Week Four of Sugar Journal

Partly because of a chronic health condition, and partly due simply to no willpower, it was a rather tough week sugar-wise.

I have an inner ear imbalance, which can cause dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. When I'm nauseated it is very difficult for me to drink water. Since I likely live on the edge of dehydration on a daily basis, I knew I needed to liquids in me. So I drank Gatorade five of the seven days this week, and I had apple juice one day. I'm not sure how many ounces of Gatorade I drank each day, because I wasn't using a measured cup. Hopefully it was around 8 ounces each day. The apple juice was a 10 ounce bottle, because the grocery store was out of 8 ounce bottles. I'm trying to be healthy, but I'm also not going to waste 2 ounces of apple juice.

Saturday was my worst sugar day. In addition to the Gatorade, I also had two graham crackers (8 grams of sugar). But the big no-no was a small chocolate shake from Sonic - with whipped cream. Yup, I went there. I didn't eat all of the whipped cream, but still. I just had no willpower. I wanted it, so I had it. Simple as that.

I'm still ingesting far less sugar than I used to, so I have to be pleased with myself for that. But am I doing enough to be healthy? Is cheating occasionally okay, or am I cutting down enough to make it worthwhile to be doing this? I'm already at increased risk for breast cancer due to other factors, so is cutting back on sugar really going to help me in the long run? I don't know. The breast specialist told me that decreasing my sugar intake is good for me in general, although she didn't put stock into the sugar/breast cancer link. She was more concerned about the link between obesity and breast cancer, which is not something I have to worry about at this time. I also don't have a family history. But lots of women develop breast cancer without having a family history.

I guess I'll just keep plugging away, and doing the best I can. Every little bit helps is the philosophy I've decided to adopt. Try to cut down, but don't beat myself up when I cheat. And drink liquids with sugar in them if I have to. At least I'm not drinking sodas.

librarianintx

Dancing with the Stars Vegas Nite Part 2

Nancy & Artem
Samba - Ricky Martin's "Shake Your Bon Bon"
Okay, yes, it could have been down and dirtier, but she definitely shook her bon bon! I love Nancy and Artem together. I'm sure she was nervous, but she had that Nancy Kerrigan smile on her face. She looked very sexy in that Samba dress, and she had some great moves. I liked how she kept moving her hand over her hair and down the side of her face; that was a seductive gesture. It was a bit clean and precise for a Samba, but I thoroughly enjoyed it (even with the extra dancers.) Artem was elated - both with Nancy's performance, and the encounter with Ricky!
Bruno: "saucy! a proper Samba!"
Carrie Ann: "You had the bounce!"
Len: "best dance this season" (!!)
Julianne: "one of the best Sambas I've seen on this show" (!!)
Fantastic reviews; better than I expected!
Scores: 8, 9, 8, 8
My score: 8 (almost a 9!)

David & Lindsay
Jazz - from "Magic Mike the Musical"
It was a weird balance of sexy and comedy, but I was entertained. Lindsay looked KILLER in her black jumpsuit. David had some hot moves, but the red boxers reveal killed the sexy for me and sent the routine more in a comedy direction. But there was definite improvement from the hot mess of last week, and I was impressed with the lift. So it was a bit schizophrenic for me, but overall I liked it. I could tell that David did his homework when he visited the musical.
Carrie Ann: "super Dave!"
Len: "fun and entertaining:
Julianne: "major props"
Scores: 8, 7, 8, 8
My score: 7

Erika & Gleb
Jive
It was NOT fair that extra dancers did TWO lifts with Erika. This is NOT the freestyle round of the finale! Anyway, she looked good, but the Jive is not her dance. She didn't have the bounce, the rhythm, or the balance needed for this dance. But she at least attempted the kicks and flicks, and she did her best to sell the routine. I have to give her credit for trying. And I appreciate her humbleness this week.
Len: "gave it your all"
Julianne: "content for days"
Bruno: "bendy and stretchy"
Carrie Ann: "out of sync"
Scores: 6, 7, 7, 6
My score: 6

Rashad & Emma
Samba
YASSS!
Hip action for days!
Samba rolls, which are so tough to do!
Great bounce!
Musicality!
Off the charts sex appeal and chemistry! They looked like the stars of an R&B music video.
I wish Rashad had been shirtless like he was in rehearsal, but I realize I can't have everything.
In summary: SMOKIN'!!
Unfortunately, the judges disagreed with me.
Julianne: "the song worked against you"
Bruno: "natural ability but not as clean or precise"
Len liked the mood and setting.
Scores: 7, 7, 7, 7
My score: 8
When I watched it a second time, I can understand what the judges are saying. I think Rashad and Emma were a bit out of sync. But it still worked for me. I stand by my score.

Normani & Val
Foxtrot - "Big Spender"
She was 10,000 kinds of hot in that red dress, and OMG, what a Foxtrot! Fast, sharp, precise, classy, sexy, musicality out the yin yang...this routine gets a YASSS from me as well! I wasn't thrilled with the table part at the end though; I thought it threw off their rhythm just a bit and it didn't give Normani the big finish that she deserved in this dance. Val leaped off the table, but she just laid down on it. If she had jumped into his arms, that would have been way better. So the end was a disappointment, but the rest of the performance was first rate!
Bruno: "big splendor! Fabulous - best of the night!"
Len: "full of joy"
Julianne: "Broadway" (that was a compliment)
But Carrie Ann was the lift police (booooo!!)
Scores: 8, 8, 9, 9
My score: 9 (It might have been a 10 if the end had been more exciting)

Charo & Keo and Nick & Peta were the bottom two couples.
Charo & Keo were eliminated.
Poor Keo! Please, DWTS, next time give him a celebrity that can dance and won't cause a scene nearly every week! 

Once again, I LOVED Vegas week!
Let's do this theme again next season, dance fans! Fingers crossed!

End of part 2

librarianintx

Dancing with the Stars Vegas Nite Part 1

First of all let me say that I absolutely LOVED Vegas Nite, and I hope it becomes a staple of every season. The music and routines were fantastic, and just about every contestant raised their level of game this week.

Here we go!

Nick & Peta
Tango - Lady Gaga's "Poker Face"
I saw much improvement this week! Nick looked noticeably calmer, centered, and focused. The steps were crisp and polished, probably a little too careful actually, but there was intensity too, and definitely chemistry. Good job Nick!
Julianne: "You delivered"
Bruno appreciated his effort, but said he was stomping.
Carrie Ann: "It all came together"
Scores: 7,6,7,6
My score: 7

Mr. T & Kym
Foxtrot - Dean Martin's "Ain't That a Kick in the Head"
Okay, he had absolutely no frame, and he bungled the hat toss, but luckily one of the extra dancers (grrr) kicked it out of the way so he didn't trip over it. But on the plus side, he is definitely trying. And he looked happy out there. He attempted some musicality. I have to give him some points for effort.
Julianne: "debonair man" (He did look handsome!)
Bruno: "You got the style right"
Carrie Ann: "The audience was behind you"
Len: "gentle giant"
Scores: 6, 6, 6, 6
My score: 6

Bonner & Sharna
Charleston - from "Mad, Star-Crossed Love"
He can't do lifts because of his injury. Their chemistry sizzled before they even started dancing. and I was impressed by his lightness and musicality. But the extra dancers ruined this for me. They were way too involved. And unfortunately, without the lifts and tricks, the routine was a bit boring for me. So they were not as good as last week, but I still a lot of potential.
Bruno: "needed to be higher octane"
Carrie Ann: "needed to be extraverted"
Len: "too safe"
Julianne: "needed more personality
Scores: 6, 6, 6, 6
My score: 6

Heather & Maks (Alan)
Tango - Britney Spears' "Toxic"
She looked SLAMMIN' in that nude gown with her long hair flying - holy cow! She's had two kids? She and Alan are HOT together! They achieved tremendous speed on their Tango, and the camera work made the spins even more impressive. And thank goodness the show has used the original music in every routine so far! I loved the speed, intensity, and precision of this dance. Great job!! Maks was grinning!
Carrie Ann: "You brought the ballroom to Britney!"
Len: "loads of Tango content"
Julianne: "Y'all were so connected"
Scores: 9, 8, 8, 8
My score: 9

Charo & Keo
Foxtrot - "Chapel of Love"
I saw a calmer, more focused Charo, both in the routine and during the critique (what a relief!) It was impossible to see her footwork because her gown was so long; she had to hike it up constantly like she did last week. But there was a nice flow of movement, and it was actually a sweet, enjoyable dance.
Len: "lovely routine"
Juliane: "sweet and innocent"
Bruno: "refreshing, demure"
But Carrie Ann missed the "cuchi cuchi" which made Keo and Tom visibly afraid. :)
Scores: 6, 6, 6, 6,
My score: 6

Simone & Sasha
Quickstep - Elvis' "Viva Las Vegas"
WOW! That dance definitely put the "quick" in Quickstep! It was a fun, high octane dance with a lot of personality. I especially liked the Elvis moves at the beginning of the routine, before they commenced tearing around the floor at warp speed. Simone had to get accustomed to being in hold, and I thought her frame was good. Man, that was fast: energizer bunny speed!
Julianne: "on your game"
Bruno: "fast track to Vegas"
Carrie Ann: "fantastic, but there was a lift"
Len: "fast, but in control"
Scores: 7, 8, 9, 8
My score: 9

End of Part 1

Week Three of Sugar Journal

I didn't do great, but I could have done worse.
Did I say that in week two also?

