Brain Games

There’s a new trend of paying someone or something to help you exercise your brain. These exer-games are supposed to help keep your brain active among other things. You've probably seen the commercials recently. Luminocity is just one of the websites that caters to those who want to reclaim their brains. What seem like fun computer games are said to actually help improve speed, attention, memory, problem solving, and flexibility. I see a great market for this type of product/service. It used to be that aging adults relied on cross word puzzles and other such games to keep their brains working. Luminocity claims their games and methods are based on research. While I haven’t seen this research, I do believe exercises like this would work to improve brain function. I don’t know that this would be more effective than the cross word or that it is more beneficial to pay a company to show you pictures and puzzles, but why not? If you’ve got the money it is worth a shot.

Replacing Workout Gear

I do not replace my workout gear as often as I should. Actually, I’m pretty bad at it and an article I recently read has forced me to re-evaluate my workout wardrobe. “When To Replace YourExercise Essentials” on Yahoo! Shine breaks down the replacement schedule. It includes the time frame for which your clothing, sneakers, sports bras, and equipment are good. This clear-cut replacement agenda is helpful to people like me who put off buying new workout gear.

I recently replaced my running shoes after much too long of a delay. I figure I should have gotten rid of them at least four years ago, but something always comes up. I am pretty frugal and environmentally conscious, so my reason for not getting a new pair of shoes usually centered on not wanting to needlessly spend money and not wanting to create waste. However, it did get past the point of not being needless. It was actually risking my health in that the shoes were no longer supporting the right areas of my feet, which could lead to foot ailments and other body structure issues. So, I guess I have some work to do as I ponder the other items in my workout wardrobe. I will be thinning it out very soon.

  

These are the shoes I decided to buy.

 

 I also have one sports bra that is perhaps well past replacement time, it is seven years old. I will be getting rid of that. I have others that are also several years old, but before chucking them I am assessing their elastic ability.

Bounce House Injuries

It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye, or breaks a bone. According to the CNN article “Bounce House Injuries Skyrocketing” the instance of maladies caused by the inflatable amusement contraptions are on the rise. It comes as the prevalence of bounce houses increases at carnivals, church fairs, birthday parties, and more. Children are now being rushed to emergency rooms for broken bones, bruises, and sprains. Arm and leg injuries are said to be the most common. Slightly less than 20% are treated for more frightening head and neck injuries. As with any activity, I guess the best defense against injury is keeping an eye on the children and establishing game rules so playtime does not get out of hand.

Bucket List Progress

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            One bucket list item down, many to go. I decided to get a head start on my bucket list. Last month in "Checking Things Off the Bucket List," I blogged about my goal of checking at least one item off of my bucket list every year. That way I won’t end up on my deathbed wishing I had accomplished more in life. My goal was to start with the list January first, but I managed to take care of learning how to make peanut brittle this year. Every year, my dad would make peanut brittle for us all to enjoy in the days and weeks leading up to Christmas. I thought it would be fun to learn how to make his recipe and have him teach me. The recipe isn’t difficult; it just calls for careful concentration. The result tasted great and friends told me it was some of the best peanut brittle they had ever tried. Looks like I have a new holiday tradition to uphold, making peanut brittle for all of my friends. 

            As the new year draws near I think it is appropriate for me to take a look at my list and decide which items I will attempt in the next twelve months. I have a Las Vegas vacation planned in March, so that is a very appropriate time to take my dive from the stratosphere. For good measure in case the trip doesn’t work out or I am not able to jump (don’t worry, no chickening out here) I’ll pick another item to work on. I’ll learn how to knit. My friend Alena has already said she would teach me, which will work perfectly so I can accomplish me new secret knitting goal. If I am lucky I will be able to check some more items off my list in 2013, but this is a start. 

