready for concerts, in person conferences, or busy restaurants. 

librarianintx 

Celebrities and Depression

I think many of us have the belief that if you are rich and famous then you must be happy. So many people aspire to and work toward that ideal of being a celebrity with more money than you can imagine. Look at all the reality shows we have these days - so many people desire to be a household name.

But the suicides of celebrities in the past few years - Robin Williams,  Kate Spade, Anthony Bourdain, and most recently,  apparently,  Naomi Judd, tell a different story. The average person might think being famous is awesome, but notoriety comes with a lot of baggage. And famous people can suffer with mental health issues like depression and anxiety, and addiction, just like anyone else. Recently Kim Bassinger spoke about dealing with panic attacks, and Ireland Baldwin said she suffers from debilitating health anxiety.

Celebrities are human. Their lives aren't perfect. Often being in the public eye can cause or exacerbate mental health conditions. It doesn't help that the media and the public loves to build someone up and then tear them down at the slightest provocation.

One would think that Naomi Judd had it all. Yes, she suffered from depression, she wrote about it. But she was about to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She and her daughter Wynonna were going on tour. Exciting things were happening for her. But apparently it was too much for her.

We want our celebrities to be happy, living the lives that dreams are made of. But unfortunately sometimes the opposite is true.

librarianintx 

RuPauls Drag Race Season Finale: My Thoughts

I am often late in posting my thoughts about season finales. Well, at least I can't be accused of spoiling the results.

I thoroughly enjoyed the finale. The Top 5 queens looked beautiful and I thought their individual lip syncs were great. Angeria was wearing my favorite color scheme - black and hot pink. Daya looked sensational in lavender. Nobody phoned in their performances. Everyone was working for the crown.

I am very glad only the Top two queens battled for the win, and Camden and Willow were the right Top two. I thought the final lip sync was epic!! Yes, Camden recycled her fall, but I still thought it was exciting. I LOVED Willow's wig and her purple and black outfit. That final move on the runway - with Willow doing a rollover and Camden a sliding split - amazing!

The right queen won, but I would not have been disappointed to see Camden snatch the Crown.

My only WTF moment of the episode - Kornbread winning Miss Congeniality. Huh? Not a fan of that. First of all, she was only on for three episodes. And second of all, Miss Congeniality? Really? I would say Camden, Deja, or Willow deserved it more.

All hail Queen Willow Pill!

librarianintx 

The Grammys and CBS

I've noticed that some of the Grammy performances have been taken down from YouTube. 

Why?

Did the artists request that, or was that a decision by CBS? 

Why have only certain ones been removed?

Will they be allowed at some point in the future? There are plenty of past Grammy performances on YouTube.

I adore Jon Batiste's and Lady Gaga's performances from the show. I have watched them several times and would view them again. But they have been pulled.

I don't understand. 

It's art.

It's music.

It's entertainment. 

Let everyone enjoy it.

librarianintx 

RuPaul's Drag Race: Who Will Make the Top 4?

We are down to just five queens: Willow Pill, Lady Camden, Daya Betty, Angeria, and Bosco (autocorrect is having a field day with these names).

Who should make the finale?

Who will make the finale?

Who do I want to make the finale?

And who do I want to win?

I think they all deserve to make it.

They are all talented and have done well this season.

I would like to see Willow Pill, Lady Camden, Angeria, and Bosco in the finale. But I think there's a good chance that Daya will edge out Bosco. Bosco has been in the bottom too many times.

Angeria has been my favorite this season. But after a strong start, she has just been mostly safe. So she won't win, and I understand that. I hope she makes it to the finale.

I think Willow Pill will win, and deserves to win. She has never been in the bottom. Lady Camden is also a contender, but I think Willow will snatch the Crown. And I am good with that. I have much respect for both of them.

librarianintx 

The Grammys

For the last few years I have been out of touch with current music. I wasn't listening to the radio. I felt disconnected. I wasn't watching music award shows much - Billboard, American Music, or the Grammys. And when I did watch, I just didn't like most of what I was hearing. I don't want to name names. I simply decided to stick with the music I already liked, mostly from the 80's and 90's, and gave up on most of what was new and popular.

