Episode 2 review: I love the pacing of this episode. It is not too stretch and it is not formulaic-fast. Every little thing runs smoothly from start to end. Arriving from Tribal Council, the Baka tribe was tested again. They were all wet the whole night due to storm. Elie almost found a clue that is hidden in between the branches of a tree but it was not enough. In Coco, the all-female alliance + James was getting stronger, leaving Geo and Ryan outside the circle. A massive portion of the airtime in Vesi went to Cody. Highlight of the episode is when he shared his personal story of enjoying and living in the moment of every day after losing his best friend to cancer.
Lesson Learned: “I ain’t a day go by without really livin’. There’s not a day I let go of that and I can go to bed and be like I have a good time today.” – CODY | More Lessons: Episode 1
I consider myself an introvert. I do not need 10 or more people in front of me to prove to myself I have friends.
One is enough. Two is okay as long as they do not make me a bank. Three is already a crowd. Even in sports, I am more of a fan of individual games with tennis as my all-time love.
Many times, I am labeled as socially-inept “having no friends” but these fake news about me are not true. It is either they are passing to me their unfavorable feelings they cannot admit to themselves or misinterpreting me to stain my reputation.
I still have friends. Just having a rough time promoting a couple or some of them to best friend after my psychological tragedy in 2017. The word “best friend” brings anxiety until now.
And, considering I have a sensitive digestion and I am not leaning towards small talk; I train myself not to love parties where conversations are done in group.
Small talks do not interest me. These talks are forgettable, shallow and not helping me grow.
Choosing between small talk and paying someone to talk with, without thinking twice, I choose to talk with a psychiatrist or psychologist and get amazed with the new insights that can improve my mental health.
For this reason, I am writing this to evaluate the few quality people who have made a great impact on my life as of 1984 to 2022.
Family
“Follow your intuition,” this is the Great Lesson my dad taught me a year after his death. My intuition works well. I have heard it the first time he was saying goodbye to me without words.
When a glass of water falls heavily on the floor, the water spills out of control. The glass breaks into pieces. It may be possible to glue the pieces together but it is no longer the glass it is used to be.
I trusted him too much. It is unrealistic and too kind of me to forgive and re-accept him inside my support system.
Simply put, the death of my dad is my all-time Great Frustration, the betrayal of the Judas Best Friend I Once Had was the Great Pain.
The intensity of pain was more than the pain of losing a best friend due to illness or accident.
Non-family
The Alize Cornet-look-alike is a friend. She is my first love. She is my Great Love.
Sadly, great love stories have no church ending. The love I have invested for her is happy. It is real, even it is a triangle with the Judas Best Friend I Once Had.
She is the one who made me realize how unconditional love works.
“Now another brother’s taken over, but it’s still in your eyes | Even though we used to argue, it’s alright (It’s alright, girl, that’s okay) | I know we haven’t seen each other in a while | But you will always be my boo“
Though, as life progresses and sacrifices are made, even unconditional love comes to full circle. I am the one who let her go in 2015.
In years 2007 to 2014, we decided to move on as friends. This is the kind of moving on with expectations. It did not work.
Expectation functions differently than reality. Expectation, no matter how small, hurts.
Music Video: My Boo by Usher and Alicia Keys
I know Alize Cornet-look-alike since grade school. I was there with her when she won her declamation contest in third grade.
Back in high school, she heard it when I confessed to her I had a crush on her sister, (This is an honest bad move for me hahaha).
“There’s always that one person that will always have your heart | You never see it coming ’cause you’re blinded from the start“
Playing hardcourt tennis against her on Wii-Motion Play is the highest-high of our good friendship in August 2012.
She plays as Ana Ivanovic. I play as Novak Djokovic. She is fast and is pressuring my left-handed forehand well.
But, sports is sports, the better player wins in the end. I survive the threat and close-out the match with my one-handed backhand volley (7-6, 4-6, 6-3).