Travel to Denmark

Ride in a hot air balloon

Take a cruise to Alaska

Black tie New Years Eve celebration

Take a dive from the stratosphere in Las Vegas

Get my hair braided in the Caribbean

Go on a relief mission for vacation

Take in breakfast at Tiffany’s

See the red wood trees

See Niagara Falls

Throw a New Years Day brunch

Visit all 50 states

Go on a bike tour through wine country

Go windsurfing

Learn to salsa dance

Climb to the top of a lighthouse

Send a message in a bottle

Write my memoirs

365-day photo project

Throw a dart at a map and go there

Drive route 66

Take a cooking class

Visit Stonehenge

Hike up volcano

Knit a hat

Make a gingerbread house

Learn to make dad’s peanut brittle

Go to a professional sports championship game/match

Visit a jazz club in New Orleans

Ride trolley in San Francisco

Cook a soufflé

Go gambling in Atlantic City

Invent a holiday and celebrate it

Grow my own vegetables

Ski New England

Go on a couples camping trip

Learn to dance the two-step and show it off

Take a sculpting class

Who Hates Junk Mail? ME!

            Getting the mail is often a frustrating experience for me. There is no need to send so much junk mail because I am not buying. The sad fact is that it is relatively inexpensive to send bulk advertisements, so even though the rate of return might be small the cost to businesses isn’t great. Those rejected bulk advertisements result in piles and piles of paper that I am often not quite sure what to do with. I try to recycle as much of the content as I am able to, but wouldn’t it be a lot easier if I just didn’t get stuck with the junk in my mail box?

            While at a previous address I decided to do something about the unsolicited messages. I signed up with 41Pounds.org for help in stopping the problem. The organization took my money and then contacted the many distributors of junk mail to have my name removed from their lists. I gave them a list of the catalogs I received that I do not want and they also contacted these organizations. I had sweet relief for a year until I moved elsewhere. The volume of junk mail sent to me at the next address was also not great. 41 Pounds had given me some tips to help keep my mailbox free of unwanted garbage. Do not register with the Postal Service for a permanent address change. Doing so will result in the Postal Service selling your information to solicitors of duct cleaning, personalized return address stickers, and carpet cleaning. Instead, fill out a temporary change of address and make sure you notify all of your accounts of your change of address within the time period that you have the temporary change on file. An additional tip is to never use your address when entering contests or signing up for frivolous services. They do not need your address and only want it so they can send physical spam to your mailbox. I greatly recommend using 41 Pounds or another service to rid yourself of the waste. Relief will come from not having to sort through a pile of mail with only one relevant item and from knowing that you’ve helped save trees and more. Here are the listed benefits on the 41 Pounds website:

Time — No credit card offers to shred or unwanted catalogs.
Trees — Keep 100+ million trees in forests, cooling the planet.
Water — Protect 28 billion gallons of clean water.
Climate — Junk mail produces more C02 than 9 million cars.
Planet — We donate to your favorite charity when you sign up.

Cyber Monday Shopping

            Cyber Monday is hours away and it is typically when I like to do my holiday shopping. I am not a fan of malls or big box stores during the lead-up to Christmas because there are so many people who have no idea where they're going or what they're doing. Most shoppers do not have an agenda and they just wander aimlessly, stopping and starting in front of me. Years ago I headed to the mall weeks before Christmas out of necessity. My roommate at the time taught me defensive shopping, which entails bobbing and weaving in and out of mall "traffic lanes" and keeping an eye out for "slow driver" so I wouldn't get stuck behind them. This lesson on holiday shopping was fun, almost like a game; it made the trip bearable. However, even when I use this technique now I am overwhelmed with an annoyed desperation and I have a strong desire to get out of the mall as quick as possible. I often get light headed and dizzy because there are so many scents and perfumes and people rushing around me. It's not as bad when in the actual store, but getting through the throngs of people is the hard part. Therefore, I do most of my shopping online. There are no lines, greater quantities of sizes and merchandise, and no shipping costs. Plus, I am able to do my shopping while at home in my pajamas in front of the television.

More Steps Since Unemployment

             I’m not amazed at how much more time I have now that I’m on unemployment after all I am still very busy, but I am surprised at how much more productive I am. I am completing my thesis for my Masters Degree and I recently finished two major school projects while searching for a job and perfecting my resume. Due to unemployment, I now have eight additional hours in my day. I find that since I am no longer on an unpleasant, overnight schedule I am much more productive with my time, restarting this blog for continued writing exercise and writing samples is just one example of my productivity. In addition to having more time to do things, I have more energy to accomplish tasks. Working third shift is really an energy and motivation zapper.