I drank 8 ounces of apple juice three days this week.
I ate low sugar cookies most, but not every day this week.
I enjoyed a mini cupcake last Monday.
And on Saturday I indulged in three bites of red velvet cheesecake. A friend took me out for a late birthday dinner. When she told the waiter that we were going to share a dessert, I told her that I was trying to cut back on sugar so I would only eat a bite or two. I would have been fine if she had said, "Okay, we won't order dessert." But she did order it, so I felt I had to take a few bites. Of course it was delicious. :)
I also ate something called a beaver nugget. Beaver nuggets are sold in big bags at Buc-ees, an awesome convenience store in central Texas. I'd never heard of beaver nuggets until Saturday. A beaver bugget tastes kind of like and resembles captain crunch cereal, but drenched in maple syrup. It was instantly addictive, like crack, but I only ate one. So that was my success of the week - limiting myself to one beaver nugget.

librarianintx

DWTS Nite 2 Part 2

Simone & Sasha
Cha Cha
It always helps when they dance to a great song. The routine had a lot of energy but I thought it was low on cha cha content. The tricks were fun, but flips and splits aren't usually a part of cha cha. I think Sasha choreographed more side-by-side dancing because Simone wasn't comfortable dancing sexy with him. I still enjoyed it. It was spicy and exciting.
Bruno: "smoldering"
Carrie Ann: "out of sync"
Len liked it (rather surprising in my opinion)
Scores: 7, 7, 7, 8

Chris & Whitney
Jazz
Um....
He says he can dance, even though he has rods in his back. But that wasn't really dancing. Once again, it was a comedy routine. Or was it? I'm confused. Was it intentionally bad dancing again, or am I being harsh when he was actually trying? I honestly don't know. I guess there was a smidge of improvement. But if it was intentionally bad again, don't look hurt and upset when you get 5's.
Yay for the fun song. Boo for the extra dancers!
I guess the judges felt they needed to be encouraging.
Carrie Ann is inspired by him.
Even Len liked it! (????)
Bruno said he enjoyed it.
Scores: 6, 5, 6, 5

Normani & Val
Oh my goodness, they just got off a flight from Japan! And after the show they leave for China! That's quite an insane schedule!
They danced a great cha cha! Lots of content, lots of partnering, and the crowd added energy to the performance. I wish the stage had been bigger though; the dance felt a bit restricted at times. Still, a very solid routine. They have strong chemistry and she looked stunning in her yellow dress.
Julianne: "rock star"
Bruno: "jet set"
Carrie Ann: "dancing with a star - star quality"
Scores: 8, 8, 8, 8

Rashad & Emma
Viennese Waltz
Last week was not a fluke! Rashad is a contender!
That was a strong, sexy, Viennese Waltz. Rashad had very good partnering skills and a good frame. He was the man on that floor; Emma was not leading him, or doing all the work in the routine. They covered the dance floor, and the performance had a lovely, lyrical quality. I was very impressed. These two have chemistry out the wazoo!
Julianne: "so hot - you are the man!"
Bruno: "steamy - 50 shades of Viennese Waltz"
Len: "flow and movement - flat footed - but I liked it"
Scores: 8, 8, 8, 8

Mr T & Kym
Paso Doble
You can tell he's trying. The paso likely suits his ability more than any other dance. Kym did most of the work but he had some partnering skills in there. It wasn't much of an improvement from last week, but some is better than none.
Bruno: "You needed big moves"
Carrie Ann: "You hit every step"
Len: "I salute you"
Julianne: "intensity and focus"
Scores: 6, 5, 6, 5

David & Lindsay
Cha Cha
The song was "Bust a Move," which was so fun. Once they finally got to the dance floor, the routine wasn't half bad. There was at least a little cha cha in there. It was entertaining. But it was also a hot mess. And there were extra dancers. :( A cute ending to Latin week, but not a strong finish.
Carrie Ann was disappointed.
Len: "pigeon-toed"
Julianne: "charisma"
Bruno: "put on a show"
Scores: 7, 6, 7, 7 (Okay, this time I agree with Len. That dance did not deserve 7's)

The elimination was very rushed. Charo & Keo and Chris & Whitney were in the bottom. Chris & Whitney went home. I wish it had been Charo. Hopefully next week.

Normani & Val and Rashad & Emma tied for the high score of the night with 32.

My favorite routines:
Nancy & Artem
Heather & Alan
Normani & Val
Rashad & Emma

Thanks for reading dance fans!
librarianintx

DWTS Recap Nite 2 Part 1

It was Latin Nite, but they didn't make as big a deal about that as they usually do.

Nancy & Artem
Cha Cha
Artem is so excited to have a contender!
I loved their pink outfits!
I thought it was a crisp, tight, sharp, proper cha cha, although she lost her balance at the end of the routine. It could have been down and dirtier, but I enjoyed it. She looks so happy!
Oops, Artem had some kind of wardrobe malfunction at the end. Why didn't they let us see it?! :)
The judges were not as happy with the dance as I was.
Julianne: "missed a step - it threw you off"
Scores: 7, 7, 7, 7

Erika & Gleb
Foxtrot
"I don't need you to like me; I need you to make me look good" Erika to Gleb. Okay. That will make for a strong partnership. Not.
It was good in places; it was rough in places. There was a stumble or two. It was a sexy dance. But I just have a hard time rooting for her. I know I should just be critiquing the routine, but I'm an emotional person. Personality plays into it for me.
The judges liked the dance better than I did.
Julianne liked her confidence and liked the routine.
Bruno said she had good lines.
Len: "a little past romantic"
Scores: 7, 7, 7, 7

Charo & Keo
Paso Doble
Okay, she looks amazing! And it seemed like once again, this dance would be in her wheelhouse. But she struggled a lot with her costume. Her dancing just didn't quite match with the intensity of the music. Given her age, she did pretty well, but overall, the routine didn't live up to the build up that was presented in the pre-dance video package. I was also surprised at how short the performance was.
She was also exceedingly annoying during and after the judges' critiques: yelling, running around, screaming, arguing, insulting Bruno. I guess it was supposed to be funny, but I just felt sorry for Tom and Keo. Poor Keo. He deserves combat pay this season. What does DWTS have against him? His partner last season, Jodie Sweetin, was a decent dancer, but not a contender. Every other season Keo has been given terrible partners.
Scores: 6, 6, 7, 6

Nick & Peta
Foxtrot
Another short routine.
I thought in the beginning Peta made him look pretty good. But overall I wasn't impressed with his frame or his partnering skills. The dance looked messy. But I think there's still potential here. He needs some of Erika's confidence - and a meditation lesson or something. He did look very dapper at least.
Carrie Ann: "breathe and relax!"
Len: "too hectic - no control"
Julianne: "less is more - simplify"
Bruno: "too skippy"
Scores: 7, 5, 7, 6 (I thought Len's score was too low. It wasn't THAT bad.)

Heather & Maks
Jive
Ooops, Maks is injured. Here comes Alan to the rescue!
The hip hop / extra dancers interlude in the middle of the routine was unnecessary. This was a fantastic dance: fun, flirty, sexy, high energy, but not over the top. Heather and Alan had mad chemistry, and Heather showed lots of personality. She looked young and exuberant. I loved it!
Carrie Ann also loved it.
Len didn't like the hip hop part (no surprise there)
Julianne thought it was hesitant.
Scores: 8, 6, 8, 8 (Len is an a$$. That dance did NOT deserve a 6!)

Bonner & Sharna
Viennese Waltz
Bonner said this dance ties in to his roots of the Texas two step...um...okay...
Another short routine!
But it was lovely and definitely romantic. I saw a big improvement from last week. Bonner was tender and his partnering skills and frame were quite good. I liked it. The music fit well with the dance too, even though it was a country song.
Julianne: "great execution"
Bruno: "sweet and touching"
Carrie Ann: "elegant and refined"
Scores: 8, 6, 8, 7 (What is Len's problem tonight?!?!)

End of Part 1

Week Two of Sugar Journal

From Sunday, March 19th - Sunday, March 26th:
It wasn't a great week, sugar-wise, but it could have been worse.
On the plus side:
I only had one serving of juice.
I only had one serving of Gatorade

On the minus side:
I had low sugar cookies five of the seven days.
I had a serving of something called "brownie brittle" (14 g of sugar) on Saturday. It is VERY good!

I also had Greek yogurt five of the seven days, but I've already given myself permission to have that.

So yeah, could have done better, but definitely could have been worse. I'm blaming hormones to a certain extent.

I'm starting the week on a bad note, though. I just ate a mini vanilla cupcake. At least it was a mini, and I only ate one. I can at least congratulate myself that I stopped at one. And I didn't eat any of the candy that was set out next to the cupcakes at work.