With award shows, if I don't watch when they air, I will drag my feet on watching them. I'm not sure I finished the Grammys telecast from last year, or the American Music Awards.

But last Sunday I watched the Grammys, and really enjoyed the show. I remember watching the Grammys in years past and thoroughly enjoying some of the performances. This year, I took it a step further. I visited Spotify, and put albums in my library from Jon Batiste, Silk Sonic, Chris Stapleton, Duo Lipa, and Olivia Rodrigo - all winners at the show on Sunday. 

I have always been more of a fan of singles as opposed to albums. When I like an artist, I tend to listen to their singles more than an entire album. For example, I was absolutely obsessed for a time with the Ed Sheeran song "Shape of You". I listened to it constantly. But I never listened to his album. Just the single.

So it was an exceedingly rare event that I listed to THREE FULL ALBUMS yesterday - "We Are" by Jon Batiste, "Starting Over," by Chris Stapleton, and "An Evening with Silk Sonic." And I liked all three! I was most surprised that I liked Chris Stapleton, because I'm not usually a fan of country music. But that album is more blues / rock / country, which I do like.

I was ahead of the game with one artist that performed at the Grammys - I listened to Lil Nas X's album Montero when it first dropped. I don't listen to much rap, but I like his voice, and applaud his trailblazing spirit and the representation he brings to the music industry as a gay, black artist. Also, I haven't listened to Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett's collaborations, but I absolutely love and adore Gaga - as a singer, actress, humanitarian, human being. I'm dating myself to say this outdated phrase, but "she could sing the phone book, and I would enjoy it."

librarianintx 

The Oscars 2022

Oh what a night at The Academy Awards!

Jubilation

Celebration 

Fashion

And the slap witnessed on live television. 

Let's get to the shallow stuff first. What we always discuss at the Oscar's - the fashion! The women in red dominated my favorites list - Ariana DuBose, Kirsten Dunst, and Rosie Perez. Megan Thee Stallion was stunning both on the red carpet and in her musical number from Encanto, first in blue and then in yellow. Jada Pinket Smith wore a very dramatic emerald green gown, and even though orange is my least favorite color,  Aunjanue Ellis' dress was stunning. On the flip side, Kristen Stewart, H.E.R, and Billie Ellish were easily my least favorite looks this year.

Usually I don't discuss what the men were wearing, but there were some bold fashion choices among the males this year, including Simu Liu, David Oyelowo, and Wesley Snipes. Encanto singer Sabastian Yatra was a man after my own heart, rocking a light pink suit on the red carpet, and a dark suit embellished with butterflies during his performance. Was I on the Timothee Chalamet train, applauding his lack of shirt on the red carpet and at the ceremony? No, but he can wear that when he's hanging out with me.

Now let's get to the awards:

Hooray for CODA!!

The little streaming movie that could won Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Motion Picture. And Troy Kotsur became the first Deaf male to win an Oscar - in this case, Best Supporting Actor. 

Dune was the big winner of the night, taking home awards in six technical categories.

Jessica Chastain won Best Actress for portraying Tammy Faye Bakker Messner. I loved her acceptance speech and grew to like her brown and lavender dress.

I was also very pleased to see Kenneth Branagh win Best Original Screenplay for his autobiographical film Belfast.

The surprise of the night was that Power of the Dog, which was nominated in twelve categories, only took home one award, Best Director for Jane Campion.

And now on to what everyone is talking about - Will Smith, Chris Rock, and the slap seen around the world. Here's my hopefully brief take, for what it's worth: There was wrong on both sides. Chris Rock should not have made a joke about Jada's medical condition. Will absolutely should not have hit him. It was a terrible thing to witness. I don't know Will Smith, but I read his book recently, and he came across as a good, honest, hardworking person. Perfect? No. But a decent human being. And not prone to violence. In the heat of the moment, he made a really bad decision. I would hate to see his reputation tarnished over one very public outburst. 