Note: My Boo means special someone, not girlfriend. She is the love story I will tell to myself over and over again in case I can never love again.
Special Mention
Heda. Jojo. Myla. Jik. Cute woman in Alexian Brothers who I have forgotten the name but she is a fan of CSI. Neil. Chris. Dan. Hannah. Pocholo. Melanie. Angelica. Ajie. Miji. Mona. Allen. Karen. Sophia. Keith. Clyde. Niceann. Reif. Lou. Tim. Luis. Daryl.
My birthday celebration with the DDH Physical Therapists in 2018
These are the first names of my physical therapists since 1990 to the present. I could have written more names should I be consistent with the therapy when I was younger.
But due to reasons I have no control with, physical therapy has become a staple part of my life in as late as 2016.
This was the renaissance year!
I re-studied the physical side of myself without a trace of denial and with the help of my rehab doctor and all the names listed above.
I asked questions, shared stories and actively-listen to what they say.
With Daryl, the youngest home physical therapist I have as of the writing
This was also the year that I realize that I needed to sacrifice my goal of becoming a psychologist to support my physical therapy needs until I grow old.
I mean, I can still live my life without being a psychologist, but I can no longer afford to live in Great Spasticity on my four limbs.
Physical therapy is a long-term need for cerebral palsy and, I thank all my smart well-experienced physical therapists for sharing their knowledge and experiences with me.
(Hoping and praying I’m not their most talkative patient yet, Hahaha). Because beyond the payment for their professional fee, they are an essential part of my support system yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Note: In tennis, multiple grand slam champion Rafael Nadal is not the Rafael Nadal on the court without Rafael Maymo – his long-time and current physical therapist since 2006.
Episode 1 review: This pilot is fine and average. Moments in camp life are long. The edit seems over-stretched, but it builds the personality of a number of survivors well. The episode began with 18 new people arriving on the island. Jeff Probst welcomed them, then, the Reward Challenge happened. The challenge format was quite similar with Season 42 except that there was no surprise twist at any point of the game. The last part of the game amazed me. No one figured out the right technique to remove the flint from a slant hanging bamboo except for Cody (Vesi). The blue (Coco) and yellow (Baka) tribes returned to the camp choosing the Sweat and Savvy Penalty Challenges, respectively. Ryan and Geo litelly dug deep and found their basic supplies easily. High-intelligence matters, thanks to Sami for figuring out the Number Puzzle with one move.
The Prisoner’s Dilemma changed. Instead of hiking until reaching the hill top, Gabler, Karla and Dwight needed to cross a chest-deep sea filled with slippery rocks. Their goal was to reach another island and decide if they are going to Risk or Not-risk their votes. Gabler won the advantage. The first Immunity Challenge of the season went big and dirty. This was a repeat of the challenge from Seasons 41 and 42 when the tribes were about to merge. Yellow lost and sent themselves to Tribal Council. Elie is my early favorite, and strategically, she chose to sacrifice Morriah for the benefit of the entire tribe. 4 of 5 stars, GOOD
Lesson Learned: “Every little thing can be used against you in this game.” – Sami
John Legend releases his ninth studio album entitled Legend under the license of Republic Records for the first time. This is his second album during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Legend reminds me of Alicia Keys’ KEYS for the reasons that it is named after their last names and it is composed of two discs. Disc 1 of Legend contains upbeat tracks while Disc 2 focuses on slow soulful sounds, which are John Legend’s signature since his debut in the music industry.
The legendary album cover looks unique compared to his previous releases. Him being alone without a shirt and with a mustache on a black background is a clear proof of pure artistry and brilliance like no other.
To my surprise, the 24 tracks meet the expectations of its album title and legendary album cover. Below are my review for each track.
>>> DISC 1
Track 1: Rounds
Instrumental: It is strong and is going well with the powerful vocals by John Legend. Rick Ross adds some spice to the mix. Lyrics: It is about making love with a loved one filled with passion and lust. It is a good sex song, I’m surprised. 3 of 5 stars!