In a previous blog I wrote about using a pedometer to track the steps taken during a day. I am finding that my new daily average of steps is double what it used to be, and I still spend plenty of time sitting on my butt. This is how active I should have been all along, but I allowed myself to settle for less. I can’t make up for lost time, but I can create a new fitness resolution. I will no longer allow life’s challenges to interfere with my exercise goals.

Shells Guide: Weather Appropriate Clothing

           This is the time of year to bundle up. The temperature has dropped and the air threatens snow and more, however there are some people who refuse to wear weather appropriate clothing. I’m not sure if they think they look cool wearing shorts when it is 40 degrees. They don’t look more macho by not wearing a coat at 30 degrees. They’re failing at appearing to resist societal conventions by not zipping up their jackets or not wearing gloves. They just appear to be morons. Instead of portraying positive characteristics, people who do not wear weather appropriate clothing look poor and idiotic. Can you not afford a coat? If money is the case there are plenty of programs available to make sure you have something appropriate to wear when outside. Sure, you may think the weather is not that bad, but do you really want to see how much you can take? It may not be “that bad” but wouldn’t it be better if you didn’t dress like a moron? There is nothing wrong with maintaining a moderate temperature throughout your body. No one will think you’re less of a person for dressing warmly. People may actually think you’re smart!

The Best Thing to Be Thankful For

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            The thing I love most about Thanksgiving is the food, and I am thankful to be able to afford to eat the full spread of seasonal favorites. I love to cook, but my family members usually can’t agree on a menu for Thanksgiving, which means either cooking all day or going out to dinner. Everyone wants turkey but one person wants a ham. They all want macaroni and cheese, but throw a fit when I say I’ll make it from scratch; it has to be from the blue box! If I were to institute an edict on the menu they wouldn’t eat out of protest and all my efforts would be wasted. We went out for Thanksgiving dinner last year and one relative verbally attacked me and called me selfish. I explained I simply wanted everyone to get what they wanted without having a group of slave cookers in the kitchen all day, but that wasn’t good enough. One could say they’re a bit bratty about it. So, I’ve given up on trying to please them with my holiday cooking.

            In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought I would share some of the foods I am thankful for, but don’t get to cook this year. On the savory side, I love mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole. On the sweet side, I love apple pie and pumpkin pie with ice cream. Of course I like grazing over the endless other food options.

Black Friday Shopping

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            On your marks, get set, get ready to go! Black Friday is just around the corner. I’ve never been one for Black Friday shopping. In fact, I’ve never gone. I don’t see the point in waiting in gigantically long lines hours before the stores doors open in hopes of being one of the first inside. I don’t see the point to rushing and elbowing your way to a store end cap that has five sale items, first come first served. I don’t see the point in combing through all the picked through items in hopes of finding something that somewhat resembles an item on your shopping list. These negative aspects of Black Friday are further magnified by death and injury in recent years at the hands of corporate and consumer greed. There are also the unfortunate retail workers who are aren’t able to spend Thanksgiving with their families or have to leave early so they can make it in to work for the midnight rush and deal with all of the indulgent excess on top of the rude customers who are always right.

Yes, it is possible to find a great deal on Black Friday or to be one of the lucky people to find a door buster deal, but don’t get your hopes up. The numbers are not on your side. I’m not sure of the odds, but I would guess that for each door buster deal in each store the odds are 100 to 1 or something like that. Black Friday is more about the experience. For some people, Black Friday shopping is a tradition that brings together family and friends for quality time and bonding. Others are shopping crusaders to whom the actual item purchased matters less than the deal they won. There is also a percentage of people who do not wake up early or stay up late. They make it to the store when they can and pick up stocking stuffer deals and take advantage of the sales that are left over. Whatever your reason, have fun and stay safe!

Healthy Soda?