My willpower sucks. But I'm working on it.

librarianintx

Inspirational Meme on Facebook

The quote says it all.
You always have the ability to save yourself,
to make your life better,
to be your own shelter,
your own salvation.
You have the power.
It is forever within you.

librarianintx

DWTS Recap Nite 1 Part 2

Heather and Maks
Viennese Waltz
Yup, he's still arrogant.
This was a very fast Viennese Waltz. And it was a very strong Viennese Waltz. I thought her yellow dress looked beautiful on her, and they make a striking couple. Their technique was better than Nancy and Artem, but I preferred Nancy and Artem's dance. It had more artistry, more expression, more soul. It made me feel more than Heather and Mak's routine. I liked this, but my expectations were higher.
Carrie Ann: "beautiful lines, but you're hiding your personality"
Julianne: "grace and youthful exuberance"
Scores: 7, 7, 7, 7

David and Lindsay
Quickstep
He is the first baseball player on DWTS!
The song was cute and I liked the baseball theme. I love his personality, and I adore Lindsay, but this dance was just okay for me. The judges liked it more than I did. I don't have much to say about it. It was good, but not great. The theme is what made it memorable for me.
Carrie Ann: "one of my favorite dances"
Len: "not a home run, but you got to first base"
Scores: 7, 7, 7. 7

Erika and Gleb
Salsa
She's a singer in addition to being on the "Real Housewives".
That was a salsa? Um...okay. I didn't see a lot of salsa content. I also didn't see a lot of chemistry. It was over the top, and I'm not sure how popular this dance...or she...will be with the fans. I'm all for female empowerment and a strong, confident woman, but her personality is off-putting. I found it hard to root for her. There's confidence and then there's arrogance. She doesn't have an endearing personality.
Len: "flair and confidence but too raunchy"
Bruno: "caligula's palace"
Scores: 6, 6, 6, 6

Rasha and Emma
Cha Cha
There it is!
There's the DWTS performance that will be on repeat for me!
OMG, Emma might FINALLY have a contender!!
Hands down, this was the performance of the night, and most definitely the song of the night for me. I adore Bruno Mars, and that song is made to dance to! It was a super fun, sparkly, AND proper cha cha. I loved everything about it! Dance of the night for me!
Tom: "solid gold!" (Hell, yes!)
Julianne: "best dance of the night!" (Oh, yeah!)
Bruno: "revelation of the night - star quality" (Agreed, but he came across as surprised that his dance was so well-received. He was endearing, not arrogant. Take notes, Erika)
Carrie Ann: "you have our attention" (for sure!)
Of course Len had to be a wet blanket, but whatever.
Scores: 8, 7, 8, 8

Mr. T and Kym
Cha Cha
Um...there were a few seconds of cha cha in that number. The rest of the routine looked like a Mr. T workout video.
That was not dancing.
Period.
And there were extra dancers. Ugh!
Carrie Ann: "lots of mistakes"
Len: "T stands for tenacity and trying, but not technique"
Scores: 5, 5, 5, 5

Simone and Sasha
Tango
The song was fast, and so was the tango. It was crisp, tight, and they covered the floor rapidly. Technique-wise, it was the best dance of the night. Simone had a good frame, and definitely showed that she is a strong contender for the mirrorball trophy. She is a powerhouse, and without a doubt the two shortest dancers in the competition will be a dynamic duo.
Julianne: "the whole package"
Carrie Ann: "power couple"
Len: "dance of the night"
Scores: 8, 8, 8, 8

Final thoughts:
Overall, it was an enjoyable first night of the season, and I look forward to the weeks to come. There are some strong dancers this time, especially among the ladies, as I expected. My favorite three of the night, in order:
1) Rashad and Emma
2) Nancy and Artem
3) Simone and Sasha

librarianintx

DWTS Recap Nite 1 Part 1

Here we go, dance fans! :)

The opening was very cute, and I think it gave me some insights on who can dance this season.

Normani and Val
Quickstep
This quickstep was VERY quick! Very energetic. I was worried about her long white dress (which looked GREAT on her, by the way), but thank goodness she didn't fall. I thought it was a very strong first dance. The music was as fast-paced as the dance.
Tom: "high octane start"
Len: "needed more body contact, but first class"
Carrie Ann, Julianne, and Bruno all gave positive comments.
Scores: 7, 6, 7, 7 (Very respectable scores for a first dance. Len usually grades low.)

Nancy and Artem
Viennese Waltz
I love the Viennese Waltz, and I absolutely adored this one! It all worked perfectly for me - the music, the lovely blue costumes, the wonderful flow of movement they had across the stage - everything. Nancy still has that dazzling smile, and she looked positively radiant during the dance. Perhaps it was a tad choppy in places, but I thought it was a dreamy dance. They make a stunning couple.
Julianne agreed that "it was a bit bumpy" but she loved Nancy's arm extensions.
Len: " a pairing with great promise" (I agree!)
Scores: 7, 7, 7, 7

Chris and Whitney
Cha Cha
Okay, I am SO happy that he used his iconic song from "Saturday Night Love." "What is Love" is such a great song. And I totally get that it was intentionally bad dancing. And I guess that's okay for week one. But he can't do intentionally bad dancing every week and expect to stay. The voting public will tire of that I think. It was all comedy for him; only Whitney and the extra dancers (grrr!) were doing the cha cha.
Bruno: "cha cha cha in an alternative universe"
Julianne: "you did your thing. Don't lose that."
Scores: 5, 4, 4, 4
Chris was obviously disappointed in the scores, and I'm sorry, but that irritated me. Did he think he should have received the scores that Normani and Nancy earned? He didn't dance! He jerked his body around and let his partner do the dancing. Comedy is great, but you have to actually dance in order to earn scores.
Rant over.
Let's move on.

Bonner and Sharna
HELLO Bonner!
Yowsa!
Cha Cha
That opening when they met each other on the ranch, or whatever, looked like the beginning of a porno. Not that I've seen that many pornos, of course. But wow, what a set up. Unfortunately, the dance didn't deliver that level of sex appeal that was very evident in the beginning. I mean, he's definitely hot, she's definitely hot, the chemistry is absolutely there, but they were out of sync pretty much the entire dance. His pelvic thrusts were great, but their bodies were not together at the right times. It was a rather sloppy dance, and the lights and annoying extra dancers were distracting. There is absolutely potential here though. Overall I just felt let down. It was a smokin hot introduction with a disappointing outcome.
Len: "work in progress"
Julianne: "a little behind the music"
Bruno: "Sharna, you are in for the ride of a lifetime!"
Scores: 6, 5, 5, 6

Charo and Keo
Salsa
Well, it wasn't fair, really, because salsa is in her wheelhouse. This would be like giving Heather hip hop or pop on the first week. That is what she already knows how to dance, and I would guess that Charo already knows at least some salsa. It was campy, it was predictable, and it was at least a fairly proper salsa. There was virtually no rehearsal footage; why do you think that was? Maybe because she already knows how to dance salsa?
Len: "nailed the performance - need to work on the technique"
Bruno: "caliente!"
Scores: 6, 5, 5, 5
I thought her antics during the judges' critiques and scores was highly annoying. Her screaming into the mike and causing a ruckus got old very quickly for me. Poor Keo. When he is going to get a contender?

Nick and Peta
Cha Cha
I don't watch "The Bachelor," so this is my first time "meeting" Nick. He's funny. And very cute. He gave Bruno a rose and blew him a kiss! I loved that! Overall, it was a strong first dance. He did some recognizable cha cha moves and had good hip action. I also thought his chemistry with Peta was solid. Their connections were a bit choppy a time or two, but better than Bonner and Sharna in my opinion.
Bruno likened him to Justin Timberlake (I totally see that!)
Carrie Ann: "a bit disjointed...calm down"
Scores: 6, 6, 6, 6

End of Part 1 

Spotify

I joined Spotify a few weeks ago, and I love it! For less than a cost of a CD per month I have access to virtually the entire world of music! I can listen to albums, lists of hit singles by a particular artist, I can create my own playlists, or listen to playlists created by others. I can listen to today's hits, or look up the Billboard Hot 100 from a particular year. I can download whatever I want to listen to when I don't have access to streaming wi-fi. So I download playlists and albums to my new 64 gig smart phone, and then I have plenty to listen to when I'm on long rides around the city, or on the bus to Houston.

Having Spotify means that I can listen to many artists that I wouldn't otherwise be able to because I can't afford to buy dozens of CD's. And since I am often a bigger fan of singles than album tracks, I like being able to listen to the hit singles of a particular artist. But having Spotify has also made me listen to album tracks more, because I can afford to now!

Hours spent in transit, exercise time, and household chores are so much better with Spotify!

I'm not a paid spokesperson. I'm simply a satisfied customer. Check out Spotify. It is SO worth the money!

librarianintx

My Thoughts on the DTWS Cast

Tonight's the night, dance fans! Are you ready?

I'm pleased with this season's cast. There is no one I dislike, so that's a bonus. There are only three people I don't know: Bonner Bolton (bull rider), Rashad Jennings (football player), and Erika Jayne (from the Real Housewives series).

I think there are some serious contenders this season, especially among the ladies. I believe Simone Biles (gymnast) and Heather Morris (Glee actress) will compete for the Mirrorball trophy. Nancy Kerrigan (ice skater) and Normandi Kordsi (Fifth Harmony singer) could also do very well. Rashad Jennings could be a contender. Some NFL players have made it all the way to the top, while some have flamed out early. Charo and Chris Kattan could be the comedic contestants, but who knows? Maybe one or both of them will do well. Charo is paired with Keo, and he has been unlucky nearly every season that he's been on the show, so that doesn't give me much hope for Charo's chances. Same with Emma, who is paired with Rashad, so he may not do well.

I'll miss Derek, Mark, Cheryl, and Jenna this season, but I'm happy that Kym and Peta will be back. We'll see what kind of mood Maks is in. He's got arguably the best celebrity partner this season (Heather Morris), so hopefully he won't be pissy and arrogant. Perhaps fatherhood and impending marriage have changed him.

librarianintx

A Week with Much Less Sugar

If you count Monday - Saturday being one week (because I can't remember for sure what I ate and drank a week ago Sunday, then I think I did fairly well with cutting back pretty drastically on sugar. (I do have a bad habit of qualifying, though, don't I?) :)

During that week, I did not have any salad dressing. I only drank one eight ounce bottle of juice. I did not have any Gatorade!

The one sugary thing I'm allowing myself every day if I want it is Greek yogurt. The kind I buy has 8 grams of sugar I think. I ate yogurt twice that week.

Finally, I ate low sugar cookies twice that week, on Friday and Saturday.

I'm pleased with those stats. The hardest part of this routine is what to drink. I'm not a good water drinker, but I'm trying to become one. I know I am chronically dehydrated, so I'm going to be smart about this. If I have to, I will drink juice or Gatorade to make sure I get liquids. I'm also drinking a protein shake on the days that I don't eat low sugar cookies.

