Gloves

In typical Texas fashion, we went from the Hell's Front Porch of summer to Old Man winter seemingly overnight.

Saturday was sunny and steamy.

By Sunday afternoon, we were measuring temps by wind chills.

Stop laughing Northern states!

Anyway, Sunday night I pulled out my corduroy pants, fleece jacket, fuzzy socks, and overcoat. I was as prepared as I could be. Yes, I have a winter cap, but I was going to work, so hat hair was not an option.

But I was missing one item.

Gloves

Who cares? Snorts the Northern states. You'll only be outside for a minute. Just put your hands in your pockets. You'll be fine.

Nope.

Cold and windy hits my extremities immediately. 

I stayed up past my bedtime looking for my gloves. 

I know I have four pairs.

But where?

Not in the front closet.

Or in my closet.

Not in a drawer.

Of course I wasn't smart enough to leave a pair in my coat pocket.

Well, I thought, sounds crazy, but I'll wear socks on my hands if I have to.

Anything to avoid that bone-chilling feeling.

So with that plan in place I snuggled into my warm bed.

As I drifted off to sleep, I remembered!

My gloves are in a box on the desk in the living room. Hooray!

So today I am grateful for gloves, warm clothes, and a bus with heat.

librarianintx 

Dancing with the Stars: Latin Night

I know I'm weeks behind, but determined to catch up.

Luckily, I enjoyed Latin Night more than the first week of competition. I think everyone improved at least a little. And I loved the music - Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, Shakira, and Ricky Martin to name a few. I like the Latin dances better than ballroom.

My two favorites so far are Xochitl and Ariana, with Jason a close third. I completely agree with Carrie Ann - I saw Rita Morena (and a tinge of "West Side Story") in Xochitl's performance. I love how seemingly comfortable Xochitl and Ariana are with their bodies, and the musicality they embodied in their routines. 

My scores were in line with the judges, but I felt differently about two of the dances. I gave Ariana and Pasha a higher score than the judges did: an 8 from me, with 7's from Derek and Bruno and a 6 from Carrie Ann. I understand that they are the professionals and I am not. I loved Ariana's sensuality and I thought she had a good Samba bounce and rhythm. 

With regard to Alyson and Sasha's Tango - our scores were similar, but the judges liked the dance more than I did. Compared to the other dances, which were more fun and sexy, I found this Tango too stiff and emotionless. I understand that Alyson couldn't joke her way through this performance, but I found it rather boring. 

I do not agree with who went home. Jamie Lynn's Cha Cha was more perky than sexy. She looked like a high school cheerleader more than a ballroom dancer. But she was not the worst of the night. No one was terrible in my opinion, but despite nice lifts and decent hip action, Mauricio struggled to recover from an apparent mid-routine memory lapse. We should have been saying goodbye to him. 

Looking forward to Motown night!

librarianintx

Big Brother - Tonight's Episode (Duh, Spoilers!) :)

Let's Go!!!!

Whew! Jag lives to see another day in the BB house. 

But I have no illusions. 

His days are likely numbered. 

Even his Ride or Die is murmuring behind his back. 

But at least Bowie Jane and Matt managed to win for the alliance tonight. 

I was wrong that Blue was loyal to Jag. 

She was gunning for him as much as America was. 

So best that they are both in the jury house. 

Yay for live streaming!

librarianintx

 

 

Big Brother - SPOILERS!

The live double eviction episode starts in less than 18 minutes. 

I hope I can stream it.

I agree with Cirie.

I think Jag is making a mistake by targeting Blue.

Yes, Blue is better at competitions than America.

So he sees Blue as more of a threat.

But Blue is loyal to Jag.

At least for now.

Jag, please tell me you don't believe that America will keep you safe.

She already went behind your back to Blue.

And you blindsided her and her man.

She will not keep her promise to you.

One more thing.

Matt, Bowie Jane, and Mama Fe, y'all gotta step the hell up. Jag is an island right now. He's having to win everything. He's going to start drowning if he doesn't get some help. Alliance doesn't mean that one person does all the work. Someone that he trusts needs to win. 

librarianintx

"Be On Time Chronicles" - Dressed and Ready...

Monday morning.

And all was well. 

Until it wasn't.

I showered, dressed, took my medicine, did my skin care routine, even had time to make my bed and choose a bracelet.

I was outside at the appointed time. It was raining, so I put on my waterproof  jacket and dodged the drops and mosquitos for the required 30 minutes. 

No ride. 

At 8:35, I began my search for the truth.

I was transferred and put on hold three times. 