He apologized to the Academy and to his fellow nominees when he accepted the Best Actor Award. Tonight he released a statement where he apologized to Chris Rock, and the rest of the world. Maybe his lawyers made him do it. But it came across as sincere and heartfelt to me. He understands that he is a role model to many. He also acknowledged that violence is never the answer. But I believe him when he said, "Love can make you do crazy things." 

So, back to the good of the Oscars: CODA! As Troy said in his acceptance speech, "This is dedicated to the Deaf community,  to the CODA community,  to the disability community. THIS IS OUR MOMENT." CODA winning doesn't erase the sting of Crip Camp losing to an octopus last year for the best documentary award. But at least we had reason to celebrate this year.

librarianintx 

Everything Happens for a Reason

Yesterday I knocked over a glass of milk that was on my bedside table.

Didn't make me happy of course.

But I didn't have a meltdown. 

I didn't cry over spilled milk.

Not this time anyway.

I took it as a sign.

A sign that I needed to clean my bedside table.

So as I mopped up the spilled milk, I also put away (and wiped off) the jewelry and pens that were cluttering the table. I threw away the half-used tissues and the empty pill bottles (after I called to refill the prescriptions). 

I made sure the milk remnants were gone and the table wasn't sticky. I wiped under the base of the cordless telephone (yes, I still have a landline) and my travel alarm clock that is a back-up to my cell phone alarm.

I wish I had not spilled the milk. In addition to wasting food, it was irritating to have to clean it up. But when would I have taken the time to clean up the table if I had not knocked over the glass?

Everything happens for a reason. 

librarianintx 

inside Jokes

I LOVE inside jokes!!

It's not about shutting other people out. 

Not at all.

It's just about stories I can laugh about with friends. 

Recently I was two friends.

We were talking about a famous musician, who shall remain unnamed.

As we were talking, I walked into another room, and said. "What an asshole."

I was referring to said musician. 

But one of my friends thought I was talking about him!

"OMG, what did I say or do? I'm so sorry," he called out, concern in his voice.

When we figured out what happened, we all fell out laughing.

For the rest of the evening, we would call each other assholes and laugh ourselves silly.

That is how an inside joke begins.

librarianintx 

Shoes

I was a small kid, and now I'm a small adult.

I'm about 4' 10", and very underweight.

I can wear women's shirts, jackets, and dresses if they come in extra small and/or petite sizes. But mostly I'm relegated to the children's sections. I wear boys jeans and pants. I don't even do well with junior clothes. That's how small I am.

The upside to wearing kids clothes: the price.

The downside: I'm a middle aged woman shopping in sections where the clothes have Disney or cartoon characters on them, the colors are often unnaturally bright, and the dresses have sparkles or ruffles.

And don't get me started on underwear or nightshirts. Lingerie? Please. There's a reason sexy bed wear doesn't come in my size.

Shoes are also a big problem. I wear a size 2 - 2 and 1/2 in a children's shoe, which translates to a size 4 in an adult shoe. Do you know how many shoes are available in a size 4? Not. Very. Many. I also have a very narrow foot, and I can't wear high heels. But you say, "Well, girls shoes don't have heels anyway. They are shoes for young girls." Think again, my friend.

I know, it's a conundrum. 

Lingerie in my size? Nope

High heels? Yup.

About 30 years ago Petite Sophisticate closed their stores. I was devastated. That was a store that carried clothes for tiny females like me. I was in school at the time, but I spent several hundred dollars to stock up on dress shirts, dress pants, sweater sets, jackets, and even two dress suits. I still have some of those clothes.

About 20 years ago I discovered SAS shoes. Their orthotic shoes are not trendy or sexy, but they fit me very well, they are comfortable, and they last forever, which is good,  because they can be Hella expensive. I've also had good luck at Payless finding dressy girls shoes that look like women's shoes, minus the high heels.

