Repeat Trivia

On his way home to visit his parents, a Harvard student fell between two railroad cars at the station in Jersey City, New Jersey, and was rescued by an actor on his way to visit a sister in Philadelphia. The student was Robert Lincoln, heading for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The actor was Edwin Booth, the brother of the man who a few weeks later would murder the student’s father.

How Do I Spell Relief?

Today is the 3rd day in a row that I've felt good.  I mean really good for the first time in so many years I can't remember.  Please, cross fingers, light candles, wish, pray, send healing thoughts, be happy, or whatever you do to hope this continues!  I'm not spending as much time on the computer and watching TV.  I'm actually doing things, and it is such a relief.  I hope it continues and gets even better.  Please!!

For Froggy

You Know Who You Are (and so do I)

Blond Trivia

During the Renaissance, blondes definitely had more fun. Blond hair for women became so much de rigueur in Venice that a brunette was not to be seen except among the working classes. Venetian women spent hours dyeing and burnishing their hair until they achieved the harsh metallic glitter that was considered a necessity.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving however you choose to spend it!!  I'm thankful for you all! 

DWTS Results

Guess we all know by now that J.R. Martinez won DWTS.  Rob Kardashian was 2nd and Ricki Lake 3rd.  Some of our predictions were right on target! 

Now we have to wonder who will be on the next season. 

DWTS 13 - Week 10 - The Finals

Each team performs two dances this week.  Everyone does the free-style, and Ricki and J.R. are dancing the cha cha while Rob does a waltz. 

Carrie Ann helped Ricki during rehearsal and gave her some pointers about being sexy during her dance.  The judges do this every season when it's down to the final three.  Ricki had great rhythm, footwork, and energy with this cha cha,  She looks great and has lost a lot of weight as well as increased muscle tone.  I should dance.  The judges praised her performance and all gave her 9's for a 27. 

Bruno stopped by to help Rob.  His and Cheryl's waltz was graceful, elegant, good.  All the Kardashians were cheering him on along with Bruce-tox Jenner.  Tremendous improvement!  They also got all 9's for a total of 27. 

Len gave J.R. advice about moving his hips and arms better.  Len can dance.  I wish we could see the judges dance sometime.  This was a lively, sexy, happy cha cha.  I would like to see Karina win since Derek and Cheryl have won so many times; however, there is a reason they do.  They are both great teachers who bring out the best in their partners and make them better.  Len said this dance wasn't that good because J.R. got off time and that his enthusiasm got the best of  him.  Bruno said he was in character and gave an enthusiastic performance.  Their scores were all over the place:  7, 8, and 9 = 24.

Derek has won every time he's been in the finals, and Ricki feels the pressure.  He said every time he's been hard on her that she did really well.  I've never seen that side of him!  They started their free-style with a big photo of Ricki when she started DWTS and she ran through it letting the dance begin.  This was a mixture of a salsa and quickstep.  Their costumes were black and white.  Derek's was black trousers and a white dinner jacket.  Ricki's was a white sparkly top and black and white feathery skirt.  The judges liked it and gave them 9's again for 27 and a total of 54 out of 60. 

Kristie Alley was in the audience sitting next to Maks and making him laugh and cover his face.  No telling what she's saying!!  Wish I could hear it. 

Rob and Cheryl did a 20's style free style complete with music and costumes.  Wow!  Good footwork, Rob!  Fun dance!  The judges raved!!  They got 30!!!  This gives them 57 for the night!  Cheryl rocks and Rob really improved and also rocked!

J.R. and Karina did a Latin dance.  There were a lot of scary flips including one strange one where J.R. jumped on Karina, but she seemed OK.  Btw, Karina's body is fabulous perfection, and we saw quite a lot of it tonight.  Carrie Ann and Brooke both said something about that, and it seems as if she sort of blanked out and he helped her through it.  She felt a lot of pressure since she's not used to being in the finals.  The judges loved it and gave them a 30!  They have a 54 for their total. 

Who will win?  It could be any of them and is up to the voters.  It's partly about who dances best and mostly about fan base.  Who do you think will win? 

Big Trivia

 The biggest fish in the world are the whale shark at 50,000 pounds, the basking shark at 32,000 pounds, the great white shark at 7,000 pounds, the Greenland shark at 2,250 pounds, and the tiger shark at 2,070 pounds.