WHAT WAS HAPPENING?!

Was my ride still coming?

Was I no-showed?

Was my ride cancelled? 

Did my time change? 

At 8:55, I was finally informed.

When I learned that my intended vehicle had been involved in an accident, my attitude changed. I felt bad for the driver and passengers, and hoped everyone was okay. Since I had a meeting at 10, I decided to work from home rather than wait longer for a replacement ride. I was grateful for the ability to work remotely. Yes, it was frustrating to get ready and then not be able to go to the office. Inconvenience is annoying. But I was safe. I have understanding supervisors. I could salvage the day. I still had the opportunity to be productive. 

Focus on the good. 

librarianintx

The Challenge USA Season 2 Finale

I haven't blogged about it, but I watched every episode this season, and I really enjoyed it. 

I watched some Real World / Road Rules Challenge seasons, but I don't remember all of the vets. I remember Wes though - how much he has changed! 

My favorites this season were Tyler and Michaela. But I am happy for Chris and Desi. I am also proud of Cory - he did not give up, and fought back from a five minute penalty to come in second place for the guys. I felt bad that Michaela couldn't finish the course, but I hope she was proud of herself for all the times she faced her fears. I was also happy to see Bananas make it to the summit. 

These contestants were very fun to watch, no matter what they were doing - competing, celebrating, strategizing, fighting, smooching, and even puking. That "steel stomach" challenge was hilarious!

librarianintx

Big Brother Season 25 - SPOILERS!

I'm caught up!!

There's an episode tonight, but I'll be listening to the Astros game.

OMG!! That double blindside was THE BEST!!!!

Sorry, America, I am not "Team Comerica".

It was SO MUCH FUN watching Cory and America bask in their supposed safety and then have to sit their buts in the nomination chairs.

I felt a teeny bit sorry when America burst into tears, but then when she ripped into Jag I didn't feel bad for her anymore. America is responsible for what happened to her and Cory when she blabbed to Blue. America might be a super fan, but she is all talk and no game (except what happens under the sheets between her and Cory, which I don't want to think about, honestly).

I am SO GLAD that Jag came to his senses! I mean, I get it. He wants to go as far as he can with people are less deserving of a win. But he and Blue have been tight from the beginning. I did not want him to eliminate her before Cory and America. At some point, he may have to decide between Matt and Blue. 

Unfortunately, Jag is too good of a player. I know there is a good chance he won't win. He and Cam are the most deserving in my opinion. I will be most disappointed if America or Bowie wins.

librarianintx

 

Sources for free or reduced price books

Most people look forward to Fridays, and I do too.

But one of my favorite times of the week is Thursdays around 10 pm.

That's when I get the e-mail that lists the free "Hourly History" books for the week.

Hourly History publishes short books on a ton of historical people and time periods. 

If you sign up for their weekly e-mails, they will send you a list of about ten books that are offered free on Kindle. 

If I even think I might be interested, I get the book.

Why not - it's free! And they are e-books, so they aren't stacking up in my apartment.

Hourly History books are between 30 - 60 pages usually, and are designed to be a brief overview of a person's life or time period. I have read 12 Hourly History books so far. Some examples: Mary Todd Lincoln, Queen Mary I, Amelia Earhart, President John F. Kennedy, and Marie Antoinette. Here's the link if you want to sign up: https://hourlyhistory.com 

I like Hourly History books because they are interesting and short reads. The idea is that one can be read in an hour's time, but I don't read that fast.

Amazon has a plethora of Hourly History books. The ones that aren't free are usually $2.99.

Here are some other ideas for free or reduced price books:

Your public library! (says the librarian). Of course, you can't keep those, but they are free to borrow.

Freebooksy: https://www.freebooksy.com/ This is another site where they will send an e-mail (in this case daily), but not just for Kindle books. The majority of these books are free. I have found a few books this way.

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/ - very low prices on e-books - also a daily e-mail.

Bargain Booksy: https://www.bargainbooksy.com/ - e-books for $5 or less. Also a daily e-mail.

Thriftbooks: www.thriftbooks.com - a site that sells print books in various formats (hardcover, paperback, mass market paperback) plus audio books, collectible books, movies, music, video games, and more at good prices. You can also choose the condition of the item: like new, very good, good, acceptable, and new. New items are going to be regular price. 

librarianintx

Connections Game

https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections

I enjoy games.

Especially word games.

My roommate introduced me to Wordle.

And then he got me into Connections.

The premise of Connections is simple.

Take the 16 words, and form them into groups of four. 