            Soft drinks are not healthy, generally. However, there is a new soda in town that purports to have health benefits. Believe it or not, Pepsi Special claims to fend off fat. According to a CNN article, the drink contains a dietary fiber that dissolves in water (like those found in Benefiber) and when eaten properly, fiber-rich foods help regulate the digestive system, lower cholesterol and may lower the risk of heart disease. This soda is also said to suppress the absorption of fat. Even if these claims are true, I’m not sure we should be calling this a healthy soda. An item that contains benefits isn’t necessarily a wholly beneficial drink, as with soda there are many other negative factors such as high sugar content, empty calories, artificial flavors and colors, etc. Although I am somewhat intrigued by Pepsi Special, I will likely not try it. I rarely drink soda and when I do opt for the fizzy drink I reach for Sprite or some other non-colored, non-cola (although I was a big fan of Pepsi Clear back in the day). I would be interested in finding out how well this product performs.

Bar Recycling

            I have always been appalled by high volume usage of glass bottles and lack of recycling by bars. Night after night, bar tenders just toss bottles at the end of the night. Bar patrons toss their empties in the trash as they continue to imbibe and waste. Years ago, I thought this would be a great campaign to get involved in. Increasing awareness of recycling programs among the bar and restaurant community. Think about how much waste could be eliminated just by getting bars and restaurants on board with a recycling policy. North Carolina actually has a law on the books that encourages recycling. During the 2005 legislative session, the state’s General Assembly passed a bill that requires holders of certain Alcoholic Beverage Control permits to separate, store, and recycle all recyclable beverage containers. The bill does not affect all bars and restaurants, but it is a start. There are other efforts going on across the United States to enlist more establishments.

Partnership4Recycling 

 Glass Packing Institute

 

Hamilton County Recycles 

CPR Enterprises 

Some of these links provide helpful information on how to start a bar recycling program, existing programs, best practices, and material removal availability. Life has gotten in the way of my plans to advocate for bar and restaurant recycling, but after finding some of these links and tips I think I will renew my effort to make a difference.

Condoms and Porn Stars

Should pornography actors be forced to wear condoms when on the set? Is it a public health issue or an issue of condemning a population of people whose morals don’t exactly match up with those of lawmakers? Earlier this month, Los Angeles County passed Measure B, which requires performers to wear condoms while filming. Many people in the porn industry have spoken out against the ordinance, including 26-year-old adult film star James Deen. In the CNN article “James Deen on CaliforniaMeasure Requiring Condoms in Porn,” Deen says he is disappointed, but not necessarily about the law. He believes people continually bully adult entertainers. He likens his community’s situation to the plight of homosexuals, minorities, and females.

            I am in favor of the ordinance because I feel like Sexually Transmitted Infections are a public health issue and if protection can be regulated and legislated it should be. I do not believe this ordinance is picking on the industry, but I do feel county leaders are calling on the individuals to be more responsible. Furthermore, I think it is reckless to say adult film entertainers are suffering the same blight as homosexuals, minorities, and women. That is insulting because those populations have gone through and are still going through struggles for equal rights. Adult film entertainers are not denied the right to vote and they are not denied the right to marry their heterosexual partner. They likely do not have trouble getting hired or getting equal pay based on demographics. Being told to wear a condom is not the same as being told you are less of a person because of your race, gender, or sexual orientation. Furthermore, being a porn star is not something an entertainer has to do, but gender, race, and sexual orientation is not a choice.

So Long Hostess

     So long Hostess. The ending operations for the maker of Twinkies will have a devastating effect on the lives of the nearly 18,500 workers who will lose their jobs, but I think it could have a positive affect on the lives of many others, health wise. Hostess is an iconic American company with brands that are cherished today as nostalgic sweets of our younger years. However, we can move on; we have moved on. Isn’t that a reason Hostess is closing? People love Twinkies, Ho Hos, and Ding Dongs, but they just don’t eat them anymore.  Dessert lovers now opt for alternatives that are surely just as sweet, and I would like to hope that more enriched, refined baked goods and breads will not take the shelf space left by Hostess products. However, in all likelihood, snack items that are equally if not more unhealthy will start showing up. Only time will tell if they will be more successful than Hostess in its later years.