Track 2: Waterslide
Instrumental: Fast, upbeat and just having fun. Lyrics: It tells a story of having a cool summer vacation in a water park. The couple is having fun all day. 5 of 5 stars!
Track 3: Dope
Instrumental: It is fun-filled from start until end. You can dance with it every time it plays on your playlist. Lyrics: John Legend expresses his appreciation for the girl he loves, telling her how awesome she is. 5 of 5 stars!
Track 4: Strawberry Blush
Instrumental: Lively and full of energy but not as smooth as I expected. Lyrics: Another expected love song by John Legend that is filled with sugar rush. The love story is sweet. 3 of 5 stars!
Track 5: Guy Like Me
Instrumental: It sounds smooth like a cotton candy. Lyrics: It tells a story of a man convincing how he is the perfect fit for the woman he admires. 5 of 5 stars!
Track 6: All She Wanna Do
Instrumental: It is like a disco masterpiece full of soul. Lyrics: John Legend tells the woman he loves how she completes him and it is not a problem with him if they are going to dance all day and all night. 5 of 5 stars!
Track 7: Splash
Instrumental: It sounds like natural drops of water. Lyrics: I am surprised how sexual this track is. The trio of John Legend, Jhene Aiko and Ty Dolla Sign makes me feel like I am on a temptation beach island surrounded with gorgeous women who are preparing me for a wild ride. 3 of 5 stars!
Track 8: You
Instrumental: Smooth-sailing and filled with pleasure. Lyrics: I remember this song with these lyrics, “All I want is you.” 3 of 5 stars!
Track 9: Fate
Instrumental: It is soulful, but I am not sure if this is the kind of sound I will remember after listening to the album. Lyrics: A duo with Amber Mark makes this song more powerful on a good kind of way. 3 of 5 stars!
Track 10: Love
Instrumental: Sweet, sensual and sexy. Lyrics: This is a sex song sung powerfully with Jazmine Sullivan. Listening to this song makes having sex a good journey. 5 of 5 stars!
Track 11: One Last Dance
Instrumental: This is the kind of old-soul sound that I will never forget. It is catchy to the ears without becoming too much. Lyrics: This is one of my strongest favorites. The lyrics are flowing naturally even it hurts to let go of someone you used to love after the dance. 5 of 5 stars!
Track 12: All She Wanna Do
Instrumental: Fast, groovy and smooth. Lyrics: Every thing stays the same as Track 6. The only difference is this version is a duo with Saweetie. 5 of 5 stars!
>>> DISC 2
Track 1: Memories
Instrumental: Sweet, soulful and soft – not overdoing. Lyrics: I love this song. It talks about making a special memory as a couple. 5 of 5 stars!
Track 2: Nervous
Instrumental: All is clear, without getting busy. Lyrics: John Legend got me here. This is exactly the feelings I felt the first time I fell in love. It felt comfortable being around her. I could smile and tell jokes but deep inside me, I still felt nervous. 5 of 5 stars.
Track 3: Wonder Woman
Instrumental: Sweet and soulful. It grows on me every day. Lyrics: It is impressive when John Legend plays with words and logic. The way I understand it, Wonder Woman is limited to being the title of the song but the way he sings it, wonder and woman are two separate words. “You make me wonder (There is a pause to emphasize he does not sing about Wonder Woman as the superhero) Woman, how did you do it?”
He keeps wondering why his woman reads him like a heroine with super strength. 5 of 5 stars!
Track 4: Honey
Instrumental: It has a power punch from start to finish. Lyrics: This is another lustful duet song with Muni Long. Honey is a metaphor for a sexual activity. 5 of 5 stars!
Track 5: I Want You To Know
Instrumental: Cute, playful but not my favorite. Lyrics: John Legend reminds his woman that she is not alone. He is there for her no matter what. 3 of 5 stars!