I had an appointment with a breast specialist last week, and I asked her about the research into a correlation between  sugar and metastatic breast cancer. She said the correlation is with obesity and breast cancer, not a direct link yet with sugar. But she said cutting back on sugar is good for everyone, and when I told her about the protein drink substitution, she said that's a great idea. She said getting calories from protein rather than sugar is better anyway.

librarianintx

Facebook Meme

On a day like today, when my head is full of worry and doubt and useless rumination, I saw a meme that was exactly what I needed to read. This is the important part:

"Today is not yesterday, so do not look back on what should have been.
Today is not tomorrow, so do not dread the future.
Today is NOW, so be present, alive, hopeful, and productive..."

This should be my mantra.
I was meant to read this today.
Everything happens for a reason.

librarianintx

Interesting Observation

Something random that I thought about this morning. So much of our behavior is learned behavior. We often learn to fear things or situations at a young age, and it can be difficult to overcome those fears. For some, fears are never overcome. For others, they are able to change their frame of mind. Why can some people do it and other people can't?

Two examples in my life that I think are quite fascinating:
I love butterflies, but I greatly fear cockroaches.
I think squirrels are adorable, but I don't like rats.

How different are butterflies and cockroaches? Both are insects. Both can fly. Both have beady little eyes. Now, its true, butterflies are brightly colored, lovely, and fragile, while cockroaches are not attractive and are tougher creatures. But why can't I change my mindset? I see a cockroach, and my mind instantly reacts with fear. I still remember being terrorized by my older cousin, being chased into the bathroom, him turning the light off and putting a large, live cockroach down the back of my shirt. I remember the apartment complex I lived in with my mother and sister after my dad passed away, where large roaches would squeeze in through the front door. I could hear them scratching in my closet at night, and I even woke up once with one on my pillow. The stuff of nightmares, right? I still have a terrible fight or flight response when I see a cockroach. I haven't been able to get past my fear. But I have the opposite reaction when I see a butterfly. Its all about love and joy and admiration when I see a butterfly. Why can't I change my mindset, my emotions, my physical reactions, and feel no negativity when I see a cockroach?

The example of a squirrel versus a rat is not as extreme, but still comparable. To me a squirrel is cute, fun to watch, interesting, etc. Like rats, squirrels have tails, fur, and beady eyes. Both are rodents, aren't they? Yes, they are, I just googled the answer. :) I'm not as scared of rats, but that's because I've had much less negative experiences with rats. In fact, I've had some positive interactions with rats, because I have a friend who used to raise pet rats. So I've held rats and talked to them and hugged them (as much as you can hug a rat) Still, I'm convinced that if a rat ran across my kitchen floor I would scream and run out of the apartment. But why? What did the rat do to me? Did it bite me, attack me, chase me, harm me in any way? Likely no. So why do I fear them? In the case of rats, I think society's views are one reason. In the case of cockroaches, it's definitely learned behavior because of experiences. My mom has always been afraid of cockroaches as well.

I don't like being so afraid of roaches. Fear takes my power away. It makes me weak. It makes me feel small and stupid and down on myself. I've had a fear of cockroaches pretty much my whole life. Yet I've never been harmed by a roach, except the emotional toll I put on myself due to my fear. So when will I learn that the only damage has basically been self-inflicted? Can I change my way of thinking? Can I eradicate the emotional and physical reactions I have when I encounter a roach? If I see a roach and think calm, beautiful thoughts often enough, can I change the learned behavior?

librarianintx

My Comment About Facebook

I want to clarify something I said in my previous post. I made a comment about Facebook being mindless. Or at least that's how I think people will interpret it. But I don't think Facebook, or any social media, is mindless. I am a fan of social media. I think Facebook and other social media are important tools in our society. What my intention was in the comment is that sometimes I spend too much time mindlessly scrolling through Facebook. I feel I could be making better use of the day doing something productive like reading or writing. Facebook plays a role in my life, and I have no plans to give it up. What I would like to do is curtail the time I spend there. I want my time with Facebook to be quality versus quantity.

librarianintx

This morning

This morning was all about not wasting time. Not a single precious second.

First accomplishment of the morning: I got out of bed ten minutes earlier than usual! Good job! I shouldn't admit that ten minutes early is ten minutes after my first of three alarms goes off. It's still an accomplishment!

First disappointment of the day: Even though I got up ten minutes early, I was only ready five minutes early.
But five minutes is five minutes! It's amazing how much you can achieve in five minutes.

First new routine: Taking my vitamins before I leave. The concern here is that the half a glass of water I consume with the vitamins will result in an uncomfortable need to urinate during the as-yet unknown duration of my morning ride to work. But I take a chance and drink the water. Update: All went well in that department.

Second new routine: Exercising during the wait for my ride to arrive. I have tried various ways to make good use of the time that Metro Access keeps me waiting during their frustrating thirty minute window. Journaling hasn't worked. I can't get on the computer because I have to be looking out the window. Checking Facebook is mindless enough, but that's why I want to find a more productive activity. Exercising might be the solution. It's something I can do while still obsessively watching the parking lot. Being ready five minutes early doesn't feel like an accomplishment when you end up standing at the window for sometimes as long as thirty minutes, or more. I only did  three lunges on each leg, one leg lift on each side for ten reps, and ten toe lifts. Didn't want to overdue on the first morning. I can do more later.

Second accomplishment of the morning: I was able to make good use of the hour-long ride by reading in the car. Thankfully the headache and nausea that often accompany such an endeavor decided to stay at bay this morning.  I could have listened to my audio book, which would have minimized the chance for illness. But I wasn't in the mood for hearing about the search for the bodies of the Romanov Imperialist family.

Second disappointment of the morning: While my inner ear symptoms didn't impede me, the flaming sunrise did, but luckily only at times. I managed to get to page 34 of The Fundamentals of Caregiving that I'm reading on the Nook app on my phone. That would be even more of a cause for celebration if I knew what page I started on when I entered the vehicle, but hey, I'll take it. And hopefully I managed to close my eyes often enough that I'm not any closer to cataracts than I was before I stubbornly refused to wear my non-prescription sunglasses.

So I arrived at work feeling at least somewhat accomplished: I read, I exercised, I took my vitamins, I got a head start on my daily water consumption without a bathroom emergency.

Success!

librarianintx

Muslim Day at the Capitol in Austin

There is so much negativity in the news, with Trump's immigration ban, Supreme Court pick, and horrible nominees for Cabinet positions. So here is something to smile about, to feel good about, to rejoice in. Two years ago the police had to be called in because of so many people protesting the biennial Muslim Day at the Capitol.

This year, approximately 1000 people turned out - not to protest - but to form a human chain of protection around the Muslim people who came to the Capitol to meet with legislators about the issues that matter to them. I wasn't able to be there, but here are some pictures from the event.

I heard that there was one lone protester this year. One protester, and about 1000 supporters and allies.

You done us proud again, Austin.

librarianintx

Two quotes about resiliency

"We can't control what happens to us, but we can control how we react to what happens to us."

“I have faith that I can do pretty much anything if I can only figure it out,” ... “because, if it really matters to me, even if I have to do it differently from most people, I will still find a way to do it.”

I'm sorry I can't give credit to the people who made these statements; I just saved the quotes. But they both resonate with me because I want to develop resiliency. I need to develop resiliency. I believe I will be a stronger, happier person if I can learn to be more resilient. I'm definitely more resilient than I use to be, but I think I have a long way to go still.

librarianintx

Blogging

In 2015 and 2016, my number of blog posts was much higher than the previous eight years of my blogging career. In fact, 2016 was a huge year for me; I logged 100 blog posts! In 2015 I only wrote 48 blog posts. I always want to do better each year than I did the previous year in whatever endeavor I am involved in - reading, blogging, writing recaps, whatever. So this year I want to write more than 100 blog posts. This is a completely achievable goal. If I write at least ten blog posts per month, that would be 120 posts in a year. Absolutely do-able. At least ten days out of a thirty or thirty-one day month? C'mon! Easy!!

Learn to avoid what prevents me from blogging:
1) Getting sucked into Facebook
2) Focusing on chores
3) Useless worrying
4) Feeling sorry for myself
5) Procrastinating
6) Fear of success / failure
So do it!
Make it happen!
Find the time!
Don't disappoint yourself!
Reach your goal!
Maybe even exceed it!

Attaining a goal is so exciting!
It makes you feel so good about yourself.
You feel accomplished.
Successful.
Proud.

DO IT!!

librarianintx

Action

This is what action looks like. This is what happens when people mobilize and organize and exert the time, energy, and money to take a stand for what they believe in. These people are fighting for freedom, for justice, for equality, for safety, for their first amendment rights to freedom of speech and to peaceably assemble.

This is Austin, Texas, on Friday, January 19th, and Saturday, January 20th. An estimated 50,000 people (men, women, and children) gathered in the capital city of Texas to participate in the worldwide "Women's March" the day after the Inauguration of President Donald Trump. They were sending a clear message to our new leader: "We do not agree with many of your ideas. We did not vote for you. We will fight against many of the policies you intend to implement. We will do all we can to ensure our safety and our freedoms. We stand together against you and your administration. This country was founded on democracy, religious freedom, and an individual's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We will not let you take away our rights and our security." 

librarianintx

To Watch or Not to Watch

This is a very easy decision for me.
I am absolutely not watching the Inauguration of Donald J. Trump.

I feel very sad today. That's an understatement, actually. For the past eight years I have felt so proud and I have such admiration for President Obama. He has led our country with such dignity, grace, and intelligence. Due to his leadership, our country has recovered from the greatest economic disaster since the Great Depression.