Pushing Forward

            Remember all of those threats from Mitt Romney and other republicans to repeal the health care overhaul? They said if elected they would get rid of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. That would have had dire consequences for many Americans and for me. The health reform results in more people being covered by health insurance through being able to stay on a parent’s plan longer, more affordable care through outlawing unreasonable rate increases for plans, and more thorough care because people will not be denied coverage based on a preexisting condition. It is easy for those who have always had insurance and have never been denied coverage to be critical of the plan. The changes won’t affect everyone, but no patient’s quality of life will be lessened.  Since President Obama earned his re-election, full implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will happen.

            This is yet another reason I am happy President Obama was re-elected. Had he been denied a second term in office my Masters thesis would have had to change. I wrote it in such a way that my argument would still be valid, but the premise wouldn’t be as strong and the topic wouldn't be as timely. I also submitted for a Fulbright grant to study health care in Switzerland. That country will celebrate 20 years since passing universal health care in 2014, the same year the United States institutes the individual mandate. The Fulbright people are still reviewing grant applications and narrowing them down to the finalists. My application and my chances for studying in Switzerland would be thrown out the window if health care reform in America were in jeopardy. I guess my perseverance shows I had faith in President Obama’s electability.

Quitting For the Day

            November 15^th is The Great American Smokeout. The designation by the American Cancer Society is a great way to get the word out about smoking cessation. It encourages smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or plant to quit in advance and stop lighting up on that day. The idea is that by quitting smoking, even for one day, smokers are taking an important step toward a healthier life.

            I used to be a light smoker. It was mostly just social smoking when I was in college and a few years after. One year in college my Resident Assistant said she would bake me an apple pie if I quit for the day. I took her up on that offer. It wasn’t hard to avoid lighting up since my habit was only about eight cigarettes a day and it helped that the Smokeout was in the middle of the week so I wasn’t tempted like I would be on a weekend. My apple pie was delicious. I continued smoking the next day and for a few years afterward. I finally quit five years ago, cold turkey. It was hard and there were many temptations, but I haven’t looked back and I now appreciate the benefits of not being a smoker. I am not smelly and I have more stamina. I also appreciate that bars are now smoke free in my city. With the Libertarian culture in Indiana I didn’t think a ban would be passed for many years. It’s progress!

Hunker Down to Dodge a Bullet During Broad Daylight

 There are certain phrases that should be stricken from the English language, and especially from news writing. Such phrases are over used and misused. They tend to loose meaning and urgency because they are heard so often. The idea of “hunkering down” does not conjure the imagines it should. It is just something that is said when a storm is coming. In actuality, hunker down is a term used when someone needs to take shelter or hide out somewhere for a while. It is actually a position of bending down and resting on one’s haunches. I often think of someone doing this in a corner. However, the recent strike from Sandy brought “hunker down” out of the misued cliché book and into the vernacular of common people and news anchors.

There are many other aggravating phrases that bother me just as much, if not more. I’ve often wondered what broad daylight looked like and why the weather condition is not newsworthy when robbers attack on a cloudy day or when they have the nerve to attack when it is raining. Do storms carry guns? I wonder because I often hear that we dodged a bullet when it comes to weather coverage of tornadoes and blizzards. Speaking of weather, what is a garden-variety rain shower. Is that a light shower like something that would come out of a garden sprinkler? Or is it an amount that will make the vegetables in your garden grow? Is the rain shower like a tomato? Ugh, there are so many I could rant about.

I try to not use clichés in writing or in speaking. I feel like they are lazy and someone who has a better handle on the language will think of a more appropriate term to express a situation.  If someone does not have a better handle on the English language they should try to think of alternate wording and it would help them in the vocabulary department.

Surprising Probiotic Foods

            Probiotics are said to help with digestive issues. You see adds for supplements everywhere. If you take some pills you’ll have less digestive discomfort and if you eat certain yogurts several times a day you can ease some of the irregularity. I’ve tried both, but I don’t buy into the health effects for myself. It was a waste of money. It seems my digestive issues are beyond help. However, I do keep track of my symptoms in a food journal so I can pinpoint which foods make me feel good and which ones make me feel bad. That way I can modify my diet so I have fewer issues. So, I’m always interested in reading new articles that have ideas and help for easing digestion. 