Basking Shark

Whale Shark

Tiger Shark

Great White Shark

Yes!

So so so true!!!

Clever Bunny

DWTS Results

Guess we all know by now that the finalists are Ricki, J.R., and Rob.  All that's left now is the freestyle and the voting.  The freestyle had won it for some and lost it for others.  Yes, Marie Osmond, I'm talking to you.  Guess she sold some dolls though. 

Oh?

DWTS 13 - Week 9

Almost to the end here.  Four couples are left before J.R. and Ricki are in the finals and then J.R. wins.  Popular sentiment seems to be with him, and he can dance.  We'll see.

They have three dances tonight in the semi-finals - either a samba or paso doble, an Argentine tango for all, and a group cha cha. 

I've sort of lost interest in recapping this, so I'll just do a cursory description.

Rob was really good.  All of his dances were great, which is a credit to his professional partner/teacher Cheryl Burke.  She's excellent at bringing out the best in the celebrities she's with.  Several have been in the finals and some have won.  She's quite the task master and choreographs to their strengths.  Rob has improved dramatically.

Hope and Maks had the lowest scores, which I thought were too low at times.  Hope has also improved but is still awkward as a dancer.  Maks has been so nice since that week he was a douche that Tom said, "Wow, it's the new Stepford Maks!"  Hope is in all kinds of pain.  Her shoulder has anchors in it where it was torn and had Novocaine shots in her shoulder she was saving to have during the Olympics.  She spoke out to the judges some, and Maks tried to get her not to.  She has some attitude now. 

J.R. hurt his ankle during rehearsal but soldiered through.  As usual, he danced well and got good scores but not as high as he has been.

Ricki rocked!  All of her dances were great with the scores to show it!  Well done!

They showed pieces about hardships and struggles each of the celebrities have been through.  It was good to learn more about them.

The cha cha was a contest with Rob in first place with 10 points, Ricki next with 8, J.R. with 6, and Hope with 4.  

Final Scores are: 
Ricki - 67
Rob - 65
J.R. - 56
Hope - 49

Science

Global warming. Evolution. Nature not nurture. It's time to put this out there plainly.
By: George Takei

For anyone who has taken chemistry!

:-)

Can't help it.  I think it's funny!

Australia

My friend Janey is here visiting family and has been living in Australia for over 20 years.  She teaches in a law school there and is married and has three Australian children.  She went with us to trivia last night, and we all had lots of fun.  We're going to have to come up with a new team name.  Any suggestions are welcome.  Last night we had Paige, Carl, Sue, Janey, and me, and we did pretty well.  We didn't win because we missed the last question, which asked who was the first President to be born in a hospital.  We wrote Nixon but it was Carter. 

Janey said she knew she was living in the right country when no big deal was made about their new prime minister.  Julia Gillard is their first female Prime Minister.  She's never been married, lives with a man she's not married to who is a hairdresser, has no children, and is an atheist.  I've said before that atheists are in the last group to be elected here if they admit it.  They are discriminated against with no apology. 

If it weren't so far away, I know I'd like living there.  The more she tells me about the educational system, healthcare, and way of life, the more I like it.  I'm not sure I'd get used to driving on the "wrong side" of the road but could possibly adjust.  I'd have to get my family to move there, so I guess I'll stay here and deal with it.  (sigh)

Trivia

I've been studying for our trivia game.  They give hints on their Facebook page, Brain Blast Trivia.  Wish us luck!!  I might have a shot with those songs from yesteryear and movie quotes but not with horror movies and super heroes.  Some of the guys on our team do, though.  Presidents is a category that depends.  Some of the information I know and some not.  That's why it's good to have a team!  I wonder if that "Holy Diver" clue is about Pat Boone's cover when he recorded that heavy metal album attempt.  Yikes! 

Here's what they hinted:  Get a Presidential whiz on your team today because today's final question is no joke... its a tough one. By request, look for Horror Films, Super Heroes, and Movie Quotes in today's game...and today's music related questions feature some songs of yesteryear. Bonus clue: Just say NO to the "Holy Diver"

DWTS Week 8

Tonight several of the dancers improved quite a bit.  Not Nancy Grace.  It's time for her to go.  Tristan is getting tired of her constant interruptions and not listening to him.  Len said she was like Cinderella and got to go to the ball but that it's midnight and time for her to go home.