Usually I am a news hound. I like to know what's going on in the country, in the world. Even if I don't have time to watch the local or national television news broadcasts, I usually check in with CNN or MSNBC a few times a day on the computer or on my phone. Now I don't want to watch the news. I can't, really. Just seeing his face and hearing his voice revolts me. His tone is always so mocking, so judgemental, so short-tempered, so bloated with his own ego. He is a liar. His administration has already had more scandals than eight years of the Obama White House, and he hasn't even been sworn in yet!

An acquaintance from school posted the following on Facebook this morning: "If you can't be kind, at least be quiet." Usually I would agree with that statement. But not in this case. When you are quiet, then it means people think you agree with what is happening in our country. I cannot be quiet. And while I am usually a very respectful person, I am not respectful to him. I know I should be, because in a very short period of time he will be our president. But I cannot respect him. I cannot respect someone who lies and cheats and is so rude to people. He is dangerous. He is evil. He does not deserve my respect, and I don't believe he will ever earn my respect. He is hell bent on taking away the rights and laws that protect me as a woman, as a person with a disability, and the laws and regulations that protect my LGBT family.

So its a no-brainer for me. I will not be watching the Inauguration. But how do I feel about schools and classrooms showing the Inauguration, and telling students they have to watch? Some teachers are creating assignments and curricula that involve having to watch the Inauguration. So if the students do not watch then they will fail the assignment, which will affect their grade in the class. I don't think that is right. I think watching the Inauguration should be optional.

Now, I don't agree with keeping students home from school today. For some students, that could ruin their perfect attendance record. I think if a class is watching the Inauguration, and certain students do not want to watch, they should be allowed to go to the library or help out in the grade level office. There are certain activities that are mandatory for students, of course, but I don't think watching the Inauguration should be one of them. Part of me is conflicted by my viewpoint, because I wouldn't want students to opt out of watching the Inauguration if Hillary Clinton was being sworn in as president. But I understand that I can't have it both ways. Students don't have a lot of freedom in school, but this should be one of those freedoms. They should not have to watch something that would make them uncomfortable.

All I can do at this point is hope that we all survive the next four years, or however long Mr. Trump manages to stay in office. But I will do more than hope. I will use my voice, my vote, my signature, my presence, whatever I have the power and the ability to do to fight for my rights, my safety, and my protection as a citizen of this country.

librarianintx

Meryl Streep's comments about Donald Trump from the Golden Globes

"There was one performance this year that stunned me. It sank its hooks in my heart. Not because it was good. There was nothing good about it. But it was effective and it did its job. It made its intended audience laugh and show their teeth. It was that moment when the person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter, someone he outranked in privilege, power, and the capacity to fight back. It kind of broke my heart when I saw it. I still can't get it out of my head because it wasn't in a movie. It was real life.

And this instinct to humiliate, when it's modeled by someone in the public platform, by someone powerful, it filters down into everybody's life, because it kind of gives permission for other people to do the same thing. Disrespect invites disrespect. Violence incites violence. When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose."

Her entire speech was a work of art, but this was the part that got to me the most. Bless you, Meryl, and thank you for sharing your awesome talent with us for so many years.

By the way, this was Mr. Trump's response, via Twitter, or course:
"Meryl Streep, one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood, doesn't know me but attacked last night at the Golden Globes. She is a Hillary flunky who lost big. For the 100th time, I never "mocked" a disabled reporter (would never do that) but simply showed him "groveling" when he totally changed a 16 year old story that he had written in order to make me look bad. Just more very dishonest media!"

Translation:
Trump did exactly what Meryl said he does, attack and demean people.
It will be a very long four years if he doesn't learn to take the high road and learn to comment with the class and professionalism that should be the cornerstone of holding the highest office in the land.

librarianintx

My First Week of Pocket Notes

I think I've mentioned this in a previous post. I'm starting the year by writing a note to myself every morning and putting it in my pocket. The note contains a word or phrase that will act as my inspiration for the day. Here's week one of my pocket notes:

Sunday, January 1st: resiliency
Monday, January 2nd: I weathered the storm by myself.
Tuesday, January 3rd: Get It Done!
Wednesday, January 4th: breathe
Thursday, January 5th: faith
Friday, January 6th: warmth
Saturday, January 7th: determination
Sunday, January 8th: organized

librarianintx

2016 Brief Year in Review

2016 was a very tough year for many people. And definitely I was deeply affected by the results of the presidential election, and mourned many of the celebrities that we lost last year. I was also affected by the hard times that family members and friends endured during the previous year.

On the whole, however, 2016 was a good year for me. I had quite a bit of success work-wise. I finally got the extra five hours that I've been requesting for years, which means more time each week to accomplish my yearly goals, and more money coming in too, as well as my full insurance being paid each month. I spent half of 2016 filling in for the vacant public awareness / outreach coordinator position, exhibiting at conferences and sending materials to events that I could not attend. I made a presentation to the largest group I have ever spoken to, about 40 people. Making presentations is not something I am comfortable with, but I enjoyed this presentation because it was during a Halloween party at an independent living center. I also created and presented an online webinar, and contributed to our agency's blog and newsletter. I was honored to be a recipient of the State Library's Employee of the Quarter Award for the second time.

Socially, I had the opportunity to spend a day in San Antonio with friends, visiting the Museum of Art and the public library. I had third row seats to see the amazing James Taylor in concert, thanks to the generosity of my roommate. I also saw the band the 1978 in concert, and visited the Circuit of the Americas 360 concert venue for the first time. I saw the Star Trek experience at the Long Center. And in November, I went to the Texas Renaissance Festival with wonderful friends who are family, and I had the thrill of riding an elephant for the third time, and dressing in costume for the festival for the second time.

May of 2016 was a momentous month for my family. First my middle niece graduated with honors from Texas A&M. Then a few weeks later my oldest niece married the love of her life in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. Only a month before, the city of Houston and surrounding areas experienced historic flooding. Two days before the wedding, there was more flooding, and severe weather. But the wedding weekend was beautiful, sunny and warm. Family flew in and drove from across the country, and a wonderful time was had by all. I haven't been to that many weddings, and I know I'm biased, but their reception was one of the most fun nights of my life. We all danced for hours. They say that a wedding reception is only as good as the people in attendance, and those people came to party.

I had some goals that I set for myself in 2016, and I'm pleased that I achieved them. I wanted to read at least two books per month, or 24 books during the year. I read 26. I wanted to recap every episode of "Dancing with the Stars" during the fall season, and I did. Although I didn't have a set goal for blogging, I did blog more in 2016 than I have any other year since I started blogging (I think!)

Health-wise, I continued my quest to stay as active as possible, try to drink more water, and cut down on sugar.

I haven't made a lot of specific goals for 2017. I want to read at least 24 books again. I want to continue to be as active as possible. I want to work on my mental and emotional health as well. I strive to be mindful and live for today, not worry about tomorrow. I want to be productive and successful, and focus on my own definition of those values, not someone else's definition of my productivity and success. I hope that in 2018 I will be able to make another blog post that outlines the highlights of 2017.

librarianintx
 

So True...

When I can lose myself in something meaningful to me - a good book, journaling, one of my favorite shows, a game or a puzzle - when I can silence the worry and the self-criticisms, the doubt and the fear of what might lie ahead - priceless

librarianintx

Books I read in 2016

I had a goal of reading the equivalent of two books a month, twenty-four books for the year, and I surpassed the goal! Yay! Most were were e-books, but seven were audio books and two were print books. Here's the list:

Uncovered
The Martian (audio)
Life is Short
I am Forbidden
The Memory of Light (audio)
Upstairs at the White House
Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter
If at Birth You Don't Succeed - (print)
My Train to Freedom
Wayward Pines Book Two (audio)
Memories Before and After the Sound of Music
No Parking at the End Times
Run Brother Run
Trapped: My Life with Cerebral Palsy
My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me
The Lives and Loves of Daisy and Violet Hilton
Last Orphans Book One
Wayward Pines Book Three (audio)
Guy Town by Gaslight: A History of Vice in Austin's First Ward (print)
Below Stairs (audio)
The Girl with Seven Names
Room: A Novel (audio)
My Mother's House
Behind Closed Doors (audio)
Infinite Devotion 
Crank: Book One

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A new tradition

Today is only the first day, so who knows how long I will do this for. I usually don't keep up with my resolutions all the year through. I think few people. do.

Anyway, today I wrote an encouraging word on a piece of paper and put it in my pocket. It was a bit of a challenging day ( see the previous post), so I took the piece of paper out a few times and looked at it. I think it helped me get through the day. I want to try to write down an encouraging word or phrase or quote every morning and put it in my pocket to help me get through the day. If I can manage to save them, at the end of each month I can look through them and see what the word or phrase was. I'm sure there will be some repetition.

The word today was resiliency.

I think I was resilient today.

librarianintx

New Year's Day

Today I didn't throw up, even though my inner ear and sinuses were giving me fits.

I didn't pass out, even though  I didn't eat for about 8 hours.

I didn't pee in my pants, even though the door handle of the Megabus bathroom was broken and the bathrooms at the new Austin Megabus building were out of order, so I had to wait about four and a half hours when I needed to pee.

And I didn't cry today.

So it was a good start to 2017.

See the positive.

librarianintx

Survivor Season 33 Finale

Wow. Wow. Wow.
What a finale!!
I wish I had more time to write about it. My head is still buzzing. What a thrilling night that was for me as a David fan - at least until the final tribal council. He got SO close! He should have won. He did more than enough to earn the title of sole survivor. He won challenges. He found hidden immunity idols. He made big plays. He was the mastermind this season, especially after the merge. He even created a fake idol that fooled Jay and led to his torch being snuffed.

While I definitely understand why Ken blindsided David, I don't admire him for it. I know he had to do it because he could not have beaten David. But he and David had been so loyal to each other. I wanted to see him stay true to his word all the way to the end. I really thought he was going to. David really thought he was going to. I was heartbroken when he didn't.