           A recent WebMD article has some probiotic food suggestions. One that came as a surprise to me is sauerkraut. Unpasterized kraut has beneficial microbes and is also loaded with immune-boosting vitamins that may help ward off infection. Miso soup, which is a fermented soybean paste, can also aid in digestion. I was excited to hear that soft cheeses contain strains of a strong bacteria that can survive the trip through your gastrointestinal tract. Another surprise, I didn’t realize that sourdough bread aids digestion because it contains lactobacilli. I find the suggestions interesting and worth a shot. After all, I will not have lost anything even if they don’t work as probiotics. I like changing it up and trying different foods.

Are Gas Prices Too Cheap?

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            I’m not trying to jinx it, but it looks like gas prices may not be monumentally high for the Thanksgiving holiday this year. Typically ahead of a holiday the price at the pump skyrockets, for whatever reason. This news is a bit of a relief and perhaps it will mean good things for the economy as more people will be willing to drive to their Thanksgiving destinations as opposed to just staying home.

            Recently I saw an article that posed the question if gas prices are too low. The article “Gas Is Just Too Cheap!” in the November issue of Utne magazine presented the idea of gas being too cheap for its perceived scarcity and the desire in America to get people off foreign oil. The thought is that people aren’t given an incentive to reduce their fuel consumption. So, there is a group of people in a Minneapolis community who agree to pay $1 to $3 more than the price at the pump, depending on income. The additional money is donated to organizations that are working on alternative transportation solutions. The congregation gathers four times a year to talk about how the program is changing their personal gasoline consumption and to identify organizations that are working toward a more sustainable future.

I think the group’s goal is admirable and educational. Paying extra each time you fill up your vehicle definitely provides motive to carpool, combine errands, walk and bike more, and buy a more fuel efficient vehicle. Even reading about this group serves as inspiration to me. However, I don’t think it will ever take off on a large scale. People are mostly not willing to spend more than they need to, especially on something they already feel costs too much. They are selfishly not willing to inconvenience themselves and put in extra effort to achieve or obtain something that comes so easily.

A Month of Advocacy

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            There’s a month for just about every health advocacy issue. November shares a number of observances including American Diabetes Month and National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. The designations bring awareness to each issue and aid in fundraising goals. Some issues, like breast cancer awareness in October are typically on people’s minds year round. However, people who are not directly affected sometimes forget about other health issues. The observances jog memories and make sure the victims, survivors, and warriors are not dismissed. There will be events throughout the month for both events to focus the nation’s attention on the problem.

Information on American Diabetes Month

Information on National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

A Vote For MIT Causes Confusion

An interesting post election story here. There was some trouble at the polls on Tuesday when some voters showed up in shirts that said MIT. The poll workers thought the clothing was advocating support for Mitt Romney, and it is against the law to wear clothing in support of a candidate to the polls. However, according to Anderson Cooper’s Ridiculist, those in question were not necessarily fans of Mitt Romney they were supporters of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Other poll workers stepped in and the situation was resolved and the suspects were allowed to vote. Thank goodness that was cleared up! But then again, I’ll take that sort of polling confusion any day over disenfranchised voters and hanging chads.

Please Don't Deck the Halls Yet

            Have you started seeing Christmas in stores yet? Earlier this month I wrote a blog about putting up outdoor Christmas decorations. The subject of early holiday celebration has numerous discussion topics. People start listening to music early, put up the tree early, give presents early, etc. Most frustrating for many customers is stores putting up their Christmas decorations in early November. This disheartens people because they often feel like their year is being hurried to an end and the days just start flying by. There’s no need to rush things! Christmas will come and if you delay decorating by a few weeks we won’t forget it is coming. For others, starting the Christmas celebrations early prolongs their favorite season. Christmas is not my favorite holiday. I simply tolerate all of the merriment. I would enjoy the celebrations more if they were done in moderation, but all of the joy gets thrown in my face and I have to deal with an exaggerated period of time with sickly clashing red and green, tacky decorations. I get sick of it all. So that's why I appreciate this showing from Norstrom (picture above). Thank you for not ruining Thanksgiving, Hanukah, Win-Sol (an invented holiday celebrating the winter solstice), and more.