But back to SAS. I had been seeing posts on Facebook that the SAS store in San Antonio was closing. They were offering shoes at sensational prices - $180 shoes for $17! Yes please! I was stressed that they were (apparently) closing and worried about the possibility of future naked feet. So even though my three pair of SAS shoes were in good condition, I followed the link and purchased three more pair. THREE pairs of SAS shoes for $77?!?!? Unbelievable!

You know where I'm going.

I checked my email after completing the purchase, and saw that the seller had a Chinese name.

I've been scammed.

Good news: The SAS store is not closing.

Bad news: My feet are still small. So is the rest of me.

But good news: I've managed over the years to cultivate a wardrobe and shoe collection that I'm happy with.

Having an expert shopper for a mother has helped.

librarianintx 

My Grandmother's House

Riding through a neighborhood in Central Austin, I saw houses that reminded me of my grandmother's house, and a cascade of memories washed over me.

Nanny died almost twenty years ago, four days after my birthday. 

I remember so much about her house.

The big tree in the front yard.

The steps where my sister and I posed in matching  spring dresses.

The car wash next door.

The rear steps with no railing that led to her backyard, where she hung her laundry on a line and we picked figs from a neighbor's tree.

Nanny's small green rocking chair that graced her living room now sits in my old room at my mother's house, and the chaise lounge from her bedroom now resides in my sister's old room.

I remember the little green stepstool I used to reach the sink in the kitchen and bathroom, and the Dr Seuss books she kept in the cabinet for me. When she died, I looked for them, but they were gone. I hope she gave them to a little soul who enjoyed them as much as I did.

I remember Friday night dinners with the aunts, uncles, and cousins - chicken soup, roasted chicken, gribenes (fried chicken fat with chopped egg and green onion, yes, we actually ate it and loved it!) and sand tart cookies. She was even invited on a local news program to make her famous sand tarts.

One of the most memorable things about Nanny's house was her porch swing. We all loved that swing. We knew Nanny was in decline because when we told her the swing had been stolen, she just shrugged and didn't say anything.

Houses are things.

Books, steps tools, rocking chairs and porch swings are things.

But they all hold memories.

Reminders that live within us, and become part of the stories we impart to future generations, long after the loved ones, and these objects, have moved on.

librarianintx 

Update: Mom let me know that Nanny was on TV making her mondel bread cookies, not her sand tarts. She called them her "pregnant cookies".

Award Shows

For a long time I didn't watch movies.

I was more into television and books.

I didn't enjoy going to the movie theater.

The moving images on the big screen would make me dizzy.

But I would still watch the award shows.

The Golden Globes

The Screen Actors Guild

The Oscar's

Even though I had not seen the movies, I wanted to know who won.

And I enjoyed seeing what everyone was wearing. 

I still had favorite actors and actresses, but if I had not seen the movies, I didn't know who to root for.

I have learned that watching award shows is more fun when you have seen the nominated movies.

Last weekend I watched the SAG's. I had seen a few of the movies: Power of the Dog, Nightmare Alley, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, and King Richard. I had not seen CODA or House of Gucci yet, but I knew enough about them to want them to win.

So I was thrilled when CODA won best movie, and Will Smith took home the prize for best male actor. Although I had not seen her performance, I was hoping Lady Gaga would win best actress for House of Gucci, but I was happy for Jessica Chastain, and I think she was definitely worthy of the win.

For the most part I loved the fashion. There were many beautiful dresses. My top five, in no particular order, were Jennifer Hudson and Helen Mirror in pale pink, Kerry Washington in yellow, Saniyya Sydney in blue, and Ariana DuBose in hot pink. Although Lady Gaga did not make my top five, she looked stunning, and I loved the old Hollywood glamour she brought to the SAG's, dripping in jewels with her platinum blond hair in long waves and her form-fitting white and gold floor-length gown. 

On the flip side, my least favorite looks were Hailee Steinfield, in a black bra dress with a strand of hair plastered to her forehead, and Emilia Jones, wearing a gray chain-mail type dress over a black bra and a pair of high-waisted briefs. No shade. Just keeping it real.

librarianintx 

Notes from Webinar About Brain Health

 I just watched a highly informative webinar about brain health. 