After David was voted out, I didn't care anymore about the outcome. The game became rather meaningless, which was disappointing when the rest of the episode had been so epic. The final three were all flawed for me. Ken lost my faith in him. Hannah came on strong at the end but was still a team player rather than a leader. And Adam - I don't know. He won a few challenges. He found hidden immunity idols. But I didn't like the way he badgered Hannah in the final tribal council, and tried to take credit for the moves that she made. I was proud of her for standing her ground and fighting for recognition. The nagging question that I'm left with is, did Adam win unanimously based on his game, or because he told everyone that his mom had cancer? Of the three, I would say that Adam did enough to win, as did Ken, but not Hannah. Still, I think it should have been either David or Jay that got the title. But you can't win if you don't make it to the final tribal council.

The season wasn't perfect for me. The FigTales romance was annoying. But I absolutely loved all the personal growth that happened this season. Hannah's metamorphosis was almost as inspiring as David's for me. And even though they weren't my favorite players, I enjoyed watching the transformations of Zeke and Bret as well. More than any other season of Survivor, the show changed people.

I didn't get my Cochran moment this time. I didn't get to rejoice in the stunning, unlikely win of someone that everyone counted out in the beginning. But as David said, he didn't win the game, but he came so far and changed so much that he felt like he won. So in a way, I did get my Cochran moment again. Usually you don't remember who almost won a reality show. But I think David will be remembered. I celebrate all of his accomplishments. And I thank all of these contestants - David, Hannah, Zeke, Bret - for being examples and showing the audience that you can change your life. You can become the person you want to be.    

librarianintx

Survivor Season 33 11/30 Episode

Whew! David survived another week! He wasn't in as much danger as I expected. The Jay/Zeke/Sunday/Bret alliance mentioned needing to get him out, but they didn't go for it.

The reward challenge was the obligatory loved ones cry fest, made all the more poignant when Adam's brother appeared to bring him news about his ailing mom. None of the contestants know what Adam is going through, but I was so happy when Jay picked Adam, along with Sunday, Will, and their loved ones, to join him on the reward so Adam and his brother could have some time together.

David kept up with the majority of the other survivors on the reward challenge, but he was the first one to drop during the immunity challenge. That immediately made me nervous. But the David/Adam/Ken/Hannah alliance received the life-saving gift of Will flipping to their side to vote out Zeke. Adam played his hidden immunity idol to ensure Hannah's safety, just in case Will decided not to flip.

I like Zeke; I wish he had been in David's alliance. I thought his exit was super classy, telling everyone that it had been an honor to play the game with them.

I don't understand why the Zeke alliance targeted Hannah again, rather than a stronger player. But I'll take it. It remains to be seen whether Will stays with the David alliance, or if he flips back to Jay, Bret, and Sunday.

librarianintx

My current attempt at a sugar regiment

Here are the personal guidelines I'm trying to follow when it comes to sugar:
1) One sugary beverage per day, and by "sugary," I mean Gatorade or apple juice, not soda. For the rest of the day I drink water or milk.
2) One sugary food per day, and by "sugary," I mean food that is relatively healthy. Examples would be light yogurt, fruit bars, or low sugar cookies. The cookies have 9 grams of sugar per serving, and are made with fruit and date sugars, although they also have chocolate chips in them. I'm also drinking the no sugar protein shakes again, made with chocolate pea powder (sweetened with stevia) and milk.
3) Avoiding high fructose corn syrup if at all possible. Animal crackers would usually be a lower sugar option that I would allow myself, but I checked the ingredients, and the kind I buy contains high fructose corn syrup. So no animal crackers. :(
4) I do not add sugar to anything. I used to like strawberries dipped in sugar, but no more. If I drink tea, I sweeten it with honey.
5) Instead of eating raisin bran cereal, I buy a low sugar variety of bran flakes and add raisins. You can actually see the sugar on the flakes in raisin bran cereal.
6) I am doing my very best to avoid the donuts, candy, and other treats that people bring to work.
7) Having said all this, I will allow myself to cheat for special occasions - a slice of cake or a cupcake for birthdays, pie at Thanksgiving, my mother's cookies for the holidays and Valentine's Day, etc. It sounds like a lot of cheating, but I hope it won't be.

Is it even worth it to make these changes if I cheat sometimes? I guess any move toward healthier eating is better than no changes at all. I wish I could say I was giving up sugar entirely, but I'm not there yet, and honestly, I doubt I ever will be.   

So why am I doing this? Well, in general, sugar isn't good for you. It's bad for your teeth. It gives you a rush and then you crash. If I eat something sugary without pairing it with a protein like milk, I can get shaky. I'm also reading about the possible link between sugar and metastatic breast cancer. That really has me freaked out. The problem is, I'm already at a higher risk for breast cancer. I take birth control pills, and my doctor wants me on hormone replacement therapy when I reach menopause. And I have dense breast tissue. So is cutting down on sugar actually going to reduce my risk? I plan to talk to my doctor in January. In the meantime, cutting down on sugar couldn't hurt. Tamping down my worrying couldn't hurt either. :)

librarinintx

I finally believe in this

I have been on this earth for nearly half a century (!) and I can finally state that I believe in the saying on this shirt. It has been quite a journey to self-acceptance. And yes, there are still days when I'm not so accepting. But overall, I think I'm pretty much there. And it feels good. It feels freeing. But with the current state of the world, especially in America, I worry that being different is not going to be celebrated. In fact, I know it isn't. Being different leaves you much more vulnerable to ridicule, to possible physical and verbal attack. And that is so depressing. Uniqueness should be lauded, not shamed. Different is interesting, fascinating. We learn from people who are different from ourselves. That is how we all grow.

Variety is the spice of life.
Diversity should be the goal.

librarianintx

Survivor Season 33

I'm writing about last week's two hour episode, or two episodes back-to-back - however you want to view it. I haven't seen last night's episode, so David could be out. But he had a VERY big night last week.

In the first reward challenge, David said he would sit out since it was a team challenge that involved swimming, and he didn't want to be the player that lost the challenge for his team. He got quite emotional, but all the contestants encouraged him to play, and do the best he could. It was a wonderful display of good sportsmanship. David did play, and even though his team lost, it wasn't because David slowed them down in his athletic attempt. He was one of the puzzle solvers, so one could say that he contributed to the loss on that basis. But it wasn't because of his swimming ability, or some other physical aspect of the challenge.

The immunity challenge in the first episode was a grueling endurance challenge, and David won! I teared up watching everyone cheer for him; some of the contestants even gave him a standing ovation. As Jeff was putting the immunity necklace around him, and asked him how he was feeling, David said this, "I'm just trying to, like, tamper down that voice in my head that says 'I can't,' and start listening to a voice that says, 'I can.'"

David is me, and I am David. And that is why I am rooting for him this season. David is my Cochran this season. Does that mean David will win? It's too soon to tell. There is still a lot more game to go. But if he keeps making big moves, and manages to win some challenges and/or advantages - maybe. Not only did he win immunity in this episode, he was also instrumental in getting Chris out. Chris was the person that he wanted eliminated, and he made it happen.

But trouble has started looming on the horizon for David. In the second episode, he was able to partake in the reward challenge simply because he drew the correct rock. He did not have to compete. That was great for him of course, but any time a contestant gets something for free on Survivor, resentment can start to fester.

And then came the Tribal Council. David wanted Zeke out. But he was tipped off that the other side was gunning for Ken. Ken is one of David's biggest alliance members. So David used his hidden immunity idol to guarantee Ken's safety. Unfortunately, Ken turned out not to be the target. It was Hannah. After two deadlocked voting rounds, the contestants were forced to draw rocks. Poor Jessica drew the bad rock and was eliminated from the competition. This outcome could have devastating consequences for David. The members of his alliance could blame him for his decision to save Ken. Hannah will likely be very angry, since she was the one that was almost voted out. When she saw her name on the card, she turned to David and said accusingly, "You should have used it on me!" Hannah was already wavering between aligning with Zeke and pledging allegiance to David. What happened at that Tribal Council could cause her to flip back to Zeke. Which would mean, of course, that David would be out two alliance members: Jessica and Hannah. That would be a disaster.  So time will tell if David can survive this troubling turn of events.

Even if it turns out that David was eliminated last night, I hope he will feel very proud of the game that he has played. Like Cochran, David shows that you don't have to have athletic prowess to win Survivor. It is a physical game, but the mental play, the strategy, plus the ability to form alliances and succeed at the social game are even more important aspects. 

librarianintx

 

Dancing with the Stars Season 23 Finale Results Show

I am SO happy I was wrong!
Laurie Hernandez is crowned the champion of Season 23 of Dancing with the Stars!
I am SO thrilled for her and Val!

The results show was just okay for me. I know I'm in the minority, but I didn't enjoy the Christmas theme. I missed not having a Dance Center segment. But I loved Maureen McCormick's super fan dance, the all male routine, Vanilla Ice singing and dancing to his own hit, and I always get a kick out of the rehearsal footage.

When it came to the fusion dances, I thought James had the easiest routine; the viennese waltz and foxtrot are two of his wheelhouse dances. Calvin had the toughest routine; the jive is hard for him because of problems with his feet, and the quickstep is one of the most challenging ballroom types. I was sad to see Calvin and Lindsay get eliminated, but I think America got it right to have James and Laurie as the final two.