Botox and Depression

           Botox is most often used as a way to fight aging and maintain a youthful, wrinkle free look for the face. However, a new study says Botox may help fight depression. The study is a first of its kind and was conducted in Switzerland. Researchers found that paralyzing the space between your eyebrows where vertical creases develop can reduce symptoms of severe depression in some cases. The positive mood effects were noted after just five injections. I think this is a great find, but I wish it were not necessary for people to need to lessen the effects of severe depression when there are so many medical treatments already available.

            Depression can be a debilitating condition. Those who suffer are feeling more than just a little down or sad as many non-effected people might think. It is easy to wonder why someone just can’t snap out of it. It is easy to think that someone who distances him or herself from social interaction due to depression is just giving up. I think these things often about people with depression. Actually, I more often wonder why the heck they are not being treated because science has gotten us to a point where most people do not have to feel severely depressed. There are all kinds of pharmaceuticals to try out.  Perhaps some people don’t like being medicated or don’t feel like your self on the medication, but I think those are selfish reasons for not getting help. The depressed person is not the only one who has to deal with the symptoms. Family and friends are affected. In addition, if people don’t like how they feel on the medication maybe that’s because they’re so used to not feeling well. Furthermore, if someone doesn’t like the idea of being medicated they should get over it. I don’t like having to rely on so many medications (allergy and other), but the truth is they help. I wonder what did people do before there were so many pharmaceutical aides, and then I realize they just suffered. Just give in and get help!

Dancing With the Stars: Week 7

            Better late than never, right? I’m a little off on my blogging this week due to the election and so is Dancing With the Stars. There was no elimination this week due to coverage of election results. The scores from this week will be carried over to next week and will combine to decide the double elimination. As this is an off week, the duos tried something new. They took on fusion dances, which combine two styles into one song. I wasn’t a big fan of the dances and I think that’s because the couples had to cram so much into one routine and there was so much to focus on. My favorites this week were Melissa Rycroft and Tony’s Tango-Cha Cha and Shawn Johnson and Mark’s Tango-Paso. Both seamlessly combined their dance styles with nice alternation.

            The swing dance marathon played a large role in the scores this week. Each couple got extra points between four and ten depending on the order in which they were tapped out. Melissa and Tony won and added ten points to their score. Surprisingly, Kelly Monaco and Val came in second. The two couples had more stamina than any of the others. I thought Shawn and Mark were going to pull off the win with their tricks, but it appears they did too much too soon and their pace started to lag. They finished in third. Kirstie Alley was the first to go.

            I know Kirstie Alley has a lot of fans out there, but I’m not sure if she can come back from scoring 11 points less than the leader and five points less than her nearest competitor. There is no elimination this week, but the low scoring trend with Kirstie will bring her time on the show to an end eventually. She has gotten much better as the weeks have gone on. Not only is her footwork becoming cleaner, but she is in better shape. In the first half of the season she appeared to be struggling to keep up with the music and her feet were a tad slow. That is not the case anymore as she is able to keep up and isn’t struggling with the music. 

            There are a couple of others in my questionable category for continuing on with the competition. Emmitt Smith’s scores have been mid to low in the past, but this week he stepped up his dancing. However, he landed in the middle of the pack again when his fusion score was combined with his swing marathon total. I’m not sure if he has enough fans to pull him through. Sure football fans and the state of Texas are voting for him, but those Lone Star voters may be dividing their votes between him and the other Texan, Melissa. Kelly Monaco did score higher this week than she had in the past, but I’m not sure if the soap opera fans have enough might to pull her through. Two celebrities will be eliminated next week and it really is anyone’s game. Last week, Sabrina Bryan scored the highest of any of the dancers and she was still eliminated. So, the fan vote really does make all the difference.