Here are my notes:

  Brain Health

February 15, 2022

 

BEDDSSS

           Brain training

           Exercise

           Diet

           Dental hygiene

           Stress management

           Sleep

           Supplements

 Brain training

           If you don’t lose it you will lose it

           You can learn new things

           Brain is like a muscle

           Brain needs to be challenged and stimulated

                      Brain games – Brain HQ or Luminosity

                      Dance

                      Learn a new language

                      Learn an instrument

                      Politics

                      Use your opposite hand for tasks

 Exercise

           Second most important thing we can do for our brains

                      Cardio

                      Weight training

                      HIIT

                      Skills based (brain training)

           Do what you enjoy and what you will stick with

           Do it consistently every day

           Exercise snacking – little bits throughout the day

                      Take exercise breaks throughout the day

                      Get up and move

 Diet – number one for brain health

           Sugar is #1 contributor to cognitive decline

           Alzheimer’s disease = diabetes type III

           Sugar is hidden in many foods

           Start to read labels and know different names for sugar

           Low fat = high sugar

           What is one way you can start to reduce the sugar you consume?

                      Baby steps

                      Sugar can be very addictive

  Dental hygiene

           Direct link from mouth to brain

                      Inflammation

                      Mercury fillings

           Gingivalis can lead to

                      Alzheimer’s

                      Parkinson’s

                      Pancreatic cancer

                      Kidney disease

                      Heart disease

                      Stroke

           What can you do

                      Floss

                      Brush at least twice a day – wait at least 30 mintues

                      Get regular cleanings

                      Reduce sugar intake

 Stress management

           Increased cortisol can lead to decreased memory

           Stress promotes inflammation

           Important to find every day to relax

           If you don’t make time for wellness, you must make time for illness

           What can you do

                      Meditate

                      Go for a walk

                      Get creative (crafts, scrapbook, paint, draw, dance)

                      Get a good night’s sleep

                      Ask for help

                      Breathing exercises to reduce stress

Sleep

           Where the magic happens

           How do you feel when you are sleep deprived, and how does it affect your actions

           Sleep affects your hormones and your brain

           Many factors affect sleep

           How to get a good night’s sleep

                      Get into a routine

                      Reduce screen time before bed

                      Meditate, exercise or read before bed

                      Get exposure to outdoor light during the day

                      Don’t eat three hours before bed

                      Get a sleep study done if strategies aren’t working

           Try and adjust one thing at a time

 Supplements

           Numerous ones on the market

           How to know what to choose?

           Get your levels checked

           Supplement based on your personalized levels

           Make sure you are purchasing from quality vendors

           Do your own research – look for peer reviewed, quality studies

Steps to take now

           Find a new activity to challenge your brain

           Perform exercise snacking during the day

           Look at one way to reduce your sugar consumption

           Pick one way to improve your dental health

           Find at least five minutes per day to de-stress

           Implement one tactic to improve your sleep

           Get your blood work done

 Q&A

Examples of skills-based training

           Tai chi

           Martial arts

           Coordination of body and brain

 How to find the time

           Wake up five minutes earlier

           Take just a few minutes to meditate or exercise

 Look for healthier recipes

What about prevagen?

           No good studies that it’s beneficial for cognitive function

What about turmeric?

           It’s excellent

           Best way to use the spice in food but you can also take a supplement

Can the symptoms of Alzheimer’s be reversed?

           Best thing is to prevent it

           But could be reversed in early stages

 What about Omega 3?

           Need to balance omega 3 and omega 6

           We don’t get enough omega 3 and we get too much omega 6

           Omega 3 are good for brain health

Concern with hereditary Alzheimer’s

           Having a family history doesn’t mean you will develop it

           Implementing these strategies can help even if you have a family history

Contact:      

lindsey@mdbrainhealth.com

www.MDBrainHealth.com

https://knowledgeableaging.com

librarianintx