I must admit that this was not one of my favorite seasons; I thought the level of dance ability was lower than  previous seasons. But I still adore the show. I was not happy to have Rick Perry and Ryan Lochte as contestants, but I don't see myself ever boycotting the show. I love watching people grow and learn and become dancers. I love seeing super fans live out their dreams, and others conquer their fears of dancing in such a public forum. I believe that the cast becomes a family every season, and they wish success for each other, even though it's a competition. I love Tom and Erin - their humor, and the care and compassion they have for the professional dancers and the celebrities as they journey through the season together. I even love cranky Len and wild Bruno. :)

I simply love watching people dance.

librarianintx

Dancing with the Stars Season 23 Finale Part 2

Round Two: Freestyle!

Jana / Gleb
The freestyle dances are often about big production numbers / lots of theatrics, but Jana and Gleb had more than enough sparks with just the two of them. It was a passionate, beautiful, emotional routine, and it was like a metaphor for Jana's life - She was bound, and now she's free. They should be proud of that dance. It was poetry in motion. The lifts were wonderful too.
I saw Gleb's stumble on the replay, but not during the performance. I feel bad that they were so disappointed. It was a gorgeous dance. One stumble did not mar the routine.
Scores: 9, 9, 9, 9

Calvin / Lindsay
Mr. Happy!
How fun was that!
Easily the most personality that we've seen from Calvin all season. This was a big production freestyle routine, and it was a joy to watch. It had all the elements that I want in a freestyle: great dancing, exciting lifts and tricks, personality, innovative aspects (the conveyor belt / subway platform was way cool)
Touchdown Megatron!
I also loved how Calvin was front and center during 95% of the routine. He was the star, as he should be!
Scores: 10, 10, 10, 10

Laurie / Val
I'll just throw out a bunch of adjectives:
fresh
joyful
youthful
vibrant
exuberant
playful
high energy
happy
enthusiastic
It played like part of a Broadway musical to me. I thought it was wonderful.  My only criticism is that there wasn't as much actual dancing as I think there should be in a freestyle. There was a lot of running around, going down a slide, spinning on a merry-go-round, some gymnastic moves. But it was a little short on actual dancing, and I'm surprised that the judges didn't mention that. I'm glad they didn't, and maybe they wouldn't agree with me. But I would think Len especially would say that it was slightly thin on content.
Bruno: "spirit of youth"
Scores: 10, 10, 10, 10

James / Sharna
In nearly every season of Dancing with the Stars, the best freestyle routine usually results in the capture of the mirrorball trophy, regardless of front runner status. The judges have adored James all season. Julianne calls him the best male dancer ever on this show. I think James is very good, but not the best male ever, and not the front runner this season. I think that Laurie deserves to win season 23. But based on this freestyle, I think that James will win. It was a very powerful, emotional routine with a lot of content that played to James' strengths.
Julianne: "you outdo yourself every week"
Bruno: "visual poetry" "unforgettable"
Scores: 10, 10, 10, 10

Results:
Jana and Gleb were eliminated :(
They were a wonderful couple with amazing chemistry, but she doesn't have the fan base that the other contestants have. Some people don't know her well; her blog posts have rubbed some people the wrong way. This should be about her dance ability, not her as a person. But we also have to realize how much improved Calvin is. He has earned his Top 3 spot. It's always tough to come in 4th.

I did not vote, and I regret that. Obviously I have a favorite, and I should have done what I could to see that she wins. But anyway, it has been a good season. Good luck to Laurie, James, and Calvin!

librarianintx

Dancing with the Stars Season 23 Finale Part 1

I can't believe the season is almost over! Didn't I say that last week too?

Round One: Redemption Dances

Calvin / Lindsay
Viennese Waltz
Calvin has come so far! It was a beautiful dance, but at times I felt there was a pause between transitions - there should have been more of a constant flow to the dance. It felt like they were being a little careful after last week's out of control first dance.
Len: "most improved dancer this season (I agree!)
Carrie Ann cited them for a lift!
Scores: 8, 9, 9, 9 (They did not deserve an 8 for that dance!)

Jana / Gleb
Tango
The lasers were cool but very distracting. It was hard for me to tell if they made any mistakes. I thought I saw a lift (and I was right!) It was a good routine, but unfortunately not especially memorable for me.
Julianne: "took a long time to get off the platform" (I agree)
Len doesn't agree with Carrie Ann taking off points for unintentional lifts.
Scores: 8, 9, 9, 9 (What the hell, Carrie Ann?) 

Laurie / Val
Paso Doble
YAAASSS!
Wow! That was one fierce paso!
Speed, precision, crisp, sharp, passionate - They were both on fire!
Laurie is in it to win it!
And then she grinned and jumped and down like a little girl after. She is 16, after all.
Val wanted her to look like a professional dancer. She did!
I loved it!
Scores: 9, 10, 9, 10 (9's? Really?)

James / Sharna
Foxtrot
Yeah, the best male dancer ever on the show with questionable hip action? Mmmm...
Anyway, a girl with the moniker of "librarianintx" did like the library theme of this dance. The foxtrot really suits James, and this was a quirky, engaging routine. It took them awhile to start dancing, and I think I saw a slip, but overall it was a solid performance.
There was a slip. But Julianne said it was still the perfect foxtrot. (Okay....)
Scores: 9, 9, 9, 10 (It was the perfect foxtrot, but Julianne gave him a 9. Bruno gave him a 10)

End of Part 1

librarianintx

Port-a-potty

Sounds crazy, but I am 48 years old, and I have never used a port-a-potty - until about three weeks ago. It's also pretty crazy that I'm writing about it. :) But I think it shows that I've led a rather sheltered life. I haven't been to events and activities where I would need a port-a-potty.

But three weeks ago I was at the Texas Book Festival. The vendors, author book signings, and refreshments are set up in tents on the Capital grounds and surrounding streets, while the sessions are held in the Capital. I had been visiting the vendor tents. It was raining, and it was a long hike for me to get to the Capital to use the bathroom. So my port-a-potty opportunity had finally arrived. While not exactly a bucket list item, I was rather excited to be using such a facility for the first time. I wish I could say I was a port-a-potty regular user, because that would show that I've had more life experiences. I could say that I've been to many outdoor concerts and other such events.

So how was it? Yeah, you know. It was gross. :) I think it could have been worse; the one I used was fairly clean. I have a fear of getting trapped in bathrooms and other small rooms (because I have before), so I didn't want to lock the door. My friend stood outside the port-a-potty so others would know that it was occupied. The area around the Capital is rather hilly, so I struggled with my balance when I was visiting the tents. The ground wasn't even and flat. So being in the port-a-potty made me feel a bit like I was on a boat, even though it wasn't moving. I didn't enjoy that. But hey, it was an experience. That's what matters. I can now say that I have used a port-a-potty.

What might be next? A mosh pit? A helicopter ride? Probably not.

librarianintx  

Megabus etiquette AGAIN

When I took the Megabus back from Houston two weeks ago, I was once again amazed at the behavior of some of the passengers. It was clear to see from the line of people waiting to board the bus that it would be crowded, and likely sold out. Yet people STILL kept their bags piled up on the seat next to them, obviously in an attempt to keep someone from sitting with them. Even when people were complaining to the driver that there were no seats remaining, passengers still acted like the seats were occupied. Only when the driver came down the aisle and said directly to someone, "Is that seat taken?" did they then remove their belongings. C'mon people. Have common courtesy. Why are you making your fellow passengers stress out and have to beg and search for a seat? Would you like to be treated that way? The seat next to you does not belong to you. You did not pay for that seat. And its rude to sit there and watch others struggle to find a seat. It also takes time away from getting on the road and reaching our destination on time. Some people have rides to meet or connecting buses to catch. Your behavior could be making problems for other people. But all you care about is not having someone sitting next to you. It is selfish behavior.

librarianintx

Behavior at an Awards Luncheon

Late last month I attended an awards luncheon for a state organization. The luncheon was held at an older but elegant hotel in Houston near the stadium. Participants paid $35 per ticket, and we dined on steak, asparagus, potatoes, and cheesecake with strawberries for dessert.

I knew I would need to leave the luncheon early because I was giving a presentation between 2 - 2:30 at an organization in another part of the city. So I sat at a table in the back near a door so I could slip out as quietly as possible. The tables seated eight people, and because I was sitting in the rear, it took awhile for people to sit with me. Eventually, there were five other people at my table. They were a mix of state and company employees. All of them looked to be my age or older. So there were no students at my table, no millennials.

Lunch was served after a brief introduction. Then the awards portion of the afternoon began after lunch. I was disappointed and dismayed to see that as soon as the presentations began, every single person at my table took out their phone. Even though we had been reminded at the beginning of the luncheon to please turn off our cells, or at least put them on vibrate, everyone had their phones in their hands during the entire award ceremony. I can understand maybe taking a look a time or two during the approximately 90 minute presentation. Perhaps they needed to look for an e-mail from work, or a text from a family member. Maybe a doctor's office or pharmacy was supposed to leave a message. But to be scrolling through Facebook during an awards luncheon? I thought it was rude. I guess sitting in the back of the room meant they didn't have to be polite and attentive to what was occurring on stage. Don't get me wrong. I am not exaggerating when I say that I love my phone. I use it a lot. I carry it around with me even at home. But I can put it down when I need to. The people who were recognized at this awards luncheon worked for hard for the accolades they received, and all we had to do as guests was enjoy a nice meal and celebrate their accomplishments. Some of the speeches were very inspiring. I feel sorry for the people at my table who couldn't bother to pay attention. 

librarianintx

Survivor Season 33

Last week Taylor gave us a master class on how to lose Survivor:

Step 1: Enter into an annoying showmance.
Step 2: Make a half-hearted and ultimately failed attempt to hide said showmance.
Step 3: Steal food from the tribe.
Step 4: Tell someone that you stole food from the tribe.
Step 5: Announce to everyone at Tribal Council that you stole food from the tribe.
Step 6: Try to make someone look worse than you at Tribal Council.

He lost the game, and he lost the girl. But he'll always have the memories.