The words in each group will be connected in some way.

That's where the simplicity ends.

Figuring out how the words are connected is sometimes easy and sometimes maddening. To add to the frustration, sometimes a word will fit in more than category. But there can only be four words per category. 

Sometimes you have to know about music. Movies. Old slang. New slang. Parts of something. Examples of something. The possible connections are many. Some are very obscure.

Each group is assigned a color. Purple is usually the most difficult,  followed by blue, then green, then yellow. I sometimes call purple the "WTF" category.  Sometimes I only get it by process of elimination.

I'm getting better at the game. I'm learning to be more patient, to work it out on paper, and not to make hasty guesses. You only get three tries to make the connections.

I find it fascinating, because I used to hate being frustrated. If something was too difficult,  I would give up. Now I enjoy the process. Sometimes with this game, you have to stare at it, walk away, then come back to it. When you finally get it, when the light bulb comes on and you make sense of a bunch of words that seem to have no connection - it is a delicious feeling. 

I'll give you an example from a previous game. Take the word "booty." It can be slang for your butt. But it can also be slang for some kind of wealth. In that game, there were already four words that meant butt: buns, bottom, tail, and seat. So booty went with loot, swag, and spoils.

There's only one Connections game per day. Give it a try! It can take awhile to get the hang of it. Don't give up! Challenge yourself! Your brain will thank you.

librarianintx 

Dancing with the Stars Week 1

Yes, dance fans I'm two episodes behind!!

For me, the level of excitement in the ballroom was a 14, while the level of dancing...was around a 5.

I was over-stimulated, and underwhelmed. 

The show was super-sized, but the dances seemed short, so that frustrated me.

There isn't anyone that I'm excited about this season.

But enough bitching.

I still love the show.

I see potential in a few dancers.

Only two impressed me in this first episode: Charity and Ariana. Both did a Tango.

The dancers can work on their moves, Julianne can work on her hosting skills, and I'll work on my enthusiasm for this season.

librarianintx 

Big Brother - Last Week's Episodes

Haha on me!

"Bowie Jane is a floater" - and then she takes out arguably the best player of the season.

However, she would not have made that move if Jag had not given her intel about what Cam was saying about her. Plus he won the POV and took Mama Fe off the block, so...

Therefore,  I'm giving the cred to Jag, not Bowie Jane.

Cam played hard. I liked his sense of humor. I also liked how he was giving advice to Cirie on his way out. He's a good guy.

Who do I think deserves to win at this point?

Top Tier: Jag and Cory

Middle Tier: Cirie, Mama Fe, and Matt

Bottom Tier: Blue, Bowie Jane, and America

Who am I rooting for:

Jag

Matt

Cirie

librarianintx 

Big Brother - When Bowie Jane was HOH

I haven't watched this week's episodes yet, so I don't know what happened. 

I just thought it was hilarious that while the entire episode revolved around who Bowie Jane should nominate - hardly any of the conversations included Bowie Jane!! Everyone else was talking about who she should nominate. To me, that just emphasized her floater status. And for me, she lived up to that status by making a very boring decision. She didn't nominate the two best players currently in the game: Cory and Cam. She didn't attempt to break up the showmance: Cory and America. No, she nominated Felicia and Cirie. I don't consider them floaters, but they have no alliances and likely don't have a high probability of making it to finale night. 

Bowie Jane's decision didn't make anyone happy, but also showed she's not someone who will make a big move when given the opportunity. I understand her loyalty to Cam, but why not nominate Cory and America? Cory didn't protect her when he was HOH; he had bigger fish to fry.

Maybe a bigger threat got back-doored...

BTW, I'm still enjoying this season. Zombie week was so much fun!

librarianintx 

Ageism Awareness Day

https://www.asaging.org/ageism-awareness

October 7th is Ageism Awareness Day

Ageism is as insidious as racism, sexism, ableism and other forms of discrimination. 

Older people can and are productive, active, contributing members of society. 

Modern medicine and good lifestyle choices such as eating well, exercising, sleeping well, and taking care of your mental and emotional health can keep people living longer and prevent chronic conditions.

If you are an older person, live well, stay active, keep learning, and be a role model.

If you are a younger person, don't buy in to and promote stereotypes and negative attitudes toward older adults. 

I am an older adult. 

I am learning Spanish and sign language and how to sight read braille.

I play Connections, Wordle, and Blossom every day.

I try to exercise and eat healthy every day. 