Track 6: Speak In Tongues
Instrumental: It sounds experimental and a real stand-out. Lyrics: I love this love song. Its title is unique. It is a duet with Jada Kingdom and it is about having a conversation that only “genuinely in-love” couples can understand. 5 of 5 stars!
Track 7: The Other Ones
Instrumental: Quite dark and too stretch-out. Lyrics: Rapsody raps to give the song a push forward but I do not think it is enough. Arguably, it is my least favorite. 2 of 5 stars!
Track 8: Stardust
Instrumental: Smooth-sailing masterpiece. Just the right sound to make this song glow. Lyrics: I love this a lot! John Legend sings with gusto, revealing how special the woman he loves. 5 of 5 stars!
Track 9: Pieces
Instrumental: Strong simple piano. Lyrics: This is an inspiring song. I love listening to it over and over again. It makes me remember how resilient I am not matter what life throws at me. “Learn to live in pieces,” as the song says. 5 of 5 stars!
Track 10: Good
Instrumental: Sweet old-school all along. Lyrics: This is the eleventh and the last duo of the album, with Ledisi. It is a love song. It talks about a couple, wanting to make love as they feel good with themselves. 5 of 5 stars!
Track 11: I Don’t Love You Like I Used To
Instrumental: Powerful intro, natural flow. Lyrics: John Legend tells his story how his love for his wife improves. The fire is burning, brighter than ever. 5 of 5 stars!
Track 12: Home
Instrumental: Love how John Legend ends the album with a piano-focused gentle track. Lyrics: This is the album’s signature song. It is a song that articulates true love that never ends. 5 of 5 stars!
Overall review: LEGEND stands as one the superior studio albums of John Legend, for which 15 tracks of the 24 are 5 stars. These 15 tracks exceed my expectation. These are dope. For this reason, this album is a 4-star! No perfect but smooth-sailing.
For two seasons of a new era, Jeff Probst has read a female name to win the competition. Erika and Maryanne proved that girls can rule the world. Will there be a third in a row?
Let’s wait and see as Survivor will begin its 43rd season on 21 September. Eighteen fresh faces are divided into three tribes of six. Coco is the blue tribe. Vesi is the red while Baka is the yellow.
Their location stays the same. These eighteen castaways will do what they can to outwit, outplay and outlast against each other in Fiji.
The game will last for 26 days without the comfort of a real shelter, food and dry clothing. A lot of backstabbing and blindsiding will happen, that’s why, be better prepared for another layer of gray truths, shifting alliances and expected lies.
For the third time in a row after Winners At War, the casting is consistently fantastic. Season 43 is an equally-diverse cast with strong personalities.
I have a hard time trimming down my early favorites to four, who are a real stand-out to me not only by looking at their pictures but also by reading their profiles in Entertainment Weekly.
Season 43: My Early Favorites
Ryan Medrano, Dwight Moore, Justine Brennan and Elie Scott are my early favorites for this season.
It is an opportunity of a lifetime to have Ryan Medrano in the show. Ryan was only six-month-old when he was born and was diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is a neurological problem in which normal walking is an impossibility. Ryan survives though. Thanks to his four long years of physical therapy.
Now at 25, he joins the most popular reality competition show in the world. Ryan puts himself to another level of test that requires him to form bonds with strangers, win challenges and socialize with the backstabbers.
I am not a big fan of Rupert in Season 7, and it makes me curious how will Ryan use his admiration for Rupert to advance another day in the island. Rupert was a food provider in his season but will this strategy work for Ryan?
Yes or no, nothing is guaranteed in Survivor. Ryan knows he is a triple threat but with his charismatic, outgoing and humorous descriptions of himself, it seems possible for Ryan to control the shooting guns pointing at him.
Perhaps, it is either he will protect himself with an invisible shield one step at a time or he will redirect the direction of the shooting to someone else.