Bye Taylor!

librarianintx

Dancing with the Stars Season 23 Semi-Finals Part 2

Round Two: Trios!
The trios round is one of my favorite parts of Dancing with the Stars!!

James / Sharna / Jenna
Jive
It was a no-brainer that James and Sharna would ask Jenna to join them. Jenna has already filled in for Sharna this season. The women's outfits were very distracting. I thought it was a good jive, but not as strong or entertaining as the jive that Donald Driver, Peta, and Karina danced a few seasons ago. This trio didn't have as much as speed, and they didn't cover as much of the floor because the car took up so much space. It was a cool concept, but I think it ended up hampering the dance. The judges loved the routine, of course.
Julianne: "That is one hot pit crew!"
Scores: 10, 10, 10

Terra / Sasha / Artem
Tango
A Sasha and Artem sandwich? Yes, please, says Terra! (tm Erin). This was as fast a tango as Terra's legs could manage. It was a sexy dance, but to be picky for a moment, I thought Terra's outfit was too conservative and the color was rather drab. But she was working it, and the choreography was tight.
Julianne: "This girl is on fire!"
Scores: 10, 10, 10 (!!)

Jana / Gleb / Alan
Paso Doble
Again, a no-brainer for Jana and Gleb to choose Alan. What a lucky lady to be dancing with those two hunks! The beginning and end of the routine were especially cool, with the animated / CGI tree branches in the background. Jana had a fierce paso scowl on her face during the entire performance, and her moves were fiery too. Great job!
Scores: 10, 10, 10

Calvin / Lindsay / Whitney
Salsa
OF COURSE Lindsay chose Whitney. She always chooses Whitney for the trio round. As the saying goes, "If it's not broke, don't fix it!"
Great music, plenty of salsa content, neon green costumes, and Lindsay was right - amazeball tricks that we've never seen before! That was a ton of fun to watch! Outstanding! The judges lost their minds with glee and admiration, and I understand why!
Tom: "gravity-defying salsa"
Erin: "Megatron and the double-mint twins"
Scores: 10, 10, 10

Laurie / Val / Maks
Samba
I loved EVERYTHING about this dance! The song is the go-to samba song for this show, and for "So You Think You Can Dance," but it never gets stale to me. I loved the concept, the humor, the samba content, the samba rolls, the crisp, sharp, fast moves, the costumes going from rather drab, workout blue to fiery, performance red...I loved every second of this routine, and I didn't want it to end! This was my favorite dance of Laurie's since Icon's night, which was another spicy, saucy, Latin routine. There are aren't many dances that I will replay from this season, unfortunately, but this is one of the few! (Calvin's trio dance is another one)
Bruno: "strictly ballroom"
Julianne: "You were a proper Latin dancer"
Scores: 10, 10, 10 (YES!!)

All of the trio dances got perfect scores!!

Elimination:
Terra and Sasha went home. :( I wish they had made it to the finals, but I think Calvin and Lindsay deserve to be there too. Congrats on a terrific season, Terra!

End of Part 2

librarianintx

Dancing with the Stars Season 23 Semi-Finals Part 1

Wow, it's already time for the semi-finals! The season is almost over (sniff! sniff!)

Round One

James / Sharna
Argentine Tango
WOW! Sharna blindfolded for nearly the entire performance?! Holy cow! That takes incredible balance and composure on her part, and massive partnering skills on his part. And it was a hot dance too. That end pose - with James doing a handstand over Sharna - amazing! That definitely leaves a lasting impression of his skills.
Bruno: "Argentine grand prix!"
But Carrie Ann saw a few wobbles.
Scores: 9, 10, 10

Terra / Sasha
Rumba
Extra dancers for a rumba? Luckily they were only there for the beginning of the routine. It's tough because the rumba is such a sexy dance and there needs to be a lot of contact between the two dancers. I thought they coped very well, and their big hug at the end made me tear up. Terra's hip action was very good. But I was afraid that Carrie Ann would ding them for a lift. She didn't. She just cried. All of the judges praised her hip action.
Julianne: "best dance of the season for you"
Scores: 10, 10, 10 (I'm so excited for them!!)

Jana / Gleb
Quickstep
It was a very cute routine; I loved the pink and white costumes. I thought I saw a few bobbles, mainly on Gleb's part. But I liked how whimsical and fun the dance was. Again, I thought Carrie Ann might accuse them of a lift, but she didn't. Am I seeing lifts that aren't there, or did Carrie Ann not catch them?
Bruno: "proper quickstep"
Scores: 9, 9, 10

Calvin / Lindsay
Tango
The beginning of the routine was super hot. The entire dance was very intense, in fact. This was the most passion and fire that I have seen in Calvin all season. I can tell that he wants to make it to the finale. Unfortunately the speed and intensity caused some glaring mistakes. I think Calvin tried to overcompensate by motoring even more, and I got scared for Lindsay a few times. Whew! The routine got out of control.
Bruno: "such power and determination"
Scores: 8, 9, 9 (poor Calvin!)

Laurie / Val
Foxtrot
Just breathtaking. Incredible speed, power, and grace too. I got choked up thinking about her grandmother and how hard it's been for Laurie this week. Gorgeous dance. And I absolutely adore Val of course.
Bruno: "flying, guided by an angel...stunning"
Scores: 10, 10, 10

End of Part 1

librarianintx

Co-worker's offhand comment

I go outside to wait for my ride home when a particular co-worker is taking her afternoon break. If the weather is decent, she likes to take a walk or lay on a blanket on the Capitol grounds. Yesterday, as she passed by me, she said casually, "I sure wish I had your hours."

I work thirty hours a week. I am in the office from 8:30 - 2:30 five days a week. Sounds nice, doesn't it? I get in later and I leave earlier. So great for me. I'm so lucky.

There are so many responses I could have made:

I wish I had your salary.
I wish I had your health.
I wish I had your ability to drive.
I wish I had your level of independence.
I wish you understood the medical reasons why I only work thirty hours per week.
I wish people weren't so damn competitive about everything.
I wish you knew that you have nothing to be envious of. My six hour work day is sometimes as long as a nine hour day when you factor in my transportation situation. I am often in the van before 7 am, and sometimes don't get home until 4 pm. That's something to really be jealous of.

But I didn't say anything. I let her words float around me, and then I shook my head after she walked by. I stood on the sidewalk, trying to keep my balance, wondering when my ride would arrive and how much longer I was going to have to wait. A beautiful monarch flew by, momentarily distracting me from my aches, fatigue, and frustration. When it disappeared from sight, I looked at my phone again and tried to quell my impatience.

librarianintx

Dancing with the Stars Season 23 Showstoppers Nite Part 2

Round Two: Team Challenge

This time, the couples are paired up and must work together on a routine to earn judges' points. They aren't dancing against each other.

Team Last Man Standing
James / Sharna (Jenna) and Calvin / Lindsay
Paso Doble
The height difference looked a little awkward at first, and I don't think either man has danced a paso yet. I thought the middle of the dance was the best part, with a fabulous cape sequence and a lot of intensity from both contestants. A very solid dance. I think they both performed pretty equally.
Bruno: "Very Westworld"
Scores: 9, 9, 10, 9

Team Cubs
Marilu / Derek and Terra / Sasha
Jazz
WHY were there so many extra dancers? Blah! The crowded floor of dancers took away from Marilu and Terra, even though they were front and center during the routine. The dance was just so busy; there was so much going on. But a jazz / broadway routine often does throw in everything but the kitchen sink. The performance was good, although at times I didn't think they kept quite up with the fast-paced music. Terra and Marilu both looked great in their outfits. The judges were quite positive about the routine.
Scores: 9, 9, 9, 9

Team Sisters
Laurie / Val and Jana / Gleb
Contemporary
This was a great dance, with lots of passion and fire, and good synchronicity between the two couples. Sometimes I thought it was a little hard to see them due to the lighting and camera angles. But they were fierce. The judges were very impressed.
Scores: 10, 10, 10, 10

Elimination:
I don't know why Jana and Gleb are continually in the bottom two. She is a wonderful dancer and their chemistry is amazing. I guess she's just not popular for whatever reason. But I don't think it has much to do with her dance ability. Dancing with the Stars has always been more of a popularity contest than a dance competition. Luckily, this week the right dancer went home: Marilu. I think she did very well for a woman her age, and I'm glad she made it as far as she did. She should be proud of what she accomplished this season in the ballroom.

librarianintx

Facebook Friends and the Presidential Election

So I just unfollowed someone on Facebook specifically because of the election. I have unfriended one or two people on Facebook in the past, but this is the first time I have unfollowed someone specifically because of the election, or because of politics I should say. I doubt this will the last time. There are two more people that will likely get that treatment soon.

I don't do this lightly. I have been irritated with the person before. But I have always just tried to breathe and scroll post. Today I decided that I don't need to see this person's posts anymore. If I felt what she had to say had any redeeming quality to my life, I would not have unfollowed her. But it seems all this person does on Facebook is complain about her life and rail against Obama and the Democrats. What's the point? I do have some acquaintances, mostly friends from high school, who have a few anti-Democrat posts mixed in with posts about lots of other topics, and those I can usually handle. Because they also post funny memes and dog videos and pictures of exciting moments in their lives. Those are the kinds of things that make Facebook worthwhile to me.

I don't want to unfollow everyone that I disagree with. While it's important to me to surround myself with like-minded people, I also think it can be healthy to have people in your life that you don't always agree with. A civil debate is not a bad thing. And you can learn from people that are different from you. I am a big advocate of that. But when someone just spends his/her day spewing negativity, or complaining about his/her life, then I think it's time to move on. If reading someone's posts constantly makes you feel mad, upset, frustrated - then it's time to move on. So I have.

librarianintx