I use a rollator and a shower chair and I have a cane. My assistive devices help me stay safe and active. No one should be ridiculed or teased for needing assistive devices. I hate entertainment that includes negative depictions and stereotypes of older adults. That includes the "over the hill" / "old person" gag gifts and greeting cards. They are insulting. 

Aging can be challenging, but it's also something to be grateful for. 

We are given time to develop, grow, learn, succeed.

We are given the opportunity to be both a witness to, and an active participant in, history.

And we are privileged to watch future generations follow in our footsteps. 

#reframingaging

#bethechange

librarianintx

Tech Support

It was a good week for this technology-challenged librarian.

These were the problems and how I solved them:

Problem: Home printer wasn't working

Reason: power strip wasn't plugged in properly

Solution: crawled under the desk and pushed the plug into the outlet

Problem: Alexa wasn't working

Reason: Cord wasn't plugged in properly

Solution: got behind the chair and pushed the plug into the outlet

Problem: Fire TV wasn't recognizing the remote

Solution: Followed the onscreen instructions to fix the issue (holding buttons on the remote for ten seconds)

Problem: Needed to know how to shorten a URL for a work blog post

Solution: googled it! (Go to https://tinyurl.com/app, put in your long URL, and it creates a tinyurl.com URL. You can also use http://bitly.com, but you have to create a free account and can only do 10 links per month.)

So okay, the problems weren't difficult. But I still figured them out by myself. :)

librarianintx 

tWitch Remembered

Stephen "tWitch" Boss would have celebrated his 41st birthday yesterday. 

He died by suicide earlier this year.

I met tWitch briefly after a So You Think You Can Dance tour performance in Austin. But I didn't know him. He was a celebrity I watched on television. He was always smiling, always laughing,  always dancing. He had a beautiful wife and three precious children. From my vantage point, he had the perfect life: fame, fortune, love, health.

I was gutted when I learned of his death. I still am. How could someone who had a seemingly perfect existence choose to end it? 

In the beginning I wondered if there was some dark secret he was hiding from everyone. Financial problems? Guilt over infedility? Something from the past he didn't want to surface?

Any of that is possible. But I realized the reason could be simple and heartbreaking: tWitch may have suffered from imposter syndrome. He had family, friends, and fans around the world who adored him. I never heard anyone say a bad word about him. But he didn't feel worthy. He didn't feel deserving of love and respect. He was in too much pain. He couldn't stay.

Having people in your life who care about you and support is very important. Everyone needs that.

AND - 

Love yourself.

Believe in your worth.

Know you are here for a reason.

We miss you tWitch.

librarianintx 

Loneliness

I attended Yom Kippur services virtually again this year. 

For the first time in quite awhile, I watched Kol Nidre services as well, plus Yizkor. This gave me the opportunity to hear three sermons, all of which were excellent and thought-provoking. 

When the rabbi began her speech about loneliness by showing a picture of Taylor Swift, the congregants (and me) giggled at first. But very quickly I understood the point she was making. Because during the pandemic I have been learning about loneliness and the effect it can have on our emotional and physical health. Taylor Swift is an incredibly famous celebrity. Thanks to her talent and hard work, the world is her oyster. She can afford to do just about anything. There is no doubt she has many friends. But because she is so famous, her life is restricted. She likely has to have bodyguards everywhere she goes. She can't go for a walk or catch a movie on a whim. Fans love her, but they also constantly want something from her. Anonymity is not an option, unless she considers going incognito. 

So you might say, "Well, I'm not gonna feel sorry for Taylor Swift. Her money can buy her happiness." And I get that. But loneliness is still loneliness. 

Chronic loneliness can cause depression, anxiety, even thoughts of suicide. It can lead to abuse of alcohol and drugs. It can also contribute to chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Loneliness can be as dangerous as smoking.

People of any age can experience loneliness. Older adults and people with disabilities can have the added difficulties of lack of reliable caregivers, accessible transportation, mobility issues, and financial limitations that make it difficult to be social. 

There is help available if you are lonely. While social media like Facebook can actually increase feelings of loneliness, the Internet can lead to sources for connection, such as meetup groups for hobbies, support groups, book clubs, companionship, and lifelong learning - both in person and online. If you are a person of faith, consider contacting a local house of worship to find out about in-person and streaming events. With anything you try, it's important to attend more than once. Friendships and connections are usually not instantaneous. It can take time to feel comfortable in a new group. 

librarianintx

Falls are not a normal part of aging

Falling doesn't have to be in your future. 

It is true that older adults are more prone to falls, and more likely to injure themselves when they do fall. 