Maks was nice to Hope this week and apologized for how rough he's been.  She told him she has too many insecurities with dancing and needs his hand held out in support.  So we saw a kinder gentler Maks who took her to meet his family for a dinner his mother cooked for all of them.  It made a big difference. Their quickstep was fun.  Hope seemed relaxed and had fun with it.  She was much better. 

Rob has definitely improved and is learning to dance.  Well done tonight!  Cheryl is strict and can bring out the best in her partners.

Ricki's waltz was beautiful!  She's looking good, too, and has lost quite a bit of weight and firmed up.  She apologized for not doing well on the jive, and Derek was so sweet to her. 

All the couples had two dances.  Their second dance was the instant dance where they rehearsed the jive all week and chose their song by drawing a CD out of a basket.  Then they had 20 minutes to put the dance to music and practice.

J.R. and Karina got 60 points - 30 for each dance!  All 10's from each judge and lots of praise.  They were very good.  He'll probably win.

Second scores are for the jive: 
J.R. and Karina - 30 (Waltz) + 30 = 60
Ricki and Derek - 28 (Waltz)  + 24 = 52
Hope and Maks - 27  (Quickstep)  + 25 = 52  A 9 from Len!!
Rob and Cheryl - 27  (Quickstep)  + 24 = 51
Nancy and Tristan - 24  (Tango) + 20 = 44

LOL!

Brunch with my BPF (Best Phone Friend) and Bill

The food wasn't perfection but the company was!!  We just didn't have a long enough visit. 

Good Sunday Coming Up

Tug is going through here to make a delivery, so we're meeting at O'Charley's tomorrow for brunch!  I'm looking forward to it! 

Dumb Aces

I've waited a while to tell you about trivia Tuesday night for reasons you'll soon learn.  I got there and was led to a table for 8 and waited for my team to show up.  And waited.  I knew Tina wasn't coming because she was sick and that Paige and Carl wouldn't be there because of her knee.  So I texted Hope and Sue with, "I have friends in no places.  I'm by myself."  Hope replied that she and her fiance were at Wal-Mart and she'd try to talk him into coming.  Sue showed up right after I texted since she was just coming in the restaurant when she got my text.

I guilted Hope into coming.  Her fiance was an unwilling participant but came through with many answers because he knows geeky stuff and is young.  Since we had four of our team the Smart Aces there, we called ourselves the Half Aces and were doing well.  We each knew answers and all knew some of the same ones.  A few not so much.

At the end we had 66 points and so did the Kernels, a team of teachers we know and are competitive with, and Nobody Likes A Smart Ace, our friendly competition team we trash talk with and always beat, had 79.  When we win, they are usually in second place.  We knew they had it and that we had to bid 20 points no matter what on that last question.  We had nothing to lose since we were already behind.  Tension mounts!

Last question:  In which city are the Frick, 2nd St. So, and Whitney Museums located?  I knew it!  NYC!!  Yes!  Hope and Nathan had no idea.  Sue was sure it was Boston and justified her answer.  I told her I was pretty sure it was NYC.  Had I thought to tell her the Frick Building is in NYC, it would have helped.  Had I mentioned that the Sex and the City women mentioned going to an opening at the Whitney, that might have been convincing.  But had I mentioned that I used to teach art history and recall that many paintings in my art history book were in the Whitney (not to mention the obvious - David's and Maddie's blogs), she would have believed me.  I gave in.  I don't know why.  I was too polite.  No more nice guy.  I should have been more insistent and should have stood up for myself.  But no.  My first thought was that David would be so disappointed in me.  Then I thought about Maddie.  Sorry so sorry!

The Kernels won with 86 points.  We would have tied them and had a tie-breaker question and could have won.  Tug said we are the most self-destructive team!  True!  Nobody Likes A Smart Ace lost because they put the wrong answer.  Now you know.  :-(

DWTS - Week 7

Halloween theme with costumes and some fun.

David and Kym danced a tango as a magician and assistant.  David brought in an illusionist to teach him a trick to use at the beginning.  They said they couldn't find the prop before they went on and were disappointed.  Good job!  David has improved and was praised by the judges.  Score - 24. 