Dwight Moore is an ambitious and confident 22-year-old currently living in Collierville, Tennessee.
When asked why he thinks he can win the show, his reply is not limited to his intelligence and social skills. He believes he has the passion to everything he needs to do.
He is ready to learn and he is ready to adapt with his environment to compensate for his lack of outdoor skills.
Season 36’s Winner, Wendell Holland, is his inspiration to survive Survivor. Dwight hopes to put into action what he has learned in Wendell.
Dwight understands the degree of relationships he needs to create plays a vital role in staying longer.
Will Dwight be flexible enough to select who to build alliance with?
Will he choose to swim with all of them or will he choose to select a few to protect him no matter what?
Trust is such a big word in the game. Dwight might have a harder time trusting.
Both inside and outside the walls of the game, having too much trust can kill while having no trust can complicate the level of paranoia.
It is expected to get paranoid and it is interesting to see how Dwight converts his paranoia to trust. For sure, getting to trust strangers is nearly like conducting an interview with politicians like Cory Booker for the first time.
Justine Brennan is a 29-year-old who works as a sales officer in a cyber security unit. She is usually the sole woman in her team, therefore, she gets used to the situation in which she is underestimated.
With her drive, self-sufficiency and athleticism, Justine prepares herself to connect with any type of people with different personalities may it be at work or in the show.
Survivor and sales are related in numerous ways. Justine is used to outwitting people every day. She needs to have a high emotional quotient to close a deal with various companies.
Her degree in psychology helps her achieve success in sales. Therefore, she believes she can find a way to use these experiences for the show.
Making a sale is about trust so is winning Survivor. It is more about making people feel comfortable to trust her than making enemies to vote against her in Tribal Council.
The one red signal in Justine’s profile is when she admits that she hates losing. In Survivor, Lose-Win and Lose-Lose are part of the game, will she conform to these deals?
Flexibility is an essential ingredient to any game play. Those who win the show do not always have win-win deals. Even two-time winners, Sandra and Tony, had their moments of Lose-Win or Lose-Lose to simply escape the vote.
How can Justine cope up if she stays stubborn? Is it enough to play as aggressive as Season 30’s Joe Anglim?
Or, is it healthier to have the balance mix of experiences of Joe and three-time returning player, Kelley Wentworth?
There are many questions in my head after reading Justine’s bio. I can see a beautiful woman with great people skills and at the same time, I also see a woman with too much drive to win as her downfall.
Elie Scott is a clinical psychologist, the kind of profession I dream of becoming but I need to sacrifice it due to other priorities.
Elie describes herself as authentic, clever and perceptive. These are the qualities of an experienced clinical psychologist herself.
In Survivor, I am not sure if these are also the necessary qualities to win against the backstabbers.
At 31, it is fair to say Elie has developed her empath skills to understand and diagnose her clients properly. Elie might have also conducted behavioral therapies to help her clients survive the demons inside their heads.
Life in Survivor works differently, but once Elie discovers how to put herself inside the shoe of various backstabbers, she can connect with them the right way.
The truth of the situation, there are no flawless backstabbers in Survivor. All are flawed. Even those winners who have been forced to backstab people they love are flawed.
No backstabbers are too empathy-deficient. They are backstabbers to either take a step near the one million dollar prize money or create a name for themselves in front of the cameras even if they end up losing.
Elie understands the direction of the game clearly. She sees the various scenarios that may happen, and hopefully, she makes an extra effort to enter a long-term alliance no matter how uncomfortable it is.
Ethics in Psychology functions differently from Ethics in Survivor. This is the part of Elie’s bio I am anxious about. People can misinterpret it in a lot of ways. Even her fellow castaways can see her a threat once they know who she is and, will get rid of her immediately.
This is the first season that I will watch a clinical psychologist outwit, outplay and outlast. It makes me excited to observe her game and it makes me curios too, will Elie lie about her profession?
I AM SURVIVORDEAN 