Falls can lead to injury, immobility, fear of future falls, and loss of independence. Immobility, even for short periods of time, can make you susceptible to infections, blood clots, and pneumonia. 

Lifestyle changes can greatly reduce your risk of falling. Here are a few examples:

1) Remove throw rugs and reduce clutter to avoid tripping

2) Have adequate lighting in your home

3) Be aware that some medications have side effects of dizziness and/or drowsiness

4) If you must drink alcohol, drink in moderation

5) Ascend and descend stairs cautiously

6) See a doctor if you are experiencing dizziness

7) Consider physical therapy to address balance concerns. Some physical therapists will work with you at home. You can also find balance exercises on YouTube. Yoga and Tai Chi will also help with balance. Cardio and strength training are important forms of exercise, but so is balance.

Finally, if you are falling, or close to falling, no matter how old you are, please consider a mobility device such as a cane, walker, or rollator. Don't let pride, ageism, or stigma stop you. A mobility device will not 100% prevent you from falling, but it will reduce your chances, and will also give you the stability and confidence to keep moving. A functional medicine specialist or physical therapist can assist you on deciding which device is best for you.

For more information, visit: https://www.ncoa.org/older-adults/health/prevention/falls-prevention

librarianintx

Keys to Longevity

 Jimmy Carter will celebrate his 99th birthday tomorrow.  

 Ninety nine years on this earth is an impressive accomplishment. 

For President Carter, it is even more more reason to celebrate, given the factors that could have shortened his life. 

His father and siblings died of pancreatic cancer. 

In 2015, he was diagnosed with melanoma that spread to his liver in brain. 

In 2019, he had a series of falls that resulted in broken bones. 

Seven months ago, he entered hospice. 

Most people are in hospice care for six months or less. 

The 8 general principles of good health are:

    fresh air

    hydration

    sunlight

    nutritious food

    sleep 

    exercise

    meditation

    feeling in control

The article I'll include at the end of this post outlines four habits that have likely contributed to President Carter's longevity: 

#1: A sense of purpose: Community involvement and volunteering have been a hallmark of Jimmy Carter's post presidential existence. Through his work with Habit for Humanity, he has helped to build, renovate, and repair thousands of homes in more than a dozen countries. 

Helping other people can help you.

#2: Strong family ties: Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter have been married for 77 years, and maintain close relationships with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  

Family keeps you young, engaged, connected.

#3: Regular exercise: President Carter was a runner into his early 80's, then switched to swimming and walking. He's also been an avid bike rider. 

Exercise is good for mental as well as physical health. 

#4: Faith: For nearly forty years, President Carter regularly taught Sunday School at the Plains, Georgia Baptist church where he and Rosalyn attend services. 

Faith fuels your spirit. Feeling connected to a Higher Power can help your body and your mind. 

Evidence is showing that lifestyle can influence both your quality as well as quantity of life. Making positive changes in the eight principles of good health and other habits can help you prevent chronic conditions, even if you have a family history of disease. 

librarianintx

https://news.yahoo.com/jimmy-carter-turns-99

 

Big Brother 9/17 episode

I'm behind as usual.

But I'm still in mourning over Izzy's eviction.

While I don't like it when players leave abruptly when they're voted out, and of course I do not condone any form of violence, I laughed out loud when Izzy pushed Cam away and said, "I'll be seeing you next week, Piggy." It was just the right amount of playful sass, but I know she was also so upset that Cam's plan to get her out worked.

My other thought:

Jared is playing a terrible mental game. He and Cirie are still in the game because luckily he can win comps. Cory was absolutely right in everything he said about Jared and Cirie. Jared was trying to bulldoze his way through multiple lies. And Cirie has become entangled in too many alliances.

I'm rooting for Matt and Jag.

librarianintx 

Big Brother 9/7 Episode - Spoilers

Oh BB, how you toy with us Jag fans.

First you made us think Jag was going out on a unanimous vote when Cam was HOH.

Then you led us to believe the majority was going to flip and kick out Jag instead of Red when Jared was HOH.

But they didn't. 

Jag survived another week.

Whew.

But this week - Cam is in power again, and everyone except Bowie Jane is waiting for the ax to fall.

My prediction: Cam will nominate Matt and Jared. But Izzy and Cirie are also strong possibilities. 

Cam had to watch his bromance partner walk out the door. He is out for revenge. 

I don't dislike Red. I think he was a good competitor. But he made a huge mistake when he believed Jared and didn't have a heart to heart with Cam. I don't believe Cam was throwing Red under the bus. He was simply telling Jared what J wanted to hear. He was playing the game.

librarianintx