Karina and J.R. did a tango to the song from Ghostbusters.  The tempestuous Karina stormed around at J.R. during rehearsal, but he stayed cool.  It was a disagreement in how he wanted to learn the steps and her being major diva control freak.  Thank goodness she and Maks didn't get married and have children!  Those little kids would have no choice but to be dramatic little Russians living in the USA!  It might be that way no matter who each of them marries but how volatile with the two of them!  Karina said the challenge with their dance is that Ghostbusters is fun and the tango is polar opposite.  J.R. "I ain't afraid of no tango" danced well but didn't have the footwork for the tango he should have.  Len said he set the bar so high from his previous performances that this was not up to his standards.  His scores from the judges was 25.

Nancy and Tristan's jive was fun and lively.  Nancy was doing a less lively version, however.  During rehearsal Nancy interrupted Tristan again and asked if in his Irish way he was saying she wasn't fun.  He rather tersely said, "No, I'm trying to finish a sentence."  Loved it!  The judges said this was not her best dance and gave her a unanimous 21.

Rob and Cheryl did a good tango to The Addams Family theme song.  His sister Kourtney and her toddler were in costume.  Her baby daddy wasn't.  I thought Coco Arquette might be, too, which would be cute, but she and Courtney Cox were in regular clothes.  The judges said this was Rob's best dance.  Bruno said his bum stuck out, but he has that Kardashian butt and can't help it.  Cheryl said he has a bum, and Bruno said it's OK to have one but you have to know what to do with it.  See what I mean about Bruno?  Score - 25.  Tied with J.R.!

Ricki and Derek were Snow White and the Big Bad Wolf.  They are doing the paso doble.  Ricki hurt her rib, and the doctor said it's an inflamed nerve, very serious, and requires rest.  Instead, he bandaged it and from how she danced probably gave her a cortisone shot or more.  This was a good paso!  Her costume was heavily corseted, so maybe the adrenaline of performing carried her through it.  The judges agreed and gave her all 9's for 27 points!

Hope and Maks danced a samba.  Maks hurt his toe and brought in someone from the troupe to work with Hope while he choreographed and critiqued.  Hope said she enjoyed working with Teddy and had more fun than with Maks.  It shows.  She was looser and seemed to enjoy the performance.  Maks got frustrated and asked why he's the only one who can see several moves ahead and that he isn't always this way but can be fun.  The judges could see the difference and enjoyed the dance.  Score - 24.

Now for the team dances.  J.R. and Ricki got to pick teams since they were leaders last week.  J.R.'s team danced first and had the tango.  David  and Nancy were on his team.  Nancy was the weakest link on the team.  J.R. was the best.  David got a 9 on his tango and helped J.R. with some of the holds and posture.  He was good, too, and I just love the way Coco looks at him.  So sweet!  All three of the judges said their team part was good but that the individual dances were not.  This team score is added to their other score and is 23, which helps some of them and not others.

Team Paso Doble had Ricki, Hope, and Rob.  Their rehearsal went well except for Maks being a prick to Hope.  It made the others uncomfortable.  The expression on Rob's face when it was going on made me like him even more.  He obviously didn't like it when Maks popped her on the shoulder and then sort of whipped her around.  Maks stormed out in frustration, and Derek stepped right in and showed Hope what to do.  I feel sorry for her with Maks and think he needs to take next season off unless he gets another partner who can handle how he is and dances well.  He made a scene and made everyone uncomfortable.  I'm losing interest in him.  Hope danced better tonight possibly because she had a break from him with those other guys.  I wish she'd had another partner, who could have helped her relax and learn without all that drama.  I believe the paso team will have a high score.  Well done!!  Standing ovation!  Praise from the judges!  Score - 26.

Maks complained in an interview that he could do as well as Derek if he'd had the partners he had.  Not true!  Maks has had some talented, committed, excellent partners.  Derek treats his with respect, dignity, and encouragement.  Derek finds the potential of his partners and choreographs to their strengths.  Maks bullies his.  Some respond to that and many don't.  I don't do well with that kind of treatment and would do better with Derek.  So would Hope as she would with some of the others who would treat her better.  

PS ...  Apparently I forgot to click "publish" last night when I wrote this.  I looked and it wasn't there.  I was really tired and sleepy last night and didn't feel good.  I didn't even watch House or Castle that were recorded but went to bed and slept about 10 hours.